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Suits at work?

MeredithB

I work in a financial services industry and we all used to wear suits every day. That's definitely relaxed over the past 5-7 years which I have wholeheartedly embraced. I was thinking about going back to wearing suits for a while, just for simplicity's sake and also because I'm curious if it makes a difference when most other people are more casual (I'm mid level but people in the executive suites are still definitely wearing suits daily.)

I can afford edgy looking suits, which is sort of my style and was curious if anyone here still wears suits daily and had suggestions as to brands. Or will i just look overdressed all the time if coworkers are in crops and sandals?

Thanks
Meredith

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from MeredithB

viva

Veteran

I love the look of suits and I think there are definitely ways to make them look more modern and edgy and less "suited up" so they fit in with the more relaxed vibe of your office. Search the blog and you'll find Angie in some great suited looks. Colorful belts, bright sweaters, the semi-tuck, unusual shoes ...

You can also break up the pieces -- which I know isn't exactly what you have in mind, but it's another way to use a suit in today's less strict environment.

For brands, I think Theory is probably the place to start.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I love suits! I work from home so have no need to wear one every day, but I have one anyway because I love them so much.

Angie wears suits -- not daily, but when the occasion calls for it.

If your co-workers are in crops and sandals, you might feel overdressed at first -- but then again, you might not. No reason not to try if it is a look that works well for you and makes you feel professional and easy in your skin at work.

When it comes to brand, that depends a lot on your body type. But as a slim hourglass/ rectangle I would check Theory and Elie Tahari for options, or maybe Reiss.

Anonymous

I love suits, but our office has veered toward more casual wear. Today I usually wear either dress slacks or a skirt with a blazer. This works for me.

Let us know how you incorporate suits into your workday. I think it is a great idea and I applaud you.

christieanne

Veteran

We recently changed our dress code to go back to business attire and I am trying to be a good role model by wearing more suits. I typically do the mix and match thing though. Wearing a bright jacket with solid or patterned bottom is dressy enough. I have not done a coordinated suit forever and I do miss it.

Thin White Duchess

Reiss has lovely, fashionable suits. The Nordstrom store brand Classiques Entier has the occasional gem. Good luck!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Wooohooo. I LOVE suits. Try a style with cropped pants for Summer right away.

unfrumped

Veteran

I am all for the idea of dressing above what is now acceptable in many workplaces!
First consideration is, are you considering only suits (top and bottom matched) or do you include outfits with non-matched but upscale/edgy jackets ?
Or both. Either is fun to consider, just much different to shop for matching.
The main problem I have with actual suits is finding ones that fit both top and bottom, even with tailoring. So there are more options in un-matched tailored separates and way more jacket looks. Also, pants suits or skirt suits or both?

And how casual are your co-workers, or those you'd be " compared" with?

If you want to just have your own look, you can do most anything. If you are sensitive to not standing out too much, but just enough, and the going vibe is very casual, I would think you would have tons of room to do things that slightly dress down the suit or even business semi-casual, like juxtapose a sporty shoe with a more tailored suit, or wear a slouchy linen T with suit, or chambray shirt with skirts. As suggested, you can do a more unexpected color in your top than "corporate" usually allows. Then, as Angie said, cropped or ankle pants say more casual, but find the perfect fit and amount of taper, leave off the sandals in favor of a refined shoe, and add a jacket. Shoe styles would be a major thing--would you do high-heeled pumps or would you casualize with loafers, oxfords.

Business not-too-casual, but not corporate, is one of my favorite looks! Angie has several posts of lovely capsules though mostly unmatched jackets and bottoms, there is a very polished vibe to them.

Gem

Watching with interest; I'd love to transition my work look to interesting suits. The dream (for me) is something vivienne westwood-ish but without the price tag.

Thistle

Veteran

I remember when we were finally allowed to wear business casual in public accounting. We all rejoiced, and then wondered what the heck we'd wear. Suits were so much easier "to get right".

I think it depends on your office how over dressed you will feel. My current environment, you would feel over dressed as even the only time the executives don a suit is when they are going to the bank to discuss financing. Otherwise, they are in dress pants and button down shirts. No ties for sure, and most are in jeans on Friday.

I have seen some lovely Theory suits here on YLF, and have also seen Elie Tahari mentioned. Classiques Entier skews more classic and less edgy. It has bee a while since I have bought anything other than an interview suit so I don't have too many other suggestions, particularly for edgy.

Gaylene

Veteran

I think you've got some great ideas here, so my only suggestion might be think of transitioning instead of doing a complete 180 in chaniging over your style. Maybe start wearing tailored cropped pants with a non-matched jacket, then move to more of a suit look with a same-color tailored jacket and a pair of pants with a bit of pattern in one of the items, or an edgy shoe, or an unusual cut, then transition to a full suit in a light-grey instead of the customary solid black or navy. The transition period helps everyone adjust their eye so your colleagues just start thinking " Oh, that's just Meredith's style; she always looks so good in her suits". You also might feel less conspicuous during the transition by not suddenly differentiating yourself from the rest of the team. Groups can be funny sometimes when one of their members steps outside the unwritten norms.

rachylou

Veteran

Crops and sandals! That blows my mind a bit. I'm a roving contractor, but some places I like to wear suits. I had good luck last fall/winter with Arthur Levine Tahari Suits. For work, I like suits with a little edge in the detail - but not, say, a full out black and white gothic floral. I think they're in the $200-400 range (but I got them all on discount at the end of the season).

I didn't have luck with suits in the higher-priced ranges. I like my suits lined, and it's apparently a thing for "fashion" suits to be unlined.

I always want a Theory suit, but they fit me terrible.

unfrumped

Veteran

Oh, I noticed you said "for simplicity's sake". Maybe that means you find mixing separates more taxing and you hope to have more of a uniform. If so, I can relate because proportions of jackets and bottoms can be so difficult--you think you can just combine any 2 cool items but noooooo.... But I do think some of the most personalized outfits occur when it does all come together.
I like Gaylene's remarks about gradual changes. If you are makine new purchases, you can still buy items that in the future (near future, not years from now) will be worn in a more formal business look, but with an eye to mixing them in now with more casual pieces you have --sneak up on 'em.

catgirl

Veteran

I think the best way to relax a suit is to wear it with a t-shirt and scrunched sleeves. Or maybe you were already doing that. jcrew has lots of that look.

MeredithB

Wow, so many awesome responses. Thank you so much.
Gaylene, I really like your idea of transitioning into suits so people don't immediately think I'm interviewing. I don't particularly like the look of the bright colored jacket with dark pants (When I see that I always think "politician" and my color scheme is really more gray/black/navy with some grayish colors mixed in (muted grayish purple, green, taupe)) so probably will start with separates that are dark but go together.
I have my eye on a Classiques Entier jacket in the Nordstrom pre-sale but will definitely start checking out some of the other brands you suggested. I wish Theory fit my body type, I do like their suits but they're cut so slim in the hips, they just don't work for me. I had never heard of Reiss so will definitely check that out. I've seen some really nice Hugo Boss suits lately too, I would probably consider price ranges up to and including the St. John range (though that brand is too traditional for me).
Promise to post pics as I find things. I'm very curious if moving to more suit type dressing results in changes at work for me, or being seen differently by my clients and coworkers.
Meredith