Where can I get a nice suit to look expensive?

[Fortunatepiggy]

I need a nice suit or dress and jacket. I have lots of m and s or Debenhams suits but I want to look a bit sharper for a work event.

Where can I get something that looks expensive but isn't 500 plus? Happy to spend 200 plus ish as am working on price per wear

Am a 14 with big boobs so need something flattering

Thanks

[Floisme]

I've never bought and it may be a bit over budget but I've heard good things about The Fold They look classic and business appropriate but interesting.

[missjoanie]

Have a look on the Reiss Outlet site - their tailoring is lovely.

[starsinyourpies]

Jigsaw, excellent quality.

[PourquoiPas]

The thing that makes a suit look expensive is not where it is from, but that it fits perfectly. You might be better buying a nice suit from somewhere like H&M (great suits for curvy women) then getting it altered to fit perfectly.

It does need to be relatively nice fabric to start with so that wouldn't work with a primark suit!

Then use the rest of the money to get a really nice top in a quality fabric, and nice shoes and bag. This might be a bit too much of a stretch for your budget, but IMO, people who look really stylish look "expensive" not because their clothes cost more, but because everything fits and hangs beautifully, and looks really good together. I've seen a lot of people in very expensive suits not carry them off as well as others in much cheaper suits.

As an example, my friend yesterday wore a black suit jacket and cigarette trousers (I think from la redoute) which fit her absolutely perfectly, a lovely pale blue silk shell top, some classy textured silver jewellery and a gorgeous obviously expensive black bag. It wasn't the suit which made her look amazing, it was everything put together. Nothing individually was super expensive.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Hobbs clearance can be worth a look.

[Polkadot1974]

That outfit with the blue shell top sounds lovely. Depending on what a shell top actually is. I think I know but daren't check!

[Fortunatepiggy]

Good idea about tailoring pourqoui maybe I should blow the budget and look at a bespoke suit. I need to look super smart at least twice a month for presentations so if you average out cost per occasion it's not so bad

[SesameSparkle]

Massimo dutti might work?

[Fortunatepiggy]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations I am looking for a dress or skirt and jacket ideally. Will check these out

[EggysMom]

Don't get a dress, you'll get fed up of wearing it so often and it'll start to become a 'uniform' for you. Invest in the suit, then at least you can ring the changes with different tops beneath the jacket.

[CormorantDevouringTime]

I agree that the fit is paramount. Try on carefully and don't settle for "more or less fits" and alter if necessary.

[erinaceus]

Looking sharp and smart is in both the tailoring and the fabric. Do you have stores that you "know" fit your body shape?

If you are considering bespoke, i.e. an investment piece, another option is a session with a personal shopper. I did this and it changed my life approach to shopping for clothes for work. The clothes I bought were not that expensive but the investment in her time and what she taught be about how to put outfits together were priceless.

Lots of shops will help you to put an outfit together if you go in and explain your budget and what you need. I have found Hobbs great for doing this, especially if you go in on a quiet day and get a sales assistant who is willing to help you. Jigsaw the same. Banana Repubic offer a personal shopping service but I'm not sure they do tailoring. Reiss worth a look but their clothes do not fit my body shape the way Hobbs do, and I find their sales assistants less helpful.

John Lewis worth a look, loads of different brands and good discounts sometimes.

[thesandwich]

I second the personal shopper idea- went to John Lewis recently for a free two hour session and stylist was excellent- Huge range of styles and prices. And I came away with lovely things I will wear.

[erinaceus]

I didn't know John Lewis do this at no cost to the customer. Which branch was that in? I paid for my session, which had the advantages that we could shop at a full range of stores and we had a full day, but the disadvantage of being expensive.

I need new clothes for the winter season, I have a great spring/summer work wardrobe but not a winter one.

[erinaceus]

*derails

[thesandwich]

www.johnlewis.com/our-services/fashion-advice-service
It was at Birmingham. 2 hour session- excellent!

[erinaceus]

Ty thesandwich

[PaperdollCartoon]

Hobbs dresses, you can't go wrong. Worn by all the women in my office from age 22-60