The Suit: Going pro without dressing like Janet Reno

by Denise Trowbridge

I refuse to spend 500 dollars on something that makes me look terrible. For some reason, the companies that make women’s suits think that looking professional means paying a lot to look like a toad. Or a man. Same thing. Anyway...

Let’s go over the rules. Looking professional and being taken seriously means black or navy blue. It means wearing panty hose even if the crotch hangs at your knees. It means respectable shoes, polished and without visible toes missy! At least that’s what the dress for success tips at the career counseling center say.

With those rules in mind, I went to the mall—Dillard’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus. They won’t do me wrong, right? There has to be some chic, curvy suit that makes me look like an unstoppable vixen without compromising my professionalism. I just know it’s on those racks somewhere, right?

Salmon-pink , lime-green, and powder blue polyester monstrosities. I looked to my right and saw two 80-year-old women perusing the racks next to me. Okay, I must just be in the wrong section. These are old lady church suits and I’ll find something foxy if I follow the trail of blazers to another section. I’m sure of it.

Hmmm, this black blazer isn’t so bad. Price tag: $300. My head spins and my palms sweat. Three hundred smackers just for the jacket? Geesh, I had no idea it would be so expensive. I tried it on. I thought that for that kind of cash it must be spectacular. It was itchy and made me look like I had a hump. Next suit? Midwestern grade school teacher on the lam. And the next made me look like a 5’9" potato sack.

Janet Reno, look out. Here I come looking just as frumpy. I left several malls and major department stores disenchanted and with no suit. The options were overpriced, unattractive and could make a super model look terrible.

Then I discovered the secret. Follow the rules, yes—but not at the expense of your self-esteem. You have to be confident to get jobs and you’re confident when you look good. So I became determined to go pro without looking like Janet Reno.

That’s when I discovered the secret lair of the foxy suits—Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, Spiegel, the thrift store, and the vintage clothing store.

Any woman wearing Ann Taylor is unstoppable. She’s usually clopping down the street with her laptop, looking fine with her knee-high spike heel dominatrix boots popping out from under her impeccably pressed suit. We all want to be that girl. And we can, if we have $500. Ann Taylor is the best, but she’s expensive. Although, cruising the sale racks can land you a primo suit for a lot less.

Victoria’s secret suits—oooh yeah. They don’t just sell panties. Grab that catalog if you can and you can find some curvy and very foxy suits in the $100 to $200 dollar range. They’re bound to make you look saucy. But tone down the cleavage for that interview, Miss Thing.

Spiegel says classy and says cheap if you cruise their sale web-site—www.ultimateoutlet.com. They’ve got some suits with a little less attitude than V.S. and A.T., but with a skimpy price tag of $100 or less.

It may sound ridiculous, but don’t discount the value of a good high-end thrift store or vintage clothing shop in your search for a good suit. They’re cheap and sometimes they have a fat designer suit for 20 bucks. Also, who can help but hire the girl in the cool 60s vintage suit who looks like Jackie O?

No matter where you find your suit, remember one thing. Make sure it fits. Then, and only then, will it make you look and feel first-rate. I don’t care how on sale it is, or how good of a deal—if it doesn’t fit you well, you’re gonna look and feel sloppy when you wear it.

Now go in peace, avoid department stores and go armed to your job interview with beauty and style on your side.