We're all busy working and whether it's at the office, in a meeting, or running around with kids, we all just want to look good! The problem for most women is finding the time to be stylish season after season. Stacy London, from TLC's "What Not to Wear" suggests investing in a suit. She was invited to appear on “Today” to show how to spruce up your style with a suit and how just one suit can be worn in different ways — making it an essential item for everyone to have their closet. Here are her tips plus more on the items you saw on the show:
How to suit up
On "Today" we chose a black, three-piece Banana Republic suit: a jacket, pant and skirt.
The jacket: This suit has a traditional two-button jacket. If you have a bigger chest, do more buttons. Sleeves should hit between the bottom of the wrist and the bottom knuckle of the thumb. If you look at your hand, this is between two bones.
The most important feature when getting a jacket is where the lapels of the jacket meet before the first button. Short stances are better for larger chested women because they help to lock and load the bosom area. Like any piece of clothing, fit the largest part of your body first. Shoulders can be taken in, and arms can be slimmed. And don't buy any jacket that doesn't close completely. Your jacket must fit and close comfortably around the torso.
Pants: When it comes to the fit of the pants, the most important section to fit is the rise, which is the crotch area. If it's too small, it's going to pull and wrinkle. If it's too long, it's going to bunch and give you business where you shouldn't be having any business.
The hem of the pant should just skim and float above the bottom of the heel so that you're not stepping on it but so that you cover the top of your foot completely and only see the toe of the shoe. Always make sure you decide ahead of time what kind of heel height you want to wear with the pant or skirt option because that will determine where the pant falls or where the skirt falls on your leg. While wearing a different heel height with a skirt isn't tragic to the shape or length of the skirt, your pants can look completely ill-fitting if you're wearing the wrong heel height. So, have your pants tailored for heels or flats specifically.
What was shown on "Today":
The look: Young up-and-coming
This is the most traditional way to wear a pants suit for a young woman who has just joined the workforce. An entire suit can clearly be recycled and pieced together to create many work options.Jacket: Banana Republic - $198Top: Context - $39.99Pants: Banana Republic - $98
The look: Rocker chic
The greatest thing about a suit is that you can break it up! Suit pieces don't just have to look corporate. A great blazer looks great with jeans and a trendy top. For someone who never sits in a office, suit pieces can be broken up to get you through auditions to evenings out with friends. Try a lace shirt underneath, which is a big trend for this spring season.Jacket: Banana Republic - $198Top: Anna Sui - $227Jeans: Zara - $69
The look: Multiple prints
Try the skirt option of the same suit, with a great printed underpinning and some fab printed heels. Think of a suit as a blank canvas — how you paint on it becomes reflective on your personality. Don't be afraid to do more than one print in an outfit like we did with the top and the shoes. As long as there is a connection between the colors and one is more dominant than the other, have fun! It will still be appropriate for the workplace.Jacket: Banana Republic - $198Top: Just Cavalli at Searle - $248Skirt: Banana Republic - $78
The look: Super mom
How do you wear a suit trouser for evening? Easy solution for spring: Ditch the jacket! Try a great thin knit in a flattering color, add some modern jewelry and a fun shoe. Always leave a pair of work heels and a pair of evening heels in your office drawer. That way the transformation is as easy as putting on some gloss before running out for a night on the town.Top: Shin Choi - $220Camisole: Only Hearts - $49Pants: Banana Republic - $98
The look: Ageless trends
The great thing about having suit pieces as basics in your wardrobe is the ability to pair them with new trends every season. Try taking the a-line skirt from a suit and pair it with a great printed kimono-style blouse. The wrap/kimono style is a big trend for spring and one that women of all ages can easily wear.Top: Pinkt Tartan - $278Camisole: Only Hearts - $49Skirt: Banana Republic - $78