Where can I buy a suit???

[CastleCrasher]

I need a suit (maybe two) that look decent for work but won't break the bank. I've put on a little weight due to illness which I'm in the process of losing, so don't want to spend a lot as I fully intend to be back in my usual stuff soon.

I just want a simple black or navy suit that looks smart for the (old-school, formal) events i have to do every so often. I'm 5ft 4, size 12, usually hourglass but closer to a pear shape at the moment. (Loving an elasticated waistband right now!)

Everywhere I've tried either only seems to do trousers but not jackets, or the quality is rubbish, or the cut is (or both!) I get that wfh means suits are less of a thing now, but surely I can get something for around £100 - £150 that doesn't look slightly less flattering than a sack of potatoes?

They had some in the sale on Hugo Boss although may be over budget. Hobbs sale maybe? I'm a similar shape and have been looking.

Next?

£100-150 would have been a pretty low budget for a suit years ago let alone now. I’m pretty sure my first ever work suit (and that was only French Connection/FCUK) was around £100 and that was back in 1992!!

Probably somewhere like Next or even Tu is your best bet but you can’t expect quality fabrics and cut for that budget I’m afraid.

£100 -£150 for a suit is nothing. I started work in 1982 and that seems about right for what I spent on work suits. That was from brands like Alexa and Planet or Austen Reed or Jaeger in sales. That's equivalent to over £500 today.

M and S had some nice suits.

Are you sure you want a suit? I don't see any women in suits anymore. If it has to be formal I'd go to Hobbs or reiss and get a decent dress.

Hobbs sale, just under £300 for jacket, trousers and dress. Fits well, acceptable quality.

Mango online.

As you’ve seen, you can buy a suit very cheaply, but if you want a combination of decent design, cut and fabric you have to pay what that costs.

If you don’t want to pay MaxMara, Toteme, Margaret Howell type prices new, (understandably if it’s only for the short term) it might be sensible to look for pre-owned suits. Not sure you’d get anything terribly up to date from Vestiaire at that price (though you may be lucky) but there are plenty of other sources.

Alternatively this is just about the cheapest sober, work jacket available on the Outnet site atm:

Theory blazer

Next

Would a wrap dress and jacket work instead?
If not try Next or M&S, or maybe Roman

Second hand from Vinted is an option. The problem being that you can't return if it doesn't fit, although you can always try to resell.
If you don't need it too urgently, try on some brands in the shops then look for the same items on Vinted.

Yes, dress and jacket seems more common. Even female politicians don't wear suits now.

In the new series of The Apprentice, the majority of female candidates seem to be wearing trousers suits rather than the ubiquitous too tight dresses of previous seasons. Not sure if this is a sign that trouser suits are returning (The Apprentice isn’t exactly a great fashion indicator) or that they just have a new sponsor dishing out the suits. 😜

Next is where dd got hers, Mango sell them too

Mango, I’ve bought 2 trouser suits this year. Both were under 120 euro for trousers and jacket, and they are great quality, and appear much more expensive than they are. There are various styles in their range, I am 5’3” and found two that need no amends, fit perfectly from the hanger.

https://www.jigsaw-online.com/collections/new-in-womens/products/hale-boucle-cropped-trousers-navy some beautiful suits at jigsaw

Cheap suits look like cheap suits.
If you can't afford a decent suit do seperates, I can't remember the last time I saw someone in a suit anyway
If you need a new work wardrobe you can get kitted out at Sainsburys for not too much. They have some great stuff in at the moment and 20% off

Vinted. I'm trying to lose weight too and got a hobbs suit for £20 + postage and fees. Loads of nice second hand shift dresses from hobbs, etc.

Suiting and tailoring are back in now thank god, after years of pyjama-like rags masquerading as clothes.

They have a modern look and cut though so you cant just get an old Next suit from 1997 from Vinted. The leg length and style is different and the jackets are less plain with little details.

As somebody with a bust and waist, I'm so happy.

And picking up a Reiss shift dress I found for £15 from my locker tomorrow x Takes a while to have a rummage through the pages and a bit of luck to find the wow prices but worth it x