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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.
OK. Yes, the model here looks equal parts defiant/unhappy/about-to-be-sick, but let's try to ignore that and focus, instead, on the great suit. Pinstripes can be tricky, but I love this suit — the navy pinstripe pattern hints at the 70s trend going on right now, but stays within the acceptable limits for a suit, and the fit on the pants looks flattering. The jacket (Georgie Betsy Jacket) is $304, and the pants (Georgie Classic Pants) are $214, both at ShopBop.
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eplawyer
Would it kill the Georgie folks to photograph the suit pieces together? Otherwise I have no idea how the suit looks overall.
Having said that, I would love to find a nice pinstripe skirt suit rather than pants. I prefer skirt suits to pants suits (personal preference, I don’t care what anyone else wears as long as they look professional).
Kat
oh! actually the suit is on the front page of ShopBop — i just couldn’t grab the image easily to display here.
eplawyer
Thanks Kat. Please know I was criticizing the suit folks, not you.
Anonymous
Agreed. This pattern is bordering on one that will look ridiculous on me as a full suit, and the fact they have not shown the pieces together makes me suspicious that it crosses that line – even if that is not the case.
Anonymous
Now that I do see it together on the front page, I really like it. They did this suit a real disservice using this model and showing the jacket with light jeans.
K
@eplawyer: What, you don’t go to work wearing suit pants and (I assume) a bra? What kind of Corporette are you? :)
Anon too
Not for the straight and narrow :-) Those are some rather wide lapels and combined with the wider stripe, I think this could overwhelm (my) less curvy body type that needs more subtle design. Theory did a narrow charcoal pinstripe last fall that was lovely and appropriate as a conservative interview suit, but it sold out really quickly.
as a total aside, here’s hoping 1980s acid washed high waisted jeans do NOT come back.
anon4eva
Awful
AB
I know we aren’t supposed to comment on the model, but come on. It must have taken some effort to strike a pose that conveys so many emotions.
That said, I wish I could see the pieces together. It’s hard to judge a suit when it’s bisected this way. I really like the parts separately though.
govvie
Yeh, I have no idea what their budget was for fashion shoots this year but apparently not much. Between the model’s pose and expression, and the awkward display of the suit separates, it’s just very “oh, crap, we have a photo shoot in five seconds! Can someone who’s had a bad day throw this on?” If I bought the suit, it would not be because of the photos but despite them.
Anon
I’m so bitter that none of the featured suits are ever suits that come in sizes above a 12 that I can’t even comment on the suit. I buy suits too! I like to look nice! Throw me a bone once a month or so! Please. Pretty pretty please.
anon2
agreed! I’m plus size and wear suits and would love to see some options…
Anon 3L
I would like to take this time to vent about stores that have plus sizes on their website, but only picture the clothes in a size 2. I cannot determine if the clothes will flatter my figure based on what looks good on a size 2. It is very frustrating.
RR
Agreed. I truly commend the stores that DO feature their clothes on plus-size models–Brooks Brothers, Saks, sometimes Nordstrom. Talbots actually featured a plus size model for last spring’s collection (like a size 12 model, but still), but then they don’t use her to model their plus size offerings. And often the plus size clothes are different, so showing me one shot of the straight size garment is not helpful.
Seattleite
Kat, the link to your ‘pinstripes can be tricky’ post seems to be broken.
E
Threadjack/rant:
Working late tonight (most people take off around 6 at my office) and there is one other person still here in my (open) area. She sits about 20 feet away and is playing foreign language music at her desk (not wearing headphones). It’s at a relatively low volume, but I can absolutely hear it. Would it have killed her to ask me if I’d mind? Because I probably would have said fine, no problem, and it wouldn’t have bothered me. But now I just find it so incredibly rude and it IS bothering me. A bit hypocritical, I guess, so I’m just trying to pretend like she asked and try to enjoy it, but sigh!
Anon
Is the music bothering you or the fact that it is foreign language music ?
Good to get some perspective here! You seem to sit far away enough.
E
Just that there’s unnecessary noise.
Frankly I think if she’d asked, I’m pretty sure I would have felt like we were both in this work-late thing together, bending the “rules,” and I could have enjoyed it. Not the music I’d have picked, but it’s not inherently disturbing. Guess I’m just feeling very disrespected.
balancingact
Do you dislike her or something? It sounds like there were only two of you there and she was far and had the music on low volume, so she’s not out of line.
Anonymous
Are you sitting there passive aggressively sighing and hoping she’ll read your mind? Why on earth don’t you just get up and ask her to turn it down, like a normal adult?
Janie
I wonder if it is too late in the day to get responses, but a threadjack anyway –
Do you guys have tips on what to talk about when you approach tables at a career fair? I feel like I never know how to get a conversation started in these situations… thanks in advance!
E
“Hi, I’m Janie [extend hand for handshake]” If you’re a student, you can also say what year you are and what you study (if it’s not obvious like it would be at a career fair at a law school). If you’re employed, you can say what you do.
“I was hoping you could tell me about your organization and the roles you’re looking to fill.”
And take it from there!
Be prepared with a 20 second or so promotional pitch for yourself and what you’re looking for, if the opportunity arises.
For a company with a name you recognize and know you are interested in, I might approach them a little differently. Still go up to the person at the table the same way, but don’t ask about the organization. Instead say you are very interested in their company, maybe say why, and then ask about the roles they are looking to fill.
Janie
Thank you!
Anything else that I should really do or avoid doing?
A
If you can, get a list of organizations & do a bit of research ahead of time. Have some specific questions prepared to illustrate you’ve done your homework. Take cards and follow up with anyone you find interesting.
I also like to get a cup of coffee somewhere right after and jot down some notes on what I did, who I met, what I need to follow up on. I find I forget otherwise, and jotting stuff down right after helps.
Anonymous
I go to these from time to time as an employer, not a job seeker. I usually have a one-minute spiel about what my company does and what we look for prepared. I think it’s great to start out just by asking “can you tell me a bit about (company name) and what kind of opportunities are available for (a person like you – e.g. a recent law grad, student seeking internships, etc)?” Make sure you actually pay attention to the spiel and ask intelligent questions after!
RKS
I also have gone as an employer. The employer is very unlikely to remember you since it’s likely they talked to 100+++ people that day. If you are interested, follow up.
Another good Q — what are you looking for in an employee? What background/experience/pre-law major/whatever do you see as preferable? Then, when you follow up, explain how *you* meet those criteria. E.g., my agency has a preference for lawyers with a background in economics. Sometimes that background isn’t visible on a resume (e.g., degree in poli sci but tons of econ classes). So if I tell someone that econ is important to us, I would love for the follow-up to include some mention of it (I took Econ 101 in college, Econ and Law in law school or whatever).
AIMS
I’m sorry, but for a $500 suit, this looks cheap to me. I would expect this from Nine West Suiting maybe. Perhaps it looks better in person?
me
This is jockey territory.
angie
Kat, I have to say that the Theory suit I encouraged my client to purchase this week is the best fit, quality and purchase. It’s truly KILLER in every respect:
RORY MUTUAL jacket (STYLE #: B0101110)
MAX C MUTUAL pant (STYLE #: B0101218)
They are available online via the Theory website and I too shall be purchasing one of these babies very soon!
Sharon
I think this would look quite nice in front of my clients. Then again, my clients are all in business casual and I need to be one step above. So much of Corporette seems to be written from the POV that one is trying to impress judges or very conservative, buttoned-up clients. How about the rest of the business world, which went to business casual years ago? I would really appreciate some thoughts / posts on how to be “one step above” my business casual clients — to be business polished, I suppose. They’re all in khakis, casual pants, casual sweaters, etc. because, well, that’s where the business world went to years ago and law just hasn’t caught up. (My clients are all Fortune 500 companies, household names. If I showed up in a skirted suit, I’d look stiff and overly formal.)
Ashley
I also work in the business casual world, and I tend to go with simple sheath dresses for my “step up”. Then I dress it down a little with the jewelry and a cardigan vs. a blazer or suit jacket. For stepping up “casual Friday” I usually go with dark-wash trouser jeans, heels, and a blazer over some semi-dressy shirt. I’ve also found that tucking in my button down shirts and adding a belt with suit pants makes me look a little more dressed up, but not so stiff and formal.
cbackson
I think maybe…east coast law hasn’t caught up. I work in the PNW in a private firm and everyone I meet is in business casual. Clients are often in what I think of as “business WHAT?” (sneakers and a t-shirt with khakis, for example). I love suits, but don’t wear them to work, because, as a colleague says, “everyone would want to know who died.”
Anon in the snow
Your comment made me chuckle a little. I think a lot of what is posted here is casual. Some of it too casual.
Housecounsel
Corporettes, can anyone direct me toward a nice dark BROWN pantsuit? J. Crew and Theory are even letting me down . I have enough black, charcoal gray and navy . . . is is so much to ask to have an earth-toned one as well? Thank you!
RR
I’ve been eyeing one on sale at Lafayette 148, but it’s still pricey–$550. It’s a stretch wool in “coconut.” Found it in the sale section (well, found the pieces). The color it’s pictured in is a tan color, but it comes in brown (coconut).
Housecounsel
ARGH!!! Not in my size, RR, but thank you!
KP
Honestly, for the price of some of the suits posted, you could probably have one made to measure in the style, fabric, color and lining of your choice. Tom James has a women’s line. If they are located in your city, a representative will come to your office, measure you, deliver the suit and do the finishing touches. It’s pricey, but no more than many of the featured suits.
Anonymous
KP, I know Tom James is in my city. I don’t know why it never occurred to me to look into a custom made suit. Thanks!