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Thursday’s TPS Report: Gap’s Vena Cava Printed Khaki 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.

Women: Vena Cava printed khaki dress - motorcross khaki


For those with champagne taste but a beer budget, the flush of designer collaborations over the last few years with lower-priced stores (Target, H&M, etc) has been a godsend.

Gap's latest designer collection is getting rave reviews and is entirely available online.

Take, for example, this dress , designed by finalists of the 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, designers Lisa Mayock and Sophie Buhai of Vena Cava.

It's a simple cotton dress with a bold tribal print. It's not for everyone, but then, most designer clothes aren't. It's $88 at Gap. Women: Vena Cava printed khaki dress – motorcross khaki

Sales of note for 8/1/25

  • Nordstrom – The Anniversary Sale is open for everyone — here's our roundup! (ends 8/3)
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off wear-now styles + $50 off dresses and shoes + extra 60% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Boden – Up to 60% off plus extra 10% off sale — final reductions
  • Eloquii – $19+ select styles + extra 45% off all sale
  • Evereve – Sale on sale (thru Sunday)
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off summer styles + extra 50% off sale
  • J.Crew Factory – 60% off everything and extra 60% off clearance
  • M.M.LaFleur – 25% off all previous flash sale items! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
  • Rothy's – Final Few: up to 50% off
  • Spanx – Free shipping on everything
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + 25% off your entire purchase + extra 50% markdowns on top of that

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

20 Comments

  2. I like the top of this dress, and even don’t mind the elastic waist as much as I did the suit from yesterday’s… but, it’s too short for work on a tall person, and as I try to picture this on my shorter self, I suspect the proportions wouldn’t work very well (the sleeves would look too long perhaps?).

  4. I think this is gorgeous, and I’m going to try it on. I’m short, so I’m guessing it won’t be too short on me. I think the proportions will be fine on someone shorter. I’ll still try it on, though!

  6. It’s a very nice dress if the length is ok for you. A beige belt would cover the waist-gathers and not chop you up too much. So, sincere congratulations to all you size 10s and under. For the rest of us: do retailers realize what a slap in the face this is to bigger people? We go running off all excited, to Gap, whose other clothes go up to 16, but too bad, peasants, this stuff is just for the skinnies. Feh. Sorry. Just makes me grumpy.

  7. wow, am i the only one that thinks this is horrendous? and, that it doesnt look at all “designer”? please, I cant be the only one . . .

  8. delta sierra: i just twittered about that very point! i find the gap’s misguided (and, by my estimation, blatantly size-ist) efforts at cheap & chick unfortunate. even though i am a size 10, i do not want to support their efforts.

    apparently the gap missed this interesting fashion “trend” (such that it is): http://bit.ly/VSW0g.

  9. I can see a celebrity-model (Heidi? Tyra?) really working this dress in a casual social setting, but I can’t see a typical working woman in a conservative business environment carrying it off. Even though adding a belt would improve the unfinished, sort of home sewn look, it’s still too short for work. It might work for the office picnic…

  10. I agree, anon, this is hideous – looks like a cheap uniform of some sort with a painted-on pattern. Not cute, not long enough, and not appropriate for work.

  11. I like the dress from the Vena Cava collaboration–the khaki pants with their signature deco print at near the waist were interesting as well.

    The main draw, though, was the Alexander Wang moto jacket that was sold out online the day the collection was released. Quel disappointment!

  13. I realize I’m going to get hate on this, but….if you want to wear clothes that don’t come above a size 10, you could….lose weight? Why is it the retailers’/designers’ responsibility to design things for your body? Maybe the designers didn’t think the design would be flattering above a certain size. If they’re happy with their economic platform, and it doesn’t include bigger sizes, why should they change? Not that corporette couldn’t/shouldn’t feature clothes for a variety of people, but I don’t think she’s obligated to make sure that every item will be available in a size that will make everyone feel good about themselves.

  14. !!! Interesting comment, Jay. And, I though Monday’s black blazer was controversial.

  15. If it were that easy to lose weight, there wouldn’t be a zillion dollar weight-loss industry. Some people stay slim easily, some don’t. There’s a lot of research currently being done on the brain. Thirty years ago it was “ok” to tell depressed persons to just pull their socks up and get busy. These days we know it’s brain physiology and beyond the patient’s control. Betcha anything weight turns out to be the same thing in a few years.

  17. jay, i dont necessarily disagree that a designer has creative prerogative; i guess my problem is the gap just isnt one of those designers/companies. to the contrary, the gap holds itself out as appealing to the masses: a retailer that ordinarily offers contemporary clothing to women of all sizes (0 (xs)-20 (xxl)), including petite and tall sizes. i find it unfortunate that, unlike target’s affordable designer wear, which i believe runs through size 16, the gap has only offered limited editions in sizes xs-m. it doesnt even offer these designs in its own large sizes. it’s a rather an elitist approach to affordable fashion, which strikes me as inconsistent with the gap’s approach.

  18. There is no need to be concerned with what sizes this dress comes in– it is hideous and would be unflattering on anyone above a size 6. As for people size 6 and under, there are way way cuter dresses available. basically, this dress should not be offered in ANY size.

  19. Ditto girltuesday, and, for the record, not everyone over a size 10 needs to lose weight. Some people are just built that way. I am short with a small frame, but honestly about 25 lbs overweight and fit into a size 6. Do I need to lose weight? Sure. In contrast, many people who are taller than me wear 10s and 12s and they are not overweight at all.

  20. secretly i’m into this dress, but i think i need to see the fabric in person. the one gap i checked doesnt have the line. the fabric looked a little too chino pants to me… but i like the idea of it (and i’m a shortie so hem line is ok)

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