Sarah Palin must have a quite large closet. The peach, off white, and red suit jackets she is wearing here is a great example of how you can create different professional outfits with jackets, once you have a pair of good, professional black slacks or black skirt that fit your body type well. Looking at a photo like this, we may get ideas about what bright colored jackets we could go out and shop for to add to our business attire. But women should keep in mind that, though the suit jackets look great, the black power suit the foundation here. Then a classic white blouse is added to it. And last, the bright colored suit jackets are added to the wardrobe for mix and matching. See below how to put together a Sarah Palin suits wardrobe.

What to buy to make a killer professional wardrobe:

1. A black women’s business suit, that comes with both a skirt and pants. (If it doesn’t, then buy a black pant suit plus a separate black skirt that matches). (talbots.com  bananarepublic.com)

2. A classic white blouse. This can be worn with almost any business suit, and always looks professional. (BasicBlouse.com)

3. Buy three different suit jackets that you can mix and match with the black pants and skirt from the first suit. (Get one suit jacket in a neutral color, and two in bright colors – red, for example is a great power color.) (anntaylor.com  macys.com)

(photo credits: Agia Presser, Carlos Barria, Tom LeGro, Dana Edelson)

While scouting the mall today, I saw three things: purple, gray and black. In several stores I saw the same thing: business suits, fall jackets, dresses, slacks in these three colors. Even black boots, gray boots and purple boots. It’s only September, but we are seeing some business fashion for fall already.

When planning a professional wardrobe it is a good idea, in general, to stick to 3-4 colors that all go with each other. This way you’ll end up with work outfits that match, where you can change around the gray slacks with a purple blouse, a purple coat with a gray dress, black pants with purple suit jacket, etc. Always think about how you can mix and match things together when you shop. Don’t be afraid to put color in your business attire. You can use neutrals like black and gray power suits, then add one bright color to the outfits – like purple for example.

See the triangle of colored lace with this suit jacket? Barely noticable. But it’s there. Wearing a lace top in a contrasting color is an interesting way to enhance a classic pant suit. It’s an alternative to wearing a blouse or solid top. The texture of the lace lends a different feel to the suit, than the more common tops do. It’s almost like adding an accessory of sorts. Women’s business fashion has changed over the years, and you may not have seen people wearing a lace top with office outfits 20 years ago. But nowadays lace and other camis are ok, as long as you keep the jacket of the pant suit on the whole time. That goes for anything sleeveless.  The lace top shouldn’t over power the suit, you wear it so that just a little bit of it showes between the lapels – like a triangle. You don’t have to wear the classic career blouse every day – you can really change the look of the business suit by changing the top you wear with it. Add some variety to your professional wardrobe, by getting some new lace tops for in 3-4 different colors. (However, be careful with black lace because it can make you look like you’re wearing lingerie.)

Gray pant suit with burgondy lace top.

Above: A stylish neutral gray pant suit with a splash of burgundy lace showing between the lapels. It doesn’t draw your attention. It just adds an interesting accent. Below: A black power suit brightened up by a touch of blue lace. Black suits, in particular, can be given a different life with a bright, contrasting color.

Black power suit with blue lace top.

Here is another classy lady in a red suit. Sarah Palin is more often seen in a blak pant suit with a red blouse, but here she is seen in a red business suit with a black sweater. Red and black are definitely power colors. We should keep an eye on this lady’s style, considering she was Miss Wasilla in 1984.

It seems to be a recurring theme in her style – a black pant suit with a red basic blouse. We have been watching Sarah Palin’s style a bit. Considering she was once a model and won the Miss Wasilla in 1984, we should probably pay attention. She often wears red and black – power colors indeed. Sometimes she wears her black women’s business suit with a colorful blouse to make it less dark, and sometimes she wears it just plain black. Both look good, it depends on the mood. However, wearing a bright colored blouse under he black suit jacket is a great way to brighten up a pant suit. Notice how in one of the photos she wears the red blouse folded under the suit jacket, and in the other photo she wears it with the blouse collar folded up and over the lapels of the jacket. There are many ways to wear a basic blouse with a business suit.                                  (Photo by Bob Butcher)

Compare the difference in these photos – the same gray suit jacket with two different color tops. Both give an equally professional image, and neither is more or less appropriate for business attire. But which look do you like the best? There is no right or wrong answer – which do you think is your style?

Changing the color of the top can change the look of a woman’s business suit. When you have selected a suit and you’re trying it on in the fitting room, try it on with several different tops. Find your own style.