Anonymous wrote:So I was the PP who agreed with the PP who said it was too short etc.

Apologies! I should have recognized that the dress was short because the model was likely very tall. I didn't read the length--38 inches is perfectly acceptable for the office for the great majority of people. As for too low--it is. I forgot about the cami thing--I've never gotten this, seems so fussy to have to wear a shirt with a dress, so completely overlooked this possibility. I've used safety pins, however, to make more modest necklines. As for the material--agree how one takes of it matters a lot.

Well, it is a wrap dress-- this is a known issue with them. I think that dress is perfectly fine for the office. Yes, you need a cami underneath.

Agree the style is frumpy, but I have resorted to similar when I couldn't find anything better. Sometimes Nordstrom's on line has cute cropped cardigans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

how about something like this?

http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-women-s-crop-elbow-sleeve-cardigan-assorted-colors/-/A-14769764#prodSlot=medium_1_3&term=short sleeve cropped cardigan

Can other people weigh in on boleros like this? Are they frumpy or, worse, little-girl-ish?

Frumpy, not professional at all, and if you purchase it from target it will look like crap after two wears.

cute blazer

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Coats-Jackets/Jackets/WQ074/Womens-Chic-Wool-Blazer.html

I think the cardigan from target it a little old lady looking and I am in my 40s. I do like the black dress if you can wear clothes a level down from suits. I think a blazer or normal looking cardigan would be better.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

how about something like this?

http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-women-s-crop-elbow-sleeve-cardigan-assorted-colors/-/A-14769764#prodSlot=medium_1_3&term=short sleeve cropped cardigan

Can other people weigh in on boleros like this? Are they frumpy or, worse, little-girl-ish?

Anonymous wrote:A collared shirt under a wrap dress can also look really professional, if you get the proportions right. Not all shirts work with all dresses, though!

OP, I think it depends on where you work. I'm in a research office and we are def. business casual (I could wear sleeveless in summer if I wanted), but kick it up a notch for client meetings, etc. Also depends on your age. And your commute--I walk/metro, so it's nice to be able to take a layer off when it's 100 degrees out!

I wouldn't wear a dress + cardigan to a client meeting, though--definitely would switch to a jacket, and if you are in a more formal workplace, cardigans might not be right.

I'm also not seeing how that BR dress is too low cut! Looks fine to me. The fabric, though, yes. In fact, I'd be more worried the fabric was too thin than I would about the general coverage. Coverage doesn't help if you can see every lump and bump through it.

PP who suggested the BR wrap dress here. That is a really cute idea! I can't wait to give it a try.

I promise the material on this dress is really nice, but it was more the silhouette in general that I was recommending. It's a versatile look and an easy one for those who like their arms covered. The DVF wrap dresses are supposed to be lovely too, although I can't bring myself to spend that much for one.

A collared shirt under a wrap dress can also look really professional, if you get the proportions right. Not all shirts work with all dresses, though!

OP, I think it depends on where you work. I'm in a research office and we are def. business casual (I could wear sleeveless in summer if I wanted), but kick it up a notch for client meetings, etc. Also depends on your age. And your commute--I walk/metro, so it's nice to be able to take a layer off when it's 100 degrees out!

I wouldn't wear a dress + cardigan to a client meeting, though--definitely would switch to a jacket, and if you are in a more formal workplace, cardigans might not be right.

I'm also not seeing how that BR dress is too low cut! Looks fine to me. The fabric, though, yes. In fact, I'd be more worried the fabric was too thin than I would about the general coverage. Coverage doesn't help if you can see every lump and bump through it.

So I was the PP who agreed with the PP who said it was too short etc.

Apologies! I should have recognized that the dress was short because the model was likely very tall. I didn't read the length--38 inches is perfectly acceptable for the office for the great majority of people. As for too low--it is. I forgot about the cami thing--I've never gotten this, seems so fussy to have to wear a shirt with a dress, so completely overlooked this possibility. I've used safety pins, however, to make more modest necklines. As for the material--agree how one takes of it matters a lot.

I was noticing that if you look at that dress in purple, it looks like an entirely different length than the black dress.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So sorry to the PP who put up the link. I have to agree with the PP quoted above on all points.

I disagree.

(1) Regular length is 38 1/4 inches according to the description. I am 5'6, and that would be knee length on me. Models are tall, so it will look shorter in the picture.

(2) Put a cami under it to solve cleavage issues for work. Wear it without the cami for socializing outside of work.

(3) Eh, it all depends on how you take care of it. I would have to see it in person to decide for sure.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So sorry to the PP who put up the link. I have to agree with the PP quoted above on all points.

Uh thanks for your apologies but (1) I'm 5'4 so it hits below the knee for me, perfectly suitable for work; (2) I wear a camisole underneath it and I'm not well-endowed so again, perfectly suitable; and (3) it has held up quite well for me. I work in a business casual office and I really think it's quite appropriate for the setting.

PPs asked for recommendations so I gave one that works nicely for me. No need to be rude about it.

Anonymous wrote: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.

I'm not a skinny lady but most of the sleevless tops/dresses don't work on me because the arm holes are much bigger than my arms. I really have no choice but to wear a jacket or 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?

how about something like this?

http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-women-s-crop-elbow-sleeve-cardigan-assorted-colors/-/A-14769764#prodSlot=medium_1_3&term=short sleeve cropped cardigan

Anonymous wrote:

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?

So sorry to the PP who put up the link. I have to agree with the PP quoted above on all points.