Brian Maynor January 22, 2013

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

Suits are expensive.  Even a ‘starter’ suit is an investment for a limited budget, so the key togetting 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 everyage, profession and dress code:

1.    A lot for your money.  If you are going to invest in a suit you should purchase all of theavailable 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 alsohave at least three separate pieces to incorporate into other outfits.  

One of my favorite tips is hanging the individual suit pieces in separateparts of your closet, not all on one hanger.  We need to see the piecesto really know they are there.  If you see just the blazer hanging andrarely wear blazers you won’t often think of pulling out the otherpieces that you can use.  If you’re worried about remembering whichpieces go together simply put a colored tag or twist tie around the topof 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 iscritical.  The cut is really all about what works best for your bodyshape: high or low stance; straight or wide-leg pants; pencil orstraight skirt and single, double or no vent.  The style is all aboutlasting through the decade without looking dated.  Classic suits have:  medium-width notched lapels; three or four buttons on the sleeves, avent of some kind and flat-front pants with straight hems.

3.    Details matter.  Contrast stitching; ruffles or scalloped lapels, accent panels andattached accessories like flowers or pocket squares may be smallnuances, but they make a huge difference in whether or not a suit willwork for your needs.  You can always add your own colorful, casualdetails to a suit but you can’t take them away if they are part of thesuit.  Shawl collars and leather accents may be popular now but theywill 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 anot-so-good way, but that does not have to be the case.  Fabric choiceis 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 isespecially 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 notterribly exciting, and how many times do you want to simply wear another cardigan or jacket over them?  Next time consider adding a blouse inaddition to your cardigan or blazer.  

Since most of thesedresses 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 andclean while cinching the pieces to define your waist.

Building aprofessional wardrobe is an investment, and like all investments theyshould have long-term benefits.  Since we tend not to buy suits everyday, but keep them for long periods of time, when you add a new one itis important to take some time and really consider if it works for youboth together and in separate pieces.  It will be hanging around yourcloset for a while.  Wouldn’t you rather wear it than see it collectingdust?

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 inthe Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIANMAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consultingservices. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earthpersonality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations;modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; recordlabels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashionblogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trustedand recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education andtraining 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 likeBanana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach isinnovative, 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.