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 TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Happy Thursday! Today we're liking this cashmere merino wool cowl neck sweater. It strikes us as a great transition piece as we swing into spring, and we like the way the cowl almost looks like an infinity scarf around the neck. We'd probably wear it with a brooch, and perhaps try a belt over it as well. It's on sale at Nordstrom's — was $128, now $75, still available in sizes S-XL in red and a dusky blue. Classiques Entier ‘Bella Lana' Cowl Neck Sweater
If you've recently seen a great work piece you'd like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we'll refer to you by your first initial.
(L-2)
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
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…
Anonymous
This is merino wool, not cashmere.
How does one wear a brooch with this type of sweater? I’d be concerned that, if I pinned it to the flat part of the sweater, it would pull the knit and leave larger holes, and if I pinned it to the cowl neck the weight of the brooch might distort the neckline into an office-inappropriate plunge.
Louise
The sweater is pretty; I like that tomato red. But am I the only one who doesn’t “get” short-sleeved sweaters? If I’m cold enough to wear wool/cashmere, I’m way too cold for short sleeves. Even with a jacket over the sweater, I want the extra layer at my elbows and wrists.
I do get occasional hot flashes these days, so what I *really* need is something warm that can be ripped off at a moment’s notice…
M in CA
Maybe it depends on where you live and your own body temperature? :) I wear short-sleeved sweaters all the time. I live in a (mostly) warm-weather driving town and they’re perfect in winter. I’d be way too warm in a long-sleeved sweater and suit jacket on most days, but a short-sleeved sweater keeps me just warm enough. Today’s sweater seems like it would be a perfect fit in my wardrobe! (Probably because it looks like a bunch of stuff I already own and feel comfortable wearing, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?)
KLo
I’m with M, I adore short sleeved sweaters in the Deep South and Mid Atlantic. And I really dig the red – but I have problem with wool being too itchy, so I’ll leave this one for y’all.
MelD
As M in CA points out, I really think it depends on where you live. I live in FL, and in the winter we’ll often start the morning in the 40s and end the day in the 70s. I have a type of car that gets warm inside even when it’s about 55 out, so I feel much more comfortable being able to drive in short sleeves and then layering a long-sleeved blazer/suit jacket with a light trench if it’s too cold outside.
lawdiva
I love short sleeved sweaters, and am wearing one today. I live in the mid-Atlantic and while it is somewhat cold today, my office is always warm and I get hot wearing a lot of long sleeved. I have noticed, however, that most women at my firm wear long sleeved shirts/sweaters.
Delta Sierra
Louise: I am with you about short-sleeved sweaters. I used to love them, but now, with evil hot flashes, I have to have a thin sleeveless shell as my base layer, with opens-down-the-front things over it. Shoes that I can surreptitiously slip off under the table/desk are helpful, too.
Corporate Tool
I actually like them to go over button-downs. Warm, and slightly dressier (sans jacket) than the sweater on its own.
Louise
Well, since I live all over the country (we travel full-time in our motorhome), I guess it is less about climate than about personal interior thermometer. I figured I must be in the minority, because I see short-sleeved sweaters everywhere. Other folks must love them!
zebra
Same model as yesterday!
RoadWarriorette
I noticed that! She looks kind of crazy right? Or is that just me….
Anonymous
Off topic, but I need some help figuring out what to wear over a black sheath dress I bought recently. It’s a heavier fabric and has a very high neckline, and I feel like all of my cardigans are too low cut to wear with it. I’d love to find a blazer for it, but I’ve been having trouble figuring out what color would work – obviously not basic black, but could I get away with a grey? Or should I be experimenting with red/other bright colors?
ClerkChic
I love gray over black, especially with a rich black broach or something on the jacket to pull it all together. “Professional” colors like rich burgundy, green, blue, etc. can also look quite nice. For a more casual day, I like a shrug like this.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3088449/0~2376776~2374327~6012183~6012199?pbo=3088449&origin=quickView&searchtype=
JSB
A v-neck cardigan in pretty much any color besides black or navy would work I think. Maybe a nice camel color or even a bright hue if you’re adventurous. I’d pair the combo with a nice necklace that falls mid-way below the collar of the sheath and the top of your chest. With jackets – again any color. I think a grey as your suggested would be beautiful, especially if paired with lovely grey pearls. I’d look for jackets with shaping that cut into the body – avoid boxy shapes.
MelD
Red would be great, as would a nice turquoise if that’s a color that looks good on you. If you want a fun look, you can also try a patterned, v-neck cardigan.
Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Is it acceptable to wear brown shoes with black?
zee
I bet it depends on the color of brown (such as the navy/black rule C talks about: if it looks like you got dressed in the dark, don’t do it), but I’ve probably seen black shoes with brown more than brown shoes with black.
Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
It is a pair of chocolate brown shoes that match my skin tone, but I don’t want to buy a pair of shoes and can only wear them with jeans.
zee
It seems to me that shoes that match you skin tone are nude shoes and meant to be worn as such (elongate your legs with skirts of any color), but people may disagree with me on that.
LYA
I’ve been told this is dated advice, but I still find it useful: If you are hesitant about pairing black and brown (e.g., brown/ nude shoes, black slacks), try carrying a handbag that matches the shoes, or matching a layer or some other accessory to the color of the shoes.
LPC
Black pants, maybe, with a black/brown top? But I think it’s really hard to pull off. Black shoes with brown is much easier. Honestly, lighter shoes than clothes rarely reads well in corporate land. I think we want to know that people have feet:).
Sharon
I’ve tried pulling black and brown together with scarfs, necklaces, etc. and it just never works for me.
Chocolate brown and a navy that is one shade above true navy looks nice, though. I used to have an Escada suit ensemble (two jackets, one pair pants, one skirt) and spectator pumps in those colors. Yum. Ah, the nineties.
KLo
If the brown shoe happens to be a skin-toned shoe, I think it would be a no-brainer with skirts (absolutely yes! legs for days are always something we strive for, right?? I say go for it!). With pants however, skin-toned shoes don’t have the same punch, and it might look like you got dressed in the dark.
Erin M.
This is a question where if you ask 5 people you will get 10 opinions.
I hate brown and black together, but will wear brown and gray or navy and black. I have a friend who tells me this is a sure sign of mental illness, but she wears brown and black. I think she is the crazy one.
Just make sure that it doesn’t look like you accidentally put on the wrong pair of shoes (i.e., make sure there’s some other brown somewhere in the outfit) and no one will judge you for it.
SUCL 3L
I’m with you 100% about the color combinations. I’m sure it is possible to mix brown and black, I’ve just never done it before. However, I like the way navy & black and brown & gray look together.
After years of watching What Not to Wear, I’m pretty sure all of the above color combinations are ok. If Stacy and Clinton tell me it’s ok, I’ll go along.
s-k-s
What else are you wearing with the black? Do they seem like colors that match well with th brown, or will they make the brown shoes stick our even more?
Anne Vohl
Regarding the sweater, I have that in a somewhat lighter-weight knit, so the short sleeves do make good sense. I bought it to wear under jackets, and it works pretty well in that regard. But…mine is pewter gray, slightly on the metallic side, and that makes it work well with many different kinds of jackets.