Layering Pieces

The Hunt: Layered-Look Sweaters

03/02/2015 by Kat

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

I usually like to use The Hunt for a basic, timeless piece that everyone needs — cashmere sweaters, strappy pumps, etc — but when I got a request from a reader looking for layered sweaters, I thought, ooh, that would make a fun Hunt — they have been EVERYWHERE recently, and the sweater-and-collar look can be tricky to get on your own. Some people have DIY solutions for the bulkiness that ensues, while for others static cling is more of an issue — even rolling the sleeves can take some skill. Still, I think it’s a classic look that range from “very preppy” to “casual” (such as the option from Loft, below) to some of the newer looks that are almost cropped sweaters with tunic blouses (such as here or here). Ladies, what are your tricks for getting the layered look — short of buying a 2-in-1 sweater or wearing a collared dickey? What rules do you think apply to the office?

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Filed Under: Business Casual, Layering Pieces, The Hunt Tagged With: collars, dickies, Under150

What to Wear Underneath Unlined Pants

02/19/2015 by Kat

What do you wear under pants and suits that are unlined? Are you for or against the current trend of unlined clothing? Reader K wonders:

I have a question I was hoping you could address. As a slim, athletic woman I love Theory suits because they fit me like a glove. However, I’m peeved that the skirts and pants are unlined — which has already been noted on your site. I’ve found a number of slips that I can wear under the skirts, but I’m having trouble finding something to wear under the pants. All I’ve found is super-tight shapewear that feels uncomfortably tight at the waist, especially when sitting. Do you have any suggestions?

Great question, and I’m curious to hear what readers say. (We’ve already talked about how to reduce static cling in general.) For my $.02, I’m actually in favor of the move toward unlined pants, for a bunch of reasons. First, I often would find that the lining of my suiting clothes would be the first part to break down, sometimes even shredding — it really decreased that confident feeling of “I look put together today.” (Maybe I’m alone here, but if my underpinnings are in poor shape, no matter what else I’m wearing, everything else feels raggedy too!) Plus, the lining was often a cheap polyester — so while the pants or dress were washable, the lining wasn’t. (OR, the lining would need to be laundered way before the rest of the pants needed a wash.) Also, as someone who often needs to get pants hemmed (yay for being between regular and petite sizes), the lining in pants was just another layer to hem.

A few options for you to wear underneath unlined pants:

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Filed Under: Comfort, Layering Pieces, Lingerie, Suits, Weather Tagged With: layers, posts, silk long johns, winter

Brrr: Staying Warm in a Freezing Office

01/13/2015 by Kat

2018 Update: We still stand by this advice on how to look professional but stay warm in a freezing office, but you may also want to check out our most recent thoughts on what to wear to work in the winter.

How should you dress this winter when you work at a freezing office, and your trusty back-of-the-chair cardigan just won’t cut it? What are the best ways to keep warm while still looking professional and stylish?

Reader J wonders:

My office is freezing cold in the winter — some of the assistants and paralegals keep huge blankets in their office spaces and wrap up in them, or alternatively wear Northface jackets around. As an associate, I can’t get away with cuddling up in a warm blanket or wearing my Northface — it doesn’t exactly scream competent and professional. Do you have any recommendations for sweaters or wraps that look professional but are also very warm?

We talked about how to stay warm in a freezing office a looong time ago (and, more recently, staying warm in a subzero office when the A/C is blaring), but now is a great time to readdress it. While gloves, space heaters, and wraps-as-lap-blankets can help when you’re in your office, here are some thoughts for people who are moving around a lot (e.g., during meetings) during the day, or those who just don’t have the option to wear gloves or sneak in a space heater:

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Filed Under: Comfort, Fashion Gaffes, Layering Pieces, Wear to Work, Weather Tagged With: cardigans, freezing offices, winter, wraps

The Best Underwear for Eliminating VPL

05/08/2014 by Kat

What is the best underwear for eliminating VPL — particularly if you don’t like thongs? I’ve gotten a number of questions about this from readers lately (and have seen it recentlyish discussed in the comments), so let’s discuss in a proper post. Here’s Reader M’s question:

The recent post about bras also triggered me wondering what others wear for appropriate underwear, especially under work pants. I hate thongs, but I find that many “no show” undies still have lines. I am pear shaped so I have a bigger bottom, which works to my disadvantage. I have a few pair of lace Natori and Filomena that do the trick, but they have seen their better days and will need to be replaced soon.

Meanwhile, Reader J wonders:

What kind of underwear do you recommend for eliminating VPL? I just bought some gorgeous but relatively form-fitting pants and I really need some invisible underwear. (I dislike thongs because of the constant wedgie issue.)

Great questions. (Pictured: nothing, as per previous reader requests.) We’ve talked about this before, with a discussion in 2013 about our favorite lingerie brands, as well as a discussion in 2010 about what unmentionables people like the best. I’m on the hunt for a great new underwear brand myself, so I thought I’d peruse the reader responses to see underwear brands were mentioned the most in those posts. (Joanna Goddard also recently asked her readers this question.) Here are some of the greatest hits among the various posts — readers, do you have any favorites among these? For those of you who DON’T like thongs (but don’t want visible panty lines), which brands are you wearing? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Basics, Layering Pieces, Lingerie, Wear to Work

The Hunt: Silk Button-Front Blouses

03/31/2014 by Kat

2018 Update: Almost all of these silk blouses are now in our Wardrobe Essentials for Work. We’ve also updated the text and links as of Sept. 2018.

We rounded up some of the best crisp button-downs around this time last year, but we haven’t ever rounded up the best silk blouses (aka silk-button fronts). I’m still a fan of the ones with a pointed collar (instead of a rounded or band collar, or a split neck) for a more classic look — the collar looks great beneath a suit blazer, layered underneath sweaters, and more. For my $.02, I’d suggest wearing a cotton camisole (with the arm holes adjusted fairly high) beneath them so you can try to get at least two wears before you have to take them to the drycleaner. There’s a ton of selection out there — readers, which are your favorite silky button-downs? Do you have any laundry tricks (either to extend the wears-per-launder or to make them look nice without drycleaning?) Any must-haves (or do-not-buys?)

Pictured below, some of our Hall of Famers: one / two / three / four. Not pictured but this is another reader favorite!

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Filed Under: Layering Pieces, The Hunt, Wear to Work, Workwear Hall of Fame Tagged With: blouses, Under150

Bra Care: How Often, and How, To Wash Your Bras

03/20/2014 by Kat

2018 Update: We still stand by this advice on bra care, but you may also want to check out our most recent roundup of the best lingerie to buy at Nordstrom.

Bra care can be so confusing. How often do you wash your bras — and how do you care for them? Which bras are best for under work clothes? Reader C wonders:

Could you please do a post on best bras for under work clothes, and also on how often one ought to be replacing bras? I have switched to (what I thought, at least) were high quality bras from Natori (size 32D), which I really like and also take moderately good care of (handwashing only; hang to dry; washing every 1-2 wears; rotating every day among 7-10 total bras). But they still only last about 1 year. Is this the normal lifespan? Or is there something I’m doing wrong in my purchasing and/or care? Many thanks!

We haven’t talked about this in a few years (here: a few of my favorite t-shirt bras, a poll on readers’ favorite lingerie brands), and we’ve never talked directly about how to wash your bras — so let’s discuss. (Pictured: Stripes’ bathtime, originally uploaded to Flickr by Sarah Joy.)

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Filed Under: Laundry, Layering Pieces, Lingerie Tagged With: bras, lingerie