Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Crescent Knot Dress
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
This dress from Universal Standard is what I want to live in from June through September. The short sleeves and light fabric keep things cool, but the tie belt still gives me a little bit of a shape. If you work in an office where more than 50% of the people are wearing suits on any given day, this might be a little too casual, but I think it would be totally acceptable in most of the offices I’ve been spending time in lately.
I would wear this with the Mary Janes from Rothy’s that seem to be my go-to shoe for every occasion this season.
The dress is $148 at Universal Standard and comes in sizes equivalent to 00-40. It’s also available in nine other stripes and solids.
Sales of note for 6/19:
- Amazon Prime Day has started! You can check out our roundup here…
- Nordstrom – 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Boss, Theory, Beyond Yoga, and Zella
- Another Tomorrow – Seasonal sale, 50% off select styles
- Ann Taylor – 50% off everything + free shipping! Readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Athleta – 30-60%off reader favorites like Brookyn and Endless pants, and the Pranayama wrap is marked down to $55. ,
- AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
- Bare Necessities – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off, plus get an additional 40% off clearance swim. Readers have sung the praises of these cooling pajamas and their bra-sized swimwear
- Boden – 15% off new women's wear styles with code
- Evereve – 20% off dresses!
- Glossier – Last day 6/19: 20-25% off almost everything (including subscriptions!)
- J.Crew – Extra 15% off your purchase (on top of up to 50% off select styles)
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off orders over $100, and extra 20% off orders over $125 – readers love their schoolboy blazers and sweaters (down as low as $84), and they have a great selection of summer suiting in the sale. Ooh, and these scallop-trim t-shirts have major Boden vibes.
- Jenni Kayne – Semi-annual warehouse sale
- M.M.LaFleur – Archive sale! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new arrivals up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Ruti – Semi-annual sale, up to 70% off!
- Splendid – Up to 60% off women's sale!
- Talbots – 6/19 only: free shipping, no minimum! Readers love their cashmere cardigans
For the person looking for lower heels, I recently bought and LOVE the Franco Sarto Jacer pump. They’re low block heel slingbacks, very comfortable and walkable. I’ve been wearing them with pants, jeans, and dresses.
In this vein, I bought the Mgemi Una in gold during their friends and family sale and it is shockingly comfortable. I find the elongated toe box looks a bit more modern than a classic ballet flat without being too much.
Margaux is also having a sale and they have some great executive looking flats.
An admittedly specific ask but yall have good taste. I’m looking for a hotel in Provence with a pool, rooms with balconies or terraces (not just at the highest level of suites), baby friendly, ideally in a park like setting a 15 minute walk from a village. Not looking ultra luxe for this.
This was walkable to Les Baux and had a balcony and a gorgeous pool that I still think about a decade plus later. It was a bit luxe (but also my honeymoon.) https://www.baumaniere.com/en/gastronomy/loustau-de-baumaniere/
Hotel Le Vallon de Valrugues near St Remy is nice and very close to the town square (maybe too close if you truly want a 15 min walk). Villa Saint Ange near Aix is also nice.
What kinds of wreaths or decor are you putting on your front door? Any recommendations? I don’t want to spend a lot, but I would like something that looks modern and stylish.
None. I don’t think front door decor is modern or stylish. If you want to zhuzh up your stoop then add potted flowers.
Right—you can’t have both. My mom made some red/white/blue quilted hangings for our door that look nice for July 4.
This sounds nice, but also doesn’t sound modern or stylish (I don’t think these are the best goals anyway though).
I was just taking a walk in the nice houses part of my neighborhood here in the SEUS, and I saw a lot of simple magnolia leaf wreaths that to me looked more modern and stylish than something floral. But I’m sure this is also quite regional!
Northeast, so wreaths aside from the winter holidays aren’t really a thing. People generally have planter pots with seasonal flowers in the spring/summer if you’re inclined to do some planter gardening. Flowering hanging baskets are very popular as well, I have tricky shoulders so stick to pots.
I do small white flowers on fake greenery, it helps provide privacy with our setup. Wayfair has a lot that look modern.
I only do a Christmas wreath. I don’t think wreaths scream modern and stylish.
Any wreath I’ve tried at any time of year attracts birds and nests, and then I have to clean the front door/threshold and toss the wreath. Even at Christmas.
This is real. I can’t have Christmas wreaths on the door because of birds, but can hang them next to the door so the birds can do their thing and I can have my wreath.
What color is your door?
Plain greenery – boxwood, magnolia leaves, etc. Fake flowers are too Southern Living circa 1992.
Right now I have a small basket with some faux flowers in it. I switch up the flowers based on season and add pieces of decor – like pumpkins and ghosts for October.
I like boxwood wreaths with sashes too. I’m in the SEUS and those are pretty common here.
I like the offerings at Terrain, especially the iron wreaths.
we bought a lot when we first moved to the suburbs – halloween, easter, 4th of july, etc. birds would nest in them. wasps too one year i think. now we don’t do wreaths.
twinkly lights are always nice. otherwise yes go for flowers – if you’re shady go for coleus.
Help with a gift for hosts. I’m going to visit two couples this summer at their second homes in Colorado. Both couples are in their 60s and are wealthy. I don’t know a ton about them, but I do know that they have dogs (labs) and love to hike and cook. I’m flying and they’re picking me up at the airport, so I won’t have a car to shop when I land.
What do I take, in addition to writing thank you notes? Send flowers ahead of time? Fancy treats for their dogs? Help! I can spend up to $200 per couple.
Thank you note and a gift card to a local restaurant, or flowers sent ahead of time would be my picks.
Labs are walking stomachs and will eat anything and everything so you don’t need ‘fancy’ so much as ‘gentle’ as they are also prone to tummy issues from being such gluttons. My english lab would love you forever if you showed up with the Trader Joes freeze dried chicken snacks. God help me if I touch the cabinet with the snacks in our kitchen, the drooling starts immediately.
So I regularly host people at our second home and have dogs. I find it sweet when people bring dog stuff but it’s rarely useful because we’re strict about what we feed them and the dogs have preferences. Best gifts are home things I’m into – I love a fancy candle, something thoughtful – monogrammed boat tote is always a hit, or something to eat for breakfast or snacks – the guests who come with bags of chocolate chip cookies are my favorite. The gifts matter less than how people are when they’re there – offer to pay for things when you’re out, make your bed and don’t leave the room looking like a tossed college dorm, don’t expect me to have planned every second of your days.
+1 to Breakfast snacks. One of my families favorite christmas gifts is something from Goldbelly they can’t get locally. Zuckers is right by more office and has great bagels, maybe they’d like this?
https://www.goldbelly.com/restaurants/zuckers-bagels-and-smoked-fish/bagel-brunch-for-12-free-6-bagels?ref=merchant
I host people at my only home and +1 to be a good guest while you’re visiting. A thank you note after is charming. I view a visit from someone I like as the very best gift. If I don’t like the person much, then a nice bottle of wine or a splurgy box of chocolates helps.
Agree with all of this except I don’t host people I don’t like very much! A nice bottle of wine or splurgy chocolate will make me love you more, though! The best hostess gift I can remember getting is a wooden cheese board in the shape of my state — I use it all the time and think of the giver whenever I do.
LL bean wicked plush throw in the XL size with a monogram – perfect for throwing over the couch when the dogs want to cuddle.
If they like food, bring something local from your hometown – coffee, beer, whatever is made locally.
Either bring something consumable, such as a food item your city is famous for, or take them out to a nice restaurant. You could bring dog treats, but I find dog people are picky about what they feed their pet.
This, I don’t have dietary restrictions but my dog does.
A gift local to where you come from, preferrably consumable.
Box of Burdick chocolates in the wooden box.
Thank you all for the comments and suggestions.
My sister tells me that I’m a very good houseguest because I’m tidy, I clean up my room each day and before I leave, and I help make meals and clean up/do dishes afterward. My mom raised me to write thank you notes. So I’m covered on those things, but thank you for saying so in case I wasn’t.
You would be amazed at how many people are total slobs in other people’s homes. I don’t care how people live in their own spaces, but when that turns into a messy guest it’s a nightmare. Glad that’s not you!
Has anyone had shoulder surgery and have any hot tips on how to make recovery suck less from a practical perspective? Someone mentioned to me that I should get front clasping bras, which never would have occurred to me. Anything else? I will be attempting to go in to my business casual office at the two week post-surgery mark for a presentation (surgeon thinks this is reasonable, job isn’t forcing it and it’s just important to me!) so I’m hoping to lean on some simple pants + summer short sleeve shirts type outfits for those few days.
I somehow shredded my rotator cuff and I’m having it repaired after the 4th. I’ll be in a sling and it will be immobilized but for showering and changing clothes for at least 4 weeks. Boo.
Order the ice circulation machine and have it set up before you get home. I’d also make sure your bed and couch are both set up with extension cords, a table to put medications, snacks, drinks, etc. Make sure you have laxatives and gas-x (the referred gas pain is awful), and drink as much as you can to help move things along. Get a shower chair and if possible make sure you have a handheld shower available (so much easier to manage one handed). If your doctor ok’s it, I’d look into lymphatic massage at the 2 week mark.
make appointments for weekly blowouts – it’ll be easier than dealing with your hair
A friend of mine did this and said it was a total lifesaver.
My partner had rotator cuff surgery & these are what was most useful:
snap shouldered shirt(s), they are def not fashion, but highly functional.
icepacks designed for shoulders that have velcro to hold them in place.
wedge pillows because you cannot lie straight on your back for a bit
easy prepared food at the ready
best of luck!
Is it your dominant hand? I’ve been through this. Honestly, I worked at home until I was out of the sling/immobilization. I couldn’t really do my hair or put on a bra well. Pull on pants are helpful (no buttons, no zippers – you won’t be able to handle those one-handed). You will also need slip on shoes.
A friend who had shoulder surgery said buying a recliner for sleeping was worth the investment. It was much easier than trying to rise from a bed post-surgery and they are still enjoying it three years later.
Based on a friend’s experience: If you have pets, consider how you’ll care for them. And if your pets are allowed on the furniture and love to cuddle, then they will still want to do this and they will end up hitting your shoulder, and that hurts a lot.
My friend who lived alone had to have someone come to her house each morning to help her get dressed if she was leaving the house. Her local friends cycled through for a couple of weeks doing this.
What should I do this weekend in New York City? Meeting up with two friends, we have Broadway tickets on Saturday night but otherwise no plans. Staying in NoMad. We like art, snacks, and people watching. I was thinking maybe the Whitney and Lower West Side stuff one day, then the Guggenheim, Central Park and UES stuff the next day, but nothing more concrete than that.
If you like Art, I’d hit the MoMa on Saturday for early afternoon, have a quick dinner right after, and then go to your show. I love La Bonne Soup but there are plenty of options nearby.
I would also try to Balthazar for brunch/lunch but you can also try Cafe Fanelli if you can’t get a reservation. Eat, then people watch as you wander along soho/through the village.
I love the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. And it’s right around the corner from Katz’s Deli.
Oh, and the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park is really interesting to walk through — we just stumbled on it one day. Lots of nice places to eat nearby, by the water.
if you get up to the UES check out the New York Historical — we loved the Tiffany gallery.
i have this dress almost exactly (color and all) from j crew factory, bought it two summers ago. it’s too short on me to wear at work but several shorter folks in my office wear it. nice on a hot day.
I had this exact style of dress as maternity dresses from Pea in the Pod in 2012. Worked really well as a maternity dress for work. But gives me pause at buying it now when not only am I not pregnant, I also don’t want to highlight the meno belly?
Same. It accentuates a belly which is great when you’re pregnant but otherwise not so much.
Outfit fail: I’m wearing a dusty pink shell top and on camera it matches my skin perfectly. Of course I have multiple external virtual meetings on a day where I look partially nude.
Has anyone bought Miz Mooz shoes and can comment on the fit/quality? I’m eyeing their Letty Wide Oxfords. Otherwise, is it totally crazy to buy a pair of men’s oxfords? I need wide shoes and there are just not that many women’s wide options for oxfords with no heel.
Great quality, really comfortable.
+1 agree with Miz Mooz, they’ve always been really comfortable.