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.
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, the dress at right, 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
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
- Favorite comfy pants for an overnight plane ride?
- I’ve got a nasty case of tech neck…
- What’s a good place for a relaxing solo escape?
- What’s the best commuter backpack?
- I’m early 40s and worry my career arc is ending…
- I canNOT figure out the proportions in this current season of fashion…
- How is everyone wearing scarves in 2023?
- What shoes are people wearing to work between boot and sandal season?
- What’s a good place for a relaxing solo escape?
- What are some of your go-to outfits that feel current?
- I need more activities that are social, easy to learn and don’t involve extreme running/jumping/etc.
Dasha
A little short for work, no? And what’s with the elastic-looking waistband again?
Cat
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?).
Kate
Yes, much too short for work.
J
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!
GingerSnap
I love this dress and since I’m only 5’1″ I’m betting the length will be fine on me :)
Delta Sierra
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.
Anonymous
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 . . .
girltuesday
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.
Lynne J. DeVenny
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…
em
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.
Tamia
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!
Soundreader
That dress reminds me of a potato sack….
Jay
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.
Kate1
!!! Interesting comment, Jay. And, I though Monday’s black blazer was controversial.
Delta Sierra
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.
Rayne of Terror
This trench is similar, yet more professional and comes in sizes 6-20. Plus it’s marked down from $229 to $89.
http://www1.talbots.com/talbotsonline/product/itempage.aspx?item=E93986&PFID=521&BID=&h=M&sk=M
girltuesday
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.
Anonymous
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.
El
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.
kng
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)