Suit (clothing) - Suit Etiquette For Women

Suit Etiquette For Women

• A women's trouser suit

• A women's skirt suit

Suit-wearing etiquette for women generally follows the same guidelines used by men, with a few differences and more flexibility.

For women, the dress suit, skirt suit or pant (trouser) suit are all acceptable; a blouse, which can be white or colored, takes the place of a shirt. Women's suits can also be worn with colored tops or t-shirts.

Women's suits come in a larger variety of colors such as darks, pastels, and gem colors. Skirt suits are as popular as pant suits (trouser suits).

Women generally do not wear neckties with their suits. Fancy silk scarves that resemble a floppy ascot tie became popular in North America in the 1970s, worn with pant suits. By the 1980s, women were entering the white-collar workforce in increasing numbers and their dress fashions adopted looks not dissimilar from men's business wear. By the early to mid-1980s, conservatively-tailored skirt suits were the norm, in the same colors and fabrics considered standard in men's suits. These were typically worn with buttoned-up collared blouses, usually white or some pastel in color. These were frequently accessorized with a version of the bow tie, usually the same fabrics, colors, and patterns as men's neckties and bow ties, but tied in a fuller bow at the collar.