Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Reader J wrote in to us to sing the praises of this simple dress from Target. As she writes:
I bought this dress on Monday in dark gray (only the black, plum, turquoise and chocolate are shown online). I am wearing it today and everyone who sees me is just raving over it. A fellow associate ran out at lunch and bought it in black and gray. Another is going tonight. I’m thinking about ordering the chocolate. It is an good weight knit and doesn’t show every little line/bump. It did not stretch substantially during the day. Looks more expensive than it is. I have not washed it yet and can’t comment on that. The only drawback is that the sleeves make it difficult to put a sweater over it. But for $25, a great transitional piece down here in the South where it is still in the 70’ s every day.
For the price, it looks like a great basic. It’s on sale at Target.com for $18.99. Merona® Ponte Tab Waist Dress – Ebony
(N.B.: Spend $50 in Women’s, get Free Shipping at Target.com)
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome. Thank you, Reader J.
I bought this last year. I love it. I moved the waist buttons in a tad for a custom fit and it really looks wonderful. It washes up well!
bargain friday indeed.
Any thoughts on size? I’m usually between a small and a medium.
Wow, excellent bargain, indeed! Looks like I need to make a trip to Target this weekend.
Not sure I like the band placement — right under my bosoms is never a cute look for me :O
I actually bought pretty much the same dress on clearance at Target last year. It fits very well, and is VERY flattering. However, repeated washes does make the fabric “ball up” quite a bit. But for the price, I’d buy 5 of them!
$25 cute work-appropriate dress? fantastic. Thanks, C and Reader J.
WAY too short for the office!!
Agreed.
Are you serious?? It’s right above the knee on the (tall) model.
I second “WAY too short.”
I disagree.
Seriously, what a weird criticism to have of basically a knee length dress.
It’s borderline, maybe. I might wear it with tights.
Everyone on here probably has a different definition of what constitutes “knee length” but, for me, a knee length dress doesn’t stop a full hand’s width above the top of my kneecap, as this one appears to do. I’m guessing it’d end up mid-thigh when I sit down, which isn’t the look I’m going for, especially when I’m sitting across the desk from a superior with my crossed legs very visible. I’d rather they were covered to the knee so that I can listen and take notes without worrying that I’m giving anyone a show.
After looking at this dress, I discovered there’s actually a number of super cute, on-sale (online) work dresses at Target right now. Thanks for the lead!
@Nancy P – I am usually a small (Merona runs biggish) but I ended up not buying this dress because I tried it on in my usual Merona size (S) and it fit like a glove. Too tight for the office – hugged every curve. I was too lazy to get the M and try it on. I wondered if the fit would just be off, particularly in the shoulders, because the S fit perfectly-just too curve-hugging for the office.
@R – oddly, the dress I tried on in the Target store fell just below my knee. I’m 5’6. No explanation for that.
After reading this post, I think I will schlep back to Target and try on the M.
I just tried this dress on today. I’m 5’10″ with a long-ish torso, and I was surprised to learn that the dress (in size Med) wasn’t short on me at all. It fell right above my knees. I didn’t purchase it, though, because I wasn’t in love with it. I found a cute longer-length gray sweater that I bought instead.
How did it work on a longer torso? I’m only 5’5″ but usually dresses like this have too high a waist to look good on me?
It seems like this model must 6′ tall with ridiculously long legs if you are not having problems at your height. It always annoys me when stores use ridiculously tall models and fail to put the inseam length on the description. For the purposes of online purchasing, it makes a whole lot more sense to use someone who is a more average height.
It’s an empire waste,so I’m not sure if that makes a difference. I have a slender upper body, so it was a bit large on me, but I also have hips, so I was afraid that a Small would hug my lower body too much for the office.
It does not fit nearly that short on me and I’m 5’8″. It hit right at the knees.
$18.99 at target.com!
sorry to hijack or detour us directly into the Weekend Thread…
Has anyone seen (or more importantly, tried on) this jacket from Jcrew? It is on sale and a lovely, non-stodgy navy. Yes, I work in a more unconventional, fashion-embracing office as a PhD instead of a JD, so it seems this could work with a pattern or contrasting solid underneath – slacks, dresses, skirts. However, I wonder if the lovely looking pleating, despite seeming coutoure, is really too large and ‘much’ for a bustline. Let’s hear about it:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/jacketsblazers/jacketsblazers/PRDOVR~18424/99101826608/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~20+17+4294967140~90~~~~~~~/18424.jsp
Just curious, us PhD types often referred to ourselves (back in the day) as having a “Phil Donohue” degree. What’s the insider abbreviation on the JD? A little levity for the weekend as we all sit and write, read, write, and read some more.
To my knowledge, there isn’t “insider lingo” for JD.
Just ordered the ebony dress online, and for a minimum order of $50, you get free shipping, which is essential of course! So, I picked up a cardigan on clearance (Merona Vineyard Crewneck Cardigan – Floral Print), and the Mossimo Charcoal Heather Gray Pleat Neck Dress. Should do fine for fall in Texas, with a cardigan and waist belt. I’m a happy girl!
I recently found myself at Target at 9:30 at night trying to buy enough stuff to get my 1 year old and me through the 24 hours until the airline would deliver my suitcase with all of our stuff in it. :(
Anyhow, I needed brown slacks for work and ended up getting the Merona ultimate chino for $19.99 because for that price, it was worth the risk. I LOVE them. Super comfy and very thick weave, almost like a thin corduroy. Definitely give it a shot, especially if you are in a weight transition (like me at post partum).
I love Merona -this line of clothes seem to be made for my short dumpy figure – they all make me look well-proportioned, and the price is amazing. One of my nicest suits, and the only skirt suit I have, is from Target.
This dress is amazing! I’m 5’9” and I got it in a small. It hits right at the top of my knee, so the length really isn’t a problem.
Any advice for a jacket or cardigan to wear with a dress like this? I have several dresses that are this type of material, and they never feel quite pulled together on their own but I’m not sure what to wear over them. Thanks.
With a dress like this, don’t try to “pull it together” with a sweater or jacket. If it can’t stand on its own with the addition of some costume jewelry, and perhaps a scarf, and the right shoes, it’s not for you.
Ran a little large – I’m usually a small or medium and wound up getting the extra small. SO cute though, especially for the price! I’m 5’7″ and it hits my kneecap. Perfect for my law office, esp. on a less formal Friday.
I tried this on yesterday—definitely not a dress for the large busted.
I have this dress, I love it and I also found a weater “blazer” worked over the sleeves. As I am an attorney and am in court all the time a dress like this is wonderful!
So I found these on one of the vintage etsy sites in the fashionista link:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51842319/vintage-grape-leather-pom-heels-85
And I’m kind of adoring them. But they’re a 1/2 size too big. Has anyone ever successfully made too-big shoes work by stuffing wool or something in the toe?