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Workwear Hall of Fame: Big Cat Pointed Toe Flat

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Big Cat Pointed Toe FlatThis may sound slightly off topic, but stick with me: Everlane emailed folks today about how they were launching a new sneaker brand and how they were hesitant for a long while because sneakers have a huge “environmental footprints, requir[ing] an inordinate amount of energy to produce, are made largely from virgin plastic, and … end up in landfills around the world.” My immediate thought was, “but Rothys flats are all totally sustainable, aren't they! Have I just not appreciated how cool that fact is before?” So I went and checked and yes, indeed, Rothys has a ton of great sustainability elements, including that their knit uppers are made from 100% post-consumer plastic water bottles, and the company aims to use recycled and renewable materials in their shoes as well as streamlined packaging. They even own their own factory and use carbon credits to fund Project Envira. Huzzah! (The Everlane shoe is launching 4/25 but from first look do not look to be my cup of tea, but hey, never say never.) I have several of the Rothy's flats (almost all bought with referral credits, in full disclosure) — my favorites for my fussy feet are the loafers and round-toe flats (the sneakers weren't a hit at all) — I keep trying the pointy-toe flats in different sizes because I think they're the sleekest. (I have a wide forefoot and narrow heels, bunions and that upturned toe thing — I know, glamorous! — so I maybe should just stick with the loafers and round-toe flats.) The pictured Rothy's shoe is $145. Big Cat Pointed Toe Flat (Psst: looking for a referral code for $20 off your first purchase? Try this one.) This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! 2019 Update: We're adding these flats to our Workwear Hall of Fame because readers still adore them, and they're still coming out in new colors and fabrics. 

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75 Comments

    1. No arch support. I love my Rothy’s and think they’re super comfy otherwise, but wouldn’t wear them if I planned on more than 5-6 miles in a day.

    2. No. I have high arches though and my feet love them (just have one pair — round toes). I can walk for miles without blisters (#1 problem with other non-sneaker shoes). Arch support only matters to me if I am standing in one place for a long time, not walking.

    3. Nope! They’re like wearing socks. It’s a personal preference whether you think this is a good or bad thing. :)

    4. No, they really don’t. But I’ve had luck adding one of those small arch support pads from Dr. Scholls. They don’t really stick to the shoe very well, but once I’m wearing them, they stay in place pretty well.

  2. Seeking university adjunct opportunities. Am qualified for this (no worries there), I am struggling with how to go about it. Is the only option to go to each school’s website to search or to try to weed through standard job websites or is there a better way?

    1. If you are local, probably worth it to do some informational interviewing so you can assess how these work per school per department. If I wanted it, I know people within my local schools who could make it happen b/c I know what they are buying (in terms of classes/content) so I could tailor my pitch.

    2. Higher Ed Jobs dot com (all one word) is a good aggregator of (you guessed it!) higher ed jobs, including the ability to search by type (part time/adjunct). Beware, as with any aggregating site, they can be out of date, and will just force you to the school’s site to apply. But! This takes the sting out of the search.

    3. Make sure you are on any relevant listservs in your field to hear about lightly or locally advertised positions that may have a quick turnaround.

    4. In my humanities field, it would be worth emailing your CV to the department chair at any local place you’d be interested in working. There are more formal processes, but people often get hired like that.

      1. I’m a department chair at a small college and that’s exactly how we find adjuncts (applications directly to the department).

    5. Late post so hopefully you see this – but my husband is a professor and learned that if you look at a college’s course listing for the next semester and see that there are courses listed without a name that means they don’t have anyone lined up yet for that course and are looking for someone. It is a giant headache for dept heads to find adjuncts, so if you email them with short tailored email as to why you are qualified and attach your CV, assuming the position isn’t filled yet there is a decent chance you’ll hear back. And don’t be afraid to contact them again for the next semester – they are busy and frazzled and you actually make their life easier by reaching out and spelling out to them why they should hire you.

  3. Will be co-presenting at a conference that is focused on body art/m0difications. Typically for presentations, I wear Editors pants, a patterned sleeveless shell, and a blazer. However, I worry this is too formal for this audience. How do I look professional but also like one of them enough to not seem too out of touch to be worth listening to? …or do I just wear what I always do and hope they consider me a professional rather than tone-deaf for this crowd?

    1. I think this is a perfect time to have a little more fun with your accessories. I’m imagining rolled sleeves and a big, weird cuff bracelet.

    2. 1. I would like to go to this conference.
      2. Are there photos from previous years that can give you hints as to what presenters will wear?
      3. I would wear funky shoes and/or a sleek LJ instead of the blazer

    3. Is this your industry? Or are you presenting on something related but not body art itself? Because like, if you have tattoos for example, now’s the time to flaunt them and skip the blazer/pants/whatever would cover them.

      Needless to say I strongly agree with Pugs’ #3.

    4. If you have pieces that are outside your normal professional wear that would bring some edge then I’d wear that. Whatever it is, wear it if it is authentically you.. being authentic is probably the most relatable thing you can do

  4. Someone asked a while ago if there was a way to identify yourself as searching for jobs in a new location on LinkedIn, and I don’t think anyone had figured it out (at least by the time I stopped reading the thread). I stumbled upon that functionality this weekend. You go into “Career interests” on the Jobs page and it lets you put in different locations that recruiters can see.

  5. Wow — those Everlane shoes are making my mom’s SAS shoes look cool. Truly an age of ugly fashion.

    3. Oh man, I wouldn’t have clicked but for your post. Yikes those are ugly. And my 18 year old daughter would probably love them.

    4. Horrible! If I were in charge of costuming a live-action version of The Simpsons, those are what I would choose for Grandpa and all of his fellow old-folks home residents. What is going on with clothes today?!?

    5. Also not my jam but kudos to Everlane for including a model with a disability on the landing page.

  6. Presentation outfit help needed! I’m speaking at my practice area’s bar association’s annual conference. I am also 7 weeks pregnant so I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new outfit, but am not opposed to buying something if that’s the best solution. I’m short and curvy – a size 16 – with a large bust.

    My go-tos are MM LaFleur dresses – mostly the Aditi and the Emily – with a jardigan or more structured blazer. But those don’t really feel assertive enough for a presentation to a large audience? Would love suggestions.

    1. Find out your mic situation, if you’ll be mic’d. That’ll determine if a waistband/pocket/jacket pocket is a must.
      If it’s not, your dress/jacket combos sound perfect and you’ll present better in something you know you’re comfortable in.

  7. Actual gardening question ahead – does anyone have a clever way of marking where to plant fall bulbs to complement what you already have? I did take a photo but spring flowering bulbs will have died down by then, and I’m not sure I can figure it out exactly from a photo. Should I just stick some stakes in the ground?

    And a follow up question – how should I mark tulips I want to move? I don’t want to move them until the foliage dies at least, and would prefer to wait until the fall. I have a few that are in weird places from the previous owners. I thought about tying a string somewhere on the stalk.

    I also couldn’t think of how to g oo g this question, so if there are good online resources, please let me know!

    1. I’d probably put in a stake with a flag or tag identifying what is there. Doesn’t have to be tall – could be something like the little tags that come in the plant packages you get from the nursery. Or a popsicle stick with sharpie.

      1. Oh, great idea! I could just reuse the ones from my annuals and write on the back with a sharpie. I didn’t even think of that.

    2. Tulips can be hit-or-miss. You could simply plant fresh bulbs where you want them to bloom and not count on the older ones, which can be susceptible to disease, rot, rodents, etc.

    3. I just bought some popsicle sticks and wrote on them with sharpies for this very reason! Hopefully they hold up until next year, but I have a huuuuuge yard and I will never remember what is where.

    4. Golf tees in different colors for “move this plant” vs “plant more bulbs here. You can use nail polisy to paint the tops of the tees different colors.

  8. PSA if you haven’t already watched Beyoncé Homecoming on Netflix please do so! Inspiring on so many levels.

    1. I’m glad for the HBCU plug. I’m white, but from a very HBCU-heavy area (SEVA/NENC) and then lived by Howard for a long time. HBCUs produce a totally outsized % of black hard science graduates in the US each year (my take: b/c they care beyond admitting you; they are invested in your success and won’t let you fail out of hard sciences and switch to communications when you may just need mentoring and tutoring if your heart is set on being a doctor/mathematician/scientist). If you have never been, you are missing magic in the air.

      1. Can you explain what you mean by if you have never been? Do you mean visiting HBCU campuses?

        1. She probably means a sports event, which is what Beyoncé’s “Homecoming” is modeled after – particularly football traditions.

    2. YES! It was running on two different televisions every day last week in my home.

  9. Workout Leggings assistance – I usually wear yoga pants for fitness activities, but I’m getting into some more high-intensity workouts that seem to call for supportive leggings. How do I know I have the right size? I’m paranoid about them being sheer, so I tend to size up. And then they aren’t supportive enough. But of course, I don’t know that until I’ve worn them, which means most brands are unreturnable.

    1. If you need them to be supportive and are worried about sheerness, you’ll need to go with something thick and snug. You’re looking for the “compression” label. I think if you get too tight with compression, they’ll be nearly impossible to get on before they get sheer :).

    2. Buy nicer yoga pants, like Athleta brand, which are generally thicker and are returnable after you’ve worn them.

      1. I’m looking for for sizing tips – I’ve had the issues described with Athleta, Lulu, and Nike.

        1. I”m an hourglass 12 and wear a large in compression capris/leggings from Under Armour, GapFit, Adidas and C9. I prefer ones with drawstrings that I can adjust. They should feel snug

    4. Unless there’s a medical reason why you’d need compression bottoms, there’s no reason you can’t do high-intensity workouts in whatever you’re comfortable wearing.

      Compression can be useful after a long workout, but even then it’s not essential.

    5. I think this is one of those situations where you are just going to have to buy a couple of sizes and try it out. I’m a size 10/12 and do HIIT workouts. I love the high waisted compression leggings from Old Navy in size L. They are cheap, not see through and give lots of support.

  10. What are your thoughts on visible tattoos in a professional setting? I’m a biglaw associate who loves tattoos – they are a huge form of self-expression to me. I have several tattoos, but all on areas that can only be seen when I’m in a bathing suit. I also have a few tiny (less than an inch tall) ones on my wrists, below where my suit jacket/shirt/sweater falls (ie. easy to hide in court or at meetings). There are a few really tiny arm tattoos that I have my eye on, which would be more visible than any that I currently have (ie. on the forearm) as well as some ankle ones that would definitely show when in a dress or skirt. Are these a total no-go because of my job?

    1. P.S. for further background – all the tattoos that I have and am interested in getting are super dainty and tasteful (tiny words or symbols, all only in black ink). I actually think they look quite chic, but this could be because they are so widespread in my age group (late 20s).

    2. I can tell you that in my office (Canadian big city, mid-size litigation with lots of court and tribunal work), I can think of a multitude of woman lawyers with visible wrist, forearm, foot/ankle tattoos and several with facial piercings (nose/eyebrow), as well as a male partner with a full sleeve that extends below his shirt cuff.

      Times are changing but the dial only moves when people move it.

    3. I think it really depends on your market. I am in SEUS biglaw and there is only one associate in my 500+ lawyer office with a visible tattoo. There’s one partner who has a tattoo on her back that you can occasionally see depending on whether she’s wearing her hair up and how the back of her dress it cut. But that’s it.

    5. Also think it depends heavily on your market and your firm. Keep in mind that your firm may change (it might adapt or you might/probably will change firms) so I’d focus the most on your market and what your CLIENTS would think. Even if you are not particularly client-facing now, that might be different in 10 years. If you’ve assessed those areas, consider what your current partner(s) and managing partner would think, in addition to any other partners you might care about (the partnership committee, for instance). If all is well or you can cover them (and don’t mind doing so), then go forth!

    6. I think sleeves, or the equivalent of a sleeve on the leg, or a face or neck tattoo would firmly brand you as unprofessional/ non white collar, but little tattoos here and there are not a big deal.

    7. A word of caution from my experience (I have thigh and shoulder and back tattoos) is that your industry or clientele could shift. I used to work with [stereotypically cool and laid back industry] mostly, and it wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow if my tattoos showed. But I’ve moved to another employer in another region and while the people I work with, daily in the office, have seen my tattoos, because I’ve gone to BBQs or whatever with them, the larger world I work with has not. The folks I work with in a more global way are basically all men in their 50s-80s and they already look at me with suspicion (like, what authority should that kid have?!) so I don’t want to give them any more ammunition for that. They’re also creeps, and the one who did come across me when I wasn’t covered up made a point of eyeballing me all over like now that he’d seen my tattoos I was (more of) an object in his eyes. I don’t think my tattoos are wrong — I think these guys are gross and bad — but I am glad they’re easy to cover in work clothes.

      1. I agree here. While you are now young and presumably cute, we all get older, and once we get over mabye 40, people might look at you suspiciusly. Certainly older men do not think much of women with tatoos, and once you’re 50, men your own age will be looking for younger women, not a 50 year old with tatoos and sagging sking. If you always expect to be taken seriousley, think twice now before doing anything. I know I would NEVER have a tatoo, but understand people think differently, but I know that when I get older, I know my skin will not be as firm as it is now, and adding a tatoo to sagging skin would be embarassing.

    8. If you are in court, or expect to travel outside your area to a more conservative area, I would not add visible tattoos.

    9. I guess I am rather heavily tattooed at this point–half of my torso and side (probably more surface area than a typical full sleeve). You would never know it to look at me, although friends who know me well either know about the tattooing or wouldn’t be remotely surprised.

      My take: there is solid professional value in being able to decide when/if to reveal tattoos. Meetings with conservative clients, international (and even U.S.) travel to places where tattoos (especially on women) are less routine, any public appearance where you don’t want the subject of your tattoo to be a focus …

      I am absolutely in favor of good-quality body art and love the experience of being tattooed. That said, I strongly prefer control over when my art is public. Your mileage may vary, but hand and forearm art (however small and tasteful) will be public property.

  11. My assistant called in sick today. I’m fairly sure she wasn’t sick, but stressed out because I was out of the office last week and the day back from vacation is hard on both of us. When she isn’t here, it effectively doubles my work because she needs to process all the catch-up work. I’d like to show compassion for her but I’m having a hard time not feeling really upset about it. Her work is good, but she does have a history of calling in sick at particularly busy or stressful times. Any tips to help me reframe my attitude?

    1. I was sick with an infection over the entire long weekend, but I couldn’t get in to see a doctor until today, so I had to take today off. I know it probably looked like I just wanted an even LONGER weekend and to get out of post-vacation work, but it’s hard to stay on top of health issues that aren’t ER worthy when doctors are unavailable.

    2. This probably isn’t helpful, but as someone who is in an admin job because of a life emergency, I kind of feel for her. It’s such a degrading and dehumanizing job, sometimes it’s hard to muster the mental energy to put on a smile and go to work.

      1. I am really curious as to what makes it a degrading and dehumanizing job? Or is that your particular employer? I would honestly hate to think that my assistant views her job, and our relationship, that way.

        1. I think it’s about 50/50 the job and my employer. Partly the jump on demand mentality, partly being a babysitter for an overgrown adult child, partly never being asked please, partly not having “off” time (even though I’m not paid for 24/7 assistance), partly doing really complex work on behalf of my boss that he doesn’t have the skills to do but I do, I have the degree, yet he gets credit. I’m functionally an overqualified unthanked servant. That said I’m so so close to getting out and my now boss will have to work with me professionally in a capacity where he needs to be nice, very nice because he relies heavily on my soon to be employer.

        2. I’m an admin. My attorneys do not insult me and seem to love me. But they constantly neg on people in other admin roles. It’s clear they do not respect people who are not attorneys. Even when they like them, they assume no one has a life as hard as they do, that admins are not as smart as them, and sometimes the projects they pass along are indeed ones they should be doing but don’t want to. Not all nonbillable work should be sent to admins to complete. When they do these things, it’s clear they don’t respect my job, my time or me. They often want me to hold their hands, listen to their rants and I’m expected to keep a smile on my face while they do it. I often perform very intricate detailed work and ghostwrite copy for my attorneys and their bosses have no idea and my bosses only know because I document this. None of this is malicious but it’s happened at every job I have so I’m used to it. Even worse, what usually happens is that I’m clearly ready for career progression but am pushed to not do so because they find me too invaluable. I get raises which are of course lovely but I deserve a title and promotion and recognition of my accomplishments outside money. By holding me back, they are holding my career and retirement back and they are showing that I only exist to serve their interests and not their own. It’s demeaning.

    3. Being totally stressed out isn’t much different than vomiting, IMO. She’ll be a better assistant after a recovery day than if she continues to let the stress build up without a relief valve.

    4. Can you find a way to ease her workload, especially during times that you know are particularly busy? Maybe get her some extra help when you have a planned outage or take something off her plate on days after holidays? Try to put yourself in her shoes in a very concrete way to figure out WHY these days in particular are so stressful and address the underlying cause.

    6. It could very well be more than just “stress.” It could be anxiety or depression triggered or exacerbated by stress. Mental health is health. The brain is an organ.

    7. Your assistant is a person. She exists to live her own life and at times, her job and the stress that comes with it might interfere with her happiness outside of work. She likely made many choices in life so as to not have to take work home with her but the stress of your return causes her to do just that. Even worse, you are holding that against her in some way which only exacerbates the problem.

      Vacation is hard on everyone upon their return but your problem shouldn’t be her problem. What are you doing ahead of the trip to prepare for your return? Why is your work doubling when she is out? What backups exist for her absence? What extra work is burdening her in your absence? Because I suspect it’s more than you realize.

      It seems like you view mental health sickness as less valid than physical sickness. How would you be reacting if every time you returned you knew she was puking her guts out? You’d find a way to adapt, right? So find a way to adapt to this situation. The best part is, her stress levels seem to cause an absence at predictable times. What can you do to help with this? Could another assistant double up with her on your return day? Could you thank her for her coverage in your absence by sending her home an hour early on that day without her having to use PTO? Could you order her lunch that day or treat her to something on that second day to thank her for coverage?

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