Thursday’s TPS Report: Ann Taylor LOFT Pleated Empire Dress
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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We begin the week in splurge mode, with our most expensive suggestions, and wind our way to Friday, where a less expensive item of clothing might be just what you need to make it to the weekend. We like this simple and sweet dress from Ann Taylor LOFT — it's a lot on the casual side, but it's still the kind of thing that can be dressed up for the office with a pair of closed-toe pumps and a cropped jacket. (Then, change into some strappy sandals and a wrap and head out on the town.) Clean lines, a few unique but unobtrusive details — such are the makings of a great summer dress. It's $69 at Ann Taylor LOFT (and comes in a great online-only color, Havana Blue, as well as black). Ann Taylor LOFT Pleated Empire DressSales of note for 1/16/25:
- M.M.LaFleur – Tag sale for a limited time — jardigans and dresses $200, pants $150, tops $95, T-shirts $50
- Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
- AllSaints – Clearance event, now up to 70% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code — readers love this blazer, these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
- DeMellier – Final reductions now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
- Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off; new markdowns just added
- J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything
- L.K. Bennett – Archive sale, almost everything 70% off
- Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
- Sephora – 50% off top skincare through 1/17
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Summersalt – BOGO sweaters, including this reader-favorite sweater blazer; 50% off winter sale; extra 15% off clearance
- Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 50% off + extra 20% off, sale on sale, plus free shipping on $150+
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
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- 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…
This is terrible. It’s too short for work, and the smocking and ruching is incredibly juvenile. It just looks cheap.
A lot on the short side, too. Plus, nothing especially pretty about it either. not to mention from the looks of it, bra’s and panties worn underneath this dress may contour a little too much through the thin fabric?
That dress is way too short to be appropriate office attire.
I agree that it could be easily dressed up, but it looks like its close to two dollar bills above the knee.
I don’t love this dress either, but the length is really something that depends on the person who’s wearing it — yes, it looks too short on the model, but on someone like me who is *not* model height, it may well cover the knees.
I’m 5’3″ and dresses that are that length on models in pictures tend to be a demure knee length on me. And it’s not like 5’3″ is THAT short; plenty of women are in my position on this one.
I agree that this dress is way too casual, even if worn with a jacket/blazer.
I agree…plus with Ann Taylor Loft’s often cheap (and cheaply cut) fabrics, I bet in person this looks more suitable for the beach. But it might be passable in black.
Ann Taylor/Loft/Outlet used to be my go-to store for clothing that I would like, would fit me, and would not break the bank but one of the two of us has shifted styles and now I rarely see anything I like there anymore. So sad.
Good Lord, lots of hate for C today! No one is forcing you to buy it. I don’t think I’d wear it to work either, but I think it would be cute for the beach or at least more interesting than jeans on a summer Saturday.
I agree that you would definitely have to dress this up for work. I could see it paired with perhaps a simple black wide belt, fitted suit jacket, and a beaded necklace to draw attention away from the neckline.
I absolutely agree with Jay. I don’t think this could be pulled off even in a fairly casual office. But I would absolutely wear this out on the weekends with some cute flats or sandals and with one or two pieces of fun statement jewelry. I don’t know about the weather where everyone else is, but I live in the south and it is most definitely spring here!
Cute dress, but too casual for the workplace (at least for a law firm).