Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Short-Sleeve Button-Up Shirt
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Now that summer is officially here, I’m looking for lightweight tops that can work for the office or for the weekends. This vibrant button-up blouse from J.Crew Factory would be a great option for business casual or casual casual.
For work, I’d style it with some high-waisted trousers and a sweater blazer. For weekends, these mid-rise shorts from Banana Republic Factory have been a real winner so far this summer, and I love the look of the bright reddish-orange with olive.
The blouse is $39.50 at J.Crew Factory and comes in sizes XXS-3X.
Sales of note for 6/25:
- Amazon Prime Day has started! You can check out our roundup here… Also don't forget that sister site Shopbop is offering 25% off a lot of great brands if you link your Prime account, including brands like A.L.C., Aeyde, Alex Mill, Alice & Olivia, Anine Bing, Barefoot Dreams, Beyond Yoga, Birkenstock, Black Halo, Clare V., Cult Gaia, Farm Rio, Ferragamo, Frank & Eileen, Jenni Kayne, La Ligne, Marine Layer, Nili Lotan, Printfresh (!), rag & bone, RAILS, STAUD, Stuart Weitzman, Theory, TWP, Veronica Beard, Vince, White & Warren, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- 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 – 25% off new arrivals! 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 – Summer sale, up to 50% off
- Evereve – 20% off dresses!
- J.Crew – Extra 15% off your purchase (on top of up to 50% off select styles)
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 60% off clearance – readers love their schoolboy blazers and sweaters, 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 – 6/25: Flash sale, all markdowns 60% off two or more, 50% off one, and 40% off the rest of your purchase
I’m solo this weekend and pottering around – going to yoga, coffee with friends, and doing a bunch of house jobs.
Can you recommend a really immersive podcast series to keep me company (I hate a quiet house)? I’m a fraidy cat so nothing too scary. I liked the History Bureau, Foundling, the Secret World of Roald Dahl.
Anyone watching anything great?
We have been enjoying the classic jdramas (esp. Long Vacation) that made it to Netflix. The episode counts are more like miniseries, which feels just right to me.
Warm Pages or Nocturnal Tales—a lot of fanfic Miss Marples and Hercules Poirot mysteries on podcast.
It’s a you tube channel but I always love Geography Now!
Atlas Obscura is fun. I also like Articles of Interest.
I like putting on familiar movies for this kind of thing – I know the story so well that I don’t get distracted by following the plot, but it’s comfortable background noise!
True—like Murder She Wrote or Midsummer Murders for me. I think k both have their own free channels.
BBC podcast on witches. Very interesting, both historical and current.
I like the The Rest of History podcast because of the conversation dynamic between the two hosts. You can see episode recs on Reddit.
Another I like because of the conversation is SmartLess.
I’m watching The Rivals (which I imagine you may have seen, already, if you’re in the UK) and enjoying.
I like Gastropod.
What should I know about going on SSRIs? I’ve never been on medication for depression or anxiety, but its looking like I’m at the point where I need it and I’m nervous about the effects.
I went through a horrific time recently (posted a few months ago about having to wait to hear if bad thing would happen, bad thing did in fact happen, and I’m now a few weeks out still dealing with the fallout) so part of me thinks with enough time I can get through this without the meds (prescribed Zoloft), which I understand take a month or two to even have an effect? But at this point I’m barely able to function and still crying every day so I guess I’m just looking for experiences/hope that the meds will actually help.
The biggest thing to know: if you don’t like it, you can just quit. No one’s making you take it. You have agency here. Take it because it might help you.
They say it can take months to take effect, but I’ve been on an assortment of everything in the last 15 years and I always feel it within a day or two.
Zoloft is a good starter med. Just see how you do with it. It may well help. If it doesn’t, just stop taking it. Go back to the doc for something else if you want.
Best of luck to you.
You can just quit… unless you experience a lengthy discontinuation syndrome that’s more severe than anything the meds were originally prescribed for.
GTFO. With your fear-mongering. Severe discontinuation symptoms are not common and are less likely to result from short-term use.
Discontinuation syndrome is common. Whether it’s more severe than the original symptoms is just relative to the original symptoms.
It’s really not advised to just “stop taking” an antidepressant. OP, starting one isn’t a commitment to stay on it if it’s not working for you, but you should work with your doctor on how to taper down. Stopping Zoloft in particular without stepping down in a gradual fashion can be very unpleasant for some people. It’s widely documented and I know from experience.
Yes, don’t do that!!
The point still stands that you can stop taking it though, even if you titrate off it.
The intended effect takes weeks to kick in, but the relief is usually much faster; that’s why researchers think they usually work via a different mechanism than just increasing serotonin concentrations. It’s also why they’re used acutely for things like TBI; they can lower brain inflammation pretty quickly. I think the emotional blunting that reduces crying happens faster than a month or two for most people.
It will take 4-6 weeks to get the full effect, but you will get *some* of the benefits within the first couple of weeks. If you’ve been dealing with acute anxiety for awhile, and it sounds like you have, there is still benefit to taking the meds even as the situation improves to settle your brain chemistry and help you return to baseline. Big hugs. Sounds like you’ve been through a lot lately. FWIW, I started taking an SSRI for postpartum anxiety and realized through that that I’d probably needed them all along. Others take them for 6 months or so and never need them again.
I’ve been on four different SSRI/SSNI/Wellbutrin meds, and I’ve always had a reduction in symptoms within a week. I’ve also not had discontinuation syndrome – not saying that doesn’t happen, but it is by no means a universal experience.
I’m proud of you for taking this step!! Medication saved my life.
Give them a few weeks to start feeling a difference. It can also take a few tries to find one that works for you. That’s normal. It’s also normal for a med to stop working after a few years. It happened to me and I switched to a new one that I’ve now been on for a long time with no issues. You could also ask your doctor about taking more than one med. I’m on one for depression and another for anxiety/that helps me sleep.
I was you 20 years ago. I was so hesitant to take the meds. I’d gone so many years without, surely I didn’t need or deserve them, etc. My doctor finally persuaded me to try a low dose and said she would help me come off it if I didn’t like it. It took a month or so to get the full effect but it was so worth it. They turned my life around.
I could have written exactly this. My main regret in life is that I waited too long to try them. They completely changed my life.
Sorry to be the downer on this thread, but my experience with anxiety/depression meds has been bad. I tried two, one after the other, and both of them just made me really tired and numb. And when I quit cold turkey because I didn’t like sleeping 12 hours a day and feeling like a zombie, I had pretty significant effects for a couple weeks after – crazy mood swings, vertigo, depersonalization. I guess my point is that you should be aware that while an SSRI is most likely to help, there’s also a chance that it could make things worse for a while, and you may need a backup plan if you’re out of commission. If you’re already barely able to function it’s probably worth the gamble, just come up with a basic crisis plan (what counts as crisis and what you are going to do), whether you decide to go on meds or not.
There’s science on the odds of SSRI helping, not helping, or making things worse. I just wish they could predict in advance who would fall into which bucket!
I started taking Zoloft a year ago, on the lowest offered dosage (literally the last one people use before tapering off completely). It almost immediately quieted my inner monologue that had been causing anxiety for years. I just… didn’t realize it was an option to not have a constant hum of things that could go wrong in my head (and which had increasingly spiked into physical manifestations/ panic attacks).
i hesitate to say this but… just be cautious and ask a friend to check in on you. suicidal ideation is a side effect of half of SSRIs; my uncle killed himself a few weeks after starting prozac.
I’m sorry. I experienced this, and it’s why I had to quit suddenly. I didn’t have depression and was not taking the SSRI for depression, and I had no previous history of or experience with s* ideation. Maybe this helped me immediately recognize it as an alarming side effect and maintain some distance from an overwhelming, irrational impulse that felt like it was coming from entirely outside my own mind. Or maybe I just didn’t experience it as severely, since it really felt like being hijacked.
Process the issue with a qualified therapist instead of starting with options that don’t work for everyone and have a relatively high risk of side effects. The therapist can help you decide whether you need meds down the line.
Is there a good comprehensive overview that I don’t need a health journal subscription for in US maternal death causes (vs rates)? I know there are a lot of disparities by race from general news reports. I went to a presentation by our local EMS on baby deliveries in the field (often poor women with no prenatal care at all) in our major US city and I really wanted to learn more but was eye opening. I had so many questions. I’m not a scientist or a doctor so I don’t know what I don’t know.
Check Evidence Based Birth. I swear they had a summary of this a few years ago.
Anyone who can share your experience with Hashimoto’s disease? Was just diagnosed.
I have Hashimoto’s type hypothyroid and it has not been a big deal for me at all. I see an endo every 6 months or so (more frequently when I was ttc/pregnant/nursing) to check thyroid levels, and I take synthetic thyroid hormone daily. I have had two thyroid ultrasounds in the last few years just to check on the size of my thyroid, it was shrinking for a while but has stabilized.
Any resulting hypothyroidism should be fully treatable with a good doctor. Most people will be symptom free on standard first line treatment. Some people need to do some troubleshooting to be asymptomatic (these people can sometimes be loud), but thankfully those troubleshooting steps are all pretty standard by 2026 as well.
The hope is usually that thyroid meds will be enough to calm down the autoimmune component of the condition. Troubleshooting recurring flare ups is harder and more YMMV, but not everyone even deals with this, so there’s no need to borrow trouble!
I think of Hashimoto’s as a really easy condition to manage overall, though being either underdosed or overdosed on thyroid meds can be miserable. The genetic risk factors are linked to other autoimmune conditions, but Hashimoto’s is the most common, so it doesn’t mean others will arise. It just means that that if we get a whole new set of symptoms later, the odds are higher that the explanation will be another autoimmune issue.
You might be easily treatable on just Synthroid, but you also might not. Start with Synthroid but if you’re not actually FEELING better (regardless of your TSH which is not always as useful as many endos will pretend), get yourself to a doctor who will prescribe T3 at appropriate doses.
Would love recommendations for favorite cardigans or other layering pieces that can be worn over sleeveless tops (mostly for overly air-conditioned buildings). I’ve been using a button-down shirt for weekend wear, but also looking for slightly dressier options. Yes, I’m aware that cardigans are not high fashion. I don’t care.
do you mean for the office, or to have with you when running errands? (looking at you, freezer aisle of the grocery store)
Both!
For casual, like I’m in a tank and shorts, I use a loose-fitting swim rashguard (the type that looks like a long-sleeved tee) – doesn’t wrinkle even if it’s just stuffed in a reusable shopping bag!
I like Alex Mill. Decent selection of solid colors and some stripes, with a slightly different style, though still classic, than most traditional cardigans. Brooks Brothers also has some cotton options in both cardigans and not-quite-a-blazers.
https://www.alexmill.com/collections/sweatshirts-sweaters-womens/products/taylor-rollneck-cardigan-in-cotton-cashmere-2
Oh, this is gorgeous. A bit out of my budget, but that is a great piece.
Uniqlo has decently made, decently priced cardigans. I like the slightly cropped ones.
Yes to Uniqlo! They regularly offer 100% cotton or 100% merino cardis. I’ve also found 100% cashmere at Oak & Fort, El Corte Ingles, and Club Monaco. Some good cotton blends at Banana Republic (Factory) too.
I have one from J Crew Factory that is fine.
My recent mammogram came back with some calcifications that can’t be immediately be ruled as benign, and I’m scheduled for a followup appointment that is up to two hours long. What should I expect? Prior mammogram was a 3D mammogram.
Are they doing a biopsy?
No, just more imaging. I didn’t have a chance to ask questions because my doctor’s office called during carpooling kids so I couldn’t talk easily and also it was just the scheduler.
I wonder if this will be an MRI. I haven’t had one.
Trying to bring my lunch to work a bit more. Does anyone have a favorite set of glass “Tupperware”? I tend to have smaller meals vs pack a large single meal, so that might be my only specific consideration. I also like to bring salad dressing for dipping sliced veggies, with the veggies currently being packaged in a disposable ziploc sandwich bag (same iwth sliced apples and peaches). Recommendations to reduce plastic and single-use bags?
IKEA.
I use a glass container with plastic top I got at Wegmans. I use stainless steel cups with silicone lids for dressing/snacks/etc, I got a 3-pack on Amazon
Our current glass containers are from IKEA and we’re very happy with them. We have the square and rectangle ones in varying sizes, because my husband insists that they fit more efficiently into the fridge than the round ones. (I’m not saying he’s wrong, I just didn’t care enough to notice!) Anyway, there are both shallow and deeper versions of each and the lids are the same for both within the overall shape. We put the containers, lids, and seals in the dishwasher and haven’t had any problems with that. They also have some very small ones that would work well for salad dressing.
+1, and totally agree on the shape!
For dressing, I keep a bottle in the shared office fridge – way easier than risking a messy spill during the commute.
Came here to say this about the dressing. Just keep one at work.
I like the Snapware Pyrex we bought from Costco.
These – they work for both hot and cold options and are well sized for single lunches
https://pyrexhome.com/collections/pyrex-simply-store/products/pyrex-simply-store-10-piece-meal-prep-rectangular-glass-storage-set
If I’m heating something up, I remove the lid and replace with a small plate (at home) or a paper towel (at work).
Fairly stackable, freezer and dishwasher safe. They are the right size height for a sandwich as long as you aren’t using a big roll or baguette. They also fit my silicone muffin cups to make a charcuterie plate.
I frequently take salad dressing or crispy sprinkles in a mini bonne maman jar to add at the last minute. Cute. And gives me an excuse to buy mini jam jars lol
Spring for rectangular or square shapes, and snapware style lids.
I have round Pyrex without the snapware lids and wish I had gotten the others. These are not very space efficient and the flat lids have all cracked. I replaced the lids once (with Pyrex brand ones) and the replacements also cracked very soon. Some lid colors are very brittle and the edges have started to crumble.
I use an assortment of PlanetBox stainless steel containers. There’s a two sides one designed for dips + chips/veggies, and I have the adult lunchbox that has a microwaveable try. I have a few small ones I can use to pack separate components.
if you tend to drive this may not be an issue, but the thing I find annoying when bringing several glass containers is that it gets heavy. I’m on the lookout for metal containers to solve that. Nowadays there are even microwavable ones.
I love my Lunchbots metal bento boxes (and little sauce cups with silicone lids). Dishwasher safe and super sturdy, not microwave safe, though.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a machine-washable towel with grip? I’d like to start using a towel (instead of a yoga mat) for floor work/stretching and it would be nice if it had a little grip. I just won’t clean a yoga mat and I need to reduce barriers to getting this done more consistently.
there are yoga towels that are basically this — wirecutter reviewed a fancy one and an amazon cheapie, i got the cheapie. i prefer to use it on top of a yoga mat though for my poor knees.
out of curiosity are there any good books on Epstein? or are all the fascinating ones being written now?
I don’t know about books, but Julie Brown at the Miami Herald was the reporter on this story for many years.
I don’t know if fascinating is the right word. The full story reflects extremely poorly on many people and institutions.
Has anyone ordered from Petal and Pup before? I am on the hunt for a wedding guest dress and they have a lot of options. FYI- I am petite but have a large bust for sizing reference. Thanks!