Suits... Aaaghhh

[muchadoaboutsomething]

I am just looking for suggestions for suits for me, I'm an 10/12 with a small waist and fat thighs... And am completely at the end of my tether with looking for suitable suits. Pencil skirts don't suit me as they get tight on my thighs and gape around my waist. A line ok. But ideally I want trousers as I cycle. But they are all flat fronted so don't suit. I need to be properly smart some of the time and tend to look in Austin reed, jaeger, sometimes jigsaw but this year am getting nowhere so really just asking fr ideas.... Please?

Do you really need a suit? Could you buy a coordinating jacket and trouser set? That would give you more choice...

I am not helpful as I don't need to wear it but I love the look when a woman pull it well.

I do really need a suit I have smart clothes but I go to court etc and sometimes a suit is the only thing which is "right" and usually I can wait until I find something but so many things have worn out I really do need to replace at least one.

It's driving me mad.

I'm a similar shape-although bigger-and have found trouser suits almost impossible. The only way I can get trousers to fit is buying to suit my hips/thighs and taking them in at the waist which is quite straightforward.

I tend to wear dress suits though as it's just easier! I prefer more a line dresses that flare out as they're more likely to fit and work with a belt!

Have you tried Ted Baker or hobbs

Have you looked at Banana Republic? Gerard Darel?

Thanks will take a look at those.... I have to say I am sure suit shopping is easier for men.

I'm usually a fan of Jigsaw but haven't been suit shopping this winter to have seen their latest offering.

Suit shopping is tricky. There are so few places that sell smart suits for women, before you even consider fit. Men definitely have it easier.

DH gets his suits made. I tried to have a suit made by the tailor really struggled to get a good fit over my boobs, and I'm not that busty. If anyone is interested in a really good blog on men's tailors: www.permanentstyle .co.uk it's written by a male journo who seems to be a tailoring fanatic. Not that this helps you...

When I was working, I really struggled to buy well fitting suits - my sympathies.

Oops www.permanentstyle.co.uk

Just a thought... Anything in M&S Autograph?

What about TM Lewin?

LK Bennett? That's the last one, I promise.

Given the price of good quality suits on the high street, I would vote for bespoke too. DH has had very good suits made by English Tailoring at Canary Wharf.

I used to buy my suits from Planet as they have generous thigh room and proportionately neat waists, so they may suit you too. They have good sales and although they do some frumpy stuff, you can get plain and wearable styles from there if you look. I don't wear suits any more (no longer in law) and I must say it's a huge relief!

Definitely try Hobbs, and occasionally Laura Ashley have some good stuff in. Also try Linea.

I really like dress suits, more flattering than skirt suits, less troublesome to find than trouser suits.

Thanks so much everyone, I still have a planet suit but haven't found anything for ages. I have however just found a trouser suit in the lk Bennett sale. I will have to take the trousers up but that's easy. The rest is fab though. I also had to buy some shoes though......

Statically is it easy to take waists in on smart clothes? I could make clothes when I was younger but now I am cash rich time poor so don't tend to do that type of thing any more, but I have a sewing machine so maybe it would be a better use of time than shopping?

Taking in waists in tricky, especially on trousers

Yes that's what I thought.....

You could easily pay someone to tailor a suit for you, as long as there's enough room in it to start with. Maybe you could try buying some stuff that is big enough, but doesn't fit/flatter quite well enough, then get it properly tailored? I used to hate suit shopping, and usually just bought whatever was in the Planet sale in my size (I used to be able to buy without trying on as their stuff was always exactly the right shape for me) even if it was ugly! I don't know why I didn't think to have alterations done.

I find it fairly easy to take the waist in - at the back normally for me as they tend to gape at the back. It doesn't cost much to get it done professionally though and would be well worth it.