Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Saige Pleated Striped Midi Skirt

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A woman wearing a cream oversized blazer, black top, and mint striped skirt

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

The change of seasons is finally here, and I’m keeping an eye out for some fun skirts to liven up my wardrobe. This striped, pleated midi skirt from Reiss is just screaming “spring” to me, and while I’d love to wear it out for picnics and drinks on patios, it will still work for my Monday–Friday, 9-5 life.

For the office, I’d add a black short-sleeved sweater and some pointed-toe flats. 

The skirt is $265 at Reiss and Bloomingdale's and comes in sizes 0–12. It also comes in navy. 

A couple of more affordable options are from Karl Lagerfield Paris (XS–XL; $69.99 at Saks OFF 5th) and Ralph Lauren Woman (1X–3X; $175).

Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine's Day!):

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save up to 25% on select suiting, this weekend only
  • Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase — and extra 60% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + 15% off (readers love their suiting as well as their silky shirts like this one)
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 300+ styles $25 and up
  • J.Crew – 40% of your purchase – prices as marked
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site and storewide + extra 50% off clearance
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Flash sale ending soon – markdowns starting from $15, extra 70% off all other markdowns (final sale)

262 Comments

  1. Does anyone have any recs for frozen croissants? I have been getting them from
    Wildgrain but it is a bit pricey and my kids go through them so fast. TIA!

    1. Trader Joe’s has decent ones, although they’re not as good as they used to be.

    2. The costco ones are pretty good and relatively inexpensive. Buy them and then freeze them.

      1. +1, have only tried the pain au chocolat but they turn out really good for the price!

    3. Trader Joe’s – pain au chocolate in the breakfast freezer section. They are phenomenal. You let them defrost and puff up overnight, bake in the morning. As good as what you get from any French bakery.

      Costco – try the business center to see if they carry the frozen croissants. If not, the regular plastic box is good. Wrap individually and freeze if you don’t have 3 children who devour them in 2 days.

        1. Yeah, I’d say that they’re considerably better than any of my local bakeries, but that’s a pretty low bar.

        2. Yeah they’re better than the grocery store bakery section but nowhere near as good as a legit French bakery.

        3. I always hate to yuck someone else’s yum, but yeah, +1 to this. They are fine for what they are, but definitely not on the same level as a French bakery.

        4. I lived in France for 3 years. The frozen ones are good. The baked ones in the bag on the shelf are foul.

          The frozen mini croissants are awful. Grease galore. The frozen pain au chocolate is made in France and legit as good as a French bakery minus the attitude if you prepare them properly by letting them defrost overnight.

          1. Agree to disagree… I like the TJ’s frozen croissants a lot but to me they don’t hold a candle to a good French bakery in the US or pretty much any old corner patisserie in France.

      1. Yeah–I live in SF and have access to Arsicault, Jane and B Patisserie within a five minute drive of my house. But even I love the TJ’s pain au chocolat. The Costco bakery croissants are OK, but they do not have the butter or flake level of true bakery croissants (nor do I expect them to, at 1/10th the price).

    4. Whole Foods frozen ones you bake at home. Not as good as a French bakery but better than TJ.

  2. Related to a thread the other day, NYTimes has a story “What Happened to the Wrap Dress” exploring why it now seems outdated. While I no longer own one, I have rented a midi length DVF wrap on RTR which feels like a slightly more current silhouette and I can pair with boots.

    1. I think they will come back around. Or at least I hope so – hourglass shape here and they look great on me. I’m also a fan of the flexible fitting: cinch waist a bit more if you’re curvy, keep it a bit looser id you’re more straight up and down.

      Skimming the article: it didn’t seem to mention that there aren’t a lot of knee-length silhouettes these days, and wrap dresses work best at knee length (IMHO).

        1. Awful on me too. Wrap dresses suit my pear shape. Midis are awful for me. Same with any crew neck top. Midis and Baggy styles are killing my options this year.

    2. I used to love wrap dresses because they were designed for women. Most businesswear was originally designed for men then slightly adjusted for women when they became a larger part of the workforce. That’s why traditional suits and slacks are more flattering on women with straight up and down figures. If you’re hourglassy or have a “womanly” figure it’s harder to pull them off. Finding something that fits well and looks sharp is difficult- it requires a lot of hunting and tailoring. But wrap dresses were designed for a woman’s body so they naturally look good. I’m not saying women need to look va va voom at the office, but personally I hate when business clothes make me feel dowdy or less put together. A suit makes men feel powerful but it makes me feel like I’m failing at playing dress-up. Thankfully at this point I have enough seniority that I can get away with slightly unconventional but flattering workwear.

      1. I agree about suits, but to me wrap dresses don’t look “sharp.” They are soft and unstructured. I prefer sharp tailoring for a look of authority, like a dress from The Fold or impeccably tailored wide-leg pants with a cropped blazer.

    3. Fun article. My advice though is hang onto any real DVFs, they always come back around and having a vintage dress is quite fun.

    4. You will have to pry my wrap dresses (and faux wrap dresses too) from my cold, dead hands. A garment that is flattering, is flexible in sizing, is flexible in fit, is adjustable for different seasons, can be dressed up, can be dressed down, works with a variety of shoes–all of those things are more important to me than whether some random person at the NYT thinks it looks “outdated.”

      1. I’m wearing a wrap dress to a wedding soon. I think they’re fine for that purpose. I’m not going to be wearing them to the office.

        Given the way people are dressing for work now, it would be totally out of place. And it would look like I was heading to something social, like a wedding.

        1. That’s interesting because I would never wear a wrap dress to a wedding. That seems outdated to me. But in an office, particularly a more conservative one, I think a wrap dress would look fine. Unremarkable.

    5. As a larger chested woman, I’ve never liked wrap dresses. I always felt like the choice was between hoiking one side over high enough and distorting the lines of the dress or creating a nice little crevice that everyone taller than me could look down into.

      1. As a smaller chested woman with full hips, the top of wraps dresses are floating pools of sad fabric. You can sinch the waist but not the bust area :(

        I want to like them but they don’t do me any favors.

      2. I liked the wrap style when I was younger and had small chest and no / flat stomach.

        Then I fed “naturally” and used a lot of tops with asymmetrical wraps

        But now wraps and even faux wraps don’t look great and don’t stay closed on my fuller chest and much fuller stomach/ uterus – about equal with my chest to be honest

  3. I have a number of flowy midi skirts but I end up never wearing them because I cannot figure out how to style them. I work in a business casual (more casual than business) office. I am short and slim but every type of shirt paired with a midi seems to emphasize my middle where I carry my weight. It looks like most people wear tshirts with these – which looks great but then I feel under dressed on top. How do you style it?! Ate you tucking your shirts in? Does anyone have a rec for the perfect middle ground top to weat with midis? (Budget recs)

    1. I’m a slender size 0-2 and most of these skirts have a weird elastic and/or ribbon-belt-type waistband. The pleats coming out always “poof” and make me look like I therefore have a belly poof. (Which would be fine, fine to look like that fine to have it.) so it may not be your frame – it may be the design and structure of these skirts.

      Midi dresses I love. Midi skirts nah.

    2. this has been discussed in various ways on this site but, for me personally, i think you are having a hard time because they are ultimately an awkward and unflattering length. I too have tried them and unless one wears a very high and pointy heel (which i won’t) and a very slim top (like you said a tshirt or a simple sweater) it is not “flattering” (meaning does not make one look longer or thinner than they otherwise might. i have basically moved into pants to await a shift to shorter or longer lengths both of which are easier to wear.

      1. +1 Not all clothing has merit. I’m waiting out this season of trends in the hopes that the future is more flattering.

        1. What a strange take. It’s fine to not like midi skirts, and you can just say that. But they certain have merit! Some people love them!

          1. Amen! I hate my knees and maxi length is not really appropriate for my office. I love midi skirts.

    3. For the office (I’m also more-casual side of business casual) I pair with a fitted, cropped-ish cardigan (buttoned all the way up, kind of 50s style) or a long-sleeved boatneck or scoopneck t-shirt (which is more elevated than just a short-sleeved t-shirt). Mary Jane flats are in style now; sleek sneakers can work.

    4. I would think about how to dress up the typical tshirt – I’ll do more jewelry or a silk scarf on top. Also making sure the tshirt is high quality and not wrinkled goes a long way.

      I’m in a similar office formality wise, and that would totally be acceptable in my workplace.

    5. The pictured skirt is just not officewear for me. I love them for travel (no issues with modesty in churches but you still look polished & elegant) but this floaty shape to me reads fun-romantic rather than Get Sh!t Done mode.

      1. Agreed. I get hard Blanche Devereaux vibes from the outfit pictured above. Fun, flirty, good for heat and humidity, not meant for the office.

      2. I have a skirt almost exactly Iike this and I wore it to the office with a silk tee and ponte blazer, or a sweater set, and low heel pumps. Got plenty of sh!t done.

    6. I like to wear a bodysuit under midi skirts to keep the line smooth. I’ll throw on a cropped jacket or jardigan if necessary.

    7. The elastic-waist skirts make weird bumps at the waist. Skirts that are cut on the bias or have a real waistband with a hook and zipper avoid this. Tucking a shirt in to a thin, unstructured skirt will also create waist poof. I like a fitted t-shirt or tank top that hits just below the waist so it covers up any lumps and bumps but still approximates the current cropped proportions. A jean jacket works as a topper; a baggy “trucker” or “boyfriend” style is most current. A waist-length sweater also works, as does a slouchier t-shirt tied at the waist.

      I find that true midi skirts hit at the widest part of my calf and make my athletic legs look puffy and dumpy. I prefer something between midi and ankle length that hits where my calf is narrowest. If you are petite, some of the non-petite midi skirts will fall at a good spot.

    8. My go -to for any skirt is a white or chambray button down, knotted at the waist. That said, midi skirts are pretty tough to fit right, that length is a thousand times easier to wear as a dress.

  4. The last post on bone strength yesterday made me think, how do you get a dexa scan? Just ask your pcp? I am still somewhat young but have a lot of risk factors for osteoporosis. And in general there are probably things that are helpful to prevent it other than the obvious such as a high dairy diet.

    1. Ask your PCP. If insurance balks and if you can afford it (HSA, FSA, out of pocket, whatever), plenty of clinics offer it on a very reasonable cash-pay basis (maybe about $100).

      1. I know it’s likely a dumb question, but what is weight bearing exercise? Just strength training? Or does yoga/running/waking count?

    2. I’ve been thinking lately about the legacy of diet culture on my adult health (after growing up in the size-zero obsessed 90s and 2000s) and I honestly think those years are going to come home to roost for a lot of us in the form of osteoporosis. It sucks. I can only hope the weight-bearing exercise I did helped counteract the avoidance of “fattening” dairy and the abundance of fat-free (i.e., good luck absorbing any fat-soluble nutrients) diets.

    3. You can ask your PCP. I posted that a friend of mine goes to Osteostrong. She is in her early 40s, and she had to talk her PCP into prescribing the scan.

      If your doctor won’t, there are places that do them for less than $100 because people like to do them for weight loss purposes sometimes. I’ve had that done, and the person who did the test told me they’d tell you to see your doctor about osteoporosis if certain numbers looked alarming, but that didn’t apply to me. I’m not sure how much I’d trust that, so would try PCP first!

    4. I cannot answer your question but I want to encourage younger readers to pay serious attention to diet, in addition to weight bearing exercise. I am in my 60s, always consumed dairy but did not monitor my calcium intake. I have always done weight bearing exercise and continue to do so. I have osteoporosis (being treated), have lost several inches, as well as several teeth to osteoporosis related bone loss. Get a Dexa, talk to your doctor and a dietician, if necessary. Eat the calcium (not a supplement). Future you will thank you.

    5. There are a lot of medications that increase the risk of osteoporosis. If you need those medications, you shouldn’t stop taking them, but it’s probably worth taking additional precautions.

    6. I asked for them in my 40s and again in my 50s, both times after a broken bone – a stress fracture, and a broken foot, respectively. I had normal results at both, though at the most recent one I learned I am now officially 5’9” when I was always 5’10” :) it happens.

      1. (For anyone who might be concerned I lost sn inch of height overnight, I think it was pretty gradual – it’s like I was 5’10” in my 20s, then 5’9 3/4” then 5’ 9 1/2” etc. This last appointment was when we stopped rounding up to 5’10” and started rounding down to 5’9”.

    7. I had a DexaScan this weekend and booked it on my own. I paired the scan with an RMR test to gauge my resting metabolic rate. I paid less than $225 (North Jersey) and could use HSA funds. I’m going again in 6 months to help better track my fitness and health goals after losing a significant amount of weight.

      If anyone is in the area, I used http://www.DexaFitNJ.com

    8. A few years ago I had a bone scan (at age 52 or so). The technician said, “You’re a little young for this, why did your doctor order it?” “Because I asked him to.” Sheesh. It’s none of her beeswax.

      For what it’s worth, I wanted a relatively normal baseline for us to have for when I got a bit older.

  5. I want to help get Florida’s abortion ballot measure passed. Any ideas for local organizations to support from long-distance? Strong preference for orgs that center women. Also open to orgs more focused on voter registration.

    1. I assume this is good news because more left-leaners will show up to vote on the abortion measure, and while they are there they may vote for Biden. Is this what others are thinking, too?

      1. I’m OP and I care about restoring women’s right to abortion, not Biden. I’d campaign in any state for abortion rights regardless of whether the state is likely to elect him.

        1. Girl, don’t lose the forest through the trees, if you care about abortion, you should absolutely care about reelecting Biden.

          1. She can care about both. My state is unlikely to go for Biden, but we will have an abortion amendment on the ballot that I hope passes! I think that’s what the poster meant.

        2. The point is that if people who otherwise wouldn’t show up to vote come out to vote for the constitutional amendment, they may be more likely to lean toward Biden and would vote for him (vs. staying home if there were no amendment on the ballot).

          1. I am Anon 10:59. This is what I meant. I guess I did not articulate it clearly. Thanks.

        3. I don’t love Biden. I’m frustrated that he didn’t realize 18 months ago that it was time for him to gracefully exit and let us all celebrate his victories while we found the successor but that’s not where we are and I am sure that another 4 years of Trump will be dangerous for women.

          1. If there were a successor that could defeat 45, he certainly would have done that.

            Eyes on the prize, friends. It’s the supreme court.

    2. If you have a religious background, you can look into what your religious group is doing. For example, NCJW is *extremely* active around the country in reproductive rights.

    3. I’m sure Postcards to Voters will work on this nearer the election. You can follow them on Facebook; I’m sure they are on other social media as well but Facebook is the only one I use. I have been writing with them for years. Postcards to Voters provides pre-approved message points and (registered Democrat) voter addresses. You supply the stamps, postcards, and physically handwrite and mail the postcards. It works for me because it’s something I can do on my own schedule and I can choose which campaigns to write for, and how many postcards to write, based on interest and availability. Postcards to Voters has also been writing postcards to encourage Florida Democratic voters to register for Vote by Mail for years now.

      1. I do this (although I do it with The Civics Center), and when I mentioned it here a couple months ago, people jumped all over me telling me to leave people alone in peace and that postcards are not effective.

        1. I live in a red state and received on in 2020. It felt invasive to me, but I already knew I was voting and who for.

          1. I know it’s very well intentioned, but I tend to agree that there’s a higher chance of it feeling invasive than persuasive. I’m in a very big swing state (it’s usually one of the first three mentioned when you name off swing states) and we will be inundated with all of the election things. If you live in a solid blue or red state, I don’t think you can quite understand what the constant bombardment is like…. and I LIKE politics and political campaigns.

            A suggestion for those that want to write postcards – can you try and make them funny somehow? I know that they want the pre-approved message, but frankly I don’t see how that is going to break through all of the nonstop noise coming at people in swing states. Maybe a little cute unoffensive sticker or something??? Like a little Snoopy or Garfield sticker?

          2. And yet the organizers swear it’s backed by actual research. So who knows?

  6. I’m headed to Naples for a conference. Please help this Midwestern, middle-aged lawyer choose outfits that look current and reasonably authoritative, but not dour. The dress code is business casual. I am on a panel one day.

    I always feel both overdressed and staid when I go to Florida for work. Thank you.

    1. I am assuming we are talking naples florida and not naples italy. pant suit for the day you are on a panel– full leg pants, high waisted. if you can swing it the current blazer is sort of boyfriend oversized. that said that doesn’t work for everyone. if it doesn’t try a lady jacket which can be shorter. wear same pants and sweater or button down one day. pan on wearing clothes shoes and socks (even cute sneakers) and bring a pashmina. air conditioning can be brutal and i hate for my fee to be cold.

      1. “Plan on wearing clothes shoes and socks” is making me LOL because it is such obvious advice and yet sometimes I feel like it needs to be specified!!!

    2. Dark wide-leg pants hemmed for flats or low block heels. Silky blouse tucked in. Waist-length jacket for presentation, otherwise wrap for warmth in AC.

      JCrew’s Sydney pant in either cotton or linen is a good example of what I’m talking about. I buy the cropped length in the Tall size for the perfect hem length for my short legs.

    3. If you’re wearing a suit, have some fun with the top and shoes so that you add some liveliness and personality to your outfit.

    4. Very specific rec – L’Argence has a great pair of wide leg white jeans rights now for more casual events during the conference. I’d go up a size compared to your usual (my go-to trick for white jeans).

      1. oooh wide leg white jeans are a huge powerhouse in my work wardrobe, but I’ve been missing a good pair for a few years since my old pair (lasted 10 years) had to be retired. I’m looking now on L’Argence, which version do you recommend? They would be a splurge for me but if they’re worth it, I know I’ll have a low cost-per-wear ratio over time.

        1. by versions I mean, there are scottie, alicent, and Clayton all in wide leg white jeans. looks like alicent and scottie have a shorter inseam, better for flat shoes?

      1. Please do not wear a dress like this on a panel unless you layer a blazer! The best options for speaking are always structured and tailored. You will photograph better and look much better.

        Check out Favorite Daughter for a trendy blazer or ME+EM for a whole look.

      2. This is beautiful but I never attend panels in person anymore. My company doesn’t like paying for it. I can’t imagine how that would video

      3. I don’t get this at all. I’m in my 50s and probably the intended audience but this looks like ready for the retirement home dressing.

      4. I love Farm Rio so much. I don’t think I’d wear this on a panel, but I do love it.

    5. How’s your hair? Is the style current? I regularly attend conferences in NYC and SF, sometimes FL I’m still seeing those Kate Gosselin hairstyles on some women & to me, that’s a signifier of being behind the times.

      1. I’m good on hair I think! Shoulder length and straight (but parted on the side, which my daughters tell me is not at all current).

  7. For those of you that are supporting your parents in retirement, how do you do it? We are facing the need to at least supplement my parents income (currently mid-late 60s), and wanted to crowd source ideas on how people have done it. They are wonderful parents, but terrible with money. Any long terms tax-advantaged vehicles you’ve found?

    1. I will all but beg you to talk to an attorney who has experience in elder care and financial planning. Your biggest issue is going to be Medicaid spend downs and claw backs. You don’t want to be in the situation wherein you give them, eg, $100,000 over a decade to keep them in their house, only for Medicaid to take the entire value of the house. There are vehicles that can protect that (treating it as a loan instead of a gift).

      Moreover, some of this will also depend on whether or not the can continue working. Does anyone want to work until they are dead? Of course not. But they can contribute up to $30,500 each to their 401k plans. Might be worth considering a job as receptionists or something, so long as it has an attached 401k: every cent from working up to $30,500 goes into the retirement fund. That can help bulk up their savings.

      1. +1 – To talking to an attorney. My in-laws are in their early 60’s and were very good with money. Spent less than what they made, invested, were frugal, diversified investments, etc. FIL is now in assisted living (early dementia) that costs roughly $8k a month and MIL is having to “spend down” their entire estate before they will qualify for Medicaid.
        Working with an Elder law attorney has been so valuable. In our state, survivors benefits are very minimal, which is another topic of it’s own and very sad. In some ways, she’d be in a better situation if they had not saved as much money as they have. So OP, before you invest a lot into your parents, I would also recommend talking to an attorney.

      2. This. Speak with a qualified elder law attorney, not just someone who drafts up a simple will.

    2. If they are terrible with money, consider paying bills directly instead of giving them money to pay the bill. We learned this from my dealing with my husband’s former wife (she would ask for X dollars for a particular bill, but when we asked to see the bill, it was less than what she had said), but it seems it would work in your situation, too.

    3. Mid to late 60s is pretty young still, can they not work? I don’t have any magic answers, we moved my husband’s parents into assisted living, we’re spending down their assets, which won’t last more than 5 years but they’re late 80s and we put their social security toward the costs as well. After that, well, it’s just money from us.

    4. Not me, but one friend owns his parents house. This prevents them from taking another mortgage on it, defaulting and being evicted. He bought it from them and I’m not sure what was done with the cash.

      1. I’m the Anon who is all but begging the OP to talk to an estate planning attorney. I think that people can set these things up so that the bad-with-money parents don’t get a lump sum of cash (which they would then burn through). What you can do is that the parents have a private mortgage and a right to occupy the house. The adult children pay all the house expenses: maintenance, property taxes, insurance, landscaping. The parents pay rent that is offset by the mortgage funds due to them. The asset that Medicaid can attach is the privately held mortgage, ie the monthly payments due to the parents.

    5. Concur about paying bills directly.

      I own my mom’s house – a little two bedroom cottage we recently bought for her near us. She pays me “rent” that she can afford on her limited pension and I pay the remainder of the mortgage (about $1200). Long-term, the house is mine to sell and reap the equity.

      1. Yep we did similar to this for my mom: bought her a two-bedroom condo near us. We paid the mortgage and she paid the HOA and utilities. We were able to get her on food stamps and energy assistance (she qualified) so her bills were manageable.

    6. Nobody has mentioned this yet so I’m going to: evaluate whether you can afford to do this. If your parents are in their mid-late 60s, you are signing up for potentially 30 years of gradually escalating outlays. Most people can’t afford that and it’s okay if you are one of them.

      1. This! And don’t rob your own retirement savings to pay for your parents’ retirement.

  8. What are we wearing for client Zoom calls in 2024? I’m fully remote.

    All winter I wore turtleneck sweatshirts that looked nice on camera. In the summer, I have an assortment of drapey t-shirts (the under suit jacket type) that I pair with a necklace to dress up as needed. But I’m flummoxed about what to wear when it’s spring but still cool. Thanks!

    1. How dressed up do you need to be? I think any kind of collared shirt, even a polo, will work if you’re doing an indoor Zoom call.

    2. The crew-neck or v-neck version of what you wore all winter, or the long-sleeved version of what you wear in the summer. Or your summer t’s with a nice cardigan or knit jacket over it.

    3. i am still wearing sweater but have a few in brighter colors…. you could also certainly turn the heat up and wear spring clothes!

    4. For spring client zooms, I like oversized button-downs with my leggings. Frank and Eileen Joedy is a favorite design.

      1. I wear Frank and Eileen button downs when I WFH too, they look nice on camera and I can easily switch to running errands or whatever too.

        1. i just googled, hadn’t heard of the brand. What makes them special? they’re quite expensive for button downs. is it good fit? good quality? good colors?

          1. The quality is unreal, they wash and come out perfect after thousands of washes. They’re a little distressed to start with, so not a crisp office style either and they don’t wrinkle, which makes them perfect for weekends and WFH. They’re my go-to for everything, I never travel without at least one in my bag.

          2. I wait for sales at either the Frank & Eileen site or at Nordstrom. Agree that the quality is unmatched.

    5. I think one handy “rule” for this time of year is match the fabric to the temperature but the color to the season. So, a lightweight wool sweater but maybe in a light color rather than black.

      1. Thank you for articulating this! I am struggling to put together outfits that are not overly optimistic nor curmudgeonly, and this seems a good rule to help with that.

      2. Yes, thanks! OP here and this is a great rule of thumb I’ve never heard articulated.

      3. Right. I do that too. I have some thinner cashmere sweaters I’m wearing now and they’re in lighter colors – two in lighter shades of purple/orchid, one in a pinky beige color – and several cotton sweaters, mostly in medium to light shades of blue and green.

    6. It’s 40s and raining here this week, so I’d still wear sweaters.

      Next week it’ll be 60s and sunny so I’ll wear long sleeved blouses and dresses

    7. I have an Athleta Pranayama cardigan that I call my fake blazer for Zoom calls in transitional weather. It’s not a current look to wear out and about but it looks simple and professional on camera.

    8. I tend to wear a solid color sweater and interesting earrings. Hair done, minimal makeup on – I wear glasses so only the lip really matters.

    9. Most of my client zooms aren’t on camera anyway. But for the ones that are, a tank and a cardigan most of the time. I do wear a lot of linen button downs in the summer but just a J Crew one or something.

    10. I have a couple of thin long sleeve merino sweaters from Talbots that I’m wearing a lot on Zoom this spring.

  9. Are we still wearing polos in 2024 outside of tennis and golf? And if so, what’s the most stylish way of wearing it? I’m interested in having a few basic polos in my work wardrobe but can’t seem to push out “standard retail uniform” thoughts, especially paired with regular khaki or black pants.

    1. i’m not. it looks fuddy duddy to me but they are showing “johnny collar” sweaters which are basically a sweater polo.

      1. I finally gave in and bought one of those, mainly because I like the color. My husband keeps telling me how great it looks with the collar. He has a good eye, so I am going to trust him. But I’m not naturally draw to the style – give me a jewel/high scoop neckline any day.

    2. I haven’t worn polos outside of golf or the occasional work requirement in 15-20 years (they were popular in mid 00s). I don’t think they’ve been current for women in a long time.

      If anything, it looks like they’re starting to come back into style (sweaters with the polo collar are popular now). That being said, if you want to incorporate them into your work wardrobe go this route. I don’t think the classic polo shirt is back.

    3. I don’t think that a polo (with the buttoned neckline) has been current for a while. What’s more current and similar is an open Johnny collar (so the v and collar but no buttons).

      I have a couple sweaters with the Johnny collar and wear them with straight leg pants. I would not wear with khakis or plain black pants.

    4. “Still”? I haven’t worn polos since I was in high school in 2008 and we were all popping our collars (while singing Poppin My Collar by Three Six Mafia).

      I could see a sporty, sleeveless polo worn with an athletic skort being cute. Gen Z is wearing polos (or sweaters / crew neck sweatshirts polo collars) now, but they are definitely a different look than the polos of the 00s days; they polo collars are more of a 1970s shape than a 00s shape.

    5. As a short, busty woman, I have never in my life encountered a polo shirt that doesn’t look like a tent dress on me, so I’ve never worn polos in any context. But if they actually fit you (or you like them enough to pay to get them tailored), feel free to keep wearing them, as I don’t think they were ever stylish, just functional for certain things (golf, retail work, and a certain type of male dominated office that might be where you work), and therefore they also don’t go out of style.

    6. I never wore them outside of sports before and most certainly won’t be starting. Instant frump.

    7. I recently bought the cotton/cashmere polo stripe sweater from LL Bean. I think others would find it frumpy but to me it reminds me (almost exactly) of gorgeous pictures of my late mother on the Maine coast in the 1980s. I love to emulate the styles of women I loved and to forge my own preferences.

    8. I see Johnny collar sweaters? Not exactly polo shirts, but similar structure. I’ve avoided buying since I expect it will look dated in 2 years.

      But I too am short and busty and your traditional polo shirt is not flattering for me and I hate the extra fabric at the neck.

    9. I’ve never worn a polo by choice, and I have no plans on starting now.

      Unfortunately due to 14 years of private school, golf, and a few bad summer job uniforms I’ve worn more than my fair share of polos. If I never wear one again (outside of sports), it will be too soon.

      Aside from my own uniform hangups, polos have not been current in a long, long, long time. Johnny collar sweaters are in now. Polos are not and I don’t think they will be.

    10. I posted yesterday about being preppy and still stuck in 2008 fashion. Even I know that polos have not been current since well before 2008. It is time to let the polos go. I think it’s probably also time to let the khaki pants go, though I am an avid hater of khaki pants since I had to wear them for a work uniform during the Bush administration.

    11. I wear them pretty often on weekends. I have some vintage Lacoste men’s polos that I wear with jeans. They’re soft, drape relatively well, and pull off the look I’m going for.

    12. My sister used to have to wear a company polo and khakis for company-wide meetings. She’s in senior management at a tech company. I was always envious of her paycheck and stock, but that polo shirt wearing requirement ameliorated my envy pretty well.

    13. I have not worn a polo shirt since it was required with khaki pants for my part-time tutoring job in 1999. I will never wear one ever again, not even if I take up golf. There are plenty of other tops out there that meet golf course dress codes.

  10. Thanks to whoever recommended The 3 Body Problem on Netflix. I enjoyed watching it over the past week. The acting was really great, it was actually a good sci fi story, and there were some interesting ethical questions!

    1. I enjoyed it, too, and also recommend the books. I just finished the second one and really enjoyed them. Much different from the series but very good.

    2. The Chinese version of the show is on Amazon Prime. It got me interested in Chinese TV in general…

  11. I didn’t get a chance to reply to the person who asked about shows that are similar to Girls5Eva. For a nostalgic comedy, Pen15 had me crying laughing at times. For a comedy musical with high joke density, I loved Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (it’s a few years old now but thinking about it makes me want to rewatch).

  12. Just a little fashion vent on a fashion blog: it’s my kid’s first birthday this week and we’re going to stay with family to have a party. It also happens to be DH’s and my dating anniversary and my ILs have jumped at the chance to watch Kid for a bit so we can go have a date.

    There is NOTHING remotely datelike in my wardrobe, gang. It’s all leftover maternity clothes I’m still wearing because I’ve basically been entirely WFH since giving birth except for like a month and pre-baby work clothes that probably don’t fit. Sigh.

    What’s everyone wearing on dates these days? Maybe I’ll be able to cobble something together.

    1. Just curious, do many married couples still celebrate their dating anniversary? We just swapped original anniversary with wedding anniversary when we got married

      1. (raises hand) We do. DH and I were together for almost 10 years when we got married. So to me the dating anniversary still feels special and nostalgic.

        1. That’s my relationship as well. A long dating history before marriage and our dating/meeting anniversary is about half a year apart from our marriage anniversary.

          However we have young kids, so sometimes we just skip both (how romantic).

      2. My in-laws definitely celebrate it. We talk about it and maybe will go out to dinner if it works out but don’t do anything elaborate. Our dating anniversary is 5 years before our wedding anniversary though, and is now 20 years, so it’s kind of fun to recognize the length of time.

      3. We do, but we were together for a long time before throwing a massive party (aka our wedding) with tax benefits. We both hilariously cannot remember the wedding anniversary date.

        1. Same. 9 years of dating pre-wedding and we reliably forget it’s our wedding anniversary until someone texts to congratulate us. At least we both forget together. We felt married for so, so long before we did the tax benefits party and the wedding date was chosen for pure practical convenience, not any sentimental value.

      4. I think it’s lovely that others celebrate this type of thing, but I could only make an educated guess at our dating anniversary if I had a calendar and put in a bunch of research to narrow down timing of surrounding events. DH can’t even remember his own birthday much less mine or our actual wedding anniversary. It’s just not our thing.

      5. I planned our wedding for our dating anniversary so I only have to remember one date :) like others, we dated for 7 years which is longer than we’ve been married so it still feels special to me!

      6. Absolutely we celebrate both along with those dates on the calendar every month. Life is better with parties and celebrations.

      7. We celebrate the day we met, even if it’s only to mention it or maybe have a toast. This past summer it was 25 years since the day we met & had our first date. We also celebrate our wedding anniversary, but in a similar way. No gifts, just a mention of the day and maybe a nice dinner.

        To OP, I know everyone says a nice dress, but restaurants are pretty casual now. Wear whatever makes you feel great. My husband would be more into me wearing jeans than a dressy dress.

      8. My parents do. They’ve been together for 50 years and they celebrate their dating anniversary more than their wedding anniversary.

      9. We did for the first couple of years after getting married (pre-kids) although we forgot about it pretty quickly and haven’t acknowledged it in years. I’m not even sure what it is anymore, truthfully.

      10. We do! It helps that they’re about 6 months apart and we have young kids so it’s a good excuse to have proper dates at least once a year.

    2. My go to winter date outfit is straight leg jeans (black or denim), heeled boots, a black mock neck longer crop top and a fun third piece like a leather jacket.

      My two go to summer options are cream flare jeans, platform sandals, and a fun top (last year’s go to was a brown one shoulder tank) or a sundress.

      In the spring, I usually either wear one or the above (whatever is weather appropriate) or a black midi tank dress, third piece, and boots, white sneakers, or sandals.

    3. If it’s in your budget, consider buying something that makes you feel great and fits your post-baby body. Check out stores you normally frequent and see what they have for their evening attire.

      1. Agreed – if you can swing it, it’s time for something new. As my MIL always said to me, you deserve it!

    4. if you think it would be nice and fun to have something new and fresh this is an excellent opportunity to go shopping. maybe new jeans?

    5. Everyone hates on the ruffle-puff concept dresses, but having a long sleeve, silky, flirty dress in your closet is the thing for this. They’re usually forgiving and look pretty, which is what I like on a date. Really any dress and toss on some heels too.

    6. I would wear a blue and white pattern maxi dress + jean jacket + knee high boots (it’s still cold here and they peak out the maxi dress slits. I just got a maxi dress from TJ Maxx last weekend that is fitting this hole for me right now.

  13. Just closed on my new home post-divorce. I am overwhelmed and scared and focusing on the negative things about the house as compared to my just sold family home. The new home is smaller and definitely meets my needs (and my college age kid’s needs) but it is not as nice as the family home. It makes me feel like I have buyer remorse but the new home really is the best that was out there, and I don’t feel like I had to settle. I guess mixed strong emotions are normal at this time?

    1. Absolutely. And what it doesn’t have is your ex husband living in it. Which is a priceless feature.

    2. Congratulations on the new house!

      I think it’s normal to have a bit of a rough time with the fact that divorcing means supporting two households in the same total money that used to support one household.

    3. Definitely and switch to focusing on decorating it. No husband, paint a room a pale pink from Farrow and Ball, add wallpaper to a room, make it your own.

      1. Put nails in the walls to hang stuff wherever you want, and without someone b1tching about it.

    4. I had these feelings, and it was my first home and there was no divorce involved. I think it is normal! I took some notes about things I’d like to fix or change in each room and, since I had already spent my available money purchasing the home, buying some furnishings, and also doing some small renovations before I moved in, I just put the list in a drawer for another day. I’ve been in my house for seven years now and I’ve been warm in winter, cool in the summer, and dry year round. I’ve made few if any of the changes, though I’d still like to eventually. Instead I met my neighbors, frequented local businesses, let my dogs run free in the yard I bought the house to have, and realized that this place is a great place to call home even though I still dislike every light fixture except one. You’ve been through a lot. Settle in, congratulate yourself on finding a new home, and make yourself comfortable for a bit.

    5. Definitely normal. Try to focus on the good parts right now – you took a huge step forward in buying your own place and moving on. That’s a big thing after a divorce! Now you can focus on creating your new life and new memories in this house.

      For me, it made a huge difference to host my first (small) party/gathering in my place post-divorce, making new memories that were all mine and entirely unrelated to my ex-husband. Four years later, I still have really good memories of the first time I had some friends over.

    6. I’d suggest doing a thing for your house you always wanted but ex refused or would have hated so it really feels like yours: e.g. bathroom wallpaper in some feminine print? a chaise longe for your bedroom?

    7. Go buy something that you love for the home that you’d never have used in the family home. An over the top comforter from Anthropologie that reads feminine (or a knockoff). A piece of art you love or a whimsical indoor planter or a brightly patterned set of napkins/plates/wine glasses.

      Get something that is very you that you haven’t had space for in the joint home. Or make a room/corner dedicated to your hobbies, or redo your home office. This is your home to embrace.

    8. Congrats and your feelings are totally normal! When I moved into my new home post divorce, the movers said to me “wow, your whole 2nd story is smaller than the primary bedroom at your last house”. That statement was both a punch in the gut and an Ah-Ha moment. He was right. At that point, I let go of the life I left and embraced my new life and new home.

    9. Totally normal and likely to pass. Sounds like you’ve had a lot of change in your life. Whether you regard it as good change or bad change, it’s still stressful. Instead of looking at things through rose-colored glasses you are looking at things through stress-colored glasses. Sink into this house for a little while, let some of the stress pass, get a good feel for the house, then absolutely go to town making it your nest.

    10. When I got divorced, I bought my ex husband out of our shared house. It was a little house – we were young. As soon as he moved out, I bought some new furniture that he would never have okayed. I bought a chaise longue! I bought some new art & decor items he would have hated. I had books absolutely everywhere. I bought new cookware and knives, mainly because he took all of our joint stuff and I was tired of arguing with him, which was wonderful and much better than anything we had bought together. I threw money at the project. New sheets. New towels.

      It was years ago now, but one of the best and most memorable self-care things I’ve ever done for myself.

    11. So so normal. We bought the house we were renting and still had some buyers remorse (we had already been living there for 3 years)! It’s the biggest purchase you’re going to make in your life, some second guessing is common!

    12. I know it’s late, hope you’re still reading. This strikes me as completely normal and in fact I experienced much the same thing when I left my ex-H and the house we’d been in for 20 years, which we agreed he would keep for Reasons. I bought an adorable cottage in a great location in our little college/tourist town and was excited to make it my own. But after the sale went through, and I had finished the paniting, I felt a bit awkward and out of place there, and the boxes and disorder were stressful; I ended up sleeping at the small and very orderly studio apartment I had been renting for at least another week. And I suffered self-doubt about whether I could make the new place stylish and nice after all.

      I did decorate my house only to suit myself, as some others have suggested, and bought some items that my ex hated (we are amicable, he helped me move) – like the wasabi green deep shag rug in my living room. After a little while I started to feel comfortable and happy – and I succeeded in making a home that I think is beautiful and that is definitely me. When my BFF first saw it, she said, “this place looks like Jules!”

      I was very glad to be out of my 25-year marriage, but it was hard and, yes, there were lots of complicated emotions, with the new house probably being wrapped up in that. You’ve got this, and I am wishing you nothing but happiness in your new home and your new life.

  14. I think this is my first fashion question here (after years of reading and sometimes commenting on a fashion blog, ha!).

    I just thrifted this exquisite dark brown leather coat. I envision wearing it with a neutral turtleneck & jeans, but am totally lost on the footwear. My style is (still) skinny jeans tucked into knee high boots in the winter. I have black suede boots and chocolate brown boots both of which look unintentional…. like I tried to match the jacket but couldn’t get it right. I saw some Pinterest inspo of cream boots, but I know that’s way too outside of my comfort zone.

    What would you recommend? Open to non-boots recommendations too. I just want to enjoy this lovely coat before it gets way too warm for it and ideally enjoy it for several years at least.

    1. If you switch to a different cut of jeans with heeled booties it will help a lot because a) less of the boot is visible so the leather doesn’t have to match perfectly and b) when the overall look is more current you have more leeway for things not matching.

      If you are married to staying with skinny jeans, wear them with other shoes. Skinny jeans have been out for a few years now, but skinny jeans tucked into boots have been out for close to a decade now. Cuff the jeans slightly and wear them with white sneakers or mules.

      If you aren’t comfortable with cream boots, what about cream mules or loafers?

      1. Thank you, this is helpful!
        I didn’t want to write a very long post, but I have updated to straight leg & cropped jeans for warmer weather. It’s in winter where I prioritize warmth and prefer the long length for knee high boots. :)
        My feet get cold really easily so I was thinking that if it’s cold enough to wear this leather coat, I probably don’t want to wear something that doesn’t fully cover my foot/ankle. But maybe I can try a casual style with straight leg jeans & cream sneakers….

    2. If you’re worried about clashing, why not go for something with a shorter shaft, so as not to so closely compare the boots to the coat? Think booties or tennis shoes. There’s booties with cuffs you can still kind of tuck your skinnies into.

    3. My ‘I need a substantial shoe but am not sure I want to wear a boot’ solution has been a slightly chunky loafer. I have a dark tan pair with a bit of a chunky heel which are absolutely my solution.

    4. Chunky black loafers, fashion sneakers, Chelsea boots, ankle booties, cute almond toe flats, your favorite killer heels, calf hair cheetah print mules…

      1. I have been eyeing some cheetah print styles for a while but never pulled the trigger. Thanks for the idea! Back to the thrift stores I go….

  15. are open toed sandals not in for spring? no one seems to be showing them and The Times ran a little thing that, to me, suggested that they were way more on the cusp than I think they are. Most women i know wear a sandal in the summer to work or a peep toe or whatever….

    1. I am an old but prefer no open-toed shoes at work. For casual, absolutely, but not at work.

    2. I think it’s still cold on the east coast so you won’t see them for a few more weeks.

      1. Yeah I plan to wear them to work soon but spring hasn’t sprung yet in my neck of the woods

    3. The article also seemed to suggest that slingback shoes were hugging the boundary of office propriety.

      1. original poster here. Right? I’m a lawyer and pushing 50 and I remember my first day as a summer associate at a corporate firm i wore sheer hose and a closed flat with pants and that every day after that i wore an open toe with no sock which was what all the other woman in the firm were wearing.

    4. When I started at a Big 4 in August 2016, we were told in orientation we could wear slingbacks with closed toes or open heels with a closed back, but not both. It seemed needlessly petty at a time when most employers were going casual. A female partner later told me that when she started in 2004 they told her pantyhose was required and she laughed at them.

      There will always be stodgy people and dress codes, and the rest of us who live in reality and bend the rules a bit.

      1. My job (a desk job in a corporate office, so no safety requirements for the dress code) doesn’t allow open toe, open heel, any sort of sneaker, any sort of dress or skirt, or jeans even on Fridays. This is the relaxed post pandemic dress code, it was originally full suits every day.

        I am not client facing and my meetings / calls are all internal to my team or off camera zoom calls. There is no business reason for my dress code. Boss is just very old school and thinks if you’re not butt in seat wearing a suit you’re not working.

        Dress codes are by department; we share a floor with a department that wears jeans whenever they want.

        Morale is not good, y’all.

        1. Wait, you can’t wear dresses or skirts? That’s crazy. And potentially a problem if they ever hired someone who didn’t wear pants for religious reasons.

          1. It’s so weird. Apparently in the past some women wore dresses that were too short so now they’re all banned.

      2. My last workplace officially required pantyhose on women (I started there in 2016, not 1975!) which I might have worn to my first day, and never wore them again. Restrictive dress codes are routinely ignored. However, they’re there for a reason because I have definitely, definitely seen some outfits that rightly got the wearer sent home to change.

    5. I think sneaker styles are so widespread that women are wearing sandals less often, but they’re still fine. I will be in my Danskos soon enough.

      Maybe TMI, but a summer long wearing of polish in pink/red shades on my toenails always tinges them a bit yellow. I try to give them a polish-free break during the non-sandal months, but I don’t enjoy seeing the tint.

      I just used Butter London Mellow the Yellow for the first time last night and I’m really pleased. I think it’s more of a concealer than it actually is a treatment, but my “bare” nails look much better with it on!

  16. Skirt season is bringing up the question for me: is it time to start using a (light touch) self tanner on my legs? My legs are so blotchy and pasty white and I also bruise really easily, so there’s a lot going on. I think a little self tanner could go a long way in helping me feel more confident with a little skin showing! Any suggestions?

    1. Jergens gradual self-tanner is both inexpensive and reliable. Because it’s gradual, you are less likely to end up with obvious self-tanner blotches.

      1. +1. I get the pale skin version so it’s a gradual buildup and I don’t suddenly turn orange.

  17. This feels like a silly question. I would like to learn how to play chess and actually be able to understand the larger strategy, not just how to move the different pieces. Does anyone know of a good book, app, etc. for this?

    1. My kids have gotten really into playing chess competitively through chess.com. They started out playing for fun against other players on chess.com, then started going to chess tournaments, and we upgraded them to the paid subscription on chess.com. I think you can have your games evaluated and alternate moves suggested after the game concludes with the paid subscription, which is really useful.

      There are also tons of chess books out there. My kids have liked a couple of them, but I can’t recall exact titles. I think they’ve learned most through playing, but they definitely know a lot now with named openings and gambits.

      It’s been a very rewarding and enjoyable hobby – good luck!

    2. For later, the best intermediate/advanced book I read on chess strategy was How to Reassess Your Chess by Jeremy Silman. Really changed how I viewed the game and helped me get better. I would not recommend this book for a beginner, however.

    3. On Netflix the Vox Explainer video on the history of chess was pretty helpful to me. A little bit of strategy but enough names and terms to send you down the rabbit hole of research

      There may be chess teachers and coaches near you!

  18. Can anyone point me to a legitimate primer on George Soros? My Fox News-watching mother keeps going on and on, and I want to know what’s true and what’s exaggeration. Thanks.

    1. I don’t think you’re going to find that. My suggestion is to just use a search engine and start reading about what he funds. Back in 2016, Politico had an article about his funding of local district attorney races – this is something that has been going on for a while. Read about the races, read about how the prosecutors fare once in office, all that. Just… keep reading. Read from all sides and that will give you a good idea of what the man does.

      Personally, I’m glad he’s 93.

    2. I looked about a year ago for something like this, a good bio or whatever, and never found much. I did read one of the only bios (maybe the one by Kaufman?) that looked pretty neutral, but it was so neutral that I never really “got” him. I wanted to know why he supports the causes he supports, and I felt like I only walked away with facts about his life, with almost no real insight. The other options were all “Soros is Satan” in tone. Maybe he is, but when the title is “Soros is the Root of all Evil” (not an actual title), I suspect the narrator’s reliability. Perhaps I should have taken a more original-sources approach and read the few things he has written.

    3. Bear in mind he is a Jewish man whose entire family was murdered in the Holocaust. He survived by hiding in various places around Hungary. I think most of the anti-Soros sentiment is actually anti-Semitic, along the lines of “he wants to destroy America” and “he’s part of the world-wide cabal.”

  19. Help me plan a vacation! It’s for the week of July 4th, which I know means we are behind in our planning. We’re in Maine and would prefer someone we can drive – US or Canada. Two mid-forties adults, and we’re open to city or small-town/nature destinations. If we do a small town/nature trip, we’re “outside-y”, not outdoorsy. We’re happy to do an easy hike and enjoy nature, but we want a comfortable bed and a real bathroom to return to. We enjoy good food and exploring new places. We don’t need luxury for accommodations but also not the cheapest either.

      1. We went with my parents a few years ago, but we know we missed a lot of things because they are not up for as much as we are. Do you have any recommendations for places to stay or must-do/must-sees?

      2. +1 for Montreal. You can catch the end of the Jazz festival (ends July 6). and I loved Bota Bota, a co-ed spa on a boat.

        1. camp abello island? it’s supposed to be gorgeous and there’s the roosevelt residence etc

    1. Burlington Vermont is a lot of fun and combines small city and good food with easy nature stuff nearby (kind of like Portland).

    2. We were in Nova Scotia last fall and it was beautiful. We stayed at the Westin in Halifax, whichi is connected to the train station, and it was very nice. And there were a lot of nice restaurants and bars in town, as well as nice nature in the environs.

    1. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/17/health/pelvic-medical-exam-unconscious.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hU0.RpWj.PEAJuVvFdtPV&smid=url-share

      here’s a gift link to the 2020 article.

      One thing that upsets me is the male doctors in the comments of the current article saying that getting women’s consent to perform pelvic exams while they’re unconscious (whether related to the procedure at hand or not) will dramatically set back medical training. I want to throw up & maybe also throw some old male docs out of a high window.

      1. I wonder how he’d feel about having an unnecessary prostate exam while under anesthesia.

      2. Can we wait until he’s unconscious under general anaesthesia to throw him? Otherwise, we can’t measure how he falls when his muscles are tense. They need to be loose for this medical experiment to work.

        (Yes that’s sarcasm.)

        1. Yes, lets have some medical students gather around to learn defenestration as well – because otherwise how will they ever learn?

      3. They could just pay women to serve as models. When I was in college it was well known that the med school paid better than those psych department studies to be a “talking pelvis” for medical students. But God forbid they do that instead of violating unconscious patients.

    2. I remember how horrified I was when I found out about this. Good Lord. Absolutely barbaric.

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