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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Wool-blend short cardigan

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Vanessa Bruno Athe Wool-blend short cardiganWe're liking this wool blend cardigan from Vanessa Bruno Athe, available at the Outnet. The fit is perfect — cropped but not too cropped, fitted but not tight. The color, admittedly, seems a bit more fall than spring (but hey, it is on sale) — for the spring we might try it with a very light gray (a gray with a bit of blue in it, we think) or perhaps (perhaps!) a light pink. Was $280, now $140 (lucky sizes 6 and 8 only) at the Outnet. Vanessa Bruno Athe Wool-blend short cardigan 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. (L-2)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

40 Comments

  1. Whoa- pairing this with light pink? I think not. I’d probably pair it with navy since it’s a nice spring color. I have to say I don’t really get bracelet length sleeves on cardigans. I can see 3/4 length or full-length sleeves, but bracelet length just looks like the sleeves are too short unintentionally. It’s also not as easy to pair it with a long-sleeved shirt.

    1. I didn’t love the sweater at first, but I think I would like it paired with light pink. I’d go with a conservative dark grey on the bottom to balance it out.

  2. You ever have one of those mornings where everything you put on just looks wrong (even though you may have a great deal of nice clothes)? This morning I tried on possibly four or five skirts. When I finally thought I achieved success, I realized I had serious static cling. Uugh. So I ran back to my closet (even though at this point I had keys in hand, and was ready to walk out of the door), and put on a cute boucle skirt (which I completely forgot about and matches perfectly with my jacket). So, this morning’s whole routine showed me that I have to give away some of my things – not because they don’t fit or are not nice pieces, but simply because I don’t know what’s in there (the closet I mean) anymore. My girlfriends are having a swap party in March. The organizer requires us all to bring a minimum of 5 articles of clothing and 3 accessories. She has also set it up, that amongst the 20 of us who will be attendance, everyone will be able to go home with a new outfit (sizes 0-22 will be represented). All my ladies have a great taste, and always look fabulous, so I am looking forward to my new outfit.

    1. Have heard of swap parties like this, but never been to one. They sound like a great idea.

      And, yeah, everything you put on looks wrong, been there done that. Argh.

      One thing that helps in countering forgetting I have things is to put as little as possible in drawers. Everything that can possibly go on a hanger, does. Sweaters go on shelves where they can be seen. Once something is in a drawer it’s like it never existed.

    2. I like the clothing swap in principle, but be careful about getting a bunch of clothes that you never end up wearing. I went to one last year and took way too many clothes that “kind of fit” or that I “kind of liked”, only to end up donating them all. If you don’t love it, don’t get it. Have fun!

    3. WOC – you need a couple of go to outfits! I have two or three dresses, that in a pinch when nothing else is working for me, that even if I hate the look that day, I KNOW I look good.

      I am going to be moving soon, so am going to try to use this as an opportunity to skim my wardrobe.

    4. I was frustrated with my wardrobe earlier this year for the same reason, so I had a friend come over and help me go through my closet. I ended up donating SIXTEEN (16) large black garbage bags full of clothes, shoes and bags to a local charity. It takes a lot of time to go through everything, and it is hard to let some things go even though you haven’t worn them in a few years, but the end result is worth it! I haven’t missed a thing that I gave away and my closets and drawers aren’t cramped. I still am surprised every now and then when looking through dresses, but by and large I have a much better feel for what’s in there!

    1. L – I’d like your opinion, please: would it be less Mr. Rogers-y if the buttons were the same exact color as the sweater? Or is the size of them really the problem? I have a nice jacket that came with strange-colored buttons, but I painted them the same color as the fabric with nail polish.

      1. I’d have to look at it. I think it would be better with same-colored buttons or maybe mother of pearl, but the size of them is a problem – it makes it too casual for work.

  5. I like the bright, happy color, but it looks like something an older person would wear. I don’t care for the pockets either.

    As an aside, I want to thank this site for opening my eyes to the world of online shopping! I was always skeptical about buying things without trying them on first. In the last year, I bought two skirts from Nordstrom that I absolutely love. However, I also bought a few dresses from Target last week based on recommendations on this site, and they were awful – cheap looking, clingy and unflattering.

    The lesson learned is that I think it’s safer to buy high quality items online, but for cheap things, it seems better to look at it in person to make sure it doesn’t “look” cheap.

  6. I really really like this sweater. I’d wear it with a nice white button-down (perhaps sleeveless) and a white skirt for spring. If you pair it with chunky jewelery, I do not think the buttons would look large or Mr. Rogers-y at all. I really love it. Too bad I’m not a 6 or an 8.

    You might even be able to wear it with this fab spring dress from Nordstrom (colors are hard to tell on a computer): http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3069273/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014132?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014132&P=1

    But definitely something like this: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3079710/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014132?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014132&P=1

    Or this (I totally love orange and navy): http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3036369/0~2376776~2374327~2374331~6014132?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6014132&P=3

    1. Great choices on dresses! I love the orange/white day dress, perfect for a summer wedding. I have also ogled the faux wrap dress for months now but am not sure it would work on my pear frame.

    2. The Suzy Chin faux wrap dress is AMAZING. I actually ordered the currant color, received it last night, and am wearing it today. Unlike some of the other posters, I find it to be extremely flattering. In the past few months, I’ve added 2 sizes worth of weight (ugh), so I have some unwanted fat to hide. This dress does it perfectly and is very flattering. As a result, I ordered the midnight blue color this morning, and would have ordered black too if they had my size. The fabric is extremely lightweight, but not at all see-through, and the V neck is not deep at all, so you don’t come close to needing a cami. I’ve paired mine today with black tights and a black blazer. I expect to wear it four seasons with different pairings. LOVE it.

        1. Thanks for posting! I had wavered on buying it bc of the other posters, but I just did. Sad that I didn’t order when they still had the currant color! It looks so flattering. Love the necklace, too.

      2. B – would you mind sharing your body shape? If you’re an hourglass, I can see how this dress would look great but I’m worried I might look too hip-py in it.

        I’ve looked at this dress so much in the last several months that I may very well just suck it up and buy it!

        1. B, thanks for the info. I ended up buying the size 4 as well in the currant, luckily that was one of the last sizes left. I know what you mean about not knowing your body shape. I think I’m a pear but my hips are not disproportionately large to the rest of my body (33-27-36). I’ll post an update here and let you all know how it looks! Thanks ladies.

        1. Liz, I was going to ask the same thing. Sometimes those dresses can run small and seem clingy. B, what’s the consensus?

          1. I’m probably more hourglass than pear, but it’s incredibly hard for me to objectively describe my body shape, since it has changed so much over the past few months (lost a lot of weight 2 years ago and dropped from an 8 to an 0/2, then ran a marathon this past November, suffered an injury and had to stop exercise, gained 10-15 pounds back, and now find that size 4s are tight ). Most of my newfound weight has gone to my rear, so my butt is disproportionately large right now, and the rest is in my hips and chest. Other dresses cling too much in the back, but this one is OK. In any event, the ruching on the dress is very flattering. I went with the 4, and would say it’s true to size. It’s snug, but not as much as the Ann Taylor 4s were that I recently tried on. Hope that helps. (Sorry I can’t provide a more direct answer there!)

  7. On a completely unrelated note — sorry C — thoughts and opinions on the professionalness/appropriateness of wearing a very fitting (albeit flattering) dress. I ordered this dress on Overstock, fits beautifully, but is very very body-hugging. I think with a black shrug and fab shoes it would look professional — I think.

    http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/London-Times-Womens-Black-Ivory-Brushstroke-Ponte-Dress/4060731/product.html

    Thanks for any comments!

    1. I think anything that is described as “very very body hugging” is probably not right for the workplace, but I do like the dress otherwise!

    2. I think if the dress is “very, very bodyhugging”, you shouldn’t wear it to work, however flattering it may be. I usually wear fitted clothes to work but nothing that is bodyhugging. When in doubt, I usually avoid wearing it. Save this for an evening out.

      1. Would they let you exchange for a size larger? Sometimes that solves the v.v. body-hugging thing, sometimes it just looks too big. I buy from Overstock all the time, but haven’t had to return anything yet.

    3. I usually go by the “butt test” — an item is too clingy for work (as opposed to slim fitting) if it hugs the butt almost all the way to the thigh. Most of my skirts hang just about straight down behind me.

      1. I think the butt test wouldn’t work so well if you have a larger butt. Obviously there’s too tight for anyone, but for some of us, going straight down from the biggest point will create an unattractive bustled look. No thanks!

    4. I would echo the comments about “very very” being too much for the office, but with a caveat — are you normally someone who wears form fitting clothes to begin with? It’s been my experience that when you get used to wearing clothing a certain way, any deviation can feel strange, so e.g., a skirt that’s just barely above the knee feels “really short” if you’re used to wearing a just below knee length, or a modestly open shirt feels “very low cut” if you’re normally prone to wearing very high necklines. I would ask a trusted friend, pref. someone who wokrs in a similar environment and understands what would be appropriate and what wouldn’t be.

      That said, my test for a too tight item is to see if wearing it affects my walk. If I find myself sauntering like Joan on Mad Men, I know I’m probably wearing something that is too tight for the office.

    5. It looks a touch short if it is that tight, esp. if your screen handle is in reference to your height! (I did not mean for that to rhyme, lol)

  8. Tall TX Girl, it looks fine on the web site.

    I have a similar question. I have a dress like this

    http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&langId=-1&storeId=301&productId=502055681&N=1000894+2010541&searchUrl=%2Fendeca%2FEndecaStartServlet%3FN%3D1000894%2B2010541&R=03161411

    that so far I have only worn to evening events. I actually have it in black and royal blue. I am wondering if I can wear it to work. Its not that revealing but it is tight. My butt looks okay in it but its tighter than I would normally wear at work. On the other hand, I dont work in BigLaw, I tend to dress far more conservatively than others around me, and it seems the perfect weight for spring…..? Please share your opinions!!

    1. Caveat: I don’t mind a form fitting top, but all-over-tight tends to be too much in my opinion. What would worry me about this is the openness of the neck even more than the tightness. I feel like to make this work, you’d have to add so many other items to make it less sexy that it wouldn’t be worth the trouble. But I, too, am interested in what others think.

    2. Definitely not for work. It is too much like the Herve bandage dresses from every red carpet event, and screams sexpot.

      2. Def not for work. Neckline is too wide, and it’s nearly off-the-shoulder.

        1. Oops, posted this before I saw your covers-the-shoulders comment. It’s a great dress, I bet you look amazing in it, I’m dead envious.

  9. And by the way, the dress covers my shoulders just fine. Not sure what is up with the model. She makes it look more va va voom than it does on me.

  11. Thanks for the feedback from everyone. The dress, luckily, is not too short, and fits a lot like this dress, as far as the curviness/form-fitting factor goes: http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=301&langId=-1&storeId=301&productId=502085026&view=20&No=40&Ntt=ponte&Ntk=all&N=1000894&Nty=1&searchUrl=%2Fendeca%2FEndecaStartServlet%3Fview%3D20%26No%3D40%26Ntt%3Dponte%26Ntk%3Dall%26N%3D1000894%26Nty%3D1&R=03183419

    I think I might try the size up like the commenter suggested, and hope that does the trick. I like the dress in that it fits all my requirements for a work piece, except for that bit of overt sexiness factor (I think I can pull it off, it just isn’t my norm).

    Thanks again!

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