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  • The Best Lady Jackets for Work – Corporette.com

    The Best Lady Jackets for Work – Corporette.com

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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 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.

    We’ve gone on several hunts for sweater jackets and regular blazers over the years — but not the lady jacket, which often crosses a lot of similar boundaries. Let’s take a look at what’s out there — readers, do tell us: which are your favorite lady jackets for work? How are you wearing lady jackets to the office?

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

    What Is a Lady Jacket?

    I often think of J.Crew as having popularized the term “lady jacket” (we’ve featured items as far back as 2017!), but it’s become a really popular style at a lot of workwear retailers this year. So what is it?

    To my mind, a lady jacket is:

    • a boxy third piece, often worn open
    • often made out of a sweater knit or a tweed
    • that has a slightly cropped fit, either just at the waist or a bit above it
    • generally does not have a lapel or collar
    • often has patch pockets on the lower half of the jacket
    • often has prominent, often shiny, buttons

    In looking around for this piece I’ve seen a lot of pieces that I think would still include in a lady jacket roundup, if only because they have that cropped-Chanel-like jacket shape, if not the vibe. I’ve seen leather ones, faux fur ones, denim ones… ones with sequins and metallic threads, ones with collars and v-necks.

    For my $.02, I really dislike the lady jackets with pockets on the top half of the jacket (invariably flap pockets), like this Theory suit. But this is just personal preference!

    I’ve put together a few more Qs and As defining the matter at the bottom of the post if you care to read further… these are just my observations from hunting around stores right now.

    TLDR: Our Favorite Lady Jackets for Work Outfits

    Our Favorite Sweater Blazers for Work

    Our Latest Favorite Blazers To Wear as Separates (In General)

    The Best SWEATER Lady Jackets for Work

    ba&sh

    A woman wearing a pink long sleeve cardigan

    We’ve featured this sweater from ba&sh before, and it’s nice to see that there are now a TON of colors, including some patterns. I like the wide knit and gold buttons.

    The sweater is a bestseller at Bloomingdale’s for $266-$380, available in sizes XS-XL (0-4); you can also get it at ba&sh and Shopbop.

    J.Crew

    woman wears relaxed striped sweater lady jacket

    I often think of J.Crew as the place for popularizing the term “lady jacket,” but maybe I’m wrong — but they do have a BUNCH of different styles on their website.

    The Emilie (pictured) has been around for a while and has that cropped, boxy fit, gold buttons, and tiny patch pockets. The jacket is 100% cotton and machine washable.

    It’s available in sizes XXS-3X, in 4 different colorways, for $128-$138 new (but currently on sale for $76-$82).link

    Boden

    woman stands against wall; she wears a beige lady jacket with piped details along the edge, a beige and black polka dot sweater beneath it, and orangey-red pants

    Boden doesn’t call their Holly Knitted Jacket a “lady jacket,” but it sure looks like it to me. Boxy cut, gold-tone buttons, pockets… I like the fact that it’s 100% cotton and machine washable, too.

    It comes in 10 colorways (so many preppy options!!) in sizes 2-22. The jacket is $180 and “selling like hot cakes.”

    This longer knit cardigan is also nice if you want a more traditional sweater jacket.

    Ann Taylor

    woman wears all white with black and white striped lady jacket

    Ann Taylor doesn’t have a section for lady jackets on their site, but they have a number of items that fit the bill, including this striped stitched jacket (pictured), this fuzzy sweater jacket, this basketweave sweater jacket, and this other striped “tweed” jacket.

    All of the options are available in sizes XXS-XXL, in regular and petite sizes.

    The pictured jacket is marked to $104 today (and apparently that’s a dark green, not a black, in the stripes!).

    CeCe

    white knit lady jacket cardigan

    Department store brand CeCe has a number of colors available in their texture cardigan. It’s available in sizes XXS-XXL in several colors at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.

    NVLT

    rd and white striped lady sweater jacket

    This sweater lady jacket from NVLT looks great. It’s available at Anthropologie in sizes XXS-XL in four colorways, with verrrrry limited availability in petites and plus sizes as well.

    Our Latest Favorite Lined Lady Jackets for Chanel-Like Style

    The more traditional style of “lady jackets” (as used by J.Crew for at least 8 years now) tend to be made from tweed or boucle blends, have a lining at least in part, and have a more business formal vibe. (Think about traditional Chanel jackets… or even the mom in Gilmore Girls.)

    Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work in 2024 include these, but in general check more jacket-y options like Chanel, IRO, L’Agence, and Veronica Beard, as well as more sweater-y options like St. John, ba&sh, and J.Crew. On the budget side of things, check out CeCe, Tuckernuck (XXS-XXL), J.Crew Factory, and Mango. Nordstrom has a bunch in all price points!

    Chanel-style jacket in dark burgundy
    IRO
    green plaid tweed Chanel-like jacket with fringe
    L’Agence
    seated woman wears beige lady jacket with patch pockets, buttoned to her neck; she is sitting criss-cross applesauce and wearing jeans and sunglasses.
    J.Crew (exact)
    woman wears multicolored teal lady jacket with gold buttons
    J.Crew Factory

    More Questions About Lady Jackets and Work Outfits

    Does a Lady Jacket Count as Business Casual?

    Yes, this absolutely counts as business casual — particularly if worn with other business casual pieces, such as work pants, trousers, or more.

    Can You Wear Lady Jackets to Offices With a Formal, Conservative Dress Code?

    Again, absolutely — although the ones that are lined and in a tweed will be more appropriate everyday wear, particularly with dresses and pants. The more unstructured, cardigan-y lady jackets should also be fine, but depending on what you’re wearing them with (and how they look after a few washes) they may be better left for casual days and not Big Meetings.

    How is a Lady Sweater Jacket Different From a Sweater Blazer or Sweater Jacket?

    A lot of retailers aren’t delineating between a lady jacket, a lady sweater jacket, and a sweater jacket. In my opinion, I would call a sweater jacket anything that is made from a substantial sweater-like knit and operates as a third piece. The fabric has to have a substantial heft to it, or else I think it’s just a cardigan.

    Sweater blazers (again, this is maybe just in my mind!) have a more traditional, longer cut that ends around your hips. They often have lapels, and tend to be a sleeker knit, unlike the chunkier, open weaves of sweater lady jackets.

    How is a Lady Jacket Different From a Cardigan?

    It’s important to note that a lady jacket isn’t necessarily a sweater, although it often is. (There are other versions that, I think, would still count as lady jackets but are made of a more traditional tweed-like material with lining and so forth.)

    So what is the difference between a lady jacket and a cardigan? As noted above, I think it comes down to heft and shape. Cardigans can be many shapes, with buttons and lapels and patterns and matching shells — whereas lady jackets tend to just be the boxy cut. The thing that makes it a jacket and not a cardigan, though, is the heft of the material — they hang independently.

    Can A Lady Jacket Be Part of a Suit?

    Again, this is just my thinking here — but I usually think of lady jackets as separates in the business world; if you want a more formal business outfit the “column of color” often works great with a solid black bottom, black tank or tee, and then the lady jacket.

    THAT SAID, they’re definitely often sold with matching skirts — often mini skirts. (Think of Cher’s yellow suit in Clueless.) Super cute, but not appropriate for every office.

    The other way you may see lady jackets incorporated into suits is either as an alternate jacket to a more traditional blazer — a different fabric that complements or matches the color of the pants or dress exactly. (I feel like Boss has done this, but can’t find a good example at the moment.)

    Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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    Kat

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  • What Would You Do If You Won the Lottery? – Corporette.com

    What Would You Do If You Won the Lottery? – Corporette.com

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    Always happy to talk to aspiring pilots 🙂 My grandfather was a pilot, my dad was a pilot, my mom was a flight attendant, and my husband is a pilot – we are an aviation family for sure!

    HOW TO GET IN
    Traditionally, there have been two ways to get the necessary training: join the military or go to one of the couple colleges that specializes in aviation (Embry-Riddle, North Dakota, there might be others). The colleges and the necessary flight hours are eye-wateringly expensive; 25 years ago, the cost was $100k for the 4 year degree and the flight certificates. For the military, your daughter would do ROTC at any college of her choice (or a service academy, if she’s very athletic). She could go to college for free on an ROTC scholarship, but she won’t know if she got a pilot “slot” until her senior year; she’d have to be ok with any other job in the military in case she isn’t picked for aviation. While the Marines do have some fixed wing ( = airplanes vs rotary wing = helicopters) assets, her options in the military are really the Air Force or the Navy. The Navy is more fighters, while the Air Force has cargo jets, flying gas stations, radar planes, and more in addition to fighters. For the last 20-ish years or so, flying for the military has come with an 8 year obligation that starts after the pilot finishes 1.5-2 year flight school, so basically a 10 year commitment. That big commitment is because the cost is so expensive and they spend so much time training baby pilots.

    I don’t know if you’ve seen headlines about the looming pilot shortage, but because there’s a mandatory federal retirement age for pilots at age 65, the airlines have been trying to get creative with how to fill their ranks. All of the legacy carriers (= United, American, Delta = the big guys that have been around since the beginning of commercial aviation) have now opened their own flight “academies.” You’ll have to research these. I don’t know anything about their requirements (do you need a bachelor’s to enter? what if you have an associate’s and will finish your bachelor’s while there?) or their cost (is there a cost? if not, do you owe a commitment like the military? student loans?) or their target audience (mid-career job changers? 18 year old students?).

    WORK-LIFE
    Most people have no idea what pilot and flight attendant schedules look like. Unless they’re trying to earn extra money, they work typically no more than 15 days per month. A pilot or FA signs up to work a certain number of hours per month. As a baby pilot, she’ll “sit reserve” (on call). Brand new pilots get the super short calls – e.g., be here at the airport in 2 hours. For those calls, you have to be located within X minutes of the airport. When you’ve got a few months under your belt, you get more notice, and can be within X hours of the airport. When you get enough seniority, you’ll get a regular schedule. What’s “enough?” When my dad started flying, the airlines were full of WWII pilots and he had to sit reserve for years, and the pay is pretty crappy. Today, baby pilots are only sitting reserve for 6 months because senior pilots are retiring so rapidly.

    A regular schedule is called a “line.” You hold a line and you bid a line. When enough pilots above you have retired that you graduate off reserve, you’re said to have enough seniority to “hold a line.” Certain lines always go to the seniormost pilots – the ones with a 36 hour layover in Turks & Caicos, for example 😉 A baby pilot won’t have the necessary seniority to hold that line; the more senior pilots will snap that one up. A young pilot will be able to hold a crappy line with icky hours and destinations, but it’ll be yours and you can plan around it.

    Pilots and FAs put in their bids every month for the different lines based on what they want to do. Have a dentist appt on the 21st? Great, arrange to be home that day. Recital on the 30th? Ditto. Pilots and FAs always “go out on a trip” for 2-4, rarely 5, days at a time. You, passenger, are only going from hub-to-destination, but your crew has other places to go, so that plane will get freshened up and go out again in 90-ish mins. The crew will do 3-5 “legs” in a domestic day, depending on the length of legs.

    This may vary by airline, but FAs and pilots sign up to fly a number of hours/trips per month.

    Pilots and FAs have federally mandated crew rest requirements, so there’s a limit to how many hours they can work. At the end of day 1, the crew will check and see that they’re staying in the Airport Hilton or whatever tonight, so they’ll call for the airport shuttle, and they’ll pick them up, and each crewmember will check into their own hotel room, all paid, and they’ll meet up in the morning in the lobby and catch the airport van again. The rooms are paid but food is not, but there is a modest per diem. And they’ll do this for 2-4-5 days: fly to 3-5 cities per day, stay at a hotel, go back to the airport and fly to another 3-5 cities… Yes, it’s absolutely exhausting. But you choose your schedule! And say you personally hate the Hilton in Cleveland that the airline has a contract with…well, just don’t bid Cleveland again. And you can choose how many days you’re home between trips.

    My dad died when I was young (car accident, not aviation) and my mom was always able to help out and be as hands-on as she wanted to be (she was an awesome Girl Scout Cookie Mom <3) and she could always make recitals and that sort of thing. But there were plenty of things she wasn’t around for because she had literal places to be. The older you get, the better your schedule gets (because it’s just you and your friends bidding that Turks & Caicos trip). But when she was home, she was available during the day, which was great for helping out at school.

    DOWNSIDES
    Did I mention this life can be a grind?

    Need I mention winter storms or computer meltdowns?

    The aviation business is cyclical. Is there money to be made for pilots? Yes. Is it guaranteed? Nope. Wait half an hour for some airline to have some crisis. My mom is fully convinced that airlines never actually make money if you balance out the bad years with the good years. And what happens when there’s a downturn? Layoffs and furloughs. Which means your income dries up and the only thing you’re good at isn’t a viable way to make money. For a sample crisis, American Airlines is in a bunch of pain right now because they had ordered a bunch of new Boeings that are years delayed and so AA is flying older planes that aren’t as fuel effecient which is decreasing profits – airline execs have to have crystal balls to do their jobs well. AA is hurting so badly they’ve turned off their pilot hiring, even though they have the oldest pilot workforce in the US.

    Union contracts expire and you’ll work years without a contract. Strikes are not uncommon.

    There are other ideas just on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t remember them, so this will have to do. Hope this helps!

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    Kat

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  • High End Brands That Carry Plus-Size Work Clothes – Corporette.com

    High End Brands That Carry Plus-Size Work Clothes – Corporette.com

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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.

    Wondering where to find designer plus-size clothing for professional women?

    As readers have noted in the past, trendy, fast-fashion spots abound for plus-size work attire — so finding quality fabrics and classic styles for polished looks can be difficult. We wanted to do a roundup of high-end brands and websites that include investment pieces made of high-quality fabrics to add to your everyday workwear collection.

    We’ll also note a few options if you’re in the market for a date-night outfit or special occasion.

    We’ve rounded up the best plus-size suits for interviews and beyond, and we’ve done roundups in the past for the best workwear for plus sizes as well as workwear in size 16 and up — for more plus-size content, please sign up for for CorporettePlus, our newsletter! Signing up helps us gauge interest in the project, and we promise not to blast your email more than once a week at most. (Right now it’s more like once a month.)

    We also want to hear from you: What are your go-to brands or fashion sites when seeking out designer plus-size clothing for professional women that’ll last, in terms of style and substance? Here are some of the interesting companies we know of in this space — we’d love to hear if you know of any others!

    The Best Places to Shop for Designer Plus-Size Work Clothes

    These are some of the best spots for designer plus-size work clothes as of 2024… admittedly, a fairly broad interpretation because this category is such a narrow one! Our favorite spots for work outfit shopping are in bold!

    blue flannel suit on mannequin
    Custom made-to-order French flannel suit at VigilanteLabs, $3,685

    Plus-Size Designer Brands to Thrift

    These brands aren’t being made anymore, but you may still see them on the resale sites or in thrift stores:

    • 11 Honore
    • Anna Scholz
    • Alice Alexander
    • HENNING (sold to Universal Standard)
    • M.M.LaFleur (used to be available up to size 4X, now only 00-20)
    • Marée Pour Toi
    • Navabi
    • Of Mercer
    • Simone Aviv
    • White House | Black Market (not quite designer, but they briefly made plus sizes)
    • Violetta by Mango – Mango still makes plus sizes but they’ve closed the

    Further Notes on Where to Find Designer Plus-Size Clothing for Professional Women

    Gravitas: Founded in 2012, Gravitas offers workwear basics in classic styles; many have a hidden shapewear component. Dresses are around $275.

    Jibri: With sizes from 10–28, Jibri offers off the rack pieces as well as pieces that are handmade-to-order. Celebrities who’ve worn this line include Jill Scott, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, Tess Holiday, and Gabourey Sidibe.

    Kiyonna: Since 1996, American-made Kiyonna has been offering multiple colors, fabrics, and styles for plus-size fashions size 10–32, particularly their popular and flattering wrap dresses and cocktail dresses. (The brand also shows up in some of the high-end style stores like Nordstrom, as well as on Amazon!)

    Lafayette 148 New York: Available online and in some department stores and at their own locations around the U.S., the high-end retailer sells blouses, suits, skirts, dresses, and other must-haves made from the finest European fabrics, up to size 24.

    Marina Rinaldi / Persona by Marina Rinaldi: Part of the Max Mara family, the brand has more traditional dresses and more whimsical, casual options as well. You can find the brand at designer stores; prices range from around $210–$1000+.

    Nic + Zoe: This brand is guilty of some… bold patterns, shall we say — but if that isn’t quite your style, some of their solids are great for workwear, including their popular Twirl dress and skirt, their four-way cardigan, the riding jacket, and the “Perfect” line of pants. You can find them at a bunch of retailers, including Nordstrom and Amazon.

    PLVSH Style: With this retailer, you can either opt for a style box, or shop online for a range of high-end items size 14 and up. Prices range from $80–$280+.

    Rita Phil Custom Fashion: Like the name suggests, this skirt designer can do custom orders, and the site’s FAQ page states there is “no size limit.” (BuzzFeed’s Kristin Chirico also gave it her seal of approval.)

    Universal Standard: This line has been receiving high praise from fashion mags, blogs, and our own readers for its workwear options. They are offering an executive workwear kit that includes eight pieces where you can choose the color and size for each piece, and they do the rest.

    Other Possibilities for Designer Plus Size Clothing for Professional Women

    Subscription Boxes for Plus Sizes

    There are a number of style box options for high-end, plus-size items: You tell them what you want, and they will make it so: Gwynnie Bee, Plvsh, Dia & Co, and Stitch Fix.

    Made to Measure Clothes

    Another option is bespoke professional clothing — check out our previous roundups of where to get custom blouses, blazers, dresses and suiting!

    Hunting for the best made-to-measure work clothes? As of 2024, the best options we know of are Brooks Brothers, Sumissura, Etsy sellers Heart My Closet, VigilanteLabs, and CelesteLilou, as well as smaller brands like Loud Bodies, Sharpe Suiting, IGIGI, and Rita Phil (pencil skirts only), plus eShakti.

    Some of our favorite stores that offer free alterations for members include Nordstrom, J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Uniqlo (select styles). If you’re crafty, you may also want to check out our roundup of sewing patterns for workwear outfits.

    Readers, have you tried any nicer options for plus-size designer clothes workwear lately? What’s the number one thing you look for when you seek out investment pieces from plus-size labels? Fit? Fabric? Style? Do tell…

    More Reader Favorites for Plus-Sized Work Clothes

    The Best Plus-Size Pants for Work Outfits

    Plus-Size Sweater Jackets

    Sweater jackets are a great third piece — they elevate more casual outfits and make more tailored outfits feel “friendlier” and more accessible.

    Where to Find Stylish Plus-Size Suits

    The Best Plus-Size Dresses for Work

    The Most Comfortable Wide Heels for Work

    These are some of our Hall of Famer heels that come in wide widths… see our latest roundup of the best black heels for business attire here!

    Where to Find Plus-Size Maternity Workwear

    Social media image credit: Deposit Photos / @ gregorylee.

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    Kat

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  • How to Get the Spark Back – Corporette.com

    How to Get the Spark Back – Corporette.com

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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.

    Readers had a great threadjack a while ago discussing ways to get the spark back — it’s a topic that comes up a lot, so I thought I’d round up their responses. (Two other good threadjacks on the same topic: here and here.)

    Readers, have you felt like the romance in your marriage or partnership has had a lull? What have you done to get the spark back? Have you felt like it’s a recurring problem?

    (We’re having the same discussion over at CorporetteMoms today — but you’re welcome to discuss postpartum/parenthood stress issues here as well, of course.)

    How to Get the Spark Back

    Date Each Other

    One reader noted that,

    Dating again got our spark back. We do a ‘date night’ every Saturday night. We alternate between going out and staying in. Even with the pandemic this is possible. Even grandparents giving the kids dinner while you go out for dinner, or a Saturday afternoon playdate at a friend’s house etc. If we stay in we do something like watch a movie with fancy cocktails or play a strip version of some boardgame.

    Read Come As You Are

    A number of readers highly recommended the book, Come As You Are, by Emily Nagoski Ph.D. (There is a newer revised and updated version of the book.)

    One woman noted, “it really enlightened me about the true nature of desire for both men and women – we have a lot of myths and misconceptions around it.”

    Focus on Intimacy, Not Sex

    One reader noted that people have different needs over the course of their lives, and it isn’t necessarily a problem to “fix.” As she put it,

    In my view, it’s okay for sex to wax and wane as long as intimacy remains – hugging, touching, caring, however that looks for you. I do not believe that your partner should prioritize sex over your mental or physical health, or that you should prioritize your partner’s sex drive over your own feelings/need for space/whatever it may be. The path is going to look different for everyone, but I feel bad reading these posts where women seem to be really hard on themselves for something that I view as very natural.

    Others have noticed that taking sex off the table has been helpful. One woman noted, “Going on dates and making out afterward with their SO with no expectation of s-x has been transformative for a lot of women. Even if it never results in intercourse, there’s more connection and desire.”

    Consider Scheduling Sex

    Readers have had a lot of debates over the years over whether “just doing it” can get you back in the mood, even if (in the OP’s case) the sex was middling at best.

    One woman shared how this helped her:

    I think sometimes you need to have just ok sex to get back in the groove. I can’t speak for other women, but I don’t really miss sex when I’m not having it. Once I start having it regularly, I start wanting it more. And the sex itself may not even be lackluster – you may not be in the mood, but if you “just do it” you may find out that it ends up being pretty good/satisfying, if not exactly mind blowing.

    Meanwhile, another woman likened it to day-old hamburgers:

    [B]lah sex MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. It kills your desire.

    Consider this: if you and your husband normally have healthy, delicious, and satisfying dinners, you don’t mind if you do Burger King or a frozen meal once in a while. Now imagine that every meal your husband gets is delicious and satisfying, but every meal you get is a day-old hamburger. Now picture someone telling you that the solution is to not mind the day-old hamburger and just have the meal, because not every meal has to be great.

    Treat Depression

    To the extent that depression is involved, readers suggested taking a closer look at your antidepressants — on one hand some antidepressants can tank your sex drive, or perhaps your dose is too high or too low.

    Get Therapy (For Yourself or as a Couple)

    Readers suggested asking key questions such as, do you know why you feel this way? Do you not feel empowered to change it?

    Stop Worrying About It

    One reader suggested that worrying about it might be doing more harm than good. “Maybe you can tackle it with fresh eyes or see your husband anew after you get away from it for a bit. Probably it’s not a great time for a solo trip, but you could get involved with a solo hobby, escape for a bath every evening, rewatch all your favorite chick flicks, or something. For loneliness, contact your friends, get a massage, snuggle a pet or a pillow.”

    Readers, have you felt like the romance in your marriage or partnership has had a lull? What have you done to get the spark back? Have you felt like it’s a recurring problem?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kat

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  • X is nerfing the block button: Blocked users will be able to see your posts

    X is nerfing the block button: Blocked users will be able to see your posts

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    The days of the “@[insert username] blocked you” page appear to be over. X owner Elon Musk announced a new change to allowing blocked users to see posts of the accounts that blocked them.

    Blocked accounts still won’t be able to interact with those accounts but they’ll be able to see their posts. A source from X told the new blocked access feature is being implemented because users can already see and interact with accounts that have blocked them by switching to a non-blocked account.

    Musk has wanted to disable the block feature on X for awhile now. More than a year ago, he first expressed (or technically, Twitter) except for direct messages. He wrote that blocking would become “deleted as a ‘feature’” as well as saying “It makes no sense.”

    Last May, announced it would implement the blocked viewer change to the platform without including a solid implementation or rollout date. The post said the change would be implemented to give users with blocked accounts the ability to “identify and report any potential bad content that you previously could not view.”

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    Danny Gallagher

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  • The Best Work Skirts in 2024 – Classic and Trendy – Corporette.com

    The Best Work Skirts in 2024 – Classic and Trendy – Corporette.com

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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 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 a few years where skirts have felt out of style — but I’m seeing a lot of signs that point to them coming back, so let’s discuss. What skirts are you wearing to work? Do you find you prefer more tailored looks like pencil skirts (whatever length), textured looks (knit, pleats, leather), or voluminous looks (wider maxi skirts, A-line midi skirts)? Are you wearing some of the more boudoir-inspired looks to work, like slip skirts?

    Some of our other posts that might be helpful to you: the best tights for work, the Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels, and our discussions on how short is too short for a skirt and dress.

    The Best Classic Pencil Skirts for Work

    Our Favorite Classic Plus-Size Work Skirts

    The Best Trendy Work Skirts in 2024

    Knit Skirts

    There are a bunch of great knit skirts out right now, from low end to high end. I particularly love them because the let you play with texture, and elevate monotone outfits.

    Sweater skirts can be tricky because they can be clingy and staticky — a silky underlayer like a slip or slipshorts is essential to make them comfortable, IMHO. (You could also go with shapewear if you want to, or try a static electricity spray.) Tighter skirts may be too va-va-voom for work — but you may also find that they lose their shape throughout the day and fit very differently than the skirt you bought.

    If you love MM.LaFleur‘s jardigan, they now have a skirt in that option (jardigan material). Amour Vert also has one that’s more of a ribbed knit. Another good option: this Target skirt (in regular and plus).

    Some great knit skirts in plus sizes, as well as the J.Crew skirt pictured, include this longer option from Eloquii and this sweeping option from Talbots.

    Pleated Skirts

    Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like it’s been a while since pleated skirts have been in style for work outfits — I’m even seeing them with suits. There are a bunch out right now that are far more sophisticated than the private school uniform skirts.

    (I also love this side pleat skirt from Boss, but it’s down to lucky sizes.)

    Longer Pencil Skirts

    Long pencil skirts for work: yea or nay, readers? For my $.02, a lot depends on which shoes you wear with them. I tend to prefer the look of knee-high boots worn with these skirts, but a mid-calf length boot also works — I feel like loafers may also have a place here. Mary Jane flats can be tricky to pull off, but do try them with long skirts if you already have them in your closet.

    Not pictured above, but a good pick for a more casual office: this Anthropologie skirt.

    Similar longer pencil skirts in plus sizes include NYDJ, Anthropologie, and this Eloquii skirt; the Everlane one above is available up to size XXL.

    Leather Skirts for Work?

    Another textural element we’re seeing: lots of leather skirts from workwear brands. I think the best ones are below the knee with a bit of an A-line shape to them. Of course, know your office before wearing a leather skirt to work!

    Unlike other midi skirts, I’d avoid wearing these with leather boots (at least, as the default) because the colors and textures of the leathers might clash in an unpleasant way. Instead, I like them as shown with classic pumps or Mary Jane pumps.

    I’m not a huge fan of the clog-ish shoes pictured in the Mango picture (far left), but I think it gives you an idea of how they might work with a stacked flat like loafers.

    This pleated faux leather skirt from Banana Republic Factory straddles several trends, but in the best way possible. J.Crew also has a number of leather (or faux leather) skirts right now, although a lot of them are too short for most workplaces. This Madewell skirt is a bestseller, but note that the closer pockets are to the traditional denim 5-pocket layout, the more likely it is that the skirt will read as very casual.

    Looking for plus-size leather skirts for work? The pictured Ann Taylor and Tuckernuck one come in cusp sizes (to 18 and XXL, respectively); you can also find options at Eloquii and NYDJ.

    Readers, over to you — what skirts are you wearing to work? How are you wearing them?

    Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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  • What Tops to Wear with Wide Leg Trousers – Corporette.com

    What Tops to Wear with Wide Leg Trousers – Corporette.com

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    What tops can you wear with wide leg trousers and wide leg pants work? Can you wear the same office tops you wore with skinnier ankle pants?

    I’ve often said that workwear follows denim trends in large part because of the tops — when we switched from bootcuts to skinnies back about 15 years ago the workwear pants became shorter and skinnier, and the tops became more flowy and untucked (or, ha, French tucked). Now that wider legs (for both denim and work pants) are back, we’re going through yet another period of change — and a big part of that is changing up the blouses and sweaters we wear on top as well.

    Readers had a great conversation on this, and I thought I’d add my own two cents as well… here are the best tips on what to wear with wide leg pants.

    Our Latest Favorite Wide Leg Trousers

    Before we get started, here are some of our latest favorite wide leg trousers:

    Hunting for more wide-leg pants to wear to work? We just rounded some up, and general favorites include pleated pairs like Favorite Daughter, Everlane*, Reformation*, and Abercrombie*, with flat-front pairs from Good American,* M.M.LaFleur, and Ann Taylor. (* = plus sizes; see the post for notes on petites and talls). We’ve also shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants! Our latest favorite wide-leg pants include these (as of 2024):

    A woman wearing navy pants, sneakers, and a gray sweatshirt
    Anthropologie
    woman in beige wide-leg pants to wear to work
    Reformation
    woman in beige wide-leg pants to wear to work
    Amazon / Tronjori
    A woman wearing a cream-colored top, black wide-leg pants, and black sandals
    Favorite Daughter (and Nordstrom)

    What Tops to Wear with Wide Leg Trousers

    Wear a Fitted Short-Sleeve Sweater with Wide Leg Trousers

    Readers suggested this one, and I totally agree: a fitted short-sleeve sweater (aka a sweater tee) can be the perfect thing to wear with wide leg trousers.

    Some of Our Latest Favorite Short-Sleeve Sweaters

    Wear a Silk T-Shirt with Wide-Leg Pants

    Some readers noted that they loved to wear silk t-shirts with wide leg pants.

    Our Latest Favorite Silk T-Shirts

    As of 2024, some of our favorite silky silk T-shirts include Quince, Cuyana, M.M.LaFleur, Amour Vert, and Brooks Brothers, and Reiss. Silk-blend knits are harder to find; LilySilk and J.Crew both have them. This Banana Republic Factory top is only polyester, but readers have been loving it!

    Wear a Form-Fitting T-Shirt with Trousers

    If you’re opposed to tucking things in, a fitted t-shirt can be great — they can either sit at the top of your pants, be folded underneath to hit at the perfect spot, or even tucked in.

    Our Latest Favorite Form-Fitting Work T-Shirts

    A number of our favorite work-appropriate T-shirts have a fitted, sleek look, particularly Everlane, J.Crew, and the double-layer lines at Boden, Express, Old Navy, and Hobbs. White House Black Market’s FORME line and New Day’s slim fit tees are also a good option if you want a sleek look.

    Wear a Bodysuit with Wide Leg Trousers

    Of course, if you really want the sleekest look, you can wear a bodysuit with trousers. Although you may be thinking these are club wear, there are actually a bunch that solid workwear brands are making — including bodysuit blouses.

    Our Latest Favorite Bodysuits for Work Outfits

    How to Wear Blazers with Wide Leg Pants

    One of the easiest ways to make an outfit is to add a blazer, polished sweater, or other third piece… but knowing exactly which ones to pair with wide leg pants can be just as tricky as pairing tops with wide leg pants.

    (Obviously, if your wide leg trousers have a matching blazer, buy that one — it will give you the option to wear it as a suit, and you’ll know that the pieces are designed to go together!)

    Which Shrunken Blazers to Wear with Wide Leg Pants

    A shrunken, fitted blazer keeps the idea of low volume on top mixed with higher volume on the bottom.

    Our Latest Favorite Shrunken Blazers

    A Cropped Lady Jacket Goes Well with Wide Leg Pants

    Our Latest Favorite Chanel-Style Jackets

    Some of our latest favorite Chanel-style jackets for work in 2024 include these, but in general check brands like Chanel, St. John, IRO, L’Agence, Sandro, ba&sh, and J.Crew. On the budget side of things, check out Mango and White House Black Market.

    woman wears 100% cotton sweater lady jacket
    J.Crew
    Chanel-style jacket in dark burgundy
    IRO
    green plaid tweed Chanel-like jacket with fringe
    L’Agence
    pink sweater Chanel-style jacket; woman wears them with ivory jeans
    ba&sh

    Readers, what tops are you wearing with wide leg pants?

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  • Our Favorite Little Things (2024 Edition) – Corporette.com

    Our Favorite Little Things (2024 Edition) – Corporette.com

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    We’ve started collecting all of our year-long suggestions along these lines with the tag Little Things. Check them all out here!)

    Kat’s Little Things

    Kat is the founder of Corporette; you can read about Kat and all of Kat’s posts here.

    The Bug Bite Thing

    white suction device,

    Not to brag, but mosquitoes LOVE me. I’ll be sitting at a table or walking outside with several other people in my family and I’ll be the only one to walk away covered in bug bites.

    They may love me, but I HATE being itchy. I also hate covering myself in bug spray, and even those little repelling bracelets are too smelly. (And I never remember to charge my Thermocell when I need to.)

    We bought this Bug Bite Thing a while ago, but this was the first summer I used it, and I have to say I really like it — no chemicals or anything involved. The idea is that if you can get to your bug bite quickly (I’d say I’ve felt relief if I got to it within 48 hours) then you can suck the itchy part out of the bug bite. Here’s the description from the website:

    Bug Bite Thing is a suction tool that alleviates the itching, stinging, and swelling from bug bites and stings. How? It extracts the insect saliva/venom left behind under the skin. When you remove the irritant, your body stops producing the reaction. A chemical-free solution for bites and stings? It’s a thing!

    An important note is that the Bug Bite Thing is a two-in-one kind of thing — you can flip it around to adjust to the area you’re sucking, with a smaller head perfect for bites on your finger or things like that.

    (If you are like me, note that mosquitos are also weak fliers — so a fan helps a lot!)

    Filthy Olive Brine

    pouches containing Filthy olive brine to add to martini

    I’ve written before of my love of martinis — I used to be an “up with a twist” kind of girl, but lately I’m preferring them dirty. If you also prefer your martinis extra dirty, you may be aware of the problem: you take out a few olives for your martini, then add some juice to your glass… and now your olive jar is sadly low on juice.

    My husband prefers his martinis extra extra dirty, so I finally broke down and bought this Filthy Olive Brine, cute little pouches that are JUST “premium olive brine.” We’ve bought them several times at this point.

    Kate’s Little Things

    Kate is the Editor of Corporette; you can read all of Kate’s posts here.

    KitchenStar Pizza Cutter Rocker

    a metal pizza cover and its black cover, the package for the pizza cutter, and a margherita pizza

    We used one of those typical wheel-y pizza cutters for years (something like this KitchenAid one) and it did the job just fine, until the blade eventually became dull. After way too many times struggling with it (and realizing we no longer own a knife sharpener), I did some googling and found out about this rocker style of pizza cutter.

    I bought this one, and it works great! The blade is very sharp, so it cuts quickly and easily. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe and comes with a cover for safe storage.

    We bought the 16″ size, which is labeled as “most versatile size option,” for under $25 at Amazon. The other sizes are 12″, 14″, and 20″.

    Uniball Jetstream Ballpoint Pen

    A box of Uniball Jetstream black ballpoint pens next to a box of them

    These are my very favorite pens, and they have been for years. But to quote LeVar Burton, “You don’t have to take my word for it”: They were also recently dubbed “the best everyday ballpoint pen” by Wirecutter, and they have 4.8 stars on Amazon with 3,000+ reviews.

    I love these pens because you never have to scribble to get the ink going, they’re comfortable to hold, they write smoothly and don’t smudge, and they make a stronger/thicker line than most ballpoints. Whenever I use a different pen when one of these isn’t handy, it’s just not the same!

    I buy these pens from Amazon.

    Ann’s Little Things

    Ann writes our morning posts at CorporetteMoms — you can read all of Ann’s posts here.

    LightDims Light-Blocking LED Covers

    A sheet of many different shapes of small black stickers

    I thought I was the only one who cannot stand tiny LED lights in hotel rooms. Apparently, I am not the only one.

    These blackout stickers make those tiny, distracting lights disappear. Each sheet includes a range of precut shapes that you can stick over those annoying lights. Just slide one into your suitcase for a better night’s sleep.

    These LED light blocking stickers are less than $5 at Amazon.

    Elizabeth’s Favorite Little Things

    Elizabeth writes our morning posts at Corporette; you can read all of Elizabeth’s posts here.

    Slob-Proof Touch-Up Paint Pen

    2-pack of Slobproof Touch-Up Paint Pen

    These tiny paint pens have been a godsend for doing touch-ups on my kitchen cabinets, hallways, door frames, and any other surfaces that a klutzy human might find themselves crashing into. You just fill them up with leftover paint and the seal keeps it fresh until you need it. I have these loaded up and ready to go with my cabinet, trim, and wall colors, and I use them way more often than I would have predicted. 

    These refillable pens are available at Amazon in packages of two and five. If you have more than two colors in your house, go ahead and spring for all five. 

    Balloon Buddy Electric Air Inflator

    green device to fill balloons easily

    Without a doubt, the best under-$20 purchase I’ve made this summer is this balloon inflator from Target. We had a milestone birthday in our house this summer, so I resolved to be the kind of mom who surprises her kids with elaborate decorations on their birthdays. I used this nifty little machine to blow up dozens of balloons and used this tape to throw together a festive balloon arch in less than 20 minutes.

    Balloon Mom might be my whole personality now. 

    The inflator is $15.99 at Target. 

    (You can read about Elizabeth’s experience being a foster mother as a single woman here.)

    The Only Bean Crunchy Roasted Edamame

    box of 3 different kinds of dry crunchy edamame beans

    I’ve been working with a dietitian for the last year on improving my nutrition and gut health, and I’ve discovered that the key to feeling my best is making sure I’m getting enough protein and fiber during the day.

    These tiny bags of roasted edamame from The Only Bean make for a delicious 3 p.m. snack and have 11 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber each. The buffalo flavor is my favorite, but the sriracha is a close second.

    This 24-count variety pack is available at Amazon. 

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  • Are You a Superstar Employee (Or Do You Manage One)? – Corporette.com

    Are You a Superstar Employee (Or Do You Manage One)? – Corporette.com

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    Are you a superstar employee? Do you strive to be one, or did you used to aspire to be one? On the flip side, do you manage a superstar employee (or several)?

    For a lot of people, I know, in the years after the pandemic, life became more about working to live than living to work. We talked about disengaging instead of quitting, and shared tips on staying engaged with your career.

    Against this background, you wouldn’t think it would be hard to stand out if you were still interested in being a superstar employee — but The Wall Street Journal (gift link) recently had an article for managers on “whether “superstar employees are worth it.” I was particularly intrigued to see that career experts have identified an ideal career “evolution” for such superstar employees, “to get the most out of stars.”

    Superstar Employees: The Solo Years

    The researchers found that young stars had great output (in one study, measured by comparing numbers of patents amongst employees) that “peaked at 20 to 25 years into their career, with an average 35% drop in output every 10 years therafter.”

    During this “establishment” phase, they postulated that employees were trying to make a name for themselves, and managers’ should “shield them from distracting tasks and red tape [with a support team or assistant to take care of everyday work]. Leaders should also give young stars a lot of leeway, giving them assignments that play to their strengths and aspirations, keeping them invigorated. And stars should get exclusive access to senior leadership as mentors.”

    (This is also interesting because I wonder who wouldn’t excel given those tools, especially compared to peers who don’t have the same perks.)

    After the Superstar’s Peak

    But, as noted, superstar employees peak — at least as far as solo work is concerned. The studies showed that superstar employees could become great mentors and experts, and in studies were more motivated to mentor. They suggested that bosses should give these fading superstars “formal training and coaching for that role. They should collaborate with stars to figure out how the top performers want to transition to a leadership role.”

    They continued,

    Then, bosses should put stars alongside younger, high-potential employees, and reward them for both their own output and their positive impact on mentees’ performance and retention. Bosses might also track stars’ performance with metrics like the number of promotions among mentees and improvement in mentees’ performance rating.

    Have you found that your careers have evolved this way, readers? If you manage people, do you recognize these evolutionary steps? Do you find that people get “stuck” at certain stages, or fail to make the leaps, either due to burn out, a changed attitude, or more? How do you think this specifically plays out for women in the workplace?

    Vector illustration via Deposit Photos / Soifer.

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  • PSA: Watch Out for Scam “Sales” – Corporette.com

    PSA: Watch Out for Scam “Sales” – Corporette.com

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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.

    I’ve been reading a lot about scams recently and, to be honest, always thought it was something senior citizens fell victim to. (Or, of course, people trying to marry into Nigerian royalty.) One of the stories I read recently sent me to Chase Bank‘s tips on spotting scams, and what I saw there surprised me.

    Here’s one of the scams going around that you might fall prey to: a “sale” on your favorite brand. “Scammers create ads on social media offering merchandise at great prices and set up bogus websites that all look exactly like genuine retailers. They’ll collect personal information or ask you to pay with a digital payment platform like Zelle® when you go to “check out.”” Then, the merchandise never shows up.

    The site provided more details:

    I was scrolling on social and saw a sale ad for one of my favorite brands. It looked just like other ads I’d bought from before. The discount was really good, so I clicked on it and went to what looked exactly like their website, even with the free shipping headline.

    When I went to check out, I thought it was odd I couldn’t find a place for my credit card, just options for digital payment platforms like Zelle®. But I thought no big deal and paid with Zelle®. I got suspicious when I didn’t get a confirmation email right away like I usually do. I waited about three weeks, but the merchandise never showed up. I tried to put in a claim for fraud with my bank, but I was told there’s no way to get my money back.

    Yikes. I’m not sure if I would have been suspicious if the only means of payment was cash — but now I definitely will be on the alert, and I thought I’d pass along to you guys also.

    Readers, have you been hit by any scams? What would you tell your pre-scammed self, if you could?

    Stock photo via Deposit Photos / artursz.

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    Kat

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  • Stylish Desk Lamps for Your Office – Corporette.com

    Stylish Desk Lamps for Your Office – Corporette.com

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    I’ve noticed a lot of stylish desk lamps lately, so I thought I’d round them up! What do you look for in a desk lamp? With all of the savvy options like USB ports and multiple light modes, I may just have to upgrade some of my lighting…

    In the past, we’ve talked about how to make your office more comfortable, essential items to keep at your work desk, how to decorate your workspace, where to get cute office decor, how to improve ergonomics at the office, and how to liven up your office walls… we’ve also rounded up the very best office chairs for women!

    We’ve also talked about some of our favorite weird products to keep at the office: pashminas, foldable flats, items to cool you down after a sweltering commute, and mini-fridges if your situation allows!

    Five Stylish Desk Lamps To Elevate Your Office (At Home or At Work!)

    LED Desk Lamp Dimmable / Amazon

    minimalist desk lamp with LED arm, USB charging port, and five modes

    If you’re looking for something that’s really functional and just kind of blends into the background, I have to say this affordable lamp is great for that purpose.

    We have one very similar near a guest bed — I really liked that there was a USB charging port, and the multiple different “lighting modes” are great for people with sensitive eyes (who might want dimmer) or aging eyes (who might want brighter).

    The lamp is under $25 at Amazon, where it is the #1 best seller in desk lamps.

    LED Wireless Charging Task Lamp / Target

    gold desk lamp

    I like a lot of things about this metal option from Target — the touch-activated sensor, the adjustable head tilt, the dimmable light setting, and the USB port and Qi wireless charging. For a $60 product with mostly good reviews, I’ll take it.

    Do note that although it isn’t pictured, there is a 5′ long cord that comes with this.

    The lamp is from the Threshold line at Target for $60.

    Curvilinear Mid-Century Desk Lamp / West Elm

    black and gold desk lamp

    I’m loving the mid-century vibes to this black and gold desk lamp from West Elm, and I like that the head actually pivots. It’s $159 for one, or $318 for a set of two.

    The brand has a number of matching pieces in this line, including a floor lamp, a sconce, and a chandelier.

    (I’m also a fan of this other linear option with more modern style, also from West Elm.)

    Possini Nickel Desk Lamp / Lamps Plus

    nickel desk lamp with two light bulbs, a focus light, 4 USB ports and a power plug

    This functional lamp is one of the most popular options at Lamps Plus, and it’s easy to see why — I love the 2 power outlets and USB port, all right there next to the on/off button.

    There are three lights — 2 lightbulbs that I’m guessing reflect up and onto the wall for a calming glow, and then an LED gooseneck reading light for more focused work.

    The lamp is $199, at Lamps Plus. The brand has a number of similar options with different finishes like brass, black, bronze, and more.

    Another lovely option at Lamps Plus: this Tiffany-inspired lamp that has a lot of fun geometric shapes.

    Granger Desk Lamp / Anthropologie

    green and gold desk lamp

    The Granger Task Lamp is a splurge at $328, but I lurve the leather details and sophisticated color scheme. And, it has a USB port! Huzzah.

    The lamp is a bestseller at Anthropologie.

    Have you seen any great desk lamps lately? What do you look for in a desk lamp?

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  • The Best Clothing Rental Companies for Office Clothes – Corporette.com

    The Best Clothing Rental Companies for Office Clothes – Corporette.com

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    Elizabeth happened to mention recently that she’s tried a few clothing rental companies for office clothes, and offered to round up her experiences. Wondering if Nuuly or Rent the Runway is better for office clothes? Read on… and we’d love to hear your thoughts also! – Kat.

    I’ve been in a bit of a clothing slump recently. I’m out of the phase of life where every weekend is consumed by showers, bachelorette parties, weddings, and the like, but that means my weekdays tend to follow the same outfit formula (blazer + blouse + pants) and my weekends are spent in comfy T-shirt dresses and athleisure.

    A few months ago, I had several events right in a row — a baby shower, two milestone birthday parties, and a long-awaited girls’ trip — and I decided to liven things up a bit. 

    I’d been getting tons of targeted ads for Nuuly, a clothing rental service that promises you can pick 6 on-trend pieces to keep for a month, for less than $100. I found a coupon code online that brought it down to about $80 for the first month and decided to go for it. 

    (If you want $30 off your first month’s subscription, here’s Elizabeth’s referral code.)

    I’ve used other clothing rental services in the past. I had a Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription that I canceled in March 2020 and never restarted. I also tried Gywnnie Bee back in 2015 and canceled after one disappointing delivery.

    Beyond the rental services, I also tried Stitch Fix several years ago when I was trying to build up a new work wardrobe for a new job. The idea is that you describe your style and what kinds of clothes you need and a “stylist” sends you a box full of items, and you can pick which ones you’d like to purchase.

    {related: where to rent maternity workwear}

    Overall, while I liked some of the pieces from Stitch Fix, I found that the prices were too high for the quality. And some of the stylists were deeply confused about what constituted “professional” attire. (I love a sequin, but probably not for a deposition!) 

    I went with Nuuly this time because the price was reasonable and it seemed to have more options available in my size. (For reference, I’m a cusp size, sometimes a misses size 16–18, sometimes a plus size 14–18, all in constant flux depending on the phase of the moon or the whims of the clothing manufacturer.) 

    Nuuly vs. Rent the Runway: Which is Better for Renting Office Clothes?

    Here are my thoughts on Nuuly and Rent the Runway:

    How the Services Work 

    Nuuly only has one subscription option. You select 6 styles for a month at a flat fee of $98 + tax. You keep those 6 styles all month and send them back at the end. Once UPS scans your return, you can pick your items for the next month.

    This is slightly different from RTR, which has a few subscriptions available at different price points. All of them allow you to keep 5 items at a time, but you can pay extra for the option to receive more than one shipment per month. So for example, for $144/month, you get 5 items at a time, but you can return them partway through the month and get a second shipment. For $235/month, you can have up to 4 shipments.

    The Selection

    The biggest difference that I noticed right away is that while the RTR Unlimited subscription includes accessories and handbags, Nuuly only includes clothing. I would also note that while there is some brand crossover between the two companies, RTR tends to have more high-end designers. Nuuly is an URBN brand, which is the umbrella that includes Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters, so if your style skews in that direction, Nuuly might be a great option.

    When I used RTR, I worked in a much more formal office, so I loved using it for designer dresses and blazers for work. I also got some fantastic outerwear pieces that brightened up a very dreary winter, and a few formal dresses I wore to weddings. Over the last few months, I’ve used Nuuly to get a mix of casual and business casual items, including some gorgeous Anthropologie dresses that I wore on vacation and a cashmere hoodie that I regret sending back.

    Both RTR and Nuuly offer you the option to purchase items at a discount if you completely fall in love with them. I’m currently wearing a pair of pants that I just couldn’t bear to send back to Nuuly in April.

    {related: the most affordable office clothes for women in 2024: our list}

    Overall Experience

    I don’t think it’s fair for me to give a full review of RTR because it’s been a few years since I used it, but overall I was pretty happy with the experience. I skipped it this time because of the price. The lowest-price option was $94/month and only gives you access to their “limited” closet. If I were working in a more formal office or had a lot of formal events in my life, I might make room in my budget to try it again. 

    The Nuuly experience has been overwhelmingly positive for me so far. I’ve tried out some new silhouettes that I would have been hesitant to buy for myself and got some great pieces for one-time events. The majority of the items that I’ve received have been in new or like-new condition, many with tags still on. A few had slight signs of wear, but nothing particularly noticeable.

    I did have one issue where an item I selected wasn’t available to ship at the last minute and a different item was substituted. When I emailed to ask about it, the customer service rep apologized and gave me the option to select an extra item the next month for free.

    {related: what’s YOUR annual clothes budget?}

    I referred a friend to Nuuly last month, and she said that she loved the clothes but they were more noticeably worn than what I received. Her theory was that she had carefully selected items that had a ton of great reviews, but then realized that tons of reviews probably meant tons of wear.

    She also noted that the way that Nuuly ships the items (neatly rolled up into a reusable bag) results in more wrinkles than with what she’s received from RTR in the past. Regardless, she was happy with the experience and said she’d do it again. 

    Overall, I think both options are fantastic if you’re looking to add some new pieces to your wardrobe for one-time events or just get some fun basics to try out for a while. 

    Readers, do tell: Which do you think are the best clothing rental companies for office clothes, special-occasion outfits, and more? Which companies have you had negative experiences with, and which ones have you found to give you the best value?

    (If you want $30 off your first month’s subscription, here’s Elizabeth’s referral code for Nuuly. )

    (Want $30 off your first Rent the Runway order? Here’s Kat’s referral code.)

    Stock photo via Pexels / Mikhail Nilov.

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  • How to Work with Difficult People – Corporette.com

    How to Work with Difficult People – Corporette.com

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    Are you dealing with any toxic personalities at work, readers? Whether they’re your boss, coworker, client, or subordinate, it can be tricky to know how to work with difficult people — both from an etiquette perspective, as well as the psychological ramifications — so let’s discuss. Readers actually had a great thread a while back, so we’ll start by rounding up their advice.

    We’ve talked about what to do when your boss has it out for you, as well as difficult coworkers who throw temper tantrums, but not in a while. Readers, what are your best tips on how to work with difficult people?

    How to Work With Difficult People: Readers’ Tips

    It started when a commenter had a question:

    Does anyone have any good trainings or podcasts on working with difficult people? I want to get to the point where I can work well enough with some strong personalities at work (so: not optional or avoidable). I just get so nervous and worked up and it eats a lot of my bandwidth and I just feel fried. My actual daily work isn’t affected by them and I’m generally well-liked and of equal rank. Things are just contentious when we have meetings and I’d like to let things just roll off of me. I’m pretty good about not taking any bait or stirring the pot and ignoring snide remarks vs responding. I think of how some people work in customer service for airlines or other stressful jobs. Is it just a gift? Or also just a bit of a learnable skill?

    Readers asked her to clarify what kind of difficult people she was talking about, noting that “frustrated people short on time/resources are different than inveterate jerks.” In her case: inveterate jerks.

    Some of the best resources the readers recommended:

    The Gentle Art of Self-Defense, by Suzette Haden Elgin

    book cover with tips about how to work with difficult people; the title is

    The reader recommended “The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense” — there is a classic version, as well as an 2000 version just for the workplace, which reviewers note is a workbook, so some self-reflection is needed.

    One reviewer gushed over the book:

    Amazing book…. how to communicate and be politely assertive and not get bullied or sucked into arguments. The author has several books in the series, all the same message with various examples and situations. Her sci fi writing is excellent too, worth checking out if you are so inclined. It does take some practice to actually make the techniques work.

    Working With You is Killing Me: Freeing Yourself from Emotional Traps at Work, by Katherine Crowley and Kathi Elster

    book cover with tips about how to work with difficult people; the title is

    This bestseller is a “pragmatic and insightful guide” authored by a psychotherapist and business consultant to “teach you how to unhook from upsetting situations and eliminate your workplace woes step by illuminating step.”

    They promise:

    Through eye-opening quizzes, real-life case examples, and field-tested strategies, you’ll quickly learn how to identify and handle any relationship that holds you back on the job. With your newfound emotional skills, you’ll be able to:

    • Manage an ill-tempered boss before he or she explodes
    • Detach from annoying coworkers whose irritating habits ruin the day
    • Defend yourself from idea-pilfering rivals
    • Get out of the grip of toxic relationships
    • Protect your personal and professional territory from “boundary busters”
    • Break out of the limiting roles that box you in
    • Parent your difficult employees to get the results you want
    • And much more

    The same authors also wrote Mean Girls at Work: How to Stay Professional When Things Get Personal.

    Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius

    book cover with tips about how to work with difficult people; the title is

    The are actually a number of versions of this book, some allegedly adapted for contemporary readers — so poke around to see which one looks best for you. The reader who mentioned it quoted this bit:

    When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they cannot tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own – not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions.

    More recommendations from readers on how to deal with difficult people:

    • The Empathary (@empathary on TikTok) (I think Jennine has shifted to other projects, but you can still find her communication advice on TikTok!)
    • Another reader recommended a workshop she took called “The Art of Productive Conflict.” She didn’t specify which workshop, but it may be this one; there is a similar course based on the Crucial Conversations book.

    Additional books and resources on how to deal with toxic people:

    How to Cultivate Detachment When You Work With Difficult People

    One reader commented that when she’s in a situation like this she thinks of customer service reps for airlines, who tend to be very detached and polite. This may only be possible when it’s an outside policy you’re enforcing — as one reader noted, “I think “it’s harder to let it roll off you when people are being a jerk about your work or something that really affects your performance.”

    Readers had more tips on how to cultivate detachment:

    When I worked with the public I’d have a physical reaction when someone would get testy with me. I’d flush, my hands and voice would shake, etc. Then I’d try to squash it and just make it worse.
    It took a while but I was able to detach, like Anon says, and think “I’m having X reaction to Y behavior. That doesn’t mean I’m wrong, it’s just a normal response. I know what to do.” Which sounds clunky but it worked.

    Another reader had some tips:

    Two things that work for me. Calling out snide remarks under the umbrella of “I’m confused you would say x” or “did I hear you right about x, or am I confused” – it takes some practice in the out-Southerning the Southern by forcing them to politely own their comment in front of everyone. Also, I repeat to myself “your anxiety is not my anxiety” for short fused people. What I mean by this is starting to take a step back to see if someone is frustrated writ large at the situation, or frustrated at you. Nearly all the time, it is the former.

    Make Outside Factors Clear

    In the original commenter’s case, she was in a position where she had to say no to things that people wanted because of other factors outside her control, and readers said to reframe it and express the frustration back to the actual source. For example: “Look, it sucks, I wish I could say yes to you but … there is no manpower to do the thing and we don’t have regulatory approval.”

    More Tips for Working Through Difficult Situations

    Writer Rebecca Berfanger had some great tips on how to work through difficult situations in general that we rounded up in our post on how to deal with extreme coworkers, including:

    Remember the big picture. How does this job fit into your career path? Is it worth it to you to tolerate the extreme behaviors? Hopefully there are enough other things you like about the job: satisfying assignments, a good salary, likable coworkers, or other benefits. Plus, imagine what it will be like when you or the extreme coworker eventually moves on to something else.

    Focus on your work. Your boss and coworkers expect you to always do the best job you can, which means limiting distractions. If it’s a loud person or someone who is always bragging about the sacrifices they make for the sake of this job, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones can be your best friend. Even if you don’t listen to anything, it can send a clear signal you are focused on your task at hand. (See also: how to discourage chatty coworkers.)

    Ask to be relocated. Depending on the size of your office, you might be able to request a change of scenery—away from the extreme coworker. You might end up with a smaller space or a longer walk to the printer, but a little physical distance can make a world of difference. The reason for your request can be anything from wanting a space closer to a window or farther away from an area known for being loud (break room, elevator bank, copy machine, conference table, etc.). If you feel comfortable enough telling your supervisor the real reason, he or she might be able to come up with other solutions to help you concentrate on work.

    Practice self-care. If you can’t escape the extreme behavior when you are at the office, focus on what you can do outside of work to handle the stress of working with an extreme coworker. For instance, social workers and therapists who have accepted primary and secondary trauma as a part of the job also know that self-care is key (check out these TED Talks about self-care for ideas). Making time for therapy can also be helpful. Self-care could also be a “meeting” on your calendar for a short walk outside for some fresh air (maybe sneak out the back), or asking a (non-extreme) coworker to grab a coffee with you.

    Move on. As we suggested in the difficult coworkers post, if working with this one person is bad enough, it might be time to seek out other opportunities. Also, if what you consider to be extreme behavior is what is expected in your office, this is probably not a good fit for you.

    What are some of your best resources and tips on how to work with difficult people?

    Stock photo via Deposit Photos / Milan Markovic.

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  • How Often Do You Get New Personal Computers? – Corporette.com

    How Often Do You Get New Personal Computers? – Corporette.com

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    I’m in the midst of setting up a new personal computer, so I thought it might be a fun discussion: how often do you buy personal computers? Do you try to keep a laptop as well as a desktop? Do you only have a work computer and then use something like an iPad, Chromebook, or just your phone for other things? Which programs (new or old) are must-haves for you? Are you on Team Apple, Team PC, or Team Other? Where do you fall on important questions like mechanical keyboard vs. ergonomic keyboard?

    For my $.02… I try to keep a laptop as well as a desktop, both PCs. I had an Apple laptop 10+ years ago which I killed by spilling a martini on it, whoops — but having been on Team PC my entire life all of the minor differences between the two systems were majorly annoying me.

    When my second to last laptop died, I bought a Chromebook instead, but really didn’t like that — obviously a lot of my work is on the web, but I missed being able to sort things into folders.

    My most recent laptop was bought at Costco a few years ago — I just went off the specs Wirecutter recommended for speed and so forth, and was pleased with the price (maybe $650?) and I’ve been pleased with the computer, which is handy if we’re going on a longer vacation as well as if I just want to work on the couch.

    My personal desktop is probably 10 years old, at least, though… my father (now retired but formerly an electrical engineer/patent lawyer) has always been tech savvy enough to build our computers, picking out different components like graphics cards, hard drives, cores, etc., so he was extra helpful in helping me choose new components for this one.

    The new computer is great (very fast, lickety split!) but… I’m having problems finding my most-used folders and documents, so that’s fun.

    The programs I’ve already installed: Microsoft Office, Slack, Spotify, Canva, Paint, iCloud, and Evernote.

    A related question, I suppose – how often do you get new cell phones? I thought my phone was relatively recent (2021, an iPhone 12-mini, I think) but everyone who got good pictures during the eclipse made me realize that I do need a new one, and when a tech-savvy friend was looking at my phone recently he couldn’t get over “how tiny your old phone is, they don’t make them like this anymore!!”

    Over to you, readers — how often do you get new personal computers? Which are your favorite programs?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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  • Have You Been Gifted Money In Lieu of Inheritance? – Corporette.com

    Have You Been Gifted Money In Lieu of Inheritance? – Corporette.com

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    I recently saw this advice column where a 73-year-old woman wondered whether to gift money to her kids instead of letting them inherit, and it made me think of my friend R, and I thought we should discuss. Have you inherited any money, yet — or been gifted money in lieu of inheritance? What have you done with the money? (If you’re older, do you plan on gifting your kids large amounts of money?) How old were you when you received the money, and what kind of difference did it make in your life?

    This made me think of my friend R because I clearly remember her getting gifts (I thought of $20,000ish, but that memory is probably incorrect) when we were in our early 20s. She was already incredibly frugal and careful with her money, so pretty much every penny of these gifts went to her savings. Within a few years, she had enough for a downpayment on an adorably tiny studio on the Upper East Side. She stayed in that studio until she had her son, and sold it for about 3x the price she’d paid.

    house ad for our picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Another friend just lost both her parents in the space of a year or two, and her husband happened to mention how much they’re both so much less stressed about money now that they saw how much her parents left to them. Her parents had already sold my friends their house for a discounted rate, which removed another layer of worry for them also.

    What are your experiences with this, readers — have you inherited money, or gotten monetary gifts in lieu of inheritance? Do you get regular 5-figure checks from your parents, such as at holiday time? How have you used the money? Do you plan to do the same for your children if you can?

    Stock photo via Pexels / Karolina Kaboompics.

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  • Polished, Stylish Flats for Wide Feet – Corporette.com

    Polished, Stylish Flats for Wide Feet – Corporette.com

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    It can be tricky to find stylish, polished shoes in wider widths — we’ve done a roundup of the best heels for wide feet, but I don’t think we’ve ever rounded up the best flats for wide feet. So let’s discuss!

    If you have wide feet, which are your favorite shoe brands and shoes for the office? Which brands are secretly great for wide feet?

    The Best Flats for Wide Feet, By Brand:

    Cute Office Flats for Wide Feet: Specific Styles

    The Best Loafer for Wide Feet: Sam Edelman

    black loafer with gold bit detail on vamp

    The Loraine loafer has been around for a few years now, and continues to get rave reviews. It comes in a bunch of different colors, fabrics, patterns, and more.

    It’s available in M and W widths, sizes 4-13, at Zappos and other retailers.

    Other cute loafers available in wide widths: Franco Sarto, Rockport, Amalfi by Rangoni, and Vionic.

    The Best Office Sneaker for Wide Feet: Cole Haan

    white sneaker with beige lining around the sole

    We’ve done a big roundup of the best sneakers for the office — one of our favorites (and a reader favorite!) is this attractive sneaker from Cole Haan that makes a great basic for a lot of work outfits.

    It’s available in sizes 5-11, in widths B and C, for $112-$150.

    Other great office sneakers available in wide widths: Vionic and Naturalizer.

    The Best Classic Ballet Flat for Wide Feet: Ferragamo

    black patent ballet flat with grosgrain bow at toe

    Ferragamo is one of the few luxury brands (that I know of, at least!) that comes in wide widths — their classic Varina ballet flat is a great way to splurge if you want an investment flat.

    Other great ballet flats include Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Rockport, and VANELi.

    The Best Low Heel for Wide Feet: Naturalizer

    light brown low heel for work with chain detail on vamp

    These slightly pointed toe low heels have been around for a few years, and I like the lines of the shoe — it looks graceful while also looking comfortable. The shoes are currently available in three colors, in sizes 6-12 in N, M, and W widths at Naturalizer and other stores.

    Another great option for low heels that come in wide widths: Ferragamo (another classic!).

    The Best Mary Jane for Wide Feet: Vionic

    black Mary Jane flat in wide widths

    These Vionic flats have everything I would want in a Mary Jane flat — but they’re also available in wide widths. They’ve got rave reviews, and are only $129. They’re currently available in five colors, sizes 5-13, medium and wide widths.

    Other great options for Mary Jane flats for wide feet: Munro, Stuart Weitzman, and Naturalizer.

    The Best Ankle Strap Flat for Wide Feet: Stuart Weitzman

    red patent leather flats with cap toe and criss cross ankle straps

    I’m drooling over these flats from Stuart Weitzman! The shoe is available in “rosewood” (pictured) and a beige patent with black captoe, in sizes 3.5-13, widths N, M, and W. They’re $450 at Stuart Weitzman and Neiman Marcus.

    I can’t find a more affordable option in ankle strap flats, but these Franco Sarto Mary Jane flats are a pretty good dupe, but they’re down to lucky sizes, including wide widths.

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  • Is There a Finance Bro Uniform For Women? – Corporette.com

    Is There a Finance Bro Uniform For Women? – Corporette.com

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    I was intrigued by the recent WSJ article, “The ‘Finance Bro’ Uniform Is a Fleece and Khakis. For Female Execs, It’s Not That Simple,” which has LOT to talk about (including, I kid you not, talk of women’s water bottles). We’ve discussed this before, sharing tips on what to wear to work in Silicon Valley and pondering what the “casual-but-professional” uniform is for women… but not in a while. So let’s discuss:

    Are you in a field where the men dress casually but uniformly (e.g., gray hoodies, fleece vests, blue button-front shirts with the sleeves pushed up…)? How do your female colleagues dress — is there a similar uniform? Do you feel like there is a consensus among women on the level of formality, at least? What would you advise a young woman who, perhaps, interacted with mostly men dressed in one of these uniforms to wear on her first week to the office?

    Water Bottles Are Apparently a Sign of Success for Women

    Some quotes from the article (gift link) — first, on water bottles, because I must:

    Trying to spot a woman in finance? Start with her water bottle. “You almost never see guys in our office carrying them around,” [one female CFO noted]. Women value luxury versions of the reusable bottles for both their status and sustainability, the 46-year-old said. Popular designs are covered with Swarovski crystals or leather, like those from Laksen that retail for $140 each.

    A luxury sipper is just one sign of success for women who hold C-suite finance jobs, a demographic that is growing but still makes up just 18% of top executives in the industry, according to the World Economic Forum.

    I mean… readers here have largely scoffed when we discussed “professional water bottles,” which is the way it would be in an ideal world — your water bottle wouldn’t and shouldn’t matter. But: to see the WSJ decree that sparkly water bottles are a “sign of success” is something else! This is the same publication that suggested that only a $4000 outfit (with bag!!) would do for working from home, and more recently has said that sequins and multiple piercings are “power moves” for women executives, so… OK!

    What the WSJ Says Women Should Wear When Working With Finance Bros

    Moving on:

    Female financial leaders have created their own visual code to telegraph their power. “You have to both conform to the norms and defer,” explained Mariana Dahan, a director at the World Bank. At least up to a point.

    While “showy” designer suits could seem desperate, she says, a “dull” uniform of gray slacks and a blouse could appear middling. The trick, Dahan noted, is sticking with a basic, expensive uniform, “and then doing a few things that will set you apart.” 

    The WSJ suggests things including a boss blazer, a “subtle” watch, “status flats,” and a “sumptuous” tote. BUT: never denim.

    One thing “finance bros” get away with at work that women can’t? “Jeans!” said Dahan. “I could never wear them and seem as successful.” Men also require far fewer clothes to send the same signals of wealth. “They can wear the same suits for a week. No one notices,” said Kolossa. “Women could perhaps wear the same suit for two days, but it will be noted.” By the finance bros? “No. By everybody.”

    Yikes! OK.

    (We have, of course, suggested items in each of those categories — mostly in our tips on how to get C-suite style — and I’ll link them at the bottom of this post.)

    But let’s discuss! Are you in a field where the men dress casually but uniformly? What would you advise a young woman who, perhaps, interacted with mostly men dressed in one of these uniforms to wear on her first week to the office? What do you wear to the office? Do you agree with the “no denim” rule?

    (AND: What is your favorite water bottle?!)

    Our Picks for C-Suite Style

    Boss Blazers

    Hunting for a luxe statement blazer? 2024 favorites include Smythe, include McQueen, L’Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani, and Anine Bing.

    Status Flats

    Sumptuous Totes

    Other Splurges To Consider When You’re the Boss (and Paid Accordingly)

    These are my picks for where I’d shop if money was no object…

    Stock photo via Pexels / Alena Darmel.

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  • How Do You Wear Your Sneakers? – Corporette.com

    How Do You Wear Your Sneakers? – Corporette.com

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    Here’s a fun little question for today: how many sneakers do you currently own, and how do you choose which ones to wear with which outfits? In general: how do you wear your sneakers in 2024?

    More questions: if you’ve spent money on designer sneakers, whether Loewe, Balenciaga, Chloe, Golden Goose, etc, what was your thought process? Is there a pair of sneakers that you’ve been considering forever but feels a bit too pricy? If you’ve bought multiples of the same sneakers over the years (like me with Converse), which shoe is it? Do you prefer different sneakers for different athletic activities, like running vs. strength training?

    (Side question: what do you CALL them? Tennis shoes? Sneakers? Athletic shoes? Sneaks? This can be a regional thing, I think…)

    We’ve rounded up the best sneakers for work outfits, as well as discussed what your weekend sneakers say about you.

    How I Wear My Sneakers in 2024

    I have a bunch of sneakers right now — I leaned into them after realizing that I was consistently wearing them more than flats, boots, or heels. Some of the ones in my collection, and how I wear them:

    Black Converse. I just bought a new pair after having a gray pair for a thousand years; I still can’t decide if I want to swap out the white laces for ivory ones to make them less… stark. I like to wear these with bootcut jeans. I’ve had Chucks for decades at this point, and like I wrote about when we discussed weekend sneakers, I feel like they are very much shoes that show my personality. (WHAT it’s saying about my personality I’m not quite sure, but I definitely feel a sisterhood when I see other women wearing them — we’re sarcastic? We like stand-up comedy? We have a lil’ rebel inside? Hmmn. I considered long and hard splurging for the Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse with my most recent purchase, but ultimately decided against it.)

    Black Adidas. I’m going to have to check my order history — they might be a version of Gazelles with mesh? They’re mostly black shoes with white soles and a bit of mesh on the upper. Despite the fact that the shoes have a very similar profile to my Chucks, I do wear them differently — I find myself wearing the Adidas more with “current outfits,” and Converse with more classic ones. Anything that feels trendy to me will probably get Adidas or…

    White Cole Haan Grand Pro Topspin platforms. I got these white and blue versions after hearing readers sing their praises — they’re very comfortable and feel on trend. I’m hoping to keep them pristine white. I find myself pulling these on with wide-legged, casual styles (like my Spanx Air pants), and will probably try them with some of the cropped flares I bought in the NAS. I don’t like the skirt-with-sneakers look for myself, but if I were to do it, these or the Adidas would probably be the shoes that I’d wear.

    Blue Asics GT-2000. I’ve had a version of this shoe for decades at this point. A few years ago, I went to a sneaker store to be fitted and assessed for a sneaker and was supremely amused to walk away with the recommended item: a new pair of GT-2000s. I wear them with workout clothes, which means that during the school year especially (when I throw on workout clothes to get the kids out the door), this is most likely what I’m wearing.

    Purple Kiziks (Athens). These are super comfortable, and I love that I can step into them. If we were traveling somewhere and I wanted an alternative to my Asics, I would probably bring these. If I were to get a new pair of Kiziks I’d get one of the more athletic-looking ones with the swoops on the side; I love these for comfort but sometimes they feel a bit off trend, at least for me personally.

    White and green Tretorns (Rawlins). I got these on sale in the past year or two, and like them for comfort — their low profile makes them sort of interchangeable with the black Adidas. Now that I have the Cole Haans I find that I’m wearing these less, even though the Cole Haans have significantly more of a sole than the Tretorns so they’re taller.

    Ranked for for comfort: Chucks (with insoles), Asics, Kiziks, Cole Haan, Tretorn, Adidas.

    Ranked for style: Cole Haan, Adidas, Chucks, Tretorn, Kiziks, Asics.

    How about you, readers — how many sneakers do you currently own, and how do you choose which ones to wear with which outfits?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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  • The Hunt: The Best Dresses for Work – Corporette.com

    The Hunt: The Best Dresses for Work – Corporette.com

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    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.

    What are your best dresses for work this year, readers — what are you hunting for, what do you love, and what dress trends are you frustrated by? I know a lot of readers dislike the “rufflepuff” styles, as they call them, for example.

    (We try to keep this roundup updated — other more specific dress roundups we’ve done recently include plus size work dresses, work dresses with pockets, day to night work dresses, fit and flare work dresses, work dresses with matching blazers, colorful sheath dresses for work, work dresses with built-in shapewear, and (over at CorporetteMoms), the best maternity dresses for work.)

    {related: these are all of the best work dresses we’ve loved recently, from our daily Workwear Reports}

    What Makes a Dress Appropriate for Work

    For my $.02, here’s what I think makes a great dress for work:

    • thick enough straps or sleeves that there is no chance of bra straps showing through — look for lingerie snaps inside dresses to keep your bra in place, or ask your tailor to add them if you have a problem with falling bra straps
    • a work-appropriate length that isn’t too trendy — usually within an inch of your kneecap (here was our last discussion on when a dress is too short for work) 
    • if there’s a slit, it doesn’t rise too high when you’re seated (sit down and do the mirror test to make sure!)?
    • a fit that is tailored and polished but not “bodycon” — no one wants to work long hours in skintight clothing!
    • pockets, which can be great (because, well, pockets!) but often add a lot of bulk and detract from the sleekness (I still almost always want pockets, but that’s me.)
    • sleeves, which can also be a double-edged sword — sleeveless styles will inevitably layer better underneath cardigans and blazers. That said, sleeveless looks are not appropriate for every office — so know your office culture if you plan on wearing a sleeveless dress by itself.

    Important Details About Work Dresses You Might Not Know

    Finally, note that on some sheath dresses you may have to cut your vents for the skirt — if there’s a little X sewn into the bottom of the vent, that probably isn’t supposed to be there. If your office is extremely conservative, you may want to check out our guide to pantyhose — for the rest of you, if you’re hunting for something comfortable to wear beneath your work dresses, readers love these comfortable “slip shorts” from Jockey; you can also look for a ton of shapewear.

    (OK one more point:  If your dress is part of a suiting set, be sure to dryclean all your pieces together so they show the same wear and tear.)

    {related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}

    Where to Find Great Dresses for Work in 2024

    Having looked around at a bunch of stores this morning… pickings are kind of slim if you don’t want the “rufflepuff” look, as many commenters call it. There are a lot of tiered dresses, racerback dresses, floofy dresses, and so, so many mini (or maxi) dresses, neither of which are traditionally appropriate for work. (Know your office, but in our last discussion on skirt length most readers agreed that knee length or just above is the ideal length for work dresses.)

    In general, broad strokes, if you’re on the hunt for good dresses for work, I’d check some of these stores — also keep an eye on our page of best work dresses, which collects all the dresses Elizabeth has recommended for our morning workwear reports.

    If you’re on the hunt for more conservative, traditional dresses for work, these are some of our long-standing favorite dresses…

    Great Sheath Dresses for Work

    The Best Plus-Size Dresses for Work

    The Best Work Dresses with Pockets

    As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands’ End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you’re on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

    A woman in a beige cap-sleeve dress
    Quince
    great work dress with pockets and sleeves in washable wool
    Lands’ End (exact)
    fit and flare dress with pockets
    Elie Tahari
    one of the best dresses for work, the j.crew resume dress
    J.Crew

    A Few Trendy Work Dresses I’m Liking Right Now…

    A Classy But Affordable Work Dress: Quince

    A woman in a beige cap-sleeve dress

    This short-sleeved dress from Quince looks like a great summer basic at a fantastic price. As Elizabeth noted, “I know cap sleeves aren’t for everyone, but I find them to be one of the better options for wearing under a jacket or sweater.”

    In addition to beige, the dress also comes in your classic black, charcoal, and navy if you’re looking for something a little more traditional. 

    The dress is $49.90 at Quince. It comes in sizes XS–XL.

    The Best Work Dress That Comes in a Zillion Colors: Amazon Seller MUXXN

    purple sheath dress with asymmetrical neckline from Amazon seller Muxxn

    There used to be a Facebook group for lawyer moms (it’s currently archived, alas), but a lottttt of women were singing the praises of this dress from MUXXN for work, and on Amazon it has 13,500 great reviews. For my $.02, I’d recommend sizing up — but I love that it comes in a zillion colors, is only $30, and comes in sizes S–3X.

    (It’s important to note that the fabric is a bit more like a polyester T-shirt than a thick ponte — but I love looking at all the real women sharing pictures of themselves in the dress.)

    If you’re hunting for other colorful sheath dresses for work, some other great options right now include Donna Morgan, Calvin Klein, MMLF, and Boden. Another great Amazon option: Miusol and the other dresses we mentioned in our roundup of what to buy at Amazon for work outfits (based on reader favorites).

    A Feminine but Sedate Work Dress: J.Crew Factory

    green dress with ruffled details at neck and arms

    If you’re hunting for an affordable dress, this J.Crew Factory one is a pretty good option — it’s $69 today, comes in 2 colors, sizes 0-18.

    Another really affordable option is this modal surplice dress from Lands’ End; some colors are as low as $23 today. It’s available in regular, petite, and plus sizes with a ton of different color options. Another great affordable option: this bright Eloquii dress that we’ve featured before, down to $39 today and available in 5 colors, sizes 14-28.

    A Great Fit & Flare Work Dress with Pockets: Elie Tahari

    fit and flare dress with pockets

    A great fit and flare work dress can be hard to find, even more so if you want pockets — that’s why I love this classic option from Elie Tahari! The dress is based off the neckline from their best-selling Judith blouses.

    It’s available in sizes 0-16 for $448.

    (Another fit and flare work dress with pockets: this plus-size bestseller from City Chic.)

    The Best Washable Wool Work Dress: Lands’ End

    one of the best work dresses in washable wool

    In addition to the modal surplice dress mentioned above, Lands’ End is a great spot for washable wool dresses like the one above (it comes in regular and plus sizes); they also have a few colors of a boring but solid ponte dress in regular, petite, and plus sizes.

    The Best Desk to Dinner Dress: M.M.LaFleur

    one of the best work dresses

    This dress may be my favorite one in the bunch, and it makes a great day to night dress — I love the wide boatneck, the drapey sleeves, the side ruching — it’s classic but fun as well. As I mentioned above, MM.LaFleur has a TON of great dresses for work.

    This one comes in many colors, sizes 0P-18, for $345. (And it’s machine washable and made with recycled polyester.)

    Other brands with lots of machine washable work dresses include British brands Hobbs (sizes 0-14) and Boden.

    The Work Dress You’ll Have Forever: St. John

    one of the best black sheath dresses

    If you’re looking for a timeless sheath dress that’s a bit of a splurge, this St. John dress has been around for a zillion years in their classic Milano knit, described as a “dense, wool-blend” (50% viscose, “dry clean”) that “maintains its shape and offers near-seasonless wearability.” Nice! At $795, it’s one of the pricier options — reviewers note that it runs large, and as many readers have noted, you can often find great deals on St. John at resale sites and during big Nordstrom sales.

    Other great options for a splurge include Theory, Hugo Boss, and Black Halo (their Jackie dress is still going strong after 10+ years, and I swear Nordstrom just brought it back to their product catalog.)

    Readers, what dresses for work are you liking these days?

    Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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    Kat

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  • Reader Favorites in the NAS – Corporette.com

    Reader Favorites in the NAS – Corporette.com

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    collage of reader favorites from the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
    pink jacket / stripey sweater / high boot / MJ heel / low boot

    Curious what other readers are loving in the NAS? These are some of the top sellers from our analytics…

    Click here for ALL our picks in the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!

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    Kat

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