Suit of the Week: Altuzarra
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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
Oooh: there are a ton of nice designer suits on sale at Neiman Marcus, including this one from ALtuzarra — and LOTS of sizes are still in stock.
We haven't done a roundup in a while, but we've talked before about how light blue suits are incredibly versatile — if you wear the pieces together, it reads the same way a light gray suit in spring might. If you wear the pieces by themselves they're a great counterpoint for neutral tops (black, navy, white, beige) as well as colors (blues, jewel tones, pastels). (I personally love light blue and dark red together — try it sometime!)
The pictured blazer was $1795, then marked to $776 — but with the extra 25% off today, it comes down to $582. Wow. The pants are down to $306.
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Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine's Day!):
- Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
- 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)
Sales of note for 2/14/25 (Happy Valentine's Day!):
- Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
- 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)
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- My workload is vastly exceeding my capability — what should I do?
- Why is there generational resentment regarding housing? (See also)
- What colors should I wear with a deep green sweater dress?
- How do you celebrate milestone birthdays?
- How do you account for one-time expenses in your monthly budget?
- If I'm just starting to feel sick from the flu, do I want Tamilfu?
- when to toss old clothes of a different size
- a list of political actions to take right now
- ways to increase your intelligence
- what to wear when getting sworn in as a judge (congrats, reader!)
- how to break into teaching as a second career
If you’re wearing mom jeans, what’s your go-to top with them if you’re an apple shape?
Just bought a woven tunic with some body to it (so not drapey, which magnifies the tummy) to help with this. Was going for a bit of an arty look. Too much just looks to be straining in the midsection otherwise.
Bubble crops or the “tops with a twist”
Frivolous fashion question. I am purchasing for myself a pair of lab-made diamond studs. I am deciding between classic round studs and this “Octavia”-style stud from Vrai & Oro. Will post link below. Two questions: (1) Which style does the hive prefer? (2) Has anyone purchased jewelry from V&O (or lab-created diamonds generally) before, and if so, what was your experience?
Here is the link:
https://www.vrai.com/jewelry/earrings/iconic-diamond-studs?metal=yellow-gold&diamondType=octavia&ringSize=0.75ct
I bought a necklace from Vrai with so small a diamond I don’t feel I can comment on their quality but I like their styles overall. I have bought lab created stones and love them – lower price point, I don’t think anyone can tell and they’re still set in gold.
For price context, I’m getting some super ideal mined diamond studs (.90ctw, which will be .1mm less than a 1ctw pair) for less than what Vrai & Oro is charging, so at that price point know that you’re paying a premium for those unique cuts. Personally, I prefer the classic, because it’s been optimized for light performance and brilliance, but if you love their cut, get it and enjoy it.
Interesting — can I ask where you are buying your diamond studs?
Whiteflash, if you look at the .45 diamonds, you can get some for $900 ish each, although you have to request a pair.
The Octavia are gorgeous, but my answer would be based on how you wear your hair. There are a LOT of edges on this style, and the prongs are very prominent. I’d be hesitant about snagging and breaking off the hair around the ears.
How is a round style different form the ones you linked? They look like a pretty classic shape to me.
When I zoom in I can see the difference (octagon vs round) but because the prongs mask a lot of the shape, they look pretty much indistinguishable from a distance IMHO.
I bought princess cut lab-created studs from Agape and I LOVE them. I have metal allergies, so going with a 14K base was important to me. They look fantastic. I actually wear them more than my actual diamond studs. I would definitely purchase from them again.
For those who wear white blazers are there any tricks to minimizing sweat stains on the collar? One of my favorite ways to wear blazers is with a T-shirt, hence this question. The white blazer I got is 100% polyester, the label says not to wash it but I wonder if I could get away with some spot cleaning in between washes. I am currently debating whether to keep the item or not, it fits well and would be perfect with a little black dress I have, but if I decide to keep it I would like to wear it more often than just for special occasions or dinners.
A white blazer that you can’t wash? Hard pass.
I have two dry-clean-only white blazers and sweat a lot, and I’ve never had a problem with collar stains. Just make sure that sunscreen never touches the fabric, because that will cause many more issues that sweat.
How soon do pricey pieces go stale? Like if I get a Chanel jacket or similar, at a consignment store, should I maybe pause and think that this is something that someone is getting rid of. Like maybe there is a reason?
I think it is different for party dresses which people don’t wear a lot and if they look good on you, who cares how current it is? But for workwear, maybe current matters unless it is a crazy bargain (like <$50).
Chanel doesn’t go stale.
I get your sentiment, but everything goes stale. My step mom gifted me two 25ish-year old jackets, one a Chanel boucle-type jacket, and the other a black Gucci blazer, and both definitely show their age. The cuts are just so different now. I keep them for reasons, but I never ever wear them, and cannot see myself doing so in the future.
Maybe, but the prices of used Chanel suggest there are people out there who can wear them with style.
I have the same Q, but for things more like Akris, Akris Punto, Lafayette, and DVF.
Stuff I consign is because it’s either too young for me or the wrong size and not alterable. Items that are too dated will often be rejected by the shop (see – me attempting to consign an armful of “going out tops” from circa 2005).
Also, morbid, but sometimes the reason for the pricey pieces is the person died…
In my neck of the woods, there is a certain neighborhood with really rich and really slim women who I swear wear / use their Jimmy Choos and YSL and Akris and Louis Vuitton goodies for 1 or 2 uses and then give it to our local upscale resale store. I have no qualms about purchasing their leftovers as fits my budget (and if I can get my left thigh into it …).
Please, please reveal the name of that resale shop! Signed, fellow Chicagoan
To answer your question, watch the Devil Wear Prada. Most of that wardrobe — all solidly “pricey pieces” — would still look current today. Generally speaking, there are a lot of “pricey pieces” that are staples for those collections and don’t really change from year to year. A classic black St. Johns dress probably hasn’t changed much in the last 10-20 years… not unlike your favorite pair of running shoes, a few changes on the margins but largely the same shoes that you’ve had for the last decade. With that said, Chanel did try to make some “trendy” options that everything I just said doesn’t apply to. As to why people get rid of pieces, its any number of reasons most of which have nothing to do with the clothing (different size, downsizing, change of work wardrobe, etc.).
I see these types in the local consignment store: women selling gifts from a husband after a divorce, or selling when they have changed size or style or retired to a casual place.
I would pause if it looks visibly worn or it’s a style that doesn’t work for me (e.g. large shoulder pads, too short), but otherwise, if it looks good I don’t wonder why it’s so cheap. A lot of women spend $$ on clothes, barely wear them (some still have tags on), and do a closet cleanout. My mom owns tons of St. John’s – fills an entire hallway closet – and she would be better off sending all of them to a consignment store, even if they are priced at less than $50 each since she literally doesn’t ever look at them even. For a personal example, I bought a pair of barely worn Stuart Weitzman heels for $10 at my local thrift store and I love them and have worn them over 100 times. I have also donated several pairs that hurt the first day I’ve worn them because I don’t want the hassle of posting them on ebay or poshmark.
I donate lots of expensive stuff that’s barely worn (my definition of expensive is different – we are definitely not talking Chanel here!) if I find that it’s just not comfortable when I’ve worn it a few times or it just doesn’t fit into my life or wardrobe. It’s not paying me rent sat in my wardrobe and I’d rather it be sold to raise money for charity
I want your mom’s St. John.
How do you deal with that neverending keeping up with the Joneses feeling? In the last few years, several friends have bought incredible homes, moved to fancy towns, and or married wealthy men. I know in my heart that I wouldn’t fit in in those places or lifestyles, but I can’t help getting insanely jealous. What do you do to cope?
Take a walk with my adorable rescue mutt while talking to my so-far-from-rich husband who makes me laugh so hard my stomach hurts. Being outdoors, my dog, the fact that my husband is who he is and the laughing out loud are tonic to me.
I know it’s easier said than done, but get some other friends who help you find balance.
I think just acknowledge the feeling, and decide not to indulge it. I sometimes feel that way when I am working really hard and see a trophy wife cruise by, but my career is going to last longer than their stint as second, third, etc. wife.
Consider working in public service, if you don’t already. It can make you proud to not be rich, and it also puts you in constant, deep contact with people who are less well-off so you’re not only exposed to people who are better off.
Doing things outside of work that require skill, talent, and drive. I don’t have a big house, by any stretch, but I’ve done a lot of things in my life that I’m incredibly proud of and that, cheesy as it sounds, “big house” money can’t buy.
Get off social media.
+1 that social media really skews things. If I interact with someone personally, I don’t really think about their lifestyle or compare it to mine. Why would I, when I can focus on the nice person I’m talking with?
It also helps to remember the ways in which you’re incredibly lucky. That someone has even more doesn’t take away from your good fortune and isn’t worth thinking about.
Find a volunteer job where you can focus on the less fortunate, find friends who do not make you feel this way, be grateful that you have friends who invite you to hangout at their incredible homes, be grateful for your good health, read books about people who have lived through hardships or in horrible places/times and realize that just being able to live in the U.S. (or another wealthy country) is itself like having won the lottery?
This is me, except it’s my paying job and not volunteering. Going all-in (time, salary, network etc. all invested in it) is really transformative. I’d recommend it to anyone who feels “insanely jealous” as the OP says. I know it can be a radical change, but truly I can never see wealth or privilege the same way again.
I am generally happy with the choices that I have made, so I think about why I made those choices and how they make the most sense for me.
For example, I love large homes, but I do not want to actually deal with one. I love luxury vehicles, but my minivan is great for my daily life. I don’t want crumbs and car seats in a nice car! It would be nice have ritzy things, but I like that saving/investing give me freedom over my life. So on and so forth.
+1 I said this on the thread this morning about windfalls but I’m not sure what I’d do with tens of millions except save and give it away. I don’t want a large home or a second home – they’re a pain to maintain. I don’t want luxury cars, it’s just a waste of money. I don’t want a private jet – it’s not safe and is terrible for the environment. I would enjoy a bit more money for more travel and more savings, sure, but there really aren’t many things I want and can’t afford and I earn a lot less than many people posting here. I really believe the statement that above some relatively low threshold like $75k more money doesn’t bring you any more happiness.
Second No Face’s suggestion. I also think about some choices I made when I was trying to keep up with the Joneses and how they were sort of . . . empty. I’m not particularly triggered by fancy houses, cars, or towns, but I do like nice things and sometimes indulge that too much. When I’m indulging it because I’m insecure or jealous – no bueno. Like the trendy handbag I bought because I was shopping too much with a friend who makes way more than me and can impulse buy designer bags. It just sits in my closet because I impulse bought it too instead of taking the time to find something classic that I really like. Now when I go shopping with her (which is fun) and need to resist the urge to overspend, I remind myself of how much I’d have in my retirement if I’d invested the money instead of that dumb bag. Vacation at fancy resort that was nice but to be honest not that memorable. Etc.
I think about the people I really admire, and it’s never for their lifestyle. And I think about my grandparents, who were immigrants who lived in a 4-room apartment, and would think my 1400 sq ft house is amazing. Then I DGAF about how wealthy anyone else or their husband is.
I think about my life and my goals and how the decisions I’ve made have led to the life I wanted for myself (mostly). There are things I genuinely want, such as more vacation time and a larger vacation budget, that have nothing to do with the Joneses. For those, I hope that my life is long and that I’ll have the money and time to prioritize travel someday. If I start longing for something because I’m comparing myself to friends, I try to focus on being happy for them and remind myself that they’ve typically made their own choices and sacrifices to have those things.
Focus on feeling genuinely happy for them, rather than thinking about your own life in comparison. They’re your friends, and you want good things for them. And I’ve found it helpful to be able to say “I’m so jealous!” in the moment when a friend shares good news like that and then move on.
I want a diamond tennis bracelet but my back account says no. Any quality moisonite suggestions?
If you go to Overstock, the Miadora moissanite bracelet is in sterling, 5ctw for under $300.
Diamondrensu is my favorite moissanite dealer!
They sell on etsy and on their own site. They offer beautiful cuts and both readymade and custom jewelry. I’ve had two custom pieces made by them so far and their quality of workmanship and customer service is top notch.
Are there any happy workplaces right now? Or is everything a steaming pile of what the pandemic has left over? Even the most routine things in my workplace seem to be going awry, and it’s so draining on top of everything else happening. Everyone I talk to is burned out and crabby. We’re back in the office (about half have hybrid arrangements), and the vibe is still way off.
Mine has been chugging along fairly normally. I wouldn’t say happy, but there are the normal annoyances. We were already set up pre-pandemic for remote work so the transition hasn’t been that difficult.
Not mine. Higher ed context.
Higher ed is terrible right now.
*screams in low enrollment*
My university has record enrollment and things are still awful.
I’m a different anon in higher education but mine is due to inept hr who has been told for years they need to quit micromanaging hiring and pay in order to get good replacements when people retired. They didn’t listen and now we’re bleeding. I’m at a state flagship university. We have the money and the enrollment. It’s entirely self inflicted.
It really is. Everything sucks and I am losing my sense of purpose.
It’s the same. The people who were unproductive slackers pre-pandemic are still unproductive slackers at home. The people who were knocking it out of the park before are still knocking it out of the park at home. The same dysfunctional problems we had in the office are unchanged, but they annoy me less because I don’t have to see them up close and personal now.
Mine is a sh1tshow. Everyone who can get out is getting out, which means only the really mediocre or burned out employees are left (I put myself in that category, fwiw). Nothing is getting done and what is getting done is totally half-a$$ed. Higher ed also.
My office has a fun atmosphere, but at the same time we are very open about how crappy everything is.
Current or former? Oh, wait, I left the latter because COVID was an excuse to work everyone to death for fun.
I need work top recommendations from you wonderful people. Over the last year I have been consistently lifting heavy with a hypertrophy focus and I’m so pleased with the muscle gains I’ve made, in particular in my chest, upper back and shoulders. However, all of my work tops are now pulling just above the bust and arm holes for some sleeveless tops are too small. I’m used to sizing up to accommodate a larger bust. Is that the solution here or is there a particular cut that flatters a more muscular build? Thank you!