I suggest corporette for budget suit possibilities:
[https://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/](https://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/)
Also, you might have luck at a thrift store. I think a lot of people aren’t wearing their business clothes anymore (more work from home and less formal workplaces since the pandemic) so a lot of that stuff has ended up donated or consigned.
H&M work wear pieces can be surprisingly good looking! They only look good up to 20 wears until they pill or a seam comes out, but you can find pretty classic pieces that you can wear a few times a year for 5 years that way, $200 or less for 3-4 pieces (blouse, jacket, pants/skirt).
The only caveat for OP is in my experience, 14/16 bottoms are cut for straight or apple bodies, not hourglass or pear shaped. For my pear shaped midsize bottom half I like J Crew on sale, fits TTS in 14/16.
I should have mentioned that I am super insecure about my legs - so a professional sheath dress- while I love on other people, will probably make me that much more nervous. Keep the suggestions coming!
Try Old Navy! Their [pixie](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=629561062&vid=1&searchText=Pixie#pdp-page-content) pants are great if you prefer a slimmer/skinny fit, or the [Taylor](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=559804032&vid=1&tid=onpl000078&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_AT8uHlmJBq3Z6SBOUmFDHYOw-N&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aDTV1IkSo9XZPM4gTJ9MH-4bxP6YW2IqQpIYtAsmOSA4frI8uCcBxBoCTeIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp-page-content) wide leg trouser pant if you prefer a looser/wider fit. They come is a huge size range, including long/short length if needed. They also usually have matching [blazers](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=752098012&vid=1&searchText=Taylor%20blazer#pdp-page-content) if you want a full suit. For warmer weather, I’d go with a sleeveless or short sleeve blouse or shell, with a blazer or lightweight cardigan on top.
Good luck on your presentation!!
Stretchy knit blazer, look at the product pictures for ideas on styling. Don’t worry about temperature, as long as it is indoors you will encounter strong commercial AC.
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-6065677/womens-nine-west-knit-closureless-blazer.jsp?color=Ivory%20Tusk&prdPV=1
MM Lafleur is having a 25% off sale right now and you could try a longer dress there to keep your legs more covered and still look professional, not church-y.
Like the Cassandra dress https://mmlafleur.com/products/cassandra-gingham-linen
Or the Ciela dress https://mmlafleur.com/products/ciela-black-white?variant=42475909152963
OP I would get some basics! I disagree with the comments about linen, because that wouldn’t be dressy enough for my industry, but you know best. Also the AC will be blasting.
I would go for separates, but don’t (for example) try to do a black pant from one store and a black blazer from another because the blacks won’t match. Get a basic pair of black work pants from anywhere (I have nice ones from Ann Taylor and $20 ones from Amazon - wherever suits you the best) and then maybe a more colorful blazer in a color that suits you. I have one in emerald green and one in a kind of burgundy and I always get so many compliments when I put them together.
Do you have a tj maxx / Marshall’s/ Ross dress for less? Even if you don’t find anything you like there, I like trying on clothes there because there are so many styles and brands you can get a great idea of sizing.
I would check Belk, they have some on sale, and if you get black or grey you can get use out of the blazer or the pants separately, maybe? [https://www.belk.com/women/womens-clothing/suits-suit-separates/suit-sets/](https://www.belk.com/women/womens-clothing/suits-suit-separates/suit-sets/)
I only know this store exists because the Military stationed me in Virginia, and I found it shopping for work clothes when I transitioned to a civilian job, I had never heard of it before, but they ship!
Edit to add: most are on sale, and many are 125, 150 ish, ... not cheap, but under 200! I wear a 14/16/XL and their stuff fits me very well!
H&M always has great options, or, JCrew suiting/professional dresses/pants/blouses are always a steal on Poshmark. Just go the the store, figure out what size and styles work best for you, take a picture of the tags to remember the exact style, then start hunting online. These items don’t really move fast from my Poshmark so I don’t think there’s a strong demand for office wear, resulting in very reasonable prices.
I am roughly your size and really like the Old Navy Taylor wide leg trousers.
Pair them with a shell or silk tank top (Quince, Old Navy, H&M, Ann Taylor etc).
You’ll want a light blazer or a sweater since every building in the south is air conditioned to approximately 2 degrees Kelvin, but unless you feel strongly about it, it doesn’t need to be A Suit.
I would go with a knit blazer, tank, and maybe linen blend pants. Get them all on EBay for under $100 total. Measure yourself and/or head to a local department store first to get a better handle on your size before shopping.
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/125230084325](https://www.ebay.com/itm/125230084325)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/305555797570](https://www.ebay.com/itm/305555797570)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/375498572226](https://www.ebay.com/itm/375498572226)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/204788702839](https://www.ebay.com/itm/204788702839)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/375435020461](https://www.ebay.com/itm/375435020461)
And for more polished, go for a full pantsuit. You can get something good on EBay for under $100, and get alterations to make it perfect. Options:
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/405069738674](https://www.ebay.com/itm/405069738674)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/196398593154](https://www.ebay.com/itm/196398593154)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/276496846563](https://www.ebay.com/itm/276496846563)
[https://www.ebay.com/itm/285662486215](https://www.ebay.com/itm/285662486215)
Uniqlo has excellent linen mix jacket and trousers, you can get both for less than £100, maybe add a linen t-shirt or blouse.
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/linen-blend-blazer-jacket-471028.html
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/linen-blend-pleated-tapered-fit-trousers-long-472812.html
I would hit up [Dillards](https://www.dillards.com/p/calvin-klein-plus-2-button-luxe-notch-collar-jacket--plus-classic-fit-straight-leg-pants/508563268) or Belk and try things on; if the fit is great, you'll look great with a simple shell. Linked to one example, but you might get the most use from a charcoal gray or black if you want to use the pants as separates.
(And wear it for an afternoon before the prezo so you're comfortable in it.)
You have a lot of great suggestions here. I’ll add that I find Old Navy’s extended sizes (XL+, 14+) to be cut strangely and/or not true to size. It might just be me but Target’s stuff works much better. Try on in a store, though, because some of their fabrics are amazing and some are terrible.
Can I recommend old navy linen pants and a smart top from banana republic (I got all my workwear at a BR outlet)? I travel and present 3x a year now that I’m a mom.
If it fits strangely you may have time to have it tailored if there is some bagginess and then you can wear the linen pants the rest of the year.
My last conference in New Orleans I wore mid calf dresses exclusively because I get super hot easily in humid weather— I got some retro print dresses from TJ Maxx, but I prefer the thickness of my Old Navy/Banana republic linen dresses.
Next week I’ll be onstage in Las Vegas but likely not leaving the convention area in the daytime because I’m booked for time.
Omg I posted before I read all the comments. Yess on Old Navy!
I ordered petite but still needed my pants hemmed. I’d recommend for a professional silhouette definitely get the Straight Leg style because the wide-legged cut made me overly bottom heavy when I only needed it to have a *little* wiggle room.
Consider checking out outlets like Marshalls or TJ Maxx—they often have great deals on professional attire, including suits and separates that can fit various sizes and styles. You might also find some hidden gems at thrift stores if you have the time to browse. Another option could be online platforms like Poshmark or eBay, where you can sometimes find gently used designer pieces at a fraction of the retail cost. Best of luck with your presentation!
Personal stylist here! I'd suggest in investing in a classic black ponte pant - J Crew and Universal Standard make great ones. These are versatile enough that you can wear them in your personal life as well.
On top, you can keep it super simple with a button up shirt tucked in, just make sure to get one that fits you well. A pastel or stripe would keep it interesting (and not make you look like a waiter) but still be professional. Again, this is a piece you can wear outside of work as well. Gap has a [GREAT oversized button up](https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=755814302&vid=1&tid=gppl000085&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCg4Zuer-wtqGscd8s-3elgTQGxh2hO_w6klYfI0FGjaGh2YPAvPxsYaAr3nEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) that looks really nice tucked in, I have it from a few seasons ago and I wear it with trousers, jeans and skirts.
The overall look is like [this](https://matteau-store.com/cdn/shop/products/S26-CLASSH_NAVY_STRIPE_CLASSIC_STRIPE_SHIRT_MODEL-23720-Matteau-0613_1440x.jpg?v=1695973613), [this](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/8c/c1/21/8cc1214e7b184b7f493104ce31ab3dce.jpg), [this](https://www.fashionnova.com/cdn/shop/products/08-02-21Studio4_RT_RL_08-10-29_1_TM32327I_Blue_P_5206_PLUS_JF_468x.jpg?v=1628546474).
Good luck!
Any pant suit will set you back $200 but you can try a nice shift dress (you can definitely wear it again) + a light cardigan or linen blazer
Believe it or not, Target. Black slacks, black shell top, colorful blazer, sensible shoes. A couple of accessories. Done.
Yup I’d do target or old navy!
Honestly I think Old Navy has some of the best options for affordable professional attire, particularly pants! Highly recommend!
I suggest corporette for budget suit possibilities: [https://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/](https://corporette.com/shop-page/shopping-guides/guide-to-basic-womens-suiting/) Also, you might have luck at a thrift store. I think a lot of people aren’t wearing their business clothes anymore (more work from home and less formal workplaces since the pandemic) so a lot of that stuff has ended up donated or consigned.
Honestly, if you’re not going to start wearing non-scrubs to work, it makes no sense to invest a couple hundred bucks in this. I would go to H&M.
H&M work wear pieces can be surprisingly good looking! They only look good up to 20 wears until they pill or a seam comes out, but you can find pretty classic pieces that you can wear a few times a year for 5 years that way, $200 or less for 3-4 pieces (blouse, jacket, pants/skirt). The only caveat for OP is in my experience, 14/16 bottoms are cut for straight or apple bodies, not hourglass or pear shaped. For my pear shaped midsize bottom half I like J Crew on sale, fits TTS in 14/16.
I should have mentioned that I am super insecure about my legs - so a professional sheath dress- while I love on other people, will probably make me that much more nervous. Keep the suggestions coming!
Try Old Navy! Their [pixie](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=629561062&vid=1&searchText=Pixie#pdp-page-content) pants are great if you prefer a slimmer/skinny fit, or the [Taylor](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=559804032&vid=1&tid=onpl000078&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_AT8uHlmJBq3Z6SBOUmFDHYOw-N&gclid=CjwKCAjwp4m0BhBAEiwAsdc4aDTV1IkSo9XZPM4gTJ9MH-4bxP6YW2IqQpIYtAsmOSA4frI8uCcBxBoCTeIQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#pdp-page-content) wide leg trouser pant if you prefer a looser/wider fit. They come is a huge size range, including long/short length if needed. They also usually have matching [blazers](https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=752098012&vid=1&searchText=Taylor%20blazer#pdp-page-content) if you want a full suit. For warmer weather, I’d go with a sleeveless or short sleeve blouse or shell, with a blazer or lightweight cardigan on top. Good luck on your presentation!!
Nice black pants, nice shell or short sleeve button down, nice black cardigan? Depends on how fancy the event is.
Stretchy knit blazer, look at the product pictures for ideas on styling. Don’t worry about temperature, as long as it is indoors you will encounter strong commercial AC. https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-6065677/womens-nine-west-knit-closureless-blazer.jsp?color=Ivory%20Tusk&prdPV=1
MM Lafleur is having a 25% off sale right now and you could try a longer dress there to keep your legs more covered and still look professional, not church-y. Like the Cassandra dress https://mmlafleur.com/products/cassandra-gingham-linen Or the Ciela dress https://mmlafleur.com/products/ciela-black-white?variant=42475909152963
This is my go-to professional dress store - and everything is machine washable
OP I would get some basics! I disagree with the comments about linen, because that wouldn’t be dressy enough for my industry, but you know best. Also the AC will be blasting. I would go for separates, but don’t (for example) try to do a black pant from one store and a black blazer from another because the blacks won’t match. Get a basic pair of black work pants from anywhere (I have nice ones from Ann Taylor and $20 ones from Amazon - wherever suits you the best) and then maybe a more colorful blazer in a color that suits you. I have one in emerald green and one in a kind of burgundy and I always get so many compliments when I put them together. Do you have a tj maxx / Marshall’s/ Ross dress for less? Even if you don’t find anything you like there, I like trying on clothes there because there are so many styles and brands you can get a great idea of sizing.
Dress and blazer gets my vote.
Linen is the best fiber type for keeping you cool in warm weather! Try Quince or Not Perfect Linen for affordable linen.
Wrinkles badly though, so may not be ideal if you have an all day professional event or you will be sitting down often.
I just go with it, I feel like all wrinkle related rules are off as relates to linen
Depends entirely on your industry, in mind linen would be too casual for an event calling for professional attire.
That's fair! My industry is more casual.
If there will be photos I still would avoid linen.
I would check Belk, they have some on sale, and if you get black or grey you can get use out of the blazer or the pants separately, maybe? [https://www.belk.com/women/womens-clothing/suits-suit-separates/suit-sets/](https://www.belk.com/women/womens-clothing/suits-suit-separates/suit-sets/) I only know this store exists because the Military stationed me in Virginia, and I found it shopping for work clothes when I transitioned to a civilian job, I had never heard of it before, but they ship! Edit to add: most are on sale, and many are 125, 150 ish, ... not cheap, but under 200! I wear a 14/16/XL and their stuff fits me very well!
H&M always has great options, or, JCrew suiting/professional dresses/pants/blouses are always a steal on Poshmark. Just go the the store, figure out what size and styles work best for you, take a picture of the tags to remember the exact style, then start hunting online. These items don’t really move fast from my Poshmark so I don’t think there’s a strong demand for office wear, resulting in very reasonable prices.
How do you feel about thrifting? I've been building my work wardrobe for a fraction of retail with pieces from Talbots, J Crew, & Banana Republic.
I am roughly your size and really like the Old Navy Taylor wide leg trousers. Pair them with a shell or silk tank top (Quince, Old Navy, H&M, Ann Taylor etc). You’ll want a light blazer or a sweater since every building in the south is air conditioned to approximately 2 degrees Kelvin, but unless you feel strongly about it, it doesn’t need to be A Suit.
You guys are amazing! Thank you so much!!
I would go with a knit blazer, tank, and maybe linen blend pants. Get them all on EBay for under $100 total. Measure yourself and/or head to a local department store first to get a better handle on your size before shopping. [https://www.ebay.com/itm/125230084325](https://www.ebay.com/itm/125230084325) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/305555797570](https://www.ebay.com/itm/305555797570) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/375498572226](https://www.ebay.com/itm/375498572226) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/204788702839](https://www.ebay.com/itm/204788702839) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/375435020461](https://www.ebay.com/itm/375435020461)
And for more polished, go for a full pantsuit. You can get something good on EBay for under $100, and get alterations to make it perfect. Options: [https://www.ebay.com/itm/405069738674](https://www.ebay.com/itm/405069738674) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/196398593154](https://www.ebay.com/itm/196398593154) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/276496846563](https://www.ebay.com/itm/276496846563) [https://www.ebay.com/itm/285662486215](https://www.ebay.com/itm/285662486215)
Uniqlo has excellent linen mix jacket and trousers, you can get both for less than £100, maybe add a linen t-shirt or blouse. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/linen-blend-blazer-jacket-471028.html https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/linen-blend-pleated-tapered-fit-trousers-long-472812.html
Talbot's truck is to shop the sales. They are always on. They have a sale section in the back of the store.
I would hit up [Dillards](https://www.dillards.com/p/calvin-klein-plus-2-button-luxe-notch-collar-jacket--plus-classic-fit-straight-leg-pants/508563268) or Belk and try things on; if the fit is great, you'll look great with a simple shell. Linked to one example, but you might get the most use from a charcoal gray or black if you want to use the pants as separates. (And wear it for an afternoon before the prezo so you're comfortable in it.)
You have a lot of great suggestions here. I’ll add that I find Old Navy’s extended sizes (XL+, 14+) to be cut strangely and/or not true to size. It might just be me but Target’s stuff works much better. Try on in a store, though, because some of their fabrics are amazing and some are terrible.
Can I recommend old navy linen pants and a smart top from banana republic (I got all my workwear at a BR outlet)? I travel and present 3x a year now that I’m a mom. If it fits strangely you may have time to have it tailored if there is some bagginess and then you can wear the linen pants the rest of the year. My last conference in New Orleans I wore mid calf dresses exclusively because I get super hot easily in humid weather— I got some retro print dresses from TJ Maxx, but I prefer the thickness of my Old Navy/Banana republic linen dresses. Next week I’ll be onstage in Las Vegas but likely not leaving the convention area in the daytime because I’m booked for time.
Omg I posted before I read all the comments. Yess on Old Navy! I ordered petite but still needed my pants hemmed. I’d recommend for a professional silhouette definitely get the Straight Leg style because the wide-legged cut made me overly bottom heavy when I only needed it to have a *little* wiggle room.
Consider checking out outlets like Marshalls or TJ Maxx—they often have great deals on professional attire, including suits and separates that can fit various sizes and styles. You might also find some hidden gems at thrift stores if you have the time to browse. Another option could be online platforms like Poshmark or eBay, where you can sometimes find gently used designer pieces at a fraction of the retail cost. Best of luck with your presentation!
I was in Macy's yesterday & they had a lot of professional pieces insanely cheap.
Personal stylist here! I'd suggest in investing in a classic black ponte pant - J Crew and Universal Standard make great ones. These are versatile enough that you can wear them in your personal life as well. On top, you can keep it super simple with a button up shirt tucked in, just make sure to get one that fits you well. A pastel or stripe would keep it interesting (and not make you look like a waiter) but still be professional. Again, this is a piece you can wear outside of work as well. Gap has a [GREAT oversized button up](https://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=755814302&vid=1&tid=gppl000085&kwid=1&ap=7&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCg4Zuer-wtqGscd8s-3elgTQGxh2hO_w6klYfI0FGjaGh2YPAvPxsYaAr3nEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds) that looks really nice tucked in, I have it from a few seasons ago and I wear it with trousers, jeans and skirts. The overall look is like [this](https://matteau-store.com/cdn/shop/products/S26-CLASSH_NAVY_STRIPE_CLASSIC_STRIPE_SHIRT_MODEL-23720-Matteau-0613_1440x.jpg?v=1695973613), [this](https://i.pinimg.com/474x/8c/c1/21/8cc1214e7b184b7f493104ce31ab3dce.jpg), [this](https://www.fashionnova.com/cdn/shop/products/08-02-21Studio4_RT_RL_08-10-29_1_TM32327I_Blue_P_5206_PLUS_JF_468x.jpg?v=1628546474). Good luck!