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Suit of the Week: Theory

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army green pantsuit with upturned collar

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.

I always think of Theory for the stalwarts, but they also have a fresh line of suiting. To quote from their site:

“Theory Project’s Spring 2023 collection captures the energy and movement of New York City through fluid fabrics, utilitarian details, and kinetic prints. Experimenting with color and silhouettes, Lucas Ossendrijver designs pieces meant to be layered together for a maximalist effect, or paired with your timeless Theory essentials for a more subtle statement.”

I'm not sure I'm getting all that from the suit, but it is a nice suit with Theory quality that's a bit different than the usual Theory fare. AND it's marked down! The wool gabardine stand-collar blazer was $475, but is now marked to $285 (sizes 00-12, available in the pictured “Army” as well as navy).

The pants are also marked down — they were $275 but are now $165. Nice. (I believe this skirt matches the army, but you may want to ask to make sure.)

It looks like a lot of things from this particular collection are marked down, which isn't that surprising (to me) looking at the way it's been styled in the lookbook… so many WHY moments. (For example, here's this blazer with matching skirt… with a dress layered beneath it.) For my $.02, the skirts from the collection look really nice, as well as this suiting. (I can't decide on this dress — I feel like it could be amazing but that isn't evident from any of the pictures.)

(Ooh: separate from the Project's Spring 2023 collection, they have a navy seersucker suit — it's a nice lightweight fabric for summer, and hard to find in darker colors. FYI!)

Sales of note for 4/21/25:

  • Nordstrom – 5,263 new markdowns for women!
  • Ann Taylor – 25% off tops & sweaters + extra 40% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50%-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Boden – 10% off new womenswear styles
  • Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Sale: 30% off sitewide
  • The Fold – 25% off selected lines
  • Eloquii – $29+ select styles + extra 40% off all sale
  • Everlane – Spring sale, up to 70% off
  • J.Crew – Spring Event: 40% off sitewide + extra 50% off sale styles + 50% swim & coverups
  • J.Crew Factory – 40%-70% off everything + extra 70% off clearance
  • Kule – Lots of sweaters up to 50% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Earth Day Sale: Take 25% off eco-conscious fabrics. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Madewell – Extra 30% off sale + 50% off sale jeans
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 50% off last chance styles; new favorites added
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 30% off entire purchase w/Talbots card

120 Comments

  1. My immediate thought upon seeing this suit was “oh this is what they wore in 1984!”. As in the Orwell book. Why do I feel like that?

    1. Fresh this is not. Even brand new on a model paid to look good in clothes this looks… moldy to my eye.

    5. It looks like someone tried to go for a military-inspired look and failed miserably…

    7. I wear a lot of Theory and love a good olive/military green color. But even I think this misses the mark.

  2. With the return to office folks are wearing more scents, our office was previously scent free but now that people only come in occasionally it’s just a free for all. I am not allergic to perfume, I find it overwhelming and it distracts me from work because it’s the only thing I notice then I get ragey. I went to HR to discuss sending out a reminder about the scent policy and they refused since I wasn’t allergic my annoyance was “irrational”. Do I just have to live with this?

    1. If your reaction is just rage that other people smell, it’s a you problem. People smell of lots of things including body odor, laundry products, cigarette smoke, and coffee breath. I’m more offended by those than most commercially available scents, but I can’t get people to stop smelling like any of them short of being the crazy ranty lady.

      2. I was at an office that instituted a fragrance product-free workplace during work hours at the office. If a product primarily had another purpose – like laundry or coffee or shampoo – and was applied before or after work hours or at home – so be it. But if a product’s primary purpose was fragrance, like perfume or body spray – then it was not allowed. Or, if a product was applied during the workday or in the work place, like a lotion with fragrance, then the fragrance-free version was preferred/required. I don’t remember the exact wording. but it seemed to make people on both sides of the “ugh my headache” vs. “what?! my favorite lotion!” line equally unhappy.

    2. That’s silly, because lots of people with completely legitimate health issues with scents don’t have actual allergies, but are still perfectly justified in complaining. In the vast majority of cases, scents are irritants, not causing an immune system mediated reaction. Scents bother a lot of people, and it’s perfectly reasonable to have a scent-free policy in the interest of office productivity and to avoid disability discrimination. If you have such a policy, HR should enforce it.

      1. +1

        It is such a common trigger for migraine, and migraine is so common, many workplaces started banning them based on this alone. That is not an allergy per se.

        HR is out of line, particularly if there was already a policy about this.

        1. But OP does not have an issue here other than annoyance. I don’t think HR can act on that alone. If someone has allergies, they should come forward.

          1. I might agree with that if there wasn’t already a policy in place. But if the policy exists, I don’t see why she can’t ask them to send a reminder that it exists. But even if there is no policy, as the poster below says, it shouldn’t only be the people with disabilities who have to advocate against disability discrimination. Everyone should be empowered to speak up.

    3. I don’t see how being annoyed by scents is irrational. It’s not lot being annoyed about the color of someone’s shirt, where you can just look away. People should be able to find things that impact them annoying without being called irrational.

      I know plenty of people who have a physical reaction to perfumes, and I bet they would love to have someone else speak up for them. It’s no fun being the person with the disability who always has to ask for accommodations. If there’s a policy in place at your workplace, I don’t see why it has to be a person with a disability who has to be the one to request that it be enforced.

      1. But that’s not OP. All she says is that is makes her ragey. I don’t think that’s enough of a reason to make someone else change their personal grooming preferences (see BO comment above.)

        I have a scent migraine trigger but it’s not Coco Mademoiselle or Eau Savage, even though I’m sick of smelling those everywhere. It’s dryer sheets and other “fresh” scents like Febreze. Should I march into HR and demand everyone stop using Bounce?

        1. It is. Ragey means she has sensory overload and may be neurodivergent or have another neurologically mediated issue, so it is affecting her negatively.

          There’s a policy, it should be enforced.

          No one needs to wear perfume.

          4. Claiming to have sensory overload or neurodivergence or another neurologically mediated issue simply because you’re annoyed. Come on.

          6. Post menopause, loud music makes me ragey. It seems to be some combination of my ears plus changes in my nervous system. When it is too loud at the mall or restaurant, I leave. I complain to the gym and most will turn it down after I showed articles about how most gyms have music so loud it can be harmful.

          7. I really have to ask you all in the name of sanity to stop recommend people claim illnesses that they don’t have in order to get their way. That is not only immoral, but it is harmful to actual, legitimate sufferers of said illness. I am very surprised that anyone needs to point this out. Just stop.

        2. Those are migraine triggers for me too.

          So thankful for WFH. I’ve only had one migraine in years, and it was my own fault for trying a lavender based bug repellent.

      2. Thank you. I have a severe reaction and appreciate it so much when others’ ask for me.

    6. I am ridiculously allergic to scent- to the point that I recently had to change offices because of Dr. Scholl’s foot spray.

      I give you my blessing to lie to HR about being allergic.

    7. No, you don’t have to live with this.It’s not irrational. Remind the offenders of the policy maybe? Or print out and leave around the office?

      So many people have multiple chemical sensitivity; allergies; find it unhealthy and distracting or may be neurodivergent and find it overwhelming as a sensory issue.

      An Australian university study found one in three people have health problems caused by artificial fragrance: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2017/march/one-in-three-australians-report-health-problems-from-fragranced-consumer-products

      The policy is there because it affects so many people: employees, clients, visitors, not just you.

  3. Going off the sex talk from this morning — what did you think you knew about sex that was totally wrong? I’ll go first
    – men and women come together blissfully at the exact same moment (ha)
    – every man knows how to make a woman come (ha)
    – I was totally surprised by the wet spot when we first stopped using condoms!!!

    1. How much men just want to roll over and go to sleep when their turn is over.

      (Don’t worry, I found a good one)

    2. That girls can take care of themselves, too! Honest to goodness, until the end of freshman year of college, I thought only boys self-pleasured.

    3. Lol to the wet spot. I learned to keep a terry washcloth in my nightstand for this – allows for cuddling before cleaning up and no one has to sleep on the wet spot!

        1. oh for sure, that’s what I meant by cleaning up, etc, just that it’s nice to not leap out of bed to avoid The Spot.

    4. That closing your eyes helps when you want to tell a partner something or ask for something specific. Allows you to focus on what you are saying and not on any confusion or disappointment or expectation you may see on their face.

      That guys want it to be good for you but they don’t know how to make that happen unless you tell them or you are willing to try different things and see what works.

      That what works with one partner may not work at all with another

      1. Realized that I wrote what I learned not what I thought that turned out to be wrong

        – I thought it would be easy to tell someone I was comfortable getting naked with what I want, that guys knew what to do, that most people liked the same things and all of these are wrong

    5. It brings you closer together.

      Reality: if it’s bad, it can destroy a relationship.

    6. That most women can orgasm from grinding (even with clothes on) even if they struggle with PIV. It’s also safe sex!

      1. Whoops, I meant to say this the other way around – that it was wrong to think that PIV leads to reliable orgasm when it’s really grinding that can.

      2. I don’t know if that most women thing is true given that well less than half (30% maybe?) can O from PIV, grinding or not. But I agree grinding is better than “poking,” as the tik tok lady says.

    7. I thought that men always have a stronger drive than women. In my relationship we are pretty equal with being in the mood or not.

    9. That I would like it best if it was pre-planned and involved a candlelit room, romantic gestures from a long-term partner, and a lot of soft caressing.

    10. Not about sex itself, but since I started using hormonal BC before I even started having sex, the biggest shocker for me, when I stopped using it, was how much my drive varied during my cycle. I just didn’t realize how much impact it was having.

      1. I agree with this. Even DH has commented on the difference. Can’t get enough some times of the month and completely disinterested right before my period.

      3. Maybe this is just me – but I swear my Os are more powerful/longer right after my period ends.

    11. Well, I learned about sex primarily from reading fanfiction about vampires when I was 12, so I thought semen was cold.

  5. The “skirts” link shows why I cannot get used to sneakers with work clothes. I think every one of those photos look like a joke.

    1. I agree completely.

      I mean WHY BOTHER to wear a theory suit if this is how you top it off.

      For me, shoes are everything.

    2. Also, the pockets on the back of the wrap skirt. Huh? That’s a lot of look (?) to wear to a client meeting…

  6. My eyes are getting to be more hooded over the years and now, my eyeliner smears around and basically dissipates into a smudgy mess throughout the workday. Does anyone here have a good reco for an eye primer, or other tricks, that will keep my eyeliner in place? I’ve tried liquid, gel and pencil eyeliners and haven’t had great luck with any of them.

    1. Milani eye primer and Milani Stay Put Matte eyeliner. I have hooded eyelids too and wear both all the time. The beauty blogger I’ve followed for 11(!) years now says she wore the eyeliner through childbirth and it didn’t budge. It hasn’t budged on me either.

      Here’s her video from December 2022 where she hands out her “Emily Awards” for the year and talks more about why they’re the best in class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTvKkKTys3o

      (In 11 years, I’ve never once been displeased with a product she’s recommended.)

      1. I looked at her videos based on a recommendation here, probably from you! I’d love to see someone do what she does with a more natural, less made-up look. She does some really deluxe dark eyeshadow looks that wouldn’t work for most of us in day to day life.

        I also can’t remember to look at You Tube videos (I’m far more likely to look at IG) but that’s a separate issue.

    3. Do not put any moisturizing products on or around your eyes in the morning. That is usually the culprit. I agree to use long-wear products but even those can’t fight an eye cream.

      1. Ps I do put eye cream under my eye at the inner corner, just not anywhere that can migrate to my lid, and that includes anywhere near the outer corner, even under the eye.

    4. maybe just don’t wear it? i used to always use liner and then during Covid got used to just a sweep of powder. Alternatively, shadow sticks like Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown can double as liner in the darker shades, and once those ‘cure’ they really last.

    6. I had an upper blepharoplasty about 6 years ago. I’m so glad that I did this! My hooded eyes drove me crazy, I lifted my eyebrows to see better, and my eyemake up went everywhere. I was 61 when I did it, and I wish I had not waited so long. It was a quick recovery, I followed all the protocols re: after care, and it worked out very well. I recommend!

      1. I did it when I was about 61, too (I joke that I had the very last elective surgery before the COVID shutdown), and it was totally worth it.

        1. Thanks for sharing this both of you. Genetically, I’m en route to this and have debated how long I should wait to have it done.

          Can you share – how long was the “quick recovery”?

  7. What is your favorite easy to do exercise for core strengthening?

    As I’ve gotten into my 40s, I am realizing that my working out is walking, jogging etc. with some resistance band work. But then I use other muscles, say squatting down for an extended period of time to organize lower cabinets, my muscles feel tired. Yet I can go walk for miles and not be tired. I’m guessing I’m just not using certain muscles and want to change this, but I feel like if I take on something time commitment heavy like joining a pilates class or whatever, I won’t keep at it. Would love a few exercises I could do at home whenever it’s convenient.

    1. Your post reminds me of how all the gym fit guys at my work with washboard abs were limping around the office the morning after the first company intramural softball practice.

    2. Adding lifting to my cardio-heavy workout routine has been seriously life changing; I’m a huge advocate for everyone to add strength training into their routine. I usually take classes at my gym, but it doesn’t sound like you’re interested in that. So, my recommendation is the Peloton app. The app is $13/month and there are plenty of strength classes for which you don’t need any equipment.

      The app is very user friendly, so you can easily sort strength classes by length, equipment needed, and area of focus. I would recommend adding in a 5 or 10 minute core class 3 days a week (on days after you run?) and a full body (or alternating upper body / lower body) class 1-2x a week. Core strength is immensely important for so many different aspects of life, but don’t neglect upper/lower body either.

      Another great thing about the Peloton app is that they have yoga and stretching classes too. I try to fit in a 10 minute yoga or stretch 2-3x a week.

      Peloton is constantly releasing new classes. In order to build strength, you’ll need variety (rather than just adding in a 1 min plank or 50 situps or whatever to your routine).

      On days when I’m really swamped for time, I will just do a plank, pushup, and squat set. Something like 3 rounds of 30s plank, 15 pushups, 30 squats. I like doing this because there are so many variations I can do for each of the workouts.
      For planks: high, low, plank rotations, side planks (high or low), side plank dips, plank up-downs, 1 arm or 1 leg planks (either held or switching and doing reps), add in spidermans or mountain climbers. With weights you could do renegrade rows.
      For pushups: incline, knees, regular, diamond, tricep, hand release, decline, wide grip, pike
      For squats: regular, sumo, one legged or pistol squat, curtsey, jump squat, plie squat, calf raise squat. You can add weights for goblet squat, suitcase squat, squat to overhead press, etc.

      1. +1

        Planks are amazing. Just plop down on the floor at home, do one for a minute.

        A friend keeps a post-it on her wall and adds a tic mark every day per plank. Over a month, where she was staying family during COVID and no longer had access to her gym/biking etc… she just did planks. Like randomly throughout the day, every day. Otherwise, she not quite as active since working from home. Eating ok though – home cooked meals, not a lot of take out.

        Incredible results in just one month. Loss of inches and pounds. Whole body toning.

        Planks are an amazing exercise. Make sure you are doing them correctly though.

    5. Follow up question – doing ab exercises KILLS my lower back (I assume because I’m using my back muscles to compensate for weak ab muscles). Are there exercises that won’t strain my back?

      2. Often it is because your back is weak. Make sure you watch videos online to be sure you are engaging your core correctly.

      3. The dead bug is a fantastic core exercise that, done properly, can really help protect your lower back. The key is keeping your lower back glued to the floor, so modify your leg extensions accordingly. If you have a stability ball, you can really help activate your core by holding it between your arms and knee, pressing in as you extend opposite arm/leg. Crunches on a stability ball can also help with neck strain & lower back stuff. You can also do a kind of reverse plank/bridge by putting your feet and ankles on the ball and raising your hips (shoulders on the ground) and using yoir core to stay balanced.

        I won’t add the link but SELF magazine has a great how to on dead bugs

      4. I’ve always heard you suck your abs in to protect your lower back (particularly when lifting) – for ab work I try to follow that also. Plus you’re supposed to be more concave to work the right muscles anyway.

    6. I started planking last December and am on a streak of doing a plank every day in 2023. I started with about 15 seconds, and have worked my way up to 3 minutes a day (note: this is extremely boring), but I have noticed a difference in my core. About once a week, I do side planks instead of straight planks. I just added wall sits to my routine this week and hope to continue them as well.

      2. I like this idea. And now I’ve started today. I like streaks, and this one would be an easy one to work into my WFH routine.

    8. I find pilates works my core more than traditional crunches. I did a pilates workout recently on Fitness Blender where you lay on your back and have to keep your lower back pressed against the floor. Then you lift your legs up in various positions that start east and get more difficult. I could really feel it in my abs. Also workouts that require balancing help my core. I really like Fitness Blender, but a couple of friends like Blogilates.

    9. My favorite easy exercise for core strengthening is to lie on my back, lift both legs and bend the knees so that your lower legs are parallel to the floor, and place your hands flat on the front of your thighs. Then pretend-cough so that your abdomen muscles tighten a bit, while pressing lightly with your hands against your thighs, back flattened against the floor. Try to relax your neck and shoulders, and center your head on a pillow. Hold for up to 30 seconds (work your way up to that length of time) then rest for 15 seconds and repeat; work your way up to three sets of 10-15 holds. If you feel the small of your back arching too high or getting fatigued, then you are done for the day with this exercise (because your fatigued target muscles are recruiting other muscles, which defeats the purpose of the exercise).

  8. I have the iphone XR and the battery life is really poor lately. I know there’s some built in obsolescence, but it seems so wasteful to buy a new phone just because of this. Has anyone here replaced a battery, and does it make any sense cost-wise (vs getting a new phone)?

    1. Yes, years ago (pre-pandemic) Apple was offering a battery replacement service and it made a big difference for my phone. I think it was a temporary program though.

      1. +1, I got almost another year out of my 6 as part of that program, but I don’t know if it’s still around. Worst case you can make an appointment and see.

    2. Not that model, but I successfully replaced my iPhone battery using an I Fix It kit.

  9. does anyone have zn affordable vitamin C serum you love? i’m out and have a few weeks before my next derm appt

    1. Yes! Try the Revolution x Sali Hughes Must-C serum. You can get it on Amazon even though its a UK product.

  10. How do I freeze my credit? Do I have to call each bureau? Frantically googling but if there’s a quick explanation, I’ll take it. I’ve had a fraudulent unemployment claim and separately got notification that my email address and phone number were changed on (an essentially inactive) credit card of mine.

    Working to change lots of passwords as we speak but I think a freeze is the smartest move. TIA.

    1. register as an identity theft victim at the federal level. Contact your credit card company obvs, but I think a credit card freeze is good. At least when I did it, I had to contact the three credit agencies individually. I have a permanent freeze but they’ll want to give you something like 90 days after a documented fraud incident.

    2. You can do it by setting up accounts on their webs-tes – Equifax, Tr-nsunion, and Experian. I did it proactively years ago and it took maybe half an hour total.

    3. You don’t need to call, you can do it online. You’ve probably found the answer by googling already.

    4. Yes you have to do it with each credit bureau individually, but there are only three of them so it’s not that time-consuming.

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