A satin-finish suit might not seem like a very versatile option for work, but if it is the right cut and colour, like this suit from Massimo Dutti, you get a super versatile duo that can give you plenty of unexpected options! 

But this is not just ordinary satin! If you are not familiar with a fabric called cupro, you’re in for a treat! Cupro is hypoallergenic, vegan, breathes like cotton and feels like silk. 

What I love about this fabric the most is that it is completely biodegradable and enviromentally-friendly! So keep an eye out for cupro pieces when shopping!

Let’s talk about the look now. 

Usually satin finishes is something we associate mostly with eveningwear, however, both the jacket and the trousers in this suit are very relaxed – the trousers have an elasticated waist and the blazer is slightly oversized with a relaxed structure.

If you want pieces that can work for a variety of occasions, this is a good rule to follow – if some element of a piece screams dressy, there should be another more laid back element to balance it out. Otherwise you are going to be stuck with an item that is a one-trick pony.

The muted grey (not something we would immediately associate with occasion wear) and the relaxed cut of the suit is what balances out the dressy material. So the suit becomes something you can easily dress up or down.

You might not be in the market for a new suit, but these suggestions can apply to most suits to a certain degree, provided they are not overly corporate. 

The beauty of versatile suits is that the jacket and the bottoms can be worn together as well as separately.

This particular suit makes for a great work look – all you have to do is play around with tops and accessories.

Silky finishes are the easiest fabrics to work around with so a selection of chiffon, cupro or silk blouses can give you a great variety of options.

A few blouses in block colours will give you fool-proof options, so start building up your collection if you don’t have any.

On top of that, a selection of printed blouses can work very well too as they will create a totally different look.

Always look for tops with sleeves unless there is a good reason not to have a sleeve. Long-sleeved blouses are a great staple to create looks with using suit trousers without the need to layer with a blazer (not something sleeveless blouses can offer).

The cut of the blazer and trousers will work for most shapes. 

However, there is a distadvantage to shiny fabrics – bad fit becomes immediately noticeable. So make sure when trying on pieces in shiny finishes to pay attention to how the cut fits your body – any bit of pulling becomes very promiment. 

If wearing the full suit feels too much, still consider both pieces as you can get a great variety of looks from the jacket and trousers worn separately.

If you are not sure about the shiny fabrics, but want to give them a go, start with neutral colours. That way you won’t feel overwhelmed by the material as well as colour on top of it.

If cupro feels too dressy, the same outfit principles can be applied to suits in different fabrics. Use the shape of this suit as a reference – it’s a really versatile cut. It creates a dressy feel becase of the suit look but doesn’t have a corporate vibe so in more casual fabrics can effortlessly fit into the weekend wardrobe.