adminEvery woman needs at least one suit to wear for serious business meetings like that all important interview or when intending to impress a key client.
A suit should be an investment that gives returns over a long period of time so make sure you get it right.
What colour suit should you get?
Black, navy dark charcoal is the way to go especially if you’re on a budget. It is easier to break the suit into separates once you’re working. Please do not try to match different black fabrics to “make” a suit. If you’re only buying one or two suits, do your best to avoid pinstripes — they tend to be more memorable, harder to accessorise, and the pieces tend to be harder to wear as separates. Eventually you may want to expand your suit collection with non-traditional suit colours.
Skirt or pant-suit?
The most conservative answer here is a skirt suit — which means YES, pantyhose. This may change as more members of the “old guard” retire, but for now know that many older people in the business world (and their protégés) take the skirt suit seriously as a sign of respect. (There is a story of blind judge who cared so much about it that he made his clerks tell him when a woman appeared before him wearing a pant-suit.)
Avoid a miniskirt at all costs, and be careful of vents in the skirt — what seems like an acceptable side-slit may reach mid-thigh once you’re sitting down. (Always, always, always do an interview mirror check: pull your chair to the front of a full-length mirror and sit down in front of it, to assess your interview outfit.) Public opinion polls on hem lengths seem to say just above your knee is a good length. Please back away from the shorts suit; if you’re only buying one suit avoid the short-sleeved suit as well.
Separates or a set?
A number of suits are sold as a set, with one price (and one size) for both the jacket and the bottom. In general, suiting separates are better — you can buy multiple pieces, and in the size you need for each part.
For example, there may be both a matching skirt and a pant, or sometimes even multiple jackets in different cuts. Just make sure you dry clean all of the pieces together so they wear the same.
What to wear beneath the suit?
From a practical perspective, sleeves are a good thing — even if it’s a short-sleeved silk sweater rather than a camisole or “shell.” This will help you extend the number of wears before you have to dry clean it (and you shouldn’t have to dry clean your suit that often). Otherwise, for an interview you want something that isn’t too fussy — a white, blue or pink button-down can be great, provided there is no gaping. A short-sleeved silk sweater can be great or even a silk jersey t-shirt can be fine provided that it looks like new and is opaque enough.
While prints are acceptable, the safest way to play it is to go with a solid colour that flatters your skin tone. (A white blouse with a black suit is fine, but it sometimes has just a hint of “I might be a waiter — or a hired killer” look about it with women, so be warned.) Some people think a square neck is the best look of all with suits; others prefer to wear blouses beneath their suits.
What accessories (shoes and bags) to wear?
Note that you can wear black leather with navy (as well as cordovan, a reddish burgundy that can be difficult to find in women’s shoes). In the men’s world, brown is often thought to “dress down” a navy suit.
Ultimately you should be looking for a closed-toe pump that you can walk in for at least a few blocks.
In terms of what bag to carry to an interview go for a bag that is big enough to hold a folder with copies of your resume in it.
Empty the usual contents of your handbag into the tote bag and just carry the one bag. The bag doesn’t have to be leather (a nylon one is lighter, in fact) but it should be as nondescript as possible.
As for jewellery — think conservative here. Your earrings should be studs, or at the very least things that don’t swish about if you nod your head. You should wear a watch (yes, even if you use your cell phone to check the time — they signify reliability to the interviewer). A simple, high-quality pearl necklace is great; a chunkier statement necklace would also work provided that it fits with the rest of the outfit. Avoid wearing bracelets that will make noise if you shake hands.
Do you really have to wear
pantyhose?
Bare legs are certainly not advisable. Nude-for-you hose is the most popular for interviews .For non-interview days, tights are fine.
Before you wear your suit…
At the very least, be sure to open any vents that are sewn shut (particularly on the back of the jacket or on the back of the skirt). Pockets may also be sewn shut, but you don’t have to open these — a lot of times items seem to lay better if the pockets are closed. Tailoring your suit can make a big difference (and may be necessary if you’re petite). Your blazer doesn’t need to button — at least not absolutely — but it should be close. Buy a suit that fits you — don’t obsess over the size — and wear it with confidence.
Maintaining your suit
As noted above, you shouldn’t have to dry clean your suit very often, and you should dry clean all of the pieces together so they wear evenly.
In the rare event that your suit rips after just a few wears, try taking it to a tailor. When your suit starts to look shiny (or dry cleaning doesn’t take the smell away), it’s time to get a new suit. — corporette.com.
Online Reporter