Womens Suits
For women in business, finding a suit that fits can be a real pain
- there are so many conflicting issues with womens
suits. Men have an easy time of it when they need to buy
a new suit. For many, it's simply a matter of buying the same cut
in the same size they always buy. Once in a while, a man might decide
to make a bold move and add a new color to his suit selection: perhaps
a dramatic Navy instead of his usual Charcoal. A very daring fellow
might even get a double-breasted jacket instead of a single, or
perhaps try a subtle pinstripe.
Fitting for most men is also a snap, unless the gentleman is of
a very unusual size or shape: shoulder width, waist size and inseam
length, and his shopping day is done. In many cases, a man can find
an off the peg suit that meets his needs perfectly in less than
an hour of shopping.
For a woman, the whole endeavor is much more involved. Not only
is there a wider range of acceptable colors for a woman's business
suit, but the number of styling options available in women's suits
is mind-boggling! For a woman, perhaps the first choice is whether
to go with slacks or a skirt for the bottom half of the suit. Then
you must choose wide, straight or narrow leg slacks, or decide on
a length for the skirt. For the jacket, you can choose traditional
single or double breasted lapels, or a no-lapel style for a more
modern look. And do you want the jacket cut past your hips or at
your hips? With a fitted waist, or a looser, boxy style? In navy,
charcoal, camel, light grey, or perhaps a muted pastel? Plain or
pinstripe?
Even after you have selected the style of women's suit you prefer,
fitting is a whole different endeavour. In addition to shoulder
width, waist and inseam, a woman's suit has many other sizing considerations
to get the most flattering fit. Are your hips wide or narrow? Do
you have a very defined waist, or a relatively straight torso? Are
you long or short waisted? Will the top of your suit need a generous
bust allowance, or a cut that flatters a more petite figure? Women's
suits are next to impossible to fit off the rack, unless the suit
retailer really understands the finer points of all these issues.
Perhaps the ideal solution for women's business suits, outside
a custom tailored ensemble, is to find a retailer that sells suit
separates, rather than complete suits. An expansive selection of
different sizes and styles of jackets, skirts and slacks, in coordinating
fabrics, allows much more flexibility in fitting. Luckily, there
are a few savvy business suit retailers who offer exactly that.
If you're like many women who's jacket and skirt size are not exactly
the same, finding such a retailer is well worth your effort when
it comes time to buy a new suit. Not only will it save you aggravation
in the fitting room, it will save the expense of having an ill-fitting
suit altered because one half of the outfit isn't exactly the right
size!
Womens Suits Links
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Lucie Alice |