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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Today's item is recommended by reader C, who gushes over the “amazing pencil skirts” at Talbots, noting that while she'd like to wear Nanette Lepore to the office, “these will have to do.” And indeed, we do like the look of these skirts — the cascading folds look lovely but still professional. This also strikes us as a great price for a fully-lined wool/spandex skirt. It's available in sizes 2-20, as well as petites and plus sizes, at Talbots for $129. Belted flannel skirt
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 9.30.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Fall Cyber Monday sale, 40% off sitewide and $5 shipping
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
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- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
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- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
eplawyer
Not sure I like that drapy thing hanging off it. But, other than that, a lovely classic skirt.
anonymous
This is gorgeous, and I am glad you are featuring Talbots because they always have many sizes available and tailor for free. This is very important for some of us who have a tough time buying off the rack. I would like to see more Talbots featured, maybe a suit?
K
Talbots tailors for free?? I now have a new favorite store…
Anonymous
There are 2 jacket styles and also pants that match the featured skirt. I’m not sure if the skirt would work well with a jacket though.
KLo
They tailor for free?! In store only or online purchases, too? Tell us more!!
anonymous
Now you guys have me second-guessing myself. It has been a while since I have used Talbot’s tailoring service, and I remember it being free, but maybe I am remembering wrong, or their policy has changed. Maybe someone can check on it an enlighten us.
KLo
Just checked (chatted with them online – sick day). Must have gone by the wayside, they do not tailor for free now. Oh well.
K
Aww, that’s sad. I am one of those women who has to tailor EVERYTHING, so I was really hoping to be able to get it done in-store.
S
Wow, love the impressive range of colors. And the style is really not what I think of when I think Talbots. I hear they’ve been in lots of financial difficulty: if you like them, shop now!
Marla
Not sure about the skirt, but I was in a Talbot’s over the weekend and they have some great cardigans and jackets — many of them looked a lot like Ann Taylor except the quality seemed a bit better. Didn’t buy anything because it’s all new and therefore full price (didn’t buy anything at Ann Taylor for the same reason) but I think I may be back.
MEG
Are their cardigans and jackets tailored or boxy? It’s been a while since I’ve been in a Talbot’s — I stopped going because I kept finding everything boxy/ shapeless – but maybe things have changed?
Kathryn
They’ve been very tailored for a while. Check your size, too. They are quite fitted, now, and the Collection is even closer cut.
Great quality, I have found, and resale is great at consignment stores!
Ashley
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SKIRT!!!!
LPC
This is an example of slightly subversive corporate wear that’s fun to pull off. People will know you are pushing the limits a little bit but as long as everything else you wear toes the line, I think this could work. I believe for a truly conservative workplace you’d have to wear a jacket with it. And I do not know if it could go to court. The lawyers among us will have to let us know.
S
Whether it could go to court or not would depend on the coordinating jacket. Note that even litigators generally aren’t in court every day*, and corporate lawyers almost never have occasion to go. Could it go to a client meeting or deposition? Sure, absolutely.
* Contrary to what you might think, for typical big firm defense counsel its fairly infrequent.
Ms B
The skirt in a conservative color (love that chocolate!) would be fine for a bench hearing or trial in state circuit or associate circuit court. Around here, half the men wear coats and ties to state court instead of suits, so this with a matching or coordinating print jacket would be fine. I probably would even wear it to bankruptcy court. However, I probably would not wear it for a jury matter in state court, to federal district court, or for an appeal.
newassociate
sorry to hijack… i just got http://www.zappos.com/stuart-weitzman-endeclipse-black-nappa in the mail and i’m not sure about them. i work in a business casual environment (sf bay area biglaw), but i still don’t know about these shoes. they were comfortable walking around the house, but they are more fashion forward than what i normally own (which is fairly boring). maybe it’s the elastic-looking top edges, or the really soft and somewhat unstructured leather making up the body of the shoe.
it seems inappropriate to ask one of the three other female attorneys here what they think, so what are your opinions?
Amber
I think those are absolutely fine for a business casual environment. I probably wouldn’t wear them to court or anything, but certainly around the office.
Anonymous
I think they are probably fine, but personally I just dont like bows, they make me feel childish. but, i do love stuart weitzman!
Ms B
I love the chunky heels, but generally avoid bows — the one pair of shoes I have with bows ends up staying in the closet a lot because it is either too young or too old for a lot of the clothes I have.
That said, I would wear a shoe like this in the office or to a meeting or deposition, but not to court.
Eva
I have a very similar Talbots skirt from last year that looked absolutely lovely off the rack, but wrinkles horribly once I sit down. I don’t have this problem with most of the skirts I own from Ann Taylor.
Kathryn
Thinner woolens and other materials like silk will wrinkle a lot more than thicker ones. That’s just the way it is, unless they are treated specially. I travel wearing a synthetic blend.
mamiejane
One of the great things about Talbots is that they carry many of their petites, particularly the “woman petites” in larger sizes. So many retailers carry petites only up to a 12 or 14 or like Ann Taylor, size their petites down, so that a petite 14 is cut the same as a misses 12. I generally avoid Ann Taylor, although I love their clothes, for this reason.
Canadian
LOVE this skirt.
Rayne of Terror
I would absolutely wear this to county court for my child support enforcement calls. I always thought Talbots was dowdy, but Manolo for the Big Girl started featuring them so I gave it a try during a super sale and I absolutely LOVED the skirts I bought. The knit shirts weren’t as sturdy as the other clothes, but the styles were good. I was working at an appellate court at the time where we had to dress business formal everyday and my Talbots clothes really fit the dress code.
dr
I got these Tahari – Kira Patent shoes two weeks ago in a dsw store, not on line. I think they are more feminine and tailored that your choice…and certainly financially a plus. The little platform is just that, very little. I love bows on shoes, especially pumps which adds a bit of polish and avoids the Shirley Temple thing (as bows on Mary Janes implies).
http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=15&category=&prodId=193909&brand=Tahari
And I find Talbots clothes to wear well. Caveat – their cotton cardis really dusk up and/or wash out in color due to the cotton at the dry cleaners. Too bad, as the cardi with vertical ribbing at the placket really was a go to and godsend for traveling – until I needed to have it cleaned. So look at material content closely gals. Love their new style, as it is just that – stylish at last. Waiting for the red tweed pencil skirt to hit the stores, didn’t care for the matching suit jacket. Would it be too much as a full on suit? Last month’s “Real Simple” magazine had adorable suits in it, a full article on that and most were retro classic without being boring…but pricey. Any alternatives to suggest?
Jane
I’ve worn Talbots for 25 years, because they make my size (2 petite). Their sizing is consistent, and their quality is very good in their suits. (I agree their cotton cardigans fade.) I can always count on Talbots to have something appropriate for work.
No, I am not paid by Talbots!!
housecounsel
I have been in the “Talbots is dowdy” camp for years, but that skirt is absolutely gorgeous and I think I must have it.
I’m an attorney (litigator turned corporate) and I think the shoes are perfectly appropriate for just about anything except for a jury trial.
Karen
Talbots has been my go-to for petite-sized suits and other stuff for years. I do not believe they do free tailoring, but they used to have an extremely generous return policy for online orders (forever) and are still reasonable (I think it’s 3-6 months now) so I’ve ordered online a lot.
I find the styles very hit or miss – sometimes classic in a good way, sometimes shapeless, sometimes too trendy or cheap-looking. And they seem to be moving away from the classic suiting looks lately. But I’ve had good experiences with the suits I’ve bought from them in the past, as well as with simple sweaters (not pure cotton cardis but ones with silk/synthetic fibers). And they generally offer multiple pieces (long jacket, short jacket, skirt and at least one pair of pants) in a given suiting line, so if you like the fabric of a suit you can usually find pieces that will flatter your body type.
And when I was briefly getting into the 12-14P size, I LOVED that they had the women’s petites, which were fitted to take into account my curvier shape so I didn’t have to have every single waist taken in.
dr
Here’s another Talbot’s question. Just purchased a navy, long sleeved, double-breasted sweater on their clearance. I would show it to you but it’s no longer available on line. Nevertheless, it’s lovely and I planned to wear it as a jacket with grey skirts or trousers. However, the sweater’s buttons actually have large snaps for closures…which makes it look odd if left open. Thoughts? recommendations? So many clothing items seem to be going to this strategy, as if covering the snap with matching colored fabric is equal to a regular buttonhole! Also, if it is intended to be worn closed all of the time, what does one wear underneath it. I’m already freezing in the ac in the office, so a long sleeved jacket/sweater is required. (I even have some trench coats that have those kind of snaps instead of buttons, making this a growing issue, sadly.) Many thanks and happy weekend, gals.