Speaking of suits...

shiny

I only have one suit that matches, all the rest of my "suits" are separates. This one suit is okay, but it is really better for winter weather - not spring or summer - and it's on the trendy side. Perfect for most uses in my life, but I have this real hole in my wardrobe without a classic, matching suit.

So, I would like to invest in a quality, classic suit with matching jacket and trousers. A skirt that could go with it would be great too. I am thinking charcoal gray, as I already own enough black pants and jackets. Jacket preferably would be one button and hit at the high hip. Pants preferably mid-rise (about 9 inches), not too wide-legged.

Best bets for me:
1. Banana Republic - their petite Martin slacks fit me great, so I am confident ordering online. But I have more difficulty with their jackets, for some reason.
2. Jcrew - opposite problem: their petite jackets usually fit well, pants, not so great.

I am willing to tailor whatever I buy into perfection.

Timeframe: I know I have to go to a business conference in San Fran in late October/early November. It's the type of conference where a top-notch, interview-quality suit that matches is going to be required. If I could find a 3-piece, gray suit that worked, and just throw in a pair of black trousers and a second jacket and/or a sheath, I'd be all set!

Question: would it be wise to

1. Buy on sale now - something that is more spring/summer weight? (Most of my business trips are to California, so lighterweight fabrics are probably a wise move?)

2. Wait a little longer for fall lines to come out?

If #1, please check out BR and Jcrew and let me know what you think of the current choices. I have no idea when it comes to suiting fabrics (unless I can touch in person).

I am open to other suiting brand suggestions... but it absolutely must be petite. And while I do love Ann Taylor suit jackets, their pants and skirts always look horrible on me.

16 years ago

General

11 replies

Latest reply was from Steph

shana

Veteran

Shiny, I am on a similar quest so I will be watching this thread with interest. I am looking for a charcoal gray or black pinstripe suit. While you might score lighter fabrication with a summer suit, I think there will be more selection of charcoal gray in the fall lines.

Personally, I like the J crew suiting fabric much better (though I have never owned one) - just from feel. It looks the the BR one is pinstripe - would that work for you? It is one button but for some reason, I don't see the pants in the Martin fit (my fave too) - only in Jackson. I really like the stretch wool J crew one. It doesn't really have any interesting details but it's definitely a classic! I wish the lapels were a little bigger though.

My other suggestion would be Brooks Brothers. They offer petite suits and I think their suiting material is superior to both BR & J Crew. It doesn't look like they have their fall suiting online yet though...

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I don't know anything about suiting but I was also going to suggest Brooks Brothers based on other family members' experience. Also, Stephen Colbert wears BB

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

The problem with the BR suits is it seems the sleeves are a bit puffy - or is that just me? I don't need any puff at all. I do like the BR wool though. I have two jackets and several of their slacks and they drape really nice.

But I'm intrigued to try the Jcrew for a change. I like the jackets better - the narrow lapel would be a plus for me. Mostly nervous about the pants, as I've not had much luck with their pants in the past. I am hoping they've redone the cut of their petite pants, because when they first came out, they fit me very poorly and goofy. With that said, I only tried their cords and jeans and khakis, not their dress slacks. It looks like the rise is too low for me though?

Brooks Brothers.... I had a bad experience with them, but admittedly, this was ages and ages ago, so maybe it's worth a look. I may give Talbots a look too.

Maya - I thought Colbert wore Armani? Or is that Jon Stewart?

P.s. Shana - I sent you email this morning!

16 years ago

medusa

Veteran

I don't have anything super useful to add, but probably it is better to go with a good-fitting jacket since pants are much easier to tailor.

16 years ago

Lori

(website)

Active Member

Shiny, I don't have much to add other than I can't wait to see what you find. I was in the market for a good suit about a month and half ago for my interview. And I could not find a good light weight suit that fit properly in petite. And I was in a time crunch so I couldn't order online or even get it tailored. I ended up wearing a black skirt and jacket that weren't bought together and the jacket as a bit bigger than I would have liked it. Both from my closet. So I hope you can find one and maybe with the fall lines coming out, you'll have a little bit more of a selection.

~ Lori

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Medusa, that's interesting: I have it in my mind that pants are going to be harder to alter. I think that is just the way I am built. As long as I stick to petite jackets, I can usually find something that fits well off-the-rack. It's true a regular jacket would likely require major alterations and wouldn't be worth it.

The pants are a different story... since I am thick around the middle, if I size for my waist, the hips and thighs are typically way too big, requiring major alterations. And also oddly enough, I can frequently find regular pants that fit (just need hemming). So with pants I'm not necessarily resigned to petite sizing only. In some cases the regular fits much better than the petites. I guess I have a long rise - or rather, an average rise on an otherwise petite body.

16 years ago

Melody

Active Member

Jcrew suits are my favorite because of how they fit, and I think the wool super 120's (soft & fine) may be a good option for you since it's not lined like the wool crepe or wool gabardine. I was thinking my stretch wool pieces aren't lined either, but the website says the stretch wool pants are lined. Anyway, I'm fairly comfortable wearing both the 120's and stretch wool in humid Alabama heat. I've never found suit pants to be comparable to the fit of jeans or cords, so maybe jcrew's suiting trousers will fit better for you.

Also, I'm not impressed by most of the suiting items they have on sale ... chambray & seersucker. I would stick with a 3 or 4 season wool. There is some stretch wool on sale, and you might give that a try. Also, if it's a final sale item (will be clearly marked in shopping cart), you can't return it.

Good luck!

16 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I am reviving this thread only to say: Colbert indeed wears Brooks Brothers. They even made the camouflage suit he wore in Iraq. I heard this on NPR!

16 years ago

Steph

Veteran

Shiny, I own a charcoal J. Crew wool gabardine suit (skirt and jacket), and I really like it. I definitely think the quality of the material and the construction is nicer than Banana Republic or Ann Taylor (and I actually own three Ann Taylor suits).

I also own a Brooks Brother suit, and I think its material and construction is a step above J. Crew's. I also find their customer service to be excellent: I had a last minute interview last year, and had gained weight and didn't fit into any of my suits. I needed to get a suit have have it altered within 24 hours. I went to J. Crew and asked if they could get it altered and they looked at me like I was insane and said it would take at least a week. Then I went to Brooks Brothers and was told that they would make sure it was altered in time. The one thing to note about Brooks Brothers is that their sizes tend to run a little bit large. I know you are tiny, but hopefully you wouldn't be sized out of the store. I normally wear a 4 (or 4P), but at Brooks Brothers I take a 2P--and sometimes a 0P, if I am going through a thinner time.

One more plus for Brooks Brothers--whenever I travel, if my suit gets really wrinkled and I don't have access to a steamer, I can take my suit to the Brooks Brothers store in that city, and they will steam it for me. I know other stores do this, but because Brooks Brothers deals with suits so much, I feel like they typically do a better job.

Oh, and I would get a suit now if you find something you like. I think most wool suits will be appropriate year-round. You don't want to wait for fall season and end up with another suit that is only good for cooler climates.

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think I'm going to bite the bullet and order a Jcrew petite suit, probably charcoal pinstripe superfine 120. If nothing else, I will know whether their suits fit and whether I even like them!

I am hoping I do like them, as today I am learning that I have very little work wear for warm weather. I am going into the office for a meeting today - one that doesn't require a suit per se, but at least some nice dress slacks instead of jeans - and it's slim pickings. I had all these dress slacks that I haven't worn in eons and figured they still fit, esp since I've gained a little weight, and lo and behold, even if they did fit (still a bit baggy but passably so) ... they have horrible PPL! ACK. I guess my eye has changed. I don't even think it's worth having the hems taken out. I considered it for two minutes, and realized I can probably do better in the pants department if I put my mind to it.

I know I'm in better shape for fall/winter work wear: I at least have one pair of lined black Martin's and a pair of very nice tweed Martins. But those are too hot to wear. So this is just a big gap. I wear jeans so often, I've let this area of my wardrobe (dress slacks) slip.

Anyway - Question: based on Jcrew size charts, it says I take a 4p. Does that sound right? The last petite item I ordered was a coat, and I took a 2p which fit perfectly. If I try on regulars in the store, I need a 0 which usually fits well in the shoulders, chest, waist - although can sometimes be still too big on me. Should I go ahead and order the 4p, or take a risk with the 2p?

16 years ago

Steph

Veteran

I would order the 2P. I think the suits fit pretty similarly to the rest of their clothing, and if you're taking a 0 in regular, I don't think you would take two sizes bigger in petite. I always just go up one size when looking at their petite suits.

16 years ago

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