How to Find Suits for Women

Woman wearing a suit.

Suits can be an important style choice for both men and women and often convey a professional, tailored image. Women's suits usually come with a blazer and pants, a blazer and skirt or a combination of all three. Most major department stores as well as other women's retailers carry suits. Before shopping, learn your measurements and approximate clothing size to have a good starting point before trying on suits and making a purchase.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth tape measure
• Paper
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Take a cloth tape measure and measure around the largest part of the bust. Make sure the tape measure lays flat against your skin and is snug but not too tight. Wrap it from the bust, under the armpit, across the shoulder blades, under the other armpit, and back around until the tape measure touches itself. Write down this measurement. This is your bust measurement.

2. Stand up straight and measure around the natural waistline, usually at belly-button level. Make sure the tape measure lays flat against your skin and is snug but not too tight. Write down this measurement. This is your waist measurement.

3. Stand up straight and measure around the fullest part of the hips. This is usually about seven to nine inches below the waist. Make sure the tape measure lays flat against your skin and is snug but not too tight. Write down this measurement. This is your hip measurement.

4. Using your measurements, determine your clothing size in U.S. sizes. (European sizes are different from U.S. sizes.) You can view size charts online (see Resource).

5. Shop for a suit at stores. Most major retailers sell women's suits and offer online shopping.

6. Try on several different styles and shapes of suits. Use your size as a guideline but remember that sizes vary with each retailer and your size at one store may not be your size at another store. Try on a few different sizes until you find one that fits you well and matches your personal style.

7. Check the fit. The blazer should fit you across the shoulders and close comfortably at the waist. The sleeves should stop at your wrist and not hang down over your hands. Pants and skirts should fit comfortably at the waist without pulling or feeling too tight. Remember to walk around, bend, sit and move as you normally would when trying on the suit to see if it moves comfortably.

References

• Women's Sizes: Clothing Sizes
• Syms Dress: Women's Sizes
• Macy's: Women's Suits
• Ann Taylor: Suits
• Banana Republic: Women's Suits

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Women's Sizes: Clothing Sizes