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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 171 Comments · by

Thursday’s TPS Report: Pleated Skirt

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Blaque Label Pleated Skirt | CorporetteOur daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. This week of TPS reports come to you from another recently pregnant lady: Work That Bump blogger, mother, lawyer, and overachieving chick, K.

One of my favorite looks for work is an interesting skirt with a Brooks Brothers no-iron shirt, a statement necklace, and heels. It looks very crisp, and it's easy to throw on the black blazer I keep in my office to look presentable for an unexpected meeting. If you want something similar to this but with less color, this Vince Camuto skirt is a good option. If you don't think button-up shirts work for you, I suggest that you go into a Brooks Brothers store and try on every cut, multiple sizes, petites, and long. They are practically customizable because they have so many options available. This skirt is $119 at ShopBop. Blaque Label Pleated Skirt

Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.

(L-3)

Comments

  1. Gift Question

    Love the skirt.

    Any recommendations for a graduation gift for a vet student? She already has a nice stethoscope and other equipment from my understanding. My usual thought of a business card holder likely isn’t useful for her. I would like the gift to be sonewhat related to her profession. TIA!

    • Wildkitten

      My vet wears scrubs and a dr. coat – I don’t know if you can get her a gift card to the scrubs store? Also, if I were a vet, I would totally use a business card holder. If I ever met a vet in the course of regular life I’d want their card.

    • Back Home

      My sister is a vet and has a nice lab coat embroidered with her name, but I think the owner of her practice bought it for her. She does get a lot of pictures and cards from clients so maybe a photo album to keep them in? Also she might like a donation to the local animal shelter.

    • anon

      I got my friend a gift card to buy clothes for the office when she graduated. Yeah, she wears a lab coat, but she has to have washable dress pants and tops that an animal can’t pull down. She also wears Dankos, which can get expensive.

    • Pink

      Cash? Gift card for post-graduation new job expenses? A work appropriate bag? Apparently vet school grads have as much in loans as law school grads and salaries that can be like that of a public defender.

      Yesterday some people mentioned that they don’t remember the cash/gift cards that they received as graduation gifts, but I definitely do. I remember the money helped me buy my first work wardrobe, etc. (gift cards to coach, AT,…) and straight cash which helped bridge the gap before my first paycheck!

    • L in DC

      The Beta Brand website has some dress pants that are a cross between yoga pants and slacks. One of the reviewers said she’s a vet and they’re great for squatting down, don’t wrinkle, and animal hair doesn’t stick to them. I have an order in for a pair, so I haven’t tried them myself yet, but a gift card for something like that might be great. I imagine that type of clothing would be hard to find otherwise.

      • anon

        I just ordered a pair that”s going back due to sizing – as an FYI, I’d definitely size up from what’s on their chart to be work appropriate.

    • Lorelai Gilmore

      What about the kind of business card holder that sits on top of a reception desk, so that people can grab cards when they are coming in for appointments?

  2. No Tall Shirts

    Brooks Brothers doesn’t have tall women’s clothing. I’ve tried. So there is no long option on the shirts. Land’s End, on the other hand, has lovely tall non-iron button-downs in a tailored fit that fit quite nicely.

    • Scully

      Yeah, I was excited to see a reference to tall shirts in the post. I thought Brooks Brothers had added a line I hadn’t heard about. I wear regular sizes, not tall, but BB non-irons are so short on the sides, it’s a fight to keep them tucked. I like these shirts, but would never call them “practically customizable”.

      • preg anon

        You’re correct. Sorry, gals. My memory told me they had talls. I will say that you should still go try on all of the different cuts; some work better for taller people than others. \

        I haven’t tried Lands’ End, though, so hopefully that’s a better option! I just like that the BB ones can be very tailored, making for a slim line despite the full skirt.

        • Scully

          And they stay pretty crisp, too. By the way, love your description of the look, preg anon. I would definitely wear it.

  3. July 4

    My sister is super sensitive and high strung and potentially has a mental illness (not sure if she has been diagnosed, but I suspect that she has and is medicated). She is also very kind and generous. I am getting married and she wants to help out in every way possible. We do not share the same styles (think rustic barn vs. hotel ballroom). She is a SAHM and I have a very time consuming job. She has complained to all my family members that I am not involving her enough and that she has lots of time to help. My problem is when I ask her to do something, she turns a small thing into a huge thing and from what I want into what I don’t want. I asked her to do a simple specific task – name cards, and I gave her the color, size, shape, font, and names. Could she please arrange them. Thought she could work with specific constraints. She has since added a separate accent color, a different paper, table numbers on the cards, table numbers for the tables, a seating chart, etc. I keep telling her no and she keeps saying “you need these things.” (We don’t need them, nor do we want them). Another example – we are having small rustic flower arrangements and she wanted to prepare a huge vase of 100 lilies with crystals hanging from the vase. Another example – she went behind my back to the place where I rented my linens and told them to change the linens to something she had picked out. I have a stomach ulcer and it is getting worse every time I have to talk to her. She is so sensitive that I am worried if I try to address this problem with her that she will freak. It has happened in the past where I have tried to address a problem with her and it resulted in her not speaking with me for several months. I am also worried she will somehow highjack the wedding or make me stressed on my wedding day (think going behind my back and rearranging the reception location). The wedding is in 2 weeks. Help!

    • Anon

      How about welcome bags for out of town guests? You probably won’t care what goes in them and she can go over the top with personalize info/restaurant ideas/maps/booklets/decorating the bags.

      • NYC

        I like this for your sister. She can let her creativity run wild (and also bug the heck out of the hotel staff instead of you). Also others mentioned that she be the day of coordinator, which can include wrangling everyone for pictures. That is an undercelebrated job and great for someone who wants to feel super involved without actually being able to change much about the actual wedding.

    • AIMS

      Would it help if you made it a ‘me’ issue instead of ‘you’ issue? As in, “Sis, I don’t mean to be a bridezilla about these things, but fiancé and I are really set on this day being exactly a certain way. I know you want to help but can you please do things exactly as I ask because I really want this one special day to be a very specific way?”

      It might help if you could give her cart blanche on something you don’t care about like planning breakfast for while you get ready in the morning or keeping track of gifts you’ve received?

      • JJ

        I agree with this. How about letting her plan a brunch/lunch for the wedding guests that Sunday morning? We did that for people that didn’t not have early flights. It was extremely low key (we did food on the grill, but I’ve also been to ones that were just dozens of donuts and juice), but gave them an opportunity to visit, have some hair of the dog, and have a final free meal.

      • Lorelai Gilmore

        I would ask her to plan a breakfast/brunch for the day of the wedding. You can call it a bridal brunch if you like. Give her carte blanche on décor, food, etc. – just be specific about the timing so it doesn’t screw up your own plans. It sounds like if you gave her an event, she would do a lovely job with it, but it wouldn’t be to your taste. If that’s the case, then find something you don’t care about and let her go wild. What about wedding favors?

    • Wildkitten

      Xanax and tequila? (I don’t know if you can have those things with an ulcer). In two weeks time you’ll be married to the love of your life – and that’s what should matter the most. (Congratulations!)

    • Clementine

      This might be a time where I would just let go as much as you can and ‘outsource’ the rest.

      Do you have a Day of Coordinator? They can really diffuse people and/or make sure they stay in check. If that’s not in the time or budget, do you have a friend/cousin/family friend/sibling/other person you’re inviting who you can ask to help you coordinate things on your wedding day and sorta run interference with your sisterzilla?

      I think the line ‘oh, really- we’re all set and I just want you to be able to come and relax and just enjoy yourself’ might need to start becoming a mantra with your sister. Also, I would probably email vendors and make sure that they confirm any changes with you in writing, in case your sister decides that your wedding needs more feathers or sequins or something…

      • Wildkitten

        This day of coordinator is a really good suggestion. Your sister might take it personally if you make a cousin/friend above her on the decision chain, but it’s a lot harder to object to a professional.

      • Anon in NYC

        Yes – this is a prime area for outsourcing. Plus, the DOC can coordinate with all of your vendors and tell them that any changes are to come only from him/her or you/your fiancé so your sister can’t try to change things again.

        • Anon

          DOC is good advice.

          However, given your concerns that she will somehow try and hijack your day, I would also bring your closest and most no-BS friend into the fold and put her on “Shut sister down” duty on the actual day. As in, she’s the one who is tasked to run interference if your sister starts any shenanigans (take her aside, give her a no-nonsense “this is not your day” speech – whatever it takes).

    • Aerith

      Can you distract her by asking her to help with the rehearsal dinner or bachelorette party or wedding breakfast or something else tangentially related?

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      Everyone else has given lots of good sister-management advice already, but the one thing I would add is to call all of your vendors and make sure they know that the ONLY people they should be taking directions from are you and your fiance, and specifically that they should NOT be taking direction from sister. (Side note, I’m amazed at the total lack of professionalism in the wedding industry on this point – I can’t imagine another service industry where someone other than the client can just randomly call, change the client’s decision, and the vendor just says “yup, no problem” without confirming that the person they’re talking to is authorized by the actual person who is paying for the service to make the decision.)

      • Killer Kitten Heels

        Also, I know it’s hard because your sister’s “fragile” and presumably the entire family walks on eggshells around her, but this is kind of ridiculous. “Hey, do the thing I asked or don’t do the thing please, I’m cool either way and I love you regardless,” is a perfectly reasonable, rational boundary. You shouldn’t feel obligated to contort yourself into knots to control her reaction, because (a) it’s not your job to manage how other people react to reasonable requests; and (b) she sounds like the type to be unhappy/upset/overreacting no matter *what* you do, so you might as well ask for the thing you actually want in the course of “upsetting her.”

        Do what you need to do to get through the next two weeks, get married, have an awesome honeymoon, then come back and read every entry ever about “family” on the Captain Awkward website – I think it would be a huge help to you in figuring out how to manage your relationship with your sister better, which is something I think you need to think about long term. If she’s holding you emotionally hostage about something as personal as your wedding, I’m going to guess she uses this “my way or I’ll throw a tantrum so you better comply because I’m fragile and I can’t handle it if you don’t do exactly the thing I think you should do” strategy on you in lots of other scenarios, and dealing with her the way you’ve been dealing with her – appeasing her at the expense of your physical health! – is not the long-term solution here.

      • Scout

        +1 This is super great advice. My sister’s MIL went wild on the wedding day and changed things with her day of coordinator at the church and even vendors at the wedding. She took it upon herself to decide that the DJ was not able to play “inappropriate” music, a detail that my sister shouldn’t have had to rectify during her reception.

  4. AIMS

    I love this skirt, though I have to say I never feel very authoritative in full skirts like this so I’d save for Fridays or similarly low-key days at the office.
    I also really appreciate all the alternative suggestions this week, K (as in, if this is too bright, check out this…) – very helpful!

    • Baconpancakes

      This would be a hard decision for me. I love this skirt as well, but I’m very hippy, so I look more housewife than neat professional. Anyone find any green full skirts they like? I have way too much cobalt as it is.

    • BankrAtty

      I have the same feeling about fuller skirts. I love them and look great in them, but they feel more less… polished? that bottoms with less volume.

        • BankrAtty

          Why is this? All other things being equal (length, fabric, quality of construction) why are a button down and pumps with a full skirt less formal than the same with a pencil skirt or slacks?

          • AEK

            I think tailored clothing in general is more… “formal” is the wrong word, but something like that. Businesslike? I am striking out on the right word, but it’s the tailored vs. nontailored appearance of it, IMO.

          • Orangerie

            I agree with AEK’s assessment.

            Also, you’d be hard pressed to find a full skirt that is exactly equal to a pencil skirt in terms of the fabric… I’ve never seen one made with suiting wool.

          • S in Chicago

            For me, I think it’s that a pencil skirt reads more “part of suiting.” Also, a full skirt (depending on pleating) can sometimes create a silhouette akin to 50s housewife.

          • Scully

            I feel there’s an element of whimsy or girlishness to full skirts that cuts down on the formality of the garmet.

          • tesyaa

            Back in the day I had formal business suits, including woolen ones, that actually came with pleated skirts. They’re not in style anymore, but I don’t think that makes them casual.

          • anon

            I think it’s the 1950s effect – poodle skirts/picnic dresses, etc. all had full skirts. They’re cute but don’t scream business.

    • anon-oh-no

      i actually love these skirts — styled exactly as suggested — and always feel totally put together and great when i wear it. this outfit is a staple for non-court days throughout the summer.

  5. I'm Just Me

    I really like this skirt.

    And 2 updates:

    1. I asked a while back about things to wear with a coral hounds tooth skirt from Nordstrom, I just wanted to say that I have tried with navy and with chocolate brown and like it with the dark colors better than the cream and coral I had tried it with before. So thanks to those that suggested darker colors.

    2. I also asked about business casual wear for my teen son who was going to a dinner for his new internship. He wore a shirt and tie and jacket and that was definitely the right call. Guests at the dinner were interns, parents, and employees from the company. Dress at the dinner ranged from very casual to business suits with every stop in between. He will be wearing a company polo for the actual internship activities but will be expected to attend this dinner again next year.

  6. HM

    After 30 years of fighting it, I’ve decided to embrace my curls. I always thought my hair was somewhere between a large wave and a loose curl (also, near corkscrew on the bottom, almost flat on top). After reading though a few websites, I’ve decided to get some curl specific hair products (shampoo, gel, etc). While waiting for these products to arrive, I skipped shampoo for the first time in my life, added a bit of frizz serum, didn’t take the blowdryer out of the drawer, and went on my way. So far, I don’t hate it, and I’m noticing tighter curls all over already. But a few questions:

    – Any specific products to try?
    – Will my hair/scalp be oily during this transition period of reduced washing and reduced clarifying washings? How long will it normalize?
    – Shared success stories would be most appreciated.

    • Monday

      Hooray! I am also a recovering flat-ironer. It’s been a few years and I could never go back. My hair is finally long and healthy again since I learned to love its natural texture (which sounds similar to yours).

      Recommendations:
      –Sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner with a focus on moisture. Lots of options.
      –Dry shampoo so you only wash every second or even third day. Also combats any oiliness (though this has not been a problem for me). I love Bumble & Bumble pret a powder, though it’s very expensive. If you’re less picky about texture, just about any drugstore spray product is fine.
      –A wide-tooth comb instead of a brush, especially for when your hair is wet. Less combing overall.
      –Curl cream or leave-in moisturizer after showering. I’ve used a lot of curl creams that worked well, but am currently loving Carol’s Daughter hair milk lite instead. I twist coils before bed and in the morning have hydrated curls with no heat products involved. If you do a curl cream, Organix (aqua bottle) is good and inexpensive.

    • tk1

      I really like the ouidad heat and humidity gel, it keeps my hair from frizzzing when I wear it curly and doesn’t have that crunchy feel to it.

    • Anon in NYC

      I’ve found hair oil (like argan, Moroccan, etc.) helps minimize frizz. I apply it first as a base layer and avoid my roots. I’ve also found that in humid weather mousse and no blow-dry works best for me – wash hair, oil, mousse, and go. Comb only during the shower with conditioner in my hair, no brushing. Talk to your stylist about cut (if you haven’t already) – I find that certain styles that look great on women with straight hair simply don’t work well for my hair.

    • Anon

      Any recommedations for lotion to use on the second day to refresh day-old curls/cut frizz on dry hair? My hair is thin so I struggle to find something lightweight but effective.

      • Moon Moon

        I have the same hair texture described here, and to refresh my hair I actually use a spray — the Curly S*xy Hair Curl Rejuvenation spray. It gives me back some lift and lose some of the frizz on my second and third day hair (I’m a twice a week washer).

        I have long, wavy-curly hair, that I wear down f or the first and second day, and then usually either in a top bun (like a sock bun, but my hair is so thick that I don’t need the sock), or some sort of braided ‘do on the third and fourth days. I will do a french braid on the side, wrap around the back of my head, and then a side pony with waves for instance. I may straighten my hair about once or twice a month now.

      • CKB

        I have used a very light non-silicone conditioner for this on my curls – I loved Suave Naturals until I couldn’t find that line in the store anymore (but might still be available in the US). Bonus is, this type of conditioner is generally REALLY cheap.

        In general, though, my curls aren’t strong enough to stick around for the second day – I shower every day to refresh my curls.

    • Miz Swizz

      My favorite curl products are Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Defining Creme and Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer. I live in a fairly humid climate so I find that my summer/fall hair product is different from my winter/spring one. I’ve recently started shampooing my hair with a mixture of baby shampoo and baking soda on Sundays so I can help get the product build-up off my hair. I’ve never successfully done a low-sulfate or no-poo method because I don’t like the way my scalp feels but I still have healthy hair.

      Also, find someone who knows how to cut curly hair and get regular trims. My hair looks best when I get a trim about every 8 weeks. It keeps the layers balanced and encourages my curls.

    • OttLobbyist

      I use the regular Moroccanoil on fresh washed hair, as someone described above, plus either a beach spray or a light mousse. On day 2, I gently run a thick comb through and then scrunch and twist again, with a light coating of the oil on my hands. Day 3, if it’s Friday – Sunday, I hit it with Klorane dry shampoo (the oatmeal one) and hope for the best. Mine is really wavy versus curly (I wish it was curlier…).

    • a.k.

      Be prepared to try different things – just product, but also technique.

      For product, I use either Shea Moisture products (the yellow line – shea butter) or living proof. Some curlygirls look great with silicone and/or sulfates in their products. I am not one of them. Once I figured that out, life was a lot easier. I also learned that my hair works best with a leave-in conditioner and then a styling cream. I spent a lot of time reading reviews on the naturally curly site and knew that I might have a misfire or two. Living Proof recently discontinued my favorite product but Shea Moisture products go on sale regularly at CVS and Target.

      For styling, I twirl my curls into sections and then diffuse (or air dry on warm weekend days). My hair looks best when I wash it each morning, but I can refresh it by spritzing with water until pretty damp, and then pulling out the diffuser for a few minutes to re-set the curls. (I wish the pineapple worked for me, but apparently I am a thrashy sleeper and it never works.)

      • CKB

        I agree. Alot of figuring out what works for you is trial & error. I live in a dry climate, and have discovered that any product with any amount of glycerin or …. something else I can’t remember the name of, but is common in hair products, makes my hair feel like straw. It’s awful. I think I read labels on my hair products more religiously than on the foods I buy!! LOL.

  7. (Formerly) Clueless Summer

    This is exactly the kind of look my fantasy self wears, so I love it. It would totally be appropriate at my office, I just feel like I would go from crisp to hot mess very quickly. So many pleats! and a white blouse! But maybe I’ll give it a try…

    • In the Pink

      How about a sleek pullover tank or top? Lyocell or Tencel?

      I love the Judy P tops … she has her own website and small boutiques carry the line.

      It’s a great layer piece under a jacket/cardi for the office too. With a flared skirt, a complete outfit.

      Especially for hourglass figures…I suspect most of us do not wear button ups for that reason.

  9. TV Shows!

    Any recommendations for a half hour tv show that I could dl via Kindle? I’m looking for something that I could focus on while I walk on the treadmill for a half hour during lunch. Other things I like are Good Wife, Parks and Rec, About a Boy, Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, etc.

  11. First Year Anon

    Alterations question- I have a couple of shirts that have a lot of ruffles down the front- too much. Is there anyway to alter an item like this to sort of “remove” some of the ruffles, making it more subtle? Both are cotton and rayon fabric. I never wear them and I would rather fix these shirts up rather than just toss them.

    • PolyD

      I think you’d have to see how the ruffles are attached. If it is just a strip of cloth sewn onto the shirt, you could remove it, but you might have tiny holes left from the thread. I removed some fabric bows from a t-shirt and was able to reduce the visibility of the holes by sort of scraping over them with my fingernail, but it’s not perfect. Still, at least I wear the shirt now.

      • First Year Anon

        Yah, I wouldn’t mind some ruffling, just a little more subtle. I guess it’s worth showing my tailor and seeing what they can do!

        • In the Pink

          Your tailor also might be able to make the ruffles smaller by making them thinner…like cutting off a vertical strip and then re-edging or serging them. Sometimes ruffles can also be tacked down onto the shirt itself, which helps with volume and “flapping.” I ended up just not buying any of them anymore in the long run.

  12. Diana Barry

    Reporting back from the tailor!

    I did get done the pants hem ($18), and 2 dresses taken in at underarm and down the side ($30 each). I did *not* get done the silk blouse, which would have cost $50 to take in and up – I only paid $60 for it in the first place! So that will get donated, unless one of you ‘r e t t e s wants it! :)

    • B

      Interesting to hear the pants hem price! Here (small Midwest town) it’s $25 and I just don’t want to pay that much. I can do it myself, but really don’t want to, so have 2 pairs of pants unhemmed since December (obviously not wearing them). What’s the most/least you all have paid for hemming?

      • Clementine

        Husband found a tailoring shop (small/medium city in the Northeast) that specializes in suits and tuxes- if it’s a basic hem, it’s $12. They do an excellent job. I’m tall and at a height where I really never need things hemmed, but I’m slowly learning to tailor some of my clothes myself (mostly bringing things in a bit, shortening straps, etc.). It’s a challenge, but I’ve successfully revived a few items that weren’t worn because of poor fit.

      • anon

        $12 to $15 for a basic hem in San Francisco (or free with purchase at Nordstrom)

      • Anon

        I pay $8 for a basic hem and $16 if you want to retain the original hem in sacramento area. But I always go for $8 because it looks just as good. I have paid $25 to raise the shoulders of a dress and to make the arm holes smaller.

  13. Anon

    Suggestions for what to wear for a presentation to execs at a really casual company where a suit would look ridiculous? Thanks!

    • Aerith

      What kind of company is it? For tech companies, I wear some kind of fashiony suit-esque workwear, the kind you’d see in Lucky magazine that isn’t really appropriate for formal offices despite their insistence that it is. Usually a dress with a blazer over top. If you search for creative interview outfits, you may get some good ideas. I feel like in male-dominated industries, there aren’t as many expectations about what women should wear so there’s a lot of leeway.

    • Anonymous

      What about slim fitting ankle pants and a nice T (like silk, or silky cotton) with a statement necklace and a great pair of heels? If slim ankle pants aren’t your thing, you could easily sub your favorite cut of pants. You could even swap in jeans, but maybe pair it with a blazer.

  14. tesyaa

    I’m on the verge of giving up wearing contact lenses for all but special occasions, after wearing them most days since my midteens. My eyes are healthy, but the combination of fatigue and the need to wear reading glasses makes contacts less appealing. (If I’m going to be wearing reading glasses for half the day anyway, I’d rather just wear regular glasses. To reduce the need for reading glasses, I tried wearing different prescription lenses in different eyes, at my doctor’s suggestion, and I didn’t love it).

    The question is: is this a step down the slippery slope to not caring about my appearance? I was never a “comfort over style at all costs” person, but I’ve already stopped wearing heels most of the time too.

    • Wildkitten

      Nope. Glasses are super trendy right now and you can make sure to get awesome ones. That way it will look like you are being purposeful and fashionable even if you’re actually being lazy!

    • Sydney Bristow

      Think of glasses as an accessory. I wear glasses every day since I have issues with contacts and they are just part of my look. I definitely don’t think it is a step towards not caring about your appearance (same with flats by the way)! If you like, you could even get a few different pairs of glasses in different shapes or colors and wear different ones depending on how you want to accessorize your outfit for the day.

      • Baconpancakes

        Yes on this. I’m about a 50/50 glasses and contacts wearer, but I wear my glasses far more often now that I have a pair of great “hipster” glasses that go really well with my face shape and look very chic. I strongly suggest Warby Parker for the affordability and cuteness. The next pair I get will be another Warby Parker, in thin gold-rims, for a different look.

    • First Year Anon

      I don’t wear glasses- but I can’t imagine that would be true. There are very cute chic glasses that are on trend that could make you look great!

      I wear heels less and less now too, but that’s for health reasons/I don’t want to be crippled when I’m older, and there are so many cute flats out there why not.

    • Diana Barry

      No! I wear glasses every day (after my ophthalmologist told me my contacts weren’t allowing enough oxygen to reach my eyes) and flats, and I also look sharp. ;)

      • Lady Tetra

        I’m glad to hear all you ladies are rocking the glasses. I am in the same boat as tesyaa with wearing contacts less and less these days.

    • PolyD

      Nope. I’ve been wearing glasses more often, too, and actually am wearing more make-up because I like to give my eyes more oomph when I wear glasses. Haven’t really decreased clothing efforts, either. Although what really makes me Not Care is the horrible 90+ degree + humidity weather here in DC. Ugh.

      • Baconpancakes

        I had to really pull out the effort this morning to stop myself from wearing the rumpled black ankle pants and linen tee on the floor with ballerina flats and the first pair of earrings I found.

        I want linen and seersucker EVERYTHING.

    • tesyaa

      Thanks for all the support. I am OK with the two pair of glasses I already wear, but now I can’t wait to order another :)

    • BB

      I’m in this camp! Been wearing contacts for over 20 years religiously, and just this year, I had a double wammy of eye infections that made is so that one of my eyes just won’t accept contacts any more :( This is actually really annoying for me because I play a pretty aggressive team sport and it’s annoying wearing glasses.

      All the above advice applies. Definitely go get yourself at least 2 pairs of fun glasses in different styles (although I know they can be expensive). I have a gray oblong pair and a brown round-ish pair now. They look totally different, which is great and they are cold vs. warm color appropriate. They can totally be a fun new accessory like a scarf or great jewelry. I always used to have just one pair of glasses (and maybe a crappy backup pair), but I will be totally using my VSP every year to get new glasses now.

    • Pink

      I switched back to glasses after realizing that wearing contacts forever could ruin my eyes and leave me with more eyesight problems.

      I think we need to get rid of the idea that glasses + flats are frumpy. Yes, they CAN be frumpy if you buy cheap stuff that doesn’t suit your face or crappy shoes, but no, glasses + flats doesn’t mean you don’t care.

      • Batgirl

        Amen! As someone who has to wear both (not a candidate for contacts and have had surgery on my feet), I hate that that means I’ve ‘given up.”

        • chilledcoyote

          Karl Lagerfeld says sweatpants are the result of some kind of life disaster, not glasses or flats! :)

    • Batgirl

      Excited to hear support for Camp Glasses–just started needing to wear glasses full time a year ago (at 35!) and am not a candidate for contacts (bc my eyes start doing different things from one another when I wear them but not when I wear glasses). I’m super bummed about it because I don’t like having to wear glasses all the time, but maybe I’ll learn to love it?

    • PinkKeyboard

      My husband LOVES glasses. He is honestly deeply irritated that I insist on wearing contacts probably 75% of the time. He finds them super sexy, even before the current trend/hipster explosion. So you would get his vote!

  15. C

    Does any one have a recommendation for sunscreen for sensitive skin/rosacea? I’ve been trying the Paula’s Choice options but my skin is not tolerating them well. I like Aveeno skin calming but that is only SPF 15.

    • Moon Moon

      Neutrogena pure and free baby sunscreen. Yes, baby. It’s a little more expensive, but is SPF 60 for this pale girl.

      • tesyaa

        +1. I’ve been using this for my kids for years. Some of them have pretty severe eczema and this is totally non-irritating.

      • Bonnie

        For every day, I use Trader Joe’s moisturizer with sunscreen. It’s only SPF 15 but that’s enough for me for getting to and from work. If I’m going to be in the sun longer, I use Neutrogena pure and free baby sunscreen. I have rosacea as well and found out through my dermatologist that most people with rosacea are sensitive/allergic to avobenzone, the primary ingredient in many sunblocks. Many products have built in sunblock now with that ingredient so also check your makeup.

    • Becky

      Right now I’m using something from Alba’s “Very Emollient” line that’s spf 30 and only “physical” sunscreen. Many people with sensitive skin don’t tolerate chemical sunscreens well (basically anything except titanium dioxide and zinc oxide). There’s a Neutrogena one called “sensitive skin” that works for me too, I just don’t like the way it feels as much.

      • Becky

        Also watch for fragrances, those are usually the first thing that I look for if I start reacting to something.

    • Anne Shirley

      I only use physical sun blocks. I avoid any ingredient that ends in “benzone” which Paula’s choice is full of. Look for titanium or zinc oxide. Neutrogena has many options.

      • Diana Barry

        +1. If you are near a Whole Foods, they have several of these mineral sunscreens (without fragrance etc.) and some of them are 20% zinc, v. effective.

    • CapHillAnon

      Elta MD. I got it first from my dermatoligst, but you can also get it on drugstore.com. Great coverage, minimal chemicals, goes on smoothly. It works very well for my pale, sensitive-skinned family. I prefer physical blockers, but they frequently aren’t high spfs and can be awful to apply properly on a wriggly child.

        • Anon in NYC

          Also, I tried Blue Lizard lotion (for face) while on vacation, which I believe is chemical-free. You can find it on Amazon as well. I thought it worked well, and wasn’t too greasy.

      • Charmed Girl

        Absolutely agree. This stuff is the best. And, as an added plus, it has a nice almost matte finish- not greasy at all. Works great on my sensitive, acne-prone, rosecea skin.

    • who

      for the most ridiculously intolerant/sensitive/atopic skin, nothing is better than avene high protection cream (spf 50). it is mineral (not chemical) sunscreen, pricier than most, but i have tried just about everything else. the la roche posay anthelios mineral is second best.

    • editrix

      Aveeno Protect + Hydrate SPF#50 Lotion. My derm just recommended it — but it isn’t easy to find in stores where I am.

  16. BB

    Love the skirt, but I feel like if you’re kind of “big-boned”/athletic and wide hipped like me, these full skirts just make me look bigger.

    TJ styling question (also skirt-related): What would you wear with a cream white crepe pencil skirt? It is the exact skirt in the link below, but in a light cream, almost white color. I love the silhouette, and I bought it because I wanted a lighter colored skirt. I’m struggling with how to style it without looking like an Easter basket or candy cane. The colors that seem to go well with it are pink and pastels. Any ideas? I’d be interested in either work styling or casual styling. Thanks!

        • BB

          Ooo! Did not think of cobalt or a nice green, or just more saturated colors.

          Also, forgot to mention, I would NOT recommend getting this skirt if you’re looking for something durable. It looks amazing and the shape is really gorgeous and the fabric feels really luxurious…and the slit split after I wore it twice (unfortunately this was months after I bought it). I fixed it with some handstitches, interfacing, and sewing machine sewing, but still kind of disappointed.

          • First Year Anon

            That’s really disappointing for such an expensive skirt. I actually would take it back if you aren’t satisfied.

    • Seattle Freeze

      That’s really disappointing for such an expensive skirt. I actually would take it back if you aren’t satisfied.

    • Charlotte York

      I have this skirt in the cream color and I wear it regularly. Never with pastels. IMO, it looks best with rich colors like peacock, navy, emerald green and cobalt. I plan to wear it into the fall but with more subdued colors like gray or black. FWIW, I haven’t had a problem with the slit or the quality of construction. At this price point and after only two wears, I would return it and expect the store to cover the repair or to replace it. Nordstrom would do that as would the St. John boutique.

      • BB

        Thanks! It’s ~2 years old at this point, and I got the tears about 9 months in, then didn’t do anything about it for a long time and had it in the back of my closet. It looks fine with the mending, and I’d like to be able to wear it more, so I think I’ll keep it.

        Since you have the skirt, have you ever gotten stains or anything on it? If so, does it clean easily?

        • Charlotte York

          I have spilled on it a couple of times (salad dressing splashes) and my dry cleaner has managed to get it out each time. I’m a secret slob so I try to be more careful when I wear it now and avoid things like red wine! I feel like I’ve definitely gotten my money’s worth at this point.

    • Ann Klein shoes

      Black, crimson, or another jewel tone in a silky fabric, but you would have to have a lighter jacket (perhaps an off-white or cream) to balance the skirt, IMHO. Black pumps if black top; otherwise try to match the intensity of the top with the shoe color.

  17. Pink

    TJ — Any ideas for a NYC gift to someone who comes from out of town for one day to do one crazy awesome job for that one long day??? Last year she gave me some chocolates from her home state which was a nice gesture. I’d like to give her something to thank her for being so awesome at what she does (emcee) and sweet to work with.

    I’d like it to be small enough to fit into a carry-on (if not consumed that day)…

    • In the Pink

      small photobook/lookbook of nyc?

      notepad (tastefully) done with NYC related cover?

      bagels? pretzels? Can you get a gift card for that … so she could order online from afar … to have memories of great NYC item?

    • Wanderlust

      Momofuku Milk Bar sells really cute boxes of their famous cookies. I think it’s 5 to a box, and each cookie is individually wrapped.

      • Anon in NYC

        Oh that’s a great idea. You could also do food that is not necessarily NY-specific but the brand has limited distribution outside of NY. Like fancy macaroons (Laduree only has 3 stores in the US – 2 in NYC and 1 in Miami) or fancy chocolates (La Maison du Chocolat has 5 stores in the US – 4 in NYC and 1 in NJ).

  18. Sweet as Soda Pop

    Just bought this skirt in green! Awesome pick, K! I’ll be wearing it just as you suggested (on Monday, since shopbop is affiliated with a-mazon prime).

  19. OttLobbyist

    TJ – Lunch room etiquette. We have a very small lunch room at work – a counter and table with eight chairs. People normally chat, eat quietly, read a magazine, or their phone. Traditionally, you don’t take calls on your cell phone in the lunch room. If you get a call, you get up and leave and take it at your desk or in the hallway. Someone new has started, and has been chatting on her phone in the lunch room. Do you mention it, or let it go, since technically, its the lunch room, and there no policies against it?

      • Anonymous

        Going to HR seems really extreme for something that’s just a matter of office culture. Why not just casually mention it to her that people typically step out for calls?

        • Orangerie

          I don’t think asking HR to maintain a professional office environment is extreme. It’s part of their job description. See also: dress codes.

          • Anonymous

            The breakroom is not where people work. This (people eating lunch IN the office) falls in the same category as people going OUT to lunch. If you worked in my office and went to HR, I’d think you were incredibly immature, unprofessional, and unable to resolve conflict in an adult way. I think you’ve made this suggestion before to go to HR for something incredibly minor and it’s just so passive aggressive.

          • Orangerie

            Perhaps the use of HR is also a varies-by-office thing. My firm is under 75 people, and HR likes to get involved in very little things. In fact, a while ago we had a temp who sat near me and would consistently take loud, long personal calls at her desk. I asked her to please take her calls outside because it was disruptive, and HR asked me to please go through them next time.

            BTW, not considering other people’s perspectives is incredibly immature, unprofessional, and passive aggressive.

          • Aerith

            Everywhere I’ve worked, if you went to HR instead of asking her to take her calls somewhere else, everyone would find it strange and you’d become known as that person. I would probably not mention it, unless she’s regularly having loud conversations that prevent other people from talking to each other.

        • Charlotte York

          Agreed. This is the kind of thing that you just tell someone. Going to HR is extreme — there’s no policy against talking on the cell phone in the lunch room; it’s simply a preference that coworkers have adhered to over time. There’s nothing for HR to enforce here.

        • Orangerie

          Also, taking personal calls in front of 5 other people in a shared space falls more under the realm of common courtesy than office culture. Pretty sure that would be annoying to anyone in any workplace.

          Office culture is more like how often do coworkers go out to lunch together, go to happy hours, etc.

      • OttLobbyist

        I may – good suggestion. Part of the issue is that she is much younger than most people in the office, and probably doesn’t know better, or finds it hard to relate to us old folks. Still, we have at least 5 new staff coming in, so I don’t want it to become common practice. Also, someone just suggested that I could be considered a bully because I got up and left when she started talking on her phone, so HR might be the way to go, so I don’t get accused of anything.

        • Orangerie

          Yeah I would CYA on this one. If you say something directly to her, you run the risk of her getting offended and complaining (not saying that would be a reasonable reaction, but it could happen and then you’d catch flak for it).

        • anon-oh-no

          why cant people talk on the phone in the lunch room? this seems like the exact place one would do that; particularly if they do not have their own office with a door that closes (as i suspect is the case, or they wouldnt be eating in a small lunch room)

    • Anon

      If I were the new person, I would want to know if I was doing something that was against the office culture. I think it would be a kind of awkward conversation, but could someone mention to her something like we all really like the lunch room to be a place were we socialize with eachother, so if you get a phone call, would you mind taking it at your desk/hallway/etc. And then say it isn’t a big deal, but you just wanted her to know since it is one of those weird, unspoken things about working in this office? I don’t know. It would be hard, but I would want to know.

    • Flying Squirrel

      Not DC-proper, but Ballston Custom Tailor in Ballston Mall (avoid Randolph Tailor in the nearby Randolph Tower). Metro accessible via orange line.

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