
For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
This is a lovely suit — at least in theory (no pun intended, honest!). The boucle knit has an interesting striated look, and the leather trim on the pockets and sleeves adds a lot. I even like the boxy fit to the jacket, and think it looks lovely as a separate (as shown here). The skirt, sadly, is where we get to the “theory” part — why is it so short? Who, exactly, do they think is buying this piece? (And why is “dialog” spelled differently in the name?) Odd, odd — but perhaps for a woman with shorter legs this suit would be perfect. The jacket (Theory ‘Dorian – Dialogue’ Jacket
) is $465, and the skirt (Theory ‘Francia – Dialog’ Boucle Skirt
) is $245, both available at Nordstrom.
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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
We’re liking this tweed skirtsuit from Ann Taylor. Love the seaming on the pencil skirt (as well as the “touch of stretch”), and love the 60s vibe to the jacket. The jacket (Tweed Jacket) is $108, and the skirt (Tweed Seamed Skirt) is $108.
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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
Love, love, love this Donna Karan suit — if only it weren’t quite so low cut. First, the good: love the flattering, feminine look — the cinched waist, the suit-but-not-a-suit look to it, and even the brown-on-gray color scheme (with the belt). The bad: we’d probably advise going up a size (or three) in order to make sure that jacket crosses at a high enough point — we’re just not sure we could work a camisole beneath it. Still: gorgeous suit. The jacket (Belted Cascade Jacket) is $1295, and the skirt (Drape Back Pencil Skirt) is $650, both available at Bergdorf Goodman.
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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
It seems like we are posting a zillion gray suits in 2010, and we apologize — it isn’t intentional. (But then, it wasn’t intentional to post so many purple suits in 2009, so who knows.) Still: Here’s another beautiful, beautiful suit. We love the detailing, from the rounded lapels and wide neckline, to the insets below the waistband. The jacket (Classiques Entier ‘Sketchy Melange’ Jacket
) is $268, and the pants (Classiques Entier ‘Sketchy Melange – Midtown’ Pants
) are $158. A skirt, not pictured (Classiques Entier ‘Sketchy Melange’ Pencil Skirt
) is also available also for $148. All pieces are available in sizes 0-16.
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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

Jones New York is having a pretty good sale on suits and dresses, with an extra 30% off (plus free shipping for any purchase over $75). We like this tan skirt suit, which has a really interesting texture to the fabric. We’d wear it with colorful pumps (purple or blue, perhaps) and a white shell. Was $240, now $160, and the additional 30% off brings it to $112. Crystal Sand 2 Piece Skirt Suit, Ships 4/8
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Today’s reader mail comes from a reader who will be second-chairing a federal trial that is expected to last for more than a month…
First, do you think I should wear skirt suits every day or can I wear pant suits and save the skirt suits for days that I may actually get to examine a witness?
Second, how many suits do you think I need to keep on hand so that it doesn’t look like I am wearing the same suits over and over again? Any suggestions for making the same suit look different other than wearing different accessories?
And finally, any suggestions on where to find nice looking suits in petite sizes without spending an arm and a leg since I will not need that many suits after the trial is finished.
A good friend of ours did mock trial in law school (and did very well), and passed along her (esteemed) coach’s advice: wear skirt suits and be sure to cross/uncross your legs often if the other side is making a good point, and wear a lot of perfume. See? Golden advice. Whoever says sexism is alive and well is just crazy.
In all seriousness, though, wardrobe during trial is one of those times where the guys really do have it easier, because we guarantee you that they’ll wear, at max, three suits and five ties throughout the entire trial and not give a second thought to it. For you, though, we recommend sticking to dark suits, which, practically speaking, means we’d limit ourselves to three or four suits. One black, one navy, and maybe one in brown or gray. (If you’re prickly about your accessories matching, go with all black accessories and choose the gray suit.) Where possible, we’d get both the skirt and the pants to the set — J.Crew, Banana, Ann Taylor, or Theory all make separates (and, we think, petites). (For the petites question, we’ll be lazy here and link to our old post on professional dressing for petites for reference, as well as the blogs Petite Asian Girl ExtraPetite and Alterations Needed, both of which we have recently discovered and been meaning to point readers towards.)
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