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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 102 Comments · by

Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Faille pencil skirt

Fashion· The Personal Shopper (TPS)· Wear to Work | · · ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Faille pencil skirtTalbots has some crazy 70% off sales going on, so it can be a great time to stock up. (Be warned: A lot of it is final sale only, so if you're buying online, know your size!)  For example, this classic pencil skirt was $129 — and now it's marked to $29.95 (and still available in a ton of sizes, also). Faille pencil skirt Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 9.16.24

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Comments

  1. Lady T

    Sweet! I’ve been looking for pencil skirts so I can stock up. Don’t love the belt though so hopefully it’s removable or not included.

  2. Shayna

    Sale alert — A friend turned me onto “Ebates” – a website that gets $ for referring you to different stores – and then in turn sends (at least part of) that money back to you — Just sign up, click on the store of your choice, and you go to that store’s site… sometimes w/ a discount code as well…

    The only bad part is that getting free shipping and 5% back from Nordstrom’s is just a teensy bit enabling… http://tinyurl.com/22sw6u6

    • SF Bay Associate

      It works at Nordstroms??? Wow, that is helpful/dangerous/exciting. Thanks!

      • Shayna

        Yes! And 6% back from Macy’s (also some sales codes for there as well) and 9% back from Famous Footwear…plus an extra 20% off to begin with. Seriously exciting in that slightly dangerous way other people might associate with sports cars and roller coasters ;-)

  3. 2L!

    Thread hijack: but I love this website! And you ladies are always so helpful! I have OCI coming up at the end of August… and an inevitable suiting question. My favorite suit is a gray pant suit from Theory that I bought a few years ago (I took several years off to work) that I like to wear with a black shell. It’s sort of similar in color to this old suit of the week: https://corporette.com/2010/06/16/suit-of-the-week-65/.

    I feel good in it, and I like that it’s not a black suit, white shirt, pearls cliche. Also, the material is very light and it would be perfect for running around in August. But I’m nervous I am breaking two interview suit rules: light gray color and pants. What do y’all think? For those short first-round interviews, could I pull it off? Otherwise I am afraid I am going to be spending some money soon, since my black suit is rather heavy! I also have a brown theory skirt suit that could work, but the gray is my favorite… Would love your thoughts! For the students out there, it seems there are so many conflicting messages and I want to take the safe route, but I also don’t want to spend money where I don’t have to!

    • lawDJ

      I think it’s totally fine, and I saw those kinds of suits at OCI when I did it years ago. I also wore pants to half my interviews and got as many offers with pants as I did with skirts. Love Theory, wear your suit :)

      • Long time reader, first time poster.

        I was on the hiring committee for years for a large, conservative law firm. I would like to say, for once and for all, pantsuits for women are totally, absolutely, positively fine for law firm interviews, whether on campus or in the office. What’s most important is that your suit is conservative, neat, and updated but not overly trendy. Do not give “skirt verses pants” one more second of worry. Just wear whichever suit looks the most pulled together on you. Light gray sounds perfectly appropriate as well. Just don’t wear the same suit if you get a callback interview.

        • anon

          Same role here. In fact, I’ve seen more women go wrong with skirt suits (too short) than with pants.

    • Lady T

      IMHO looks a bit light for interviewing, but I would think it also depends on the market. Dark gray is almost always better. I wouldn’t be so concerned about the pants since they’re likely to keep people with harsh feelings about pants away from the screening interview. I also would not do brown. Brown suits always look so strange to me at interviews. I always wonder if the person forgot to pick up the dry cleaning or doesn’t own an interview suit. In the end you don’t want to have a memorable suit so sadly I think you’re gonna have to shell out a little something. But that’s just me. 3rd year associate at big law nyc firm.

    • Emily

      I completely agree that pants suits for women are absolutely fine for OCI. I would think twice about a light gray suit, which I think looks a little less formal than a dark suit – dark gray, black, or navy would be my preference for an OCI suit. Are there 3Ls who remember OCI last year? I don’t remember anyone at my school wearing a light-colored suit to OCI, which would make me hesitate. But maybe your school or region has a different color palette.

      • 2L!

        Hmm… maybe I WILL go shopping. I don’t want to stick out like I’m trying. I’m at a T3, interviewing for NYC or DC (still in negotiations with my long-term boyfriend about that one…)

      • Anonymous

        Rising 3L here in NYC. Can’t speak from the interviewer’s side, but for what it’s worth I don’t remember seeing any light grey suits at last year’s OCI.

    • anon - chi

      I have only interviewed people who were given a callback, but I just can’t see anything wrong with wearing a gray pantsuit, even if it is a light gray. If you are worried about the level of formality, go with your most conservative jewelry/pumps/bag. It seems nuts to buy a new suit or wear one you don’t feel as good wearing when this is your first choice. Also, unless you are wearing something WEIRD (like, say, a mint green suit or lucite heels) the interviewer is unlikely to remember what you wore at all. He/she will remember, however, if you seemed uncomfortable or not confident.

      • Alexis

        The second to last line of anon – chi prompted me to write. Someone once told me that it can be difficult for those who have interviewed 10-20 people in a day to remember you. So if they can say something like “the girl in the red shirt” it’s easier for them.

        When I interviewed, I ran with that advice. I wore tan suits, pink suits, winter red suits, etc. If I wore black, I wore it with a red shirt and matching heels (which I got compliments on from female interviewers). Never anything with a questionable cut, but I wasn’t color shy.

        I’m a little older (not much, but a little) with a previous non-law job that imbued me with lots of confidence, and gets me a lot of respect from interviewers, so this may not work for everyone. But I found it very effective. In fact, I think my callback/offer rate was better on the days I wore “non-traditional” clothes.

        I’m sure lots of others will hate this advice, as some of my law school peers did, but I ended up accepting as my “big girl” job a vault T-10 law firm job in a litigation section. So I’m a big fan of wearing what you feel comfortable/confident in…

    • Anonymous

      It’s not the most conservative option. I wouldn’t wear it for a clerkship interview or maybe to an interview with a very stodgy firm. But for 90% of places, including every big law firm I can think of, it sounds fine.

    • Bonnie

      It sounds perfectly fine to me. I conducted OCIs for a couple years and can say that I only docked people on clothing when it was really visibly stained, unkempt, etc. In my opinion, I’d rather see someone in anything but the “traditional” dark suit and white shirt. As an interviewer, I wanted to see some personality not just drones.

  5. 75

    That black skirt is just what I was looking for – but not my size.

    Interview suit – maybe skirt suit is better for this purpose – not quite sure why.

  6. NYC

    I tried this skirt on two weeks ago and it is really cute. The faille has more texture than the picture shows. It did not come with the belt. I didn’t buy it because it wasn’t $29 at the time and the matching jacket was ridiculously boxy. Very tempted now, but I can’t violate my no shopping ban only one week into it…btw, I am an 8/10 and believe the 8 was a perfect fit.

  7. 2L!

    Yay! Thanks for the feedback! I can feel confident about my pants! And eh on the gray, it sounds like? I’m a pretty good interview, so I think I will just be confident and pull it off?! All of y’all’s feedback is really helpful… I like hearing different perspectives.

    • Legally Brunette

      I have a different perspective. I wore a light gray skirt suit for a lot of my OCI interviews as well as clerkship interviews. While I did very well and ended up getting a bunch of offers, I do feel that the light gray was somehow less powerful and authoritative. I have since switched to navy/black suits and I feel that I have a “stronger” presence somehow, if that makes sense. A light gray suit is quite professional and I don’t think anyone would dispute that, but it’s not a “power” color.

  8. Dilemma

    Update on my decision. As you remember, 2 days ago I posted the dilemma of choosing between staying at a small firm in city X for 60% of the salary of a big firm in city Y. The difference in commute to see my hubby (we live apart now) is 3 hours drive vs. 5 hours total flight travel.

    Well…. based in part on the brutally honest opinions here, as well as my (excellent and strong) relationship with hubby, I have decided to stay and forfeit the $$. It really hit home for me the lady that said there are always jobs but only one husband. There is more to life than money, even though a ton of money is really really hard to turn down.

    Thank you ladies, I am very pleased with my decision!

    • Chicago K

      Good luck and congrats on the decision. I don’t think I posted in that thread, but I did read it and I have to say, I thought of you yesterday as I left one office at 2:30 in the afternoon to catch a 4 pm flight (which was only 50 minues of flight time) but got off the plane in the next city at 6 pm with all the taxi-ing, runway waiting, etc. Such a short flight took up my entire afternoon!

      Good decision.

    • AIMS

      Congrats on making what must have been a very difficult decision.
      Look at it this way — if you were able to get this offer in the other in this economy, you will likely be able to get a similar offer in the future — in whatever city you and your husband eventually end up. That in itself is already an accomplishment (and yes, I know a big chunk of change is hard to pass up!)

    • KelliJ

      Congratulations on making such a tough decision. A lot of money is always hard to give up, no matter what the state of the economy. So many people sacrifice self for money, and some times it is a necessary evil, but it’s nice to be able to make a choice based on something other than the money (and still come out a winner).

    • lawDJ

      Congrats on your decision. I know the money is so hard to pass on, but I second what the previous poster said, if you got offered that job in this economy, you’ll find another one soon.

    • Going anon for this one

      Also glad to hear you are staying put. I was thinking of you this morning while recalling one of the worst days of my life that I somehow forgot while reading your question. My husband occasionally travels for a month or so at a time for work. Days before the bar exam I had a really upsetting experience and needed support like only my husband could provide. I didn’t need his advice and a phone call. I needed to be held and sleep in the same bed as him.

      I broke down sobbing that night – unable to sleep, stressed about the bar, inconsolable about the other intervening situation, and I just got in my car and drove to where he was staying for work. I slept in the same bed with him (the few hours that we could before I needed to head back) and then I drove all the way back. I couldn’t have done that if I had to fly.

      He saved my sanity, everything turned out to be okay, and I passed both bars. To me being able to hop in your car and see him in an emergency is priceless. I can’t imagine if I had to go out in public, walk through an airport, fly on a plane, in that situation.

  9. Amy

    I have this skirt. It’s nice but the fabric is heavy, way too heavy for me to wear until it gets colder. I also got the matching jacket when it was in stock and was disappointed – it is extremely boxy and shapeless and I would return it if I could, but it’s “final sale.” I usually don’t have problems with Talbots and was surprised that the jacket was so poorly cut. I’m definitely not going to be ordering as much from Talbots on sale if they continue this “final sale – no returns” thing.

    • LawyrChk

      Can you get it tailored? Nipping in at the waist (if the jacket fits in the shoulders) is usually pretty inexpensive.

      • Amy

        I think so, or at least I’m going to try. Otherwise it’s a waste, so I might as well let the tailor see what he can do.

  10. Anon

    Since Dilemma updated, I thought I would too!

    I posted a few days ago about whether to take a job with an epic commute, effectively giving myself a pay cut since I’d have to buy a car. It’s not official yet but I am about 95% certain that I am going to take the job – the BF and I need to crunch some numbers this weekend but we think we can make it work on his current salary, at least for now. We will be moving to a town that’s equidistant from his current job and my new one, and we’ll have to stop saving for a while (or at least drastically cut back), but as you ladies pointed out we wouldn’t be saving anything if I were unemployed! So thank you all for the advice.

      • Anon

        I just did all the calculations with email input from BF and it looks like we are good to go! Moving is always a pain in the behind but I am really looking forward to exploring my new town and tackling my new job…

  11. surrounded by lawyers

    While we’re getting updates, is Anon out there–she was stressing about her relationship potentially breaking up and getting advice on how to cope at work–? If you’re reading, how’s things?

  12. lawDJ

    Threadjack: Does anyone use a cream for sun/age spots? I’ve been living in a very tropical location this year and a bunch of freckle-like (not as cute as freckles unfortunately) sun spots have appeared on my face despite my religious use of sunblock. I imagine some will fade away but I am eager to have them disappear. I’ve seen commercials for a Clinique version, but I was wondering if you ladies have personal recommendations. Thanks!

    • AIMS

      They’re not cheap but Christian Dior makes a lightening serum for sun spots, blemishes, etc., and so does Shiseido. I like both though maybe the Dior a bit more (unusual b/c I typically dislike Dior skin care but truly love Sheseido’s face wash & blemish gel, and just about anything skin or makeup) — the Dior (I think it’s called snow) also makes your skin look absolutely perfect under makeup and helps improve clarity overall.
      I have been thinking of trying the Clinique one though — if anyone has feed back to share, please do!

      • UnSub

        I’m probably about 3/4 of the way through the bottle of the Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector and it works pretty well. My overall tone is brighter, but I think it worked better on a few old acne scars that I had than it did on the three sunspots that I have on my check. A few people have remarked on my “glow” so I might keep go with one more bottle and re-eval after that.

    • s in Chicago

      You also may want to consider microdermabrasion. I have it done at my dermatologist’s office by an aesthetician. I can’t say enough good things. It really does wonders in a fast amount of time. I saw improvement after my first session (although they’ll probably recommend a few).

      • AIMS

        What changes have you noticed? I am considering but can’t decide if it’s for me.

        • Anonymous

          Me too. I’m considering doing it an a salon (Bliss), but I’m a little scared.

      • lawDJ

        Microderm will take care of these kinds of spots? I already use RetinA every night so I’m a bit wary of doing microderm on top of that, and didn’t realize it would make the sun spots disappear/lessen …

        • s in Chicago

          It evened out skin tone considerably for me from sun damage and past acne. (I’m 35 and careful about sun screen these days, so have to admit that I’m not dealing with heavy-duty spots just yet. More like a few spots and a lot of splotchiness from the past acne.) My skin literally is glowing afterward. It doesn’t hurt at all. Just kind of feels like she’s running a tiny vacuum across my face. Any redness is gone in about 10 min. or so afterward. I’ve had it done before work without a second thought. It honestly is the best invention ever. That said, I’m not sure whether it is advised if you’re using RetinA. I had a prescription years ago for acne and I know that can make skin awfully sensitive. It might not be a good fit.

          Also, I would advise going to someone doc-affiliated if you can. I don’t want to scare you off entirely, but I wrote about this once before… I couldn’t get in at my usual place once and went to Elizabeth Arden instead. I ended up getting impetigo–it’s a highly contagious staph infection (apparently kids get it sometimes?). I don’t know if it was improperly cleaned equipment or poor hygiene from the technician (they added on to my treatment with some sort of cloth “mask” on my face afterward with lotion, maybe something there wasn’t sterile?). At any rate, it required antibiotics from a derm to treat (and religiously washing washcloths and pillowcases each night, washing my hands constantly in fear of having touched my face, throwing out ALL of my makeup and brushes, etc.). My derm told me to call Elizabeth Arden to let them know. The teenager I got on the phone didn’t sound surprised and just offered to pay for the doctor visit. (I have good insurance, so that was a drop in the bucket compared to everything else and the humiliation of looking like a leper for a few weeks.) I didn’t pursue further. At any rate, it left me thinking it is far better to go somewhere that is more physician and less spa for these sorts of things.

          • lawDJ

            This is super helpful! I had an Elizabeth Arden gift card I was thinking of using for this so I’m glad you posted this!

            How did you find your doc? And would you mind saying how much the treatments are? (ballpark?)

          • CatUK

            Impetigo? How awful, it is a terrible infection, and very very contagious.

            Almost certainly poor hygiene between clients, I imagine everyone else caught it that day :-(

            Although it is treatable I don’t think you can overstate just how horrible this infection is, I am itching like crazy just thinking about it.

          • s in Chicago

            A session w/my person is $140. I go about every two months or so, sometimes longer in between.

      • CJ in CA

        I don’t have age spots, but did microderm for acne “hyperpigmentation.” Just one session made a difference for me. I wish I had the budget to do a series of 6.

        I’m not sure about how it would work with Retin-A, but I did start using the Oil of Olay “microdermabrasion” kit at home. PHilosophy has a similar one. It’s a crystal gel exfoliation followed by a “serum”. It’s not as good as the one at the dermatologist, but I notice a difference the next day and I think cumulatively it has improved the acne marks and the actual acne.

    • MJ

      Former CA waterpolo player here…age spots are a reality. My derm gave me a prescription for hydroquinone, which is technically a carcinogen, but she told me it’s completely safe at the levels prescribed. As this was totally cosmetic, I had to pay out of pocket for it. Filled the Rx at Costco for just over $100, plus derm gave me a few small free sample tubes.

      It works REALLY, REALLY well.

      My mother is very fair and gets age spots only on her left side of her face and hand from driving. She goes to the derm and gets lasered (FRAXEL). It’s pricy but my mom loves it….

      • Amy

        I also use a hydroquinone product, Murad Post-Acne Spot Lightening Gel: http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P188907&om_mmc=GoogleBase&_requestid=42976&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=1021930

        I had a ton of pigmented spots from pimples – for some reason, right after I had my son, every time I would get a pimple it would develop a dark brown spot after it healed, even if I hadn’t messed with it at all. About two weeks of applying this every night did the trick – spots are all gone now. As I understand it, low doses of hydroquinone used sporadically (i.e., not every day for the rest of your life) are about as likely to give you cancer as using a modern microwave. I am not sure if this product would work on sun spots, but it’s worth a try. At $60, it was not cheap, but one bottle lasted me quite some time, and it’s still cheaper than going to the medi-spa.

        • AIMS

          This product sounds perfect (I love anything that can show result in 2 weeks otherwise I tend to lose patience). Can you put it on if you still have the occasional acne flare up? It would seem yes, but I am so paranoid about aggrevating my skin further…

          • AIMS

            Also, did it irritate your skin? I find a lot of things like this leave my skin red or peeling. I would love to find something that did neither.

          • naijamodel

            You can use it even with “active” acne. I have that situation, lol. FYI, it will sting if you pick your face.

          • naijamodel

            To add:
            It’s a clear gel, so it shouldn’t aggravate existing acne. You can get samples from Sephora and try it out :)
            I also would suggest buying it from Sephora as they have a generous return policy.

          • Amy

            What naijamodel said – I’ve never had a problem using it on any stage of pimple, and I didn’t get any irritation, but my skin can take more or less anything (facialists love me because they can break out the really high concentration treatments, and my skin handle it). I would get it from someplace you can return it, just in case you do have a bad reaction.

    • inhouse mi

      There are laser treatments out there that can clear up age/sun spots, freckles, and general skin redness – you should ask a dermatologist about your options.

  13. Shukween

    Another threadjack:

    Ladies, I need your suggestions. I am a global in house GC, and one of my divisional groups has had a wonderful 2L summer associate for the summer; he leaves us next Friday. He’s from G’town, and has done a terrific job for us. We don’t hire beginning attys, nor do I think he wants to start in house, but I wanted to surprise him next Friday at our little cake & ice cream things for him with a very nice recommendation letter, the kind he could offer up with his references. I have an idea of what I’d like to say, but wanted your input as to what would be most useful for me to say in the current job market. He’s a great guy, is interested in being in a good-sized firm corporate department (biglaw or not, whatever he can get), and his grades are good but not stellar/law review caliber. What would help him most?

    • AIMS

      I think something like you just said — “We don’t normally hire out of school, if we did, I would hire X in a heartbeat. He is the best intern we have had in years/ever. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

      If you can, and you really want to help him, you may also want to ask around — if you know anyone hiring — to see if maybe you can help him get an interview.

    • CJ in CA

      I think it’s most important to be specific about the things they can’t tell from his resume. Also, explain why you didn’t hire him. Talk about his work ethic, his attitude, his learning curve, or his creative thinking. Use specific examples of ways he contributed to your office or went above and beyond what was expected.

      Which is more powerful: “Guy has a good attitude and is a hard worker” v. “When a project came in at the last minute on a Friday afternoon, Guy was excited to take on a new challenge and worked diligently through the weekend to deliver a useful brief by the Monday morning deadline. The attorney went to court and won the motion relying solely on the brief.”

    • KelliJ

      As someone who did both of her summer internships in-house,(and then went in-house after graduation), the reference is a thoughtful gesture, but your colleagues will be wonderful references for him. An extra written recommendation isn’t what he needs. A better way to help him is to open up your network to him. Honestly, he’s got to get his foot in the door before the references/recommendations come into play. If you really think he’s great, and that you would hire him but for your policy not to hire newbies, then think about recommending him to one of the firms that you do business with. Also, let him know that he can call on you to see if you know anyone in XYZ Firm.

      • MJ

        Agree with the network thing. Also, if he’s on LinkedIn, post a shortened version of the letter as a Rec for him there, for the whole world to see. It helps. Google, for instance, prefers candidates with Recs on LinkedIn.

      • E2

        I wouldn’t assume colleagues will take the initiative to provide a stellar rec. Maybe a “yeah, we really liked him” when they get a reference check later on, but I doubt it’s safe to assume they’d put together a thoughtful letter he can use across the board.

        • CatUK

          For him too, it will give him confidence in his abilities to read a letter/recommendation like that, and that is a gift in itself.

  14. CJ in CA

    Can anyone offer any suggestions on Talbot’s “fit”? I’m plus size, and in the skirt based on the size chart I’m 2-3 sizes larger than Michael Kohrs/ Halogen/ Tahari Woman.

    Also, TONS of great stuff in the Woman category. Looks like I’ll be able to get a “sharkskin” grey suit for about $60!

    • MelD

      Talbot’s tends to have a boxy fit, so if you are curvy/hourglass, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’m a pear shape and find that the pants/skirts are really snug in the thighs but have that dreaded back gap in the waist.

      • CJ in CA

        Does it seem to run big/small? I’m SURE I’ll have to have alterations, so I’m more concerned with getting the right size that can be changed.

        • MelD

          The tops are very boxy, so you may want to size down. I’d say stick with the same size on the bottom as you wear in Halogen and at worst you’ll have to take in the waist.

    • RR

      Also plus size. Love Talbots. I am a fairly balanced figure, and I guess I’d say somewhat hourglass. I’m not heavily apple or pear, and I have a defined waist. I love Talbots’ fit for me. I find it generally runs slightly larger than other brands for me. I would order the same size you are in the other brands you listed.

      I’m also picking up a sharkskin suit – in brown.

  15. Anonymous

    Since everyone else is updating I will as well.

    I was the person who asked if it would be worth it to accept a very interesting and flattering job offer when I had verbally agreed to 2 year commitment at my current job. I’ve decided to stay where I am, not burn these bridges and see where my current position can take me.

      • Anonymous

        Thanks. The other job was more aligned with my previous experience and interests, but I am not unhappy where I am. In fact, I think I can learn a lot from this position, maybe in part because I am not passionate about the subject and can instead focus on developing a real grounding in the skills and process. Ultimately I decided that staying doesn’t close any doors for the future, but leaving will.

  16. Shukween

    Thanks for the suggestions—AIMS and KelliJ, you’re right, and we’ve done all of that; we’ve taken him downtown to meet all of our outside counsel, who have interviewed him and invited him to participate in their summer associate ‘fun’ events; we will all serve as references for him, we’ve given him our best advice on approaches for positions, helped him step up his resume–anything we can think of. We know it’s tough out there and we want to help him land something great if we can, and maybe in a few years, welcome him back. We’re in a southern city, where he is from, and we’ve now given him an in at all the biglaw offices here, and a few midlaw ones as well.

    Appreciate all the thoughts!

    • KelliJ

      That was really great of you. Hopefully, he takes advantage of those connections. They are invaluable. When I interned in-house, I always felt like I missed out on something because I hadn’t had the typical summer intern experience working for a firm. In hindset, it didn’t matter, but at the time, it weighed on me.

    • AIMS

      It’s so nice to hear you are doing this and being so thoughtful. So many employers just aren’t interested in taking those extra steps. I have two friends who recently got fantastic jobs due to a mentor’s efforts. It really does make a world of difference in these uncertain times.

  17. AnneCatherine

    I have this skirt. Funnily enough, I don’t find it too hot for the summer (I think it’s cotton faile). It’s a pretty standard pencil skirt, but, it twists around on me like crazy. Going down one size wouldn’t have helped, I don’t think, because it’s not particularly loose on my hips/rear-end, but is in the waist (well, I guess it’s loose enough in the hips to twist a full 360 degrees . . . )

    My favorite skirt is a Semantiks skirt from Nordstrom (which is actually two sizes smaller than I wear at Talbots, but fits beautifully) and I wish I could still find it or had bought like, seven of them. :( Anyone know if they are still making just plain, black pencil skirts by Semantiks at Nordstrom? I never see them in-store.

    • AnneCatherine

      I should add that this skirt (the Talbots one) attracts lint/pet hair like mad. No idea why, unless it’s perhaps the texture/lines. I sound like I’m trashing this skirt but I’m not, it’s really a good go-to skirt, I promise.

  18. Clueless

    Oooh, updates are fun, so I’ll join in. I asked about recommendations for conservative suits for a court of appeals argument I have coming up, and I wanted to spend less than $500. I started at the Brooks Bros factory store because the “regular” Brooks Bros is a ways away. They were having some crazy sales (this past weekend, maybe still going on), 60% off clearance and discounts on many non-clearance items as well. I ended up with 3 suits for under $500. I couldn’t resist.

    • lawDJ

      wait, you bought three suits for a total of $500 or each under $500? that sounds amazing :)

      • Clueless

        Total under $500. I was shocked. I had to have the skirt for 1 suit and the jacket for another sent from another store, and the in-store size selection was kind of spotty, but I lucked out, and was able to try on enough of the pieces to figure out the right fit.

  19. Forestgirl

    Threadjack: I have a few pairs of heels in tweed-like fabrics (kind of like this: http://www.zappos.com/multiview/7335596/126040) and I never wear them in the summer, but now I’m wondering if leaving them out of the summer shoe rotation is necessary.

    What do you all think? Can you get away with shoes in tweed during the summer?

    • lawDJ

      I feel hot just looking at them! Sorry, wouldn’t wear them myself, but also I wouldn’t care if you liked them and did :)

      • Anonymous Today

        I agree. I have one pair of tweed-like shoes I wear in the summer, but they have decidedly summer styling (i.e. peep toe, which is OK at my office, a brighter color, etc).

        I don’t read ahead well and I accidentally clicked on the first link. That little dog is adorable!

        • Forestgirl

          Wish I could take credit for the cute dog. :-)

          Thanks for the feedback ladies!

    • Lola

      I think of tweed as more appropriate for fall/winter. Adorable shoes, though.

  20. Anon

    Is it appropriate to ask for a reference from the managing partner of a small firm on my last day when I am unsure as to whether I will receive an offer?

    • AIMS

      I would wait to see if you receive an offer. Than ask for a reference. Unless you want to ask for a reference to force an offer conversation?

  21. L

    I had a single laser treatment for my sun spots at the dermatologist’s office. My very sensitive skin didn’t turn red or peel, and the spots faded away over a few weeks. I highly recommend it if you can do it- the cost was @$250.

  22. Frugal Shopper

    Thanks so much for the tip on Talbots sale! I spent just enough to get free shipping ($100) and got tons; a skirt, two basic tops for layering, two sweaters, a scarf, a necklace, and a hat as a gift for a friend (which I already own and she loves). All for less that the original price of the skirt (brown linen, gorgeous… fell in love with it at the store earlier this season). I am just starting my career and still pinching pennies, so I am always thrilled when I can stock up on quality pieces for pennies on the dollar!

  23. CJ

    I’ve never bought anything from Talbots, but am finding it hard to resist this great sale. I had my eye on the wrinkle resistant collared shirts. Any thoughts on how this shirts fit? I’ve read before that Talbot clothes can be boxy and would like to avoid that look.

  24. Anon101

    Threadjack: ladies, I need your advice and wisdom.

    I applied for the Perfect Job and was selected to interview. After the interview they told me they are deciding between me and one other candidate, and they want me to come in for a full day so they can observe my work ethic. I have no idea what this entails- any tips on how to prepare?

    Thanks!

  25. anon

    Talbots has several fits in their pants. It is well worthwhile to drop in a store, find a pair that fit, and check which fit it is. I am an hourglass – even 30 pounds overweight I have a well defined waist, and there is one Talbots “fit” that fits perfectly in pants, and the rest, not so much. I find that most of the skirts fit. I find their size chart to be fairly accurate for a not-at-all-snug fit. If you don’t live particularly close to a store, it is also worthwhile to take a card from a sales person, and give her one of yours, with personal contact info on it – there is one sales person in a Talbots store that leaves me a message or emails when my “fit” is in, in my size, in clothing she thinks I would like.

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