Blast from the Past: May 29
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I was thinking that I am always amused to stumble on older pieces that we've featured here on Corporette® … sometimes they still look good, or I remember liking them. Other times, the styling or the featured piece of clothing is just… fug.
Anyway, I started thinking… it might be fun to share some previously featured pictures with you guys, and discuss — would you wear these items today? If so, how would you style them in 2025? If you've replaced items like this in your closet, what are you wearing instead of them?
Here are some of the things we featured on May 29 over the years…
Work Clothes for Late May
May 29, 2008: A Flutter-Sleeved Cardigan with Peplum from Anthropologie
Aw, we featured this Anthro sweater just a few weeks after I started the blog. I don't HATE the cardigan details, but the layering is peak late aughts — I've heard some influencers joke that they were “emotional support camis” because we wore them with everything. Plus, statement necklace!!
Short-sleeved sweaters are big right now, but I can't say I've seen any short-sleeved cardigans like this in a while. (Actually, I take that back.) I do have a minor theory that peplums are coming back, though…
Hunting for peplum looks for work? As of 2025, it's coming back — check out The Fold, Rebecca Taylor, and Amazon seller Grace Karin. Bloomingdale's also has a ton! It's not quite a peplum, but the very popular slightly flared cardigan popularized by Khaite (for example, this one from Modern Citizen or this one from Jenni Kayne) might also fill your need.
May 29, 2009: A Long Cardigan from Old Navy
Oof: another classic from the era, a long cardigan. This one isn't quite a “waterfall cardigan,” which I think of as having a less-than-straight cut in the front so the collar gathers a bit and the front hangs even lower (kinda like this one). This was just around the time that skinny jeans were rising in popularity, if I recall correctly, so the longer cardigan was welcome.
At work, I wore them with pencil skirts, blouses and camis… and in my free time (a few years later) I remember loving them because they often had pockets and no zippers, so I could nurse/carry/etc my firstborn without scratching him. I'm not going to lie, I still have a few in my closet from this era that never quite make it to the giveaway pile…
You can still find sweaters like this these days — this popular (and long-running!) Halogen cardigan with a side slit immediately comes to mind.
May 29, 2012: Origami Dress from Blumarine
I don't mind this “origami” dress from Blumarine — if you're still wearing sheath dresses (which I think are a classic even though they aren't trending right now) this one would be a nice standout.
The dress was $1325, at Neiman Marcus.
Sheath Dresses in 2025
Some of the best dresses for work as of 2025 include options from J.Crew, BOSS, T. Tahari, and Lands' End. For really affordable options, check out Quince and Amazon sellers Miusol or MUXXN (both with vintage vibes). We've also rounded up the best plus-size dresses for work!
Bonus: Coffee Break from May 29, 2012: Round-Toe Wedges from You By Crocs
Wow — I forgot that Crocs made high heels at one point, as evidenced in this post. Wedges haven't been trending for a while, but they've always had their place — I maintain that they're great for lawn-based events like graduations and weddings where you want the height of a heel but not a stiletto or block — and I do have a theory that they're coming back, although with pointy or almond toes.
Wedges in 2025
As of 2025 there are a lot of wedge heels for work lately that look great for commuting or learning to walk in heels… Other brands to look for wedge heels include J.Crew, Vionic, Vivaia, Nine West, and Bandolino.
May 29, 2013: Merino Cardigan from Brooks Brothers
I don't hate this one! I like the tipping on the little patch pockets, the cuffs, and the hem. If I recall, the patch pocket, slightly fitted “Grandpa sweater” was a bit in — I had a similar one of these from Theory that was a dark gray with purple tipping.
I haven't seen as many patch pockets on cardigans out right now, but I still think you could wear this one. Cobalt, of course, was having its moment.
The sweater was originally $395 but marked down to $158 when I posted it.
Classic Cardigans in 2025
Some of our favorite classic cardigans for the office as of 2025 include those below. Check Talbots and J.Crew Factory if you're looking for plus sizes, and Quince if you're on a budget. Veronica Beard and Brooks Brothers both keep a bunch of options in stock. Two other reader favorites: Anthropologie and Sézane.
May 29, 2013: A Short Skirt and Long Jacket from Theory
OK. I don't want to alarm anyone, but I think it has finally happened: the Ally McBeal, short skirt/long jacket look has returned.
(My guess is that the horrid shorts suit trend was really just a long con to get us used to the aesthetic again.) I'm not quite sure what to make of this, as someone who lived through that look the first time, at least as a teenager. I suspect the look should primarily stay with the teenagers, but if anyone is thinking of attempting it for a casual day at the office, my advice is to wait until fall when you can wear dark tights with it.
This is funny because Elizabeth and I were just talking about how shorts suits are… kind of looking OK to us? Stay tuned for a post on the topic. Meanwhile, the short skirt/long jacket look has NOT returned as far as I can remember… which means it's probably time to swing back around.
Where to Find Suits with Dresses Instead of Skirts
Here are some of our latest favorite suits with dresses instead of skirts as of 2025 — but also check these brand recommendations: Ann Taylor (TONS of dresses to match suits), Brooks Brothers, Talbots, and Boss! This J.Crew sheath almost always has a matching blazer, as well.
May 29, 2014: Perfect Trousers from GAP
Oh man, I remember these pants (although this was a guest post from Road Warriorette!) — Gap had a line that was out for years and years called “perfect trousers,” and they were pretty great: washable, comfortable, with pockets, in petite, tall, and MATERNITY sizes. The maternity sizes in particular were hard to find because sizes would go in and out of stock frequently. Nothing beats the dominance of the Editor or Columnist pants from this time period, but these were up there.
Wide Leg Pants in 2025
Hunting for more wide-leg pants to wear to work? In 2025, general favorites include pleated pairs like Aritzia, Favorite Daughter, Everlane*, Reformation*, and Abercrombie*, with flat-front pairs from M.M.LaFleur, and Ann Taylor (* = plus sizes; see the post for notes on petites and talls). We've also shared our thoughts on what shoes to wear with wide-leg pants!
May 29, 2015: Python Blouse From Equipment
Yes, I'm scratching my head over this one too — they weren't terribly trendy and while I like the colors and pattern here, I'm not sure it was going to be work appropriate as anything but a layering piece.
The blouse was $198 but marked down to $39 at Last Call (awww, remember Last Call?) for our Frugal Friday post.
Mesh blouses are a thing right now, although it's hard to say where to wear them — you can find examples from Halogen, Desigual, and DKNY at Nordstrom.
May 29, 2018: Max Mara Suit on Sale in the NHYS
Not surprisingly, a lot of our content was from the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale, which has always been a reader favorite. (Here's our roundup for what to buy this year!) This Max Mara suit is a nice example for why — the blazer was marked down to $713 (from $1190), and the dress was marked down to $417 (was $695).
Three-quarter sleeved blazers aren't as popular as they once were — I'd be curious to know if anyone is still wearing them right now! That said, the “faux ruched” blazer sleeve is still a thing — this very popular blazer from Cinq à Sept comes to mind.
MAY 29, 2019: Deneuve Top from M.M.LaFleur
I think Ill end today's lookback here… I still like this faux wrap top from M.M.LaFleur that we featured in 2019, but they are definitely less trendy than they once were. (I still have some sweaters from this time period that I wear… and Ann Taylor has had a similar cashmere sweater for several years now, including this past winter.)
M.M.LaFleur still has this exact top available in their Second Act section, but only in straight sizes. (RIP to MMLF's short lived plus-size program.)
Readers, do you have any of these items in your closet? What are you still wearing, how are you wearing it — or, what are you wearing instead?
