Sometimes we notice a suit before identifying its cloth or details. The proportions of its upper and lower halves, their fabric and the way the ensemble is worn seem to share one intention. That coherence does not come from a universal formula. It develops through connected decisions, then finds its test on the wearer, in her movements and in everyday life.

A suit can suggest work, ceremony, restraint or fantasy. Its meaning depends on its proportions, what accompanies it and how it is worn. The women’s suit remains interesting because it preserves recognisable signs while allowing them to move. Its appeal lies in that range of readings, rather than in a single intention to attract attention or refuse it.