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Updated: May 12, 2021 73 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Reiss

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 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.

This lovely suit from Reiss is a good example of my theory on how denim styles influence workwear — I'm seeing a lot of high-waisted pleated pants for work right now, all of which will look lovely with a sleek, tucked-in top, or even some of the bodysuits for work outfits we rounded up a month or so ago.

What do you think, readers — if you're on the hunt for suits right now, what kind of pant cuts are you looking for? Cropped? Trousers with straight or slightly bootcut legs?

(This also gets into my theory on why skirt suits are in some ways more “classic” than pantsuits…)

The pictured suit is available in sizes 0–12; the blazer is $475; the pants are $285.

Looking for a more affordable suit? This Calvin Klein suit comes in regular, petite, and plus sizes and has a beige khaki and a darker taupe available.

Some of our favorite budget-friendly interview suits for women include stores like Banana Republic Factory*†, J.Crew Factory*†, Mango*, and Express†, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*†, and Tahari ASL. For a vintage vibe, check Amazon seller Marycrafts*. (* = some plus sizes also, † = petites)

Banana Republic Factory Sculpted Suiting interview suit for women
Banana Republic Factory (exact)
interview suit for women from Anne Klein Executive
Anne Klein Executive
interview suit for women from Vince Camuto
Vince Camuto (exact)
Calvin Klein interview suit for women
Calvin Klein (exact)
budget-friendly interview suit for women from Express with Editor pants
Express

Sales of note for 9.10.24

Sales of note for 9.10.24

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

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And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

    • Anon

      After months trying on various new iterations of jeans and denim pants (and non-denim pants), today I am wearing curvy-cut bootcut jeans with a hint of stretch and am finally happy again.

      The new things ranged from meh to OMG this hurts to OMG to fit my hips and avoid camel toe, I have to size up and then also wear a belt. I experience my strongest emotions in the fitting room.

    • Sloan Sabbith

      Betabrand yoga denim. Not going back to work anytime soon, so it’s my compromise between hard pants and soft pants.

    • BB

      I’ve been eyeing Imogene + Willie jeans for a while (any reviews from people here?), and I might finally take the plunge. I tried on my Rag and Bone cigarette jeans for the first time in over a year last week and…my thighs have gotten HUGE from the Peloton. It’s all muscle and I’m happy about it, but definitely need new jeans now!

      • Nashvillian

        I’ve had I&W jeans for years and they are indeed wonderful and the people are great.

    • Anonymous

      Athletic figure (no hips), small size, short legs for height, mid-40s here. General style aesthetic is somewhere between The Mom Edit and Audrey Hepburn. I am wearing straight-leg jeans that hit at the ankle bone, midrise or lower high rise. I refuse to wear super high-rise jeans or the kind that are poofy at the top and tapered at the bottom. I insist on a slightly thinner denim with a bit of stretch, not the thick “rigid” denim that is currently all the rage, and I refuse to wear anything with a button fly. My two latest jeans purchases were the Mother Dazzler and the Frame Le Sylvie.

    • Anon

      I haven’t worn jeans since March 2020, but I just bought a pair of mid-rise boyfriend jeans from Old Navy. They’re a nice change from skinnies. I like the feeling of my legs not being constricted!

    • pugsnbourbon

      High-waisted, loose-ish in the hips and thigh but tapered. But also you can pry my black skinny jeans from my cold dead fingers.

    • Anom

      Why are all the jeans ankle length? A, my ankles get cold and B, my legs are short relative to my torso so it makes me look stumpy.

      • eertmeert

        Lol, I am short so need the ankle length to be regular length! I like American Eagle because they have tall, regular and short in all their pants.

    • Anon

      Madewell Vintage Cropped Straight (on me a cropped jean is almost regular length). Love them! They have hemp in the fabric so they’re a bit lighter for summer.

    • Anonymous

      Not buying anything at the moment because of the travel restrictions where I live, but what’s on my list are high rise straight light blue jeans with stretch, full length. Fitted at the hips and bum, not mom-jeans.

      For now, super high rise black skinnies, and the last pair I bought during the pandemic was another one. I’m wearing black skinnies until people stop wearing yoga pants in public as their normal pants.

  2. No Face

    I don’t care if it is in fashion, I will not buy pants with pleats. I can’t imagine a cut less attractive on my particular body. My newest suit has straight leg pants with a side zipper.

    • Anonymous

      +1 – this plus the high waist is disaster for me. I am short waisted and also look horrible in anything with a gathered or pleated waist. I think the latter is because my shape is apparently “rectangular,” although very busty.

    • Anon

      Ooh, where did you find a suit with straight pants, side zip? My favorite cut, provided that they are high waist.

      • No Face

        Ann Taylor! The pants are high waist.
        I bought the suit set at 75% off during the first phase of the pandemic too.

  3. Cat

    Not going back to the office until fall so hadn’t thought about this until now, but “sheath + matching or not-matching blazer” has replaced “matching jacket and bottom” in my org.

    In early 2020 I did pick up a few pairs of floor-length wide-legged pants that look(ed) lovely with heels and were a nice change from ankle pants… but I will be totally sitting out high-waisted pleats, wide crops, etc as frumptastic for my figure.

  4. Anon

    I was thinking this morning on why I buy wool sweaters even though I have to wear a cotton shirt underneath. I think it’s b/c cotton sweaters tend to be too casual for work and not warm enough (and sometimes they stretch out), silk seems to get fuzzy and lose its luster or get picks easily, acrylic is not warm. Wool is often polished AND warm, so for something I can wear to work, I am willing to spend some $. Wearing a layer underneath helps cut down on needing to launder / dry clean it. I’m OK with all of this. I have cashmere sweaters going on 10+ years; some merino ones also, but they tend to be thinner and not as warm. I also really only buy wool suits (but the pants have to be lined). The only other thing I’ve found to be warm and not-itchy is fleece, and I have yet to find a fleece suit :)

    • Anon

      I have no problem wearing a layer under my wool sweaters for exactly the reason you mentioned. They’re basically all I wear in the winter.

  5. Anonymous

    I have a suit with pants like this from 2003 that’s been sitting in my closet for years waiting for me to take it to goodwill… Guess it’s in style again?

    • anne-on

      I had what I thought were an adorable pair of high-waisted pleated wool trousers with a herringbone weave back in 2009 or so – not long after Mad Men brought formal clothes like that back into style. Wore them often with tucked in silky blouses and felt very Katherine Hepburn chic. Then I saw some photos that were taken of me while I was wearing them (I was in the background of some casual shots we took for reference as we toured a venue for a work event). Those pants seriously added about 10lbs to my frame AND made my ‘tuckus’ as Ellen would say look enormous. If I couldn’t pull them off then I certainly cannot now.

  6. Anon

    Maybe my eye will adjust, who knows. But for now these pants are just comically bad – widening and stumpifying.

    • Anon

      If I’m going to spend Reiss $ on things, it’s not going to be on these things.

      • AIMS

        I would happily buy this suit and wear it exactly as pictured all summer if it only looked on me the way it does on the model.

  7. Girls Getaway Rec

    Looking for a recommendation for 6 fully vaccinated women for a low key weekend getaway. One rule is it has to be drivable (3 hrs?) from Baltimore. Some of us are flying in from Boston, so flight + 3 hour drive might not be ideal. But a flight in to DC + a drive wouldn’t be the worst. Must haves are proximity to a winery/brewery and ideally a hot tub at the airbnb. This would be in July or August, most likely. Any ideas for locations? Charlottesville is the only thing that comes to mind.

    • anon

      Hmm, I might suggest a luxury house at Lake Anna. Its about an hour and a half from DC, there is at least one winery, and fun lake stuff to do.

    • PolyD

      St. Michael’s, MD? One-percenter vibes, but it has wine and beer tasting places, tchotchke shops, and restaurants on the water.

  8. Anon

    I think I’m a voice of dissent, but I love this look! I like my skinny pants, but I didn’t realize how tired I’d gotten of that silhouette. I think the pleated pants are are fun departure. I also don’t agree that the purpose of clothing should be to make a woman look as skinny and long-legged as possible, so they don’t bother me from that aspect. I will always be a ’90s kid at heart, apparently.

    • Anon

      Yeah I’m similarly thrilled that flare jeans are back. I was a hold out from skinny jeans for a long time and had kept my favorite pair of flares, and am thrilled to be wearing them again.

    • Monday

      Sing it! I’m curvy and petite, but I’ve been buying lots of pants with this structure. It’s fun and comfortable. I’m also not convinced that I looked any taller or thinner in other pants? I don’t like the constraints regardless.

      Follow plus-sized fashionistas, whether you’re plus-size or not, for proof that anyone can wear anything.

  9. Anon

    Continuing this morning’s thread about color analysis, where I mentioned David Zyla’s book. He says your true colors are those found in your natural coloring

    I looked at his website and he lays it out there, so I think it’s ok to share

    THE COLORS THAT EXPRESS WHO YOU ARE:
    Essence: Your vulnerable color, your version of white, a skin tone that harmonizes the colors in the palm of your hand

    Romantic: Your passion color, your version of red found by gently pinching a fingertip—or the color of when you blush

    Dramatic: Your “look at me” color, your version of blue, found in the color of the veins in your wrist

    Energy: The color that supports you when you need a pick me up, taken from the darkest part of your iris (but not the ring around the iris)

    Tranquil: Your peaceful color, taken from the lightest part of your iris

    THE COLORS THAT SUPPORT YOU:
    First base, formal, your version of black, taken from the ring around your iris

    Second base, less formal but still serious, your version of brown, taken from the darkest part of your hair [tips in the book for where else to look if you color your hair]

    Third base, casual, your version of khaki, taken from the lightest part of your hair (tips in the book for where else to look if you color your hair)

    https://www.davidzyla.com/the-color-of-style/

    I’m not sure I’m down with the woo category names, but I loved reading his book and it made so much more sense to me than any of the online color analysis I’ve done (where I could either be a soft summer or a soft autumn or sometimes a cool summer). The only thing missing in my Zyla style palette was the purple/plums I love so I just added those.

      • Anonymous

        Just saw your morning post, posted a reply there, but based on how you described yourself I think you’re most likely a soft (warm as second guess) spring or autumn.

        The model you asked about, i think is a clear spring. She’s been put in terrible make-up (for her colouring), but with her lever and contrast and lightness, combined with bright eye colour and looking good in black, clear or bright spring is likely in the seasonal system.

    • Cornellian

      Relatedly, after I posted that question, I found stylewise ( dot me ) and uploaded a photo there. They have a tool that lets you select your hair, eye and skin color and gives advice based on that.

      • Anon

        I have used that as well and I get different answers based on the photo and where I choose the colors from.

    • Cat

      Hm. I just read through this and looked in the mirror. I get the concept but the colors that make me look the most “alive” (navy, black, white, and deep forest green) are none of those according to this metric!

      • Anon

        I had to add colors I knew I liked to my palette (I mentioned plums and purples) but do you think the colors from your skin/eyes/hair etc look good on you?

        • Cat

          Dirty blonde and medium-fair with light brown eyes here, and anything in the “peach to light tan” family (palm, irises, dark and light hair tones) looks like death warmed over.

          I do look nice in chocolate brown (to the “darkest part of the iris” point), though, and suppose my veins count as navy :)

  10. Job Interview Hair?

    I have an in-person interview Monday, and I’m trying to figure out what to do with my hair. I’ve been cutting my own hair since COVID started and (for reasons) I’m not yet comfortable with a salon trip. My hair’s shoulder length and curly (type 2c). Typically, I wear my hair quite a bit shorter, so I don’t have a lot of “job interview with long hair” experience. Any ideas of a style that’s professional but won’t show off my lack of home haircutting skills?

      • Cornellian

        +1. Will keep it out of your face and hide any uneven layers/etc in the front.

    • Anon

      I’d pull it back in a low ponytail.

      Honestly though, I just hired a summer despite her having super wild hair on her zoom call. I figured we shouldn’t be judging people by their hair in the first place but (2) I’m especially not going to judge hair in a pandemic. I would have put it back in a ponytail if I was her though!

    • anne-on

      I have a few France Luxe barettes – the wider ones – for situations where I want to pull my hair back but pretend like it’s supposed to be a fancy updo. You can also just buy a decent wide barrette at most salons or one of those metal ponytail holders – JCrew usually has a bunch.
      One of these days I’d like to learn how to do a proper chignon but for now I simply pull it back into a low pony, twist the hair tightly and secure with the barrette and hold in any wispies/strays with bobby pins and hairspray. Having my hair out of my face also keeps me from playing with it out of nervous habit.

    • Anon

      I’m a 2b-2c also suffering from quarantine hair. I’d do a scraped-back front with the crown poofed up a bit, just to avoid the skullcap look. Half-up hair looks wet when it’s pulled too tight against the head.

    • Monte

      “Wild hair?” The uphill battle women with slightly unusual hair face, to say nothing of black women, is succinctly captured here. OP, you clearly need to be careful.

      Still, as a black woman with natural hair, I often twist my hair so that is looks like a braid/crown in the front and then pin it up or put it in a ponytail in the back. Polished, approachable, but nondescript. You can google these crown looks that are professional but will be unobtrusive for your interview.

  11. Cornellian

    I’m looking for gift advice in a sort of strange situation: I divorced when my preschooler wasn’t even 2. Preschooler is now 4, and I’ve been dating a man for the last 22 months. Preschooler’s dad is generally in the picture but inconsistent, he probably averages seeing his son 5 hours a week and doesn’t have overnights. My boyfriend/partner, on the other hand, probably averages 5-8 hours a day with the preschooler, takes him to the park, cooks breakfast for us, teaches preschooler things, etc.

    Last year I didn’t do anything for partner for father’s day because it seemed a little presumptuous. This year it would feel almost cruel to not do anything. What sort of gift would you look for? I was thinking maybe a new wallet (which he mentioned needing), maybe a nice meal from me? I don’t want to edge bio dad out, but I don’t think it’s fair to ignore the (way greater) contribution partner has made to my kid’s childhood over the last couple years.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t have gift advice but I agree with the sentiment of acknowledging the contribution. A friend is the most consistent parent in the lives of her partner’s kids and was not acknowledged on Sunday. I was really heartbroken for her.

      • Cornellian

        That’s rough. last year my thought process was, in part, that if my son wasn’t thinking of partner as dad, I shouldn’t force him to. That’s true, but I think I still could have done something small to acknowledge the paternal role he was playing in my life. It seems like her partner could have acknowledged it, even if the kids didn’t.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think you need to worry about edging bio dad out? Don’t tell about the gift? You’re just looking for a Father’s Day gift. A wallet or meal out sounds perfect

    • Senior Attorney

      I think your instincts are great. Also I am certain there are all kinds of actual Hallmark (or similar cards) for this Hallmark holiday that actually say things like “Happy Father’s Day to Mom’s partner who steps up way more than biodad.”

      • Anna

        Aww okay there are some really cute ones. Google “fathers day card stepfather”. Stuff like “best bonus dad ever” or “youre a dad in all the ways that matter”

      • Cornellian

        Between his siblings and my best friend, i think poor boyfriend has five gag coffee mugs/etc related to his role. Last year my best friend got him one that says “Happy Father’s Day from the kid you inherited when you started shacking up with my mom” and his sister got him a “World’s Okayest Dad” one.

        I’ve found lots of non-gag “stepdad” ones but we’re not married, so it feels sort of weird. Maybe I’ll see if preschooler wants to make one in a couple weeks.

    • anonshmanon

      unrelated of whether it’s the biological father or mom’s new partner, father’s day (and mother’s, too) in my mind is not an occasion for stuff-gifts, but for cards, flowers, a drawing from the child, breakfast in bed or a home baked cake, and activities of the honoree’s choosing. Basically, consumables or experiences.

      • anne-on

        This. I would think a card, a nice dinner/dessert, and then asking him to pick an activity that he’d like to do together? The weather should be nice so hopefully you have some fun options – beach day? hike? local zoo visit?

    • Anonymous

      Chiming only late but I think there are lots of great non-gifty ways to celebrate. Have your kid make a card. It doesn’t have to say “Father’s Day.” Idk what your kid calls him, but how about “I love you!” Or “to the best [name]!”

      Then give him a Day. This will be person specific but my dad used to get a day on his boat fishing /sailing with all the kids, lunch and snacks packed by mom or oldest kid. Mom stayed home and did the “dad chores” (mowing, misc to dos) and made dinner so when we got back dad could just relax. My dad worked 80 weeks and never saw us during the week. Some people want a kid-free golf day. My DH likes doing 1:1 stuff related to his hobbies with each of our kids throughout the day.

  12. Frozen clementines?

    Talk to me about frozen clementines — I don’t get it? Once unfrozen they don’t taste like sorbet, but are maybe easier to peel? But I saw someone on social media saying frozen clementines are incredibly popular for school lunches in Japan? So confused.

    • Anonymous

      I peel first and then freeze. Sometimes dip in dark chocolate. It’s a lot like how frozen bananas taste different because of the water content. I don’t wait for them to thaw–I eat frozen/semi-frozen. I also like frozen bite size watermelon (I buy in a bag) with a small dash of sugar as a late-night treat alternative to ice cream.

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