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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 175 Comments · by

Thursday’s TPS Report: 7th Avenue Bootcut Pant

The Personal Shopper (TPS) |

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. 7th Avenue Bootcut PantNew York & Company has a number of cute pants right now, and considering they're having a B1G1-50% off sale (plus free shipping on orders over $50), I thought I'd share. My top two picks would be this nice dark blue bootcut pant — it's distinctive and interesting but still super easy to wear with white, black, or navy on top; if you want to have a bit of fun with it wear it with purple, oxblood, or the green that's everywhere this season. I like that the pants are machine washable, available in sizes 0-18, and highly rated. My second pick: this lovely speckled tweed pant, also machine washable. (Fine, this skirt is pretty cute too.)  The pictured blue pants are marked $52.95. 7th Avenue Bootcut Pant Psst: here's a plus-size option that's similar. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.

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Comments

    • Ellen

      Yay! I agree with the OP. Boot cut are the best, but I cannot wear these to work. FOOEY b/c once in a while, particularley in the winter, slack’s would be great! I do like these, Kat, and recommend them to women who have more understanding manageing partner’s then me.

      I am sorry that I was unabel to p’ost at all yesterday b/c it was all I could do the other night to get the manageing partner’s brother out of my apartement when I got home. I just wanted to take a shower b/c it was so hot walkeing home with my fitbit, and here I was all sweatey, open the door and there is this schmoe, lounging on my sofa with a Perrier waiteing for me, and I am all sweatey? FOOEY! I was mad b/c I did NOT want him in my apartement but the manageing partner said he needed to have a base of operation’s to supervise the worker’s who are renovateing his apartement. I knew that, but he has a cell phone and they had a toilet there, so why did he need to use my toilet?

      Anyway, I got him out after I promised I would go with him AGAIN to the US OPEN. I realy do not even know anything about tennis other then Roger Federor and Maria Shaparova but I did NOT even see them–just a bunch of peeople that grunted all the time they hit the ball, and they sweated alot too! FOOEY! The grunteing reminded me of my Alan in the bathroom, and he did NOT do all that much elsewhere to merit all of that grunteing. FOOEY! The manageing partner’s brother kept commenteing on all of the other girl’s tuchuses, saying that they were so cute in their tennis outfit’s, and did I have a tennis outfit I could model for him? FOOEY! I do NOT want him lookeing at my tuchus. Period. It is one thing to have him as a naybor, but quite another to have to bear my tuchus to keep him amused. He can go to the Tennis place if he want’s to see tuchuses, but he is NOT goeing to see mine. DOUBEL FOOEY!

      Another day wasted and unbilled. Now I will have to work late tonite for tomorow’s hearing that Mason messed up, and also Saturday to make up the billeable hour’s I missed, b/c I want to hit 7,000 hours this year, and if I do, the manageing partner said I will get an extra $15,000 bonus! YAY! But now I may not get there b/c of his brother. FOOEY! I also ate alot of food again at the US OPEN. If he is so interested in tuchuses, why is he stuffing me like a goose at the Tennis Matche’s? TRIPEL FOOEY!!!

      • Anon

        Ellen, I did notice you didn’t post yesterday and was quite sad about it. You crack me up.

      • Katie

        I’m a pear, size 10, and my hips and thighs just do not look good in skinny pants. Have any of you found skinny pants that work for women with bigger hips and thighs?

        • Anon

          I actually wear Loft Straight cut jeans. I’m a M on top and 10 on bottom and often run into the same pear issues. I can’t wedge myself into a slim cut, but straight cut (and only at Loft for unknown reasons) gets the same look for me! I have to order my straight cut a size up, too.

        • S in Chicago

          I like the Diana style from Nordstrom’s Kut from the Kloth line. The calf isn’t super tight and it’s long, which seems to look nicer. The Steve (or maybe it’s Stevie?) style, which is more of a straight leg, also is nice.

        • Nancy P

          I bought a pair of Vince skinny-ish ankle pants during the NAR and they work great on my curvy muscular-thigh frame. Had to cut the pockets out though.

        • Killer Kitten Heels

          They’re expensive-ish, but I’ve had good luck with J. Brand skinnies (same size/shape as you here).

          • packing advice

            I am also a pear – the Vince pants are amazing. I should have bought them when they were on sale. I also love the Lafayette 148 Irving for a slim leg.

  3. Muppet

    Thermostat question for the hive. I could use a sanity check to find out whether I’m being too strict on the thermostat at home. I generally set it at 76 throughout the summer, and 70 throughout the winter. I realize that’s a bit high in the summer, but for some reason I hate the thought of spending extra money on A/C. My husband would love to chill the house to 72 in the summer.

    Input on these questions would be lovely —

    Where do you set your thermostat in the summer?
    In the winter?
    Do you change the temperature significantly between night and day?

    Thanks!

    • Anon

      Summer – around 70
      Winter – about the same, maybe a little warmer when we feel like it (no fireplace, sadly)

      I shift the temperature by a few degrees when we aren’t home, but not too much. We have pets, and I want them to be comfortable, and I’ve also learned that it takes too long to get back to our preferred temps in the evening if we vary it too much.

    • Lady Tetra

      In the summer, we do 78 during the day (when no one’s home) and 74 at night. In the winter, I think it’s about 70.

    • anon

      Summer: 75 daytime if we’re at home, 82 if we’re not and at night (separate window unit in bedroom to cool just that room, since central AC doesn’t reach it well).
      Winter: 68 daytime if we’re home, 55 when we’re not home and at night. Used to be 65 during the day but I can no longer handle that.

    • Anon

      76 or 78 in the summer when it’s on, and 66 or 68 in the winter. I don’t generally change it at night, unless it’s to turn off the air conditioning. (If I could, I wouldn’t use air conditioning at all unless it was over 90. I just don’t like it.) I think I care more about the monetary cost and the health implications of not following the seasons, and he cares more about the environmental costs.

    • Sundae Funday

      No AC during the day when we are not here (apartment, not house). 70 when we are home in the summer. The heat is controlled by the landlord, but she pays for it so I’m honestly not sure. She keeps it hot enough that I keep my window cracked.

      • Cimorene

        Same. And we open the windows at night in the summer to get the cool breezes, so the house gets down to about 66 or 67 by the time we wake up. Then we close up during the day and the house rarely gets to 79, so the air rarely goes on.

    • tesyaa

      Summer: around 74 in the daytime when people are home, 79 at night
      Winter: I try to set it to 66 but almost always end up resetting it higher to 68. 62 at night, but the thermostat is in an interior hallway, and I’m sure the bedrooms get colder.

    • (Former) Clueless Summer

      77 in the summer (central AC but I try to keep in barely running) and high 60’s in the winter. This is our first place we control the heat though so I haven’t been messing with changing it at night yet! We also have fans running on high all year round and I often open windows for fresh air.

    • Terry

      Summer: 76 almost all the time when we’re home
      Winter: 70 when we’re at home and active and 60 at night (although I’ve never seen the temp drop that far in the few hours we’re asleep).
      The heat and AC are basically off when we’re not home. Comparing winter and summer electric bills shows it costs ~$25 a month to run the AC in our one bedroom apartment. I’m very happy to pay this amount to make us comfortable at home although I can see the calculation being different for different homes/people.

    • Anon

      In the summer I only use air conditioning if it’s hot out, like 85-90+, and then I might set it to 75 at the lowest. In the winter, usually 70-74.

    • Diana Barry

      I set the thermostat to 71 in the summer and 67 or 68 in the winter. The actual temp downstairs in the summer is more like 76 (thermostat is upstairs, we only have one central AC unit) and the temp upstairs in the winter is probably 64 or 65 (the heat thermostat is downstairs).

      Always the same temp, we have small kids who are always here and my husband works at home.

    • Clementine

      I lived without AC for many, many years and have come to the conclusion that I sleep so much better when it’s very hot with it on. This summer, I’ve only had to use it for a handful of days/nights (Northeast).

      Summer- (only at night) 74, temp set at either 80 or off during the day
      Winter- While at work/at night 55, if I’m home chilling out 64. We have a gas heating stove in the kitchen that I use in the mornings to warm up and a gas fireplace that puts out heat in the living room if I want to get cozy.

    • mascot

      I live in hot and humid place and we have dogs so turning the AC completely off during the day isn’t an option. We keep it at 76 most of the time, and turn it down a few degrees while sleeping. We also use our ceiling fans as much as possible. During the winter, probably 68-70. It doesn’t stay that cold for months on end so our gas bills are pretty manageable.

    • Miss Behaved

      I’m on the top floor of an apartment building in the Northeast.

      I don’t leave the A/C or the heat on during the day.

      I turn the A/C on when I get home and off when I go to bed if it’s hot out and I do the same with the heat, but only if it’s very cold. Otherwise, I just wear heavy sweaters. There are a lot of old people in my building so the heat rises a bit…

    • Anonymous

      76 during the day when we’re not home (we have a dog) and I know it’s going to be hot, 74 when we’re home if it’s feeling hot. But we just moved into a place with ceiling fans so it really depends on the temperature outside and the humidity. On humid days we need it, on breezy nights we can keep the windows open and have the ceiling fans on.

      Around 65-70 in the winter, but we have a gas fireplace. Sometimes we just use the fireplace and don’t put the heat on and use a space heater right before bed at night (we use down comforters)

    • anon

      I have window units so I set the big one that cools my whole downstairs to 72 – if I didn’t, the kitchen would be way too hot (it’s behind the room where the big unit is). My bedroom unit is 72 and the other two are 74.

      I don’t have central heat, so the winter question is not relevant.

    • Gail the Goldfish

      At night in the summer, 73. During the day, BF and I usually have a difference of opinion because his office is hotter than the rest of the apartment-he prefers 74, I think that’s cold and bump it up to 76 or 77. I get cold very easily.
      Haven’t had a winter here yet, but it will probably be around 68-70.

    • Middle Coast

      Though we have AC we rarely use it as we live in a area that is always “cooler by the lake” so we usually have a cool crossbreeze with the windows open. We only use it to draw the humidity out of the house on humid days.

      During the winter we keep it at 55 during the day – no one is home and my dog has a nice fur coat – 70 when we are home and 65 when we are sleeping. Well, that is in theory because the thermostat is next to the fireplace, so when we have a fire the living room is nice and toasty and the rest of the house is freezing cause the thermostat gets fooled.

    • Out of Place Engineer

      Have you heard of the Nest thermostat? It is awesome! It is an internet connected, learning thermostat, so you can control your temps while you are away and it adjusts based on your daily patterns. (For instance, we will set our thermostat to 80 when we leave for a long weekend in the summer. Right before we leave to come home, I log on with the smart phone and set it to 72 to cool the house down.) It also has an “auto-away” feature, which detects when you aren’t home and automatically adjusts the temp to preset levels. We have our “away” cooling set to 80 and heating set to 55. When we are home, we keep the AC in summer between 72-74 & the heat in winter around 68. I really prefer it to be cooler, especially at night, but with the kids still throwing off their blankets in their sleep, we keep it a little warmer.

      • anon

        Yes, the Nest is the best. Pretty easy to install too. Really helps optimize your energy consumption.

      • West Coast Lawyer

        +1000 I love my Nest so much. You can also turn the heat/AC off when you are out of town and use the app to turn it on when your flight lands so the house is comfortable by the time you get home. It was also a lifesaver when I was up nursing at 2am and needed more heat but didn’t want to walk down the hall with the baby to turn it up (although, since it learns your habits, the next winter it took us a while to figure out why the heat kept kicking on at 2am and reprogram it)!

        We don’t have AC (really would only be necessary 2-3 weeks a year where we are), but in the winter I keep the heat around between 68-70 when I am home (up to 72 if my husband is not home too since I’m always cold). Down to 62 at night.

    • PinkKeyboard

      I have a polar bear for a husband so our air is normally at 70 in the summer, we don’t turn it up during the day because we have a 13 year old German Shepherd and she’s very heat sensitive. During the winter we normally do 70 as well and do turn it down to 60 during the day as the dog loves the cold. If my husband isn’t home sometimes I’ll cheat and turn the heat up to 75 and bask.

    • Muppet

      Wow, turns out I’m not on the extreme at all. Thanks everyone. Very useful info. @Out of Place – yes I have heard of the Nest and have a friend who just got one, so I’m going to get some firsthand feedback from him soon…

      My husband would be appalled to see all the high summer thermostat temps. Maybe he’s part-polar bear…

    • RR

      Generally 72 in the summer. We do have a timer that lets it be like 80 during the day when we aren’t there. I hate being hot and would be really upset if my husband were “strict” about the thermostat.

    • newly in house

      I’m in Texas and apparently a bigger wuss about the heat than you guys – summer – 76 during the day, 69 at night for upstairs (bedrooms) and 76 for downstairs; winter – 60 during the day, 69 at night for upstairs and 65 for downstairs.

    • Seattle Freeze

      Summer – off; no AC (it’s Seattle, no one has AC).
      Winter – 68 for early morning/evenings, 62 at night & during the day (the dogs have fur coats & we have wool clothes).

    • HSAL

      As a marital compromise, 72 in the summer and 66 in the winter (down to 64 at night). Left to my own devices, I’d be 74 in the summer and 68-70 in the winter.

    • hoola hoopa

      Summer: 74 all day
      Winter: 69 day / 67 night

      We have pretty mild winter and summer temps.

      Our HVAC authority recommends not fluctuating temperature by more than 3 degrees because it takes so much energy to bring it back to desired temp that you don’t save much. So we only change if we’re out of the house for 24+hours.

    • Anon

      I’m jealous of you guys. My DH has an old injury that the cold hurts and so we keep the heat going even in the summer. Ours is set at 86 currently. I’m a sweaty mess before I even leave for work. :(

    • Outlier

      Wow I knew I was colder than most in the winter but didn’t realize I was so extreme!

      Summer: no AC-whatever it gets to
      Winter: 58 when we’re awake/home, 54 when we’re not, in the 40s in certain heating zones of the house if we’re not using them. Trained by parents whose motto was “of course you’re cold, you’re not wearing a winter sweater!” (If I could break my masochist/parsimonious New England ways, my ideal winter temp would be ~64, still well below most of you it looks like!)

      • anon

        My dad is originally from Boston and often admonished us to put on socks and a sweater if we were cold, but even he does 68 in winter and 72 in summer (although you cannot turn the A/C on until it’s been 80+ for 3 straight days and it goes back off if the temp dips below 80).

    • Parfait

      Thermostat wars! I always tend to be chillier than the men I have cohabitated with. I don’t like the AC to be too chilly, and I tend to want to turn the heat on earlier in the season. I think this is a pretty common dynamic. Compromise is key in this as in all other marital disputes.

    • AIMS

      If you want 76 and he wants 72, clearly the right answer to this issue is to set it for 74.

      • anon

        Is it though? If the point of contention is desire for savings vs. someone’s comfort, then I think comfort should usually win out. I wouldn’t want to make someone else feel miserable. And people do have different tolerances to temp–a number of things can be at play: age, weight, overall health ( Crohn’s disease, thyroid, etc.). If it were over heat, then it’s easier to advise sweaters, etc. But cooling is a lot harder to work around.

        • AIMS

          When the difference is a matter of 2 degrees, I don’t think your analysis really applies. If he wanted 64 to feel comfortable and she wanted 76, meeting at 70 might still make him uncomfortable as there is a noticeable difference between the 64 and 70. But 72 to 74? That’s a small enough compromise for everyone involved. Incidentally, most recommendations to save energy suggest keeping the temp at 74 anyway, so she should be happy too.

          • anon

            I politely disagree. I think it still applies. YOU may not feel a difference between 72 and 74 when trying to sleep, but others may (I do). I think you have to listen when someone says they aren’t comfortable rather than trying to find ways to discount their experience.

    • Jordan

      The only must that I have is 68 for sleeping. The rest I adjust to with appropriate clothes or blankets. I run a little warm but I also hate paying for A/C so it’s an internal battle…

    • CountC

      Y’all keep it super warm in the summer!!

      I set mine at 68 pretty much year round. I will turn it up to 70 or 72 while I am gone, but otherwise, it’s 68 all day long. I cannot sleep if I am at all warm, so I run the a/c cold, run the ceiling fan, and run the oscillating fan blowing right in my face and usually cover myself with a sheet. I have no issue bundling up in a blanket or sweatshirt as I would much rather be a little chilly than warm.

    • AttiredAttorney

      For summer, 79 during the day when we’re out of the house, 77 when at home and overnight. Sometimes, if it’s really hot and we just want it to feel COLD 75.

    • anonsg

      Summer – 78
      Winter – 65-68, or I just turn it off completely. I wear a lot of clothes in the house. And socks. And fuzzy slippers.

      I don’t change it between night and day, though I have that option. 78 doesn’t make the a/c run that often during the summer.

      If I am going to be out for a long period of time, like a really long day, or vacation, I turn it off completely.

  4. anon101

    I have a similar, albeit drawstring, pair of chambray pants that look like this from Ann T. They are more suitable for casual offices I guess but I got compliments on them from colleagues and they are super comfy.

    • Parfait

      I liked the look of these pants enough to click through. Then I remembered that I never wear pants.

      Chambray drawstring pants sound nice and comfy though, and my office is casual enough to get away with them for sure.

  5. Red Beagle

    Looking at the picture, it occurs to me that with a bootcut dress pant you have to be particularly careful that it is hemmed to the right length – if too short, as in this picture, the pants look very odd. I think straight/narrow cuts are far more forgiving in the length range department.

    • Hildegarde

      These pants look only slightly too short to me, though it’s hard to tell without a side view. I think they look so odd because of the photoshopping that apparently happened between the model’s thighs: even a person with very slender legs would not have such a large thigh gap with the model’s stance in the picture, unless she were bowlegged. I think this makes the pants look bizarre somehow.

    • Sparrow

      I am fanatical about having perfect pant length (PPL) with boot cut pants. I hate when they are too short. Angie from You Look Fab has done some posts with examples of PPL.

  6. Facebook question

    Facebook question: if you saw that a friend of your “liked” something on Facebook, and it shocked you because you completely disagree with the thing they “liked” and also would never have guessed them to be supportive of it, do you (a) try and bring it up in a conversation or (b) pretend you didn’t see it?

    I’m having one of those “oh my gosh I don’t know who you are at all!” moments, I guess.

    • Red Beagle

      I would let it go unless you and the Facebook friend are very close IRL, then I would ask them about it in person and see if it’s something fundamentally different between you — worth reconsidering the friendship — or if you can agree to disagree and still be friends. If you are only FB friends rather than close IRL and if it became a trend for the person to keep “liking” things that you don’t agree with, then I might consider un-friending them.

    • Anon

      I would totally ignore it. I don’t think someone liking something on facebook is necessarily representative of their feelings towards whatever they liked (i.e. i like things on facebook all the time i don’t care about)

    • Sundae Funday

      Omg it’s just Facebook. Totally ignore. Consider it could also be a slip of the thumb.

      • Maddie Ross

        Not only could it be a slip (which I have done on my smart phone before – and I could not unlike fast enough in that situation!), but depending on the context, it could be something that they didn’t necessarily agree with, but were supportive of in a different way. For instance, one of my friends ran for office this year. I liked his campaign in general because I think he’s a good guy and would have been a good legislator, but I am not a member of his political party.

      • JJ

        Agreed. Also, you can recognize that even if you disagree with something that you’re friend “liked,” unless it was supporting kicking puppies or hunting unicorn, it shouldn’t change a friendship and you can probably even still be friends with someone who has different views than you do about things.

        • Wildkitten

          You think she’s this upset because her friend “likes” Dave Matthews Band, and she thinks they’re terrible?

          I agree to ignore but I give her the benefit of the doubt that it’s not a trivial issue.

          • Facebook question

            Ha, no, not DMB.

            FWIW, it was more than one site featuring the “why I don’t need feminism” women-holding-up-signs.

            Also FWIW, I already knew that her political leanings are pretty much opposite from my own, but this still really bothered me.

          • Hildegarde

            I think that was JJ’s point, though, that it’s possible to be friends with people who think differently than you even on serious, important topics. I didn’t read anything in the original post or JJ’s response to indicate anyone thinks this is a trivial issue.

          • Lyssa

            To the OP, in that case, if this is a real friend, it might be worth having a discussion about it just so that you can learn what her thought process is on it, just because you both would probably learn something. Having followed that flap a little bit, I would almost guarantee that what she’s thinking of as “feminism” and what you’re thinking are two completely different things.

            (“Feminism” is a word that I don’t even think should be used any more, because it means so many different things to different people that it basically has no meaning at all.)

          • JJ

            Yes, thank you Hildegarde. That was my point- if you were friends outside of FB already, then I would hope you would respect your friend enough to understand and accept that she might have differing opinions on some topics than you.

        • Jupiter

          +1000

          Whether slip of the thumb or totally intentional, Facebook or real life, it shouldn’t make a difference to a deeper friendship (an assumption I’m making based on the context) if it hasn’t made any impact on it until now. It just goes to show that people who disagree on one issue can still find common ground for the foundation of a friendship in other ways.

        • roses

          I don’t know – I’ve “unfriended” two acquaintances in recent months because they both posted blatantly racist comments. Granted, I wasn’t close to those people to begin with, but it might be even more of a shock and concern if it was someone I thought I had known well. I don’t think I could maintain a close friendship with someone who I discovered was a racist.

          • Anon

            I unfriend the most people during election season. Actually, I unfriend the most people when I have two glasses of wine and ask myself, “does seeing your name or the content you post aggravate me or cause any sort of mild angst?” If it’s a yes, you’re gone :)

            VAST majority of these people are people from my past who I friended when FB just came out and I accepted basically any friendship from people I remotely knew because it was so new and novel. If it’s an opinionated close friend/family I just hide them from my feed – I did this to my MOH from my wedding – love her, including for her having strong opinions, but do not love the content of all of the strong opinions (I don’t need to read Jesus quotes all day long …).

    • stc

      There was a period when I let my child play on facebook. He liked all kinds of things. And posted interesting gibberish. Could always be that!

    • Parfait

      A friend of mine is undergoing cancer treatment. TWO people liked her post about how her CT scan wasn’t clear and she was going back into the hospital. I don’t know what people are thinking sometimes.

      • Anon

        Not that I agree with this, but I think some people do it as a sort of aknowledgment of the post/thinking of the person type of thing, then an actually like for the subject of the post, especially of they don’t really know what to say. I have noticed this when people post about the death of a family memeber as well, and I don’t think the intention is to “like” that someone died.

        • January

          Wouldn’t it be nice if FB had a “hug” button in circumstances like these?

          (Or maybe just a “thinking of you” button. I can see either of these options turning creepy…)

  7. Fall Favorites

    I’m wearing a new dress for the first time today and I think it’s my new favorite! That’s always a great feeling :) It’s ponte so it’s comfy, it has seaming that gives it a flattering shape, (on a pear) and it’s knee length on 5’10” me. Yay! I want to get it in all the colors. I’ll link to it in reply.

    Which new fall pieces are your new favorites?

  8. Bonnie

    I really like the tweed version. It’s still too hot for me to think of fall clothing though.

  9. Tights Brand?

    What’s your favorite brand of non-control top tights? Looking to stock up in various colors – will wear with boots, so feet/no feet doesn’t matter. TYIA!

    • Diana Barry

      I like spanx, they are expensive but last forever (eg I don’t put my toes through them).

        • Diana Barry

          I dunno, they just seem like regular tights to me. I always buy a size up from what the chart says, though (otherwise they are too short for me).

          • MJ

            I also like Spanx’s Tight End Tights. I just size up and they are not uncomfortable at all. I’ve had several pairs for a few years, and they are in heavy rotation. They haven’t faded or sagged. They are the Holy Grail for nice, comfy, warm, winter tights, and they come in a million colors and a few cute patterns too!

            They are not at all like normal Spanx, by the way. They don’t suck you in like that at all. Maybe a smidge, but not at all like regular Spanx.

    • NYNY

      I get control top, but size up. Nothing is worse than feeling your tights start to slip down on your morning commute, knowing that they will just get worse as the day goes on. (Okay, many things are worse. But few tights-related things are worse.)

      I like Hue, and last year found nice Hanes tights at the drugstore.

    • Brit

      I like the Merona tights from Target, if you’re looking for something that won’t hurt your heart if you accidentally rip one. I had two pairs that lasted about two years, but in those two years, I wore those things all the time.

  10. kc esq

    Any recommendations for favorite wishing well type gifts for a bridal shower? I got a gift card because the registry is mostly bought up and want to get something to accompany the card.

    • just Karen

      A bottle of wine. A high end scented candle (love them, but would never buy a candle for myself that cost more than $10). A mini emergency kit like this:
      http://www.sephora.com/minimergency-r-kit-for-brides-P386502?skuId=1615681
      A tube of nice hand cream. Origins Peace of Mind “On the Spot Relief” for de-stressing as the wedding draws near. Bubble bath. A small box of luxe chocolates/truffles. I know that I would have really appreciated any of the above!

      • Brit

        This may not be an issue for you or for your friend (or you may have already thought of this), but if you do decide to go with candles or lotion, just be sure the scents you choose aren’t migraine triggers for her.

    • momentarily anonymous

      Note sure if we’re talking about the same kind of wishing well based on the responses, but I usually do some spices (cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice), sprinkles/chocolate syrup, or a shower curtain liner. The ones I’ve participated in are designed to be <$10 items that you can use to stock your home.

    • hoola hoopa

      Kitchen utensils and gadgets: wooden spoons, spatula, hand juicer, etc. Home goods are the typical expected gifts for a wishing well around here.

      • Senior Attorney

        The best shower gift I ever got, which I use to this day even though the wedding was 15 years ago and I’m divorced now, was the OXO whisk broom and dustpan. Use it almost every day and think of the friend who gave it to me every time I do.

  11. Bri

    I am looking to update my wardrobe to higher quality suits (namely, Theory), but have never tried on a Theory suit, and the nearest store carrying it is hours away. I’m willing to splurge if necessary, but prefer to find a good deal. To that end, I’ve been perusing Ebay, but am hesitant to pull the trigger because I don’t know my size (although according to my search here, it runs small). I typically wear a 0 – 2 in Ann Taylor and Banana. My question is – does Theory (or stores carrying it) typically have sales and, if so, how often? Should I bite the bullet and just order from Nordstrom to get a feel for my size? I am new to the higher quality suit arena, so I want to invest in nicer pieces, but without paying more than necessary. Thanks in advance for any advice!

    • BB

      Use Nordstrom free shipping and returns. They have sales every few months (you’ll see them covered extensively on here when they appear). I personally would never buy a full price piece.

    • WIL

      I wait for a Bloomingdale’s Friends and Family sale – 25% off. And my Theory suits run smaller than Ann Taylor and Banana. I wear a 6 in Theory and a 4 in AT and BR.

    • Anon

      I wear a 6 in Ann Taylor and a 10 in Theory. I would recommend buying a few things that are returnable.

    • Bonnie

      Theory does run very small and does go on sale at Theory, Bloomingdales and Nordstroms. I’d recommend price-matching through Nordstroms for free shipping and returns. You should try on before buying through eBay and also to look at the quality. I personally think Theory has greatly declined in quality and is my worth the price.

    • Charlotte York

      I second Bonnie’s comment. Theory does go on sale and runs small. I wear a 6 in 90% of my clothes and my Theory blazers, pants, skirts and dresses are 8s and an occasional 10. Their quality has gone way downhill and honestly for the price point it’s no longer worth it. I think Nordstrom’s in house brand Classiques /Classique Entier is better. Especially if you have a chest and/or hips. Theory is cut for more straight up and down women and my tailor recommended not altering my last few purchases due to the crappy fabric.

    • Anonymous

      Once you know the color and cut you like – call your nearest Theory outlet and have them ship to your house for $10 or so.

  12. purplesneakers

    Does anyone have recommendations for a good sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner?

    I have dandruff from hell, and the only thing that’s seemed to help is the Body Shop’s sulfate-free shampoos, mostly because there were no other options without sulfate in my home country. Now I’m in the US and curious about other options, especially if I can get them for cheaper than Body Shop.

    Thanks in advance!

    • S in Chicago

      I really like the L’Oreal brand’s Ever Pure line : http://www.target.com/p/l-oreal-paris-hair-expertise-everpure-moisture-shampoo-8-50-fluid-ounce/-/A-11127046?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=11127046&CPNG=Unassigned&kpid=11127046&LID=13pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=11127046&kpid=11127046&gclid=Cj0KEQjwm6CgBRC0zOmrydrqmosBEiQA_xoLRkRsbWl1MmWvmu40anZjL1BahqigsH5EZ3i1OrgH_K8aAqz08P8HAQ

      I switched to it from Matrix when I had my hair straightened and had to avoid sulfates (saving a lot of $ was just a bonus) and never went back. It’s got a really nice smell, too–like a mild mint.

      • roses

        +1. It may take a couple of tries to find the type that works well for your hair, but the line has enough varieties that I’m certain you’ll find something that works for you.

    • CKB

      I use Live Clean – its less than $6 a bottle and works well on my curly hair. My middle ds has a sensitive scalp that is prone to dandruff, and it works for him as well. It may only be available in Canada, though.

    • Anon

      You may be able to pick up a Coal Tar shampoo like Neutrogena T-Gel, or even just Head & Shoulders at a drugstore, which will probably help the most if it’s seborrheic dermatitis or something fungal. Otherwise, L’Oreal has a cheaper range of sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners. It’s called Ever Pure or something like that.

      • Anonymous

        Neutrogena T-gel is the best non-prescription treatment on the market in my book, but it does have sulfates. Would using it every other day and alternating with a sulfate free be an option?

        • Anon

          Some people can get dandruff from dry skin which a shampoo might cause, but if she’s had seborrheic dermatitis or a fungus, the sulfates are really not a factor. Some shampoos with them can be drying, but eliminating them when they’re not the cause is not going to stop your scalp from flaking off like coal tar or kill a fungus or bacteria like the zinc whatever that is in Head & Shoulders.

    • Anonymous

      I had dandruff from hell too, and I actually switched to LUSH’s solid shampoos (I use Soak and Float) which are sulfate free and it cleared my dandruff up when no amount of head and shoulders, selsun blue, neutrogena t-gel, etc. would.

    • Seattle Freeze

      Try Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo & conditioner – specifically meant for dry scalps & sulfate-free.

      • kellyandthen

        I use this once a week (usually Sunday night) with EverCreme conditioner, and then the EverCreme shampoo on Wednesdays. I shower between then, obviously, but just wet my hair, massage my scalp, and do a touch of the conditioner on the tips of my hair. Since going “low ‘poo” (poo as in shampoo), I find that my scalp is much much much happier, and it relieved a lot of my dandruff issues. My hair doesn’t get a greasy funk to it in between, either.

        • Seattle Freeze

          Oh, that’s pretty similar to what I do: shampoo & condition once on the weekend with a super-moisturizing formula for curly/wavy hair, then wet/condition one or two days during the week with the Tea Tree Tingle conditioner. My SO loves this stuff, too – he’s got very short hair, but like the way this feels on his scalp.

    • BB

      I use a Jason brand anti-dandruff I got from Whole Foods. I’m 99% sure it’s sulfate free. I don’t have really bad dandruff, but it’s been fine for what I need.

    • SF in House

      Real Simple just did a comparison of dandruff shampoos. I don’t see it on line, but check it out next time you pass a magazine rack.

    • Anonymous

      Neutrogena T-Gel!! The coal tar helps a lot. Not sure if it’s sulfate free or not but I would check it out. Also–long term I’d make sure something isn’t going on with your hormones. I had horrible dandruff when i was on a progesterone only birth control pill (i.e. the minipill)

    • Costco Evangelist

      I’ve decided to change my username since this is the second time this week, I’m recommending the Costco moisture shampoo and conditioner. Their stuff is amazing. If that doesn’t work on your dandruff, my standby is the Neutrogena Tar shampoo.

    • hoola hoopa

      California Baby Shampoo is my favorite sulfate-free shampoo. For dandruff, try adding tea tree oil.

      • Meg Murry

        I also use California Baby for me and the kids. The larger bottle with pump dispenser has lasted for a really long time too, since it only dispenses a little bit at a time with the pump.

    • Celia

      I used to use Neutrogena’s coal shampoo –then I realised, it’s COAL. It’s TAR. Would I eat it? No. The skin is porous –why would I put tar in my body? A diluted vinegar solution (50/50 white vinegar) splashed on my head between shampoo and conditioning works like a charm. Cheap too. Just keep your eyes closed!

  13. Question about Tieks

    Anybody have these and care to comment on them? They are super cute but I’m not sure I can justify $175 on flats (I wear heels at work, and boots from Nov-April on off days). Are they durable? Do you love them? Are they your go-to shoes? Are they ever on sale?

    Thanks!

    • BB

      Wow, I had no idea Tieks were that expensive! I’ve heard they’re not super durable. At that price range, check out Paul Mayer. They’re a bit hard to find (but fine if you’re in a big city), but they’re really durable and comfy. Great support for your foot. I have 4 pairs now, and the first pair I got is still going strong after 3 years and walking around 3 European cities for a week at a time.

    • Wildkitten

      I love mine but it’s only been a month so far – and at this price the real question is how long they last.

    • Anonymous

      I have two pairs that are still going strong after 2 years. I literally walk miles in then every weekend.

  14. Medic Maggie

    I am interested in finding a knee-length not-super-insulated black/gray/brown coat. I have a knee-length down coat, so warmth isn’t a need, but I would love to have something to fill the gap between no coat, and down coat. Anyone have one/seen one out of soft-shell material? I don’t want it to look like “gear” but I would love if it were water- and wind-resistant, but not necessarily a trench coat.

  15. Emm

    Very important question: Can you wear leopard print with navy? Or will I be committing some kind of huge faux paus?

  16. HSAL

    Am I going crazy, or did anyone else see the tattoo post after this? It’s gone now.

  17. Moni

    I have a question about Nordstrom/Nordstrom Rack alterations. I bought a trench coat from Nordstrom Rack a year ago, using my Nordies card, and now realize that I need to have the sleeves shortened. Of course I no longer have the receipt. Would they be able to look up the purchase on my account? Does it matter if I take it to Nordies or NR? I’d like to get the alterations discount for items purchased in store.

    • Philosophia

      They might charge you on the theory that (after that amount of time) the item has been used, but then you’ll receive a credit toward a subsequent purchase if you’re still within the annual alterations allowance.

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