One update that I am making to my work wardrobe is culling structured sheath dresses–which formed the foundation of my work outfits pre-pandemic but now feel too formal–and replacing them with weightier knit pieces that look just as polished but feel cozier.
A new favorite is the Club Monaco Kaytee Fit & Flare Sweater Dress seen here. I had originally planned to order the light camel color that’s part of the Nordstorm Anniversary Sale (the sale opens to the public tomorrow, 07/28), but my size sold out pretty early on, so I settled on the dress in black, despite already having too many LBD to count.
What I like most about the Kaytee Sweater Dress is the mock neck–which doesn’t truncate my shorter neck–and the studied fit-and-flare silhouette. The dress is also surprisingly petite friendly; on 5’2 me, the skirt falls just above the knee and comfortably covers my backside.
The ribbed knit–68% viscose, 28% polyester, 2% nylon, 2% elastane–has more than enough weight to maintain the shape of the dress, but is not so heavy as to add bulk. And while the material has a fair amount of stretch, I wouldn’t suggest sizing down (unless you are in between sizes).
The dress’s retail price of $229 is fairly reasonable for a piece that I expect will become a wardrobe workhorse, but the sale price for the camel color ($134.90) convinced me of a multiples purchase. For anyone interested, Nordstrom normally restocks on the day that the Anniversary Sale opens to the public, so I’ve bookmarked the page and will be checking for my size tomorrow morning.
A budget option in a similar silhouette that you might consider is the Lark & Ro Sleeveless Ballet Neck Fit and Flare Sweater Dress. (Lark & Ro is an Amazon house brand.)
