Splurge Monday’s Workwear Report: Below-Knee Dropped-Back Pleated Skirt
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
I’ve always loved Thom Browne’s slightly quirky, collegiate style. This skirt is a slightly more avant-garde version of my high school field hockey kilt, but I think it might work for the office if it were styled very conservatively.
I would pair this with a turtleneck, tights, and loafers for a slightly cooler version of a school uniform.
The skirt is $1,590 at Bloomingdale’s and comes in sizes 2-10.
Sales of note for 7/19:
- Nordstrom – The Anniversary Sale has started! Here's our big roundup of the best workwear, as well as everything we've selected thus far. Don't forget to check to see if their daily beauty deal is a good one for you – e.g., 7/23 Lancome; 7/24 YSL; 7/29 up to 40% off select lip products; 7/31 Bobbi Brown; 8/1 Jo Malone
- Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, 60% off sale and 40% off everything — readers love this blouse and I always love the variety of colors/textures for this jacket (it's a great separate)
- Banana Republic – Summer sale up to 60% off sale styles + extra 20% off
- The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
- J.Crew – 50% off select cashmere
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
- Lululemon – Summer sale!
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added)
- M.M.LaFleur – 25% off jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clear the rack, extra 25% off clearance! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Talbots – Red Door Sale! Prices start at $15
- Theory – End of season sale is on!
If anyone is interested in the Abundance discourse, the podcast Diabolical Lies has a multi-hour podcast on the subject that I found fascinating over the weekend.
Does anyone have a drugstore (or otherwise widely available) nail polish remover that actually can remove a salon pedicure?
Is it a gel pedicure? I’ve never had a problem removing polish with any old nail polish remover.
Plain acetone is my go-to for removing normal nail polish. I apply cuticle oil before and after to minimize the drying effect.
+1
the only one that works is pure acetone.
Was it a gel pedicure?
100% acetone from anywhere, assuming it’s regular polish, just thicker / sturdier than your average DIY.
I bought pure acetone remover at Five Below.
Assuming it’s not gel – the cheap acetone, generally hidden on the bottom shelf, typically a pastel easter color. Do not be distracted by anything that looks like the packaging was updated after say 1985.
+1 – for best results also grab cotton balls. Soak the cotton balls in the acetone and then secure them to your fingers/toes with a tin foil cap. Let it soak for at least 10-15 minutes before trying to remove it.
Use a file to file off the top layer of polish, it will make it easier to remove the rest with acetone.
If you know people in your life who have started using a CPAP, how old were they when they started? And does anyone hate it or find it not to be helpful? I only know people who love it or find it positively life-changing, to the point of camping and traveling with it. A loved one has been recommended to use it and IMO should try it at least, but is visually put off.
My dad started using one in his late 50s, I want to say? It’s not really something you do for fun. Most people who are prescribed them have sleep apnea and that puts a lot of stress on your heart. So yes the machine is ugly but that’s not the point.
A good family friend uses one (were traveling together next month!) and he accepts it as a necessary evil because he’s really messed up his body from lifestyle decisions. He’s getting healthy and the motivation is being able to sleep without the CPAP.
I was on a rafting trip a few years ago and three men on the trip used CPAPs and all three spent their own money on battery packs to make sure they could take them on the river. If you need it, you need it.
My husband started using it around age 60 after snoring for decades. He was very opposed to it, he didn’t believe he could get used to it, but once the doctor showed him how serious his condition was, he made the effort and has been using it for around 2 years. He now doesn’t give it a second thought, travels with it, cleans it, and the only time he skips it is if he has a sinus or respiratory infection because it’s uncomfortable then.
Adding that the sleep study and other tests provide objective data which might be convincing. It’s not just a question of “no one is bothered by my snoring”.
An uncle started using one in his late fifties, like, 5 years ago? And reports much improved sleep. He was a smoker who stopped 15 years ago, and is obese. He does travel with it, complains it’s bulky, but loves it. He also didn’t think he needed it, but his wife made it a condition to keep sharing a bed, because his snoring and jolting gasping for air kept her from sleeping, now she sees the low noise as a white noise machine.
My father started using one in his 60s and does not skip using it. He felt better right away after getting a good, peaceful night’s sleep for the first time in ages.
I suspect my husband needs one based on his gasping, snoring, snorting all night every night. He knows generally how dangerous and stressful sleep apnea is on the hear, but hasn’t been ready to admit that it applies to him. It is going to take his doctor finding out about it to convince him to use one.
Ah, yes, the sound of some being murdered next to you.
I told my husband his choices were either to address the snoring/gasping/snorting or find another bedroom to sleep in. The CPAP is at least continuous white noise and does help tremendously.
Virginia Sole-Smith had a series on her (used to be substack, now patreon) blog about getting and using a CPAP, talking about both the pros and cons.
I have a friend who started using one around age 36-37 and loves it. Yeah it’s not cute but it’s worth it to get a good night sleep. She is single, but has a fabulous sense of humor and just owns it when it comes to dating. She travels with it. I’ve shared a bed with her and it really does reduce snoring. The only other person I know who uses one is a man in his 50s (no clue how long he’s been using it) and he travels with it.
my friend was just telling me about some dental thing that’s like a nightguard/retainer that works as a CPAP – usually not covered by insurance and $3k+ but she said it changed her husband’s life. everyone i know who happily uses a CPAP has done a LOT of trying out different devices and attachments etc to find a system they like.
A homeoblock! I’d really like to get one of these.
There are companies that make this for a lot less through the mail, FYI.
My husband was prescribed one following a mild sleep apnea diagnosis. He tried, really tried, and just could not use it. He felt he was being suffocated and after two weeks gave up. He instead now wears a mandibular advancement device that has 100% solved his snoring issue and for the first time in 20 years, we can sleep comfortably in the same bed. I don’t think these devices work for everyone, but I’m throwing it out there because I’d never heard of them and for him, it’s made a huge difference in sleep quality.
I have two close friends who were each in their early 40s when they started. Each says it’s been life-changing for her.
BFF started wearing one around 38-39 and says it was life-changing. Maybe slightly annoying to travel with, but she brought it on our Vegas trip no problem. And, I didn’t notice the noise when sleeping in our shared room.
Spouse was prescribed a CPAP ~6 years ago. Was consistent at the outset, but didn’t see a lot of immediate benefit so compliance dropped off. Got a script for Zepbound about a year ago and the snoring stopped after the first month on it.
Yep, my husband went from needing a CPAP for apnea until he lost 60lbs on zepbound.
If they won’t use a CPAP, some people qualify for an Inspire device (https://www.inspiresleep.com). It’s not necessarily CPAP or nothing.
Does anyone have a card holder iPhone case that they love? I had one like this: https://www.amazon.com/WeLoveCase-iPhone-Shockproof-Protection-Protective/dp/B09BV3Q5Y8 for my old phone, and it was really great. Held up to drops, held my credit card and id, propped my phone up to read, and the mirror was surprisingly handy. But I can’t seem to find one like it for my new I-phone 17, and the ones I’ve tried haven’t worked out nearly as well. Suggestions? I don’t mind if it means I can’t use the external charger, but I have to be able to securely carry at least 2 cards and prop it up to read, in a single unit (not the kind that sticks on the back) that isn’t bulky.
Yes, I love wallicases
Has anyone tried the socks from Quince that has knock-offs of the Bombas ankle socks? How do they compare to Bombas?
can’t speak to Quince but I found some Hanes or something on Amazon that are decent and fun colors. Not quite as tight as Bombas though. Hated the Bombas colors in the NAS this year, who wants beige socks?
Both Jockey and Marks & Spencer make good ankle socks at a way better price than Bombas.
I bought some and they seem similar. I can confirm that the “Everyday Cotton Solid Ankle Socks” from Quince are too tight for me, just like the Bombas version. FWIW, I don’t have large ankles and have never encounter this issue with any other type of sock.
Random question for today: what is your favorite candy?
I love all things licorice, the HiChew, Fruit Gushers… I can’t keep licorice in the house. I love the Tootsie roll minis (fruity or classic) for a taste of something sweet though as a small daily treat.
Nerds gummy clusters! Though I’m newly allergic to gelatin and can no longer eat them.
I just got a licorice/mint toothpaste and it is delightful!
The nerds gummy clusters have NO RIGHT to be so delicious.
But I also love the OG nerds, strawberry flavor. I wish they came in bigger packs.
Besides nerds I’m more of a chocolate person, and my favorite is probably twix.
Nerds Gummy Clusters are now my #1 candy. They are ridiculously satisfying.
I usually love candy but I don’t love these! They’re almost too sweet?
I’m a candy fiend so much so that twice a year I make a big order of imported candy from a specialty shop. I love fruitella, fuzzy peaches, efrutti apple rings, and jumbo skittles. (Among many many others)
Anything with caramel (pronounced “car’-mel” because SEUS), except sea salt. Keep your sea salt off of my caramel.
When it comes to desserts, however, I am Team Fruity Dessert. Cobblers rule.
I’m a big candy person, mostly sour and gummy things. The haribo brand is my favorite and we usually have an assortment, plus starburst fave reds.
Addicted to Hi Chews and I also love Nibs even though it’s kind of like eating plastic.
I saw a funny Instagram post that said “you know what’s never given me parasitic diarrhea? Nerds gummy clusters.”
My favorites are the above, Neccos, chocolate covered gummy bears, and really most any other candy besides Whoppers.
I’m struggling with the motivation to work on my hobbies and I don’t know if I need a kick in the pants or if I actually just need to rest. I want to do so many things – I want to sew and write and read complicated books! But I have two little kids and a full time job and once I get to the end of the day, and everyone is fed I just have no brain power left. I don’t want to, but I end up scrolling Reels and short form videos and I hate it. How do you break the cycle?
If you aren’t naturally motivated to do a hobby maybe you don’t actually like it that much? I know needlepoint etc. is all over Insta but that doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for you… while I have hobbies I enjoy on the weekends (getting outdoors mostly) at night you could not pay me to squint at a canvas. Maybe try old movies or something as a way to still be able to relax / veg but not in micro-bursts of online slop?
Do you actually enjoy sewing or writing or reading complicated books? Does it engage and relax you? If it does, prioritize it. Turn off the reels, because it’s the equivalent of always reaching for junk food instead of things that actually nourish you. But if it’s another pressure/burden to do those things, figure out what you do actually enjoy. Maybe it’s a steamy kindle book that lets you turn your brain off. Or a paint by numbers you can do while you watch TV. Adjust for the season you’re in.
For the evenings, I’d shift to watching a long video (stream a TV show or something) or reading a non-complicated book. Anything to break the short-form video cycle, which is addictive and draining. Then once you have that cycle broken, you can branch out into other things to do that don’t require brain energy, but also don’t actively deplete you the way those short videos do.
Can you separate the “stop scrolling” from the “energy and motivation from hobbies”? Like, for a week (preferably a month), cut the scrolling completely. If you’re tired, go to bed early,or just sit on the porch and… do nothing. If after a few weeks, you’re still feeling too tired for complicated hobbies, then you’ll know it’s likely a “need rest” thing.
I am mostly talking to myself here, but I need the regular reminder: for me, scrolling feels easy in the moment, but rarely leaves me rested. I am also always better off doing nothing when tired.
Start small. Read 10 pages a day with your devices in another room. Build up that muscle until it’s habit again. I have been there and it is EXTREMELY worth breaking the cycle because the reels just make you feel like crap and totally unrested afterward. Don’t tell yourself you have to “read books” every night – try “read 10 pages tonight” or “sew one seam” tonight.
Even 2 pages counts!
Also don’t start out with complicated books if you’re trying to build back a habit. Thrillers, romances, even the YA books you read as a teen and loved, etc are going to be easier to sustain at first.
Yes and no – Laura Vanderkam made the point in her book Big Time that War and Peace is 361 chapters and some are as few as 2 pages. You can read a chapter a day for a just under a year easily. Anyone can find the time to read 2 pages! That’s if you want to, of course, but a lot of people do!
Less ambitious hobbies with a gradual step-up once I’m ready. Instead of complicated books, I like to get pretty cookbooks and entertaining books with lots of photos from the library. If I want more, I might get beach read novels. Step up little by little and only when you’re ready.
The internet will win over a complicated book when you’re tired.
Read something low effort and fun! I recently enjoyed The Shampoo Effect, One & Only, The Jane Austen Book Club.
If you don’t already have a kindle they’re great for reading in the dark before you conk out.
I had to take Instagram off of my phone. It’s been 6 months and I haven’t missed it too much. But having it as a very available app was too much for me to resist.
I find that listening to something while keeping my hands busy lets me get in the groove of my hobbies without succumbing to the urge to scroll.
For me, that can be playing a podcast while sewing, music while weaving, or streaming a nature documentary while knitting.
And while I love reading, there are some seasons where I just need to read something lighter. I deal with a lot all day, between heavy topics at work and in the news, taking care of my family, I just don’t have the brainpower to read dense, unengaging tomes. I don’t have to read total garbage, but finding an author or genre that holds my attention is way better than staring at a single page for 15 minutes before putting the book down in frustration.
+1 to this. Reading shouldn’t be punishment – read what you enjoy!
I had a really strange encounter with my house cleaners this morning and could use some advice on what to do next.
For background, we’ve lived in this house for 5 years and had this service for most of that time. The crew rotates, and we’ve given feedback to the owner a few times when the service isn’t great, after which she sends different people and it’s generally good. They are Hispanic and their English is not great but they typically understand basic phrases and DH converses with them a bit in Spanish. I haven’t noticed anything go missing in our house when they’ve been here but we generally hide things like Airpods, wallets, jewelry.
We live in a cul de sac in a safe suburb where people generally leave bikes, etc in their driveways. Our neighbors have toddler grandkids and when they visit (like this week), they tend to leave camp chairs, scooters, balance bikes at the edge of their driveway bc the kids use them and come back, and usually one grandparent is at the end of the driveway watching them when they’re out.
My office faces the front of the house and about an hour ago I saw our cleaners park in our driveway then walk over to the neighbors and take the chairs and scooters and put them in their car. I was shocked and walked out and asked what was happening. One of them said “it’s free”. I said no, it’s not, that’s their kids, we have to put it back. They were really annoyed and I kept saying “no, they leave their stuff there, you can’t take it.” The neighbor came out when we were putting this back and was generally surprised but didn’t really say anything. I also looked in the cleaning lady’s car to make sure they took everything back.
When they came in the house I told them people tend to leave things out in this neighborhood and you can’t take stuff. I called my DH and asked him to call the owner of the service as well. I’m not sure if I should end services with them over this. At a minimum, I’m going to be much more vigilant about hiding anything valuable moving forward.
Um, what? Why on earth would you be “unsure if you should end services over this?” Is there any better reason to on this earth?
It sounds like a misunderstanding. It’s quite a leap to think they’d steal stuff in your house based on this.
Agree. I also don’t think it’s an entirely unreasonable assumption and don’t think it implies dishonesty. In NY, if you leave things on the sidewalk, it typically means it’s there to take. I remember my mom had a coworker friend back in the day who told a story of moving to NYC from another country and being shocked at all the stuff that was thrown away to take and then making the mistake of assuming that the mattress that was left in their apartment building lobby was also intended to be taken, when it was just waiting movers to come take it up. The mattress owners hung up a sign saying “please return,” and my mom’s coworker was mortified and then waited until midnight to sneak it back with a note of apology. Misunderstandings happen! I would not assume bad intentions, but I think it’s fine to let the business owner know to spread the word about your neighborhood norms.
This is an understandable mix-up. They thought the chairs were put curbside to be picked up for free. Sure, most people put a sign saying “free,” but not everyone does. Your neighbors should not have left their chairs so close to the curb. I would absolutely not expect the cleaners to steal from you based on this, but I don’t hide my airpods and jewelry, either.
I do hide stuff, but also think it was an honest mistake, especially if it was near trash day. Your neighbors should not leave stuff out like that. People picking up free things off the curb is very normal.
I live in a very similar type of neighborhood, and my kids have been taught to not leave their stuff out. Or if they do, move it close to the house so it’s very obvious the item has an owner. Not the curb! At any rate, I think this was a big misunderstanding.
That sounds like a genuine misunderstanding, and from the outside looking in I would have assumed that your cleaners were in the right. It’s pretty normal to leave stuff out on the curbs that the owners are discarding and leaving out for free.
It’s good you caught the misunderstanding and it sounds like it all worked out, so I’m not sure why you’re pushing it considering all evidence points to the fact that these are honest people.
FWIW I’m white and speak English, since you seem to think that race/language are pertinent facts in your post. It seems completely irrelevant to me.
It sounds like a misunderstanding. I wouldn’t assume they’re going to steal things from your house; the roadside pickup thing is definitely … a thing. You clued them in to what’s going on.
In every neighborhood I have ever lived in, stuff left by the curb is either intended for the garbage truck or put out for free in hopes that someone else will claim it. I think your cleaning crew was blameless and your neighbors have caused the misunderstanding by not being aware of and following cultural norms around this practice.
I am an overwhelmed director (i.e., middle manager). It’s not just the tasks; it is the onslaught of information coming from all directions: email, Teams, sometimes texts from my boss. And it’s making me a little crazy because I can’t contain it all, and many messages involve multiple people and feedback points. Many of these emails require substantive replies.
I’m sort of beating myself up because I missed an important date in one of these stupid email threads, which put one of my team members in a bad spot while I was on vacation and unreachable. She took care of it and nothing bad happened, but it was a scramble, and I know I missed it because I was skimming multiple messages and forwards and it wasn’t immediately clear what was needed from me beyond the initial question.
How are other people managing the overwhelming amount of information coming their way? I am already jotting down notes on a to-do list as things come in. Or I try to, at least, but sometimes fail.
I’m in my mid-40s, and I swear I’m no longer made for the modern workplace. My attention feels SO scattered.
For those of you who do Botox or Dysport, how long does it last? My Dysport lasts about two months. I do have a fast metabolism which I’m told can cause it to wear off faster, but I have friends who get it maybe twice a year!