Do you wear a suit?

[SunnyL]

Do you wear a suit for work and if so what sort of style is it?

I'm increasingly attending more corporate style events and meetings - previously I've been mostly working with environmental types so been able to get away with dresses and cardis but I'm increasingly working with big groups now where most women seem to wear suits.

I mostly make my own clothes so looking for style ideas on suits. Slim fit trousers and blazers or neat chanel style jackets and wide leg trousers?

Help?

[LurkerTurnedPoster]

I work in a corporate environment and make most of my own clothes. Rather than suits I tend to go for dresses with jackets or a jacket with contrasting pencil skirt or trousers. Some of the patterns I've used are this long line jacket with trousers www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-jacket-top-trousers-and-skirt-new-look-sewing-pattern-6163 this dress and jacket www.sewessential.co.uk/misses-collarless-jacket-dress-skirt-trousers-butterick-pattern-6332 and this chanel type jacket which I added a lining to www.amazon.co.uk/New-Look-8-10-12-14-16-18-Pattern-6028/dp/B004RSTTDK?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[SunnyL]

Awesome help! I even have 2 of those patterns. So do people not necessarily wear matching jackets to trousers/skirts these days?

[AnaViaSalamanca]

Interesting question. In my industry people wear less and less suits. Not even power dresses unless they are quite senior or old.

[idontlikealdi]

I’m in a very corporate office and none of the women wear suits anymore. Skirt / dress / trousers and jacket but not a matchup two piece. I haven’t worn one for about ten years thank god.

[SunnyL]

Interesting. I mostly work with international agencies like World Bank and UN and find that women still generally dress in suits and power dresses.

I regularly get mistaken for the Secretary rather than a Technical Consultant so trying to up my game by dressing more like them.

[SunnyL]

Interesting. I mostly work with international agencies like World Bank and UN and find that women still generally dress in suits and power dresses.

I regularly get mistaken for the Secretary rather than a Technical Consultant so trying to up my game by dressing more like them.

[ImperfectTents]

I have one suit. It is my interview suit. It is a pleasant jigsaw affair, charcoal grey well fitting. Got it for pennies on eBay. I am about to start a new job and am wondering the same as you op. I feel a bit of a berk in a suit but the alternatives are a minefield

[TheMogget]

Agree with PP in my industry (City) the norm is dresses and a jacket, not a formal 'suit' much better, means you can wear washable dresses

[BendyBusBuggy]

No idea what style you like
Theory
Hobbs
Tahari
I have a dolce and gabbana one that always makes me feel overdressed

I like the theory one best

[MojoMoon]

Americans still seem to wear suits but they are definitely much rarer on British women in the city.

Reiss is worth a look, they certainly used offer adjustment services on their suits.

Suits (matching jacket and skirt) now seem to be the preserve of 6th formers in schools with pretensions.

[ArgyMargy]

I have a corporate job in a stuffy industry and haven't worn a suit for years. The trick is to wear well fitting, high quality clothes and add decent grooming. A woman in our office often wears a grey trouser suit that's too big and she looks massively dowdy. Ideal Trinny/Suzanna candidate.

[SunnyL]

Thanks all really interesting. I've been trawling various 'workwear' sections of websites and find v few suit options. Seems I should be looking at a coordinating jacket/dress/trouser option that aren't matching IYSWIM.

I was in rome recently though with Italian and US folks and they all had suits on.

[rubybleu]

Suits are pretty rare in the City. Some lawyers still wear them but coordinating trousers/skirts/dresses and jackets are more popular. I see them a bit when visiting government clients.

We have one person who always wears a matching suit but they are gorgeous interesting Paule Ka and other similar brands - no navy/grey Reiss/Hugo Boss power suits.

I was with clients yesterday and had on yellow/navy herringbone trousers, navy blazer and an ivory silk shirt. That’s pretty typical for my client facing role.

[EggsonHeads]

I hate trouser suits. Skirt suits for me! Hobbs is my favourite.

[PointeShoesAndTutus]

I wear a suit every day (lawyer) but usually dress and jacket. I favour Hobbs for suits. I prefer a more boxy Chanel style jacket, and often look for a more textured finish, then keep the dress plain. I go for black, navy and dark grey mostly, but have a lovely burgundy dress for more frivolous days!

[OttoTheOnly]

I've not seen anyone in a matching suit for ages. Most women here wear smart separates rather than a suit.
I work in the US fairly often, and they do seem fonder of a suit over there.