One of my all-time favorite pieces is my Classic Theory Black Business Suit. A black business suit is a staple in any petite professional’s wardrobe. I own one and only one black business suit. Mine is made by Theory. My previous (and first) black business suit was also by Theory. I highlight Theory brand in particular because I have owned this brand for ~8 years. A black business suit is truly an investment piece and ideally it should last for years – decades.
Michael Kors Sutton Saffiano Leather Medium Handbag in Dark Khaki (similar); Michael Kors Parker Bracelet Watch 39mm in Rose Gold; Tieks ballet flat in Ruby Red Patent or Obsidian Black (my review HERE) & Posts on: How to Wear Ballet Flats or Heels all-day long
You Only Need ONE Black Business Suit…3 Tips for Finding the Perfect One
- Classic: A black business suit must be a classic style, independent of outrageous trends. It cannot go out of style if you want to invest in a piece to last years – decades.
- Quality: The fabric and materials must be high quality to withstand long-term wear. An added bonus with fabric is the near non-wrinkle nature of my current Theory black business suit. Perfect for travel!
- Fit: The fit must be (near) perfect. If that means tailoring then invest in the tailoring. Although Theory is known for their petite fit and styles, I did have both of my Theory black business suits tailored. First for the arm length and second for the chest/torso fit.
- Arm length: I have gotten varying opinions on how to best tailor the arm length of a suit jacket. My current jacket arms were cut from the shoulder seam, then measured and pinned, and finally re-sewn onto the jacket. This allowed the jacket sleeves to keep all 3 original buttons in place. Other tailors have told me that this method is difficult and may result in a very tight shoulder feeling (aka unable to lift arms easily); but my suit jacket fits great and I love the end result!
- Chest/Torso slimming: My tailor slimmed the chest/torso area of this suit as well. Consider what types of tops you will wear underneath the jacket (sleeveless, long-sleeve blouses, etc). I suggest tailoring your jacket to your own style and comfort.
- Pant length: Of course these business suit pants required shortening. Because I love comfort, these particular pants were tailored to fit my Tieks ballet flats instead of heels.
- Pearl: Take your ONE black business suit– your Investment Piece–to a Tailor you Trust. Get a few opinions if you don’t already have a great relationship with your tailor. It’s just like healthcare; you don’t always rely on the first opinion when it comes to important decisions…if you’re investing hundreds of dollars into a business suit the same can apply.
In my opinion, the highest priority when investing in a business suit is YOU MUST LOVE IT. This goes with any item you purchase. I think this is especially important if you are primarily wearing this business suit for interview purposes. When interviewing, I like to feel confident in my outfit choice, dress the part, and bring a little personality into my outfit. Despite being a black business suit, I add in a bit of color into my accessories.
How to Style a Black Business Suit for Interviews…
My advice for putting together an interview outfit with my Theory Black Business Suit:
- Dress the part. It’s better to overdress than underdress.
- Bring your personality into a rather plain black business suit with your blouse and accessories.
- Comfort and walkability. If you suspect there will be a lot of walking during the interview (i.e. tour of the facilities, hospital, school, etc.) consider flats instead of heels. If you wear heels, consider this Friction Block Stick that has gotten me through many days in heels. Also, I posted on “How to Wear Ballet Flats” & “How to Wear Heels Comfortably all-day Long”
- Wear a family piece. I almost always wear one of my family’s necklaces to show off my heritage and know my family is behind me during any challenge – either a Chinese Jade and gold necklace from my grandparents or more recently a Pearl necklace from my aunt. My sapphire and diamond ring is also from my parents and I wear it on a daily basis.
Also Theory offers 15% off your first purchase with email sign-up. I hope you find inspiration from this post. Thank you for reading another classics edition.
Looking for more affordable options for your interview day? Here are a couple go-to business or business-casual stores that fit me off the rack:
LOFT – Ann Taylor – Banana Republic
Jessica Louie, PharmD, APh, BCCCP is the CEO of Clarify, Simplify, Align and Host of The Burnout Doctor Podcast. Dr. Louie uses her signature Burnout Doctor Method to coach burned out pharmacists & professionals to simplify because work-life balance is a LIE. Align work into your life & break free from people pleasing, perfectionism and thrive in life on YOUR TERMS.