Fashion Week Editor’s Pick: The Fashion-Biz Suit

Wandering around Bryant Park this week – and actually, anywhere fashion-related as fall approaches – one notices the distinct absence of women in suits. Fashion women don’t wear suits.

That doesn’t mean, however, that they don’t have a work uniform. Basically, the formula for looking professional-yet-fashion-y is skinny pants, a blousy tank or tee, and a blazer.

I watched the Charlotte Ronson and Monarchy shows from the American Express skybox, where both Kate Nobelius, co-founder of Billion Dollar Babes, and AmEx rep Ashley Chapman were both sporting the look.

Kate, who was outfitted by Bergdorf Goodman all week, is wearing a fabulous outfit with an equally fabulous price tag (albeit in different colors, but we like both combinations):

Her beaded top ($975) is by 3.1 Phillip Lim, and those Helmut Lang pants ($875) are made of leather. The jacket ($625) is also Phillip Lim. The pieces are gorgeous, but I think I’d be afraid to wear them all at once.

To get the look for under $300, pair a Banana Republic blazer ($198 – and wearable with everything in your closet) with a pair of Gap’s new Always Skinny jeans in charcoal ($50), and a sweet ruffled tank ($32) underneath for that signature soft-under-structured look.

And for further options, be sure to peruse our guides to the best blazers, skinny jeans, and evening tops for jeans.