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 for women, 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 the look of this black and gray jacket and dress from Anne Klein. Love the thick black placket, which creates a nice vertical line, and I like the fact that it’s echoed on the sleeves and the pockets. It first caught my eye over at Bloomingdale’s, where they show it with the jacket open, but Anne Klein is offering 30% off on it. The jacket (Anne Klein Ottoman Jacket) was $450, but is $315 with the discount, and the dress (Anne Klein Ottoman Multi Media Dress) was $425, but comes to $297.5 with the discount. 
(L-6)This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Workwear sales of note for 3.31.23:
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price tops and sweaters; up to 40% off all sale styles
- Athleta – All sale up to 60% off
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything; extra 15% off purchase
- Boden – Up to 50% off; 20% off sale & new-season styles
- Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Event: 30% off almost everything
- Express – All women’s jeans $49 + styles from $20
- Everlane – Up to 30% off spring essentials
- J.Crew – 40% off your purchase; swim from $24.50
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off entire site & storewide, plus extra 20% off orders $125+ with code
- Loft – $29 everyday shirts
- Sephora – Up to 50% off select beauty
- Talbots – Buy one get one 50% off! Free shipping on $150+
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
- What are your favorite parts of a typical day?
- At what point in your life (age, income level, whatever) were you able to take an annual vacation?
- What shoes can I keep at the office to go for mid-day walks (that go with everything)?
- How do you release stress or trauma that’s stored in the body?
- What are the best “networking for women events” you’ve ever been to?
- I feel like we’re burning through any savings we acquire…
- I hate my job and make 30% of what DH makes – should I quit?
- What do you keep in your office?
Too bored to bill
Love love love it. It looks comfortable too. Maybe it’s just the great tailoring but most suits like this look too matronly but this one has just enough pizazz to keep it fresh and young.
Anonymous
I looooove this. The texture of the fabric and the detailing are amazing.
Emma
Gorgeous! Wish I had the funds to buy it. I have some Bloomingdale’s gift cards… anyone know if you can sign up for an alert when this goes on sale there?
Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler
Try shoppingnotes (not going to add the rest so the comment doesn’t get stuck in moderation). Kat did a post on the site a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been using it, successfully, ever since.
spacegeek
Another one is !pinx. I use it.
AIMS
I’m not sure about this. Between the curtain-like pattern on the gray fabric and the black detailing on the jacket, this looks quite matronly to me. Plus, at this price point, I like my suits to be more than 22% wool and less than 55% rayon.
I do like the silhoutte though. Just wish the rest was less busy.
LawyrChk
Very pretty, but my experience with Anne Klein has been run away screaming. Inconsistent sizing, clothes with visible manufacturing flaws, and shoes that fall apart five minutes after I put them on. Maybe I’ve had particularly bad luck with the brand, but I’d look elsewhere for quality in this price range.
Lyssa
I’m inclined to agree. Although I have a fabulous pair of Ann Klein shoes that I adore (bought in person at Belks), my last order was enough that I’m thinking of swearing off online shopping (without checking things out first) entirely. I’ve never returned anything that I bought online for quality issues, but I ordered 4 different items, and none of them were at all like I expected, and I decided that it was well-worth the shipping hit to return them.
Then I looked over the other items that I’ve ordered online over the past year or so (from stores other than Ann Klein), and realized that, although none of them are horrible, pretty much none of them are exactly what I expected and most are probably things that, given the same price, I would have passed over in a store.
The suit is beautiful in the pics, though.
fresh jd
I agree with the questionable sizing. Not to mention that this is the highest priced AK suit I have ever come across!
Bonnie
There are different Anne Klein lines. AK Anne Klein is the cheaper line you see at stores like Macy’s while Anne Klein New York is their “designer” line.
LawyrChk
This is true, although I have tried both and my review stands.
ElevenElle
Love it! But the model looks evil in the pose without the jacket. Yeesh, stand up straight and smile.
The Online Shopper
Love this suit! Lovely. I would wear it in a heartbeat, but it is a smidge pricey.
Bonnie
My post keeps disappearing so hopefully this won’t appear twice. I think this suit is lovely but it would have to be fitted well to avoid a matronly look. On a random note, I almost bought this skirt for business casual days until I saw the back: http://tiny.cc/jpi7c
Why do designers mess up nice clothing with odd details?
MaggieLizer
I literally gasped when I looked at the back. How disappointing.
Duckie
I actually kind of like that! Much better than an exposed zipper.
Lydia
I think this is very pretty…I have hit or miss experiences with Anne Klein in terms of quality though.
Maddie Ross
Can I vent for a second? Does it drive anyone else crazy when people wear their sunglasses on their heads like headbands around the office? I mean, coming in from lunch is one thing, but all the time, everyday? And even at night? If you need to do that, buy a headband!!! Argh! Vent over.
A Regular Lurker
I’m guilty of being this person (well, not so much at the office, but the rest of the time). Sadly, I recently made it halfway through an exercise class with my sunglasses on my head before I realized they were up there. I’m really just that absent-minded sometimes.
Louise
I worked with a woman who did this intentionally. She said she looked “stupid” in headbands. Oh, honey, the sunglasses make you look more than stupid…
Anonymous
I do that with my regular glasses fairly often because I don’t use them for the computer and then wind up forgetting about them until I need them again. I don’t do it all the time or every day… I think sunglasses indoors 100% of the time would be pretty ridiculous.
Maddie Ross
I should clarify my rant. Reading glasses or even regular glasses don’t bother me — you may need them while running around the office, so it seems reasonable. Sunglasses on the weekend, etc., when you’re running in and out of places or relaxing by the pool, totally acceptable. The “offender” in my mind is an associate (grr! she should know better!) and she wears them as a hairband 100% of the time. Even in court. It drives.me.nuts. And is a clear sign to me that her hairstyle is not working for her.
Circe
IN COURT?!
Clueless summer associate
I can’t believe they don’t make her take them off in court…when I was a runner, I entered a courtroom with sunglasses on my head and got told!!
Duckie
The horror, the horror
Accountress
Up until the third-to-last sentence I definitely thought you were at my office and talking about me. I have to wear big bulky sunglasses to keep wind from getting to my eyes, and the cases I have for them take up a good quarter of my purses and make it impossible to search for things. So, instead of setting them on my desk where I might leave for somewhere without them, I keep them where I can find them.
jcb
Just wanted to note – my sunglasses came with a giant bulky hard case that takes up a quarter of my purse, so I never used it. Came across a soft case (on the anthro website, though that was ages ago and I don’t see any there as of now) and it has served me well. Silky interior, pretty patterned exterior.
mamabear
I have to smile – my friend’s mom, who is in her seventies, loves the sunglasses on the head look so much that she has been known to wear two pairs of sunglasses at once – one on her face and one in her hair. Now come on, how can you not love an eccentric senior like her? :)
Lyssa
I thought of a bar not-so-horror story that I thought you panickingly preparing girls might appreciate:
While prepping, I was freaking out and sure that I would fail. At some point, I began to become convinced that I was actually getting dumber because I was having so much trouble retaining the simplest information. I told my husband this, and he, of course, thought that I was crazy.
Fast forward to several weeks after the test, but well before the results. I went for a follow up visit to a neurologist who had prescribed a medication called Topamax to me for headaches several months before. As I was trying to describe, but couldn’t remember at all, the name of a very common OTC medication that I was taking to the nurse, she proclaimed “It’s the Topamax!” And so I came to find out that I actually *had* been getting dumber; the problems that I’d been having with word finding and not being able to construct sentences were not residual stress from the bar or aging, as I had told myself. Apparently, those in the medical industry call Topamax “Dope-amax” because it tends to make the user mentally foggy. How I missed this knowledge, I have no idea. Stopped taking it that day.
Spent the next few months panicking and attempting to perfect the story that I was going to use to explain to everyone why I had failed the bar because of this damned medication.
Turns out, I passed. Moral of the story is that if I could do it even in a drug-induced stupor, you can, too.
Atlantia
I hated topamax, too. Nice to know my experience wasn’t unusual.
ElevenElle
=) I keep looking at the statistics. 95% bar takers from my school passed last July. Surely I won’t be in that 5%….Right? ugh. I just hate that I feel so guilty for getting so little done this afternoon. And I hate that my hands already shake at the thought of taking the exam.
C
Right there with you! I have pretty much been breaking down about failing for the last month. At this point (and after a great yoga class this afternoon) I came to the realization that for the next two weeks, I can only do what I can do. I know it sounds corny, but if I know I’ve done the best that I can do, that really is all I can do for the bar. I completely understand with hands shaking…I’m not really a nervous person and yesterday I actually had to leave my studying three times because I thought I was going to be sick.
Lynnet
A bar-related question: I keep on having dreams, I guess you would say, where I’m answering bar exam questions. My mind keeps on going through the elements and creating new fact patterns, while remaining on the edge of sleep without actually getting there. The only way to make it stop is to force myself to wake up completely, but as soon as I do that I start worrying about other things and then can’t go back to sleep. Of course usually the best thing I can do to solve whatever problem I’m worried about is get a good nights sleep.
Does anyone have any suggestions for breaking the cycle? I don’t know if this is something other people experience or not.
yup
I experienced it to a small degree during finals and to a very large degree near the tail end of my bar studying. I’ve always thought it was my mind sorting through the issues/problems in my head and just embraced it. I convinced myself it was my brain’s way to multitask. During bar studying, I took a nap during the day every now and again if I feel like the “sleep” I was getting was not enough.
This reminds me of a tip that I discovered while studying for the bar and I use it to this day. I’m a perfectionist and a relatively anxious person. When I’m first running, as I’m feeling the adrenaline, I start thinking about everything that makes me anxious. I start big and then move to the little stuff. During bar study, I’d start with just the word “failing” and I’d think about it over and over and let my anxiety fuel my run. I’d let my mind wonder the world of failing the bar. After about a minute, “failing” got old and the mantra got silly and I’d move on to something else and think “not remembering xyz regarding civ pro” and let the anxiety that was created fuel me… wash and repeat. Then, I’d go back and think about those things again, like a checklist. If I still felt that anxiety rush, I’d focus on it until I ran it out of me. When I no longer felt that rush (which seemed to coincide with me getting tired) I’d start thinking about passing and focusing on what I knew, and how what I knew was pretty impressive compared to when I first started studying, all the great things I would do the day after the exam, etc. It sounds so silly but after my daily run I felt so good. I had confronted my fears, thought about them, “flushed them out” and replaced them with positive things. Of course, all those anxieties would come back but they weren’t as bad and I was able to manage them better during non-exercising times knowing that they’d have their moment to shine during my run.
Six years later I still do the same anxiety-flush exercise and it works for me.
CfM
I had this too, I kept trying to figure out wills in my sleep! Advil PM helped
Bar Sleep
For help sleeping, try melatonin which is over the counter and not habit-forming. It can help you to fall or stay asleep and you can use it only when you are feeling anxious and sleepless.
Good luck studiers!
SB
I have no advice for breaking the cycle. Just tell you what I’ve tried. It started during finals — I occasionally had a strange dream working through a practice exam.
Then studying for the bar last summer it manifested and I was constantly having crazy bar related dreams. I would tell my husband I felt more rested when I was awake than I actually was when I was sleeping. It got to a point where I was having so many mental marathons at night I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Or at least I never felt like I was sleeping and there were some days I felt like a zombie.
I did try doing yoga at night the last couple weeks, and then at nights before I fell asleep I would have some time with my husband where I would talk about happy non-bar related things: vacations, planning our family, thinking about fun times in the past, funny stories, just having plan ole silly time before falling asleep. It did help a little bit. The dreams weren’t as crazy. But I was still having dreams. Tried Advil PM, etc. – it would make me fall asleep, but the dreams were still crazy. No rest! After the bar exam they went away, but then came back before the results.
I Passed. Had a bunch of crazy dreams after the results came out. I thought they would NEVER end.
Fast forward to second bar exam (took another state in February) and I spoke to my doctor about it. She gave me a muscle relaxer (she said my neck, back and shoulder muscles were too tense). It also made me very sleepy. I would fall asleep, I wouldn’t have crazy dreams, and I awoke so much more rested (although slightly groggy for a half-hour). It was non-addictive and so very helpful. Crazy dreams went away for a little while, but then started up in the weeks leading to the results.
Good Luck!
a lawyer
With only a few weeks before the bar exam, if this is a persistent problem, I would see a medical professional for a mild anti-anxiety medication to take jsut at night (use a fraction of what they prescribe and see if that does the trick) or another sleep aid, ambien or whatever. You need rest, and the bar exam is such a life-changing event in our pre-exam perspectives that you may just need some help in winding down from prep enough to sleep. Good luck.
murt
I used to have this problem – not so much during my studying for the bar, but during undergrad when I studied math. I used to have crazy math nightmares. I also had similar nightmares on occasion during law school.
Honestly the best thing that helped me was to stop studying a couple hours before bed and veg out by reading or watching movies. I also worked on consciously telling myself before bed that thinking about the bar exam right now would not help me, but would hurt me – I used to actually reprimand myself when I started thinking about the exam. That also worked quite well – I had to be very stern with myself and force myself to think of something else – like the book I’d just been reading or the movie I’d just watched.
In the worst case I did use sleeping pills (zopiclone) though, but I wouldn’t advise taking those for more than 2-3 weeks straight.
Good luck with the exam (if you are still studying)!
AEK
I had the same side effects with Topamax for migraines! Not to mention that I once had to remain seated at a conference table after a meeting broke up because I had lost all sensation in my leg and didn’t want to limp out of the room. However, I also lost about 10 pounds without trying. It was almost worth the dumbness. Almost.
Anon
I also hated, hated, hated topomax. From the word-finding issues, to the tingly hands and feet, to the breakthrough menstrual bleeding, it sucked! Plus I still had headaches. But as AEK mentioned, I also lost a bunch of weight without trying, so at least there was that!
meara
OMG, yes–I went off the tompamax (for migraines) back in September, and promptly gained 20 pounds. Grrr. Hated the other side effects, but loved the appetite suppressing!
jcb
Oh, another comforting bar story. My ex-S.O. panicked when he got to the very end of the multiple choice section and realized that he was 2 questions off – he freaked out and erased over half of his answers, then realized that he hadn’t circled the answers in his booklet while going through the test the first time. So, he basically had to re-take half of the test with 10 minutes to go, didn’t finish filling in about the last 20 questions. And he passed! Lessons: (1) circle your answers as you take the test; (2) don’t panic!; and (3) you really really don’t have to do perfectly to pass.
anon
I love this suit, and I haven’t had any quality issues with Anne Klein NY, but AK Anne Klein is a different story.
OT, but today in an effort to break out of my black pants/blazer and black suit rut, I wore a knee length navy silk skirt with white polka dots, white shell and white pique cotton blazer, with nude patent pumps. I was feeling very summery but professional until one of the paralegals told me I looked like I was on my way to Easter service. Sigh.
b23
That sounds like an awesome outfit, and totally professional! Don’t worry – she probably meant it as a compliment.
SALit-a-gator
Your outfit sounds lovely! Some people just don’t know how to properly phrase a compliment :-)
Lydia
FWIW – I think that sounds like a really nice outfit.
meme
One day I was wearing beautiful BB navy slacks and a white button down, with a cute cardigan and someone told me I looked like a flight attendant. Not the look I was going for.
a lawyer
My paralegal told me that on the way to second day of a jury trial one time, navy suit, don’t remember the blouse. I still laugh about that, but also use it as a self-reminder of how NOT to make people feel before a nerve-wracking event!
a lawyer
I think it sounds like a great outfit. Either your paralegal is not gifted in giving compliments or is pretty tactless–laugh it off.
Criminal Conversation
It sounds more formal than the kind of outfit I’d wear, which perhaps prompted the church reference, but it sounds nice. Obviously, it’s impossible to know without seeing it.
It’s also impossible to know how to read the comment without knowing the paralegal or your relationship with her.
It could be have a left-handed compliment, a real compliment, or a dig.
New Job
I’m heading out soon to play softball with my old firm (switched jobs recently, but no hard feelings with old firm and they really need women on the team!) and I’m wondering how to handle changing into my uniform. Some of my new office mates know I’m still playing for my old firm, and it’s totally fine, but it will still look weird for me to walk through the hall in the uniform. No bathrooms at the field, unfortunately, so I pretty much have to change here. Just sort of feeling weird about it and wanted to share.
On a related note but not as awkward, any other Corporettes play on a team with your office? Any stories?
Hm
Are you driving there? If so, change your top in your car. I do “stealth” car changes all of the time if I don’t want to wear my suit to dinner/drinks/whatever. If not, can you change into everything but the top and just throw a benign T or tank over your sports bra and then put your uniform top on at the field?
Anonylawyer
Love this! Wish it was in my budget. I would love to own at least the dress, if not both pieces.
Just starting
I can’t think of a better way to say this but ladies, do you find you have to completly remove pencil skirts and dresses to avoid crumpling your clothing when going to the bathroom? Is this just a problem I have?
a lawyer
I recognize the issue–I just look a little “crumpled.”
Duckie
Pull it up turning the skirt inside out instead of wadding it around your waist. That works for me.
Anonymous
or… could you go up a size? do you have a least a bit of spandex, etc.? better living through technology. i never thought about this and don’t have a problem. could it be that theoretically better, higher quality, full-wool pencils don’t function as well as mid-range spandex-enhanced blends?
i’m sure you look fab and are the only one who notices any little crumps.
Anonymous
as in.. cut yourself some slack one way or another, via skirt construction/size or via ‘tude. no (non-American Psycho) man would ever disrobe in the stall to preserve the perfection. save your brain power and attention for work and know you look very polished and very lovely. life’s too short.
Just starting
Thanks! I’m the youngest lawyer here (by twenty years) and in an office of all women… It makes me overly
Fearful.
Criminal Conversation
I like the style very much. The high level of acrylic in the fabric not so much. The dress looks designed to be worn only under that jacket. For that purpose, it’s fine. But normally I like dress that can be worn separately in order to get more mileage out of the outfit.
Lizzie
Something about this model’s posture looks very strange. Especially in the photo without the jacket.
cheap dresses with straps for mother of groom
It is crucial to set up who will tke theria t b n t of old budgets.age of gown, sheen of material, and so on. Each dress is distinct! I was personally thrilled with the colour just after restoration.