Suit of the Week
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
For this week's suit, we're liking the birch-cloth cotton, short-sleeved skirt suit from J.Crew. We like the casual elegance of it, combined with the comfort of stretch. The jacket is $178, and the pencil skirt is $108.
Sales of note for 9/5/25
- Nordstrom – Summer sale has started, up to 60% off top brands
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including new arrivals
- Anthropologie – 30% off clothing and accessories
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- J.Crew – Everyday styles from $34.50 — see our full roundup of what to buy for work at J.Crew
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off fall faves + extra 60% off clearance
- L.K. Bennett – 20% off all new-season
- Nordstrom Rack – Season Closeout: extra 40% off select clearance dresses, sandals, shorts, and swimwear(ends 9/11)
- Rothy's – Up to 50% off last-chance sales
- Soma – 5 panties for $39 + 35% off 3+ styles + buy 2 get 3 free panties — readers love these PJs and these no-VPL panties
- Talbots – 25-40% off select fall styles + extra 30% all markdowns — here are all the reader favorites at Talbots
- White House Black Market – 50% off all sale styles (ends 9/5)
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- how do I feel less overstimulated at work?
- how can I look more put-together/expensive?
- what's the best out-of-office message to show I'm not working?
- what are some comfortable fashion sneakers?
- what brands have minimalist clothes for a more casual office?
- how to store lots of accessories
- what are good products for sparse brows?
- what do you recommend for gifts for a friend who's eloping?
- what should I pick for our company-branded conference swag?
- what non-sneaker shoes can you walk a mile in?
- I'm 31 and feel like my life is too stagnant…
- which emojis fill you with rage?
- how can I make house guests more comfortable?
- my friend is at her wit's end with her SAHP
- when is it time to quit therapy?
- why is it so hard to stay on top of school communications for my teen?
Agree. Nothing of value to add. But I agree.
I don’t understand the point of a short-sleeve suit. It’s not formal enough for times when a real suit is required, and otherwise I think it looks a little strange. I guess if you just love wearing suit-like items, though, it would work, but I find suits somewhat uncomfortable as it is, so why wear more of them?
I love this and will wait for it to go on sale! This is the perfect summer equivalent to a black-and-white small pattern jacket with black pants – for client meetings where the partner will just throw a sports jacket on over his usual slacks and dress shirt, but such an ensemble would look ridiculous on a woman.
I have several JCrew suits and their quality is quite good for the price point. Suits like this one almost always go on sale too, so you will probably be able to get a great deal on this one in a few weeks.
C – any thoughts on the point that you couldn’t wear this suit when a “real” suit is required? I need a new suit and if I’m only going to have one, does it need to be more formal than this?
I live in the south and see these short-sleeve suits everywhere. Very practical, especially in summer. I’d keep to the ones with smooth, i.e., not ruffled or gathered, sleeves, so a cardigan (air conditioning) would go on over it without bumps.
I love J. Crew suits too. Always reasonable priced. The fit is younger and more modern than Ann Taylor, yet no too trendy. I tried some Theory suits which are about twice the price–I think the J Crew suits are still better made.
S — oh yes, you definitely need a more typical suit. We’ve got to write some sort of intro text for this Suit of the Week feature — it’s intended to be the similar to the flavor of the week. Vanilla and chocolate are still the flavors that are anchors — that’s your black/navy long-sleeved three button jackets-with-knee-length skirt suits (with matching pants, of course) — this feature is just the rum raisin of the week.
I second Corporette’s response to S. You definitely need a more traditional suit if it’s your only one, but if you’re getting many, I love short sleeved suits in the summer. My office is technically business casual and plenty of women at all levels don’t wear suits unless they’re meeting with clients, etc. but I’m one of a few female litigators and I look very young so I tend to wear suits every day because I think it helps my image around the office. I feel like the short-sleeve suit is a good alternative to the cardigans/skirts a lot of my coworkers wear that I think would make me look too young but still give me a more casual alternative.