Womens Suits

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