Suit of the Week: Ann Taylor

49 Comments

1. hump day! i’m looking for new bedding — someone here introduced me to schoolhouse recently, are there any other stores like that that people like? so hard to tell who’s a dropshipper these days and you’re just paying $$$ for amazon-quality crap.

   1. What’s your budget?

      1. OP here – no budget — i kept my last bedding set for 10 years.

         I should have clarified that I’m looking for kind of a minimal look that will work with very traditional heirloom furniture, so for example I do need something like a dust ruffle. My current bedding set has 5 pillows for show that mostly live on the floor. And I hate duvets so currently I’m only using the duvet cover. Is there such a thing as a modern bedspread or comforter that either tucks over existing pillows or doesn’t have too many shams?

         1. If your budget is truly unlimited, Frette really does live up to the hype. I’d look at their light quilts and bedspreads section to see if they work for you. But it is VERY spendy. Serena and Lily also may have options that work for you at a still spendy but slightly less so price point.

            1. +1 for Frette. If you can afford it, it’ll probably be less expensive in the long term as it lasts a lifetime. Perfect with heirloom furniture.

   2. The Company Store would be my go to.

      1. yup. Company Store is my go-to as well. I keep going back there for stuff – I’ve gotten flannel, linen, percale, sateen and its all held up well for me.

         1. +1 I loooove my Company Store percale sheets

      2. The Company Store used to be my go-to, but the quality seems to have declined. I had a fitted sheet wear through and rip in less than one year – compare that to sheets I bought from them in the 1990s that are still fine.

   3. Our sheets are from Brooklinen, and they spark joy.

   4. I love Parachute. I’ve been using a linen quilt in the warm seasons from them for 5 years and recently purchased their percale sheets, which are excellent quality. For winter, we have a Company Store duvet and cover and Garnet Hill sateen sheets.

   5. Our go to for bedding and towels is Coyuchi.

   6. All of my bedding for years has come from West Elm. I get the tencel sheets, duvet covers, and quilts, and the all season duvet.

   7. Anthopologie has beautiful bedding.

   8. If you have the moolah, Bella Notte is a gorgeous brand that does very luxe, feminine, Victoriana and boho maximalist (but no prints/patterns really other than florals) stuff–just stunning. Bella Notte is what I would spend all my money on if I had it! I used to work for a high-end bedding store and other brands I recommend are Yves Delorme, Matteo (great for minimalist loft type spaces or gender neutral spaces), Coyuchi, and John Robshaw. Be prepared for sticker shock, but my attitude is there’s two big jumps in quality: $50 and under up to $200 or so, and then from $200 up to $1000 genuine heirloom like Sferra quality sets. The jump from $200 to $500 isn’t any great shakes, but there’s incremental increases in quality and design along the way.

2. Does anyone here happen to know where the data would be gathered to show teratogenic effects of an environmental chemical expose? In my very small local circle I know several kids with the same significant birth defect. I hear a lot of talk about how to support the kids, but nothing about research or prevention.

   1. Are you looking to find out what the chemical is or do you already know? Is it a legal exposure or from dumping?

   2. If I was concerned about this kind of environmental chemical exposure in my community, I’d probably start with the following resources:
      -friend who works at a local public university in a research group that studies these things (elsewhere, but they might know where to start)
      -local public health department
      -pediatrician

      I don’t know that any of them are the people who would study this, but they could point me in the right direction.

   3. EPA? I assume you’ve done this in the reverse: rather than look up the chemical, you’ve looked up causes of the birth defect?

      FWIW, in law school I had the opportunity to work on an Erin Brockovich-type case. The victims had lived near a factory that produced the black tar coating on telephone poles and had dumped the waste just right outside near where the workers lived. While a couple people had the same diseases (rare brain cancers, etc), the thing that stayed with me was the incredible range of health effects – it wasn’t just cancer, it wasn’t just underdeverloped lungs in infants, it wasn’t just skin lesions, it was 30-40-50 different recognized effects of exposure.

      Any chance these people share ancestors several generations back, and some hidden recessive gene has just come out? (Not sure how small and how local you’re talking. This would be possible in my husband’s hometown.)

      Do they share a well or live close enough together that their wells are pulling water from the same source? Well water tests are easy to get and relatively affordable ($200-ish, I think, the last time I had to get one).

      Is there a history of some pollutant in the area? Factory, airport, military facility?

      1. OSHA has workplace chemical sheets that may list the effects of exposure, if you know the name of the chemical.

   4. You should reach out to an attorney in your area who handles toxic torts. Sadly, they will have the most information on what environmental exposures could have affected these kids.

   5. Definitely contact your local and state health departments. They always have someone working on this.

   6. I just listened to a Cited 2 part podcast episode discussing health impacts at Hanford (WA) due to undisclosed botched nuclear experiments. They mentioned a few organizations that might be what you are looking for. Link to follow.

   7. I just listened to a Cited 2 part podcast episode discussing health impacts at Hanford (WA) due to undisclosed botched nuclear experiments. They mentioned a few organizations that might be what you are looking for. Link to follow.

      https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-podcast/id558228325?i=1000486563584

3. If anyone has recommendations for nail polish that’s the same color as this gorgeous jacket, please let me know!

   1. OPI Pamploma Purple might fit the bill

      1. Oh, that’s perfect. Thank you!

   2. It’s lovely

      1. Brb, I’m ordering everything in this color.

   3. Same question but lipstick!

      1. Gucci Sophie Plum?

      2. Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment, Warm Leatherette. Or Nars explicit lipstick, After Party.

4. any other sensitive eyes (dry eyes) sufferers out here? what are we wearing for mascara these days, and have you ever found a lash tint or lift or growth serum that worked with your sensitive eyes?

   1. ilia mascara so good for sensitivity

      1. +1 – Ilia or Rare beauty were both good for me. I had a lift once and it made my short lashes grow out in a really weird way (they got dry/tangled?) despite using the serum so I just figured it wasn’t for me.

      2. do you guys like Ilia’s volumizing mascara or their lengthening one? thx!

   2. Perricone No Mascara Mascara

   3. I like Almay for drugstore stuff

      I did NOT like that Tower brand that’s supposed to be targeted to sensitive eyes.

   4. I’ve had good luck with any of Clinique’s formulas.

   5. I use Restasis once a day & have greatly reduced sensitivity!

      But to answer your question, Lancôme Lash Idole doesn’t bother my eyes.

      I did use a lash growth serum (Latisse) and my Opthamologist told me to stop using it because it exacerbates dry eyes and sensitivity.

   6. I have sensitive allergy prone eyes and Tower 28 has worked well for me some time.

5. i finally broke down and bought Jones Road Beauty palettes and have to say: they smell and feel like i’m using my grandmother’s lipstick, as in something from the 80s. that maybe had the cap off for a while.

   there is also very, very, very minimal color. even the highlighter, i prefer Haloscape.

   1. Oh good to know! I’ve been on a blush kick lately and I’ve been surprised that my favorites are Rhode, Lawless, and Rare Beauty. Not sure who is on Haley and Selena’s teams but the products are good!

   2. I have not liked anything I’ve tried from Jones Road. I think they are experts at social media marketing but not actually cosmetics!

      1. FWIW, their brow gel and concealer pencil are great. Agree other products aren’t.

         1. I like the Miracle Balm maybe not to the point of loving it but it’s a nice product.

6. Hi all, I lost my job a few months ago and have finally caught up on general life admin which has been neglected. It feels great and I’m ready to start working again! I’m considering purchasing a small profitable business which I can own and operate (any sector).I have always wanted to run my own business, and I work very hard, however have young children which sometimes throw a spanner in the works.

   I have $1m net worth including my home, so would need to do a phased buyout. I’m planning to reach out to small accounting and corporate finance businesses next week to make an expression of interest. Any pearls of wisdom from this group?

   1. Huh. Tell me more about this. I feel like it’s unusual to want to buy a business but not care at all what it is? Hair salon v restaurant v doggie daycare have wildly different costs and regulations. How would you get the loan to buy the business ? Is your house fully paid off? This seems like the time to get a new job (maybe in an industry where you would like to eventually have a business). Coming in and buying a business you have no background in will be a dumpster fire

   2. I’ve seen people tout the benefits of carwashes and laundromats, as very hands-on money-makers, but of course do your research!

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