Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Miles Ankle Pant
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
I was recently complaining to a friend that it was time to replace some of my beloved Eileen Fisher crepe pants when she leapt out of her seat to show me her new favorite contenders in the category of “pants that are work-appropriate but still feel like pajamas.” As she jumped and stretched in these Vuori ankle pants, I decided that was enough of an endorsement for me to give them a try.
Like the other Vuori items I have in my closet, the fabric feels luxe, and the fit is perfection. With the elastic waistband in the back, I’m not sure I would wear these in the most formal of offices, but for 95% of us, they’ll be a great work option.
The pants are $110 at Vuori and come in sizes XS-XXL in a regular (26”) and long (29”) inseam. They’re also available in “blue coast,” “smokey taupe,” and cerise (in lucky sizes only).
There are a bunch of great pull-on pants for the office. Some of our longstanding favorites include those from Athleta*, Nic & Zoe*, Eileen Fisher*, Theory, AYR, and Betabrand*. (Brands with plus sizes are marked with asterisks.)
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!
I’n skeptical Vuori could have any pants appropriate for the workplace…
Organizing question: where do you put packages or things that need to be set out to go out the door the next day? We have a very small entryway and no console table or anything like that that could hold such items. They end up cluttering other areas if I’m not able to get to FedEx right away or if I bought the teacher appreciation gift on Tuesday to bring Friday or what have you. If I store them out of sight, I know I will forget. Where do yours go?
I hate looking at clutter like this. When I lived in a smaller space, there was a floor space between the kitchen cabinets and a piece of furniture. I left my purse, shoes, and these types of packages in this floor space. I could still see it from my couch because the apartment was open concept, but it was all together and tidy. Because the packages were where I kept my purse and shoes, they did not get forgotten.
I put non-perishable items directly into my car, which is parked in our SFH garage. I don’t see them and I can’t forget them.
My entry way is small to, but does have a small console table. Packages go either under the console table or lately or a coffee table that is near the entrance and in my eyesight as I leave, but not actually at the entrance.
In a cloth bag hanging from the coatrack or doorknob.
Same, mine currently has shoes to bring to the school reuse section and a library book.
yes, and i have different cloth bags for different purposes so I know a library return from an Amazon return and just seeing the bag hanging there kind of triggers the memory.
This. I hang it on the doorknob so I can’t forget it. I could miss the bag on the coatrack, especially if I don’t need a coat that day. If it’s too big to hang on the doorknob, I put it on the floor in front of the door. Morning is all about routine, so if something needs to be added, it needs to be disruptive enough to not be missed.
I also store outgoing packages/mail next to my purse so I don’t forget them. For me, it is near my computer/desk.
I have a small apartment, and a basket next to the front door with things that need to go out the door with me the next time I leave. Failing that . . . putting it in front of the door itself so I have to move it to open the door.
Who are your favorite Apple-shaped influencers or celebrities? Looking for inspo
Aidy Bryant! Love her style.
I feel like I should have solved this by this point in my life (I’m early 30s), but does anyone who dealt with an extreme procrastination issue have tips for actually solving it? I have always been a big procrastinator, and yet I do excellent work. I was a straight A student growing up, graduated with honors from undergrad, and completed an master’s while working full time. I’ve also always gotten “exceed expectations” on my work reviews. I seem to have an uncanny ability to internally know how long something will take me, because I usually start at the latest possible moment and yet still produce something that is done on time and is praised. But I could be doing so much more – there are days when I don’t do any meaningful work because I don’t have a strict deadline motivating me. And without that external motivating factor, I just end up telling myself “I’ll do it later” and then the whole day has gone by and I’ve done nothing. Does anyone have any tips on how to finally tackle this? Also, important to note that setting deadlines and timetables for myself does not work; I know I can ignore them.
This is me and Pomodoro timer plus treat after it goes off (a break, a coffee, a short walk, whatever) works ok. So does working fewer hours and making weekend plans so I’m not available for work. Work expands to fill the time allotted.
This is me. I agree that deadlines don’t work – I know they’re imaginary, that’s not motivating. Some of the best things for me are more proactive.
– When I get home from somewhere no “plopping” on the couch
– Set up the next thing before I do something. Think like 1 action ahead. So set up my bag for work before I go to sleep. If I want to cook something later take out the groceries. Make sure there is no barrier to starting.
– Routines in general work really well. It’s easier if I don’t have to actively make a decision every time.
– I wasn’t 100% sure if you meant just at work but also in life. FOr work, it again works best if I have routines. I have a paper planner and at the beginning of each day and end of each day write what I have to do the next day. I have a strict morning routine.
– Honestly, I’m okay with the fact that my work is actually done in spurts, not consistently. I definitely do well at work and get everything done and go above and beyond. That reminds me, I have 3 HR trainings to do.
– I write everything down. I’m never going to just “remember” to do something.
– Working from home is not good for me. I’ve signed up for a coworking space even though my job doesn’t pay for it. It’s only 2 days/week so the other days I go to a coffee shop. That also creates a clearer sense of deadline than sitting in my own apartment.
I would love to talk more about this. I do think I might have ADHD – something to look into.
Honestly, I’ve been wondering if I have ADHD for awhile and everyone’s responses might be the push I need to actually get evaluated….
I hear you about not plopping on the couch. Once I’m sitting down I am not getting up again haha. And if it’s not written down it doesn’t exist!
I would say this is mostly an issue at work, but at the same time, I never do things around the house (cleaning/laundry, organizing, changing seasonal decor…) without my husband pushing me to do it or I’m out of clean clothes or something. Things that don’t need to be done just don’t get done.
Agreed with this. A “little sit” always seems to turn into a “big sit”! Never sit down until I’m done with whatever I planned to do that evening.
This sounds and feels very familiar! It doesn’t sound like your procrastination is creating any real problems, other than you feeling like you’re capable of more. So … is it actually a problem? Do you procrastinate when you’re really into something that interests you? I’m guessing you don’t.
Eh I’m very similar and I very much do. It’s extremely frustrating.
I say this without any judgment whatsoever, but ADHD may be something to look into. This type of procrastination is kind of a hallmark.
yep see my comment at 9:37
Well I tend to let too many tasks build up and then I’m very stressed for a few days/weeks and then I go back to procrastinating again. So it’s a problem in the sense that I could be preventing this stress, but find I can’t.
I’ve definitely wondered about ADHD before and am getting starting to get the point where it might be something I want to explore. I just don’t want to work for another 30 years feeling this way…
The way it was explained to me, stress hormones can act like homegrown stimulants that successfully overcome ADHD, but relying on them gets to be hard on us physically and psychologically.
Do something else with your time since you don’t need it to get things done anyway?
I will say, I personally saw a neuropsychologist and tested maximally positive for ADHD on all the available tests despite all the accolades and achievements. So for me working against the deadlines turned out to be self-treatment (the deadlines were my external source of focus and motivation). But I had no reason to get that assessment until my way of doing things wasn’t working well for me anymore, whereas it sounds like you’re doing fine!
From the outside it definitely looks like I’m doing fine, but I hate the unneeded stress when I let too many tasks build up and then I’m freaking out about getting them all done. I have been wondering if this is a symptom of ADHD and if this is something I should explore. Of course I also have chronic anxiety and depression (which is and has been treated for more than a decade), so I wonder if some of that is actually ADHD too.
I struggle with this. I find it helpful to break down tasks. If I want to do an excellent job of something or spend 2 hours doing something, it sometimes won’t happen without external pressure like a deadline.
If I commit to the smallest amount of something (5-10 minutes, a badly written paragraph, etc), I can get it done.
I could have written this. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my early 30s and started taking meds, which helped with this issue somewhat but are not a silver bullet. But I also just accepted that I do actually have an intuitive idea about how long tasks will take me and which are important, so I’ve let go of some stress and negative self-talk about why I can’t force myself to work in neatly defined blocks well ahead of time like my imagined version of a “normal” person. For non-work things, what helps most is scheduled commitments I can’t wriggle out of or put off, accountability, and lowering barriers to entry. But again, this helps, but hasn’t been a magic silver bullet.
AI had been tremendously helpful with getting started. It’s not about the output, sometimes I’ll just type a low effort prompt, it’ll gleefully start responding and that’s just enough kick in the pants for me to actually do the darn thing.
*has been helpful. I need the edit button for all my typos.
Yeah … this has definitely helped me when I have writer’s block or don’t know where to start. I’m very much doing my own writing, but something about having a prompt to start from gets me over the initial hump.
This has been my experience as well. I’m conflicted about AI generally, but nothing has been more helpful to get over the barriers to beginning.
this is me and i’m starting to see my son do it also.
i’ve always loved this graphic because it’s so true
(alt title if helpful: The Creative Process with linear graph of “work begins” at start, a red section that’s about 80% of the graph that says “F off” then about 15% of the graph in yellow with an arrow that says “panic” with the final 5% before deadline being green with an arrow that says “all the work while crying”)
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!ANRu!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4973fcbb-3c4e-4b19-bcbf-1d0104ff5f47_1216x736.png
the thought of this makes me stressed. i’m team, let’s do things as far in advance as possible bc otherwise i feel stressed. this is a classic ADHD symptom. Not saying you have ADHD but it is a common symptom
That is me. I’m 45 and still that way. The only way I get things done faster is to add more things. Sorry I can’t be of help!
I finally got diagnosed for my raging ADHD and started medication.
Looking for 100% cotton or linen cropped pants, wide leg, drawstring waist – these are the pants I love to walk in daily, but I am struggling to find any. Any recs?
J Crew or J Crew Factory
I’d like pants to have a bit wider of a leg and no tapering, especially if they are ankle pants. Otherwise, I sit and stand to the point where the leg can creep up and become pedal-pusher / capris. I’m not ready for that look — maybe when I relocate to The Villages.
At any rate, it seems that longer jorts are back. I’m not ready for that, either.
I am wearing tapered ankle pants I and I caught myself wishing they were a little wider when I got dressed this morning. And I only bought them last year!
the barrel leg look is in unfortunately
jorts are in, i’ve seen so many crazy skorts too.
I bought a longer smoked-waist printed skirt, that I thought would be comfy (yes) and effortless to style into an outfit (no). If you are wearing these, could you post your outfits? Mine is medium blue and white, and I’m stressing because my white tops (elevated tees) don’t work and my chambray button-up also is the wrong shade. All of a sudden, many of my “whites” are off-white or cream vs the right white. I have a hot pink option. And I’m overthinking it, but it has gotten warmer and I’d like to start wearing it. Help!
top in the same print to wear as a set, navy, soft greens.
I think you’re overthinking, shades aren’t supposed to match exactly.
For Birkenstock Arizonas, does anyone have any strong recommendations on the classic footbed vs the “soft” one? And has anyone bought the wide versions? IDK if sizing up vs going wider will fix how I need to expand the toe-strap buckle practically to the max to wear with socks (99% of the year for me — feet run cold and I’ve been a Birks-with-socks person since my 20s). Dealing with a new foot shape after an injury on one foot and having high arches takes up a lot of strap width already.
Wide is actually their regular width. Many US stores sell only the narrow when labeling the shoe for women. I only buy the wide—for some stores, I have to look at the men’s section for wide.
I think soft is a smidge less wide because it’s the same footbed and more padding with the soft.
I have the Floridas with the soft footbed and really like them. I’ve had the classic Arizonas, too, and prefer the soft a bit more. The caveat is that I have high-arched, bony feet without much natural padding!
I need ideas for connecting with my spouse. We both have solo hobbies and careers plus with have kids at home. I find he wants to talk about the nitty gritty of his hobby with me all the time. I can engage for a bit and love that he loves it, but it gets old and I don’t feel the need to do the same with my hobby. Work convos are mostly complaining and I feel more stressed afterward
We will sometimes play a game together which I enjoy. Or take walks. We are both at levels of our hobbies where it is hard to include the other. In the past we’ve done at home art classes together (years and years ago) and we enjoy watching TV together for a short time in the evenings. I love and adore this person and realize we go in phases of this happening but I want to be proactive.
Ideas that are low-cost and don’t need childcare? What do you and your spouse talk about?
Do you both like to read? Both read a book and discuss? Or both listen to a podcast of common interest and discuss? Discuss bucket list trips, and begin planning one? I think you have to find time/energy for this, and it is hard at your time of life. It can feel a bit awkward to start , but as someone who is now empty nester and one us in retirement, do the work now!
Spouse and I listen to history podcasts and talk about them. Sometimes the same podcast, sometimes different ones and we tell each other about them.
We do this. One good one is American History Tellers, if you like history.
Watch movies together! Pick a theme or go through AFI’s 100 list.
I’m an east coast lawyer having a 20 minute Zoom “chat” (their words) with the CLO of a west coast business looking to hire someone in-house. This chat comes before a case study and two (more) interviews. I have black and navy blazers, of course, but I also have coral, tomato, butter, lavender, oatmeal, white and two different tweeds (which do poorly on camera, IIRC). My role has a large public-facing component and color is part of that for me. Should I stick with, say, navy or go for a color, maybe the tomato?
Do the tomato.
Do navy now so you can get a feel for the formality of the company during the chat and then something bolder for the interviews
Changed my mind, it’s the west coast, do the tomato now
i think it both doesn’t matter at all and also wear the tomato if you would like to.
I’d pick whatever looks best on camera on you. Even as an east coast hiring attorney, navy or black is unnecessary.
Any specific recommendations or links for a structured third piece that isn’t a collared blazer? My office sometimes runs cold and I need a topper for my many short sleeved blouses. My regular cardigans look too heavy for summer wear and maybe a bit frumpy, if I’m honest, with my wide leg pants. Should I just buy some jackie cardigans? Does there exist sleek bomber-style blazers?