Suit of the Week
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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.
This week's suit is suggested by reader K, who used a snail mail coupon (20% off) to purchase this suit from Ann Taylor. She's already received several compliments on it, and she notes that “the skirt in particular is super cute and can be worn as a great separate for work or work-evening. The jacket does run large; the associate in the store advised me that everyone has been buying 1-2 sizes smaller than their normal jacket size.” We love it — it's chic and different, but classic at the same time. The jacket (New Femme Jacket) is $210, and the skirt (New Femme Pencil Skirt) is $110.
FYI: Ann Taylor is currently offering 30% off on any one regularly priced item. Online use code ANN30. In store, find a friend who got the email and have use the “send to a friend” link.
Wow that is a short skirt (for the workplace).
I love this suit, but the description of the skirt says its length is only 20 1/2″ – which seems way too short for me and my 5’9″ frame at a fairly conservative office. The material is a “fine wool/canvas,” so I’m assuming I couldn’t get the jacket and then get a different pencil skirt because I wouldn’t be able to match the fabric. Too bad. I think the jacket is fabulous!
The petite length is 20 1/2 – the regular length is only 21 1/2, though, which is still way too short for taller girls.
Beware of Ann Taylor! When I started my job last year, I bought several suits from them as they were the only ones who made pants that fit me well and they weren’t super-expensive. One year later, I can’t wear any of those suits anymore because they’ve fallen apart. Seams coming out, pants linings shredded (some within less than six months of purchase), buttons cracking and falling off, etc. Their quality is just not that good for the price you’re paying – I’ve actually bought more durable work clothes at Target.
Unfortunately I haven’t found too many brands at AT’s price point to be that much different. I’ve had BR clothes fall apart after one or two wearings and I’ve also heard that J Crew’s quality is going down, but we don’t get any of the suits where I live. I still don’t really care to buy AT at full price- with the sales you can usually get a suit for $120-150.
As for this suit, it looks like a strangely unflattering skirt. It seems like it would be terrible for the pear-shaped person as the pleats would expand too much.
I’m surprised – I buy a lot of my work clothes at Ann Taylor (for years) and I haven’t had a problem with quality in general. Hope it’s not going downhill! I will say that their sales are really good and if you can combine with a coupon (which they always have these days), their clothes are really affordable.
I agree with KJ – I’ve had the same issues.
I find the pleat in the center front of the skirt to be a bit funky. Anyone else?
I just order this online yesterday. I’m a shortie so the length should be okay but I’m interested to see how the front pleat plays out on my pearish shape. I didn’t even see the jacket. So cute!
I have found Brooks Brothers Suits to be noticeably superior in quality to J Crew, BR, Ann Taylor. The wool gabardine is super silky and has a terrific drape; they are lined in what they call Bemberg—not sure what it is but feels great–smooth and cool on the skin.
This AT suit is way too edgy for my tastes, not to mention unflattering even on the model, in my opinion.
Brooks Brothers suits are also noticeably more expensive, so of course there’s going to be a significant difference in quality. The typical BB jacket is $300-350 while AT is more like $200-250.
Bemberg is a fine grade of rayon. Which used to be a nasty fiber, but they seemed to have improved the manufacturing process, some rayons these days are really nice. But still crease-y.
The problem with Brooks Brothers is that their suit pants have a 31″ inseam. Even if you are short, but have long legs, the length is too short. I don’t like this suit. It is a bit too trendy for the price, and the skirt is pretty short.
Hi, I’m the recommender. FYI, I’m 5’6″ with a long torso, and the skirt hits juuuust above the knee. If I had seen it online I don’t think I would have looked twice because the skit does look a little short, but not so in real life.
AT quality is very hit and miss, and there are lots of things I’d never buy there no matter how flattering they are in the dressing room. I have no complaints about the suit thus far, though.
But why is this Ann Taylor’s only suit!??
I’m also afraid that the pleat in the skirt would emphasize the lower-tummy too much — for those without rippling abs.
I hate the (elbow-length?) sleeves. I worked for Ann Taylor for a few years over a decade ago. Truth is, it’s hard for a retailer to make money on suits (especially now). People tend not to buy as many, wait for sales to buy, and then, on top of it, they demand a higher quality of workmanship from the product (relative to casual clothing).
I do not like this suit. Other than BB, are there any other nice, high-quality suits out there? How about Jones?
I tried this on, and it was unbelievably unflattering. I’m 5’8, and the skirt was very short, and I cannot imagine wearing it on its own (without a suit it inflated my midsection alarmingly).
I actually just had great success at Macy’s, with their Calvin Klein separates (not available online). They are a blend, but look and feel nice, wrinkle resistant, and much more conservative.
Thanks CorporateTool, I am going to head over to Macy’s.
Agree with KJ to some extent, I have had past AT (and ATL) clothes that did not last too long. However the worst experiences I’ve had are with Banana Republic knit tops. I bought a few short-sleeved ones with really nice designs at a sale last year (ruched necklines, square necks, elbow-length sleeves, or other nice features) that I could wear under a blazer, or alone if need be. However, within less than 6 months, I had not a single one of them left. HUGE amount of pilling for knit tops. Plus, color faded, or the fabric shrank (no dryer use, air dried them) and so on. I am very wary of BR tops since then, though they have nice designs.
Samantha – Do you think it would make a difference with the BR tops if you got the dry cleaned? I tend to do that with my knits and have had good luck with them staying pretty nice…