Brian Maynor January 22, 2013

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of speaking at a partnership event with Columbia College’s Institute of Leadership and Women in Philanthropy.  The topic was expanding the use of your suit and it particularly hit home for professional women, but we all tend to be a bit myopic when it comes to this classic career staple.

Suits are expensive.  Even a ‘starter’ suit is an investment for a limited budget, so the key to getting the most for your money is to make sure you can and will use it a lot.   Here are a few ideas and reasons why suits can work for every age, profession and dress code:

1.    A lot for your money.  If you are going to invest in a suit you should purchase all of the available pieces.  That way when you wear it as a suit you have options: skirt suit, pants suit, with a vest or without a vest, but you also have at least three separate pieces to incorporate into other outfits.  

One of my favorite tips is hanging the individual suit pieces in separate parts of your closet, not all on one hanger.  We need to see the pieces to really know they are there.  If you see just the blazer hanging and rarely wear blazers you won’t often think of pulling out the other pieces that you can use.  If you’re worried about remembering which pieces go together simply put a colored tag or twist tie around the top of the hanger.  That way you won’t second-guess if the pieces match.

2.    Consider the cut and style.  We tend to keep suits longer than almost anything else in our closets, whether we wear them or not; so finding the right cut and style is critical.  The cut is really all about what works best for your body shape: high or low stance; straight or wide-leg pants; pencil or straight skirt and single, double or no vent.  The style is all about lasting through the decade without looking dated.  Classic suits have:  medium-width notched lapels; three or four buttons on the sleeves, a vent of some kind and flat-front pants with straight hems.

3.    Details matter.  Contrast stitching; ruffles or scalloped lapels, accent panels and attached accessories like flowers or pocket squares may be small nuances, but they make a huge difference in whether or not a suit will work for your needs.  You can always add your own colorful, casual details to a suit but you can’t take them away if they are part of the suit.  Shawl collars and leather accents may be popular now but they will only date your outfit once a new trend hits.

4.    Fabric is key.  There is a suit for every person and every office, even a casual one.  Many people feel a suit can overpower a casual office or stand out in a not-so-good way, but that does not have to be the case.  Fabric choice is the key.  While a navy pinstriped Super 120 tropical weight wool suit with white shirt and red tie may not work in a casual office, a flannel or Harris Tweed with a sweater and open-collared shirt would look great and balanced.  

5.    Multiple layers.  This tip is especially for women.  If you are like most professional women you have a closet full of solid, sleeveless sheath dresses with matching or accent jackets.  While sheath dresses are great base layers, they are not terribly exciting, and how many times do you want to simply wear another cardigan or jacket over them?  Next time consider adding a blouse in addition to your cardigan or blazer.  

Since most of these dresses are solid a printed blouse is a great way to bring color, texture and personality to the outfit.  The cardigans and blazers can be longer and belted to keep the look proportional, pulled together and clean while cinching the pieces to define your waist.

Building a professional wardrobe is an investment, and like all investments they should have long-term benefits.  Since we tend not to buy suits every day, but keep them for long periods of time, when you add a new one it is important to take some time and really consider if it works for you both together and in separate pieces.  It will be hanging around your closet for a while.  Wouldn’t you rather w
ear it than see it collecting dust?

Click on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace.  Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected].   Also find each of these storyboards athttp://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.