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Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Ruched Funnel-Neck Midi Dress

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A woman wearing a black midi dress with black bag and sandals

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

I’m a sucker for a dress with a slightly unusual neckline, and this well-priced number from Nordstrom is just perfect. The funnel neck and ruching at the waist give this dress a gorgeous shape. It comes in five different colors, so pick your favorite and add a blazer for a great office look.

The dress is $89.50 at Nordstrom and comes in sizes XXS-XXL. It comes in black, navy, “blue skyway,” “pink wisp,” and “ivory tofu.” 

Sales of note for 5/8:

  • Nordstrom – Savings event – up to 25% off! Good deals on Veronica Beard, Vince, Reiss (esp. coats), and Boss, as well as Wit & Wisdom and NYDJ
  • Ann Taylor – Mother's Day Event: 40% off your purchase. Readers love this popover blouse, and their suiting is also in the sale.
  • Boden – 15% off new styles with code
  • Express – $39+ summer styles + 25% off everything else
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off swim, dresses, and more
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, and extra 50% off clearance
  • Lands' End – 50% off sitewide — lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
  • Lo & Sons – Mother's Day Sale: Up to 40% off — reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
  • Loft – 50% off your purchase + free shipping, plus 2 for $28 tanks and tees
  • MAC – Enjoy 30% off lip products and receive a 4-piece Mother's Day gift with $90
  • M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
  • Ruti – Take $55 off your purchase with code 55ONUS
  • Sephora – Free same-day delivery for Mother's Day with code
  • Talbots – 50% off wear-now styles (5/8 only)
  • The Outnet – Extra 30% off select styles, including Veronica Beard, Victoria Beckham, and Marni.
  • TOCCIN – Use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off!
  • 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!

122 Comments

  1. Besides MZ Wallace (are still shopping there? I feel like people loved the Kate but that may have been in 2015) and Lo & Sons (RIP Seville bag!), where are we buying laptop totes with trolley sleeves? I looked at Tumi tote and backpack and didn’t love. Go back to the OG bag?

    1. Abra of Cap Hill Style just raved about Lo & Sons new leather laptop tote – it does look nice and has a trolley sleeve.

      1. The Trinity? Does anyone have it here? I kinda wish it had over the shoulder handles vs hand handles. Maybe it doesn’t matter?

    4. Beis is affordable and popular. Bellroy also is on a lot of good lists and has trolley sleeves IIRC

  2. Hi! I need a very specific kind of help. Does someone play trombone and can they recommend a good set of sheet music for someone (my spouse) who played in college but hasn’t picked up their instrument in years? I’m getting it cleaned and getting a new mouthpiece (or is that something they have to do themselves? I just had the idea 10 minutes ago) and want to add good sheet music to the mix. They like folk if there’s something in that vein that can be recommended.

      1. Thank you. If it’s obvious, I have no clue, but thought it might be a good holiday present to take care of the work of getting everything set up.

        1. I think it’s a great present! When someone has an inertia problem and thinks going to the music store for a little bit is too much hassle, then it’s definitely a help to have it taken off their plate. Maybe you can get one that will likely work and he can pick out another if it doesn’t?

    2. And to add, they often talk about picking up the instrument again but isn’t into the hassle of getting everything set up (new mouth piece, etc.) We don’t have neighbors in close distance.

      1. This is a lovely sentiment, but getting them set up to start playing again is not something a non-trombonist should attempt on her own. I would not want my husband to send my instrument out for maintenance because there are only a couple of places in the country I trust, and I wouldn’t want him picking out music or a mouthpiece because he wouldn’t know what music to get and a mouthpiece is so individual. If your spouse doesn’t have a music stand (or only has a folding stand), I would wrap up one of the classic black metal stands from Manhasset as the “gift.” Include a note saying you will go together to pick out a mouthpiece and music and to drop the instrument off for maintenance. To take the burden off your spouse, you can try to get leads on reputable maintenance people and good music stores. A local musicians’ group on Facebook or a national trombonists’ group (I assume this exists–it does for my instrument) can get you started. Be aware that you may need to ship the instrument for maintenance.

        Another thing you can do is to get the instrument valued and insured so it’s ready to ship. My instrument is insured through Anderson, a specialty insurer for musical instruments. This was less expensive and more convenient than getting a rider on my homeowner’s policy, and it protects the instrument during shipping. To purchase insurance, you will need a valuation, ideally from the manufacturer. My instrument’s manufacturer will provide a valuation letter for a nominal charge if you send the serial number, basic info, and photos.

        1. you sound like a more serious musician than someone who hasn’t picked up their instrument since college, not sure all this applies to the OPs situation.

          1. True, but I take to heart that maybe I shouldn’t just entrust his instrument to someone. Maybe I’ll just get a quote instead.

          2. I agree this poster sounds more serious than OP’s husband, but I think the point applies that this is a gift that could really go either way, and might not be best as a surprise. I think it’s a nice idea and might go over really well, but you might want to check with your husband before going all in on it, though you also know if this is the kind of surprise he’d like.

            I’m also a former musician and my mom is always talking about whether she should get my old instrument fixed up for me, which I have absolutely no interest in, even though in the abstract I miss playing. In reality, I have no interest in fitting it into my present life. I liked playing as part of a group, not randomly playing on my own at home (and I don’t want to join a community orchestra, I have other priorities in my life now).

          3. If he played in college there is a good chance much of it applies. If it’s a professional-level instrument, which most college musicians have, you don’t want to send it to just anyone for maintenance. If it’s just a student-level or step-up instrument he played in marching band, that’s different.

            Mouthpiece preferences will be completely individual at just about any level. And for music, she doesn’t know what level etudes etc. will be appropriate for him.

          4. College level marching band. There’s a good chance it was also his HS instrument. I need to rescue it out of storage as step 1. But maybe I’ll re-think.

          5. If he marched with the instrument I would have fewer concerns about where to send it for maintenance. Marching instruments take a beating and no one would march with a really nice instrument.

          6. OP, of it’s in storage, take a flier. If you have a music store near you, I’d go there and take his old mouthpiece in, maybe they can fit something similar. I’m presuming you didn’t graduate yesterday and this would just languish on a shelf. It’s super thoughtful and worst case, it all gets ruined and you buy a new one someday. That just seems highly unlikely.

        2. I agree that this is the kind of gift that could go either way. If my husband was saying that he wanted to get back into X hobby but not putting forth the effort to get the supplies/fix the item to be used, it means he doesn’t actually want to do it. He wants to be the kind of person who does X hobby, but truly isn’t at this point in his life.

          1. My husband is hit or miss here. Sometimes it becomes something he uses literally every day, and sometimes it just sits there. I wish I could predict!

    4. Does he still have his old mouthpiece? A good music store may be able to recommend one based on that one – assuming they allow exchanges, then it’s something to open rather than a gift card to a store, which feels kind of awkward between spouses IMHO.

    5. Ah, this is in my wheelhouse! As far as if it’s a good gift or not, you know your spouse best. The “getting back on my horn after a long layoff” starter pack would include Slide o Mix (a good slide lube), small spray bottle, a set of the Rochut/Bordogni vocalises, and as mentioned, he should pick out his own mouthpiece, but if you must get him one, Bach 5G or 6 1/2 AL (depending on the bore of his horn) is the reference point where many start before going down the rabbit hole of other makers/sizes. I’ve played on about all and still come back to my 5G on the regular.

      1. One more thing… trombones are much more forgiving of neglect than many instruments, so you almost certainly don’t need to ship it out unless there is no music shop in your town that offers repair services.

    6. sheetmusicdirect dot com. You can search by instrument. Also, a ton of music now comes in digital, and there are tablet apps for displaying music (and you can vary the size). I play the cello, which includes the same pitch range as the trombone, and there are some nice trombone transcriptions of the Bach cello suites (the fourth suite is in a very brass-friendly key).

    7. I’m a musician and I think this is a great idea. When I helped a friend do something similar for their spouse (for someone who played flute/trumpet – not my instruments), I emailed a local flute teacher that played in the small community orchestra for advice. They were very happy to give some specific ideas. This might be useful for the sheet music recs.

    8. Is there a music conservatory where you are? I am picking up piano again after many years and our local music conservatory has lessons and classes for all instruments and all levels. you might want to consider getting him a lesson or two to get him luck started.

  3. I’m trying something new after trying it in a restaurant. Hit me with your best recipes for oxtails. I had them in a pasta dish in a red sauce. So rich. So delicious. I had read about them but never seen them in a store. I hunted and found some! What next?

    1. I don’t have a recipe, but oxtail is very easy with a little patience, so I hope you’ll really enjoy what you end up making!

    3. Don’t have a recipe, as I just learned it by watching my grandma, but I suggest, at least for the first time, that you get it from a good butcher who can clean it well. It’s a cheap cut, but freshness has a massive impact on taste and cleaning it is very involved.
      Highly recommend polenta as a side dish.

      1. Thanks for this heads up; I was the commenter who said they’re easy, and I’m guessing this is because the butcher cleans it well for me (maybe also why it isn’t all that cheap when I get it).

        1. OP here — it came frozen, and looks to be cleaned-up chunks of meat and bone. Can tell when it thaws. And I think it is stuff like this that mentally put me off from even trying it for a long time.

          2. Wait. No. There is more to this? Is it like a crapcake, where I eat the crabcake and am oblivious to the large amount of additional labor involved?

            The meat was in a red sauce, over pasta. I know of nothing else but applying the fork.

            What else do I need to know? Is this varsity level stuff???

    4. Oxtails are my birthday dinner! I love an oxtail stew and an oxtail stroganoff. You can’t go wrong with a slow, long braise. Try a Korean or Mexican butcher for good quality oxtails.

  4. Any new fragrances or body mists that y’all have discovered? Is anyone familiar with Phlur or salt and stone? Trying to come up with some ideas for Christmas gifts…

    1. I’m liking the Saltair Santal Bloom scent. Bought the lotion at Ulta on a whim and plan on buying the body wash. Pretty sure they have a mist option.

    2. I still have my Hepcat Phlur from years ago and like it. I’ve really loved the mini gift sets in recent years from Penhaligon’s, Juliet has a Gun, Killian, REPLICA. Costco has a bunch of large eau de toilette of various Replica ones if you know they like them, but I wouldn’t want to receive a large size of anything unless I know I love it and I’m almost out of it.

      this was my entrance to Penhaligon’s – very heavy, musky scents so not good for the person who likes lighter scents.
      https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/penhaligons-scent-library-portraits-fragrance-discovery-gift-set

    3. I love an indie perfume and Phlur is one of my fave brands. They cycle through scents pretty regularly so my all time favorite isn’t available anymore (Olmstead & Vaux). Hot tip: their body washes are DIVINE. They truly helped me step up my shower game.

      Also, try Imaginary Authors for a fun set of sample fragrances. Very unique!

    4. I also love Phlur (and I also had my favorite scent, Siano, discontinued – very sad about that). They do sample packs, which is how I found my favorite.

  5. Would love ideas for a holiday party outfit for a weeknight event hosted by a trade association, in DC. Am guessing most people will be coming from work. Normal black work pants and a sparkly sweater? Velvety dress? Somehow I hav not encountered this before despite being a mid-career professional.

    2. Philly, but for all my after-work parties, I usually plan my work outfit so I can swap to a velvet blazer and bolder jewelry and be good to go. Changing the entire outfit to a velvety dress is too much, and execs tend to wear festive blazers vs. sweaters.

      1. +1 – I have a VB velvet blazer for this purpose. I wear mine to work though too. I don’t bother with changing. When I want to get real festive, I pair with blackwatch pants.

    4. I love a sparkly sweater but sometimes find they are too hot to wear in a crowded space and I overheat. Maybe that’s just me. But in any event, I have a slouchy velvet blazer from some years ago that I wear with pants and a silky top or something velvet. J Crew Factory actually has a ton of options that would work. Throw in some sparkly earrings and you’re good to go

    5. Wear festive work clothes that day, like velvet trousers with a normal sweater, that kind of thing.

    6. I have a black silk velvet tank top I can wear under a blazer for occasions like this. Look for what Kim France calls a “party in a top.”

    7. I like brocade blazers for this. My current one is Lafayette 148 in teal with a bit of scarlet. Layer over your usual wool trousers. Up your daily driver pump game a bit if you usually wear them.

    1. This is like Southern Charm, DC edition. All of the people are a train wreck and yet I just cannot care.

      1. Actually, I still don’t care and these are horrible (but well-accessorized) people, but that is a delicious read.

        I do know someone who used to work for Mark Sanford back when he was going to be the next big thing. It’s amazing how six degrees of separation the world has would up being.

    7. Don’t have time to do a deep dive, but I’ll say that poem quickly disabused me of any understanding I had for people finding RFK attractive (I’ll admit he’s fit). Wow.

  7. I’d love a brightly colored and patterned (and ruffled would be OK) casual nylon bag for weekends. Learning the hard way that light=colored solids just show stains and scuffs (and I am still a stain-prone person). It has to be a purse and go over my shoulder. I have a lot of cotton bags like this that are for the short overnight or weekend jaunt that I don’t apparently take (so too big to use for a purse — if it’s not too heavy, there aren’t shoulder straps or it might drag on the ground).

    3. check out Rothy’s bags! I have a leopard as well as a bright purple one that are my go-to travel bags and general errand bags, incredibly lightweight and they’re not showing signs of wear despite being kicked/stepped on by my kid every time he gets in the car.

  8. I am attempting to shop for a new living room rug. It seems like many rugs these days are those printed mat-type rugs (like Loloi), washable, or flatwoven and scratchy. Where can I shop for a decent quality patterned rug that’s actually pleasant to sit on? I’m mostly finding low-quality rugs from places like Rugs USA and was hoping for something a bit more attractive.

    1. Even small cities have a rug gallery somewhere. I find them a little intimidating in an “if you have to ask how much, you can’t afford it” sort of way, but the one in your town probably do have a pretty wide range of prices.

        1. Is drop shipping different from what’s desired in this case? (Somebody stateside who can import a vintage rug out of another country? Or is the concern that it’s a fake?)

          1. The concern is fake rugs. An actual dealer in Pakistan or whatever is not a drop shipper.

    4. Are you open to estate sales, Facebook marketplace, or consignment shops? A used rug + a professional rug cleaning can still be work out to be a better deal than new if you know what to shop for (knotted, not tufted, wool rugs are the ones that have longevity in the resale market). I personally haven’t braved the local Persian rug importer yet.

      A totally standard rug pad will add some really nice plushness.

      I think they’re currently not as in vogue as they were for a minute there, but look up beni ourain and similar rugs and see if you like them. They’re very plush (I think some were historically used as bedding!).

      1. Also ask yourself if soft means high pile and plush, or if it means soft to run your hands over. If you don’t mind a low pile rug but personally find wool scratchy, you might like nylon (which is easier to find as carpeting, but carpeting can be finished as rug). But touch and see since it’s too individual a preference to predict!

    5. Comfort is a combination of flooring underneath, rug pad (splurge on a thicker one), and the rug itself.
      I have a wool tufted PB rug that has lasted great for 12 years. Some relatives have custom I think from Ethan Allen that is super soft and comfy

    6. I buy wool rugs from West Elm, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel and have always had good experiences.

    7. Can you go to a dealer? Rug dealers will often sell vintage rugs, you get better quality. But this is mainly for Persian rugs.

    10. honestly, our favorite rugs are from Costco or the like – shag with a liner beneath to make them more plush. when we’ve tried to get fancier wool rugs they’re itchy and hard to clean.

      agree that i’d look to west elm, crate and barrel, pottery barn, and more if you wanted to spend money, and local estate sales if you like a more traditional (or 80s) vibe.

    11. HomeGoods! Lots of decent rugs on deep discount (I got a 9×12 wool Ralph Lauren rug for $400, as well as multiple other non-wool and quite soft rugs for $200 and up) and the supply updates frequently. I have been burned ordering online too many times, I have to buy in person now.

  9. Does anyone else use those little plastic spatulas that sometimes come with skincare products, and if so, how do you use them? I’m trying a new Korean moisturizer and I’m flummoxed – it comes in a tub but there’s nowhere to store the spatula (no slot under the lid, etc). I sort of see how it would be more hygienic than using my fingers, but I feel like the lack of easy storage makes the whole process more trouble than it’s worth.

    1. The preservative system in the cream makes the hygiene concern of applying it with clean hands null, feel free to toss the spatula. I feel fancy when I use them for the first time, and then immediately forget about it.

    3. I always thought the spatulas were for getting the last of the product out of the container corners. Would not have dawned on me that they were intended for use from the start.

  10. Piggy-backing off of the trombone music question – does anybody have recommendations for easy guitar sheet music, preferably arrangements of classical pieces?

    I am the poster who accompanied her child for a duet on piano and guitar after not playing for 20 years, and I’d really like to add to my own repertoire.

    I have gotten from my library a few music books by Leon Block, which are simple arrangements on classics like Beethoven, Bach, Chopin etc. I really like them as they are right for my level, but there doesn’t seem to be much out there that’s similar. Some other solo books by other authors were way above my skill level and time available to try to achieve success.

    Also, if there’s a good reddit forum for this, please tell me!

    1. Not a guitarist so I have no recommendations, but kudos to you for getting back into music-making as an adult! I did the same and it is really my reason for being now.

  11. WWYD… If you were going to retire in the next year or two and you knew the year would be bad due to layoffs and short staffing leading up to the end of the year, would you bail early or suffer for 6 or 7 months and maybe get severance. Also if you bail early it would hurt the people who have treated me and my team badly over the years. I’m not sure if the glee of revenge is worth the possible loss of a severance package that might not even come if I choose to retire at the end of this mess. Thanks.

    1. Every time I run a retirement calculator I am struck by the huge difference that working an extra year or two makes to total savings. I would probably want to stick it out until my planned retirement date and/or collect severance, unless I were already far over target on retirement savings and just could not do it anymore. IME people who are a year or two out from retiring typically check out and do very little, so you can probably get away with a pretty high degree of disengagement.

    2. Severance often comes with some deal for health care continuance, so as a person too young for medicare, I’d stay and get severance, if for nothing else but the possible health care (and needing it for a smaller window).

    3. There’s no such thing as revenge at work, I have never regretted someone’s departure. Stick around and make a good financial decision for yourself.

      1. FWIW there is absolutely such a thing as revenge at work. I had a boss who was taking credit for all my work and throwing me under the bus to executives saying I ‘did nothing’ a few days before a big deliverable I went on extended sick leave, my boss floundered spectacularly and was fired.

      2. +10000. Take care of yourself. Stay and take the earnings plus severance and/or unemployment.

    4. This is about you—not anyone else. Stay and negotiate a deal. The money and healthcare benefits will last a lot longer than any short-lived glee. Feel the glee over a martini at resort you’ve paid for with the extra money after you’ve left instead.

      Caveat: if you have any serious mental or physical health issues, leave now and focus on your quality of life.

      1. +1. Tho if you CAN find a way to get some small revenge while making the best financial choice for yourself …. do that.

      2. “Feel the glee over a martini at resort you’ve paid for with the extra money after you’ve left instead.“ I love this. Thank you.

    6. Don’t let imaginary revenge fantasies cloud the possibility of real money.

      I’ve seen plenty of people flounce over the years and yeah they’re talked about for a day or two and then it’s just, ok who’s taking over task XYZ. Everyone just gets on with it.

  12. Looking for suggestions for a casual winter pant I can wear on errands and around town but still be comfortable at home. I would like for it to be warm and have an elastic waistband. My summer go-to was wide-leg linen pants. I basically want the winter equivalent now. I’ve got my eye on the BR everywhere ponte pant if anyone has thoughts on that one.

    1. I get the Athleta lined Brooklyns for weekends where I don’t want to wear the Athleta fleece leggings.

    3. That’s usually cords for me but for an elastic waist I like that Stephanies from Universal Standard.

  13. if you grow your own tomatoes, which varieties do you grow and why? looking at seeds. we mostly like cherry tomatoes (patio choice yellow and sweet million 100 have been best for us) but would love to find a slicing tomato for sandwiches that doesn’t take all season to grow and doesn’t all come ripe at the same time. (we grew brandywine and mortgage lifter this year and probably won’t again.)

    1. Celebrity bush hybrid was my go-to in Florida. I didn’t start them from seeds – Bonnie sells them at any hardware store. They were always reliable for me and quick to produce. Not huge fruits, but big enough to slice. A good all-rounder.

    2. I always just poke around at home Depot and come home with a couple of varieties. My local climate also makes growing them pretty easy. That being said, the most flavorless tomato I’ve ever grown was a Roma, wouldn’t buy that again. A beefsteak tomato is always nice for slicing, although my favorite ones are medium sized varieties, which I often find more flavorful.

    3. I mostly do cherry tomatoes because they’re my favorite and weirdly hard to find at the grocery store, but for full-sized, I do Cherokee Purple and sometimes German Johnson. I tried San Marzanos this year for sauce and they had a lot of blossom end rot, so I’m not doing those again. For cherries, I always do super sweet 100s and sweeties and then a few other varieties of whatever strikes my fancy in the seed catalog that year. This year, it was Sungolds and Black Cherry. The black cherries were probably my favorite taste, but they split pretty easily and weren’t super productive, so I may not do those again. The sungolds were easy and tasty, so those will probably get added to the regular rotation. (Can you tell I really love home grown tomatoes?)

  14. Saint and Sofia has better quality knit dresses with interesting modern details than this. For less on sale.

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