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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Old Navy is having a great sale on “fundamentals” right now, and it seems like everything's marked down just a wee bit more. We like this ruched cowl neck top — it seems like a great layering piece beneath a cardigan or jacket, or on top of a camisole in another color. We'd wear it with a gray suit, perhaps with a yellow camisole or tank intentionally peeking out. Was $16.50, now $10 at Old Navy (available in “Goodnight Nora,” pictured, as well as green, hot pink, gray, white, and black). Old Navy Womens Ruched Cowl-Neck Tops
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(L-2)
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
summer
i just stocked up on TONS of stuff at old navy last weekend. they had a 40% off sale on the entire store. called it the “cardi tour of 2010” b/c i got new cardis in every color.
M
These tops are very flattering, but not work-appropriate on me as I only have about 3 inches from collarbone to “cleve,” but I bought 3 anyway!
Heather
I really like this.
Anon
Thread hijack – I really liked the book recommendation yesterday (“Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office”) and ordered it from Amazon. I’m very interested in hearing other book recommendations (career, relationships (meaning interacting well with people, not the romantic variety), finance, etc)!
Eva
I likewise put in a request at the library! Would also love more recs.
AIMS
Emily Post’s Business Etiquette Advantage. Very helpful reference book to have. I got it a used book store for a $1 & it has proven infinitely useful on more than a few occasions. Answers the peskiest of random questions (it’s huge!).
Also, for anyone who has to do a lot of writing in their jobs: Elements of Style by Strunk & White. It’s the tiniest, most useful book ever. Really improves your writing. Also answers pesky questions (e.g., whether you should put an apostrophe at the end of a word that ends with ‘s’ [yes]).
There is also an online column I am addicted to called Dear Economist, published in the Financial Times. It basically applies economic principles to solve life’s dilemmas (e.g., how to decide which city to move to for a job, whether it’s better to be the first at work or the last to leave, etc.) . It’s very tongue in cheek, but can often be quite insightful. The economist who answers the letters has a great book out, too. I think its called Undercover Economist. Very amusing & practical.
I also remember a friend having a book called “The Fabulous Girl’s Guide to Life,” which I thought (at the time, at least) was quite great & also helpful in dealing with a slew of life’s random situations. But I haven’t seen it in years, so I am not sure if my opinion would still hold today. Might be worth a browse next time you’re in a Barnes & Noble, though.
v
Careful with Strunk and White for grammar advice though – they’re often wrong.
jojo
Not necessarily; it’s a book on style and usage, not grammar. Many writers don’t know the difference.
AIMS
I would also add that the book is not meant as a ‘be all, end all’ of writing (it’s teeny!).
It is, however, a great resource that lawyers and other wordy, professional types, would benefit from because it focuses on crisp, concise, and clear writing. I can’t tell you how many terrible briefs I have read that made me want to send a copy of this little book to the writer. For anyone unsure of themselves as a writer, it’s a great place to start.
v
Well, true, of course; the problem is that it’s so often presented as grammar advice (I believe White’s introduction even says it shouldn’t all be taken as immutable rules, but it’s often ignored).
Delta Sierra
jojo – thank you. I was a professional writer in another life, and this was a bible of the profession. Also, anyone who wants the. final. word. on all thing writing: Fowler’s Modern English Usage, 3rd edition. Covers both Brit and U.S. usages. 896 pages. Your eyes will bleed, but as a reference, it can’t be beat, and it will make you a better, clearer, writer. There is a pocket edition available, too.
p.s. when editing your own writing, as AIMS says below, be concise. Always make a draft that seeks to reduce the word count. This used to be one of the first passes I’d make at a piece of someone else’s writing, and often, reducing length by half was easy peasy.
Delta Sierra
I know it will cost more, but this is a request that people please consider buying their books elsewhere than Amazon. I’m in the book business, and an independent bookstore, if there is one still in your town, could really really use the sales. Plus, their staff is very likely to be able to make recommendations. (Powells.com is an excellent online indie.)
Anon
DS – Thanks for the reminder :) I’m the original Anon who ordered from Amazon. It actually had nothing to do with cost and everything to do with “I’m stuck at my desk and want this and don’t know when I’ll make it to a bookstore”. Bad anon. Next time I’ll try Powells.com. Thank you!
Canadian3L
Not using amazon doesn’t have to cost more!
I love bookcloseouts [dotcom].
They ship to US and Canada for reasonable prices and sometimes have free shipping (they don’t right now). But right now they have a coupon code – save save $10 off your purchase of $30 or more with the coupon code BoxingSale and coupon password BookCloseouts.com at check out.
I just bought “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office” for $5.49… can’t beat that!
anon - chi
Thanks for the Dear Economist recommendation! I’m having great fun procrastinating by reading the archives, which are both funny and informative. Good pick!
BethInNY
What was the advice re whether to come in early or stay late? I’m curious, and can’t find it on his website.
L
I don’t have any other recommendations, but I do want to give another whole-hearted recommendation for “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office.” Excellent book for professional women to help recognize potentially self-sabotaging behaviors at work and how to fix them!
MJ Henry
You’re welcome for the book rec. My best friend gave it to me back when I was an i-banking analyst. She, as a wise (wizened?) 2nd-year analyst told me I was being too subservient to my crazy boss.
I also really like “The Authentic Career” by Maggie Craddock. It more for when you’re a few years into a career you don’t like. It’s more of the self-help-y vein, but in a gentle, non-preachy way. Perfect for anyone who’s been billing too many hours or doing too many all-nighters, but doesn’t know how to get out.
E
Slightly off topic, but I recently received “How to Sew a Button” by Erin Bried as a Christmas gift and I really enjoyed it. It is full of thrifty practical ideas for cleaning, cooking and just living in general. A little old fashioned but a fun read nonetheless!
Clerky
I highly recommend Casual Power, and actually read the book after someone on this site recommended it. It’s all about what and what doesn’t constitute “business casual” in the workplace. I wouldn’t incorporate all of the tips, but some were pretty helpful.
Karolina
First of all, I second the recommendation for Women don’t ask. It was a transformational book for me – the only downside is I’ve become maybe too much of a feminist since reading it :)
A Random Walk down Wall Street by Burton Malkiel – personal finance, advocates index-based investing
Be Your Own Mentor by Sheila Wellington – Pretty good book along the lines of Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, but a bit more focused on long-term things rather than quick fixes such as don’t touch your hair at work
Getting Things Done by David Allen – great book about time management
Midori
I will have to get myself to an ON this weekend then! I bought this cardigan there a couple weeks ago: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=26195&vid=1&pid=729961 and have hardly taken it off long enough to wash it. I’m six month preggers and trying to stretch the hand-me-down maternity tee shirts into the winter, so it was perfect for that. I wish I’d bought more colors–I’ll totally be wearing it after I’m back to non-preggers shape (if I ever get there!).
D
I was there earlier this week and they had great basic tanks for $8 that are a lycra/spandex and cotton blend. The material is such that it won’t fade after a few washings. They were LONG, so I went a size down. I think they will be very useful for layering underneath. There were lots of colors, including a light oatmeal that would be perfect for layering under white when you don’t want the bra to show through.
T
Got a great book rec that’s better than “Corner Office”! Two books on women and negotiation tactics in professional settings: Linda Babcock’s “Ask For It” and “Women Don’t Ask”–transformative and invaluable to me professionally (and personally), without veering into self-help or victim-speak.
Delta Sierra
My stock of camisoles is running out. Any good recommendations?
M
My fav are the Ann Taylor ones, but they are friggin expensive.
Clerky
The camisoles at the Limited are great – they were on sale for $9 each, I think. They don’t have a built in bra, which I prefer, and they come in most colors.
E
I agree on both counts — my favorite camisole is from AT, but I gasped at the price and still feel slightly indulgent to have bought it. But it’s the one I reach for over and over. It’s a light pearl gray and can go under almost anything and looks invisible.
KH
JJill – has two styles – a mid-level round neck with one-inch or so straps (with and without shelf bras) and a more camisole like style with spaghetti straps and gathers (a little lower cut). Tons of colors – always some on sale on the website. They come in both misses and women’s sizes.
anon
Nordstrom Rack if you have one nearby.
LF
I have this shirt, in the color pictured, and while I like it a lot, it’s more appropriate for weekend wear rather than for under a suit. The neck is pretty low in a slouchy, casual way, and it’s made out of the soft but somewhat chintzy and thin cotton that a lot of the Old Navy tops are made of.
Still – love this shirt, and definitely recommend it (especially at the price), just not for the office!
T
I love “Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office”. I also read “How to Be the Boss Without Being a Bitch”. It is more about how to better manage others. Both great books!
Jay
I have this top. It is LOW. Comfy though, if your neck/chest don’t get cold.
lalalala
I like banana camisoles, as well as the ones I’ve found at AT Loft. I hate cotton for these things, because they cling, so the Banana and ATL ones are smooth microfibre. I also hate the built in bra because they never fit and end up as a waste.
Looking forward to reading Corner Office!
T
I have this shirt and it’s HUGE!!! Size down if you want to look normal. I normally wear a M and the S was giant on me.
The Image Expert
It’s in such a great color, too — nearly everyone can wear navy and look good in it. It’s a very safe color.
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