See all of the best women's suits in 2024, right here!

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Can you wear “interesting” suits to court — colorful, patterned, fanciful, haute? (You know, kind of like in our weekly Suit of the Week feature?)

Reader E asks — specifically wondering about this teal LK Bennett suit that Kate Middleton is wearing here  — and I think it's a great question for all the women lawyers:

This is a lawyer-specific question – can you wear interesting suits to court if it's still a suit? I agree with previous suggestions here that a dress/blazer combo, unless its meant to be a suit, is not formal enough for court. But, my question is, what about things that are true suit sets but are more interesting – like an AT tweed suit, or the LK Bennett dark teal dress and jacket suit set that Kate Mid. has? Or do you think court suits have to be black/grey/navy and totally plain? Thx!

I can't wait to hear what the readers say here.

(Psst: In the past we've shared our roundup of the best suits for women this year, given tips on suiting alterations for women, and offered advice on dry cleaning women's suits. Also check out our post on C-suite style for women if you're interested in power dressing!)

When It's OK to Wear Interesting Suits to Court

I always think of my reaction to an article years ago about a young public defender who wore Balmain (at the time, their blazers had super pointy shoulders) and other couture suits to court. The impression it left on me was a bad one — it seemed like she was not showing respect for her clients or the fact that she was there to represent THEM, in life-altering matters, before stodgy judges and juries who may or may not have approved of her fashion choices (or her designer budget).

Plus, as readers have pointed out in the past, wearing ostensibly designer, moneyed things in front of juries can be a bad move, particularly if you're a public defender.

NOW: A crazy/trendy Balmain suit is one thing — a dark teal LK Bennett dress and jacket is another. But where is the line? And are there different rules for “first appearance before the court” and “day 30 of a 6-month trial”? 

Here's my take on when it's OK to wear interesting suits to court:

If you're appearing in court, remember that you're representing someone else. Honor that relationship by keeping the focus on your arguments and their situation, not on your personality or your clothes.

Treat early appearances like an interview. If it's early on in anyone's relationship (yours to the client, the client's relationship to the judge or jury, YOURS to the judge/jury), then treat it like an interview and go with the “hit 'em with my smarts” approach to interview attire — classic, tasteful, inoffensive — so your brain can shine, and the focus can be on the arguments you're making on behalf of your client.

Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)

If it looks like you're in costume, don't wear it. Period. This may apply to vintage couture, overly girly suits, or more.

Stick with standard rules for trends at conservative offices: If you wouldn't have worn the shape five years ago, reconsider it. If it's body-baring, don't wear it. (I'd include in that a skirt suit with a miniskirt, or a shorts suit, unless you are a lawyer in Bermuda.) If it's illogical, for example, exposed toes in winter, and possibly a cape blazer as well, don't wear it.

With regard to the teal LK Bennett suit, it's a gorgeous, gorgeous suit, and I think the color is muted enough that you can get away with it.

Our Latest Favorite Interesting Suits

Every week on Wednesday we pick one suit to feature for our “Suit of the Week” — and it's almost always what we'd call an “interesting suit.” These are the latest ones we've featured:

Kat's Latest Favorite Fun Suits

We round up a fun suit each week for our “Suit of the Week” feature — some of Kat's latest favorites include this gold brocade number, this blue velvet pant suit, this rockstar-like jacquard suit with tiny birds, and this very unusual print suit from Etro.

Suits That Look Like Kate Middleton's Green Peplum LK Bennett Suit

If you're hunting for a suit just like Kate Middleton's green LK Bennett suit, we'll round up the latest ones we've seen. Some of the key characteristics: It's a dark green color, maybe even a teal… it has a peplum detail on the jacket… and it's shown with a pencil skirt.

Hobbs

This is suuuuuch a pretty skirt suit from UK brand Hobbs.

(Fun fact: So many things there are machine washable, including this skirt! The jacket says “dry clean,” but not “dry clean only,” so you could in theory wash it carefully in the machine.)

The color, the peplum, the cut of the skirt… It all really reminds me of Kate Middleton's LK Bennett suit!

The suit is new as of Aug. 2023, so all sizes (US sizes 0-16) are in stock. The jacket is $480, and the skirt is $275.

Our Latest Favorite Green and Teal Women's Suits in General

Our Latest Favorite Green Women's Suits

In 2024, we've noticed M.M.LaFleur has pretty shamrock suiting, while Estelle (plus sizes), Akris, and J.Crew have nice medium greens. BOSS has some suiting in a beautiful deep green, while Banana Republic has a very light “celery” green.

Our Latest Favorite Teal Women's Suits

As of 2024, if you're hunting for teal or blue-green suiting, M.M.LaFleur‘s “blue jade” suiting or this Ann Taylor linen/silk suiting are both beautiful options. In plus sizes, check out the Moroccan blue suit at Eloquii and Universal Standard's “sea moss” linen suiting.

Suits with Dresses Instead of Skirts

Here are some of our latest favorite suits with dresses instead of skirts as of 2024 — but also check these brand recommendations: Ann Taylor (TONS of dresses to match suits), Brooks Brothers, Talbots, and Boss! This J.Crew sheath almost always has a matching blazer, as well, and this J.Crew Factory dress has a matching blazer as well.

Other Suits with a Ladylike Vibe…

In general (as of 2024), brands that specialize in suits with a ladylike vibe (for lack of a better word) include Hobbs, LK Bennett, The Fold London, and Ted Baker — Amazon seller Marycrafts also has some great (super affordable!) ladylike suits.

Readers, what would you say — can you wear interesting suits to court? Would you wear them; where are your lines for when a suit is TOO interesting to wear to court?

The post Can You Wear Interesting Suits to Court? appeared first on Corporette.com.

Are short-sleeved suits appropriate for young women in professional jobs — or are they horribly frumpy and tacky? Reader C wonders.

What are your thoughts on short-sleeved suits? Appropriate or tacky? To provide some context, I am an attorney in my late 20s in Kansas City, and I work for a non-profit which is generally business casual, erring on the side of casual. I also never have to appear in court. I'm looking for a summer suit for any big meetings and/or conferences that may pop up, and last summer it was blazing hot for months. Is a short-sleeved suit (probably khaki, white, or navy) ever appropriate in these settings? Or would I just look like an idiot? If I get one, I'd make sure it was fairly plain styling. If not short-sleeved, does 3/4 length work as a compromise? I am lacking in work attire role models in my office so advice would be much appreciated!

{related: summer work clothes: how to look professional when it's hot out}

Short-Sleeved Suits for Work We've Loved: A Look Back

Difficult question. My gut reaction here is: when you say “short sleeved suit,” I think of something like the picture above — horribly frumpy. But that said, I have recommended short-sleeved suits at least four times here on Corporette (pictured below):

one / two / three / four

(Awww, remember the puff sleeve trend of 2008?) 

I also fondly remember wearing a cap-sleeved blazer that I got from Anthropologie years ago (Nanette Lepore, I believe) — I normally wore it in the fall and spring on top of long-sleeved tees and turtlenecks with a pencil skirt; I remember it so fondly because I happened to be wearing it when my husband proposed. I can't find a picture of it or me in in it that really displays the jacket, but it was similar to the purplish one above in cut.

(Update: I just found a picture of me in it!) So: never say never.

{related: 5 tips to stay cool on your commute on really hot days}

Update: Short-Sleeved Suits We Love

We'll update this space if we find any short-sleeved suits we love! I wouldn't say we love them, but as of 2023 Theory has an option… but know your office!

Should She Buy a Short-Sleeved Suit for Hot Weather?

But here — where Reader C almost never wears suits — I'd say she should instead spend her money on a seasonless wool suit (with both pants and a skirt) from the likes of Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, J.Crew, or Theory if she can afford it — and carry her suit jacket with her to meetings in the hot Kansas summers, only putting it on once she's inside the inevitably air-conditioned building or meeting.

This is because a) these meetings will inevitably be air conditioned and you'll be freezing in there, b) even if they are hot, for my $.02 you'll look far more professional even if you're just sitting in the meeting with your suit jacket hung neatly on a chair, and c) how crazy hot do your elbows really get that you need a short-sleeved suit?

If you have a lot of outdoor meetings in the summer that necessitate wearing suits I might look for a long-sleeved version in a lighter fabric like cotton or linen, but I think for Reader C's purposes, seasonless wool would give her a lot more bang for her buck.

{related: what to wear to work in summer}

Other Options for Looking Professional in Hot Weather

These are some of our latest favorites!

Lightweight Blazers

Hunting for lightweight blazers for summer in linen and other fabrics? As of 2024, J.Crew's Helena blazer in stretch linen is a bestseller, as is this super affordable Quince blazer and Old Navy (regular, tall, and petite up to 4X). Along related lines (all machine washable!), check out Uniqlo's Airsense jacket (lightweight and stretchy), Madewell's Drapeweave line (lightweight and drapey) and Brooks Brothers' seersucker line (lightweight and cooling). You can find silk/linen blazers at Ann Taylor and Hobbs; Ann Taylor also has a number of cotton pique options.

White Blazers for Summer

White blazers are a classic for summer!

As of April 2024, some of our favorite stylish white blazers for work include options from J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Ann Taylor, Liverpool, and Amazon (Cicy Bell, The Drop). If you're looking to splurge, try Smythe or L'Agence.

Lightweight Summer Pants

Some of our favorite summer work pants for women as of 2024 include options from Nic + Zoe, M.M.LaFleur, Ministry of Supply, Uniqlo — and Banana Republic Factory sometimes has pants in their AirStretch line, also!

Lightweight Suits

Hunting for travel-friendly suits for women or lightweight suits? As of 2024, some of our favorites include these brands/lines: 1) M.M.LaFleur, 2) Ministry of Supply, 3) Paul Smith, and 4) Talbots. (Not pictured: Eddie Bauer and Suitably! Brooks Brothers also occasionally has suiting in their BrooksCool line, and Uniqlo occasionally has Airism suiting. ) You may also want to check out our roundup of washable suits for women!

What do you think, readers — is this a regional thing? Do you often see short-sleeved suits at summer meetings and networking events? If you only have a few suits in your closet, should one of them be a short-sleeved one?

{related: the best work dresses}

This post was originally written in 2013, but updated as indicated.

The post Short-Sleeved Suits: Yea or Nay? appeared first on Corporette.com.

It's been far too long since we've rounded up plus-size suits for interviews! Readers, what are your favorite stores for plus-size workwear? Where did your last killer interview suit come from?

{related: the best plus-size women's workwear – wardrobe essentials!}

{related: 100+ great shops for plus-size work clothes}

Our Latest Favorite Plus-Size Suits for Interviews and Beyond

Where to Find Plus-Size Suits for Interviews

11 Honore – house brand, Veronica Beard, RTA, Cushne, Christian Siriano and more! 

1.State – you can find this trendy brand at Nordstrom and other department stores; not only do they often have of-the-moment cuts and colors but they often have basic suiting as well

Amazon – Jessica London, Calvin Klein, Kasper, Le Suit, Tahari, Marycrafts

Argent – Many of their workwear pieces go up to size 24, including some of their suits.

ASOS – Lots of affordable options from their house brand; sometimes from other brands as well

Bloomingdale’s – City Chic, Lafayette 148 New York, Lauren Ralph Lauren, Marina Rinaldi, Nic+Zoe, and Vince Camuto

Chadwicks – I've never purchased from this store, but they do have suiting options in plus sizes!

City Chic – This is a great brand for basic suits with a slightly trendy cut; you can find them at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and on their own website (sizes 12-24)

Dillards – Calvin Klein, Investments, Kasper, Lauren Ralph Lauren 

Eileen Fisher – The brand (also sold at Nordstrom!) sometimes has plus-size blazers and other suiting options! (Readers LOVE these pants).

Eloquii – Lots of fun suits for work, with a few “9-to-5 Essential” options

Estelle – You can find this brand at Nordstrom and other department stores; they often have trendy suiting in plus sizes as well as more conservative basics

Etsy – Check for customizable options from shops like TielDorein and HeartMyCloset 

Full Beauty – A collection of brands including ellos, Jessica London, & Roaman’s

JCPenney – Le Suit, Evan-Piccone, Liz Claiborne, Alfred Dunner, and Worthington

J.Crew – J.Crew recently expanded their size range in general; many of their suiting pieces are now available up to size 24. 

Jones New York – This brand seems to be back after basically disappearing for several years; you can now find basics for work including black suits at Nordstrom and other department stores — historically they were always a favorite of women with an apple shape

Good American – This is one of the few brands with affordable suiting up to size 4X

H&M – They sometimes have blazers and suiting options!

Lands End (particularly their washable wool suiting) – also some pieces are carried at Kohl's!

Lafayette 148 New York (the brand is also available at Nordstrom!)

Lane Bryant*

Liverpool – This comfort brand (who makes some of our favorite office pants!) also often have matching blazers

Macy’s – Alfani, Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Kasper, Nine West, and Tahari

MM.LaFleur 

Navabi – Lots of blazers in their own house line, as well as foreign brands such as Adia, Elvi, Frapp, Hermann Lange, Jo & Julia, Manon Baptiste, Nör, and Zizzi (free shipping over $399)

Nordstrom – Lafayette 148 New York, Halogen, City Chic, Vince Camuto, Nic & Zoe

Of Mercer – They offer extended sizes up to 20W

Off Fifth – Basler, Calvin Klein, Lafayette 148 New York, Max Mara

Simply Be – UK shop with limited workwear options but what they have is very affordable

Sumissura – UK shop with bespoke/custom suiting

Talbots (particularly their seasonless wool suiting) 

Target – Ava & Viv, Who What Wear, and more sometimes have plus-size interview suits

Universal Standard – They've expanded their workwear offerings substantially in recent years! Make sure to check out the “Fit Liberty” program if you're fluxuating sizes. 

What to Wear With Your Suit

Great Plus-Size Blouses

Comfortable Heels

We've rounded up a ton of comfortable heels for work, including low heels for work. Of course, you can always interview in nice flats, as well — we've rounded up some basic options for comfortable flats, as well as investment flats if you want to splurge a bit.

Wide Heels

Some of our favorite comfortable wide heels as of 2023 include (below): 1) Sam Edelman 2) Naturalizer 3) Walking Cradles 4) A New Day (under $30!) 5) LifeStride (also, N.B.: the styles at Inez, Margot, Ally Shoes, and Poppy Barley all look great and come in wide widths!…)

Some of our favorite comfortable wide heels as of 2023 include (below): 1) Sam Edelman 2) Naturalizer 3) Walking Cradles 4) A New Day (under $30!) 5) LifeStride (also, N.B.: the styles at Inez, Margot, Ally Shoes, and Poppy Barley all look great and come in wide widths!…)

An Interview Tote

Some of the best work bags for women as of 2024 include great totes from Cuyana (with a zipper), Tumi, Tory Burch (lightweight, a laptop tote), Lo & Sons, and Madewell (north/south). Also try this highly-rated organizing insert or these clever pouches with some of the less structured bags! If you're looking for a budget tote (or one in a specific color) check this Amazon seller (22K+ good reviews) or this Amazon seller (60K+ good reviews).

(Looking for a luxury work bag? Here's our latest roundup…)

Jewelry for Work

Hunting for great jewelry for the office? As of 2024, we're long been fans of affordable brands like Mejuri and Jenny Bird, as well as mid-tier brands like Monica Vinader, David Yurman (especially this line), Dana Rebecca, and Stephen Dweck. For our $.02: spend money on things like a good watch (or watch strap), gold or diamond earrings, a pearl necklace, and more. Some of the earrings we've featured recently:

And some of the necklaces:

Other Stylish Plus-Size Workwear of Note

These brands don't necessarily include suits (at least, not often) — but they should be on your radar as sources for nice plus-size workwear.

You may also want to check out our latest roundup of designer plus-size clothing for professional women!

These are some of the best spots for designer plus-size clothing as of 2024… admittedly, a fairly broad interpretation because this category is such a narrow one! Our favorite spots for work outfit shopping are in bold!

• 11 Honoré (now owned by Dia & Co. – still some stock of DVF, Marina Rinaldi, Tanya Taylor, etc.) 
• Able Clothing
• Adrianna Papell
• Amour 781 (boutique of different brands; limited options up to 5X)
• Anthropologie
• BAACAL (limited options up to size 28)
• Bleusalt (limited options up to size 3X)
• Dia & Co. (subscription service) 
• Hours
• Hackwith Design House
• Gravitas 
• Jibri
• Karen Millen
• Kiyonna (sizes 0X–5X)

• Lafayette 148 New York
• LaLigne (XS-3X)
• MadeTrade
• Mara Hoffman (XS-3X)
• Marina Rinaldi/Persona by Marina Rinaldi
• Navabi 
• Nic + Zoe
• Of Mercer
• Pari Passu
• Pomp (Power Of My People)
• Poplinen
• PLVSH Style (subscription service)
• Rachel Pally
• Rita Phil Custom Fashion (custom skirts)

• Simone Aviv
• Summersalt (up to 2X)
• Tanya Taylor (00-22)
• TielDorein (Etsy store)
• Universal Standard
• Veronica Beard (00-24, but some warn that 24 = 20W)
• VigilanteLabs (Etsy store, custom suits for women)
• Vince (great for basics!)
• Wildfang (up to XXL)

Formerly on This List

• Henning – sold to Universal Standard
• Lord & Taylor – closing
• Moi Meme – shuttered
• Saks Fifth Avenue – Lafayette 148 New York, Marina Rinaldi, Nic + Zoe, Stizzoli
• White House | Black Market – no longer sells plus sizes

Readers, let's hear from you — where do you get plus-size suits for interviews? What are your favorite plus-size workwear stores in general?

The post The Best Plus-Size Suits for Interviews appeared first on Corporette.com.

The perfect fit for a plus-size blazer can be elusive, so I'm thrilled to introduce today's guest poster, Kathryn Rubino. In addition to being a plus-sized lawyer and overachieving chick, I'm proud to count her among my most fashionable friends. – Kat

The search for the perfect blazer is age old, and for those of us on the plus-size side the issue can be compounded. (This writer has clothes between sizes 16 and 22 in her closet, though, at the moment, I'm lucky enough to be on the lower end of my personal spectrum.)

So what's a girl to do? Tailoring is a great way to turn an unflattering, boxy jacket into a noteworthy wardrobe staple. Below are some tips to get the best fit out of your blazer.

– Darts are your friends! Darts are tapered tucks that can be sewn into your jacket to adjust the fit, and are particularly useful if you are going up a size to get better coverage up top if your body still nips in at the waist.

– The shoulder is key. One of the most difficult alterations (read: expensive) is changing the shoulder seam, so make sure that a jacket hits you on the shoulder–not on your arm. You may not consciously realize it, but a proper shoulder makes a jacket look polished and professional.

– Be comfortable. If you find the jacket ill-fitting or tight in places this fact will come through in the hundred little gestures and faces you make throughout the day. I often have the tailor remove the lining on the arms of my blazers so it doesn't feel as constricting and my range of motion isn't limited. You can also slit the seams of the lining yourself if the primary problem with a blazer is tightness in the arms.

– Sleeve perfection. The proper length of a full-sleeved jacket can be vexing, but I've found somewhere between the top of your hand and where your thumb bone starts to look the most “right”. Any longer than that can make the blazer look sloppy and gets in the way.

– Mind your buttons. It may be true that a good blazer is like a good friend, but nothing says “this jacket has seen both sides of one too many crash diets” than missing or frayed buttons. Get your buttons replaced and/or reinforced. It is fairly inexpensive (and is an easy enough skill to learn for those DIYers) and most importantly, it keeps you looking like the well put together, overachieving woman you are!

{related: must a perfect blazer BUTTON to fit?}

One final note, when you find the perfect blazer there is a tendency to use it . . . a lot. That's completely understandable but it is truly terrible when the center back seam (or any seam) of a blazer has stitches that are pulling (when they look further apart then they should be). This comes from wear and tear, and sometimes, ill fit. If you see this on your blazer, call it. Retire the piece, mourn its loss and start the search for a new one. As a bigger girl you don't want your clothes to look like they may give out on you at any second, particularly in a professional setting.

Readers — of all sizes! — what have you found are the best tips for getting a blazer to fit properly? What do you most frequently ask your tailor to do?

Hunting for Cute Heels in Wide Widths?

Some of our favorite comfortable wide heels as of 2023 include (below): 1) Sam Edelman 2) Naturalizer 3) Walking Cradles 4) A New Day (under $30!) 5) LifeStride (also, N.B.: the styles at Inez, Margot, Ally Shoes, and Poppy Barley all look great and come in wide widths!…)

Social media image credit: Deposit Photos / hsfelix

N.B. This post was originally written in 2011, but substantially updated in 2020.

The post How to Find The Perfect Plus-Size Blazer appeared first on Corporette.com.

Which are the best women's suits of 2024, whether for a stylish interview outfit, a power suit, or some other major career event? (Or, hey: a simple, chic suit often makes a great work outfit all by itself!)

We've recently updated The Corporette Guide to Interview Suits, but we haven't talked about the best women's suits in ages, so I thought we'd do a roundup.

(See the table of contents below for links to things like our guide to plus size suits, where to find petite suits, the best tall suits for women, and more!)

Readers, what do you think are the best women's suits of 2024? What do you consider to be your “power suit”? What are you looking for in a suit right now? Where would you shop first if you were on the hunt for an interview suit?

Table of Contents

• General Tips for Women's Suits
• Our Favorite Affordable Suits for Women in 2024
• Our Favorite Mid-Range Suits for Women in 2024
• Our Favorite Investment Suits for Women in 2024
• Our Favorite Designer Suits for Women in 2024

Related Posts on Women's Suits

• How to Wear Suits: A Guide for Newbies
• Plus-Size Suits for Interviews
• The Best Suits for Tall Women
• Where to Find Stylish Petite Suits for Women
• Where to Find Suits with Dresses Instead of Skirts
• Where to Find Interview Suits if You're Pregnant
• The Best Washable Suits for Women
• The Best Travel-Friendly Suits for Women
• The Best Eco-Friendly Suits for Women
• Tips to Look Stylish in Women's Pants Suits

More Posts on Suit-Adjacent Topics

• The Best Tops to Wear Under Suit Jackets
• The Best Coats to Wear Over a Suit in Winter
• Courtroom Attire for Women Lawyers
• The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels
• What to Look For in Interview Flats
• The Best Work Totes for Women That Look Great with Suits
• C-Suite Style for Women: How to Upgrade Your Work Wardrobe After a Promotion

Related Posts on Interviews

• The Best Interview Attire for Different Types of Jobs
• Our Best Tips on Interview Makeup
• How to Style Long Hair for Interviews
• Dealing With Anxiety (Post-Interview Or Otherwise)
• What to Wear for Informational Interviews
• Our Best On-Campus Interview Tips and Resources
  • All Our Tips for Summer Associates (and other interns at Very Conservative offices!)

General Tips on Suits for Women

You don't want to be that “baby giraffe” trying to walk in uncomfortable heels that are too high for you and sitting awkwardly in your interview fussing with your jacket.

Really: whatever makes you feel like a polished professional is what's going to make you the most confident.

So take the rest of these tips with a grain of salt, BUT for my $.02, here are some shopping, styling, and budget tips: 

Skirt Suits Fit Better Off the Rack.

If you're hunting for a budget-friendly interview suit: go for a black skirt suit rather than a pants suit, because pants fit is by far the hardest thing to get right.

In my experience, a $60 skirt suit looks OK but a $60 pants suit makes you look like you come from Planet Frump.

Furthermore, the skirt suit will go farther — you can wear the pencil skirt as a basic bottom in your wardrobe (but always dry clean all pieces of a suit together!), plus if you have a “dressed up” occasion, a skirt suit is always going to be the more formal option.

Another pro for a simple pencil skirt: you completely avoid the issue of what length/type pants to get, which is great because it really does feel like we're in a period of flux.

(For a while all you could find were ankle pants, even though they were too trendy to wear to most conservative workplaces — but as of Jan. 2024, flared pants, bootcut trousers, and wide legs are coming back, but there are still a bunch of ankle pants. Everything is in, but it also feels like it might all be outdated pretty soon.)

Other trends I've seen with suits: jumpsuits! culottes! short suits!

You want 1) a pencil skirt + hip length jacket or 2) a fitted sheath dress + hip length jacket — these combos have been in for years and probably will be for years to come. (We have a whole post on where to look for suits with dresses instead of skirts if you prefer #2!)

(Also: here's our guide to pantyhose, which yes, if you want to be “safe,” you should probably wear for any interview if you're junior, particularly in more conservative areas — but go back to our first point on confidence/comfort and factor that in.)

Avoid words like sateen, shimmer, linen. Crepe can be really tricky — sometimes it means a polyester drapey blend for suiting and sometimes it means a bridesmaid's dress/MOB type thing.

As of 2024, some of our favorite seasonless wool suiting includes Ann Taylor on the affordable side, and Theory, Brooks Brothers, M.M.LaFleur and Argent on the more expensive side. Talbots' line of seasonless wool suiting includes regular, petite, plus, plus-size petite, and tall sizes. See our roundup of the best women's suits of 2024 here!

Depending on trends you can sometimes find suits with as many as four or five buttons. Check out this post for more workwear style tips for busty women if this is you!

A Few More Random Tips on Women's Suits

We actually have a post on how to wear suits if you're a newbie, including what to wear with them and how to accessorize them.

Treasure hunting for a suit (where you MAY or may not find something good): Nordstrom Rack, T.J. Maxx, Yoox, ASOS, OFF5TH, River Island, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Nordstrom brands Halogen and Open Edit sometimes have good deals on basic suits; Nordstrom also sells suits from Topshop.

(We particularly love Nordstrom because of their amazing return policy and free alterations on full price merchandise.)

Consider taking your suit to the tailor. Common suiting alterations include shortening sleeves, adjusting the waist, and hemming the bottoms. Note that the blazer (specifically the shoulder/arms) is the hardest to tailor, so focus on that fit when you're shopping.

Please don't forget to cut your Xs, always dry clean suiting pieces together, and — if you're wearing the suit somewhere Very Important like an interview, make sure you use the mirror trick.

For other tips on buying a basic interview suit (including considerations on colors, care, accessories, layering, and more), please check out The Corporette Guide to Interview Suits, as well as our recently updated guide to tops to wear under suits.

And, of course, complete you look with a walkable pair of comfortable heels or flats. The walkable bit is important, especially if your interview may include a walk to a local restaurant for lunch.

My $.02: do not wear sandals with a suit. It just looks really weird to me, but perhaps I’m alone there. I would argue that if you’re at a dressy enough occasion to require a suit, sandals will always be inappropriate.

These are some of our favorite heels as of 2024, but check out our entire Guide to Comfortable Heels!

We'll put a few handy pins at the bottom of this post for you with general prices for suiting alterations and general advice for what to wear on interviews. But first: on to our roundup of the best women's suits right now!

The Best Affordable Suits For Women in 2024

All of the suits in this tier are generally under $250 for two pieces. Note that the two big risks with a budget option will be frumpiness on one end — and “sexy secretary”/ formality problems on the other.

Try to look for a material that drapes well, doesn't wrinkle, isn't too seasonal (such as a cotton suit — a tropical wool or other seasonless fabric will go farther) — and be wary of trendy cuts like extremely oversized jackets, huge slits in your skirt, flared cropped pants, and more.

Some of our favorite budget-friendly interview suits for women include stores like Banana Republic Factory*†, J.Crew Factory*†, Mango*, and Express†, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*†, and Tahari ASL. For a vintage vibe, check Amazon seller Marycrafts*. (* = some plus sizes also, † = petites)

1.State – I think of 1.State as a trendy brand, but in addition to fun suits in of-the-moment colors and cuts, they do have the occasional basic black or gray suit — usually in plus sizes as well. You can find the brand at Nordstrom and other department stores.

& Other Stories – This British brand has a ton of great suits, although they tend to be on the trendier side in terms of cut — and you can even find some that are more eco-friendly through design choices like “responsible wool.” You can also find the brand at Nordstrom.

Abercrombie & Fitch – This brand has really expanded its workwear options in recent years, and they have a relatively extensive collection of women's suits in regular, petite, and tall. (If you want a cropped blazer, this should definitely be your first stop.)

Anne Klein (separates) – Nordstrom has a few Anne Klein suits; Macy's also carries them. They also have an exclusive line at Macy's called “Anne Klein Executive,” but note that those are full suit sets, not separates.

ASOS – ASOS (which now also owns Topshop) has a surprising number of suits, of all sizes, in their suiting section for women. They have plus sizes, tall sizes, petite sizes, and — super rare! — maternity interview suits. The inventory tends to sell extremely quickly, so if you see something in your size, go for it

Banana Republic Factory – Like J.Crew Factory, BR's outlet sector has a lot of good finds for work, particularly on the more affordable, classic side of things. Note that because these pieces may be produced just for the Factory Store it may mean that there are differences in fit and quality — so keep that in mind when ordering.

Calvin Klein (separates) – It's next to impossible to find a good link to one online, but Calvin Klein suiting separates are also sold at Macy's and are pretty reliable; here's a link to the classic two-button blazer. (Amazon also has a ton of them, many of them eligible for Prime Wardrobe.)

Chadwicks – I have no experience personally with these suits, but some of the blazers are under $20 (!) and the brand offers regular, petite, plus, and tall sizes — and they have suiting separates.

Halogen – Halogen is a Nordstrom brand that has made a lot of great business basics over the years — readers used to love a Halogen pencil skirt so much they called it The Skirt. They still make a bunch of fun suits (colors, cuts) as well as a few basic interview suits in regular, petite, and plus sizes.

H&M – This fast fashion brand has a lot of “fun” suits, but they do frequently have neutral basics. A nice bonus: you may be able to find an eco-friendly suit here in the H&M Conscious line.

Express – If you're a fan of their Editor/Columnist pants, do check out their matching blazers and other suiting options. As always with these brands, watch or fit — but note that Express has been stepping up their workwear game lately, so these may be a great option if you're looking for an interview suit on a budget.

Good American – This affordable brand from Khloe Kardashian is a great option, particularly if you're looking for really inclusive sizing: it's one of the few brands in this tier with suiting available up to size 4X.

J.Crew Factory – J.Crew's factory outlet is a great source for workwear, particularly affordable wool suiting separates — inventory comes and goes, but when it's in stock it's pretty great.

Jones New York – This brand seems to be back after basically disappearing for several years; you can now find basics for work including black suits at Nordstrom and other department stores — historically they were always a favorite of women with an apple shape

Kasper (separates) and Tahari (separates) – Kasper and Tahari both used to specialize in full suit sets, but in recent years they've had a line of separates for sale, which is great for people who want, say, a petite-sized blazer but a regular-sized skirt. I haven't tried them on for quality or fit, though.

Kasper / Tahari / Le Suit (not sold as separates) – You can find huge deals on these brands at places like TJ Maxx, Kohl's, Macy's, Overstock and more — but it's very hard to break the pieces up and wear them as separates, at least in my experience.

If you need a skirt suit for under $100 all in, though, suiting sets from Kasper, Tahari, and Le Suit (ok, and Amazon seller Marycrafts) are the first places I'd look. Note that because these suits are sold as a set (rather than as separates) you usually have to pick a single size — if you're a 10 on top and 14 on the bottom, for example, this is not going to be the way you want to go.

In my experience these suits may trend towards the frumpy side, particularly as pantsuits — in a skirt suit the fit issues will be less noticeable. (You may also want to check out our guide to suiting alterations!)

Kohl's – It can be tricky to find matching separates online, and inventory tends to move quickly – but some of the brands could have great options for basic suits, including Croft & Barrow, Lauren Conrad, Nine West, and Simply Simply Vera.

Lands' End – Particularly if you're looking for a washable wool blazer in a wider size range (such as tall, petite, plus or cusp sizes), Lands' End can be a great, affordable option.

Liverpool – Liverpool has some of our favorite comfortable pants for work — and they often have matching blazers. If you get both pieces and intend to wear them as a suit, do you best to launder them together so they get worn at the same rate.

Loft – Sometimes you can get a basic dark suit here, although I'd be worried about wrinkling and trendiness/formality (compared to other options, like Tahari or Anne Klein). You may want to start your search by looking at their current blazer options.

Mango – Mango has really stepped up their office wear line recently, including a ton of basic suits and more; they even sometimes have plus sizes.

Marycrafts – This Amazon seller has been a reader secret for years; they often have both pieces of a vintage-inspired suit for around $50.

Nine West (separates) – I usually think of Nine West as selling “fun” suits in classic cuts (like bright pink ones) but from time to time they have neutral suits. If you see one on the rack in a color you like but are hesitant to try because you think Nine West only sells affordable shoes, think again…

NY & Co. – I'd be wary of the fabric and fit here, so it's hard to recommend them online — but if you have a store near you, these are some of the most budget-friendly suits you can get. They have a line called “all-season stretch” that would be the place I'd start.

Suitably – This brand appears to only make interview attire — their clothes are designed to be breathable and resist wrinkles. You can find them at Nordstrom.

Uniqlo – Their inventory changes frequently, but they usually do have basic blazers and pants, often machine washable and under $100 for both pieces.

Vince Camuto – This brand is carried at a lot of department stores like Nordstrom and Macy's, as well as at Amazon – their ponte pants and skirts are some of the reader favorites, and they often have matching blazers. The looks often come in plus sizes, as well.

White House | Black Market – They've expanded their suiting collection lately. Keep an eye out for their Comfort Stretch pants line which often has matching blazers. It's nice that they offer pants in curvy cuts as well as short, regular, and tall lengths; some of their petites go up to size 20.

Bonus notes on Affordable Suiting for Women

Brands that regularly make “fun” suits that may occasionally have neutral suits include ASOS, Endless Rose, H&M, French Connection, Naked Wardrobe, Nine West, River Island, Target, Topshop (also at Nordstrom), Wayf, and Zara.

Also, a sad trombone for The Limited, which used to be one of our favorites in this space — it looks like Belk has what's left of their inventory (or perhaps just the rights to the name). Ann Taylor Factory also no longer exists, at least online.

The Best Mid-Range Suits For Women in 2024

These suits are reliably under $500 for two pieces — but they're going to be a bit higher quality than more affordable suiting options in the first tier.

Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)

Ann Taylor – When we took a closer look at which Ann Taylor suiting line was best, there weren't a lot of wrong answers – many have pockets and are washable. For a basic suit, I'd probably look first at their long-running seasonless stretch suiting or Bi-Stretch line.

Watch for sales (historically they've had them early June), but note that it's hard to go wrong with Ann Taylor for your first major suit.

Antonio Melani – Dillards' line of workwear is a solid option if you like the styles or if you can find them in the store.

Banana Republic – I've really been liking a lot of BR suits lately, and it's great that they've got a ton of machine washable suits — that can be very difficult to find!

Boden – I normally think of Boden for fun suits, but they do have some more traditional options as well.

Brooks Brothers – Brooks Brothers' is a conservative basic, and they've occasionally had suiting especially intended to keep you cool in warm temperatures. This silk cashmere sweater has been a reader favorite for years, and layers nicely under suits.

Club Monaco – This brand is known for a minimal, clean aesthetic — they have basic suits as well as fun ones, all in neutral colors. Blazers start around $298.

COS – H&M's big sister brand does have a ton of suits and tailoring — they tend to be in a boxy, oversized fit with a bit of an artsy but minimal feel.

Hobbs – This British brand is sold at Bloomingdale's and they have a few boutiques in the U.S. – they're one of the few brands that is reliably machine washable, often including their suits — and many of their suits are eco-friendly.

Everlane – Everlane does have matching suit separates, although they're a bit hard to find on the website. Their suits for women are definitely on the more laid-back side, so they may not be appropriate for occasions like interviews and presentations.

Favorite Daughter – This newish brand has a ton of workwear in very clean, simple lines — their wide trousers are particularly popular. Nordstrom and Anthropologie both carry it; blazers start around $328.

J.Crew – J.Crew has come back strong with a lot of great suiting options after a few years where they just focused on work dresses.

{related: what to buy for work at J.Crew}

Of Mercer – This workwear indie has a solid section of suiting section with blazers topping out around $250.

Madewell – This is another brand that has really expanded their workwear options recently to include neutral suits. Like Everlane, though, note that the suits are generally drapey and have a relaxed vibe.

Nordstrom Signature – Nordstrom has always had in-house brands that are dedicated to workwear… they've been called things like Classiques Entier and Semantiks in years past. As of 2024, their in-house brand is just called, well, Nordstrom. It's a bit boring, but you can find a lot of great basics if you know what you're looking for. I'd say the quality is a step up from Halogen (another Nordstrom house brand).

Talbots has been gaining in reader popularity over the years — note that if you're hard to fit, they often carry multiple suit separate options in regular sizes (often up to 18 or 20), tall, petite, plus sizes, and (holy grail of rareness here), plus size petites. Do check out their line of seasonless wool suiting.

Hunting for fun suits in this price range? Check out AllSaints (also at Nordstrom), Avec Les Filles, Reformation, and Sézanne.

Investment Suits For Women in 2024

I also call this category “fancy affordable” — they're expensive, but generally worth it if you wear a suit a lot. For many women this is going to be the first “splurge” suit — two pieces will cost you more than $500, but less than $2000.

Some of our favorite “investment” suits for women include brands like Theory, Reiss, Hugo Boss, M.M.LaFleur, and Brooks Brothers — expect to pay north of $500 for both pieces.

Argent – This indie specializes in suits for women, especially classic cuts in fun colors. You can also find the brand at Nordstrom.

Elie Tahari – This brand has a ton of sleek basics for work; their Judith top is one of our favorite sleeveless tops for wearing under suits. They have a lot of stores in malls but can be a bit tricky to find in department stores.

The Fold London – I mostly think of this brand for their gorgeous origami-like top, but they make a lot of neutral suiting and other tailored pieces, so if you're looking for something different (or happen to be in London), keep the brand in mind.

Hugo Boss – My admiration for this brand has only grown the more I've done this blog — everything they do is beautiful quality, extremely classic and stylish. They have stand alone stores, but you can also find the brand at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's.

Lafayette 148 New York – If you've got curves or are in need of cusp sizes or plus sizes, take a look at Lafayette 148 New York — the quality is lovely but the cuts are much more forgiving. Their suiting pants are incredibly highly rated at Nordstrom, as well. You can sometimes find the brand on deep discount at Nordstrom, NordstromRack, or OFF5TH, and there are usually pieces included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

LK Bennett – This British brand has a ton of tweed suits and feminine suiting options, but they also carry neutrals — if your goal in your interview is to feel like a super confident Kate Middleton, this is where I'd go.

Ministry of Supply – This indie brand is all about easycare clothes that are usually machine washable, wrinkle resistant, and stretchy and comfortable. Blazers start around $378 for women.

Me & Em – This sustainable brand has a ton of gorgeous pieces, including basic women's suits. Blazers start around $495.

M.M.LaFleur – This brand nearly went in the above tier, but two pieces would be around $600, so technically it's in this one (although you may be able to find them used for less money). The independent maker of the reader-favorite jardigans has had a suiting section for a while; a lot of it is travel-friendly and even washable. Nordstrom and Zappos both occasionally carry the brand.

Reiss – This British brand is always droolworthy for me — they specialize in classic takes on modern styles and have a robust suiting section. Note that their fits can be a bit body conscious. Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's both carry the brand; also that the sale/outlet section on their site has some amazing deals. 

Ted Baker – Another British brand that is fabulous if you want a slightly feminine take on workwear. Although they've gotten away from basic suits recently, you can still find them occasionally. They have a lot of mall stores, but you can also find the brand at Nordstrom.

Theory – The classic, particularly among BigLaw lawyers — but be warned, if you have curves you may have to size up here. Note that you can also find the brand at a lot of spots, including Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Saks. They've become more eco-conscious in the past few years through their use of Good Wool.

Sportmax – This brand is hard to find online, but if you happen to see a store, do pop in — the fabrics and cuts are amazing, and a suit should run you less than $1000. (The brand is owned by the same company that owns Max Mara.) Nordstrom sometimes carries it.

Vince – This brand has a ton of lux basics in regular and plus sizes. Nordstrom and other department stores carry it.

Fun, trendy “investment” brands that might have a suitable interview suit: L'Agence, Alice + Olivia (also), AllSaints (also), Capsule 121, Commando (!), Rebecca Taylor (also), Tibi, Trina Turk – also keep an eye out at more traditional sites like Ralph Lauren.

Designer Suits for Women

Some of the usual suspects for basic designer suits include McQueen, Altuzarra, The Row (this and this), Akris, Michael Kors, and Veronica Beard. Recent favorites include:

All of these brands are classics for designer workwear — when you win the lottery (or, hey, make partner after a ton of hard work!), stop here first. (I'd also call this “C-suite style“!)

Brands in this tier who might have a classic, simple suit: Alaïa, Altuzarra, Akris, Another Tomorrow, Armani, Veronica Beard, Victoria Beckham, Burberry, Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana, Joseph, Max Mara, Michael Kors, The Row, Saint Laurent, Scanlan Theodore, and St. John.

Keep an eye on designer stores for newer brands with designer suits, such as Farfetch, Matches, My Theresa, Net a Porter (as well as sister site The Outnet) as well as the upscale department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks.

Readers, what do you think are the best women's suits in 2024? Which are your favorite suiting brands for basic, classic interview suits? For those of you who've bought suits for women across the different price ranges, what differences have you noticed in quality? What pieces are the most worthy to stalk at sales and resale sites?

Stock image pictured at top: Deposit Photos / pressmaster.

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