Kim, I hear you. I’ve dealt with pretty pear body types with your top and bottom size differentials frequently. First of all, you might be in the incorrect sizes to start off with. Secondly, you’ve unfortunately had rotten luck with alterations. A good tailor does an impeccable job. Thirdly, you need to find a jacket style that will work with your a-line body type and there is no need for button closure. Leave the jacket open if need be. Our forum would be happy to help you with your suit fitting challenges. Hope to chat again soon!

I agree: suits are not just for work, you can wear them on so many other occasions. Hm, I might start looking for one soon;-)

Marianne, good strategy. Any suit style at Club Monaco is going to be modern and streamlined to last for a while.

Shiny, the revival of suits at your office is interesting. I suspect people have caught on as to how easy it is to look professional and well put together in a suit.

Patience, if we weren’t snowed in today, I’d be out there trying every skirt suit imaginable. I’m glad you’re excited about the prospect of a skirt suit. If anyone can pull off a cream suit, it’s you.

Julia, get that suit into stylish action soonest!

Swirl, body type is of utmost importance when it comes to the number of jacket buttons and stance placement on a suit jacket. It’s pretty hard to generalize at this point, but a one button jacket with a lower stance tends to work well on bustier women (to Carissa’s point).

Theresa, I LOVE your suit strategy! This is music to my ears.

Carissa, one of my busty size 14 clients of regular height has an impeccable Ann Taylor black suit. You should try their fit if you haven’t already done so.

Eva, a suit has to have a jacket and bottom in the same fabric to be called a suit. And you indeed wear your suits well.

Louise, thanks for speaking up today. I appreciate your valuable comment and enjoy hearing how you “funkify” your suits.

Laura, one day we’ll have tea together in our uber extravagant Chanel suits. We’ll do Coco proud.

Maya, we’ll talk about suits again when you’re a little older. I totally grasp your perspective though.

I love the look of a cream Chanel suit. Or Valentino. (I’m not picky!) That one is on my Ultimate Wish List too, Angie.

Linda, I was on jury duty over the summer in Seattle and they still wear suits to court. But I agree with Angie, if you put a fun twist to your black suit, it will not look like you are going to court. (I didn’t see any red shoes with the suits).

Kim, I am a pear and wear suits well. Angie convinced me that I had to buy my suits as separates and it made a world of difference.

Tanya, don’t you love knits? I think a knit with your suit is perfectly conservative. In my opinion it is more conservative than an untucked button down shirt.

Theresa, my strategy. I probably have 6 matching suit jackets and pants in blacks, greys and navy. The pin stripes and texture vary. I have one suit that is summer specific and one that is only winter. I don’t buy pants/skirts in each style, but I do have non matching jackets that go with the pants to extend the wardrobe. With the jackets, I have several summer only and several winter only. I also wear the suit pants with either a non matching jacket, knit, belted button down, or button down with sweater or waistcoat. In fact, the only reason I don’t have a brown suit is because I have several brown pants that go with several non matching jackets.

The skirts on suits 1, 2, and 4 seem a bit short to me. But all skirts are short right now.

I have a suit that I bought about 7 years ago when I was working in IT. Haven’t had to wear it for many years, but it just looks old-fashioned to me now. I did get a 4 piece suit made up earlier this year though, with pieces I like enough to wear as separates. And yes one piece is a pair of shorts!!! Just the jacket I haven’t worn separately though!