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This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It has literally been more than a decade since we’ve rounded up sweater sets — and I’ve been seeing so many lately that I thought we should do a mini roundup. Readers, are you buying and wearing sweater sets these days? Any latest favorite purchases?

Sweater sets, aka twinsets, have always been a great basic for working women, and it’s always been nice that you can split them up. Wear just the cardigan by itself, wear just the sweater tee by itself. It may feel like it’s best left to the Emily Gilmores of the world, but I can absolutely see it having a place for a lot of women in 2025.

Factors to consider: the matchy matchy look has been in for several years now, especially with the linen shirt/shorts trend, and I’ve seen more and more sweater skirts with matching tops in recent years as well. Individually, it feels like classic cardigans are back after a few years of waterfall/circle/cozy cardigans — and sweater tees have also become really popular in recent years. Finally: it seems like wearing the sweater-thrown-over-your-shoulders is a very popular look right now, so having a matching cardigan to throw over your shoulders just makes sense, particularly if you like a minimal, clean aesthetic.

We’ve talked a lot about sweaters for work outfits over the years, including rounding up our favorite classic sweaters for work, giving tips on how to wash “dry clean” items, and discussing what makes a sweater appropriate for the office — as well as how to do business casual in cold weather!

Pictured at top: beige / navy / beige / ivory

Our Latest Favorite Sweater Sets In General

How to Style Sweater Sets

In years past we’ve discussed how to button your cardigans (e.g., top few buttons, bottom few buttons) as well as how to style sweaters as layering pieces.

I’m not noticing any real trends with cardigan buttoning (or unbuttoning)– anything goes, I think, except for sweater clips unless you want a very vintage look. (In fact, now that I think about it, it’s interesting that cardigans have missed the cape styling that blazers have gone through lately — you know the influencer look, with the blazer not actually being worn but merely settled on your shoulders.)

I’m also noticing a lot of people wearing cardigans by themselves without a shirt, shell, or camisole beneath — this can be a great way to get another wearing out of the cardigan if you have a capsule wardrobe, but pay attention to any gaping issues just as you would with regular button-front tops.

There’s also a trend to wear the cardigan reversed, with the buttons going up the back — Sézane even suggests this on the product page for their very popular cardigan.

For 2025 purposes, the two main ways that I’m seeing people style sweaters as layering pieces include sweaters worn over shoulders and sweaters worn diagonally (see below). You can do either style with any kind of sweater, but I will note that buttoning a cardigan before wearing it like this makes the whole look a lot more polished.

Sweater Worn Over Your Shoulders

This is the main way I’m seeing sweaters worn right now — laid across your shoulders, not necessarily knotted or tied. You can technically do this with any kind of sweater or cardigan, obviously.

Sweater Worn Diagonally Across Your Body

Here’s a random picture from M.M.LaFleur that I noticed recently.

Great Professional Sweater Sets in 2025

Aritzia

I like that Aritzia has a crew-necked version of its “bare cashmere” cardigan as well as a V-necked version — and there is also a V-neck shell and a crew neck shell. (You can find links to all of those on the product page for the crew-necked cardigan.) They have a bunch of colors in stock at the moment.

J.Crew

I like that J.Crew’s version is a cashmere-silk blend — soft and warm but also thin! — and I like the buttons on the sweater shell/vest. The “bit of belly” styling is another big one I’m seeing, which makes sense considering all the cropped sweaters and high-waisted pants we’ve seen recently. That said, know your office before wearing it to yours — it will not be appropriate everywhere! Both the cardigan and shell are 40% off with code SHOPFALL today.

They also have “cropped” cardigans and matching tees that don’t look all that cropped — there are a lot of nice bright colors.

Boden

Boden’s cashmere Eva cardigan and sweater tee look great — and they come in a bunch of rich, saturated colors. If you’re looking for a jewel toned sweater, start here.

La Ligne

I love the ribbed detailing on the slightly longer sleeves in this great sweater set from La Ligne — they offer it in 11 colors at the moment in sizes XXS-XL. The cardigan is $325.

More Professional Sweater Sets

Others that we’re seeing that are not pictured here: Ann Taylor (matching tee), Kilte, and Tuckernuck. M.M.LaFleur also has a number of cute non-basic ones. How about you, readers — seen any other great ones?

Old Favorites: Classic, Professional Sweater Sets

Brooks Brothers

Brooks Brothers, not surprisingly, is a great place to find classic sweater sets and twinsets. They often have them in merino, cotton, cashmere, and sometimes blends like silk/cashmere and silk/cotton. Love!

Talbots

A loooongtime reader favorite is the Charming cardigan (often with matching shell) from Talbots. They come in a ton of colors and patterns, often in cashmere as well as other knits.

Veronica Beard

Veronica Beard’s best-selling cashmere cardigan comes in a number of different colors, and often has a matching shell. The cardigan itself is $458, and the shell is $398.

Readers, which are your favorite sweater sets for work?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Readers had a great discussion the other day about their favorite versatile work travel clothes — so I thought I’d round them up!

We’ve talked a lot about work travel in the past, including everybody’s favorite business travel products, what to pack for extended business trips, what to wear to a conference (and what to bring to a conference), what to wear on a long-flight for work, and what to pack for a one-day business trip.

(Over at CorporetteMoms we’ve discussed business travel when you’ve got kids, shared tips for pumping when you’re traveling for work, and rounded up readers’ top tips for frequent work travel!)

Can You Go on a Two Week Business Trip With Just a Carry On?

First, here was the commenter’s original request:

What are your favorite versatile work travel pieces? The dress is business casual at most, so its flexible. I have this dream of going on a 2.5 week business trip with just a carry on, and I’m a bit of an overpacker, so this could be hard. I will have access to laundry. I’m planning on bringing the black Athleta endless pant I have – might also buy one in a lighter color if there is a sale.

Readers had opinions on whether or not this was doable. For a lot of them it came down to your comfort level if people are aware you’re rewearing clothes. One commenter noted, “I think the main thing is you have to be comfortable understanding that someone will notice if you wear the same thing multiple times. Most people won’t, but someone will. This only works if you’re willing to just not care.” Other readers pointed out that obviously everyone is living out of a suitcase when they’re traveling for business.

Another reader encouraged a capsule wardrobe —

I’d start with thinking in terms of that much-aligned wardrobe capsule, rather than individual pieces. In fact, I’d practice by choosing one or two base neutrals — let’s say black and cream, based on your (potential) Athleta pants. Your pants/skirts would be in those colors, and your blouses/tops would be in any colors that coordinate with them. Then pull a capsule of clothes out of your closet, based on those colors: 3 pairs pants, 6 tops, 1 or 2 toppers (cardigan, blazer, bomber jacket, cropped trench, denim jacket — whatever you wear). In fact, you can practice just by going to your closet and pulling out those 11 items to see if you can do it. Then you can see if you actually have what you need or what you might need to shop for.

Another reader agreed, saying she did the same thing:

I pick a base palette for bottoms and then a complementary palette for tops. In the summer it’s usually grey/navy bottoms and then army green/olive, purple, pink tops. One pair of colorful shoes, one pair of neutral shoes and one pair of sandals. I am always roasting these days so instead of toppers I’ll do dresses if I need a bit more formality. I will pack a shawl or a cropped cardigan but that’s about it.

A third reader cautioned the person packing her bag to keep shoes in mind that match the capsule wardrobe outfits.

That said, other readers disagreed that a 2.5 week business trip could be done because hotel toiletries would be limiting, and for a stay that long they’d want exercise clothes (and shoes) as well as weekend clothes. One reader gave a shoutout for her travel hairdryer, but only to note that she vastly preferred it to the ones usually provided by hotels.

The Most Versatile Work Travel Pieces

Feasibility aside, what can you pack that would be really versatile work pieces? We have a few suggestions…

Related: Corporette Readers’ Favorite Items for Business Travel

Travel-Friendly Suits for the Win

There are several companies making travel-friendly suits, where the blazer, pants, and other matching pieces are all designed to resist wrinkles and be airy enough to wear multiple days. You can wear these pieces as separates as well.

Related: Traveling Working Moms Share Their Top Tips for Frequent Work Travel

Packable Work Shoes

There are also a number of designers making shoes that are specifically designed to be packable — they may squish flat, like Vionic’s Uptown collection, or foldable like these popular Tory Burch flats (Boden also often has some!) I would also argue that this is a use case for a lightweight, fabric shoe like Rothy’s, Vivaia, Skechers’ Cleo, or others.

We’ve rounded up other more affordable foldable flats like these affordable ones that can be great for use as slippers around your hotel; I’ve also used flip flops.

Other Work Clothes That Can Do Double Duty

A cardigan can be great because you can wear it as a topper, a buttoned-up top by itself, or around your shoulders like a scarf for added warmth. This reader favorite cardigan even mentions the cardigan’s reversibility in the description! We’ve also rounded up reversible business clothes like work dresses that have two different necklines, or have a different print on the inside of the dress.

I’ve also always been a fan of traveling with a pashmina or office shawl — you can use it as an extra blanket, a pillow, an extra layer of warmth even on top of a blazer, and (if you’re in a skirt), as a lap blanket.

Other readers sang the praises of these Eileen Fisher pants for being durable yet so comfortable. Athleisure can also take you far on trips like this — as readers noted, Athleta pants can be great for plane travel, nights at work, and weekend wear.

The Best Business Travel Items in General

{related: Kat loves this affordable, packable duffle bag}

Readers, what are your most versatile work travel clothes? Which ones do you reach for every time you pack a bag for work? What neutrals have surprised you for their versatility?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It’s been too long since we’ve gone on a Hunt for everyone’s favorite topper — the jardigan / sweater blazer / knit jacket. Readers, are you loving any recent purchases? Hunting for anything to replace a sweater blazer from a few years ago?

We just rounded up the latest trend, double-breasted knit blazers — so for purposes of this post, we’ll focus on the more classic single-button styles. (Although here’s a really cute one from Nordstrom that we missed!)

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

Favorites and Bestsellers: The Best Sweater Blazers in general

Our Latest Favorite Sweater Jackets for Plus Sizes

Similarly, there are some plus-size sweater jackets that have been around for years and are always bestsellers…

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Trendy Sweater Blazers for Fall

We’ll take a closer look at the best selling sweater blazers that we’ve featured before below — but first let’s take a spin through stores to see what’s fresh for Fall 2025.

The Fold

This gorgeous green jacket from The Fold is made from their “Sculpt Knit” material, made from a viscose, polyamide, and elastane blend. I love (love!) the peplum, pleated neckline, and tailored darts. The sweater blazer comes in sizes XS-XL for $425.

Boden

I like the cutaway detail here in this cute sweater blazer from Boden — as well as the cute name: it’s their Joanna fitted knitted jacket. I like that it’s machine washable, and it comes in sizes 2-22, in four colors, for $199.

Alex Mill

I often do not like patch pockets on the chest of a blazer, but this version from Alex Mills looks great — I like the traditional collar and the trendy flared sleeve. The sweater jacket comes in gray and beige for $298, available in sizes XXS-XL at Nordstrom; AlexMill.com also has a black version.

Jenni Kayne

We’ve featured the Cooper cardigan as well as the Cooper blazer before from Jenni Kayne, but both deserve a mention again! Right now, the blazer only comes in navy (sizes XS-XXL), but I really like the relaxed feel that “brings the best of California style to the forefront.” The sweater blazer is 70% wool, 30% cashmere, and available for $595. (The cardigan, which I love, is on sale for up to 30% off — check it out if you’ve been wanting one.)

T. Tahari

When Elizabeth first linked to this sweater blazer for one of our recent morning Workwear Reports, I was so disappointed when I clicked through to find that this was the only color — this shade of orange is really not me. (Is any shade of orange? Hmn.) So I’m thrilled to see that they’ve GREATLY expanded the offerings; colors now include black, white, taupe (pictured at the very top of this post), navy, burgundy, and a fun leopard print. All of them are $30 (!!!), and available in sizes XS-XL.

Grace Karin

If you’re looking for another option under $50, do check out this L’Agence-look-alike from Amazon seller Grace Karin (also one of the readers’ favorite Amazon sellers for workwear!). It comes in 11 colors, sizes S-XXL. If you want something less fitted, the brand also offers this longer sweater blazer.

A Closer Look at Some of the Bestselling Sweater Jackets for the Office

J.Crew Factory Sweater Blazer

I know readers have sung the praises of J.Crew Factory’s stylish sweater jackets for a few years now — and I’ve always liked the look of this structured schoolboy sweater blazer (pictured).

They have it in several colors right now in sizes XXS-3X and XXSP-XLP. NICE. (They also have another looser, more oversized sweater jacket, which also looks really modern!)

(Pro tip: they also have some of the best prices and selection for lady sweater jackets!)

Chicos has a very similar blazer at the moment!

{related: the best blazers for women this year}

J.Crew Sweater Lady Jacket

J.Crew has a pretty wide selection of sweater jackets (with many available up to size 3X!), although I would argue that the new, longer style looks more like a coat (or everyone’s dreaded look, the robe)… but maybe that’s me.

The Emilie is the style that has been around for several years; they also have a much more relaxed oversized sweater jacket still in stock from a year or two ago. J.Crew’s been moving more towards sweater lady jackets, which have a bit of a cropped, boxy look, and a thicker weave than a lot of the other sweater jackets pictured here.

Try this one with fit and flare dresses, as well as with wide leg trousers — but skip the bare midriff for the office.

It’s available in several colors and patterns for just over $200 full price, available in sizes XXXS-3X.

{related: where to find Chanel-style jackets for work}

Modern Citizen

If you’re looking to elevate your look, consider this cotton-wool version from Modern Citizen. The architectural sleeves and slightly cinched waist provide something a little more exciting than your basic silhouette, and the cotton-wool blend looks like the perfect weight. Make it your new back-of-the chair go-to or save it for a special occasion. 

The sweater is $168 at Modern Citizen and comes in sizes XS-1X. It’s also available in buckwheat and gray. 

{related: how to wear a blazer with something other than a suit}

L’Agence Lacey Knit Blazer

Leave it to L’Agence to create the perfect knit blazer. We’ve sung the praises of L’Agence blazers for years, but this is the first time I’ve noticed their gorgeous knit versions. The knit looks luxurious and the silhouette doesn’t veer into boxy territory like a lot of the knit blazers I’ve seen.

The Lacey knit blazer is available in sizes XS-XL for $425 at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and L’Agence.

{related: investment/statement blazers}

M.M.LaFleur’S Jardigan

And of course, you can’t have a roundup without the O.G. jardigans — the M.M.LaFleur Woolf and Sant Ambroeus. They’ve always been huge hits with readers, and the whole sweater jacket trend seemed to originate there.

They’ve expanded their range of work clothes quite a bit over the years, and now offer longer sweater jackets, cropped sweater jackets, and more, as well as the original bestsellers. The Merritt, above, is one of the newer options.

You can find them in 5+ colors at MM.LaFleur (and sometimes at Zappos and Nordstrom!) in sizes XXS-XXL.

(Note that they briefly came in sizes up to 3X, so keep an eye out on resale sites if you’re hunting.)

State of Cotton NYC Beale Blazer

On the pricey side of things, State of Cotton (one of J.Crew’s “brands we love”) has a lovely sweater blazer for $595.

The brand’s website has the pictured sweater jacket in four colors (XS-L), as well as two other contenders: the Merion (more of a lady jacket) and the Sutton (more of a jardigan).

Jenni Kayne Cooper Cardigan

Jenni Kayne’s homepage notes that they “can’t keep this cardigan in stock,” and I can understand why – I love the structured, sweater jacket-y feel to it, as well as the nipped-in waist and slightly slouchy, wide arms. The wool/cashmere sweater comes in 3 colors for $525, in sizes XS-XXL.

(For a cute dupe, check out Quince or Ann Taylor.)

Readers, what are your favorite sweater jackets, jardigans, knit blazers, and more? (How would you define the wardrobe staple?) What do you think is the best sweater jacket for the office? 

What Are Sweater Blazers?

Part of the problem with this lovely third piece is that stores never quite know what to call it, or where to put it. Some stores put these items with the blazers; others put them with the sweaters. (The answer, dear retailers, is PUT THEM IN ALL OF THEM, but apparently that is not the common practice.)

The other problem is the name — should they be called sweater blazers? Knit jackets? Sweater jackets? Knit blazers? Jacket cardigans? Jardigans?

For the sake of argument, let’s call it a sweater blazer….

For definitional purposes, a sweater blazer should…

• be able to be swapped for either a blazer or a cardigan in your wardrobe
• not have interior lining or stitching that might inhibit the comfort of wearing it
• be made from a substantial enough fabric that it has a bit of a structure on its own, but not be so thick (tweed, boiled wool) that it’s a boxy mess, or be so insubstantial that it’s gauzy 
• be made from a fabric that feels more like a sweater (even if tightly knit) and less like a ponte, scuba, or twill
• (possibly) have more blazer-like details (patch pockets, shawl collars, a relatively substantial knit)
• not be a coatigan, duster, or kimono 

Are Sweater Blazers Different Than Lady Jackets?

My sense is that the “sweater lady jacket” or “lady sweater jacket” is a mash up of two things: the lady jacket, which I tend to associate as being a boxy, cropped third piece often in tweed — think Chanel — and the sweater blazers like the ones we’re rounding up here. Sometimes they also look like cardigans with a bit more heft.

Work Outfit Ideas with Sweater Blazers

Sweater blazers can serve two important purposes in your work outfits: they can make casual outfits more polished, and they can make stuffy, conservative outfits look more approachable and casual.

For example: an outfit of dark rinse denim, T-shirt, and sneakers can seem like it’s on the extreme casual side of “business casual” — but if you throw on a sweater jacket you’re adding some structure, as well as warmth. (You may want to swap those sneakers for loafers or boots to make the outfit even more polished, or swap the dark rinse denim for some comfortable but polished pull-on pants.)

On the flip side, let’s say you’re moving from a conservative law firm to a business casual position in-house. Your wardrobe may consist of conservative, structured clothes like sheath dresses, blouses, trousers, and more. You can still wear them with a nice blazer — but if you put on a sweater blazer instead, it makes the entire outfit feel a bit more casual.

One particular outfit idea that works with business casual as well as conservative offices: mixing a few colors of neutrals. For example, a navy sweater jacket, olive pants, and a black T-shirt or blouse. Or, a navy pair of pants (or jeans), a bright white T-shirt or blouse, and a cream/ivory/beige sweater jacket.

Other Favorite JACKETS AND Blazers to Wear as Separates

The Best Blazers

The Best Sweater Lady Jackets

Some of our latest favorite lady jackets for work include sweater jackets from ba&sh, Boden, and J.Crew. (M.M.LaFleur just got some also!) On the budget side of things, check out Mango, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXL), and CeCe. If you prefer a lined, more Chanel-style jacket for work, do take a look at IRO and L’Agence; Mango, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell often have them at budget-friendly prices.

The Best Chanel-Style Jackets

The Best Cardigans

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I was intrigued by a recent Reddit discussion about “phase 1 corporate clothing”* — and I thought we should discuss. Considering your work clothes — can you parse your work wardrobe into stages (or, for the Swifties, eras) like your intern stage, your “first job” phase, and beyond? (Pandemic stage? RTO stage?) It caught my attention because clearly there are differences between an intern’s wardrobe and a CEO’s wardrobe… but the steps in between can be a bit confusing for some.

We have a super, super basic graphic on “how to wear a suit” that I share sometimes — to me this is classic “phase 1 corporate clothing.” Black/gray/navy suits, white/blue/pink shirts, sleek black accessories.

I’m not saying that there aren’t still times when a more senior working woman would want to wear these clothes — after all, they’re clean, sharp, all business. I just think that after a few years you start to realize where you can branch out, what clothes you like the best, where you can show personality.

Personally, my intern era was… pretty cringeworthy, fashionwise. I did evolve within that era — the long button-front dresses with cardigan that I wore to my newspaper internship at age 18 was different than the black suits I wore to my summer associate gig as a 2L at 25… but the whole era was very much defined by a concern for propriety, meeting expectations, and in general cosplaying as an adult.

My early years working in BigLaw were fun ones for me (I’m sure you’re shocked to hear that) — but I really enjoyed finding my personality as a lawyer. It helped that I had a lot of disposable income.

When I switched to nonprofit work, I knew I was in a new era, but struggled to find my footing, fashion-wise — at the time I was newly married, we were house poor, and kids were on the horizon. Furthermore, because the blog was growing I wasn’t sure how long I’d be keeping the nonprofit job.

Those are some of my big work wardrobe eras — over to you, readers! What stages or eras have your work wardrobes gone through? Do you remember them fondly or do you cringe?

*The actual Redditor’s question concerned where to rehome Phase 1 Corporate Clothing, which we’ve actually covered before in this post on where to recycle, sell, or donate your old work clothes.

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Readers recently had a conversation about where to buy women’s dress suits — I of course have some thoughts on that (since we’ve been rounding up the best women’s suits since 2008!) but I thought I’d round up the commenters’ responses before jumping to my own suggestions.

Looking for info on more basic suiting? Check out our roundup of the best women’s suits in every budget and our guide on how to wear suits, the best petite suits, the best plus-size suits, and the best women’s suits in tall sizes — also check out our discussion on the best courtroom attire for women lawyers and the best outfits for interviews. We also feature a Suit of the Week.

A Reader Wondered: Where to Buy Women’s Suits with dresses

Here’s what the reader asked:

Where can I buy suits these days? I wear jackets most days and need a handful of suits for dressier days (I work in finance/policy in DC; we still do suits). I like dress suits best, but like a pants suit sometimes. Almost no one has dress suits and for the literally 2 or so I can find online, the dresses are too short. I’m not 20 and don’t want to show my thighs: mid knee is perfect. The pants suits seem to all be hugely oversized. I feel like those only suit very tall and very thin women. I’m tall but not extremely thin. J Crew used to be reliable but they killed the resume dress and have no replacement. I’ve looked at Brooks Brothers, Nordstrom, The Fold, Talbots, Ann Taylor, Hobbs, Banana Republic, MM Lafleur. Any recommendations?

Ah yes – we’ve also noticed a dearth of dress suits (instead of a skirt) in recent years (but we still have a few suggestions!). It can also be tricky for tall women to find suits!

Where Readers Suggested She Could Buy Dress Suits

One commenter suggested the Mel blazer and skirt suit from Hobbs — but the original poster then clarified she was looking for a more colorful suit. The original poster also didn’t want the J.Crew Executive Dress and matching jacket or, the Brooks Brothers Essential Sheath Dress and matching jacket (both available in black, navy, and gray).

Another commenter noted that if she wanted longer dresses to match her suits, that she should know she’s looking for suiting separates because the suit+dress sets that are sold together are often too short.

In terms of general brands to check for dress suits, readers suggested Antonio Melani, Talbots, Tiger of Sweden, Aritzia, Max Mara, Boss, Akris Punto, Lafayette 148, Theory (“sized up”), and Elie Tahari. One reader said she had purchased several suits recently from a new-to-me site, Mooyius.

Where to Buy Women’s Suits with Dresses

Where Tall Women Should Look for Suits

We’re due for an update to our post rounding up the best women’s suits in tall sizes — but there are a few general stores that come to mind immediately that have tall (or long) sizes for women’s suits.

These include Ann Taylor, Aritzia (long lengths), ASOS, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory, Boden, J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, Lands’ End, Reiss (long lengths), Talbots, Tiger of Sweden, and Ulla Popken (12L-32L).

There are a ton of tall work pants for women in 2025. Some reader-favorite stores and brands include Banana Republic Factory, J.Crew Factory, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Boden, J.Crew, Spanx, Madewell, Gap, and Reiss. Quince also has 32″ lengths for many of their styles. Also check specialty stores like Long Tall Sally, Amalli Talli, I Love Tall, and American Tall.

A few Great Dress Suits in Tall Sizes (and colors) in 2025

For navy dress suits, the reader should check out the Brooks Brothers suiting that includes dresses — they also have gray. Some of the Talbots dress suits are also available in navy.

Talbots has a saturated green ponte suiting that includes a blazer, flared dress, and pants.

Aritzia has a Babaton dress that has matching suiting; it’s available in a dark red and brown, as well as gray.

Hugo Boss has a lot of business dresses; this one looks like it has matching blazers and comes in several colors including turquoise (that… looks like a dark purple?).

Elie Tahari does have several dresses with matching blazers, mostly in solid colors, but there are a few colors. All of the dresses are on the longer side, which is a good sign. I like this light blue one (pictured below), but this one also comes in a light blue and pale pink.

Theory does indeed make dresses to match their popular Admiral Crepe suiting line, but many of the dresses are on the very short side. For a taller woman, we’d recommend the flared dress, which comes in a pretty red.

On the pricier side, Lafayette 148 New York has some great dress suits — this gray “pixelated wool” one is pretty.

Readers, what are your thoughts on dress suits? Have you seen any great ones recently? Where are the top places you would look for them?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Readers just had a great discussion on what “extremely comfortable business casual shoes” everyone loves — so I thought I’d round them up for the group. What pair of shoes do you think is your most comfortable business casual shoe? Do you have different shoes for conferences or business travel?

First, here was the reader’s question:

I feel like this is now an evergreen item, but has anyone found any flats for fall that are a) appropriate for a business-leaning business casual office and b) actually very comfortable for both lots of walking and standing? I have a great pair of suede flats from Nordstrom (for like $100) but they are from before COVID and each year I have auditioned replacements that haven’t worked either right out of the box or after a day of FAFO on the walking front.

The Best Brands In General for Extremely Comfortable Business Casual Shoes, According to the Readers

Readers gave shoutouts to Birdies, Vionic, Rothy’s, Sperry, Rockport, Boden, Cole Haan, Naturalizer, M.Gemi, and Clarks in general. We’ll round up specific styles mentioned by the readers, below, but in general these are some of our recent picks for flats from these brands:

Extremely Comfortable Business Casual Shoes in 2025

Specific styles the readers loved included these options that were mentioned by name:

Boden’s Ballet Flats

One reader mentioned that she loves Boden’s ballet flats. They have a few different styles, but these flexible ones have been reader favorites in the past — they currently come in 8 colors, in sizes 36-42, for $129.

Vionic’s Ballet Flats

Another classic ballet flat mentioned by the readers is the Vionic Klara — I love that it comes in narrow, medium, and wide sizes. Right now you can find it for $140 in 8 colors, in sizes 5-13, at Nordstrom, Zappos, and Vionic.

Vionic Uptown Loafer

Another vote from Vionic, this time from a reader who loves their Uptown loafer to “get me through conference days with tons of walking.” I hear that! Vionic emphasizes that they’re a “packable loafer” because they can collapse flat; they also have a lightweight, flexible sole. Vionic has the widest range of colors (FOURTEEN!), available in medium and wide sizes 5-13 — but you can also find the show at Nordstrom, Zappos, and DSW.

Vionic actually has an entire collection in the Uptown line including sandals, sneakers, Mary Jane flats, mules, and more, all under $150.

Aerosoles Loafer

Not a fan of Vionic (or looking for a more classic loafer)? Another reader said she loved the Aerosoles Winona loafer, which also looks great. The shoe includes Aerosole’s “OrthoLite Aerofly footbed” as well as a Diamond Flex sole.

This particular style looks like it may be on its way to being discontinued as there are some sold out sizes (but most sizes are in stock). It’s available in 3 colors for $80, with most sizes 6-11 still available. You can find it at DSW and Amazon.

Clarks Mary Jane FLats

One reader noted, “A coworker was wearing a pair of patent leather Clark’s MJ flats with pointed toes that were so cute and didn’t look comfort at all. I bought them and love, comfortable out of the box.” Nice!

This is the main Mary Jane flat that Clarks offers — it looks like there was also a strappier version (well, one with two straps) that is down to lucky sizes at Macy’s. The pictured shoe is available at Zappos and DSW for $60-$76. Clarks also has a few newer Mary Janes out with rounder toes, available at Clarks.com and Nordstrom.

More Comfortable Business Casual Shoes for Women

Some of the other reader favorites that we’ve rounded up include these categories…

Comfortable Flats for Work In General

The Best Business Casual Sneakers

Sneakers aren’t appropriate for every office — know yours!

“Comfort” Shoes Great for Your Commute

There are a ton of other brands out there that might be a bit too chunky for the office, but are great for running around town and staying comfortable. Some brands to consider: FLY London, Dansko, Eileen Fisher, Børn, and Miz Mooz.

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Do you limit your information diet at all — e.g., limiting the time you spend on gossip sites or social media sites where the algorithm controls what you see? What about general news and, these days, political news? On the flip side, is there information that you make yourself consume even though you don’t necessarily want to — either to bear witness to what’s happening in the world, educate yourself on boring topics, or more?

I was just reading a story about how Orlando Bloom actually owns Katy Perry’s mansion, which Chris Pratt is currently renting, which is part of a huge 5-year debacle where she and the owner agreed to buy the mansion and then he reneged.

How did I find this story? Um, not sure. (Actually, I think it was a sponsored link at the bottom of a WSJ story about Lisa Cook.) Did I read this story more closely than I have a lot of news stories lately? Sadly, yes. Do I particularly care or like about any of these people? Nope, not really.

The Rooster Story

Today was a one-off, but I do feel like continually over the years I’ve had to pull myself back from some not-great information consumption habits, like spending hours (daily!) on gossip sites like Oh No They Didn’t or reading too closely news that just does not affect my life at all.

In the 1940 screwball comedy His Girl Friday, there’s a joke near the end where they’ve gotten all the details on bad government actors and Hildy (the reporter and main character, played by Rosalind Russel) is writing the front page story, and Walter (her editor and love interest, played by Cary Grant) is on the phone with the typesetters, removing stories left and right to make room for the story. “Take Hitler and stick him on the funny pages!” he says, and a minute later “no, no, keep the rooster story… that’s human interest.”

{psst: here was the Corporette discussion of His Girl Friday… }

So I think of these stories as “rooster stories” — ones that truly do not matter in the scheme of things but are interesting to us in the moment. Sometimes it’s a tragedy that you’re following way too closely… or a law suit… or an engagement… but sometimes it’s just random stuff you click on because the headline is interesting.

(Or, these days, those awful AITA/Reddit type posts that you find everywhere from your Facebook feed to 30-page slideshows on MSN…)

I try to limit my own consumption of rooster stories, I guess, in a few ways. First, I try to read my newspapers first thing in the morning, ideally before I have to take my youngest to school — there is limited time, and while I do let myself click on dumb stories, I’m only allowed to read the first paragraph before I move on. (This is a system that does work for newspapers, which should be written in reverse pyramid form, but does not work for those horrible slideshows where they drag every thought out.) Personally I try to read The New York Times daily, and The Wall Street Journal on Sundays, and I should probably make specific days to read my other paid subscriptions also.

Second, I use screentime tools to limit the time I can spend on various apps or websites where not much good comes from it — in iOS you can limit your own screentime, and I also like the app Forrest (either on my iPhone or as a Chrome Extension) to set time periods where those sites are just totally blocked for me.

Finally, while celebrity gossip is always fun, I really try to limit it really strictly — if anything is truly important or earth shattering I’ll hear about it through conversation. I no longer allow myself to go to websites like ONTD, and I try to avoid following accounts like @deuxmoi (or unfollow them if I’ve broken down).

Readers, how about you — do you limit what information you consume? How do you do it, and why do you do it? Do you notice differences in yourself when you’re either consuming too much or less than you have?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

There are a TON of great pull-on work pants out there right now, so I thought I’d round up some favorites.

Which are your favorite pull-on work pants for work? What pant is the best balance between comfort and polish for your career and situation?

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Reader Favorites for Pull-On Pants for the Office

{related: comfortable workwear for late nights}

Classic Dress Pants for Work (Many With Zippers)

As of 2025, we think the best work pants for women include longtime favorites such as Nic + Zoe, Theory, NYDJ, J.Crew, and M.M.LaFleur — as well as trendy brands like Spanx, and Favorite Daughter. For budget-friendly styles, check Quince, Old Navy, and Amazon seller Tapata.

Classic Plus-Size Pants for Work (Many With Zippers)

Great Pull-On Work Pants for 2025: A Closer Look

Let’s take a closer look at some of our recent favorites for pull-on pants for work outfits…

Eileen Fisher

These Eileen Fisher pants are the OG reader favorite pull-on pants — readers used to call them “magic pants” because they felt like pajamas but looked like regular pants. Well well… They come in regular, petite, and plus sizes (and occasionally plus-size petites, as well), all for just under $200.

Athleta

Readers love almost every pant from Athleta — we’ve had readers note that they wear the Brooklyn, the Pinnacle, and the Endless for work. One reader commented, “I bought the Athleta Endless High Rise Pant and wear them basically for every flight I take. The zippered pockets are clutch when travelling, and they’re professional enough (with a nicer top) to wear them on work travel!”

Nice! As a bonus, yes it is a pull-on style. Pants generally range from $99-$129 (full priced), they come in regular, plus, tall, and petite sizes (00-24, 00P-14P, and 0T-16T).

Spanx

Spanx’s Perfect Pants have been reader favorites for years — and many of the styles are pull-on. Even nicer, they’re one of the few options these days where you can find plus-size petites (up to 3XP!).

The pants are generally $148-$168; keep an eye on both Nordstrom and Spanx.com for good sales. (Spanx.com may also have a wider range of colors!)

Theory

Ankle pants aren’t the height of trendiness right now, but if you want to bypass uber-trendy things like the cropped kick flare, they’re still a solid choice (and look great with loafers, as seen here). In any event, Theory’s best-selling Treeca pants have been around for years — and I love that a bunch of styles are pull-on. Another nice thing: if you’re looking for a fabric other than ponte, there are a ton of great options — at the moment they’re available in linen, wool flannel (one of our favorite fabrics for warm dress pants!), and triacetate (aka “admiral crepe”) — and you can find even more options on Theory.com.

Do pay attention to whether they’re a pull-on style when you’re ordering, though, if that’s what you want — “Pull On” should be in the product name.

The pants are generally $245-$255 full price; Theory and Nordstrom both have a number of Treeca pants on sale in summerweight fabrics (as low as $117!). They’re available in sizes 00-18.

Quince

Quince gets mixed reviews from readers, but if you’re looking for a pair of pull-on pants under $50 (especially in tall or petite sizes), there are great options.

Their ultra-stretch ponte bootcut pants are the main ones I’m thinking of here. They currently come in five colors, sizes XS-XL, in FOUR inseam lengths: 28, 30, 32, and 34 (so do check them out if you’re tall!). if you’re having problems finding petite or tall sizes, do check them out because they offer inseams from 28″-34″. (They also make a bunch of pull-on denim styles if you can wear jeans to work!)

Old Navy

Old Navy Pixie pants have been around forever, and many of the trendier styles are pull-on pants. These wide leg pants are particularly great because they come in a wide range of sizes: XS-4X, XSP-XLP, and ST-XXLT (as well as maternity pants!).

The pants are $45-$54 at Old Navy, but watch for frequent sales. Another great budget spot to keep an eye on: Loft.

Eddie Bauer

Another good option for affordable pull-on pants: Eddie Bauer! These are $80 new, available in regular, petite, and tall sizes. As Elizabeth noted in a morning workwear report:

These ankle pants from Eddie Bauer were recommended by a reader recently as a substitute for the Eileen Fisher crepe pants, and I really like them. They have a thick elastic waistband, a mid-rise, and a lightweight polyester/spandex blend that looks like it would resist wrinkles pretty well.

. . . I would wear these for long flights, paired with a soft T-shirt and a wrap cardigan. I think you could also wear these in a more casual office with a printed blouse and a sweater blazer.

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You wouldn’t have thought it would be that difficult… but every so often I see something styled on a website that sticks with me as “wow, that’s a dumb way to wear a suit.” I thought I’d round some up for fun… Readers, have you seen any “just, why?” stylings for suits? Do share… what are your best tips on how NOT to wear a suit?

How Not to Wear a Suit: With Your Blazer Tied Around Your Waist

This one caught my eye a few weeks ago when we featured the otherwise gorgeous suit from Me + Em for our Suit of the Week. (Ooh, it’s actually marked down quite a bit if you liked the suit!)

Why yes, that’s a blazer tied around her waist. I mean, if you’re in some survivalist situation — like a zombie apocalypse! — I suppose it could be smart, because you never know when you’ll get cold or need shelter from the sun… but this doesn’t seem the best for every day.

How Not to Wear a Suit: With a Scarfy Tunic

One of the ones I often think about is from a long time ago (we used it as the initial illustration in our post on what to wear beneath a suit jacket, which I think still has good advice!), so I apologize the tiny photo… for some reason I thought squinting at the screen was a good idea until like 2018.

How Not to Wear a Suit: With Your Pants Tucked Into Knee-High Boots

This otherwise lovely suit from Elie Tahari may just be one of those situations where the eye needs to adjust — maybe this will be the hot new look next year! But I would not recommend wearing suit pants tucked into knee high boots unless you’re in military uniform… but maybe I’m wrong. Readers, what are your thoughts?

How Not to Wear a Skirt Suit: With Knee-High Socks

Skirt suits are super conservative! It’s hard to go wrong with a skirt suit!

Um…

I think this is how it can go wrong. I would not wear knee-high socks with Mary Jane heels with a skirt suit, but maybe that’s just me. (I otherwise love the Dolce & Gabbana suit!)

Readers, what are your thoughts? Can you remember any others I’ve mentioned through the years?

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How does hunger affect your work, including mood, productivity, and more? Do you need to actively manage it throughout the day, such as having small snacks or a regular lunch time you do not miss? Have you ever noticed (or suspected) that hunger was negatively affecting a colleague?

I think I’ve written before about how I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and I couldn’t resist screenshotting a tweet (that I now cannot find, darn it) that said something to the effect of “I waited too long to eat and now I’m mean and also crying — an ADHD memoir.” And man, that hit home! I’ve also noticed this with my kids, particularly when they were younger and didn’t recognize hunger as well. If there are mood and behavior problems, half of the time it’s because they’re hangry.

I am fully guilty of being one of those people who will get so focused on my work that lunchtime passes me by — the number of times that I’m eating my first true meal of the day at 3:30 p.m. is far too many.

It’s kind of funny because years ago I had a colleague (a superior) who was also guilty of this, and it would drive me nuts — I was actually thinking of her when we talked about the worst coworker habits. She would get mean, irrational, emotional — and suddenly I’d realize it was 4:00 p.m. and we’d been working since 10:00 a.m. cloistered in one of the small conference rooms at the law firm, and she probably hadn’t eaten all day (or hydrated at all). I think she thought I was overly obsessed with food because I kept suggesting a lunch or dinner break, but it was the best way I knew to manage her moods and be able to work with her in harmony.

Eating regularly, recognizing hunger — all of this is now seen as part of “executive functioning skills,” a phrase I didn’t know back in those days of being trapped in a conference room with my colleague. There’s even a term for easy lunches and dinners when you’re just out of spoons for the day: low-executive-functioning dinners.

Personally, I tend to try to fight this by keeping a lot of things immediately at my desk. I sit down with a 32-oz. bottle of water, not a single glass. I try to have a washed apple in front of me while I’m working. And yes, I have way too many protein bars and the like scattered near my workplace. (It’s been too long since we discussed great snacks for the office!) I’m not sure if it’s blood sugar or what, but eating small snacks keeps my energy and mood stable in ways that just drinking water alone does not.

I tend to think of my longtime favorite Jimmy Dean frozen egg sandwiches as my “I’m too hungry to decide what to eat” meal, but I’ll also take a spoonful of peanut butter if the four minutes to make the Jimmy Dean just isn’t going to happen in that moment. When I worked at a law firm, even if I couldn’t get away for lunch I could go to the break room and make myself a glass of milk with a little bit of coffee to get a few calories in.

Readers, maybe a weird question for today, but I can’t be the only one who has this issue: How does hunger affect your work, including mood, productivity, and more? Do you need to actively manage it throughout the day, such as having small snacks or a regular lunch time you do not miss? Have you ever noticed (or suspected) that hunger was negatively affecting a colleague?

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / fedemarsicano.