A couple years back isn't really relevant. The point is that it's hard to find nice normal fitted flattering suits now, both due to stores de-prioritizinf it since Covid WFH and the current style being this weird oversized jacket trend. |
The annoying thing about the oversized suit jacket trend is they clearly aren't designed for people in offices. They are often bright colors and matching with super side leg pants. Like, I thought she looked lovely, but think Meghan Markle in that pink shorts suit at the Lakers game a couple weeks ago. But you can't wear that style jacket to a job interview. |
I had that reaction when I saw MM too. I didn't think the designer one was flattering even on her and certainly not a Banana Republic version on a random person. |
Any nice suit is custom made. I started having them made in my 40s - it is a world apart from rack stuff. |
Where? |
Not true. While you may have a source for lovely high end suits, 95% of us don't live in Manhattan, and don't have access to this level of tailor. The "high end tailors" promising custom suits in the rest of the country.... never, ever look as nice what you can get from Hugo Boss off the rack (to use an example). I've had custom suits made in asia from the top tailors, and they just don't look top quality. There's something about an off the rack clothing item that will always look better than custom tailor. Unfortunately, with off the rack you're stuck with styles, fabrics etc that may not best suit you. |
I recently bought an okay suit at Saks Off Fifth online for an interview. I ordered a few suits in different sizes and shipped back the ones that didn’t work. I also saw some online at Dillards.com that would have worked. I rarely find clothes in stores anymore. I also think accessories like earrings, watch, bag and shoes can make an okay suit look better. |
Reiss, Black Halo and MaxMara |
A jacket alone is $600. I was thinking of getting a suit to have in my closet just in case, but not at that price. |
I buy suits as close to good fit as I can get and then have them tailored, sometimes extensively. Nothing would fit me well at all without tailoring. Shortening torso length in dresses, hemming the bottom, narrowing silhouette, shortening and narrowing sleeves, making a midi skirt knee length, sometimes making a 1 button jacket into a 2 button jacket, etc. Not cheap but definitely cheaper than having something made from scratch. |
I go to Christopher Kim in downtown DC for all of this FYI. |
I don't know what kind of suits you are wearing, but I have beautiful and stylish suits. This season, I've bought suits from Banana Republic (they have GREAT suits right now), Mossimo Dutti and even Zara has some nice suits. I lead a large think tank in DC and I am wearing more suits than ever. |
I love all three, but they don't make a better suit than Banana republic these days. Those are my go to for dresses. |
Do you try them on at the store in BR? If so, which one? I really wanted to try on suits in person for sizing (I've had two kids since I last bought one!) And the BR at Westfield Montgomery Mall for example was a real dud on this front -- just the really oversized jacket style. |
Disagree that BR has great suits right now. Since Covid, they have doubled down on the super baggy and/or super long blazer. I’ve ordered several over the years to try on, and they make me look like a clown. They entirely got rid of their old classic blazer that they were still selling until a year or two ago. But BR is a great example of a store that has doubled down on the “fashion” suit - with all kinds of fashion forward combos like vests, and super wide leg pants, that would look ridiculous in an actual professional setting that requires a suit. |