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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 88 Comments · by

Bargain Friday’s TPS Report: Printed Pleat Neck Silk Blouse

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. Stars Printed Pleat Neck Silk BlouseHappy Friday! Today I’m digging this abstract, crosshatchy printed silk blouse from Urban Outfitters. Love the silk, the pleats, the button at the back of the neck, and the slightly puffed sleeves — I always think that type of sleeve can look cute when layered on top of, say, a simple white long-sleeved crewneck for colder weather, or worn with just a camisole beneath it (which I’m guessing is needed) for warmer months. The blouse is only available online at Urban Outfitters, for the reasonable-ish price of $48. Staring at Stars Printed Pleat Neck Silk Blouse Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Workwear sales of note for 12.1.23

Our favorites are in bold!

Kid- and Family-Related Sales

  • BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items with code
  • Crate & Kids – Toy & gift event: up to 50% off everything; save 10% off full price items
  • J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything; extra 30% off sale styles
  • Ergobaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+ Strollers
  • Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
  • Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
  • Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. JessC

    I like it! I’ve never been able to get behind the long-sleeve shirt layered underneath a short-sleeve shirt look. But I think this would look really nice paired with an otherwise conservatively colored suit or bottom and cardigan combination to tone down the brightness of the color-pattern combination.

  3. So

    I like the color and pattern, and appreciate that it’s silk. But given the quality issues I have with almost all clothes bought at UO and the fact that it’s dry clean only, I would have a difficult time pulling the trigger on this one. Good thought, though – and appropriately colorful for a Friday!

    • zelda

      i hand wash a lot of silk “dry clean only” tops (also sweaters) using woolite in the bathtub – works great!

  4. Help!

    I have a big work event coming up next week, and I have NO idea what to wear! I could really use some advice, particularly from fellow attorneys.

    I’ll be making a presentation to city and state officials, followed by a visit to a construction site. Press will be attending both events, so I need to look as polished as possible, but due to the site visit I can’t wear heels. I will be wearing my only good suit (the rest don’t fit well), but I’m not good at styling myself at the best of times and I’ve never had to do a press event like this before.

    Corporettes, what would you wear?

    • lawyerette

      Can you tell us more about your suit so we can help with the accesorizing?

      For shoes I’d wear short wedged heels like the Kate Spade ones (they have tons out there now, “me too” makes some really good ones) or comfortable flats. If your suit is a pant suit, you could also wear loafer-type shoes, particularly if they have a bit of a heel.

      If I could wear anything to this type of thing I’d wear a medium charcoal pant suit (best for dirty environments like a construction site and also good in pictures, the pants make it easier to wear different kinds of comfy shoes and just allow you to move around more). Underneath I’d wear a colorful silk blouse and a chunky contrasting non-shiny necklace (think hot pink silk blouse + turquoise necklace if that flatters your coloring). Small studs in the ears, definitely a watch, and hair however I’m most comfortable.

      Sounds like a great opportunity, take the time to enjoy it!

    • CW

      I would either wear a skirt suit with flats, or a pants suit with low-heeled boots (I don’t know what kind of suit you have).

      As for the shirt, try to find a color that won’t make you look washed out in photos. Try taking photos of you wearing that shirt underneath your suit jacket and see how you look.

      Also, you might want to consider wearing more makeup than usual (again, to avoid looking washed out).

      • Help!

        Thanks for the advice, ladies! It is in fact a medium charcoal pantsuit. Wedges are a great idea and hadn’t occurred to me, but I have a pair that would be perfect (in fact, they were featured on Corporette a few months ago – the Target lookalikes of the Kate Spade wedges).

        Unfortunately, I’m still at a loss for what to wear with the suit – I look terrible in pretty much every photograph ever taken of me, so I don’t have much info to work with about what would flatter me in pictures!

        • another pendleton happy customer

          I’m wearing those wedges today! So comfy and wish I’d bought another pair. Good luck with your day!

        • AIMS

          Some advice:

          1. Take a friend shopping with you. Wear your suit. Try on lots of tops. Have the friend snap some pics with a cell phone or dig. cam. to see how it all looks. Take someone whose style & taste you admire.
          If no friend is available, ask a sales associate. I would go to a place like Nordstrom or Talbots; basically anywhere likely to have lots of top options.

          2. If you don’t want to spend money on something new, invite a friend over & do the same with the contents of your closet.

          3. Make sure whatever you wear, you can move around in ita lot & not have things get untucked, askew, etc.

          4. For colors, I think a light or muted shade of coral or orange could look really lovely with a med. charcoal suit, and it’s a very “in” color this season so there should be lots of options. Dusty dark pink will likely look really nice, too, and tends to be very flattering on most people.

          5. I would also consider getting hair and/or make up done for the event. It will make you feel more confident. Whatever you decide, make sure to put on just a bit more make up than usual — photos tend to wash people out & your face will look shinier than in person, too, so carry some powder.

          6. Specific to hair, if it’s likely to be windy at the site, consider pulling some/all of it back or putting it up — assuming that is something you are comfortable with. Also, whatever you do with your hair, if this is the kind of thing where you have to pose with a hard hat or wear one on site, keep that in mind & plan your hair accordingly (e.g., no high hairdos).

          7. For jewelry I would just keep it simple. You’re never going to go wrong with a simple necklace like a string of pearls or something similarly classic & small gold earrings. It may not be super exciting, but it’s classic for a reason :)

          Good luck!

          • Help!

            Wow, lots of useful advice – thanks! I’m especially grateful for your coral/orange suggestion – I have a light coral cashmere turtleneck that I wear with this suit occasionally, and I think that’ll be perfect.

        • JAS1

          I like everyone’s styling suggestions. But i wanted to throw in some advice on how to be more photogenic. Honestly I am kind of vain so I have carefully read up on this topic and studied the results in my own photographs, and I can tell you that this strategy works. If I remember to do these things I almost always love the resulting photo. Remember four “T’s” (tilt, tongue, toes, t1ts):

          (1) Tilt your head so your chin is pointing slightly down and to the side. If you part your hair on the side, tilt the part away from the camera; something about this gives the picture more depth
          (2) Tongue – make sure it is pressed against the roof of your mouth (this tightens the face, particularly under the chin; it makes a difference even if you don’t have “wattles” yet).
          (3) Toes – point one foot toward the camera. In general you don’t want any full-on frontal photos; angles are your friend – and this is regardless of how slim or heavy you are (I”ve been up and down) it’s about not looking “flat.”
          (4) T1ts – pull your shoulders back and stick out your chest (not in an exaggerated way..basically this just means stand up straight).

          Also, i have realized after a few years that my glasses simply do not photograph well so I always take them off. Finally, if you have lunchlady arms like me, make sure your upper arms are not pressed against your body; you can put one or both of your hands on your hips, in your pockets, rest them on nearby furniture, you get the idea.

          • AEK

            Lunch lady arms–love it! (No offense meant at all to lunch ladies. The intent is self-judge my own out-sized ones.) And thanks for your tips—very helpful. When I photograph well, it is only by a rare happy accident!

      • PollyD

        Jackin’ this threadjack:

        I work in a field not known for stylish dressing (let’s call it science administration). Next week I am attending a scientific meeting, not presenting or anything, but a chance to do a bit of networking. I am having a hard time deciding what to wear for reasons that are pretty much the opposite of those most women on this board face. Namely, I am afraid of dressing too nicely! A suit is right out. I will be going someplace where the temperatures are supposed to be in the mid 50s – low 60s and am really thinking about bringing a couple of casual dresses (think the nicer end of Athleta) and black knee high low heeled boots, and tights. It would make packing easier and be comfortable, but suitably covered up. I am just sort of afraid of not being taken seriously if I dress “girly.” On the other hand, I think this meeting might skew toward the computer geek side, so no one would probably even notice. On the other other hand, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing to stand out a little.

        I hesitate because as a smallish blond women there have been too many times in the past that people reacted with a bit of surprise that I have a PhD in one of the harder sciences. But I am older now so maybe that’s not so much of a problem.

        • lawyerette

          I wouldn’t wear a casual dress, that makes me think ultra girly/young.

          I’d wear what I imagine the least frumpy guys would be wearing: khakis and a button down with sensible shoes. You’ll probably stand out for not being frumpy, but you’ll look appropriate and be comfortable.

        • rg

          As a petite woman with a PhD in one of the harder sciences (physics), I would say that there’s no way to dress to make people assume you have a PhD. But that doesn’t mean they can’t figure it out quickly after shaking your hand and speaking at least one sentence.

          If you’re attending in a science administration type position (I have done this), I would say that it is not a bad idea to dress professionally even if you will be one of the few doing so. I think dresses are okay, but I would go with more of a business casual dress rather than a casual dress (or business formal but without matching blazer, cardigan instead). You can also do slacks and sweaters or business separates. I’d personally shy away from knee high boots because they can be misinterpreted if you are amongst very few women.

          • btsbsc

            This! I have a pair of comfort brand (ie frumpy) flat riding boots and the bf still calls them F-me boots! Use caution.

        • Ru

          I’d say what you’re planning on sounds fine. Maybe adding a cardigan or knit jacket for a laid back authoritative look wouldn’t be a bad idea? I think sticking to neutral colors would be your best bet. Have you considered other “girly” issues such as makeup and hair? I’m sure whatever you will do is appropriate but don’t forget to own it with confidence! Don’t walk around like you know you’re a smallish blond woman, walk around like a woman with a PhD in science!

        • Fellow "Geek"

          I personally would steer away from boots. While I love them and wear them all the time, I think they project the exact image you’re trying to avoid–young and girly. I just attended an IT conference (more than 31,000 folks) and noticed most of the women wore dress pants and button downs shirts or dress pants, casual top, and blaser. (Many others were in suits, so perhaps it was a bit more formal in setting than your event.)

          FWIW, I knew I would have a TON of walking. I purchased some heels from easy spirit. They were the best. shoes. ever. Super cushioned and padded with leather that was soft and not cutting. Near the end of the conference, a lot of folks in the mammoth exhibit hall were limping along in thisr suits and tennis shoes or flip flops while I was striding past confidently. Totally recommend them for anyone who has a lot of walking to do in a suit. (I also bought a pair that was more loafer style with a wedge but didn’t try them yet since the first pair seemed to work so well.)

          • PollyD

            Thanks for all the advice – the dresses are casual but not too girly and I would wear a cardigan or jacket. Will have to think about this, especially the shoe situation.

            And yes, I do need to work on projecting confidence! Reading this site has actually given me some ideas for how to do this, and some ideas on books I need to read.

          • rg

            Polly, I can’t reply to your post directly, but one thing I will say is if you are petite, work on a strong handshake (no limp fish)! It will catch people off guard, and some may even comment on it b/c it’s so unexpected, but overall it makes people step back and reconsider their perceptions of you. Also, look people in the eye, never be afraid to speak up (though also be a good listener, of course), and especially being petite, take up as much space as possible in a room. Don’t be afraid to put your hands on the table, spread your stuff out, pull your chair back a little, etc. It gives you presence.

            Overall, I would say that being a non-stereotypical scientist can be an asset. People don’t expect you to be what you are, and when you upend their expectations, they are sure to remember you (and it may even shift the power balance depending on the interaction).

          • IT Lady

            Hey, I was at that same conference! FL right? I think I walked 50 miles last week. I bought some Naturalizer heels for this purpose and mostly did the dress pant/blazer thing and I think I fit in just fine.

        • Jas

          I’m also in a scientific field, and my standard wear for conferences is nice pants, a button down shirt, a jacket and flats. A neutral dress would be fine, too, I think. Certainly no heels, in my experience they’re looked down on as ridiculously impractical. I try and skew masculine because I’m a natural scientist and have to try and give the impression that I am just fine with harsh weather, bears, etc. As an administrator, I think you can skew a little more feminine.

    • Ru

      Civil engineer here – I don’t know what the weather is like where you are but wearing a skirt is going to make you look absolutely ridiculous in the field. Definitely go for pants. Since you’re doing a presentation and then going to the site, flat boots is probably the way to go (no more than an inch heel). You have no idea what you’re going to have to walk through to get to where you need to be. Do you know how far into the site you’re going? I doubt they’d put you in a place where you’d need steel toed boots but consider how you’re going to do your hair if you need to wear a hard hat – keep your hair down or low pony tail (or bring something to tie your hair). Also, consider what outerwear you have and how you’re going to accessorize. If you look great with turquoise or red or whatever, get a scarf or pashmina to wrap around your neck to wear with your coat. Just my $.02, I’ll let the lawyers tackle the rest of your outfit =).

      • Help!

        Thanks, Ru. I am familiar with the site and it’s not a heavy construction site (think house being renovated rather than new stadium being built), so I know I won’t need a hard hat or full-on work boots, but stilettos are out!

        I would never, ever wear a skirt to something like this (mainly as I never, ever wear skirts period), so no worries there. :-)

        • Ru

          No problem! One other thing I forgot to mention is to consider what you’ll be carrying with you that day, if you can leave it in your car, etc, pare down essentials so that they’ll fit into any pockets that you may have. One of the worst things about women’s clothing is how inpractical they can be at times – purse on a site? No way, lol.

          Good luck on your presentation!

      • cbackson

        I agree (not an engineer, but an attorney who does project finance and has to visit construction sites). You don’t want to have to lean on someone’s arm because your heels can’t handle the uneven ground. I’d wear flat boots.

        • JB, JD

          I’m an civil engineer turned lawyer and I second the recommendation for boots. I wore flats with a suit to my last site visit as I had been told they hadn’t started the heavy construction yet and the shoes did not make it. Make sure you have something with a good sole, like boots, because even if it’s not heavy construction there will most likely only be dirt or gravel to stand on.

          And make sure to hit the ladies before you get there as there’s usually only a port-a-potty on site. Sometimes the construction trailer will have a bathroom but even then it’s usually not set up well for the type of touch up I’d like to do before a press event.

          Good luck!!!

      • halla

        I would love more thoughts on dressing for construction sites. I have a new job as essentially an owner’s architecture representative for the city (large, NE, not NYC) and will be regularly going to construction sites to monitor progress. The majority of my time is spent in the office, though, and I often won’t know before I come to work if I’m going out on site. People in the office wear a range of things, ranging from my immediate boss’s tweed coat, sweater vest, dress shirt, and tie, to a woman engineer who wears the same cardigan every day and interns in average college student wear. I’d say it tends towards dress pants and shirts with or w/o ties. Eventually I will get boots as part of my safety wear kit. As an added consideration, I’m small and look young, and there are few women here.

    • Anonymous

      I’d wear a pants suit with boots, or a very polished but non-suit trousers, blouse and jacket, also with boots. You didn’t mention whether your best suit is a skirt or pants suit. If it’s a skirt suit and you can’t wear a pants suit instead, I’d wear it with wedges or very polished looking flats (try Ecco). I’d pull my hair back in case it’s windy or rainy at the construction site, and wear waterproof eye makeup for the same reason.

  7. What next steps should I take?

    Hi Corporettes,

    Sorry about the threadjack. I need some advice. I am a fresh graduate who finished up with her MSc in the UK last year. I did my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at two top schools and have been job-hunting in my home country ever since. Last week I was informed by an awesome company – let’s call it Firm X – that I was to be offered a graduate role. Given the top-notch reputation of the firm, its international standing and the package on offer, I was pretty much ecstatic and was just awaiting the formal paperwork. (I was told my offer letter only required a final signature.)

    However, I found out yesterday that I would no longer be able to take up the role in question on account of the fact the firm’s regional head office had frozen all recruitment for the region due to revised financials, and that I essentially no longer had an offer and so wouldn’t be able to start, as I had agreed on doing, in a few weeks’ time. I immediately got in touch with the individual who had interviewed me and whilst he was very apologetic and said that he saw it as a loss to the firm and himself, and said that he had spent the last few days haggling with the senior partners trying to push my offer paper through, there was very little that could be done.

    Needless to say, I am pretty distraught. However, I am forcing myself to continue with my job search. I’m basically posting to try and get some advice from everyone on any ideas on how to proceed. I have honestly had a hard time keeping it together over the last 24 hours but am trying to aggressively get on with things.

    So far I have:
    –Emailed a few people I met at alumni networking events over the last few weeks to tell them my situation and ask them to pass on my CV to anyone they believe it might be of interest to and/or to enquire whether they might be interested in my profile for their own firms.
    –Gotten in touch once again with HR contacts/contacts at firms I had sent my application material to over the last few months. (At the time these firms were not looking to recruit and so nothing worked out in those instances.) I thought it would be wise to re-enquire as firms’ situations change
    –Emailed the individual who interviewed me at Firm X and asked him if he might be willing to pass my details on to any of his contacts or recommend me to anyone as he seemed to think very well of me. I friendly reply back but it didn’t seem like much would happen through that avenue
    –And, obviously, I also applied for a few more jobs this morning.

    Does anyone have any more ideas? Please bear in mind that I live in a small country in the non-Western world so what might work or be a viable option in the US may not necessarily be the case here. However, I am willing to consider any good suggestions. Thank you!

    • Guest

      I can’t give you any really good advice, since it sounds like you’re hitting every base I could think of.

      But, my advice would be to take a day or two off to mourn your loss and pamper yourself. Maybe go to a nice dinner or get a massage; or whatever it is that you really like to do to make yourself feel happier. Its important in this process to take care of yourself and your mental health as well!

      Otherwise, not much to add, but…that does really, really suck. I’m so sorry.

    • anon

      I had a very similar experience a few ears ago. During the course of my interviewing at a law firm, Lehman Bros collapsed and then the rest of the economy – the partner called to say how much they liked me, but all hiring was frozen, etc., etc., etc.

      Two things: (1) the partner told me to keep in touch, that if the economy improved or their group was able to keep as busy over the next 6-12 months, he would try to push to open the process back up. This could be the case here, so I would keep in touch with the people you interviewed with. (2) Two months later I interviewed for and got an awesome job at a completely different place, and I’ve been happily there ever since. It was definitely better on so many levels than the first firm. So sometimes things happen for a reason.

      Finally, don’t take this personally. You are qualified and this company wants to hire you – it is clearly a case of the bad economy. (Is this firm at all affected by oil prices/the middle east situation? If things calms down there in a few months, maybe they will open up hiring again.) Do something nice for yourself, take a deep breath, and dive back in! Good luck!!

      • What next steps should I take?

        Thanks anon, I am definitely going to keep in touch. I was told things would be frozen at the very least until the end of their fiscal year in June. But if I am still job-hunting then (sob) I will get back in touch.

        I live in the Middle East and so I imagine the company will invariably be affected by the situation out here (despite the fact it has offices in about a billion other locations). I guess what makes things worse is that on account of all of the current climate, job-hunting here is going to be even harder – though I guess no worse than was the case in the US circa late 2008.

        One thing I did consider was trying to ask whether there would be a chance of having the offer honored at a non-Middle East location. I tried to ask the recruiter about this when she informed me about what was happening and she said she didn’t know anything about that because she only handled recruitment for the region. I don’t really know if it is wise to try and pursue that option further or, indeed, quite how to go about it.

        My friends/family circle have been very supportive but quite honestly I hate job-hunting with a passion and I was just so relieved to have this offer simply because it meant not having to fill out yet another application or having to peruse yet abother job board. Arrrrghhhh – guess not!

        • Kady

          You didn’t mention if you have the right visa (etc) to work outside of your current country. It is quite costly for companies to sponsor a foreign employee, which I imagine is part of what is making your search so difficult (and likely the reason that the recruiter at the offering company only handles hiring for the region). It is especially difficult for companies to justify spending that on a new graduate. However, for a multi-national country, those kinds of decisions are usually handled in the HQ. If you really want to pursue it, your best chance is probably to contact the friendly interviewer and ask for the appropriate HR contact at HQ.

          (Note: I had to wait 8 months – yes, 8 months – for a corporate HQ to handle my hiring and placement in a foreign office, but it ultimately came through.)

        • Eponine

          Yes, pursue the outside-the-middle-east option if you can. At the very least, the recruiter can put you in touch with the recruiter for another region and explain the situation.

    • Kitty

      When hiring was frozen at my company 2 years ago, we were still able to take on temps, consultants and interns. Perhaps this would be a possibility at Firm X, of course with their understanding that you continue to look for permanent employment elsewhere? It could even lead to your getting a permanent position at Firm X if you’re still there when the hiring freeze is lifted.

  8. Sydney Bristow

    I really like this top. I think it would look great with a suit or with the charcoal gray pants I have hanging in my closet.

    In other news, I was supposed to have my character and fitness interview today for NY 2nd Department. I got a call this morning informing me that the woman I am interviewing with had an emergency and needed to reschedule. The earliest I could reschedule was next Friday. I wish that I could just be sworn in already!

    • kz

      If it makes you feel better, the earliest orientation to the profession class I could get in was April 8th, and I haven’t heard a word about my C&F interview. I’m wondering if I’ll actually get sworn in before my first year anniversary of graduating from law school. Also, from talking to people, it seems like 2nd department only does a swearing-in ceremony toward the end of each month (February’s was on Wednesday), so you’ll probably still end up in the same swearing in, even with the later C&F interview.

      • Sydney Bristow

        I’m sorry you have to wait so long for the orientation to the profession class. I was hoping to get in the March swearing-in ceremony, but I really have no idea when it will happen.

        • kz

          yea, I’m pretty sure it’s closer to the end of the month, so you should be fine–I know they’re doing one like the 23rd or 24th for people that live outside of NY now, so I assume the regular one is around that time, too (if not the same one).

          They are slow, aren’t they? New York’s admissions process seems odd when compared to other states.

          • Sydney Bristow

            It was nice to be able to complete the character and fitness questionnaire after registering for the exam (although I still took too long to do it) as opposed to before registration like my friends in other states had to do. I think that is one of the reasons it takes so much longer though.

          • kz

            true. But on the other hand, can you imagine if you took the bar exam, passed, and then failed character and fitness? I assume that’s the logic of the states that make you fill it out before hand. (well, and it does seem to make admission faster)

      • former New Yorker

        I used to work in the 2nd dept and know that it can take a while, but not as long as the 1st usually — It took me almost a year to get sworn in in the 1st dept in New York. You will get there though eventually — dont worry!

  9. Birthday Girl (yesterday)

    Just wanted to say a resounding thank you to everyone who contributed their words of wisom to “What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were 23?” question yesterday. Your responses were so well thought-out and made me think and appreciate where I am in my life right now. I’ve actually decided to call 23 the ‘year of being fearless’ to encourage myself to take bigger risks and stand up for myself more this year. I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

    Thanks to all of you for making my birthday so special!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for a great thread.
      Hope your day was great and the rest of the year is wonderful.

      • Anon in Ny

        It was a great question, and had some really good thoughtful advice from fellow Corporettes! Hope you enjoyed your birthday!

  10. Valentine Gal

    What do you ladies do with the vase that the flowers came in after the flowers get thrown away?

    • Tired Squared

      Depends on the vase … for clear vases I usually get some vase fillers (like fake rose petals, colored stones, etc), fill up the vase, and put it on a shelf or table.

      If it’s a colored vase, then it’s decorative on its own … though I’ve often stuck a fake Gerber daisy in narrow-top vases to perk up my living room in the winter =)

    • kz

      Save them just in case I ever need a vase. I used to throw them out every time I moved because they’re such a pain to pack/move without breaking, then my mother (who is the only one that usually sends me flower arrangements) found out and yelled at me. Evidently the vase can be an expensive part of flower arrangements. I always assumed they were cheap. Whoops.

    • EC

      Have had to tell hubby that I have several vases, both at home and work, so no need to order the vase with the flowers anymore! The collection was getting out of hand.

      My office actually has a cabinet for vases in our kitchen, and sometimes I many an anonymous donation to the office collection. Churches and nursing homes also apparently like having spare vases, I’ve heard.

    • Elle2

      If I like the vase, I keep it. I have vases at home and one at work in case the hubby sends me something. Most are in a cabinet, but are some are used as decorative items in my house.

      If I don’t particularly like the vase or if I already have one very simliar to it, I give it to a local flower shop I go to a lot so they can reuse it.

    • Anon in Ny

      For the short square glass vases my husband and I designate them as our “stuff” catchers by the doors and in our bedroom. We keep one right by the door that holds my keys/ID badge/ipod/etc. and he has a similar one on a bookshelf. I find they’re also great to put on bookshelves as de facto book-ends and to hold pens/post-its/etc. I also had a few on my desk at work – they make excellent (and fairly pretty) places to store pens/white-out/markers/etc.

  12. Tired Squared

    The weather is beautiful down in Virginia today, and it is motivating me to get up and exercising again. The other motivator is all of the comments from yesterday, saying that it’s much better to get back into shape at 23 than at an older age. Bonus is that I’m not in terrible shape now–about 150 pounds and 5’7… but I jiggle more in the tummy area than I used to, and don’t feel quite as strong.

    So here I go! Any suggestions you ladies have for getting started would be great!!

    • Anon

      As a runner, I have to say, running! Sign up for a race early this summer and do a couch to 5K program.

    • AnonInfinity

      My biggest piece of advice is just get out there and get started. I don’t now if you have ever exercised regularly, but I hadn’t really when I decided to get into shape (4 years ago). I was always worried that the people at the gym would think I looked stupid, the people on the running trail would think I was too slow, etc. Luckily, I kept with it and those feeligns went away. I’ve since realized that I do not pay attention to what the new people at the gym or on the trail are doing because I am concerned with my own work out (though I do try to be friendly and wave or help someone who appears to be trying to figure out how to work a machine).

      Also of importance — setting a goal. At first, exercise doesn’t feel good bc you’re sweaty, out of breath, getting red, etc. There has to be a reason for you to keep doing it or else the part of your brain that doesn’t like temporary discomfort will convince you to stop. Mine was initially weight loss and general toning.

    • Ashley

      I’ve always found it helpful to have one exercise that I do EVERY day, without fail. For me, it’s crunches. I’ve got a few different ab exercises that result in 100-300 reps, but take less than 10 minutes. It helps me keep my stomach looking nice, gives me at least 10 minutes of exercise per day, and reminds my body that just because I didn’t workout for an hour that day doesn’t mean I’m out of the workout habit! Sometimes if you lose one day, it is hard to get motivated, so having SOMETHING that you do each day helps you break the, “weellll…. I don’t feel like it today, soooo skipping isn’t THAT bad….” mentality. If I go to the gym that day, my ab routine is just the last 5-10 minutes of my workout.
      Also, don’t be afraid to consider non-traditional workouts like dance classes or pilates. I used to be an athlete, so I thought that if I didn’t run 3 miles and lift for a specific area of my body for 30-45 minutes, I hadn’t really “worked out”. FALSE! The dance classes keep me lean and toned, and boot camp-style classes keep me challenged and strong. Try out a bunch of different types of workouts, you might find a new passion :)

    • EC

      I’ve been most successful when I have lots of little pre-set goals to achieve (like, I’ll run two more blocks each day this week than I did last week) so I’ve accomplished something tangible each week. Lately, I’ve found the smartphone weight loss apps (I use LoseIt, but LiveStrong is popular too) are really helpful in motivating me to continue my current resolution – I’m on week 8 and have lost 4 pounds, right on schedule, with no backsliding!

      Good luck! Enjoy the nice weather!

    • Kitty

      Try lots of things until you find something you really enjoy doing – running, spinning class, yoga, pilates, hiking, swimming, biking etc. It’s much, much easier to keep up a fitness routine if you enjoy what you’re doing.

      • L from Oz

        I’ve just started nordic walking, and I really like it – I can’t run for medical reasons, and while I love swimming it’s not always convenient – so this gives me something land-based that I can basically walk out the door and do. Yes, I look a little dopey, but it’s popular enough around here that other people are out there too, which makes a big difference!

  13. MM

    Has anyone ordered anything from the Orijyn website that advertises here on Corporette? The stuff looks very pretty, and I’m curious what experience people have had with the quality.

    • Lea

      Hi MM, I recently ordered from Orijyn and I can assure you that the quality is amazing, the details are crazy, I ordered a bracelet and I am just crazy about it !
      I hope that I helped you

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