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Updated: Jul 24, 2019 74 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Boss

Suit of the Week |

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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. I just killed my keyboard (yay, water!) so we will keep this short and sweet: I love this gorgeous pinstriped suit from Boss, still with a ton of sizes left in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It's flattering, it's different, it makes a statement but is still versatile. The suit is $165-$397, but will be $248-$595 after the sale ends on Aug. 4. Psst: Apparently Nordstrom is doing sales of the day? This waterproof Blondo boot is marked to $69 today only — it's normally $149. This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 10.10.24

  • Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
  • Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
  • Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
  • Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
  • White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Skipper

    I hate disposable clothes and fast fashion for environmental reasons, but I’m not sure how to avoid it. I mean, the obvious answer is buy better clothes. But there are some things that seem like they’re essentials and also a waste to spend money on. For instance, I’m not going to be less likely to spill coffee all over a $120 white tee than one I paid $6 for at Target. I’m trying to minimize my environmental impact, but I’m really stuck on things like casual sneakers and tee shirts. Has anyone found a good solution to this?

    • anonshmanon

      One option is buying used – keeps stuff out of the landfill, it’s cheaper, often the profits go to a good cause. I also think that very likely somebody has worn and washed this piece several times before passing it on, so I know it won’t fall apart or change fit after I wash it.

      • anonshmanon

        thought of another one – be strategic about purchases. It sounds like you are already thinking of how to minimize impact, so this may be for you. Buying less and not getting sucked into grabbing a cute thing you don’t need is not easy – but it makes a huge impact. The coffee spilling problem you mention sounds very familiar! As a consequence, I don’t wear white tees and have few light-colored items in my wardrobe.

        • Anonymous

          When I spill on a light colored shirt, I just soak the item in whatever it is (coffee, tea, etc.), basically dying it that color. I have a ton of unique colored items that I love and wear a lot.

    • Anon

      I find that cheap t-shirts tend to lose their shape and just look bad after 2-3 washes, when more expensive (and by that, I mean like $20 on sale) tend to last longer. That doesn’t help if you spill on them, but I would consider why you are often getting rid of clothing – is to because of a spill? is it because it no longer looks good/fits right? For me, it was the second so I moved up to gap/BR/Ann Taylor t-shirts that I buy on sale.

    • Anon

      Split the baby and by good quality, natural fiber shirts for a reasonable but not absurdly low price like Everlane.
      And learn how to get out stains properly, there are tons of cleaning blogs so you can take care of your clothes.

    • Anonymous

      For me, a line tends to be whether I consider an item essentially a consumable. T-shirts, tanks, underwear, socks, etc. Things that have a definite lifespan related to wearing them out. Those I buy fairly cheap most of the time unless I am really in love with something more expensive. Other items I’m trying to be better about going nicer. But, honestly, I think so much of what really isn’t “fast fashion” is out of my budget that I’m not sure it really makes a difference.

    • Anonymous

      To me, the downside of “fast fashion” are the super trendy, flimsy pieces that you wear once or twice. Realistically, the $120 t-shirt from 95% of places and the $6 Target t-shirt are going to have been manufactured in similar facilities. The key is to focus buying on basics that you wear again and again. I’m of the opinion that you use up whatever it is, and that is better in the long run than getting into the minutiae of how clothes are made most of the time.

      • Anon

        I totally agree re: similar facilities. I wear a lot of Old Navy clothes, but I take care of them, I try to buy pieces that aren’t super trendy, and I wear them for years. Example being a black linen shirtdress I’ve had for years that is my favourite piece of summer clothing – it’s super classic and basic and you probably wouldn’t guess it’s fast fashion. I probably could have spent $400 on a similar dress at Eileen Fisher or another department store brand. I love it so much I want to have a seamstress reproduce it so I can have another one when this one wears out!

      • Vicky Austin

        I try to make this my approach, too. And I’ve had a lot of ON clothes that have lasted for many years, including one pair of jean shorts that got me through four summers as a camp counselor. No small feat.

    • Anonia

      I reuse stained clothes for other things. Stain that won’t come out? Now it’s a shirt for dirty jobs/painting. When it’s too beat up to wear, I use old clothes as rags in the garage. But I never buy $120 shirts. These tend to be more low to mid level prices, like Lands End. Clothes that just look tired end up as pajamas if they’re comfy. Shoes are generally worn until I don’t want them any more (several years), or are worn out completely; and then I give to the our town’s version of Goodwill or recycle.

      • Anon

        All our old knit shirts are recycled into cleanup rags for spills, etc. I avoid a lot of paper towel usage as a result and I don’t buy dusting cloths or other cleaning cloths. I throw them in a separate wash every week or so (I realize there’s an environmental cost there but our washer is high efficiency and doesn’t use as much water as our older washer).

    • Alanna of Trebond

      I also buy everything on consignment, either from TheRealReal or from high end auction websites.

  2. Lots to Learn

    Can I ask for opinions about when you’re too old for the current trends? I’m 50. I went shopping with my 16-year-old daughter last weekend. She talked me into buying a romper (from Anthropologie) and some mom jeans (from Banana Republic). I think the romper is cute by itself and would be especially cute on a 20-year-old, but in it, I feel like a mutton dressed as a lamb. And I can’t think of any time I could wear it without feeling foolish. The mom jeans are SO comfortable – especially after years of tight skinnies – but does the fact that I’m a mom and already on the heavier side kill the look? I can’t help feeling that on me, they just make me look like a frumpy mom, not stylishly ironic. Should I just get over it? Or is this one of those times when if you can remember the style from the first time around, you shouldn’t be wearing it now?

    • NOLA

      I have a friend who is 37 and wears rompers and really cute clothes that I would *never* wear. Not that she’s 50, but honestly, it’s about attitude. If you don’t feel like you can, you’re going to exude that. If you own it, then you probably can. On Sunday, one of our choir members who is my age or older and plus-sized wore a yellow and white striped jumpsuit with a yellow cardigan. She rocked it!

      • Monday

        I think browsing Instagram corroborates this idea. I follow only plus-sized and older ladies for fashion, and they are always owning every single look, simply because they decided to do so. If you can psych yourself into these items, go for it! If you can’t, that’s ok too. You will only look uncomfortable if you feel uncomfortable.

          • Monday

            Hey there! I could list so many, but to start, try “And I Get Dressed.” It’s not one person, but instead features a different “model” every time who is generally challenging fashion world standards in some way. Often it’s folks who are larger, gender non-conforming, or have physical disabilities. It really opens the mind about all the ways to look fabulous.

            Inspiration for gray or graying hair: Grombre. Super-glamorous women of all ages who stopped dyeing their hair and share reflections on it. I myself could use more recommendations for age diversity though.

            More basically gorgeous women of size: Jada Sezer, The Btwn (also various models), Anita Marshall, Candice Huffine, Caralyn Mirand, Paloma Elsesser, Saffi Karina.

          • AIMS

            These are awesome, thank you!! am struggling with grays myself, so that’s maybe particularly relevant at the moment while I consider whether to start dyeing or just let nature takes its course, but all are great.

      • Ellen

        I agree also. We all can wear what we want, other than possibly a micro mini skirt, which NO one should wear if they respect their private part’s, that is. I think a Romper is cute at any age, and if you have a husband, you can get a nightgown that will pay dividends the first night. We are all preconditioned to believe that once we are over 35, we are over the hill, but that is NOT true. If I had a dollar for every man who has propositioned me since I was 35, I could retire! Of course, I would not be fresh if I let all these men do what they offered to do for the last 4 years! FOOEY!

    • Anon

      Personally, I think mom jeans look bad even on the 20 year old models. So, I’m sitting that trend out.

      With regards to other trends, I really think it depends on how comfortable you are in it. I have a 48 year old friend who rocks jumpsuits, and looks amazing. I, on the other hand, don’t feel comfortable in them, so look awkward and like I’m trying too hard to be hip.

    • Anon

      I think it is 100% based on body type and confidence level rather than age. I think we attribute certain clothes to age due to familiar age-based body transitions (slightly larger size, larger and/or less perky ladies up top, more weight distributed to the middle). So yes, if your average 20 yr old is thinner and is less pear shaped than your average 50 yr old, they will generally present best in clothes designed for a non-pear body type. I’ve seen some 60 yr olds in rompers, especially while gardening, and they look cute as a button.

      Don’t worry about the clothes based on age but how the clothes make you feel and look.

    • Anon

      Mom jeans look bad on me (and most people I think) but if you like how they look on you, rock them! I love rompers and jumpsuits and buy them whenever I can find one that fits me well (I’m really tall, so the fit can be tricky, especially on jumpsuits). I’m late 30s with preschool age kids.

        • Anon

          Unfortunately their tall sizes (dresses, pants, jumpsuits) don’t work for me – they used to, but they seem to have shortened them recently and made them more tailored to people are 5’6″-5’8″, so taller than average but not super tall. I’m 5’11”.

    • anon

      I’m 35, for reference. I always LOVE seeing older women wearing something that is not “safe” or “boring”. Maybe try following some fashion/older woman accounts on instagram?

    • Anonymous

      Agree with the other two about feeling comfortable in your skin. I’m 45 and don’t think I look it. But I’ll also say that what helps in finding something particularly trendy as well as age appropriate is often looking for a more sophisticated take. I like backpacks–but you won’t find me with a mini metallic one or a cheap Target one. I opt for Cuyana quality and and a size and shape that looks more business vs. student. And while I don’t think a romper is flattering on me, it doesn’t mean I avoid the trend altogether. After a lot of trial and error, I’ve found a couple of black jumpsuits out of a nice substantial fabric that look really great with heels (I’d avoid sneakers). I also try to look at someone who is a lot older than me but still looks stylish and try to mimic that. So for work wear, I’d sometimes think would Julia Louis wear this as VEEP?

    • Anon

      I do think a lot of it is about mental space. I’m the same size I was in high school but have not dipped a toe into many trends because they simply don’t suit me and I don’t feel good in them either physically or mentally (skinnies, oversized blouses, sky high heels that were in for a while, frills on everything, cold shoulder tops). I *could* pull it off body proportion-wise but just don’t feel good in this stuff. I’ll take my moto boots, real denim, and a muscle shirt with an LJ over flowery rayon any day. I can’t imagine wearing a romper like the ones I see on others, I would feel like I’m playing dress up. I can think of a romper I’d be OK with (very high waisted, graphic or embroidered top, voluminous bottoms, solid color, near knee length) but there is no way I’ll spend the time to find that, so I’ll continue to sit these trends out.

    • Anon

      Are they mom jeans (which I alway think of as frumpy and ill-fitting, even though I know they’re not necessarily) or high waisted jeans? I think a high waist is a good look on me and totally age appropriate. There are things that I don’t think work well as you age, but jeans are not one of them.

    • Suburban

      For me, the fun of fashion is trying new things. The whole point is that something you wouldn’t have worn last season is in and now you get to see if it looks good and feels fresh for this season. And if it does, can you make it your own in a way that jibes with your personal style?

      For me, that means my jumpsuits are floral and styled like a stand-in for my feminine dresses. It means high waisted jeans aren’t really very high (I’m short and apple shaped). It means that wide leg crops are styled like a pencil skirt would have been ten years ago (sleek top and pointy flats).

      WRT age, I firmly believe style should get better with age. What is personal style, if not an interesting perspective and a deep knowledge of oneself? I didn’t have these in my 20s or even early 30s. There’s of course trends you can and should sit out but these relatively mainstream trends at Anthropologie are totally appropriate for some in her 50s.

      • Anonymous

        This comment makes me excited to age – a fashionable person who looks forward to the evolution of my personal style.

    • Anonymous

      As long as the style is flattering on your body type, go for it! The “mutton dressed as lamb” thing comes into play mostly with styles that are really extreme or deliberately ugly and unflattering on most body types, such as mom jeans (as opposed to normal high-waisted jeans), crop tops, and “dad sneakers.” At 42, I am rocking the jumpsuit trend. I figure if it was good enough for Emma Thompson in Late Night, it’s good enough for me.

    • Anonymous

      Mom jeans look terrible on many many people of all ages, but they might actually be great for your body type. With the right top and shoes, you should be able to pull off a fantastic contemporary look that is age-appropriate. I would try a somewhat boxy top that hits just below the waist (not cropped, but approximating the crop top look), maybe something from Everlane. This would look absolutely dreadful on me (upper body = ballerina, lower body = soccer player), but it could be really cute on a more balanced adult frame like you describe.

    • Anonymous

      That romper would be perfect for dinner out, hanging at the brewery or winery, fancy shopping, an outdoor concert, or a BBQ.

    • Lots to Learn

      Thanks, everyone for the support and empowerment. I will keep the romper (and probably only wear the mom jeans around the house). And yes, it is a nice quality romper if you’re interested – the fabric is a little thicker, the shorts are long enough for me to feel comfortable and the pattern is beautiful.

  3. Skipper

    Can I wear red lipstick to a funeral? I generally wear neutral makeup with a bold lip, but I literally just heard a couple of women talking shirt about a third who dared wear red lipstick to a funeral. I’m heading to one this weekend, and I would like not to be the object of gossip. What do you think? The funeral’s in Atlanta, in case that matters.

    • Anonymous

      When in doubt about anything like this, just don’t wear it. It will make you self conscious, and take you away from being focused and present to support your loved ones.

      That being said, I buried my mom last month and I wouldn’t have remembered if someone showed up wearing a rainbow unicorn onesie. It was all a blur. I was just happy to see the people that showed up.

    • Dolce

      My advice for dressing for funerals is to be as forgettable as possible. You don’t want to be the one person people remember because of your makeup or clothing choices.

      When my husband died, an acquaintance wore jeans to the funeral. I don’t have any problem with what she wore—she was very kind—but hers is the one outfit I can remember. Everyone else was just a sea of muted colors.

      All that said to say…I’d skip the bold lip.

      • DCR

        There are only three people where I can remember what they wore to my grandfather’s funeral, and that is because each was so inappropriate for a funeral (jeans, sweatshirt, flip-flops). This is one time when you want to be forgettable

      • Red lips

        I think clothing is in an entirely different category than makeup as far as “bold” or memorable funeral wear. It is on an extremely small part of the body and isn’t a universally inappropriate thing to wear to a funeral. Honestly, if I knew someone that typically wore lip color and decided to look like death with no color on their face for a funeral, I’d notice that more.
        In addition, I agree with what someone said below, the darker the skin the less bold red is. I will also put “usually wears bold lip color” in this category – all black, pale skin, and red lips seems more funereal to me than a middle tone woman wearing the same.

    • Anon

      Those ladies are weird and way too old school red lipstick is perfectly fine. But please don’t wear red clothes to a funeral, that’s passive aggressive.

    • Anon

      Where are you/these gossipy women located? Because red lipstick is an everyday color in Atlanta that no one’s likely to blink an eye at.

    • Anonymous

      Are you a brunette or darker-complected? I think that red isn’t RED if your coloring is darker. Different case if you are . . . very fair. And haters are going to hate, no matter what. At a funeral, I’d give people the benefit of the doubt (like maybe someone packed in a hurry and that was all she had). I guess they aren’t mourning too much if they are talking smack about people.

    • Anon

      I’m sure I’ve seen red lipstick at many funerals and it didn’t even register, because it’s normal not to change up your daytime makeup for funerals, unless you normally wear glitter in the daytime.

    • Suburban

      I think you’re fine. Especially if it’s your default lipstick. That said, i won’t wear jewelry to a family wake or memorial because my mother is one of these women. I swear she just brings up these old fashioned rules because she’s one of the last people that actually remembers them.

        • Anon

          No. Her mother is being ridiculous, which I think she acknowledges but just goes with the flow to avoid conflict for such a low stakes matter.

        • Worry about yourself

          Right? Like not even a simple pearl necklace or something? I could see avoiding the chunky necklaces, or super glittery jewels, but NO jewelry at all? Is this some super old Emily Post rule?

        • Suburban

          Again, I think it’s fine if you live in the actual world, not my mom’s old fashioned/ probably never existed world. I mean, I wouldn’t wear anything super sparkly or dangly, but that would be weird for a funeral anyway right? My mom is the judgmental lady in the corner so I’ll only wear my wedding band to these things.

    • Worry about yourself

      Depends on the shade of red and how much it stands out with your complexion. I’d veto a super bright shade or super shiny lipstick, but a more muted shade might be okay. Although personally, even though red lips is generally my signature look, I might opt for a shade of rose for a funeral just to be on the safe side. Ultimately though, I don’t think a person’s lipstick is that big a deal, unless it’s something really shocking like purple, neon green or sparkly Barbie pink, as long as your overall look is somber.

    • Biggest Balls in the Room

      I mean, personally, I wear red lipstick every day. I’m also of the neutral everything else, bold lip school of makeup. I would wear it to the funeral without a second thought because really, who the hell is spending their time at a funeral worrying about someone else’s makeup? Most likely someone whose opinion I don’t care about anyway…

  4. Charleston SC food recs

    I’ll be in Charleston, SC for business but I will have all of Saturday and half of Sunday to explore, so food recs? Caveat – I’m allergic to shellfish.

    Looking for one excellent meal in the $40-50 dollar range (including tax & tip; Husk is too expensive) but will take recs for any other cheap options too!

  5. AZCPA

    I haven’t bought a suit in years, and never one this expensive (I was firmly in Ann Taylor sale territory last time I needed one). But this jacket is amazing. It can’t hurt to have a suit this great “just in case” right?

    • Anon

      I am a big fan of a “just in case” great suit. Panel presentation, random TV appearance (be careful of the stripes), big conference….

    • BabyAssociate

      I actually have nearly this exact suit (navy) and it is truly lovely.

  6. Random

    Hi all,

    We have a buy local art policy at out office and it generally means we buy a significant amount of art from young people (mostly women in their early 20s) who put on shows in the downtown core. Often these are young people connected to our firm (someone’s step kid, someone’s former babysitter, someone’s kid who just started art college etc).

    We’ve always felt it’s part of the learning experience for the young people to set a price, send an invoice etc instead of just say something like “whatever you like”. Does that sound okay or is it obnoxious?

    • Anonymous

      What’s happening that’s making you question what your company is doing — is someone telling you “it’s obnoxious?” It seems obvious to me that if you’re selling something to a company they need paperwork of some kind. Doesn’t the accounting department refuse to pay something without some kind of written record for the transaction?

    • Aggie

      Sounds pretty standard to me. However, my firm’s acct department will not pay for anything without an invoice.

    • nuqotw

      I mean, yes, I agree with you, but at that age they might not have sold much before. It is part of the experience but they might not know that yet. If someone seems confused I would say something like “We want to pay you for your work and part of selling it is setting a price and sending us an invoice” so that the artist knows this is part of getting paid. I might even have a sample invoice for them to look at. If someone way underprices herself, I would also just say “We feel a fair price is closer to $X” and ask for an invoice reflecting $X.

      It’s not quite the same thing, but I am forever grateful to my high school boss who, when I asked for minimum wage for a summer data entry / phone answering job simply said “I think we can do a bit better than that” and came in as I recall $1.75/hr over minimum wage, and $2.75/hr over the next summer. I was really glad to pay this lesson forward to a teenage mother’s helper who said she’d do it for $5/hr and I just said “We usually pay $15 so I’m going to pay you that.”

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