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If your little one is looking for a special first day of school outfit, consider this classic wrap dress from Tea.
One of Tea’s bestsellers year after year (my oldest probably cycled through half a dozen until she declared herself done with dresses), this easy-to-wear dress is made of soft 100% cotton. I can also personally attend to their durable, hand-me-down quality.
Available in three floral prints, this dress will also work for picture day or any other day that needs something extra.
This long-sleeved wrap dress is $39 and comes in sizes 2 to 16.
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
Anon says
Do you shop Back to School sales at Staples, etc for supplies for your home (e.g. home office, kids’ art supplies)? My kid is still in preschool so we don’t have Back to School lists yet but I want to buy some supplies for a little retail therapy/nostalgia.
Clementine says
We always grab a couple extra packages of Markers/Crayons (I’m a Crayon fan) and I grab an extra pack of Ticonderoga #2 pencils for back to school sales. I get them when they’re 50 cents and always have a couple coloring books + crayons + markers as back up gifts.
Mary Moo Cow says
I do at Target when markers, crayons, and glue are 50 cents. My school buys all the supplies for kids (cue the nostalgia for picking out your own trapper keeper!) but home art supplies are always going missing, drying up, and new this year, eaten by the dog. But now that you mention it, I would love to pick up some colorful pens and file folders for myself!
Anon says
so in my kids’ school you don’t get a list – you just order the supplies through the school. i’m a little sad i won’t get to take them school supply shopping like i used to do with my mom…but it’s probably better. i recall the year insisted on a purple binder which at the time was very hard to find and my mom had to convince a security guard at the container store at closing time to let her in to buy the purple binder i saw in the window…which i later returned bc i found one i liked better
Anon says
Our school gives you the choice of ordering through the school or buying yourself, and we choose to buy them ourselves. It’s one more thing to do but it’s not hard and we usually go with a friend.
Anonymous says
Our schools have always just provided basic supplies for everyone and asked families who could afford to send in some money to cover costs – like $20-30. It’s so convenient and makes sense from an equity perspective.
Anon says
I like that. We’re thinking of doing something like that for our Girl Scout troop. Funds are running low and probably 75% of our families can easily pay $15-20 for the kids to go to something fun, but some can’t. So we’re thinking about doing a suggested donation system and stretching the troop money farther for those who really need it.
so artsy says
the crayola bright and bold markers are so so cool. those and astro bright card stock have been a huge hit at my house.
Clementine says
Took today off to have a life admin/do some appointments for the kids before school/get things organized and deep cleaned for the school year day.
Please tell me why I’m actually doing a slide deck for work… Solidarity to all the working women out there who are having to always work on the edges to make sure that when they take time off for caretaking/life/kids/pets/parents they are beyond reproach?
Anon says
That’s why I just try squeezing in the caretaking around my actual workday instead of blowing my limited PTO on admin days. Other people take breaks at the water cooler, I take breaks to deal with elder care. Your point still stands, though. Women have so much on their plates.
Anon says
+1 I refuse to use vacation time on life admin.
Anon says
+1000. Work expands to fill the time allotted.
Mary Moo Cow says
Yes! I just told DH that I need 48 hours kid-free, husband-free, and dog-free to get our house in shape for back to school and I have no idea how to make that happen. Looking ahead, there’s a day in October when my office is closed but school is in session, and those are the only days I know are “beyond reproach.”
I hope you get a true break for yourself at some point today, Clementine!
Anonymous says
Because you lack boundaries. People treat you the way you teach them to, and you can actually not do slides the day before a holiday weekend that you’ve taken off.
Spirograph says
Ouch. A little harshly worded, but true. I see myself so much in your post, Clementine. I hope you’re able to disconnect! I’m between jobs now and with a little distance (and staying in touch with my former colleagues), I’ve noticed all the times this summer I would have had evenings and vacation days waylaid by something my boss thought was urgent. Work expands to fill the time you allow it, especially if you work for people who don’t respect PTO, weekends, or off-work hours. I wish I’d said no earlier and way more often, or at least “I can get that to you on Tuesday.”
Anon says
Yeah I also agree with this although it’s very harsh. Jobs will take and take and take if you let them, it’s really up to you to draw boundaries.
Boston Legal Eagle says
Truth. How important is this slide deck? And better question, can someone else do it? The best thing you can do for yourself, and frankly for your company too, is have a solid backup person who can step in. It doesn’t matter if they don’t do it “as well” as you, the important thing is that you get the time off and so do they when the time comes. And if it’s not urgent, the work can wait.
Anonymous says
I did not mean it to be harsh- it’s not mean or rude or attacking, it’s just a simple truth.
Anon says
I do think this is an important skill to not just learn, but consistently practice. There are always people at my work who do not respect weekends or time off – you simply can’t let them encroach like that. Don’t check email (put on an OOO message if that helps) and don’t offer to step in just to be nice. I had someone ask me to “review something on Sunday.” I said that I was busy and could turn to it first thing Monday. He declined my help and that’s his problem. It wasn’t due until Wednesday, but he needs that faux urgency and the performative weekend work to feel productive. It’s my choice not to be part of that.
Clementine says
Ouch. I was already mad at myself for not being able to get this done yesterday and shouldn’t have posted because I should have known that I’m supposed to be better at all of it.
Spirograph says
I’m sorry these posts came off that way…I meant mine in solidarity, because that’s been me more times than I can count. I’m really bad at boundaries, especially when I have the ability to work from home. There’s always just one more thing I *need* to finish up really quick, but since I don’t work in a life-or-death field…most of the time that’s more my own sense of duty talking than reality. If that might be the case for you, too, I hope you run away and enjoy your long weekend!
Anon says
Your slide deck is not saving lives. Why can’t it wait til Tuesday?
anon says
I just want to applaud the anon at 5:30 last night, in case anyone missed it. The conversation was about tween clothing. My daughter has not asked to wear a crop top yet but is aware of them and some of her classmates wear them (5th grade). She rolls her eyes when kids wear them, which im sure is not great either. All of this is to say, that its hard to figure out body positivity/confidence and just how to be supportive.
“You are not! My 8 yo is not allowed to wear crop tops (or bikinis for that matter). I think its disingenuous to conflate body positivity or confidence with age in appropriate clothing. I find that kind of argument usually comes from parents who also insist that their kids “need” smart phones and watches in elementary school.”
Anon says
I missed that yesterday, but I completely agree! For us, I have allowed my daughter (9) to wear basically anything around the house, but we’ve been clear (and she clearly understands) that you cannot show your belly button at school. I’m pretty sure that’s a rule at the school, too, though even if it weren’t, I would keep it.
Anon says
I’m also very wary of people who refuse to see the link between a “body positive outfit” and “an outfit that is sexually appealing to men.” A true body positive outfit should fit her body well, allowing her to run and move and perform on stage or whatever she wants to do. Her body shouldn’t be the art, but the paintbrush, as some people say. Too many girls’ clothes don’t allow that.
AwayEmily says
I honestly do not care. By which I mean, I think it’s totally fine if parents say “no crop tops,” and I also think it’s totally fine if parents allow crop tops. No judgment either way; it seems like one of many things where different families make different choices. It doesn’t affect me and I have no desire to spend any time moralizing about what other people are doing.
Lydia says
I love this response. strong agree.
Anonymous says
I strive for this attitude, and I think starting around 8 years old I really do have it. But when I see a baby in a bikini or a 4 year old at the dance studio in a sports bra and tumble shorts with her butt falling out, I cringe and judge. I agree with Anon at 10:44, can we just not sexualize children who are basically babies? I mean, not that my 8 year old isn’t still my baby, but I now allow sportier style bikinis and longline crops for dance. They’re feeling more age appropriate. Or maybe society has just worn me down.
Anon says
i was going to come back to post about that too. I was the anon who asked “am i the only mom who thinks shirts should fully cover stomachs?” i have first grade twins, one is now asking for bikinis and hasn’t yet asked for a crop top, though i could see it coming. our school has a dress code which fortunately doesn’t allow them. i am not some super prude person and i wore bikinis and short skirts when i was younger, but i generally think shorts should be long enough that if you bend over, no one sees your tush (i work in higher ed now and some of the “shorts” the college students wear are practically like underwear”) and if you want to wear a crop top when you exercise or a college student going to a party or whatever, but not as every day wear. like different clothes for different occasions.
Anonymous says
I don’t mind crop tops I just don’t want to see butt cheeks hanging out of shorts
Anon says
i have a kid who is good at and loves to dance and i really don’t like how s*xualized some of the dance costumes and the dance moves are. like let’s keep them little, they will grow up at some point
Anon says
Cheer is even worse! I just want something where my kid can jump around and wave pom poms which she would love to do but it’s all *very* revealing outfits and sexually suggestive moves, even with kids as young as preschool.
Anonymous says
Yeah cheer is a hard no from me. As a sideline activity, no my girls aren’t spending their time supporting boys. As an athletic activity for the good competition squads, wildly dangerous.
Anon says
In my area at least, there are pom teams for young kids that don’t do crazy stunts or cheer for boys (at least not similar age boys, they might perform at a college or semi-pro game but that’s kind of different). It still bothers me though.
Anon says
I also would not want an 8 year old showing their belly at school.
The crop tops are everywhere! I took my 6 year old back to school shopping and we kept finding cute tops and then realizing they were cropped. It doesn’t help that my kid has a very long torso so a crop that’s meant to reveal an inch of belly reveals like 4 inches on her. She said “why do they not sell whole shirts?” 🤣
Spirograph says
My 4th grader has a crop tank top she got as a hand-me-down from one of her good friends. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to “lose” it all summer, but she loves that thing. While I didn’t make an issue of it at home, she is not allowed to wear it to school… (per me. I’m not sure if there’s a dress code, but I was watching middle schoolers get off the bus yesterday and one girl was wearing straight up spandex athletic wear: fit and flare yoga pants and what looked like just a sports bra. I assume/hope she had a shirt at school. It was hot that day, but you still have to wear clothes!)
Anon says
Also meant to comment on that thread with agreement! There are other ways to encourage and manifest body positivity without this type of clothing… my daughter is a little young for crop tops but I’m sure she will encounter them soon and the answer will be no in our house
Anon says
48 hours in denver with two 6 year olds. what would you do?
Anon says
I took my then almost 6 year old there last fall for two days. We loved the zoo, the flight museum and the science museum. Flight museum is the most unique since many cities have zoos and science centers. Denver Biscuit Co is a must for breakfast/brunch.
OP says
thanks! yea we have a pretty good zoo at science museum where we live. we also happen to have a flight museum. and have family in DC area that we visit at least once a year, but i guess each zoo, museum, etc. has some novelty for kids.
Anonymous says
Flight museum is fun (Wings over the Rockies) and there is a beer garden and ice cream place next door!
Museum of Nature and Science and Children’s Museum are fun, too.
Anonymous says
Are you going to the actual mountains in Colorado? If not, I wouldn’t spend two days in Denver. I’d drive up into the mountains, or I’d go to Colorado Springs instead, which is much closer to the mountains and more touristy. Go to Garden of the Gods and let them climb on the rocks, go to Manitou and go through all the little tourist shops, go to one of the great local parks and go “hiking,” drive 15 minutes up Ute Pass to Green Mountain Falls and let them run around the little lake and have a picnic there. Go to the zoo, which is on the side of a mountain. Take the cog railway up to the top of Pikes Peak.
OP says
we are visiting family who lives in Denver. so not on this trip
Anon says
Probably depends on the personalities of your kids, but we spent two days in Denver and two days in the mountains and the Denver portion was way more fun for my kid (the mountain portion was more fun for me, which is why we planned it that way). My kid isn’t very outdoorsy though and would much rather play in a kids/science museum than go on a nature walk.