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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 53 Comments · by

Tuesday’s TPS Report: Deco Dress

Fashion· The Personal Shopper (TPS) | ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We're loving this “deco” dress from Le Train Bleu — we like the ruching, the starburst pattern, the slight boatneck, and the unusual sleeves. We'd wear it with an opera-length necklace or brooch, and perhaps suede pumps with a bit of color — purple or red. To make it even sweeter, the site is celebrating Cyber Monday for 3 days — through midnight (PST) on Wednesday, get 30% off your entire order with code “cybermonday” at checkout. This dress was $173, will be $121.70 after the discount. Deco 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. Also — click here for our affiliate disclosures. (L-0)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

Comments

  2. Anastasia Beaverhausen

    Cute dress, but “it runs just a wee bit small” AND it’s only available in XS? Pass. My left thigh wouldn’t be able to wear it!

  3. TX1978

    I L-O-V-E this dress! Am thinking of getting it, but not sure about the sizing. Has anyone here tried it, or tried something else from the maker??

    On a related aside: Does anyone else find sizing to be a huge problem in our “vanity sizing” times? I have to get the tiniest sizes from most mass market retailers & somewhere in the medium or even large from more fashionable sources, and I never know whether a company has switched to vanity sizes, as sometimes they’ll do so totally out of the blue. My closet is filled with clothes in sizes 2-8 (that all fit me at the same time), and I hate ordering items online (the sizing charts do not help). Does anyone out there really feel better buying a size 6 now that would have otherwise been a size 10 a few years ago? We still all look the same! Any advice on how to deal would be appreciated. I would rather not order multiple sizes, just to send stuff back.

    • R

      I agree with you on the vanity sizing! I don’t care what the tag says; I just want to be able to know what size is going to fit me without having to try on 8 different sizes. Whether the tag says 2, 10, or 20, the only thing that matters is that it looks fabulous on you (and for us busy girls, that it’s easy to buy!)

      • LPC

        At Macy’s I couldn’t even fit a ZERO! And believe me, I exist. While at Banana Republic, I am a rather cheerful 6.

        • S.

          I’m confused. I wear size 12 at Gap-brand stores (inc. Banana Republic) (also in Theory, strangely enough) and yet somehow I’ve never found anything at Macy’s or Target where I wore anything other than, well, a size 12. What brands am I ignoring? (I mean, I’d love to wear a size 6. I never have, though.)

          As much as I’d love to wear the same size in all brands, this is somewhat unrealistic. However, if a brand could stay relatively similar to itself, I’d be happy.

        • Mel^2

          I remember I was looking for suits a few years ago at Macy’s and was told in no uncertain terms that there were no suits for my size except in the junior department. I have no problem with pants/skirts where I am anywhere from a 2-6 in other stores, but up top I wear about a 0 except in some brands that cut the arms too thin. Anyone else been having that issue lately? I’ve been having trouble with BR and a few other brands having such tiny armholes that I can’t pull them all the way up the arm.

      • Kim

        Ugh, I hate it too – it means I’m never sure what size to order online! Thus I don’t order online. I guess you could keep a list in your purse/phone of your sizes at various stores.

      • carissa

        “I don’t care what the tag says”; good for you! That is fantastic, but most women live & die by what the number says on the size tag.

        What is it with women and body delusion? I just gave a friend a dress for her birthday, size L. She said, “I’m thinking skinny give me the M”. My husband and I glanced at eachother and both said NO.

        Live in reality, today, right now.

    • v

      If it helps, think of all the modern-day size 14 and 16 women who couldn’t shop in 90% of stores ten years ago and now have a chance of finding something that fits; statistically speaking, there’s more of them than people on the other end. Though, of course, every woman should be able to find nice, well-fitting professional and casual clothing. The real problem is that such limited sizes are manufactured.

      I don’t think we’ll ever crack the sizing problem when ordering things on-line. Even if sizes were standardized across brands (and within brands), a size 8 that’s fitted in one place is going to fit very differently on any given woman than a size 8 that’s fitted in another place; very few people are fit model proportions all over. I think the best you can do is know your measurements and make your best guess.

      • J

        So true, V! I own clothing in sizes ranging from a 4 to a 10, and as much of the variation is due to differences in the cut as to differences in the brand. I happen to be large-chested, short-waisted, slim-hipped, large-thighed, and short-but-not-petite (not exactly a “model” size anything)! Frankly, it’s a miracle that I own any clothing that fits properly!

    • t

      I wish we could just do sizing like men: waist circumference, and inseam length (if long pants).

      • Lynette

        Yes, but most men then go on to have their clothing tailored to fit. Something that most women still refuse to embrace.

    • anon

      Oh my god, yes. I’ve been within 5 lbs of the same weight for a decade, and in that time I have gone from a size 6-8 to a size 0-2. All those clothes still fit, so it’s not like my proportions have somehow changed. I’m at the recommended weight for my height, and yet I fear that within a few years I may no longer be able to shop in the adult sections of normal stores if the trend continues. It would be one thing if I were really underweight, but I’m not!! I’m all for increasing the options available for people who weigh more, but it seems insane to eliminate sizes for people who are in the 20-25 BMI category.

      • s-k-s

        Am I living on a different planet than everyone on this thread? I mean, I know sizing does vary greatly between stores/ brands, but I certainly haven’t found myself “sized out” of anything over the last 10 years, or even 20 years. I generally wear between an 8, 10, or 12 depending on the brand, and have for a long time … I’m kind of confused about someone who was a size 6 relatively recently, wihtout losing weight, can no longer find clothes small enough?

        • TX1978

          It’s less a matter of not finding clothes small enough, and simply certain brands that used to fit now being too roomy.

          It’s not true across the board — certainly not the case with most “designer” clothing, but I find that the cheaper or more “mass market” an item is, the larger the sizing tends to run. I am not sure why this is happening, other than maybe some vague notion on the part of retailers that someone who would be willing to spend $1000 on a dress, e.g., would also be willing to eat a lot less to look “great” in it.

          The craziest experience I have is in vintage store where I find myself barely fitting into a size 8 from even the mid-90s, when I wore a size 2/4 (2009) to work that morning.

        • anon

          I guess it is the very same women who complain about their boobs being too big or having too much money. Life. Is. Hard.

          • TX1978

            I don’t think it’s the same at all (and I do think sometimes your boobs might be too big, too :) ).

            The complaint is that clothes are sized all over the place & that this makes it hard to shop online. I don’t think anyone is seriously suggesting they are so tiny that they can’t find any clothes to fit. While that may a problem for some really tiny among us, the vanity sizing is for everyone. They make “negative zero” sizes now! So if you were a 6, you’re now a 2 . . .except at some retailers, where you’re still a 6, and at others where you’re a 4!

            The gripe is that it’s all over the place, and that it’s stupid. It’s not “woe as me, ain’t I adorably little!”

          • v

            It does feel like a slightly more subtle version of complaining about how fat you are to your much-fatter friend. Sure, inconsistent sizing is annoying for everyone (though I still hold it’s unavoidable if you can’t afford bespoke clothing), but it is worthwhile to spend a few minutes considering whether one is voicing one’s frustration in such a way that it will be hurtful and/or insulting to anyone larger than oneself.

          • Mel^2

            Wow, I don’t think that’s what we’re trying to say at all. All we’re saying is that it would be nice to be able to go online and know what size will fit us. For men, it’s as easy as knowing a few measurements and you’re good to go. With women, everything is cut so differently that a size 6 in one brand could be the same size as a size 12 in another. Even something as simple as a different measurement in the hips/bust can throw off what size you wear in a certain brand.

          • Tidy

            Haha there is SO such a thing as having boobs that are too big. I wear a 34 H. As is HUGE. I look slutty in a turtleneck. It sucks.

          • PurrpleGrrl

            I totally understand the sentiment re: people who can’t find clothes small enough, but as a very short and petite person who has to wear suits, I can tell you, I have ended up in tears in the mall because NOTHING WILL FIT ME, and I just can’t afford, (while still in law school especially) to get things made to fit. Even alterations can almost double the price of suits in my range. Yet, if I wear clothes that don’t fit me, I look like a kid playing dress-up in Mommy’s clothes, which is not so professional.

            So, sorry, if it sounds like “woe is me,” but it’s not fun. At all.

          • R

            See, that’s not true. I was the first to second the annoyance at vanity sizing, and I’m not small. I’m plus size. And still completely annoyed by vanity sizing. I don’t care what the tag says. I just want to know what size I am in a particular brand. I don’t need it to be all over the place to make me feel better about the number. What makes me feel better is looking good in my clothes.

            So, it’s not at all just the smaller girls who are annoyed at vanity sizing. As someone who is heavier, I just don’t understand the offense being taken here at all.

  4. L

    Looks a bit above knee. I do like it but it seems like it would look funny under a jacket or sweater.

  8. Anonymous

    The description of this dress says “v-back” but there are no pictures. How deep is the V?

  10. Clerky

    I need some advice on bras. I bought several from Victoria Secret last year and none of them fit anymore — namely, the cups have become distorted and are now too big, and it’s not because I have lost weight. I’m wondering if this is because I put them in the washer/dryer without any sort of protective covering. How do you keep your bras in good shape?

    Thanks ladies!

    • Res Ipsa

      Clerky: My tips for making them last long: Wash them in a lingerie bag, cold water only, and always air dry on a laundry rack. That said, you’re allegedly supposed to replace them every 12-18 months, so if you’ve been wearing them regularly and throwing them in the dryer, it’s probably time to buy some new ones anyway.

      • L

        I wash them regularly (warm/cold) but always air dry on the rack. Haven’t had a problem except sometimes when the underwires come out of the bras on the sides, and then sometimes get lost in the washer. A lingerie bag should fix that though.

    • newassociate

      i worked at victoria’s during college and was indoctrinated in lingerie care. i’m sorry to say that your lingerie needs more gentle care than machine wash and dry. an inconvenient truth, so to speak.

      part of the care depends on the type of bra. if you wear molded bras (also known as t-shirt or contour bras i.e. bras that have their own shape), it’s best to hand wash because the padding/lining gets mangled in the washing machine. then reshape the cups, smoothing out any wrinkles so that the bra stays nicely seamless for the next wear, and lay flat to dry. if you hang dry, it stretches out the bra.

      i wear molded bras so i do the hand wash. fill a sink (not kitchen sink, which has leftover chemicals in it sometimes) or a clean stockpot with cold water, add a little lingerie wash and throw the bras in. i gently squish mine a bit so that the wash gets into the padding. then let them soak for a few/ten/whatever minutes. squish them around again for good measure and then rinse/gently squish under clean cold running water.

      if you wear unlined bras i.e. bras without their own shape, you can wash them in the machine on the delicate cycle in a lingerie bag. still lay flat to dry, though in a pinch you can hang these up by both straps on the hanger (hung like a shirt). never hang by only one strap, as that will also stretch out and distort the bra.

      never put your bra in the dryer. it destroys the lycra and other fabrics that keep the bra’s shape. when the lycra disintegrates, the bra loses its “cut” and becomes stretched out and misshapen. dryer use is a guaranteed way to ruin bras in no time at all.

      good luck!

      • Clerky

        This is extremely helpful, thanks all! I wear molded bras with some padding so I guess I’m resigned to hand washing. Newassociate, your hand washing technique sounds relatively painless so I’ll try that.

    • WestCoastLaw

      I have had horrible luck with VS bras holding up. They always go out of shape on me, and I wash with GREAT care.

      Additionally, I HIGHLY recommend going to Nordstrom or other higher end dept. store for a real fitting. You don’t have to buy $80 bras, but the education is wonderful. If you’re shy it might be a bit out of your comfort zone, but my first fitting at Nordstrom (I’d been fitted at VS several times before) CHANGED my life. Sandy waited on me for about 45 minutes as we found the perfect fit, and I’ve never looked at bras the same way since.

      You should go back and get sized again every couple of years, since things change with the passing years.

      • Clerky

        WestCoastLaw — good idea on the Nordstrom fitting. The people at VS have been inconsistent with my fittings (one said 34B, another said 34C), so maybe I need to try someplace else. Thanks all.

      • newassociate

        second on nordstrom sizing. our bodies change with time, so it’s important to get a bra fitting every few years. a properly fitted bra can really work wonders in comfort and appearance.

        though i worked at victoria’s, i do not endorse their products or staff. none of my lingerie is from vs. while there are of course great employees at vs, as with any store, nordstrom’s has a consistently well trained staff. i find the calvin klein line fits my small, high bust and narrow shoulders best.

      • Delta Sierra

        WCL, thanks for sharing this. I’ve always wondered about going in somewhere for a fitting, but I’ve noticed that VS seems to have a high staff turnover, never see the same people there twice, so how good can their training and experience be? So I’ll head to Nordies and try to find a Sandy.

        I’ll try to buy something from her, too, since they get a commission. A friend works for them, did you know that their commissions are held back for a while, in case you return the whatever, and if you do they lose the commission? Seems harsh. I suppose they have to do it, since you could have your friends come in and buy-and-return wads of stuff from you just to bump up your commission, but still.

        p.s. I once got into an exchange of e-mails with a fitter from one of the quality bra manufacturers, can’t remember which one, I was trying to sign up for a fitting event at a local store, the fitting-appointment fell through, no one’s fault, but I’d complained about my bras always riding up, drove me nuts. She said, try a tighter band. Now the advice seems like ‘well, duh’, but it had never occurred to me. So I tried it, and wow, SO much better. Went up a cup size, too, to handle the re-distribution of my, um, assets.

  12. Lawgirl

    I find a few labels that fit and I stick to it. Generally, anybody’s 6 fits me, but some will fit better than others… And if I lose 7-10 lbs, I go down to 4s… The more expensive, the better the fit, IMHO.

  13. Anne Vohl

    I put all of my bras in the washer and dryer always, and they last forever. The reason is – they were expensive to begin with. It’s a good idea to buy a few expensive bras, and then run to Target for a few specialty bras – runner-back, low cut, ot whatever you need for special outfits. About that black dress, beautiful, but not for work – not around here, at any event.

    • Samantha

      I run all my bras through the washer/dryer cycle too. Who has time to handwash? Also, I do laundry every week (a whites load and a colors load) so it doesnt seem realistic (or green) to run a separate ‘delicates’ load just for a few bras (7, because I wash every wear). I get cheap bras from Target/VS sales/even Walgreens (one of the best bras I got! but couldnt find it again), and buy new ones every year or so.
      Yes, sometimes there’s a little folding visible through my t-shirt (non-underwired bras that get some folds in the padding material) but if that happens I throw on a cami on top of the bra. I have some camis from Express/Gap etc that are a lycra cotton blend and generally smooth things out.
      I am small busted, not sure if that’s why I dont have a huge problem with bras getting misshapen as others here have noted. (Tidy – how about you and I average out our assets? :) I’d love to have a little more curvature up top!

      • Mel^2

        I don’t have that many problems either and I always put my bras in the wash/dryer. I tend to get decent bras at places like Marshalls/TJ Maxx or from the sale racks at department stores. The only time I have a problem with the folds is if somehow they end up inside out in the wash. The wires sometimes get misshapen, but usually I keep bras a year or two before I have to toss them.

  14. em

    Love the dress, but I’m pretty hippy and an XS that runs small would not fit me in the hips at all, even though I do wear an XS in tops.

    I always machine wash my bras, then reshape and hang to dry. Never had a problem. If they are particularly delicate ones I throw them in the delicates/hand wash cycle – I never hand wash anything. Maybe I’m bad, but I never end up actually hand washing.

  15. AN

    My $0.02 worth on sizing…generally I know my size in 2-3 brands (8 in Anne Klein/Ellen Tracy, 10-12 in DvF etc) and stick to those. My issue is that I’m busty so I need to watch for that. When in doubt (i.e. if the size 8 bust measurements are EXACTLY the same as mine, I order a 10 and then can get stuff taken it by my seamstress). I just ordered online from Nordstrom and cannot return it as I live outside the US, so I hope this works:)

  16. Nicole

    Totally off topic, but I’m trying the Pomodoro Technique today. Has anyone else tried this?

    • em

      Yes! I just started it a week or so ago and it’s awesome! I still am working on actually planning my to do list and “pomodoros” at the beginning of the day, and getting everything started, but once I do, it’s amazing for staying focused, breaking tasks down, and feeling organized and accomplished. Kudos to C for linking to it.

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