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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Tavira Sculpt Stretch Crepe Trousers

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A woman wearing a black top, black slingbacks, and green pants

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

Now that spring is here, I’m looking for every verdant green item I can get my hands on. These crepe trousers from The Fold are absolutely perfect. The crisp creases in the front make them look polished, but the elastic back means you won’t be feeling pinched at 3:00 p.m.

Pair these with your favorite neutral top for an outfit that feels like springtime.

The pants are $255, marked down from $365, at The Fold. They also come in eight other colors. 

Sales of note for 4/17:

  • Nordstrom – Beauty savings event, up to 25% off – nice price on Black Honey
  • Ann Taylor – Cyber Spring! 50% off everything + free shipping
  • Boden – 25% off everything (thru Sun, then 15% off)
  • Brooklinen – 25% off sitewide — we have and love these sateen sheets
  • Evereve – 1000+ items on sale, including lots from Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
  • Express – $29 dresses
  • J.Crew – 30% off all dresses
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, and extra 50% off clearance
  • 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 – Friends & Family event, 50% off entire purchase + free shipping
  • 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%, 15%, or 10% off depending on your membership tier; ends 4/20. Here's everything I recommend in the sale!
  • Talbots – Spring sale! 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns
  • TOCCIN – Use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off!
  • 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!

167 Comments

  1. Good morning!
    What’s the best rollaboard? I think flight attendants use one of the TravelPros?
    I’d otherwise buy an Away. Budget $300.
    Thanks!

    1. Bought my husband a TravelPro Maxlite 5 for less than $150 – he travels frequently and LOVES it. It does exactly what you want a suitcase to do. My order history tells me he’s had this since 2019 – he is one of the people who actively did have to travel for work throughout COVID and it’s still in perfect shape.

      1. +1 this is what I have and I love it. It is lightweight but holds a ton of stuff. I particularly like the 4 wheels as it makes it easier to push or pull around, especially on all the different surfaces that you encounter while traveling.

    2. The Maxlite is indeed very light and I love it for non-work travel, but it does not have a suit folder. I have a heavier soft-sided Travelpro with a suit folder for business travel. I got the non-spinner version because it has a higher capacity than the spinner and the wheels aren’t as prone to snapping off. I don’t find the ease of pushing a spinner necessary with a carry-on, only with larger checked bags.

    3. Travelpro Maxlite – have the non-spinner style for both checked bag and rollaboard. The smaller rollaboard meets EU size requirements. Both have held up really well for 5+ years now.

      1. +1. Have the non-spinner variety as well as two older 22″ TravelPros that are 20 years old and still in clean, decent shape. Bought the Maxlite 20″ non-spinner as a college grad present for our daughter last spring. She loves it, too.

    4. I have an Away (the smaller size), the Travelpro Maxlight 5 with spinner wheels, and an older Travelpro with 2 wheels (from 2014). In terms of capacity the older Travelpro is the largest and has a suiter which can be helpful. I’ve used it probably 4 times a year since 2014 and it still looks basically new. I got the spinner because I thought that would be better but its too small for me except for the shortest of trips (probably 3 days max). So then I got the Away because it has a bigger capacity (still not as big as the older Travelpro) and is a spinner. I don’t love the clamshell opening but its a good suitcase otherwise.

    5. I LOVE my TravelPro hardside Platinum Elite carry-on. It really holds up. I have the olive green and it looks good. I like that it’s still neutral but not black or gray so it does stand out on the baggage carousel.

  2. I love the color of these but not the proportions – if these were a wider leg they’d look fresh, but as-is, that taper is just… like, did anyone else here play the Sims 2 and remember the outfit choices once women “aged up” from adult to elder? These specific pants + a sensible sweater was like, the main outfit choice.

    1. Agree, these either need to be narrower cut (true ‘cigarette’ pants) or a straighter leg. This just looks dated.

    3. Yes, the cut is hideous. I was surprised to read it’s the fold and it explains why they’re on sale.

    4. I have three pairs of these exact pants, which I’ve had for years and worn constantly. They are machine washable, and that elastic at the back of the waist makes them so comfortable and accommodating of waistline flux. I agree they’re not the most current cut, but The Fold is still selling them in multiple colors, not all on sale. Maybe they’re just targeting the old lady market!

    6. If I could get these with a higher rise, without the front pleat AND in wool or cotton twill, these would be my ideal trousers, and I’d happily pay The Fold prices.

    7. Those look like the BR pants I had in every color back in the 2010s. Sloans?

      1. I LIVED in the BR Sloans back in the 2010s!! A range of sizes, every color…I think with my JCrew Tippi sweaters. These look extremely dated to me now.

  3. My cuticles, nail health, and nail beds have always been awful. I have a healthy bmi and eat pretty well, I think its largely genetic (dad’s hands crack and bleed and are dry, mom’s are constantly calloused or cracked). I have tried regular manicures, no manicures, no cuticle cutting, hand masks, gloves, religious aquaphor, cuticle oils, and more. Nothing seems to work. Anyone else figure this out?

    2. i need more information on what makes awful to inform advice. like they break or have ridges or they’re discolored? and cuticles– do they rip? are they sore?

    3. When left alone, my cuticles are atrocious. My nails also are pretty thin and break easily (this has always been the case). What works best for me is keeping the nails short and filed. The Burt’s Bees cuticle butter is awesome. It’s instant relief when I put it on. Nail oil doesn’t do much for me. I do my own manicures and try to do them weekly, as the polish seems to add another layer of protection.

      1. definitely keeping them covered helps, i am a big proponent of nailtiques alhough it is harder and harder to find, i like the maincurist smooth but i’m not convinced it is helping my nails so much as superficially making them look better. someone here recommended hard as hoofs cream and i have one by my desk and one by my bed and use it at least 2x a day. i think a good vitamin that is targeted for hair and nails might help. have you spoken to your doctor? had bloodwork?

    4. I second the vitamins for hair and nails, just to see if they help. This is completely anecdotal and I may be imagining it, but I swear everything on me feels dryer when I run out of my fish oil supplement. For cuticle oil, the best I’ve used is the Bliss Kiss pen. And I use Gena Healthy Hoof cream on my hands every day – it works better than any other heavy duty hand cream I’ve tried.

    5. I eat jello or pudding when my nails suffer. I swear the gelatin brings them back to life.

      Not to be gross, but have you ruled out a fungal infection?

    6. I’d also talk to a doctor and consider vitamins. Sometimes the genetic thing that runs in the family is as simple as “needing more of some vitamin” than the average person does, and therefore more than people get from eating well.

    7. Have you tried the Gold Bond retinol cream? i swear it’s one of the best i’ve found for my hands. I put on before bed and it dries in 2-3 minutes. when I first wash my hands the next day I can still feel a layer of protection on them.

      have you tried something like Nail Envy? That was always my favorite when I felt like I had problems with my nails themselves. I feel like my nails were worse after a month wearing Kur so I woudln’t recommend their stuff if that has similar marketing

      https://www.goldbond.com/en-us/products/retinol-overnight (mine is a pump bottle I got from Amazon)
      https://www.opi.com/products/treatments-strengtheners-nail-envy-nail-strengthener

      I’ve been trying to get my cuticles looking less raggedy. I’ve been trying to do the Sally Hanson exfoliator about once a week, then push my nails back. Then I put a nail oil on the bed (I think it’s CND Solar Oil? It’s faster than the cuticle creams so that’s let me be more consistent.) I put the nail oil on every night and immediately after every shower. Some nights I also put an exfoliating treatment on my nail beds – I had a sample size of Ole Hendrikson Dewtopia near my bed so I’ve been using that but you could also use Good Genes or something. Sometimes before my shower I’ll also put the Ordinary’s dark red acidic exfoliator and leave it on for 1-5 minutes on my cuticle area.

      https://www.sallyhansen.com/en-us/nail-care/instant-cuticle-remover?shade=instant-cuticle-remover
      https://www.cnd.com/products/solaroil?variant=47222610133283
      https://www.sephora.com/product/aha-30-bha-2-peeling-solution-P442563

      I still don’t have the perfect half moon or whatever at the base of my nail but they look so much less raggedy than they have recently

      1. Oh, gosh! I second the kur complaint. I was thrilled for while about my sudden nail growth and I was using kur daily or several times a week to keep the length. It was great for about 6 weeks, and I have a cartful of products I was going to buy, when suddenly my nails started breaking/ripping. Ever since, my nails have been worse than ever – very weak, peeling, thin at the end, cuticles are dry. I am starting all over from behind.
        I do think the vitamins help and may try some of the products you suggest here.

    8. This was also an issue for me and family members.

      Humidifiers everywhere.
      Nails short and neat. Never go to salons.
      Skin/Nails/Hair multivitamin.
      Lotion at every sink. Use every morning/evening and every time I wash my hands. Aquafor on my cuticles occasionally.
      My prescription retinol on my face and backs of hands nightly.

      I only use my dermatologist recs for sensitive skin – cerave lotions.

    9. I dip an ear bud in caster oil and run it along my cuticles, and any excess on my knuckles
      It absorbs quickly and works great

  4. Someone yesterday mentioned Blackberry Farms, and I wanted to ask, for anyone who’s been there, is it really worth it? We live fairly close, and my husband has a milestone birthday coming up, and suggested he’d like to go. One big difference between the two of us is that he loves to do things that are “fancy” for the sake of fancy, while I am someone who wants a very good justification for spending significant money and will be very stressed if I don’t see it. I know BF has a great reputation, but I’ve looked at their website and don’t see anything that looks appealing. Most of the activities offered are outdoorsy things or spa services that neither of us has ever shown an interest in (and it’s likely to be cold when we go). We like food and wine, but that’s not the whole trip (and there seems to be a huge extra charge for everything on top of the already very expensive stay). I’m trying to suck it up and tell myself it’s his birthday, but I’m really not understanding what we would get out of this trip if we went, or even what we would do all day. Help me out here.

    2. I would set a birthday budget that’s affordable and then let him choose whatever he wants within budget, whether or not you think it’s “worth it.”

      My husband always asks me what I want as a gift and then rejects it because it’s not “worth it.” I have started telling him not to get me gifts at all.

    3. Since he wants to do it and enjoys “fancy” for its own sake . . . isn’t that enough to satisfy your “good justification for spending a significant amount of money”? HE is your justification, not whether the location justifies itself to you.

        1. I mean, it feels like no one actually providing justification. Wanting something is not sufficient.

          1. I just kind of refuse. It’s either something you appreciate or you don’t. I don’t know how to convince someone that going to a lovely property with a bunch of activities is worth it. It either appeals or it doesn’t. This particular place is gorgeous and perfect if you enjoy such things.

          2. Isn’t the whole deal with wants/luxuries…that you want them?
            Of course a vacation at blackberry farms is a want, not a need.

          3. Wanting something is sufficient if you can afford it and it does not harm others.

          4. Isn’t that the whole point of birthday gifts? Something the birthday person … wants?

            But OP, definitely don’t go if you’re going to be a big ol’ downer while you’re there. That’s the worst of all worlds.

      2. This is absolutely the approach you have to take for a birthday trip for him. If you cannot set aside the worry about cost and whether it’s worth it, you’ll ruin it for him. Whether or not it’s worth it to you is irrelevant, whether you’re happy to spend this amount of money for a birthday present and whether your husband would enjoy it are the real questions.

    4. I grew up not far from Blackberry Farm and had never heard of it until I was an adult. I haven’t been so can’t say if it’s worth it, but like you, I struggle to enjoy things that I find overpriced and can be stressed out about the experience. That said, if your DH really wants to go there, maybe it’s worth it for a night or two. The area directly around it is pretty poor and I think Gatlinburg is trashy in general, so I think it’s a weird location for such a high end hotel.

      If he’s open on locations, there are plenty of other nice but not amazing spa-resorts in that part of the country: the Greenbrier, the Omni in Asheville, and Old Edwards Inn come to mind.

    5. I actually don’t think it’s that great anymore. Check r/chubbytravels there are better options

    7. I live within driving distance and haven’t gone due to the exorbitant cost and some mediocre reviews from others who have gone. My FIL sounds like the type of traveler you are and went once but won’t go back. His complaint is that it is VERY family friendly and he didn’t enjoy being around other people’s kids in the fine dining restaurant. Also if you don’t enjoy outdoor activities then I definitely wouldn’t go.

    8. BF will have genuinely great food, not like some places that have an overrated celebrity chef. As for activities, I find it really relaxing to get a facial. And posh resorts often have a fun activity you can try together like archery or fly fishing.

      1. +1. If you try something new while you’re there (especially something that isn’t as easy to find back home), you’ll have more fun and studies show that doing something new as a couple increases feelings of love and bonding.

    9. I also have no patience for ‘fancy just for the sake of fancy’ but it’s his birthday, so if it’s within budget for a birthday gift…

      I also have no problem observing my birthday when it is convenient for the thing I want – so in your situation I’d buy a weekend stay as the birthday present but actually do it when you’d better enjoy the outdoors!

    10. You’re never going to be satisfied because you don’t care about fancy. Cool story it’s not your birthday get over yourself.

    11. I’ve also looked at the website and felt like I wasn’t “getting it.” It’s somewhat about the cost, but I’ve also had a hard time picturing what it would be like to spend a day there.

    12. Like many hotels, there have been massive price increases in the last few years that far outpace inflation. I went when it was around $1k a night and thought it was worth it. Food is included and it’s truly excellent (not just “good for an all-inclusive”). The setting is lovely and the spa is great. But it’s around $2,500 a night now and I wouldn’t pay that personally. YMMV.

      1. Same. We had a wonderful time there a few years ago, but it has gotten very, very expensive. We were also there in the fall when we could enjoy the outdoor activities and hiking.

        That said, if your husband wants to go, and you can afford it (which I assume you can given that he mentioned wanting to go), then I think you should go. You will certainly not have a BAD time, and your husband will likely enjoy it.

        1. I went in the fall too. I do think at this time of year it might be a little boring, especially if you’re not into spa stuff.

      2. Blinks. Blinks twice. It costs what??
        OP, I think I have the same instinct, I could *not* bring myself to enjoy this without thinking about the cost.
        But two questions for you:
        Like many have pointed out, you can’t go and be a cost-downer the whole time. So if you want to spend this much money on a birthday trip for your husband… Is there any chance he’d enjoy going alone? Can you possibly tell him “sweetheart, I love you, I want to celebrate this weekend with you, I’m gonna be stuck in my head if I know what it costs so can you please just book it and do not tell me the number and I will pretend I never knew?”

        Bigger picture question: is it possible you and your husband aren’t on the same page on a bigger picture financial values question? To be totally honest, I don’t think I could ever feel ethically justified in spending $5000+ on a weekend away, even if “I could afford it and it doesn’t hurt anyone”. At some point, my excess money isn’t mine to do whatever I wish with, it belongs to the poor. That isn’t a super popular worldview in places like this page, but it’s something I know about myself, and would want a partner to know. It would be really hard to build a life with someone who chose differently on this one. Is there any chance there’s something deeper like that bugging you here?

    13. Are you planning this as a trip for him to celebrate his birthday doing something he has literally expressed an interest in doing, or are you trying to nix his wishes in favor of planning a vacation you approve of for yourself that happens to take place over his bday?

      1. I’m sure he has a variety of “wishes” that fall more within range of financially appropriate.

        1. OP seems to think the amount isn’t out of the question, just that it’s not what she thinks she would enjoy for herself.

        2. OP doesn’t indicate that this is too expensive for her budget. It sounds more like she is loathe to spend money on something that doesn’t fulfill her desires.

          If that’s a value she insists on holding tightly, she might consider the impact it will have on her relationship if she shoots down her partner’s milestone birthday wishes just because they aren’t what she herself would choose.

    14. Thoughts PLUS a way to save money on a stay…First of all, Blackberry Farms is incredible! I took a terminally ill parent a couple of years ago and it will forever be one of my most cherished memories. The food is incredible, the farm tour is definitely worth the added cost, and it’s a delight to take the meditation classes or even just roam around the property on a golf course.

      I have a suggestion to save money: usually, a 3-night stay is required and that adds up. Call them and ask when they have a 2-night stay available in one of their king or queen historic rooms (the “cheapest” rooms available). They will give you several openings and you can take your pick from those! My parent and I had 2 and a half full and incredible days…they even sent us home with a beautiful boxed lunch on our last day.

    15. We have been to Blackberry Farm (not Farms) 6 years in a row. We love dressing up for dinner and have a very disconnected vacation. It’s wonderful if you like to sit by a fire and read a kindle; eat amazing – Michelin star type food – and drink wine. They have the second largest wine cellar in the country and take it very seriously.

      You can be as active or as not active as you would like. They have PLENTY to do, but also you can literally sit by the fire and do puzzles all day.

      It’s expensive – and worth every penny in my opinion. We use it as a way to fully disconnect, like leave our cell phones in the room on airplane mode all week disconnect.

  5. Anyone have any travel recommendations for Andorra/the Pyrenees with kids in the shoulder season? We have a gap in our trip and neither Husband or I have been to Andorra and figured – why not? Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be there right as the ski resorts have closed but before the summer stuff starts so we’re hitting dead ends.

    1. Don’t. Andorra isn’t fun. It’s just duty free and cheap nicotine. Visit the Pyrenees sure but pick France or Spain, Andorra is like, an hour stop on the way.

      1. +1 I don’t know anyone who’s visited Andorra except country counters who wanted to check it off their list. I’d just stay in France or Spain.

        1. OKAY. This is actually great information. Sounds like it’s not a destination but more of a drive by to check the box.

    3. Where are you going to be before and after this gap? I would just add another day in one of those locations. Agree with a prior poster, Andorra is not worth and extended visit.

      1. The unplanned leg of the trip goes from Barcelona to Toulouse. We’re going along the coast on the way back south to Barcelona so we’re looking for a spot between those cities.

        2. You could check out Cadaques. It’s beautiful! And has a charming little old town.

          1. Wait – we are staying here on the southerly part of our loop! Good to hear.

        3. I recommend you check out the Paradores to see if there are any interesting ones along an inland route between Barcelona and Toulouse. Even if you don’t end up staying in a Parador, it might give you a good idea of what the area looks like and might guide you in looking for other hotel options.

    5. I have been there in May/June and it was lovely. We did plenty of day hikes to the lakes. I go quite often to sky in winter and it was quite a suprise how beautifull was everything without snow.

  6. How does your office ensure equal workload among the staff members? My office has a long list of tasks and people generally pick the easiest ones to meet their numbers requirements. Gov office, each task is an application that requires review. Every employee is at the same rank but everyone’s output varies bc it is fairly easy to identify the easiest tasks and managers don’t really step in.

    1. Sounds like you’re in a production environment. Do you have any project tracking software? I had the unfortunate experience of going on assignment in a production environment and all applications were divided into two categories, stock response/easy review, and custom response/complex review. We made sure everyone had an equal balance of both and tagged them to make sure

    2. Why aren’t they distributed in the order they come in? Like, each employee should be working on 10 applications. When they finish with one, they get another one off the queue, in the order the apps were received. As a taxpayer I would prefer to know my application will be reviewed in the order it was received.

    3. Is there an incentive to pick the harder tasks? Are some more time-sensitive than others?

    4. We don’t let people pick their own work if they are stacking the deck in their favor. The manager assigns work in a way that is more equitable to all.

    5. Either managers step in (because people are being selfish with their choices) or the system is designed that you get the next ticket in line with no visibility into how hard or not it is.

      1. +1
        I’m in a similar government job. There’s a management meeting monthly where goals are set for productivity for everyone based on what’s in the inventory and based on that, administrative staff are given some rules. They then assign “applications” following those rules so the relative number and complexity is similar across all employees. EG management will say, this month we have a lot of X type of applications which are extra complicated so admin should assign 2 X type applications per employee per week and 10 Y applications that are simpler.

    7. An office I work with had a similar problem and ended up assigning a higher points value to the harder assignments. Level 1 tickets were 1 point, Level 2 were 2 points, level 3 were 5 points. With that group, it worked out because some people were better at the harder tickets (and preferred doing fewer more in depth tasks) and the others would rather churn through 25 easy tickets in a day.

      They had tried randomly assigning and this ended up being the outcome. I should also note, the manager walked into a weird situation where 50% of the team had been there for 20 years and then other 50% had been there 3 years or less so there was some ‘don’t rock the boat’ here.

    3. I have them in white and in black and find them very comfortable, even for lots of walking in Europe.

  8. looking for a pair of real gold small hoops. i have a pair of huggies i wear all the day but would like a pair with a bit more presence. i bought a bigger pair and i like them and feel like they’re pretty current but they’re not comfortable so i don’t wear to work. something light weight i can wear every day and have a brief phone call in?

    1. mejuri. The answer is mejuri hoops – I have a pair in as my ‘all the time, every day’ second hole pair and they’re perfect. Like, just perfect. My next pair will be the medium tube hoops.

      3. +1 I have a pair I got when they were featured on here and they’re my most-worn everyday earrings.

    2. I tend to be a Quince hater, but I actually LOVE their earrings. I have sensitive skin, but I haven’t had a single problem with the 14k gold mini huggies. I have four of them in my ears 24/7 (two cartilage and two lobes) for a couple years at this point and they look just as good as the much pricier BVLA, Maria Tash, etc. jewelry I have in other ear piercings.

      I’ve been disappointed in the quality of all clothes and shoes I’ve gotten from them, but the earrings are solid.

          1. That’s what I came here to say. Costco has great values and great customer service for basic gold pieces

    3. I got some gold hoop earrings from Julie Vos and absolutely love them. I wear them to work very often.

  9. thank you to the poster who recommended ever eve going out clothes! I ordered 3 blouses and a cute leather jacket. they’re just right!

  10. We are unexpectedly inheriting* some money. Exact amount still tbd but it will be enough that, combined with our existing 529 savings, we can fully pay for whatever colleges our 3 kids (currently 1st/5th/7th graders) will want to go to.

    Do we:
    Frontload it now to their 529s
    Add ~40k/year as annual gifts
    Only fund 3/4 of each 529 in case plans change and keep the rest in a separate reserve account

    Pros/cons to any of these? The kids’ current 529 balances are roughly 180k, 120k and 90k respectively (oldest to youngest).

    FWIW there is additional money coming to DH and DH and I also have a lot of money saved in savings/retirement, so let’s just assume for the sake of this convo that there is roughly $500k we want to eventually see used for college, if applicable.

    *DH’s father died recently and it turns out they were a yours/mine/ours bucket of finance couple. He wanted the “his” bucket split between his two kids upon his death while MIL will keep the ours/hers buckets (which are plentiful).

    1. I would top each kid’s 529 to whatever 4 years of the current all in price at your state flagship university and keep the rest in a separate account. But I am curious to see what the responses will be because I think figuring out the right target for a 529 is a little tricky.

    2. I like your last option most of all, ‘fund 3/4th and keep in a separate reserve’. If that amount of cash was invested in a regular brokerage account in slow growth index funds, that type of money could be really handy outside of 529’s if the end goal is to pass it down to your kids. That would probably allow to help out with early career cars, home downpayments, weddings, etc.

    3. I would be very cautious about locking money into a 529, they could get amazing scholarships or go to school in Europe or any number of things which would make having so much money saved less than ideal.

      2. My thoughts exactly. You can save for your child’s education without putting it in a 529 and have a lot more flexibility in how it gets used.

      3. THIS. Just put the money in a regular account that you can earmark for college. I would certainly not fully fund three 529s.

        1. Same. My in laws are very glad they didn’t go too heavy into a 529 – my spouse went to a service academy and my SIL got a full ride.

    4. I am leaning toward something in between #2 and #3. I like #3 because plans change sometimes and I think that’s a good overall goal. However, I wouldn’t necessarily put it all in right away. In our state we get a tax credit for a certain amount of contributions each year, so I would want to make sure I could continue to make an annual contribution sufficient to get the maximum tax credit.

    5. You should seek advice from an accountant or estate or tax lawyer regarding the tax implications of the various options. Generally, gifts below $19,000 per donee qualify for the annual exclusion for gift tax purposes (married couples can give 2 times that amount from you/your husband). Also, you can front load (I *think*) 5 years of annual exclusion gifts to 529 plans without using your gift tax exemption. If you front load beyond that, you may use some of your gift tax exemption. Not sure if you expect to be in a taxable estate situation or not, but suggest checking all of the tax implications with an accountant or lawyer.

    6. I would max out the annual contributions (for this year and last, if before the deadline) any tax advantaged accounts available to you (whether retirement accounts, HSA, state tax benefits for the 529s, etc.), and then put the rest in taxable brokerage accounts invested in an index fund until you figure out if/what else to do with it. And perhaps talk to a fee-only fiduciary adviser first if you are not comfortable figuring this out yourself.

    7. check with your accountant but I would do the 529 superfunding ($190k to each kid). the market is down and that still won’t 100% pay for college so i don’t think you’re overfunding. if you’re going to give more give more to the youngest kid if you’ve had to split contributions to the kids because of tax deduction laws. PLUS i believe a big superfunding will lessen the tax hit you take from receiving the inheritance but maybe I’m wrong about that.

      after that i’d invest the rest. if either of you are individual contractors without a 401K ask your accountant about a “defined benefit plan,” you can contribute any amount each year for retirement and it’s a top of the line deduction. we’ve put in as much as $130k in some years. not bounded by income like SEP-IRAs where you can only give 25% of your salary up to $52k or whatever. but you do have to pay to set it up and continue it. we did this when we got a big windfall from selling a property where we walked away with $600k in profits.

      1. How much do you think college costs? All my tuition and living costs for 4 years at a well respected in-state university was around 60K, and that was less than a decade ago. A fully funded 529 is in no way a requirement for a bachelor’s degree. Unless you know your kid wants to go to medical school or something, to say 190K isn’t going to fully pay for college is not true in many cases.

        1. Yeah, we are currently putting a kid through in-state college and even without scholarships, the OTD total (including room & board) is about $90k. If the OP’s 529s are invested in target date funds, I don’t know why there would be a gap.

        2. It varies pretty widely by state. I know someone either here or the moms page said their State U is $45k per year estimated cost of attendance. Our best State U is less than half that (including room and board), and it’s not the cheapest in the state. But yeah $190k per kid is a lot, and would pay for 4 years at quite a few schools.

  11. It’s weird, I know a lot of people who drool over The Fold, but I don’t find their designs at all appealing. Too much polyester, and too many pieces in unwearable colors like this.

    2. If you see it in person you’ll understand. The material is much heavier than something like Ann Taylor. It lays beautifully.

        1. It might be more formal (formal style doesn’t move as quickly as fashion style) so I don’t agree with your assertion of “dated”.

        2. It may just be for a different lifestyle than yours.

          It is nowhere near AT quality.

  12. huge huge (HUGE) thanks to the hospitalist from yesterday and all the tips from others — we’ve connected with a social worker, the local old folks services (human services), and are strongly considering calling the ambulance. i guess that’s the only way to get her in the ER if we can drive her to the ER but not get her to get out?

    just a note that apparently there’s a name for not being able to recognize health conditions – anosognosia. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22832-anosognosia

    1. I responded yesterday (suggesting house calls) and my aunt suffered/suffers from anosognosia to a huge degree. It’s very common in dementia and VERY hard to navigate as family caregivers. Teepa Snow has some communication resources that might be helpful to you (she specializes in dementia but some of her scripts would work for other conditions too). Good luck.

    3. Thanks for the update. Good luck with your Mom. Keep us posted. We are rooting for you and your family.

  13. I got a pedicure over the weekend and an inner toe was sliced where it abuts the neighbor toe. I cleaned it and covered it and changed the bandage frequently since it happened. Today I woke up to it throbbing. I escalated to hydrogen peroxide rinsing. But I’m about to travel for Easter. It looks OK now (has not progressed to red / swollen / throbbing), so is there anything urgent care can do to hold off on it progressing before the world reopens next Tuesday? It is a good slice, down to where the blood vessels are in the dermis (and the nerve endings). Never looking away again because I’m not used to sharp cutting implements, just a wood stick (was not at usual pedicure place; lesson learned).

    1. Go to a CVS with an urgent care. I did something similar once before heading out to a conference and I received a prescription for an antibiotic. I don’t mess around with feet–the dark ,warm and sometimes moist environment combined with under nail environment (plus possible exposure at the salon to other feet issues) is nothing to mess with.

      1. Maybe because I’ve been watching The Pitt too much, but I second the recommendation to go to Urgent Care.

        I also feel like I might report the salon to your local department of health, because I am not an expert on pedicures, but I don’t think they should cut you like that!

    2. Peroxide is no longer recommended for at home wound care. It doesn’t distinguish between healthy and infected tissues and can cause more harm than help.

      I would put neosporin on it and keep it clean and dry. If it does escalate – especially if you see any red streaks – urgent care or ER.

        1. I’m still seeing that it is recommended when there are signs of infection (which, I would consider throbbing a sign). Has that changed, or are you referring to the general guidance to avoid antibiotic use if there are no signs of infection?

          1. I’ve had other topical antibiotics recommended instead (because of the risk of developing sensitivity to neomycin). Sometimes prescription is needed.

            I don’t think it’s overkill to consult a PCP or nurse line, or a pharmacist, and I think a real healthcare provider can do better and reduce risks compared to DIY.

        2. Neosporin is no longer recommended in case of allergies, as far as I know. But I’ve been using it for years with no problems.

    3. I’d go to an urgent care today, likely needs an antibiotic. Though I’m curious where you are that ‘the world closes’ for easter weekend? In my area, there’s some limited hours on Sunday but most everything is fully open otherwise…

      1. OP — many K-12 schools here do spring break then, so adults are often gone or at home and everywhere is short staffed or closed due to anticipated low volume of customers that week.

  14. Can anyone recommend underwear for a size 12 pear with very large butt/hips? Everything I buy either fits when I try it on but rides up almost immediately or I’ll size up and then it’s just too big. There has to be something that works. I used to love the Gap hipsters but even those are letting me down these days. Are my proportions that weird!? Help! I just want comfortable everyday underwear that fits.

    1. You have my body type and exact lifelong underwear problems and the only ones that work PERFECTLY for me are the Icebreaker Merino Siren Hipkini briefs. They’re expensive but have totally eliminated ride-up, which I never thought was possible for me. They’ve also lasted a really long time, even though some serious abuse in the outdoors. I still have a few Gap Hipsters in my drawer but I never reach for them now.

    2. I’m a 14-16 with a very big butt (sigh) and admittedly my problem is often that things ride down rather than up but I just figured that’s because i’m slightly too big for the largest size they come in. i wore jockey elance (100% cotton) for years but then switched to a jockey moisture wicking one that’s ok… but fits perfectly, no problems. the ones that ride down are the SilRiver 100% silk travel hipster bikini from Amazon… rides down a bit on me but if you’re smaller it should be fine.

    3. Aerie boybriefs. I am a 14/16 and find the XL comfortable, perhaps a smidge loose, so I would go with the L for your size. Mine don’t ride up at all, and I am a very exaggerated pear.

    4. Chantelle soft stretch. Cost a small fortune but I am a similar size & shape to you, and this is the first time in my life I’m not constantly noticing that I’m wearing underwear. They fit! They don’t move! They don’t bunch or pinch! I was very skeptical because they’re “one size” fits XS to SL but… they really work?? Highly recommend.

    6. Vanity Fair Illumination String Bikinis. Somehow they stay put and are so comfortable, no riding. Only downside is major VPL. When I want to avoid VPL and be comfortable, Soma Vanishing Edge Bikini. I will be bereft if they ever discontinue these.

      Note these are both bikini styles- I hate the feeling of extra fabric on my hips. Soma makes Vanishing Edge in other styles if a bikini style isn’t for you.

    8. Honestly, as a 40-something w the hips and butt at every size, I do a thong. I find one that’s very loose, does the bare minimum while meeting requirements, and that’s it. Everything else has always been incredibly uncomfortable for me. I’ve been wearing a VS thong since I was 19.

    9. Soma vanishing edge. With a full rear, I don’t want those panty lines digging in either. So I appreciate the no slip and no show edges. I ordered a few different styles / sizes when they were on sale.

      Otherwise – Hanky Panky thongs.

  15. any less expensive alternatives to thigh society coolingshorts? i have a pair of uniqlo that are OK but they seem to have been discontinued…

  16. I recently ordered those shoes and ended up returning them. They were tight over the top of my foot, but maybe they work well for flatter feet? I know they have odor protection of some sort, but with the non-leather material, I was also concerned they would become too stinky, even with socks. They did seem well cushioned though.

  18. I have always found separate finances so weird! But I just found out my cousin and her husband have separate Amazon accounts (she pays for prime, he does not)!

    1. OKAY, my spouse and I had this dynamic as well, but that’s because I order things for holidays only, and shipping was always more or less free anyway and he only uses his for us to watch television.

      1. We both canceled our Amazon accounts in the last year though, so no longer relevant.

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