November 2011

Thursday’s TPS Report: Resort Boyfriend Blazer

by Kat November 17, 2011 The Personal Shopper (TPS)

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

I think this may be the first time that something from Guess is making an appearance on Corporette — yes, it’s a mall store from the 80s, but this looks like a really cute blazer. The crisp white does look perfect for a corporate meeting at a resort (or just for summertime generally) — I like the gently sloped, almost shawl-like collar, and the slight touch of gray on the lining of the sleeve. It’s $98 at Guess. Resort Boyfriend Blazer

Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line.
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Suit of the Week: J.Crew

by Kat November 16, 2011 Suits

For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

Happy hump day! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this Ludlow suit from J.Crew is new — it is apparently a woman’s version of the “legendary Ludlow jacket” that men have bought for years. I like the slightly longer look to the blazer, and the otherwise classic, simple details such as the four-season Italian wool from Loro Piana, Bemberg lining, and various pockets. The jacket (Women’s Ludlow jacket in Italian wool) is $375, and the pants (Women’s Ludlow trouser in Italian wool) are $195 at J.Crew.

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Tool of the Trade: My Trick for Holiday Shopping from Afar

by Kat November 16, 2011 Lifestyle

For those of you who live a flight away from your parents, I thought I’d share my trick for the holidays, which I use to avoid traveling with gifts. It’s pretty simple, so here goes:

I send packages to Babette.

See, my mother’s name is Linda Vogele — so we’ve worked out a system through the years where if she receives a package for Babette Vogele (and this is kind of a year-round system at this point), she knows not to open the package. She puts it aside in one of her many closets (ah, the joys of living in Ohio!) and when I come home I open all of the packages, wrap them, and slip them under the tree. If it’s an occasion for which I’m not traveling home (say, her birthday or Mother’s Day or whatnot), I can direct my father to the appropriate box and he’ll open it and package it nicely and present it whenever her other gifts are being opened. (My mom tends to open all of the mail that comes to the house so this is primarily a problem with her stuff.) It’s a simple system, but I like it because it saves me from stressing about how to get gifts home, and it also means that if I see a good deal online for something my mother would like I can act on it, without having to remember to tell her that it’s coming, what it’s for, or who gets it.

Why Babette? Well… why not? We don’t know anyone with the name personally, so there’s no confusion.

Readers, what are your tips and tricks for holiday shopping?

(Pictured: Ribbons & Bows, originally uploaded to Flickr by david_s_carter.)

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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Cashmere Drape Neck Sweater

by Kat November 16, 2011 The Personal Shopper (TPS)

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

Wow: this looks like the perfect cowl neck sweater for the office. See how it’s loose but still fitted? How the neckline is more of a V than a U, and not a very low one at that? I suspect this is an item that Ann Taylor is confident in — it’s available online only but in 5 different colors XXS-XXL, as well as petite sizes. It’s $198 at Ann Taylor. Cashmere Drape Neck Sweater

Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line.
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Coffee Break – Semi Fitted Pants

by Kat November 15, 2011 Coffee Break

Target is having a pretty great deal today — buy one item Men’s, Women’s and Kids’ apparel, accessories and shoes and get 50% off an additional item from one of these categories — plus, there’s always free shipping when you spend $50. This strikes me as a great time to stock up on exercise duds from C9 by Champion, ASSETS by Sara Blakely undergarments, and all of those Merona and Mossimo dresses I feature so frequently for Friday’s TPS reports — even Dana Kellin for Target. Happy shopping, ladies! (Oh: and the pants are $19.99.) C9 by Champion® Women’s Semi Fitted Pants w/Extended Sizes – Black

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How to Discourage Chatty Coworkers

by Kat November 15, 2011 Business Etiquette

Reader J wonders how to discourage a chatty coworker…

I just started as a law clerk at a state appellate court in September 2011 and work with two other lovely clerks, both of whom have been with the Judge for at least a year. One of my co-clerks is very nice, but I sense that she is sort of a lonely person outside of work, and as a result, takes many opportunities to chat with me for long periods of time. She will stop in my doorway or plop down in a chair in my office and talk for 30-45 minutes, sometimes even more than once a day. This doesn’t affect her getting her work done, because she frequently takes work home with her and comes in on the weekends. However, I like to work hard during the day and leave my work at the office. I haven’t been at my job very long and still feel like I need to prove my worth to my Judge–I would like to make this a 2-3 year clerkship. I’m worried he will hear and see us chatting and think that I’m not a hard worker. Without being rude, is there anything I can do to make sure her chat sessions don’t go on so long?

This is a great question. I used to work with a girl who would “drop by” my office and stand in the doorway, chatting about everything from her boyfriend troubles to her work questions to her shopping adventures. I remember sitting there feeling completely trapped and seeing the day (and work) stretch out before me the more she yammered on. I’ve had a lot of chatty coworkers through the years, but this situation was the worst because I genuinely liked her and wanted to hear everything she was saying — just not right then. Some of my top tricks for getting your work time and your gossip time better synchronized:

“Book” time with her later to show she’s important to you. “I have so much work to do, but I really want to hear what you’re saying! Let’s [insert fun activity here -- get a drink, get a manicure, go for a walk] at 5:00 today, ok?” This will sometimes work, but what may happen is she’ll say, “Oh sure, that sounds like fun! Like I was saying…” and continue on.
Get her out of your space. Print a document to the communal printer, grab your wallet and make her run an errand with you — whatever works for you. Just don’t bring her back to your office. Stand in the hallway, or outside the ladies’ room, or in the elevator banks, until she accepts the fact that you can’t listen to her talk any more.
Be stern. This is another option, and one that I have used a few times when there was a guy at the office who seemed to have a crush on me. (I might also use it if I really disliked the coworker.) Here’s what you do: don’t smile. Don’t raise your voice — instead, lower it so you’re speaking more quietly. Continue what you’re doing — if you’re writing, keep your pen in your hand, or your face half-turned to your computer. Say clearly, slowly, and quietly, “I’m really busy right now and don’t have time to talk to you. Sorry about that.” And then turn back to what you’re doing. It may take a few visits of complete non-friendliness for the coworker to get the picture, but they will eventually.

Readers, what are your thoughts? How do you discourage chatty coworkers?

(Pictured: Speech Bubble, originally uploaded to Flickr by illustir.)

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