Suit advice - a complete novice!

[Belager]

I'm starting a new job in September that requires suits. I've previously managed 30 years without ever wearing one!
Where would I ba able to buy good quality suits that don't cost the earth? Also I'm still carrying a lot of baby weight on my belly, what cuts/styles will hide it best?

If working 5 days a week do I do separates? How many would i need?

Personally I prefer dress plus jacket for formal offices. It's an acceptable alternative. Buy five lovely dresses and two jackets - one should be black, pick out colours in your dresses for the other?

Do you definitely have to wear suits? Does the dress code actually specify suits or is it “business dress” which in my experience (over a decade in financial services) means suits for men and suits OR things as smart as suits for women - so, shift dresses, pencil skirts, wide leg trousers / cigarette trousers plus a jacket. It’s less restrictive!

I'd definitely get a confirmed definition of their expectations. Two piece suits are quite hard to come by nowadays as they are so rarely required anymore.

It's also the wrong time of year to be buying for September, lots of things will be too lightweight or the wrong colours for moving into winter.

If you can wear separates, I'd go for some really well cut black trousers, a co ordinating neutral coloured jacket a couple of shell tops and a shift dress. You just need to get through the first couple of weeks then once you're more comfortable with expectations you can buy more. e.g. You might find you can wear knitted twinsets, thin knit sweaters instead of more formal blouses under a jacket.

For shops I'd head to Hobbs and Jigsaw on the high street. Oasis do shell tops in lots of colours cheaply.

Despite the MN theory that women don’t wear suits, in my profession it’s commonplace and expected. I do often wear a dress and jacket but usually suits.

Next or M&S for decent and cheap, Reiss, L K Bennett, Ted Baker for better tailoring and quality. Occasionally Hobbs but can be frumpy. I’ve even had a couple of decent dresses from ASOS worn with a more high end blazer.

Hobbs if you choose carefully. I really like linea from house of Fraser, they fit me really well and last a decent amount of time. Plus I put them through the machine and they are fine!

Next suits I’m not keen on, the hems tend to go and I had one that went a bit shiny which put me off. Plus the sizing is odd - it’s the only place I buy petite sizing (which I’m not!).

Why don’t you book a personal shopper at a department store? Once you know what suits you and what you like you can buy extras online. Choose a big store so there is lots of choice.

I tend to buy one jacket plus trousers and skirt, or trousers and dress.

It's definitely suits and not business dress. Thank you for the advice so far. I think I might need to have a shopping trip in town. I wanted to know now so I can buy a bit at a time and therefore spread the costs.

@43percentburnt. Which department store would you recommend? I'm on the outskirts of London so have a lot of choice.

I'm not sure about now but Tesco F & F used to be great for suits, I now tend to wear business dresses off Amazon though. :)

I would try Hobbs and ask the assistants for advice. I have just been in after trailing all round town getting increasingly stressed and worked up, and they were very helpful, found trousers to match existing jacket, pulled out shoes that were in the storeroom, went back and forth with sizes, fished out alternatives I hadn’t thought of, etc. Really helpful and I should have gone there first.

That's really surprising. I rarely see women in a suit these days. And I'm in City law, so at the more formal end of things. I'd love to know what you will be doing that requires a suit.

I have a couple of suits for Court but these days, like others on this thread, I mostly wear dresses and jackets. Reiss, jigsaw and ted baker still sell suits for women.

I too am in City law and am really curious to know what professions still require suits.
Places to look: LK Bennett, Reiss, Hobbs, Jigsaw, Jaeger. If you’re on the outskirts of London how about a trip to Bicester Village? Your money will go further there!

I'm actually a teacher, but the school I'm going to is suits. Even sixth formers need to wear non uniform suits. I was gobsmacked when I went in for my interview.
Thanks again!

I really rate banana republic tailoring but I'm not sure where there's an actual shop - I always buy online second hand from eBay.

How do you find the eBay route? Makes sense!

House of Fraser or John Lewis. I used HofF last time it was great. I sat down with a nice free coffee gave him my ideas and he ran around the store with a rail. I tried stuff on, said yes or no. He ran round the store again. I drank more coffee and paid! Loved it! I’ve used personal shoppers for a few years because I’m rubbish at choosing clothes for work. I’d just buy black suits! They put random clothes in front of you that you may as well try on!

Bought a lovely houndstooth suit years ago, I’d have walked past it but I was so pleased she got me to try it on.

eBay second hand is great. My friend gets Hobbs stuff that way. However you really need to know your size with that brand and what style you want.

I would find it pretty easy to do now with Hobbs and Linea.

If you like Hobbs register on their mailing I regularly get 20% off codes.

If you are tall Mexx do fab suits. But no stores in England now as far as I know.

I've got some real bargains on eBay. I think it works well for suits. I have a couple of beautiful wool suits that cost less than £20 but would have been 10 times that new. They look so much better than what I could afford new ( like h & m or new look).
As pp says you obviously really need to know what brand is going to fit well and be prepared for a few mistakes.