Women's suits.

[placemats]

So I would like a new suit. So far I have this for delectation and delight.

Next: women's suits.

www.next.co.uk/search?w=women%20suits&af=colour:black&isort=score#1_0

Suits search only in Next:

www.next.co.uk/search?w=suits&isort=score&af=#1_253

I typed in suits for Marks and Spencers

I got this:

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/mands-collection/suits-and-work-dresses-n-bys1h?extid=ps_ggl_UK_G_DSA_Womenswear_&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s7qBRCzARIsAImcAxZ_LEJtKeVQvCyec7x8yS-z56NC5PnVTiBMOhGAGdQp8s5gC15eGxcaApOhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Then I typed in women's trouser suits in M&S and got this:

www.marksandspencer.com/l/women/coords?OmnitureRedirect=womens%20trouser%20suits

What is going on here?

Can a woman not buy a decent suit at a good price anymore without looking like she is about to go onto the beach?

randomsabreuse

@StopThePlanet

UK stores generally have bog all in store. Half the stores have helpful terminals for you to order online from the store you are standing in...

Thanks for filling me in on that I had no idea I've never bought clothing in the UK. I would end up sewing all of my own clothes - that reminds me I need to make a new robe.

We are lucky enough to have outlet malls (Calvin Klein, BCBG, Saks, etc. selling previous seasons' fashions) as well as normal malls and upscale malls in these parts. I personally hate shopping so I just pick a Saturday a few times a year and make my way through the chore of buying clothes to get to the reward of a well-deserved cocktail (clothes off and on off and on - I hate it). But I like it better than ordering a bunch of stuff online that shows up and doesn't fit or has defects that I then have to mail back etc. - suits (business and swimwear) never work for me when purchased online but I occasionally find better loungewear online than in-person.

Now informed that you basically have no choice but to shop for clothes online I have a newfound appreciation for my few times a year chore.

*Because I thought it was a womans issue.

Getting smart for an interview is important. Men can do it easily*

I think most women manage it quite easily as well, and if they don't they probably seek advice on a board thats dedicated to clothing ... something like Style and beauty.

Honestly, just because something happened to one woman - you in this case - doesn't make it a 'woman's issue'.

No, I don't agree that this is a FWR issue. I went back into a professional environment this year after a few years out of it. I had absolutely no problem whatsoever finding smart clothes for interviews and building a new work wardrobe. Like I said, I think you're making a fuss out of nothing.

Women have a much wider choice of workwear than men. Sorry that you're disappointed that your internet search doesn't return fairly homogenous trouser suits for women like it does for men. That doesn't make this a FWR issue.

Now informed that you basically have no choice but to shop for clothes online

That is a huge exaggeration.

www.hobbs.co.uk/womens-work-suits

Collection of tailored jackets with matching dresses, skirts and shock horror- trousers.

I think on a feminist woman's board to tell me I'm making a fuss out of nothing is quite dismissive.

Hobby Perhaps you can tell me what is a legitimate discussion on these boards?

I can't afford Hobbs.

I don’t think you’re making a fuss over nothing. But if you would like some practical solutions then I think you’d get further on Style on Beauty than on here.

However!

I have ordered a suit from H&M. It came to £48 plus p&p

I have a beautiful coat to wear over it, a present from my mum, in winter.

I disagree it's a womens issue.

Office wear in the uk has made a huge shift for both men and women in the last 5 years.

2 piece trouser suits, for women, are less popular.

I work in HR for one if the uk arm of one of the world's largest employers. Office wear here and in the US head office is definitely more casual smart.

And it is the same for men. Men rarely wear a 2 or 3 piece suit anymore.

Senior managers and directors (female) wear dresses, jumpsuit, trousers with smart tops, suit jackets usually over Jean's and dresses or casual trousers.

So they are more difficult to get hold of in high street stores. You need to go to more specialist shops.

Yes women can struggle as they are more likely to spend a few years out if the work place. But I did a bit of online googling of more recent fashions when i returned 3 years ago, after 4 years off. Also kept and eye out when put in town to observe what women wore.

It doesnt become a womens issue, because you want a suit which is no longer the main stream fashion. If you like them, wear them. But they will be harder to get hold of and you cant force then to be in fashion

I don't want to go to Style and Beauty.

It's not a board I frequent.

I've have a lot of help on here and thanks to those who have been supportive.

I so look forward to the day when our prime minister wears a jumpsuit to PMQs.

What an odd thread.
"I shouldt have to use a filter" "I don't want to go on style and beauty because I don't use that board"

Do you actually understand how the internet works OP?

MargueritaBlue

Now informed that you basically have no choice but to shop for clothes online

That is a huge exaggeration.

From what random said in the UK there isn't a lot of selection in-store - I'm just going from what I read upthread I'm not making a statement about your shopping or what your shopping is like because I don't know.

And I think huge exaggeration is an exaggeration tbf; I said "basically" "no choice" not forced under gunpoint or something.

I so look forward to the day when our prime minister wears a jumpsuit to PMQs.

Indeed. Boris Johnson would look rather fetching in a h&m jumpsuit

Hobby Perhaps you can tell me what is a legitimate discussion on these boards?

I'm not alone in saying that this is not a FWR issue and yet you continue to call me out specifically.

You'd expect people to use the FWR boards to discuss things related to FWR. The consensus seems to be that this topic is not related to FWR, but you're continuing to bang that drum. Fine, but you're not getting the answer you want and instead you're just getting annoyed with people who are approaching this from a FWR point of view and disagreeing with you.

S&B boards tend to be used for threads looking for help with finding specific clothing etc. That's where to go if that's what you're looking for, or if you want to bemoan the lack of availability of the type of clothing you're after. It doesn't matter if you "don't frequent" those boards, you can still swing by and ask your questions from time to time.

I just think you're not getting what you'd hoped from this particular thread, other than those who've answered from a S&B perspective rather than a FWR perspective, hence why some others have recommended you should head there and others still have said this is not a FWR issue.

I can't really be any clearer, but I hope you find what you need - I'm sure you will as I know first hand that I had no issue finding smart clothes.

To be honest no one wears suits nowadays to work - lawyers accountants etc the men wear shirts/trousers chinos and jeans!

Women where shirts, trousers , dresses etc don't know anyone that wears suits and I work in a very corporate environment I have friends at banks and they don't wear them.

Getting smart for an interview is important. Men can do it easily.

Women not so. (...) Then when their time shines again what is there to look smart?

I'm sorry you're having trouble finding an outfit you like, but this just isn't true. There is lots of smart, office and interview appropriate fashion for women. This really isn't a feminist issue. Your personal taste and preferences simply don't align with what's currently fashionable - it happens to most of us every now and then.

Quality on the high street is mostly shit these days, with some notable exceptions such as COS and Arket. Yes, things like men's t-shirts or socks tend to be better quality even at cheap prices, but you will massively struggle to find a decent suit for either sex for under £100 because they are comparatively expensive to make. It's not a conspiracy against women, it's just down to the simple fact that good tailoring and nice fabrics are expensive.

This may just be my personal experience, but on the whole as a woman I can actually get away with spending a lot less on office wear or outfits for formal occasions than my male DP. For an entire outfit (decent suit + good shirt + tie + reasonably nice shoes) he'll easily pay £1000 in total and that is for pretty mid-range stuff, nothing all that fancy. I can easily pull together a good outfit for under £200 (bag not included) and look equally well turned out, so I'm not quite convinced that women have it that much worse fashion-wise.

Oh and my son agrees with me.

Sorry, but this is where I'd normally post that good old 'A man has arrived...' meme.

@Taxiplease

Men's suits are very much do everything though - 1 investment does until you get too fat... So £350 does weddings, funerals, smart office, races, christening etc for years.

My £200 outfit will do a couple of weddings and a christening, need something else for "black" funerals, and really can't do office and wedding with the same outfit!

I don't want to go to Style and Beauty.

It's not a board I frequent.

Women post on there all the time who've been out of the workplace or moved to a job with a different dress code. What you seem to be saying is that, even though, if you told them your dilemma, type of workplace and budget, they would almost certainly be able to make suggestions, you won't ask them for help because it's not your kind of place.

Righto.

If what you were really looking for was a feminist critique of women's fashion, or just to let off steam then fair enough. It's just a pity you didn't make that clear from the beginning, then people wouldn't have wasted their time trying to help.

Men's suits are very much do everything though - 1 investment does until you get too fat... So £350 does weddings, funerals, smart office, races, christening etc for years

I dont think that's true that much any more.

All the men I know would have different jackets and also dont want to be photographed in the same suit tome and time again.

No. I've obviously no idea how to use the internet.

Hence why I'm posting here and posting links.

Because this obviously isn't the internet. Formerly

And can I add. In this instance Google wasn't my friend.

I LOVE smart casual. It's what I normally wear. All I asked for was for a suit, same as men do.

And where I work, neither men nor women can wear jeans. My work is seasonal in an educational setting.

I have never been able to wear high heels either.

And for the record, I think what this woman pictured is gorgeous.

www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/03/women-in-japan-protest-against-having-to-wear-high-heels-to-work-kutoo-yumi-ishikawa

My son has to wear a suit in his sixth form.

It has to be a certain colour as well.

Because I thought it was a women's issue.

Getting smart for an interview is important. Men can do it easily.

Women not so. And many women do spend time out of the fashion stakes when it comes to having to look after children or taking care of others.

Then when their time shines again what is there to look smart?

If you only wish to shop online you merely need to change your internet search parameters.

There are plenty of smart clothes for women - despite your gender stereotyping above.

It is easy. Even when you have children. Even if you are a woman

To be honest no one wears suits nowadays to work - lawyers accountants etc the men wear shirts/trousers chinos and jeans!

Not in my experience. There is the horror of dress down Friday and many men have given up ties but in general men in those professions still wear suits.