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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Banana Republic’s Circle-print wrap dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Women: Circle-print wrap dress - Dark burgundyBanana Republic has a number of good specimens of that elusive beast, the long-sleeved dress. We like the sedate circle print on this, the knee-length skirt, and the flattering ruched waist. Obviously, a camisole will be a must (we'd suggest black); we'd probably accessorize the outfit with a simple pendant necklace and perhaps a cuff worn on top of one of the sleeves. It's $125 and available in regular, petites, and talls in sizes XS-XL. Women: Circle-print wrap dress – Dark burgundy 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.

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

34 Comments

  1. I like. Very David Meister-y, but much cheaper. Still trying to find a wrap-like dress that fits my smaller shoulders and shorter torso. I must be the only woman in the world who doesn’t look good in a DvF dress :(

  2. Nope, Lawgirl, DvF dresses don’t work for me either — same problem! I usually have great luck with the proportions on BR tops, so my fingers are crossed that this dress will work the same way!

    Question for ladies who work in ultraconservative offices: with a long-sleeved dress, do you still feel the urge to throw a blazer over it, as you would a short-sleeved dress, or does the sleeve length suffice for formality?

    2. In a formal office where I worked this summer, I would wear a blazer with a long sleeve dress – or a cardigan that is structured to look like a jacket – something like this: http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/sweaters/woolblends/PRDOVR~20825/20825.jsp

      I wore dresses quite frequently when I knew I wasn’t going to another law firm/having conduct client – and it seemed to be standard practice by lots of other women, too.

  3. I normally fit BR clothing but this dress was very tight when I tried it on in the store. Not a work dress at all, in my opinion.

    1. If I try something on that turns out to be too tight. I just try the next size up- that usually does the trick.

    2. I had the same experience–and going up a size didn’t work because the fabric is too clingy. Also, there was just something about the waist that made feel like I was tied up in knots. This dress was better than a similar one currently at BR, but it still wasn’t comfortable.

      Has anyone else been very disappointed with the quality of BR dresses lately? They have a lot of things that look nice on the mannequin (all pinned up and reshaped) but make me look like a sack of potatoes. And the cheap fabrics aren’t helping. A few weeks ago I was looking for a dress that would be appropriate to wear to a mid-afternoon, casual wedding but that I could also wear to work on less formal days. I tried on every dress at BR and they were all horrible; so I went to Nordstrom and within two minutes found the perfect Classiques dress for only $50 more–a small price to pay given that I’ve already worn the Classiques dress three times and it was obvious that the BR dresses wouldn’t have stood up to a single washing.

      1. I’m not a BR wearer, but friends who are say that the quality is such that they’ve almost completely abandoned the company altogether. So you’re not alone!

      2. I refuse to buy anything from BR unless it’s at the outlet or deeply discounted. I haven’t had much luck with BR dresses. I found one for $21 that was not bad for that price range, but at the original price looked much lower quality than something you’d find in a similar price range at Nordstrom or even AT. I do have a lot of BR shirts and find that the quality is about the same as what you’d find at Old Navy- which means it may last a wash or two before starting to look disreputable.

      3. Agree regarding poor quality. Also, their stuff is always cut for people who are built like a waif, with no curves. I am a size 2/4, but quite curvy. I’ve been wondering lately…if their dresses make ME look like a football player, how flattering can they be on other women.

        And I am SO over puffed sleeves on everything. I am not a little girl. Plus puffage/shirring in that area makes my biceps look manly.

        1. I have problems with the sleeves being too narrow for my arm. I don’t have linebacker shoulders/arms by any means, so I don’t know who can get those sleeves on if I can’t.

          1. I have the same problem with their sleeves, and frankly, I think my arms are not the problem.

          2. I have this problem too. Also have the problem of not being able to get on/off dresses or tops that have a zipper on the side that does not actually zip all the way up (there is a bit of fabric at the top). I’m sorry but my rib cage is not going to get any smaller, but I should be able to put on / take off a dress or top that fits perfectly fine everywhere else..

        2. I agree with your assessment of Banana Republic’s fit. My build is just… narrow, from my shoulders all the way down to my feet. I have a particular problem with long-sleeve shirts; the sleeves and cuffs are often so loose they make me look like a little girl playing dress-up! With BR, I can grab a shirt off the sale rack and be reasonably certain it’ll fit properly across my shoulders (and everywhere else). That’s enough to keep me loyal, even when the quality isn’t quite up to snuff.

  4. Any suggestions about what kind of camisole to wear with a dress like this? I have a similar dress (in black), and the bottom of any camisole I’ve tried with it makes a funny line. I would think some kind of “mini-camisole” (something that fits over the bust but ends underneath the waist detailing, so it’s not bumpy) would be best, but I haven’t been able to find anything like that.

    1. They have lacy versions available at Bloomingdales & NM, online — probably more options at the store. If you want to avoid the lacy route (too bedroomy, etc.), there are similar options in most department store lingerie departments. You could also try a seamless longer cami — same idea as no VTL underwear, but in a top.

      It might be too dorky, but there’s always those clip on/in faux camisoles. Sort of like a modern dickie. You attach it to your bra/dress and it provides for a discreet triangle of fabric — bonus: you can easily take it off for after work dinner/drinks :)

          1. wow, thanks so much for pointing us to that. I didn’t know something like that existed! THis may solve my problem of being hot in winter-heated places b/c I have to wear 2 layers to wear a low-cut top.

          2. Or do it yourself: grab a $3 cami from a discount store (or one you no longer wear from your closet), and cut a swath to attach to your bra with safetypins. You can make several out of one cami, including ones made from the bottom hem. Just made beige and black ones for myself!

      1. Gap has something similar for about $15 but I wonder if the neckline would still be too low since it is designed to be under your outfit instead of part of it.

  5. Saw a couple of good coupons online this morning. I often see these on the consumerist website under “Morning Deals.” I hope they are appropriate to share here. They also have coupons for stuff like books and electronics, but I pulled out just the clothing ones that might be office-worthy.

    Ann Taylor – 30% Off Entire Purchase exp 11/22
    http://www.buxr.com/deal/ann-taylor-30-entire-purchase-online-in-store_37933

    Armani Exchange – 20% Off Sale Items + Free Shipping (no minimum) exp 11/20
    http://www.buxr.com/deal/armani-exchange-20-off-free-shipping-no-minimum_37936

    The Limited – $15 Off Any Purchase or $30 Off $100, $50 Off $150 (Online + InStore) exp 11/23
    http://www.buxr.com/deal/the-limited-15-off-any-purchase-or-30-off-100-50-off-150-in-store_37924

  6. Oh! I love this dress! I can’t wait to go try it on in the store! Totally made my day ….

  9. I just bought a dress at Banana republic this past week, and it was 80$ even at 50% off, and I didn’t realize until I got home that I realized the dress was 100% polyester. I don’t expect the highest quality silk at BR price points, but polyester? Ick. Back to the store it goes.
    This is the dress, if anyone has seen it and been tempted to buy: http://images.nearbynow.com/productimages/bananarepublic/5a/08bb315a_360x360.jpg

    It’s so flattering and comfortable, but if I wanted to buy a polyester dress, Forever 21 is right next to BR.

  11. I really liked this dress on the rack, but on me. Very clingy and unflattering on my shape — small shoulders, small breasts, wide hips.

    I have one silk dress from Banana that I bought on sale for $60, and really like. Otherwise, I only shop at BR for tops.

  12. I am tired not only of dresses that I have to wear with a camisole, but also tops and sweaters. I think there was some big apparel convention during which all the major retailers plotted to start designing all their clothes so we’d have to buy the stupid matching camisole too.

    I bought a couple of BR dresses in 2007 that still look fabulous. They’re either thick wool or silk, and they’re lovely. Lately, though, I’ve been unimpressed with the thin cotton.

  13. While I think the dress is an attractive one (assuming it’s not too clingy), I have to say, I actually think it’s not a highly professional look. I think it’s a young twenty-something girl-in-the-city look, not a serious professional look. It would make a girl who looks young to begin with look even younger.

  14. I had great hopes for this dress when I tried it on two weeks ago- I am 5’9 and a size 8- it was too snug and too short for me to wear to the office- the fitting room lady told me others had the same complaint. Great for a holiday party, though…..

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