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Suits that work hard...

Alecia

Veteran

for the money. Angie got me in the 80's mood. Ha ha!

As I have posted a couple times, I generally wear suits for work. And I know suits can be really amazing because there are some women around the Capitol who always look a 10. But I often feel like something in my outfit is a little off. So I look forward to the process and appreciate having the input of women who have such keen perspectives.

I am posting pictures from yesterday and today. The first, I posted yesterday but in the thread of another post. So here it is again. I'm wearing my bee necklace, which added a little fun. The shell is too short. http://i508.photobucket.com/al.....0_8955.jpg

Today I wore the navy suit that I had previously asked for shoe help on. (I loved the suggestions, by the way.) Today I did go with a nude shoe even though I'm not sure about that look. They matched the belt. I'm not in love with the outfit but it got me through today.

http://i508.photobucket.com/al.....uit001.jpg

I don't think I'm quite ready for CRS yet. Thanks. Ok that's it for me. I'm falling asleep while I try to post.

21 replies

Latest reply was from sannes

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Alecia...Have you considered wearing suits with an untucked button down shirt with a finished hem? If the shirt is the perfect length, I think that would modernize the look a little bit.

I like the tan shoes with the blue suit, I'm not crazy about the belt. I think the pop of red with the blue suit looks great too.

The beige suit is pretty too...but are the pants a bit loose on you?

And how do you feel about skirt suits??

Sihaya

Veteran

Hi Alecia - I love and covet the bee necklace I agree with Nicole on trying out untucked tops. Love the color combo on the navy - the red really gives it a lively pop. The pant length looks like it might be a bit short with those shoes - hard to tell in the photo - is it? The beige suit seems a bit big on you - again hard to say in a photo - are there loose pocket-ey areas under your shoulders and by your armpits?

Anonymous

Adorable kitty!
On the first suit I would like to see you button the jacket at the waist to create some waist definiton. Open, the jacket gives a nice vertical line but the overall look may be too rectangular.

The blue suit needs something, maybe a string of beads or pearls or a scarf?
In the photo your torso looks very long from waist to crotch. Wearing the blouse out but still belting it or a soft blousy top that blouses over the waistline of the pants when tucked in might help.

Anonymous

You have a great figure and wear the suits very well. The bee necklace is a touch of whimsy to keep the suit from being too stuffy. I love that.
In the second picture I thought pearls on your neck would have been nice. I think both suits are very nice. I happen to be one of those people who think suits are really beautiful. I know some who have to wear them all the time, don't like them or get tired of them.
I'm excited to have a suit thread so we can learn more about the subject.
I love how your cat is posing with you.

Jillian

I'm really grateful you started a suit thread! Thank you for that, for being brave enough to post pics.

I have always struggled with navy suits and avoiding looking like a flight attendant in one. You have managed to avoid this trap. Your color combo here is really nice-- well done! Like others, I think a necklace (the length of your bee necklace, wood? yellow?) would really make this a smart combo.

On the first one, I agree with you that the shell is too short. As you look for a new top, it would be great to add different textures and/or patterns and/or planes (ties/ruffles) as this kind of visual interest is what I think makes a suit look interesting and modern. What about a blouse like this: http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=587899002 ? I also think a natural/mahogany/bronze shoe would be more interesting than black (hard to tell exact colors on screen so maybe this is not relevant).

I find it very hard to judge fit from pictures, but is either of these a little roomy? You have a great figure and coloring, play them up!

Becky

Veteran

Congratulations on your first "what I wore" post, Alecia. I was scared at first too, but I've gotten so much great advice that any discomfort is worth the progress I'm making. You've already gotten so much great feedback, I really don't have much to add. I agree that the first suit looks like it might be a bit roomy; buttoning the top button of the jacket might help it look more fitted. Also, check to see if your suit pants are perfect pants length: http://youlookfab.com/2006/05/.....hs-please/ . I agree with the comment about the nude belt with the navy suit. It seems like it breaks things up a bit. P.S. I love your haircut! Very polished and professional.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I like your kitty!
I was in JCrew the other day and took a look at their suits. They are so nice and fitted, and come in three colors (navy pinstripe being one). The skirts are really quite cute. Maybe check those out sometime?

Tanya

Veteran

Your kitty is adorable! And congrats on your first outfit post, I know that it's nerve wracking but you can rip huge benefits from it.

You suits and combos are very nice, but they could be made even better. Both suits look a bit loose to me, and the navy pants might be a tad too short. The navy outfit is really pretty, love the color combo. A pearl necklace would be great with it.
I agree that the top is too short for the first suit. How about trying one of those new tie-neck blouses for it, maybe in rich burgundy ( that would work for the navy suit too)?

Alecia

Veteran

Boy, this is helpful. I should also introduce my cat, Sydney. I'm sure he'll sneak into more pictures, as will the other members of our menagerie.

Nicole - I'm intrigued by the idea of an untucked button down. I really would have never thought of that under a suit. I don't think I have anything currently that would work but I will check it out. With respect to the hem, do you think both a straight hem and a hem with shirttails would work? I'm thinking only straight, but would love your input. And I do wear suits with skirts, but I find pants more comfortable.

The biege suit may be a bit big. It was a hand-me down from my high-powered attorney MIL. It's a beautiful suit but may not work for me.

Sihaya - I think you're right about the navy suit length with the shoes. I guess I'll just have to find a pair of fabulous lower heals for it.

I think I have generally been guilty of too short pants. Yikes!

Jillian - It is my pleasure to be the guinea pig for the suit crowd. I am excited to learn more about how to make my work attire better and hope you'll join me. I like the shirt you linked. And, in my mind, I'm all for flight attendant as long as it's vintage flight attendant. That was hot!

Sarah - I need to head back to JCrew. I have pretty big quads and have sometimes had problems with JCrew bottoms fitting me. If the pants fit my quads, they are big in the waist. But seeing as my tailor is my best friend these days, I'm not opposed to getting the waist taken in. I do love their suits and the way you can get pants and a skirt so you've got two options instead of just a pant suit or a skirt suit.

Thanks all! Keep it coming.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I'm part of the big quad club too, Alecia! And give Sydney a scratch under the chin for me. My cats (currently five, yeesh) always wander into photos too, how funny.

shiny

Veteran

Alecia, I think I missed your intro post. What is your body type? That would be helpful for me to know. From these photos alone, I'm guessing a pear... but if that is completely wrong then it's the suits.

I will start by saying that I find pants suits VERY hard to fit me right. It's a rare one that works on me, so I know what you mean, by seeing women in 10's and not knowing how they pull it off! I do have better luck with jackets and pants that aren't coordinated but work together. I think this is because when it's a coordinated suit, often the jacket may fit impeccably but the pants just don't, or vice versa. So that is one option to keep in mind: finding separates that complement and you can mix and match.

I LOVE the bee necklace - gorgeous! And I also love your haircut and color (what I can see). The aubergine shell in photo #1 is a truly fab color on you. Absolutely beautiful. And I am envious how well you wear collared shirts - agree the pearls would add something to this, but just saying that you wear such shirts very well. Envy!!

As for the suits, it may be the angle of the photo, but both seem to make your legs look proportionately short compared to your torso. Do you have a long torso and shorter legs? PPL could help here, but I also think a shorter jacket that hits higher on the hip might help too.

Jackets: I recommend you experiment with one-button jackets that have some waist definition and hit higher on the hip. I'm not sure this is the right idea, but it's worth a try on.

Pants: The pants seem a bit high waisted? Have you tried something a little lower? Like the Martin brand at Banana Republic? Also they seem loose on you. What does the rear view look like? You may want to try a slightly lower rise, in a size smaller.

If the hems can be taken down, or you can wear these with flats, I think it would totally be worth the $ to take both to a tailor and see what they can do. Long ago, when I used to have to wear suits all the time, I did that for a few suits someone gave me that were quality material but a touch out of style and too loose on me. It made a huge difference and was worth every penny, compared to buying new. A nip here and a tuck there, and I ended up with suits that were 10's!

Meanwhile, try both jackets on with your best fitting dark-wash jeans, and roll up the sleeves. I'm interested to see how they will work for a smart casual look. Menswear-inspired jackets are in now, I've been lusting for one myself. I think these jackets might work for that...

Inge

(website)

Hi Alecia, thank you for posting the pictures!

I love the suggestions that have been made: an untucked, fitted button-down shirt, a ruffly blouse, something with a beautiful pattern or a tie-neck blouse could really give your suits a whole new look.
Or maybe you could wear a top with an interesting colour underneath the blazer, instead of the usual blouse/button-down shirt.
e.g. http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=588206002
or http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=588277

Like I said in the other thread: I absolutely adore your bee-necklace. Maybe you could find a few more interesting necklaces to spice things up?

I don't know how warm it is in your neck of the woods, but would you consider an extra layer underneath your blazers (or could you sometimes get away with wearing no blazer and just the suggestions below?)? For example:
- a beautiful sleeveless belted vest with a nice blouse underneath, something like this:http://i278.photobucket.com/al.....ardeur.jpg
(you don't have to stick to greys of course, livelier colours are definitely an option;-)
- a structured cardigan or a vest in a great colour/pattern with a tie-neck blouse or ruffled blouse underneath
e.g. http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=587914002
- a sleeveless vest with a (striped) long-sleeved blouse underneath, a bit of a masculine look but it could look great if you add some feminine touches like a great pair of (colourful) heels, a chic handbag, signature earrings....

Oh and now that I'm looking at the picture of the belted vest: not wearing the 'full' suits together but mixing and matching different blazers and trousers can work too .

What do you think?

Nicole

Veteran

Alecia, I think you could wear either a straigh hemmed or a shirttail hemmed shirt under your suit jacket. This is the look...

http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....=cat280018

http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....d=cat60072

Also go to espritshop.com and click on the "suit" link...the header page that shows a model in a grey suit with a purple blouse will appear. For some reason that website doesn't let you link directly to individual pages.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for posting pics, Alecia! I really like your hairstyle and I too covet that necklace. The gals have made super layering and alternative top suggestions. Well done ladies.

I adore suits and I’m thrilled to see one on the forum. Seeing as the gals have focused on what to wear with the suits, I’d like to focus on the suits themselves. Fit is particularly important on a suit and I’m very sorry to say that these suits don’t have the best fit (sad face). I hope that my reasoning below makes sense:

o The rises look a little high and the waistbands aren’t curved
o The pants taper in and look at least 2 inches short. You want the opposite. A straight leg or bootcut pant with a hemline that skims the surface of the ground is what you’re after. This is a universally flattering modern classic suit silhouette.
o The patch pockets on the beige suit take way from your waistline and once again they are not curved. They are straight, which is not ideal on a suit. Slanted pockets that accenture the waist are a good way to go.
o The beige jacket does not have enough waist definition and the shoulders look a little boxy. The navy jacket looks a little better but I can’t really see from the photo.

shiny

Veteran

Wow, great feedback and tips, Angie! This is good stuff to know. Would make a great blog post... hint hint.

What about the menswear-inspired jackets that I am seeing lately? I really want one; brings back 80s memories. I guess I should start my own thread for that? I would love specific fit tips to look out for.

Alecia

Veteran

I've learned a lot in this thread. Some I was anticipating from reading the blog, pant length for example. As an aside, I really wish I had had some good guidance on this earlier. I mean, couldn't someone tell me this before I turned 30 and had already invested a bunch in suits. I point a particularly damning finger at the store catalogues. I just got a Macy's circular today and there's not one model in that thing are not wearing appropriate length pants!

But enough ranting... I will have to live with some of this for a little while as suits can get expensive and I think I will have to take time refilling my closet.

In the meantime, I hope other folks are learning from my mistakes. I so appreciate all the really constructive feedback and the compliments on the things I'm getting right.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for having an open mind, Alecia. The reason models do not always sport PPL’s is because of these reasons:

http://youlookfab.com/2007/02/.....gths-rule/

Nicole

Veteran

Alecia, are any of your pants alterable? Can you let the hem down?

Alecia

Veteran

I'm not sure about lowering the pant leg. Sometimes it's hard to get the former crease out. I tried on some of my kick around pants. Maybe others have insight.

One other question, Angie, what do you mean by the waistbands being curved?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great fitting dress pant waistbands are usually curved. If you hold them up, you’ll see that the front rise is obviously lower than the back rise, and that the band itself is not straight, but curves along the waist.

sannes

I agree with Angie that the beige suit is a little boxy. However, the length and shape of the jacket combined with the straight, short shell do suggest slender, straight hips (irrespective of whether you actually have those). So rather than suggesting a different suit(jacket) all together, I would suggest playing up the hips and adding some visual interest by adding a curved, low-slung belt which should fall somewhere between the end of the shell and the hem of the jacket.

Does that make sense?