Thursday’s Workwear Report: 100% Organic Cotton Cropped Cardigan
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Somehow, I missed the memo that Quince is now offering plus sizes in several styles, which is very exciting news! I just grabbed this slightly cropped cardigan to wear over summer dresses this year. The fit is a little boxier than I would normally gravitate toward, but I like the way it looks with a flowier skirt.
Quince has been a mixed bag for me in the past, but I’m really happy with the quality of this.
The sweater is $60 at Quince and comes in sizes 1X-3X in six different colors. It’s also available in sizes XS-XL.
Sales of note for 4/10:
- Nordstrom – End of Season Sale – Spring styles up to 50% off – lots of great deals from Natori, Boss, Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss, Spanx, True & Co., Hanky Panky, Commando, Tory Burch, Theory, Zella, CeCe, Eliza J, Halogen, Vince Camuto, and more.
- Ann Taylor – 30% off tops and sweaters, and (4/10 only) 25% off dresses, skirts and shoes
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code
- Brooklinen – 15% off sitewide, plus up to 50% off bundles
- Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Event, 25% off sitewide. Lots of cute florals and stripes in the sale.
- Evereve – 1000+ items on sale, including lots from Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- Express – $40 off $120, $100 off $250
- J.Crew – Midseason sale: Extra 40% off sale styles, 200+ new styles just added!
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything
- Lands' End – 50% off full price styles and 60% off all clearance and sale – lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
- Loft – All jeans $41, 40% off entire purchase
- Macy's – 25% off already reduced prices + 15% off beauty & fragrance
- M.M.LaFleur – Spring Sale Event – Buy More, save more! 10% off $250+, 15% off $500+, 20% off $750+, 25% off $1000+ (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off if you find any exclusions.)
- Sephora – Spring sale! 20% off for Rouge members starting today, and 30% off the Sephora Collection for everyone — if you're looking for a really muted everyday eyeshadow, I like both 106 and 301 here!
- Talbots – 40% off regular price tops + 30% off everything else
- Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!
If u strength train at home, what equipment do you have? Do u do a program?
We have a mini home gym that we have built up over the years (starting in 2020 and still growing!). Dumbbells, plates, a bench, bands, a treadmill, bike and a power rack. I do the Madeline Moves App and have been doing her program for years. I’ve done her pregnancy and post partum program twice and do her Weekly Moves program consistently.
Adjustable dumbbells (5-25lbs in 2.5lb increments).
In the past I’ve done Ladder and Darebee programs, but now kinda make my own.
I have a few kettlebells, and three sets of dumbbells that I use regularly (plus a chin-up bar that I use more for stretching these days). I use the Pelaton app and it auto-schedules class options based on my preferences. I’m hooked and it’s a wonderful way to give yourself structure and accountability without leaving your home. You get the first month of the app subscription as a free trial. There are also plenty of free apps out there, but I only have experience with Pelaton.
Dumbbells with a tower. I think I have 5lb, 8lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, and 25lb pairs. My spouse uses the heavy ones more than I do. Both of us do a pretty basic mix of standard free weight routines. I like free options from Muscle & Strength, Fitness Blender, etc.
I have a really simple setup, just dumbbells and some resistance bands. I work with a trainer who designs workouts for me to do at home, but I’ll also do the peloton strength workouts sometimes.
I follow Nourish Move Love mostly. She sends out the workouts got the week on Sunday.
Here to echo NourishMoveLove. The workouts are great and she is very encouraging. I have been following her for several years. Have dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, a step-up box, and an old school step. Also a Treadmill and recumbent bike that never get used. Cardio is typically done outside and/or built into weekly NML workouts.
Debating going in-house. One step under GC, one step above their AGCs. I have a standing offer, technically need to get a letter with a dollar amount but have been told if I say yes, they’ll match my current comp. Current client, about 20% of my time now. Is it crazy to ask:
– If I can meet or kick the tires/work on something with any execs I haven’t worked with yet? I think I’ve met or worked with about half their leadership team. I’m wary of starting and day 2 finding out half my time will be with someone I have never met.
– I want a 2- month break between jobs. When’s the right time to bring that up?
– I’m most worried about something crazy happening and getting laid off my first 6 months (like a buyout situation where current GC or legal team also get laid off). Would a GC even consider a 6-month pay guarantee or if they let me go within the first six months I’ll get a few months severance? Is it worth asking? I’m confident I’ll land on my feet but getting laid off right away would stink. They have international owners so it’s not impossible that GC wouldn’t know much ahead of time.
I’ve been in house for a couple of decades now, albeit at a health system, so it differs from in house public. I would say it’s fine to ask for informational interviews (or the like) with execs you haven’t worked with. Keep in mind that turnover is real, so anyone you love working with could be gone tomorrow. As for the break between jobs, it sounds like they are creating a job for you, so I would imagine they would be fine waiting for you to start. Finally, with regard to severance, perhaps ask for details of the severance policy? There may be one, which has a change in control provision. I get 18 months if our org is bought out. Sometimes the severance will give you X week for every year you have been there, which could be very disadventageous to you. Also, ask if it’s an ERISA plan. Mine isn’t, so there is some flexibility to offer different terms to different individuals. I’m not sure that’s permitted if it’s an ERISA plan (#notanexpert).
An ERISA severance plan can be entirely discretionary, up to the point that it says that Bob in Accounting has 100% control over the amount of each person’s severance. I’ve actually drafted ERISA severance plans that were not much more than that.
In-house here as at a similar level.
1. I don’t think this will be well perceived, unless it’s people who will be on your team or peers in legal. Even if you like them all, many of those leaders will depart at some point. Would you leave if you didn’t like their successor? It might also jeopardize your current client work if you meet them and then decline the move.
2. When negotiating your start date and offer (salary, benefits).
3. Severance for term without cause is standard at this level, so negotiate it as part of your package. I wouldn’t ask about first 6 months, but instead negotiate it regardless of when the departure occurs.
By “standing offer” do you mean you’ve been told that they’d love to have you in their department and whenever you’re ready to leave private practice, let them know? Or that you’ve already been through some kind of structured interview process/discussions and are working out details? Because that impacts how I’d answer your first two questions. If the latter, ASAP. If the former, after you reach out and confirm that you are ready to formally discussing a move, but don’t delay. For each, I’d still say as early as possible. I don’t know if you’re going to have much luck asking to work with an exec on a project, but a meeting seems like a reasonable ask.
I’m on my first in house role, so others with more experience may disagree but I doubt you’ll get any traction on a pay guarantee. Is there some reason that you’re concerned about lay offs? Is this a PE backed co or are you aware that the company has been seeking out potential buyers?
I went in-house exactly this way. 10 / 10 recommend.
On 1– talk about your role more precisely with the GC! I knew going in that my position would support the same clients and leadership that I’d been doing outside counsel work for.
On 2– given it’s a standing offer, this is something you could be open with the GC about. Ask when the best time for you to onboard would be (like, do you support cyclical work and so starting in a lull would help get you settled) and then back out from there.
On 3– ask about their severance policy when you get into benefits details with HR. If it’s paltry for new hires, perhaps negotiate a sign-on bonus that would mitigate the risk.
The only thing I’d negotiate a break and even then not that directly. I’d build in some time at your current employer, but stay there less so you’re only asking for a few weeks. I am very put off when hiring by a long delay to start. A few weeks fine, but two months is crazy. The other issues are just paranoia. You know a lot since they’ve been a client. Sometimes you need to take a leap.
quince must have given a deal to the bloggers. this sweater was featured this week by unfemme. that said, i actually already own this sweater in ivory and i like it a lot and wear often.
I own it in the camel color and also really like it.
This is exhibit A for why cardigans are frumpy and should be left for the weekend.
To each their own.
I bought it and didn’t like it, but I own 6 of the quince cashmere cardigans and I love them.
Chill out on bashing cardigans.
They’ll take my cardigan from my cold dead shoulders.
Same
Although this neckline isn’t one I like on myself, if your eye thinks this is universally frumpy that says more about your narrow views than it does about the state of cardigans in general.
We obviously have a lot of “fashion goddesses” on this site with a very limited imagination, so they just hate on anything they themselves don’t like.
You must work for Big Blazer or something. These comments are getting old.
What you must have meant to say is “I think this cardigan is frumpy” or “this is an example of a frumpy cardigan.” Surely you grasp that one cardigan does not exemplify all cardigans.
real question to the cardigan hater– what do you wear or bring to the movies or an air conditioned restaurant over a summer dress or a tank top in August? I like a cardigan because unlike a jacket it is easy to roll in a ball. I also find that a pashmina looks old and frumpy to me these days….
I swear, every time the model is plus sized there’s at least one of these comments.
The model looks great too.
What do you carry to prevent dog attacks while walking? I don’t want to injure a dog but obviously don’t want to get hurt myself when walking alone. Are air horns effective?
I’ve only ever been legitimately threatened by a loose, charging, slavering dog once. I was empty handed. I managed to avoid actual contact by treating the dog like a charging brown bear: I made myself big with my hands in the air and took a wide stance. I yelled at in in a deep, authoritative voice (BAD DOG, NO NO NO, GO HOME). I stood my ground and stomped towards the dog when it slowed down and showed uncertainty. If the dog had not stopped, I was prepared to shove my arm down its throat to make it gag so it couldn’t latch on and bite.
In that moment, I think the only thing that might have helped would have been pepper spray or perhaps a large, sturdy stick.
Realistically a dog that attacks people who are out on a walk is a dog that should be behaviorally euthanized anyway.
Huh? How is that helpful?
OP should not be overly worried about not hurting a dog that’s actively attacking. Go ahead and use the bear spray!
But they are just being friendly.
If the concern is really about being injured by an untrained, friendly dog (which is common! they jump up and knock people over, or trip people on their leads, or accidentally maul people with their claws since the kind of people who leave dogs untrained usually neglect their claws as well), a walking stick and a commanding tone go a long way!
Nothing? If there’s a specific dog you know about as a threat or in an area with aggressive offleash dogs, maybe a water gun. But otherwise this feels like way too much anxiety for a simple walk.
Literally what? Nothing. Are you taking your anxiety meds?
What?? Not a thing.
Maybe where you live. I’ve been jumped on at least a dozen times in the past 2 years. Two of those were forceful enough to knock me to the ground. At least 6 were leashed dogs whose leash holders were laughing and gently insisting that the dog was friendly.
I wouldn’t qualify these as attacks (though it is dangerous). As you yourself observed, the jumping is encouraged by the people walking the dogs so the dogs don’t see it as hostile or understand that it’s harmful.
do you live somewhere that there are wild dogs? this is not something I have ever considered as a threat that is significant enough to require advance preparation.
Pepper spray. IG gets the message across.
I have a massive dog. He’s not interested in people (and he’s about as aggressive as a hot dog, he won’t even aggressively sniff you) but if he were to lunge at you to try and attack you, the best thing that would work is to shove a large stick horizontally in his mouth. When he was a crazy puppy working on his impulse control he’d sometimes leap up at me trying to get the ball/stick/toy from me and I used a lacrosse stick to just sort of keep distance between me and his giant face of teeth so nothing bad happened. The dog can’t bit you or anything else with a stick in its face.
That said, are you imagining a scenario where you are walking and a dog comes out of nowhere off leash and attacks you (bite with intent to harm)? Or like, walking by with an owner who has the dog on leash and it lunges at you? Or walking and a dog runs up out of nowhere and you don’t know its intentions? The latter two situations have better solutions than my stick, but generally, you see dog walkers with a walking stick for this exact reason. You can also put it between two fighting dogs (again, my giant dog would rather hide between my legs than fight but I’ve seen it with others!)
To the folks saying this isn’t a thing – my best friend was attacked by a stray dog while out walking her dog a couple of years ago. That was on Long Island.
I also live next to a midwestern city with a not insignificant population of stray dogs. Some folks in certain neighborhoods walk outside with a piece of plywood with nails hammered into it. I’m not kidding.
Have any of you experienced infidelity in your marriage? What was the outcome?
No experience personally, but if this is you – it sucks and I’m sorry.
My father cheated on my mother when she was pregnant with their second child and they remained married until she discovered he was cheating again about twenty five years later. He probably cheated other times too. They have been divorced over a decade now and it was extremely hard on my mother – the divorce, combined with unrelated medical and job problems really took a toll on her self-esteem. My father basically did nothing to repair his relationship with us kids. But time heals all wounds. We’re all doing fairly well. Sometimes I wish that my mother had separated from him sooner for her own self-confidence. But that would have been hard on her financially. By the time they did separate, she’d gotten a masters degree and a better paying job.
my husband was cheating. we are divorced. the cheating was only a piece of a major mental breakdown, bi polar, a lot of high risk behavior and he decimated our finances.
I divorced him. With joy. He always a failure as a husband in so many other ways, but for Reasons I was biding my time.
My ex cheated for a period of about 6 months and covered his tracks (I’m not an idiot, but he worked a top secret job and traveled for work, so there were always things I wasn’t privy to). I didn’t suspect anything until the very end when he just… stopped coming home. He claimed “well, I identify as poly, I can’t go back to being monogamous”. That was news to me. He’d never mentioned it once before. He was willing to stay married, but only if I agreed to an open marriage. That was a non-starter, and I divorced him. Four years and a LOT of therapy later, I’m now engaged to the man I wish I’d found the first time around, who is my match through and through.
Yes.
I was completely oblivious to the affair (it was with a woman he met through work, although not a coworker) and only discovered it after he had already initiated divorce proceedings. He eventually married her.
Is anyone else experiencing this? Tips on how to handle?
I am a VP of Comms. That’s obviously a writing-heavy job. My boss is Chief Comms Officer — also writing-heavy. And she’s a great writer! But our company has gone all-in on AI and now she is using AI for nearly all of her writing, including things like sending feedback to our team. Real things she’s done recently:
-Wrote (from her heart — which I know because we talked about it first) an email laying out some feedback for an underperforming team member, and then used Gemini to “refine” it, which now just makes it read like AI rather than like her. And that’s the email she sent the team member — which, if you have any sense of pattern recognition at all, immediately gets clocked as AI.
– Took a story I wrote (which I truly think is one of my best stories recently!) and, again, dropped it into Gemini — without telling me what she’s prompting Gemini for (meaning I don’t know what she’s asking Gemini to do) — and then rewrote the story based on what Gemini gave her. So once again, it now reads like AI.
I could keep going but my point is that she’s doing this both for final work products AND for internal emails to her team. And it’s very annoying!! I know I need to raise this with her somehow. I think my primary challenge is that I don’t know what she’s prompting Gemini for, so I can’t tell what she thinks is missing from my drafts. But I also wish she would realize that her writing, including personal stuff, is now very much reading as AI-generated, which, imo, makes it lose effectiveness.
Advice? Commiseration? This is not an anti-AI post; I think there are elements of it that have significantly helped my/our work! But I guess it’s an anti-AI-without-thinking post…
Just commiseration. My colleagues are using it in emails and not even bothering to adjust the font change- so clearly the email body was copy and pasted and the salutation was not. It usually overcomplicates the communication.
Commiseration, because I am struggling with this at work too. New team member (above me) keeps sending me her notes from meetings, etc, that are “organized and refined by AI.” But I can’t tell if it’s her bad takes, or AI’s additions that are bad! And honestly they’re often longer than if she had just sent me her raw notes.
Commiseration also. We’ve had a whole discussion at work about how too much comms reads as AI flavored, it could impact engagement, bla bla bla. Tue solution? Let’s get better at prompting the AI, because of course we need to use AI.
Headed to Rome/Naples for 5 days on Saturday. Weather seems to be in the mid 60s. Would love any outfit suggestions. Definitely bringing Athleta Retreat wide-leg linen pants and Nike K*ll shot sneakers. I was last there in August, so am having to remind myself this is different weather.
I am visiting London right now. What would be a nice edible souvenir to bring back to the office? I was thinking a big bag of Cadbury individually wrapped chocolates. What would’ve a level nicer than that? Also open to non-edible ideas for family.
Favorite edible souvenirs from London? How about non-edible, artsy things?