Here are some frequently asked questions about women' suits.

Measurements:
The best way to make sure the suit will fit is to compare the measurements from the listing to a suit from your closet. Lay the garment flat, straighten the garment without stretching the fabric, take the measurement and double if necessary. The most critical measurements are bust and waist for the jacket and waist and hips for the pants. Length comes next. Then lastly shoulders. If the listing measurements are equal or larger, then it will fit.
Where to measure?

Jacket - The bust is measured from underarm to underarm and doubled. The waist is taken at the smallest part of the torso. The shoulders can be measured at the top of the shoulders from seam to seam or across the back from seam to seam (across the back is a 1/4 inch larger). Sleeve length is from the outside sleeve seam to cuff. Jacket length is taken from the collar seam to the bottom of the jacket.

Pants - Waist is taken across the waistband. Hips are measured at the bottom of the zipper (approximately 9 inches below the waist). Inseam is from the inside pant seam to the rise seam. The front rise is from inseam to top of waistband. The outseam is taken from the outside hem on the pant to the top of the waistband.

Petite and Women's styling:

Petite sizes will fit someone who is below 5 ft 5 in. Petite sizes are 1 1/2 inches shorter in pant length and 1 1/4 inch shorter in sleeve length. The jacket waist is about 1 1/2 inches higher than a regular size and the pant rise is shorter.

Sizes 14, 16 and 18 are different from a 14W, 16W and 18W in that the W will usually have elasticised side panels for comfort. The side panels provide about 4 inches of additional width. Tahari makes some W styles without elastic but with an increased waist measurement.

What is the difference between Elie Tahari and Tahari Arthur S. Levine? How are they related to Anne Klein, Jones NY, Kasper, LeSuit and Nipon suits?

Elie Tahari is designer who has built a $500 milliion dollar business over the past 3 decades. According to his website, he "believes clothing should be 'quieter than the woman,' so that her true beauty can shine through." He rose through the adversity of being raised in an Israeli orphanage by moving to New York and becoming a respected designer while in his 20's.

Elie Tahari now offers separates: tops, jackets, pants, denim, dresses, skirts and shoes. Dress retail prices range from $348 to $598. Jackets start from $398 to $1598. Bloomingdales, Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue carry the line.

Elie Tahari licensed his name to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kasper, Arthur S. Levine. The new brand became Tahari by Arthur S. Levine and retails from $290 to $340.

Jones Apparel Group now owns the Kasper, Le Suit, Anne Klein and Nipon brands in addition to their own Jones NY brand. However Tahari ASL is not identified as a Jones brand on their website. But through my handling of all of these suits, it is clear that they are manufactured by the same factories and are distributed through the same channels.

So Elie Tahari is designer line intended for the "sexy, sophisticated woman" and Tahari ASL suits are designed for high end professionals such as lawyers, professors and corporate personnel.