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Slips, Camisoles, and More: What Are Your Go-To Pieces?

02/28/2013 By 62 Comments

what-to-wear-beneath-wrap-dressesWhat do you wear under wrap dresses? Are there camisole-slips? Reader V has an interesting question about what to wear beneath clothes that I think leads us to a great larger question: what are your favorite brands and pieces in slips, camisoles, support garments, pantyhose, and more?

I have a question re slips. I understand that people wear them (even the non-control ones) to even out the lumpy-squishies, make things less sheer, improve drape, etc. But for an unlined v-neck or wrap dress, where one might want help with smoothing out lumps and VPL and sheerness, what if you also want to raise the neckline. Are there camisole-type slips that are designed to be seen (so maybe in white or black, depending on the color of dress; not nude-for-you)? I’m not sure what to do for something like a DVF wrap dress — I want to wear a slip, but don’t want to slip up. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thank you!

This is a great question. We’ve talked about how to keep wrap dresses closed, but not what to wear beneath them. While reading her answer I found myself going through the things that I would wear beneath a wrap dress:

  • Spanx Higher Power (either shaper or tights, because I wear them with every dress)
  •  camisole (here’s our last roundup of great camisoles — based on reader suggestions I might upgrade my collection to a half-camisole, such as this one)
  • half-slip on the bottom (similar to this)

Now that’s a lot of undergarments. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Comfort, Layering Pieces, Lingerie, Pantyhose, Special Sizes, Tights, Wear to Work

How to Wear Dresses If You’re A Size 4 On Top and Size 12 on Bottom

02/12/2013 By 57 Comments

bespoke-dressesLadies, do you buy bespoke dresses and clothing?  How else can you wear dresses if your top and bottom halves are very different sizes? Reader N wonders:

I would like to wear dresses more frequently to the office, but I find it very difficult to find a good fit. I wear a size 4 to 6 on the top, and a 12 to 14 on the bottom (I definitely carry all my weight in my bottom half). Any suggestions on a style/cut of a dress that might work? I don’t always want to wear a wrap dress.

We haven’t talked about how to dress professionally if your top and bottom are different sizes for a long time, so let’s discuss.  My immediate thoughts for reader N:

- eShakti sounds PERFECT for you.  Not only can you customize dresses in “standard” sizes — for example, for the dress pictured above you can choose from five different sleeves, four different hem lengths, and two necklines), but you can also get the dress entirely custom made to your exact measurements for just a few dollars more.  (Portrait collar poplin dress, starting at $59.95 at eShakti.)

- There are a number of new specialty boutiques popping up that do custom sizes, as well.  For example, Carrie Hammer — [Read more...]

Filed Under: Body Shapes, Fashion, Special Sizes, Tailoring, Wear to Work

The Hunt: The Perfect Camisole

02/04/2013 By 86 Comments

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

For today’s Hunt, I thought I’d search for the perfect camisole.  In my mind, here is what is a perfect camisole: It’s machine washable (and, usually, can be tumbled dry).  It doesn’t roll up around your sides.  For the office, in my mind the best camisole does not look like lingerie — the less lace and mesh, the better.  It’s a solid color.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I hate the nude camisole for most office looks.  And, I think, the best camisole serves the purpose that you want it to serve — for my busty self that usually means raising the neckline of blouses, sweaters, and dresses.  I’ve also used camisoles over the years as a way to put a layer between myself and the sweater so I didn’t have to launder it so often — so high armholes can be helpful.  My perfect camisole doesn’t have a “shelf bra” attached to it. — and for me, it is almost never a shaping camisole.  (I’ve bought a number of brands through the years and have always been disappointed; I’d much rather wear a high-waisted shaper (like this or this) or even a bodysuit if I want to smooth out my midsection/back area.)  And, of course, the perfect camisole is inexpensive — this is one of the few times where I would rather have 5-10 inexpensive camisoles to throw away at the first sign of wear, rather than to “invest” in a single, expensive piece.  Readers, what do you look for in the perfect camisole?  Which brands have you bought in the past; which have you bought recently? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics, Body Shapes, Laundry, Layering Pieces, Lingerie, Special Sizes, The Hunt

Sponsored Post: Quincy Apparel’s Tailored Looks (And a Much Smarter Sizing System)

11/13/2012 By 57 Comments

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Quincy Apparel, stylish work pieces with a smart approach to sizing.

“What if there were clothes that were boardroom-appropriate but still allowed the young, on-the-go professional woman to feel as stylish and authentic at work as she did in her downtime? And, what if those clothes actually fit well and didn’t break the bank?” Those were the questions that led two Harvard Business School graduates, Alex Nelson and Christina Wallace, to launch their own line, Quincy Apparel. The online-only brand (which offers free shipping and free returns) gives everyone a quiz to find your perfect size* — and offers a second size for free when you order from them. [Read more...]

Tagged With: , Filed Under: Basics, Special Sizes, Sponsored Post, Suit of the Week, Suits, Tailoring, Under $150, Wear to Work

Open Thread: Best Pumping Attire for Working Moms

09/06/2012 By 132 Comments

What ARE the best clothes for pumping breastmilk at the office? This is a question I get asked so often, I thought we’d have a discussion about it.  (We have talked about it once before, from guest poster Jenny Hamilton, who had some great general advice, as well as advice on how to travel for business while pumping.) Here’s the latest question, from reader K:

Here’s my dilemma, I’m headed out for maternity leave in a month or so and am looking for professional clothes that are nursing / pumping friendly. I don’t want to break the bank, but most of what I’ve found so far is either cheap looking or totally inappropriate. I don’t need to “show off my new assets” at work. I just need to be able to look professional and pulled together, and pump without having to strip all the way down. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Congratulations on your baby! The current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines suggest that mothers nurse their children for the first year of their life (recommending that babies exclusively eat breastmilk for the first 6 months). I’ll say up front that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with formula if that’s what you choose to do. (I’ll also note: it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition. You can nurse her for 3 months, then just nurse morning and night with your child and give her formula in the middle of the day, skipping the pump entirely.) But: working moms who pump — you guys are rockstars in my book. I’m always inspired by commenters who talk about having pumped for long periods of time (I think one commenter was recently celebrating an end to four years of pumping!) Even in a perfect world, it takes dedication and drive to pump regularly — but I’ve also heard war stories from friends, about trekking to windowless closets with pumping equipment, about enduring funny looks and having to explain their various funnels and contraptions when they rinsed them off in the ladies’ room. It ain’t easy.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Motherhood, Special Sizes, Wear to Work, What To Wear To...

Pockets: Where To Stash Your Stuff

08/07/2012 By 36 Comments

Plain-Front Non-Iron ChinosReader M wonders which pants have the best pockets:

I’m type I diabetic and have an insulin pump. This means I really need pockets in pretty much everything I wear. But I find that most women’s pants either have tiny useless front pockets, fake back pockets, or no pockets at all. Dresses with pockets have become fairly popular, which is amazing and wonderful, but I really am a pants sort of girl. Could you do a post on pants (or skirts and dresses, even, I can adapt!) with pockets? I can’t be the only one in the world who wishes that actual pockets weren’t always relegated to jeans.  You’ve posted a fair number of dresses with pockets lately, so even if you don’t do an entire post, I thank you for making it that much easier for me to find things to swear to the office and avoiding having to tuck the little nuisance in my waistband.

See, here’s my thing with pants:  I hate pockets.  Cuffs AND pockets.  I know, I’m crazy. I have actually sewn down the pockets in some pants if they hit at that unflattering “right on the side of your body” spot and give the pants any slight resemblance to a cobra flattening its neck. So here’s my actual best piece of advice for reader M:  Blazers!  Blazers are awesome for many reasons, but one of the foremost reasons is because they often have pockets in ‘em.  (Handy for ID badges, lipgloss, and insulin pumps!)  I’m not an expert in insulin pumps, but if Reader M has the kind that attaches to her body on one end and is an iPod-sized thing on the other end, It should be pretty simple to get a tailor to “reverse” the pockets for your blazer so they’re accessible from the inside of your jacket instead of the outside.

But — like everything else on this blog — that’s just my opinion.  So let’s poke around and see if we can’t find Reader M some professional pants with pockets. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Special Sizes, Wear to Work