Suit of the Week: J.Crew
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.
J.Crew has been really excited (if their email list is any indication, at least) about their new seasonless suit: the Campbell suit. It's a good looking, classic suit — and (dun dun dunnnh) it's on sale today: 30% off with code DAYTHREE. (I think they're having daily, online-only sales on select merchandise; luckily for us the Campbell suit is part of today's sale. Shipping is also free.) The pinstriped versions (charcoal and navy) and sold wool versions (blazer, pants) are on sale; the stretch wool blazer is sadly not part of the sale. The blazer (Campbell Blazer in Pinstripe Super 120s Wool) is $248 regular price; with the sale it comes to $174. The pants (Campbell Trouser in Pinstripe Super 120s Wool) is $148 full price; $104 after the sale. Both pieces are available in tall, petite, and regular sizes 000-16.
This plus-sized herringbone suit is also newly marked down as part of the Nordstrom sale — love it. (For more plus-sized picks from the sale, check our plus-size workwear page later today (or sign up for the newsletter to be notified of when we post our picks!).
(L-all)
Sales of note for 12.5
- Nordstrom – Cyber Monday Deals Extended, up to 60% off thousands of new markdowns — great deals on Natori, Vince, Theory, Boss, Cole Haan, Tory Burch, Rothy's, and Weitzman, as well as gift ideas like Barefoot Dreams and Parachute — Dyson is new to sale, 16-23% off, and 3x points on beauty purchases.
- Ann Taylor – up to 50% off everything
- Banana Republic Factory – up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
- Design Within Reach – 25% off sitewide (including reader-favorite office chairs Herman Miller Aeron and Sayl!) (sale extended)
- Eloquii – up to 60% off select styles
- J.Crew – 1200 styles from $20
- J.Crew Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off $100+
- Macy's – Extra 30% off the best brands and 15% off beauty
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
- Steelcase – 25% off sitewide, including reader-favorite office chairs Leap and Gesture (sale extended)
- Talbots – 40% off your entire purchase and free shipping $125+
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Wow I actually really like this – just a classic looking suit. I wonder what the quality is like.
I actually need a new suit – I’ve gained a bunch of weight and deluding myself isn’t working anymore. My old suits were BR but I couldn’t find anything I liked. Any suggestions?
Thanks all!
I just bought the blazer (for casual use) which I really like. Unfortunately the pencil skirt just didn’t fit right and I’m not sure alterations for my limited use are worth it. I was really hoping for pants but my store only had the fuller leg option (and not in my size). I may try to order both pant options to see if either works– one caveat, they are unlined.
Yes…unlined. Boo JCrew. Also, I think that the Super 120s wool is quite thin, and on pants, can show lumps, bumps, undy lines in a not-flattering way.
You’re right, it is very thin–I think of it as the tissueweight material of the suiting world. I felt like I had to wear Spanx or control top hose every time I wore my 120s pencil skirt, and the pants were a nonstarter.
Well then – thank you for posting this. I’m not going to waste my time even trying this stuff on. I’m always so tempted because it looks great online.
I love the weight of the Super 120s. Modern, sleek, substantial without being bulky. I don’t buy my suits tight though (I’ll buy up and tailor down in I need to). I’d love to lose 5-10 lbs, but not more than that, and there’s not an issue for me with the fabric showing things it shouldn’t.
I agree – I might be late to the party but I don’t find the weight too thin. I wear my pants a little loose too, and you definitely can’t see any lumps or bumps. Also, the skirts ARE lined, so if you had a problem with the pants, that shouldn’t be a problem with the skirts.
Question.
I know the conventional wisdom that abs are generally made in the kitchen. Is that true after you’ve had a baby? I had my second baby about eight months ago, and I am now three pounds lower than my pre-pregnancy weight, but I still have a stomach pooch. With Spanx, it’s fine. It’s just like since the muscles are gone, there’s nothing to keep it flat.
Do I have to work on getting my abs back to get that to go away? I’m sure everyone is different.
Abs as in actual ab muscles are not made in the kitchen – they are a mixture of genetics and working out in my experience. The flab on top of abs may be part of your kitchen habits and, again, genetics. Post-partum abs are a whole different story. My actual ab muscles were shot post-partum and I’m working on getting them back. I didn’t have diastus recti (sp?) but I did find that the exercises for it helped more than traditional sit ups to work my abs.
That’s your new skin! Sure, building up your abs will help but many if not most women have a pooch post baby.
Yes, exercise can help get rid of the baby pooch, but do some research (or visit a physical therapist) before you decide what exercises to do. Your abs might have separated during pregnancy and some exercises can make it worse. Google diastasis recti.
Some of it will continue to go back on its own, for the rest of it, doing ab exercises helps (planks are good) but it won’t necessarily ever go back all the way to its original state.
Yay! You are so lucky to already have a baby. Do not worry about your pooch – there are some of us with pooche’s who have NOT even had babie’s yet.
It is so interesting that you are talkeing about this b/c the guy from the Berkeshire’s want’s to have a baby with me, and we have NOT even kissed! Rosa thinks he is trying to bamboozele me into haveing sex with him, and I have NO intention of doeing so. Do other’s in the hive get these phoney line’s from men just to get you to have sex with them? I often get this from men — even the manageing partner’s brother seem’s to want to have me as his girlfreind, and that also is a no-go situeation for me. Please let me know if I am NOT the onley one on this. Thank you.
Etiquette question for the hive…. my father passed away a few weeks ago, and I have received a lot of sympathy cards from family, coworkers, etc. Obviously I am sending thank you notes to people who sent memorials, or donated to charities, or brought food/visited/whatever. But do I need to send thank yous to people who “just” sent cards? (I don’t mean to belittle cards, even though I know it sounds like that–that is totally not my intent and I appreciated every note I received) I’m not sure what Miss Manners would say, and I honestly don’t feel like sending out dozens of thank you notes….
I do not think it’s necessary or expected to send a thank you note for a sympathy card.
You have my sympathy on your loss. I know how hard that is and honestly treading the fine line of this etiquette stuff should be the least of your worries right now. My thoughts are with you! (No need to thank me for it…)
I agree with Maddie Ross. I am a huge proponent of sending Thank You notes, but would not send them in your shoes (or expect to receive one in response to sending a sympathy card).
I would also never *expect* to receive a response to a sympathy card. I’m sure everyone who sent one wants you to focus on taking care of yourself and your family rather than worrying about thank you notes. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I’m in the same situation as you, and my mother said we were only expected to send thank yous for donations and flowers, so that’s what I did. I thanked each person who sent a card either in person or through our usual form of communication (text/FB), but I didn’t mail a thank you.
You can also get pre-printed cards for the gifts/donations/flowers. You don’t need to emotionally exhaust yourself with a personal message for each thank you.
This is what I got for a Kennedy death and I figure if you manners are up to Kennedy standards you’re definitely in the clear. You can get cards printed at Staples or FedEx if you aren’t as rich and popular as Camelot (which I assume no one is.)
Gifts – What do you guys get a friend who has gotten engaged? I have a set gift for when folks have babies, and I gift from the registry for weddings, but I want to give something under $50 – ideally under $25 – to acknowledge engagements.
We received champagne (in that 25-50 range) which was very much appreciated. I think it’s a nice celebratory gift and we enjoyed having the nice stuff for a few months.
I received a cute little ring holder from a friend and thought it was a really sweet gift.
We usually send fancy chocolates, spending no more than $50. Just something little to celebrate the engagement.
One of my girlfriends gave me a cookbook/coffee table book from the restaurant where my now-husband and I celebrated the evening of our engagement – it was super thoughtful and sweet, but I realize that doesn’t apply to everyone.
My best friend bought me adorable blue “I Do” undies to serve as my “something blue” on our wedding day. This is a “know your audience” gift, but I loved them and they were something I never would have purchased for myself.
Can anyone weigh in on the fit of LL Bean sweater sizing compared to other popular brands? Are they similar to AT and BR or do they run larger or smaller?