Reddit mentions of Women Double Notch Lapel Office Blazer JK43864 1073T Charcoal 3X

I’m not sure what kind of “professional” you’re looking for. Business professional? Business casual? Smart casual?

What I can tell you is that, as a size 24 bottom, 20/22 top, pear shaped, brand new lawyer, I have spent the last few years distressing over this exact question. Have I found a perfect solution? Unfortunately, no. Even buying suit separates, I end up needing to get everything tailored. And not just the inexpensive tailoring for sleeve and pant length (although yes, I do need that too). Nope, I also have to get the shoulder breadth shortened, which is far more expensive, because my narrow lady shoulders just don’t seem to fit in these manly suits.

Having said all that, here is what I have discovered over the last few years:

• Torrid is terrible for business professional suits. The fabric they use is too stretchy and ends up looking like yoga pants, which is comfy, but does NOT scream professional (seriously, take a look at this suit and tell me it’s not made out of yoga pant material)
  
• Lane Bryant has some decent pants, just don’t buy the brightly colored stuff
  
• Buy suit separates. It will allow you to purchase things that fit you better. I prefer Macy’s or Nordstrom. Calvin Klein has some really great suit options. They do run about 1/2 size up though (which is perfect if you’re planning on getting it tailored).
  
• Get it tailored. It will make a world of difference. Get yourself a couple of suits (one black, one charcoal grey or navy), and use those as your staple pieces
  
• When buying suit jackets, ALWAYS opt for the ones that have rounded openings, not the ones with square openings. The rounded openings draw less attention to your hips, and are way less boxy/more flattering.
  
• Avoid pencil skirts and sheath dresses like the plague, but if you do need them, buy them to fit your hips and then get them tailored to come in at the waist
  
• A-line skirts and dresses are your friend. Wrap dresses are the absolute holy grail of pear shaped plus size professional clothing.
  
• Look into peplum suit jackets. These are amazing for pear shapes because they allow you to fit to your top half and then flare out at the hip. Just don’t get the ones that flare out too much, or you’ll start to stray into unprofessional land.
  
• In addition to suits from department stores, I supplement my wardrobe with Dia & Co boxes, which have been a godsend for wrap dresses.
  
• As uncomfortable as they are, heels instantly make an outfit more professional. As someone with wide feet, plantar fasciitis, fallen arches, recurring stress fractures, and bunions, I would like to humbly recommend the Rockport Total Motion line of heels. They are the best and only heel that I find tolerable and comfortable.
  
• For the most part, avoid buying things solely because they are comfortable. I have made some bad choices because of this before. Unfortunately, professional clothes are pretty much uncomfortable by nature.
  
• Practice sitting down in everything before you buy it. If you are too uncomfortable to sit in something for a few minutes, you’ll never be able to sit in it for 8 hours straight
  
• Pay attention to dress and skirt length. Professional dresses and skirts need to be at or just below the knee. Practice sitting in front of a mirror before you wear something to work. The last thing you want is your boss getting a front row view of your granny panties.
  
• Buy seamless underwear. Professional pants are not like jeans - they are notorious for showing panty lines, so you have to be extra careful.
  
• Pay attention to fabric! You don’t want to have to get up super early to iron/steam things before work. And sitting in an outfit all day will surely lead to wrinkles. So, buy clothes in fabric that doesn’t wrinkle easily.