<p>I was thinking sundress + cardigan = business casual. Sundress by itself = beach party. :)</p>
<p>For business casual at a cocktail event I love the idea of a solid or small print sheath or silky wrap dress with either a nice unstructured jacket or solid cardigan. Shoes are the hard part for me. What are business casual shoes?</p>
<p>[Laura</a> Geller Baked Body Frosting All Over Body Bronzer - Beauty - Macy’s](<a href=“http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=457418&CategoryID=50483]Laura”>http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=457418&CategoryID=50483)</p>
<p>workinprogress, is this the bronzing product? Have you had success with it? DO tell…</p>
<p>Haven’t had a chance to try wnp’s bronzer but I have been very pleased with this one from Nars. I’m fair so it gives me just enough color and it smells like the beach. Seriously.</p>
<p>[Body</a> Glow by NARS Cosmetics](<a href=“http://www.narscosmetics.com/Body-Glow-C211_Body-Glow-C38_category_3.aspx]Body”>http://www.narscosmetics.com/Body-Glow-C211_Body-Glow-C38_category_3.aspx)</p>
<p>Yes, that’s the one. I don’t use it all over - I worry it might rub off on clothing, even though it shouldn’t. I use it on my legs and feet and I like it a lot. </p>
<p>Actually, I once mentioned my whole faux tanning ritual which is utterly ridiculous. </p>
<p>First of all, I am married to “Tan Man” a wonderful spouse who will help me apply tanner to my back. </p>
<p>If I want to have a tan all over, I use Bare Minerals self tanner and apply it with a kabuki brush. It does seem to take a long time to set up - so I don’t do this very often. The kabuki brush works really well, no streaks and it is easier to control on the top of my hands and places like that.</p>
<p>I use Guerlain [Sephora:</a> Guerlain Terracotta Spray SPF 10: Bronzers & Self-Tanners](<a href=“http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P175200&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=1132]Sephora:”>http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P175200&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=1132) for my face</p>
<p>And touch up my legs with Laura Geller’s baked bronzer - because they fade quickly with self tanner.</p>
<p>Sewhappy - In a dress I’d say business casual shoes are mid to low-heeled pumps, or wedges. Oh, or ballet flats!</p>
<p>Alumother, Just saw your endorsement of my signature floral cardigans. Thank you! I ordered two more. Wear them all the time and they always make me happy so I’m sticking with 'em.</p>
<p>So this column on fashion caught my eye in the WSJ this morning and I immediately wondered WWDYT (what would Dressing Young think):</p>
<p>[Picking</a> the Perfect Outfit for an Interview During Summer - WSJ.com](<a href=“Picking the Perfect Outfit for an Interview During Summer - WSJ”>Picking the Perfect Outfit for an Interview During Summer - WSJ)</p>
<p>sewhappy, I like your favorite cardigans, too! Because of their patterns and colors they do not look like clones of the same dull thing. Go for it. </p>
<p>I read the article in the WSJ link. Pressed jeans? Uhm. No. IMO, not appropriate. Not even for a biotech interview! If it is a college kid interviewing for an internship straight after going to class, neat looking, dark wash jeans without bling and/or holes could be OK (although khaki pants would be way more appropriate), but an adult should know and do better. 
I would also skip seersucker blazers, and go for a light colored (cream, beige, off-white) jacket in wrinkle-resistant cotton or linen blends.</p>
<p>I agree with the article about wearing the super-sheer hose. Looks better than bare legs in a business environment.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Sewhappy, I have that same Ralph Lauren dress. Wore it to a cocktail event recently with a dressy shawl (it had seeded pearls on it), a dressy pearl and diamond necklace and strappy sandals. It ended up being perfect for the event. I can tell I’m going to get a lot of mileage out of that dress.</p>
<p>I can imagine jeans being appropriate for the 3rd interview in a software company, when you’re interviewing for a programmer job, and meeting your peers.</p>
<p>There is no interview in the world, other than one held on a golf course or a beach, to which I would wear a seersucker jacket. Strikes me as the best possible way to be deemed instantly frivolous for conservative jobs and too preppy for design jobs.</p>
<p>MomLive,</p>
<p>I know what you mean about the Lauren dress. It’s a real keeper. I think the navy color with the little bit of pale blue and silver make it easy to pair with lots of different sweaters, jewelry and shoes. </p>
<p>Alumother - agree on the seersucker and madras. There are few occasions that I ever think those fabrics work, let alone a job interview. I don’t usually read the column but came across it this morning and had to keep looping back to re-read it to try to get some sort of rational perspective from it. Strappy sandals are also recommended. And this is the WSJ!</p>
<p>seersucker just might work when it is 105 degrees outside, so probably not an all around go-to interview outfit. But madras? no. not for an interview.</p>
<p>[Apparel</a> Classic Clothing at Talbots - Bouvier sheath](<a href=“Women's Clothing & Apparel | Talbots”>Women's Clothing & Apparel | Talbots)</p>
<p>I really like this dress and want it in black–a friend has it and it’s great. Problem is they no longer have it in my size online…Any ideas how to track one down, other than calling a million talbot’s stores? If I can’t have this one, I’d like to find one like it…</p>
<p>LOL…Asked and answered…I called the Talbot’s toll-free number, gave them the item number. They checked store inventories across the country and gave me the phone numbers of stores that have my size ! Tomorrow, I’m on the phone to have one sent to me.</p>
<p>…And they say customer service isn’t what it used to be!!..</p>
<p>I like the Garnet Hill sweaters as well. They seem to be cut nicely - hitting just at the hipbone - very flattering.</p>
<p>I’m interested in the bronzers. Does the NARS bodyglow rub off on clothing? The Laura Geller baked bronzer doesn’t, WNP? How about in the humidity? I’ve had a couple of experiences at steamy outdoor BBQs when I’ve looked down at my legs and noticed streaks, especially behind the knees. Really disgusting. I usually use a sunless tanner the day before for this reason, but I do like the shimmer of a bronzer. I use Guerlain terracotta (in the tube) on my face - the shade for blondes - and I like it a lot. My daughter uses the powder version and also loves it.</p>
<p>“Pressed jeans?” I actually touch up my dressy jeans with the iron, but I’m careful that they don’t look “pressed” when I do it. That WSJ advice seemed very dated.</p>
<p>The RL dress looks very versatile and the colors are great. I love the navy/silver/pale blue color combo. I have a dress in a similar color scheme, and I’m looking for a navy sandal - something strappy - to go with it, but have had no luck. Anyone seen a navy sandal in their travels?</p>
<p>Gourmetmom - Summers here are very humid and I have not had any streaking or transferring problems with the body bronzer. I am still cautious nonetheless, that is why I only use it on my legs. If you like the Guerlain, try the spray. I love it for my face, it is so light and natural looking. Have the salesperson demonstrate how to apply, you hold the can well away from your face and spray in a circular motion for about three seconds. I put a cotton smock over my clothing when I spray it on - once again - I am very cautious. </p>
<p>We do go to a lot of trouble for “a little bit of color!”</p>
<p>Just following up on the Talbot’s dress (post 4094 above)…The dress has been located and will be delivered to my door! Chalk one up for Talbot’s service!</p>
<p>Beil - YAY!</p>
<p>I am sure you will reach for that dress time and time again.</p>
<p>I also LOVE the Ralph Lauren dress. I love the fit of their dresses. The waist sits at the right spot for me and are slimming thru the torso. I have a closet with lots of slacks and blouses from Talbots, but their dresses have never worked for me.</p>
<p>Beil – I LOVE that Talbot’s sheath dress. Am really smitten with the aqua blue version. Thanks for sharing.</p>
<p>The Nars Body Glow Rub does not transfer to clothing, although it takes a thorough washing to remove from the palms of your hands. The young lady at the Nars counter who sold it to me recommended first applying lotion. I use the Cetaphil cream lotion pretty liberally, then follow with the Nars and it is just enough to cover my spider veins and keep my DH from making cracks about my “chicken legs”. Best part is the beach scent though. I’m not a perfume person but I really like the scent of this stuff.</p>
<p>The WSJ column on fashion made me realize how much I’ve learned from this thread. We are so beyond “Teri”!</p>
<p>Hello, I am a long time lurker here.</p>
<p>I have been looking for a dress to wear to my d’s informal garden party wedding in late summer. It will be hot so I wanted something simple, sleeveless and shorter length to wear with sandals.</p>
<p>The Talbots sheath dress fits that description and the price is right. I just ordered 2 of them that I think will work with the color theme (earth tones) I ordered the dark green and the aqua. If my d isn’t happy with it, then it will work for the dinner the night before. Thanks so much!</p>