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5/24/24 Update: The Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale has started — see our big sale roundup! Also, sign up for our newsletter to stay on top of all the great sales!
The below content is about the 2009 Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Nordstrom's Half-Yearly sale continues, and today we're liking this witty silk blouse from DvF.
No, do not adjust your monitors: this is actually a teal and purple leopard print. There's something great about a top that only a very confident woman can wear, and we're really digging this one.
We'd wear it with black trousers, a black cami (if you've never worn DvF, they're a must) and, if asked, say “oh yes: it's designer.” (Hint: keep your jewelry and shoes extremely tasteful, and as expensive as possible.)
It's on sale for $129 (was $198), still available in sizes 2, 4, 8, and 12. Diane von Furstenberg ‘Jill' Top
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!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
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- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
anon
Uh, for WORK?? I don’t care how confident you happen to be, multi-colored neon animal print tops are not for the office.
Anonymous
Agreed. Also, saying “Oh yes, its designer” makes you sound like jerk. Just tell me who made it – presumably, that’s what I wanted to know if I asked you.
v
I like the top – hell, why not – but agree 100% about saying “yes, it’s designer.” That’s a one-way ticket to being ruthlessly mocked behind your back by your less pretentious co-workers.
L
Oh, come on–it’s tongue-in-cheek!
There are some tightly wound women reading this blog.
v
Well, if it’s said tongue-in-cheek, sure. That kind of breeziness is hard to pull off though. :-)
Mel^2
I have more problems with “keep your jewelry and shoes extremely tasteful, and as expensive as possible.” In FL I think this shirt would be fine, but you’d just come off as a complete snob if you popped into work wearing this and refused to wear a pair of shoes under $300 with them. Why does this have to be paired with something else ultra expensive?
anon
My (slightly snarky) thought was that if you paired it with less pricey pieces then the top might look cheap as well. Let’s face it, super bright leopard print is not typically associated with expensive corporate-appropriate workwear.
L
I think that was the idea–maybe not expensive items, but certainly very classy/tasteful items.
Kelly
This is certainly inappropriate for work. Personally, I wouldn’t even wear it to a bar! I think this post is a “miss” for Corporette, a departure from your usual good taste.
Liz
*cough* Peggy Bundy from Married with children */cough*
Sharon
Totally agreed. This is just ugly. It’s not even ugly-fashion-forward, it’s ugly-old-lady-trying-to-look-hip.
Kalorama
Totally agree with Liz and Sharon. It looks something you’d find in the bottom of the bin.
jojo
*cough* Carmela Soprano *cough*
K
Ugh, hideous. The teal/purple combo reminds me of the 4th grade and animal print is just not office-appropriate. I like to take some risks at work but this is fashion suicide.
Lawgirl
Hawt! Would rock this without apology to the office. C’s styling tips are solid, IMHO.
LPC
In marketing, where we are all staring at purple and teal all day anyway? No problem. In engineering, where the guys are clueless anyway? No problem. In sales, where a customer has to look at you and think, “Yeah, I can sign away a million dollars to this woman?” Nah.
Anonymous
Putting aside the issue of shirt vs. dress, I think it is safe to say that if Paris Hilton wears something to the opening of a nightclub, I’m not going to wear it to the office.
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/10/09/paris-hilton-carnival/
Anastasia Beaverhausen
WOW, good eye, Anon! :-)
I might wear this to work, but with the understated black slacks and cami and shoes. But I’m a pattern girl, and my office is business casual. I’d probably wear jet jewelry with it, so as to keep it looking classy, not flashy.
M
Wow – would never want to get caught at the office in something Paris Hilton wore last week…good catch anonymous!
divaliscious11
Don’t like animal prints, but I could see this with a dark jean looking nice on the weekend, but it’d be a stretch for the office, except in a Casual setting, or artistic setting (entertainment/creative).
NB
I don’t love this, but I don’t see it as office-inappropriate, if you can wear separates to work. It’s a patterned shirt, for crying out loud.
And I am pretty confident that no one in my office keeps tabs on what Paris Hilton is wearing, so as long as the top works for your office, go for it.
anon
Not all patterns are equally office-appropriate, however. You probably wouldn’t wear a top with a skull and crossbone pattern to the office, even if that’s your style on the weekend – similarly, animal print = not okay at work, IMHO, unless *maybe* it is in a very small accessory or in a dark/understated shade. (Or, of course, unless you are a partner, in which case you could probably show up in sweat pants or a ballerina tutu and be just fine!)
Liz
Yeah, or camouflage… Just sayin’.
Midori
I can get past the color, but the print is just too much for me. I’ve been uneasy about animal print in the office ever since I overheard a male coworker remark on what animal print on women in the office makes him think (he didn’t think I could hear him).
A
I don’t know about this shirt, but I disagree with everyone who says no animal print in the office (and I work at a conservative big law firm). The key is moderation and keeping the rest of your outfit simple. I often wear a black/white/grey leopard print cardigan over a black shift dress or with well cut theory pants. I also have some adorable cheetah print jcrew flats that I will wear to the office with a monochrome outfit. So yes, the purple/teal combo is tough, but there are lots of understated animal prints out there in camel, grey, brown, etc., that I think are perfectly ok in small doses.
PS — for anyone buying the top, I find that DVF tops tend to run small, I go up a size compared to what I wear in DVF wrap dresses.
Anonymous
I think that the colors take this out of the animal print arena altogether. You hardly even notice the print is leopard because of the colors. Therefore, this is more office appropriate than a cheetah print in the colors of – say – an actual cheetah.
Sharon
Right, the colors take it out of cheetah and right into fugly! These aren’t even attractive colors together.
Mae
I usually don’t comment, but really? This thing is hideous and not at all work-appropriate! I wouldn’t take anybody seriously wearing a neon leopard-print shirt, and I certainly wouldn’t wear it to the office myself. In fact, I wouldn’t wear it anywhere.
AN
I tried this on and it looks great – no ‘animal print’ feeling about it and the colours work on most skin tones. I work in a business casual office (though my personal taste runs to conservative on the whole). Did not think it would look classy at first but it DID!! Pair with black pants/modest pencil skirt, cami and classy pumps. Did not buy though as I prefer to go up a size with DvF as I’m curvy and DvF usually runs 1 size smaller than usual anyway.
Lawgirl
@A & @An — Thanks for the sizing tips re: DvF. Although she’s often cited as the queen of wrap dresses that make curvy women look great, they don’t work for me. It seems like her designs are made for wide shoulders and taller women. I’m 5’3″ and the look I get with DvF dresses is: “The dress is wearing me, and not the other way around.” I haven’t tried her blouses though. I’m going to hit up Nordies and see if they have this in-store…
C
I do think this looks technicolor…and I have a small dark brown/ ivory animal print scarf that I wear regularly. I would only wear this if it were 80% covered by a black (preferred) or teal jacket which would make it like a scarf.