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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Gamine Scallop-Trim Linen-Blend Blazer

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A woman wearing a peach blazer, white top, gold necklace, and brown shorts

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

J.Crew has a great blazer selection this season, but this Easter-egg-hued linen number really caught my eye. The scallop trim is fun without being too cutesy, and while the color might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I think it would look lovely paired with a light gray or navy trouser. (And if you really can’t stomach pastels, it also comes in black.) 

The blazer is $278 at J.Crew and comes in sizes XXXS-3X. 

Sales of note for 4/24:

153 Comments

  1. Cross-post – feel like there were some lodging recommendations for Big Sky, Montana at some point but search is failing. We would go for skiing, but some other family members who don’t ski might also be interested in joining so I’m open to looking at a variety of places. They would probably get their own lodging not on the slopes but we would want to be close for meet ups. I’ll take any and all recommendations! Also thoughts on whether it would be too much of a zoo during presidents week?

    1. Big Sky is always a zoo. Bozeman is a zoo. I have to go to the Gallatin Valley regularly for work and it feels like a shakedown every time. It’s a gross vibe. If I was skiing, I’d go to Showdown and the non-skiiers could hit the hot springs at White Sulfur Springs or visit Great Falls (better, cheaper food, decent local music scene, not at all pretentious). Also, weather has been very unpredictable this winter. In my little corner of Montana, we had a blizzard on Saturday and itll be 70F tomorrow, so snow may be iffy if you wait too long to go.

    2. I live in Bozeman. We have had the most mild winter in my memory. If you’re really wanting skiing, I would go somewhere else. If you stick with Big Sky, the mountain and town center aren’t very close. Bozeman is a good hour drive without any delays. I would recommend everyone stay at Big Sky Resort. If your budget is $$$$$$$, there is also a new One & Only.

    3. Montage Big Sky and One and Only are both nice, but very expensive. It will be very busy during President Day week.

    4. I was just in Big Sky in early March, and we went last year as well too. Agree with the concerns about snow this year, but CO has had the same issue. Frankly, I’m surprised by some of the negativity. We had a fantastic time both visits. We went to Yellowstone mid week to avoid skiing multiple consecutive days, and that was fun. Snow coach this year and last year we did a wildlife tour. We rented through Two Pines, which gave us nice condos both time, with shuttle access to the mountain. I have skied in multiple places in CO and UT and loved Big Sky. If you are looking for high end food options, that may be limited. We cooked a few nights in the condo, got pizza and had one dinner at the Montage. It was fine. The location is beautiful. The lifts are really nice. We enjoyed ourselves!

        1. I would assume so! It’s basically a bus with big tires lol. We took the trip to Old Faithful, but depending on time of year, there is also one that goes to the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone”. For the Old Faithful one, they stopped along the way at various hot springs features, but the walking was minimal and always on boardwalks etc. We saw some wildlife (bison, coyote) so that was enjoyable too.

      2. The negativity is that you have to be rich to participate. This is not a middle class vacation. If you try to do Big Sky on a budget, you will be disappointed, stressed out and still have spent more than you planned. Regular people are priced out. Understand that going in and plan or manage expectations accordingly.

    5. East coaster here. Went to Big Sky Presidents’ Day week in 2025. Loved the skiing. I’m an intermediate skier. My double black skier family members also loved the skiing. Only part of the experience that was a pain was getting the rental car at the airport because the line was atrocious. But the trails were not too crowded in comparison to the crappy east coast runs on a holiday.

    6. Thanks for the feedback so far. I realized I didn’t add much detail in my original post (was typing on my phone in a rush) but the luxury options would be out of our price range. We’re more “comfortable and clean but dated is ok” condo people. I’m an expert skier and I’ve heard that as long as you’re intermediate-plus, you can enjoy a big mountain like Big Sky because you can go anywhere to escape crowds, which would be really nice for me. We also want to do a morning or two of skiing with our two-year-old and I understand kids under 5 ski free, which is obviously appealing! The larger group we may meet wants to do the dog sledding and possibly Yellowstone but we’re still working out the details. There will be three kids so plenty of unstructured snow time would be great too. We know that a bad snow year is always a risk – we all live in the west and have seen the worst, unfortunately.

        2. I’m one of the replies above. Certainly you cannot get a $200/night room in Big Sky. We spent about $800/night for a very nice condo that would have easily slept 6 or more-two master bedrooms plus a bunk room. We had Ikon annual passes so 5 days of skiing were included. We were very close to the mountain so probably spent more than if we were in Mountain Village. Not cheap but affordable especially if two families are sharing the space. I have spent as much at Disney. Not every place is the Montage!

      2. The Lodge at Big Sky and Huntley Lodge will be less expensive than O&O and Montage recommended above, but they likely won’t be cheap.

        I am not familiar with any budget friendly ski condos in the area, though they may exist. You might want to look in the Big Sky Town Center area rather than the Mountain Village.

        1. Budget is getting a hotel in Bozeman and going to Bridger Bowl, but it’s still expensive.

    7. I went to Big Sky in 2023. We stayed in Cowboy Heaven cabins which were great in terms of location, ski in/ski out. Friends there at the same time rented a private house which was very $$$$ and not as convenient. Love the skiing. My son does the crazy stuff, jumping into chutes, etc. but there was plenty for the rest of us to ski. Compared to other places I’ve skied, I found Big Sky to be on the pricy side. We stopped at a supermarket in Bozeman and bought most of our food for the week. We got take out pizza one night with the other family. Even the Bozeman supermarket was expensive, and I’m comparing that to NYC suburb prices. But I loved the area and I’d like to return.

      Have you considered Park City? That’s my go-to ski place. Close to the airport, lots of accommodations, can use Epic or Ikon, 2 main mountains in town, 5 more ski mountains less than an hour away. Free shuttles to the intown mountains.

      1. This is the way. Alta and Snowbird are just outside SLC, and the lodges there are less pricey and condos available for rent in valley 20 minutes away.

  2. I have never been able to keep an exercise routine for more than 2-3 months. My schedule varies a ton (unexpected travel, late nights, early mornings). I have become really good at prioritizing sleep – in a way I don’t want to change, I’m no longer exhausted on a regular basis. I am OK at eating healthy. I am really bad, though, at exercise. I absolutely hate all forms of at-home workout, even though I think that’s what would be best for me. I’ve tried nearly 10 subscriptions, posters, leaving weights on my shoes, sleeping in workout clothes – I want to be strong “long term” and “when I’m old” but it doesn’t feel urgent enough to do anything now, I guess. Any tips? Anyone master this?

    1. If at-home workouts haven’t been a win, have you considered joining a boutique gym that offers classes throughout the day? There are pros and cons to that, and they are definitely more expensive, but any movement is better than no movement. Some will charge you if you don’t show up, so yay for built-in accountability! Maybe the group environment would feel more motivating than DIY.

    2. What kind of exercise do you like? Can you figure out a way to do that a couple times a week? And if not, just settle for some activity being better than none and take walks and do some short bouts of strength work when you have a few minutes here and there and don’t worry so much about doing a “workout” routine.

    3. Learn something new? I’ve taken skating lessons, swimming lessons and learned to row as an adult. I’m currently learning to play ice hockey.

      1. +1 to playing a sport. The reason you haven’t stuck with this is because at home workouts are not fun. Find something fun and you’ll be surprised at how much easier it is to get out the door. My favorite is mountain biking.

      2. I play soccer 1-2x a week and tennis 2x a week. I love it. It doesn’t feel like a workout because it’s just fun.

        It also makes me want to workout the rest of the week to be fitter, stronger, and faster for my sports.

      3. This! Some other options are adult ballet, martial arts, and boxing. The key is to prioritize fun; the workout is just a nice bonus that comes along with it.

      4. I’m not much of a fun person, but I realized that I ignore the exercise part if there’s an animal involved (lunging, dog walking, even chores).

          1. Yes, anything equestrian suddenly becomes more interesting to me than whatever the non-equestrian version is.

    4. I’m also bad at working out but the one thing I’m good at is the stairs. End of the day I’ll do 20 flights of stairs (up&down) is it a proper work out? no, but I certainly notice in business contexts I’m the only one who doesn’t get winded if we ever take the stairs. I’ll do this at my office, hotels, conference facilities, whatever.

    5. I’m the same way. I won’t do at-home work outs, fail out at boutique type stuff after a few months (and after accruing a number of no-show fees), and will be strong at the gym for up to 6 months at a time and then not go at all for 12 months.

      I don’t know. I don’t stress about it. Sometimes I feel like it and sometimes I don’t. I don’t push myself on this one.

    6. How old are you, and how far away is “when I’m old”? If it’s decades, then it might help to find a motivation that’s more closely tied to your current life.

      Also, I’m MUCH closer to “when I’m old” than I imagine that you are, and I’ve learned this about myself: Good habits (like sleep, eating, exercise) are just one long experience in starting over. The ability to start in again is the habit you have to master.

      The only habits I’ve managed to maintain consistently throughout my life are a few things like brushing my teeth and making coffee every morning. Everything else requires a fairly constant choice to start in again. Something lasts for 2-3 months. I let it drop, and then have to start in again.

      1. You are so right. Consistency looks different at 35 or 45 or 55 than it did in early adulthood. Just this week, I’ve had to re-start my workouts after three weeks of sleeping in. (I needed sleep and rest in the worst way!) I certainly feel that break, but it’s OK. I’m happy to be back at it again.

        Also, I have learned that moving more during the day with short, frequent walks does quite a bit for me during those weeks when I’m in a lull.

      2. I love this perspective. I also view it as constantly learning what works for me in this stage of life and what’s important to me right now. Sometimes I’m in my jock era, sometimes I’m in a recovery period, sometimes I need to get out of a funk. All are good to recognize.

    7. If you hate everything pick the biggest bang for your buck. Strength training twice a week and getting steps in everyday. Strength training should be dead simple: squats, hinges, chest press, back, lunges. Two sets of each if three is too much. You can do the same workout twice per week to start. It’s like 30 minutes and mostly resting. Focus on building habit and good technique. Then focus on progression. If you’re interested in finding a trainer just make sure you find one who is willing to teach you only the boring basics.

      Also figure out what each week should look on a week to week basis. Or a day to day basis. Don’t force yourself to work out early in the morning if it ruins your sleep. I’m a “lunchtime” exerciser. But it’s not lunchtime it’s just whatever point in my crazy day works for that day. I do my best to plan my workouts the week before and sometimes my schedule changes and I don’t beat myself up. Weights and walking are good for this because you shouldn’t necessarily need a full shower afterwards. Oh and don’t be a slave to your steps. Just focus on getting them in.

      Solidarity. I hate group fitness. I hate cheerful bossy apps. If you walk every day and lift with progressive overload you’re doing wonders for your physical health.

      1. +1 for your last paragraph.

        I hate group workouts, I hate being cheered or “motivated” and I hate anything with a ball.

        I lean into my project mentality and do different strength exercises for a while and then accept that I will loose momentum and then do something else for the next while.

        I don’t use a car and work in office, though, so get a lot of daily movement.

    8. Walk as much as you can. Walk to run errands, walk around at work, etc. It’s not a cure-all, but it does a lot and you can make it part of your day.

    9. First, 2-3 months is great! A lot of effective PT interventions don’t take that long. Often when we build muscle, we keep it (look at the amazing posture of a lot of former gymnasts and dancers decades later).

      How would you feel about a wearable to track your steps and exertion? I’m bad at exercise, but I am motivated to improve my steps and weekly “intensity” scores when I see on my Garmin that they’re low. I still need to do weight bearing exercise and stretches and things, but the watch keeps me from just letting myself get deconditioned because I felt like I had other things to do for a week.

      What do you hate most about exercise? Does it bring back the exhaustion, or do you get a boost from it?

    10. If you hate at-home workouts, stop trying to make yourself consistently do at-home workouts. Join a gym, sign up for classes, get a personal trainer, find something you enjoy even if it’s “just” meeting a friend for a walk once a week. One step better is one step better. You do not need to go from zero to working out every day. That is unsustainable for most people.

      Regardless of what you do, do literally anything other than continuing to beat yourself up for not doing something you hate.

      1. I see a physical therapist every other week for a ‘wellness session’ which is actually a personal training session to build strength and teach me a routine I actually do at home. I’ve been doing this for 6 months and still sticking with it, and seeing results. I tried all the things- going to a gym, classes, home routine, subscriptions, etc and none of it stuck. Having accountability with someone I like working with was what made a difference for me. I had tried personal trainers through a gym but found that they often gave me a ‘standard’ protocol which was not helpful, nor did they have the level of knowledge that the PT has. The wellness session concept is not offered by every PT practice- I had to search for this one. Good luck!

    11. It’s okay to switch routines every 2-3 months. Some people just like fresh things. Do a couple months of OTF, cancel it, do a couple months of spin, cancel it, swim laps and hike in the summer, etc.

      1. Seasonality helps me too! I ski in the winter, swim in the summer and run or hike in the fall and spring. I usually do a fitness class or two either in person or online related to that season’s activity like yoga for runners. Changing up my sports means I don’t get bored with them.

    12. Tons of good ideas here. Another one to consider: have a personal trainer come to you and do your strength training at your house. A bit spendy, but not compared to no-show fees at boutique fitness places. Pros: you can work out the scheduling between you two, and move around as necessary to accomodate your travel and your sleep. You don’t need to pack a bag, either of workout clothes or of work clothes. Maybe start with once a week and see if how it goes and if a good experience, add a second one. This is a problem I’d throw some money at.

      1. You can also get virtual personal trainers for less than in-person and just use your phone or tablet to connect. Trainers can give great coaching tips for improving form and ramping up without muscles soreness.

    13. I have an ideal workout and a “just gotta fit something in” workout in mind each day. I prefer to workout before work, but sometimes I need the rest or need to join an early call and that doesn’t happen. So, then I try to move my planned AM workout to the PM, but sometimes that doesn’t happen and I have to do the “I just had to do something” workout. When I travel for work, it’s most often a “I just have to do something” workout.

      There are times where it’s hard, or I just don’t want to workout, or I’m tired. You just gotta do it. I never want to take out the trash, but I just have to do it. Same with working out. I have seen advice to “never skip twice in a row” – if you skip today you have to do something tomorrow.

      I also aim for 8,000 steps a day, no matter what. I try to take a walk at lunch, but there are nights that I am pacing in my apartment to hit 8,000.

      Despite what I said above about just having to do it when you don’t want to, there’s no reason to make yourself do a workout you hate. I play two sports, I ski and hike, I surf and paddle board. That’s all fun activities I love that don’t feel like workouts to me (I don’t even count half of them as workouts!). I also love that I can just pop up and do these activities no issues because I’m fit.

      I also supplement with a few runs or spin and lifts a week. Sometimes I don’t feel like running but still need to get a little cardio in so I’ll do a YouTube Zumba or step aerobics workout. If I’m really not feeling a workout, I go for a walk and call a friend to chat. I don’t like yoga, but I love how I feel after it so I do 10 min videos a few times a month. I also find that with playing 2 sports, I am competitive so I want to improve. It helps me to run and lift because I know those workouts will help my sports.

      So, when I don’t feel like working out I only make myself do it for 10 or 15 minutes. I’ll do a body weight workout – squats, pushups, and sit ups. You could start with 3×10 of each and slowly build up to 3×25 or something. This is usually what I do when I travel for work and am working really long hours.

      Really, the most important thing is just consistently moving. What you do doesn’t have to be consistent! It doesn’t have to be something that ‘feels’ like a workout! Just get your blood flowing and body moving and ideally do a mix of cardio and strength to age well.

    14. I’m like this, and what helped was actually re-framing it. I’m not the type of person who consistently does *anything*, and just accepting that about myself has saved me a lot of stress, and paradoxically I’ve gotten more consistent once the pressure is gone. So I basically ride the wave of interest and don’t worry when I don’t workout for a few days or even a few weeks.

    15. Sometimes you just gotta suck it up and do it because it’s good for you, not because you enjoy it.

      1. I think the problem comes in if there are too many things like this in our life. People seem to burn out or become miserable if there’s not enough balance.

      2. This is true of some things, but I really don’t think it’s true of exercise. There are so many forms of exercise that most people should be able to find something that they enjoy most of the time. There might be days that I’m not completely in the mood, but it’s rare that I don’t enjoy exercising once I get going.

        1. It’s worth trying to find something fun anyway!

          If every form of exercise is miserable, dreaded, and the kind of thing that ruins the rest of the day even after weeks of getting in shape, I’d want a check up.

    16. I’ve been happy with doing OTF once or twice a week — I feel like I’m stronger and have better cardio. I’m sure it would be better if I went more but I don’t. I don’t really have a consistent routine, I like being able to schedule a class whatever evening or morning it works for that week, and I often schedule it in the app as I’m putting on sneakers to leave the house. I always go one weekend morning and try to fit it in during the week whenever I can. It helped me to think of it as, when am I going to fit it in this particular week rather than expecting a consistent routine every week. I also stopped putting an expectation on it as something I will enjoy — it’s like going to the dentist, I know I have to do it for my health and I will get it over with and move on. I’m strict about going once a weekend (unless I’m sick), but during the week I just try my best.

      1. Ugh, you might’ve convinced me to get back to OTF. I don’t really enjoy it, but it does help with consistency. I’m too intimidated by the people who have been there 500 to 1000 classes and live and breathe the thing.

        1. As someone who has been to nearly 1000 OTF classes, I will tell you that we honestly don’t notice other people. I’m totally focused on myself.

        2. I posted above about OTF. Maybe try a different studio — mine has tons of people who are new to working out or older (55+), and both men and women, so while there are a small number of people who are super into it and go daily, they are not the majority. Also they always seem to start on the treads and I start on rower so I’m rarely next to them.

      1. Eh, self-discipline and bootstrapping are overrated. Just pick something fun. Life is too short.

        1. I like fun, but sometimes I think the pressure to enjoy (aka pretend you’re enjoying) everything just becomes… More pressure! It’s not exercise for me (which is fun!) but sometimes I just want to do the thing I need to do, without feeling like I need to optimize it (it’s actually less stressful to just do the vacuuming than to think “I gotta vacuum, which means I need to pick out a fun podcast before I start, otherwise I am Wasting My Life”. Maybe a balance in all things things

        2. While I totally agree that it is best to find a form of working out that is enjoyable and fun, discipline still applies to regular habits. Even if it’s fun once you’re doing it for a few minutes, there will be days that it will take self-discipline to get yourself to do it. Denying that is a habit killer.

          1. Yup. I really enjoy the exercise I do. That doesn’t mean there aren’t days I dont want to! But I make myself do it.

    18. I am really not great at a specific routine either. However what got me into a fairly active habit is about 5 years ago or so I made a chart on my birthday with 365 squares on it (just in excel then printed), and each square represented 20 minutes of dedicated movement – working out in some way – yoga, hiking, active walk, lifting weights all count. I highlight the squares as I complete them, with the goal of all of them being done in a year. So a 1 hour yoga class counted for three squares initially, etc. This got me over my schedule change hurdle, since I expanded my goal horizon from one week or month to a whole year. If I’m sick or gone for a conference and can’t get the workouts in, that’s okay because I have space to make up for it. I’m much more inclined to active trips and vacations. I haven’t missed a year yet, and now each box is 30 minutes (so you can set them for whatever). For home workouts sometimes I’ll do series of 10 min workouts on peloton and just add them all up. The point is that I’m moving and I feel good about my overall life activity vs. a very specific routine. Would I be stronger if I stuck with a program all the time? yes. but this works way better for my life.

    19. If you’re at all interested in weightlifting I recommend checking out Evlo. It’s a subscription but it’s honestly so different from anything else I’ve tried (and I have tried many things). It’s lifting for muscle growth but feels like pilates and focuses on breath and the nervous system. I don’t work for them but I’m a happy customer who finally has a consistent at home workout routine.

      1. Interesting. I need to start working on weight bearing exercise for bone reasons without raising stress levels or flaring anything, so I will check this out.

        1. I will plug DownDog if your weight-bearing exercises include yoga or HIIT. I absolutely love it.

    20. I am also someone who cannot do at home exercise consistently – the convenience of it just means I always find an excuse to do something else, I can do it later. What’s working for me was joining a pricey gym that has plenty of nice equipment, the locker rooms, etc. are always clean, and the membership includes a bunch of classes that I can sign up for 1 at a time when I want to. It makes it a pleasant experience to go, and some months I want to do classes, others I want to fully do my own thing, etc. I need that flexibility. I aim to go every other day; I also have a dog so do longer walks on non-gym days. Don’t force a strict routine but set up the circumstances so it’s easy to opt in to.

      I also have to gamify it a bit by only watching certain shows or podcasts while I’m working out.

  3. I am 38, birthday next week. Zero skincare routine. I wear sunscreen about 3 days/week, I work in an interior office 6a-6p so almost never see the sun (but I know I can improve, there’s UV everywhere, etc.!). I am starting to see some lines – I have a very expressive face, so I’m OK with this generally. I plan to stop at Sephora next week and have a $100-150 budget. In addition to sunscreen, what 2-3 products do you like/recommend for general skincare or anti-aging?

    1. A prescription retinoid or strong OTC retinol, some kind of vitamin c serum, and a moisturizer that works for your skin type.

    2. You don’t need much. Cleanser, sunscreen, moisturizer, maybe a Vit C serum. I’m 45 and have never been great about using anti-aging products. (My skin is sensitive and prone to rosacea, so it’s easy to make my skin very angry when I start experimenting.) I’ve been told my numerous people around my age that I have nice skin, so a lot is just luck and genetics.

    4. I saw a reel on this today, with a derm, who was asked if she could only have three products, what would they be? First, a sunscreen – find one you will wear every single day, no exceptions. Second, a retinol – I get mine via prescription, but there are OTC retinoid creams you can start with. Third (and not in budget right now, but maybe you save toward it ) – a redlight mask. Angie Hot and Flashy’s youtube channel has done deep dives into these and there are several quite good ones but they are in the $400 to $500 range brand new. Maybe check FB marketplace for a second hand one, or ask for it if you have a significant gift occasion coming soon?

      2. For moisturizer, I would get minis of a few different products to try. That way you can find what works best for you. Some moisturizers will irritate my skin after a few days; others will cause breakouts.

    6. I’d save your budget for a dermatologist visit — you should be doing mole patrol every year anyway, but derm can tell you what you need. base routine is vitamin c + sunscreen in morning, retinol/trentinoin at night (best stuff is prescription so I wouldn’t bother with OTC). get some CeraVe PM to mix with your retinol at night while you’re ramping up.

      1. Mole patrol! So funny but yes…. especially if you were into tanning or have family history or just live in a sunshine type state.

    7. I’m 38 and started a new routine in December. I scoured Reddit and ultimately opted for CeraVe products because they’re gentle, and the cheap pricepoint means I’m more likely to pay to keep a routine. Maybe I’ll upgrade when I’m 40. I always thought I had decent skin, hence the limited routine before, but I’m impressed with the improvements. My skin looks much brighter now and fewer imperfections. Here’s what I do:
      Morning:
      1) Cleanse (a Shiseido product I discovered in Japan and agrees with me, but I also like basic Neutrogena fresh foaming cleanser)
      2) Vit C serum (Skinceuticals, expensive but the best, and offset by my other drugstore brands. Seems to last months.)
      3) CeraVe Am (SPF moisturizer, cheap and layers well under makeup)
      Night:
      1) Cleanse (same as morning product)
      2) CeraVe retinol serum (wanted to use up a bottle before trying prescription strength)
      3) CeraVe skin renewing night cream

    8. My comment got lost in mod. I am 38, started a new routine, and splurge on Vit C serum but use drugstore CeraVe for morning SPF and night cream, and I like basic Neutrogena foaming face wash for morning and evening cleanser. I love the brightening effect of the Vit C, so worth the splurge, and the inexpensive CeraVe means I’m willing to pay to stick to my routine.

    9. I also use a separate eye cream. I don’t see that mentioned yet. No specific recommendation, I just pick mine up at Trader Joe’s.

    10. Mid 40’s and don’t really do anything special for my skin but it looks good enough that I frequently get mistaken for my daughter’s sister when we are out together.

      I would blow that budget on an Aesop Resurrection hand balm (the scent makes me swoon) and whatever mineral sunscreen my local drugstore had in stock that looked promising.

    11. go to ulta. $100 will not get you a full skincare routine at sephora these days. I am a big fan of peach & lily overall, but for a little more budget conscious:
      peach & lily retinal serum ($55)
      mad hippie vitamin c ($34)
      la-roche posay moisturizer ($25)

      I would spend more on actives (retinol, vitamin c, etc.) and go cheaper if needed on moisturizer & cleanser.

    12. I am OBSESSED with Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum. It’s the GOAT, it’s under $20, it never makes me peel, but I wake up with baby-soft skin that is so clear and unwrinkled every time I use it. Mid-forties. Highly recommend.

  4. What should I be doing with my new jacket to protect the suede? Waterproofing spray or “suede protectant”? Do you DIY this or take it to a cleaner? TIA!

    1. I’d do a waterproofing spray or suede protectant at home — spray it outside, if you can let it air dry outside for 30 minutes, then do another round if recommended by your spray. Let it air dry again outside, then bring it inside. It’ll still be a bit smelly so hang somewhere other than an enclosed closet.

      1. This, and also: pad out the body and sleeves so you have as few wrinkles and folds as possible when you spray. Either put down a drop cloth or spray over grass instead of directly above your deck or porch surface (because the spray can make things slippery underfoot as well as prevent future finishes from adhering properly). If you have a clothesline, shepherd’s hook, tree branch, something like that is great for hanging the jacket from while spraying.

  5. Recommendations for a massage in DC, either for a whole spa day or a quick lunch-hour appointment? No car available, so the Asian places out in Virginia won’t work. Thanks!

    1. For an indulgent ($$$) experience, the Pendry at the Wharf has a really nice spa.

    1. Are you getting pummeled with messaging?
      I am anticipating overwhelm here in GA because we have both a critical Senate race and a governor’s race without an incumbent this year.

  7. Any recommendations for restaurants in Rome and Milan?

    Maybe it’s bias because I’ve been paying more attention to these threads, but it seems like everyone here is going to Italy. It’s entertaining to imagine us accidentally planning a group trip.

    1. Italy is so “hot” right now and I am irritated, I have been dreaming of a Dolomites hiking trip for over a decade and it has gotten SO pricey and crowded. Back when I started talking about a Dolomites trip the only people who knew about the Dolomites were my hiking and skiing friends!

      I know I’m not entitled to a reasonably priced (for Europe) and reasonably crowded trip, but it is annoying when something I’ve been wanting to do for so long is impacted because of influencers. Most people I know of traveling to the Dolomites aren’t even hiking/skiing while there! It’s just scenic for instagram. Ok, rant over.

      1. Solidarity. In addition to my personal annoyance, the rise of influencer culture has really done a number on fragile travel destinations (ecologically, socially, etc.) and I’m sad to see it come for the Dolomites.

      2. If it makes you feel better, we aren’t going to the Dolomites.

        It is funny to me that someone might complain that Italy is a hot tourist destination. I remember being in college (which was not recent) fighting through the hordes of tourists to get to class in Rome every day.

          2. It’s always been popular, but the last year or two it seems like EVERYONE I know is going. 5 of my friends are going there (separately!) this year.

          3. Right, there are novels written almost a century ago about Italy being a hot tourist destination.

            That said, I’m also going this year.

      3. If you are feeling like that imagine how europeans and specially italians hikers we are feeling about all of you coming.

    3. It’s like Iceland – a while back it seemed like everyone I knew was going to Iceland.

      I guess I get to join this 2026 Italy trend – I’ll be in Venice in the fall!

    4. Following for Milan recs. :) In Rome, we adored Roscioli. It’s probably a bit touristy (it’s very near the Pantheon) but it was still everyone’s favorite meal out of our time there.

    5. Rome – we stayed in the Aventino neighborhood and adored the restaurants around Testaccio – great mix of locals and tourists.

      Best pasta of the trip was from a counter in the Mercato Testaccio, specifically Le Mani, where they make one kind of pasta and you pick your sauce. Paired with wine on tap from the little bar around the corner in the market! mmmmmmmmmmmmm

    6. I’ll join the thread – we’re spending time on Procida in July after pouncing on a great airfare to Naples. We have a villa booked and now researching restaurants and boat excursions :)

    7. Quick side Q: I know that restaurant tipping is a bit different in Europe. But how does tipping people like hotel bag staff and concierges work? I know we will need to check bags if we can’t get early check in and will need hotel staff for things like walkable restaurant recommendations, etc. If it matters, we are at something in the Marriott family (picked as newbies who will need all the help we can get). In the US, so much tipping is now on an app for big chain hotels.

      1. Maybe I’m an uncultured swine, but I’ve never tipped for holding a bag, whether in Europe or the US.

        If you’re going to Italy, you will want cash for small transactions like buying a coffee regardless, so you should have cash on hand to tip at the hotel if desired.

    8. I found food in Rome to be pretty forgettable, even though my very experienced traveler and foodie/restaurant lover mother planned our meals. I think if I went back I would take the approach of eating “on the fly” and focusing on the sights. In some other Italian cities and towns I would focus more on the food. I am not sure Milan is one of those, though.

  8. Send me your good thoughts please?
    Interviewing this afternoon for a “reach job” with a team I would *really, really* like to work with

    2. Bravo to you for applying and making it to the interview stage. Knock their socks off!

    3. In this day and age, getting an interview is something like 80% of the battle. I say this based on watching my young adult kids job hunt, so n=2. They both were eventually offered nearly every first-job-after-college or grad school for which they got an interview. Getting the interview, however, required dozens of apps. At this point, it’s basically yours to lose. (I hope that’s encouraging. If not, ignore random mutterings from this internet stranger.)

      1. That may be true for first-jobs out of college, especially since most companies are hiring multiple people for those types of jobs. But isn’t generally true for experienced people – every where I’ve ever worked interviews at least 4 or 6 people for one opening.

  9. What is your hobby (or hobbies)? Would you turn it into a business if you could?

    I really like growing vegetabes from seed but I’m not sure I would. If I could sell them very small I might, I hate potting up. Not sure at what point it would make a financial impact vs the pain in the butt to deal with customers.

    1. I bake, cook, and sew. I would love to do that as my job, it doesn’t require nearly the mental energy as my real job. I genuinely think I’m a better cook and baker than most restaurants and bakeries. I also sew to a higher standard than most retail with proper seam finishes and techniques. However my hobbies would not pay well as a job as they are undervalued skills, so I will keep my day job.

    2. I sort of have a side hustle that involves growing flowers. I’ve had some moderate success, though it’s by no means a huge money-maker. I’ve realized, though, that I think I want to keep it as a hobby for myself, and maybe help a couple of friends with. I don’t need another thing in my life that requires hustle from me. Maybe if I weren’t doing it in the margins of my life, I’d feel differently.

      1. I have also learned that there is a good reason why greenhouses charge what they do. The margins are very, very slim, especially when you start factoring in your labor and supplies.

    3. I like sewing. I hate it when people tell me I should try to monetize my hobby. That’s not why I do it, at all.

    4. Nope… it feels like a way of sucking joy from my hobbies. I like to bake, read a ton, potter in the garden.

      1. lol I feel like this about writing a novel – I love reading romance but if I were ever to write might try a mystery because I think in order to write I’d want to tear a bunch of bestsellers apart structurally and that would ruin romance books for me.

    5. I sing in my church’s all-volunteer choirs and in our city’s all-volunteer symphony chorus. I also do some unpaid solo work. I have considered auditioning for paid section leader positions in other church choirs or doing low-level paid solo work (weddings, funerals, small churches, etc.), but the low pay and relative lack of artistic payoff to these kinds of work are not really worth the tradeoffs.

    6. The thought that one must monetize one’s hobbies is an effect of our toxic hustle culture.

      2. I think it’s bigger, in that concept of hustle culture is an indication of the death throws of toxic capitalism.

    8. The reason hobbies are enjoyable are because they’re self-directed and self-paced. I have yet to see any profitable business that is self-directed and self-paced. So turning a hobby into a business removes the most enjoyable parts.

      Anyway, I like hiking and backpacking and knitting and reading and yoga and rock climbing and cooking as long as I don’t have to do the dishes or get yelled at by a hangry toddler while I’m doing it.

    9. There are lots of people in my town who sell veggies and native plants in May that they’ve grown from seed. They advertise a sale, held in their backyard in one weekend from like 9-3, by posting on our neighborhood facebook group and a sign in their yard.

      What are you growing this year? I haven’t started and need inspiration!

    10. H3ll no, I’d never try to monetize a hobby. I’m a former D1 athlete and it’s taken years in therapy to “recalibrate” fitness, working out, and sports in my life. Obviously, as a working professional, I”m not working out as hard as I once did. And, when I worked out “normal” amounts and intensity, I’d feel guilty and shame and lazy. I’ve worked on accepting that we can do things (sports, non-fitness hobbies, workouts) for fun without having to strive be the best.

      It’s actually a big deal that I’ve accepted that I’m a greens only skier. I don’t need to try to keep up with my friends on blacks if I’m not enjoying them.

      So, while I’ve picked up a few creative hobbies since college I cannot monetize them. I need very clear lines between “just for fun” and things I want to work hard at.

      1. Preach!

        I am happily “not changing the world” and not “killing it” when I do my hobbies. What a burden for joy to have to bear.

        Signed,
        I happily only knit things that are rectangular

    11. I love gardening (flowers, vegetables… tomatoes haha). It’s my antidepressant.

      I think monetizing the plants would completely ruin the hobby for me.

      I encounter lots of people for work. I do not want to deal with people outside of work.

    12. I’ve always loved writing. I wrote a book because I wanted to see if I could do it. The friends I shared it with told me it was pretty good, so I thought, what the hell, let’s see if I can get an agent. I got an agent. Then I got a publishing deal. Then I wrote and published two more books. The money was nice but I hated every part of being involved in the publishing industry, and having to treat my fun creative hobby as a business.

      I still write for fun. Maybe someday I’ll want to give publishing another shot, but I have no regrets about stepping back from monetizing my hobby.

      1. I would love to know more about how you did this and how much you made! I secretly want to write a book. Idk if I want to write a romantasy or a semi-biographical character piece or a career advice book but I want to write SOMETHING.

    13. I enjoy knitting and weaving, reading and gardening. If I could hobby all day and make a living doing it that would be one thing, but no, I don’t want to “turn it into a business” because I am an anarchist at heart and eff that capitalistic noise.

    14. I have backyard chickens and have delicious, free-range eggs running out of my ears. I have had many, many people ask if I will sell them eggs. I will GIVE you eggs all day long. I walk into restaurants and coffee shops where I am meeting friends with cartons of eggs to hand off. Do not even think of leaving my house without fresh eggs. I hand them out at church. My kids’ friends all get eggs. But no, neither my girls nor I want money for our work product. We are in it for fun. It is fun for me to give the eggs away. It would be much less fun to collect $6/dozen for them. I need fun more than I need the $54 the 9 dozen eggs in my fridge would get me.

      1. Please can you give me your address so I can stand on the sidewalk outside your house with a pleading look on my face that says, “I so very much wish for fresh backyard eggs,” and you’ll look out your window and see me out there looking Wistful About Eggs and then you’ll come out and hand me eggs from your fridge. And I will return home, happy.

      2. Well thank you if you’re the source of any of the wonderful backyard chicken eggs in my circles!

    15. Horseback riding, photography, gardening, hiking. The only one I have (briefly) considered turning into a side hobby is photography (specifically photographing horse shows), but I’m a) not sure I’m good enough yet (though better than some show photographs I see, so maybe) and b) decided it’s not worth my time/giving up my weekends for it. Maybe as a retirement side hustle. I too always end up with extra seedlings and just give them away to the neighborhood.

    16. besides being a tactile, creative way to unplug from daily stress, my pottery hobby has also been a major exercise in dropping perfectionism and appreciating my creations with all their flaws. So, no.

    17. I have turned my shopping hobby (LOL) into a ‘business’ in that I sell on posh and use that money as my budget for clothing, etc.

      I love to bake and would love to do the hallmark christmas movie version of it but not at all interested in the reality of it, even in running a cottage bakery.

  10. I don’t think the people who name clothing styles paid attention in high school English class. The definition of “gamine” is “attractively boyish.” I am not seeing that in this blazer.

    Words have meaning.

  11. The model looks like Ralphie wearing the pink bunny costume. “I became a model to wear couture and instead I’m wearing this old lady tablecloth.”

  12. I’ve been having an issue lately where my skin will just hurt. Sometimes it’s where fabric barely grazes it like the back of my arms, sometimes it’s areas that aren’t covered like my hands. It feels like it does when you skin your knee, but the skin is fully intact. It’s not irritated or covered in a rash at all.

    I have my annual physical coming up so I’ll bring this up then but has anyone had this before and have any idea what is going on?

    1. I had this when I had small fiber neuropathy. I think the sensation is sometimes called allodynia if that is something you can look up to see if it fits, but if I understand, it’s when the nerves are communicating their own damage while everything else (like the skin itself) is totally fine. It was not all in my head, and it took a good bit of testing to sort out, but it was very treatable for me.

    2. Worth asking your doctor because like the above poster demonstrates, there is a huge range of potential causes. My anecdote: I experience this when my skin allergies are trying to flare up. It feels very much like I have a wound being irritated, but the skin looks perfectly fine. Antihistamines and good lotion help to make it go away. If I ignore it, the pain kind of dissipates into a general tingling across a larger area over the course of a few days, and then I will break out in incredibly itchy hives that are very difficult to get rid of.

      1. Same. I know the cause of my stuff (brand new food allergies) but yours might be different.

        1. Mine is some type of tree pollen. While it first spikes in the spring, I get hit a second time in the fall when the furnace first turns on for the season. Even though the A/C uses that same ductwork all summer, the heated air seems to loosen any pollen that drifted in and stuck. I can minimize the impact if I make sure to change the furnace filter before the switch, and again after the heat runs for a week.

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