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Fun but Impractical: Shopping for Special Occasions

03/06/2014 By 48 Comments

Impractical Fun ShoppingHow do you stock your closet full of “fun” clothes when your time and energy is usually spent in working clothes or lounging clothes? Is there a way to shop for special occasions — on a budget?  Reader A wonders:

I spend most of my clothing budget on work clothes (I’m a DC lawyer) and casual weekend wear (even going-out clothes are fairly casual here, imo). But when something “special” comes up – a bachelorette party, new years eve, a trip – I feel like I never have anything fun or sparkly or special to wear. I’m wondering how other ladies stock their closets full of things that are frankly, impractical, 99% of the time. Do you buy things on sale when you see them, not knowing when you’ll wear them? Shop specifically by occasion? For example, I have a pair of very sparkly, very high, peep-toe pumps at home that I found on sale, with no occasion (or even outfit) in mind to wear them. The practical part of me says to return them and save the cash, but then I wonder if I’ll be kicking myself the next time I have a fantastic party to attend and nothing to wear.

This is an excellent question, and while we’ve talked about shopping habits (including moratoriums and “crop rotations”) and shopping for non-essential items, we haven’t talked about this specifically with impractical, fun clothes. (For example: the necklace pictured above is definitely fun — but how often will you wear it?  (And: can you wear it twice?)  Erickson Beamon Girlie Queen Necklace, retails for $1728, but available for rent for $250 at Rent the Runway.)  [Read more...]

Filed Under: After-Work Activities, Lifestyle, Weekend Wear

How to Look Professional With a Wool Allergy

02/27/2014 By 59 Comments

professional nonwool sweatersWhich are the best sweaters if you suffer from a wool allergy?  Are there any other tricks for looking professional while avoiding wool? Reader P wonders:

Like a lot of people I seem to know, I am allergic to wool. It makes me itch. Even cashmere. Even soft merino wool. Even if the sweater is a mixture with only 5% wool. My question is–where do I find good quality sweaters made of silk, linen, cotton or other non-wool fabrics that are light enough to wear under a blazer or suit jacket in the winter?

We’ve talked about how to look professional in cold weather, but not the allergy question, which is something I’ve gotten a few times over the years — let’s discuss.  I’m curious to hear what the readers would say here. A few suggestions — [Read more...]

Filed Under: Comfort, Layering Pieces, Lifestyle, Wear to Work

Tales from the Wallet: A Money Roadmap

02/26/2014 By 106 Comments

money roadmapWe’ve talked about a ton of different money issues here, but it occurred to me that it might be helpful to do a simple “roadmap” post — a listing of what to do, in what order, with links to the appropriate posts.  So here’s my list of what to do with your money — if I were advising a friend, this is what I’d say.  Readers, what would your roadmap look like? Would it be any different? (Pictured: Halogen Cassie Patent Leather Phone Wallet, originally $48 but currently $32.16.)

1. Figure out what your money situation is.  Do you know how much you have in each account, where it is, and how much interest it’s earning?  Do you know what your debts are, and how much interest you’re paying?  I like Mint.com to keep track of multiple accounts (and I particularly like that it will email multiple email addresses with weekly updates — great if you’re married or otherwise in a joint banking relationship). [Read more...]

Filed Under: Just Starting Out, Money, Tales from the Wallet

I Can’t Wear a Suit — But Want to Show Authority

02/20/2014 By 51 Comments

I Can't Wear a Suit But Want to Show Authority -- How? | CorporetteWhat do you wear when you want to show authority without wearing a suit?  We’ve talked about what to wear when a suit doesn’t feel right, but Reader R is looking for authoritative clothes that aren’t intimidating and travel well…

I recently started a new job as in-house counsel. As part of my responsibilities, I will be traveling internationally to conduct audits and give training sessions. The job is great, but I’m not sure what to wear! My de facto would be to wear a suit, but my boss suggested that I should avoid wearing suits, since the appearance of a “suit” tends to make people nervous. Some relevant factors: (1) I’m often the only woman in the room; and (2) I’m also often the youngest person in the room.

Basically, I need pieces that say, “Position of authority, but non-scary” and travel well. Help!

Congrats on the new job, R!  One of my older friends was a lawyer for a TV network in the 80s, and I remember her telling me that she would leave her suit jacket in her office when she had to go talk to the comedy writers or producers — it was less intimidating, less “this is coming from The Man.” So you’re not alone in wanting to thinking about what your clothes say to people.  For my $.02: Put some thought into exactly what response you want from people.  For example: Do you want them to respect that your word is the final word, and they should do what you tell them? (Play up the authority.)  Do you want them to come to you with problems that might not be communicated to the home office otherwise?  (Play up the approachability, but keep some authority.) Do you seek to really understand their problems and make friends in the office? (Turn the authority way down.)  (As for the “looking younger” part of your question, you may want to look at our older post on the difference between acting young and looking young at the office.)

For my $.02, I would go with what you feel most comfortable in, and modify that (taking into account, obviously, the office culture for where you’re going). If you’re comfortable in: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Being a Boss, Business Casual, Fashion Gaffes, Office Culture, Professionalism, Travel, Wear to Work

Coffee Break: Slimline Over-the-door drying rack

02/18/2014 By 155 Comments

Quirky SlimlineI always enjoy clever little gadgets, and I’ve now made a few purchases from Quirky (where a blend of community members, inventors and product influencers bring new products to market; the Crunchbase profile is an interesting read). My latest obsession: this Slimline drying rack. Yes, a drying rack. If you’re like me and airdry your lingerie, tights, workout wear (really, anything with Spandex is going to last a lot longer if you keep it out of the dryer), you may feel like your house or apartment is constantly a battle ground for half-dry clothes. So I was excited to see this drying rack, which goes over a regular door, and can fold flush with the door (or be removed very easily).  I ordered two, ostensibly to give one to my mother the next time I see her — and honestly we like them so much here at Casa Griffin that I may keep both.  (Sorry, Mom!) They aren’t huge things — they’re ideal for a space to dry a sweater or two; I think I’ve draped 3 pairs of workout pants over it at once as well — but the alternatives, such as huge drying racks, pop-up sweater dryers, or ye old shower rod. They’re $34.95 each at Quirky.  Quirky Slimline Over-the-door drying rack

(L-#)

(Update: I was chatting with my husband about this post (fine, full disclosure: I couldn’t remember the word for “shower rod”) and he said, wait, you’re writing about our new drying racks? Which I just used? And are awesome and I love them?”  High praise, ladies; high praise indeed.)

Filed Under: Coffee Break, Laundry, Under $150

Beauty Wednesday: Spa Time!

02/12/2014 By 110 Comments

The Best Spa Treatments | CorporetteWhich are your favorite spa treatments? We’ve talked about relaxation habits, laughter as medicine, the best magazines to read while you unwind, the best brain candy books — but we haven’t talked about spa treatments, and I’m curious what other people like.  So readers, speak up!

For my $.02, it’s all about the 60-minute Swedish massage.  (Longer if I can swing it!)  Sometimes I like a hot stone massage; sometimes I like a deep tissue massage… but for the most part, I’m just a simple massage girl.  Here in NYC my husband and I love Graceful Spa in Chelsea (they just had a Groupon — I think it’s still on), which is so not a bells and whistles kind of place (think more along the lines of “here’s a tupperware bin to put your clothes in, go lie down behind that curtain”) — but they have always delivered a solid massage and for a reasonable price.  (Surprisingly, some of the fancier places we’ve been to in the city have delivered far worse massages.) [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Lifestyle, Stress