Melbourne CBD Workers - Do People Still Wear Suits?

[fionas]

I'm tentatively looking at going back to work and of course, first step is interviews. After losing a bit of weight I cleared out all my suits a few years ago.

I live about an hour from Melbourne so generally browse the shops online first to narrow down to a shortlist before making a trip ... but all my usual suspects for actual suits don't seem to have any, or have a very limited range (eg. Country Road, David Lawrence, Trenery, Events, Jacqui E etc. etc).

Is this because people don't buy suits online and there's more in the actual shops or women don't wear actual suits anymore and wear non-matching jackets/pants/skirts?

I did find a few things I like on Next (which is a UK store but ships within Australia) but just curious ...

[Sopdet]

I wear suits (or at least pants/dress and a jacket) for interviews. I wear a mix of business and casual to my current contract (Fridays is casual day)

While I'm in the weightloss stage I'm about to get a suit from Target. When I get to goal size I will get a better one, but for now the Target work range will do.

[fionas]

I guess what I'm asking is whether you wear matching jacket (same colour, same fabric) and skirt/pants/dress or a coloured jacket with black skirt/pants/dress is now considered acceptable?

I've got a few work dresses but don't have matching jackets. So I could just buy a black jacket.

But 10 years ago, I would never have rocked up to an interview in anything other than a (matching) suit.

[Nai]

I wear casuals to work but would still suit up for an interview.

[RhiChiChi]

I'd wear a matching suit for an interview.

[Floweryfields]

Rivers has some suits.

[Amaunet]

I got a really nice (and heavily discounted) suit at the DFO Jacqui E store. They had a fairly large selection. Is there an outlet mall near you?

[OceanPrincess]

I work for a large bank, in their new corporate head office. The dress code for the whole office (4000 people) is corporate. Suits. No casual Friday. So yeah, I saw lots of suits still. I buy mine from Cue, the always have suits. And I second the outlet option.

[fionas]

See that's the thing. I used to buy my suits from Cue. Barely anything on their website. They just mustn't bother putting them on there.

[MLR1901]

When I used to have to wear corporate, target, asos (online store) and barkins (at dfo sth wharf and smith st) were great for good basic on trend suits.

[MamaPan]

I would wear a matching suit for interview
but more funky corporate wear usually - veronika Maine is my main stay w some country rd, witchery, saba, sass and bide, scnlan and Theodore mixed in

[Beautiful Disaster]

I get my work suits from barkin or target

[Amity]

You don't want to buy where I buy

[OceanPrincess]

Yeah I never liked Cue's website.

Divvy - do you have a personal tailor or something?? Bond-style?

[fionas]

OK, so I went on a shopping trip to the city. Verdict is that there are far less suits on sale than there used to be in my middle management heyday

Tried on a couple in Esprit - nice navy pinstripe and a dark purple one. Decided against as I wanted just a regular staple with a black jacket that I could also wear with the dresses I've got. Price there was around $380.

Tried one in Jacqui E - fitted quite nicely but fabric was very thin. Was told it was an all-season suit. Got a bit huffy and told her I live in Woodend and would freeze in it in winter. Price around $300.

Looked at some in Sportscraft. Good quality but $450 price tag too high for a "just in case I have an interview" scenario.

Also looked in Country Road, Trenery, Cue and David Lawrence - really not much of a range.

Went to Target. Scored a suit for $120. I'd say the quality was much better than Jacqui E but below Sportscraft which = value for money.

Later saw some in Basque (Myer) - similar in style/quality to Target but a bit more expensive.

Not the most exciting or nicest suit I've ever bought but at least I have something in my wardrobe that I can wear if I get an interview/internship.

[Butterfly Dawn]

That's a good score!
fingers crossed for you