Holiday Weekend Open Thread

Crocs Sexi Flip Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

You’re going to think I’m mad, but these Crocs are actually some of the most popular shoes on Zappos, and I think they kind of look chic for what they are, which is a slightly fancier version of a flipflop.  They’re super lightweight, with form fitting comfort, and a five-star rating — and numerous reviewers talk about wearing them for all of spring break, traipsing around Europe in them, and in general wearing them everywhere. I think they’d be perfect for the beach or other casual outings. They’re $30 at Zappos, and available in four colors: black, brown, purple, and mint. Crocs Sexi Flip

P.S. Happy Memorial Day to all our US readers — check out our sales roundup. We’ll be back on Tuesday.

(L-2)

Happy Memorial Day! Here Are 35 Sales Already Going On (and Kat’s Top 7)

sales175 punyI’ve mentioned a few of the big sales already happening (e.g., see my picks for the Nordstrom & Bergdorf Goodman sales) — but there are so many other ones already happening that I thought I’d do a quick roundup. The seven sales that I would check out first are bolded!

- 6pm: Cole Haan up to 50% off; workout clothes also up to 70% off.  Their “sophisticated silhouettes” sale features savings of up to 82% offf brands like Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Donna Morgan, Ellen Tracy, JNY, Kenneth Cole New York, Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique, Tahari by ASL, and Vince Camuto.  Nice.
- Bare Necessities: up to 30% off select swimwear, plus BOGO 50% off Bras and more
- Big Drop NYC: Take an additional 20% off sale items with code 20OFF.
- Bloomingdale’s: Big Brown Bag Sale! Save 20-65% on select merchandise, and get 15%-25% off regular clothing (buy more save more).
- Bluefly: Memorial day sale, up to 85% off 5000+ designer clearance items.
- Banana Republic: 35% offf  yoour purchase with code BRDIVEIN.
- Brooks Brothers Clearance Event: Save up to 60% off on men, women, Black Fleece, and more.  Sale ends Monday at 11:59 PM EST.
- Canvas: 30% off all styles, plus free shipping on $50+.
- CUSP by Neiman Marcus:  save up to 40% off regular prices.
- Club Monaco: 30% off all markdowns, and free shipping on all orders.
- Coach: Semi-Annual Shoe Sale!
- DVF: 30% off sale items with code WKEND30. 
- eBags: Memorial Day Sale, up to 50% off brands like Cole Haan and Kate Spade New York.
- Eloquii: Take an extra 75% off clearance prices; all final sale, everything must go.  The entire site is now 50%-75% off.
- Express: 40% off every single item.
- Henri Bendel: Get $25 towards every $150 you spend with code MAY25HB.
- Inhabit: Online sample sale, up to 80% off select styles.
- J.Crew: Buy more save more, get $30-$75 off your purchase with code SHOPNOW.
- French Connection: Memorial Day Weekend Sale, take 25% off online with code S13MEM.
- Intermix Online: Take an extra 30% off all sale for savings of up to 70%.
- Jones New York: Additional 30% off sale styles for savings up to 75%.
- Journelle: Semi-annual sale, only online.
- Kate Spade New York: LOTS of new bags and more just added to their sale.
- Land’s End: save up to 50% on hundreds of spring and summer styles.
- Last Call: Extra 30% off entire purchase; extra 35% off all women’s apparel.
- The Limited: Take an extra 40% off markdowns with code SUNSHINE.
- LOFT: Enjoy an extra 50% off all sale styles.
- Loehmann’s: Biggest sale of the season, 25% off everything with code MEM25.
- Macy’s: extra 15% off plus free shipping with $99+.
- Madewell: 20% off tees, tanks and shorts, and free shipping on all with code SUMMERNOW.
- The Outnet: Summer sweaters up to 70% off.
- Piperlime: Sale on! up to 40% off.
- Rebecca Taylor: extra 25% off sale.
- Reiss: 30% off selected lines, online and in the store.
- Sierra Trading Post: Extra 20-30% off select items.
- Talbots: Take an extra 40% off already reduced prices.
- Theory: Lots of their classic suiting items are in the sale section, include the Gabe blazer, the Betty sheath dress, and the Max C. pant.
- Trina Turk: Take an additional 20% off sale (great prices).
- Zappos: Memorial day clearance sale, including Cole Haan clearance.

Weekly News Update

Like these posts? Follow us on Twitter or Facebook — this is the edited version of what we’re reading! (We also Tweet if we hear about a good sale through our CorporetteDeals Twitter feed.) You can also follow us on Pinterest.

- There’s kind of an awesome sketch on Huffington Post from Amy Schumer about how women need to learn to take a compliment.  Sad but true.
- SheFinds rounds up the top ten most-wanted items of the season.
- Vivia Chen at The Careerist is having a whole series on women (and men) changing their names when they get married.
- Inc. reports on a new study that says sleep deprivation is just as bad for work as alcohol.
- POPSUGAR Smart Living looks at an old Steve Jobs email to learn how to negotiate like a pro.

P.S. In Corporette news: We may be doing some back-end upgrades (much needed, but also possibly fraught with some difficulties) this weekend.  Wish us luck; here’s hoping the ship doesn’t go down (or stay down for long). <sigh>

Did we miss anything? Add ‘em here, or send them to [email protected] Thank you!

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Faux Wrap Top

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

Vince Camuto Faux Wrap TopI’ve posted the long-sleeved version of this wrap top before, so I’m happy to see they have a cap-sleeved version of it. Love that high shawl collar (perfect to have just a *bit* peeking out beneath the collar of your blazer), and of course the high neckline and flattering wrap effect. It’s part of the Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale going on right now — it was $49, but is now marked to $29.40. It’s available in a ton of colors and prints in regular, petites, and plus sizes, all marked from $14.97 to $49. Nice. Vince Camuto Faux Wrap Top

Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail [email protected]
(L-3)

 

Coffee Break: Pearl & Blue Agate Necklace

 Stephen Dweck Pearl & Blue Agate Necklace Oooooh: love. Love love love. Love! These are natural freshwater cultured baroque pearls with a very blue agate stations, in solid bronze. I love the organic shapes, and the bright blue mixed with the bright white. Love. I’d wear it to work, out on the town, and, well, everywhere. It’s $895 at Neiman Marcus (sigh). Stephen Dweck Pearl & Blue Agate Necklace

P.S. Good sales at DvF.com — take an extra 30% off all sale items with code WKEND30.

(L-3)

When Do Girly Clothes Become Unprofessional?

dressing-too-girlyIf you wear girly clothes, will you be seen as less of a professional? Reader A wonders…

I recently parted ways with a company where I was being micromanaged, like my boss didn’t trust me to do anything without his help and supervision. He never said why, but he kept treating me like some incompetent child. At the same time, I’m really into mid-century fashion, and I would wear really girly things that wouldn’t really been seen in most traditional offices – polka dots, shades of pink, lacy headbands, and even bows. I knew it was unorthodox and I may get some weird looks, but in hindsight I’m wondering if my clothing made my manager see me as a little girl, and maybe that’s why he wasn’t taking me seriously as a young professional. Do you think there was any connection between my fashion choices and my boss’s micromanagement?

Yowza. Ok. We’ve talked before about being feminine, as well as wearing vintage to the office, but we haven’t really discussed how going Extremely Girly affects how colleagues perceive you.  I do think  A few thoughts:

  • In general, wearing the occasional girly item is OK.  For example, something pink or polka-dotted will not make you seem like less of a professional, particularly if you otherwise act like a grown-up. Similarly, a bow here or there is fine, provided you don’t look like a present waiting to be unwrapped.  Personally I’m not a huge fan of headbands, but I think that sedate ones (solid ones, if not ones that match your hair color) are occasionally OK at work.
  • That said, it’s a bad idea to wear very girly things exclusively — Elle Woods was comical because she wore pink ALL THE TIME.  [Read more...]