Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Topper Jacket

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Donna Karan Topper JacketIn keeping with our apparent newfound love for electric purple (seriously, no idea why but we are seeing it everywhere for fall!) we like this textured wool jacket from Donna Karan. We like that it's big enough to fit over a suit jacket, if need be, but it will also look amazing with a little black dress. There's something about the billowy softness that is relaxing without being messy. It's $2295 at Bergdorf Goodman. Donna Karan Topper Jacket Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

107 Comments

  1. Love. This is going on my ‘if i win the lottery’ list.
    I would probably cinch it with a wide belt.

    Again, another week with very little to do at the office. August is sloooow.

  2. That’s interesting – I do like it, but not entirely sure exactly what a “topper jacket” is. At first I thought it was a coat, but given the matching skirt I suppose it’s mean to be worn indoors as a suit jacket.

    Great color! I bought a few things in electric purple the last few seasons, glad to hear they are still an “in color!”

    1. ooh yes, I just bought some eyeshadow in electric purple. I use it to line my top lash, or on the outer V on top of some grey shadow. It’s a really wonderful color.

  3. Should I ever become wealthy, this is exactly the kind of fabulous crap I would drop $2000 on. Love it.

  4. Am I the only one who thinks this looks kind of like a bathrobe? Maybe it’s just the picture.

    1. I’m not really a fan either. Although the photo from the back makes me think it might not be so bad if I could see it paired with a black dress or something else more subdued so I can focus no just the coat and not all the other electric purple/magenta.

    2. I’m not digging it either.

      I couldn’t wear it at work without looking like I think its a “casual” day.

      I wouldn’t wear it at home unless I was lounging around (which happens for about 2 hours every other week).

      And when I’m lounging, I want to be in my tissue t and silk boxer comfort clothes, not swaddled in an oversized muppet-skin bathrobe.

      I’m not seeing the point of this, I guess.

  5. I love the color and it would be fabulous on someone fairly tall. Sadly, I’m rather petite and my coloring is all wrong for electric purple. I can admire it on others, though. :-)

    1. I, too, love the color and the look. And I look great in purple and wear it a lot. But as I am petite, non-svelte and busty I could never wear it.

      I am, however, looking for some type of cape to wear when it’s not too cold out to go from car to office and back.

      1. @Another Laura…the Sept. issue of “Real Simple” magazine shows a “boysenberry cape” from Coach – wool w/leather trim…$698. On p. 197. Says it is in stores (866-262-2440). For me, it’s lovely, but “still” a splurge. Enjoy!

        1. There were some extremely drool-worthy clothes in that Real Simple fashion spread. I just kept staring at it. Yum.

        2. Yes, I saw that Real Simple spread and that’s why I want a cape. However, the price is still out of my range…that’s two month’s rent for the kid I have in college.

          I think I’m going to make it. I used to make a lot of my dresses and skirts. I lack the patience and time to tailor clothing but a cape seems like just the right project for fall.

    2. Love it – but at 5’2″ and 40 pounds overweight, it wouldn’t do for me unless I were doing a Barney impersonation.

    1. Just FYI, Endless’ shipping is still better because they deliver on weekends. With Zappos overnight shipping if you order on Friday afternoon you get it Tuesday; with Endless you get it Saturday.

      1. Its not either/or – I use and love both sites :)

        (I am always confused by their different policies, or why they both exist, honestly – considering they are both owned by amazon, which has its set of completely different shipping etc. policies.)

        1. Oh, I know that it’s not either/or. I’m just suggesting to go with Endless if you’re impatient/need shoes in a pinch.

    2. It makes me a little wary that they require you to shop from the vip.zappos.com URL. Considering the recent fuss over differential pricing on Amazon for Prime customers and the fact that Amazon owns Zappos, I don’t really trust that this isn’t a good deal. Also, it says it’s for students only, although it automatically signed me up when I clicked on the link b/c I was logged into Zappos. I am not a student.

      1. I have been a zappos “VIP” for about a year and have had no problems. It’s pretty nice to be able to order something in the morning one weekday, have it arrive at the office the next day, try it on, and then ship it back with the afternoon mail as needed.

        What’s the recent fuss on differential pricing for Amazon Prime customers?? I have Amazon Prime too.

        1. As you probably know, Prime is only available for products fulfilled through Amazon. Some Prime customers have claimed that they weren’t even shown non-Amazon products, which would have cost less even though they’d have had to pay for shipping, when they were logged in to their Prime account. The NY Times wrote it up and NPR jumped on the bandwagon. Apparently Amazon had admitted to differential pricing in the past, so people were apt to believe they did it again.

  6. Speaking of splurges, my sister-in-law works at Nordstrom and forced me to try on this beautiful dress:
    http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3120074?origin=category&resultback=599
    Even with the benefit of her discount I cannot justify the price but if anyone else is inclined to spend $1k on a dress, I highly recommend this one. Oh and the styling in the photo with the booties is actually a distraction I would either wear tall black boots or heels. Wish I could justify the splurge . . . oh, and as far as sizing I am usually an 8 or 10 and she had me try on the 6 and while it was far more fitted than I would wear to the office I was pleasently surprised that it fit well though I would go with an 8 for work so as not to show every curve!

    1. I agree, that styling is atrocious. Yikes.

      The dress IS really nice though. But I would think you could find something similar at a lower price?

    2. I love that dress! I would agree you can find the same thing for cheaper elsewhere…I remember a similar dress – although it was a different color – discussed on here recently. The bow/twist was on the opposite side though and I can’t recall the color (maybe a green?). I believe it was from Talbots.

    3. yes, I agree, could definitely find something similar elsewhere for a more reasonable price.

        1. For anyone thinking of the AT version — I’m assuming you’re talking about this dress, which was discussed here a few days ago as one of Kat’s picks.
          http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=26397&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3939&categoryId=180&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_180&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Port&defaultSizeType=Regular

          Many noted that the fabric is a bit unforgiving, but I ordered the black in a size up and I love it (and after an insane summer of work, stress, and terrible eating I’m sporting a belly that suggests either a very small baby or a very big lunch). Obviously it won’t touch the quality of the $1K dress, but isn’t an AT dress in the hand worth two splurges in the bush?

    4. This is really lovely! I actually like the idea of it with booties but not the higher boots they have on the model.

    5. Incredible dress. I am really feeling the grey trend or ‘return to clasic colours’ .

  7. Sorry for threadjacking so early in the day but if anyone can tell me how the sizing runs on Pendleton I’d appreciate it!

    1. I ordered the same size I would order at JCrew and it fit just fine. Hope that helps!

    2. I found the Pendleton size chart exactly on the money. I am a petite, and need the same size as I do in J.Crew. I’ve found I need a size larger in Pendleton than in Talbots.

      Also, I find the Pendleton cut (in my experience — sheath dress and pants suit) much better than J. Crew for my slightly-curvy body. J. Crew gaps at my waist as it is much straighter than I am, and Pendleton fits like a glove.

  8. I like the elegant, flowing lines. I don’t think I would go w/the electric purple color, but the soft draping is charming.

    I have a black cape/cloak that I got in Paris (chillier than expected when vacationing there) and it feels very chic and European when I (occasionally) wear it in the States. As a bonus, when I was pregnant, it made a nice, winter outer-wear item!

  9. I like the color and shape, but the closeup of the fabric tells me that (although it is probably of fabulous quality) there is just too much pattern/texture going on for my taste. It reminds me a little of upholstery fabric, and the jacket actually costs as much as it would for me to re-upholter the sofa (in cotton).

    For lightweight coats, I think Boden is great just now. pretty reasonable, too.

  10. Threadjack!
    I keep reading things about how this fall brown is the new black, and I’m totally at a loss because I NEVER wear brown. I have blonde hair, blue eyes, and pink undertones in my skin, so I typically wear pinks, blues, and greys. I don’t even own anything brown, I usually just pass on “warm” colours, thinking that they don’t look good on me. Suggestions on how I can make brown work for me? Gotta be trendy for fall!

    1. Why do you gotta be trendy? If the color does not look good on you, don’t wear it. I don’t look good in browns and so I don’t wear it. Every few years a “must have” color trend comes out that just does not work for me. I ignore it. Actually, I ignore most trends. I go with what looks good on me. Life is too short to waste time and money on clothes that you won’t wear when the trend is over and don’t look good on you anyway.

      Remember, fashion is fleeting, style is forever.

    2. Take me advice with a grain of salt, but I’m blonde, green-eyed, and pink-toned skin and I. LOVE. BROWN. All shades. My fall/winter wardrobe is full of brown, particularly chocolate, oatmeal, and caramel. Just looking at brown sweaters makes me feel warmer than blacks/greys (and don’t get me wrong — I also LOVE grey.) Basically, I’d recommend giving it a try.

      1. I have this coloring, and I LOVE brown, too. I wear taupe, chocolate, and camel. Remember, they’re all neutrals. I also wear tons of cool colors – blues and greens, and pinks, and browns look great with all of them.

      2. Same coloring, and agreed. I tend toward the warmer chocolate brown–I think it goes great with blond. That, and black just makes me look so pale and washed out in the winter, when i’m already pale enough.

    3. Your coloring sounds just like mine. I usually pair a chocolate brown suit with a cream or pale pink shell. I typically accessorize with pale pink pearls.

      I get compliments all the time when wearing brown . . . I think the key for blondes is to seek out darker shades and avoid “rusty” browns.

      1. I agree with this. Brown isn’t as good for me as gray, but it still looks good and feels very cozy (as PP said).

        Another way to try it is to wear it on the bottom, away from your face. Camel is not a great color for me, so I always wear it in pants or a skirt with tights, not as a top. But there is no need to follow trends just to follow them. Black will never go out of style!

    4. Depending on the shades, both pink and blues look good with brown. So why not incorporate some of the colors you are already comfortable in and add a brown jacket or cardigan on top? You could also go for a brown skirt, but you would have to have a pair of brown shoes to go with. I find some of the colors I don’t feel work with my face are just fine as pants/skirt.

    5. Blonde, green/blue-eyed, and pink skin tone here and I love brown. I mostly wear it in pants and sweaters, but I had a brown suit I loved that became a casualty of my post-baby body.

    6. My $0.02…don’t wear brown if it doesn’t make you look fab.

      I haven’t worn brown since high school. I have brown hair, blue eyes and pink skin and brown by my face (in a jacket or scarf or blouse) makes me invisible blah. May be ok in pants, skirt or accessories, but never a suit. YMMV.

    7. It sounds like you and I have near identical coloring – trust me, brown will look good on you. It tends to be my go-to neutral and it looks FAR better on me than black. Perhaps avoid the lighter shades of brown (camel, caramel, khaki) and try out darker, chocolate browns.

    8. Similar coloring here, I wear blues (especially blue-green), black, greys, white, some pink. Although I still can’t pull off the olives/rusts/etc., I’ve also found that darker browns can work pretty well for me. I try not to go too far outside my comfort zone by sticking with chocolate brown sweaters paired with a color I really love – both medium-light pink and more muted blue-greens can look very striking with brown. These combinations keep me from feeling uptight about just “fading away” (residual anxiety from having a mom that looked good in oatmeal!).

      1. Ditto the other ladies. You just need to find the right brown. I have cool coloring, but with dark brown hair. Chocolate brown is my friend. Anything rusty, while oh so pretty, looks terrible on me.

    9. Gray seems to be trendy as well. If you want to be trendy why not wear gray instead?

      1. There are tons of greys and purples out there for fall. Also I’ve seen some really prety taupe colors, more of a greyish brown that might work better for your coloring than the warmer tones.

    10. eh? i keep reading that camel and grey are the new “trend” colors for fall. if it doesn’t work for you, don’t do it. there are plenty of other trends out there, you don’t need to do ALL of them (in fact, its better not too.) buy yourself some leopard or whatever instead if brown isn’t for you.

      1. I agree with those above who say that there is no color that a person can’t wear. You just have to find the right shade/hue of a particular color. I can’t give any advice to for a blonde with pink undertones, but keep experimenting until you find the brown that works for you.

    11. @Chee: Just wear what looks good on you. Who cares about colour trends? Or wear grey (if you do care). It seems to be all over the place.

      Brown skin toned person (who NEVER wears brown or flesh tones) here.

  11. At 5’2″ and petite, this is way too much fabric for me. I’d feel like I just got swallowed by Grimace. Love the color though.

    1. And see, at 5’10”, I think it would be such a huge expanse of purple fabric that I would feel like Grimace himself (which, as a general rule, I try to avoid).

  12. This is the sort of jacket that I admire but lack the confidence to actually wear. It’s great to look at. Also reminds me of something my daughter dresses Barbie in. (in a good way.)

  13. Off-topic, but I just have to share my excitement! I walked into the fitting room at a vintage/consignment store and there was a *brand new* Classiques Entier suit in my size! I am a size 12 top/14 bottom, so what are the chances? It is beautiful and I got it for about a quarter of the original price. I’ve never had a CE suit before, but after reading all of the Corporette readers’ raves about them for curvy figures, I had been wanting to try one.

    1. Wow – congrats on the deal!!! Just reminds me I need to find a consignment shop where I live…I’ve checked out the vintage stores but everything is pre 1970’s there.

  14. Needed: brown pumps!
    I have callback interviews next week and need brown, gray or navy shoes to match a navy skirt suit. I think 3″ is the maximum heel height. They can’t be peep-toe, and I’m a little hesitant to buy patent leather. They also need to be comfortable because I will be doing a fair amount of walking around. I ordered a pair of Steve Madden brown pumps from Zappos, but they look cheap. Does anyone have any suggestions for shoes in the $70 or less range?
    If I can’t find shoes, should I wear a black pantsuit (needs to be hemmed — I could do it in time, I think) or the gray skirt suit I wore to first-round interviews? I know I’m a little paranoid about this, but I don’t want to be dinged by any law firm fashion police.

    1. Do you have black shoes that you know are comfy? You can definitely wear black shoes with a navy suit, and I given the short time frame, I would just do that rather than taking a chance on new shoes that might end up being uncomfortable.

        1. I agree. I am wearing black pumps today with navy pinstripe pants.

          Up until about 5 years ago, I thought brown was the standard to be worn with navy. I even got into a debate with my then boyfriend after he purchased a navy suit that he planned to wear with black shoes (I thought it would make him appear colorblind!). After much internet research, it turns out he was right and it is fine to wear black shoes with a navy suit, however the “technical” preferred color is cordovan (which is sort of very dark cherry/brownish). I have to say I see most people wear black…

          Good luck on your interview!

    2. I would definitely wear black heels with a navy suit–I can’t imagine brown shoes looking right with a navy skirt suit, but I guess it depends on the shade of navy and of brown. But definitely on your time frame, go with black. Or you can certainly wear the same suit again–even if anyone you met in initial interviews remembers it (highly doubtful), you are not going to get dinged for wearing the same suit. A different shirt underneath would be good though.
      Good luck!

      1. I love the brown shoe/navy suit combo but not necessarily for an interview as I think it is a slightly less formal look.

    3. Agreeing that black shoes are fine with navy. No great shoe suggestions, though, sorry!

    4. I often pair deep purple or eggplant pumps with navy pants and skirts. However, for an interview or in court, I wear black pumps with navy suits. If you don’t have a comfortable pair of black pumps, try DSW (in person, not online – that way you can try on every black shoe in the store to find the most comfortable one on you). Calvin Klein has some pumps with extra cushioning in the ball of the foot. I’ve found them at DSW for well under $70 (at department stores they run slightly above your price range, maybe in the $80-90 range).

      1. The Bohemia have been suggested so much on these threads that when I came across them in Macy’s, I had to try them on. They are comfortable and look great. I got them in black and with a 20% off coupon, they were a reason $60ish. I have wide feet – it’s great to find sturdy heels that don’t clamp down on your feet.

        1. I have a gray/teal/black combo that Kat featured forever ago. I love them – so so comfy!

      2. Thanks so much, everyone, for the help with the shoes! I do have those Naturalizer shoes in black and they are very comfortable. Now I’m going to go for the navy suit with black heels. I have never warn the suit before, so I wasn’t sure what to do! Thanks again!

  15. I recently got a catalogue in the mail that was meant for someone who lived at that residence before me. It is a magic, fantasy, romance, wiccan, role-play, dress up catalogue. It is something I would have never looked at if it wasn’t in my mail box. While I won’t be wearing any floor length hooded robes, there were a surprising number of jackets, sweaters and dressed in neat colors and patterns that could be worn to work. Particularly, there was an eclectic purpose, three quarter sleeve, to the knees, jersey dress that would look fab w/ black pumps and a black jacket. I will try to remember to post the link tonight. For those of you liking the out of the ordinary stuff, it is a great place to look. Just remember 75% of the stuff is to be worn at some convention, not to work lol!

    1. That is hilarious. Have to wonder about the quality though, if is it meant to be costume-y

      1. costume doesn’t necessarily equal bad quality with that sort of thing. I have a friend who goes to Renaissance Fairs in costume, and those things are crazy expensive and nicely made. I think there’s a difference in Halloween-costumey and “I’m a member of Society for Creative Anachronism” or whatever costumey (hobby vs. one day type deal)

    2. I’ve seen this catalog! It’s a little nutty – some stuff is ok, but they sell like crystal balls in there, too.

  16. Rarely have I seen an outfit so limited in scope. This would overwhelm someone who is petite and make someone who is curvy seem much bigger. For the perfect sized person (I mean perfect for the outfit, because we’re all pretty perfect in real life) with an extra couple of grand, it *might* be nice. Sadly, that ain’t me.

  17. I don’t mean to be rude but the first thing I thought of when I saw this was the cheap-looking blankets that shelters give to the homeless… That or a rug pad… I don’t think either is what we’d be going for in the office……

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