Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Envelope-Neck Ponte Dress
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Universal Standard keeps making different versions of this popular ponte dress, but this envelope neck might be my favorite one so far. I love their soft and stretchy ponte fabric for a comfy but still work-appropriate look, and the short sleeves provide plenty of coverage if you’d like to go without a topper.
If the envelope neck isn’t your thing, it’s also available in a crewneck and a V-neck.
The dress is $138 at Universal Standard and comes in sizes equivalent to 00-40. It also comes in five other colors.
Sales of note for 9/5/25
- Nordstrom – Summer sale has started, up to 60% off top brands
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including new arrivals
- Anthropologie – 30% off clothing and accessories
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- J.Crew – Everyday styles from $34.50 — see our full roundup of what to buy for work at J.Crew
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off fall faves + extra 60% off clearance
- L.K. Bennett – 20% off all new-season
- Nordstrom Rack – Season Closeout: extra 40% off select clearance dresses, sandals, shorts, and swimwear(ends 9/11)
- Rothy's – Up to 50% off last-chance sales
- Soma – 5 panties for $39 + 35% off 3+ styles + buy 2 get 3 free panties — readers love these PJs and these no-VPL panties
- Talbots – 25-40% off select fall styles + extra 30% all markdowns — here are all the reader favorites at Talbots
- White House Black Market – 50% off all sale styles (ends 9/5)
I have this dress and I like the way it fits me! I have got a lot of compliments on it from people in my office, and that is unusual for them because I have a lot of dresses, but this one they like i think because of the color and fit!
Can you wear a normal bra or does the envelope part cut open wider than it looks on the model?
I don’t think it looks particularly good on any of the models (I checked every color on the website.) What body type do you have?
I used to have something like this in a burgundy color, and it was a real workhorse until I finally had to part with it. This may be a worthy replacement!
If you were going to buy a power outfit this fall and wanted to look stylish but not trendy, what would you pick? I usually like The Fold for this kind of thing but none of the colors or styles are speaking to me right now.
My go to is Veronica Beard blazers – they’ve go with everything and are cut perfectly with excellent fabric. 10/10 for all power day needs.
I want to love this, but cannot unsee baby onesies.
Go with one of the other two necklines. I am happy to see this dress offered with a v-neck, which is more flattering to my body type.
I have two young kids, and i would have never thought that. Even after you saying it, I don’t really see it.
I don’t get it at all and I also have kids.
I don’t get that either. If the envelope were functional, smaller, and more on top of the shoulders, yes, but not as designed.
Good morning! Has anyone ordered from Boden recently? Wondering if there will be a tariff? Thanks!
Nordstrom has some Boden; I might try there first so you don’t need to worry about this.
I just received two orders – no tariffs. They did raise their prices considerably this summer though!
Same here. I’ve also seen at least one package sitting at its entry point into the US for longer than it used to. Unclear if that’s tariff-related at all (though I assumed there was some kind of backup there, for tariff reasons), but thought it was worth raising.
Yep, just got a skirt no issues.
I literally just came here to ask the same question! Thanks to you and those who’ve answered. I will also share that Sezane does not make you pay tariffs, but I placed an order a month ago and it’s still not here, so something’s up. I think they’ve also raised their prices since the beginning of the summer.
So the tariffs are probably already part of the price increase and there’s no worry about a tacked on charge?
Depends – pay attention to shipping and don’t just do Apple Pay, I used to get a lot from Rixo London and they had a $200 tariff charge plus shipping so I didn’t order, but it didn’t show up until late in the checkout process.
Going to NYC in October and hoping to take my kids to see the Lion King. I have no idea, how do you buy tickets? What are the legit sites to buy tickets and what are the scams to watch out for? Am I overthinking this? Any recommendations appreciated, I just want my kids (and myself) to have an enjoyable time! :)
lionking.com/tickets
Ticketmaster.
I’ve always just gone directly to the theater’s page.
My kids and I loved the show. The concession lines were long and I was glad to have brought a few snacks. I did not find any non shady places to buy tickets and bought them directly from the theater.
Recommendations for long-sleeve tee shirts for those of us with long arms? I am thin, small bust, size XS, 5’7”, with especially long arms. I am sick of tops that don’t quite reach my wrists.
I want crew or V neck tee shirts I can layer under sweaters or wear on their own. Cotton or a cotton blend is good, though I am open to other fabrics.
The best I have found is an XS Jones & Co / Jones New York cotton/modal/spandex black long-sleeve crew neck tee from TJ Maxx. They had only one and don’t regularly stock them. The fabric is substantial, it fits me well, and the sleeve length is generous. When it wears out I will cry.
An XS Tahari long-sleeve tee of the same cotton blend, also from TJ Maxx, fits almost as well.
What doesn’t work: The sleeve length on Target’s “A New Day” long-sleeve cotton tees is too short. Same with Eileen Fisher’s silk long-sleeve tops (not that I am looking for silk, but that’s all I have for a fancier black long-sleeve top). I don’t remember all the brands that don’t work, but I think I have not had luck at Lands End, Eddie Bauer, and most places I try.
Buy tall shirts. Personally I’m a fan of GAP, lots of their styles are organic cotton and come in tall.
Same. I have had good luck in the juniors section. Thin torsos, long arms.
BR, Gap, and ON and the factory versions all have tall shirts, as does Lands End. My 5-8 daughter often checks these places first.
Both Old Navy and JC Penny carry t-shirts in talls.
JCrew’s full-length sleeves are usually too long for me, so maybe check there?
Boden’s sleeves are long enough for me.
Have you tried Eddie Bauer’s tall sizes? Even though I’m only 5’8″, I need the extra length.
OP here. Good tip to try the tall sizes, I didn’t realize that might work with shirts!
OP here. Good tip to try the tall sizes, I actually did not realize that was a thing for shirts! Thank you!
I’m 5’6″ and have never bought a shirt I’ve haven’t had to roll up the cuffs or have the sleeves professionally shortened. Obviously I’m a T Rex, but let me know which brands have short arms.
Help me find shoes for a navy pantsuit. Something in the camel to brown family. Flats with presence? The SE Loraine loafers didn’t work for my feet.
I love cordovan with navy – something like these? https://www.stuartweitzman.com/products/sovinnie-flat/SM455-N4E.html?ogmap=PLA%7CACQ%7CGOOG%7CSTND%7Cc%7CSITEWIDE%7CMain%7CSW_RTL_Google_PLA_Signal_NA_Generic_National_PMax_NA_BAU%7C%7C17928847853%7C%7CUS&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=SW_RTL_Google_PLA_Signal_NA_Generic_National_PMax_NA_BAU&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17413591629&gbraid=0AAAAADlsBsL-NbRGuaXJnxjq_RdynJ7M_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq53d9vbfjwMVxEb_AR1sWyZ-EAQYASABEgKIwPD_BwE
These are beautiful and perfect to wear with a suit.
Try the Cole Haan Stassi loafers. SE doesn’t work for me, but I like these.
Are they wider than the Loraine loafers? I find the SE ones to be very narrow, and I don’t even have particularly wide feet.
I always wear black. I find other colors look frumpy and a black and navy intentional combo looks sharp. Wear a black belt and top too.
DH and I have been married for 20+ years. We’ve had a solid, healthy marriage, and yet, midlife is throwing us (or me, at least) for a loop. We are excellent partners. But between work, tween and teen kids, aging parents, and life, we are not doing a great job of connecting as a couple during this phase. Even date nights are rare, for Reasons. It does not help that perimenopause has decreased my drive to garden and even affects my desire to be touched in a non-s3xual way. Basically, we’re not connecting in a romantic way, and I feel like it’s my fault because I’m exhausted, I feel unattractive, I want to be left alone by everyone, and I don’t have much drive anymore. I don’t even feel that bothered by the lack of libido, other than knowing that it’s probably affecting my relationship. And then I feel resentful that my DH, being a man, doesn’t have to deal with any of this stuff. It also does not help that he is at a high point in his life, career wise, and I am … not having a great time of it.
Given how solid our relationship is, I did not see this coming. Any advice from people who have been there?
Commiseration. I miss the old me. And the old me’s free time. My time is squeezed from all directions and I need space and time to recharge.
This is exactly it. I’m depleted, and it’s hard to pour into a marriage when you’re feeling stretched thin already.
And my advice is that I need more pleasant G rated time with DH. Like even a quick dinner out together. It can’t be nothing but getting grabbed and propositioned and complained to. That ain’t working.
Agree 100%. I have been there and we have done well by scheduling lunch dates. Our kids are in elementary, middle, and high school so we don’t get any evening time or morning alone time together so we decided to just find time in the middle of the day.
My comment just got eaten so trying again. This is becoming an increasingly common topic among marriage counselors. Men think they can just grope their wives while they’re making dinner and that it will be irresistible/a compliment. Or they’ll turn every hug or pat on the arm sexual when sometimes, the woman just wants a hug. It doesn’t work and it drives the woman farther away.
I am in a similar phase and what works for us on a day to day basis are the little things – doing something nice for each other, whether it is a surprise back rub at the end of the day, getting ice cream after dinner and then taking a short walk around the block, even very small gestures like saying thanks for cooking dinner or texting a nice message. Sometimes we will send each other heartfelt emails just listing the things we are thankful for in each other – like when I made an extra effort when his sister was in town, he sent me a grateful note of appreciation. It sounds small but I think little things like that can you feel seen by the other person and it is good to feel appreciated.
And I just realized you are asking more about romantic time so here is another idea that sometimes works for us: we will schedule romantic time when we know the kids won’t be home in the evening. And build the anticipation during the day – like I might text him funny emojis like an eggplant and heart lol. Then I will tell him to take care of the evening chores like loading the dishwasher etc while I take a long bath. He knows to light candles in our room and play music. Try it on a one-off basis – it can’t hurt! The downside is we do it more often and invariably sometimes it doesn’t work out and then he is grumpy lol. Good luck!
Start fantasizing about other men. Some of this may be hormonal, but a lot of this could be that you are tired of f ing the same man. It gets boring! That is normal. Anecdotally, more of my married friends suffer from low libido than the single ones. (Ducking tomatoes from the happily marrieds.)
I’m not attracted to other men, so how would that even work?
Take it in bites and throw some money at the relationship – get away for a weekend together somewhere nice, the kids will survive without you at this stage. Use that time to reconnect but don’t put s*x pressure on the trip. Carve out something easy for just the two of you once a week like meet for dinner after work or go for a walk together. Let your kids be more independent and take advantage of the fact that they’re older. Remember that your relationship with each other is the long game so this is all a lot more important than any other commitment. And talk to your DH about s*x if you haven’t – mine is also in a low drive stage and realizing we both felt that way took the pressure off and we enjoy just being together and touching each other again because it’s not stressful. And don’t underestimate the power of a hug and kiss in the morning and evening.
This. In the throw money at it, we probably get a hotel room about once a month to every other month depending on travel schedules. Nothing like grabbing a 4pm strong drink from the hotel bar, going back to the room to get ready for dinner, and seeing where it goes.
PS – for you, do a little shopping, get a couple of new things that make you feel good when you wear them and get your hair done however you do that. Those little things go a long way toward feeling attractive.
HRT for the peri?
This was my first thought. Tired, stressed, zero libido, don’t even want non-gardening touching. “It’s just this phase of life.” Well, yes and no. HRT is an option if the current situation is causing problems.
HRT is not an option if you have had hormone positive breast cancer. In addition if you have migraine with aura there is an increased stroke risk. Yes there are non systemic creams and such that may help but HRT is the touted as a cure for all all over the internet/social media/etc, and as someone who falls into a category that it is contraindicated for, it is frustrating.
I hear you, but the non systemic creams totally count, especially for this concern.
If I’m not feeling it libido wise, I invite DH into the shower. I get a nice n-ked back rub and he gets a soapy hand job- we both feel loved, and for the part or you that’s all “ain’t nobody got time for that” it’s quick and clean-up is built in, lol.
Living this now. What helps so far:
– HRT for me
– working out together in the evenings at home once a week even if only a half hour.
– dropping the guilt on spending to take care of my appearance – dye at salon not at home without guilt, regular facials and massages.
– walk the dog together for an hour at least once a week
– making dates a priority. Sometimes this means we drop a kid at an activity and then go to a new coffee shop for an hour vs one of us doing drop off and then running errands.
– accepting that we need to schedule and prioritize couple time.
– Saturday nights are family movie night – 3 kids so they each take a turn picking a movie and then the 4th Saturday night is date night
-work travel, illness, life interrupt the routines constantly but we reschedule and don’t cancel.
I’m attending a gala next week for the nonprofit where I got my first job after college. The attire is “formal or any outfit that feels elevated to you.” This is the first time they’ve held the event so I can’t look refer to photos from past years. Help!!
Options in my closet: long black formal dress that shows more skin than I particularly want to display at a work event; short black velvet dress with long sleeves that doesn’t feel appropriate for the time of year; or short shift-style dress with very elevated beading and kind of a flapper vibe. My cat has recently been lighting money on fire with vet bills so I have a very limited budget to buy something new, but could look at my local secondhand places. WTH do I wear?
All of those sound too fancy. What do you have for like, your nicest work dress?
I would do an Amazon tulle skirt and a sweater or blouse in the same color with bolder jewelry or your take on this combo. I’ll post a link, but this skirt is amazing and looks a lot more expensive than it is. Monochromatic looks plus accessories should work for this.
Here’s a link
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X4VMZZH
I have a skirt very similar to the linked one from Amazon, in 2 colors. They are work horses, can be dressed up with strappy heels or down with fashion sneakers.
I agree with the poster that says all those sound too fancy or overdone. Do you have a nice pair of pants and jacket of some type? A basic dress?
I think option three sounds good! I don’t agree with people saying these are too formal or that you should just wear pants. Is this specifically billed as a gala? If so I think you’ll be fine with one of your options! Don’t wear the skin-baring one if you’ll feel uncomfortable the whole time.
I would do option 2 or 3, and don’t worry about being overdressed. You could also ask the nonprofit’s development staff for opinions – those of us that work in this area tend to be female and on tight budgets.
Has anyone (as part of an estate) valued sterling silver flatware? I have a feeling it’s not worth the 1000ish price to buy it new (and the value of the metal may be really what it’s worth). Other than by checking places like e-bay, my life isn’t like antiques roadshow, where I could get old things appraised easily.
you’re right that it’s likely to be mostly the value of the metal, vs. the design. Replacements might be a good source of what the “market” price is per vintage piece, if they carry the pattern.
Are you looking to buy or sell? If to buy, there is a lot of info out there on antique dealer sites, and this is actually a great use of chat GPT. If you’re eyeing something specific, see if you can get the makers mark and ask about that specifically. I buy a lot of silverware at antique shops and always check it out this way. Some is nice, some is just plated, but I love all of it.
I’ve been looking for my silver on Ebay and similar sites, and the prices are similar everywhere. Just look at closed transactions on ebay, rather than the active listings. My silver is almost 30 years old, but the prices I am seeing for a complete set are comparable to what my dad paid for it as a very generous wedding gift way back then.
Check a nicer jeweler – they may deal in antique flatware. I was stunned the last time I bought a couple pieces to complement my mom’s pattern that he actually put them on the scale to weigh the silver and sold them to me for the day’s silver price per ounce.
Help me out here. I have kids younger than people at work’s kids. They are talking about paying for gap year programs. I had thought that gap years were for “workish” things, like backpacking in Asia while teaching English here and there along the way. Not really a paying FT job, but a fund adventure that you funded as you went along. [I think that other people take a year off to work FT and save $ for college or have kids on the spectrum who are bright enough to go to college but need to mature socially and this is like a life-skills class that parents pay for; these people and their kids aren’t in this bucket.] Is this something to think of in the future (or it not really done here and is still more of a thing in Europe)?
What? If they all jumped off a cliff would you? No the vast majority of American kids don’t do a gap year and if yours want to you can tell them they have to pay for it
If the vast majority of American kids jumped off a cliff, I wouldn’t do that either.
I think OP is referring to the “Grand Tour” which is totally a thing.
I’d ask them? In my circles, it’s pretty common for parents to supplement their recent college grads incomes these days, but that sounds different.
I think there are things that are like “summer camp” for gap year – like if a kid wanted to do something like semester at sea, or outward bound or something? But I grew up solidly upper middle class, and did not know anyone, anyone *at all* that did that kind of thing. Or maybe they just mean they’re going to fund the year of travel in Asia. But either way, I don’t think this is normal. Or helpful to kids.
I only know one person whose kid did this. They flailed in college and flailed after graduating. It taught them that their parents will bankroll their latest whim and they don’t need to take school or work seriously.
The wealthy families I know with successful adult children made it clear they won’t subsidize the kid’s lifestyle after college. During high school they have their kid weigh the cost of tuition vs the expected salary for their major. As adults they treat their kids to family vacations, maybe they unexpectedly contribute money to a downpayment, but they don’t provide any ongoing support.
Eh, with exactly one kid to go by as a case study, I think you probably don’t know this experience taught them that their parents will bankroll their latest whim and they don’t need to take things seriously, or if there was something wrong with this kid to begin with that motivated the parents to try this in the first place (perhaps hoping that they’d mature a little just from being older, but it didn’t work). Were they really not already flailing beforehand?
How much do you want to launch capable adults and how much do you want to helicopter / fund your kid’s every whim? Unless there’s a super compelling situation or opportunity, this sounds like another case of rich people paying for adult kids to have fun and avoid responsibility. It okay for kids to struggle and have to work for what they want – ideal, even!
like many things, this can be both trendy in certain wealthy circles (expensive, optional, vaguely European, might make the kid more appealing to exclusive schools? sign them up!), and also completely abnormal for the other 99% of the US.
It’s more common in Europe because university is structured differently – you start medical school or law school straight out of high school and go for 6-7 years so it’s more common to take a break after high school before first degree vs after first degree.
I need to replace all my bathroom towels. Anyone get any recently that absorb well?
Thoughts on Miraval Arizona for a 3-4 day solo vacation in October? Spouse is tied up with trial prep, and I’ve already requested the time off work – use it or lose it. I like nature, would like some structure and would love something that is low-lift on the planning. I also have a ton of Delta miles and open to other suggestions that are restorative and sub $1K/night all in.
I’ve done Miraval in Austin and highly recommend. My main advice is that you need to be proactive with signing up for stuff when they send you the reminder emails, which is I assume the same for Tucson. You will still be able to make changes when you get there, but if you want to, for example, do aerial yoga that will fill up.
I was using a curl cream for my wavy hair from Prose and it was going well. Unfortunately I have run out and am about to leave for a long business trip. Any suggestions for curl cream for fine, wavy hair? Ideally one that comes in a travel size version