It can be really, really tricky to find a great dress that is polished and sedate enough to wear to work, but then is interesting or elegant enough to also go to a cocktail party or holiday party after work. So let’s discuss — what are you looking for in day to night work dresses? Do you add additional details like a statement necklace or ring to make it feel more festive?

These are some of the most polished, elegant day to night work dresses that I love…

Stylish Day to Night Work Dresses

Marycrafts

This dress is almost always under $50, and feels fancy because of the twist detail at the waist. It’s available in sizes 0-22, at Amazon, in a bunch of colors.

Karen Kane

This Cascade dress has been a reader favorite for years because it’s so easy to wear — it’s stretchy, it’s flattering, it’s a little bit dramatic, and you can hand wash it. Score! It’s $118 full price at Nordstrom and other retailers, often available in sizes XS-3X as well as petites.

Adrianna Papell

Aw, I’m kind of excited to see this Adrianna Pappell dress back in stock — it was a reader favorite for years, and then it disappeared for a bit. But it’s a great dress for day to night looks.

It’s $129-$159 at Nordstrom and other retailers, available in regular and plus sizes.

M.M.LaFleur

I’ve always thought M.M.LaFleur’s Jillian dress was a gorgeous, elegant dress that would be just as appropriate in a conference room as well as at a cocktail party. It comes in a bunch of different colors, and a new “everyday satin” fabric, for $365 full price. (There are a lot marked down to $220 right now, though!)

Black Halo

In general, Black Halo makes beautiful, stylish, super polished dresses — it’s hard to think of an item of theirs, over the years, that wouldn’t be appropriate for both day to night. The pictured dress, the Jackie, is their classic, and also comes in a jumpsuit form. It’s $375-$435 at Nordstrom and other retailers.

The Fold

Man – we have featured so many drool-worthy dresses and blazers from The Fold over the years, it’s hard to say which is my favorite, but this hot pink dress may just be it. SO. FABULOUS. One of their iconic dresses, the Arlington, is also great for day-to-night looks.

The pictured dress is $595 at TheFold.com.

What are you looking for in a day to night dress, readers?

The post 6 Stylish Day to Night Work Dresses appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

We haven’t done a hunt for classic sweaters for work for a long time, readers, so let’s discuss — what sweaters (and types of sweaters) are you loving right now? Are you wearing cashmere, merino, alpaca, or something else? Do you prefer sweater jackets or cardigans? Which sweaters do you have in multiple colors, and which ones are worth the splurge? Do tell…

First, let’s look at a few basic categories of classic sweaters….

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

Table of Contents

• Great Sweater Jackets for the Office
• Sweaters for Work in 100% Natural Fibers (including 100% cotton and 100% cashmere)
• Great Sweater Tees
• Classic Cardigans for Work
• Pashminas, Ruanas, and Other Wraps
• A Closer Look at Reader-Favorite Sweaters

Pictured at top: black 100% cotton sweater blazer / gray 100% cashmere crewneck / green extremely affordable cardigan (& regular) / navy shawl-collar pullover in silk-cashmere blend / blue cardigan in silk-wool blend

Our Favorite Sweater Jackets for the Office

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Classic Sweaters for Work in 100% Natural Fibers

A lot of our readers have expressed a preference for sweaters with only natural fibers, so we’re rounding up some specifically sweaters with 100% natural fibers for work.

If you want to do the professorial layered look with sweaters, such as with a crisp collar peeking out of your sweater, we also rounded up a bunch of great fake collars aka dickies.

The Best 100% Cotton Sweaters for Work

{related: tips on creating a capsule wardrobe for work}

Great 100% Cashmere Sweaters for Work and Weekend

Other Classic Sweaters for Work in 100% Natural Fibers Like Merino, Silk, and More

Stay tuned for our roundups of sweaters in other natural fabrics… Some notes:

Our all-time favorite 100% merino sweaters for work include Uniqlo, Everlane, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Lands’ End.

Cashmere Blends

As of October 2023, you can find cotton-cashmere sweaters at L.L.Bean, Quince, Reformation, Mersea, and Alex Mill; you can also sometimes find them from brands like Nordstrom Signature.

Some of our favorite silk-cashmere sweaters for work include these from LaLigne and Brooks Brothers; if you’re looking to splurge, Akris has a bunch right now.

Buck Mason has a lot of silk-cashmere-wool blend sweaters, including this turtleneck and this crewneck.

If you’re hunting for wool-cashmere sweaters, check out this lovely one from Kule.

Wool Blends

Silk-wool sweaters are hard to find, but Tory Burch’s bestselling cardigan fits the bill.

Hunting for sweaters in a wool-alpaca blend? Stay tuned for our full roundup, but as of 2023 check out AllSaints and Buck Mason.

{related: how to look great for work every day}

Great Sweater Tees (Perfect for Layering!)

{related: the minimalist’s guide to dressing for work}

Classic Cardigans We Love

Pashminas, Ruanas, and Other Sweater Wraps

These aren’t technically sweaters, but they’re often made from knits. I’ve always loved them because you can wear them on TOP of bulkier sweaters or blazers to add another warm layer, whether you’re sitting in your office or out and about. (They also make a great lap blanket when your legs are cold at the office!)

Reader-Favorite Sweaters for Work Outfits

Note that not all of these are 100% natural fibers, but we’ve tried to note the details wherever possible!

A Great Sweater for Layering Under Suit Jackets: Brooks Brothers Silk-Cashmere Shawl Collar Sweater

Brooks Brothers has had a version of this style for more than a decade at this point, and I think that’s because it’s a perfect sweater. It’s soft, it’s lightweight, it’s a little bit luxe, and that high shawl neckline looks great under suit jackets and blazers as well as by itself. You can dress it up with a tailored suit, or dress it down with jeans.

The sweater is $168, available in sizes XS-XL, at Brooks Brothers.

An Investment Cardigan in Wool-Silk: Tory Burch Simone

The Tory Burch Simone cardigan has been around for years — maybe since the very beginning of the blog, although it had a slightly longer length in years past. The new version of the Simone cardigan is made of wool and silk and is a bestseller at Tory Burch.

It currently comes in seven solid colors for $398. You can also find it at Tory Burch, Neiman Marcus, Saks, and other department stores.

A Great Warm Sweater With Interesting Prints: Talbots Audrey Cashmere Sweater

Readers have loved the Audrey cashmere sweater for years — it’s warm and polished but definitely has a conservative vibe with its high neckline. The sweater comes in solid colors and interesting prints in regular, petite, plus, and plus petites for around $200.

The O.G. Jacket-Cardigan: M.M.LaFleur Woolf Jardigan

M.M.LaFleur was the first company, as far as I know, to come out with the idea of a jacket-cardigan hybrid called the “jardigan” — the idea is that it’s cozy and soft like a cardigan, and less structured than a blazer, but like a blazer, it has some structure and adds polish and authority to your work outfit as a separate or “third piece.”

The brand has a number of jardigans now — a cropped version, this longer version, and even a belted version with lapels — but the Woolf remains a bestseller.

The jardigan is $295 and available in several neutral colors as well as a few seasonal colors. Note that both Nordstrom and Zappos sometimes carry the sweater jacket in the more neutral colors.

A 100% Cotton Sweater Jacket: J.Crew Factory Schoolboy Sweater Blazer

Sweater blazers have been a huge trend lately, and for good reason — like jardigans, they add polish and structure while also being cozy and comfy.

We’ve done a full roundup of our favorite sweater jackets for the office (as well as a roundup for plus-size sweater jackets!) but one of the longest-running reader favorite is the J.Crew Factory Sweater Blazer.

Not only is it affordable (full price is $138, but there are frequent sales!), but it comes in regular sizes XXS-3X as well as some petite sizes.

A Lightweight Cardigan for Warmer Months: Nic + Zoe 4-Way Convertible Sweater

This 4-way convertible sweater keeps coming out in new colors (and sometimes even prints), and it’s a reader favorite because it’s so versatile.

It has hidden buttons to help you wear it multiple ways — wear it wrapped as a sweater (as shown) for a sleek look by itself, as an open cardigan when you want a lightweight top layer, or as a knotted or twisted shrunken sweater when you want more of a shrug (such as with an empire waist or pretty much any dress).

I’ve found it’s a perfect sweater to wear over sleeveless dresses in summer when you want a bit more coverage!

It’s available in regular and plus sizes at Nordstrom, Amazon, and many other department stores for just around $100. (The fabric is usually a linen-viscose blend, but Nic + Zoe just came out with a cotton-viscose blend.)

A Lightweight Knee-Length Cardigan: Halogen Longline Cardigan

Longer cardigans like this come in and out of fashion, but I’ve always been a fan of wearing them as a softer look with sheath dresses or skirts. This particular cardigan has been around for years and keeps coming back in new colors.

It’s incredibly soft, and in my experience makes a great lightweight layer on warmer days.

It’s available in regular and plus sizes at Nordstrom for under $100.

An Affordable Cardigan That Feels Like a Blazer: Karen Scott Shawl Cardigan

This one is super affordable — in fact, it often comes down to under $20. We’ve featured it in our full roundup of our favorite sweater jackets for the office, but in truth this feels a bit softer and less structured than most sweater jackets. I have it in purple and have given it to two other women in my family for gifts; I find it adds a dash of polish to everything from trousers to jeans.

It comes in many colors in regular, petite, and plus sizes, and it’s $49-$54 full price. This one goes in and out of stock all the time, especially as it often dips pretty low on sale — all links are good as of Oct. 2023.

Readers, what are your favorite classic sweaters for work?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Hunt: Classic Sweaters for Work appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

Statement winter coats aren’t as versatile as classic winter coats, nor are they as functional as puffer coats, but if your mood or outfit needs a jolt of energy, statement winter coats provide that in spades. I thought we’d go on a hunt for statement winter coats to wear to work… which are your favorites?

Readers, what kind of winter coat do you want this season? Which, if any, of these statement coats are calling your name?

{related: the best winter coats to wear on your commute}

What Is a Statement Winter Coat?

A winter coat can be a lot of things — warm, functional, versatile, classic. But a statement winter coat aims for something a bit more dramatic than any of those. It might seem a little bit daring in color, fabric, or texture.

The cut could also be daring, either by expanding the proportions you’re used to on a regular coat (the lapels, the shawl collar, the shoulders, the length, the hood) or even by emphasizing something that more classic coats don’t, such as cuts or patterns that emphasize your waist, and so on. In addition to being a bit more dramatic, the feeling behind it could be avant-garde, whimsical, or even goth.

(The classic example is the amazing jackets Olivia Pope wore on Scandal!)

Where Can You Find Statement Coats for Work?

Some of our favorite stores and brands to check for statement coats for winter include Ted Baker, Soia & Kyo, COS, J.Crew, and Cuyana.

Before we get to the statement coats for this year, let’s review some of the classic choices…

Classic Style Winter Coats for Women

Some of our favorite classic coats for work as of November 2023 include: olive / blue / green / caramel / black / gray (not pictured but also) – and don’t forget to check out our editors’ favorite washable winter coats!

Classic Winter Coats for Women in Plus Sizes

Statement Winter Coats for 2023/2024

J.Crew Daphne Topcoat in Italian Boiled Wool

J.Crew is one of the reader favorites for classic coats, but it’s also one of the best spots to check first for statement winter coats because it often has really fun colors for coats, and usually at a great price point.

The pictured boiled wool coat is $298 full price but down to $209 today. It’s available in petite, tall, and regular sizes 00-24. (I also like the wide lapels on their Villa coat!)

Cuyana Wool Cashmere Short Wrap Coat

We’ve featured this short wrap coat from Cuyana before, and it remains one of my favorites — it can be tricky to style just so, but it’s warm and super stylish. It’s $398 available in XS-XL.

(Note that Soia & Kyo has a very similar option on sale!)

COS Oversized Double-Breasted Floral-Print Wool Coat

COS is another great spot to check for semi-affordable statement winter coats… I love the floral print on the oversized style (pictured); the brown is on trend but the floral feels really unusual this season. The coat is available in sizes XXS-L for $390.

(Here’s another great option, but down to lucky sizes XS and S.)

Ted Baker Roseika Flared Wool Blend Coat

Ted Baker has had a coat like this for a number of years — a wrap coat with big, floppy lapels (that actually do close at the neck for warmth). This version is a bit longer and flouncier than previous coats, though, and I love that! The coat is available for $525 in two colors, sizes 2-14; there’s a very similar option in a gray herringbone.

Reiss Helena Atelier Wool-Cashmere Blindseam Coat

Reiss is a great spot to look for tailored but dramatic coats, and this wool/cashmere coat is no different — I love the dolman sleeves and super, super wide lapels. You can wear it as a wrap or open, as pictured. It’s $1145, available in two colors in sizes 2-12 at Reiss.

Totême has some similar options at the moment!

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post Statement Winter Coats for Work appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

One of my mentors was recently on the hunt for a plain white sweater but could not wear any wool next to her body. I’ve often heard this refrain from readers — they want a 100% cotton sweater, or a 100% silk sweater, or a cashmere without wool, or cotton/cashmere, or so forth. So I’m going to try to start a series — first up, let’s hunt for the best plain cotton sweaters for work.

Pictured on homepage: green / white.

Why Are All-Cotton Sweaters Hard to Find?

All-cotton sweaters can be a bit hard to find for a number of reasons. First, they tend to be generally lightweight — a lot of sweaters have blended cotton with wool, cashmere, or other warmer fibers in order to make a warmer sweater.

Another reason all-cotton sweaters haven’t been very popular lately is they don’t tend to hold their shape very well — so a lot of sweaters may be made of cotton blended with spandex or nylon in order to give it a bit more shape retention.

Finally, all cotton sweaters can feel scratchy to some people, particularly if they’re used to wearing blends. Many cotton sweaters may be blended with things like angora or eco-friendly, recycled fabrics for a softer feel.

Where to Find Great Cotton Sweaters for Work

In general, some of the reader-favorite stores that carry 100% cotton sweaters for work include Brooks Brothers, J.Crew Factory, Amazon Essentials, Quince, Karen Scott, and Amour Vert. Nordstrom also keeps a separate section for 100% cotton sweaters!

Other stores that may be a bit more on the casual side but definitely carry 100% cotton sweaters include pact, Everlane, Lands’ End, and L.L.Bean. (If you prefer to buy men’s cotton sweaters, I haven’t done a full review, but in addition to everything we’ve mentioned already, do check out Amazon seller Lello for basic organic cotton sweaters under $40.)

Our Favorite 100% Cotton Sweaters for Work Outfits (And Beyond!)

The Best Plain Cotton Sweaters for Work

The Best Cotton Sweater Jacket for Women: J.Crew Factory

We just did our big roundup on the best sweater jackets for the office, and J.Crew Factory maintained its spot amongst our favorites. They reliably offer affordable, stylish sweater jackets in basic colors up to size 3X. Currently, all of the sweater jackets in stock are 100% cotton — nice.

If you’re willing to splurge, check State of Cotton — their sweater jackets are pricey but beautiful, and 100% cotton. If you want something a bit more oversized but still affordable, Quince offers a 100% organic cotton sweater jacket. Lands’ End also has a lovely “fine gauge” cotton sweater blazer in a bunch of different colors, in regular, petite, plus, and plus petites.

The Best Cotton Sweater Lady Jacket: J.Crew

The “sweater lady jacket” is a newer, trendier item. It’s also sometimes called a cropped cardigan, cropped blazer, or Chanel-style jackets for work (as we called them in our roundup), but whatever you call them it can be difficult to find some that aren’t a blend of nylon, wool, rayon, and so on.

J.Crew has a number of sweater lady jackets (as they call them) right now, and the pictured Emilie one is 100% cotton. (Others are not, unfortunately.) The sweater is available in seven colors in sizes XXXS-3X.

(Sister site J.Crew Factory also offers a 100% cotton sweater lady jacket.)

The Best Organic Cotton Sweaters for Work: Amour Vert

Some of the most interesting cotton sweaters for work are also the best organic sweaters for work: Amour Vert. The smaller brand has been a reader favorite for their eco-friendly, natural fibers, as well as their stylish prints and generally affordable prices.

They currently offer a number of long-sleeved organic-cotton sweaters, short-sleeved organic-cotton sweaters, and organic-cotton cardigans.

Other affordable options for organic cotton sweaters: Quince, Everlane, and pact.

The Best Plain Cotton Sweater for Work (AND The Best Cotton Sweater to Wear Under a Suit Jacket): Amazon Essentials

This post was partly inspired by my former boss/mentor, who mentioned in conversation that she was looking for a great cotton sweater to wear under a suit jacket. (Well, more specifically, she was looking for a non-wool sweater, due to allergies.) This has been surprisingly hard to find for this roundup!

One of the best plain cotton sweaters I’ve found that’s thin enough to wear under a suit jacket are the Amazon Essentials ones. They come in crewneck and V-neck styles, in a bunch of colors, for under $35 — and in general they’re available in sizes XS-6X.

Another nice plain cotton option: this sweater from pact.

The Best Cotton Sweater Tee for Work: Lands’ End

This is another fairly difficult category to find good options. Lands’ End has a lovely fine gauge cotton sweater tee in a bunch of colors for regular and plus sizes!

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The Best Cotton Cable Knit Sweater for Work: Karen Scott

Surprisingly, this is one of the more difficult categories for finding a 100% cotton option. Karen Scott at Macy’s has a bunch of different options in colors, sizes, and shapes (crewneck, V-neck, oversized, etc.), so that would be my first suggestion.

L.L.Bean also has a lovely fisherman’s sweater that looks polished enough to wear to work; it’s available in regular, petite, and plus sizes; Brooks Brothers also has few Supima cable knit sweaters.

On the more casual side of things, pact has a honeycomb textured sweater that’s a bit sweatshirt-like, but in general looks nice.

The Best Cotton Mockneck for Work: Kule

If you like the mockneck look, I’m in love with this 100% cotton sweater from Kule. They describe it as a “cable knit roll neck pullover,” but to me it looks like a mockneck (and I think the half-turtleneck look is more polished than a rolled neck, but maybe that’s me!). It’s available in four colors, sizes XS-XL, for $238 at Kule.

The Best Cotton Twinset for Work: Brooks Brothers

Twinsets are always a classic look, even if they aren’t particularly trendy at the moment. If you’re on the hunt for a 100% cotton twinset (whether to wear the pieces together, or just wear the cotton sweater shell and the cotton cardigan separately), there are still a few great options.

One of those options is Brooks Brothers. (Brooks Brothers for classics? I know, you’re shocked.) The pictured Supima cotton cardigan comes in four colors, sizes XS-XL.

Another spot with 100% cotton twinsets: J.Crew Factory; they currently offer 10 colors in sizes XXS-3X. Lands’ End also offers a TON of cotton twinsets in regular, petite, plus, and plus petites.

Some Great Trendy All-Cotton Sweaters for Work

Finally, I thought I’d round up a few of the trendy all-cotton sweaters I’m seeing for work — these don’t fit neatly into any of the categories and the style and cut may be fleeting, but they look great right now.

Where to Find Cotton-Cashmere Sweaters

This isn’t the focus of this article, of course, but on the off chance you’re looking for cotton cashmere sweaters — which can be really hard to find! — I thought I’d round up some names I’m seeing.

As of October 2023, you can find cotton-cashmere sweaters at L.L.Bean, Quince, Reformation, Mersea, and Alex Mill; you can also sometimes find them from brands like Nordstrom Signature.

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Best 100% Cotton Sweaters for Work appeared first on Corporette.com.

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

It’s been too long since we’ve gone on a Hunt for everyone’s favorite topper — the jardigan / sweater jacket / knit blazer. Part of the problem with this lovely new thing is the name — none of the stores really seems to know what to call it, or where to stick it in their online offerings. Should it be organized with the blazers or the sweaters? Work or casual? Should it be with the cardigans? (The answer, dear retailers, is PUT THEM IN ALL OF THEM, but apparently that is not the common practice.)

For the sake of argument, let’s call it a sweater jacket. For definitional purposes, this piece should…

• be able to be swapped for either a blazer or a cardigan in your wardrobe
• not have interior lining or stitching that might inhibit the comfort of wearing it
• be made from a substantial enough fabric that it has a bit of a structure on its own, but not be so thick (tweed, boiled wool) that it’s a boxy mess, or be so insubstantial that it’s gauzy 
• be made from a fabric that feels more like a sweater (even if tightly knit) and less like a ponte, scuba, or twill
• (possibly) have more blazer-like details (patch pockets, shawl collars, a relatively substantial knit)
• not be a coatigan, duster, or kimono 

We we’ve also gone on a hunt for the best jardigans for work, but you’d be surprised how many more options there are out there this year! Readers, how would you define this wardrobe staple? Have you bought any great jardigans, knit blazers, or sweater jackets recently? What do you think is the best sweater jacket for the office? 

Pictured on homepage: windowpane / merlot / gray

Favorites and Bestsellers: The Best Sweater Jackets for the Office

Our Latest Favorite Sweater Jackets for Plus Sizes

Similarly, there are some plus-size sweater jackets that have been around for years and are always bestsellers…

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

Trendy Sweater Jackets and Sweater Blazers in 2023

In addition to all of the old favorites still being in stock (the Talbots version this year particularly looks awesome!), there are some newer ones from familiar brands…

Trendy sweater jackets in 2023: Banana Republic / Charter Club (also plus) / Ann Taylor (also in teal!) / Anthropologie.

On the pricey side of things, State of Cotton (one of J.Crew’s “brands we love”) has a lovely sweater blazer for $595. This relaxed sweater blazer at COS is also nice for $225.

On the sale side of things, check out this cute knit blazer for $30 at Nordstrom Rack, and this $70 one at Quince (tons of colors!). This Macy’s one (from new workwear house brand “On 34th”) also comes in a bunch of colors for $79. It looks like there’s only navy left, but this $40 option from Walmart (Sofia Vergara’s line) is getting good reviews.

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

A Closer Look at Some of the Bestselling Sweater Blazers for the Office

J.Crew Factory Sweater Blazer

I know readers have sung the praises of J.Crew Factory’s stylish sweater jackets for a few years now — and I really like the look of this structured schoolboy sweater blazer (pictured).

They have it in FOUR colors right now in sizes XXS-3X. NICE. (They also have this looser, more oversized sweater jacket, which also looks really modern!)

{related: the best blazers for women this year}

J.Crew Odette Sweater Lady Jacket

J.Crew has a pretty wide selection of sweater jackets (with many available up to size 3X!), although I would argue that the new, longer style looks more like a coat (or everyone’s dreaded look, the robe)… but maybe that’s me.

The Cecile is the style that has been around for several years, but one of the newest bestsellers is the Odette lady jacket (pictured). It obviously has a bit of a cropped look, and a thicker weave than a lot of the other sweater jackets pictured here — almost more like a Chanel-style jacket.

Try this one with fit and flare dresses, as well as with pleated trousers — but skip the bare midriff for the office.

It’s available in four colors for $178 full price, available in sizes XXXS-3X (but with a lot of sizes out of stock at the moment).

{related: where to find Chanel-style jackets for work}

Summersalt Ribbed Sweater Blazer

This ribbed sweater version from Summersalt has been around for a few years now and looks great — it’s available in four colors (pictured: olive), in sizes XS-2X, for $125.

{related: how to wear a blazer with something other than a suit}

L’Agence Lacey Knit Blazer

Leave it to L’Agence to create the perfect knit blazer. We’ve sung the praises of L’Agence blazers for years, but this is the first time I’ve noticed their gorgeous knit versions. The knit looks luxurious and the silhouette doesn’t veer into boxy territory like a lot of the knit blazers I’ve seen.

The blazer is available in sizes XS-XL for $425 at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Amazon, and L’Agence.

Talbots Ribbed Shawl Collar Blazer

A lot of the sweater jackets we’ve mentioned today have a wide size range, but the only plus-size petite option for a sweater blazer (at least, that I know of) is Talbots, where every season they have a slightly different but amazing sweater jacket.

This year’s pretty cable knit sweater jacket comes in a TON of colors in regular and petite sizes.

{related: investment/statement blazers}

Karen Scott Shawl Collar Curved-Hem Cardigan

Readers have been singing the praises of this open-front cardigan from Macy’s as a more affordable jardigan substitute. I’ve ordered it, actually — to me this felt more like an open-front cardigan than a more structured sweater jacket, but it’s still a really nice, versatile piece for your work wardrobe. It definitely has a lot of polish and is easy to throw on!

It comes in many colors in regular, petite, and plus sizes, and it’s $49-$54 full price. This one goes in and out of stock all the time, especially as it often dips pretty low on sale — all links are good as of Oct. 2023.

Nic & Zoe Grace Knit Jacket

This single-snap cardigan jacket from Nic + Zoe has come in various colors over the years but is now mostly only available in black. I have an older version of it in purple, but I love it and wear it often — it’s comfortable but structured, including shoulder pads. (I actually prefer it to the other sweater blazers I own!)

It’s available in regular, petite, and plus sizes at Bloomingdale’s and sometimes Nordstrom.

M.M.LaFleur Woolf Jardigan

And of course, you can’t have a roundup without the O.G. jardigans — the M.M.LaFleur Woolf (pictured) and Sant Ambroeus. They’ve always been huge hits with readers, and the whole sweater jacket trend seemed to originate there.

You can find them in 5+ colors at MM.LaFleur (and sometimes at Zappos and Nordstrom!) in sizes XXS-XXL.

(Note that they briefly came in sizes up to 3X, so keep an eye out on resale sites if you’re hunting.)

Readers, what are your favorite jardigans, knit blazers, and more? (How would you define the wardrobe staple?) What do you think is the best sweater jacket for the office? 

Other Favorite Blazers to Wear as Separates

Some of our favorite blazers to wear as separates include:

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

The post The Best Sweater Jackets for the Office in 2023 appeared first on Corporette.com.

Washable blazers: Are they worth buying to avoid making frequent trips to the dry cleaner? How can you keep your non-washable blazers fresh and clean? Which are your favorite washable blazers right now?

(Also: Whether you’re traveling for work or play, do you prefer to bring washable blazers with you as travel blazers? Do tell…)

Reader S wonders:

Would you please consider doing a piece on washable blazers? (The goal is to avoid dry cleaning costs). Thanks.

We’ve talked about how to cool down quickly, whether short-sleeved suits are appropriate, and the best washable trousers — but not this.

I’m really curious to hear what the readers say here, because for my $.02, I would not spend time or money looking for blazers that are machine washable.

You may occasionally FIND a great blazer that is machine washable, but you might be doing something wrong if you NEED a blazer that is machine washable.

{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

What to Do When You’re Sweating in Your Blazers

I have some thoughts if you are sweating in your blazers…

Can you take your blazer off? If you’re sweating so profusely and so often in your blazers… where are you? I suppose in very limited situations (a small courthouse without air conditioning, maybe?) you have to just keep your blazer on and sweat, but in most situations I’ve encountered (e.g., hot subway trains and commutes) it’s fine to take off your blazer and carry it.

Even for really hot networking events (for example, an event held outdoors), I’d recommend you make your first circuit of the room wearing a blazer, but then — like many people seem to do at these events — find a table where you can sit down for a spell, remove your blazer and put it on the chair, and then go back to networking.

Use clever ways to cool down quickly after your commute. If you’re coming in from a hot commute and need to put your blazer on quickly, you might want to try a product that can help you cool down, such as fans or some of the clever necklaces you can put in the freezer like an ice pack.

These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute… see more clever products like this in our Amazon shop!

(Also try rubbing something cold, like a cold soda can, on the inside of your wrists, or running them under cold water!)

Don’t wear sleeveless tops under your blazer. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: One of my favorite tops to wear under blazers is a T-shirt. The T-shirt should be easy to wash, and the sleeves should be long enough to provide a physical barrier between your underarms and your blazer.

A shell does not provide that kind of protection — and please, please do not wear only a camisole beneath your blazers. (You should always be able to take off your blazers, and a camisole is underwear only.)

Looking for the best women’s T-shirts for layering at the office? As of 2023, these are some of our favorites — also check our posts on opaque white tees and the best plus-size tees for work!

Finally, look to specialty products to help with underarm sweat. For example, Amazon has many “underarm guards”.

{related: do check out our regularly updated list of wardrobe essentials for work!}

Where to Find the Best Machine Washable Blazers

Since we originally wrote this article, we’ve covered a bunch of machine washable workwear on our sister blog for working moms. We’ve also done a roundup of the best general brands for washable workwear. Definitely check those out, there are a ton of brands out there with washable blazers.

As of 2023, these are some of the reader favorites that are also machine washable blazers…

Where to Find Washable Suits for Women

Another idea if you’re hunting for washable blazers for women: Check out the brands we know making washable suits. These actually do exist… Check out our latest favorites, here:

{related: how to wear a blazer with something other than a suit}

How to Wash Washable Blazers

In general, washable blazers need the same care as other structured pieces like pants and sheath dresses, such as:

• Hanging the pieces up when you’ve taken them off for the day, both to air them out and prevent wrinkles from setting in
• Using proper hangers for them — for most blazers I prefer hangers that have sculpted shoulders instead of the velvet-covered hangers that save space.
• Washing them as infrequently as possible — just because they can be washed doesn’t necessarily mean they should be thrown into every load of laundry.
• Washing them on the delicate cycle, and probably not tumble-drying them… You may want to try letting them go through the dryer for 15 minutes to get the wrinkles out, and then hanging the blazer up to air dry. Use a proper hanger to reshape the blazer as it’s drying (see below)!
• Spot cleaning as needed between washes
• Spraying vodka or another deodorizer as needed between washes

{related: a great blazer alternative: the sweater jacket}

Can You Wash “Dry Clean Only” Blazers?

So unfortunately, the answer is probably not. “Dry clean” means you can maybe wash it, but “dry clean only” means, you know, only dry clean. I have washed things that are labeled dry clean only — but only sweaters or blouses, and generally only after I’ve gotten a year or two of wear out of them and I’m OK with ruining them if they don’t come out right.

If you do have a blazer that says “dry clean,” you can try washing it — but be wary because it may come out needing to be steamed or ironed, at best. In general, I’d suggest spot cleaning it as well as you can, and spraying vodka or other deodorizers on smelly bits.

There are a number of “dry clean at home” products that you can check out for “dry clean only” blazers or dry clean blazers… these are some of the ones the readers have mentioned in the past:

{related: the best blazers for women this year}

Some of Our Latest Favorite Washable Blazers

A Great Affordable Washable Blazer for Women: Cicy Bell

This blazer from Amazon Seller Cicy Bell has been a bestselling reader favorite for a long while now! You can regularly find it for under $60, and it comes in a zillion colors, in sizes XS-XXL. Nice!

A Great Washable Blazer for Plus Sizes: Madewell

This blazer from Madewell is a great casual option — the cut is looser than a traditional jacket and sports drop sleeves, but it still has a traditional lapel and two-button closure. The airy blend of cotton and linen will take you well into the late spring and beyond (and it’s machine washable for when things get toasty).

Madewell’s Cotton-Linen Relaxed Larsen Blazer is $148 at Madewell and Nordstrom and available in sizes XXS–4X.

A Splurge-Worthy Washable Blazer: M.M.LaFleur

OK, I’ll admit it, I’m fully intrigued by a fabric that professes that it is sufficiently wrinkle resistant that it can be “folded up into a compact shape” for packing purposes.

In the last two years, my work travel has been substantially curtailed, but in my past life, I would have loved to be able to shove a blazer into my suitcase without having to deal with the repercussions.

This olive color would look great with a variety of neutrals, but if you’re looking to make a full suit, there’s also a matching skirt.

The blazer is $295 at M.M.LaFleur and comes in sizes 0P–18.

A Great Travel-Friendly Washable Blazer: Eddie Bauer

As we noted in our roundup of the best blazers this year:

If you’re hunting for a casual blazer to add a layer of polish to business casual outfits or your travel wardrobe, it’s hard to beat the Eddie Bauer Departures blazer.

It’s available in petite, tall, and regular sizes 2-20. In addition to having a secure pocket, the brand notes that it’s “The ultimate travel jacket, and an everyday classic, this unstructured, single-button blazer is a moisture-wicking stretch blend of polyester/spandex. The lightweight fabric packs easily, wears beautifully, and has built-in UPF sun protection.”

Other great options for travel-friendly blazers include Uniqlo, M.M.LaFleur, Talbots and Travelsmith.

Reader-Favorite Blazers (That May or May Not Be Washable Blazers)

Some of our favorite blazers to wear as separates include:

Readers: If you wear washable blazers, have you found any that you would recommend?

Social media images via Stencil.

This post is heavily based off a post we originally wrote in 2014, but we’ve substantially updated it in 2023 and beyond as indicated.

The post The Best Washable Blazers for Women appeared first on Corporette.com.