Thursday’s Workwear Report: Belle Isle Button-Front Short-Sleeve Cardigan
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
This sweet cardigan from Torrid looks so fresh and summery that I’d be tempted to take it out for a picnic lunch instead of a trip to the office. I love a short-sleeved cardigan for folks who run warm but still need to cover up a sleeveless blouse or dress. This cotton pointelle knit will feel breezy and cool, even when the temperature is creeping up.
Wear this with a light blouse and swingy skirt for maximum coolness and comfort.
The sweater is $69.90 at Torrid and comes in sizes equivalent to 10-30. It also comes in “whisper white.”
Treasure & Bond has an option in straight sizes that is $89.50 at Nordstrom.
Sales of note for 7/15:
- Nordstrom – The Anniversary Sale has started! Here's our big roundup of what to get first, as well as everything we've selected thus far.
- Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, 60% off sale and 40% off everything — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Banana Republic – Summer sale up to 60% off sale styles + extra 20% off
- The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
- J.Crew – 50% off select cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
- Lululemon – Summer sale!
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added)
- M.M.LaFleur – 25% off jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clear the rack, extra 25% off clearance! 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
- Talbots – Red Door Sale! Prices start at $15
I love the look of the “Belle Isle” line from Torrid but their quality is so poor I sent back nearly everything from my last order.
Does anyone have gift ideas for staying with a boyfriend’s parents for one night? They’re in their 80s and we’ve met once before. His dad is an avid reader so I was considering getting him a book (Erik Larson?) but Mom isn’t a reader and I’m struggling with something specific for her. Is there an easier way to do a more generic thank you gift for the couple?
Are you from a place with something notable? I’m from Virginia so always gave a bottle of Virginia wine.
+1 Also, someone once bought my parents Virginia peanuts and they became a house staple. I really think we all have this tendency to focus on the “perfect” gift when the best gifts are kind of generic.
this might feel cute but although VA vineyards are scenic I have yet to really enjoy the wine itself… ymmv depending on how much the recipient drinks.
Not a wine sn0b but I feel the same way.
I am a wine snob and love Virginia wines.
true, but it can go into something being cooked, like a beef stock easily
I live in Virginia wine country so I might be biased, but we have excellent wineries and they are doing some pretty cool stuff. I’d suggest giving it more of a shot. Charlottesville wineries also have a lot going on.
Ha, I had the same thought. Please do not bring me Virginia wine!
Hugely dismissive of actual virginia wine and the hard work of our farmers.
Sorry if your only experience is with out unfortunate official grape, but a lot of wineries are doing a lot with shifting climate, natural fermentation, and growing the vines that work. Less chemistry and more farming:
I usually go with something that will get used up and go away…. my parents are that age and have downsized as well as selling a summer home, they have divested themselves of so much stuff that it feels weird to buy more. fancy cookies, hand soap, flowers, wine…
+1. I love flowers. I’ve also sent a fruit basket afterwards.
Agree and I lean something consumable like chocolate or other fancy snacks, especially if there’s something local to you that you could bring.
Yes! I would do flowers, cookies, or candies in this instance. Wine if you know they drink at home (my parents do not).
I’m of the opinion that a hostess gift should always be consumable, especially for people that age. Hopefully your boyfriend can offer guidance on their preferences, but if he can’t I’d get them a signature food or beverage item.
“signature food or beverage item from your local area” I meant to say..
Flowers
Unless you know them well, It’s actually quite difficult to find a good book for someone who reads a lot because they’ve probably already read everything by Erik Larson or whatever similar authors people tend to suggest. Just get food or drink or another consumable they like. Your boyfriend should be able to advise on this.
+1 I’m a big reader and I really don’t like receiving books. Odds are I’ve read it or know I don’t want to read it, and even for the small handful of books I loved so much I want to read them again, I don’t really have much desire to own them. I’d appreciate the gesture of course, but I donate all books I receive as gifts to the library.
+2 I loathe when people give me books and I love to read, it’s akin to buying someone something for their hobby, you will get it wrong. Coffee table books are a different story, but those are best for people you know well.
Jams or a breakfast gift basket. Or a local honey are always nice.
Flowers or chocolates, then send a thank-you note.
Consumables are the way to go here. I’d consider sending a breakfast basket ahead (like Wolferman’s but perhaps they have a better local source) and then you can all enjoy together, or they can enjoy the goodies after you leave.
I’d go with consumables but not alcohol – think chocolates, bonbons, favorite bakery – from your area. Bonus points if they come with a story – think it’s a small shop in your area that was on the Today show, the place that’s done all the cookies for your parties, or you went there on a date. It’s the act of sharing something from your life with them, not the item.
Food or flowers, as others have suggested. I think an ebook is too personal for a host gift.
any suggestions for very light weight pants that look like real pants and not pajamas?
I have and love the Beyond Yoga easy wide leg pants.
https://beyondyoga.com/products/easy-wide-leg-pant-nocturnal-nav
https://beyondyoga.com/products/easy-wide-leg-pant-nocturnal-navy-nn1263s?variant=43223421026403&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22980477091&gbraid=0AAAAADtUgqQ12Ed88eh2lIBOBYNM_KyUD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwguLSBhDLARIsAH-yPrH1_90d_RRf0nZX31IzCy83u-71s3zHLFE5JEUZyBfltndFGKH4icwaArr9EALw_wcB
Sorry – bad link
The Uniqlo “Smart” line of pants comes in a variety of leg styles and is a lightweight fabric, but looks like real pants. Caveat – they are polyester. I find them great for travel – comfy, a bit stretchy, don’t wrinkle in the luggage and can be easily washed in a hotel sink and air dried.
i have some from costco that are a very lightweight with second kind of fabric stripe going down the side for stretch.
i have some j.crew linen pants (they’re real sizing, so 16P not XLP) that look ok. linen pants with a zipper and button will probably look better.
I like the 5-pocket J.Crew linen blend pants this season. The fit is not shapeless like so many linen pants, and the seat does not look like the saggy, baggy elephant after all-day wear. I was in the machine and line dry and wear right off the line.
How often do you repaint your home interior? Not for color changes necessarily but for upkeep/freshness? I’m WFH for the foreseeable future due to a surgery recovery and I’m now blessed/cursed with observing all sorts of home imperfections that are just staring at me day after day. I saw them before, but now its on blast given I’m here 24/7 going on 10 days and counting. Among the many imperfections, it feels like we just need a full repainting of high traffic rooms/halls, which is admittedly most of the 2500 SF house. We’d likely hire out for it.
I’ve put off things like updating tired/lightly stained but reasonably presentable furniture while the kids are young but the nicks, dings, scuff marks, and in some cases cracking on walls (1960s home – just normal stuff..) is bugging me. We’ve been in the house for 7 years, and are a family of 4 w/ an 8 and 2.5 year old. We had a large dog until recently, and we will at some point within likely 12 mos get another dog.
I guess, is it worth spending the money on what’s inevitably going to become worn out again… is the argument in my head right now. How do others approach? If I wait 1-2 years, the kids are that much older and a new dog is less of a puppy. I should add we’ve spent a lot on other updates (new roof, hvac, plumbing, exterior repaint, insulation, leaking skylights etc) but have neglected some of this more “optional” cosmetic stuff.
Whenever it needs it, I am a big believer in having a lovely home and regularly refresh, repaint, etc.
I will add, I’ve done little touch ups but it never seems to match even if its from the same can. The existing wall paint is inevitably dirtier so the “touch up” stands out, so I feel like all or nothing is the requisite strategy at this point.
Yeah, I think I’d repaint in this case!
That’s because touchups do not work, paint fades and the same can achieves nothing. Definitely repaint. I have dogs and they don’t have any impact on the walls, and even if they did, I just don’t believe in having a mess because of kids or pets. They just mean you repaint more often, not less.
Same with cleaning. Pets and kids create dirt and mess. You clean it up! (Or have the kids help when they’re old enough.) I have two cats, which means that I have to comfortable with vacuuming more often.
Turn the kids loose with some Magic Erasers and see if that doesn’t take care of enough scuffs and whatnot to satisfy. A good cleaning can make a huge difference, even on painted walls.
magic erasers are basically sanding the wall — it affects the sheet and in some lights / times of day you can definitely see it
SHEEN not sheet
Be VERY careful with magic erasers on painted surfaces!
Start with just plain old dish soap.
Magic Erasers can be good when used sparingly but def use them only on more matte finishes.
Depends on the quality and durability of the paint job. RIP Ralph Lauren paints. My last paint job at the house I did myself in 2010 and it still looks fab. I’ve given all the walls and trim a good wash a couple of times in the intervening years. If things look somehow not fresh and you are not interested in changing colors, I suggest a good wash before you move onto repainting.
I washed my trim in a previous house and a friend’s mother thought I’d repainted. When I said I hadn’t she low key argued with me. I guess it really refreshed the look.
+1 I think a professional wash normally does the job if you don’t want to change colors.
We’ve been in our house 11 years (with kids and a small dog) and haven’t repainted. When I was younger I lived in some apartments where they repainted between every tenant and it was very gross to me – there were so many layers of paint they were thick and peeling off, so I’m sort of instinctually against repainting except to change color. We’re probably overdue for a wash though.
Ralph Lauren paint colors were SO good.
So funny, I was thinking of posting this exact question today, So no real answers, but we’ve been in our home three years and I do touch ups of scuffs, etc. maybe every 6 months or so, but I’ve also been thinking that in another year or two, the house could benefit from overall a fresh coat of paint. So I think if you’ve been in your house 7 years and have a dog, you’ve probably earned it. If you get it done with nice paint, it will also show less wear and tear/can be cleaned which will buy you more time in the future.
If I’m refreshing and not changing the color, not super frequently? Our living room paint job from 2011 still looks really good overall, though there are a few minor spots of wear that could use some attention.
By comparison, I repainted our mudroom maybe five years ago and I’ve noticed lately that it could use a refresh. That room is small and gets used HARD.
Bedrooms tend to get painted more often (maybe every 5 years or so?) because I like to change colors.
Bathrooms: I hate painting them and will do literally anything to avoid it! The next time we need to paint, I will hire out bathroom painting.
I HATE painting. Hate hate hate it – all the prep, the mess, the cleanup, etc.
However fresh paint makes a HUGE difference. Right now I’m trying to set extra cash aside so I can pay someone to do our whole place (2bd townhome).
FYI, I was quoted $16K-18K to paint 2,200 square feet (interior only). Dropping bathrooms (2.5), master bedroom, and ceilings from the quote brought the price below $7000. VHCOL area.
My brother and his wife put off all kinds of upkeep while their kids were young because things would just get messed up again, but wow their house was depressing. Dingy paint with lots of scuffs and stains, nail pops, a family room sectional so beat up that you could barely sit on it. They could afford to take care of these things, but they didn’t. The kids are grown and they have done everything – paint, replaced furniture, hang more art – and I swear they have never seemed happier. Don’t put off making your habitat nicer if it’s something you are able to afford and schedule!
I do touch ups every six months or so. If it’s an area that I need to touch up a lot or I need to patch the sheet rock, I’ll paint the whole section about every few years (think the stair walls/ hallways). I use Sherwin Williams Pro-Mar 200 in eggshell which has been fairly ok with blending in the touch ups.
Teen asks me, so I ask you all:
If your high school or college had a convocation event at the start of school, what did you wear? She has a Lilly shift that should work (in a Carolina) but keeps pulling up bridesmaid type dresses, which doesn’t seem right. She will be a junior at a new school and just knows two older boys.
lily should work. otherwise short and ruffly or long and flowy. definitely not a formal occasion. could also wear flowy pants and cute vest top….
Go online and see if she can find photos from a prior convocation at her specific school.
I’ve tried this before for conventions and I swear it is never helpful. And this IMO is exactly what the internet should excel at. Although I get why schools may not post a lot of crowd shots of events due to needing photo releases from families.
I’m generally not a huge fan of FB but is there a parents group you can find for your school and post the question?
What time of day is the event?
My gut tells me it will be a lot of white sundresses and hill house inspired prairie dresses. I don’t know why. If young women still wear Lily anywhere, it is in the south, right? My Pennsylvania college did this and it was such a surprise to me. This was before online shopping and in the middle of nowhere. I’m sure I just wore a sundress.
yes this.
I think the Lilly should work.
The Lilly option sounds perfect.
They had us wear the matching college t-shirts we got during orientation. Maybe that’s unusual lol.
Yeah, mine was a few decades ago in rural New England, but attire was more along the lines of shorts and fleece than any kind of dress. Definitely not an event that people dressed up for, though I get that the South is different and people care more about always being camera ready now.
I teach undergrads and we have a fall convocation — overwhelmingly, the girls wear sundresses of some sort, and the boys wear button downs, khakis, and sometimes a tie. Think somewhere between “casual summer wedding” and “summer church event.”
PSA for everyone looking for level up, c-suite clothes (there have been a few posts lately about it). Altuzzara is having a pretty big sale right now, with lots of tops around the $300-ish mark. Fits true to size, but if you don’t skip arm day and are between sizes, go with the bigger size.
I just clicked through and see a 100% polyester top marked down from $995 to the 300s. I can’t stomach that price for a synthetic top!!
I’m looking for advice on being a wfh mom. My youngest got into universal pre k this year and for some reason we got the idea that her 9-2 schedule was fine. Friends, it wasn’t. Now that she’s in camp from 8- 430 with bus service I’m still kind of reeling from how crazy stressful it was. But it’s not perfect because my older child refused all day camp and is loafing around and or doing high maintenance pick up drop off camps.
I’ve never felt so absolutely done with my kids. I usually love them and want them around. I have it in my head that I want childcare from 8-430 for the coming school year. My older kid usually comes home around four but I kind of want him gone longer too. Am I being irrational? Realistically I can work a bit while they’re home but I feel so burnt out I kind of want them gone. I want to take a proper lunch hour and exercise or see friends instead of working through it. In the past I’ve hired babysitters to watch them while I work at home but I want them OUT OF MY HOUSE! After care is affordable but the kids get bored and cranky and would rather be home, plus picking them up is a huge pain in the butt. My husband is home a few days a week but he is the primary breadwinner and his schedule gets prioritized i cant count on him for pickup even when he’s home.
it sounds like you really need aftercare. My kid complains about it but actually likes it fine. having your kids cared for from 8-4:30 is not an irrational desire, especially if you work. if aftercare pickup is the issue, could your husband do half (or all) of it?
I need everyone’s best tips for DH and me as he is having surgery and an inpatient stay next week. It will be minimally-invasive surgery, but he’ll have a drain coming out his side (I think) for a few days. I work in healthcare, but on the billing & administration side, so I don’t know what will make his stay more comfortable.