Anonymous wrote:Also, this is an amazing dress and everything is 40% off on the site right now:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1005908&vid=1&pid=949935002

(1) too short; (2) low cut; (3) made of rayon, so will age terribly.

Do people seriously think this is professional dress?

Agree on cardigans of differing lengths. I've had really good look with boden cashmere cardigans - they come cropped and regular length and really last. Plus they're a bit more dressy looking than a standard thin cardigan.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post a few links to lightweight jackets that look good to wear over dresses? Where should the jacket hit? Waist/hips/etc? What should the material be?

+1 Links please

I like sleeveless dresses because 1) you don't have to worry about the arms being generous enough so they are easier to fit and 2) you can wear through more seasons depending on what you put on top.

In my office, many of the professional women wear cardigans with skirts or dresses. They tend to be far more comfortable than jackets--so much easier to push up the sleeves! I agree with previous PP that you can upgrade the professional look by a nice necklace or scarf.

The same sweater may not look that good with two different dresses, depending very much on the shape. You can wear longer sweaters/jackets with sheaths, while dresses with defined waists and Aline or fuller skirts often look much better with more cropped cardigans. These can be hard to find in a style or quality suitable for work. When I do find them, I buy them in a number of colors. Talbots sometimes has these.

Can someone post a few links to lightweight jackets that look good to wear over dresses? Where should the jacket hit? Waist/hips/etc? What should the material be?

Also, this is an amazing dress and everything is 40% off on the site right now:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1005908&vid=1&pid=949935002

Cardigan or jacket. Jacket makes you look older (in a good way) and more polished. If you do cardigan, make sure it's pristine and add jewelry and/or belt.

Lightweight cardigan or a jacket, with a light scarf.

I always just wear a jacket over my dresses. It is odd that nearly all of my work dresses are sleeveless (mostly sheath dresses), but I guess it's expected for a jacket to be thrown over them.

I wear tons of sleeveless dresses to work; in fact, my favorite look is a dress, statement necklace, and a blazer with heels.

I have a variety of lightweight blazers - black, navy, tan - and I always roll up the sleeves to 3/4 length. I really love the less structured but stretchy ponte blazers that a lot of places are carrying now.

I think the sleeveless dress with cardigan look is very pretty, feminine, conservative. Sort of 50's housewife-ish. I actually LOVE the look but it strikes me as a hard look to pull off at the work place, I don't care what your position is.

Most of the stuff I find in stores is sleeveless and I cannot wear them to work (professional reasons as well as the air conditioning!) How do you ladies cover it up? Could you please provide recommendations of what and where you buy. Does using a sweater look too secretary-ish?

+100!

I hate this about the dresses sold in the stores, in the summer I wear a black sleeveless shift with a shrunken black cardigan sweater and that look is ok, I had to work to get the porportions right and I wear it ALOT. Suits are heavy in the hottest days, but men wear them, so I buck up and wear them for presentations . I also bought two wrap dresses at nordstrom to fill in the blanks. But I never show my arms.

Cardigans or cute lightweight tailored jackets. Also depends on your age

Most of the stuff I find in stores is sleeveless and I cannot wear them to work (professional reasons as well as the air conditioning!) How do you ladies cover it up? Could you please provide recommendations of what and where you buy. Does using a sweater look too secretary-ish?