Some of our favorite plus-size suits for interviews as of 2022: Calvin Klein / Eloquii / Universal Standard / Talbots (not pictured but also J.Crew)
In case you missed it, we did a major round up of the best suiting brands for women a few weeks ago, from the budget brands to the boss brands. As promised, we’re back with a focus on specialty suiting brands for women — if you’re looking for plus size suits, petite suits, tall suits, or even suits from independent/specialty boutiques, this round-up is for you.
Ladies, if you’re on the hunt for one of these types of suits, which are your favorite brands and styles? Where do you shop the most, and what kind of sales have you found?
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The Best Plus Size Suits For Women
(Links have been updated as of Nov. 2020 — you can also see our latest roundup of the best plus-size suits for interviews!)
11 Honore – house brand, Veronica Beard, RTA, Cushne, Christian Siriano and more!
Amazon – Jessica London, Calvin Klein, Kasper, Le Suit, Tahari, Marycrafts
Argent – Many of their workwear pieces go up to size 24, including some of their suits.
ASOS – Lots of affordable options from their house brand; sometimes from other brands as well
Bloomingdale’s – City Chic, Lafayette 148 New York, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Marina Rinaldi, Nic+Zoe, and Vince Camuto
Chadwicks – I’ve never purchased from this store, but they do have suiting options!
Dillards – Calvin Klein, Investments, Kasper, Lauren Ralph Lauren
Eileen Fisher – The brand (also sold at Nordstrom!) sometimes has plus-size blazers and other suiting options! (Readers LOVE these pants).
Eloquii – Lots of fun suits for work, with a few “9-to-5 Essential” options
Etsy – Check for customizable options from shops like TielDorein and HeartMyCloset
Full Beauty – A collection of brands including ellos, Jessica London, & Roaman’s
JCPenney – Le Suit, Evan-Piccone, Liz Claiborne, Alfred Dunner, and Worthington
J.Crew – J.Crew recently expanded their size range in general; many of their suiting pieces are now available up to size 24.
H&M – They sometimes have blazers and suiting options!
Lands End (particularly their washable wool suiting) – also some pieces are carried at Kohl’s!
Lafayette 148 New York (the brand is also available at Nordstrom!)
Macy’s – Alfani, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Kasper, Nine West, and Tahari
Navabi – Lots of blazers in their own house line, as well as foreign brands such as Adia, Elvi, Frapp, Hermann Lange, Jo & Julia, Manon Baptiste, Nör, and Zizzi (free shipping over $399)
Nordstrom – Lafayette 148 New York, Halogen, City Chic, Vince Camuto, Nic & Zoe
Of Mercer – They offer extended sizes up to 20W
Off Fifth – Basler, Calvin Klein, Lafayette 148 New York, Max Mara
Simply Be – UK shop with limited workwear options but what they have is very affordable
Sumissura – UK shop with bespoke/custom suiting
Talbots (particularly their seasonless wool suiting)
Target – Ava & Viv, Who What Wear, and more sometimes have plus-size interview suits
Saks Fifth Avenue – Lafayette 148 New York, Marina Rinaldi, Nic + Zoe, Stizzoli
Universal Standard – They’ve expanded their workwear offerings substantially in recent years! Make sure to check out the “Fit Liberty” program if you’re fluxuating sizes.
Plus-size suiting options from earlier versions of this post that seem to be out of business or no longer offering plus sizes
- Last Call
- Lord & Taylor
- Moi Même – Bespoke/custom sizes
- White House | Black Market (no more plus sizes)
Awesome Options for Tall Suits for Women
(Updated 2019! You may also want to check out our most recent discussion of the best stores for tall women.)
- Ann Taylor
- Anne Klein
- ASOS
- Banana Republic
- BCBG
- Boden
- BOSS/Hugo Boss
- Brooks Brothers
- Chadwicks
- eShakti
- Etsy shops may also take custom measurements, such as the celebrity-inspired suits at heartmycloset and the vintage-inspired suits at VigilanteLabs (here’s our whole roundup of 7 fun Etsy shops for workwear!)
- Gianni Bini (at Dillard’s)
- J.Crew
- Long Tall Sally
- M.M. LaFleur (filter by “tall-friendly”)
- Michaela Jedinak (add up to 10cm on every item)
- New York & Company (5’9″ and up)
- Of Mercer
- Sumissara
- Tahari
- Talbots
- Ted Baker
- Theory
- White House Black Market
Stylish Petite Suits
Updated 2018! Any store that may have limited options for conservative suiting is marked with a *. You may also want to check out our last guide to suiting alterations for petites!
- Amazon – Calvin Klein, Ellen Tracy, Kasper, Le Suit, Ruby Rd., Tahari
- Ann Taylor
- ASOS*
- Banana Republic
- Banana Republic Factory
- Boden
- Boss
- Brooks Brothers
- Bloomingdale’s*
- Dillards – Calvin Klein, Kasper, Tahari
- Express
- JCPenney – Alfred Dunner, Liz Claiborne, Hollywould (junior), Worthington
- J.Crew
- J.Crew Factory
- Jeetly
- Kohl’s – Alfred Dunner, Apt. 9, Briggs, Chaps, Dana Buchman, Simply Vera
- Lands End (particularly their washable wool suiting)
- LK Bennett*
- Loft*
- Lord & Taylor – Calvin Klein, Tahari
- Macy’s – LeSuit, Tahari
- MM.LaFleur*
- Moi Même – Bespoke/custom sizes
- New York & Co.*
- Nordstrom – Boss, Vince Camuto
- Nordstrom Rack*
- Of Mercer*
- Old Navy*
- Sumissura – Bespoke/custom suiting
- Tahari – note the Warehouse sale section for petites also!
- Talbots – petites & plus-size petites
- Universal Standard – plus-size petites
- White House | Black Market*
The Best Suits to Wear to Work If You’re Pregnant
2018 Update: Check out our latest post on the best maternity suits for professional women!
It is very difficult to find a good basic suit in maternity sizes. If you really need maternity suiting, try:
- Eva Alexander (2018 Update: now defunct)
- Maternal America (this blazer in particular has been around for years and often has matching pants and skirts)
- A Pea in the Pod (in house line)
- Figure 8 Maternity (everchanging selection of brands)
- Isabella Oliver (sometimes has suits or suiting separates)
- Building a maternity wardrobe for work? Check out our page on CorporetteMoms with more suggestions along both classic and trendy/seasonal lines, as well as our e-book on dressing professionally while pregnant.
Independent Boutiques / Specialty Stores for Suits
- Of Mercer
- Carrie Hammer (has sizes 0-36! and a few jackets that match dresses)
- Citizens’ Mark (eco-friendly)
- Gurjot New York
- Jeetly (mentioned in petite sizes, above)
- The Unstainable® Workwear Collection by Elizabeth & Clarke (Kickstarter; raw materials from renewable, farm-grown sources)
Looking for some great shoes to go with your suits? These brands make extended sizes and widths:
Comfortable Heels in Extended Widths
In our last roundup of classic black heels for business attire, we rounded up some pumps that came in extended widths, including:
- Extended widths (AA, C, W): Target (M/W), Vionic (MW), Rockport (NMW), Ferragamo (2A, B, C), Trotters (M,W, WW), Sam Edelman (NMW), Bella Vita (AA-EE), LifeStride (AA-E), Naturalizer (N-WW),
- Extended sizes (4-13): Target (5-12), Calvin Klein (4-13), Ferragamo (4-11),
Some Comfortable Flats in Extended Widths
In our last roundup of comfortable flats for work, we rounded up some flats that came in extended width sizes…
- Extended widths (AA, C, W): Børn (M-D), Sam Edelman (NMW), Ferragamo (N M W 2A B C D),
- Extended sizes (4-13): Børn (5-12), Sam Edelman (4-13), Ferragamo (4-11), Sarah Flint (4-13), Rothys (5-12)
Mexico City?
I’ve been wanting to go to Mexico City for awhile. My parents are terrified and keep telling me it’s a terrible idea because it’s so dangerous.
But is it really? As long as I stay in the main touristy areas, I’d be fine, right? I’d be with a friend part of the time and solo the rest of the time. I speak reasonably good Spanish and have traveled extensively around the world, so this seems like a no-brainer to me, but my parents’ reaction gives me pause.
For what it’s worth, I live in a major US city that regularly gets such bad press you’d think you couldn’t step outside without walking into a gang shootout, and I’ve never personally experienced any crime, so I do think some of this is about knowing which neighborhoods to avoid.
S in Chicago
Afraid I can’t answer about Mexico City.
But go Cubs!
It's Me Again...
Not sure about Mexico City in particular, but I do find that Americans in general have a sense of fear and panic about a lot of places that may not necessarily be fully warranted. That said, I am a born-and-raised New Yorker (think NYC in the 80’s…. not the 2016 version) and have pretty sharp street smarts and awareness.
I’ve traveled to all kinds of places and gone off the tourist track (Mexico included) and surprisingly, the ONLY place something bad has ever happened to me was in Madrid where a guy pick-pocketed me on the train. And that place isn’t supposed to be “dangerous”. Go figure. (Note: Me + friends chased him down the subway and he got caught and arrested. Oh, to be 21 and careless!)
Point is — I’m sure if you’re careful and aware, most places are fine. Exercise judgement!
Anon
Totally safe. This is coming from a Canadian though. I am not really sure why Americans are irrationally afraid of Mexico.
Mrs. Jones
Mexico City is fine. Just use common sense like you would anywhere else.
tcbinnyc
You’re right, it’s a no-brainer–you should absolutely go. Use your judgment, especially with taxis at night, and trust your gut, and you’ll be absolutely fine and have a great time.
What to Charge?
Hello Hive! I recently left my full time litigation job and thinking of taking on some contract work while I figure out my next move. I’m in SF but on plaintiff side contingency work. My most recent gig paid $120k base. What would a reasonable contract rate be?
NY CPA
Excited to see a few new plus size suit options here that I havent tried before!
Is it just me or do other people find that Kasper suits seem to be of the cheapest quality possible? I just hate the fabrics they use. Calvin Klein suits have much nicer looking/feeling fabrics for the same price.
Stephanie L
Agreed. The cuts are matronly and the fabrics are stiff. I used to wear Kasper suits but I just don’t bother with them anymore.
Jen
I’m not sure why they aren’t listed, but the Limited’s petite suiting is perfect for those of us who are petite but hourglassy. I especially love that they have dresses coordinating with blazers, as I’d much rather wear a dress with the matching suit jacket rather than a skirt.
Jen
I’m an idiot and they are listed. In any case, they’re great.
P
Appreciate the effort that must have gone into this compilation!
That said as a curvy petite I am perpetually disappointed with the options I’ve found at many of the stores mentioned.
Halogen has a near perfect length, however the blazers seem cut for women with no waist at all, though it is currently my favorite suit I own.
Ann Taylor fit in the shoulders, but the arms were huge and the skirt was cut too close to the body to be appropriate in a conservative work environment.
Calvin Klein is built for more straight and narrow types
The Limited has huge differences in sizing, an 8P was too tight in the chest, whereas I drowned in the 8R.
Tahari is often too matronly and cut for women with no waist at all.
I desperately wish suitsupply, indochino, etc had female counterparts!
Ellen
P, you are SO right! I can’t beleive you have taken the troubel to list the issues I have. I am also petite, with curves, but also a “shelf” (think tuchus), and even tho I love Ann Taylor, I often have to have the skirt’s refitted at the tailor b/c of my tuchus. Also Tahari has advantages, but I need tailoring. When I make another $100K per year, I will have all clotheing tailored at Lord and Taylor. That should be my middel name — Tailoring! FOOEY!
Stephanie L
I hadn’t heard of Jeetly. How cute is that Chelsea jacket??
Banana Republic has some decent petite suit options. I’ve found their customer “service” line and the in-store staff consistently snarky/eye-rolly, which rather dampens my enthusiasm. The 2 BR suits I have really have held up well, so I’ll probably make myself go back for another at some point.
stephannei
At 5’10”, I find Theory works for me when I’m thinner (at 130–150 lbs, 10s and 12s) and Boss/Hugo Boss works for me when I’m not as (160–170 lbs, 10s). My limbs are expectedly long but not excessively; if going with pants, they’re long enough for 3″ heels and jacket sleeves hit properly. I like the material and the trimness of the cut.
Sherri Ottinger
Kasper has long been my favorite (petite) but their selection seemed to dwindle and now looks like all their outlet stores are closed. It is getting harder and and harder to find dressy clothes for work.