Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly sale continues, and today we’re liking this witty silk blouse from DvF. No, do not adjust your monitors: this is actually a teal and purple leopard print. There’s something great about a top that only a very confident woman can wear, and we’re really digging this one. We’d wear it with black trousers, a black cami (if you’ve never worn DvF, they’re a must) and, if asked, say “oh yes: it’s designer.” (Hint: keep your jewelry and shoes extremely tasteful, and as expensive as possible.) It’s on sale for $129 (was $198), still available in sizes 2, 4, 8, and 12. Diane von Furstenberg ‘Jill’ Top
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Uh, for WORK?? I don’t care how confident you happen to be, multi-colored neon animal print tops are not for the office.
Agreed. Also, saying “Oh yes, its designer” makes you sound like jerk. Just tell me who made it – presumably, that’s what I wanted to know if I asked you.
I like the top – hell, why not – but agree 100% about saying “yes, it’s designer.” That’s a one-way ticket to being ruthlessly mocked behind your back by your less pretentious co-workers.
Oh, come on–it’s tongue-in-cheek!
There are some tightly wound women reading this blog.
Well, if it’s said tongue-in-cheek, sure. That kind of breeziness is hard to pull off though. :-)
I have more problems with “keep your jewelry and shoes extremely tasteful, and as expensive as possible.” In FL I think this shirt would be fine, but you’d just come off as a complete snob if you popped into work wearing this and refused to wear a pair of shoes under $300 with them. Why does this have to be paired with something else ultra expensive?
My (slightly snarky) thought was that if you paired it with less pricey pieces then the top might look cheap as well. Let’s face it, super bright leopard print is not typically associated with expensive corporate-appropriate workwear.
I think that was the idea–maybe not expensive items, but certainly very classy/tasteful items.
This is certainly inappropriate for work. Personally, I wouldn’t even wear it to a bar! I think this post is a “miss” for Corporette, a departure from your usual good taste.
*cough* Peggy Bundy from Married with children */cough*
Totally agreed. This is just ugly. It’s not even ugly-fashion-forward, it’s ugly-old-lady-trying-to-look-hip.
Totally agree with Liz and Sharon. It looks something you’d find in the bottom of the bin.
*cough* Carmela Soprano *cough*
Ugh, hideous. The teal/purple combo reminds me of the 4th grade and animal print is just not office-appropriate. I like to take some risks at work but this is fashion suicide.
Hawt! Would rock this without apology to the office. C’s styling tips are solid, IMHO.
In marketing, where we are all staring at purple and teal all day anyway? No problem. In engineering, where the guys are clueless anyway? No problem. In sales, where a customer has to look at you and think, “Yeah, I can sign away a million dollars to this woman?” Nah.
Putting aside the issue of shirt vs. dress, I think it is safe to say that if Paris Hilton wears something to the opening of a nightclub, I’m not going to wear it to the office.
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/10/09/paris-hilton-carnival/
WOW, good eye, Anon! :-)
I might wear this to work, but with the understated black slacks and cami and shoes. But I’m a pattern girl, and my office is business casual. I’d probably wear jet jewelry with it, so as to keep it looking classy, not flashy.
Wow – would never want to get caught at the office in something Paris Hilton wore last week…good catch anonymous!
Don’t like animal prints, but I could see this with a dark jean looking nice on the weekend, but it’d be a stretch for the office, except in a Casual setting, or artistic setting (entertainment/creative).
I don’t love this, but I don’t see it as office-inappropriate, if you can wear separates to work. It’s a patterned shirt, for crying out loud.
And I am pretty confident that no one in my office keeps tabs on what Paris Hilton is wearing, so as long as the top works for your office, go for it.
Not all patterns are equally office-appropriate, however. You probably wouldn’t wear a top with a skull and crossbone pattern to the office, even if that’s your style on the weekend – similarly, animal print = not okay at work, IMHO, unless *maybe* it is in a very small accessory or in a dark/understated shade. (Or, of course, unless you are a partner, in which case you could probably show up in sweat pants or a ballerina tutu and be just fine!)
Yeah, or camouflage… Just sayin’.
I can get past the color, but the print is just too much for me. I’ve been uneasy about animal print in the office ever since I overheard a male coworker remark on what animal print on women in the office makes him think (he didn’t think I could hear him).
I don’t know about this shirt, but I disagree with everyone who says no animal print in the office (and I work at a conservative big law firm). The key is moderation and keeping the rest of your outfit simple. I often wear a black/white/grey leopard print cardigan over a black shift dress or with well cut theory pants. I also have some adorable cheetah print jcrew flats that I will wear to the office with a monochrome outfit. So yes, the purple/teal combo is tough, but there are lots of understated animal prints out there in camel, grey, brown, etc., that I think are perfectly ok in small doses.
PS — for anyone buying the top, I find that DVF tops tend to run small, I go up a size compared to what I wear in DVF wrap dresses.
I think that the colors take this out of the animal print arena altogether. You hardly even notice the print is leopard because of the colors. Therefore, this is more office appropriate than a cheetah print in the colors of – say – an actual cheetah.
Right, the colors take it out of cheetah and right into fugly! These aren’t even attractive colors together.
I usually don’t comment, but really? This thing is hideous and not at all work-appropriate! I wouldn’t take anybody seriously wearing a neon leopard-print shirt, and I certainly wouldn’t wear it to the office myself. In fact, I wouldn’t wear it anywhere.
I tried this on and it looks great – no ‘animal print’ feeling about it and the colours work on most skin tones. I work in a business casual office (though my personal taste runs to conservative on the whole). Did not think it would look classy at first but it DID!! Pair with black pants/modest pencil skirt, cami and classy pumps. Did not buy though as I prefer to go up a size with DvF as I’m curvy and DvF usually runs 1 size smaller than usual anyway.
@A & @An — Thanks for the sizing tips re: DvF. Although she’s often cited as the queen of wrap dresses that make curvy women look great, they don’t work for me. It seems like her designs are made for wide shoulders and taller women. I’m 5′3″ and the look I get with DvF dresses is: “The dress is wearing me, and not the other way around.” I haven’t tried her blouses though. I’m going to hit up Nordies and see if they have this in-store…
I do think this looks technicolor…and I have a small dark brown/ ivory animal print scarf that I wear regularly. I would only wear this if it were 80% covered by a black (preferred) or teal jacket which would make it like a scarf.