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Thursday’s Workwear Report: High-Neck Longline Vest

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A woman wearing a long black vest and black pants

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

It’s happening. I’m finally all-in on vests. (I know, I know, I’m late to the game.) I work in a place where sleeveless tops are acceptable in the summer (know your office!), and I’ve finally figured out how to make them work.

For me, I need a slight V-neck and a longline fit, like this one from the Gap. I like for them to hit right at the hip or slightly lower. Once I found the perfect fit, I’ve been wearing them with trousers, slim-fitting ankle pants, and midi skirts all summer long. 

The vest is on sale for $44 (down from $89.95) at Gap and comes in sizes XXS-XXL, XSP-LP, and ST-XXLT. It also comes in brown and brown plaid. 

Sales of note for 9/11:

139 Comments

  1. Can anyone recommend a long-sleeved workout top that either has a notch v neck (not low-cut) or a crew neck that isn’t too tight? I don’t like tight collars but want chest sun protection nonetheless. Looking for non-cropped and semi-fitted. I know the usual brands already so would really appreciate any specific *product* recs if you have them.

      1. This one looks especially promising but I’ve had issues with really bad chemical-y smells or counterfeits from things purchased on Amazon. Would you say this one has been reliable?

    4. Patagonia Capilene line. I have 4 or 5 of them in various iterations. The fabric is very soft, not see-through, not hot, and they last forever.

    5. Tracksmith Brighton base layer. Better for fall than now. Runs a touch small so be honest with yourself about your size. Lululemon Sculp White long sleeve t-shirt and the Swifty long sleeves.

    6. So equestrian brands are actually great for long sleeve athletic tops (though pricey, because, you know, horses). Quarter zip sun shirts are the most popular style , but if you want a t-shirt style crew neck, I like Tailored Sportsman’s Ice-Fil long sleeve tshirt (true to size), but other brands to look at are Free Ride Equestrian’s seamless tops (their’s tend to run small, size up) and Kastel Denmark (runs a little on the bigger side, so your normal size or maybe size down). Kastel and Free Ride you can order directly from them online, Tailored Sportsman you have to get through distributors–look for a local tack shop in your area, or for legit options with an online store, try Farmhouse Tack or M& M Tack Shop (under “Seasonal sportswear” on their website).

  2. Nothing exposes your romantic judgment quite like an ill-advised crush. I’m very happily married, but the guy I’ve developed a tiny gym crush on is so performatively weird that my extended single era suddenly makes perfect sense.

    1. Also happily married, also have an ill-advised crush. On a coworker. And it’s not the first time I’ve had a crush on him. What the actual eff is wrong with me. I’m waiting for him to do something that ticks me off so I can reset.

      1. He picks his nose and eats it. He leaves the door open while he’s sitting on the can & the aroma is foul. He puts all his dirty clothes on the floor next to the laundry basket, and yes his underwear is stained.

      2. This made me laugh so hard.
        ill-advised crushes are SO irrational!!! also so distracting.

      3. This works a charm.

        I had a loooong lasting ill-advised crush on a coworker. He did once manage to piss off not only me but also most of our team in a spectacularly bad way. It cured the crush, and now if I feel it creeping back I am able to recall his a-hole behavior from that time. The indignance comes back strong and quashes the crush nicely.

    2. Please give details on the weird! Why do I think he has long hair and wears a bandana?

      1. one word: pornstache

        also, red chucks and one of those hats where the brim tilts up

    3. Glad I’m not the only one – I didn’t really think I was. But , yeah, hoping to see him in another light so I can get over this silliness.

  3. I posted last week about my feet. Thrilled to say I am making progress. Thank you for sharing thoughts and ideas. Decided to start with the sports doctor and they were great. I am now on a slightly different path and I should be running before the end of the year!

    THANK YOU!!!!!

  4. can anyone speak to the SMART-X High Efficiency Dryer + Diffuser from Bio Ionic? I need a new hair dryer and love my straighter from them but that is a ton of money.

  5. Confession: I’ve been really into the trashiest redneck album ever recently. The political views of the artist are 🤢 but it’s so catchy.

    1. Lemme guess, Morgan Wallen? I hate that I love his music. He’s a trash human, but damn, the jams are good.

      1. Jason Aldean has a new album out too. I hate the guy but I really like some of his music.

        1. Also hate the guy, but will admit he puts on a good concert as the music has an almost rock vibe live. Haven’t gone to one of his concerts in years though.

      2. I, too, hate that I love Morgan Wallen’s music. The songs are such bops. And talk about an ill-advised crush. I find him strangely attractive in the moments where I manage to forget what terrible person he is.

    1. I cannot figure out pieces like this (despite owning some of them). Is it outerwear? Or a blazer-replacement that you can wear inside? It isn’t clear that you can. But it seems designed for cooler weather. I don’t know what this piece is. I don’t know what it does. For whom. I am spiraling into existential brooding over a thing that I don’t have. I have tried to stop repeating this mistake, but I have a college visit coming up and slightly cooler weather and was thinking: is this what my olive utility jacket is for, short walks outside when it’s a bit cool but over simple pieces that are otherwise OK (elevated tee, pants, fashion sneakers)? Or is that too 2019?

      1. Ha, I do understand this line of thinking. I have also been burned by pieces like this before because I just don’t have many opportunities to wear them. But I am drawn to them every time. I think wearing a utility jacket to a campus visit sounds perfect.

        1. Leather jackets: just outerwear? But why are the styled like Alexis Morel Carrington Colby Dexter going to the office at ColbyCo (and it’s not the 80s, but it’s so much that vibe, very Alpha Lady wearing this to her Alpha Corporate Job).

        1. Sigh. I probably don’t need more outerwear. I shall continue my search for work-appropriate plaid.

      3. That is exactly what your utility jacket is for. I am still wearing mine (the soft one from Anine Bing; I got rid of the stiff one from J Crew) and I don’t care if it’s too 2019. But last year I bought a barn jacket, which seemed to be the 2025 replacement.

      4. Lawyer in Texas – the quasi outwear blazers have a special place for when winter gets lost in Texas for a week and the building heat is never able to get my office warm and it’s not cold enough outside for a proper winter coat.

    2. I tried on the olive version of this jacket last year and it looked really cheap in person.

    3. This looks like outerwear to me too. And I would probably get hot trying to wear that inside.

    5. I would wear this at a tailgate or other outdoor party where it’s not too cold to be outside, and you want to either need a layer on top of your sweater for temperature changes throughout the day or you want something more fun than a puffer.

      (I wore things a lot like this when I was in college at an SEC school. I don’t have as many opportunities to wear things like this as an adult.)

    7. I got a great wool tweed Theory blazer (that is lined and has pockets) at Marshall’s and feel that that is a great piece. It works for inside and outside and you can wear under a puffer when it is cold. Something like that might work for you.

    8. This just looks like cosplay to me. Gives cute fall-ish vibes at first glance but breaks down upon scrutiny.

      It’s too cropped and not robust enough to be actually useful as a chore coat or barn jacket. It’s too casual on too many fronts (style, fit, and fabric quality) to fit the niche of a real blazer. It’s too pseudo-dressy for cool casual outfits.

        1. its trying to do too many jobs, imo.

          its trying to be:

          a wool checked blazer in tweedy colors that can be a nice piece for the office.

          an utility or barn jacket that is firmly an outwear piece in a heavy cloth.

          a bomber jacket that is a casual weekend layer.

  7. Looking for recommendations for my at-home office chair. I have pelvic floor issues from birthing my child 2 years ago and my current chair looks fabulous but is causing me problems. What office chairs do you recommend for support, comfort, ergonomics? (Plus if it also is chic, but at this point I’ll take an ugly chair that does the job!)

    1. My Steelcase Series 1 served me well during the post-partum period (and both before and since).

    3. I tried many high end chairs during covid and the Steelcase Gesture is a game changer. It is the most customizable and the only one where the arm rests can be moved narrow enough to be comfortable to me. If something happened to it I would rebuy immediately no questions asked even at double the price.

    4. Love, love my Herman Miller Embody chair.

      It is comfortable, very adjustable, and since mine has the rubbery roller wheels instead of hard plastic casters it works on both my carpeted floor and my hard flooring with no need for a mat underneath. Mine has blue fabric on a white frame and I think it looks clean and crisp. The frame itself looks like an architectural piece rather than drab office furniture.

  8. I’m considering taking a week off in October or November for a solo trip but haven’t come across any ideas that feel right. I like both cities and nature so I’m open to a lot of things. Where would you go and what would you do?

      1. It’s really hard to top New England in the fall, especially October. By November the leaves are off the trees and a lot of businesses will be closed in areas that rely on tourist foot traffic. I’m partial to coastal Maine but Vermont is also wonderful.

        1. For those of us from elsewhere:

          When is usually right pre-peak in coastal Maine? I’d love to do a college visit, but want to not be there when mobs of leaf-peepers are (and not too late).

          And also eastern PA (Philly to Bethelhem) / central NJ?

          1. Depends where, there’s some variation between the different parts of the state. Foliage reports will start in a week or two: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/projects/fall_foliage/index.shtml

            I’m most familiar with Acadia and peak there is usually around the second week of October. By late September there is likely to be some color especially at elevation and September (excluding Labor Day) is generally a bit less crowded than the first half of October. Both months are pretty busy though.

    2. Paris, Rome, etc – that is perfect city touring weather and you don’t have to deal with the summer hordes!

        1. +1 – I live in the MA burbs and leaves are still pretty in November but the height of the season is generally over by the 15th at the very latest.

    3. Very niche: check to see if the Royal School of Needlework is having any classes and go then where ever they are in the UK.

      Less niche: I went to a SLAC and loved it, but I’d love to go to a big college football game somewhere warm but not too hot still and see a football game (but really just to see the bands and enjoy tailgating; I only somewhat understand football). I have a dream of meeting LSU’s Tuba Ken because that is such an awesome story.

      1. College football could be so fun. Definitely agree with looking somewhere warmer, I have season tickets to my husband’s northern Big 10 alma mater and after mid-October all bets are off for nice weather. First weekend of November was the first snow in our area last year.

    5. There’s a play I’d love to see in London, at the National Theater, in the beginning of October, so that’s where I’d go. I think both I and the posters who talked about going to the royal school of needlework or a college footbal game have it right, think about your favourite hooby and go to a special place for that.

      1. Similar, I’d do a solo trip to NYC for a few days. Stay at the Carlyle, go to shows every night (ballet, musicals, plays) spend the days exploring the museums without being rushed by anyone was I travelling with. Maybe even go to the random lectures on Tuesday afternoon at an art museum. Basically, I take myself on an extended field trip with grown up money.

    6. I am with many of the others: Coastal New England. Start in Mystic and move your way up? Newport? Maine’s coast? All such fabulous options.

    7. Santa Fe. I’d eat fabulous food, take day trips to the great outdoors, enjoy some art and spoil myself at 10,000 Waves.

  9. Is anyone planning something fun for Labor Day weekend? I’m trying to be a little more proactive and get something on the calendar so I don’t waste the long weekend.

    1. If the weather is good I want to try out the new bike trail near us. We are not serious cyclists; this would be the bike equivalent of a leisurely stroll.

    3. I’m in the DC suburbs – Every Labor Day we go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival and I love it so much.

    4. we don’t have kids, so we like to use this week for travel – still gorgeous summer weather, but prices drop and crowds thin out! this LD specifically I will be at a prosecco tasting.

    6. Good for you using the weekend well! It will feel so much more restorative. Depending on weather, we’ll probably go to the beach.

  10. If you wanted to wear “crimson” for a visiting a child at school during a parents weekend next month (weather will be warm, like 80s, possibly humid), what is a cute item in that color (can be an accent piece also)? I feel like it seems to be a darker red in the school items I’ve seen, but it’s a SLAC, so I’m hoping that big football schools may have online local stores where I can order something? [I went to a SLAC with the same colors as Baylor, so I have gotten stuff from Baylor-catering stores for Homecoming, etc.] Other than Harvard, IDK of who is “crimson” because everyone seems to just be more of a true red (Ohio State, etc.).

    1. Alabama (Crimson Tide). There’s no shortage of Alabama gear in any make, model, gender or style you could hope for.

    2. When visiting my daughter’s SLAC, the parents just wear college t-shirts and sweatshirts, or a particular item of traditional clothing associated with the school’s heritage. Nobody is wearing sweaters or blazers or whatever in the school colors. This is above the Mason-Dixon line; in the south, YMMV.

      1. This is in the SEUS.

        AKA Sorority had an alumnae convention in my city once and it was amazing to see so many women in so many elegant outfits in their colors and I’ve adapted what where I could in my life.

    6. Are you trying to avoid actual gear from the school itself? That seems the obvious way to incorporate the school colors, especially for a parents weekend.

      1. Yes. Sweatshirts never fit right (and it’s still too warm) and the tee I bought (in a ladies L) was for a svelte undergrad vs a mom-shaped woman and is probably too casual (would have been fine for the move-in). I’d like something I could wear as regular clothes for an adult to a social school event where I’m not lugging things into a dorm.

        1. Is this a tiny school that only offers two ladies options? If not, check out the school’s licensed gear. There are so many options beyond “sweatshirt” and “svelt juniors tee” these days.

          1. Exactly. Look at the Cutter & Buck or Tommy Bahama fan gear sections on their websites.

    7. I would get a garnet (or faux garnet) bracelet or two, and call it a day. Easy to wear regardless of weather, and potentially useful in other scenarios.

  11. I can’t remember how it is with young adults these days, but I just noticed that an adult niece called me a couple of weeks ago (phone was on silent for days of meetings and no one really ever calls it). No voice mail or text since. It could have been a butt dial. Should I reach out? Or just assume that if it had been important then, she’d have said so on a voice mail or a text? I feel like my generation would call or text and say all this (OMG I just saw you called a WHILE ago. I assume everything’s fine, but let me know if it’s not. Miss you!) or do nothing because it’s fine unless you know otherwise, but I think that younger people see everything so differently and I’m hesitant around them.

      1. I don’t think so. Just say you’ve been busy and wanted to check in because you saw she had called.

    3. I’m young, kinda of, and sometimes I call my beloved uncles and aunts just because I had a pocket of time. If they don’t pick up, I just move on, we’ll talk later. Don’t overthink it, reach out.

    4. “Hi niece! I saw a missed call from you. Not sure if it was a butt dial or not. Either way, would love to catch up!”

    5. Are we still using the phrase “butt dial” in the age of 2026 smartphones? It could have been a mistake, but surely a butt didn’t do the dialing. Just curious if this phrase has slipped into broader use or if it’s a 2000 or earlier holdover.

    6. Can someone explain to me the hang up about whether or not to reach out? I’m not trying to troll, but if one cares about someone, call or text, right? I guess I don’t understand what the faux pas would be here, but I’m eager to avoid it if there is one.
      (Also – I just learned from my 14 year old that punctuation is considered “harsh” in text messages. I guess I’ve been encouraging her to be unnecessarily mean when I’ve insisted on her using periods when she texts me.)

      1. idk why, but she is 100% right — like “ok.” and “ok” mean two very different things!

      2. No one leaves voicemail because they are considered to be rude. So you don’t know if it’s a butt dial or a casual chat or someone has gone to the hospital. And with a family call (but an infrequent one), you don’t know if it’s #3 (if it is #3, and you are calling me, PLEASE leave me a message or text me because otherwise, I regard as exceptionally not-urgent).

        1. wait, voicemails are rude? I don’t typically leave them for anyone but my parents or siblings, but I was not aware of this new etiquette.

          1. faster and easier to send – and read – a quick text than to deal with a vm on either end!

          2. This is stupid. Voicemails aren’t rude. They are more cumbersome to access than texts, but they are not rude.

          3. agreed cumbersome, but I wouldn’t consider it rude.

            Also I have a habit of saving at least a few voicemails from family members. My grandpa passed away a few years ago, and like that I can still hear his voice!

      3. I could see concern about breaking social norms and expressing a misunderstanding of your role to the person. Not wanting someone you love to think you’re weird and don’t understand it clearly was a purse dial, esp if they don’t talk regularly.

      4. She is right about punctuation in texts, particularly ending the last statement in a text with a period. It either marks you as a luddite or means you are intentionally showing you are peeved about something.

        1. This is so fascinating to me. I think I’m a Luddite. I just went through my texts with my kid and nary a punctuation mark in sight. Not even when she’s asking a question.
          I mean I get if it’s a one word “ok” or “yeah” or “no”. But complete sentences!!??? I thought she was just being forgetful, but I guess that’s the way of things…

          1. Periods between separate sentences in a single text? Fine to use. Periods at the end in a casual text chain with someone you know, though, can come across as snippy.

          2. my kid can’t even spell or write actual words, let alone use punctuation in texts.

            I went through some threads with other adults (40-50 somethings) and my husband uses periods at the end of texts about half the time, I usually don’t, and most of my friends usually don’t. We all make liberal use of commas, ? and ! though

          3. between sentences, yes, period. It’s the closing period that’s the issue. Comes off as snippy!

      6. lol, I cannot imagine insisting my teenager’s texts to me use proper formal punctuation. Seems like a very out of touch thing to burn capital on.

      7. Yes my 15 year old thought I was mad at her because I used periods in my text messages! I always use the millennial “lol” to convey that I am not mad. (I really wanted to end this with “lol” lol.)

    7. just text her. ‘omg I was cleaning out my notifications and saw a missed call from you got buried in there. What’s up?”

    8. She’s your niece! Please reach out and do not leave her hanging. Even if the call was an accident, this will give you two a chance to catch up. Being an aunt is such a privilege and, while my nieces are little now, I want them to always know I am just a phone call away.

  12. Does anyone else think logging in or authenticating yourself on websites has become too difficult? Just now, I needed to get a certificate of good standing from a state corporation commission/secretary of state. I had not logged in for a while, so it made me authenticate myself with a convoluted process which involved scanning my passport and taking a selfie. My passport has my middle name, but my preexisting profile did not, so I had to go back and amend that. And of course, two-factor authentication meant toggling back and forth between the website and my email and my phone. I handled it with only a few groans of annoyance. But how would a visually impaired user, or an elderly person, or someone with a mobility impairment manage? This is getting way too complicated, and it makes me feel for people who are not as tech-savvy.

    1. yes it’s gotten ridiculous. and my latest “get off my lawn” thought is that all verification codes in email should come in 36-pt font at least.

      meanwhile did you see the elizabeth warren stuff (testimony? article? i forget) about how banks aren’t protecting you against people opening up new accounts under your name, using stolen information, then transfering over money from your real accounts?!

      1. This is why I use ChexSystems to prevent anyone from doing this. It’s a free service to freeze your banking access – it’s like freezing your accounts with the credit bureaus, but for the banking registry.

    2. I hate it too. I was at a Labcorp that makes people check in on kiosks with keypads and the receptionist snapped “use the kiosk!” to a blind person who walked up to her asking for assistance to check in. It was truly unbelievable to witness. At this point, I don’t care who steals my sh!t – do it, as long as I don’t have to do three layers of 2FA and seven Captchas to get to where I want to go.

    3. Of course it’s ridiculous. It’s because of the privacy laws that make companies have to pay absurd amounts of money for “violations” that no one actually cares about. Repeal the laws, and the issue goes away.

      1. I thought it’s a cya move because there are so many scams, hacks and data breaches.

        1. yes, they want to be hacked in a way where it looks like we messed up more than they did

        2. Right, but if there were no financial repercussions to the company, they would care less. They would still care from a fraud prevention perspective, but that is not why digital security theater has proliferated in recent years.

    4. Yes it’s ridiculous. I’ve also had automated processes reject my ID, which is truly a hassle (the same company accepted the same ID in person, so it wasn’t an issue with the ID itself).

    5. It’s impossible. Companies need to work a little bit harder to integrate their services.

      I’m required to log on to a platform, in two separate instances with separate user ids. Thankfully I use the same password.

      I am so frustrated that these two benefit providers can’t figure out how I can access both from the same username. Every month it’s a PITA.

    6. For my bank account, ok.

      Resy wanting to text me a code and then verify my email too, every time? Enough to get me to just call the d-mn restaurant instead.

      1. I’m with you. I’m fine jumping through hoops for things that are really important, but other stuff should be easy. I don’t think creating an account with a password is in any way necessary or helpful in order to order my kid a middle school yearbook.

        1. I assume the reason they ask you to make an account for stuff like this is because your credit card info is involved? And this is somehow necessary to protect that? I’m not an IT security professional, so I really don’t know. But it is irritating, I agree. And I’m not going to have a unique password for every single place of commerce with which I have ever done business, meaning I will use the same one, which is not recommended. So great.

    7. That sounds like an ID.me or similar requirement for whatever portal you were using, not necessarily related to the good standing cert itself.

      I get that things like that are kind of annoying, but also, it can be way more problematic to unwind ID theft, whether in your personal life or your professional world.

      1. I cannot STAND ID.me. I needed to get to my IRS account (PTIN, I think), and the f*ckin’ hoops… uploaded everything… “Accepted!” “Oh, you need to do a video confirmation!” “Make an appointment!” “Oh, you can have a window six days from now!” “Your appointment is in 30 minutes!” “Oh, now you have to wait for an agent!”

        Reader, I had my computer on “waiting for an agent in 20 minutes” for SIX HOURS. I was even able to take my dog for a walk, and the “window” hadn’t changed. Kept updating. 30 minutes, then 20 minutes, then 60 minutes… I gave up. Bastards.

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