Where to you buy suits for women-Single father that is clueless

[Anonymous]

My DD is applying for an internship at a stuffy corporation and needs to where a suit. This place is a bit snobby. I have no idea where people buy women's suits. At my old job, people used to make fun of people behind their backs if there wore cheap suits. I don't want that to happen to my daughter, but I don't want to spend $1,000 either.

Daughter is in a mid-sized city, not DMV, so they don't have as much variety. Someone recommended Ann Taylor to me but they don't have them there.

Any suggestions, I would appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

Along the Ann Taylor line are Banana Republic
https://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/women/suits?cid=5013

and J. Crew
https://www.jcrew.com/plp/womens/categories/clothing/suiting?srsltid=AfmBOoob6_YcX7nrE_1DYcOBgzpKa9glP_iKl0EE_sAJDLM9hX2d3zW1

[Anonymous]

Do they have department stores like Macy's or JC Penney? They should have them.

[Anonymous]

They have some really nice ones here and they aren't too much. I like their quality better than the other options that were mentioned.

https://www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/category/work-wear/cat5959275

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they have department stores like Macy's or JC Penney? They should have them.

\

Belk

[Anonymous]

Name the metro area.

Agree with "Misses" (regular size women's section) of department stores. Macy's is almost everywhere. If there are Dillard's, try those.

LOFT is a career and casual brand that is lower-priced but a former Ann Taylor brand derivative. She may have that locally. It's a mall store but sometimes can be in a plaza.

An outlet mall might have multiple relevant options. If I were desperate and on a budget and having no luck at a regular mall, I'd definitely go to outlets.

Tell her not to rule out "old lady stores" like Talbots as long as they sell black blazers and black pants. Women's suits have gotten more boring in the era of business casual. Like men's suits, they are mostly 4 colors now: black, navy, grey, and a light summer color that only some will wear. And the silhouettes are pretty conventional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Name the metro area.

Agree with "Misses" (regular size women's section) of department stores. Macy's is almost everywhere. If there are Dillard's, try those.

LOFT is a career and casual brand that is lower-priced but a former Ann Taylor brand derivative. She may have that locally. It's a mall store but sometimes can be in a plaza.

An outlet mall might have multiple relevant options. If I were desperate and on a budget and having no luck at a regular mall, I'd definitely go to outlets.

Tell her not to rule out "old lady stores" like Talbots as long as they sell black blazers and black pants. Women's suits have gotten more boring in the era of business casual. Like men's suits, they are mostly 4 colors now: black, navy, grey, and a light summer color that only some will wear. And the silhouettes are pretty conventional.

Charlottesville

[Anonymous]

No one is going to make fun of a young woman applying for an internship, regardless of the quality of the suit. It should just look nice and fit well. Not too big or too little.

Something like this (can be pants or skirt) would fit the bill:
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-one-button-blazer-regular-petite-sizes?ID=11683483&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_A~xcm_choiceId~zcidM05RWT-1d196501-5923-4eea-a535-7d9780e580a3%40HE8%40You%2Bmay%2Balso%2Blike%2455610%2421340748~xcm_pos~zPos2~xcm_srcCatID~z269&swatchColor=Black

[Anonymous]

PP. About cost...Banana Republic and J Crew might cost more than department store offerings. It depends on sales. LOFT should be a decent price.

I am not sure what your budget is but women's suits tend to be a little cheaper than men's workhorse wool suits. For an emergency purpose (can't shop around), I'd budget $200-$350. For reference, my son's very nice looking but synthetic Kenneth Cole suit cost about $250.

The clothing production systems in place right now mean that price and quality are disjointed. Cheapness is more conveyed by fit. The signings of the material. And how it survives drycleaning.

Make sure your daughter tries to get it tailored if needed. Sleeve length, shoulders, and pant arms may need adjustment. She will need her shoes ready to get the pants hemmed. Many young women wear tallish heels with suits...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name the metro area.

Agree with "Misses" (regular size women's section) of department stores. Macy's is almost everywhere. If there are Dillard's, try those.

LOFT is a career and casual brand that is lower-priced but a former Ann Taylor brand derivative. She may have that locally. It's a mall store but sometimes can be in a plaza.

An outlet mall might have multiple relevant options. If I were desperate and on a budget and having no luck at a regular mall, I'd definitely go to outlets.

Tell her not to rule out "old lady stores" like Talbots as long as they sell black blazers and black pants. Women's suits have gotten more boring in the era of business casual. Like men's suits, they are mostly 4 colors now: black, navy, grey, and a light summer color that only some will wear. And the silhouettes are pretty conventional.

Charlottesville

PP. OK, per another poster's rec, there's a Belk there. And a LOFT.

Tell her to plan to hit areas with the most relevant shops near to each other first. It may not be easy for her to go to multiple stores unless she has a car.

https://www.belk.com/store/belk-charlottesville-va/?StoreID=491

https://www.loft.com/store/va/charlottesville/1107-emmet-street-north?y_source=1_MTY0MjExMi03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D

[Anonymous]

PP again. There appear to be both J Crew and Banana Republic "outlet" stores in Charlottesville.

This fits with my strategy of going to the outlet mall if needed.

The department store may have better selection plus the ability to online order a special size.

Know that "outlet stores" are selling specially made merchandise that meets a lower price point. Which is fine as long as the clothes look nice and are well-stitched and good quality material. Very few outlet stores actually are discounting unsold past season merchandise.

[Anonymous]

Stuffy or not- no one is going to make fun of the quality of an intern’s suit. They will be super thankful they are wearing something appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Name the metro area.

Agree with "Misses" (regular size women's section) of department stores. Macy's is almost everywhere. If there are Dillard's, try those.

LOFT is a career and casual brand that is lower-priced but a former Ann Taylor brand derivative. She may have that locally. It's a mall store but sometimes can be in a plaza.

An outlet mall might have multiple relevant options. If I were desperate and on a budget and having no luck at a regular mall, I'd definitely go to outlets.

Tell her not to rule out "old lady stores" like Talbots as long as they sell black blazers and black pants. Women's suits have gotten more boring in the era of business casual. Like men's suits, they are mostly 4 colors now: black, navy, grey, and a light summer color that only some will wear. And the silhouettes are pretty conventional.

Charlottesville

Barracks Row has Banana Republic Factory, J Crew Factory and J. Jill. Start there. I bet she could find something suitable for the interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stuffy or not- no one is going to make fun of the quality of an intern’s suit. They will be super thankful they are wearing something appropriate.

They don't do it to your face. It is nasty mean girls that do it behind their back. I used to have an office next to a person like that I overhead stupid gossip and chit chat like that.

[Anonymous]

J Crew Factory has great suit pieces and she can find her size in store and order for overnight shipping online if needed. Avoid Macy's and JC Penney. Good luck to your DD!