Here’s a not-so-basic-basic that will take you right into spring!
This bright taffeta skirt from Boden is made from a swishy lightweight fabric. The versatile midi length will work now with boots and later with strappy heels. This skirt looks as elegant as it is practical — it has a comfortable elastic waist and side-seam pockets.
Boden’s Taffeta Pull-On Midi Skirt is $120 (but watch for sales). It comes in black, “blue heron,” “wild lime,” and the pictured coral. It’s available in sizes 2 to 20/22 as well as petites.
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.
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Sales of Note…
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off full-price pants and shirts; extra 30% off all sale styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything; extra 15% off purchase
- Eloquii – $19 and up select spring styles; 40% off everything else
- J.Crew -25% off your purchase; up to 50% off special-occasion styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 50% off everything; extra 15% off 3 styles; extra 20% off 4 styles; extra 50% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price dresses, skirts, accessories & shoes
- Zappos – 23,000+ sale items (for women)! Check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.
Kid/Family Sales
- J.Crew – 25% off your purchase; up to 50% off special-occasion styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 30% off Easter and spring to summer styles
- Carter’s – Extra 20% off spring sets = up to 60% off
- buybuyBaby – Spring sale: Up to 40% off
IVF Anon says
Me, again. I could use some help processing some incredibly complicated feelings. If you recognize my handle, I’m the one that had a Big Promotion last year at work but also was in the midst of IVF. I’m 38 and have 6 genetically normal embryos on ice. I opted to delay my next (fifth) FET in lieu of, as I call it, living – focusing on me, my mental and physical health, my work and my family (I have a 5 year old), and not living week to week and cycle to cycle as I had for literally three years. I took off basically July through January and in my soul searching, somewhere around December, I was drawn to keep trying vs stopping for good. It wasn’t an obvious choice, a very hard one in fact, but a choice DH and I made together.
Well. Fast forward to today. I’m on CD~16 ish (I’ve lost count). I’ve had two monitoring appointments so far. This is a partially medicated cycle, so I’ve so far only taken oral letrozole, which was a giant change from all previous cycles that were fully medicated and far, far more intense, at least at this stage.
I’m feeling so weird this cycle. Totally and completely emotionally removed. And, if I may confess into the void of the internet: somewhere deep, deep, deep down almost wishing for a failed cycle? That’s not how we went in to this cycle. I had lots of long talks with DH and this was 100% a joint decision. DD is also asking about “having a baby” a lot, which I’m sure is age appropriate for an only but… dagger. Hardly a fact that was high on the list of reasons to pursue our FET cycle, but yea. I find myself somewhere between fully disengaged, hoping for failures so I can just get back to living, and also just, like, angry. Really angry. Angry that this falls on me. That it could upset my career that I love and am endlessly proud of. Angry that I’m even in this situation. Angry that I have to have these feelings.
IDK what to do. It’s not too late to stop the cycle and just call it all off, but if we do that I’m done forever. I have to be for my mental health more than anything. I’ve had three MCs, the last being particularly traumatic. I feel like my brain is quietly saying “do it, let it fail, so that 10-years-from-now-you will not feel regret for not trying”. But my heart is about to watch my best friend and my sister each give birth in about 30 days and… ugh. I don’t know. I’m such at a loss, but the creeping thoughts of hoping for failure feels very backwards and is what led me to post today. FWIW, these thoughts were non existent until we actually started the cycle about two weeks ago. At first I thought it might be an element of self preservation but I’m not sure.
Anonymous says
This is what struck me about your post: “I feel like my brain is quietly saying “do it, let it fail, so that 10-years-from-now-you will not feel regret for not trying”.” I would listen to that. I’m not super familiar with how all of this works, but for how long would you need to wait to see the cycle through? A few weeks? That seems like a fair trade-off for long term peace of mind and the ability to tell yourself you did what you could.
On the current kiddo front, if it’s any comfort, I have 3 kids and they *still* beg for a baby. That isn’t happening, they know it isn’t happening, but it doesn’t stop them from asking. My youngest asks why she can’t be a big sister. We are getting a dog.
Anon says
I can’t comment on most of this (and I’m sorry you’re going through this) but I can comment on the only asking for a sibling thing. Mine asked a lot around 3.5-4 when a lot of daycare classmates got siblings. It was clear she had no idea what she was asking for. She wanted a friend to live at our house, not a sibling. When we explained in detail what having a sibling involves and how the sibling would be several years younger and not like a friend, and she had the chance to witness some normal sibling squabbling, the desire went away quickly. I understand why it’s a dagger in your heart to hear, but it’s really not much different than a kid asking for a unicorn or a rocket ship – it’s so abstract to them.
Hugs. I hope whatever you decide you find peace.
Anonymous says
I think you should do a couple of things. One, see this cycle out. See what happens. You e already made the decision stopping now won’t get you more information. Two, get a referral to a therapist who specializes in fertility from your clinic.
OOO says
I agree with seeing this cycle through. I would view these next few weeks as providing clarity on whether your family will expand or not. I also agree with talking to a therapist, though for some reason the ones suggested by my IVF clinic were awful, so don’t limit yourself too that list. I too felt very conflicted about trying for a second child, and was very much going through the motions with FET that time around. Hugs to you, OP!
Pogo says
Fellow IVFer here. I hear you on the anger and frustration. It is so completely unfair that this thing that comes so easily to others is such a drain, it’s unfair that it falls disproportionately to you as a woman, and it’s unfair that it requires so much more thought/planning/angst than getting pregnant the ‘normal’ way. The ambivalence is so normal. It’s all so hard and there are no right answers. I just want to say I hear you, especially when other people get oopsie pregnant and its like, oh guess their 2nd/3rd child choice is made for them! Vs for our family it is a complicated, expensive, years-long slog to think about another child. I know that sounds terrible in the same way you feel terrible about saying you hope your FET fails – but I GET it. You’re allowed to feel conflicted.
anon says
I think your feelings are very understandable. You’ve been through a lot. In your situation, I would see the cycle through, and if it doesn’t work, let yourself be done.
My 8-year-old still asks for a little sister. TBH, I let it go in one ear and out the other. It’s not happening, she knows full well it’s not going to happen, and it is a fantasy that wouldn’t turn out how she’s envisioning anyway. Meanwhile, my older kid is like, you’re never going to have another baby, right? No? Oh, good. LOL.
Anony says
Just a hug from a fellow IVF mom. (I’ve responded to you before about my decision to be one and done and not do more IVF for a second baby.) My gut reaction is that you seem to want to see this cycle out deep down (your comment about what your brain is saying), so I would do that. I so hope this is a positive outcome but if it isn’t, you can reevaluate, with a therapist with deep experience in infertility, later.
Anger is such a normal reaction. Years later, the weirdest memories were making me angry (it wasn’t what I would have said at the time were the hardest parts), and I needed time to really process those things.
Anon says
I’m so sorry you’re going through all this. It’s so unfair.
To me- this disengagement and anger do sound like self preservation/almost a trauma response? You’re literally repeating a process that was incredibly traumatic. Disengagement, anger, wanting the previous peace you had found seems totally appropriate.
Only you know your limits and it’s totally fair to realize that once you’re back here that no, you can’t do this again. There’s absolutely no shame in calling it off right now. That being said, it sounds like you made a very thought out choice in starting this cycle and I don’t think you’ll regret seeing it through.
Anon says
I agree with this. Fellow IVF mom here. This is self-preservation, because your brain and body know from past experience how hard to it to hope and have that hope crushed, month after month, for years and years and years. You’re trying to talk yourself out of getting too excited.
If it were me (and it was once): I’d see it through. I *promise* you that the ambivalence will disappear if things work out this time, and if they don’t you may have succeeded in buffering your heart, just a little.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It IS unfair. Whatever you decide is the right choice.
Anon says
How to dress cute when nursing? I don’t know if there’s real advice other than wait until I’m done nursing to buy nicer looking clothes?
I’ve tried all the nursing friendly tops but I truly cannot nurse in them without getting milk all over and upsetting my son bc his face gets smothered in fabric.
I think I’m just frustrated with the way I look and particularly in nursing tops. It’s my second kid so I know this too shall pass but…
anonM says
Can you wear your regular tops with a nursing cami underneath? Then you’re just lifting up your normal shirt and down the cami top.
Anon says
this. this is the answer.
Anonymous says
+2. I found nursing tops useless because 1) they all doubled as maternity tops so there was too much extra fabric in the belly and 2) the flaps all looked funny and were difficult to use. Much easier and cuter just to wear normal clothes with a nursing cami underneath. If you don’t mind exposing your belly you can skip the cami.
Pogo says
yep. And don’t nurse in “real” clothes. I wore regular clothes to the office and unzipped/unbuttoned as needed to pump, but I never nursed in real clothes.
If I was say, at a party with my baby and I was wearing a wrap dress or v-neck, I would tuck a muslin swaddle around the fabric of the v-neck, fully pop out the boob, and then lay the swaddle over the rest of my dress. That way it was protected from spit-up/spray. But the number of times I needed to do this was actually really minimal. And if wearing a really formal dress, I would just go into a private room and unzip as if I were pumping.
If we’re talking about your life on the weekend, it’s the cami + shirts you can lift up.
Anon says
Agreed. The only nursing shirt that ever worked for me is one of the zip cowl neck sweatshirts from Nursing Queen – which I wear over a nursing tank.
JoJo says
How old is your LO? Mine is 9mo and the mess is way less. I also don’t find nursing-friendly tops anymore helpful than just lifting up my shirt and tucking it into my bra so it’s out of DD’s face. I also used to put a burp cloth underneath DD’s face/my b00b to help with the mess, if that’s helpful.
GCA says
Honestly, I used to just pull my shirt up to nurse, no specialized nursing tops required. If you’re comfortable with that, I’d consider it! I also found the fabric and flaps of nursing tops to get in the way. I think the only ones that really worked for me were side zip.
Anon says
True wrap dresses
AwayEmily says
For me there was a big difference between the first month or two (when the baby is still figuring things out and needs full access, and you’re leaking milk everywhere) and everything after. For that first period I did a lot of button-down flannels or big fuzzy cardigans (note I also had winter babies). Once that stage was over I’d mostly pull up regular shirts. I’ve also really liked all the stuff I got from Latched Mama (the Harbor Snap pullover and Heavy Hoodie in particular). The baby is now a year old and I still wear one of those almost every weekend, with just a nursing bra underneath.
Anonymous says
I always just wore regular clothes and used a nursing cover if I was in public. It was too hot for cami under the shirt when my son was little (and my baby’s head was not big enough to cover me as I am very busty) but I also advocate for that technique if it works for you.
Non says
I do non-nursing wrap tops and don’t use a nursing cover bc i DGAF if people are offended. YMMV.
Anon says
Paging the person yesterday who was on the fence about older kids and Disney. Your question posted late, but I responded on yesterday’s thread.
Anonymous says
me too. I went to Disney as an older kid and had a ton of fun. You just do different things. As a bonus it’s not a miserable slog of strollers and carseats and naps! I would consider doing Universal at the same time since those rides are much better.
Anonymous says
I would go so far as to argue that Disney is better with older kids. They’ll remember it better, it will be more relaxed, and everyone will have more fun. It’s magical at any age, just in different ways. If you are going to Disney World and don’t plan to do all the parks, I would prioritize Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom at Disney World is not nearly as good as the one at Disneyland, especially for older kids and adults.
anon says
Thanks! I will go back and read yesterday’s post.
Anon says
My 5 year old has commented to us a few times recently that she can’t run as fast as her friends and gets tired more easily than they do, and it makes her sad because she’s being left behind on the playground because of it. She walked very late and has done some OT for low core strength, so it’s not a huge surprise that she struggles with endurance, but it makes me sad that this is affecting her social interactions and self-esteem. Any one have a kid like this? Any advice? My husband offered to practice running with her and she said she wants to do that, but I don’t think it’s something that’s going to have a quick fix.
Anon says
I don’t think this necessarily needs to be “fixed” per se, and your husband’s idea is great – it’s a bonding experience, extra outside time, and exercise (as long as it’s process oriented and doesn’t focus on her running time.) This seems like a situation to continually empathize and validate her feelings, and perhaps talk about how everyone has different strengths, people run at different speeds, etc. Maybe you can add more visits to playgrounds and casual family games outside if you want to work on endurance and agility in a fun way.
Cb says
And maybe try some activities that don’t rely on speed but can build strength? My son doesn’t run very well but he’s super speedy on his bike, other kids love scooters, climbing walls can be great for kids etc. His bestie is lightening fast though. Too fast given her total lack of impulse control.
I’m just not a fast person – I can walk all day, but I’m at a slow to medium walking speed, and felt weird and embarrassed about it as a kid.
govtattymom says
Do you have Soccer Shots in your area? My daughter is not the most athletic kid and she really enjoyed that program. It is all about learning basic soccer skills and there are no real games. In fact, a kid in her program was specifically there because his occupational therapist suggested it. The coaches have been incredible about engaging with the kids.
OP says
We did a couple sessions of Soccer Shots during the pre-vax stage of the pandemic because it’s basically the only outdoor activity for 2-3 year olds in our area. I think the quality of the program must vary. I wasn’t impressed with it. It was a lot of standing around and waiting and then each kid got a turn to kick a goal. I was really surprised by how little the kids moved and my kid was really bored (especially the second time when she was older) and asked to stop. We’ve also done some gymnastics, ninja warrior, dance and we’re going to do a session of basketball soon. She’s open to trying new things but hasn’t found anything sporty she wants to stick with and we’re not forcing it.
Anonymous says
I loooooooove this skirt!!!!!
But… tell me, truly, are you wearing skirts like this to work? I just can’t envision it in an office environment. I work in the PNW and things have never been super formal, but we are just coming back in person now and I feel I have no idea what is even happening with workwear.
Anon says
Yes, I’d wear it to work, if I were a governess to seven musically inclined children in 1930’s Austria.
ElisaR says
i love it too! I could wear it to work but honestly I probably wouldn’t reach for it very often. it’s holding me back from purchasing. i have worn the same black pants to work this week 3 days in a row.
Cb says
I’d wear it to work with a chunky knit but I’m in academic so if I’m physically covered… I’m fine.
NYCer says
I do not see skirts like this in my office.
Pogo says
If someone wore this in my office it wouldn’t be *too* weird. But there’s only like 5 women so we stand out no matter what. We’ve skewed way more casual post-pandemic.
Anon says
Love the skirt but taffeta seems like a weird choice for work clothes. In a nice stiff cotton for the summer id love this.
Anon says
I know there are some other Houston area moms on this board – what does it mean for the state to take over the school district?
Anon says
I’m sorry no great answers but I was really struck by what Hidalgo said – Harris County is larger than 25 states in population. All eyes should be on what happens and how it goes.
I think HISD was a mess already, but I also firmly believe that the state should not be able to step in and takeover a school district, on principle. Sounds like a when not an if though.
Anonymous says
It means your schools are crap
PJ says
It’s more complicated: R state govt hates local control of the blue cities in TX.
Anon says
+1