How do you do black tie on a shoestring budget?  Reader J wonders…

I am a law student who will be working at a firm over the summer. I am expected to attend a black tie event, but I don’t know what to wear nor how to find the dress without breaking the bank. I am also hoping to find a dress that is multi-purpose, so that it won’t gather dust in the closet until the next black tie affair comes along.

Congratulations — black tie events can be a lot of fun, and I don’t think we’ve covered them in quite a while (see my advice for what not to wear to a black-tie, as well as how to dress for a black-tie affair at the last minute).  Here are my tips:

• If you’re going to splurge on anything, splurge on shoes and accessories. You can wear these pieces to a multitude of different events, so your cost per wear is much less than it is for one-time-only items like dresses.  Comfortable shoes are particularly important — although most business black-tie functions do not have dancing (at least in my experience), you can be on your feet for hours enjoying cocktails.  You can borrow a clutch or wrap if you’re really on a budget, but I would urge you to keep an eye out for these pieces, and when you find one you love at a decent price, consider snapping it up.  If you have a wrap, a clutch, and fancyish shoes, you can make almost any black dress look appropriate for a black-tie event.  (On the converse, if you have a full-length black gown or other great black cocktail dress and then wear it with regular accessories, nothing looks worse to me.) Local places like DSW and TJ Maxx will have great deals on shoes; you can also look to 6pm and other online deal places.  If you already have a favorite brand of comfortable heels, see if they make evening shoes as well.  I would stick with black, gold, or silver shoes for the most versatility, but that’s just me. (Pictured above: Caparros – Webster (Black/Clear Satin) – Footwear, on sale at 6pm for $49.)
• Do your hair yourself.  If you can do your hair in a fancy-ish way by yourself (put it in curlers, or have a friend help you put it up in a fancy up-do), this is a big place to save on money.  A Cup of Jo has some great tutorials; I’m sure YouTube has a million more.
• The dress.  The dress is probably the thing you’re freaking out about, right?  I remember for my first black-tie event.  The joke around the office was that it was my law firm’s Prom, and for weeks the first-year associates wondered what the heck we were supposed to wear. (Apparently “ask a more senior associate” didn’t occur to us.)  Were we really supposed to show up in a long dress?  Wasn’t that a bit crazy for a work event?  So I bought a black knee-length velvet cocktail dress, wore it with plain black heels, and, I think a fancyish clutch . . . and I never felt so underdressed in my life!  I honestly think if my shoes had been fancier I would have felt better about it, but for every subsequent Prom I got a floor-length dress.  I will say that if it’s a black-tie event after work (such as when it’s for a charity and a client has bought a table there, for example) that I saw more women wearing shorter, cocktail-length dresses (if not pants) for the event… whereas if it was a Saturday night type affair, longer gowns were far more common.  Here are few tips for you to save money on the dress:

• Befriend a slightly more senior coworker who has your body type — and then ask her if you can borrow something.
• Rent a dress, such as through Rent the Runway.  Your cost-per-wear for black-tie dresses can be quite high, so renting them often does make more sense.
• Check out consignment stores.  You may want to do some legwork before you start heading out — ask around in your town, and perhaps call ahead to the the store to see if you can get an idea of their inventory.
• If you have old bridesmaids dresses, take a second look at them.  If they’re otherwise acceptable to wear to the event, you might be able to dye them black.
• Stalk the sales!  I remember getting a full-length skirt and a matching top from an Ann Taylor outlet store for $9.99 for each piece — but that was truly a “right time, right place” kind of sale.  (And it was January, if I remember correctly, which is around the time you see a lot of good sales on this stuff.)

Readers, what are your tips for doing black-tie on the cheap?  What have you worn to different black-tie, work-related events?

As I mentioned this morning: Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale is on. I’ve picked out a few favorites in a range of prices below… a few other things I noticed (just sort by “sale” if it doesn’t automatically come up):

• lots of jeans on sale: Citizens of Humanity, J Brand, Paige, Hudson . . .
• lots of good lingerie lines on sale: On Gossamer, Hanky Panky, Cosabella, Wacoal . . .
• lots of good shoes on sale: Stuart Weitzman, Delman, Donald J Pliner, Via Spiga . . .

(L-all)

I thought a fun conversation today might be about trends — specifically, about which trends you’re completely, totally, “why won’t it go away?” over.  Obviously, there are a ton of trends that filter through to business clothes — neon accessories (which do look kind of great with gray dresses), peplums, boldly patterned “party pants,” colorblocking, cut-out details, and more — but for purposes of today’s discussion, let’s broaden it to any trend.  For my $.02, I’m sick of:

• Peep-toe booties — they just do not make sense to me and my New York/Midwestern sensibilities!  They’re way too hot for the summer, and if it’s snowing or raining the last thing I want to be wearing is peep toes.
• Hi-low dresses.  This trend’s only been around for half a second but I’m already over it.
• Cropped shirts.  See above.  Can’t we just leave the cropped shirts in the early ’90s, where they belong?
• Short suits.  I think they’re cute for socialites and other ladies who lunch, but they just confuse everyone else who thinks they’re appropriate for the office.
• Daytime sequins.  No.  Just… no.

Ladies, what trends are you sick of?  Are there any used-to-be-a-trend-now-it’s-just-a-modern-look (like skinny jeans or extremely strappy sandals) that you’ve accepted the longer they’ve been around?

How do you deal with back-handed “compliments” in the office? Reader B wonders…

I am a 30 year old lawyer working in Washington, DC. My late 20’s/early 30’s professional female friends and I have experienced a strange and disconcerting dynamic amongst women in the workplace: getting negative comments from other women for being smartly/well- dressed. These outfits, I believe, would objectively be considered professional, age-appropriate, and well-fitting: tailored suits in feminine cuts, pencil skirts to the knee, or pumps with a modest heel. They would certainly be similar to those depicted on the Corporette website. The comments often take the form of backhanded compliments, such as, “That shirt makes you look soooooo thin.” They may also be cautionary, like “Wow, you had better be careful not to hurt yourself in those heels”. This feedback comes from women at a similar professional level and more senior employees. It most often comes from women whom are a generation older and seem to be, at times, more about our size and age than what we are wearing. It also seems to be more of an issue in government and non-profit environments, as we haven’t noticed it to be a problem in the private sector. How should we respond to this type of feedback? At what point should we give in to workplace pressure to dress in a more bland way versus continuing to wear clothing that makes us feel sophisticated and professional?

This issue comes up a lot, and as your friendly blogger I see both sides of it: the younger women wondering why these older women are giving them these back-handed compliments, and the older women asking me how in the world they tell someone they’re dressed wildly inappropriate for the office in a casual way. I’m curious to hear what readers think about this.

A few thoughts:

• I think you always have to interpret what they’re saying as constructive advice for how to dress for YOUR office. Remember, ladies, just because something is featured on Corporette or in another “wear it to work” source doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for YOUR office, because every office has its own peculiarities. These older women are — hopefully — trying to convey to you that something about your clothes is inappropriate for the office.  The flip side: just because they’re saying these things doesn’t mean that they’re right, either — they could be jealous, they could feel threatened by you, etc, etc. But every time I’ve been on the receiving end of these kinds of compliments (and trust me, I have) I’ve studied what I was wearing, studied my office, and tried to make an educated, objective decision whether to stop wearing whatever was so offensive. These would be my interpretations of some possible “compliments”:
  • “Don’t hurt yourself in those heels” = “You look like you’re having a problem walking in those shoes, which is inappropriate for the office.”
  • “Oooh, cute dress — do you have a date tonight?” = “You’re dressed for your date, not your job, which is inappropriate.”
  • “You look sooo thin in that shirt” = “Wow, that is tight! Should I really be able to count your ribs?”
  • “Gee, I never would have thought to wear a corset top with a suit!” = “Why are you wearing a corset top with your suit?”  (Pictured: Victoria’s Secret.)
• In the instant it’s said, this is your response: a cheerful “Thanks!,” possibly followed by a compliment about her outfit or, should you choose, a note about your own attire. “I was inspired by Boss X’s great outfit on Friday,” or “I feel like I could run a mile in these heels!” or something positive. I wouldn’t talk about it more than that unless you’re in a formal setting (HR office).
• Here are some guesses as for why this issue comes up in government and non-profit offices but not the private sector: a) there are probably more older women in general there since there is often a promise of a better work/life juggle in those environments, b) they tend to be smaller offices with their own “personalities,” and c) they probably don’t have a separate HR department or other formal ways of telling you that you’re dressed inappropriately.  But, like I said, those are just my guesses…

Readers, how do you deal with back-handed compliments? Also, I’m really curious — would you rather someone say directly “that dress seems a bit inappropriate for the office,” rather than paying you some false “compliment”? For those of you who have tried to tell someone that she was dressed inappropriately, how did you do it (and what was her response)?

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

I’ve gotten a few requests for suggestions for “lightweight blazers” for hot summer months, so I thought I’d round up a few for today’s Hunt. For my $.02: if you’re really going to be wearing a blazer outside or in another hot environment, linen is the way to go — it just breathes so well. Silk is another good choice, but the tradeoff for all that, um, breathing (for both linen and silk) is the mad wrinkling that occurs. Cotton holds up much better (and I always think a cotton pique fabric looks pretty but professional, while a cotton seersucker can be classic) — if you can find a linen and cotton blend, or silk and cotton blend, that may be the holy grail. Right now I’m seeing a lot of blazers with eyelet details — I honestly don’t think they’re appropriate for most conservative offices, but they can be another option if you’re attending an outdoor event.  Readers, what is your favorite type of blazer to wear on hot days?  Do you have any tricks to keep linen or silk from wrinkling?

(I already featured this $88 Gibson blazer a few weeks ago, or I’d have included it in today’s roundup…looks like it’s available in different colors now, though.)

Pim + Larkin is a new brand to me, but I love the bright, saturated colors available for this linen/cotton/spandex blazer. It’s available in marine (pictured above), tomato, lemon, and a light pink “nudetral” (pictured at right) in sizes XS-L, and there are matching skirts, dresses, and (sigh) Bermuda shorts. The blazer is $79 at Piperlime. Pim + Larkin Colette Blazer

Seersucker is pretty classic, and a lot of places have varieties on it — but I know readers have had success with Land’s End Canvas in the past, so I thought I’d post this one. Although it does look cute with the dotted blouse, I’d probably keep my look more neutral for the office — maybe a white tee and a colorful skirt. It’s $90, and available in sizes 0-14. Women’s Seersucker Blazer

I haven’t tried J.Jill clothes in a while, but this linen and cotton stretch jacket looks great. Do note that it’s available in misses, petites, women’s, and tall sizes, and in arugula (pictured), a chalky blue, a dark red, mushroom brown, and white. It’s $99-$109 at J.Jill. Linen & Cotton Stretch Jacket

I think this silk and cotton tailored jacket looks gorgeous — but it is not returnable, so order carefully! The light gray color, the single button — classic. Was $348, now marked to $98 at Maxstudio.com (sizes 0-12). Silk & Cotton Tailored Jacket

Splendid has a number of cute blazers right now, which is interesting since I always think of them as primarily a t-shirt company (super soft ones, too). Still: this linen blazer (available in paprika, pictured, as well as white) is $148 at Splendid (and it seems to have sold out most other places it was available, so I’m guessing this one’s a winner). It’s $148 at Splendid, available in sizes XS-XL. Linen Blazer

I can’t wear boxier jackets like this, but if you can, this black and white print looks really versatile, and I really like the frayed trim. It’s a cotton/linen blend, and available for $175 at Net-a-Porter. MICHAEL Michael Kors Cotton-blend tweed jacket

I feel like I’ve posted almost all of the Rag & Bone blazers available this season, and I gotta say I’m in love with this one, too! Linen-blend, lined, and I love the fitted, curved look. It’s $495 at Nordstrom (in tangerine, sizes 2-10), and in black at Rag & Bone.

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(L-all)

Do you have to wear pantyhose in the summer? The pantyhose-at-the-office question comes up so often, but I don’t think we’ve addressed it in a while — and Reader N wonders…

I had a question about wearing pantyhose. I’m about to start my first internship in finance (a mid-sized hedge fund) this summer and I’m really confused as to what to wear. It’ll be in London, so I don’t know if that changes business formal guidelines. Anyway, I’m 20 years old and a southern girl, and I’ve never worn pantyhose in my life. Is it really necessary to wear pantyhose with a skirt suit, even in the middle of July? I’m tempted to just wear a pant suit the first day and see what everyone else is wearing, but then I’ve heard people say that pantsuits aren’t conservative enough and I should wear a skirtsuit the first day just in case.

Obviously, I have no idea what I’m doing. Oh dear.

Congratulations on your summer internship — it sounds excellent. There is a really big range in what’s acceptable at conservative offices, and so — for my $.02 — it’s always best to get started on the right foot, which is to say the safest foot. You don’t want people’s first impression of you to be of your clothes — you want it to be of your work, your accomplishments. So for the first day — probably even the first week — I would suggest wearing:

•  Skirt suits (at least for the first day)
•  Nude-for-you pantyhose (pictured above: Wolford ‘Fatal Lace 15′ Seamless Stockings, available at Nordstrom for $50)
• Closed toe shoes
•  Sleeves, if you’re not wearing a blazer

You may realize pretty quickly that your female bosses all wear skirts without hose, and after that point you have my go ahead to ball up your pantyhose and pack ‘em away until interview season. Similarly, after a few days of observation, you may feel confident in bringing out your peep-toes and your sleeveless dresses. But the point is that you have to know your office.

Now, if you do get stuck in a firm where you have to wear pantyhose all summer… there are a few things you can do to make the summer go more comfortably.

- If there’s a problem with your hose (they fall down, they run, they cling to your skirt), odds are that you just haven’t found a great pair of hose for you yet. Readers have sung the praises of everything from Jockey to Wolford, so you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money; you just have to find a great pair that works for you. Personally I’ve always been a fan of control tops (even when I didn’t need the control) because the hose stayed up better, but that’s me — Spanx even has a higher-waisted version to prevent rollover.

- If you constantly feel sweaty while wearing your hose, first switch to all cotton underwear. (A reader asked me once if you needed to wear underwear with hose, and my answer there is yes — I’m not an expert but going commando in hose sounds like a recipe for a yeast infection.) If that still doesn’t work, you may want to look into thigh-high hose — a lot of women prefer those, particularly in the summertime.

- You may want to review my older advice on how to care for your pantyhose (as well as how to put them on).

Readers, which are your favorite pantyhose brands? For those of you who wear it even on the hottest days, what is your advice for Reader N?

What is the best bag to carry if you walk to work? Reader A wonders…

I’ve had a bag dilemma for years and though this venue might provide a solution. I thought perhaps someone out there might have found the holy grail of bags to address the following issues, and I’m sure others are looking for the same. I would certainly love a post on this. I’m a lawyer and I walk almost two miles to work everyday. Here’s what I’m looking for:
- Big enough to carry folders, papers, occasional laptop and occasional change of clothes
-Color-neutral enough to be worn with anything for everyday use
-Professional looking
- Comfortable to carry long distances, such as a cross-body style with comfortable strap. Maybe a backpack style?

Does such a bag exist? I sure hope so.

I’ve always loved walking to work, and I’ve regularly schlepped about that distance. While there are so many benefits to walking to work (fresh air! clear head! some exercise!), I do feel like I’ve done some serious damage to my body from walking so much. For example, whenever I get massages, the masseuse always comments on the huge knot on my right upper back (where I usually carry my bag), and I honestly blame the first few years of walking to work (back in the days when I wore Steve Madden 3″ stacked heels regularly — for the 2 mile commute!) for the feet problems I have now. (I suppose there’s another post idea there, but my secret belief is that feet problems are like dreams: no one else wants to hear about them.) So: I gotta say that Reader A may be asking for too much. A laptop? A change of clothes? This all seems like a lot for a regular commute, and probably the smart advice to her is to find another means of transportation if she has to carry so much. That said, on the rare occasion where I wanted to carry a computer or a change of clothes, I suppose I could have fit a super-lightweight, small laptop (like my netbook) into my bag, and I also could have possibly fit a pair of jeans (for a night out) — but not both, and certainly not with a change of shoes.

For the past few years my bag of choice has been a large hobo. I’ve found that a single strap is a must (it stays on your shoulder better than two straps), and a good bag that has pockets keeps your phone, ID/subway pass, and lipgloss close at hand. My all-time favorite is a Cole Haan hobo (I have 3 or 4 of these — I had to put a moratorium on myself! They’re all similar to the “greige” one pictured (also available in plain black), but I also like my Kooba hobo (similar to this one, pictured, Kooba – Alexander (Berry)), and my Rebecca Minkoff hobo (Rebecca Minkoff – Nikki (Red) (not pictured)). They generally fit all the stuff I keep in my bag, with space for an extra pair of shoes if I need to carry them, or perhaps the laptop/change of clothes that Reader A is dreaming of. Keep in mind, I’m not saying this is the smartest choice — I’m just saying, this is the kind of bag that I found worked best for my commutes.

If we’re talking smart choices, though, you probably do want a crossbody or a backpack, to better distribute the weight; you might also want to look for a lighter fabric bag (such as a nylon) instead of the leathers and canvases that I always prefer. I might point you to a LeSportsac Everyday bag (pictured), which has been my gym bag for years, and is now my favorite diaper bag. I vastly prefer my leather hobos for style, but the Everyday bag can’t be beat for being lightweight and well organized. I might also point you to the Marc Jacob nylon knapsack — it’s pictured at the very top of this post in pink iris, but it’s also available in black. LeSportsac also makes a nylon backpack, as does Tumi. My personal $.02 is that fashionably speaking, the backpack is kind of at the bottom of the pile — but sometimes you have to be kind to your body and prioritize comfort above fashion.

Readers, do you walk to work?  What bags do you carry?  Have you developed any “best practices” for commuting?

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

I always feel like purple pumps are a Corporette classic — they’re not what you’d normally think of for conservative business attire, but they’re usually dark enough to be conservative, and they’re incredibly versatile.  They add a great punch of color to a number of neutrals (black, navy, gray, beige, white), as well as a bit of a fun accent with outfits based around greens, reds, or yellows (as a contrasting color) or blues (as a complimenting one). I’d avoid wearing them with pink, but maybe that’s just me. Readers, do you like purple pumps as much as I do?  What other colors of shoes have you found to be surprising basics?

Not included below, but: if you’re really confident in your purple shoes, try these very bright purple pumps (The Limited and Jessica Simpson); if you’re more of a wedge-wearer try these pairs (Fitzwell and Gucci).

This pump is available in both a purple leather (pictured) and a brighter magenta leather — both were $79, but are now marked around $38-$40 (limited sizes only, alas).  Try code FORMAL12 if you’re ordering more than $100 worth of merchandise to get an extra 20% off.  I particularly like the slight dip in the vamp. DV by Dolce Vita Women’s Notty Pump

If you wear purple pumps a lot in spring and fall (like I do), you don’t have to cross suede off your list — just make that pair of shoes live at your office, and waterproof them in case you find yourself running errands during a rainy lunch hour. I like the “walkability” in this pair from Rockport — They were $130, but are now marked to $72 at 6pm. (They’re down to $59 at Rockport, but they’re final sale only.) Rockport – Sasha Peep Toe Pump (Raisin Suede) – Footwear N.B.: Peep toes are not appropriate for every office — know your office! Update: Both 6pm and Rockporthave a closed-toe version as well, huzzah!

I love these classic Carma OT Air pumps from Cole Haan — the ever so slight platform makes the higher heel walkable, while still being professional. These are on sale also: they were $275, now marked to $145.99. Cole Haan – Carma OT Air Pump (Royal Berry Suede) – Footwear

I’m not usually a bow person, but I could make an exception for these cute (and wow, very high: 3.75″) pumps by Elizabeth and James. Love the super-skinny stiletto heel. They’re $325 at Endless (also available in a turquoise, taupe, and black). Elizabeth and James Women’s Sebly Pump

Hello, lovah.  These are my favorite shoes of the roundup — love the cutouts, the more reasonable height (2.75″), even the exact shade of purple: dark enough to be conservative but noticeably purple.  Love.  They’re $328 at Endless (also available in black and a beigey “linen.”) Kate Spade New York Women’s Thelma Pump

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Reader D has a unique question: what to wear in the field?  More specifically, to visit a factory (and ride in her client’s plane!)

I am going on a site visit to a factory near Seattle.  The visit includes riding in a small plane and then visiting a large factory so I will need to be casual, wear flat comfortable shoes, yet still look professional.  Any advice?  Although I am a senior associate I will be the sole representative for my client and want to make sure I come off as professional as possible.

Congratulations on the opportunity — it sounds fun (riding in a private plane is on my Bucket List) and like a good career opportunity. As far as fashion goes, I think my answer depends on one question: can you wear denim around your client? If so, I think a pair of dark (preferably black) jeggings, tucked into flat boots, topped with a button-front and blazer, and accessorized with your normal work jewelry, would probably be my best guess for an outfit. (Update:  There’s a lot of disagreement with me in the comments, which is fine, but just to be clear: when I say “jeggings” — I mean skinny  jeans that have a bit of extra Spandex in them to make them more comfortable, but are still primarily denim.  E.g., these, these, or these. Not these.)  Here’s my thinking:

- Factory = boots. While ballet flats and other flat shoes have many things to recommend them, on the off (off) (off) chance something falls on your foot, you should be as protected as possible. Also, I think if there’s any uncertain footing that requires delicate stepping (e.g., over pipes), you’ll want to be in shoes that you know will not fall off. Oh, another reason: if it’s at all muddy or dusty on the runway (or in the factory), you’ll want the dust to stick to your boots rather than your pants.

- Factory and small plane = pants. See above re: delicate stepping.  I think it’s also possible in the factory you could be walking on grating, or on metal stairways, with people walking or working below, such that you wouldn’t want to wear a skirt.  I could also see there being some awkward stairways to get up to the plane (although it’s entirely possible I’ve just watched Arrested Development too much).

- Factory and small plane = tight-fighting, non-voluminous clothing. You wouldn’t want to get a flowing cardigan or skirt caught on a piece of machinery, or (ack) in some part of the propeller.

- Professional = blazer, dark pants. I would suggest that you carry over the jewelry you normally wear with suits to this more casual outfit — if it’s pearls and diamonds, do it; if it’s a statement necklace that you always wear, do it. Part of this is for a continuous look: the client has seen you wearing the jewelry before, and even though you’re in a different type of outfit now you’re still, at the core, the professional lawyer he knows. Another part of this is to help YOU feel confident and be in your zone for your most professional self. For me, for example, that means putting on my good watch whenever I have a business meeting, no matter what I’m wearing… even if I don’t wear the watch when I’m lazing around the house or hanging out with friends.

So all of these thoughts, above, send me to jeggings, flat boots (get ‘em shined before you go!), a nice top, a blazer, and your work jewelry. There are some non-denim leggings that have enough weight to the fabric that they can be worn as pants (despite the popular Buzzfeed “am I wearing pants” flowchart) — I got a nice ponte pair from Ann Taylor earlier this year. If you really would rather wear proper trousers, I might still advise wearing flat, knee-high boots beneath them — that way if conditions are really horrible you can tuck your pants into your boots.

A few other considerations: plane and runway = wind, so I might suggest pulling your hair back from the get-go. Keep in mind, though, that the factory may require you to wear a hardhat, hairnet, and/or goggles… so I wouldn’t do anything too fancy that will interfere with those requirements.  In other words: low “on purpose” ponytail, not a French twist.

Readers, have you had to visit factories (or, speak up ladies, how many of you have ridden in private planes)? What would you wear?

Sure, we all know what basics professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

There are so many fun colors out this season, but sometimes you just want a simple black bag — either so you don’t clash with what you’re wearing, so you tone down what you’re wearing, or just because, well, who doesn’t want a good black bag? These are all in what I’ll call the “mid-expensive” category (in that they’re not light decisions, but you don’t need to skip a rent payment to buy the bag), which is my favorite category to buy from, both for work and otherwise. As always, I’m sure great deals can be had if you stalk an item online, or haunt sales IRL. Readers, what color bag do you think of as your “basic”?  Purchased any great bags lately?

This Kate Spade bag (pictured above as well) is made from soft pebbled cowhide, and looks the perfect size to hold your handbag basics at 13.5″Wx4″Dx11″H. The handle drop is a comfortable 10.5″, and I like the zipper detail on the front flat, as well as the fun striped lining. It was $345, but is now marked to $229.90 at Zappos (also available in pink, orange, and beige). Kate Spade New York – Cobble Hill Penny (Black) – Bags and Luggage

I have the purple version of this bag, and I love it — the leather is soft and durable, and the shape is classic.  I’m surprised Zappos keeps showing it with just the longer strap because I find the shorter strap to be really comfortable. This simple black leather version was $398, but is now on sale for $239.99; Zappos has a number of other colors and textures as well. Cole Haan – Jenna Shoulder Bag (Black Leather) – Bags and Luggage

I’ve never owned one of Marc by Marc Jacobs’ Classic Q bags, although I’ve lusted over them for years — this may be the next purchase I make. Love the pebbled leather from the line, and I particularly like the look of this Ukita handbag, and the size (12″Wx4.5″Dx10.25″H) is perfect for lots of stuff. It says the handle drop is only 5″ but it looks plenty long in the picture. It’s $428 at Zappos (and they have it in leather in white, pink, and brown, and, polka-dot PVC). Marc by Marc Jacobs – Classic Q Lil Ukita (Black) – Bags and Luggage

We’ve talked about the MAB before, and I’ll say it again: I think this bag is a classic. This black quilted version is $525, but Zappos has another 11 colors to choose from. It’s $525 at Zappos. Rebecca Minkoff – Mab Mini (Black 2) – Bags and Luggage

I like Furla bags so much that I’m going to include this bag, even though size-wise it is both shorter and deeper than I normally like (11″Wx6.25″Dx10″H). I do like the mix of “deer grain-embossed calf leather” and regular leather, as well as the unique dome shape. It’s $548 at Zappos.  Furla Handbags – Amalfi Dome Bag – Small (Onyx) – Bags and Luggage (N.B.: This bag isn’t among the sales, but Furla is on Rue La La today, fwiw.)

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