colorful suits

Suit of the Week: Theory

07/15/2015 by Kat

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 mentioned this colorful suit from Theory as part of last week’s sale roundup for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale (workwear, shoes & bags) — but I thought it was worth featuring on its own for a suit of the week. Not only is it some of Theory’s classic suiting pieces (Gabe, Betty, and Emery pants), but done in “cassis” (pictured at top) as well as blue (pictured below). We haven’t talked about colorful suits in a while, ladies — are you yea or nay? I always think this is something that is very region-specific, so if you can please let us know your general area in your comment. The jacket (‘Gabe 2’ Wool Blend Blazer) is $279, but after the sale it’ll be $425, the pants (Emery 2 Wool Blend Pants) are now $196, but will be $295 after the sale ends. The dress (Betty Sheath Dress) is only available in blue — it is now $196, but after the sale ends August 3 it’ll go back up to $295.

Filed Under: Suit of the Week Tagged With: colorful suits

Suit of the Week: Bigio

11/14/2012 by Kat

Colorful suits tend to be regional — in some regions everyone wears them; in others only older women wear them. That said — I really like this suit. The oversize buttons, the shorter jacket — it sort of looks like a really amazing vintage find (but without the mothball scent). The suit (Bigio Collection Retro Four-Button Suit) is $380 at Neiman Marcus. [Read more…]

Colored Suits and the Working Woman

06/29/2010 by Kat

2016 update: check out our latest discussion on colorful suits, particularly light blue suits for summer…

Today’s reader mail comes from A, who wonders whether colored suits are appropriate for her…

Is baby blue totally off limits? I have a pale blue, Ann Taylor Loft cotton/nylon suit, c. 2005 that I’ve never worn. Gut feel says pale, baby blue is out, out, out. I’m new to summer, having just left San Fran after 4 years, so not sure how to dress for warm weather. Any advice?

Colored suits can be a very regional question. Our guess is that in D.C. or other points South, a head-to-toe pale blue suit (or red suit or purple suit) would be just fine. In other places (particularly other urban places), we’d advise you to break the suit up. For example, a blue blazer can be great with a sheath dress in black, navy, beige, or even white — it’s a nice summery touch. Similarly, a pale blue skirt or pair of pants can be great for early summer. (Be sure to dry clean both pieces together!) (Pictured: MASSIMO ALBA Blazers – Item 41158308, available at Yoox.com for $325 (was $540) in sizes S and M.)

Readers, we haven’t had a post on this in a while — what are your thoughts re: colored suits? In your comments, please be specific about where you’re located.

Filed Under: Fashion Gaffes, Suits Tagged With: colorful suits, women's suits

Poll: Can younger women wear colorful suits?

12/16/2008 by C

A few weeks ago there was some debate about whether younger women can get away with wearing colorful suits without seeming like they’re too . . . old. This was particularly interesting to us — we’ll admit we’ve never worn color suits, but it had never occurred to us that it was something exclusively for older women. We didn’t wear them because it seemed… not us. (A friend of ours bought such a suit once on deep discount — a purple suit — and it has sat in her closet for three years now with the tags still on.) But since those comments we have thought long and hard and no, we generally don’t see younger women wearing colored suits.

We thought we’d open a thread on this and maybe take a little pollsky…Multiple answers are allowed. To clarify: by “colorful suits” we mean a color other than a neutral black, gray, navy, white, or beige.

(Should you be looking for a nice red suit, however, we thought we’d suggest this one at left, from Ann Taylor — it is currently $219 for the jacket and $109 for the skirt, but today there’s a sale: 30% off every single purchase.)