https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:45:59 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1424076 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 01:44:06 +0000 DonnaF 1424076@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It sounds like we have nearly identical body types!&nbsp; I've never run across a BB outlet, just the regular store -- where none of the cuts of shirts works for me.&nbsp; I have no need (that I know of) for a matching suit, but I'll keep BB in mind as a possibility.&nbsp; I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your new suit and other WIWs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422979 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 02:10:36 +0000 rizamei 1422979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>bettycrocker - My workplace has a casual dress code, though in my position I usually dress in business casual attire. So usually I'm happy to mix and match separates, and a lot of my workhorses for trousers and skirts&nbsp;are in poly blends. Having washable&nbsp;black and dark gray trousers and skirts&nbsp;makes it easy to put together outfits and get my laundry done on a regular basis. (I hate making trips to the dry cleaners!)&nbsp;I do, however, need a formal matched suit for special occasions, like important presentations and interviews, and wanting a nicer&nbsp;fabric made sense given that context. I think I care more about the fabric if I'm wearing it head-to-toe instead of just as one of three or four pieces.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jjsloane - Alas, they aren't on the BB website, as they're outlet items, but I mentioned the fits above.</p> <p>gryffin - I agree, it would be nice if designers made more items in the same fabric. As with my AT experience, some cut work better than others on me, and it's tough when the lack of one piece knocks the entire suit set&nbsp;out of the running.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422685 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 16:22:33 +0000 Angie 1422685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Fabulous. Hope to see you in your new suit soon.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422667 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 15:19:07 +0000 Jjsloane 1422667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good job on the focused and rewarding shopping trip. I hope you'll post your finds. I'm always on the lookout for a good suit and have not found much recently that I like. I have the opposite problem at the moment and all my suits are a tad too tight. I'm not as excited to shop for a bigger one so maybe that's why I've been holding out. I will say the suit pieces I have are used quite often and if the right jacket, skirt and pants were found I would not hesitate to purchase. You've done well so there's hope for the rest of us.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422664 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 15:11:26 +0000 Anonymous 1422664@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congrats on obtaining the perfect suit! It's not easy to shop for one, and I'm glad you found one without too much effort.</p> <p>I'm so glad I no longer have the need to wear one. Whenever I need to wear a "suit," it's never a matched suit in the Classic way. I pair separates together to make a coordinated "suit."</p> <p>I personally don't have a problem with poly, esp. since I have such sensitive skin that any % of wool makes me itch. For a suit, I'd choose something with a low % of poly, but I wouldn't worry about poly being in the blend. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422643 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:33:52 +0000 gryffin 1422643@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Congrats!!&nbsp; I am currently suit shopping and you are my hero to have found one so quickly!!&nbsp; Kudos!!&nbsp; I do so agree buying as many pieces as are available is smart.&nbsp; Ideally I'd get not only the jacket/skirt/pants but a dress to match (i know dream on!!).&nbsp; Also a jacket in another cut same material same or pants/skirt.&nbsp; The designers used to do this,&nbsp; I had a Dana Buchman suit from the 90's that had 2 jackets, three skirts and pants.&nbsp; Gosh it was amazing while it lasted.&nbsp; AT also used to do more of that.&nbsp; I really wish they would bring this back.&nbsp; I know suits get mixed love on the forum, but it's the greatest all occasion weapon to have in the arsenal.&nbsp; So enjoy yours!!&nbsp; I have now two jackets in Theory in the urban material and I'm planning on trying on every pair of their pants and skirt and hoping something works.&nbsp; If not I'll be on a new hunt too!!&nbsp; Well done! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422603 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 11:10:36 +0000 Rubygirl 1422603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>First up CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss. I am glad you had a successful hunt and found what you were looking for. Happy endings are always god. So many times I go on a hunt for something and come back empty handed but on the days I find what I am looking for there is a sense of accomplishment! Bravo! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422526 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:34:28 +0000 Michelle 1422526@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well done! I loved reading this chronicle of Goldy Locks adapted for the retail environment. And honestly I don't think you'll regret spending the extra money in the end. If there's any one wardrobe staple where quality both shows and counts, it's got to be the business suit. Congratulations on a successful hunt and enjoy your new purchases!<br />Your reply </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422492 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:39:08 +0000 Anonymous 1422492@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love a shopping story with a happy ending. You are smart to hold out for pieces that you will feel great wearing. You can always break up the suit pieces to be the basis of any number of outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422487 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:26:49 +0000 rizamei 1422487@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Alas, they don't seem to have the items I purchased on the website. I suspect it's because they are outlet items from the 346 line.&nbsp;Blazer is in classic fit, trousers are Caroline fit, and skirt did not have specific named fit on the label. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422486 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:19:15 +0000 Suz 1422486@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That sounds like a fairy tale of a shopping trip, actually. Wow! Congratulations on finding such a great fitting suit so quickly. It can be tough to dress a new body size/ shape -- tends to take us a while to get used to the "new normal." But you did very well with this one from the sounds of things. </p> <p>Can you link to the suit you got? Might be helpful to other hourglass/ pears out there or other petites.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/adventures-in-suit-shopping#post-1422483 Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:15:19 +0000 rizamei 1422483@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I lost about 25 pounds last year, and have found myself in need of a new suit. I had some older suits that work (barely) at this current weight, but they are looking a bit dated and have an imperfect fit. So off to the outlet mall I went, hoping to find something appropriate. I wanted something dark gray or black, and three pieces - jacket, skirt, and trousers. Whenever I've only gotten the skirt, or only gotten the trousers, I've regretted not having the other option.&nbsp;As an additional challenge, I generally wear petites and am somewhere between&nbsp;an hourglass or pear shape. Fitting trousers, even at my current weight, can be a huge challenge.</p> <p>First stop was the Banana Republic Factory Store, since I recently stumbled upon some old, unused store credit. I found one dark gray suit set in the petites section. It was a polyester blend that felt flimsy. The shoulder pads did not sit well in my jacket,&nbsp;and I felt the skirt was too short for business settings. They also didn't have the skirt in regular lengths.&nbsp;</p> <p>Next up: Ann Taylor Factory Store. Tried on a black suit from the petite area. Also a polyester blend. The skirt fit fine (I have good luck with Ann Taylor and Loft skirts), but the jacket felt a tad&nbsp;short. I have a relatively long torso for my height, but generally like petites for the fit at the shoulder and the sleeve length. The trousers were too loose at the waist (I always have this trouble with Ann Taylor trousers), and would have required significant alterations.&nbsp;I thought the jacket and skirt would do in a pinch, but I wasn't thrilled about it. So I asked them to hold it for a couple hours and continued on my way.</p> <p>Third stop:&nbsp;Didn't find any petites at J Crew. That was quick!</p> <p>Fourth stop: Brooks Brothers Outlet. This is not a store that's normally in my price range, but I thought I would give it a try. I am willing to spend more on a suit than regular work or casual clothes, and there were some discounts available. The petite suiting here was in a nice classic light wool. The jacket is long enough that it looks okay with the matching skirt and the trousers. The trousers fit perfectly at the waist (this almost never happens for me), though they'll need hemming. The skirt is long enough and fits well, too. I was a little skeptical about the front slit on the skirt, but there's enough fabric overlap and length that it still looks professional.&nbsp;Bought it in black. It was on sale in navy pinstripe. I liked the navy, but not the pinstripe.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ended up spending about $100 more than I would have ideally spent, but I'm really happy to have gotten all three pieces at this level of fit and quality. It's a pretty classic cut, so it should serve me well as long as I stay at my current size. And I hope I won't have to shop for these particular items again any time soon! </p>