Suit of the Week: Semantiks Mélange Suit
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We really like this black and white combo suit from Semantiks, available at Nordstrom. The piping on the jacket is interesting without being distracting, and the cut of the suit is feminine without being frou-frou. The Semantiks Mélange Jacket is $138, and the Semantiks ‘Moonlit' Mélange Trousers are $88. There's a coordinating Semantiks ‘Moonlit' Mélange Pencil Skirt, also, priced at $68.
Sales of note for 6/19:
- Nordstrom – 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Boss, Theory, Beyond Yoga, and Zella
- Another Tomorrow – Seasonal sale, 50% off select styles
- Ann Taylor – 50% off everything + free shipping! Readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Athleta – 30-60%off reader favorites like Brookyn and Endless pants, and the Pranayama wrap is marked down to $55. ,
- AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
- Bare Necessities – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off, plus get an additional 40% off clearance swim. Readers have sung the praises of these cooling pajamas and their bra-sized swimwear
- Boden – 15% off new women's wear styles with code
- Evereve – 20% off dresses!
- Glossier – Last day 6/19: 20-25% off almost everything (including subscriptions!)
- J.Crew – Extra 15% off your purchase (on top of up to 50% off select styles)
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off orders over $100, and extra 20% off orders over $125 – readers love their schoolboy blazers and sweaters (down as low as $84), and they have a great selection of summer suiting in the sale
- Jenni Kayne – Semi-annual warehouse sale
- M.M.LaFleur – Archive sale! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new arrivals up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Ruti – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off!
- Splendid – Up to 60% off women's sale!
- Talbots – 6/19 only: free shipping, no minimum! Readers love their cashmere cardigans
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
I’m finishing up my graduate degree and just starting to learn more about proper corporate attire. Thank you so much for this incredibly educational blog!
I was wondering about suiting materials. My friends have advised me to avoid polyester and other synthetic materials, saying that they look “cheap”. Personally, I can’t tell the difference, but apparently the discerning eyes at prestigious companies *can* tell the difference. Yet, I notice that a lot of the suits you feature are made of viscose/ polyester/ etc, including the one above.
Can most peers and higher ups in Corporate America really tell the difference? And if so, how much does it matter to them?
I definitely trend toward wool and away from synthetics for suits. When I was first starting out (four or five years ago), I had no problem with a suit from Ann Taylor that was made of synthetics, but over time I realized that they wear poorly and do look cheaper than suits made of natural fabrics. As you become more successful and make more money, I think it makes sense to invest in suits that don’t contain syntethics – plus you’ll get your mnoey’s worth, because you can keep and wear them much longer.
i find that synthetic blends don’t clean (as in dry cleaning) as well as natural fibers.
nordstrom has another private label – classique entier, that has a higher price point and nicer fabrication.
It’s true that synthetic fabrics often wear more quickly than wool. But for me, synthetics are the way to go because they are more comfortable, and I find that since my weight fluctuates and styles change, I don’t really want to keep a suit forever anyway. Many of my clothes are a wool/synthetic mix, which gives them a more flattering drape for my figure. Keep in mind that simple black clothes rarely look cheap; for other colors the quality of the fabric is more noticeable.
I think as a junior person, the color, fit and accessories you choose are much more important than whether your clothes are made of synthetics. If your office is business casual, check out the book “Casual Power” which talks about creating a professional image even if you don’t wear a suit.
Classiques Entier is definitely worth the investment. I have a suit from ’96 and still wear the jacket with jeans and receive compliments – it’s a fitted navy with a zipper and I love it. Bought another in ’99 and decided to retire it last year but I miss wearing it – gray, with hooks and eyes, but it’s time has passed. Also have suits by Talora that have lasted for years, and one was actually found on sale at Nordstrom.