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 always think of Theory for the stalwarts — but they also have a fresh line of suiting. To quote from their site:
Theory Project’s Spring 2023 collection captures the energy and movement of New York City through fluid fabrics, utilitarian details, and kinetic prints. Experimenting with color and silhouettes, Lucas Ossendrijver designs pieces meant to be layered together for a maximalist effect, or paired with your timeless Theory essentials for a more subtle statement.
I’m not sure I’m getting all that from the suit, but it is a nice suit with Theory quality that’s a bit different than the usual Theory fare. AND, it’s marked down! The wool gabardine stand-collar blazer was $475, but is now marked to $285 (sizes 00-12, available in the pictured “Army” as well as navy).
The pants are also marked down — they were $275, but are now $165. Nice. (I believe this skirt matches the army, but you may want to ask to make sure.)
It looks like a lot of things from this particular collection are marked down — which isn’t that surprising (to me) looking at the way it’s been styled in the lookbook… so many WHY moments. (For example, here’s this blazer with matching skirt… with a dress layered beneath it.) For my $.02, the skirts from the collection look really nice, as well as this suiting. (I can’t decide on this dress — I feel like it could be amazing but that isn’t evident from any of the pictures.)
(Ooh: separate from the Project’s Spring 2023 collection, they have a navy seersucker suit — it’s a nice lightweight fabric for summer, and hard to find in darker colors. FYI!)
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Workwear sales of note for 6.02.23:
- Nordstrom – The Half-Yearly Sale has started! See our thoughts here.
- Ann Taylor – $50 off $150; $100 off $250+; extra 30% off all sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off purchase
- Boden – Sale, up to 50% off
- Cole Haan – Up to 50% off select styles; extra 20% off sandals & sneakers
- Eloquii – 60% off all tops
- Express – 30% off all dresses, tops, shorts & more; extra 50% off clearance
- H&M – Up to 60% off online and in-store.
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off “dressed up” styles (lots of cute dresses!); extra 50% off select sale
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything; 60% off 100s of summer faves; extra 60% off clearance
- J.McLaughlin – The Sale Event: extra 30% off
- Loft – 40% off tops; 30% off full-price styles
- Sephora – Up to 50% off select beauty.
- Shopbop – Up to 60% off sale
- Sue Sartor – Lots of cute dresses on sale!
- Talbots – 25-40% off select styles
Other noteworthy sales:
- CB2.com – Up to 40% off; pop-up sale up to 30% off
- Joss & Main – Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off with code
- Tuft & Needle – Save up to $775 on mattresses (Reader-favorite brand; Kat really likes hers!)
- West Elm – Up to 25% off in-stock furniture; up to 60% off clearance
Curious
My immediate thought upon seeing this suit was “oh this is what they wore in 1984!”. As in the Orwell book. Why do I feel like that?
Nesprin
Fresh this is not. Even brand new on a model paid to look good in clothes this looks… moldy to my eye.
Anon
This is more what we wore in the minimalist late 90s early aughts.
Anon
The 90s clothes were much cuter!
Anon
I’m not at all surprised it’s on sale.
suit
+1
And the color…. and those pant seams… and those pockets…
Cat
It reminds me of Dr Evil. Pass!
Anon
My first thought was Frau Farbissina wants her outfit back!
Anonymous
It looks like someone tried to go for a military-inspired look and failed miserably…
Anon
The way that that jacket fits reminds me of my post-Thanksgiving meal self.
Anon
Hahaa
Anonymous
I wear a lot of Theory and love a good olive/military green color. But even I think this misses the mark.
Moose
The navy version of this suit definitely works better.
Anon
Yes, this is terrible. Like 1984 and Chairman Mao.
Anon
It might help if all of their models did not look so angry.
Anonymous
mao collar?
Scent sensitive
With the return to office folks are wearing more scents, our office was previously scent free but now that people only come in occasionally it’s just a free for all. I am not allergic to perfume, I find it overwhelming and it distracts me from work because it’s the only thing I notice then I get ragey. I went to HR to discuss sending out a reminder about the scent policy and they refused since I wasn’t allergic my annoyance was “irrational”. Do I just have to live with this?
Anon
If your reaction is just rage that other people smell, it’s a you problem. People smell of lots of things including body odor, laundry products, cigarette smoke, and coffee breath. I’m more offended by those than most commercially available scents, but I can’t get people to stop smelling like any of them short of being the crazy ranty lady.
Anon
Offended?
Idea
I was at an office that instituted a fragrance product-free workplace during work hours at the office. If a product primarily had another purpose – like laundry or coffee or shampoo – and was applied before or after work hours or at home – so be it. But if a product’s primary purpose was fragrance, like perfume or body spray – then it was not allowed. Or, if a product was applied during the workday or in the work place, like a lotion with fragrance, then the fragrance-free version was preferred/required. I don’t remember the exact wording. but it seemed to make people on both sides of the “ugh my headache” vs. “what?! my favorite lotion!” line equally unhappy.
Anon
That’s silly, because lots of people with completely legitimate health issues with scents don’t have actual allergies, but are still perfectly justified in complaining. In the vast majority of cases, scents are irritants, not causing an immune system mediated reaction. Scents bother a lot of people, and it’s perfectly reasonable to have a scent-free policy in the interest of office productivity and to avoid disability discrimination. If you have such a policy, HR should enforce it.
suit
+1
It is such a common trigger for migraine, and migraine is so common, many workplaces started banning them based on this alone. That is not an allergy per se.
HR is out of line, particularly if there was already a policy about this.
Anon
But OP does not have an issue here other than annoyance. I don’t think HR can act on that alone. If someone has allergies, they should come forward.
Anon
I might agree with that if there wasn’t already a policy in place. But if the policy exists, I don’t see why she can’t ask them to send a reminder that it exists. But even if there is no policy, as the poster below says, it shouldn’t only be the people with disabilities who have to advocate against disability discrimination. Everyone should be empowered to speak up.
Anon
Yeah, no. There’s no law that prevents HR from doing something about this.
anon
I don’t see how being annoyed by scents is irrational. It’s not lot being annoyed about the color of someone’s shirt, where you can just look away. People should be able to find things that impact them annoying without being called irrational.
I know plenty of people who have a physical reaction to perfumes, and I bet they would love to have someone else speak up for them. It’s no fun being the person with the disability who always has to ask for accommodations. If there’s a policy in place at your workplace, I don’t see why it has to be a person with a disability who has to be the one to request that it be enforced.
Anon
But that’s not OP. All she says is that is makes her ragey. I don’t think that’s enough of a reason to make someone else change their personal grooming preferences (see BO comment above.)
I have a scent migraine trigger but it’s not Coco Mademoiselle or Eau Savage, even though I’m sick of smelling those everywhere. It’s dryer sheets and other “fresh” scents like Febreze. Should I march into HR and demand everyone stop using Bounce?
Anon
It is. Ragey means she has sensory overload and may be neurodivergent or have another neurologically mediated issue, so it is affecting her negatively.
There’s a policy, it should be enforced.
No one needs to wear perfume.
Scent sensitive
Yes, I am autistic
Anon
This response seems a bit Ask A Manager to me, honestly.
Anon
Sensible and practical?
Anon
Claiming to have sensory overload or neurodivergence or another neurologically mediated issue simply because you’re annoyed. Come on.
Anon
Hey OP, would you be comfortable in asking for it as an autism related environmental accommodation?
https://www.neurodiversitymedia.com/autistic-burnout/why-and-how-accommodations
Hey Anon at 6.15, have some empathy. Scent sensitivity may be hard for you to imagine but it’s common for all sorts of reasons. For me it’s as distracting and annoying as a siren, but I can’t put ear defenders on against it.
Trish
Post menopause, loud music makes me ragey. It seems to be some combination of my ears plus changes in my nervous system. When it is too loud at the mall or restaurant, I leave. I complain to the gym and most will turn it down after I showed articles about how most gyms have music so loud it can be harmful.
Anon
I really have to ask you all in the name of sanity to stop recommend people claim illnesses that they don’t have in order to get their way. That is not only immoral, but it is harmful to actual, legitimate sufferers of said illness. I am very surprised that anyone needs to point this out. Just stop.
Anon
Those are migraine triggers for me too.
So thankful for WFH. I’ve only had one migraine in years, and it was my own fault for trying a lavender based bug repellent.
Anon
Thank you. I have a severe reaction and appreciate it so much when others’ ask for me.
Anon
Sounds like HR is miffed because they like to wear perfume!
suit
;)
Anon
Lol, oh no. Not a free for all of scents! However, will you manage?
Anon
Incredibly rude, troll. Go away.
Anonymous
How embarrassing, your ableism is showing
Anon
Why are you mean and nasty, anon at 4:19?
Anonymous
Haha great comment.
Nesprin
I am ridiculously allergic to scent- to the point that I recently had to change offices because of Dr. Scholl’s foot spray.
I give you my blessing to lie to HR about being allergic.
Anonymous
But that’s on you not the poor person with the foot condition.
Anon
Me too.
Asking people not to wear perfume is not a huge request.
Anon
No, you don’t have to live with this.It’s not irrational. Remind the offenders of the policy maybe? Or print out and leave around the office?
So many people have multiple chemical sensitivity; allergies; find it unhealthy and distracting or may be neurodivergent and find it overwhelming as a sensory issue.
An Australian university study found one in three people have health problems caused by artificial fragrance: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2017/march/one-in-three-australians-report-health-problems-from-fragranced-consumer-products
The policy is there because it affects so many people: employees, clients, visitors, not just you.
Anonymous
Going off the sex talk from this morning — what did you think you knew about sex that was totally wrong? I’ll go first
– men and women come together blissfully at the exact same moment (ha)
– every man knows how to make a woman come (ha)
– I was totally surprised by the wet spot when we first stopped using condoms!!!
Anon
How much men just want to roll over and go to sleep when their turn is over.
(Don’t worry, I found a good one)
Curious
That girls can take care of themselves, too! Honest to goodness, until the end of freshman year of college, I thought only boys self-pleasured.
Cat
Lol to the wet spot. I learned to keep a terry washcloth in my nightstand for this – allows for cuddling before cleaning up and no one has to sleep on the wet spot!
Anon
But don’t forget to pee after sex!
Cat
oh for sure, that’s what I meant by cleaning up, etc, just that it’s nice to not leap out of bed to avoid The Spot.
Anonymous
That closing your eyes helps when you want to tell a partner something or ask for something specific. Allows you to focus on what you are saying and not on any confusion or disappointment or expectation you may see on their face.
That guys want it to be good for you but they don’t know how to make that happen unless you tell them or you are willing to try different things and see what works.
That what works with one partner may not work at all with another
Anonymous
Realized that I wrote what I learned not what I thought that turned out to be wrong
– I thought it would be easy to tell someone I was comfortable getting naked with what I want, that guys knew what to do, that most people liked the same things and all of these are wrong
Anon
It brings you closer together.
Reality: if it’s bad, it can destroy a relationship.
Anon
That most women can orgasm from grinding (even with clothes on) even if they struggle with PIV. It’s also safe sex!
Anon
Whoops, I meant to say this the other way around – that it was wrong to think that PIV leads to reliable orgasm when it’s really grinding that can.
Anon
I don’t know if that most women thing is true given that well less than half (30% maybe?) can O from PIV, grinding or not. But I agree grinding is better than “poking,” as the tik tok lady says.
Anon
I thought that men always have a stronger drive than women. In my relationship we are pretty equal with being in the mood or not.
anon
That I actually can orga$m after all. Thank the baby Jesus.
Anonymous
That I would like it best if it was pre-planned and involved a candlelit room, romantic gestures from a long-term partner, and a lot of soft caressing.
Anon
Not about sex itself, but since I started using hormonal BC before I even started having sex, the biggest shocker for me, when I stopped using it, was how much my drive varied during my cycle. I just didn’t realize how much impact it was having.
Anonymous
I agree with this. Even DH has commented on the difference. Can’t get enough some times of the month and completely disinterested right before my period.
Anon.
This.
Anonymous
Maybe this is just me – but I swear my Os are more powerful/longer right after my period ends.
Anon
Well, I learned about sex primarily from reading fanfiction about vampires when I was 12, so I thought semen was cold.
Anon
hahahaha
pugsnbourbon
Oh my god I’m dying at this
anon
You win today!!!
Anonymous
LOL at the dress layered with the suit – WHY indeed
Anon
The “skirts” link shows why I cannot get used to sneakers with work clothes. I think every one of those photos look like a joke.
suit
I agree completely.
I mean WHY BOTHER to wear a theory suit if this is how you top it off.
For me, shoes are everything.
Anom
Also, the pockets on the back of the wrap skirt. Huh? That’s a lot of look (?) to wear to a client meeting…
Anon
But where else are you going to put you iphone? /s
Hollis
My eyes are getting to be more hooded over the years and now, my eyeliner smears around and basically dissipates into a smudgy mess throughout the workday. Does anyone here have a good reco for an eye primer, or other tricks, that will keep my eyeliner in place? I’ve tried liquid, gel and pencil eyeliners and haven’t had great luck with any of them.
Anon
Milani eye primer and Milani Stay Put Matte eyeliner. I have hooded eyelids too and wear both all the time. The beauty blogger I’ve followed for 11(!) years now says she wore the eyeliner through childbirth and it didn’t budge. It hasn’t budged on me either.
Here’s her video from December 2022 where she hands out her “Emily Awards” for the year and talks more about why they’re the best in class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTvKkKTys3o
(In 11 years, I’ve never once been displeased with a product she’s recommended.)
Anon
I looked at her videos based on a recommendation here, probably from you! I’d love to see someone do what she does with a more natural, less made-up look. She does some really deluxe dark eyeshadow looks that wouldn’t work for most of us in day to day life.
I also can’t remember to look at You Tube videos (I’m far more likely to look at IG) but that’s a separate issue.
He
Mac liquidlast eyeliner, it will not move or smear.
Anon
Do not put any moisturizing products on or around your eyes in the morning. That is usually the culprit. I agree to use long-wear products but even those can’t fight an eye cream.
Anon
Ps I do put eye cream under my eye at the inner corner, just not anywhere that can migrate to my lid, and that includes anywhere near the outer corner, even under the eye.
Cat
maybe just don’t wear it? i used to always use liner and then during Covid got used to just a sweep of powder. Alternatively, shadow sticks like Laura Mercier or Bobbi Brown can double as liner in the darker shades, and once those ‘cure’ they really last.
Annony
A little powder as a finishing step makes a difference for me.
Anon eyes
I had an upper blepharoplasty about 6 years ago. I’m so glad that I did this! My hooded eyes drove me crazy, I lifted my eyebrows to see better, and my eyemake up went everywhere. I was 61 when I did it, and I wish I had not waited so long. It was a quick recovery, I followed all the protocols re: after care, and it worked out very well. I recommend!
Senior Attorney
I did it when I was about 61, too (I joke that I had the very last elective surgery before the COVID shutdown), and it was totally worth it.
anon
Thanks for sharing this both of you. Genetically, I’m en route to this and have debated how long I should wait to have it done.
Can you share – how long was the “quick recovery”?
Anonymous
What is your favorite easy to do exercise for core strengthening?
As I’ve gotten into my 40s, I am realizing that my working out is walking, jogging etc. with some resistance band work. But then I use other muscles, say squatting down for an extended period of time to organize lower cabinets, my muscles feel tired. Yet I can go walk for miles and not be tired. I’m guessing I’m just not using certain muscles and want to change this, but I feel like if I take on something time commitment heavy like joining a pilates class or whatever, I won’t keep at it. Would love a few exercises I could do at home whenever it’s convenient.
Anon
Your post reminds me of how all the gym fit guys at my work with washboard abs were limping around the office the morning after the first company intramural softball practice.
Anon
Adding lifting to my cardio-heavy workout routine has been seriously life changing; I’m a huge advocate for everyone to add strength training into their routine. I usually take classes at my gym, but it doesn’t sound like you’re interested in that. So, my recommendation is the Peloton app. The app is $13/month and there are plenty of strength classes for which you don’t need any equipment.
The app is very user friendly, so you can easily sort strength classes by length, equipment needed, and area of focus. I would recommend adding in a 5 or 10 minute core class 3 days a week (on days after you run?) and a full body (or alternating upper body / lower body) class 1-2x a week. Core strength is immensely important for so many different aspects of life, but don’t neglect upper/lower body either.
Another great thing about the Peloton app is that they have yoga and stretching classes too. I try to fit in a 10 minute yoga or stretch 2-3x a week.
Peloton is constantly releasing new classes. In order to build strength, you’ll need variety (rather than just adding in a 1 min plank or 50 situps or whatever to your routine).
On days when I’m really swamped for time, I will just do a plank, pushup, and squat set. Something like 3 rounds of 30s plank, 15 pushups, 30 squats. I like doing this because there are so many variations I can do for each of the workouts.
For planks: high, low, plank rotations, side planks (high or low), side plank dips, plank up-downs, 1 arm or 1 leg planks (either held or switching and doing reps), add in spidermans or mountain climbers. With weights you could do renegrade rows.
For pushups: incline, knees, regular, diamond, tricep, hand release, decline, wide grip, pike
For squats: regular, sumo, one legged or pistol squat, curtsey, jump squat, plie squat, calf raise squat. You can add weights for goblet squat, suitcase squat, squat to overhead press, etc.
Anon
Planks, planks, and more blanks. And side planks.
lifer
+1
Planks are amazing. Just plop down on the floor at home, do one for a minute.
A friend keeps a post-it on her wall and adds a tic mark every day per plank. Over a month, where she was staying family during COVID and no longer had access to her gym/biking etc… she just did planks. Like randomly throughout the day, every day. Otherwise, she not quite as active since working from home. Eating ok though – home cooked meals, not a lot of take out.
Incredible results in just one month. Loss of inches and pounds. Whole body toning.
Planks are an amazing exercise. Make sure you are doing them correctly though.
anon
These are all easy to fit in and require no equipment https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Simple-Ab-Exercises-44475686/amp
Anon
Follow up question – doing ab exercises KILLS my lower back (I assume because I’m using my back muscles to compensate for weak ab muscles). Are there exercises that won’t strain my back?
pugsnbourbon
Try dead bugs and bird dogs.
anon
Often it is because your back is weak. Make sure you watch videos online to be sure you are engaging your core correctly.
Annony
The dead bug is a fantastic core exercise that, done properly, can really help protect your lower back. The key is keeping your lower back glued to the floor, so modify your leg extensions accordingly. If you have a stability ball, you can really help activate your core by holding it between your arms and knee, pressing in as you extend opposite arm/leg. Crunches on a stability ball can also help with neck strain & lower back stuff. You can also do a kind of reverse plank/bridge by putting your feet and ankles on the ball and raising your hips (shoulders on the ground) and using yoir core to stay balanced.
I won’t add the link but SELF magazine has a great how to on dead bugs
Anonymous
I’ve always heard you suck your abs in to protect your lower back (particularly when lifting) – for ab work I try to follow that also. Plus you’re supposed to be more concave to work the right muscles anyway.
Anon
I started planking last December and am on a streak of doing a plank every day in 2023. I started with about 15 seconds, and have worked my way up to 3 minutes a day (note: this is extremely boring), but I have noticed a difference in my core. About once a week, I do side planks instead of straight planks. I just added wall sits to my routine this week and hope to continue them as well.
anon
Great strategy. Well done.
Sunshine
I like this idea. And now I’ve started today. I like streaks, and this one would be an easy one to work into my WFH routine.
Anon
Pilates from an app? That’s really what you need.
anon
I find pilates works my core more than traditional crunches. I did a pilates workout recently on Fitness Blender where you lay on your back and have to keep your lower back pressed against the floor. Then you lift your legs up in various positions that start east and get more difficult. I could really feel it in my abs. Also workouts that require balancing help my core. I really like Fitness Blender, but a couple of friends like Blogilates.
Anon
+ 1 to Pilates. I also love yoga and ballet.
Runcible Spoon
My favorite easy exercise for core strengthening is to lie on my back, lift both legs and bend the knees so that your lower legs are parallel to the floor, and place your hands flat on the front of your thighs. Then pretend-cough so that your abdomen muscles tighten a bit, while pressing lightly with your hands against your thighs, back flattened against the floor. Try to relax your neck and shoulders, and center your head on a pillow. Hold for up to 30 seconds (work your way up to that length of time) then rest for 15 seconds and repeat; work your way up to three sets of 10-15 holds. If you feel the small of your back arching too high or getting fatigued, then you are done for the day with this exercise (because your fatigued target muscles are recruiting other muscles, which defeats the purpose of the exercise).
phone battery
I have the iphone XR and the battery life is really poor lately. I know there’s some built in obsolescence, but it seems so wasteful to buy a new phone just because of this. Has anyone here replaced a battery, and does it make any sense cost-wise (vs getting a new phone)?
Anon
Yes, years ago (pre-pandemic) Apple was offering a battery replacement service and it made a big difference for my phone. I think it was a temporary program though.
Cat
+1, I got almost another year out of my 6 as part of that program, but I don’t know if it’s still around. Worst case you can make an appointment and see.
Anon
Not that model, but I successfully replaced my iPhone battery using an I Fix It kit.
Anonymous
does anyone have zn affordable vitamin C serum you love? i’m out and have a few weeks before my next derm appt
Anon
Yes! Try the Revolution x Sali Hughes Must-C serum. You can get it on Amazon even though its a UK product.
Anon
https://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Skincare-London-Hughes-Must-C/dp/B09XJFZ4Q2/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Revolution+Skincare+London&qid=1683143769&rnid=2941120011&s=beauty&sr=1-13
Anon
Cerave 10% Vitamin C serum is my holy grail
Sunflower
Maelove
Credit Freeze?
How do I freeze my credit? Do I have to call each bureau? Frantically googling but if there’s a quick explanation, I’ll take it. I’ve had a fraudulent unemployment claim and separately got notification that my email address and phone number were changed on (an essentially inactive) credit card of mine.
Working to change lots of passwords as we speak but I think a freeze is the smartest move. TIA.
Anon
register as an identity theft victim at the federal level. Contact your credit card company obvs, but I think a credit card freeze is good. At least when I did it, I had to contact the three credit agencies individually. I have a permanent freeze but they’ll want to give you something like 90 days after a documented fraud incident.
Anon
* credit freeze, not credit card freeze
Cat
You can do it by setting up accounts on their webs-tes – Equifax, Tr-nsunion, and Experian. I did it proactively years ago and it took maybe half an hour total.
Anon
You don’t need to call, you can do it online. You’ve probably found the answer by googling already.
Anon
Yes you have to do it with each credit bureau individually, but there are only three of them so it’s not that time-consuming.