Thursday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: Calvin Klein Sheath Dress

Via Nordstrom and on sale! I really enjoy the short-ish sleeves with the ties and the boat-ish neck. The dress comes in the pictured charcoal. It is made from polyester, rayon, and spandex. Originally $118, Nordstrom has it on sale for $69.90 (40% off). Find it here.

Also from Calvin Klein and also on sale, but slightly more casual is a deep navy pintuck jersey dress with three-quarter sleeves (originally $118, on sale for $69.90 -- here), and a roll-neck ponte knit dress in black and deep purple available in regular and petite sizes (originally $118, also on sale for $69.90 -- here in black and here in purple). In addition, check out the Nordstrom website for more work-appropriate and vegan dresses from Calvin Klein on sale: there are a bunch others!

Tuesday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: Bell Sleeve Dress

I don't actually own a bell sleeve dress, mainly for two reasons: (1) I don't tend to wear dresses, though I think I might wear one with bell sleeves; and (2) every time I try on a bell sleeve dress, it doesn't look right on me. Regardless, I am still drawn to bell sleeve dresses and if they look good on you, I think they are very work-appropriate as long as they aren't too short. The pictured "Muse Bell Sleeve Ponte Knit Shift" dress is a recent addition to Nordstrom's website. It comes in the pictured eggplant and is made from rayon, polyester, and spandex. Though the dress hits a bit high above the knee on the model, I think it would be fine for most people. I especially enjoy the black contrasting curves on the bell sleeves. The dress is $148; find it here.

Tuesday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: "Deon" Dress

Via Dillard's. This technically sleeveless dress hits below the knee (on everyone except really tall models) and offers a high neckline, making it perfect for more business-formal offices. Pair it with a cardigan or jacket if you need to cover your arms a bit more. It is available in the pictured espresso "sharkskin" fabric made from polyester and rayon. The dress is $119; find it here.

The dress is part of Alex Marie's "Orchard Hill" collection made exclusively for Dillard's. Alex Marie also makes some other work-appropriate vegan dresses for Dillard's: (1) the "Diane" dress (I would check as to whether the accompanying belt is made from faux patent leather) -- $119; (2) the "Andrie" dress (more appropriate for less formal offices) -- $99; and (3) the "Adrianna" dress (on sale, select sizes remain) -- $41.70.

Monday's Vegan Suit: Ingenuity "Pattern" Suit

Relatively new to Nordstrom is the line of Ingenuity suits. I posted about the line here when I first noticed Nordstrom carrying it. Originally the suit was available in mix and match pieces of solid colors. Now the line has expanded to include "patterns" of black and white "multi" and brown and white "multi." The black and white multi colored two-button jacket is pictured left. The jackets pairs with front-closure, slightly darted pants (only available online in the brown and white multi); a skirt, available in both colors, that hits slightly below the knees (perfect for the ultra-conservative office); or a sheath dress, also available in both colors (pictured right).

The suit is made from polyester, rayon, and spandex; some of the pieces are machine washable. The jacket is $210; find it here. The pants are $136; find them here. The skirt is $96; find it here. The dress is $158; find it here.

Vegan On The Weekend: Selections From Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale

Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale is one of my best friend's favorite sale event. The sale offers some good deals on fall fashion. I thought I'd point out some of the vegan items on sale.

(1) Joie "Fara" Plaid Tuxedo Shirt: plaid shirts have been appearing all over magazine covers lately. I'm not sure if this shirt's ruffles combined with the plaid is a bit too much, although I saw it in Nordstrom and it seemed to work. The shirt is made from cotton and comes in the pictured "potion" plaid; in store, it also is available in a white-black-brown-gray plaid color combo. Originally $188, it is on sale for $109.90.

(2) Classiques Entier Drape Neck Sheath Dress: a folded collar with a sophisticated bow adds a unique look to this sheath dress; the cap sleeves are a perfect combination of the current sleeve-less look with an added bit of fabric for a more conservative look. The dress is made from polyester, viscose, and spandex, and comes in the "menswear-inspired" black multi color. Originally $228, it is on sale for $149.90.

(3) Semantiks Ruffle Pocket Cardigan: this deep v-cardigan with un-obtrusive ruffling at the pockets comes in "regular" and petite sizes in a variety of colors including the pictured "paris purple." The sweater is made from rayon and nylon. Originally $68, it is on sale for $39.90.

(4) Foxcroft Fitted Shirt: classic crisp white button-down shirt in a feminine "fitted" fit with pleats and princess seams. The shirt is made from cotton, and is of the "no-iron" variety. Originally $68, it is on sale for $44.90. The Nordstrom sale also features a bunch of other Foxcroft shirts, most with patterns or texture; find them all here.

(5) Kristen Blake Iridescent Quilted Coat: I particularly like the huge pockets on this shiny quilted water-resistant coat. It comes in the pictured pewter and a bronze, and in "regular," petite, and plus sizes. The coat is made from polyester and nylon, and has polyester lining. Originally $150, it is on sale for $89.90.

(6) And, finally, something for men: Façonnable Cotton Jacket: this lightweight zip-up jacket made from cotton is perfect for weekend excursions or more casual days traveling to and from the office. It is lined with the ever-popular plaid. The sweater jacket comes in the pictured navy and a dark-ish tan. Originally $295, it is on sale for $199.90.

Notable Vegan Items on Sale

Thought I'd post a handful of (meaning three) items from two stores that are on sale and vegan:

(1) Calvin Klein Pleated Dress via Nordstrom: great for more casual offices or dress-down days. The cotton dress boasts an empire waist with a large, but not overbearing side-bow and a slightly flared skirt. Obviously the addition of a cami underneath is a must. The dress comes in the pictured black. Originally $108, it is on sale for $70.

(2) Jane Post for Saks Fifth Avenue Nylon Jacket via (amazingly) Saks Fifth Avenue: clearly a non-work-appropriate item. I really like the all-over ruffle front and the sleek sheen of this 100% nylon jacket. Interestingly, it comes with a nylon tote for storage, though I'm not sure how wrinkled the jacket would get in the tote. It's available in the pictured black. Originally $325, it is on sale for $161.90.

(3) Theory 'Valens - Crunch' Pants via Nordstrom: these pants are made from a combination of linen, rayon, and elastane, which gives them a textured, somewhat crinkled feel and look. Because of the linen, I might suggest these pants are more for casual days or the weekend. They come in the pictured "north sea," black, dark plaster, and white. Originally $245, they are on sale for $147.

Tuesday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: Milly Safari Shirt Dress

Neiman Marcus' sale continues, and it just reduced select women's and men's clothes 33%, including this shirt dress from Milly. On the model, the dress hits a couple inches above the knee, but once it's on a slightly shorter frame, I think it will hit perfectly at the knees. I especially like the longer roll-up sleeves that make the dress perfect for transitioning to the fall, and the bow at the waist that transforms a standard shirt dress into something a bit dressier and more feminine. The dress comes in the pictured olive; it is made from cotton and spandex. The dress originally was $395 -- with the 33% off, it is $261. Find it here.

Neiman Marcus also put a bunch of other work-appropriate dresses on sale, 33% off. Thought I would highlight two more:

Theory Belted Shirtdress (pictured left): in a pretty deeper blue, this shirt dress boasts roll-up sleeves like the Milly shirt dress. It is made from cotton and polyurethane, which I assume means the matching belt is faux leather, although before purchasing, I might specifically check into the material of the belt. The dress originally was $285 -- with the 33% off, it is $188.

Tory Burch Linen Dress (pictured right): this dress made entirely from linen definitely is a summer dress, especially with the white geometric print, ballerina neckline, and lack of sleeves. I would pair it with a cardigan, perhaps a darker cardigan. My favorite feature is the side-slit pockets. The dress originally was $465 -- with the 33% off, it is $307.

Designer Vegan Deal: Selections From Neiman Marcus Sale

Neiman Marcus is holding an online and in-store sale. The sale starts on-line today and in-store on Thursday. I did a quick browse through the sale; there are a few vegan items. Some of my picks; I've tried to weed-out those items that are available only in one or two sizes:

Burberry Check Dress (pictured left): love the neutral mushroom color and contrasting white checks, and, of course, the ruffles along the button front; the matching belt adds even more style to this shirt dress. Made from cotton, polyamide, and spandex. Originally $550; on sale for $330 (40% off).

Armani Collection Pin-Tuck Blouse (pictured right): when I first saw this blouse, I thought it looked more like a light-weight jacket with three-quarter sleeves. It really is a blouse, though I think its a great stand-alone piece, especially considering its stand collar -- wear it over a white cami and pair it with pants that have a little flair themselves (pinstripes, texture, etc). Made from cotton, nylon, and spandex. Originally $495; on sale for $297 (40% off).

Prince of Scotland Degrade Cardigan and Knit Top (pictured together at left): yes, this sweater set is really, really expensive, even with the Neiman Marcus sale discount, but it's Neiman Marcus, so, it's expected. The cardigan and matching knit top are hand-sprayed in Italy to create a degraded gray trim on the optic white background. I like the cardigan's v-neckline set against the top's scoop neckline. The set is made from cotton. The cardigan originally was $695 and is on sale for $417; the top originally was $550 and is on sale for $330. That makes them both 40% off. The matching pleated gray print skirt is also vegan (acetate and polyester) and is also 40% off ($1,150 to $690).

Eric Javits Squishee Shoulder Bag (pictured right): available in the pictured fuchsia, orange, and parrot green. Made from rayon and polyester with goldtone hardware. A perfect 11" x 14" x 4". On sale for $175. Here and here.

Tuesday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: David Meister Dress

This David Meister sheath dress has large flowers and bright colors, which I really love. Though I admit that the large floral pattern and bright colors might make it not work-appropriate for every office situation, I still like the dress -- and I think if it is paired with a neutral color cardigan or perhaps a black blazer or cardigan and nice black or neutral pumps, the dress is work-appropriate for a business-casual day. It also might be great for those summer work parties, whether in the evening or on the weekend.

Made from cotton and spandex. Originally $372, Bluefly has it on sale for $223 (40% off). Because I found it via Bluefly, it is only available in "lucky sizes," although Bluefly has quite a few. Find it here.

Designer Vegan Deal: Selections from Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale

Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Kids started yesterday. Items are on sale for 10% - 40% off. Thought I would point out a few vegan finds in addition to the pants I already posted this morning.

Continuing with the linen pant trend, and on the more expensive side even with the 40% off, are Leifsdottir's "Pebble" wide-leg linen trousers in the left pictured navy. The decorative gold buttons along the side-slant pockets match the three gold buttons that line the back pockets. I like the turned-up cuffs and the extra wide legs. Made from linen and viscose. The pants originally were $258 and are on sale for $153.90; here.

To wear over your suits during in-climate weather, check out Michael by Michael Kors' "Clip Closure" topper, pictured right in the "sand." It also comes in a bright "taxi yellow" (perhaps not work appropriate) and black. The accompanying drawstring hood is detachable. Made from cotton and polyester. Best of all, it is machine washable. Originally $128, it is on sale for $79.90 (35% off). Find it here. Also, if you are looking for something slightly more tailored, you might like Via Spiga's "Sienna" walking coat, which comes in a similar light camel, a chocolate brown, and black. Originally $148, on sale for $89.90 (35% off); here.

On the very, very expensive side, St. John Collection's "Floral Print" stretch cotton dress is on sale for $594 (originally $995 -- 40% off) (pictured left). I love the high neck, knee-hitting length, and matching thin belt. The dress would look great with a black blazer or a black cardigan, as well as a taupe blazer or cardigan. Pair it with black or taupe heels. Made from cotton and spandex. Find it here.

Finally, Marc by Marc Jacobs' line of totes is on sale for 33% off, such as the right pictured "tobo." I'm not sure how work-appropriate these totes are, but they are great for the weekend or carrying lots of items to the gym in an eye-catching bag. Made from nylon. The pictured tote originally was $198 and is on sale for $131.90; here. Marc by Marc Jacobs makes a similar full tote that originally was $188 and is on sale for $124.90; here.

Thursday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: David Meister Sheath Dress

Yes, this David Meister dress (left) is very colorful, but I think the pattern is fun and youthful, yet not overdone -- and not too floral. And the simple sheath design of the dress, the high neck, and its knee-length make the pattern fine for work, although perhaps not for a really important meeting. Obviously, I would tone down the bright pattern by pairing the dress with a black or tan or other neutral-colored cardigan.

I found the dress via Nordstrom's current sale on dresses: up to 40% off. This dress is made from cotton and spandex. Originally $330, it is 40% off at $198. Find it here.

Browsing through the sale, there are a few other work-appropriate vegan dresses of interest: Burberry's stretch trench dress in taupe (made from cotton and elastane; more appropriate for business casuals days; originally $595, on sale for $395; here); Jones New York Collection's sheath dress in white (made from polyester, viscose, and elastane; originally $159, on sale for $106; here); Calvin Klein's cargo shirtdress in black and khaki, which I have blogged about before (made from polyester and spandex; originally $118, on sale for $70; here; and Maggie London's ruche matted jersey dress in the black and off-white print pictured right (made from polyester and spandex; originally $128, on sale for $64; here).

More Work-Appropriate Dresses

Nordstrom is featuring "day dresses" on its website -- that is how I discovered today's work-appropriate dress. There are so many work-appropriate dresses that I couldn't resist pointing out a few more of varying prices in descending order:

Theory's "Analba-Crunch" Dress (pictured right): simple linen dress that will go well with a cardigan or a jacket. Made from linen with a touch of rayon. Available in the pictured "barley" and black. $275; find it here.

Helen Berman's Floral Sheath Dress (pictured left): whether or not this dress is appropriate depends on your office. Even if paired with a black cardigan, the flowers simply may be too big and the colors to bright and the background too white for some offices. But it really is gorgeous. Made from cotton and nylon. $238; available here.

Calvin Klein's Cargo Shirtdress (pictured right): though this dress has slightly large cargo pockets in the front, I think the buttons and decorative tie at the waist combined with the button-front collared bodice makes this dress work-appropriate. Made from polyester and spandex; available only in the pictured khaki and black combination. $118; find it here.

Tuesday's Work-Appropriate Clothing Item: Lafayette 148 Shirtdress

Shirtdresses often are too casual for work, but the wide, ruched belt and bamboo buckle, the polished look created by the pleats and puffed sleeves, and the knee-length of this shirtdress makes it perfect for the office. I love that it has hidden front pockets -- perfect for those busy days at the office. Pair it with a light-colored cardigan to create an even more professional look.

The dress is made from cotton, polyamide, and spandex. It only comes in the pictured black; $498 (perhaps wait for a sale?); find it here via Nordstrom.

Vegan on the Weekend: Yoga Clothing

Yesterday a friend sent me this picture she took of a clever (as she termed it and as I agree) advertisement in Old Navy:The ad made me think about yoga clothing, of course. I get almost all mine from Lululemon, which I believe prompted my friend to send me the picture. I've been purchasing $90 yoga pants and similarly priced tops, other clothing, accessories, and other yoga-inspired items from Lululemon since finding yoga studios that sold the Lululemon items you coveted was an often exhausting and futile endeavor. Now Lululemon seems to have become a household name -- at least if you practice or know about yoga -- and stores are springing up around the country. No website purchasing as of now, though I am certain that is likely to change in the near future.

Though there is little chance that I will stray from Lululemon, it is nice to see that other yoga apparel options are becoming commonplace. In addition to Old Navy (you can find its line of yoga clothing here -- pants start at $16.50, some tops are on sale for $10), JCrew sells yoga clothing online and through its catalog (not in the store). I recall a rather robust line, but its website is a bit sparse at the moment: see here.

Other brands I like include Be Present, which has a line of items made from earth-friendly fabrics, and prAna, which makes durable, fashionable yoga clothing and a large line of yoga-inspired items that are slightly dressier and less I-am-running-to-and-from-the-yoga-studio that Lululemon's. Of their new spring items, my favorite is the jewel halter dress (pictured). Made from organic cotton and spandex; it comes in the pictured black, white, and a deep brown. $75; find it here.

Both Be Present and prAna sell their merchandise via their websites. Though most yoga clothing and accessories are vegan, it is always good to check; for example, Lululemon now sells a leather bag (eeek!).

Tuesday's Work Appropriate Clothing Item: DKNY Short Sleeve Dress

Classic crew-neck, perfect knee-touching 39 inch length, and professional short sleeves make this DKNY dress a great summer wardrobe option. If you are in an air-conditioned office, pair it with a sweater (not black - add some color). And for meetings, you can pair it with a blazer (not completely black - again, add some contrasting color). The dress is made from viscose and elastane and is lined with ramie, viscose, and elastane. It is $295. Find it here via Shopbop.

For a pairing idea, I find this Brochu Walker duplex sweater coat very intriguing, though prohibitively expensive: 100% cotton, a whopping $526. Depending on your office culture, this Juicy Couture shrunken jacket may be a good match, especially with its white contrasting, though the jacket combined with the dress might be too much black on black: cotton, rayon, acetate, $348. Or perhaps this William Rast jacket (pictured), which is similar to the Juicy Couture, but with flipped colors (beige with black contrasting): cotton with polyester lining, $297.

Tuesday's Work Appropriate Clothing Item: Lutz & Patmos Flutter Sleeve Tee

I found Lutz & Patmos via last week's Daily Candy Deals email. From browsing the site, it seems they specialize in overpriced sweaters, knits, and accessories made from mainly cashmere and occasionally organic cotton. Many of the items are really, really cute despite the huge pricetag. Such as their Organic Flutter Sleeve Tee. 100% organic jersey cotton; scoop neck (may require a cami to deal with the scoop); double row of ruffles at the sleeve -- perfect to go under a lighter colored suit for the spring / summer. Unfortunately, the "tee" is $185! Yes, $185 . . . for a cotton t-shirt with lovely ruffles . . . I hope they don't succumb to the economy.

Lutz & Patmos has other insanely overpriced cotton items: a gorgeous flounce dress ($310, here); a belted crewneck cardigan ($395, here); a ruffle cardigan ($195, here). As of last week, if you enter DAILYCANDY30 at checkout, you will receive 30% off your entire order.

Monday's Vegan Suit: Ingenuity Suit

Via Nordstrom. I like this suit because it is reasonable priced, but still looks well-made, although it's a bit too conservative for my taste: the pants have a side-zip and the collection boasts a really, really long skirt that I would never wear, though some might enjoy. I think Ingenuity is a new brand Nordstrom is carrying, perhaps in an attempt to cater to a less-monetarily-secure clientele. At least, I've never seen it online or in stores before.

The suit is made from polyester, comes in 5 colors (black, navy, stone, ivory, and red), and is machine washable, but unlike other machine washable suits, this one looks as if it is dry-clean-only. The suit collection includes two jacket options, a long skirt, a knee-length skirt, pants, and a sheath dress. The three-button jacket is $166 (here; pictured in navy). The more conservative "short suiting jacket" is also $166 (here). The long skirt that I would pair with the more conservative jacket is $96 (here). I would pair the knee-length skirt ($90; here), the pants ($96; here), or the sheath dress ($130; here; pictured in the navy) with the more traditional three-button jacket.

Vegan on the Weekend: Summer Dresses

From Anthropologie, of course, because Anthropologie has the best (overpriced) dresses. My favorite of their new (overpriced) summer selections is the "Morning Colors" dress (pictured right). The black belt, subtle pleating, and the large, smudged flowers make it perfect for a nice summer brunch or shopping on a hot day. Made from 100% cotton with cotton lining; $258.

For lounging around, I like the "Two Rivers" dress. Also made from 100% cotton with cotton lining; $118.

Finally, for nights out, my pick is the "Musing Moon" dress (pictured left). I love the lines of polka dots, the flower on the sash, and flowing skirt -- and, most of all, the yellow-orange underneath the sheer grey. 100% cotton with cotton lining; $188.

Thursday's Work Appropriate Clothing Item: Grey Shift Dress

Last night on "Damages" (I rarely watch television -- but I love "Damages"), Ellen Parson was wearing this cute, trendy, yet appropriately conservative grey knit sleeveless shift dress that I loved. Based on the knit and weight and fall of the fabric, I assume it incorporated wool. I searched for something similar online last night in a vegan-version and stumbled upon a few grey work-appropriate dresses.

First, though it looks nothing like the dress the Ellen Parsons character was wearing last night, I enjoy this Design History grey pleated belted jersey dress (pictured right). Although the dress hits above the model's knees, I think it will hit at or slightly above the knees on most women. At first I thought the material may be too casual for the office, but perhaps the dress can be "dressed up" with a nice dark cardigan. It also comes in black and carmine (a red that I think is too red for the office). The dress is made from 95% viscose and 5% spandex. Originally $120, Bluefly has it on sale for $72. Find it here.

Second, this grey shift dress with puff sleeves from Target (pictured left) is closer to the dress I was searching for -- but not really all that close. I do like the bell sleeves though -- although the criss-cross front may necessitate the addition of a camisole underneath. 100% polyester; $24.99. Available here.

Finally, I don't really like it, but this cotton rib turtleneck sweater dress via Victoria's Secret (pictured right) is the closest I could find that did not incorporate wool or silk. But, I really, really, really don't like it. Way too heavy and chunky -- and the long-sleeves -- not for me. Nevertheless, if you're interested, it's on sale for $68 (originally $88); find it here.

In the end, I rate my search for a vegan-friendly grey knit shift dress a dismal failure. Guess you can't win them all.

Monday's Vegan Suit: JCrew Cotton Sateen Suit

As the JCrew site says, "perfect for warmer weather" -- JCrew's stretch cotton sateen suit comes in two colors and is comprised of four mix-and-match pieces: jacket, dress, pants, and cropped pants (no quite sure how office appropriate cropped pants are -- perhaps take them out for the summer bbq). The jacket and both pants come in black and champagne colors (the champagne jacket and regular pants are pictured right). The dress comes in black, champagne, and light chartreuse (yellow).

The jacket is $168 (here), the dress is $128 (here), the regular pants are $118 (here), and the cropped pants are $108 (here - available online and via catalog only). All made from cotton.