What comes to mind when you hear the word, suit? The 80s power suit? Hillary Clinton pants suit? While many people, me included, will associate a level of stuffiness with them, women have historically used suits as a symbol of power and liberation.
I did a little research to see when women first commandeered this trend, and it was way before I imagined. Apparently Sarah Bernhardt caused quite the controversy when she wore a custom suit she called ‘boy’s clothes’ back in Paris in the 1870s. By the early 1900s, trend setters in Europe began sporting them for everyday wear. By 1914, Coco Chanel designed her very first suit. For a fun and educational trip down history lane, read this Allure article.
My favorite suit factoid is from 1968 when Nan Kempner, an American socialite, was denied entry into a restaurant for wearing a YSL suit. This badass chick took off the pants and wore the jacket as a mini dress.
During a time when ‘gender fluidity’ is a frequently used to describe not only fashion, but lifestyle and personal identity, it should come as no shock that suits are having a major moment.
I did not expect to be so into this trend, but I am FEELING it. Thanks in part to so many great street style suits on display at New York Fashion Week. Here are images of a few of my favorites…
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: Happily Grey wearing red suit, Acne bag is seen outside Collina Strada during New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 on September 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images).
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 06: A guest is seen on the street attending New York Fashion Week SS19 wearing cheetah print suit on September 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Tezza Barton is seen on the street during New York Fashion Week SS19 wearing vintage on September 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Rachel Zoe is seen outside Brandon Maxwell during New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 on September 8, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
Ever since I spied these looks, I’ve been on a serious hunt for thrift store look-a-likes. If you know me and my thrifting way, you know that if I set my mind on something, I’m usually successful. Call it luck, call it skill, call it a shopping problem. Regardless, now in my possession are not one, but two awesome on trend suits.
First up – IMAN red denim suit
This suit is EVERYTHING I was looking for and more. It kills me that my preggo-eggo self cannot wear this right now. I loooove that it’s denim, giving it a casual vibe and a stiffness that adds structure. It has gold detailing and even a little stretch to make it comfy.
I spotted it two weeks ago at Thrift Mart. It was NWT and priced at $60 – kind of a lot by thrifting standards. I waited until the Columbus Day sale (praying it wouldn’t get scooped before then) and snagged it for half price.
Second – Houndstooth vintage skirt suit
There are so many things I love about this – it’s vintage, it’s houndstooth, it’s midi length, it’s cardigan style, it’s cotton and oh so soft (something I often have to forego when wearing vintage). The fit of the skirt is a little odd, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made. This baby was a steal at $5. My only regret is that the tag said it was 3 pieces, and I could only find 2. Somehow these 3 pieces managed to stay together until hitting the floor at Thrift Mart. Oh well.
When styling a ‘fun’ suit there really aren’t any rules. Rachel Zoe is wearing some sort of platform, Happily Grey is wearing a loafer, Tezza is wearing a badass combat boot, and white shoes are peeking out of the other look. The commonality is that they all let the suit be the star. Personally, I love the loafers look, so that’s what I went with in my images.
I always encourage you to hunt for your own finds. If that’s not your style, check out some options I picked below…
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