Shoes should contradict the office. A heeled mule, a pointed slingback, a metallic sandal if the venue is warm, or — if you genuinely cannot do heels — a polished pointed flat or a loafer with a bit of hardware, worn with a long trouser so the shoe is barely visible anyway. Then one piece of jewellery with some weight to it: a proper earring, a cuff, something that catches light near your face.
Will a trouser suit work if I'm petite?
Yes, but the proportions need adjusting rather than the idea abandoning. Look for a shorter jacket, or at least one that ends above the widest part of your hip, and keep the trouser long and straight so the leg line is uninterrupted — hemming is almost always necessary and almost always worth it. Keeping the suit tonal, including the shoe and the top underneath, makes the whole column read taller than a contrasting shirt ever will.
How do I wear the pieces separately afterwards?
This is where a suit earns its keep compared with a one-night dress. The jacket goes over jeans, over a slip dress, over a roll-neck with ankle boots, and it immediately smartens a weekday outfit without looking costumed. The trousers go with a simple knit and flats for anything from a work day to a long lunch. Buy the suit assuming you will mostly wear it in halves, and the December outing becomes a bonus rather than the whole justification.
