First suit- where to go?

[Scarydinosaurs]

I'm very excited that I have finally got a promotion that requires me to wear a suit! Normally I work in pencil dresses, pencil skirts, blouses (not shirts) and cardigans.

I'm five foot three, size 8 and I want something with a skirt, nice colour/fabric and a flattering close fitting cut...I've tried ASOS, Oasis, Topshop...none of the places I normally buy my work clothes have anything that looks like an actual 'suit'.

I have a budget of £200-300 please help before I drown in a sea of man made fibres!

Thank you ☺️

I'd say Jigsaw produce great suits and so do Hobbs although they can be a tad frumpy if you don't choose carefully. Otherwise some in Banana Republic? Or a nice dress/trousers and different smart jacket?

I've had a few from Austin Reed. Good quality, a good range of jacket and skirt styles and within your budget.

Doje I have just had a look at a lovely AR one that is reduced at the moment- what puts me off is the cut of the skirt- it looks like an unflattering straight cut rather than tapered in to the knee. Do you have trouser suits or skirts from them? Do you find the pencil skirts are closely cut or more column style?

Florentina getting on to Jigsaw right now!

Alternatively go onto John Lewis and order a few different brands to try. They sell most of the workwear brands I would buy! Good luck, congrats on your promotion!

Are there any boutiques near you? I think there are better options at that price point in independent boutiques rather than chains.

How about Reiss? Good quality suits in nice materials plus you can normally get a few different pieces so you can mix and match dress, skirt etc.

To be honest it's been a while so the cut has more than likely changed (potentially the quality too!) but they used to be nicely fitted on the hips and tapered in a bit too the knee, but not so tight you had to wiggle up stairs IYKWIM?

Go try some on!

It's been a while, but they used to be fitted to the hips and then tapered in a bit down to the knee, but not too much that you had to wiggle up stairs IYKWIM?

They did various styles too. Go try some on! . Oooh, I used to love a new suit!

It's been a while but I always used to buy mine at H&M - surprisingly good quality and I liked the way they were cut.

Thank you all! Lots of good ideas!

There aren't many boutiques immediately near me, but I'm right by London if you have any suggestions? Boutiques near me exclusively sell evening wear, definitely NOT the look I'm going for!

I'll have a look at Reiss- I hadn't even considered them.

I'm visiting friends in Kent today so shall pop into Bluewater and look at JL whilst DH wrangles small children.

Does it actually need to be a suit? Why not just get a jacket(s) that will go with your dresses and skirts (instead of the cardi. I think suits are actually a bit dated and dresses and separates are more the thing in the smart workplace

I agree with homebythesea too suits are very dated and I'd go for a smart work dress with matching or contrasting jacket.

I never wear my super expensive Reiss and Jigsaw suits anymore but they were bought about 8-10 years ago.

A compromise if you really want one is a midway one eg Warehouse - I got a work dress, skirt and jacket same fabric and design and some nice blouses/shirts so if I felt an agency or interview did require a suit I had it as a backup. For me and what was recommended here's to someone recently Lk Bennnett nice but also check their outlet rather than non sale items.

Check out www.theworkwearedit.com for ideas

It gets a bit of stick on MN, but honestly I think Next is pretty good for workwear. Also, M&S, particularly Autograph.

I agree with others. I don't wear suits any more even if I visit very 'smart' clients. Dress and jacket. Even at DHs City law firm the women mostly don't wear suits.

If it must be a suit mine are mostly from Hobbs, as they often do some nice feminine cuts for jackets, which I prefer.

thanks for all the ideas!

The suit isn't for everyday, but for the odd occasion where I will need to look obviously smarter for certain occasions. Back when I started working waistcoats were very fashionable and they were brilliant for conveying a sense of formality without wearing a full suit, but they haven't been in fashion for a long while now.

What I want is something very cool, midi skirt, close fitted and tailored jacket that is flattering in natural fibres/good quality fabric.

I will keep looking! Thanks!