Wednesday’s TPS Report: Amelie Silk Blend Dress
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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
OooOoo: we are normally not fans of the sweater dress (starts too clingy, gets too stretched out after wear, and generally a pain to handwash and dry) but we are loving this one from Ralph Lauren. We love the fact that the flared skirt, as well as the ruching on the sleeves. The boatneck, the ladylike length — perfect. We'd wear it for a casualish day at the office, perhaps with pearls. It's $140 at Ralph Lauren in sizes XS-XL. Amelie Silk Blend Dress
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Sales of note for 4/10:
- Nordstrom – End of Season Sale – Spring styles up to 50% off – lots of great deals from Natori, Boss, Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss, Spanx, True & Co., Hanky Panky, Commando, Tory Burch, Theory, Zella, CeCe, Eliza J, Halogen, Vince Camuto, and more.
- Ann Taylor – 30% off tops and sweaters, and (4/10 only) 25% off dresses, skirts and shoes
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code
- Brooklinen – 15% off sitewide, plus up to 50% off bundles
- Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Event, 25% off sitewide. Lots of cute florals and stripes in the sale.
- Evereve – 1000+ items on sale, including lots from Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- Express – $40 off $120, $100 off $250
- J.Crew – Midseason sale: Extra 40% off sale styles, 200+ new styles just added!
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything
- Lands' End – 50% off full price styles and 60% off all clearance and sale – lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
- Loft – All jeans $41, 40% off entire purchase
- Macy's – 25% off already reduced prices + 15% off beauty & fragrance
- M.M.LaFleur – Spring Sale Event – Buy More, save more! 10% off $250+, 15% off $500+, 20% off $750+, 25% off $1000+ (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off if you find any exclusions.)
- Sephora – Spring sale! 20% off for Rouge members starting today, and 30% off the Sephora Collection for everyone — if you're looking for a really muted everyday eyeshadow, I like both 106 and 301 here!
- Talbots – 40% off regular price tops + 30% off everything else
- Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- becoming more connected with people
- what doing your best really means
- feeling like your job is in danger
- brunch food for a large group
- changing your name at marriage — or not
- estate planning and leaving money to charity
- seeing your PCP for gynecological / well-woman care
- New Year's resolutions
- inheriting six figures
- what socks to wear with loafers
- how to prevent another panic attack
- what to do about a parent who drinks too much
- how to buy a house in a VHCOL area

Am I wrong to think that this is appropriate for a regular, non-casual day at the office (even at a law firm), if paired with a jacket?
I agree with you. It’s business (non-casual) attire, with or without the jacket. Posts like this sometimes make me worry that I’m underdressing, but when I look around my office (NYC Biglaw), I don’t really see people dressing up this much.
In my office this would be perfectly fine for any day of the week even without the jacket. Somehow wearing a dress seems to come off to people as more formal than a comparable top and pants, even if the dress itself is on the casual side.
I would agree, except that you probably can’t get a jacket over those sleeves.
This is a cute dress, but I think the sleeves make it a little less versatile than I might want for this price range. Normally I’d wear a dress like this with a colorful cardigan for a more casual day or a black blazer for a more formal day, but I’m not sure either of those would work with those sleeves.
Lovely dress, but same problem here. The sleeves are pretty but problematic for layering anything over them. Maybe with a thin black turtleneck underneath?
Ha — normally I am a fierce defender of the thin black turtleneck under things, but given that this a sweater dress, maybe all that layering would take it too far into casual territory.
However, I don’t think the sleeves would be all that problematic w/a jacket. If it can go over a button down, a blazer will likely be okay with this, no?
If it’s a casual-ish day at an office, then I’m going with pants, not a dress. A dress is still “dressed up” to me.
I own this dress (on sale at Macy’s online in October) and actually would totally have said I bought it after seeing it on this site, but I guess you probably didn’t post it twice. Anyway, it is perfect for my workplace and works great with pearls. The sleeves are problematic for a thin cardigan and it really wouldn’t work with a turtleneck under. However, you can easily wear a jacket with it, even with the sleeves–they aren’t so bunchy that they distort the line of a jacket, in my experience. I’ve worn it 3 or 4 times since October.
Heidi — where does this dress fall on you? At the knee, below, or above? I’m looking for a dress that would hit right at the knee, maybe even very slightly below. I’m 5 ‘ 5. Thanks!
I’m 5’6″ and it hits just about at the knee. I am not wearing it today so I can’t quite remember exactly, but it’s essentially knee length.
Heidi:
Thanks for the thorough review. Now I really want this dress.
Now I really want it too! But I can’t afford it on my unpaid student budget :/
Heidi
Was considering getting it but unsure whether it was ‘dry clean only’ due to the silk. Can it be machine/hand washed? Thanks
PS – Thanks for replying on length. I’m 5″4 & like dresses to hit just below knee, and sounds like it would, based on your post.
dry clean only, unfortunately.
And, yes, Spanx.
I LOVE. And I especially love that there’s no wool in it–I am allergic and thus have to shun most sweater dresses. This would be a perfect “work to cocktails” dress for sure!
Cute dress, but gotta break out the Spanx for sure! No gathering or ruching and such, which means no room for error on this one.
I have just purchased this dress. Thanks, C, and commenters! I actually view $140 as a totally acceptable price for a dress. Any outfit (pants + top) would cost at least that much, plus this dress appears to be appropriate for 3 seasons. I also think the look changes if you wear it with pearls+hose+heels as opposed to a statement necklace+wide belt+ tights or boots as opposed to a shawl or scarf or a jacket…
B: agree with you on all points. It’s a gorgeous dress, and apart from the difficulty of getting a jacket over it, is very versatile.
I’d really like to see some nice pant looks on Corporette.
Love.
Can you imagine standing that way in real life? How awkward.
ha, it is a rather awkward pose. loving the dress though. great find!