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Suit of the Week: Express

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gray suit with trousers and a tie-waist blazer with a notch collar

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.

Express has a limited collaboration with British menswear designer Simon Spurr, and there are some cute suits in the mix.

The pictured suit is available in sizes 00-14; the blazer is $228 and the pants are $148.

Hunting for something similar in plus sizes? Eloquii has a nice beige option.

Psst: also from Express: this cardigan and skirt set is really cute; the cardigan is down to $50 today.

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 3/15/25:

  • Nordstrom – Spring sale, up to 50% off
  • Ann Taylor – 40% off everything + free shipping
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off sale
  • J.Crew – Extra 30% off women's styles + spring break styles on sale
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything + extra 20% off 3 styles + 50% off clearance
  • M.M.LaFleur – Friends and family sale, 20% off with code; use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off 1 item + 30% off everything else (includes markdowns, already 25% off)

114 Comments

  1. What are your favorite potato recipes? I’m going to a potato party this weekend, where everybody brings a potato dish. I could use some inspiration!

    1. Ooooh. I really like a sweet potato pound cake for something different. I used the top one on Allrecipes.

    3. This party sounds amazing! I have many favorite potato dishes!
      – Potatoes au gratin.
      – Latkes.
      – Twice baked potatoes.
      – Gnocchi.
      – German potato salad.

    6. Potato, leek and cheddar pie
      Rosti
      Korean potato and kinchi pancakes
      West-African sweet potato and peanut stew
      Wedges with aioli

    7. Aw, this makes me miss my family! Potatoes are our love language.
      I love new red potatoes roasted with lots of rosemary and flaky salt.

    8. Jamie Oliver’s roasted potatoes. We just had these for (Canadian) Thanksgiving and they were fantastic.

    13. I have many beloved potato dishes, but I’m making Ina Garten’s Parmesan Smashed Potatoes for my houseguests this weekend because they are AMAZING.

      1. Oops, Google is showing me a different recipe under that name – I make the following:

        1 lb mixed small new potatoes

        Heat oven to 400
        Boil potatoes with 1 Tbsp salt and enough water to cover for 17-20 minutes until tender when pierced. Drain and place on a sheet pan.
        Use a potato masher or the bottom of a metal measuring cup to press each potato down into a 1/2-inch pancake. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
        Roast 25-30 minutes, turning once, until the skins are browned. Sprinkle with Parmesan and roast for another 2ish minuets to melt the cheese. Top with minced chives and sea salt.

    14. Check out the NYT Crispy Gnocchi with Brussel Sprouts and Browned Butter. Fast, easy, delicious and visibly appealing. I like to use mini gnocchi and really let them brown. It works to cut the butter in half. So good!

      1. I LOVE this recipe and its similar summer version with tomatoes and mozzarella. Both are in constant rotation in our house, depending on the season.

    15. Roast potatoes. They will not be the prettiest but they will be the most delicious.

      I don’t really use a recipe but this comes close:

      https://cookieandkate.com/roasted-potatoes-recipe/

      I peel russet potatoes, leave the skin on for thinner skinned potatoes like fingerling, yukon gold, or new potatoes. ( I rarely use new/red potatoes for this)

  2. How fun! I like Indian recipes for potatoes. Aloo gobi, samosas, paranthas, ragda patties

  3. My partner’s doctor recommended he follow a low fodmap diet. Having tried it for a week or so, our recipes are limited since it excludes onions, garlic, etc. Anyone out here have any recipes or resources to help make low fodmap food tasty? I love to cook and I love flavorful food, but am having a hard time with these parameters. Thanks!

    1. You might be able to have leeks, scallions and garlic oil.

      Do some Thai recipes, maybe some Japanese or Middle-Eastern.

    2. America’s Test Kitchen has a good gut health cookbook that’s mostly low FODMAP. They use garlic oil for flavor, since it doesn’t include the problematic compounds.

      1. Came here to recommend this, it’s a great cookbook. Also download the Monash app. Making garlic oil is really easy, so you should be able to keep the garlic flavor.

        1. Be careful, though, I seem to remember something about possible food poisoning from homemade garlic oil.

          1. You definitely shouldn’t store garlic in oil (the anoxic environment allows botulism to grow), but you can make garlic infused oil. Just follow the ATK recipe, though. They know what they’re talking about.

    3. I have a family member that did low fodmap for a while and still doesn’t eat onions, garlic, etc. It’s really hard!
      – Make your own stock/bone broth, without onions, and use it to boost flavor in quinoa, to serve as the base of your sauces, for soup, etc. If you have a pressure cooker or instant pot, they work really well to make stock more quickly.
      – Add ingredients that boost umami flavor–tomato paste, anchovies/anchovy paste, soy sauce, even monosodium glutamate.
      – Where you want the sharpness of raw garlic or fresh green onion, use quick pickles or good vinegars.
      – Add flavor with fresh herbs, nuts and nut oils (store in refrigerator), and cheeses that are low fodmap.
      Good luck!

      1. Such a good idea about the pickles. OP, if you’re anywhere near an Indian spice shop or market, they have the best pickles. (not cucumber pickles)

    5. Try the Fiber Fueled cookbook. I picked it up at the library this week and it has some solid options.

  4. I bought a Tory Burch bag (I think) for $10 at a thrift store and am trying to identify it – does this sound familiar to anyone? navy, crossbody, nylon and patent leather – tall flat rectangular bag with most of both sides covered in a really large navy patent leather design that looks like the logo. I’d think in the Ella line but maybe not? Hardware says Tory Burch, inside tag has the square TB logo. TIA! (Also got a Cambridge Satchel bag for $5 and a Maje skirt for $5, so good haul!)

  5. **PSA to do your preventative screenings and tests**

    I had a routine dental cleaning on where they discovered a shadow on my panormaic Xray (only done every 3-5 years). No pain or symptoms whatsoever, and I havent had dental issues since childhood. After being referred to a specialist and doing a CT scan, it was discovered that tooth had a tiny crack which allowed infection to enter (aka the shadow). Just had tooth and infection removed this morning and so glad it was caught before it spread, praise God! I have health anxiety from having cancer at age 21 however I am thankful for preventive care.

    1. Are you the poster from last week? I’m so glad it was an easy fix and you got follow-up care! Take good care of yourself.

      1. Yes I am, good memory! Thank you. The next steps include an implant but that won’t be for a few months.

    3. Sounds like it’s really good you went forward with things. I’m glad you didn’t listen to everyone trying to dismiss it as your dentist trying to run a scam. (I think some of it came from good intentions of trying to dismiss your fear of having work done. But it kind of bothered me at the time to see such widespread doubt in a health provider’s capabilities.)

  6. Y’all…due to a variety of circumstances, I will have FOURTEEN members of my immediate and extended family visiting me this weekend, between the hours of noon and 6. It’s a mix of adults, teens, and children. I am hosting them by myself (mid 20s) in my shared apartment. We have a decent amount of space, but what I’m freaking out about is food. What do I feed people? We are South Asian, so charcuterie, chips/dip, and casseroles aren’t really a thing (or a liked thing) for my family. Here’s what I’m currently thinking:

    Beverages: Masala chai, coffee, other teas
    Food: Pastries, fruit, quiche, flatbread pizzas, mini meatballs…??
    PLEASE HELP LOL

      1. I think the chutney has been discontinued (cries(, I haven’t been able to find it at my local TJ since the summer…

        1. I couldn’t find the chutney either. But it is the season for pumpkin samosas, which are good. I also liked the pumpkin empanadas, and there are lots of other frozen appetizers and dips that go with veggies or flatbreads.

    3. Unless you are super tight on money, I would go to restaurant that serves your family’s type of South Asian food and order a few platters of your culture’s nibbles. And maybe also put out some fruit and pastries. If your family is anything like mine, all the other options will be just as much work and just as expensive, but leave everyone unhappy.

    5. OP here – thanks all! Just to clarify, my budget is definitely more TJ’s than restaurant catering unfortunately:(

      1. Does it have to be south asian cuisine? The best appetizers from TJs are, IMO, the mini quiches. I stick them in the oven a box at a time, and every time I bring out a fresh plateful they are gone instantly.

      3. Split the difference: naan from Trader Joe’s and a bunch of curries (if that is your culture) from a local restaurant. You don’t need catering or 14 meals; you will need about five to seven curries, because they are usually enough to feed two and kids do not eat a lot.

        Alternately, Trader Joe’s masala simmer sauce with either chickpeas and paneer or chicken. Get several jars and make a big pot of food.

      4. Do you have a grocery that carries food from your family’s cuisine near you? If so, I would check out their frozen and prepared food items. They may even be able to recommend someone who can make a tray or two of appetizers or pastries.
        You mentioned flat breads, and I’ll just say that the TJ’s flatbreads are really good!

    6. Also check out Costco. They have a lot of party platter options in their bakery, deli and frozen sections

    7. Meatballs are not frugal, if you want to stretch food – they use a lot of meat per guest bite. Baked chickpea balls?

      For fruit platters – don’t serve whole pieces. Cut up oranges, pears, melon, kiwi, pineapple, strawberries, take scissors and snip grapes into mini clusters.

      Bombay mix? I love non chip savory nibbles.

    8. Is one of your parents in this mix? I’d broach food subject with them and say you are doing TJ things yourself, but that if they thought restaurant catering would be better then you could afford to split with them. All of a sudden having to feed 15 people on a 20 something’s budget is pretty hard and I wouldn’t expect that from anyone. Good luck.

  7. Co-worker is retiring after a very long time in our office. She’s an accountant who lives alone and is in her seventies. Ideas for a send-off gift? Thanks all! Money not really an issue here.

    1. Maybe a really super cozy knit blanket, or something else homey? Whatever you get her, definitely also accompany it with a card signed by everyone wishing her well and stating their appreciation.

      1. If someone were to give me a blanket for my retirement, it would not sit well as I would read that as signaling that I have one foot in the grave. Signed, someone close to retirement and close to 70.

        1. That was my first thought as well. This would actually kind of sting. Champagne, gift cards to restaurants, flowers, or any other congratulatory normal thing for a professional milestone.

    3. Membership at museum she likes
      Jewelry (or gift card) that fits with her usual style

    4. And a card or book or poster or something for everybody to write her a short note of appreciation. That is what she will treasure the most.

    5. I would do something that she can do in her retirement, like a museum pass or something like that.

  8. Kiddo (feet may be done growing, but not 100% on that) wants some short black boots like either Uggs or Doc Martins. I understand that Docs can be hard to break in and am sure that something with a lug sole that is comfortable on her feet will work. I have something Doc-like, but an imitator that my feet love. But for Uggs, are the knockoffs equivalent or are the actual Uggs far superior? Was thinking of doing try-ons at our Kohl’s, which sells Ugg-like boots but not that brand. I feel like a Kohl’s budget is fine for a teen with feet that may grow — aren’t the people who have a Golden Goose budget for kids anyway, even if their shoe size were static.

    1. You actually have this backwards Uggs are just foam and shearling, any company can do that it’s not a high skilled shoe, Docs or doc like boots on the other hand require a lot more skill and specialized machinery to do right (ie sewing on the sole vs glue).

    2. The Koolaburra brand by Ugg is a less expensive version of the real thing. Bearpaw also is a good brand for knockoffs that are still high quality. No idea on Doc knockoffs these days.

      1. +1 for Koolaburra brand of Uggs. I have a pair and love them. They were less than the classic Uggs but are still Uggs in case brand is important to your kiddo.

    3. fwiw, at tween age, the actual brand is def important. Everyone in middle school knows who’s wearing the real thing vs the inexpensive knockoff.

      Uggs are forgiving. If feet grow half a size, they’ll still fit.

      1. What if you’re at a Title I school (enough poor kids that they get extra $)? It’s common in city magnet schools. I think that if no one is wearing real Uggs, you don’t want your kid to be the one kid in Uggs.

        1. I went to Title I magnet schools and people definitely wore the real brands. Back then it was Guess jeans, though.

          1. There’s a certain subsegment of the lower middle class all the way to impoverished who sneer at people not wearing name brands. In my daughter’s high school experience, the poorest kids were the ones most obsessed with name brands. Since it’s all so aspirational, it’s easy to see why.

      2. In my rural AF schools, as long as they looked close enough, none of us were the wiser. Some of the “best-dressed” kids were in knockoffs.

      3. As a kid who desperately wanted the Docs and whose mom got me the impostors, I still feel this 30 years later.

    4. In Australia, uggs refer to any sheepskin boot rather than a brand. We prefer to buy Australian made (or NZ made) rather than Chinese made “Ugg brand”.

      Uggs are for wearing around the house, *maybe* for a late night Woolies run and aren’t really for outdoor use.

      Docs are indestructible and I still have mine from the 90s.

    5. Uggs and Doc Martens are really different kinds of boots! Does she want a proper leather boot or something more like slippers?

      1. Who knows?! It’s a middle schooler. I think there is a desire to have something that is not a sneaker, ballet flat, or heeled dress boot.

        1. Has she ever worn hard soled shoes (saddle shoes, if those are still a thing, weejuns, boots that don’t try to be sneakers)? If not, there’s a bit of conditioning/getting used to it and Docs are fairly heavy. “Breaking in” is a bit of a misnomer – if a shoe is the correct size/cut/width, ie, if it fits, there shouldn’t be much if any break-in needed. If she’s never worn sturdy shoes before though, it’ll take some time to condition her feet and their muscles to the additional weight as well as to “support” vs “cushion”. You do not want to put someone who’s only ever worn sneakers/soft shoes into boots and have them on all day even if the fit is spot on.

      1. I have a co-worker who does this. Kiddo is a basketball player, with the giant feet that go with it (like I got her hand-me-downs one year, years ago).

        1. At least you made it to middle school—I started getting my daughter’s outgrown shoes when she was in third grade.

    7. I want to know about your Doc imitator. My teenage daughter was madly in love with the idea of Doc mary janes, but they tore her feet to shreds. I really need to poshmark them or something.

  9. this is me screaming into the ether, but I’m so burned out being an attorney I want to stay in bed and never respond to another email or call again….. UGH. elder-millennial-senior associate level, but never going to be a partner (small law, 2 guys with names on the door).

    managing a team of 3 new graduates who need heavy hand-holding, managing a team of 4 young associates who need moderate hand-holding. managing a too-heavy caseload that has me reacting to things/communications, rather than proactively working my cases. which is bad! I feel like it’s all reaching fever pitch.

    all I want is a job in-house. a company, an Insurer, working in claims, whatever. after 10 years, I can’t do litigation or bill anymore and fight with middle age men over discovery and frivolous motions. /end rant.

    3. Just confirming that your job sucks, and I say that as a litigator! At your level, you are qualified for many, many jobs – in house (including jobs unrelated to litigation), government, clerking, insurance. Start applying!

    4. I can definitely sympathize. “Small law” is sometimes romanticized as less taxing/less cutthroat/less competitive/less whatever than working in big firms, but I have definitely been in awful, soul-crushing “small law” jobs. I got an in-house job after eight years in dysfunctional small law firms. The way I got it was that I did an increasing amount of work for one client and grew closer to that client as an associate than the partner ever got. When the client’s business was poised to expand big time (when my state went from medical cannabis to fully legalized), the client invited me to join the company full-time, in-house. So although it may seem like even more work for you, cozying up to a client can have long-term benefits.

    5. Oh honey . . .

      After 25 years in litigation I made the jump to in house earlier this year and it was the best decision I ever made, but I also realize it is much, much easier said than done. The first step is deciding how much of a pay cut you can take, which will govern whether you need to hold out for an in-house position or can afford to go into claims. The advantage of claims is there is plenty of room to move up despite the low starting salary. The disadvantage is that you will take a huge pay cut and the work can be soul crushing in a different way.

      Then talk to a recruiter about your marketability. Does your risk profile allow you to take a temp position? I have several friends who got their jobs through temp placements but you need to be able to take the risk.

      Hugs! I understand completely. Between living life in 6 minute increments, the pressure, the unpleasantness and hostility that got so much worse post-pandemic, I was day dreaming about quitting and waiting tables – except that would not have paid my mortgage

      1. Haha, my dream job is waiting tables. My SO thinks I’m insane, but it sounds so wonderful to me! Short interactions with people, highly active with lots of things to remember so it engages your brain, and at the end of your shift you leave it all behind. It’s a goal I’m working towards.

  10. Pulling this question over from the morning discussion: if you regularly speak to groups or organizations, how did you get started doing that? I’m an independent consultant and have been invited to speak on a few panels, or give a workshop here and there, but I know I could get more speaking opportunities if I was more proactive about reaching out to professional organizations, etc. Is it better to create proposals and send them to organizations, or reach out to someone in the organization? How do you zero in on a topic that is unique enough to be interesting, but not so niche it won’t appeal to the general membership of the organization you’re targeting? Any tips/tricks/advice is appreciated.

    1. I speak a lot and I just paired up with someone who also speaks a lot. We are already two thirds of a panel and it’s easy to find a third once you have that. Most conferences prefer panels for breakout sessions.

      Also, have a topic you are the expert in. It’s not as easy to get a gig speaking to people who are also experts in the same area, so branch out. Speak to groups that are not in the same profession – example, if you are an attorney specialized in construction defect law, speak to contractor groups rather than to other attorneys also specializing in construction defect law.

      Definitely get on the mailing list of groups that put on annual conferences. Months before the conference they will send out an email asking for speakers. Have your standard materials ready, and add a few slides specific to the topic interesting to the group.

    2. I’m coming from a very narrow perspective as someone who fields unsolicited speaker proposals for a membership organization that only invites speakers, doesn’t accept proposals. The way for a consultant, or any speaker, to get invited to speak to us is through a client who is a member. More often than not, the client who is a member is the one who has been asked to speak or develop a panel, and that’s when they suggest inviting their consultants. So, my suggestion is that you ask your clients what organizations they belong to, and whether they think it would be helpful to others in their field to share some info on a current or past project/engagement.

      If you’re not already prepping case studies or something similar after your engagements, you might also consider giving that a try. Not sure how applicable it is to your niche. But in my organization there is a lot of sharing, so an interesting case study that a member could send out to other members might help energy to gather around your work.

      These are obviously very specific suggestions, but since it is so hard to get an invitation to speak to this group, hopefully worth sharing. Others will probably have the good advice for getting in to speak to organizations that are not so difficult.

      I don’t have much to say on determining topic – that’s one I’m working on too! I’m definitely an expert in something, just not sure which thing and who needs to hear about it :) The one thing I do have to say, which is true for my group and in my own experience, is that the whole thing turns out better when a topic is suggested to you than when you are shopping a “canned” presentation.

      Best of luck!

      1. I agree with going through a member. OP, maybe that’s one of your clients. I commented above about being 1/3 of a potential panel, but the moderator is usually a member.

        Another point, don’t make your presentation an ad for your services. I hate attending sessions like that. You should have something interesting to talk about. I recently spoke about an interesting non traditional to my field project I worked on, some of the unique issues I had to work around, and some takeaways for others working on the same issue. Your talk should always be educational in some way.

  11. Y’all: thoughts and prayers, pls. I’m about to go into battle re client-relationship credits. I feel like this is very Game of Thrones — allies, allies, and more allies. Bullies. Allies. Grabby jerks. Wish me luck fighting the fight — I will surely need it.

    2. Oh, best of luck and may the odds be ever in your favor (wrong cinematic universe, I know). Maybe wear a magenta suit like that poster interviewing for partner was considering? Be a baller!

  12. How much does the Co-Chief Investment Officer of a $50 AUM million hedge fund make in a given year on average, would you say? Does anyone know? I feel like hedge fund always seems like it screams “insane wealth,” though most of the folks I know who work at hedge funds appear to work at smaller sized ones.

    1. $50 million AUM isn’t as much as it sounds, especially for a hedge fund. I work for a hedge fund that has a total of 20 employees and we have $460m AUM…

      I would think in the low 6 figures, but that may be lowballing it.

      1. +1. This is a tiny fund, all things considered. Comp would depend on how many analysts or other employees they have, if any. But it would definitely not be like the crazy high hedge fund salaries you read about in the news, etc.

    2. Agree that’s small for a hedge fund. For perspective that comes to mind just because I looked it up today, one of the requirements to be a QPAM (an ERISA term–qualified professional asset manager) is having something like $85M AUM. That was from 1984 and has not been adjusted. $50M AUM doesn’t get you very far in the hedge fund world.

  13. Will Alex Jones actually have to pay the $1 billion in damages? How does this work, given it’s so much more than his net worth?

    Huge win though!

    1. I was fascinated to learn in earlier coverage that his money really comes from sales of vitamins and “your doctor doesn’t want you to know….” health stuff to the poor saps who who visit his conspiracy theory website.

    2. No one quite knows what Alex Jones has in assets (I’m pretty sure this includes Jones himself)- he’s been trying to hide money for a while. But the suit also names his companies – it’d be just fantastic if they had to liquidate said companies- infowars has done nothing but hurt people for a good long while.

    3. He’ll probably declare personal bankruptcy and get to keep his (I assume) gross McMansion since he lives in TX (unlimited homestead exemption). But I doubt it’s a dischargeable debt, he also seems like just the sort that would try and hide assets, which could mean he won’t get a discharge at all. An involuntary bk is also possible.

  14. I was interested in the prior post about fashionistas who shop at Costco. I don’t have a costco membership (I can’t be trusted around all those bargains) but I liked the article, and I am interested in these shoes:

    https://www.muji.us/products/organic-cotton-comfortable-water-repellent-sneakers-ebc01a0s

    Does anyone have these? I’ve not worn anything from this brand before. Can you comment on width and sizing? It looks like for a US 10/ EU 41 I’m just ordering a men’s size.

    1. It’s Japanese IKEA essentially, in terms of quality. Their women’s clothing has a a very Asian fit (similar to uniqlo) – I find the tops very short/cropped and boxy on me, while also somehow being very tight in the shoulders and bust. The pants just don’t get over my butt, so I don’t try. The shoes I’ve tried have all felt very cheap and narrow, but I didn’t try a men’s size.

      1. That has not at all been my experience. Costco sells clothes from a number of different manufactures with vastly different styles and fits. If anything, I would say it leans toward suburban soccer mom. The problem in my very suburban neighborhood, is that every woman on Saturday is wearing something from Costco so you risk walking into a room with four other people wearing the same top!

        I am not sure if they carry the exact same clothes in all locations so there might be some variation that explains our different experiences. in any event, if you like the look of them, it would not hurt to give them a try. Costco has a very generous return policy.

    2. Never tried their shoes, but Muji socks are amazing. Love the brand for home goods. You can expect a Japanese fit.

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