Splurge Monday’s Workwear Report: The City Layered Blazer
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
This wool blazer from Favorite Daughter is just a gorgeous specimen. I love the button placement and the notched lapels, but the selling point for me is really the cotton-cashmere cuff accents that give the look of layering without the warmth or bulk.
I would wear this with some comfy athleisure pants for a travel day when I wanted to look pulled-together or with dark trousers for a great business casual look.
The blazer is $348 and comes in sizes XXS-XXL.
Sales of note for 9/11:
- Nordstrom – End of season clearance, up to 50% off
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase + extra 15% off when you spend $200
- Anthropologie – Extra 50% off sale! The reader favorite wide leg pants come down crazy low in some colors/fabrics, but they're down to lucky sizes
- Athleta – 30% off select styles (including my favorite sweatshirts as well as these reader favorite pants) + extra 30% off sale
- AYR – Archive sale, up to 60% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles – readers love these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
- CVS – Epic beauty sale, $10 off when you spend $30
- Design Within Reach – the semiannual sale, 25% off everything! (readers love the Herman Miller Aeron and Sayl!)
- J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off all stores, plus an extra 10% off when you buy a pair of jeans
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added, exclusively online)
- M.M.LaFleur – Labor Day Sale Event, save sitewide! (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Extra 40% off select clearance
- Talbots – Buy one get 50% off everything
- Theory – End of season sale is on!
Thanks to everyone who explained why belts aren’t always worn (reminded by looking at the outfit on this model.) It’s still jarring, but at least I no longer consider it an error.
If you were building a work wardrobe from scratch, what are the absolute basics you would buy? Assume business casual, no need to wear a full suit every day but some blazers are needed.
I would start with plain black pants that fit well, at least two different cuts. Once I find those, a pair of grey or blue in one of the cuts would be the next step. After that, find shoes that work with those pants. Only then would I turn my attention to tops.
I would think in terms of outfits and core colors, rather than gather individual items. I’d start with a week’s worth in colors that coordinate: 1 suit, 2 pairs pants in different cuts / colors, 2 toppers (1 blazer, 1 cardigan, lady jacket, bomber, etc) and 5 tops that go with all the items (shirts, blouses, shells, elevated t-shirts — whatever you wear). Flats or heels that go with all.
It’s work to buy these items in colors and proportions that go together well, but if I were starting from scratch, this would get a good foundation for a new wardrobe.