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Thursday’s TPS Report: Ponte cowl neck dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Ponte cowl neck dressReader C wrote in to rave about this dress for the plus-sized readers. “It's a great dress, really comfortable and really flattering. Also, the website says it has an elastic belt, but that's not true on mine. Just a regular skinny patent leather belt.” Nice! It's on sale at Lane Bryant — was $80, now $55 online (although reader C notes that she got hers for $44 at the store). Ponte cowl neck dress 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-0)

Sales of note for 1/1/25 (HAPPY NEW YEAR!):

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

33 Comments

  1. It’s a cute dress (and look) but not for most workplaces. I’m having trouble picturing this girl standing beside a girl in a pencil skirt and a button down – I’m all for venturing outside of the standard corporate uniform, but you still need to look like you’re all working in the same office.

    1. i think this would work just fine in a lot of places if you lost the boots and chunky bracelet and subbed in heels and say diamond studs.

      1. I agree. I have a very similarly-shaped/colored dress from J.Crew (granted, it is super 120s, but same idea) and it stands up quite nicely next to suits and pencil skirts. It’s all in how you “do” it.

    2. I have a similar dress that I wear beltless, with hose, pumps and a long string of pearls and it’s completely work appropriate. I throw on a jacket for meetings.

  2. I like the fact that the cowl neck doesn’t show too much skin. I just bought a cowl neck sweater online from Nordstrom but I have to return it because it shows way too much skin and I’m tired of wearing camis underneath everything!

    1. So agree with you about camis. Kills me to see a lot of nice dresses/tops that would be great in the office, except for the neckline. Some of them the stores put in their Wear to Work section. Where do these people think we work?! The gaming floor in Las Vegas?

      1. I’m right with you guys on this one. I’m also hating all the new silk tops this spring that are totally sheer.

        1. Yes. Sigh. I really want some new tops in pretty light colors but everything I try on is completely sheer.

      2. I so agree about the camis. I have about 4 or 5 camis in an assortment of colors – black, white, brown and navy and sometimes by the end of the week they’re all in the hamper! Sick of having to wear camis with everything.

  4. It all depends on the office environment, obviously, but I feel if you are plus-sized you kind of have to go out of your way to look a little more professional/put together. If everyone is wearing shapely suits and you are the large girl wearing a shapeless dress … it just sends the wrong message. (I’m speaking from experience as the large girl here, not trying to insult anyone.)

    That said, I like the dress – but only if it works with what the rest of your office environment is.

    1. Anono,
      As a fellow plus-sized girl, I would be interested to know where you find professional structured work items. I have trouble finding structured pieces and always feel like a stand out because I don’t have nice structured suits.

      1. Talbot’s Women is the place to go. I prefer to wear “women’s” petite blouses and shells because they do not gap or pull at the bust. In a regular petite, tops never have enough bust space, but I find that their 14 or 16 women’s petite blouses, women’s petite “x” sleeved knits, and women’s petite “1x” tanks fit great without any gapping or pulling. Plus, they have darts in the right places for fit on the blouses and higher armholes and necklines on the knits to avoid overexposure. The knit tanks do show wear after two or three seasons, but I buy them on sale for about $20 each, so I consider that a good deal.

        My luck on the Talbot’s women’s jackets has been mixed, but still decent. Talbot’s has gone very strongly towards separates (lots of print or tweedy jackets with solid pants, and relatively few skirts), but there are one or two good “suit” combinations a season, often with either a skirt and pants or a dress and pants to go with the jacket. I do not wear the women’s pants or skirts (I take a 12 or 14 petite off the rack, depending on cut), but they appear to be made comparably to the regular pieces with linings, details, etc. Note that some of their women’s pieces have elastic on the pants and skirts that you might want to cover with a belt. If you do not have a local Talbot’s Women store near you, they have a great on-line selection and regular sales.

        I have a friend who wears a size 20 or 22 and she also does really well with the Liz Claiborne “Elizabeth” line (she buys the jackets and pants/skirts as separates from a line meant to work as a suit), Jones New York Woman, Tahari/Larry Levine Woman (available at Macy’s) , Kasper for Women (also at Macy’s, but be careful on quality and fabric, they do a lot of polyester that should be avoided) and (on the pricey end) Eileen Fisher Woman (not as structured on a lot of items, but one or two suits a year are all right for work) and Dana Buchman Woman. She gets a lot of pieces at the various outlet stores and she always looks very professional.

        1. I second this recommendation. When wearing pieces from Talbot’s Woman I do not feel so out of place standing beside my “straight size” co-workers in their suits from Ann Taylor, BR, and J.Crew.

          1. All hail Talbots. I occasionally find pieces other places, but the bulk of my work wardrobe comes from Talbots – pantsuits, skirt suits, underpinnings, hosiery, etc. I feel perfectly stylish in my Talbots suits. And there are usually good options of several different jackets and several different pant/skirt options so that everyone can put together a look that works for them. The current seasonless wool collection is great. And their matte jersey suiting, although not my favorite fabric, does drape beautifully and wear extremely well – and long.

          2. also – lane bryant outlet has a lot of suits. it’s weird b/c if you go in an LB store they usually don’t have ANY suits, but there are tons of options at the outlets

      2. Macy’s (especially online) has some very nice plus sized options. I’ve also had some luck at Nordstroms. For either, it’s best to find a larger one in your region, it seems that the size and quality the “Women’s” section is the first to get cut in smaller stores.

      3. Seriously. As a plus-sized woman, all I ever see is shapeless crap that I hate, and that looks bad. Sorry to rant about it, but, ugh! Do thin people actually think that I CHOOSE to look frumpy when I’m only 29? Not quite!

        1. For the life of me, I cannot understand the postings that I see from my fellow plus size sisters who say that they cannot find suitable clothing. Although we probably have to search a little harder and be a little more creative, there are lots of choices out there. Along with the discussion here, there have been previous discussions on this subject. And, as someone else already posted–tailoring makes a world of difference.

          https://corporette.com/2010/02/12/holiday-weekend-open-thread-3/#comments

          https://corporette.com/2010/01/29/weekend-open-thread-26/#comments

          Also, there are a handful of decent plus size blogs where you can pick up tips regarding stores and labels.

    2. Basically ditto to the above, especially Talbots and the plus-sized section of department stores. Jones New York Woman and Anne Klein Woman have been good to me.

      And (this goes for all sizes) – take it to the tailor! It’s amazing what a few alterations can do.

    1. I think the Athleta dress would likely look better on me than the Lane Bryant one. The LB dress’ cut makes me suspect that it would not be flattering on anyone carrying weight in their bust, tummy or hips. In my specific case, I’m betting I would look pregnant in it. It’s too shapeless in the stomach area and something about the placement of that belt emphasizes the model’s bust and tummy, not in a flattering way. But I like the 3/4 sleeves and cowl neck. On the other hand, the Athleta dress seems more tailored, less shapeless.

  7. FYI: 30% off full price orders of $100 or more at Ann Taylor.com. Code 30MORE.

    1. You rock! I’ve had clothing in my shopping cart at AnnTaylor.com for weeks now–was hoping to wait to get 30% off. Just made my day! :)

      1. FYI – Ann Taylor is also having an in store sale Saturday, March 6th from 1-5 – 40% off when you buy 3 regularly priced items or 25% off when you buy 2 regularly priced items.

  8. Just butting in to say that I would love to see more pant-suits featured. I feel a lot of the suits featured are skirt suits. Thanks!

    1. Have to agree – I’m not sure that I can ever recall C posting pants in a TPS report!

        1. ETA: Also there have been numerous pantsuits. I know I bought at least one Anne Klein suit C featured last year.

  9. As a long time Lane Bryant shopper, I’ve found that my problem with their dresses is that they are almost always unlined. Even with shapers/slips, dresses made from the sometimes flimsy material Lane Bryant features look better with lining in order to skim rather than cling to the trouble areas. I’ve had decent luck with their skirts and jacket separates, and occasionally with trousers, but I’ve overall been somewhat disappointed with the quality lately. I do really appreciate C featuring a plus-size clothing item, however! And, once you are on the Lane Bryant coupon email list, you can get things at ridiculous prices, which makes it easier to justify some of the trendier items they offer.

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