Corporette.com

Updated: Nov 1, 2018 58 Comments · by

Wednesday’s TPS Report: Printed Silk Mesh Scoopneck Dress

Fashion· The Personal Shopper (TPS)· Wear to Work | · ·

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Lynn Ritchie Printed Silk Mesh Scoopneck DressWe like this take on the black dress for the office — the geometric patterns seem interesting and cool without being too wild, and the neckline, empire waist, and ladylike length are all very flattering. We'd wear it with a structured blazer in white, along with black or skin-toned pumps, and maybe add a single pop of color in an accessory, like a necklace or cuff. Was $198, now $138 at Bloomingdale's, available in sizes XS-XL. Lynn Ritchie Printed Silk Mesh Scoopneck Dress  

Sales of note for 9.10.24

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

RSS Error: WP HTTP Error: cURL error 60: Issuer certificate is invalid.

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  2. MH

    I think the pattern in front makes the model look like she kind of has a little tummy. Or maybe it’s just the way she’s standing. But is SHE looks that way, I can’t imagine how I would look in it!

    • MH

      That was supposed to say “if” she looks that way…

      I wish we could edit our comments.

    • meg

      I had the exact same thought – although maybe it would be a good early-pregnancy dress!

      • Law-Less

        Eh, I disagree. I think it’s pretty clear that it’s just the print on the dress and it doesn’t make her stomach look pouchy. I like this. The print is unique and would be beautiful with a white blazer or a colored cardigan for Friday. Nice!

    • Shayna

      I think its the waistband — its not quite an empire waist (which makes everyone look a little pregnant) but its close

      • jojo

        Agreed. Also looks like teh moddle is doing a bit of a pelvis-forward stance, which adds to the impression of belly.

  3. KLo

    So cute!

    And thread hijack question: I’m losing weight (YAY!!) and I’m also losing boobs (perfectly fine). I’ve gone down a size (to 36 DD/DDD) and I have some old bras that work for me in that size but for one problem. The band rides up if I hook the bra on the two looser settings, but if I go to the tightest, I get back fat. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the stretch in the band. So my problem/question comes in … is it worth buying another bra or two in the same (or possibly different) size when in 2 months that will be a worthless bra? And maybe less than that? I was fitted fairly recently (4-5 months ago), but I’ve lost 31 pounds since mid January.

    • Ellen

      In a word, yes. You could look for some relatively inexpensive ones on sale, as you are not planning for them to be investment peices, but a bra (especially if you are well endowed) that fits is critical to maintaining an attractive silhouette. You are feeling great about yourself — spend a little money to have everything in the right place!

    • MelD

      Congrats on the weight loss. You can usually get great deals on decent bras at TJ Maxx/Marshall’s, especially if you wear less popular sizes. I’ve gotten $40-50 bras there for $5 and have seen sizes there I’ve never seen in department stores.

      • Shayna

        Agree — I have bras (I think they’re Maidenform brand) from TJ Maxx that were $5 – just try them on (all of them) before buying to make sure none of them are mislabeled (size wise)

    • Justine

      I have a related question. I’m not too overweight, but I could probably stand to lose about 10 pounds. My breasts are on the larger side, and I find that when I wear a bra that fits well in the front, it creates back fat (even when the back of the bra is thick — I usually require at least three clasps, if that’s any indication). Is there anything I can do about this? I recently went to an expensive bra-fitting store, and they denied that what I had was even back fat, at least relative to their other customers. Nevertheless, it’s a look I’d like to avoid, but not at the expense of sagging in the front.

      • AIMS

        There are bras I have seen advertised (sorry I don’t remember the brands or other specifics) that claim to not produce this effect. You may try a google along those lines.

        You can also minimize this effect by wearing camisoles (dreadful solution, I know) over the bra, and under whatever it is you are actually wearing. I think all those foundational garments we no longer have to wear is one of the reasons people tended to all look so much better 50-60 years ago.

      • Anon

        I’ve noticed this on women of all sizes, but I’ve rarely noticed it on athletic, toned women (of all sizes). I wonder whether some exercises specifically targeting the back muscle groups could help.

      • Eponine

        I have less back fat in bras with a band that extends longer down my back and ribcage. Le Mystere style 9955, which is their Tisha bra for full figures, seems to be especially good at minimizing back fat. I’ve also heard good things about the Spanx Brallelujah, but it doesn’t come in my size so I’ve never tried it. You could also try a longline bra – that should get rid of back fat.

    • jcb

      You probably need to be refitted. 31 lbs is a lot of weight! (congrats!!! that is hard work!!!) I was fitted a few months ago, and the new size works so much better. I can’t remember exactly what they said about it, but I think their main point was that back fat is a result of poorly fitting bands.

      • Lynette

        Yep, about the poorly fitting bands. They tend to ride up in the back, which they shouldn’t if they fit properly–and that is what causes the dreaded “back fat”.

    • AN

      Congrats on the weight loss! I never seem to lose the boobs even if I do lose weight:(

      31 pounds is incredible! What are you doing? Do share………

  5. AIMS

    I hate patterns like this one. Anything geometric really, but this especially. I don’t know why but I associate it with “mall fashion.”

      • 3L

        I was thinking this dress looks cheap, which I believe is what “mall fashion” implies.

      • AIMS

        Mall fashion is hard to explain. It’s partly something cheap & generic looking, but not entirely as lots of cheap things (I own lots of them) don’t make me think this.

        I guess for lack of a better way to explain it, it’s something that seems “interesting” or “trendy” but kinda just misses the mark. Something that someone in a manufacturing boardroom decided would appeal to the largest number of mall shoppers across the country. . . the kind of item that would be featured in a fashion spread in Star magazine . . .something that Sandra Lee of Semi Home Made w/Sandra Lee would wear . . . that sort of thing. I don’t know if I’m being remotely clear.

        I also really don’t like 99% of geometric prints, as I said above, and don’t think they are done well 99% of the time as far as patterns go, so I may be a bit biased . . . but I do definitely associate geometric prints with malls, so I don’t know. Anyway, hope that helps :)

        • Cat

          I’m with you — like, the committee needed to design a few more pieces that would go with the store window tagline. Ex: “spring is blossoming” with several floral looks.

      • Eponine

        Something that a housewife with frosted highlights and french tips would wear for girls’ night out.

    • SSC

      I agree. I can’t really put my finger on it either, but there’s something about this kind of print that I just don’t like. It says “juniors’ department” to me, for some reason.

  6. B

    It would be really helpful to get more advice and see some pictures of how to wear blazers with dresses. While I love the idea in concept, I can never make it worth unless it’s a dress and blazer made of the same suit material, which obviously work together.

    • Karen

      Ditto! I never know how to pair things either. Sweaters, too – I’d love to see examples of sweaters over dresses or other outfits so I can see what kind of neckline, how it’s belted, etc.

    • meg

      try the nordstrom website…under “Wear to Work” they have a “full looks” section – it shows some dress / cardigan combos.

    • Shayna

      I would go with a cardigan over a blazer and dress — a blazer/dress screams old/frumpy to me (or at least it has based on the combos I’ve seen)

      • jojo

        Same here. That is, unless you can pull off the 80s-giant-blazer thing, which JCrew & other retailers have repackaged as “boyfriend” lately. IMHO, it only works if you’re tiny.

  7. kandi

    I like this dress! All I would need is a blazer or cute cardigan (on Friday’s) and it would in rotation. That aside *quick hijack* I have an interview tomorrow and I have a wardrobe dilemma. I’ve spent the last ten years in financial servicing and now I’m about to (hopefully) transition into healthcare management. My first interview last week went very well and this will be my second interview. My dilemma is this; the office where I will be working is VERY informal. I saw people in jeans on a Wednesday; and the manager who interviewed me was wearing walking/city SHORTS. I am accustomed to wearing a suit everyday, hosiery included. I don’t want to go into the interview looking as if I didn’t notice the office climate, but I want to be comfortable and a suit is definitely my comfort zone. What would you all wear?

      • AIMS

        Oh, and maybe keep your accessories on the simple side (wear flats?) to further project a more relaxed, but still professional vibe.

    • Legally Blonde

      I would wear a suit, but maybe not a black/navy one. Perhaps a “less formal” light gray or brown suit? I always advise to wear a suit to an interview, even if everyone else is in jeans. To me, a suit doesn’t say that you didn’t notice the office culture, but that you respect the job and are taking it seriously. You can wear jeans after you have the job.

    • Selia

      Just my opinion, but regardless of what everyone else is wearing (unless you were specifically told otherwise by the person with whom you will be interviewing), I would wear your typical interview attire – formal suit, pumps, etc.

      • Anon

        Suit.

        I interviewed on a Friday for a job where the dress code is business casual M-Th and casual (very) on Fridays. I wore a pantsuit, flats, button-down. All my interviewers wore jeans, nice t-shirts or blouses, or similar. No one blinked. I got the job.

      • kjf

        I work in healthcare management and a formal suit may not be necessary although a jacket is a necessity. I think you could easily wear a blazer and coordinating trousers with a nice blouse. You are going to be in management so you need to look the part. However, hospitals have about 95% of their employees wearing scrubs so anything even sort of dressed up tends to stand out and business offices tend to reflect this trend. You can dress casual after you get the position.

    • Eponine

      Wear a suit. Maybe not your most buttoned-up conservative one, but a suit for sure.

      That manager might wear shorts to the office, but she probably wears a suit to meet clients and she wants to know that you know how to dress appropriately when required.

      • kandi

        Thanks Eponine. I guess my concern wasn’t if I should wear a suit or not, I was wondering if I could possibly wear pants, no hosiery or maybe flats. Something along those lines but thanks for the advice! You ladies are awesome!

    • Lizbet

      I got an email today from BR with a code for 40% off one item today only, and online only: here it is, for those of you who like this dress! MNMZQZRWZN1L

    • jcb

      I tried this on in person – loved the print, seemed like a great basic, but there is something weird about the BR dress fabrics this season. I saw someone else commenting on this not too long ago. No matter what size you try on – and I did try this on in one and two sizes bigger than my normal BR size – the fabric is way too clingy. As in, shows your ab muscles clingy. It is really too bad, because they have a couple of dresses this season that would be great for the office but for the fabric problem.

      • dee

        really? i bought this dress (in a size bigger than i think i’d normally buy – although it may be my true size and i’m just delusional) and I don’t think it’s too clingy at all. it doesn’t show my ab muscles, possibly because (a) i have none (or rather, i’m sure i have them, they’re just not particularly visible) and (b) i may have been wearing hose when I tried it on. will have to try on without hose.

        Also: BR is doing a promotion where they’re giving out 40% off coupons in store for every wednesday in april. I got them when I purchased something a few weeks back, but I’m pretty sure if you smiled and told them you forgot your coupons at home, they’d give you new ones or just give you the discount. only works on wednesdays, though.

  9. s-k-s

    I just can’t get into this dress – the pattern is all over the place, and the cut doesn’t look like it would be flattering. For those of us who are more well-endowed, I think it could lay funny or show a lot of cleavage.

  10. 75

    I like this dress, but to me it is a “party dress”, not an “office dress”. The ad says “flirtaceous” and I think that is right. If my assistant wore this dress to work I would send her home to change her clothes.

    • Lynette

      Really? It’s not too tight, too short or too low cut in the front and the sleeves aren’t so skimpy that they wouldn’t cover bra straps. What actually is “inappropriate” about this dress?

      • dee

        for my two cents, i think it’s the fabric – seems thin and light, not like the heavier fabrics we associate with office clothes.

        • Cat

          The pattern is a little all-over-the-place for my office, although obviously can’t rule for all. I do think that the gauzy weight of the outer layer is what makes this seem “party” — if you look at the hem, you can see how sheer it is — not a big deal while standing, but the outer layer usually extends relatively longer down the leg while seated. Picturing sitting in the partner’s office on a conference call with gauzy fabric — no.

          FWIW, Bloomie’s uses the word “flirtatious” in its description…

    • Anonymous

      I tend to agree that this dress looks more party than office; however, as has been discussed about a gajillion times, what works for one office may not work for all.

  11. Lee

    I think whether an empire waist looks good on you depends very much on your particular proportions. On some people it looks fab, especially if you have a high waist or the narrowest part of your body is around the ribcage. On others, it veers quickly into pregnancy territory.

    This dress could be beautiful if you have the right proportions for it, especially with a cute blazer or colored cardigan. I find that layering with blazers works best if you use ones that are not part of a suit. It might just be that my eyes are used to seeing my suit jackets as part of a set, but turning suit pieces into separates always looks odd on me.

    • Legally Brunette

      I totally agree re: the empire waist. When I first saw this I thought the model did look a little pregnant, even though I’m sure she’s stick thin.

  12. Allison Berlin

    Spice up your office attire with the latest trends like modern geometric prints and color blocking. Need help finding work appropriate AND cute clothes? Sign up for a shopping tour, where I’ll find the clothes all you have to do it try them on!

Back to Top

About

Work with Corporette®

Serious Stuff

work fashion blog press mentions