Trouser suits

I'm going to register with an employment agency next week (they know I can't work legally till next month), so I went shopping for a nice new suit to wear when I go there. (I already have plenty of work clothes from America, but I wanted something new that I didn't have to get cleaned.)

So I went shopping all over  York city centre, and  saw loads of trouser suits.  I could hardly find any skirt suits though; I think I saw two in M&S. I'm not talking about skirt suits that I like or that fit me; I'm talking about skirt suits that exist. The shops just don't seem to sell them.  Does this mean that it's considered the norm for women to wear trouser suits to work, regardless of their work situation?

In the US, I wore trousers to work all the time, but I was at my company for many years and didn't have to prove myself to anybody.

I didn't think it was approprate to wear trousers to a job interview. Even though I'm just registering with an agency, I want to make a nice impression by wearing "interview clothes".  (And I will eventually have to go on real interviews in the future.)

i was wearing a trouser suit for a lot of my interviews.

and i agree-i can't find too many skirt suits here in the uk!

Yeah, they don't seem to be the in thing these days. If you're really set on one, you may need to travel further afield (say Leeds or Newcastle). That said, I don't think an agency or potential employer will bat an eye if you show up in a really nice trouser suit.

Honestly, I would rather wear a trouser suit. It's still a bit chilly here up north

I've done a lot of shopping for work clothes lately, and I think I've yet to see a skirt suit.  Now, you can get jackets with skirts that match, but they're more in the "grandma" style (think pink or mint green boucle'  ).  I tend to wear trouser suits or tailored trousers with blouses (or fitted turtlenecks these days -- brrrrr!) to work, as do most of the women I work with.  The older women do wear the skirted suits, but they're significantly older -- nearing retirement age -- I think for them women in trousers is a general no-no.

it's cold up here in scotland.  trouser suits rule the roost - at interviews, even in court.  tailored, well-cut, quality trouser suits. 

skirts mean tights and tights mean your legs are almost bare, even beneath a long coat this can mean being very, very cold.

Thanks for telling me. In New York, women wear suit jackets with miniskirts (in spring and summer, I mean.) Good thing I know not to show up in a miniskirt. They'd probably think I'm a hussy 

Now that I think about it, I rarely see a woman wearing a suit with a skirt. It's usually just a skirt and blouse. And really high heels. I envy those woman who can run in 4 inch heels.

Actually, in courts-women who work there (barristers, clerks, etc) have to wear trousers.  It's considered more appropriate attire.
 And really, thinking about it, why would women have to show some leg to be considered 'dressed up'? 

And really, thinking about it, why would women have to show some leg to be considered 'dressed up'? 

There's no  reason, it's just tradition. It doesn't have to make sense.  Neither does a man having to wear a tie.

I definitely think wearing a jacket over a top, regardless of what you are wearing below the waist, looks more professional, though.