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
Dmoz
Lucie Alice
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