Washable Workwear Wednesday: Solid Smocked Waist Maxi Dress
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Here I go again on the virtues of the shirtdress. This black one from Thakoon has some outstanding details.
This (machine washable!) dress has all the traditional features of a button-front style, including cinched cuffs and a rounded hem. However, the maxi length and smocked waist set it apart from your typical shirtdress.
Wear it with a heeled shoe to balance out the length and add a colorful necklace or silk scarf for a finishing touch.
Thakoon’s Solid Smocked Waist Maxi Dress is $225 and comes in sizes 0–12. It’s also available in a blue-and-white striped version. Here are two more options with additional sizes from White House Black Market ($150) and Banana Republic Factory ($43.99).
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 5/14/25
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Nordstrom – Beauty Deals up to 25% off (ends 5/17)
- Ann Taylor – Suit Yourself! 30% off suiting (ends 5/16) + 25% off your full price purchase (ends 5/18) + extra 60% off sale (ends 5/14)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything + extra 60% off sale + $1 shipping on all orders
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off long-weekend styles + 50% off select swim and coverups
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100+ + extra 20% off $125+
- M.M.LaFleur – Lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off all markdowns (ends 5/18) + 30% off dresses, skirts, accessories, and shoes
Is there a latest and greatest baby carrier these days? I had my last kid five years ago and bought/liked the Lillebaby. Need to buy a carrier for a gift and the couple isn’t registered anywhere but likes the idea of us getting them a carrier.
I don’t know what I’m looking for here. Confirmation that my thoughts are valid?
My boss is leaving – announced last week. Just found out that someone else was chosen to be her successor, when I thought it would be me. The other choice makes sense. However, I’m getting an expanded role and a title bump and a retention bonus (because they are worried I’ll leave – which is a valid concern I think).
I’m 5 weeks pregnant with our second child, which I’m thrilled about. If I’d gotten the “top job”, I would have to do more travel, which I can’t do right now (high risk pregnancy). And which frankly I don’t want for my life with small children, even if I wasn’t pregnant (nothing wrong with it! just not for me personally).
So, my ego is bruised that I didn’t get “top job”. But I also feel like I won, in that I got all the things I wanted (bigger role, bigger title, more $$, extra $$) and didn’t get the thing I didn’t want (travel, dealing with higher level shenanigans).
I returned to work early April after a 4 month maternity leave. I am having SO much trouble feeling motivated during the work day. I am working a hybrid schedule and feel the same whether working from home or in office. Has anyone else experienced this? Did you gradually feel more engaged at work over time?
How’s everyone managing with this? I think of all of the women I know who (even before the shortage) felt guilt and shame about not breastfeeding; this has to be brutal. I’ve been using it as an excuse to tell man-splainers why women can’t just up and start breastfeeding kids who’ve been on formula for a while, or why breastfeeding is not an option for lots of women, for reasons that (frankly) no one elses’ business.
Related to Boston Legal Eagle’s question yesterday about how people are handling COVID precautions, I’m wondering what everyone’s plan is if one person in your family tests positive. Will you isolate that person? Everyone masks up? Is it different if it’s a kid versus an adult? And if you’ve had COVID, how did you make these decisions?
For us, it’s almost certainly going to be one of our kids (6, 4, and 3.5 months) who gets it first — they are all in school, but my husband and I work from home. It’s hard to imagine how it would work logistically to isolate one of the kids in our small house. So we’re considering just not worrying about isolating anyone…but then, the baby is still so little, sigh.
Anyway, we figured we’d start thinking about it BEFORE it actually happened. FWIW I don’t think there’s one “correct” answer, it’s obviously going to depend on your housing setup, your kids’ (and your) health, etc.
Any tips on where to buy new patio furniture these days?
Any suggestions on getting rid of ants? They just started coming through our back door/porch area. I tried vinegar, but they came right back after a few hours. I’m looking into getting a better door sweep to stop them coming in, but any other suggestions?
Need a gift idea for a relative who recently moved to Toronto and had a baby yesterday. I live in the US.
Any advice? I have to tell two people on my team that their target bonus % is dropping by 5% and their titles are dropping from director to sr manager as part of a corporate releveling exercise. My boss fought it but lost the fight. These guys have been around forever and I’m younger than both and I hate this for them even if I rationally understand why the company is doing it.
I think I have misunderstood this brand’s definition of ‘maxi’, but no matter. I’m short, regular midis are all maxis on me.