Some Favorites from the Coffee Break
Accessories · Coffee Break · Fashion · Previously... · Shoes
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As with my round-up of my favorite items from our TPS reports, I thought I'd round up my favorite accessory recommendations from 2010. Readers, which are your favorites? Any from the commenting threads?
(Each picture is from one month, and links back to the original post.)
Sales of note for 4/10:
- Nordstrom – End of Season Sale – Spring styles up to 50% off – lots of great deals from Natori, Boss, Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss, Spanx, True & Co., Hanky Panky, Commando, Tory Burch, Theory, Zella, CeCe, Eliza J, Halogen, Vince Camuto, and more.
- Ann Taylor – 30% off tops and sweaters, and (4/10 only) 25% off dresses, skirts and shoes
- Boden – 15% off new styles with code
- Brooklinen – 15% off sitewide, plus up to 50% off bundles
- Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Event, 25% off sitewide. Lots of cute florals and stripes in the sale.
- Evereve – 1000+ items on sale, including lots from Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- Express – $40 off $120, $100 off $250
- J.Crew – Midseason sale: Extra 40% off sale styles, 200+ new styles just added!
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything
- Lands' End – 50% off full price styles and 60% off all clearance and sale – lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
- Loft – All jeans $41, 40% off entire purchase
- Macy's – 25% off already reduced prices + 15% off beauty & fragrance
- M.M.LaFleur – Spring Sale Event – Buy More, save more! 10% off $250+, 15% off $500+, 20% off $750+, 25% off $1000+ (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off if you find any exclusions.)
- Sephora – Spring sale! 20% off for Rouge members starting today, and 30% off the Sephora Collection for everyone — if you're looking for a really muted everyday eyeshadow, I like both 106 and 301 here!
- Talbots – 40% off regular price tops + 30% off everything else
- Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- becoming more connected with people
- what doing your best really means
- feeling like your job is in danger
- brunch food for a large group
- changing your name at marriage — or not
- estate planning and leaving money to charity
- seeing your PCP for gynecological / well-woman care
- New Year's resolutions
- inheriting six figures
- what socks to wear with loafers
- how to prevent another panic attack
- what to do about a parent who drinks too much
- how to buy a house in a VHCOL area













Oh, Cole Haan bags, why are you so beautiful and yet I still haven’t won the lottery?
I’m a huge fan of Cole Haan bags too. I’ve had my eye on this one:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod108290073&parentId=cat3220731&masterId=cat000217&index=19&cmCat=cat000000cat000141cat000149cat000199cat000217cat3220731
I usually prefer a zip-top, but I love that dark purple.
Link didn’t work! What’s the name of the bag?
Cole Haan is by far my favorite handbag designer. I love to walk into a Cole Haan store and just breathe in the smell of the bags. (I’m a weirdo.)
Oops! It’s the Gramercy Taylor.
Maybe here?
http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=357255&productGroup=357246&pwpHash=shop,pwp,c-100/f-35013/hf-10001%2B70018/ipp-40/pn-1
Oh, that dark purple color is lovely.
I hope I’m not getting your hopes up, but I think I saw this bag at TJ Maxx last week in the $180 range (in a midnight blue color, perhaps?). I’ve been very impressed by the bag selection at the TJ Maxx in my neighborhood lately (lots of Cole Haan, Kate Spade, Rebecca Minkoff to name a few)
If smelling handbags (or really, breathing in the smell in any leather store) is wrong, I don’t want to be right! I love the smell of leather.
Ditto =)
Cole Haan is a the big winner — the only repeat “offender” on the above list, coming in with 3 (or 2.5) plugs.
Btw — was in Nordstrom Rack in Union Sq., NY recently, and they had a ton of CH shoes for $100 and under. Lots of sizes left, lots of work appropriate options, too. Oh, if only my money wasn’t being spent on so many other people right now….
My favorites are:
1) Red Brahmin bag. https://corporette.com/2010/07/22/coffee-break-brahmin-manning-louise-satchel/
Even my DAD complimented me on it (he’s a typical man’s man, so a total surprise)
2) Colored beads necklace. https://corporette.com/2010/05/11/coffee-break-glass-beads-necklace/
It’s a beautiful piece, and also inspires lots of compliments.
Happy Holidays!
I like these reflection posts. And I still LOVE that Cole Haan numbers bag.
Me too! I clicked the link to the product in the hope that it had gone on sale. Luckily, it hadn’t, so I’m not really tempted to actually buy it.
Actually, it looks like it is out of stock. The only thing that kept me from biting the bullet before was the fact that it says “Assouline” on the side of it.
LOVE the numbers bag!
Love that bag, too. Also, the necklaces by Irene Jung. Glad Kat posted this, I’d forgotten all about those.
I also love that bag. My heart sank when I realized (again) that it is $450. Maybe I will find it on eBay someday.
Forgot how much I liked the numbers bag!
You do a really nice job on this blog, Kat. Thank you.
I agree! Kat is the greatest!
I second or third this!
Ditto!!
Still in love with those Johnston & Murphy shoes. Plus a bunch of other ones I found on the site after learning about the company on here. Thanks for all your hard work Kat!
I have a question!
My firm scheduled me an appointment for a professional headshot. They tried to give me a one day notice and I was like “Woah, this girl is going to need time to shop for the right jacket!” and trim my ends… etc… etc… Well, I didn’t tell them all that but… ;)
Does anyone have any advice for a good headshot? I am thinking a simple blazer with some kind of top under that cuts across (rather than a collared shirt… for some reason, women’s collared shirts dont fit neatly under jackets for me). It will be used for proposals and other marketing reasons I believe. Looking at the company’s website, I can tell some people have the same picture from probably 5 or 10 years ago so I need to make this good.
Any advice on jewelry? Colors? Makeup? I have dark hair, dark eyes, and medium-light skin.
There was a ton of discussion about this here before, so you may want to search for that.
I would say your makeup needs to be amped up a bit so you don’t look washed out; wear something classic/non-trendy — keep it all simple; consider whether the pic will be b&w or color in terms of what colors will look good; navy photographs better than black.
Good luck!
I personally would have my hair and makeup professionally done the day of the photo if it’s going to be disseminated widely and for years. As for what to wear, it depends on if it’s color or black and white. Assuming color, I’d do a color analysis (there was a great post on how to do this on this blog a while ago) and figure out if you’re best in cools or warms, brights or muted colors, light or dark colors. Then I’d wear a blazer that contrasts nicely with the shirt under it in colors that work best for you, and simple, understated jewelry.
First of all I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts
prior to writing. I have had a tough time clearing my thoughts in
getting my ideas out there. I truly do enjoy writing but
it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying
to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips?
Cheers!