I’m standing in front of my closet at 7:40 on a Wednesday morning, running late, and the one thing that never makes me late is a suit. No matching decisions, no ‘does this top go with those trousers’ spiral. You throw it on, you’re done.
” alt=”woman modeling a teal Brooks Brothers three-button blazer suit”>
So this is the suit I’m wearing this week: the three-button blazer in ‘Colonial blue’ from Brooks Brothers“>Brooks Brothers. (Yes, that’s the actual color name. I have no idea why. I’d love to meet whoever decided that.) It’s a proper teal, and it photographs a lot more dramatic in person than on the site.
Why this one
Most suits I’ve tried read as interview wear. Fine, safe, forgettable — the kind you wear once and never think about. This one sits somewhere more interesting. The three-button front keeps it classic, but the cut is more modern than the button count suggests, and the pants are genuinely wide-leg rather than tapered. That matters. If you carry most of your weight below the waist, a wide leg that actually hits the floor makes the whole outfit read intentional instead of tight.
I like it best with the pants, but there’s a matching skirt and a shirtdress in the same fabric if pants aren’t your thing. The pieces run Brooks Brothers“>$168 to $348 in sizes 00 to 16.
Wearing it for real
My formula: the blazer over a simple black top, the trousers, and flats. That’s it. The suit does the work; everything else is comfort. Swap the black top for a white tee on weekends and the same suit goes from office to dinner without looking like you tried.
Sales worth knowing about (week of 9/11)
The source list is from mid-September, so treat these as ‘check if they’re still live’ rather than guaranteed. The ones worth a look:
Ann Taylor — 30% off your purchase, plus an extra 15% off when you spend $200. Anthropologie — an extra 50% off sale items, and the wide-leg pants I actually own are down to some lucky sizes. J.Crew Factory — 50% off storewide, plus an extra 10% off when you buy a pair of jeans. M.M.LaFleur — a sitewide Labor Day sale event; if you want to stack on the other items, code CORPORETTE15 takes an extra 15% off. Talbots — buy one, get 50% off everything.
FAQ
Is this suit actually professional for the office? Yes — the three-button front keeps it conservative, and the wide leg reads modern without being loud. It works in most offices I’ve seen, including ones where I’d normally reach for navy.
What sizes does it come in? 00 to 16 for the individual pieces, from $168 to $348 depending on the piece.
Are those sales still running? The list is dated 9/11 and the article ran 9/23, so I’d check each store before you plan a shopping trip around it.
a note from Ava
I’ve been reaching for this suit more than any other piece in my closet, and I wasn’t expecting to. Teal was supposed to be ‘risky’ and it just… isn’t. If you want more office looks that actually get worn, see my work capsule wardrobe and the pieces I keep re-ordering.
