Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Even though the styling reminds us a bit of the baddies from “Dude, Where’s My Car,” this is a pretty basic pantsuit on a great sale. (Thanks to reader K for the tip!) It’s still available in sizes 2-12, and it’s marked down from $548 to $237 at Neiman Marcus. Tahari Two-Piece Tech Pantsuit
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(L-0)
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Like everything but the “tech” part.. I know Armani makes 100% poly suits and sells them for thousands of dollars, but I prefer wool-blend for breathability and for snob-appeal.
Lawgirl – check out the Armani wool skirt (can’t recall whether it comes with a matching jacket) at Nordstrom online.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3034537/0~6006558~6006692~6006693?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6006693&P=1
It’s $184, looks fab on the website. I’m sadly in-between sizes so daren’t risk it (as I’m not in the US and returns would be a pain). Good luck!
@AN – Just checked this thread…That Armani skirt (sold out) is blazin’ and the jacket is too, although my size is also soldout :-/ I will continue to stalk.. Thanks so much!
I was just thinking the same thing. I have a bunch of polyester suits and am trying to find a nice wool one for a reasonable price. This suit looks good though.
As an aside, I’m trying to buy a few seamless camis to wear under dresses. I have one from the Express that I don’t like. Any recommendations on where to buy them? I’d rather not spend too much money. The ones at JC Penney looked promising. Thanks!
H&M has some great ones and all for ~$7
Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately, it looks like I can’ t buy anything from H&M online and I’m so swamped with work that I don’t have time to go to the mall!
I’ve been happy with the $7 I’ve bought at Target for that purpose.
Great idea, I forgot about Target. Will check it out.
Try them on first. I bought a couple from Target and never wear them because they ride up and just aren’t that comfortable. Probably depends on the brand (sorry, can’t remember the brand of the ones I bought)
Try Uniqlo online (a Japanese retailer) – they have really nice camis for $10.50, and the quality is better than anything I’ve seen for twice the price from Gap or J. Crew. Unfortunately they don’t sell much else from the store online but they are really good.
The cami’s in Nordstrom near the suits (near the Theory/Trina Turk, etc stuff) are ok-priced, but I often find many colors on sale (sometimes 40% off) as they often change the “in” colors. Just keep checking the racks periodically.
Here is an example: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2891693?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=calson+cami&origin=searchresults
They wash well, don’t fade, don’t get stretched out, etc.
I like the cami’s from H&M, however I noticed that many of them bleed color onto my pants and they look worn out after a few washings.
I bought a polyester Tahari pantsuit on a really great sale a few years back. It fit great and looked great … but on my first day of wearing it in the office I realized it sounded like I was wearing a track suit, “swish – swish” with every step . This material looks scarily similar to the one I bought. (The dressing room was noisy and I didn’t hear it … but boy did it sound loud while walking down an otherwise quiet hall to the bathroom.)
@s-k-s LMAO! (Not in a cruel way, but in a “you crack me up” way).
I prefer wool blends as well…the poly blends also tend to get a bit shiny over time.
Searching for infinity scarves for Christmas gifts, I noticed that The Limited has some goods sales right now. I haven’t shopped there in years. Does anyone know how their sizes run these days?
I don’t know the answer to your question yet, but I ordered a bunch of stuff from the Limited on Cyber Monday and should be getting my order in a few days. I followed the sizing chart and ordered a few tops in S/XS, which is normally what I wear so I hope they fit ok.
I think The Limited sizing is pretty true to size. It’s one of the only place I can get pants in a size 0 that doesn’t need to be tailored (Ann Taylor sizes 0 or 00 are still huge on me, same with Banana Republic, and I’m too tall to wear petite sizing). It’s not the best quality stuff, but I have a great looking suit that was under $100 that works on more casual days, and didn’t need to get it taken in at all.
Thanks! As was discussed on another post, I am also starting to lose my mind (and return shipping costs) trying to keep these size issues straight, from my usual S/M to the mystery XS at J. Crew & Ann Taylor. I feel for both of you trying to track down a true 0 or XS…
I’m definitely not a true XS, I just think that is all part of the vanity sizing nowadays. I’m also a size 2 at JCrew, which I find totally hilarious since I’ve never been a size 2 of anything in a long time.
In my recent experience (and from talking to other women) it seems like Limited is designed more for women with a straighter figure. On top, the pieces tend to have very narrow shoulders. In XS, I can’t move my arms, and in the S I’m just swimming in the jacket/shirt.
I have a Tahari suit that is very similar (except for the pockets it’s basically the same) and always get great compliments on it, it is a very flattering cut. The fabric is fine, IMHO, never had an issue with loud swishing – but I don’t work at a law firm with long silent marble corridors…
Love my stretchy camis from Soma Intimates. They seem to hold up better than the ones from Ann Taylor and Target, and I like the wider straps.
Hijacking this thread a bit, but can anyone speak for the brand Classiques Entier? Thinking of ordering online & was wondering if people had good experiences with it? Thanks!
I have a Classiques wool skirt, a pair of pants and a black shirt. I have only worn the pants so far but I think the quality is good — wool, lined, etc. It’s the Nordstrom brand and while of course it’s expensive, I think the value is good. There is also Semantiks, which is another Nordstrom brand but the quality is not as good. I have a pair of Semantiks pants and I love them, but it’s not as soft as my Classiques pants.
Love Classiques. Had some pants and a few tops for several years and they still look nice.
I’ve had good success with Classiques suit separates, and they make these wonderful stretchy tops with ruching and shape – more than a cami but less than a blouse.
Yes, regularly buy Classiques. Find the quality to be good. Not as good as DVF quality, etc., but better than Banana and J Crew — items tend to be cut well and lined.
Thanks! I recall that a few posters a while ago were not fans of Semantiks, and that’s why I thought I’d check on the Classiques Entiers line. Will order a couple of the ruched tops now from Nordstrom!
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