This “denim” bag from Bottega Veneta caught my eye recently — I love the black and navy woven together!

This would be a great bridge piece if you often wear both black and navy, but I also love that there's a certain IYKYK quality to it, where it might just look all black in certain lights or just dark blue in others.

The bag is (gulp) $5500 at Neiman Marcus, but there are a number of pieces with the same color scheme, including a card case that is merely $390.

Looking for something more affordable? MZ Wallace has bags with both black and navy in their latest collection.

Stay tuned for our roundup of any bridge accessories with both black and navy that we see! These bags from MZ Wallace and Bottega Veneta are great examples.

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Coffee Break: Andiamo Shoulder Bag appeared first on Corporette.com.

I was intrigued by the recent WSJ article, “The ‘Finance Bro' Uniform Is a Fleece and Khakis. For Female Execs, It's Not That Simple,” which has LOT to talk about (including, I kid you not, talk of women's water bottles). We've discussed this before, sharing tips on what to wear to work in Silicon Valley and pondering what the “casual-but-professional” uniform is for women… but not in a while. So let's discuss:

Are you in a field where the men dress casually but uniformly (e.g., gray hoodies, fleece vests, blue button-front shirts with the sleeves pushed up…)? How do your female colleagues dress — is there a similar uniform? Do you feel like there is a consensus among women on the level of formality, at least? What would you advise a young woman who, perhaps, interacted with mostly men dressed in one of these uniforms to wear on her first week to the office?

Water Bottles Are Apparently a Sign of Success for Women

Some quotes from the article (gift link) — first, on water bottles, because I must:

Trying to spot a woman in finance? Start with her water bottle. “You almost never see guys in our office carrying them around,” [one female CFO noted]. Women value luxury versions of the reusable bottles for both their status and sustainability, the 46-year-old said. Popular designs are covered with Swarovski crystals or leather, like those from Laksen that retail for $140 each.

A luxury sipper is just one sign of success for women who hold C-suite finance jobs, a demographic that is growing but still makes up just 18% of top executives in the industry, according to the World Economic Forum.

I mean… readers here have largely scoffed when we discussed “professional water bottles,” which is the way it would be in an ideal world — your water bottle wouldn't and shouldn't matter. But: to see the WSJ decree that sparkly water bottles are a “sign of success” is something else! This is the same publication that suggested that only a $4000 outfit (with bag!!) would do for working from home, and more recently has said that sequins and multiple piercings are “power moves” for women executives, so… OK!

What the WSJ Says Women Should Wear When Working With Finance Bros

Moving on:

Female financial leaders have created their own visual code to telegraph their power. “You have to both conform to the norms and defer,” explained Mariana Dahan, a director at the World Bank. At least up to a point.

While “showy” designer suits could seem desperate, she says, a “dull” uniform of gray slacks and a blouse could appear middling. The trick, Dahan noted, is sticking with a basic, expensive uniform, “and then doing a few things that will set you apart.” 

The WSJ suggests things including a boss blazer, a “subtle” watch, “status flats,” and a “sumptuous” tote. BUT: never denim.

One thing “finance bros” get away with at work that women can’t? “Jeans!” said Dahan. “I could never wear them and seem as successful.” Men also require far fewer clothes to send the same signals of wealth. “They can wear the same suits for a week. No one notices,” said Kolossa. “Women could perhaps wear the same suit for two days, but it will be noted.” By the finance bros? “No. By everybody.”

Yikes! OK.

(We have, of course, suggested items in each of those categories — mostly in our tips on how to get C-suite style — and I'll link them at the bottom of this post.)

But let's discuss! Are you in a field where the men dress casually but uniformly? What would you advise a young woman who, perhaps, interacted with mostly men dressed in one of these uniforms to wear on her first week to the office? What do you wear to the office? Do you agree with the “no denim” rule?

(AND: What is your favorite water bottle?!)

Our Picks for C-Suite Style

Boss Blazers

Hunting for a luxe statement blazer? 2024 favorites include Smythe, include McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani, and Anine Bing.

Status Flats

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

Sumptuous Totes

As of 2024, some of our latest favorite luxury work bags (large enough to hold papers and a laptop!) include Bottega Veneta, Mulberry, Saint Laurent, Kaai, and Demellier. Of course, note that a lot of our readers who are in big jobs note that they love their (more affordable) Lo & Sons bags, as well as their Tumi.

Looking for work backpacks to splurge on? Montblanc, MCM and Senreve (also!) are great, and readers are always huge fans of all things Tumi. Some of our favorites…

Other Splurges To Consider When You're the Boss (and Paid Accordingly)

These are my picks for where I'd shop if money was no object…

• cashmere: InHabit NY, Loro Piana, Akris, TSE, Brora, & Eric Bompard
• basic blazers: Smythe, McQueen, L'Agence, Veronica Beard, The Fold, Armani
• dramatic blazers for speaking/Big Days: Akris, The Fold, IRO, L'Agence, Smythe, Etro, and Ray Darten (we've also done a roundup of dramatic blazers you can buy at Etsy!)
• Chanel-style jackets: Chanel, St. John, IRO, L’Agence, Sandro
• dresses: Roland Mouret, Victoria Beckham, DVF, Akris, St. John, Burberry
• pants: Lafayette 148 New York, Theory, Akris, St. John
• coats: Fleurette, Cinzia Rocca, Mackage
• bags: Loewe, Bottega Venetta
• jewelry: Ylang 23, Bergdorf Goodman,
• shoes: Ferragamo, Manolo, Choo, Valentino, Louboutin (but please know your office before considering thick platforms or 4″+ heels), Aquazzura, Sarah Flint, Prada, and Miu Miu (one of the favorites in our Newbie Guide to Designer Shoes)
• weatherproof shoes: Aquatalia, La Canadienne

Stock photo via Pexels / Alena Darmel.

The post Is There a Finance Bro Uniform For Women? appeared first on Corporette.com.

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. Also: we just updated our big roundup for the best women's suits of 2024!

This suit feels very casual, but fun, particularly with the matching cropped flares. (It also comes with a longer A-line skirt, a vest, and a basic sheath (with pockets!).

The fabric is a “stretch tweed,” made from 67% viscose, 31% polyester, and 2% Elastane. All of the pieces are machine washable (but line dry).

I think it's really interesting how the different matching pieces change the vibe of the suit — the A-line midi skirt feels very Grown Up in the Room, whereas when the jacket is styled with the vest and jeans, it feels much more Cool Girl.

The jacket is $345, available in sizes 00-20; the matching pieces are $195-$295.

Looking for burgundy, wine or purple suits for women? This Boss suit in a purple “mulberry” looks lovely, as does this Reiss suit in berry, and M.M.LaFleur has a lot of “wine” options, as well as this pretty stretch tweed in lavender. On the more affordable side, this reader favorite suit under $75 is a winey red. For plus sizes, Estelle has a pretty suit in “ultraviolet.” On the lighter side, Banana Republic has suiting in a violet lavender.

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Suit of the Week: M.M.LaFleur appeared first on Corporette.com.

Here's a fun little question for today: how many sneakers do you currently own, and how do you choose which ones to wear with which outfits? In general: how do you wear your sneakers in 2024?

More questions: if you've spent money on designer sneakers, whether Loewe, Balenciaga, Chloe, Golden Goose, etc, what was your thought process? Is there a pair of sneakers that you've been considering forever but feels a bit too pricy? If you've bought multiples of the same sneakers over the years (like me with Converse), which shoe is it? Do you prefer different sneakers for different athletic activities, like running vs. strength training?

(Side question: what do you CALL them? Tennis shoes? Sneakers? Athletic shoes? Sneaks? This can be a regional thing, I think…)

We've rounded up the best sneakers for work outfits, as well as discussed what your weekend sneakers say about you.

How I Wear My Sneakers in 2024

I have a bunch of sneakers right now — I leaned into them after realizing that I was consistently wearing them more than flats, boots, or heels. Some of the ones in my collection, and how I wear them:

Black Converse. I just bought a new pair after having a gray pair for a thousand years; I still can't decide if I want to swap out the white laces for ivory ones to make them less… stark. I like to wear these with bootcut jeans. I've had Chucks for decades at this point, and like I wrote about when we discussed weekend sneakers, I feel like they are very much shoes that show my personality. (WHAT it's saying about my personality I'm not quite sure, but I definitely feel a sisterhood when I see other women wearing them — we're sarcastic? We like stand-up comedy? We have a lil' rebel inside? Hmmn. I considered long and hard splurging for the Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse with my most recent purchase, but ultimately decided against it.)

Black Adidas. I'm going to have to check my order history — they might be a version of Gazelles with mesh? They're mostly black shoes with white soles and a bit of mesh on the upper. Despite the fact that the shoes have a very similar profile to my Chucks, I do wear them differently — I find myself wearing the Adidas more with “current outfits,” and Converse with more classic ones. Anything that feels trendy to me will probably get Adidas or…

White Cole Haan Grand Pro Topspin platforms. I got these white and blue versions after hearing readers sing their praises — they're very comfortable and feel on trend. I'm hoping to keep them pristine white. I find myself pulling these on with wide-legged, casual styles (like my Spanx Air pants), and will probably try them with some of the cropped flares I bought in the NAS. I don't like the skirt-with-sneakers look for myself, but if I were to do it, these or the Adidas would probably be the shoes that I'd wear.

Blue Asics GT-2000. I've had a version of this shoe for decades at this point. A few years ago, I went to a sneaker store to be fitted and assessed for a sneaker and was supremely amused to walk away with the recommended item: a new pair of GT-2000s. I wear them with workout clothes, which means that during the school year especially (when I throw on workout clothes to get the kids out the door), this is most likely what I'm wearing.

Purple Kiziks (Athens). These are super comfortable, and I love that I can step into them. If we were traveling somewhere and I wanted an alternative to my Asics, I would probably bring these. If I were to get a new pair of Kiziks I'd get one of the more athletic-looking ones with the swoops on the side; I love these for comfort but sometimes they feel a bit off trend, at least for me personally.

White and green Tretorns (Rawlins). I got these on sale in the past year or two, and like them for comfort — their low profile makes them sort of interchangeable with the black Adidas. Now that I have the Cole Haans I find that I'm wearing these less, even though the Cole Haans have significantly more of a sole than the Tretorns so they're taller.

Ranked for for comfort: Chucks (with insoles), Asics, Kiziks, Cole Haan, Tretorn, Adidas.

Ranked for style: Cole Haan, Adidas, Chucks, Tretorn, Kiziks, Asics.

How about you, readers — how many sneakers do you currently own, and how do you choose which ones to wear with which outfits?

Stock photo via Stencil.

The post How Do You Wear Your Sneakers? appeared first on Corporette.com.

I had the Maison de Sabré AirTag charms on my list of possible Coffee Break ideas — they're so fun and colorful! But now they have these adorable “Sabremoji” charms, designed to look like different fruits. Love!

The pictured one is supposed to look like an apple, with bold green and red leather. They also offer a strawberry, orange, and cherry — all exclusive to Nordstrom.

These charms are $65; the brand also makes simpler circular AirTag charms in contrasting colors for $59.

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

The post Coffee Break: Sabremoji Airtag Charm appeared first on Corporette.com.

Travel back in the Corporette time capsule… Here’s what was on our minds oh so many moons ago. 

One year ago…

• Which Beauty Products Can You Not Live Without?
• The Best Places to Shop for Plus-Size Work Clothes
• Exit Interviews: Leave With a Smile
• Can You Bring Homemade Cookies for Your Boss?
• Let’s Discuss: Quiet Firing
• How to Deal with Sensory Issues at Work
• Extreme Weather and You – How Are You Dealing?

Two years ago…

• When Should You Button (or Unbutton) Your Blazer?
• Can You Wear Leather to the Office?
• Relaxing vs. Procrastinating vs. “Shoulds”
• Money Snapshot: A Lawyer in the D.C. Suburbs Shares Thoughts on Student Loans and Rental Property
• What’s Your Summer Shaving Routine?

Three years ago…

• The Best Work Totes
• How Important is Work-From-Home Flexibility To You, Going Forward?
• “Are Women Lawyers Paying Enough Attention to Upward Mobility?”
• Which Major Phases of Life Have You Been Through — and What Have You Learned?

Four years ago…

• What’s the Most Embarrassing Thing That’s Happened to You at Work?
• How to Set Up a Great Home Office
• How to Deep Clean Your House: The Best Systems, Books and Tricks
• What to Consider If You’re Thinking About Moving to the Suburbs
• How to Store Jewelry: Tips and Products

Five years ago…

• The Best Stores for Tall Women — for Workwear and Beyond
• Have You Ever Worked with Any Famous People?
• Why I Love Having Dual Monitors
• Tales from the Wallet: How Do You and Your Partner Talk About Money?
• Have You Ever Taken a Vacation Alone?

Earlier…

• Affordable Office Attire: How to Buy an Entire Work Wardrobe With No Money
• Our Best On-Campus Interview Tips and Resources
• Tales from the Wallet: Do You Invest in Stocks or Index Funds (or Something Else)?
• Open Thread: How to Take the Stress Out of Vacation Planning
• Brain Candy Books and Other Fun Summer Reads
• The Best Podcasts for Professionals
• Guest Post: Reader A’s Experiences with Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
• How to Improve Your Posture
• How to Decide Whether to Go to Law School
• Open Thread: Summer Workouts
• The Busy Woman’s Guide to Evernote and Other Note-Keeping Apps

OLDER ARTICLES WITH CAREER ADVICE

• Crucial Tips to Plan Your First Business Trip (guest post by Road Warriorette)
• How to Become a Leader: Resources and Recommended Reading
• How to Job Hunt in a Different City
• What to Wear for Informal and Informational Interviews
• Whoopsies: How to Recover When You’ve Made a Mistake at Work
• How to Respond to Work-Related Praise with Grace
• Negotiating a Salary (and Other Benefits)
• Great Articles for Working Women

OLDER ARTICLES WITH WORK FASHION ADVICE

• Transitioning from a Conservative Office to a More Casual One
• “Comfortable Casual” for a Heat Wave
• How to Dress Professionally With a “Bubble Butt”
• Tips for When Your Entire Wardrobe Needs a Revamp
• How to Take a Great Corporate Headshot in Eyeglasses

OLDER ARTICLES WITH LIFESTYLE ADVICE FOR OVERACHIEVING CHICKS

• Tales from the Wallet: What’s Worth the Splurge (And What Isn’t)
• 10 Things to Keep in Your Desk
• 10 Things About… Trying to Diet While Working a Corporate Gig
• Corporette 101: Always Clean Matching Items Together
• The Best and Most Useful Lists to Keep
• Tales from the Wallet: Automatic Investing: Set it and Forget It

The post Previously, on Corporette… appeared first on Corporette.com.