Today’s Outfit Idea: The Whimsy-Powered Suit

All right, all you ladies who push your style aside because you’re too dang busy just trying to get your kids or your partner or yourself out the door in the morning – the Fastionista is here to ease your style fear.

Every woman I know has at least one of that suit: the one they wear for job interviews, or meetings with the company bigwigs, or because they are the company bigwig, or they’re married to either a company bigwig or someone who occasionally meets with company bigwigs. My point is, every woman I know has at least one power suit, including me, and I’m starting my week off with one of mine. But I’m going to do what I like to do and make it truly my own, so I’m throwing a little whimsy into the mix. Here’s what’s in my closet today:

· That Suit: I’m starting with a gray skirt suit: the skirt stays true to my femininity, as does the tailored cut of the jacket (versus a boxy cut that doesn’t flatter my figure at all); but the angles of the jacket and lack of frills (ruffles, peplum, sequins, etc.) is all business. The jacket sports a notched lapel, and is cropped to hit right at the hip. The skirt is a classic pencil cut, perfect for the professional environment. The jacket buttons comfortably, which is especially important for today’s outfit (you’ll see why in a moment). The possibility I may have to button up is also my reason for not going with an all-black suit – once I button up, all anyone will be able to see is the suit, and I don’t want to look like I’m on my way to a funeral (or a Johnny Cash costume party).

· Whimsical Top: Under my jacket, I’ll wear a black T-shirt that’s got a white outline of “Star Trek” silkscreened on it. Yep, you heard me right. Now, I happen to work in an environment where media and pop culture are a part of the everyday, so my coworkers and even my boss will get a kick out of this top. If I didn’t have that sort of freedom, or if today happened to be a day that I wanted whimsy without the ironic silliness of a graphic tee, I could go with a more subtle sort of playfulness: a brightly patterned top (polka dots, for instance, or the ever popular animal print), or a single, quiet graphic like a top I own with a starfish design on it. Because the black-and-white color combo of my “Star Trek” tee is a clean color combo (not multi-colored busy) and the silk-screening and the fabric are in top-notch condition (no holes, no fading), this comes off as chic and not childish. And if I get an unexpected visit from a bigwig who’s not as appreciative of The Fastionista’s sense of humor, that’s when my jacket buttons get closed up, hiding the “Trek” logo (sorry Scottie).

· Accessories: To keep with the idea that I’m turning silly into chic, my accessories are going to have to be less “fashion” jewelry (like oversized flower rings) and more, well, actual jewelry (like gemstone rings). So let’s start there, with a ring. I’ll wear a modest sapphire and diamond setting with a white gold band. My silver clasp watch will go nicely with that, and I’ll finish off with simple faux sapphire stud earrings. The sapphires will start to bring a touch of color into my so-far neutraltastic ensemble.

· Purse: Here’s where I’ll continue to build on that pop of deep sapphire blue, with a matching satchel shoulder bag. Silver detailing picks up the metals in my jewelry, as well.

· SHOES!: To pick up and add a little depth to the gray in my suit, I’ll wear a low, light-gray pump with a dark gray (matching the suit) design on the toe. The style of the pump and its understated design offer visual interest while maintaining a professional look.

Voila! There you have it: great fashion fast. And you, gorgeous lady, are ready to take on the world, Fastionista Style!

Suits can be expensive things, but if you’re in a field that demands them, you need to make sure you have a variety, and they usually have to look like you’re dropping top dollar on every one. A few tricks to keep from taking out whole lines of credit just to support your office wardrobe: 1) Hunt for sales like you’ve never hunted before. The sales racks at Brooks Brothers and Talbots look savvier than a lot of other stores’ front merchandise. 2) Try stores you might not normally associate with suits. Express, New York & Company, and Banana Republic may not be your first thought when you’re buying corporate, but they usually carry a couple of suits or even separates that when combined give a pretty good suit impersonation. 3) Remember the tailor. A suit with a less popular style may cost less, and a good tailor can nip, tuck, flare, and let out to give the suit a hot cut that uniquely flatters your figure.