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. Lots of new suits are hitting the stores this week, apparently. We really like this chic navy blue suit — we like the loose collar, the high waist of the skirt, and the texture of the shantung. We do wish, however, that the skirt were longer than 20.5 inches (but hey, we’re sure the teenagers buying DvF suits will look great in it!). If you’re 5’4 or below, though, we’d give it a try anyway. The set is available at Saks for pre-order — the jacket (Jonesie Shantung Jersey Jacket) is $345, and the skirt (Chi-Chi High-Waisted Skirt) is $185. (Incidentally — Saks is having tons of sales, with new products having hit the racks yesterday.)  |  |
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Workwear sales of note for 9.20.23:
- Nordstrom – 28,000 markdowns! Cardmembers earn 3X the points through 9/24!
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off all sale styles
- Banana Republic – Up to 40% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 50%-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- J.Crew – 40% off fall finds
- J.Crew Factory – 50%-70% off entire site, and extra 70% off clearance with code!
- Ministry of Supply – Shop fall workleisure, 25% off sitewide.
- M.M.LaFleur – Sale on sale, extra 10% off
- Shopbop – Up to 70% off, 1000s of new styles added
- Talbots – 25% off your entire purchase
- Zappos – 18,500+ markdowns for women!
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Anonymous
Ugh–hate high waisted skirts. I don’t hate the way they look–but I find them very uncomfortable.
ClerkChic
I love high waisted skirts. Having something fitted around that part of me seems to prompt good posture. I find my back is less tired at the end of the day! The length of this would never do, though.
E
I too love them – and my shirts actually stay tucked into them, unlike with all my trouser suits! Hooray.
pinkrobot
I also love them, and find them to be incredibly comfortable (as long as the top edge sits above my natural waistline, its cuts through the middle when Im sitting otherwise). I wish this were longer, or it would become a wardrobe staple. Has anyone seen something like this elsewhere recently?
Anonymous
Is it the model’s height/proportions or do the sleeves look a wee bit cropped? like you’d be showing considerably more than 1/2″ of cuff with a long sleeve shirt?
MMS
That skirt is just waaaay to short for work.
Lola
What’s “the shantung”?
E
Shantung is a type of silk: silk shantung.
k
While I love shantung, I have never considered wearing it to the office. I’ve always thought of it as more of a festive fabric, like taffeta. Any thoughts on shantung in the office? I’m a lawyer.
Anon
I’m with k. I’ve seen too many silk shantung bridesmaids dresses to think of it as an office fabric.
Not that I’m opposed to either silk shantung or bridesmaids dresses…you know what i mean.
Lady Litigator
This is far too short – I’m 5’10” but could barely wear this to work if I was 5’4.”
jae
this is cute
can you do a post of suits that would be appropriate for interviews?
LPC
Is it sold unhemmed perhaps?
Jane
A high-waisted skirt that looks good when you stand up nice and straight will either cut into your middle when you sit or create the world’s ugliest muffin top. Either way, not pretty.
MelD
Why would a high-waisted skirt cause a muffin top? I get a muffin top when pants are too low-cut (which is typical with my long torso) and the waistband hits a full 6″ below my natural waist. Something that hits at or near my natural waist should not cause a muffin top because it covers everything that is typically problematic.
That said, this skirt is way too short. It’s a shame because I really like the cut of the jacket and think the skirt would be great if it were just a few inches longer.
KLo
I’m a busty apple-ish shape, so there’s “plenty to love” around my middle, and I find that if my top isn’t appropriately bloused above a high-waist skirt, and if I don’t sit perfectly straight, I get one of those lovely muffin tops. But like MelD, I think it’s just extra reason to sit up straight (and on that front, I should probably wear nothing but).
legalicious07
Love this!!!! Would definitely work for petite ladies! I’m not familiar with the fabric type though…
mkm
Le sigh. Whatever happened to classic, lovely, decent-length, wool (and lightweight wool for summer) suits??
I’m looking at this and just wishing that, for this price, it was one of the above-described classics. Heck, we used to be able to purchase two for that price at Ann Taylor, circa 2003 (when I worked there during college to build my professional wardrobe). Do I still wear several such suits from those days? Absolutely… And they look a sight lot better than this DvF creation ever will.
sarlac
Does anyone have good exercises/ stretches to do while sitting at their desk? I try to get up frequently throughout the day (even if it is just running to the printer) but I really need other stuff to do. I get so antsy just sitting all day. Thanks in advance!
Erin M.
I keep an exercise ball in my office and I sit on it sometimes, or use it for stretching, especially stretching my back out.
Corporate Chickee
For the neck: Sitting perpendicular to your desk, stretch one arm out to the side toward your desk, then drop your ear to your shoulder and stretch. You can stretch different parts of your neck/upper back by moving the outstretch arm around. Move it up or down, side to side, and even rotate your palm to stretch different spots.
(As you move your outstretched arm do it slowly and hold each position for a few seconds.)
I find that really helps after long hours at your desk/computer. I also love to close the door and do a few hamstring stretches – gets your blood flowing and makes you feel energized!!
RoadWarriorette
When I am feeling antsy or tired during meetings I will stretch under the table. I will put my right foot on my left knee and then lean forward and put my elbows on the table, and then switch. This is a great hip opener/lower back stretch (similar to ankle to knee pose in yoga) that doesn’t necessarily look like a stretch. Feels really nice!!
Anonymous
I’m 5″4 and there is NO way I could wear this to work – would be 3-3.5″ above knee (too short for me, especially when sitting down). BUT last year DvF had a lovely ponte-knit skirt (came with stylish matching jacket that I didn’t get) that was just below knee and is the most flattering. I cannot recall the style as DvF has so many style-names….
Clerky
I like the cut of the jacket a lot. Not a fan of the skirt, at least not as part of a suit.
anon
Here’s my question. Who wears such a short suit? I mean, if you are working in a job that requires a suit, you probably can’t wear this one. And if you can get away with wearing such a short skirt, probably you aren’t in a suit kind of environment. I can see some high-powered creative execs, maybe, but surely there aren’t so many of them?
E
My experience? Pharmaceutical reps. Stereotypically they are young, fresh out of college, rah-rah cheerleader types that are sent into offices to get docs to switch to their drugs. They tend to have physical grooming and bodies that are immaculate, and I could totally see one of them coming into my office in this suit.
AIMS
I would think there are enough of the creative types to justify the relatively small number of these that are made by DvF (it’s not the same mass production as, say, Ann Taylor or Tahari).
Also, it’s sold as separates — so I am sure enough people will buy a skirt w/o the jacket, and vice versa.
MelD
It looks like a nice navy skirt. I can see petite women buying it without the jacket to use as separates.
Lawgirl
High-waist doesn’t work for me at all based on my proportions- (and Lord knows I’ve tried!): hourglass shape with short & stubby legs. I could hear Stacey London going: “No, girlfriend, NO!” I think ruler-type shapes can rock this and rock it well.
AB
I had a similar problem with a Banana Republic suit I ordered online recently. Everything else I’ve gotten there, suit-wise, has been perfectly office appropriate. This one, though, came about 4 inches above my knees (I should note that I’m pretty tall–5’9″). Please don’t tell me the Ally McBeal look is coming back into fashion.
AIMS
I think it is coming back (though maybe not for corporate law firms).
We just went through the 80’s fad, and flannel plaid has been back for a while, so that takes care of the grungy period . . . so, yeah, just about time for a mid 90s revival & Ally McBeal & Heather Locklear suits! ;)