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Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Shirred Column Print Jersey Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Norma Kamali - Women's Shirred Column Print Jersey DressWe've only just realized that there is an amazing Norma Kamali collection at Walmart, of all places — including a ton of great, work-appropriate pieces (such as this dress, which is sadly sold out online in this print but still available in limited sizes in the black). We like the basic cut, the glowing reviews (especially from the plus-sized purchasers!) and the price:  $20 for the dress. There's a trench that's around $35, but most pieces are $20 or under. Outstanding. Norma Kamali – Women's Shirred Column Print Jersey Dress (L-0)

Sales of note for 12.13

  • Nordstrom – Beauty deals on skincare including Charlotte Tilbury, Living Proof, Dyson, Shark Pro, and gift sets!
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off everything, including new arrivals (order via standard shipping for 12/23 expected delivery)
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 400+ styles starting at $19
  • J.Crew – Up to 60% off almost everything + free shipping (12/13 only)
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything and free shipping, no minimum
  • Macy's – $30 off every $150 beauty purchase on top brands
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
  • Talbots – 50% off entire purchase, and free shipping on $99+

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

150 Comments

  1. I agree that I like the print, and I even agree that I like to spend less money on ‘trendier’ or bolder pieces, but I would just really, REALLY question the quality of this jersey fabric. It’s probably very thin and flimsy and very unlined, meaning even seamless undies (and possibly even a slip) would probably create VPL X-TREME. Not to mention how this dress would cling to you in all the wrong ways if you were having a food baby day…

    1. This looks just like a dress J. Crew had out this year. Food baby day, haha–love that phrase!

  2. Nothing that can’t be cured by the right Spanx. Cute, versatile, work-appropriate (with cardigan) dress. Go Wal-Mart!

    1. I feel like one needs to look at Spanx wearing from a marginal utility perspective. I gain much more benefit from my suffering sucking myself in all day in Spanx when I wear them with the $1000 St. John dress I bought at the Las Vegas outlet for $100 because they are allowing me to wear a seriously expensive and fabulously constructed dress that in turn makes me feel fabulous.

      I gain very little benefit from suffering in Spanx all day to wear a $20 Walmart dress that might even actually be see through, too, in which case, I don’t look that great, I’m wearing a dress made of cheap fabric, AND I am giving everybody a free peep show (which I don’t get compensated for either).

      1. Frump, I love you.

        I know not everyone cares about who made their clothes and where they get them from (they just want pretty, cheap items, and I understand that impulse), but I would avoid WalMart on principle because their business ethics are so bad. If their clothing were of higher quality, I would reconsider. But it’s cheap, and it’s flimsy, and it’s trendy. And they treat their in-store workers terribly, so they haven’t earned my respect — and therefore they don’t get my money.

        I think it’s a shame that there isn’t a market for “cheap but ethically-made/produced”. I’m young and can’t afford a lot of quality clothes (I’m talking Ann Taylor, not even Brooks Brothers), but I don’t want to spend my few hard-earned savings on something trendy/cheap or on an inhumane corporation.

        WalMart execs, feel free to defend yourselves here. ;)

        1. Thanks, Little Lurker.

          Personally, when I am buying clothes, I do so based on a combination of things: the quality of the fabric, the type of fabric, the price, and then lastly, where the item is from. Usually I use the ‘where the item is from’ bit in the following sense: if I see a shirt on sale for $50 at Ann Taylor and a shirt on sale for the same price at Brooks Brothers (and I like both equally), I will likely buy the one from Brooks Brothers because to me, spending my $50 there is a better investment (because I’m probably getting something a bit more well made, and I admit, I’m a brand whore and so I get the added satisfaction of getting to own another more highly branded piece). But in general, I don’t necessarily care as much where I am buying from so long as what I am buying seems of decent quality and decent fabric and I don’t feel like I’m being robbed in the middle of the street in broad daylight.

          On a random note, have you ever checked out eShakti.com for clothes? They are at the cheaper price point, but use a lot of higher quality natural fabrics (cotton and silk blends, etc.), and so I feel you may be getting a little more for your money buying there (ex, a $30 Forever 21 dress might be made out of a cheap poly knit, but there it would be made from a heavy cotton sateen). I tried to find out if they were branded as an ‘ethical’ company, but I couldn’t, but perhaps you could check them out/do your own digging if you like what you see on their site.

        2. I agree with you both. I like good quality clothing. My salary may not allow me buy the things I like at full-price but I’ve become really adept at finding bargains. Cheap clothes generally look cheap and they don’t last as long. The non-iron Brooks Brothers button-downs I bought at the outlet for $50 still look like new after 2 years.

        3. Not cheap, but reasonably priced: Fair Indigo. Everything is fairly made and they have stories/videos to inform you about the factories/workshops where the clothes come from. Nice basics and flat rate shipping.
          http://www.fairindigo.com/

          1. Thanks for the recommendation, I’d never heard of it, but Fair Indigo looks great!

  3. I was walking through a Wal Mart on a trip home to the midwest and happened to spot a fabulous dress – one of those white blousey top, black pencil skirt types – last August. I tried it on just to see and it has become one of my favorite work pieces. Even better, it cost $8! The fabrics are great and look MUCH more expensive than they are. Point: you never know with WalMart, its definitely worth a try to see what the fabric/fit is like.

    P.S. I’ve found that clothes from stores on the less-expensive side tend to run big and I pretty much always end up going down a size (or two) from what I would wear at even a mid-range place like J Crew or Banana.

  4. I don’t mean to sound snobbish because hey, I love a good bargain, but…

    I really dislike it when the bargains posted here are items from really low-end places and are hence bound to be of poor quality. To me, a bargainous item is something that initially cost a lot more but which has now gone on sale. I know not everyone has a money tree (hell, I don’t) but I’d rather spend $20 on something that was initially $60 than something which was $20 full price – that’s not much of a bargain to me because you’re getting $20 quality which is likely to be fairly awful, seeing as it’s a jersey dress.

    1. In general I don’t disagree with you, but a lot of those $60 items marked down to $20 were really $20 items that were overpriced. I’m thinking Ann Taylor and Banana — yes much of my wardrobe is from there, but I don’t think I’ve ever paid full price for a piece there, their prices are meant to be slashed.

      The dress gets great reviews, I think perhaps this might be the exception to the rule. It’s a bargain if it costs $20 but looks like much more, which is what people seem to be saying.

      1. The thing is tht nothing is priced at what its real value ought to be. Walmart will still be making a big profit on that dress.

        1. So if this is a dress worth wearing, what day should it be posted? Or are you saying we should never wear Walmart dresses?

          I think this is very cute and definitely worth a try, and I’m glad it was posted.

          1. I dont think the comment was meant to say a dress like this should never be posted. It’s just that bargain friday has become more “cheap item” friday. I agree that a bargain should more often than not (or at least half the time) something that has gone on a great sale or is otherwise exceptional. Obviously, sometimes you get a bargain by buying an unexpected cheap item, but just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s a bargain.

    2. I think I agree with Grump here — I used to buy a lot of Forever 21, but I used to have to treat those items like they were made from gold just to prevent the buttons and the thread from coming off, just really terrible quality. At that point, it’s not really a bargain. I think I prefer digging through Marshalls, TJ Maxx, sometimes Nordstrom Rack (now that it’s come to NY!) because at least those clothes are made from good materials.

      1. To be fair, I admit I do LIKE digging through places like Forever 21, Target, etc. for those ‘exception’ pieces to the rule of poor quality- like I said in a thread a day or so ago, I love the silk shells I find at Forever 21, but my opinion is they’re good because they’re simple and they’re decent quality fabric (a light silk shell is a light silk shell). So I think my point in all this is, it’s not to say that ALL items from a given place are bad JUST because they’re from that place, but one still needs to acknowledge that at some stores, the ‘good’ pieces are the exception and not the rule, and I feel this dress here is a good example of not being an exception.

  5. While I do appreciate that several top designers are catering for a more mainstream clientele by offering inexpensive clothing at various retail establishments, I have not been impressed with the quality of the clothing. I’m thinking of Nicole Miller at JC Penney and Isaac Mizrahi at Target — cheap material, shapeless and unflattering. It’s really too bad because there could be potential with these lines, but I have been disappointed. No experience with Kamali clothing at WalMart, so I’ll wait to hear from others about that.

    1. I’ve actually been really happy with the Isaac Mizrahi stuff at Target. It fit me like a dream, the only problem was some of the colors and prints were a little too wacky.

    2. I think there is a big difference between Walmart and Target for many of the reasons others pointed out on this thread.

    3. I have an Isaac Mizrahi for Target jacket that I love. Yeah, it’s cotton, but it’s also the one shade of khaki that actually suits my skin tone, the construction is good, and the design actually manages to create flattering curves in an otherwise boxy jacket. Yeah, I had to shorten the sleeves two inches, but imo, it was definitely worth the effort.

    4. I bought 3 pairs of Nicole Miller capri pants last year from JCP, loved them, they were great for vacation, they were the dreaded “synthetic” fabric I read so much about on this blog, a nylon blend, but they packed and wore well, and they fit perfectly. Granted, I haven’t seen any pieces I would buy for work in that line, but I wouldn’t write it off completely. I also bought an Isaac Mizrahi skirt suit (light gray with a pleated skirt) from Target a couple of years ago, also love it, and I do wear it to work, I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it. It actually has held up much better than some of my more expensive brand names, although again, it’s a synthetic, but fits great and doesn’t wrinkle at all, and is a nice spring/summer option. Also, I sometimes wear the skirt with a cardigan, so it’s versatile. Anyway, most of the things at Target I would not buy for work, but I like their t-shirts, and I look at everything, and sometimes I find something really cute. I will definitely check out this dress at Walmart, maybe it won’t look good in person, but you never know.

  6. I like this dress, but could you post things that are not out-of-stock? I wanted to buy it, then realized it wasn’t even an option. :(

    1. Ditto. Here’s a fabulous garment – that you can have. Um…thanks? Maybe just post it in black if that’s the only color still available?

      1. Oops. Meant “can’t” not “can.” Complaining really loses its “oomph” when you fall prey to typos…..

        1. Agreed. It’s infuriating when the item posted is either out of stock or available only in one or two sizes (especially when they aren’t MY sizes)! Why bother posting? And while I agree this dress is cute in the print, if the fabric isn’t fairly high quality, it would be a nightmare in a solid.

          1. The dress is available in my size in 2 of the 3 Walmarts that popped up when I searched by zip code. It also might come back in stock (I’ve bookmarked it). While I agree it’s frustrating that it’s not available online today (I totally would have bought it!) I’m still glad to have been made aware of this particular item.

          2. @Eva – I think the readership of this blog is heavily from cities where there are not Walmarts, and many of us don’t have cars. So in this case, posting something not available online means it’s inaccessible to a large portion of readers.

          4. @Blonde Lawyer – Not sure where you are, but I’m not aware of a major, large US city that does have a Walmart. Maybe LA? Certainly not NYC, DC, Chicago or Boston.

  7. I’d like to point out that this dress probably received those ‘great reviews’ from the kinds of people who make up Walmart’s standard customer base. I doubt the discerning corporette falls within Walmart’s target clothing market and I daresay that her tastes and assessments of quality may differ greatly from those of the aforementioned grouping.

    1. Oh, come on, it’s a nice looking dress. I would NEVER have checked out Forever21 until either you or Frump pointed out that they have decent blouses there. This recommendation (and another commentor’s post about another Walmart dress) is just a heads-up to me to check out dresses the next time I cruise Walmart to find another Snuggie that I need. I’d like to think discerning Corporettes could be more open-minded.

        1. I don’t think Grump’s point was to say that ALL Walmart things are bad. In fact, both Grump and I own the random piece from places like Walmart, Target, Forever 21, etc., and neither of us are saying it’s the store itself that makes the item not worth checking out.

          Both of us, however, are saying that given the kind of material this dress is and given that GENERALLY Walmart’s quality is very low, one should probably be at least wary about assuming it is of a passable quality to wear to work. One should also be wary about taking the reviews at face value, given the differing customer demographics in the sense that the kinds of people commenting on Walmart’s website might not necessarily be the kinds likely to be wearing this dress to work at a professional/business formal law/business/etc. firm. What might be good for your average Walmart customer might not necessarily be good for a dressy office environment. It could be, you never know, but again, given the fabric of this dress (and the quality we’re assuming to be associated with it), Grump and I are dubious that this would be a good buy for your average, business-formal-wearing Corporette.

          Now, if this dress were a nice silk or a wool or something, I know Grump and I might be a lot more willing to consider it and ‘exception’ to the general rule that Walmart things are a bit lacking in quality. It very well could be an exception, but we just aren’t so sure. The fact it’s from Walmart in and of itself doesn’t have much to do with our gripes.

          1. No, grump was saying that the people who give the dress good reviews are not up to corporette’s standards. People with lower income can’t possibly be corporettes!! only lawyers, doctors and businesswomen should even be allowed to read this site. I shudder at the thought that teachers, secretaries, or god forbid people who work with their hands are reading this site.

          2. No, EK, I really think you’re reading the comment wrong.The point was not that people who shop at Walmart couldn’t possibly be in a professional environment- the point was merely that the average Walmart customer may have different needs, expecations, or wants out of their clothing, and these needs, expectations, or wants might be different than those of the average type of person visiting this site. These different needs, expectations, and wants may thus be reflected in the reviews, making the advice to take them less at face value somewhat sensible.

          3. That may have been Grump’s intended point, but that’s just not how it actually came off.

          4. The reviews were all about how they wore the dress to work, so that is why I took the comment as people who shop at walmart for work clothes can’t possibly be up to the standards of where corporettes work.

          5. SUCL 3L, you must not be reading the comment correctly because it’s perfectly clear to me. Let’s look at the text:

            “I doubt the discerning corporette falls within Walmart’s target clothing market”
            This is just saying that the average demographic of people shopping at Walmart does not typically include the average type of person to come to this site. I’m saying this from a marketing perspective that means, in general, the average Corporette reader is not typically of the same demographic as the average Walmart shopper- no judgements there, just the observation that different demographics of people represent any store’s average market/average group of customers.

            “and I daresay that her tastes and assessments of quality may differ greatly from those of the aforementioned grouping.”
            As I said in a previous comment, this part of Grump’s comment is saying the same thing. Walmart’s general demographic probably looks for a a certain sets of needs/wants/standards/expectations when they are buying clothing. Walmart knows this and so produces products meant to hit that demographic of needs/wants/standards/expectations. These needs/wants/standards/expectations thus might not be the same of those as the average corporette reader, since, from a marketing perspective, she is likely not the type of person to be a member of Walmart’s average demographic, so she should evaluate whether the comments made about an item (possibly coming from an entirely different context of needs/wants/expectations) are relevant to her.

            Here’s another way of putting it. Let’s say I am a diva looking for a pair of jeans to go clubbing in. And let’s say I see a website called JeansThatAreGoodForFarming.com, and let’s say that I see a pair of ladies’ jeans there getting a good review. Should I take those reviews to heart and buy the jeans? Well, probably not, consdering the demographic of people shopping at JeansThatAreGoodForFarming.com probably look for different qualities in their jeans and have different expectations about them than I would have as a diva wanting jeans for clubbing. Does it mean the farmer jeans are bad or that I shouldn’t buy them because they’re from a farming clothes website? No. It just means that I might not be able to use the comments from this different demographic to evaluate the item’s needs for my personal situation, which may be entirely different.

          6. Yeah, your last paragraph there is exactly what I thought Grump was saying, that walmart is for farmers, and that even though the reviews are talking about wearing the dress to work, it couldn’t possibly be where we work.

          8. Meanwhile, the penetration of Walmart is roughly 65%-70%.

            My clients sell many of their products through Walmart, and they often subscribe to the stereotype that Walmart consumers are those frowsy, blowsy, dare I say it frumpy housewives who can barely rub two nickels together and if they do work outside the home, they’re slingin’ hash down at the local diner before their truck-drivin’ husband gets home and they head out to watch NASCAR with their passel of snot-nosed kids.

            And every single time I do the demographic analysis for them and they are shocked to find out that Walmart consumers look … pretty much like them.

            For many people, Walmart is their version of Target and the two are interchangeable. It’s where they buy their cleaning supplies, over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, etc. – and yes, pick up or fill in clothing. I don’t buy at Walmart myself – I don’t have one near me. But I think some people might be well served by disabusing themselves of the stereotype of the Walmart consumer as being oh so very different.

          9. Maybe, but a silk or wool piece at Walmart will likely be extremely thin and poor quality. You’d have more luck with a cotton or synthetic.

          10. Sharon, my only point (and I think Grump’s point too) is that in general, the average/random/pick a person from the lot of the entire consumer base of Walmart shopper buying Walmart clothes on a consistent basis is *probably not* going to be your average/random/pick a person from the lot of all top law, business, etc. firms shopper. There is nothing wrong with saying that people of a certain demographic are probably more likely, *in general/on the whole,* to be buying clothes from Walmart than others. It’s not making any sort of judgement call- just saying that your average/random professional type working person of a certain income range is likely going to be buying the majority of their clothes elsewhere. It’s not to say those sorts of people don’t shop at Walmart for anything or don’t occasionally buy clothes there, just that they are likely not going to be the average type of person consistently purchasing clothes at Walmart.

            I am going to assume you agree with this, and if you do, the follow up point is (again) that different types of people have different expecations/needs/wants for their clothing, as I have said before. What may work perfectly fine for the average/typical Walmart consumer buying clothes there on a consistent basis may not necessarily work perfectly fine for the average/typical working person in a BigCityWeRecruitIvyLeagueGrads Law Firm. Again, there’s no judgement call here- just the point that those of us with particular dressing needs should probably be wary of reviews about clothing coming from a perspective of needs/wants/expectations that may not be the exact same as ours.

            And yes, if the quality of this dress were in fact up to par, I am sure few people (save for those with ethical reasons) would begrudge the purchase simply because the piece is from Walmart. But, given the fact that the material is a jersey, the dress is probably unlined and not very well constructed, and that the people reviewing the dress may be reviewing it with different wants/needs/expectations in mind for their purchase, this one may be best to avoid.

          11. Here’s a solution: why don’t ‘Frump AND Grump’ just stop posting their snide/fatphobic/classist comments on posts they don’t like and stick to patting themselves on the back about the $600 skirts they can afford to buy?

            Also: all of the other peope posting are all Corporettes. You aren’t more Corporette than any one else. You don’t get to speak for the other people on this site and decide what they ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ like or buy.

            Here’s one ‘Corporette’ who found your comments incredibly offensive and rude (or don’t I count because I’d shop at Walmart).

  8. Dang, Grump. This Corporette goes to Wal-Mart and sometimes buys (hush) CLOTHES!. Alot is tacky and cheap, but they they also make some good stuff (especially Dansko sneakers for my daughter).

    1. Walmart has Dansko shoes? Are you sure you’re not confusing it with another brand or a Dansko imitator?

    2. I’m with you, Lawgirl! I live in NY and work at a big firm, but on my frequent visits home to Louisiana and Texas I always pop into Wal-Mart. I’ve had some of my Wal-Mart dresses for years and get compliments on them all the time. I admit a lot of their clothing doesn’t appeal to me, but it’s worth my time to find a $10 dress I can wear for years! Go WAL-MART!

      Also, after retirement my Dad went to work at Walmart as a way to stay active and make a little extra money. So I take great offense to Grump and Frump’s comments.

  9. More years ago than I care to reveal (ok, something like 8), I bought a shirdress at Target in a black and white print. Definitely 100% artificial fabric- some weird rayon/jersey fabric. I wear that dress to this day and get major kudos on it everytime. I wash it on gentle cycle and let it air dry. The day it disintegrates I will be very sad. I never thought I would keep a dress that long but there have you. Don’t discount the discounters sometimes- you never know what you may find. Always keep an open mind.

    1. I have a ton of matte jersey stuff from Target – dresses, separates, etc. – and that stuff is bulletproof. I have one shirt with bell sleeves that has been around the world – it traveled with me to Europe, then Japan – and it still looks great, I wore it to work this week.

      I avoid Wal-Mart because of the aforementioned ethical issues, but Target clothes are a pretty significant portion of my wardrobe, for casual and work purposes. I don’t work in L.A. or NYC and most people here can’t tell Target from Theory. As far as men go – I hope ladies understand 90 percent of men cannot tell authentic designer from “fast fashion” and don’t care how much you saved on a designer item (although many of them will think you’re an idiot for paying big bucks for a simple piece). I would never create a work wardrobe out of nothing but Target/Wal-Mart pieces but you can mix them in with “nicer” pieces (hello, have people never heard of the hi-lo theory of dressing? Patricia Field did it all the time for Sex and the City costumes?) and still look great.

    2. @JS — I think I had the same dress!!! Loved that piece — too bad I “outgrew” it. :(

    3. Just FYI, RAYON is a Natural fabric! I didnt know that for a long time but it is…

  10. I don’t shop at Wal-mart because of all the terrible things I’ve heard about how they treat their employees.

    1. Ditto. Even if I thought this dress would work for me, it was still available in the cute print, and it wasn’t questionable quality, I do not spend money at Walmart. I have nothing, however, against Target, or even K-Mart.

    2. Grew up in VERY rural America … people were actually excited about Wal-Mart coming to town because it paid more than other jobs, had better benefits, and offered more room to improve and work your way up. Know several people that started there part-time in high school and are now at a managerial level making a decent income.

      I know there are problems at Wal-Mart, and I’m not turning a blind eye to these by any means, but want to give another perspective as to what Wal-Mart offers.

      1. I have to agree with anono, having grown up in a very rural area as well. Additionally, people were excited when Walmart came to town b/c they saved lots of money on gas and wear/tear on their cars (you don’t know what gravel roads to do a car until you drive hours on them every day) because they no longer had to drive over an hour to the nearest larger town that had stores that sold the products Walmart carries but at more expensive prices.

        Yes, it is sad to see the mom and pop stores close when Walmart moves in and shuts them down, but Walmarts are also located in areas where there just aren’t other stores at all.

        1. Believe me, I get that. I’m not from a rural area but a large portion of my extended family is. I know it’s great for some. I was just saying I won’t shop there personally, given that I have plenty of other options.

      2. I think this may have been more true 20 years ago than it is today. Walmart used to be more of a friend to those types of communities. Not so today. Today, they run out all the other businesses that DO exist.

      3. Relevant to the Corporette community, I’m particularly concerned by the serious and largely substantiated allegations of gender bias against women in wages and promotions. Allegations of systematic mistreatment of workers, particularly overnight and immigrant workers, also concerns me. I also make an effort not to shop at stores that bar unionization, although that’s difficult in this day and age.

    3. I would love to be proven wrong, but I’m betting that the workers making Ann Taylor/Anne Klein etc products in China are doing so under exactly the same conditions as the workers making Walmart products in China. Possibly even in the same factories.

      1. Lynnet – I think you’re correct. One of my best friends recently visited a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh where they make many designer lines of clothing. Locals buy the same items for a few bucks on the street and Americans buy items for much more. I’m no expert, but markups in the clothing industry seem astronimically high. I’ve heard the same about wedding dresses made in China and actually had a friend buy one on her trip there for a couple hundred versus a few thousand – she bargains like a pro and is a native Chinese speaker.

        I can only imagine how bad the working conditions must be and have read news stories about garment factories burning down in Asia. Not to mention the factories in special economic zones in South America and China. Has anyone been following the recent stories about Foxconn and the high suicide rate? different industry but working conditions are questionable.

        1. Setting aside the important ethical debate about working conditions for the moment, re: the wedding dress. My friend did this too. She went to the stores in the US, figured out which dress she liked -ended up being the top of one designer’s and the bottom of another’s – and then had her best friend’s godmother, who lives in Hong Kong, contact the factory where the dresses were made (yes, both made in the same factory) and had them make her a custom dress (top of one, bottom of the other), made to measure. In the US stores, each dress was about $3k. With shipping from China, the dress was $350. The first dress was too small (maybe we measured wrong, maybe the factory messed up), so they sent another one, free, and it fit perfectly.

          The way the godmother explained it, in China, ruching is free, beading is free, lace is free, lacing is free – all things that cost “extra” in US stores. The only things that actually cost money are silk fabrics and pearl beads.

    4. Agreed. Their business practices are reprehensible. If the only way I can “speak” is through my spending dollars, then they don’t get spent at Walmart, Sam’s Club, or any other enterprise dreamed up by the Walton family.

  11. I enjoy seeing the TPS suggestions regardless of whether they’re aligned with my personal taste, but I can’t get behind anything sold at Wal*Mart. Y’all saw that the huge gender discrimination class action suit against Wal*Mart just got certified by the 9th Circuit a few weeks back, right? I have made a conscious choice not to support Wal*Mart.

    2. Me too. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to bring myself to purchase from walmart in years. The way they treat their lower-level employees is inexcusable. I know I can’t boycott everything that I’m opposed to, so I pick the most egregious examples – like walmart. The dress does look very cute.

    3. Is everyone boycotting Novartis products now?

      And, again, I’m not trying to suggest that wal-mart is innocent, but certification of a class action law suit does not equal a guilty verdict.

      You also should be boycotting Dell products, Outback Steakhouse, Costco and Kodak. (These are just a few class-action discrimination lawsuits/settlements I found on a quick google. I’m sure there are many more.)

  12. Time for the daily threadjack:

    Someone on here a few weeks ago said she got all her button front shirts sewn shut (i.e., along the button line). After trying on 4-5 of my button fronts this morning and removing them all due to gaping, I’ve decided I would love to do the same to mine.

    Can anyone comment on problems/issues they can foresee or have experienced with this type of alteration? If anyone has had shirts altered like this, about how much can I expect each shirt to cost?

    1. That sounds like a great idea except I don’t know how I would get the shirts on and off. I feel like I might rip the seam out trying to pull it off over my head…

      1. Agree with N – see if you can get the shirt on/off if it’s buttoned to the point where you would need the stitching to end.

        Other random issue – if the shirt is not already designed to have visible stitching running alongside the buttons (as opposed to the fabric from the rest of your shirt running smoothly to the edge, then folding under, with only the thread from the buttons keeping the fabric folded), it might look weird to have the stitching there without the “break” in the fabric.

        1. The stitching shouldn’t be visible. There’s usually an extra layer of fabric around the buttons and button holes, and the stitching would not go through the outside layer.

      2. I get my seamstress to sew snap-buttons in between the normal buttonholes, so there is no gaping. Better option than sewing it shut all the way, IMO. Don’t live in the States so costs won’t help you.

    2. Maybe I am thinking of a different comment, but someone had mentioned getting their wrap dresses sewn shut, and I wonder if that’s what you’re thinking of? That made sense because you could get a stretchy wrap dress on and off over your head. Whereas I can’t imagine you’d be able to get a button-down shirt on/off if it were sewn shut.

    3. Have you thought about using Hollywood tape or something less permanent? It doesn’t show up on the outside like safety pins.

      1. I always safety pin my button-down shirts and the pins don’t show. The placket has a double layer of fabric on both the left and right sides – the trick is to start behind the two, go through both layers of the “back” side, and only the back layer of the “front” side. Invisible.

    4. I think the idea is to put in a zipper on the side, just like in shells. The zipper part of the alteration would certainly cost a lot more than stitching the front.
      Actually, even with the side zipper it might be hard to put on a long-sleeve shirt over the head.

    5. It might be hard to get the shirts on and off. You may prefer to have your tailor sew in hook and eye closures between the buttons.

    6. I’m a busty gal. I tried minimizing bras, wardrobe tape, safety pins, and now I’ve gave up. I’ve had shirts custom made, but the ones I like the most are the ones I bought from Clarissa Rose (a corporette advertiser). I love her urban fit shirts. They are the only buttoned down ones I wear now.

      1. How is the quality of Clarissa Rose? I was looking at the site the other day, but I just couldn’t decide. I was wary because they only include swatches of the colors, rather than show the shirt in the actual colors.

    7. Or you can get your seamstree to sew snap-buttons in between the normal buttons, where the blouse gapes.

  13. We Corporettes are really a tough crowd! We criticize the prices of the $300 pencil skirt AND the $20 Wal-Mart dress.

    I have to say, I have never bought a dress at Wal-Mart. But this one looks nice, so I’d be willing to give it a try. Heck, I spent more than $20 on my lunch and dinner at work yesterday, it’s not like I have much to lose gambling on this item.

    I have recently bought a few clothing items at Target and I am suprised by the way they are holding up (very well!). And given that my Ann Taylor/Banana clothes from last/this season are all so faded that I am ready to throw them all out, maybe I should give better consideration to supplementing my wardrobe with both more expensive and cheaper items.

  14. Ugh, Wal-Mart. I think I would rather die than buy anything from them. If I was on fire, and they were the only people who sold fire extinguishers, I’d douse myself in gasoline first.

    They’re just horrible to everyone on all sides of their business. They treat their employees like crap. I work for a vendor who’s biggest customer is Wal-Mart and the treatment is better only because there are legal repercussions.

      1. I understand some of the criticisms of Wal Mart (although, with a little research, a lot of people would find that their criticisms are unfounded and that Wal Mart has actually changed a lot of their policies). However, I’ve never understood the, “There are too many Wal Marts!” criticism. Yes, it’s expanded quickly. But, why criticize a company for being successful? It makes no sense to me.

        1. Kimbo, everyone criticizes the “leader of the pack”. McDonalds gets more criticism than it’s counterparts too. Why? Because it’s the biggest dog in the fight. Burger King unabashedly makes 2000+ calorie “sandwiches” but who gets called out for “supersized” offerings? The bigger guy.

          CNBC did a great show on Walmart and their practices, expansion, etc. They always repeat it. It’s a great story. There’s one on McDonalds too.

          Also, if we all boycotted every business with ethical and moral shortcomings we wouldn’t have very many places to shop or things to buy. Look where your clothes that come from Ann Taylor and Banana Republic are made. Tell me about the labor laws in Vietnam or women’s rights in Jordan. Lots of high end designers love fur. Lots of car companies have hidden safety information (or been involved in sexual harrassment suits! Toyota anyone?) Very few places are squeaky clean.

      2. I don’t get why the Flowing Data site is disturbing. It just visually depicts how their business expanded. What’s so bothersome about that?

        1. I will not disagree that Wal-Mart’s practices are probably not far off from other national retail chains. I can only speak from my experience, and the company I work for sells items to every major retail outlet – Target, Kohl’s, Sears, Kmart and hundreds of others. None of our customers treat us in the same way. I know that Wal-Mart will commit to buying something from us, and then change their minds. They’ve had us use a process, that cost a few thousand, to synchronize products for the stores, and then used a totally different process for walmart.com with another different cost. Our other customers don’t do that, or anything even close to it.

          I find the map sort of plague like. Like I said, I’m sure everyone is similar and the map for anyone else would just start in a different part of the country. I know I have a bias against them, not going to deny that.

  15. So I have as much anti-Wal-Mart sentiment as the next elitist, urban liberal and avoid shopping there, but sometimes I wonder – is it really any worse than companies like Target or even Ann Taylor and Banana Republic who also get their stuff manufactured abroad? Do they treat their employees that much better?

    1. V, I’ve never worked at Wal Mart, but having worked in retail all through college and knowing people who have worked at Wal Mart, no, it’s really not any worse. Of course, there are horror stories and some of them are true, but a lot of the criticisms people often spout about Wal Mart really apply to nearly every similar store. Particularly, I always hear the criticism that they keep a lot of their employees part time in order to cut back on offering benefits. I feel like nearly every retail company does this. If you go in to a Banana or Ann Taylor on any given day, I’d say there’s about a 95% chance that the only full time employees you’ll encounter are the managers.

    2. V, I’ve never worked at Wal Mart, but having worked in retail all through college and knowing people who have worked at Wal Mart, no, it’s really not any worse. Of course, there are horror stories and some of them are true, but a lot of the criticisms people often spout about Wal Mart really apply to nearly every similar store. Particularly, I always hear the criticism that they keep a lot of their employees part time in order to cut back on offering benefits. I feel like nearly every retail company does this. If you go in to a Banana or Ann Taylor on any given day, I’d say there’s about a 95% chance that the only full time employees you’ll encounter are the managers.

      1. I guess our definitions of “substantiated” are extremely different. Additionally, I meant to say this, but it’s possible I just thought it, Wal Mart has changed a lot of their labor practices in big ways in recent years. How many of the alleged incidents you’re citing happened recently? And what’s the point of trying to get a company to change then continuing to criticize them for past behavior after they’ve changed?

        1. Substantiated and recent enough that just last month the 9th Circuit certified the class in a gender discrimination case anticipated to include more than one million members.

          2. Argh. I can’t find the source now, but I’ve actually read quite a bit on that case and, from what I recall, the alleged discrimination actually happened several years ago.

          3. @Kimbo – You’re right, but it hasn’t been remedied and Walmart’s been far from transparent and amenable to compromise and making amends. They admittedly calculate whether or not to settle lawsuits based on the expected cost of the lawsuit rather than the merits of the claim and wrongfulness of their actions. That’s their prerogative and it’s a smart business move.

            I don’t refuse to shop at Walmart or think that boycotts are particularly effective anyway. But I have the economic freedom to be picky about where I shop, and so when I have different shopping options available I tend to support companies that value the same things I do. There’s nothing Walmart has to offer that I can’t get from a company I like better. I certainly don’t fault people on a tight budget for shopping at the cheapest store available.

          4. Oh yes, it’s certainly your prerogative to shop wherever you choose for whatever reasons you choose. And you definitely don’t come off as one of the self-righteous anti-Wal Marters. I guess the negative interactions I’ve had with those people have affected my opinion of a lot of the Wal Mart boycotters. I’ve just encountered a few who just believe they are so morally superior, but they willingly shop at other stores that also have labor issues (though, probably not on the same scale).

  16. I will probably get torn to shreds for this one, but I do think wal-mart does some good. I know from personal experience that because of its low prices, my family saves hundreds of dollars a year on groceries/beauty products. I would imagine it has done the same for many others. Additionally, it hires a tremendous number of handicapped (is that the correct PC word?) who would otherwise not be able to obtain employment. While Wal-Mart certainly has some downfalls, there are benefits which it provides which cannot be overlooked.

    1. I actually had a letter to the editor published in a newspaper not that long ago saying this very thing. For as many defects as Walmart seems to have, it does bring a lot of consumption power to those who might not have it otherwise.

    2. I’ve said the same thing many times, actually. I don’t shop at Wal Mart often because there’s not one that’s metro accessible and I don’t have a car, but I know people who can go there and get everything they need at a much cheaper price than they can get it elsewhere. Yes, one day you may find one item cheaper at Target, but the overall bill at Wal Mart is going to be cheaper and the people who live paycheck to paycheck need all of the savings they can get.

    3. My sister lives in a rural town and the only way she can get groceries and clothes is by shopping at WalMart. Seriously, that’s all there is. I understand why so many of us take an ethical stance against shopping there, but I wanted to point out that there are a lot of people who don’t have the luxury of having tons of different places to shop at their disposal.

      1. That’s because Walmart ran all of the locally-owned businesses into the ground! It’s a mom-and-pop killer!

      2. Agree. If you go to rural America, Walmart may be the ONLY option for miles. One of my manufacturing facilities was in West Plains, MO. No chain would go there, not even McDonalds. There were no chain anything. Just mom and pop places. Walmart was it. It was actually like stepping back in time. All of America isn’t like where we live.

        1. I find it quite funny that a town as small as West Plains made it on this blog. I grew up outside of West Plains in a town that was *gasp* even smaller (West Plains was where we went to go to the “big town”). I will say, the town has grown a lot since you were there last – McDonald’s (2 actually), Sonic, Subway, chain restaurants, etc – but it is still nothing compared to a big city.

          Where I live, my two options for every day purchases are Wal-Mart or a grocery store that charges twice as much. I’m sorry, but I choose Wal-Mart.

    4. In reply to the question above about “handicapped”: handicapped is generally disfavored because there’s a theory that it references begging on the streets- “hand in cap.” There’s also a well-established convention to use “people first” language in the community of those with disabilities and their advocates (also in the American Psychological Association Guidelines). So instead of saying “disabled person” you say “person with a disability.”

      It may sound needlessly PC, but it’s not very cumbersome to say and I think justified. People have disabilities, but don’t necessarily want to be defined solely by their disabilities- this says that someone has a disability, not that they are the disability. There are more eloquent statements about this on the Internet if people are interested.

      Sorry for the long response to what might have been a throw-away parenthetical, but I couldn’t pass up the chance. I try not to bring the issue up unsolicited because I know that 99% of people don’t mean anything when they say “disabled person” or “handicapped” or “retarded” (as a generic insult, and not to describe someone with mental retardation) and I don’t judge those who do. But language is important, and it’s always great when people make a conscious effort to be careful about the words they use and how they can impact others.

      (As for their record hiring people with disabilities, they actually were just charged by the government with violating the ADA last year and agreed to implement better policies in a settlement. You may be thinking of Walgreens, who has a very impressive track record of hiring people with disabilities, especially in their distribution centers.)

      1. Thank you for this. It’s always nice to have someone explain something like this is a polite way. I wouldn’t have thought about saying “person with a disability” instead of disabled person. None of us want to accidentally offend, so I appreciate the info.

      2. Thank you so much for the explanation. I did not know that “hand-in-cap” was the origin of the word handicap. While it was somewhat of a throw away line, I am never sure of what word to use because the PC word always seems to be changing.

        I appreciate your taking the time. I also appreciate that you do not give this advice unsolicited. As a note (and not justifying my using the word) my mother is a person with a disability. While she personally does not care what word is used, I can see how some people would be more sensitive. I hope that people who do know/use the PC word, assume arrogance is the cause of others using the non PC word, and not maliciousness.

  17. I’m not defending Wal-Mart in any way, but let’s have a little bit of a wake-up call here: those shirts in Target/J.Crew/Banana Republic/Nordstroms/Saks that say “Made in Thailand” of wherever? Guess what, those workers probably got paid exactly the same as the Wal-Mart workers.

    Wal-Mart gets a lot of attention, rightfully so, because it is so big, but let’s not pretend that similar practices aren’t found at every big corporation in America. Unless you are buying your clothes that are solely made in America (and more power to you if you are), please don’t get a “holier-than-thou” attitude about the evil Wal-Mart.

    2. I think when people are discussing Wal-Mart’s treatment of its “workers” they mean actual Wal-Mart employees who work in the stores. Even as one of the largest employers in the country, and therefore a likely target of litigation, Wal-Mart is alleged to engage in some pretty dismal employment practices with respect to benefits, discrimination, etc.
      That’s a separate issue from its likely sourcing of its products from underpaid and abused foreign workers, which, as you suggest, is probably quite prevalent among other retailers as well, although, again, Wal-Mart seems to be the target of these allegations with a higher degree of frequency. And personally, I don’t see anything wrong with considering child labor or grossly unsafe, exploitative working conditions in factories to be “evil.” It’s not less so because everyone else is doing it.

      1. Yes, thank you, AEK, that’s what I was thinking of regarding the labor practices. Another thought I had (and i admit this isn’t something I’ve looked into at all, just a thought) — people are defending Wal-mart as a gift to rural areas because it is cheaper and provides jobs to a sparsely-populated area. But if it really is paying low wages and forcing people to work part-time, it seems it’s just perpetuating a cycle of low income. It could do some real good by providing full-time jobs, benefits, etc. to these areas. Someone mentioned that the Ann Taylors, Jcrews, etc., also make people work part-time and so Wal-mart is no different, but I would argue that those stores are mostly located in more densely-populated, higher income areas. The people working at the local Jcrew might be more likely to be high school or college kids, or others supplementing their incomes or who have spouses whose employer provides benefits, rather than people whose sole source of income is a part-time Walmart job with no benefits. Like I said, just a thought.

        1. CJ, if Wal Marts were only located in rural areas, the argument against comparing them to J.Crew, etc. would make more sense. But, as is often pointed out by critics, Wal Mart is everywhere, with the exception of large cities. Seriously, though, there are tons of Wal Marts in suburbs. The town I grew up in has a Wal Mart next to a Kohl’s. A block over there is an Old Navy, a Payless, a Sally Beauty, and a Target. The median income in the town is something like $75,000, so it’s fairly high income. The next nearest Wal Mart (about 15 miles from where I grew up) is across the street from a mall with J Crew, Banana, and Ann Taylor.

          As far as your point about giving rural residents less-than-ideal jobs, I’m going to say that I’m guessing you’ve never been unemployed nor have you had a lot of contact with people who live this kind of lifestyle. Believe me, having a part time job making $10/hour is preferable to not working at all. Luckily, I’ve never had to live like this, but I’ve done a decent amount of volunteering in rural areas and having any job is a lifesaver to these people. Additionally, the point a lot of people were making about rural areas was that Wal Mart provides a place to shop without having to travel extremely far, so the point wasn’t specifically about employment.

          1. Well, Kimbo, *I’m* going to say that you have made a lot of assumptions about me that are baseless and pretty condescending given you know approximately nothing about me, and also happen to be inaccurate. I don’t think this is a black-and-white issue, and I think you make some good points–for example I certainly agree that $10/hour is better than nothing. But it doesn’t mean I’m not free to think that a huge corporation could do better. And if you think that’s a silly reason for me to not shop there, that’s completely fine. What I do not appreciate is when you start making assumptions or condescending statements about the background of an anonymous person on the internet just because you disagree with her. I’m going to stop posting now, so you’re free to get the last word if you’d like.

          2. Actually, cj, you admitted it was something you’ve never looked into, so it wasn’t an assumption on my part at all. Even if you consider that an assumption, your admission that it was something you’d never looked into means that it was in no way “baseless.” Additionally, it would be one assumption, not “a lot” as you claim.

            No one is saying that you’re not free to think whatever you choose. Odd that you would feel the need to state that you’re entitled to an opinion.

            I do not appreciate your condescending attitude, either, although, I find it hilarious when someone can dish out rudeness like a pro but gets all offended when someone dares say something back to them. Thanks for giving me a good laugh!

          3. OK I hate myself for not being able to resist responding. Kimbo, I wasn’t trying to start a fight with you. You are correct that my initial comment was just a thought, as I stated, and something I haven’t looked into. And yes, maybe I was wrong and you may be totally right. But your response to that initial comment (your 1st paragraph) isn’t what upset me. What ruffled my feathers was your second paragraph, where I felt you made some assumptions about me personally, and my background, which you know nothing about. That’s all. I wasn’t trying to be rude. It just kind of offended me that you made assumptions about my background. I felt like you kind of attacked me on a personal level. Perhaps I misunderstood you, just as I think you have misunderstood me. I should have bit my tongue, or fingers as it were, since it’s obviously difficult to convey the tone one intends over the internet. Anyway, sorry for the misunderstanding and you are welcome for the laugh.

      2. Do you ensure that the produce you eat comes from family farms who don’t use undocumented migrant workers? Have you talked to the cleaning staff who are bussed in from … somewhere … every night to clean your building? Do you know if there are gender or racial disparities in the salary spread at your own place work? (There are lots of studies suggesting that most people grossly underestimate how much these exist at their own place of work.)

        Some context – As a child, my mother worked in a college cafeteria contracted out by a “liberal, progressive” university to one of the large national food service providers. Their labor practices were horrific. This same company, or ones very similar to it, probably provided the same service to most of the readers’ colleges. I’d be intrested to know how many readers on here ever bothered to ask any questions about the wages, the benefits, the working conditions, etc. behind the people who served them food every day.

        I am not trying to support Wal-Mart’s practices, but I’m bothered that people feel they can hate on Wal-Mart, turn a blind eye to the same issues going on all around them on a daily basis, and then pull out a smug, superior attitude at the same time.

        1. Yes, yes, and yes. Obviously we can’t boycott everything, but I do try with all my spending decisions to support the company in the market making the best (not perfect) decisions. I shop at Whole Foods and pay attention to whether things are fair trade – or I shop at a grocery with unionized employees. I do talk to our cleaning people, and I know that my firm does not have cleaning people who are bussed in and treated badly. And yes, I am aware of gender and racial disparaties at my firm, and I look to see that it is an issue the firm is trying to make progress on. I don’t think that most of us are turning a blind eye. You do what you can, when you can. And for the most part, what I can do is make a statement with my wallet and support the businesses that I feel have the best practices (although still not perfect). It’s basically impossible to not patronize some bad practices, but we do the best we can. And I think some offenders are much worse than others.

          1. But you do realize that buying your groceries at Whole Foods is a luxury that most people who buy groceries at Wal-Mart cannot afford, right?

          2. Of course. I would not say that everyone should make the same choices I do, and I do not judge anyone for shopping at Walmart. I simply choose not to for the reasons people have stated at length here. And those types of “speaking with your dollars” decisions are why major grocery stores now all have organic sections. Maybe even Walmart. I haven’t been to look. I know I read somewhere that they have organic cotton clothing offerings? Why do you think they are making those changes? Because pompous people like me spend money on them. So my silly little boycott, in its own small way, improves the Walmart experience for people who don’t have as many choices due to location or financial limitations.

    3. I think the other thing that gets people riled about WalMart (me included, by the way) is that they intentionally refuse to allow their employees to work enough hours to qualify for benefits. Now, many retail establishments do this, so that’s not TERRIBLE. The terrible part comes in where they have full-time employees that help the part-time employees qualify for Medicaid or other low-income health care subsidies. Now, you may say, “Well, how nice of them to do that for their employees.” But the real truth is that this is a company policy established by WalMart to use government money (ie, our taxes) to subsidize WalMart so WalMart does not have to pay for healthcare benefits.

      And, if that’s not bad enough, WalMart has an abysmal track record relating to environmental waste. They regularly flout EPA regulations, dump waste, and the EPA has a history of looking the other way because of the typical government BS. The whole thing is just sickening.

  18. All of the people criticizing the material, have you seen the dress, or are you just guessing based on the description? I don’t shop at Wal Mart often, but I’ve gotten a few things there that have been of great quality.

    1. Absolutely! If it looks fantastic for a low price, what’s there to lose? Better than having bought something mediocre for a high price ;)

  19. Walmart is like the evil corporation we love to hate because it allows us to ignore the other companies doing the same stuff, or that would do it if they only had an opportunity (were they big enough). Yes they should be called out on their incorrect/unfair practices and we should make them correct them as much as possible, but let’s not pretend that Target/Kmart/Banana etc. don’t do bad things too.

    BTW – the way people talk about Walmart reminds me of the way people used to talk about Microsoft. Then Microsoft started losing market share and Apple (the “underdog”) has been doing exactly what Microsoft was doing when it had more power.

    These are corporations, they’re trying to maximize profits. We can use legislation, law suits, etc. to make them behave better, but no company that got big does anything “good” out of the goodness of their “heart.” We just need to shape our laws to MAKE them do good things, and make sure our legal system works so that we can enforce the laws when they ignore them.

    1. I wonder if there’s not some elitism going on. We [as in general demographic of this blog] don’t really like most of the products at Wal-Mart and can afford to buy higher quality ones, so it makes a nice target that we can associate with poor people and also not have to sacrifice anything ourselves.

    3. The thing is, it’s because of Wal-Mart’s huge size that it has unique power to change things. Can you imagine the impact Wal-Mart could have if it decided to source its products only from factories that pay a living wage? Same with its own employment practices. The market leader has the power to influence its competitors’ business practices.
      I guess I just don’t understand why people keep saying that Wal-Mart is not the only one doing these things. Point taken—but why does that make any Wal-Mart better? For the lawyers in the group, how often have your clients gotten of the hook with the “everyone else is doing it” defense?

      1. What evidence do you have that Wal Mart doesn’t source its products only from factories that pay a living wage? Yes, when we hear the amount these workers are paid, it sounds extremely low. But, you have to look at the cost of living in these countries.

        I think the reason people are bringing up the fact that other companies do this is to point out the hypocrisy of those who say, “I’m boycotting Wal Mart because they’re so terrible,” in one breath, and then sing the prasies of Ann Taylor in the next. I’ve been around a lot of the fervently anti-Wal Mart people and they usually think they are so superior; it’s annoying.

    4. What bugs me is people who slam Wal-Mart, shop at brands whose clothing , as it is pointed downthread, is made on the same assembly lines, and feel superior and that they have done something about the problem.

      As Law DJ says, no corporation does anything for the good of the world. They do it because they are forced to or because there is a profit in it. To really change things will take massive collective action and a real change in the way laws are written and enforced … but that’s hard, so its easier to say “I disapprove of Wal-Mart” and go on with your life feeling good about yourself.

  20. Wal Mart isn’t actually that much worse than any other large corporation.
    Jason Furman, an economist at New York University, & now an adviser to Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was actually (unwittingly) a progressive success story — the chain’s prices benefit low- and middle-income Americans to the tune of around $250bn a year. Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress wages. But it may also boost wages by offering jobs to the otherwise-unemployed. Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far outweigh any plausible costs to Walmart employees. And while it is true that Walmart employees tend to be poor, the same is true of the majority of Walmart shoppers.

  21. Thread hijack – I wanted to report back on the Jcrew skirts that I bought after reading some good reviews here (by the way, they shipped my stuff insanely fast, which was impressive).

    Crepe wool skirt — definite no. Made me look hippy. I also don’t really care for the material. If I buy a wool skirt, I want it to seem like wool. This felt and looked like polyester.

    Stretch wool skirt – nice but thin fabric. Made me look less hippy, but no where as flattering as my skirts from Nordstrom – CE brand.

    Still waiting for the gabardine skirt (to be shipped in July!). Hopefully that will be better, but these two skirts will likely get returned.

  22. I boycotted WalMart for many years but now go there for certain things. As to this dress, I question the quality of the faric, and also I wonder what wages were paid to the labor that created the dress. We do have to think about such things, sadly.

  23. Yeah, I managed factories in Asia that produced clothing for US retailers for many years. We made stuff for Walmart, K-mart, Disney, Federated (Macy’s), Kohl’s and Marks and Spencers. It’s all assembled by the same lines. And it’s not (all) as bad as everyone thinks (though just like any business, we knew some factories that had truly deplorable work conditions that produced for the same brands).

  24. I stopped going to Wal-mart because the stores are always dirty and/or a mess, the sales people are either no where to be found, or rude when you finally find them and the stuff that is a good value at wal-Mart is a similarly good value at Target, without the mess….

    1. Totally agree…I find Target to be a far more pleasant shopping experience. I only go to Wal-Mart when I need something that my Target doesn’t carry or has run out of (which has happened maybe 1 or 2 times in the last 5 years).

    2. The dirty store syndrome is actually my major problem with Wal-Mart, aside from their employment practices. A new Wal-Mart is lovely for the first few months, and then it steadily gets dirtier. When it’s too dirty, Wal-Mart just builds a new one, and communities are left with a huge, filthy, and empty store that’s hard to rent.

      Having said that, I am from the rural midwest, and I also happen to be one of those lower-paid administration people (the librarian, specifically; you may find me doing breathing exercises in the ladies room after one of your colleagues has destroyed a $1000 book or spent $11000 in a database without billing any of it back) so I do appreciate that a lot of us who need to dress professionally cannot do so at Brooks Brothers.

  25. I rarely shop at Walmart, but was lucky that I came across a lovely Norma Kamali navy blue dress there last summer that I bought for a wedding(seriously). I recieved dozens of compliments on it. It’s ridiculously comfortable, a heavier knit jersey, and has a pretty sheen to it. Best of all, it was only $15.00. I’ve worn it multiple times since then and it is really versatile. It’s easy to dress up or down.

  26. Need emergency help!

    I just finished a memo and then accidently closed the doc before saving it. So stupid!

    Anybody know how to retrieve it?

    2. Word creates a “saved” version of a document in your Temp folder. You should be able to find it (or a portion of it) there.

  27. Considering all the Walmart bashing, I’d just like to say I admire Walmart’s business model, they provide goods and services at lower prices than their competitors, and they provide jobs to over 1 million people. Jobs that people need. Also, certification of a class in a class action lawsuit does not equate to liability or wrongdoing, the plaintiffs still have the burden to prove their case. Of course, anyone is free to not shop at any store, just wanted to provide a balancing viewpoint.

  29. i actually was forced to buy that dress after a coffee spill at work,, and being that i live 45 miles from work, it really wasnt too bad… the fabric hugs your body and feels super confi =) NOT to mention it gave me lots of compliments. NOONE belived i bought it at Wally mart!!

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