Coffee Break: Cashmere Scarf
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I've always been a fan of Nordstrom's cashmere scarves — they're thin, wear really well, and come in such pretty colors. At the moment this pretty scarf in light blue ombré is marked down to $85; after the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale it'll go back up to $129.
It also comes in a pink ombré!
(Not in the sale, but similar: this modal scarf also has a pretty blue ombré option!)
Sales of note for 7/19:
- Nordstrom – The Anniversary Sale has started! Here's our big roundup of the best workwear, as well as everything we've selected thus far.
- Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, 60% off sale and 40% off everything — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Banana Republic – Summer sale up to 60% off sale styles + extra 20% off
- The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
- J.Crew – 50% off select cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
- Lululemon – Summer sale!
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added)
- M.M.LaFleur – 25% off jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clear the rack, extra 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Talbots – Red Door Sale! Prices start at $15
- Theory – End of season sale is on!
For anyone who has made the jump from traditional employment to solo practitioner/self employed/consulting work – what is your best piece of advice for someone preparing to make that transition?
Be prepared for your clients to drag their feet paying their invoices.
I went through a period freelancing and have a ton of folks in my circles who have done fractional work long term and short term. Know tax impact. You’ll lose about 30% to what you are being paid. Treat your retirement like you would with a standard job and recognize the employer match you would be getting is real money. Be clear with terms of payment–you may need to go into small claims court someday. Recognize you have flex but in some ways it is much harder. The nature of the work means you’ll be on someone else’s schedule and deadlines frequently. And it’s harder to say no when you don’t know where the next gig is coming from and for how long. It sucks to realize that they often need you most during key vacation times because that’s when their own staff is absent or when deadlines are hardest because they know they’re asking for something on short turnaround–otherwise, it would be going to staff. Also be comfortable on scope. Folks will try to “pick your brain.” Calls on scoping project can easily be swayed into strategy–don’t let that happen without payment for the time. And be clear on what scope does and doesn’t cover. For example, I recently wrote a cover story for a publication that paid really well. But it also had started as a feature that was pushed so it could become a cover. While I appreciated the exposure–I was paid on word count. Going back to make sure source quotes were still accurate was unpaid labor (though I was OK with it for the byline, relationship, and prominence on a huge topic).
Most folks don’t mean to add unpaid time. But it can easily happen if the project dynamics shift after the fact–more meetings, more reviews, more intensive work, etc. Give an hour estimate and cap and then negotiate higher if needed or you may hit where they balk at the bill or try to lower the project scope in advance to meet the budget (which usually ends up being a lot of the same work for less pay).
REALLY know what you are getting and giving for health insurance going this way. What happens if spouse carrying the insurance loses their job or ages into Medicare?
Be aware that you’ll have to do everything for yourself that may have been done for you at your previous employer: shop for various types of insurance; locate, engage and pay an IT professional, CPA, and lawyer; file quarterly taxes; bill clients and collect fees; maintain financial records; create a website; design marketing materials, and lots more. If you’re a lawyer, your state regulatory authority may require you to designate another lawyer to step in and take over your practice to protect clients if you became incapacitated or died. It’s a LOT but I did it and was never happier.
Exact tips probably depend a lot on industry (for example I don’t have to invoice clients) but I second the comments about taxes (estimated taxes are a pain) and retirement money. I have substantial retirement savings from a previous W2 job and since I don’t plan to touch them for 25+ years they should grow a lot in the market before my retirement date. Without that I’m not sure I would have been as comfortable making the jump to self-employment because it’s definitely really hard to save for retirement the same way.
I have an older model of this scarf that needs some professional attention. Can anyone suggest a mail-in reweaver?
No suggestion for a reweaver since I do all my own swiss darning. However just a note that the repair will cost more than the scarf.
Book recommendations please! I just went on maternity leave and baby doesn’t seem to be coming yet, so I would like some nice relaxing reads while I wait instead of scrolling my phone mindlessly. I just don’t want anything really sad/depressing, particularly anything that involves children being mistreated. I like everything from beach novels to mystery novels to the classics. Anything interesting but fun you read recently? Ideally not too long, my focus isn’t 100%. Non-fiction recommendations also welcome!
Dungeon crawler Carl is a delight to read and on audio
I wouldn’t file this under “relaxing,” though!
Recent lighter reads I’ve enjoyed were Down with the Shipmans (Meg Mitchell Moore), the Night We Met (Abby Jiminez), American Fantasy (Emma Straub), and The Missed Connection (Tia Williams).
Especially on audio!
Recently I have really enjoyed The Wedding People by Allison Espach. Also the Marlow Murder Club series by Robert Thorogood and the Molly Sutton mysteries by Nell Goddin (first one is The Third Girl) are fun.
+1 for The Wedding People
The Miss Fisher books, if you enjoy the show! There is a subplot in some about an orphanage / mistreatment of girls issue but not graphic or anything.
Fun read! And yes, the subplot treats the subject on the same level as a cozy mystery would. Not going to put you in tears, just cheer for old fashioned feminists!
On my mat leave I went on a Patricia Highsmith kick and read all of the Ripley novels (Talented Mr Ripley is the first one, but there are more, and they are very very fun; I prefer older, craftier Ripley to his more youthful self).
100% recommend Jasmine Guillory books – she’s got 9 out and a 10th coming this fall. First 6 are in one universe, but you don’t need to read them in any order. 7 was part of a Disney collab to rewrite to modern day romance (there are 4 in that series by different authors, which are also great!) and then 8&9 are also in one universe, but don’t need to read in order.
“The Wedding Date” by Jasmine Guillory is one of my all time favorites in the genre!!
I love the James Herriot books for this kind of situation.
I’m laughing at myself trying to decide if there needs to be a content warning for calving season
The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion!!!
Anything by Elin Hildebrand for true beach reads
Anything by Emily Henry or Carley Fortune for romance
+1 Elin Hildebrand – I read all her books on maternity leave while the baby slept on me
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. It’s a cozy series set in a glamourized version of Victorian England. They start a little slow, but the books get better and better throughout the series.
Diksha Basu (author): The Windfall, Destination Wedding
Just added Destination Wedding to my hold list!
Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein. Some heavier themes but ultimately very uplifting.