Coffee Break: Lucite Sliver Earring
Colorful jewelry isn't for everyone, I know, but if you DO like color, I always recommend Alexis Bittar's lucite collection. I have a number of lucite earrings from his line, including in neon pink, neon yellow, light blue, and purple… and I just got these red ones. They have a “lit from within” kind of appearance that I always get compliments on, especially against my dark hair.
These “sliver earrings” are a bit smaller and daintier than I thought they'd be, but that just makes them less “statement” and more everyday. (When I ordered I thought they'd be more like these long earrings, which I have in light blue, but, the blue ones are much less wearable for daily stuff.)
The earrings are marked down to $72 (from $142), and come in 7 other colors (the cerulean looks like the ones I already have, but the “candy pink” looks a bit more subdued than mine). There are a bunch of other options in “red lipstick” (earrings, necklaces, rings, etc), and his lucite collection, as always, is full of fun things.
Sales of note for 1/1/25 (HAPPY NEW YEAR!):
- Nordstrom – The Half-Yearly Sale has started — up to 60% off! See our roundup here.
- AllSaints – Now up to 60% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
- Ann Taylor – Semi Annual Sale! Up to 40% off your purchase; extra 60% off 3+ styles
- Banana Republic Factory – The Winter Sale: 50% off everything + extra 60% off clearance
- Boden – Sale, up to 60% + extra 10% — readers love this blazer, these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
- DeMellier – Sale now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
- Eloquii – Semi-annual clearance, up to 85% off; extra 60% off clearance
- Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off — reader favorites include their scoop tee, Dream Pant, ReNew Transit backpack, silk blouses and their oversized blazers!
- J.Crew – 25% off full-price styles; up to 50% off cashmere; 70% off 3+ sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 60% off winter faves; extra 25% off $100+
- L.K. Bennett – All sale half price or less
- M.M.LaFleur – 30% on almost everything with code
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off fall and winter styles
- Sephora – Extra 20% off sale items for Beauty Insider members
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
- Summersalt – BOGO sweaters, including this reader-favorite sweater blazer
- Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 40% off + 25% off, sale on sale!
- Universal Standard – 25 styles for $25, 1/1 only
I love Alexis Bittar!
I do too. I used to collect the bangles. I should get those back out and start wearing them again.
I have an evening bag from AB. It’s anything but boring.
How do you deal with guilt when job searching? I’m actively applying for jobs – I believe I am undervalued and underpaid in my current role – but I know my boss would be kinda screwed if I left because I’m literally the only person who knows how to do what I do. It would put them in a hard position for sure. On the other hand, when I asked them for a raise, backed up with a business case on why I’m underpaid, I was unilaterally told no. So I don’t exactly have the warmest feelings towards them. I just don’t want to burn any bridges if I left.
Jobs are a business transaction that you are generally free to end at any time, just like your boss is free to end at any time. You asked your boss to make a business decision and pay you more, your boss did not do that and has to live with the business consequences of that, which might include your leaving because you believe you are underpaid. Nothing to feel guilty about.
+ a million
This is how you have to think about it.
Agree. Current employer made a business decision not to pay you what you’re worth, OP, and they have to know this is the natural consequence. You owe them two weeks notice and that’s it.
Sounds like they should have given you, the only person who knows how to do important things, a raise when you asked for one! They are going to experience the natural consequences of their actions, and you are going to get a fatter paycheck.
Leaving isn’t burning a bridge, assuming you give notice and don’t flounce. This isn’t something you should feel guilty about.
This is just business. Give appropriate notice, prepare a decent project summary / tr-nsition memo for your boss, and it’s not burning a bridge.
They would lay you off or fire you in the blink of an eye. Don’t worry about them any more than they’d worry about you. YOU were put in a hard place first by not getting a raise and being undervalued.
Also, I’ve watched some people leave jobs and burn bridges on their way out. You’d be amazed how burnt bridges repair themselves with time. Totally concur with others that leaving isn’t in and of itself burning a bridge at all, but know that even if there were some mildly ill feelings upon departure, time heals a lot of that.
It is literally your bosses job to have back up plans
If they would be screwed if you left, they should know that and pay you more.
Their lack of planning isn’t your problem.
You repeat to yourself what you just wrote – you’re underpaid & undervalued. Your organization has an opportunity to retain you and they are choosing not to do that. Be loyal to yourself first, and keep that top of mind.
I could have wrote this! I’m feeling very undervalued and underpaid, I had a stellar performance review, I asked for a raise and was told no. I don’t feel any guilt in job hunting. They don’t want me? Fine, I’ll go where I’m wanted.
Help – ISO navy concert-type dress for my 12-yo DD. She may need a petite or something not maxi since she is just under 5’4″, size 6-8 or between a S-M in women’s sizes. I need to buy online and not at a store ;) – TIA!
Concert-type dress as in she’s performing in a concert or she’s going to a concert?
Sleeve and length requirements? Is sparkle allowed? Neckline?
For that age group the go-to for solid-color event dresses is Lulu’s. You’ll have to weed out a lot of skimpy and slinky stuff but you can usually find one or two decent things. If the dress needs to be long, your best bet may be cheap bridesmaids’ dresses.
She’ll want short or long sleeves (not sleeveless) and it should be plain – the director is asking for long dress or blouse/pants/skirt but she prefers a dress.
Plain navy with sleeves is going to be a challenge–it’s hard enough to find that in black. I have recently seen some flowy maxi dresses with long puffy sleeves as well as a few column or a-line solid gowns with high necks and lace sleeves. Check Lulu’s, Belk, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom. You can filter by color, length, and sleeve length. Be sure to check the care instructions because a surprising number of dresses these days are “spot clean only” and can’t be dry-cleaned. Good luck!
https://www.lulus.com/products/infinitely-elegant-midnight-blue-long-sleeve-maxi-dress/2459191.html
This would work if you closed the slit and had it hemmed. You will have to have pretty much any concert-appropriate dress hemmed–there aren’t a lot of tea-length dresses of the appropriate level of formality out there.
https://www.quince.com/women/ultra-stretch-ponte-short-sleeve-midi-dress?color=navy&size=m&g_network=g&g_productchannel=online&g_adid=707504026006&g_acctid=978-058-8398&g_keyword=&g_adtype=pla&g_keywordid=pla-2353875365035&g_ifcreative=&g_adgroupid=168164774369&g_productid=46193526177962&g_merchantid=128669708&g_partition=2353875365035&g_campaignid=21518871494&g_ifproduct=product&g_campaign=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=&utm_term=46193526177962&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqbKYo7PkigMVdV9HAR3I_y4_EAQYASABEgLZd_D_BwE
I would check with the director as to what “long” means. Very often it means ankle-length, not midi.
https://a.co/d/6xbFKn0
https://www.amazon.com/Allegra-Womens-Sleeve-Pockets-Elegant/dp/B0C8MDM58Z/ref=asc_df_B0C8MDM58Z?mcid=a196d18530e63202b3947b1d145c4f68&hvocijid=4908088351421808531-B0C8MDM58Z-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4908088351421808531&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007818&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1
Southeastern Performance Apparel – https://sepapparel.com/
You can search for “navy concert dress” and find lots of options.
A few options from Poshmark:
https://poshmark.com/listing/Boden-Dresses-Sweetheart-MidiDress-Navy-Womens-67219e5a3b7620bcee036b88
https://poshmark.com/listing/8P-Navy-Evening-gown-5a5c1b983b1608e6712da3fc (floor length)
https://poshmark.com/listing/Talbots-petite-34-sleeve-navy-blue-dress-66299cb2c4b73a9742224194
https://poshmark.com/listing/Ann-Taylor-Wrap-Dress-in-Navy-Size-8-petite-like-new-65a1d83083cbec025307861c (might require wearing a cami or adding a snap)
https://poshmark.com/listing/Lauren-Ralph-Lauren-dress-59ff46b078b31cf01d0d856d
WFH is fine for my day job, but “rehearse opera via Zoom” was really not an item I wanted to add to my post-apocalypse bucket list. This should be an interesting evening.
I would love to be in mute attendance for this, and I hope everyone has fast Internet with no lag! I remember during the pandemic we tried to do so a church choir thing via zoom, everyone got the same backing track and recorded themself singing along listening to it via headphones “scary-oke” style, then we tried to mesh them together. It gave me a new respect for sound mixers.
Ah, the memories of “virtual choir.”
An apartment I had during study abroad in a cosmopolitan semi-tropical climate had an opera singer across the courtyard. The windows were almost always open and it was delightful to hear.
any tips on price alerts for cheap flights? I feel like most of what’s out there is really specific – like google flights alert for BOS-LAX on set dates. Is there a tool/site that would allow more broad parameters?
we’re planning to visit family in Europe this summer. Travel dates are super flexible. My ideal would be “alert me if there’s a direct or 1 layover flight under $x price from Airport A to Airport B and from Airport B or C to Airport A within these 3 months” but not sure if that’s possible!
The Flight Deal has a daily newsletter that might be worth checking out.
Skyscanner
Going.com (used to be Scott’s Cheap Flights). There’s a free version that does a pretty broad sweep but you can set your “home” airport for deals. I think there is a more tailored paid version, though I’ve never tried it.
Is there a source for The Fold dresses but like 50% cheaper? ($250 per dress or so.)
eBay.
Oh! Thank you, yes. I meant similar stores to buy new, but I’ll be sure to check secondhand sources, too.
I haven’t ever seen The Fold carried at a US department store or similar, like the way Bloomingdales sells Hobbs. Wish they would offer free shipping – the free returns is only half the deal, folks!
The Fold’s own sale section!
Years ago, I bought the smallest Away wheelie bag in fear that airlines meant what they said about rollaboard bags sizing and that little “does it fit” contraption. I guess no one really follows that anymore? I have started flying again since COVID. Half of my flights are to a regional airport where I have to gate check this tiny bag anyway (but it has never been lost and that doesn’t take a ton of extra time to wait for). But on longer flights / longer trips, I am miserable using this little wheelie. Today, I flew to LGA from another big airport and swear I saw people on the inside side of security what what looked like a 62 Liter backpack and wheelie bags that were easily 2x the size of my bag (and actually fit in the overhead bins in what looked to be a very new plane that had a 3 and 3 seat layout). I’d love to get a bigger bag but also wary of getting the bag size thing wrong or not realizing that until I’m at the airport.
It really depends on the airline you’re flying whether they’re strict or not.
AA is strict about this in my experience, but it may depend on the airport.
IME, the suitcases marketed a carry on size are permitted even though all of them are like 2 or 3 inches oversized
what makes you miserable? If you need to pack more, wouldn’t you just check a bag?
Do people have a wardrobe of suitcases? I definitely don’t.
It’s pretty standard to have both a carry-on and a full-sized suitcase. That’s not exactly a “wardrobe.”
Yes, I have every size from one night to a month. I’m an adult with different travel needs and space to store our suitcases.
If you have storage space, I’d definitely advise getting a second one that’s larger. Yes, the overhead bins have been enlarged on newer planes and bigger bags do fit. I’ve never had my bag measured flying out of LGA, BOS, EWR, ATL etc.
Girl. Literally no one uses those things as a guide. Also, just check a bag, it will get there.