I’m in the market for a new suit for speech and debate. Last year I wore business casual, but this year my coach informed me that I need to go all the way and wear a formal suit if I want to be serious. And I do want to be serious.
I’ve been looking online at suits and suit separates, at JC Penney, Macy’s, Kohl’s…the major department stores. Suit separates sell for about $50-80 each. However, I don’t like the fit on the models. I’m petite, and all those petite models are definitely much, much taller than I am. I don’t want to drown in structured shoulders and lapels and fabric–I need to be heard! Deliver my speeches and be done with it!
The major department stores have some affordable suits, but I”m still a cheapskate. I complained at today’s practice that suits are expensive. Additionally, women’s suits look good on only so many people, and I have a feeling I need to search extensively.
In response to my cheapskate outburst, a male member of the team informed me that “it’s an investment.” And I took it to heart. Because it is–I’ll have those moments in life where I”ll need a suit, and I don’t want to be caught unawares without one.
With this reminder in mind, I set out and looked at some higher-end retailers…and oh my galoshes, I nearly had a heart attack when I looked at those prices. They were very good-looking clothes, too! And so professional! And the quality must be far beyond what I get for cheap at Kohl’s (where I purchase most of my clothing because they send me coupons in the newspaper–I ended up only paying $10 for a bra and heels to wear at prom during Mother’s Day sales, clearance on the shoes, and a $10-off-$20-purchase coupon)!
I wish I was rich. Then I could buy expensive clothes without cringing inside. After all, I paid less for my laptop than for what some of these suits cost. And why pay so much for clothing when I could buy an external hard drive, as I’ve been meaning to do for about a year now?
There’s an easy fix for this: consignment shops, thrift stores, vintage. Especially the first two categories. You can easily find extremely well-made clothing of silk, linen, wool, some of it be major designers, for a fraction of the cost of new — and cheap enough you can have a tailor make sure it fits you perfectly. I buy a lot of great things at consignment shops and have worn them in professional/formal settings. Check it out!
Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind!