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Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Cotton Cashmere V-neck Cardigan

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Women's Cotton Cashmere V-neck CardiganReader K wrote in to recommend this sweater, noting “It makes a great transition piece between seasons. It's light enough for summer in the office but would be great for layering come colder weather. I recently ordered the light gray and love it so much that I already placed an order for the tan & olive green.” She notes that it runs large, which isn't too big of a surprise from the picture. I think it's a great basic for $29 — it would look great belted on top of sheath dresses, or perhaps even worn open on top of a blouse and a pencil skirt as a boyfriend sweater. It was $59.50, now marked to $29.99 in “seafoam” (pictured), black, “coral blush,” “brilliant blue,” “lemon glow,” khaki, pale gray, “expedition green,” navy and “willow green,” sizes XXS-L. Women's Cotton Cashmere V-neck Cardigan Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 3/26/25:

  • Nordstrom – 15% off beauty (ends 3/30) + Nordy Club members earn 3X the points!
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale + additional 20% off + 30% off your purchase
  • Banana Republic Factory – Friends & Family Event: 50% off purchase + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 30% off tops, tees, dresses, accessories, sale styles + warm-weather styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Shorts under $30 + extra 60% off clearance + up to 60% off everything
  • M.M.LaFleur – 25% off travel favorites + use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – $64.50 spring cardigans + BOGO 50% off everything else

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

126 Comments

    1. I agree. I would look very sloppy with such a loose fitting sweater @ work. Plus, it would only encourage others to make comments about my body, which I already do not like.

  2. Threadjack – can anyone recommend some very small gold hoop earrings? I loved the ones on Blue Nile Kat posted a while back, but I’m looking for huggies and those are a bit too large. Thanks for any suggestions

    1. what’s your budget? true gold or gold plated/dipped?

      some good sources for jewelry browsing –
      saks, nordstrom – lots of good labels
      twist jewelry (mix of designers, high and low end)
      kevia (cheaper)
      bauble bar (cheapest, knockoffs but fun and decent quality)

    3. When you say the Blue Nile ones are too large, are you referring to the diameter or the width? If it’s the former, I don’t think I’ve ever seen huggies smaller than 1/2″ in diameter (and the smallest ones on Blue Nile are at 5/8″). If it’s the latter, I have a pair that are 1/16″ (half the width of the Blue Nile ones) but they have diamonds: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/roberto-coin-small-diamond-hoop-earrings/3116678?origin=category&resultback=4210. If anyone has seen huggies this narrow without diamonds, I’d love to know where I can find them!

    4. Google Charles Garnier. They are available at fine jewelry stores.

      I have two pairs and they are the most comfortable earrings ever! Totally worth all $200.

  4. I can see it for weekend wear with skinny jeans but otherwise it’s too shapeless. I wish they would give more info on the cashmere/cotton breakdown.

    1. It does. The site states: Material: 95% cotton, 5% Cashmere. Dry clean or hand wash. Imported.

      1. Thanks. I missed that. It’s almost all cotton then. With that low percentage, I don’t think it should even be advertised as a cashmere sweater.

  5. My comments keep getting stuck in moderation, so I’m sorry for the off-topic and probably duplicative comment, but I’m hoping some experienced Corporettes can help me! I’m a recent law grad and I’ve just accepted an associate position doing employment litigation. I’m really excited about it but I don’t have any experience with employment law, not even a class in law school. Can anyone offer any advice on how I can get some quick background or point me in the direction of some good books? The partners are aware of my lack of background but I’d like to demonstrate my commitment to learning about the position as well as my excitement to start my legal career. Thanks in advance!

    1. Lindemann and Grossman is the premier treatise for discrimination law. What types of issues will you be handling, do you know?

    2. Your firm probably has archived CLE materials. I always find these are a good start to a new area of law.

      As you go about your day at the firm, write down questions as you think of them and spend 15 minutes or so with a partner going over them. This is a more haphazard way of going about it, but I’ve learned a lot of interesting stuff this way.

    3. I used to be embarrased about this, but I’m not anymore: the “In a Nutshell” series of basically any legal topic are terrific and very easy ways to start learning about an area of the law.

    5. The suggestions already made are really good, to which I add: Find out if the firm has a PLI subscription. If so, see if you can listen to some recent webcasts on employment law.

      I would recommend the following to anyone in a new legal job: Anytime you get back revisions from a partner or senior associate go over them carefully to make sure you understand why changes were made, or to familiarize yourself with firm style. If the partner’s secretary inputs the changes, do a compare write of your draft the latest draft.

      1. I was in an almost identical position when I got out of law school. I’ve been practicing employment law for four years and I love it. Some suggestions:

        1. Make sure you know the acronyms for the significant employment law statutes and agencies – e.g. FMLA, FLSA, ADEA, ADA (and the difference between Title I I, II, and III, Title VII, 1983, EEOC, DOL, etc. and what they stand for. If you don’t, your first few days will just sound like alphabet soup.

        2. Read the actual statutes referenced above – plus your state statutes (i.e., in Florida, the Florida Civil Rights Act). Pay attention to issues like # of employees required to bring employer under the statute, damages available for recovery (e.g. are punitive damages available? liquidated damages?), etc. Also read the regulations for the FLSA – they are available on the DOL’s website.

        3. The Lindeman and Grossman treatise is fantastic, but prohibitively expensive for you to buy on your own to prepare. See if your school or local law library has a copy. The dark blue hardcover FMLA and FLSA treatises (the publisher escapes me at the moment) are wonderful too, but also too expensive for you to buy your own copy.

        4. Read the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Again. The whole way through. I wish I had done this right before I started.

        5. Avoid reminding your co-workers that you haven’t taken an employment law class. However, armed with the information above, ask intelligent questions when you get your assignments. You’ll learn a lot that way, particularly if you’ve done the preliminary legwork (i.e. you’re not asking how many employees your client has to have to fall under FMLA).

        6. Read the Supreme Court’s opinion in Faragher v. Ellerth.

        7. Don’t stress. There is a lot to learn and it’s changing constantly. That also makes it very interesting! No one expects you to know it all right away.

        Best of luck!

    6. If the firm publishes employment law books to provide to clients, see if you can obtain copies of those. They provide great 30,000 feet overview of the national and state-specific employment laws in an easy-to-understand writing style.

  6. I’m going to D.C. next weekend for four days. Besides the obvious, what are the must sees? I would also appreciate suggestions for restaurants. Thanks!

    1. Check out Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Ave. Local, seasonal ingredients, homemade sodas, bacon lollipops!

      1. Founding Farmers is my FAVORITE!! Fantastic for brunch as well…hit or miss service but the food makes up for it.

        Other favorites include CoCo Sala (for chocolate lovers out there), all the food trucks, Belga Cafe, and Nooshi (on the more casual side but you can’t beat the half price drinks Mon-Sat from 3-7pm).

        Def. try to get reservations on OpenTable so you can just walk in at near-peak times and get seated.

        Places to hit? I love my museums, people watching in general, Eastern Market on the weekend. If you’re sporty head over to Teddy Roosevelt’s island but get there early since the crowds grow and it is August which means it’s already sweltering.

    2. If you’re on the Mall around lunchtime, the only worthwhile place to eat is the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. It’s delicious.

        1. Thirded. And if you want a fancy dinner, I highly recommend Komi.

          For Etritrean (similar to Ethiopian), Selam on U. St. (between 15th & 16th NW, I believe) is really good. Their split peas/lentils are to.die.for. Casual/inexpensive.

          And, I love Marvin, on the corner of 14th & U St. (NW). Trendy Southern-style food, good roofdeck, great cocktails.

          Ray’s Hell Burger is also delicious.

          Some must sees: Eastern Market & surrounding environs, Holocaust Museum (although be prepared for an intense experience).

          1. The Holocaust Museum’s cafe does have some excellent matzo ball soup to help restore your soul after you’re done.

        2. Fourthed. Though even as museum food goes, it can be pricey. But so worth it. (the actual museum is probably not worth it–I think the Native American museum in my hometown might actually be better– but the cafeteria is amazing0

          1. And as far as museums, the Spy Museum and American History are my favorites. Spy Museum is not free. I’ve also heard the Newseum is good, but have never been (and also it’s pricey, but if you happen to be by the capitol on a weekday, run by your congressman’s office and see if they have discount coupons. We always kept discount coupons to the Newseum and a few other things on the front desk in our office for visiting constituents).

          2. and get a tour of the capitol. You can either book online through the the capitol visitor’s center (www.aoc.gov), or contact your representative or senator. If you contact your office, you may be able to get a staff-led tour, which are much smaller than those through the CVC. (and I think better, but that’s just because I used to give them ;-) )

    3. Must see: Korean war memorial (mall near Lincoln memorial), National Building Museum (Judiciary Square metro).

      Restaurants: Jaleo’s (tapas), Teaism (asian-inspired, multiple locations), Lebanese Taverna (Pentagon City, Woodley Park). For quick lunches, check out the food trucks (http://foodtruckfiesta.com/)

      1. I second Jaleo’s. I’m an admitted food snob and blessed to live in an area with truly world-class food. Jaleo’s was really great.

    4. For restaurants I’d recommend Marvin (a bit north of most tourist attractions), any of Jose Andres’ restaurants. Acadiana has an excellent happy hour.

      Another lunch option is one of the many food trucks if you’re willing to wait in line. You can track them at foodtruckfiestaDOTcom.

    5. Second (or third) all the recommendations here. I also like brunch at Tabard Inn (you’ll need a reservation) or St. Ex on 14th street. 14th street also has a nice run of cute shops starting at U street and going south if you’re interested.

      Eastern Market is also a good food/sightseeing combo for the weekend. Lots of local vendors (groceries and prepared food) plus a flea market that has some great finds hidden in it.

    6. I think Founding Farmers is overrated, personally. Haven’t really loved the food I’ve gotten there. Good drinks though.
      Tabard Inn brunch is great, but be sure to make a reservation!
      Zaytinya is my favorite. If you have to wait and you’re there before 7, you can go see the Portrait Gallery too!
      As for site-seeing, besides the Smithsonians I would go to the new-ish Capitol Visitor’s Center. Even better if you can schedule a tour through your Congressperson. The Kennedy Center is fantastic too. Every day they have a free concert at 6 PM as part of the “Millenium Stage” series, and the view from the roof of the building is quite beautiful.

      1. I love Brasserie Beck (around 11th and M St NW) and second the recommendations here. I hear Graffiato (new) is really good. U St. has some great offerings (like Marvin’s, Creme (but haven’t been in a while), Eatonsville, Vinoteca or Dickson if you are into wine bars (down near 10th st — Dickson is not easy to find, in the “Dickson” building, farther east toward 9th or 8th St. on the N side of the street – no real sign), and Busboys and Poets is usually a hit with my friends). Just FYI – I don’t think you will be able to get into Komi, but if you have the $$ to spend and can get in, it is supposedly incredible.

    7. It’s sort of gimmicky, but I really enjoy the Spy Museum. In that area, Zola is a pretty good place to eat, I think they recently changed their menu/management. Also, Poste has a very nice outdoor bar area, although it might not be so enjoyable during our epic hot summer. You might want to consider bringing a straw hat for walking around, I’ve found that, dorky as it may look, it does help a bit with the sun and heat.

      1. Zola did change their menu, and I wasn’t impressed. I went in to get their amaaaazing lobster mac and cheese a couple months ago, and found it gone, much to my dismay. Nothing else looked appetizing to me and my dining companions, so we left. I can only hope they put it, and some of their other previous dishes, back on the menu, but I haven’t been there since.

        Second the Spy Museum, though. If you work in the IC, you get a (small) discount. They’ll take your word for it, even if you don’t.

        And second CoCo Sala, mentioned above. The food and cocktails are both delicious. Another one of my favorites in that area is Zengo — mexican/asian fusion, and they do “small plates,” so you can try lots of dishes.

        If you like zoos, the National Zoo is nice (and free!), but go in the morning. The animals wilt in the heat, too, and you won’t see anything in the afternoon. As a bonus, it’s set in Rock Creek Park (out the “bottom” entrance), which is a great place to forget you’re in the city. The main road is closed to thru-traffic on weekends, and is a good place to bike or walk if you want some fresh air, plus there are unpaved walking/hiking trails.

    8. Kramerbooks/Afterwords Cafe in Dupont Circle! Independent bookstore, bar, restaurant all in one. Great for brunch, and open all night on weekends (perfect for late-night nachos after bar-hopping!)

      My other must-go is the US Botanic Garden, at the end of the mall by the Capitol. It is so beautiful and peaceful inside, great when you need a bit of respite while touristing.

      Second the Spy Museum – worth the price!

      I personally disliked the American Indian museum in terms of the displays, but the cafeteria is to die for. They even clearly label the foods that are gluten-free, vegan, etc.

      Walk around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial and just relax on the steps for a while – much quieter than the Lincoln Memorial.

      1. Botanic Gardens, definitely! One of my favorite places to visit. It does seem to have a rather calming effect. I love the desert room – even though I hate heat, I like the dry heat of that room.

        If you have a car, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are really otherworldly. They are allegedly metro-accessible, but the neighborhood is a bit marginal so I wouldn’t really recommend taking metro. Another place I love, also mainly car-accessible, is the National Museum of Health and Medicine at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. It has some really interesting exhibits on medicine and the history of medicine, especially Civil War medicine. You have to show ID and I think they nominally search the car, but you can drive onto the base and park at the museum.

      1. Ah, I wish I’d read this thread before my recent trip to DC…

        Toss up for the best meal I had while there: Fish in the Hood, greasy but delicious fishfry place in the Georgia Ave/ Petworth neighborhood (take out only, I think) or WaterSHED, focusing on eastern seaboard, locally sourced noveau-ish cuisine. These two could both hold their own in the SF Bay Area food scene.

        1. America Eats Tavern. It is a pop up restaurant of historical foods by Jose Andres in connection with an exhibit at the National Archives.

  7. And another question that I thought I would ask separately: Is it worth going to Napa in December? Or will it be cold/drab to the point where I should save the trip for a better time of year?

    1. My friends and I once did a Napa/Sonoma trip in January. It was colder and drabber than other times I’ve been (July, August, October), but I still thought it was worth the trip.

    2. Depends on why you’re going. It will be cold, possibly rainy, and the vines will be bare. On the other hand, the wine will still be good, and it will be much less crowded in the summer. The vinters will be much less busy and stressed both because of fewer tourists and less work to do at the winery, so they will really be able to sit and talk with you about their wines. If you’re going because you like wine, it would be fun regardless of the weather.

        1. It will definitely be easier. Same goes for spas. The beauty of spending a cold rainy afternoon contemplating wine, relaxing at a spa and then having a leisurely, delicious dinner sans the crowds should not be underestimated.

          1. You put that beautifully…so much that I am picturing myself doing that (instead of sitting here in my office)

      2. Agreed. As a bay area resident who does 3-4 Napa day trips each year, I really like going up in “winter”. It’s a slower pace and less crowded. Maybe not as beautiful, but when it’s cloudy, photos turn out better!

        1. me too. i live in SF & my parents live in napa so i go up all the time. it’s awesome in the winter & we sometimes get crazy warm weekends (like 70s in december) in between rainy ones. try for a place that’s cozy though — if it’s a rainy weekend, you may want to just sit in by a fire.

    3. Husband and I went in early December two years ago and loved it. The weather was a little foggy, chilly and gloomy each morning (upper 40s, low 50s) but it always cleared up to around 70 or so by lunch. There were hardly any crowds and the restaurants weren’t packed. We also got there while the leaves were still on the vines and they were gorgeous shades of orange, red, etc. We plan on going back that time of year from now on.

      Sidenote – we later learned something called “leaf rot” causes the leaves to turn those pretty colors and apparently it’s very detritmental to the vines. So that was kind of sad. But it made for pretty pictures of Napa Valley…

    4. It’s also possible that you can get a great deal on a hotel. There are lots of ritzy places to stay in Napa, most of which are super expensive, at least in the high season. But I’ve been able to make them work a few times in the off-season (December and January in particular — in fact, my SO and I are debating spending Christmas in Napa for this very reason). No, you might not be able to make use of the pool, but the spa/restaurant/gorgeous rooms will still be just as enjoyable as in the summer.

    5. If you make it all the way up to Calistoga (at the north end of Napa Valley) you can book a spa treatment (or room!) at the Indian Springs resort and then have access to their heated mineral springs pool all day. I can’t wait to do this in winter. . . .

    6. A few suggestions:

      One–sign up for Bay Area groupons and LivingSocial–there were some unreal deals on wine country inns during the off season on there. Bloomspot is also good for getaways to that region.

      Two of my favorite places to go in Napa are Hall Rutherford ($40 tour but it’s stunning and very educational) and also Saddleback ($8 for 12 wines, cute barn, has picnic benches).

      There’s also a downtown Napa tasting card that’s a nickel and it’s good for a bunch of the downtown wineries, which would be good if it’s raining.

      Check sunset magazine, yelp and SFChronical Food & Wine section for winery reviews too. Yelp is particularly helpful.

      Enjoy your trip.

    7. I live in the Bay Area and I like going to the wine country in early winter.

      It’s unlikely you will have rain. The Bay Area gets the majority of its rain in February through May.

      There will be low fog and mist, most likely, but only in the mornings and at sunset. The days will probably be clear and sunny, just a little chilly.

      My birthday is in early January and we go up every year for that. Most often we eat outside for lunch wearing thin sweaters.

      I attended a birthday party this January 15 in neighboring Sonoma and it was positively balmy. The birthday girl was wearing a sleeveless dress, outside. That day was unusually warm, but not unheard of.

  9. i think this suffers a bit from the styling. the model looks like anything but a professional, what with that pose and hair and expression, but as this is from Land’s End Canvas that’s not surprising … the line is kind of like LE’s interpretation of Abercrombie/American Eagle type stuff.

    That having been said. It’s $29! If you ordered it to fit close to the body, styled it as Kat suggested, stood up straight and carried yourself like an adult (as opposed to a slightly drunk 19 year old) it would probably look fine.

      1. She looks that way in almost all the shots she does for Canvas. It’s unfortunate, but I definitely think that their other models tend to showcase the clothes better.

  10. Threadjack – interesting article at Knowledge@Wharton regarding “masculine norms” at work: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2821

    Excerpt:
    “Women face more ambiguity than men about what clothing is appropriate in the workplace, or what messages their clothing might send. Traditionally, men’s workplace norms call for a suit, but this doesn’t translate well to women’s clothing. Even women’s suits don’t offer a perfect equivalent. Brooks says she is conscious of this in her own department, where the ratio of men to women is about 8 to 1. “They just wake up in the morning and put on pants and a shirt, and they’re good to go,” Brooks says.

    Her challenge is finding outfits that strike the right note: professional but not awkwardly formal, conservative but not uptight, relaxed but not inappropriately casual. Every item of clothing — from the height of heels to the length of a skirt — could inadvertently send the wrong message. “There’s so many things that I think about, and I know the men in the office don’t think about those things because they don’t have to,” she says.”

    2. This is interesting. I work at an office with a 5:1 men:women ratio, and I’ve found myself just following a male-type dress code. I usually wear Brooks Brothers button downs with a skirt or trousers in a suiting material. It’s not exciting and not really in the Corporette spirit, but it is very easy every morning.

    3. Such a timely post! I just returned from a business trip, where I was the only woman in the room. I’m also significantly younger than my colleagues, so that’s two strikes. It’s awkward, because they can’t relate to me about anything, so they pick something to try to talk to me about or joke with me about, but it generally misses the mark. For example, they often tease me about my drink choices (ie: I don’t drink beer or scotch) and the running joke at dinner was that I was finally drinking “big girl wine”. In trying to connect about social media (which they’re clueless about), the running joke is “did you twitter about it?” or “how’s your tweetybirds today?” They’re trying to connect, just like they mess with their male employees about balding, or playing a poor round of golf. Anyways, the comments in the article about the informal network and information exchange at cigar/golf/gym outings hits pretty close to home.

      1. Men (espeically older men) seem to judge professional women by what they drink. It’s not fair, and we shouldn’t have to prove ourselves in this way, but that’s the way it is (in some offices).

        For the next time, find a beer or scotch that you like (and is respected by the men) and stick to it. When I drink with male co-workers, I usually get a “girl-friendly” beer that is still “quality” like a lager (like a Kolsch or a summer lager–not Budweiser) or a nutty brown ale (like New Castle Brown Ale–not a red/amber ale or IPA).

        I don’t know much about scotch, but if everyone were drinking scotch, I’d ‘fess up to my ignorance and ask one of them to recommend a good “starter scotch” and take an interest in learning about scotch and what makes a good scotch.

        Look up golf, if your colleagues are really into golf, take a few lessons. It’s all about fitting into office culture.

        When they make a cultural reference you don’t understand, laugh (or cry) along with everyone, then look it up on Wikipedia when you get home.

        2. Thanks for the tips on the beers. My husband has introduced me to several, and the only one I was semi-able to drink was a Hefeweizen. I’ll have to check out some of the others you suggest. I’ll have to work my way up to the starter scotch… I’m a margarita/white zinfindel drinker all the way, so I’ve got a long way to climb! :) Re: golf and other sports, I tend to check in with my dad if I know a big game or event is coming up, just to make an intelligent comment if I can.

          1. It might be worth trying a darker beer, too. I still don’t really like lagers or pilsners, but I love a good stout or porter (very dark beers) and have worked my way up to ales. Maybe try a cream or maple ale? They’re less bitter.

            Or go for a non beer/scotch, but less girly drink. I often go for wine, as do many of the men I work with, and if you get a sweet one like a gewurztraminer you won’t even miss the zinfindel. Gin and tonics seem to be respected as a fairly “grown-up” drink, too. Bourbon might be a bit more accessible than scotch, too, but still “manly” (Knob Creek is my favourite).

          2. Honestly, I get the comment all the time when I tell people I don’t like beer, but the one I’m only reasonably able to drink – because it doesn’t taste as much like the “regular” beer flavour, is Guinness. I’m not at the stage where I gulp down the pints, but for me it is a perfect “sipping drink” when wine or a cocktail isn’t the right choice.

    4. I’ve worked in a male-dominated industry for years, and it can be tough. You don’t want to totally sacrifice your femininity, but it makes things so much easier if you’re seen as “one of the guys”. Luckily, I’ve never had a problem identifying with guys, and I know that my new coworkers love me because I swear and drink beer. Not kidding. :)

      I agree with the advice to try and branch out with your beverage options. Margaritas and white zinfandel are pretty much the epitome of girly drinks. :) I’ve found that wheat beers are nice if you don’t like the bitterness of many beers. Blue Moon is a good starter one that is pretty much available anywhere. It’s not as sophisticated as a micro brew since it’s made by Molson-Coors, but it’s a start. I’d also second the advice to try Guinness. I have a friend who normally hates beer, but she loves Guinness. Plus, Guinness is seen as the “manliest” of beers, so you’ll get extra “guy points” if you develop a taste for it. (Don’t ask me why. Men are silly.)

  11. Not sure about this sweater, but I’ve gotten some good basics at Land’s End Canvas lately, which I’d never thought to shop at before. Recommendations include this dress: http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/PleatedDress~216075_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::TVY&CM_MERCH=canvas-search-_-navy+dress&origin=search and this wrap cardigan: http://canvas.landsend.com/pp/BlousonShawlCardigan~216028_-1.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::GRH&CM_MERCH=canvas-search-_-navy+shawl&origin=search (both in navy, since that neutral works well with a lot of my wardrobe). You can usually find a free shipping code – I bought multiple sizes, then just paid the return shipping (they’ll send the label) after sifting through.

    1. Ooh, I really like that dress. Unfortunately, the color I want (beet root) is sold out in my size; is the navy a real navy navy or is it more black navy?
      Thanks!

      1. It’s a darker navy – closer to black than blue, but it’s got a nice depth. So far, I’ve liked how it looks with a deep pink cardigan or grey blazer – it’s a nice basic!

        1. Thanks! I have too many black dresses and am trying to diversify, but this is very tempting…. I may just order it and see. I love navy & deep pink — I bet that looks really great.

    1. Lands End quality on basics like this is really good – and they stand behind their products. If you ever have problems, you can return, no runarounds.

    2. I have the same cardigan in a different color — quality is great — I’ve had it for about a year and it’s still in the same shape as when I bought it. It also fits better/is more slimming than the typical Lands’ End cut which can be somewhat boxy.

    3. Hee. Apparently, we posted at the same time. I just ordered that on Monday, but it hasn’t arrived yet.

      I love Land’s End Canvas clothes. I’ve been ordering from them for over a year now. And they have great sales. I also order for my mom and sister from them. The quality seems good to me. I have sweaters, swimwear (particularly awesome and well-priced), cotton dresses, skirts (I posted a pic of the one I was wearing earlier this week), tops, etc.

      I think their clothes are attractive, well-priced and more stylish than the regular Land’s End line.

      Also, they sell their clothes at Sears and you can order or return through the store.

    4. Agree on all the previous posters points. Good quality stuff – I finally got around to washing a couple of cashmere sweaters (one a pull over and one a cardigan) and both had minimal pilling from when I got them last winter. Especially compared to a BR cardigan I got about the same time. I have found LE Canvas to be a bit short for me – pants have a 32″ inseam, I think, and the sleeves tend to be short on me – but then I’ve got long arms. But I have a couple pairs of shorts that I love, and a couple of sweaters that were in heavy rotation last winter.

      I want to say that the guy in charge of the LE Canvas stuff used to be at BR, and I would definitely say they are going after the BR and J.Crew crowd, more so than the American Eagle crowd (as mentioned above).

      1. I have a good amount of pieces from Canvas in my wardrobe and I would recommend the line. The sizing is a little hit or miss, but I find the online reviews are helpful. Plus, there’s always a free ship code, you can return items to Sears stores, and their return policy is like Nordstrom’s. I have many colors of the Heritage Cardigan with no pills so far!

        I’d agree it’s much more like old-school J.Crew than AE or AF. The latter are more trendy/younger to me, whereas Canvas seems more classic and preppier, which I like.

        1. Totally agree with you on sizing. But as long as you check the customer reviews you should be good.

          On one bikini top, I had to order 2 sizes larger than my actual size, but now it’s my goto for an attractive, comfortable, functional (i.e., can actually swim in it) suit.

          1. Yeah, if I couldn’t return to Sears, I wouldn’t own so much. I’ve probably returned as much as what I’ve kept…but I have some great basics now that I wear all the time, incl to my business casual office.

            Just realized most of what I said was already posted above, sorry for the repitition!

          2. I’ve got a Lands’ End Inlet across the street from, which make my returns easy. You also get free shipping if you order in the store. My Inlet also has a Back Rack section for LE Canvas Items…

    5. I love Land’s End Canvas and have ordered several things from them. I don’t have access to Land’s End at any Sears near me, but have had no trouble with sizing so far and have not had to return anything. I particularly adore my swimsuit and only wish I could wear it more often. The only slight miss I’ve had is a cotton pleated skirt I ordered from them, which fits just fine but is slightly shorter than I generally wear (probably my fault for not checking specifications closely enough) – but I kept it as it does work for casual wear and only cost me about $20.

      One thing I especially like, as a Canadian resident, is that they process their Canadian shipments from a warehouse in Canada so I don’t have to deal with holdups at the border, payment of duty, etc. Brilliant.

    6. thanks so much for your replies, ladies! I suspect I shall do quite a bit of shopping at that site this weekend.

    1. I have the “shirred v-neck cardigan” which is super comfy and very nice, holds up well through washing. I don’t wear it to work but it would be great in a more casual workplace.

      Note – I wear an 8 or M at BR/Jcrew, but at Land’s End I always order a small. The sleeves are not too short, surprisingly.

      1. Yes, I find Canvas to run really large. I have some xxs stuff from there (I’m generally a 4 in pants, 2 or xs in shirts). And the other day, I was wearing an xs braided belt on the very last (first?) hole.

        But, the quality and prices are great. The aforementioned leather belt looks really expensive and high quality and was not expensive at all. I also have two light jackets from there that are of a great quality. I’ve never purchased any sweaters.

    2. Thanks for the tip. Just ordered. Figured for the price, it is a great deal. Hope it fits ok – never tried Land’s End Canvas before.

  14. How do we feel about requesting someone to do something, rather than requesting that someone do something?

    For example, “We request the court to grant an adjournment.” v. “We request that the court grant an adjournment.”

    (To me, the first way sounds incorrect, or at least inferior, but the internet is not giving me confirmation.)

    1. To me, “request..to” sounds awkward. Colloquially, “ask..to” works (we ask the court to grant…), but that’s too informal here, and “request…to” doesn’t seem to flow. So I would vote for the latter.

    2. The second option is better, definitely – the first one is at least awkward if not incorrect.

    4. I always strike extra “thats. ” this would totally be an example where I would strike the extra “that”

      just my two cents. and for note, I am not a card carrying member of the grammar gestapo.

      1. I remove extra “thats” as well. My sophomore year of high school, me teacher went nuts with a red pen on a few of my essays for having too many “thats” and I’ve been paranoid ever since.

        1. Yep, the fewer words the better (unless you’re writing a journal article that pays per word!)

    5. Written grammar doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, but I still wince everytime I hear “Me and her worked on…” or “with her and I.” I worked for a company in RI, which was particularly provincial, and each week I’d send my friends a running tally of all the times I’d heard supposably, irregardless, etc.

      Please note that I’m not saying anything against RI residents in general. My sister and her family live there. My dad grew up there. But this one company had a monopoly in the industry there and many of the employees were a little backwoods.

      Of course, maybe I’ve become inured to grammar and spelling mistakes in writing because my boss is terrible at both. He communicates in run-on sentences. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what he’s trying to say.

      1. Bunkster I have a favorite story about a job I had in RI:

        It was my first day and My Supervisor was setting me up in the system. He asked my initial I said Y as in the letter why. Supervisor says I need it to set you up in the system. I looked at him and laughed so hard.

        I

  15. Yes, it’s basic, but I like it. My concern would be the weight of the knit. I once bought some DKNY cotton cardigans in black, but they ended up being almost see-through. They’re also lint magnets.

  16. I need help! I am in the final stages of the interview process for an in house counsel position. The manager has asked me to give her a salary range taking into consideration: (1) that in house salaries are generally less than law firm salaries and (2) the location of the company, a small city in the Midwest. The job title is corporate counsel and the position is in intellectual property. The company is in consumer products, and last year sales were 9.2 billion. I have checked the starting salary at the local firm that the company uses, 100K. My instinct says the range should be 100-150. I don’t think I could take much less than 125. Do I say that? Are there resources for corporate salaries. Thanks!

    1. I’m currently in-house, and I find that job titles vary tremendously from house to house. Where does “corporate counsel” fit in relative to the other people in your department? How big is the department?

      How many years of experience do you have?

        1. I have four years of experience, and I make 140 right now. I read a statistic that said anticipate making about 80% of what you make at a firm. That puts me at about 112.

          Anyway, the manager actually called me this afternoon and put me on the spot. She would not give me the range they were considering. Based on the research I could pull, I told her 100-150. She said that they definitely would not pay anything under 100 but that it was likely going to be in the low end of my range. She sent me some of the benefits, which are really fantastic. 12K for moving expenses, and they help you sell your house. The pay closing costs, realtor fees, and even will pay up to 20k if you take a hit on your house. It is really amazing.

          1. Hmm. I think that based on the numbers you’ve given (your current salary, experience, what a 1st year associate would make, etc) then the lower end of your 100-150 range sounds about right. I’d probably think 110-115. But I’m also in a different geographical region so maybe i’m off.

          2. Regardless of whether you have interviewed at places, hint to hr that your have other “competitive” offers. Keep in mind these HR whores make their bonuses by hiring you on the cheap, and they tend to target women for lowball negotiations becasuse most men would just hang up the phone on them. In my old job in the tech insustry, we all wondered why everone in HR carried designer bags and took a vacation every 3 months, while female engineering managers and directors drove 10 yr old cars. It came to light that HR pays its recriuters a “cost savings bonus” for hiring cheaply, which is why they are so agreesive about it. Your hiring manager, is on the other hand willing to pay reasonable rates for good workers. Consider taking the salary question to the hiring manger, as they can also authorize incremental amounts. You can probably wring at least 10-15 out of your employer that way

      1. I don’t like to be the first to put a number on the table in any negotiation, and I try to avoid it if at all possible. You might shoot too high and offend them (or they might think your expectations are so out of line with the actual salary that you’d be disgruntled and look to leave as soon as you find something better), or you might shoot too low and leave too much on the table.

        In salary negotiations, I always ask what the salary range is for the position. Most companies (especially large ones) establish a salary range when they post the job – it’s a standard thing HR does or requires the hiring manager to do, and they base it both on external data and the salaries of others in simiar positions, both within and outside the department in the company. If you know the range they’ve established, you’ll have a much better idea what to ask for, which you should base on, among other things, your experience vs. the job posting — e.g., if the posting asks for 5-8 years of experience and you have 5, then you’ll probably end up lower in the range. But be prepared to explain why you think you should be at whatever point in the range. Don’t go for the top of the range, though, even if you’re at the top of the experience level — there needs to be room for raises over time within the range — the most I’d probably suggest asking for is about 70% of the top. Or, if the range sounds good to you and you don’t want to commit until they give you an actual salary offer, just say “Based on that range, I’m confident we can come to an agreement that’s mutually acceptable.”

  17. I have what I know is a stupid issue, but I’m upset and I want to vent.

    My fiance, without asking me, submitted an engagement announcement to his hometown paper and he included all sorts of details about his family and his current career and then wrote a really short (insultingly so) description of me and my parents. Now, we’re not from the same hometown, so this isn’t MY local paper, and quite frankly I’m aware that no one actually cares about this stuff. The reason I’m upset is that I felt slighted, especially because he knows my family very well and my family is paying for 100% of the wedding.

    Am I overreacting? I tried nicely mentioning to my fiance that it would have been nice if he would have been more specific with both sides of the famiy, and he blew it off like “No one cares about this anyway, and no one reads this paper anyway.” So…if no one reads it, then it’s just for us…right? Then shouldn’t he have been a little more inclusive? I’m probably getting all worked up about nothing, but I figured I’d ask y’all for your opinion.

    Thanks in advance for humoring me.

      1. I would be ticked off too. It was thoughtless of him. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say red flag #1.

        1. If we are throwing around red flags, I also think that the OP’s position that she feels slighted “especially because her family is paying for 100% of the wedding” is a bit flag-ish. Don’t get me wrong, OP – if I were in your shoes, I’d be upset, too, because I think whether or not an announcement appears in the paper and what it says is a joint decision. But the fact that your family is paying has no bearing on whether or not he should have written a sentence or a paragraph about them in the announcement – he just should have made it a bit more even-handed. I’m not seeing how money makes a difference.

    2. I agree with you – that’s weird. One time my mom submitted an announcement about my law school graduation to the hometown paper without asking me first, and I found that to be irritating. I can’t even imagine if my S.O. did that.

      I don’t really know what to make of it, though. It’s not the kind of thing that’s likely to happen again, so maybe just ask him to explain a little bit more about why he was so inconsiderate, see if there are any areas of disagreement in his explanation that you can work on with him, and make a copy of it to show your kids and laugh at him later.

    3. I’d be pissed off. I don’t care who is paying for the wedding, these things should be mutually discussed. If ‘ no one reads it’ then why put so much detail on his family in there?

  18. I am absolutely keeping a copy. It’s pretty hysterical, in general, especially because his town is really quite small and I’m pretty sure they all already know about it. No formal announcement was even necessary!

    As to OneAnon’s point – well taken. I didn’t say this very well, but my point in providing that info was just that they are being extremely generous with our wedding and I felt it would have been nice to acknowledge them in some simple way during this announcement (which was sent to them for them to read) other than by saying their names.

    2. That makes sense – thanks for the additional explanation. And, congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

    3. I was hesitating to comment on this but why not. Sure, if I were in your situation, I’d be pi$$ed off a little bit but I’d shrug it off, stuff like this doesn’t bother me but of course, ymmv. Then again, the strength of my annoyance would be dependent on how many times he’s pulled something like this and whether he’s generally thoughtless. Also, remember that planning a wedding is super stressful so while something like this may not ordinarily bother you, it probably stings now. Best of luck.

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