Washable Workwear Wednesday: Oversized Washable Merino Sweater Vest
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Are sweater vests back? Have they ever left? I’ve worn my fair share of sweater vests on and off over the years — they’re perfect for warmth without bulk.
This oversized version from Banana Republic is a fun update for a more casual office or even the weekend. It’s made from soft (and machine washable) 100% merino wool and has a high-low hem, ribbed stitch, and deep V-neck.
For a cool, late fall day, I’d pair it as pictured with a crisp button down shirt or sleek turtleneck.
Banana Republic’s Oversized Washable Merino Sweater Vest is $110 and available in navy (S–XL) and cream (S and XL only).
Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear.
Sales of note for 11.25.24 (Great Black Friday Sales!!)
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Early Black Friday, up to 60% off — great deals on Natori, Vince, Theory, Boss, Cole Haan, Tory Burch, Rothy’s, and Weitzman, as well as gift ideas like Barefoot Dreams and Parachute — Dyson isn’t marked down at all but you do get 3x points on beauty purchases.
- Ann Taylor – 40% off your purchase, plus extra 15% off full price styles
- Anine Bing – Shop more, save more (spend $200-$300, get an extra 15-25% off)
- A.P.C. – Shop 40% off
- ba&sh – Up to 40% off Fall/Winter styles, including select colors of reader favorite Gaspard & Guspa cardigans (also included in Tuckernuck’s sale)
- Banana Republic Factory – 60% off everything + extra 20% off (or extra 30% off with your Gap Inc credit card) ends 11/26
- Bloomingdales – Take $25 off every $100 you spend on items labeled BLACK FRIDAY; ends 11/24
- Boden – 30% off on 1000s of styles, including reader favorites like this blazer and these dresses
- Cuyana – Free shipping over $95 (and 10% off your first order over $150)
- Demellier – 20% off with code, free worldwide shipping & returns
- Design Within Reach – 25% off sitewide (including reader-favorite office chairs Herman Miller Aeron and Sayl!)
- The Fold – Black Friday, up to 30% off everything
- Eloquii – 50% off everything + extra 10% off $125 or more
- Everlane – Up to 50% off everything
- Furla – Up to 50% off select styles
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off almost everything – LOTS of winter coats 40% off, down to $204-$230
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything, plus extra 25% off orders $125+
- Kule – 30% off sitewide
- Kohl’s – Earn $10 Kohl’s Cash for every $50 Spent – includes Travelpro luggage!
- LaLigne – 30% off in their ONLY sale of the year
- Lo & Sons – Up to 70% off – reader favorite laptop tote is under $200
- Macy’s – 20-50% off beauty brands like Clinique and Armani, 50% off designer handbags, 50-75% off sparkly jewelry, and 40-50% off women’s boots
- Mansur Gavriel – Winter sale, up to 60% off
- M.M.LaFleur – “20% off everything” (but exclusions apply)
- Ministry of Supply – 30% off sitewide
- Mulberry – Up to 40% off, including Bayswater, Islington, and more
- Neiman Marcus – Earn a $50-$1250 gift card, including on beauty and fragrance purchases
- Rothy’s – Everything up to 30% off (some also on sale at Nordstrom)
- Shopbop – 25% off storewide with code, including great blazers from Rag & Bone, IRO, Smythe, and select L’Agence (also lots of nice Black Halo dresses)
- Soma – Early Black Friday $29 bra event (up to 50% off)
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
- Sue Sartor – Week of Joy sale, 30% off sitewide
- Steelcase – 25% off sitewide, including reader-favorite office chairs Leap and Gesture
- Strathberry – Pre-black Friday, enjoy up to 30% off select styles!
- Stuart Weitzman – Extra 25% off full-price and sale styles
- Talbots – 40% off your entire purchase + daily deals
- Theory – 25% off sitewide + up to 40% off select outerwear
- Tory Burch – 30% off $250+
- Tuckernuck – 20% off sitewide
- Universal Standard – At least 30% off sitewide, up to 70% off all styles
- Victoria’s Secret – 30% off everything, and 7/$35 panties
- White House Black Market – 60% off clearance, 30% off sitewide for WHBM members
- 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
- BabyJogger – 30% off sitewide
- BestBuy – Lots of deals on gaming consoles, including PS5, XBox Series X, and more
- Carter’s – 50-60% off entire site and store
- ErgoBaby – 25% off bouncers
- Graco – Up to 30% off sitewide
- Hanna Andersson – 50% off sitewide
- J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off almost everything, prices marked
- Nordstrom – Lots of deals on Stokke, Maxi-Cosi, BabyJoger, Posh Baby, Silver Cross, and more
- Old Navy – Everything on sale
- SNOO / Happiest Baby – 30% off Snoo, up to 50% off sitewide
And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Posting again since I posted late yesterday; thanks so much to the person who responded!
I know there is abundant info on the internet, but I appreciate all of your expertise so much… please share your tips for flying with a 3 month old. It would be a short, non-stop flight. My questions include… lap child or car seat? Bring car seat and base or have grandparents buy a set? Our baby is currently in the Snoo bassinet for naps and at night, so we’d have to all adjust to a regular pack and play or something…
Any and all tips and tricks for the actual travel part or for optimizing the logistics of the visit itself are welcome!
Fun question. Any cute token gift ideas for a spouse who had a big work achievement? All my tired brain can come up with is booze, so help please.
So, as a parent of older kids, the post earlier today reminds me exactly why I don’t post much about whatever kid-related struggle I’m in. What’s hard to see if you have younger kids is that the challenges (and joys!) because much more nuanced. And frankly, people feel a lot more entitled to comment on how your kid’s challenges are directly related to your parenting abilities, which may or may not be true! There are so many things about having older kids that I love and relish, but it also is lonely in a way that’s hard to describe. People are tight-lipped even around their closest friends because you have to be super mindful of what your kid would feel comfortable with others knowing about. It’s a tightrope. This is not to downplay the struggles of sleepless nights and wily toddlers because been there, done that, and it’s hard in totally different ways! Just … be careful not to assume that when a mom admits she’s having a hard time with older kids or finding it hard that she’s somehow defective, not trying hard enough, or not happy enough with the kids she has.
Do any other moms who had babies in 2020 pre-vaccines feel a little bitter when they see/hear about new babies this year and the experience those moms are having, versus what you experienced last year?
I had our second in the spring of 2020 and one of my very dear friends just had her second last week. I’m genuinely thrilled for her but also feel this gnawing jealousy when I hear about the fact she got have to a visitor in the hospital besides her husband, that her vaccinated family has been able to meet and hold her new baby, etc. I was almost completely alone after birth for months with no outside help or support. My son’s entire babyhood was missed by the majority of our family and friends. No one brought me food or was able to come over to help me recover with a toddler and a newborn. I ended up developing PPD after his traumatic birth and in spite of virtual therapy, struggled with my mental health until this past spring/summer. He is our last baby and sometimes I can’t help feeling sad for him and sad for myself that his first year of life was so hard and so not what it was supposed to be. I think I just needed to get this off my chest, but maybe I need to go back to therapy to deal with these feelings.
What are your/your kids favorite thanksgiving recipe? Excited to plan what to make this year!
Completely #firstworldproblem question of the day:
Which size Anywhere Chair did you get, and are you happy with that choice?
I’m leaning towards the standard size for our first child (currently 13 months), but wondering if we should do oversized instead?
What’s everyone up to tomorrow? We didn’t really plan anything and have the day off with two kids in DC. Kids are not vaccinated yet, so we’re still staying outdoors.
We found out Sunday that our last IVF cycle failed. It was our last embryo and after 10 cycles and 5 surgeries over the last few years we had agreed not to try again after we transferred this embryo. We have a daughter from a successful IVF cycle (which I think gave me false hope that the second try would be easier). I’m just so, so sad that she won’t have a sibling and am grieving that our family won’t look how I wanted it to. I am having trouble working tho I have to be in the office for big prescheduled meetings Thursday and Friday.
Does anyone feel like is such a slog with kids? I have been feeling so meh with just working all day then doing daycare pickup/meals/bedtime. Not terrible or anything but more just kind of.. not exciting? Idk what I am looking for, maybe validation that I am not the only person who feels this way or any advice on how to add more fun to my life. I guess I just wish that I could find more joy in the day to day at both work and home. I don’t think i am depressed or anything, it’s by no means bad, but just not amazing / having lots to look forward to kind of feeling.
Our family “adopted” an 8 year old girl for the holidays. I have an 8 year old girl and am pretty set for ideas, but I’d like thoughts on how to fulfill the ask for clothes. We were given her sizes and that she wants (needs?) “leggings and long sleeve tops.”
What would you buy? My 8 y/o has Clothing Preferences.
I was thinking of letting my kids choose stuff from target and providing a gift receipt. Are there other safe brands? What’s a good generic outfit for a girl this age?
(FWIW my kid is over unicorns, will wear jeans and jeggings, rocks high top style sneakers, rompers, and denim jackets. Her classmates are all over the place in terms of what they like- one friend wears her brother’s old clothes and hates pink. One looks like she walked out of the Nordstrom juniors section. One wears unicorns and sparkles. One is in athletic gear all week long.)