A professional woman’s wardrobe is not complete without a suit. It is because this type of clothing does not only project competence and professionalism, but also gives an elegant look. If you are among those women looking for a well-fitted business suit, the following tips may help you.

Colors

Black business suits are the traditional choice for most women. They’re slimming, they’re easy to find, and they show less dirt and sweat than lighter colors. Every woman should have one black business suit, either skirt or pant, in her closet. But not all of your suits have to be black. Just black is too boring for any woman with personality.

Most colors and patterns can work for women’s business suits. However, white should be avoided, unless you live and work where humid weather is common and the suit is made from linen. All-white suits show every crease and every speck of filth. Anything bordering on neon or containing dramatic patterns are also best avoided with business suits.

Rich colors usually work well for fun, yet inoffensive hues. Jewel tones can look good on anyone, and they are acceptable for the office. Eggplant purple, deep blue, raspberry red and other strong hues help create a demure, but powerful appearance. If you keep appropriate choices in mind, any color that makes you look gorgeous is a good color for your suit.

Classic patterns like houndstooth, sharkskin and pinstripe are always a good choice. All three can use monotones, as well as assorted colors. Subtle patterns work well, as do light embroidery or stitched embellishments.

Styles

The first choice you must make with women’s business suits is whether to go with a skirt or a pair of pants. Skirts pose greater problems than slacks because you need to be careful with the hem length. Pants are much easier to work with, but they can be unflattering if not well fitted.

When deciding the hem length of a skirt, remember that the general unspoken law requires hems to be no shorter than right above the knee. The tighter your skirt’s style, the closer the hem should be to the knee.

A roomier skirt will lose only a little length when you sit down. A tight skirt will rise significantly when you sit. So, even if the skirt hits the knee when you’re standing, remember to check its length when you sit down.

Pants are much friendlier as far as the choice of styles is concerned. Flared, boot-cut, wide-leg and skinny slacks are all welcome. Almost any pant style can look sharp with the right material and a matching suit jacket.

The more tailored the style, the sharper you’ll look. Avoid jackets that hang loosely in all the wrong areas, or pants that pucker at the crotch or hips. Skirts with a loose waist will result in a lopsided-looking bottom hem, which will make your appearance seem sloppy.

Materials

The material a business suit is crafted from should help you look confident and collected. The fabric should give people the impression that you are a dedicated professional who’s on top of everything. Fabrics that wrinkle easily, make dirt or sweat obvious and wilt under stress are best avoided.

Silks and satins should be kept for the blouse or scarves, and not the suit. Raw silk and linen can work in the right conditions, but they wrinkle easily. Casual materials like denim should be avoided, unless you work at a feed store or fashion magazine and can take risks.

Blends tend to be the best fabric choice for women’s business suits since they wear well, resist wrinkling and keep their shape. Cotton, polyester, wool, jersey and rayon can be used alone but are even better blended.

Last of all, ask yourself if the fabric is suitable for the climate control conditions where you work. If the air is always cold, a light fabric might leave you shivering. If your work always seems hot, a heavy fabric might make you sweat. After all, sweaters and antiperspirants can only help so much.

Custom Business Suits

A great way to get that perfect suit in a perfect color and style is to have a custom business suit made. The hand-tailored touch will make your outfit look sharp and sophisticated. The ability to choose the exact color or style will guarantee an outfit molded to your body and your personality.

To get closer to perfection without emptying your wallet, buy a suit in a color and style you like, and then have it custom tailored for that sharp-looking touch. If you’re really strapped for cash, think about having just one main feature fixed by a tailor. Alter the sleeve or pant cuffs to the optimal length for your body to give the illusion of a custom-made suit.

Finishing Touches

Don’t ruin a perfect business suit by adding the wrong accessories. Your shoes, belt and purse should always match each other and complement the suit. Accessories like scarves and jewelry should be used to tie a look together, not just to add more colors than a rainbow.

It takes a bold move to stray from the usual office get up of a trouser and a blazer. While some may be comfortable enough with the business suits as it becomes part of the business world, far older than the establishment you are in, this sometimes becomes less satisfying. This is the reason why dressing innovations have been in demand in the corporate world and more and more businesses are giving leeway to women’s suit in the office. In answer to this dressing clamour, fashion designers have been more creative in thinking ways to make women’s suit more fashionable without losing its authoritative presence.

Unlike the men in the office, women got the skirt suit, the dress suit and trouser suit up their sleeve to make sure they’re the ones turning heads. Yes women’s suits are that adaptable must have. Whether it’s breathing new life into that wardrobe staple, the white shirt; jazzing up that unloved blouse or finding that long forgotten skirt a matching partner, there’s so many options.

Everyone’s doing it these days, from the sharp and masculine women’s tuxedo to Kate Middleton’s sumptuous wool skirt suits. But it’s not just in the work place – Saville Row-inspired women’s suits have been trending on ASOS – the new market leaders in all things en vogue and de rigueur. Women’s suits have broken out of the conservative colour palette of the workplace coming fully equipped with all the other trends of today – all over print suits and floral prints suits should be gracing your high streets any day now.

Even the big names have started to see change with male fashion giants like Ted Baker and Paul Smith have cottoned on to this trend, bringing their years of expertise to the world of women’s suits. Dressing like a boy was one of the hottest trends last year (something that’s spilled over to this year’s must have looks) but there’s no reason women’s suits can’t be the key to unlocking that feminine look in you. The oversized ‘just borrowed from the boyfriend’ look can be good if done right, but with so many women’s suit specialist there’s no reason not to get a suit tailored for your feminine figure.

Elegance and style is the order of the day – whether it’s at the next board meeting, black tie event or even just casual drinks the lady suit is a sure fire winner for any occasion. It may take some confidence to get right, but pull it off and the world will be at your feet.