How can I look professional without wearing a suit?

[Anonymous]

I have a very small frame - and I hate wearing the dreaded pantsuit. I feel like I'm playing dress up - they tend to swallow me up. I admit I haven't paid a ton of $$$ for my suits, but I go to Ann Taylor usually and pay a couple hundred, so it's not like I'm buying them super cheap either. I don't know what it is - I feel fine in the dressing room, like oh, this is cut nice and very flattering, I look hip. But then after a few times of wearing it I'm like, I can't face the matronly suit.

Normally my work wear can be pretty casual, but there are days I need to dress a bit better for meetings, etc. I have found that wearing a skirt that hits at my knee, tights, and great shoes can work well for me, but now that it is getting warmer I don't want to be running downtown DC in tights, and I have decent legs but they are always super-white so bare legs aren't an option for work.

Any thoughts? I don't have to be super hip - I just don't want to look dowdy. Oh, and one more thing - a lot of women I see tuck a nice blouse into pants, and I can't seem to pull that off. I don't know why. I have a pretty flat stomach so it's not that - I just feel like it looks weird. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Especially ones that don't require a lot of $$$ if possible.

[Anonymous]

A couple of gorgeous sweatersets. Jackets in bright colors that go with multiple colors of pants. My general rule is if I don't have a jacket I have to have something that functions like a jacket - sweaters can work well if they are the right kind. You can do this with skirts or pants.

My office is pretty formal, though, despite claiming it is business casual, so I may be suggesting something more formal than you need.

If it comes down to it, you can pull a sweater on with a little dress and wear pantyhose. As I have gotten older I find it less bad than I used to. Plus, I think always wearing heels helps dress almost anything up.

[Anonymous]

Shift dresses. I'm sure your legs look great. Don't sweat it.

[Anonymous]

Here is what you do: stop shopping at Ann Taylor. The cuts are matronly and you are never going to look young and hip in their suits. The real fix is to go to Bloomie's and buy one nice Theory suit that will be about 500 dollars. Trust me - you will be able to wear this all the time and the money will be worth it. Get the skirt and the pants to match the same jacket, and even see if they have more than one style of pants, as jackets are the most expensive part. Don't buy dress shirts from ann taylor either (just stop shopping there, please). The clothes are boxy and you want to look young, etc. Good luck! You are going to look great!

[Anonymous]

I think that a well-fitting dress an appropriate length is just as professional as a suit.

[Anonymous]

I am also small framed and found that the suits at JCrew have a more modern fit, they make me feel well dressed and hip. They have petites and they fit me perfectly. They usually have good sales, I've never gotten one at full price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a very small frame - and I hate wearing the dreaded pantsuit. I feel like I'm playing dress up - they tend to swallow me up. I admit I haven't paid a ton of $$$ for my suits, but I go to Ann Taylor usually and pay a couple hundred, so it's not like I'm buying them super cheap either. I don't know what it is - I feel fine in the dressing room, like oh, this is cut nice and very flattering, I look hip. But then after a few times of wearing it I'm like, I can't face the matronly suit.

Normally my work wear can be pretty casual, but there are days I need to dress a bit better for meetings, etc. I have found that wearing a skirt that hits at my knee, tights, and great shoes can work well for me, but now that it is getting warmer I don't want to be running downtown DC in tights, and I have decent legs but they are always super-white so bare legs aren't an option for work.

Any thoughts? I don't have to be super hip - I just don't want to look dowdy. Oh, and one more thing - a lot of women I see tuck a nice blouse into pants, and I can't seem to pull that off. I don't know why. I have a pretty flat stomach so it's not that - I just feel like it looks weird. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Especially ones that don't require a lot of $$$ if possible.

Women who can tuck blouses into pants or skirts need long waists! It's another problem for small women...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what you do: stop shopping at Ann Taylor. The cuts are matronly and you are never going to look young and hip in their suits. The real fix is to go to Bloomie's and buy one nice Theory suit that will be about 500 dollars. Trust me - you will be able to wear this all the time and the money will be worth it. Get the skirt and the pants to match the same jacket, and even see if they have more than one style of pants, as jackets are the most expensive part. Don't buy dress shirts from ann taylor either (just stop shopping there, please). The clothes are boxy and you want to look young, etc. Good luck! You are going to look great!

Since when is Ann Taylor considered "matronly"? Yikes, I had no idea. Here I am thinking I'm somewhat stylish with the majority of my clothes coming from Ann Taylor and come to find out I'm a fashion disaster.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP - thank you for all the suggestions!

Okay, no more Ann Taylor for me.

I will consider the $500 suit. My only problem is, I treat clothes so horribly. By the time I wear the suit a few times, commute on the Metro, run around town (I try to walk to most of my meetings) and cram it in my closet they don't hold up well, so I try to buy cheaper stuff. But maybe you are right - investing in one good suit might be worth it. I don't wear them that often so it could last a while and be well worth the investment.

And I will probably try the jacket suggestion and the sweater set. Thanks all!

[Anonymous]

I'm the one who said to get the Theory suit. Just make sure to hang it up after you wear it so you don't have to clean it too often. Dry cleaning is what kills suits. They hold up very well, though. I wore mine for years before spending the last couple years in maternity wear... Also, wear shirts with sleves, not tanks under the blazer so you aren't sweating on your jacket while you walk around town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is what you do: stop shopping at Ann Taylor. The cuts are matronly and you are never going to look young and hip in their suits. The real fix is to go to Bloomie's and buy one nice Theory suit that will be about 500 dollars. Trust me - you will be able to wear this all the time and the money will be worth it. Get the skirt and the pants to match the same jacket, and even see if they have more than one style of pants, as jackets are the most expensive part. Don't buy dress shirts from ann taylor either (just stop shopping there, please). The clothes are boxy and you want to look young, etc. Good luck! You are going to look great!

So "matronly" is now defined by low-cut shirts? I can't even wear most of the clothes at Ann Taylor because the blouses are cut so low they are too "racey" for work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is what you do: stop shopping at Ann Taylor. The cuts are matronly and you are never going to look young and hip in their suits. The real fix is to go to Bloomie's and buy one nice Theory suit that will be about 500 dollars. Trust me - you will be able to wear this all the time and the money will be worth it. Get the skirt and the pants to match the same jacket, and even see if they have more than one style of pants, as jackets are the most expensive part. Don't buy dress shirts from ann taylor either (just stop shopping there, please). The clothes are boxy and you want to look young, etc. Good luck! You are going to look great!

So "matronly" is now defined by low-cut shirts? I can't even wear most of the clothes at Ann Taylor because the blouses are cut so low they are too "racey" for work.

Whatever, it is dorky for many reasons--whether it looks outright matronly or like a mom trying to look sexy is irrelevant. OP just needs to move on to better options.

[Anonymous]

I have several very nice blouses that I pair with pleated black (or gray) slacks (pin striped, plaid, depends).
In the winter, I put on a v-neck vest too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a very small frame - and I hate wearing the dreaded pantsuit. I feel like I'm playing dress up - they tend to swallow me up. I admit I haven't paid a ton of $$$ for my suits, but I go to Ann Taylor usually and pay a couple hundred, so it's not like I'm buying them super cheap either. I don't know what it is - I feel fine in the dressing room, like oh, this is cut nice and very flattering, I look hip. But then after a few times of wearing it I'm like, I can't face the matronly suit.

Normally my work wear can be pretty casual, but there are days I need to dress a bit better for meetings, etc. I have found that wearing a skirt that hits at my knee, tights, and great shoes can work well for me, but now that it is getting warmer I don't want to be running downtown DC in tights, and I have decent legs but they are always super-white so bare legs aren't an option for work.

Any thoughts? I don't have to be super hip - I just don't want to look dowdy. Oh, and one more thing - a lot of women I see tuck a nice blouse into pants, and I can't seem to pull that off. I don't know why. I have a pretty flat stomach so it's not that - I just feel like it looks weird. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Especially ones that don't require a lot of $$$ if possible.

Women who can tuck blouses into pants or skirts need long waists! It's another problem for small women...

Yeah, why is it that us short girls can't pull off the tucked shirt? I've tried it and it makes my body look out of proportion.

[Anonymous]

No pleated pants!!!!! Nothing dates your look quite as quickly. OP, if you're on the small side, it might be well worth a few more dollars to take the clothes you already have to a good tailor. It is amazing how much better your clothes will look on you if they are fitted to YOUR body, and how much better you will feel in them. If you're petite, make sure the sleeves are the right length, and you might want to consider nipping in the waist of your jackets for a more fashionable look. For future purchases, look around and find a label that seems to flatter your build. For some, it's J. Crew. For others, it's Theory. Try several. I'd recommend looking in Loehmann's as well, since they sometimes have a decent variety of labels. If you go to Friendship Heights, you can hit, Lord & Taylor, Banana Republic, Bloomingdale's, and Loehmann's in one trip. As a smaller woman myself, I love dresses, especially in the summer. One piece, good shoes, nice bag, and go. (And you can always use the bronzing moisturizers on your legs.) Good luck!