Professional Women's Suits Ensure Businesslike Image

Whether you are re-entering the business world after decades away or looking forward to retirement after decades in the trenches, a good fitting women’s business suit says, “I’m a professional” like nothing else.

In the Seventies, John Malloy coached women to get out of the pink-collar ghetto of low-paying secretarial work by dressing-for-success. This meant wearing a professional women’s suit to work – every day. Today, Life in Italy proclaims, “A suit is professional. It's classy. It's elegant. A suit screams power, competence and ambition.”

Pant Suit for Comfort & Style

Some clothiers now sell women’s professional suits as separates. This makes it easier to get the fit needed in a top and bottom. It may be more challenging, though, to find put together a women’s business suit with both the jacket and bottom you need in your size. I always seem to find one without the other.

When buying separates, keep a close eye on the fabric. Different dye lots may have subtle differences in color. This makes the outfit look mismatched and slightly off.

How to Buy
A Suit

1. Buy a quality fabric that is appropriate for more than one season of the year in the climate where you live. Invest in a women’s business suit that can be summery with a light blouse or worn with a sweater.

2. Women’s pant suits and skirt suits should have lining in both the jacket and bottom. It’s ideal if you can snag a suit with both trousers and skirt.

3. Pay attention to finishing details when purchasing a women’s business suit. No threads hanging from the buttonholes or hems, please.

4. A good fit is essential in a professional womens-suit. Look in a three-way mirror so you can see yourself from all angles.

   Point-of-purchase tailoring is ideal, especially if you are not sure what kinds of tailoring is too costly to contemplate. A tailor cannot make a jacket that is too big smaller without remaking the entire garment, and she certainly cannot make tight slacks larger.

   Leaving the store with the illusion that the garments can be easily fitted may have disastrous results.

5. Shop for neutral colors that never go out of style. Dark colors are preferred. They hide surface dirt better, and they project seriousness and commitment, especially in high-end businesses. Suitable colors are charcoal gray, navy blue, black, brown or tan.

   Matched Seams for Stripes:
   A Must

6. Stripes and plaids must be matched on the seams, or they look cheap. When buying stripes, make sure the stripes match at the shoulder seams and are aligned on lapels. If you do not understand what this means, don't buy.

   Plaids are almost never matched on the seams in less garments. Horizontal stripes are rarely flattering, as they emphasize broad hips.

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An alternative to professional women's suits is teaming a nice jacket with slacks or a skirt.