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Tuesday’s TPS Report: ‘Ultimate Weave’ Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. ‘Ultimate Weave’ DressToday's dress was recommended by reader A, who notes: “I just ordered this dress and love the simple but flattering cut. It's also long enough for work & fabric can be hand washed/machine washed (though it says dry clean). Would look lovely on its own, or with a navy blazer on top. The colour is what made me go “wow!” – it would flatter practically every skin tone – from very dark to porcelain-skinned redheads! At over $200 (free shipping though), bit expensive but I think this one's worth it.” We think it looks lovely, and might also suggest trying it with a charcoal blazer to mute some of the color for the office. It's $228 at Nordstrom. Classiques Entier ‘Ultimate Weave' 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-2)

Sales of note for 5/21/25:

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

52 Comments

  1. Beautiful color. Like most things at Nordstrom, I’m waiting for it to go on sale before I consider it.

    2. Agree on both counts — and I love the drape neckline! It’s flattering to almost all body types, and the color is gorgeous!

  3. I tried this dress on at the store and thought the material was a little too thin and shiny for the office (or at least my office). It felt more like a nice dress to wear that I would wear to a daytime wedding in the summer than something I would throw a blazer over. Just my opinion.

    1. I haven’t seen this in person, but that’s the thought I had when I looked at the pictures, too — looks like a perfect summer wedding dress.

      I do think that it’s gorgeous, though, — just not something I could pull off in my moderately conservative law firm office.

        1. I bought this and wear it to work with a black blazer. My office is business casual and this is definitely appropriate here. Personally, I appreciate the lightweight fabric (it isn’t so lightweight that it wrinkles or clings) and don’t think it’s that shiny. I will also point out that if you aren’t completely flat chested like the model, there is only a little extra fabric at the neckline, which probably makes it more like a work dress than a wedding guest dress.

          3. That’s a good point. I am flat-chested, so I’d have that extra draping. But I suppose if you have the goods to make it look like more of a flat-fronted sheath then it could, with a cardi, become more work-appropriate.

    2. I had the same thought. Between the color & the overly drapey front, I would feel a little silly wearing this to work. I am not sure if a blazer, however serious, would salvage this for daytime at the office.

      1. It’s polyester. Definite no, now.

        I did see this though. Priced much better for the polyester blend (matte jersey) & seems like it would be infinitely more work appropriate & functional. I think I may go for it. . . Can’t believe that even items I dislike manage to lead to purchases . . . sigh :)

        http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3036369?refsid=280099&refcat=0%7e2376776%7e2378685%7e2378689%7e2378710&SourceID=&SlotID=2&origin=related&cm_Sp=Related-Items-_-Product-_-Auto

        1. Anyone know if this dress has ever gone on sale? I bought it, liked it, but returned it because I thought it was a bit out of my budget for what it is. I’d love to pick it up on sale though!

        3. I bought this dress and returned it. I do remember it going on sale last year, but it wasn’t a steep discount (something like $20 off). Others have posted their reviews on this dress if you use the search function. I love it on the model, but on me, it felt WAY too dressy for work (more of an evening dress) and it made my hips look too big.

          2. I also bought-and-returned. I know people’s opinions differ, but this was more evening than work to me, but this might be because i’m quite curvy (hourglass) and this over-accentuated those curves; for work, i prefer structure.

        4. I have been looking at this dress for months now. Let me know if you order it and how you like it!

          1. I’m curvy and the blue one would just highlight that fact – something I prefer to play down for work! Prefer the fuchsia dress as it’s straight skirt and draping would be more tasteful.

        5. This one has been commented on a few times. I bought it in navy, think it’s flattering and great for the office.

        6. I too have been considering this dress but am put off by it because of the idea that it might actually look royal blue rather than navy … I guess I have to go try it on in person, which I HATE doing. So, if you order please let us know what it’s “really” like

          1. I think this is closer to navy than royal, personally. To me, royal is a bright pop of color whereas this dress is much deeper and more muted. It is a bit brighter than, say, JCrew’s navy, but it is not at all what I think of when I think of royal blue.

          1. Love this dress! I can’t wait to have a salary where I can splurge on purchases like this!

          2. I found these cheapie similar dresses to the one in the subject post, can anyone speak to the quality of Newport News or Spiegel?

            http://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=33308279&clear=1&index=2&gp_coll_id=0&gp_cat_id=7528&nav_cat_id=7534&category_id=10542&s_cmp=affiliate_newport_all

            http://www.spiegel.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=13999272&index=25&gp_coll_id=5001&gp_cat_id=5002&nav_cat_id=11211&category_id=11242&gp_shopss_id=300&s_cmp=affiliate_spiegel_all

  4. It’s gorgeous, but I wish it came in more colors. I just can’t pull off that sort of purple/pink/fuschia color.

  7. I love this (and I generally love blouses cut in this drapey way, too), but how do you make it work with a blazer or sweater? Doesn’t it get all bunchy and look strange underneath? Any suggestions?

    1. I love drape necks… I recommend a cardigan left open if you can pull it off without a frump factor — adding a blazer is just too much going on

    2. I agree it’s hard – works best with a relatively wide v-neck cardigan so that the detail of the “cowl” has room (and looks revealed intentionally, rather than stuffed in). Depending on how the colors worked in person, I think navy or gray.

      1. I have a couple of cardigans (from Jigsaw in the UK, but they’re not unique) which have no buttons, but whose sides have a very slight drape on the sides and then hang straight down to about hip level – or higher, for the less short. I think something like that would work.

        Mind you, this dress screams “wedding” rather than office to me, but more because my office is pretty informal than the reverse.

      2. Gray would be great — black may also work… I wouldn’t do another bright color though – you might end up looking like a pinata

  9. This is really quite pretty, but I think I’d only wear it to work if I had some other occasion that I’d be attending, such as evening social event etc… I think it could be toned down with a cardigan during the day, and then a great evening dress for a social/networking event or dinner etc…

    I have a shirt dress in a similar fabric/sheen that I wore once, but it was also the day my son was graduating from kindy, which is the only thing that kept me from feeling too party dressy!

  11. Question….
    I am a 3L and a Law Clerk at a firm which I hope will offer me a job after graduation. The office is a mid-size firm in a small(ish) city and the dress code is corporate causal, however, some of the employees dress MUCH more casual than corporate. I typically try to dress a little nicer, but lately I’ve been in a fashion slump. Although I have several suits, I would definitely be overdressed and my corporate casual uniform has lately consisted of some form of gray pants, a black shirt, and black shoes. Needless to say, it’s not an exciting look… I was wondering what others consider to be corporate casual? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

    1. Can you just wear the bottom half of the suits? Generally, suit pants/skirts work fine on their own.

    2. I have the same typical uniform… sometimes I mix it up with black pants with a gray shirt – ;-)

      I have been getting ready for warmer weather though by getting a couple pencil skirts, and brighter colored short sleeve tops that I can wear under cardigans in the fall as well…

    3. Add some zest with your accessories. Find some funky pins, scarves etc… if you don’t go overboard, it will give a nice pick me up. I realized over half my wardrobe is black, but its the little things that make a difference.

      1. Good suggestion with the accessories. When you say scarf, do you mean like a pashmina or a silk scarf?

        1. Be careful with scarves — silk ones can age you A LOT — and pashminas look more suited to a winter coat/sweater look

        2. I think silk scarf. When I see someone wearing a pashmina in the office I assume it is only because their office is freezing cold that day :) (mostly b/c it is my last resort as well!)

        3. Both. I don’t mean a big square, (which remind me of old ladies) but I like a small square tied around the neck for a bit of color for example.

          I will use a pashmina when appropriate. For example, a couple of Friday’s ago, I think I wore a dark denim (casual day) with a white colord shirt under a black cashmere crew with a grey boyfriend jacket and a dark red pashmina tied European style versus draped.

          I also like funky pins. Today I have one a black skirt and top, but have a red/black/grey tweed flower pin to give a splash of color, like this one…

          http://www1.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi23132&rootCategory=cat70018&catId=cat440042&sortKey=Default&section=Outlet&conceptIdUnderSale=cat440042

          I love Talbot’s accessories, but I almost always wait until they are on clearance… wishing I hadn’t clicked over here, but too late….

    4. Law-Less, that is exactly my (main) fashion problem (except I’m at a small firm in a big city). Finding the right balance between not being overdressed and conveying the “I’m a responsible, hard-working, talented professional who you should really hire” message is so HARD.

      1. I’m glad you feel my pain! When I first started working there I was always overdressed. At that time, we could wear jeans five days a week should we so choose, but the dress code has since changed to business casual and I somehow slipped into this pattern of black shirts and gray pants. Hopefully just being aware of it will make me pick some of the more colorful things in my wardrobe to wear! Goodluck to you too!

      2. I think you can do a lot with less serious looking jackets as far as looking professional & not overdressed. Same with accessories. Even funkier shoes. Dresses are also good for this, though I would avoid anything too slinky-looking.

        For instance — these jackets from anthropologie seem perfect for a more casual, but interesting & professional look (and there are more options like this in boutiques everywhere!)
        http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-COATS- JACKETS&id=013096&catId=CLOTHES-COATS&pushId=CLOTHES-COATS&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=145&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=014&colorName=NEUTRAL&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

        (would look really cute with black pants and a simple top underneath)

        or for summer. . .

        http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-COATS-BLAZERS&id=013154&catId=CLOTHES-COATS&pushId=CLOTHES-COATS&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=145&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=024&colorName=BEIGE&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

        . . . anyway, those are my ideas — fun blazers & cute shoes!

        Oh, and I disagree about scarves aging you! If you’re young-ish & you have cute scarves you wear creatively, you’ll look sophisticated, not old.

  12. Loooooooove it! Adding this to my wish list along with the Trina Turk yellow Etiquette dress you posted a couple weeks ago.

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