Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Marceline Cardigan
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
I know it’s odd to be looking for chunky cardigans in July, but the air conditioning in my office is just a little bit over the top right now. I’m searching for something to add to my repertoire that feels more summery than what I’m currently wearing.
This sweater jacket from J.McLaughlin looks cozy enough, but the trim gives it a touch of whimsy that feels a bit more summer appropriate. The blue/cream knit would pair nicely with most neutrals, and I can easily think of at least five outfits I could make with items already in my closet. Score!
The sweater is $328 and comes in sizes XS-XL. It also comes in a pink/tan knit.
A more affordable option is from Halogen; it's on sale for $34.99 (marked down from $79) at Nordstrom but is available in lucky sizes only.
Sales of note for 7/11:
- Nordstrom – Designer clearance, up to 60% off!
- Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, 60% off sale and 40% off everything — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Athleta – Extra 30% off semi-annual sale, up to 60% off reader favorites like Brookyn and Endless pants
- AYR – Ooh, good sale section — but lots on final sale. Readers love (LOVE) these comfy work pants and these jeans.
- Banana Republic – Summer sale up to 60% off sale styles + extra 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Up to 40% off sitewide + 40% off 3+ items
- Cuyana – Archive sale, up to 60% off
- Evereve – Extra 30% off sale!
- The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
- Hobbs – Up to 50% off, extra 30% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
- Lululemon – Summer sale!
- Margaux – Save up to 50% off, including archive sale
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 50% off (new lines just added)
- M.M.LaFleur – 25% off jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clear the rack, extra 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Strathberry – Up to 30% off select styles
- Talbots – 40% off your entire purchase + extra 15% off markdowns
Has anyone worked with what you’d call a career therapist rather than a career coach?
I’m a senior director, objectively doing well in my rather niche non-legal career, but I’ve hit a strange point where I don’t think my problem is résumé, interviewing, salary negotiation, or leadership skills. It’s more existential.
I feel simultaneously successful and stuck. I know I want a bigger impact, more visibility, and a clearer sense of what’s next, but I’m struggling to untangle whether that’s a career strategy problem, burnout, identity, ambition, organizational politics, or just being at a stage where the next move isn’t obvious.
A traditional therapist doesn’t seem career-focused enough, while most career coaches seem geared toward job searching, promotions, or interview prep.
Is there a profession (or a particular type of coach, psychologist, or advisor) that helps high-achieving women work through this kind of mid-career crossroads? I’d love recommendations or experiences.
If you did an MBA or similar, this is something a peer network might be able to help with. Stanford used to do regular circles for women mbas.
It’s usually to do with needing a more developed network, a broader skillset including stellar interpersonal skills, or not being in the right corporate environment.
Can you imagine if Corporette started to do monthly zoom chats for career women?! That might be awesome…
I think this is part of the career where you pivot more to passion projects. I regularly interview CFOs and other business leaders and many in this leg of career begin to dive in heavily to speaking, mentoring, board work, etc. They get involved in professional associations at a different level. Their business network deepens in new ways and they often continue to climb but that seems secondary to the desire to follow their professional passion projects.
No idea, as I also am having an existential career crisis that I think I need to figure out for myself. I am coming to grips with the fact that I have lost the ambition that I used to have. Like I would enjoy the benefits of more success, but my desire to actually get there is gone. It’s like I’ve used up all my energy to get where I’m at and there’s nothing left to do more. The passion has left the building, so even the passion-project route just feels like more of the same. I would love to switch careers entirely, but to what?
I am in a similar place. I am about to get laid off from one of the last remaining jobs in my incredibly specialized field that has been decimated by federal and private funding cuts. I could try to transfer my technical skills to a new subject matter area, but everyone wants both technical skills and deep subject matter expertise. And over the past few years I’ve realized I just don’t want a high-pressure, high-travel job working with people who get overly worked up over things any more. I am seriously considering downshifting to a career with 1/3 the salary and zero prestige, but where I can imagine myself contentedly puttering away while focusing seriously on my hobby for the next 16 years until I can retire. I have been on law review, managed large project teams, been PI on huge grants, done the whole working-mom-stretched-thin thing, and none of it was satisfying or made a difference in the world the way I hoped it would. Now I am done girbossing and just want to live my life while I still can.
Look for therapists that are well credentialed, cash only, LGBTQ affirming (I think that’s the right term), and in really rich neighborhoods (last part fairly key). That combination has been the right criteria for several of my friends looking for a therapist for similar issues. Don’t ask me why but that tends to get the therapists for people with big jobs.
No, but I’ve wished for this (in law, but looking for what I can do in the final 10-20 years of working and how to plan for that now). I’ve launched and survived motherhood and practicing, but what can I do with my life once my time is my own again?
Sheila M. Wilkinson! I found her through a rec right here in these comments, and think she would be perfect for you. Easily Google-able and based in New Orleans but does everything virtually.
Elena Rand
Yes, look for an executive coach.
Posting mainly because I think this is funny and I know one of you will think I’m an AH.
I’m a prolific baker, but I tend to do creative things that strike my fancy: blueberry lime pound cake, pumpkin marshmallow cookies, coconut cardamom blondies, etc. About 5 years ago when I first started my job I would bring in my bakes to share with the office, while they were always 100% eaten I’d get a few snide comments about making ‘normal’ treats, one too many comments and the treats started going to my husband’s office instead because no I’m not a bakery. Last week my boss came through on a really big promotion so I made her chocolate chip cookies yesterday, her fave, the whole batch was hers not to share. Oh the firestorm that kicked off I finally made ‘normal’ treats and wouldn’t share.
Where do you live that these things are weird? It’s not like marshmallow, pumpkin, lime, coconut, or blueberry are particularly unusual ingredients, and in my Midwestern city with lots of Scandinavian heritage, cardamom is almost as normal as cinnamon.
I’m in the Midwest and while most people have eaten these things, there are a lot of people who would prefer classics like chocolate chip cookies and brownies.
Super rude to demand it of someone making free treats though!
I’m from a rural area in the west that would get those sort of comments along with a snippy “not from here” comment from a few jerks. These are the same people who think mayonnaise is spicy.
Where I grew up in the midwest, I feel like there were always some self designated normalcy police, even if a lot people were more adventurous or curious.
Oh God yes… the “but that’s the way it’s always been” people. They exist everywhere, but are particularly loud in my current (struggling) town. Gee, maybe ossificstion is a big part of why it’s struggling???
I’m a baker too and I love this! I tend to avoid baking for others because people get really weird about it. No, I don’t work for you, I’m not going to bake to your specific taste. No, I don’t want to “open a bakery” because I know what actually goes into that and this is my hobby, not a career. Yes, I often bake for “just” me because I’m allowed to do nice things for myself. Getting to the point where I don’t even tell people about my baking hobby because more often than not they get weird or entitled about it.
Put me in the cranky baker camp.
A coworker of mine also loves to bake but doesn’t want to eat everything he makes and he lives alone. He fills our office kitchen with all kinds of incredible baked goods in combinations that are not quote normal. And we love it! He will retire in about 5 years and we currently are encouraging him to keep baking in retirement and then bringing his creations to us to enjoy. I think it’s awesome that you do this too!
Your office mates sound like a-holes.
See, and I have a couple of friends that I know don’t consider me a “real” baker because I like sticking to classic flavors and rarely try the “weird” stuff. Which isn’t that weird, btw, but I like what I like.
If I’m at an ice cream shop and the “top flavors” are things like “cinnamon Bergamot” and “lavender with black peppercorn flakes,” I’m out.
Ha, same. Please do not try to feed me “creative” ice cream.
Same! I seriously dislike creative baked goods, but I’d never say anything to someone who brings them into the office.
This is just about the only type of ice cream that tempts me! But I think the reason is that I don’t really like sweets (I wouldn’t want any of the bakery described, normal or creative). So desserts for people who don’t like desserts is a kind of funny concept.
One of the reasons I dislike those ice cream shoppes is that they seem to focus more on creativity than on excelling at the basics. It’s easier to make Ube Adzuki than to make truly outstanding chocolate.
Same. I’m a pretty adventurous eater but I really prefer the classic things for sweets. I’m also a chocoholic and don’t really have any interest in eating a dessert that doesn’t have chocolate. I love bluberries but prefer them in breakfast foods like muffins and pancakes.
My bff describes herself as an ‘adventureous’ eater but when push comes to shove I’ve never seen her order anything even remotely interesting on a menu. She’ll go to ethnic restaurants but then get the white people option (i.e. butter chicken at an Indian place)
Maybe the reason that the things OP makes sound pretty normal to me is that I’m not a big chocolate fan. Once you’re looking beyond chocolate, it’s pretty obvious to move on to pumpkin, berry, citrus and spice, so those are all my usual go tos (but also still pretty classic and common at any bakery).
I get it. I went on a cookie baking binge a few years ago and made several different kinds of cookies, none of which were chocolate chip. I remember my boyfriend looking at me kind of mournfully and saying, You’re never going to make regular cookies, are you? He did appreciate the weird cookies so I wasn’t offended, I thought it was kind of funny.
Do you label the baked goods? I can see why people complain if they have food allergies or they bite into a cookie expecting chocolate then taste coconut instead. But if you tell people what’s in the item…why on earth are they complaining about free treats?
Lol, yes all Tupperware had a post-it which said for example ‘Coconut cardamom blondies. Contains: Soy, May contain traces of other allergens’.
No one was tricked into eating exotic spices nor were they poisoned.
In that case I’m sorry your coworkers suck so badly. Hopefully your husband’s coworkers are more appreciative
Why did you advertise that you’d given your boss cookies?
Your treats sound AMAZING – glad you choose to share with those who appreciate them.
So, you are the AH if you baked FOR your office- you should make people-pleasers.
If you baked for yourself and brought leftovers things to the office, then your ungrateful coworkers are the AH.
But hey all got eaten, so clearly people were pleased? There’s no dessert that 100% of people like. It’s ridiculous for outliers to feel entitled to what they like because they perceive their tastes as more standard when in fact they’re in a minority.
Ever realize your celebrity crush was way off? When I was young, I was Team Ben over Team Matt (all of us chose one). Watching Matt Damon give interviews now, it’s shocking how off my picker was. He is the whole package —he’s charming, a family guy, intelligent, and has aged like fine wine. Ben is…not. I wonder how many gems IRL younger me might have missed?
Matt seems like a good dude. I would actually be pretty sad if a scandal broke on him, he seems so wholesome with his wife and daughters.
and step-daughter
I think while people rag on step parents a lot (often deserved), the ones who step up are really gems.
I really never understood the appeal of either of those two and still don’t see it. But I liked Johnny Depp when I was young, so I guess that’s a lot worse!
Haha, same. No thanks to Ben or Matt. My only celebrity crush that has endured is Anthony Kiedis, but I still have zero desire to actually meet him.
Oh no, https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/red-hot-chili-peppers-singer-anthony-kiedis-uncomfortable-truth/
He lost me after his dating proclivities went so young.
I would have been far more into Matt Damon, but men who are family men appeal to me.
Ugh, I was also Team Ben, and what a tragic decision that turned out to be, lol. Matt Damon has aged SO well.
Team Sam Neill / Reilly, Ace of Spies 4ever
Also: Pierce Brosnan, who seems like a fine human
Pierce was my first celeb crush (thanks re-runs of Remington Steele on PAX every afternoon when I was in middle school). He does seem like a really good husband and father but the RFK support turned me off :(
I missed that. RFK seems to say what half of the health influencers say. If a lie is repeated often enough, it may not become true, but I get how the “truthiness” sucks people in. There is a a place where “inflammation” is a legitimate thing and then there are the people who want to buy their healing crystals or whatever. I feel bad for scientists now.
Will keep my crushes theoretical and hotness / vibes only.
I think they met through the environmental work he and his wife do (which, tbf, RFK is on the correct side of those issues) and have a friendship that transcends politics but still ick.
When it comes to RFK Jr. himself, I’m pretty annoyed – he did some very important environmental protection work for rivers around the world (ranging from New York to South America) and is a whitewater kayaker, which I always find attractive. Then he became…what he is now.
yes I’m in m0d for the T word but Pierce’s connection to him is through the environmental stuff. Pierce and his wife are huge advocates for environmental protection and RFK is on the correct side of those issues. I believe they have a long-standing friendship with him through that connection so I do understand it a little bit but still kind of gives me an ick.
Also was really into Pierce Brosnan, because, again, really into family men.
I remember when the sold Team Harry shirts. Didn’t age well.
I wouldn’t want to be married to Ben but he’s still physically hot and apparently very charismatic so tbh I still get the appeal. I also don’t really believe Matt is as wholesome as he portrays, but I don’t really believe any famous actors or politicians are faithful. (Not because I think all men would cheat if they had the opportunity, but it takes a certain fame-seeking personality type to go into these careers and that personality type is very pre-disposed to cheating.)
Well that is silly. There are all kinds of personality types that end up famous in the arts. There are also different motivations for getting into politics.
Nah, my husband would never want to be a politician or movie star (we’re talking A-list level fame here, which is very different than just making a living in the arts). Neither would most good men I know.
Oh don’t be ridiculous, Andrea – everybody wants this. Everybody wants to be us.
I think people just don’t think as much about the A-list actors whose scandals don’t win them headlines. So it’s circular. You’ll definitely be more famous if you get into a lot of trouble!
I kind of agree with all of this.
Why I think I “like” some people in a philsophical way (vs a he’s hot sort of way) is that for years, if not longer, there haven’t been public dust-ups and drama. Maybe they just have a lot of money and NDAs to smooth things over, maybe they just pick stable no-drama partners, or maybe they are just normal people. I can think of so many people with really theatrical breakups, kid drama, ex drama, etc., that I think that any celebrity could easily be overwhelmed with that (throw in family members wanting your money, Markle-type family drama, Lohan or Spears dysfunction, substance abuse, mental problems and being “unremarkable” becomes somewhat of a remarkable achievement).
It’s fascinating to observe, but unless the toys are really that great, probably not fun to live through.
The best thing about Ben is picking Jennifer Garner to be the mother of his kids. She seems to be “normal” for Hollywood (but who knows). He also picked Jennifer Lopez twice.
Remember Matt Damon broke up with Minnie Driver by announcing he’s single in an interview. He wasn’t always an angel. To be fair he was young and since then he’s had zero public drama. While I wouldn’t be surprised to learn any celebrity cheats on their spouse at least Matt has the good sense to be discreet if he does. Maybe he’s not normal for a civilian but he seems as normal as an A-list celebrity van be.
Ben is an alcoholic who calls the paparazzi on himself. He definitely thrives on the attention and drama.
Opposite vein. I just appreciate every time I find out that one of the musicians the moral majority fought so hard against as bad corrupting influences turn out to be completely unproblematic, often but not always quietly mainstream religious, and living a normal life other than going on tour each summer.
Just going by looks alone, I also subscribe to the theory that most people speak at some point in their life. Ben Affleck was so hot back then, he was looking his best and it was exactly what we were told was desirable at the time. Matt was cute then but kept improving for years.
I remember when House was big, and then seeing older pictures of Hugh Laurie as a younger actor. He was pretty ugly back then, whereas in the 21st century, his roughish scruffy look was definitely working.
ugh, I meant to say people peak at some point!
No! I loved him as Bertie Wooster!
Also, Ben was way hot when he married JLo. He just was. The beard suits him.
Ben Then was only engaged to JLO. He had fallen pretty hard by the time he married her.
Please share your favorite summer trips with me. Have a week to fill at the end of August. I know it’s last minute so flexible about where to go with two elementary aged kids. Thinking Europe because there are some decent flights from NY for right before Labor Day.
Related: any Barcelona hotel recs appreciated!
Highly recommend Golden Hotel or LabTwentyTwo in Barcelona.
European cities in the summer are brutal, especially as of late. Crazy heatwaves and very limited AC. At that time of year, I’d go somewhere like Iceland or Norway or to a beach destination . We loved Mallorca although our daughter was younger (preschool) when we went. You can fly non-stop on United from Newark. It’s also easy to combine with Barcelona.
Fly to Munich and stay at Stanglwirt in Austria. It is about a 1.5 hour (easy) drive. Beautiful and so much to do!
My niece is turning 18 next month. She will be starting college at a large Texas university next month too. She enjoys fashion more than anything else, and I’d like to buy a necklace for her. Budget up to $250. She cares about what’s trendy, which is decidedly not within sphere of information.
Any suggestions for a necklace that is from a brand or is a style that’s popular with college girls right now?
my college aged son got his girlfriend a gorjana paper clip chain with her initial. i think about $150. their stuff is on trend but not real gold, you can’t shower with it…
In Texas, James Avery is a classic gift for young women. Your budget would cover several of their sterling options. I’d do a 16″ necklace for an 18 yo, unless you know for sure she likes a longer necklace. That’s a good length for layering.
The Texas necklace is very popular with the university crowd. https://www.jamesavery.com/necklaces-chains/texas-gemstone-necklace/NK-965.html?dwvar_NK-965_webGemstone=Red%20Doublet
There are also lots of cute birthstone options and an infinity slider style.
Just don’t get one of their Camp Mystic charms.
Not quite a necklace, but especially for Texas universities, Saturday Silks has really fun items. I went to a SLAC and envy the swag that exists for bigger schools.
Answer depends on which school. A&M means you want more traditional options – James Avery, David Yurman, etc. Maybe it’s just that I’m a longhorn, but I’ve also associated A&M with more of the trad wife/ influencer aesthetic. If she is going to UT, you can search through the co-op’s website for lots of longhorn branded jewelry. Style wise, dainty is in. Other brands to look at (regardless of school), kendra scott, gorjana, j landa (more niche houston), and lindsey leigh jewelry (also more niche houston).
i travel a fair amount and try to go carry on. have a rolling bag that goes in the overhead and usually use a backpack for under the seat that i specifically bought for the purpose. it has too many pockets and i find it annoying to get in and out of. thinking i would like a tote. anyone have a calpak? worth it? i have plenty of totes in my closet but they don’t zip close.
There’s a tote in yesterday’s post about the NAS.
Also I ordered the Calpak Luka duffel last year and it was too poofy for me, so I returned it.
I also switched from a backpack to a tote for travel because the tote holds more but still fits under the seat. I have this one and love it: https://monos.com/collections/metro/products/metro-duffel?variant=32568039702602
I love loeffler Randall’s travel totes
getting a quasi promotion within my organization that moves me up and away (currently a deputy c suite, this is chief of staff so dealing with everyone and lots of things). thoughts or suggestions, anecdotes to share… i’ve been promoted before but never moved silos within an organization and not sure what to expect or how to plan.
Congrats! I’m a first time chief of staff and it’s a great role but kind of a weird and sometimes lonely one. I like David Kirby’s book on being a chief of staff and he has an a good frame on getting started. Ask a chief of staff on Substack is also good. I would try to locate and connect with chiefs of staff at other companies. You’ll do great!
Thanks for this! Im also exploring moving in to a similar role—is the Chiefs of Staff Association something you or any other commenter have come across? I’m trying to determine if it is legitimate or if there is value to a certification.
i hadn’t run into it. i actually asked chat gpt if there were organizations and they gave me ones typical to the industry and my profession but not to chief of staff. i’ll look and share my thoughts.
great, thank you! i’ll order
op here: thank you this is all helpful… specifically interested if people have transitioned within the organization, how they delineated the change in role with their interactions with the same people, whether you dressed differently, etc.
Shoe people, please help me! I am trying to up my fashion game and that has partially involved buying nice, attractive shoes.
First, I bought a pair of Margaux Phoebe flats in Nappa Leather. They are beautiful. But they feel…vulnerable. Is there a protection spray I should apply to the soft leather? The soles also feel like they will be ripped up by walking. Do I take them to a cobbler to be reinforced before wearing? Will that help them last? What do I ask for?
I also bought (significantly cheaper) suede pink slip on Mary Jane sneaker combo. Clearly after one wear, they will get very dirty if I don’t do something to prevent it. Is there any pre-treating I should do? Thanks!
I never do that, I like the patina that comes with time and from wearing shoes.
Patina is for casual shoes and work boots. Dress shoes need to stay neat. I spray them all with a leather/suede protectant and will polish smooth leather when it gets scuffed.
I would do suede protector on the suede ones.
I’ve by tempted by the Margaux Phoebe flats myself. Beautiful, but I would immediately take them to a cobbler. Ask for thin rubber outsoles for sure. You can also have them add toe taps and heel taps. (They don’t making a tapping sound, they just add more protection to the most vulnerable parts of the sole.) For the leather itself, get some good cream polish like Meltonian or Saphir and polish them regularly. For this kind of leather, you don’t want a wax (solid) type polish because you don’t want a high shine.
Ugh, sorry for typos. Not enough caffeine yet this morning.
This jacket is lovely but what on the bottom? feel like black isn’t special but not sure what else, would look nice w dark jeans too… anything else?
I honestly hate the fringe. Sorry!
Navy suit pant?
A navy sheath, trousers, or skirt would look so pretty. Camel-colored trousers with a white top would be great.
I’d like to get a small decorative basket to hold our wallets and sunglasses that is ideally flat on one side to lay against the wall under the key hooks. It seems surprisingly hard to find one that looks good for this purpose – wide enough to easily reach in and grab things, flat on the back. Any ideas on where to look? We’d prefer a wall basket vs. one that sits on the table because our toddler loves to break our glasses.
I googled “wall basket” just now, and a gazillion options came up, looking to be all different sizes. Is part of the issue that they don’t look the way you want? Would you be open to a wall bin rather than a basket?
Sorry, I should have specified that I’m not willing to pay over $100 for it – prices have gotten so out of control lately. A lot of the options I saw on my first couple of passes were priced into the stratosphere for small wicker baskets!
What type of aesthetic are you thinking? Ornate metal, woven water hyacinth, wicker, metal farmhouse, etc?
Probably wicker but open to ideas!
We use a wooden valet tray for this purpose. It’s not as deep as a basket, so harder to lose things in the bottom or store too much in it! Etsy has beautiful options, or World Market has decent ones (baskets, too!)
Look at Hunt and Bloom, Green Row, Anthro.
Has anyone here been to Cyprus? My husband may go next year for work and I’m debating whether I should go too (this is fine w/him and his employer, we do it often) but realizing I don’t know much about the country. Will search online too of course, but this is a well-traveled group so I figured some people may have been.
I have not been, but somewhat relatedly, I’m reading The Island of Lost Trees. Two main characters are a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot, who fell in love and escaped to England. The history of the island is fascinating, including its disputed regions. Reading it could be an interesting introduction to the island!
Whoops, Island of Missing Trees. Not lost trees.
Thank you, I love thematic reading for trips!