Recently I was having a conversation with friends regarding the humble suit and whether it was still relevant in today’s working environment. It is very easy to become casual in our dress sense but the suit, it my opinion, is still very much an essential wardrobe item.
When it comes to the work environment, the suit is a sophisticated and clean cut style that shows you mean business and know what you are talking about. It shows professionalism. In the workforce, females constantly need to prove they are suitable candidates and when competing with other people for a job or promotion, there is no substitute for the suit in making your visual message heard.
The suit is an easy way to look professional without having to go to an enormous amount of effort, especially in a corporate environment. People are more likely to take you seriously in a suit, so don't throw your suits out just yet. Not only are they a great work option but you can mix and match the separate suit pieces for more casual looks and get more wear out of them. Wear the pants with a knit top or jumper, the skirt with a shirt and the jacket with a dress. Alternatively you could also pair the jacket with jeans for a more casual look. One suit and so many outfits. Now that is what I call value for money.
As mentioned in one of my pervious columns, I believe everyone should own at least one suit because you never know when you are going to need one. Leaving suit shopping to the last minute can be extremely frustrating, not to mention expensive. You often can't find the perfect fit last minute and you end up buying something for the sake of it. Take the time to be a little more prepared and shop in advance. The fit of your suit is extremely important. Check the fit at the shoulder, chest and arms. The shoulder area is one of the hardest areas to alter so if the jacket does not fit you here, then resist the temptation to buy it. Alterations to these areas are expensive and often don't give the result you are after. Choose a different style instead.
Don't be tempted to buy a suit that is too small for you. If it looks like you have squeezed into it then odds are you have and the end result is that everyone gets to see your underwear line. Possibly not the result you were after. It is actually much more slimming to chose the suit in the next size up. You also need to wear the suit all day and sit down in it so make sure it is comfortable.
Wool is a fabulous fabric for suits. It breathes and keeps you cool in summer while helping to keep you warm in winter. It is a good trans-seasonal fabric and can be worn across all seasons. It also looks expensive and wears better and longer. Best of all wool does not crease and it keeps its shape. Synthetic fabrics have a much shorter shelf life and you don't get a much wear out of them.
Buy the best quality suit you can afford. If you keep the suit detailing simple, it is unlikely that the suit will go out of fashion next season so you will get several years of wear- a great buy really.
If you think the suit has got boring then have a look at some of the suits Armani has brought out lately and the amazing details on the jackets and skirts. While Armani is not within everyone's budget, their styles are very much an evolution on the humble suit showing it is here to stay.
So ladies, love that suit!
Anna Martin is the co-founder of Izziana Image Consultants and is a great believer that personal image is an important part of increasing people's confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing.
