Finding a suit can be a little tricky nowadays, especially if you’re buying on a budget. Don’t fret, I’m here to help! Below are my favorite places to buy a suit. Also, I’ve included a few notes about why I like these stores and what I look for when I embark upon my suit-shopping adventures.
Nordstrom
Not all department stores are created equal. Nordstrom, however, does a great job of offering a wide selection of modern suits, staple suits (the plain ones that will last you forever), affordable items, and high-priced aspirational pieces. You’ll find some cute and low-priced Halogen items mixed along with Veronica Beard and St. John Collection.
Their online store is relatively easy to navigate (if you’re browsing for suits on their website, I suggest clicking “Women,” then “Clothing” from the drop-down menu, and THEN clicking the “Suits” option since it doesn’t show up in the initial drop-down menu *eye roll*). Also, you can usually assume that the brands they offer online are good-quality items, so you won’t have to sort through pieces that will fall apart on you in a year.
White House Black Market
WHBM isn’t really where I would start if I was looking for a staple suit. Instead, it’s where I would look for a stylish, professional, memorable suit that I wish I could wear every single day. I love the quality of their clothing and, if you aren’t big on online shopping, I’m usually impressed by their in-store customer service. Check out the to-die-for burgundy and beige suits below!
Ann Taylor
I’m a huge Ann Taylor fan. It’s the first store I go to if I happen to be wandering around at the mall; also, their sale rack is my own personal version of heaven. Although Ann Taylor has a wide selection of fantastic full-price suits online, I’d make sure to keep an eye out for their sales. I’ve lucked up on a herringbone suit for about $100 that was on sale a while ago. If you’re interested in keeping track of their sales, make sure to sign up for their email list. See below for a few pieces in their current offering.
Brooks Brothers
Need a staple suit? Run to Brooks Brothers. Although they’re known for their $600 suits, they have a “Red Fleece” line that puts the Brooks Brothers brand well within reach of many who can’t fathom dropping so much money on one garment. With their high-quality fabric and excellent customer service, this is the brand to use if you want to find a suit that will last you for years. The cherry on top: they offer free tailoring of the garments you buy from them. I would know, they tailored the suit I’m wearing in the photos at the bottom of this article!
Belk
You may have to sift through some not-so-modern garments when looking for a suit from Belk, but the search will be well worth your time. Belk offers some of the brands you may have heard about for years: Tahari, Vince Camuto, and Nine West. Their offering of well-recognized and affordable brands makes this department store a go-to if you are shopping on a budget but don’t want your outfit to show it. Make sure to check out their sale section!
ASOS
If you’re looking for a unique, modern, affordable suit, ASOS is your best bet. It’s not great for staple suits, but it is my favorite place to look for fun suits that I want to wear on special occasions. It’s not often that you can justify wearing a pink or purple suit, but I’d try wearing one to a fun outing after a conference or a casual networking event. A unique suit is also great to have if you want to wear the separate pieces as a cool pop of color to accent an otherwise boring outfit. Plus, as I explained in this article, using items from your work wardrobe in your casual outfits is a great way to get the most out of your clothing.
Thanks for the info! There’s nothing like a great suit. I was also thinking about New York & Company for their suit separates.
Thank you for posting great info and links to items. I’m glad I found White Collar Glam!