Washable Workwear Wednesday: Slim Ankle Pants
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If you have not tried the Eileen Fisher ankle pants, I implore you to take advantage of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale to give them a shot. I am currently wearing a black pair that has been washed and worn approximately once per week for the last seven years, and it still looks and feels as good as the first day I bought them. They feel as good as my favorite yoga pants, but I’ve paired them with blazers and worn them to depositions.
This year, I’m adding this “wren” color to my collection, but they’re also available in seven other colors outside of the sale.
The pants are $118.99, marked down from $178, at Nordstrom, and they come in sizes XXS-XL and 1X-3X. In my experience, you’ll likely want to size down if you’re in between sizes.
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 7/15/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – The Anniversary Sale is open for everyone — here’s our roundup!
- Ann Taylor – Semiannual sale, extra 50% off sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything + extra 50% off clearance
- Eloquii – Limited time, 100s of styles starting at $9
- J.Crew – End of season cashmere sale, take 40% off select cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – All-Star Sale, 40-70% off entire site and storewide and extra 60% off clearance
- M.M.LaFleur – Sitewide Sale, save 25% with code — 48 hours only! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Spanx – Free shipping on everything
- Talbots – All markdowns, buy 2 get 1 free, on TOP of an extra 40% off (ends 7/15)
One of my 7 year olds has been having a tough time lately and has developed this tic and we have a plan to get her started in therapy next week, as well as an appointment with a psychiatrist (we unfortunately have really really bad mental health genes in our families), but in the meantime she wants to talk to me about her feelings 24/7. We are currently on vacation and so spending lots and lots of time together. Any suggestions for a script to let her know that I care and am happy to talk to her….but can’t for hours on end (she also has a sister and I need to be able to do things like shower and brush my teeth, and I can only maintain my cool for so long)
Does anyone have tips on how to teach girls to brush their hair? And maybe put in a ponytail? It seems like I’m not explaining or showing them in a way that they are absorbing. I feel like my older one (7) should be able to do this, but it remains a task I have to do almost completely every morning for them. I’m willing to give the 4-year-old a pass, but it seems like she is actually much better at it than her older sister.
What’s the youngest age you would leave your kids at home all day in the summer for a day or two while you’re at work?
How hot is too hot for a 6 year old when there’s no air conditioning? Apparently the camp we signed her up for this week and next is in a room with no real a/c, just some fans and one portable a/c that seems really underpowered for the space. It’s a themed camp, art this week, STEM next week, so it’s mostly inside. The fans cool the room a little but it’s still pretty warm/stuffy in the room. It never occurred to me that a/c was something I’d need to screen for in suburban Maryland. So far it has been fine because temps have been in the mid to high 80s. But tomorrow the high is 89 with a heat index of 93, and Friday the heat index will be around 106. Next Mon-Wed the forecasted air temps are mid 90s with high 90s to low 100s for heat index. When I asked staff what the extreme heat plan was, they said just the fans, and the portable a/c unit that so far seems really underpowered for the space. At what temps would you pick up early/ not send? (The Internet seems all over the place – I can’t find a good guideline.)
Additional info: This camp is run by the Y, which also runs kid’s school’s on site aftercare so I’m not willing to make a stink/burn a bridge. Kid is enjoying the camp and the heat isn’t bothering her so far. We don’t have local family or other last minute babysitters available. Kid isn’t great at independent play but will quietly watch as much tv as we let her. My job is mostly flexible on hours/telework but it is my busy season so I do need to get work done. Husband is a Fed with a long commute who got telework taken away earlier this year, so his job is not flexible. (Though he has agreed to take Friday off because I have to lead a meeting that I can’t reschedule, and 106 is extreme heat advisory territory.)
My nanny buys lots of things for my girls (20 months and 7 years old). Today she showed up with engraved yetti water bottles. She’ll buy my 20 month old clothes and new shoes before I get the chance. She mulched my front yard and planted flowers without asking (which looked great btw… I’m not mad it’s done). She’s 55-60… has several children of her own all over the age of 18, some who live with her + their children/her grand children and she low key complains about supporting them. So, while we pay her a fair wage and she has a working spouse with a good job, it’s not like she’s rolling in cash as far as I can tell. Along the way we’ve given her an extra $200-300 here and there to sort of make her whole when we notice these purchases. She never gives us receipts (we ask, she refuses). She also buys a lot of food for my baby – which, again, I’m grateful she’s aware and wanting to try new foods with her, but I tell her to give me a list if there’s anything specific and we’ll grab it when we go to the store on weekends.
Today was the yeti water bottles. My oldest already has two. They both have several… way too many… perfectly adequate drinking vessels, as kids do these days. Like, I’m drowning in water bottles. I’m not really sure what to do. Do I just let it go and be gracious? It’s getting to be a little awkward, admittedly only on my end. She’s not excessive with the purchases on the one hand… she’s not showing up with arm’s full of clothes day in and out. But, on the other hand, does a 7 year old need 3 yetis? The flowers and mulching felt like a lot and then add today… I’m not sure.
FWIW, we are always telling her that if you notice they grow out of something you reach for, especially the toddler, put it in a designated bin we have in her room and we’ll replace it. Or if there’s a craft/art supply, membership, or anything else you think we need (food!) add it to a designated list we leave on the fridge and we’ll jump on it. She uses it sometimes, but hardly ever when you compare to the volume of what she’s purchasing.