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Suit of the Week: Ann Taylor Suiting Sale!

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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

Ooh: I just saw a reader asking in comments about whether Ann Taylor ever has sales on suits, and wondered if/when they'd have their big 30% off suiting sale again — and in fact it is now! Through 2/6 you can take 30% off all suits, which are often excluded from their promos. This pretty blue crosshatch suit looks like the perfect dusty blue as we head into spring — as we've noted before, light blue suiting pieces are surprisingly versatile, and I like that there are multiple pants in multiple fits, as well as a boatneck dress with cap sleeves (perfect for layering), a pencil skirt, and a matching shell (which seems to be a trend at Ann Taylor — how are you wearing sleeveless tops in suiting material, ladies? With the matching blazer? By themselves? Layered on top of a turtleneck?). The pieces are $79-$179, and come in sizes 00-18. Crosshatch Suiting

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Sales of note for 12.5

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75 Comments

  1. The anniversary trip post this morning got me thinking – what’s the most romantic vacation you’ve ever taken with your SO?

    I’ll start – mine was going on safari with my husband. The mix of amazing food and wine plus being outdoors close to gorgeous nature and frequent spa trips was perfect for us to really unplug from the world and connect with each other.

    1. Bora Bora! The scenery is unbelievably gorgeous and those overwater bungalows are so romantic.

    2. I’ve posted about this before – a 10 day summer road trip through New England. We stayed in tiny B&Bs and guest cottages as we hopscotched through 5 states and visited small towns and ate at road-side seafood stands, etc.

      1. Would you be willing to share your itinerary? I’ve never planned a trip like this so I’m not even sure how to start but that sounds so perfect!

        1. You’re lucky I sent an email to my husband before we went :) Looks like it was only a week, but it sure felt like 10 days!

          Saturday, August 5
          Activity: Drive to Boston
          Lodging: Tbd Priceline hotel, minimum $250 per night
          Dinner: Green Dragon Tavern

          Sunday, August 6
          Activities:
          1) Lessons on Liberty, 90 minute walking tour, 10 am, $15 pp, purchase online in advance
          2) USS Constitution, $10 pp
          3) JFK Presidential Library, last film at 3:55 pm, $10 pp
          Lodging: Wilderness B&B, Woodstock, NH

          Monday, August 7
          Breakfast: B&B
          Activity: Drive to Lincoln, NH
          Activity: Explore Franconia Notch
          Dinner: Woodstock Brewery
          Lodging: Same

          Tuesday, August 8
          Breakfast: Sunny Day Diner, Lincoln, NH for banana bread French toast
          Activity: Mt Washington
          Lodging: Airbnb Madison, Maine https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13926163 <– probably one of the favorite places of the trip – I felt like I was in the original Parent Trap :)
          Dinner: Old Mill Pub, Skowhegan, ME
          Activity: mini golf and ice cream, on the main strip in Skowhegan

          Wednesday, August 9
          Activity: Morning: Drive to Acadia
          Activity: Afternoon: Explore Bar Harbor/Acadia
          Lodging: (a meh Airbnb – the only miss of the whole trip – it was a guest room in someone's house)
          Dinner: Union River Lobster Pot <– amazing and they have a rolling green lawn with Adirondack chairs in front of a stream for you to wait for a table

          Thursday, August 10
          Activity: Morning: Acadia
          Lunch: Red's Eats, Wiscasset, ME (super famous as the "best" – honestly, the line was INSANE and I think any other lobster pound would have been just as good)
          Activity: Afternoon: Drive to Freeport, visit LLBean
          Activity: Evening: Drive to Newport, RI
          Lodging: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8636059 <– we seriously looked at real estate in this town after staying here (the room looked totally different when we stayed there)

          Friday, August 11
          Breakfast: Johnny cakes at Bishop's 4th St Diner
          Activity: Explore Newport, RI
          Lunch: White Horse Tavern
          Dinner: Jo's American Bistro
          Lodging: Airbnb

          Saturday, August 12
          Drive home

          1. I live in Boston area and ski in Lincoln, NH. So I choked when I saw a drive from Woodstock to Lincoln as an activity. It’s like 10 min drive slowly :)
            Also, it’s around 1.5 hours drive from Lincoln to Mount Washington and then about 3 hours drive to Madison, Main. You probably was driving the whole day.

            Why didn’t you start your trip in Vermont? You could’ve driven to Manchester, VT, then go to either Lenox, MA and Berkshires or White Mountains, closer to Mount Washington, then go to Madison ME, then to Bar Harbor/Acadia ME, and then stop in Portland, Newport and finish in Boston.
            Just saying

          2. This sounds great, but given how busy you were through-out your vacation, when did you ever have time for a little romance with him? If I had a husband, I would spend a little LESS time going all round and about, and instead spend more time in our hotel room with room service, if you get what I mean. My ex told me that is all he wanted to do, and if he actually was any good at it, I would have agreed. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. And his breathe did not help matters at all. Hopefully his current girlfreind is more understanding then I was.

      2. WOW that sounds incredible, my mouth is watering at the thought of the fresh seafood. Safari is also on our bucketlist!
        I don’t have much to go off of yet but will be following the thread with interest for future trips.

    3. We live in Charlotte and my husband completely surprised me for our first anniversary with a weekend away at the Old Edwards in Highlands, NC. I had no idea where we were going until we pulled up to the main building. It’s been a very special place for us ever since and we try to go back every year now. When we win the lottery (ha. ha. ha.) we hope to buy a house there.

    4. We just got in the car and left for four weeks. Did over 10,000 miles across the continental US and back. No reservations, just flying by the seat of our pants the entire time.

    5. Our honeymoon to the Turks and Caicos. We had a large condo at Le Vele in Grace Bay. We snorkeled and went horseback riding on the beach. We had delicious dinners at different restaurants every night. Other than that, we laid on the beach or in the hotel room all day doing nothing.

      Our 10-year anniversary is coming up this year, and we’re going to Oahu. We haven’t taken a trip just the two of us since our honeymoon. We’ve traveled for work, visited friends or family, traveled with family, been to probably two dozen weddings, and traveled with our child, but this will be the first just-the-two-of us trip in 10 years. I’m super excited!

    6. Paris! I know it’s cliche, but we had such an amazing trip (in August, which goes against conventional wisdom, but the weather was lovely.)

      1. Tell me more! We’re considering doing the same and I need all the recs I can get.

        1. I’ve only been once but it was the best trip of my life. DH and I had a friend who helped with some dinner reservations and off the beaten path recs. We’re more wanderers than planners/museum people so we spent hours just wandering, so I feel like some of the things we saw and did aren’t on a typical itinerary. A tiny restaurante called Le Timbre was absolutely to die for. I think it’s in the 6th arr. It’s a very neighborhood place that a friend living in Paris took us to for dinner. Get the morielles… trust me! We did lunch at Tour d’Argent. It was $$$$ but the experience is one we still talk about years later. We did a jazz show at Duc des Lombards which was one of the more memorable parts of our trip. Dinner at Ches ami Louis on our last night was out of this world.

          Biggest surprise: Going up the Eiffel Tower. We didn’t book in advance and were proudly going to pass because #tourists. But we were walking by, nearly dusk, and no line. So we went up and it was beyond memorable.

          Best planning: we got to paris mid afternoon. After checking in we jumped a river cruise around sunset and it was the best way to set the tone for the week and get a lay of the land.

          Hotel: Le Saint Hotel a Paris in Saint Germaine. Flies under the radar. TEll them it’s a special occasion and they upgraded us to the top floor with a sweeping balcony.

          aaaaaah, take me back!

      2. We also had a wonderful time in Paris in August last year. We celebrated our 25th anniversary and really enjoyed ourselves..

    7. The Maldives! So lovely, so peaceful and so remote. I had mixed feelings about travelling there as a queer woman, but it was a fantastic trip.

  2. Any recommendations for northern Spain? DH and I will be in Santander (northern coast) in early May for a conference, and would like to spend a few extra days exploring, but not sure where. Adults only. Thank you!

    1. My husband and I took a trip to San Sebastian (which google maps says is about 2 hours away from Santander, if that isn’t too far) maybe… four years ago? And still talk about how amazing it was. We stayed in the central part of the city and had a great time just walking around and eating all the pintxos/drinking all the wine.

      1. +1. I went to San Sebastian when I was 14, approximately 20 years ago, and it’s still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.

    3. We were in northern Spain in September. We flew into Bilbao and drove to San Sebastian.

      Bilbao is neat. I didn’t think I would like the Guggenheim because I don’t really like modern art, but it was really interesting and worth the money. We also liked the maritime museum (Itsasmuseum) and the Basque history museum (Museo Arqueológico, Etnográfico e Histórico Vasco). We were there two nights.

      We rented a car and stopped at Gaztelugatxe. It was a hike to get out there, but worth it.

      We stayed two nights in Lekeitio and watched the fishermen bring in the daily catch.

      Then we were in San Sebastian for a few nights. We climbed up the mountain to the old fortress. Went to the photo club gallery. Went to the markets.

      Our main activity when we travel is to walk and walk and walk and to eat. You can do both of those in northern Spain and never feel cheated. The food is amazing and it’s a gorgeous place.

    4. Santander is an old lady but she is still beautiful and you have plenty of things to do there, enjoy the old taverns, Sardinero beach and seafront, try “rabas” and, in good weather, take the small boat to El puntal, the Somo beach on the other side of the bay, the tavern on its beach there is famous https://www.losreginas.com/rutas-en-barco-a-la-playa-de-el-puntal/
      If your conference is not in La Magdalena Palace, go there.
      In the Santander region (Cantabria) there are some of the most beautiful villages in Spain (Santillana del Mar, Potes, Comillas, Bárcena Mayor), fantastic hiking trails (El cares or Fuente De in Picos de Europa) and wild beaches as in Dunes of Liencres or charming fishing villages such as Santoña or San Vicente de la Barquera (great sunset on the cliff of Guerra).
      A place to taste good food is Cañadío in Santander, as I said before, try the “rabas” in a “tapa” or better “racion” (fried squid) , the anchovies of Santoña (cofradiavirgendelpuerto.es); “cocido” (stewed) in its two versions (lebaniego or montañes), and “sobaos” and “quesadas” deserts of the Valley of the Pas.
      Last time I was in Somo bay locals took me to “El Tronky”, the best grilled sardines of my life https://www.asadoreltronky.com/ (super casual place).

      1. My partner’s family is from Santander. It is a beautiful place, as is the region in which it sits, Cantabria. Playa de Arnia is a beautiful and secluded beach – there is a small restaurant overlooking the ocean that is a great place to spend an afternoon: El Cazzurro. It is a short drive from Santander.

  3. Just curious: if you go on dates, who do you expect to pay? My brother was saying the expectation in 2020 is that it’s an equal split, but I’ve always been surprised if the bill came and the man didn’t offer to get it. Am I protesting too little?

    1. I always offer to split. I would never expect a man to pay, although it’s nice when they do.

    2. When I was dating DH in 2013, he picked up the first few bills, then we started either splitting costs or alternating picking up the tab. I was a student at the time, and if he was really taking me out on a date somewhere, then normally he would pay because I wouldn’t have been able to afford the restaurant otherwise. If we were just eating dinner at Chipotle, we would each pay or I would get the tab. Otherwise, he would have basically been paying for all of my food.

    3. I usually find guys pay on the first date although I always offer, and after date one I insist on splitting or evening it out somehow.

    4. On the one hand yes, it’s 2020. On the other hand, I’ll make equal payments when the wage gap is closed, when I’m not subject to s*xism at work, and when women aren’t put in the position of doing the majority of child rearing and house chores. Oh, and when men bear an equal (financial and physical) burden in preventing pregnancies and cheerfully put on c*ndoms. I dislike men who claim that “we are equal now” –usually en route to calling a woman a hypocrite for expecting/accepting a man paying for a date– while ignoring the ways in which patriarchy still disadvantages women economically.

      I’m being slightly facetious. I offer to split if we’re on relatively equal financial footing, but if he offers to pay I accept without guilt or cognitive dissonance and the above is why.

      2. Holding an individual responsible for a systemic problem seems like a bad way to start a relationship.

        1. Yes, but why should he benefit from the systemic problem? I like this way of evening things out! Sounds like a good way to filter for men who would be good equal partners who get it.

      3. I agree with this, even if some of this is tongue in mouth. Men have taken advantage of us s-xueally forever, so what is the big deal if they pay for the s-x ahead of time, as I am told I am very good in the bedroom so why wouldn’t I trade some of my bedroom expertise for a nice dinner and a movie? I know most women I know agree with me.

    5. For the first date, I will offer to split it but the guy often insists on paying. By the third date, I will often insist on paying or at least splitting it. Once it’s a true relationship, we often switch off who pays.

      I wonder how much of this have to do with age. I’m In my mid-30s, and in my experience, most guys around my age or older want to pay for the first date. Heck, when I started dating in the 90s it was expected that the guy would pay. But I could easily see the expectation being different if I was in my early 20s.

      1. Same. I always offer to split, and am happy when they go along with that.

        The guy I’m currently dating pretty hard core insists on paying, and I often let him because I can see that he’s doing it out of a genuine sense of wanting to “treat” me, but I’m somewhat uncomfortable with it anyway. I prefer splitting rather than alternating.

    7. I’m a mix of traditional and progressive. In the beginning, I offer to split and am not bothered if we split or he paid. I’d be offended if he expected me to pay. Is it fair? Nope but those are societal expectations and if he wants to buck the trend by waiting for me to reach for the check, I don’t have the time to be with someone that contrary to societal norms, it’s exhausting. After in an established relationship, I expect to pay half the time and him pay half the time.

    8. I always offered to pay half, but have noticed that men who pick up the tab are usually more interested in having a relationship.

    9. I always offer to split but if the man insists, I let him pay. In that scenario, I will pick up the tab for the second date, which is apparently a very unusual move.

    10. Depends on a number of factors. If he asked me out and suggests the restaurant, I’d go in figuring he’ll probably pay, but I also won’t accept a date at a restaurant I can’t afford to split at. Also, if we decide on a two-parter (dinner and something else) and one of us grabs tickets for the movie (or show, or game, or whatever we’re doing) the other person should cover dinner. If he covers dinner and I want to keep things going, I might offer to buy dessert, especially if we’re in the North End near those cannoli places! I would not feel comfortable letting a man I don’t know foot the bill for the entire evening, because there’s always a chance he’ll try to lord it over me when he wants something I’m not willing to give him.

      I would never go in expecting a man to pay simply because he’s a man and it’s “his job” to do so, and if a man ever did make a show of being “a true gentleman” and insisting on paying, holding all the doors, pushing my chair in, gesturing grandly, tipping an invisible hat while saying “ladies first” and not letting me reciprocate in any way, I would be put off by that, because I’m not interested in a relationship that follows super old fashioned gender roles. The guy I dated in high school insisted on all the superficial “gentleman” stuff, but then he cheated on me and became emotionally abusive, and from what I hear he became physically abusive later in life, so yeah, I don’t trust that act at all.

    11. Definitely split. If the guy insists on paying, then I’ll get the next one. If I know I’m not going to see him again, then I’ll absolutely insist on splitting.

    12. I expect that I’m older than most readers– mid 40s and divorced with small kids. I am paying a babysitter when I go on a date so I resent when a man doesn’t recognize that piece of the equation. If i pay $60 to go out for two hours (i have to get there and back, three hours) feels to me that he should pay for dinner. I also think that if a man picked the place then he should pay for a first date at least…. if he planned it and invited you to a restaurant where he knew the prices and you didn’t than he should pay. As I get older I get more traditional about this one but I agree with Anon– men who won’t splurge for your glass of chardonnay are not interested (in you specifically and/or dating in general).

    13. I always offer to split (and am happy if he takes me up on it) although I usually let the guy take the first one assuming it has been a successful date

    14. I’m very traditional when it comes to dating. This is likely a very unpopular opinion but I always expect the man to pay. I don’t even reach for my purse. It doesn’t matter if I make six figures and can pay for dinner. I like to feel taken care of. I work hard every day and in my role I am a decision-maker and leader. When I am in my personal life I want to feel soft and catered to. I am in a serious relationship now with a man at a similar/higher career level but before then I never had any of my dates ask me to split.

    15. After our first date, our next few dates were sporting events (Pelicans/Saints) and he bought the tickets. I offered to pay for parking, etc., but he wouldn’t let me. Now that we’re not just going on dates, I will sometimes pay or when we cook at home, one or the other of us will buy the groceries, or I may buy movie tickets in advance because he’s at work. He makes quite a bit more than I do, but he has had a bunch of extra expenses lately, so I’d rather pay for things and have a bed to sleep in at his apartment!

  4. I am having a crisis of conscience and need thoughts.

    I am a senior associate, who about a year ago, was recruited to join a mid size firm. I negotiated hard for a high salary, which included a paid maternity leave (I was pregnant when they hired me and they knew it). The last year has had its ups and downs – having a baby is hard, there is a ramp down and then back up, and this firm’s work is a little different than my old firm so while I am knowledgeable about most of what we do, there’s a big learning curve for other areas. (Think same practice area but national vs local practice.) The firm has otherwise been very very nice and is a generally nice place to work. Even though I don’t love being here, in part because I don’t love the partner I work most with, I was planning to stay for a few years and see how it played out and basically just give it time. And then I got a call this week from big law that desperately needs someone like me inviting me to come interview. I said yes because who knows if the opportunity will come again but gosh if I don’t feel terrible about leaving a firm after less than a year, particularly when they gave me maternity leave outside of their policies and have otherwise been very supportive and nice. But I would love to make more money and this firm’s practice is similar to my old firms, which I miss. WWYD??? At what point should I be ok burning these bridges?

    1. I’d probably stay. Not because of burning bridges, but because you *never* know what a place is like until you work there. You seem decently content at your current job, and it doesn’t seem worth risking leave something decent for something which could be wonderful but could equally be terrible — without even waiting long enough to really see if this place is for you. (I hated my current job for the first sixth months, and have loved it ever since — and have been here for five years).

    2. Why did you leave big law? How would those things be different or more tolerable if you went back?

      Hours expectations would be a Big factor in my decision as consistently making big law hours with kids is hard.

      As a senior associate what does the partnership track look like at mid law and bing law. Will this set back your timeline?

      1. All good questions.

        I didn’t leave biglaw, I came from a small firm and was open to the move because I wanted to work with more people.

        I am the primary source of income and my husband does most of the childcare, but I hear you in the hours consideration. I am not a huge biller, mostly by choice.

        I don’t know how the move would affect partnership track until I ask in my interview but my guess would be it would delay it by a year. Which I would be ok with if the salary increase made up for it (I think? What else am I missing?)

        1. You’re missing that if you’re neither a huge biller nor a rainmaker there is zero chance of ever making partner. Do you want to be on call all nights weekends and vacations?

          1. This. I’m in biglaw and enjoy it. I have a ton of support from partners, consistently get excellent reviews, am a decently high biller and have clients that regularly reach out to me directly on smaller/tangential matters without looping in the partner first. And I’m still not super certain I will make partner.

    3. Don’t feel bad. They gave you a high salary and a paid leave because you were a really strong candidate, not because they just enjoy giving people stuff. You didn’t deceive them, and people move on from jobs all the time. Congrats!

      1. +1 It’s your value in the market that got you the good deal at the current firm and the interest from the BigLaw firm.

    4. Out of the ten women I know who got pregnant in biglaw, across four firms, nine left within the year for mid-size firms, small firms, or in house. Unless you’re already billing 2200+ year and want a larger bonus and are ok with that, there is no reason to go to biglaw

      1. + 1. Out of the 12 women I know who had kids when in big law, only one is still in big law. The stats aren’t much better for men, out of the 20 or so man who had kids when associates, I only know five that are still in big law, and two of those have stay at home wife and two have wives who work very flexible, low hour jobs. Unless you’ve previously done the 2000+ billable hour years, don’t underestimate how hard that is.

    5. You’re expensive, took a bunch of leave, don’t have a great relationship with your main partner, and arent experienced in everythi g you’re doing. So don’t feel guilty taking the best job for you, they will be fine!

    6. If it doesn’t work out for you in big law, your current co-workers will be giving you a recommendation. Also, as everyone pointed out after you start you’ll have a reputation to build, and you’ll be expected to put long hours and take the crap from partners who can be no better than your current one. With you being a breadwinner, I would evaluate all the risks of the move. You need stability.

  5. Does anyone have a shower head that you love (or shower system like with jets or steam that doesn’t need extra plumbing)? Have to call a plumber for something else so I’m wondering.

    1. I love my cheapo Speakman showerhead, which I installed myself. The spray is so much better than what comes out of any fancier showerhead I’ve ever used. If I were replacing it, I’d get a model with a water filter.

    2. Waterpik. I’ve had Kohler and some other expensive brand and probably like the Waterpik best of all, plus its ridiculously easy to install (dont need a plumber at all).

  6. Yay or nay? I’ll be visiting a friend who’s in her 1st trimester, almost 2nd. I’ll be unwinding from a demanding job, she’ll be unwinding from moving homes. We’d stay away from saunas of course, and maybe she’ll just get feet treatments. Anything else to consider? Places to recommend in Baltimore?

    1. How is it fun for her to not get to do most of the activities? Go get pedicures and out to afternoon tea.

    2. What does she think? Many of my friends were totally comfortable with massage, but I also had friends who wouldn’t even get pedicures. It’s one of those things where individuals’ comfort levels and OB recs vary widely.

    3. Prenatal massages are the best ever, so if you can find a place that does that, then yes.

      As for Baltimore, depends on your price point, but if you are willing to spend the money, the Four Seasons spa is very very nice. There’s a lot of other places that have good treatments, but aren’t really set up for a girls spa day thing. And there’s an old-school Korean spa in West Baltimore that I love, but I’m not sure they would have pregnancy-appropriate treatments.

    1. My go-to suit is a navy cotton sateen from Ann Taylor and I’d say that their suiting sizing runs large like their other sizing–I’m 5’7 and 150 lbs, and am consistently a size 8-10ish everywhere but Ann Taylor, where I wear a 4 or a 6 depending on the item. My favorite work pants are Ann Taylor’s curvy line in a size 4. Hopefully this helps!

    3. Fits regularly, but I don’t like the quality. Nothing I ever bought from Ann Taylor lasted more than 2 seasons.

    4. Very large. I’m like a 00 there whereas I’d be like a 4 (or maybe a 2) in other brands.

    5. Depends on which end of the size range you’re on – if you’re a 6-8, normal mall style, 8+, a bit small, under a 6, really really large.

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