talls

The Warmth of Silk

by C on 02/02/2010 · 28 comments

Reader N writes in with a question about warm pants…

I am based in Northern California, and have recently started having to travel for business. I am finding that the wool pants I buy around me are no match for winter in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and New York. I’m told that I should find lined wool pants for warmth, but can’t seem to find any. Are there other fabrics that would be warm enough? To add an additional wrinkle I am a size 18 , so I need to find someplace that carries extended sizes as well.

Welcome to the land of seasons! Out here, if the low temperatures don’t get you, the windchill factor will. We’re weirdly excited to share with you one of the best secrets we picked up from our undergrad years, which we spent in a city known for sub-zero temperatures: silk long johns. Wear these babies under regular pants or jeans and you’ll be comfortable (with a proper jacket) below 35 degrees or so — if it’s very cold (and windchill takes it subzero), we’d suggest wearing them with wool pants.

The amazing thing about silk long johns is a) they’re super thin, so they don’t add bulk to your pants; b) they’re silk, so they block the wind like nobody’s business, and c) when you’re inside, in a normal temperature, you don’t really notice they’re there — it isn’t like a cashmere or wool sweater that can feel suffocating. As a bonus, d), if you’re wearing unlined wool pants, they stop the pants from being itchy. Ok, and fine, e) the other great thing is that you can usually find the long johns, on sale for around $15, at your local Filene’s. (They also come in fun patterns, such as the one pictured above (available at WinterSilks for $24) but we recommend your basic black for a working wardrobe.)

We’re fans of the Winter Silks line (and we notice that they do carry a full range of sizes, including women’s, talls, and petites); silk long johns are also available through Land’s End.

Off topic note: Alas, because they’re silk, they can be a bit see-through — so they won’t be appropriate for your next Jammy Party.
(L-0)

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Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Button Detail Boatneck T

by C on 01/22/2010 · 23 comments

in Fashion

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
The color is really what drew us to this basic long-sleeved t-shirt — love that blue. We’d wear it beneath a gray suit, or perhaps with navy pants and a cardigan in a cream color — and we always think pearls go perfectly with boatnecks. Gap is having an online-only sale on regularly-priced merchandise through 1/24 (code: SPRING20), so it’s 20% off the marked price, which is $22. Available in XS – XXL, and in talls and petites. Gap Button detail boatneck T
If you’ve recently seen a great work piece you’d like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we’ll refer to you by your first initial.
(L-2)

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Bargain Wednesday’s TPS Report: Old Navy’s Satin-Trim Cardigan

by C on 11/25/2009 · 17 comments

in Fashion, The Personal Shopper (TPS)

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! (More importantly, happy long weekend). For today’s TPS, we were actually torn between two items — this lovely sweater and this off-season but simple shift dress. We ultimately decided that the sweater is what we really like — particularly for right now. We like the double satin edging, the bright pop of color, and the long length — perfect for adding a belt or wearing open over a shift dress. It’s $29.50 at Old Navy, available in 6 colors and sizes XS through XXL in regular petites, and talls. Women: Women’s Satin-Trim Cardigans – Bougainvillea Pink

If you’ve recently seen a great work piece you’d like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we’ll refer to you by your first initial.

Oooh — some great sales already starting. For starters, www.endless.com has 60% off designer shoes and some bags — check out the Bulga and Botkier collections. Similarly, Bare Necessities seems to have started its Black Friday sale already — tons of basic t-shirts (like this one) on sale, as well as shapewear.

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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Banana Republic’s Circle-print wrap dress

by C on 11/18/2009 · 34 comments

in Fashion, The Personal Shopper (TPS)

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Banana Republic has a number of good specimens of that elusive beast, the long-sleeved dress. We like the sedate circle print on this, the knee-length skirt, and the flattering ruched waist. Obviously, a camisole will be a must (we’d suggest black); we’d probably accessorize the outfit with a simple pendant necklace and perhaps a cuff worn on top of one of the sleeves. It’s $125 and available in regular, petites, and talls in sizes XS-XL. Women: Circle-print wrap dress – Dark burgundy

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Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Shape fx Two-Way Stretch Control Skirt

by C on 10/09/2009 · 17 comments

in Fashion, The Personal Shopper (TPS)

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Let’s be honest here — unless you’re built like a model, if you wear a high-waisted pencil skirt you’re likely to be rocking the shapewear. Spiegel saves you a step by including a built-in “powerful mesh control slip” in the skirt, along with lace “grippers” so it doesn’t ride up. We saw a girl wearing this look about a week ago and it really did look amazing — we’d suggest wearing a short-sleeved blouse with it, or perhaps a simple black scoop-necked tee. It’s on sale for $29.99 (was $39) at Spiegel.com in sizes 2-18 in regular, petite and tall. Shape fx Two-Way Stretch Control Skirt

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Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Old Navy’s Cable-Knit Cardigans

by C on 10/02/2009 · 27 comments

in Fashion, The Personal Shopper (TPS)

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Reader A wrote to us, raving about the quality of this season’s cardigans at Old Navy — she noted that there are many “normal, pretty things this season . . . some great classic pieces available, and many of them (particularly the cardigans) seemed well made.” She actually called out this sweater, but after checking Old Navy.com we had to draw your eyes to this lovely purple sweater — it’s a great way to add a pop of color to an otherwise drab wardrobe. We’d wear it with gray trousers and perhaps a white bodysuit blouse beneath it, and maybe add a black and yellow accent by way of an accessory — a brooch, a scarf, a necklace. Lovely. The cardigan is available in 8 colors, regular and tall, sizes XS to XXL, and it’s on sale — was $29.50, now $15. Women: Women’s Softest Cable-Knit Cardigans – Bougainvillea Pink