the pretty year

Suit separates?

• Red corduroy jacket (last seen here) from ATL– $15 on sale with coupon
• Purple lace camisole (last seen here) from Express, circa 2004
• Red pencil skirt (last seen here) by Teri Jon via Loehmann’s– $9.97
• Turquoise and silver necklace from eBay, circa 2003
• Black rubber-bottomed Ruf N Tough heels from Aerosoles via 6pm.com– $40.25

I’ve only ever owned two suits in my life. 

There was a boxy hot pink number– double-breasted jacket with a below-the-knee pleated skirt.  I bought it to give a presentation to NASA when I was 13 as part of a space station proposal contest.  I was complimented by the female scientists who were impressed that I was the only girl wearing a suit.  Very professional.  Of course, that didn’t stop the creepy science teacher who went with me from telling my school’s administration that my dress was “inappropriate” and that I was “getting too much attention from the boys.”  *sigh*

 

The other suit was a late-’60s vintage number I picked up in Savannah, Georgia when I was 15.  The jacket was stolen out of my locker less than a year later.  Sad.

My hips’ and boobs’ continued expansion kinda turned me off to suits.  It’s hard enough to get one piece to fit me, let alone two.  I mean, without extensive alterations.  My husband has the male equivalent of my issues (big chest and shoulders, tiny waist, thick thighs), so we always end up in the much more limited suit separates aisle when we shop for him.  (With regular suits, a size 42 jacket comes with 34-36″ waist pants– his waist is 31″.)

Luckily, most women’s suits are now sold as separates.  I’ve been keeping an eye out, because I do like the look.  In the meantime, I’ve been experimenting with pseudo-suits.  I think this one kinda works, no? 

What about you?  What do you do when it’s time to suit up?

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