Weekend Open Thread
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Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
This bestseller from J.Crew is lovely.
Usually I'm not a fan of the rounded collar, and I can't quite put my finger on why this one is different — the pintucking? the scalloped details? Whatever it is, I think the blouse succeeds in a kind of grown up cool that the rounded collar usually does not have. It's also nice that the blouse is 100% organic cotton.
The shirt comes in three colors, and honestly I'd want all of them: white (lined), blue, and black. I do like the tone-on-tone camisole here, as discussed in our recent post on what to wear with sheer blouses and open knits.
The top is $118, available in sizes 00-24. There are actually a lot of nice cotton voile pieces in stock right now — this relaxed top also comes in a dress, and I loooove this (final sale) black lace-trim blouse (which also comes in white). This bestselling dress also looks kinda perfect.
Sales of note for 8/8/25
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your full price purchase, and $99 dresses and jackets — extra 60% off sale also
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 10% off new womenswear styles with code
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off all sale
- Evereve – Sale on sale (thru Sunday)
- J.Crew – 30% off wear-now styles & up to 60% off all sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything and extra 60% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – New August drop, and up to 70% off sale – try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
- Neiman Marcus – Last call designer sale! Spend $200, get a $50 gift card (up to $2000+ spend with $500 gift card)
- Nordstrom – 9,800+ new women's markdowns
- Rothy's – Ooh: limited edition T-strap flats / Mary Janes
- Spanx – Free shipping on everything
- Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale! 50% off all markdowns + extra 20% off already marked-down items
I need a light third piece to wear on top of a few sleeveless dresses — a jean jacket has the right vibe I want but is too heavy and they’ve always been too boxy on me. What’s a good substitute?
Linen co-ll-arless jacket? https://www.nordstrom.com/s/collarless-linen-blazer/8305914?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FCoats%20%26%20Jackets&color=100
How about a lightweight moto jacket, like this: https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/pilcro-tidal-moto-utility-jacket2?category=jackets-coats&color=014&type=STANDARD&quantity=1
I have the Paige Pacey Collared Jacket – very stretchy and more fitted. I also like the Evereve Camp Jacket.
Is this for work or home/going out?
For work, I’ve gotten a ton of use out of a cropped-ish black cotton utility jacket.
Would something like this be too boxy for you? https://www.quince.com/women/organic-comfort-stretch-chore-jacket
I like the Evereve camp jacket and the Paige Pacey Collared Jacket.
https://evereve.com/products/camp-jacket-sand?_pos=5&_sid=db72f318f&_ss=r
https://evereve.com/products/pacey-jacket-vintageoak
(sold out here but available elsewhere)
+1 for the Evereve camp jacket. I find the green to be quite versatile.
chambray jacket? something like this maybe?
https://poshmark.com/listing/NWT-GAP-70-Women-Chambray-Soft-Denim-tencel-Utility-Shirt-Jacket-in-Indigo-Blue-654bbbc06cb77783759ffa58?srsltid=AfmBOopdQL8Eqm_TbrDSTn5ASUYNHFqzDmR_3BC6AOAzlcofrttbDCo-bxA&gQT=1
I saw this jacket at kohl’s recently (of all places!). Lightweight, waist-defined, casual: https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-6931418/womens-sonoma-goods-for-life-patch-pocket-utility-jacket.jsp?color=Manolo%20Olive&prdPV=2
The length is longer than I like for wearing with dresses, but with any of the shorter jackets, it’s going to be hard to avoid the boxier shape you don’t like, unless you find something that’s fitted or semi-tailored. You can find that cut in vests right now, but it’s harder to find in jackets currently.
I was elated to see the peplum coming back a little bit (they totally work on me), so the Gap cinched denim jacket was an easy buy for me. Comes in blue, black, and white denim, and I promise the seams don’t look as severe/triangular in real life as they do in the pics.
Otherwise, a canvas field jacket from Old Navy a few seasons back in a dusty rose works overtime for me.
Also: the denim is way lighter weight than a traditional jean jacket. Not chambray, but not stiff, heavy denim.
thank you, just ordered! i think i’ll pop into Kohls sometime soon. that cinched jacket was low in stock when i ordered.
Following up from this morning, I Did The Thing and it was not that bad and didn’t take me that long. Why do I never learn??
Hope everyone who is trying to Do The Thing today had success too!
Congratulations!
If you figure out why you never learn, please let me know! I Did The Things this morning, and all told it took 20 minutes. Banging my head on my desk at myself over here!
Hooray! Glad you updated — congratulations!
I did the Thing today and it took five hours! (It required driving to my state capital for a same-day copy of a certified record…everyone at the office was trying to do the Thing and facing some kind of paperwork roadblock. Have our terribly difficult to deal with and inefficient bureaucratic systems always been so bad??). Anyways, glad it’s over and happy weekend to all.
For 2025 suiting, what are the good options if you tend to need a petite jacket? On my list to try once fall stocks some in: BR, Talbots. What else is good enough to not pull or fuzz (especially of if I can’t get wool or find the unlined wool pants to be too itchy)? Sometimes I can get a lined wool skirt suit but might get pointed or travel to get a skirt, pants, and a jacket.
JCrew carries petites. I don’t often have to wear a suit but have had one of theirs for a decade now and it remains a go-to when needed.
Just screaming into the void – I didn’t get the job, and was told yesterday. I’m still angry.
I’m sorry. :(
It’s a Friday. Call up your friends and go for margaritas, queso, and tacos.
Where’s Shots. Shots. Shots?
I’m sorry, but I’m here for you.
A big and very successful project I headed for the last three years was canceled last week for no good reason. Today I was asked to edit the communications that are going out to the project team and to the whole organization announcing the cancellation and promising there is a new! improved! version of the project coming soon! yep, really truly! (With no explanation of how the new version will be different or better.) Gah.
I’m so sorry – that sounds infinitely frustrating
So frustrating.
Oof. I can totally relate. I’ve been on a 4 person committee for the last year on a similar project. About to finally go to contract and the our president is rethinking the strategy. Hang in there!
i feel like i slept awful last night but can’t remember being up at all. grumble. is this just peri?
It’s almost the full moon and I was seriously wondering if it was getting to me. My smart watch says my sleep was “non-restorative” and it’s not kidding.
Sounds more like sleep apnea tbh
I reread the morning thread on parents and siblings. Very cathartic and now I don’t want to drill on it any more. What I remind myself of is:
Bitterness is drinking a poison and hoping that the other person dies.
It’s better for me to just walk away mentally (and engage with my problem sibling minimally and by text only and as responses vs seeking engagement).
I had posted about needing three evening outfits for a celebratory weekend in SoCal this fall. consensus was not to wear jeans to first night/ arrival/cocktails… thoughts on long satin skirt with sweater in same color?
Vince does this well.
Better. It probably way way way too hot for that time of year.
A satin slip skirt with a sleeveless sweater might be cool enough.
My husband and I are going to Istanbul, Turkey, in mid-September. I asked ChatGPT for an itinerary, and it gave me what appear to be decent recs, though I need to actually vet them.
Does anyone have a good recommendation for a tourist-friendly traditional Turkish bath (hammam)? ChatGPT suggested these two: Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı or Cağaloğlu Hamamı
And any restaurants or activities that you loved? We’re going for a specific event for a week on the coast, and then we have 4 additional days to explore in the city center.
We’re generally athletic/like to walk, adventurous enough to eat in less-than-glamorous places if the food is good quality, and would love at least one romantic dinner.
Please just buy a $20 Lonely Planet guide for your $2000 trip. It will be worth it.
Or better yet, Rich Steves and give $5 to PBS for airing the programs too while you’re at it.
In addition to chat gpt, I usually browse Viatour for ideas and activities. I’ve loved booking private walking tours and food tours. Haven’t been where you’re going so no specific recs.