7 Ways to Style a Women’s Pantsuit Beyond the Office

I love a pantsuit, and I don't work in an office. It's empowering, it's a way to look polished without focusing on the body, it looks elegant with flat shoes, it can go from conservative office to bachelorette party… it's a pretty perfect item for a grown woman's wardrobe.

My daughter may not be a grown woman yet, but she has an internship at a law firm and college interviews on the schedule and is looking for more elevated attire. She recently got this blazer and these pants from LOFT and they are so nice that if she wouldn't freak out about me owning the same clothes as she I'd order it in an instant.

I drove her crazy thinking of ways she could style it on her 17-year-old self, but I was in my head thinking of all the ways I would style it on a grown-ass woman. I personally have had a lot of success with LOFT suiting in the past; above I have a collage of me in a holiday velvet pantsuit from LOFT, and a suit made from the LOFT VERSA Crepe collection.

My daughter and I have very different body shapes and heights, but LOFT comes in Misses to 18 and Petites to 16 and it works for her tall self and my short curvy self. When she went out with friends, I began creating outfits of ways to style this pantsuit, but really any neutral pantsuit in a woman's wardrobe.

A pantsuit can go casual or dressy, preppy or feminine, creative or minimalist. From work to weekend to even a night out or a wedding guest outfit. Next thing I knew I had 7 different ways I styled this pantsuit. While I’m using this particular LOFT suit for all seven looks, these are outfit formulas, not shopping lists. If you already own a pantsuit you love, shop your closet and use these ideas as inspiration.

The Navy Pinstripe Pantsuit I'm Styling

This is the LOFT Striped Oversized Blazer with the coordinating Belted Slouchy Trouser Pants in Stripe. Both pieces of this pinstripe pantsuit are available in Misses 00-18, Petite 00-16, and Tall 00-18. While the fabric is a machine-washable synthetic blend, it has a matte finish that looks like traditional suiting, possibly a lightweight tropical wool blend.

The suit is a slouchy oversized style, but in a purposeful manner, having the body not too full, the shoulders padded but fitting properly, the sleeves loose but not sloppy. The jacket has two functional pockets, the pants have a removable matching belt with gold buckle and four functional pockets. The pants have a 27.5″ inseam for Petite, 30″ inseam for Misses, and 33″ inseam for Tall.

I especially like navy pinstripe for this exercise because it is traditionally associated with business attire. Change what you wear with it, though, and the same suit can have an entirely different personality.

1. With a Sweater Vest and Loafers

In the 90s, I owned a vest similar to this and wore a white t-shirt underneath. The trend is back but it's more elevated. This vest has an elongated neckline and a drapey fit that makes it modern and comfortable (and code ALISON15 gets you 15% off). The t-shirt is tailored but not tight (I own it and can attest to the fact that it's opaque, too).

Paired with the suiting, this is menswear with a Cool Girl edge. I added glossy black leather and bold silver accessories to continue that edgy vibe, while keeping it work-friendly and sophisticated. You could also wear this combination without the blazer, switch out the loafers for sneakers, or keep the blazer and switch out the pants for jeans. This is one reason I love a suit: don't think of the blazer and pants as a package deal.

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2. With a Pink Button-Up and Sneakers

This year, classic is cool. Yes, you can wear a button-front shirt with a pantsuit and not look severe. Choosing a pink shirt also reduces the severity while maintaining a level of professionalism. While loafers or oxfords would work, I added a pair of stylish sneakers envisioning this look for a business traveler, a city commuter, or one who works in a more creative environment.

The bag is a highly-rated laptop bag you can carry in your hand, over your shoulder, or as a crossbody. I pulled in the gold hardware of the bag into the necklace and watch to elevate the ensemble and add warmth and personality without being too girly or sweet.

You could do most any color of shirt: white, blue, or a darker color like plum or even more navy. If poplin is too stiff, a silky blouse would also be a great option (I own this one, I think it too would look great and code ALISON15 gets you 15% off).

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3. With a Refined Tee and Ballet Flats

When I saw this chiffon “flower” pin, I knew what look I was going to create. With the pattern play, I decided to keep it tonal with navy in different textures. The “tee” is a silk/cashmere lightweight sweater, the flats are suede, the bag is tweed. And with so much texture, there's no need for a bunch of accessories. a YLBB (your lips but better) lipstick and one interesting piece (here, I did some badass glasses/readers).

You could easily change up this look. Replace the chiffon pin for a gold one or a pastel pink fabric flower, or a strand of pearls, or a navy and white print silk scarf. Replace the refined tee with a turtleneck, or a tank for a different neckline. Switch the bag and shoes to a glossy leather and the entire effect changes.

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4. With a Lace Camisole for Evening

I love a pantsuit for festive occasions, and a pinstripe pantsuit can totally work for evening. Switch the work blouse for a silky lace-trimmed camisole, add a sleek flat and clutch, and suddenly those pinstripes feel more cocktail bar than conference room.

Black with navy is chic, and it reads after-five. However, I think adding sparkly jewelry would feel wrong with such a pantsuit. These days, you don't need spangle to be evening; sculptural jewelry that looks like art is elevated and special; paired with a clutch purse this could totally be worn to a cocktail party or special dinner.

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5. With a Bright Turtleneck and Statement Accessories

Navy is a neutral, so are pinstripes. This ensemble proves it. Chartreuse sweater, magenta glasses, and orange lips, oh my! The zebra calfhair flats are just the cherry on top. All this color, all this print, but it doesn't feel chaotic or over the top because the navy pinstripe actually grounds it all.

This outfit shows that pantsuits don't have to be conservative or severe. Adding color and other prints can add balance. Play with your favorite colors: teal instead of chartreuse, orange instead of pink, a shoe in leopard or a unique color. Pinstripes are the canvas, the rest is the paint.

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6. With a Graphic Tee and Leopard Loafers

My friend, this outfit shows that a pantsuit doesn't have to be serious. You can have a lot of fun and have a lot of badass style. Rock your favorite graphic tee, put on the leopard loafers, carry a statement bag. The suit will actually make all the uniqueness purposeful and pull it all together.

I purposefully mixed a bunch of different shades of blue; you don't need to be completely matchy-matchy to coordinate. But to balance all the blues, I stuck with brown, which is grounding (and very on trend this year). And you know what I believe: leopard is a neutral.

This is the kind of outfit I wear when I don't know what to wear. It can work with folks in jeans and cute tops, it can work with folks in dresses, it can work with those in pantsuits. It's creative without being try-hard, comfortable, and a wearable combo for us grown-ass women.

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7. With a Striped Tee and Sneakers

Stripes with stripes? YES. Seriously, yes, this works. Notice that the pinstripe is navy with thin white lines and the shirt is white with thin navy lines. The suit has vertical stripes, the shirt is horizontal. These differences is what gives the outfit balance.

Because the pattern mixing is so strong, I kept everything more subtle. Navy sneakers, navy bag, but still playing with texture. Classic gold accessories… but with a bit of edge (I have those hoops, they're super cool).

This would be an easy outfit to break apart. The blazer with ivory pants, white denim, or dark jeans. The pants without the blazer, or add a denim jacket, leather jacket, or bomber jacket in navy, black, or khaki/brown. One suit can create far more outfits than the ones where you actually wear the entire suit.

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How to Get More Wear From a Pantsuit

If there's one takeaway from these seven outfits, it's that the suit isn't necessarily what determines how dressy the outfit feels. What you put with it does.

A button-front shirt and pumps may make a navy pinstripe suit feel like traditional office attire. A graphic tee and leopard loafers make the exact same suit feel completely different. Sneakers, ballet flats, a camisole, a colorful knit, an unexpected bag, or statement glasses can each push it in another direction.

And you don't need seven sets of new accessories to accomplish this.

Before shopping, look at what's already in your closet. Try your suit with your favorite T-shirt. Put on the sneakers you wear constantly. Consider a sweater in a color you love. Pull out the slightly weird bag or bold glasses that seem as though they shouldn't go with pinstripes.

A classic suit can actually be the perfect backdrop for the pieces that feel the most like you.

A Pantsuit Is More Versatile Than It Looks

My daughter looking so good in this LOFT suit (with sneakers and a black baby tee, BTW) is what started this exercise, but I hope you see this is about more than a navy pinstriped blazer and pants. It's about seeing how much mileage you can get from what is in your closet, and today the focus is on a pantsuit.

I know any of you have PrePan pantsuits collecting dust with the changes in work environments, or from retirement, or changing careers. Or maybe you have a relatively new suit you wear for one specific situation and now can envision several more. My hope is you can see that what you own can achieve much more than what you are accomplishing now, it just takes a little time and a little bit of play.

Wear the suit together. Wear the blazer with jeans. Wear the trousers with a tee. Dress the whole thing up for dinner. Put on sneakers and make it casual. And if next season, the suit that catches my eye is chocolate brown, gray plaid, or bright pink, you can bet I'll be back here figuring out seven more ways to wear it!