Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Cashmere Silk Theo Polo
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
After several years at my current job, I’ve amassed quite a collection of company-branded polos, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually worn a single one. I don’t find them flattering, and honestly, a polo and slacks just isn’t my vibe. Or at least that’s what I thought until I came across this cashmere-silk polo sweater from Tuckernuck. It’s soft, flattering, and comes in several gorgeous colors.
I’ve been wearing this light blue version with navy trousers, but I may need to add the other colorways to my cart soon.
The sweater is $198 at Tuckernuck and comes in sizes XXS-XXL.
Sales of note for 4/24:
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off your purchase PLUS $50 off $100! Readers love this popover blouse, and their suiting is also in the sale.
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Brooklinen – 25% off sitewide — we have and love these sateen sheets
- Evereve – Now through Sunday: up to 70% off! Markdowns include Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- Express – $39+ Summer Styles
- J.Crew – Friends & Family Event, 30% off your purchase! Good deals on blazers and boots
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything, extra 50% off clearance, and extra 20% off $125+
- 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 – Friends & Family event, 40% off entire purchase + extra 15% off + free shipping
- M.M.LaFleur – This weekend only, save 25% on dresses. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
- Nordstrom – 1500+ new women's markdowns
- Sephora – Up to 50% off hair deals today only – includes Shark Beauty tools! (See our recent discussion on how to upgrade the Revlon brush.)
- Talbots – Friends & Family event, 30% off entire purchase – today only, free shipping, no minimum
- 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!
Does anyone have experience with Margaux shoes? My beloved Cole Haan black ballet flats finally died after 15 years of hard use (and many cobbler visits!), and I need to replace them. My problem is that I need a shoe in a narrow size – preferably AAA, but I can make AA work – and Cole Haan no longer makes narrows. I like the looks of several of the Margaux flats, but they are far more expensive than my usual price point and I’ve never seen them in the wild. Also, any other suggestions for stupidly narrow feet would be helpful. Naturalizers run too wide, Trotters fit, but are uncomfortable, and I can’t afford Ferrangamo.
I can’t vouch for Margaux, but I’ve had relative success with J.Crew and Everlane flats!
No experience with Margaux but in case you need another option, M.Gemi runs quite narrow.
I’m spoiled after years in white shoe finance (internal facing, not client work) – we get about 5 weeks PTO and then market closures as holidays.
Sorry – wrong thread!
Fwiw – cannot comment on Margaux but I’d looking into MGemi. The shoes work well for my narrow heel/wider toe box.
Margaux would probably work for you. I am the opposite with wide feet and found they were not wide enough. I have a pair of mules that I wear anyway now they’re broken in (but it was a painful process) and heeled sandals that are unwearable that I gave to my sister who has normal feet. Don’t buy on sale so you can return if needed.
I have a pair of Margaux boots in a narrow size. They fit well and are comfortable. I found them to run a bit long; I am in between sizes and had to choose the shorter size.
The brand’s availability is very spotty, especially in narrow sizes, so if your size is in stock don’t wait.
Following! (And commiseration… it’s gotten so much harder to get narrow shoes over the last decade, so many brands have stopped making them!)
I buy the M width in Margaux’s ballet flats and they are pretty narrow, so if they make a narrow width, I’m sure they’d work for you. My feet are on the narrower side of average, and I can just fit into the M width. They’re beautiful shoes. I hate the price point but I buy them anyway.
I have a pair of the Demi flats from Margaux. My feet are also on the narrower side of average and the M width works for me.
What would you say qualifies as “generous” PTO? I see this promise on basically every job ad, covering even the most stingy PTO and it’s become meaningless. Does every job just say this even when it’s objectively not true? What do you think is actually generous? Obviously, unlimited PTO, but if limited, what would be “generous” as compared to other jobs?
Six weeks vacation plus at least ten days sick time you can use for both yourself and family (eg when kids are sick).
Separate sick and vacation benefits; sick time that rolls over; probably at least four weeks of vacation.
I have 15 sick days, 20 vacation days and 2 personal days, it is acceptable. There’s a few other types of niche leave I have too (bereavement, jury duty, etc).
All holidays are paid, and we often get a few ‘extras’ like both good Friday and Easter Monday. I didn’t realize there were folks without paid holidays.
I think 5+ weeks of true vacation time (separate sick leave) is generous for the US. I had 6 weeks vacation + unlimited sick leave when I worked in higher ed, and I definitely thought of that as generous (one of the only reasons I stuck around as long as I did).
And I actually don’t think unlimited PTO is generous. Employers mostly do that so they don’t have to pay it out when you leave, and studies show that people with unlimited PTO don’t use that much, I think 3-ish weeks. So basically it’s a way for employers to give stingy PTO without being open about it.
Yeah… unlimited PTO combined with understaffing and endlessly looming deadlines can mean not much time off at all.
My vacation and sick leave are the two main reasons I haven’t left higher ed … because boy are there some good reasons to leave.
yupppppp
I have 37 days of PTO – no separate sick time, which is my preference – and consider that generous by US standards.
Unlimited PTO is not generous. It’s too hard to actually use the same amount of time defensibly, plus there’s no payout of unused time if you leave.
Same here; I have 40 days of PTO without a separate sick leave bucket and never want to go back.
Also would avoid “unlimited” PTO.
I’d consider separate sick leave + 25 days vacation/personal days.
I refuse to work somewhere without separate sick.
I have 4 weeks vacation and 13 days of sick leave a year, and I consider that generous.
In order to be generous, I would say that it has to be enough for you to take one week at Christmas, at least a one week vacation trip, and a bunch of random days. I do that every year, and many years take a two week trip.
I agree with this- generous to me means getting all your planned vacations in without stress. We get 4 weeks (after 4 years), plus 2 weeks of sick leave, plus some random personal days, summer Fridays, etc. I wouldn’t necessarily call it generous but it’s more than enough for my purposes.
Five weeks PTO that we are required to take, unlimited sick, and the week between Christmas Eve and New Years Day off – last year that was expanded to include Jan 2, which fell on a Friday.
Definitely a lie. My company offers 3 weeks for managerial level positions and above … and it’s 5 years before you get 4 weeks. 8 holidays. Additional sick leave. And we describe vacation time as “generous” in our job postings. Massive eyeroll. Some positions start at 2 weeks PTO. Our job postings also say that we offer “competitive pay” even though we target slightly below median for new hires.
Anyways to actually answer your question I’d say 5 weeks (or the ability to get to 5 weeks after a year or two) and at least 11 paid holidays. Separate sick leave. Based on US standards.
I saw this language on a post that was 20 days PTO, sick+vacation combined. It makes me skeptical about everything else the org claims.
I have unlimited PTO but probably average about 20 days of true vacation days. I wfh so unless I’m really ill, I work while I have a mild cold or my kid is home sick.
I do think unlimited pto is a bit of a con. There are a lot of passive stipulations around it in my org. You can only take so many days consecutively, you have to request it by a certain timeframe with multiple layers of approval etc.
i have 21 days PTO (combined sick) and we are also closed from december 24-january 1,. i do not like having the combined bucket, but the number of days in total i do think is fairly generous. after 10 years you get an extra 5 days.
In my mind, 4 weeks non sick PTO is “average”, so anything less is “bad PTO” and they need to be offering something else above average (top tier salary or it’s a promotion or what have you to interest me); so “generous” PTO ought to be more than that.
Although tbh, if they post “generous” pto but don’t put more info, I assume they mean “pretty mediocre” PTO. It’s like “competitive salary”. If the numbers are appealing, you’d be sharing them.
Companies know lots of people are desperate out there right now, and they’re ready to take advantage.
5 weeks, all major holidays closed, separate sick time, some amount of flexibility to come late and early. That’s what i have and honestly i never need more and at the end of the fiscal year usually end up scrambling to use some of it.
10 paid Federal Holidays per year
200 annual accrual hours of PTO for new employees (increases every five years up to the first 15 years with the company)
up to 10 days of compassionate care (for immediate family)
12 weeks paid pregnancy leave
4 weeks paid parental leave
plus other niche types of leave (military, professional research/teaching, advanced study program, professional renewal)
By the time I retired, I had something like 20 days of vacation (I was there almost 20 years and it increased with length of service), unlimited sick leave, 2 “personal days,” and we observed 12 or so holidays. The vacation was use it or lose it, which I loved because the culture therefore supported taking all your vacation days and people really did take it all. (This was government.) I considered that a generous package.
Very common to say that even the stingiest PTO is generous. My cousin works for a company with 10 days total PTO and they tried to tout it as best in the industry, which it VERY much isn’t.
I have 4 full weeks of PTO (accrued, so paid on on termination for any reason), 1 week of sick leave, 1 weeks of volunteer time, 10 paid holidays, with generous carry forward rules since I’ve never been able to actually take off 4 weeks in a given year once you factor in long weekends, etc.
I have unlimited PTO and am actually encouraged to take time off. All major holidays off, the week between Christmas and New Years off, 6 months paid parental leave for all parents (plus 6-8 more weeks for birthing parents), and four bonus Fridays off during the summer. I think this is very generous, but I also came from Biglaw where any time off was caveated by client needs and billable hours.
I’m unhappy in my role but need to stay as long as possible for financial reasons and for my resume. Practical tips on how to make the most of it for the time being? I stay late everyday working, and there’s a lack of community with my coworkers. I’ve been here 6 months.
Figure out how much you get paid per working day. Put that number on a sticky note on your monitor. Tell yourself “I can deal with this for $x more today.”
Working late every day is probably not helping anything. As a boss, I’d wonder why you can’t get your work done during the day. For you, that’s a recipe for burnout.
Yea, I think this would be my first place to examine as well. What’s the reason for staying late? And are you taking breaks throughout the day, or just powering through? If you’re just powering through, starting to put firm boundaries around a lunch break where you can disconnect may also help.
I’m 40 and I don’t have a practical solution for jewelry storage. I’ve somehow gotten by with a cheap box I’ve had since high school and something I got when my grandmother died (not attached to it, it was just a jewelry box she no longer needed).
What do you use? I don’t wear a lot of jewelry but need something to keep it contained and somewhat organized and not collecting dust. No budget, can spend whatever. I do want it covered as opposed to one of those hanging jewelry organizer things. A couple necklaces, some rings, couple dozen pairs of earrings
I’m eyeing this one right now for myself (plus DH’s watch). Although it’s marketed for cufflink storage, those slots are perfect for stud earrings, which a lot of cases don’t have enough of for my collection-
https://www.potterybarn.com/products/burlwood-jewelry-armoire/
I am pretty spoiled because I have jewelry storage built in to a closet, and I love it. You can get something similar that is free standing. If you do a search for “jewelry armoire,” you will get an ideal of what I have: hooks for necklaces on top and cubbies for rings, earrings and brooches, etc, below. Sort of like this: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/Home-Garden/Costway-Wall-Door-Mounted-Mirror-Jewelry-Cabinet-Lockable-Armoire-Organizer-w-LED-Light-White/19204576/product.html?
I love the Stackers from The Container Store. Customizable based on your needs and you can add more as your collection grows!
I bought silk jewelry pouches online. they have zippers as well as button closure. I put the jewelry that I don’t wear everyday in these and can stack them in a box.
For employers that have vacation or PTO days increase based on tenure, how realistic is it for a new hire to negotiate into a higher tier? I’m pretty senior in my current job and get 6 weeks vacation (separate from sick days). I would want to get an equivalent amount and not start at 2-3 weeks.
The answer to this is it depends. Are you switching to a small org, a large one with pay bands, government?
if you want significantly more than what long-tenured peers at your new org have, it will look kind of out of touch.
But if the new org has similar vacation for those folks as you have at your current org, then reasonable to ask to have that same amount of PTO immediately, vs. having to earn your way into it over time.
Very realistic- I did it when I started at my current job. After 10 years of having 4 weeks vacation, no way was I starting with just two.
It’s pretty realistic to ask for a match to what you’d get with a long tenure at the new place, in my experience. So if you have 6 weeks at your current company and long-tenured people at the new company get 6 weeks, you can likely negotiate it. If long-tenured people at the new company get 3 weeks, you can ask but odds are very slim.
depends where you work. government probably can’t accommodate it but a private employer can. i wouldn’t take less time than i’m currently getting at a new job unless i was miserable or desperate. i think it’s reasonable to ask for it, only you know if the job would be worth it to you if they say no.
I need a new pair of water sandals that are comfortable enough to walk around in. I don’t necessarily need something rugged, just something that’s going to stay on my feet and be comfortable enough to walk around in. Something lightweight. I loathe Chacos; they are uncomfortable and feel like wearing bricks. I have a pair of Keens, and they’re OK, but I prefer them for walking and gardening and rarely use them as a water shoe. I have a pair of Birkenstock EVAs and have been unimpressed. They make my feet sweat, plus take up a TON of room in my suitcase if they need to be packed.
I suppose Tevas are my next thing to try. I remember trying on the Tirra and they had too much space around the straps for my skinny, high-arched feet. Curious about the Hurricanes and the Universal Originals.
For a person who loves to kayak, paddleboard, and be near the water, I have yet to find a sandal that I really love!
The Croc flip flop family (yes, I know, I was skeptical too) is super comfy for me, though I’m not wearing them during actual water sports.
Do they have grip? (I don’t have any Croc brand shoes, but my OOFOS are pretty slippery when wet.)
I hated Chacos too. I have a pair of Crocs sandals with velcro straps that work great – comfy and stable wet or dry.
Do you need a lot of protection for your foot? (I’ve worn Xero sandals in water before)
I don’t necessarily need toe protection, but I do need something that straps to my feet, which is why I don’t use flip flops.
Xero do have straps (that’s a non-negotiable for me too). They’re going to pack lighter than anything else you could buy, but whether you can walk in them depends on how long you can go without arch support (I can go on a while on non-pavement like trails; I do not like to wear them on pavement or hard floors). I like to be able to feel what I’m stepping on when I’m on uneven surfaces so they make me feel like I’m less likely to misstep or slip.
I love my Teva hurricanes – they’re probably my most-worn shoe. I don’t find them heavy but they aren’t exactly sleek (they won’t pack down super small). Arch support is decent and my ~4 year old pair still has plenty of tread left.
I have the Hurricanes and love them. Also have a high arch.
There must be high arches and high arches. I really like Teva styles, but my arches are too high for anything they make.
Where do you get reasonably priced large roller luggage (checked size)? I’m hoping to avoid amazon, but also don’t want samsonite quality. For what it’s worth, I’m making a 10 day trip to the UK and all I have is carry-on size roller bags, and some very old backpacking style backpacks, which I have taken to Europe before, but I don’t particularly want to this time. Suggestions would be helpful!
The TJMaxx store family has tons of luggage.
Yes! This is where I bought mine!
Go to Marshall’s or Home Goods, they will have a selection of hard sided luggage.
I’d ask around your networks if it’s not something you need to use all the time? We travel a ton and have a pretty comprehensive suitcase wardrobe. I regularly lend out a bag to less frequent travellers. None of my bags are particularly precious – although I was very impressed Eastpak repaired the lining of my 15 year old bag for free last month.
Costco!
What’s your budget? Samsonite has some large spinner luggage for under $200 and currently have everything on an additional 20% off. Amazon Basics bags (around $100) aren’t as nice to wheel around, but they will get you through a 10-day trip.
Kohl’s. And they are always having sales. They carry Samsonite and other known brands.
Help! A week or two (or three) ago, we were talking on here about black pants for work, and somebody recommended a pair that had the type of fabric in the name, like “soft linen drapy pants” or something (but not that name). I remember these pants had buttons at the waistline to adjust the waist, maybe? Anyway I thought I’d bought a pair but apparently I didn’t click “buy,” and now I can’t find them again. Does anybody remember what I’m talking about?