Coffee Break: Beaded Necklace
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We're not back to the days of “statement necklaces for work,” but we are slowly going back to more substantial jewelry — and I am here for it. This beaded necklace from Cuyana is a great example — it isn't a wispy gold necklace but a significant piece of jewelry.
They show it with a strapless gown and it looks lovely, but I also think it would look great peeking out of a crisp white blouse or atop a neutral lady jacket.
The necklace is $398, at Cuyana.
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. Don't forget to check to see if their daily beauty deal is a good one for you – e.g., 7/23 Lancome; 7/24 YSL; 7/29 up to 40% off select lip products; 7/31 Bobbi Brown; 8/1 Jo Malone
- 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!
I will be in Spain next month and I have a ridiculous habit of buying designer bags when I’m traveling. I think I’d like to buy a Loewe bag in Spain — that brand hasn’t really been on my radar so I’m not super up on their styles. Any suggestions? Or other brands I should be looking at?
A very practical souvenir!
I am not familiar with any Spanish designers, but you could consider searching for bags carried by Queen Letizia. That might lead you to some Spanish brands.
Pretty much any designer bag is cheaper in Europe than the US these days, especially with VAT. Loewe makes gorgeous bags, but Bottega/Hermes are more my personal style if I’m going to spend over $2k. I’d lurk around purse blog forums and see if anything catches your eye. Enjoy!!
I also have the same habit. For Loewe – they shine as fun bags but not practical every day bags. Go for a fun color! Leave some room in your budget for the add ons – charms, straps. Personally, I get a lot more use out of my small size flamenco, than the larger size. People have mixed reactions on living with the puzzle bag, mostly on the getting stuff in and out of it.
Is it Loewe that makes the colored leather bags that are kind of drawstring looking at top? I saw someone carrying a lavender one recently and thought it was so pretty.
How often would you say you play or have fun in an average day, especially a work day? I’m very interested in this subject, especially but not exclusively for mothers. Do you get time each day to do something for yourself that is genuinely fun/makes you happy/isn’t productive?
I don’t aim for play or fun, it’s not my thing, but I do make a point of food focused treats, like today I got icecream.
It’s varied across ages and stages but with an 8 year old I would say most of the time I spend with my kid is fun so probably at least a couple hours a day. I also have a LOT of time to myself (almost too much) although a good chunk of it is spent reading at various kid activities. I’m not someone who wants exotic hobbies though, reading is my preferred thing to do with my free time, so it suits me well.
My kids are teens so my evenings are largely free for ‘fun’ more so than they have been in years. We typically have an early family dinner at least 5 nights a week, but then by 6:30/7pm I’m able to do my own thing. Usually, I’ll do a mix of working out (plus shower/red light mask), read for a bit, watch tv/movie with whichever kid is watching something I’m interested in, and then in bed by 9:30 to read some more as a wind down. It’s weird to go to bed before your kids btw!
I like to paint my nails or do some watercolor painting, usually after kid bedtime while watching a low-effort TV show, and that’s fun. I also play video games with my husband a couple of nights a week. On weekends it varies if I have plans with friends or if the kids have a lot going on.
I wouldn’t say I play, but I definitely do things that are enjoyable everyday. I listen to podcasts while I walk, I knit, I read. Also during my walk I take a picture of something that catches my eye, a pretty flower, and architectural detail, the sun rise, and store them in a folder to look back on. Today it was a woodpecker and I’m so delighted I got the shot.
I like so much about my life (biglaw partner with 4 kids) but big piece I don’t like is that I have almost no time to do anything fun/playful (unless I steal it from something else)
I smoke weed and read.
Daily if regular exercise (running and weightlifting) counts as fun, which it is for me. Probably 5-6 days a week otherwise — reading, games, hanging out with friends, etc. When my kids were <5 and I worked in BigLaw, it was more like 0-1 day a week.
How do you typically celebrate your birthday? What does the ideal birthday look like to you?
I just celebrated a birthday last week and it was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I was taking painting workshops in southern France, which probably helped! But I realized what made the day special was that I was doing several of my favorite things: traveling, learning, connecting with others—and also, and this is key: I was NOT the center of attention.
I used to feel like I “should” plan something because friends asked what I wanted to do, but then I’d feel so awkward at some event where the focus was on me. No more! Now I’m going to actively take control of my birthday and make plans to do something fun and generative every year.
I like it as an excuse to treat myself to something, but am not into any sort of public fuss whatsoever. Sometimes the treat is a splurge dinner out but the waitstaff is given absolutely zero inkling that it’s a birthday. The possibility of a free dessert isn’t worth it.