ByKat Hours Updated
Comments 82 Comments

Coffee Break: Alice High Heel

Boden Alice High Heel | CorporetteOooh: I love the look of these high heels from Boden — I love the way the T-strap doesn't come all the way up to to the ankle, as some do, but instead sits lower on the vamp of the foot, which is a much more flattering look. I'm more a fan of the solid/colorblocked shoes myself (such as the purple/navy/teal ones, pictured), but they also come in some polka dotted versions for the girliest of girls among you (but you may want to revisit our conversation on when girly clothes become unprofessional). They're $178 at Boden. Boden Alice High Heel Here's a lower-priced alternative. (L-3)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

82 Comments

  1. I have been eyeing these for awhile. Love them. Jimmy Choo has a similar and much more expensive shoe out right now.

    The problem is, Canadians have to order from Boden’s UK site, not the US one, and the shipping if you wish to return is CRAZY, and then you have to apply to get your duty back.

    I love Boden, so hard, but I think very hard about ordering from them because of these issues.

    1. I know we get a lot of perks as Canadians but the online shopping is the worst. Why are duties/shipping costs SO much on everything? We’re not that far!

      1. The duty is the same coming in from anywhere, and Boden doesn’t overcharge to ship TO me, but Canada Post charges an arm and a leg to ship back.

        Most of the US sites that ship to Canada (don’t even get me started on the ones that don’t ship to Canada) will assess and collect the duty up front, and return it to you if you return the item (Nordstrom or any of the other retailers that use BorderFree).

        Those US companies that do overcharge to mail to me, and don’t use Borderfree, don’t get my business. Too much hassle when there are US retailers than accomodate. But the duty still sucks!

          1. Lawyers and brokers rarely take the whole year, too much potential client bleed etc.

            I took 4 months, which seems like a lot to Americans, but is really disheartening when most of your friends are taking a year. That said, my husband took the other 8 months, which was nice.

    2. I was eyeing the Jimmy Choo ones, which are WAY too rich for my tastes, and my husband urged me to try them on. I was sort of surprised that, cute as they are, they didn’t feel any better, more comfortable, or more substantial than any other shoes I’ve worn at much, much lower price points (I consider $50 to be a bit high for shoes, so think that price point). Husband, on the other hand, was trying on very expensive men’s shoes and just raving about how great they felt in terms of comfort and padding.

      Is that the norm, with women’s designer shoes? Are they higher quality in any way, or are your really just paying $1000 for a design and name?

      1. I also saw the Jimmy Choo ones in the store this weekend, and they are beautiful. However, much as I have moved my clothing buckets up, I am hestitant to pay more than $250 for shoes because I walk outside a lot (between our locations downtown, or just to get outside for half an hour) and payment is so hard on heels.

        1. I mean, you don’t wear these shoes for a half hour walk or to get between offices though. They’re for indoors and to get between the cab and the restaurant.

      2. Jimmy Choos are for pretty, not function. A more accurate comparison would be between Payless and Cole Haan or Ferragamo.

      3. I mostly buy shoes in the “jimmy choo” bucket. But I think Jimmy choos are terribly uncomfortable. Same for Louboutins. Manolos, Ferragamos, and Prada are awesome, and therefore make up most of my shoe collection. In the next bucket down, Stuart Weitzman and Cole Haan are also great. In my view, shoes from these 5 brands (plus Enzo, for a more affordable brand) are well worth the $$. They feel better and wear better for sure.

    3. I’m blessed that I live near the US border and have a mailbox and an address to send courier parcels to in the US. I order to the US address and bring it across the border myself and pay duty. Any Canadians near the border may have this option as well.

    4. I bought a beautiful bag from LK Bennett a few weeks ago, and shipping + duty + broker fees were ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE BAG ITSELF!!! Arrgh. Online shopping in Canada is definitely the worst.

  2. I have a standing desk in my office. While I work, I change into comfortable shoes. When I go to meetings, I put my heels back on. I need a new pair of comfortable, supportive shoes for while I stand. They need to look decent with pencil skirts, which I mainly wear. Preferably black. I hate hate hate shoe shopping!

    Any suggestions?

    1. Sounds like you’re in need of a pair of Dansko clogs that you keep under your desk as your standing shoes. Dansko clogs are basically made for people who have to stand a lot for work (chefs, nurses, etc.) and if you get them in black, they won’t look completely out of place to someone who happens to come into your office and just sees them for a moment.

      1. +1 to the AGLs. I also had good luck with the Cole Haan wedges (less than 1″) with rubber bottoms, but I wore those out very quickly.

        1. The real truth is that I take off my shoes when I stand, and AGLs are my commuting shoes, but I do occasionally slip them on when standing if my feet get cold.

          1. +1 for standing without shoes on. I stand with my flats right next to me so I can easily slip them on if someone walks in, but for the most part my office is so casual that it’s fine for me to step out to the printer a few feet past my door. I have a foot injury and I am just not going to cause myself more pain by trying to do the equivalent of an 8 hour BOSU ball workout with my feet by standing in shoes on top of a squishy mat.

    5. I have two pairs of the Naturalizer Maude, and while it isn’t the prettiest shoe I own, it’s professional enough for me with skirts at work.

  3. Wow, I kind of love these, but the tassels just take it over the top into Twee Town for me.

    1. +1. These look to me like costume shoes – like, the actress in the stage version of the Devil Wears Prada (which doesn’t exist but totally should) would wear them on stage and I’d think “Cute!” and then I’d see them up close in person afterwards and realize they can’t be worn with normal outfits.

        1. I do too, but then I would find the black/gray to be too wintry in suede to wear most of the year and yet I don’t think I would wear these with stockings in winter, or at least not to work.

    2. I would totally rock these with a black wrap dress. I love that they also come in a mid height.

  4. omg, i just added *cold* water to my instant oatmeal. What the— Someone please smack some sense into me.

      1. ;-) thanks! yeah, i fixed it but it’s continuing a pattern today of me scr3wing up things I do 10 times a day, and I have no idea what is wrong with me.

        1. I feel exactly the same today!! I know that doesn’t help your situation, but — there you go. Hugs.

        2. Are you pregnant? Because the first things to go for me is my running speed and my brain. Its how I know without even taking a pregnancy test. Two minutes per mile slower and forgot to turn the oven off, KNOCKED UP.

  5. Jones New York is running a 50% off promotion on their sale items. I just got a suit (matching jacket and pants), a pair of ankle pants, a blouse, and a dress for $110 including shipping!

    4. Another post to say thanks for the PSA. I think I’ve bridged a gap without breaking the bank while I try to lose some weight.

  6. Thoughts on nude pointy toe flats?

    Do nude flats make you look like you are wandering around in your bare feet from a distance?

    If so, good light coloured alternatives? Maybe a metallic or a snakeskin.

    I am wanting to buy spring/summer shoes so bad.

    1. My light neutral is a tan/white snakeskin with a cork toe and wood wedge – interesting without being overwhelming.

    2. I feel ya on wanting spring/summer shoes. I am so sick of all my black boots. I think snakeskin is a great neutral. That would be preferable to nude flats I think. I also wore the heck out of a pair of gold flats a few years ago.

      1. I almost hit “buy” on a pair of white loafers today…and I live in Pittsburgh. That’s what we call spring fever, folks!

        1. Also, in Pittsburgh and recently went on a shopping tear. My dog walker just texted me “were you drinking and online shopping again?”

    3. I like gold shoes for a neutral. Perhaps silver or pewter as an alternative if you tend to avoid yellow/gold colored things.

    4. I’m not a fan of “nude” shoes that are an exact match of your skin tone. I think they should be a bit darker or lighter. I have a pair of Michael Kors flex pumps in “Dark Dune” that is a good shade for my olive skin tone.

    5. I wear my patent leather nude pointy-toed flats all the time. Maybe it’s the shine, or the fact that they’re a bit darker than my skin tone, but I don’t think I look barefoot when I wear them.

  7. Dear ladies, do you have any experience with, after spending 3-4 years in private practice as a litigator, switching to a non-profit career?

    Am really not happy and am absolutely certain I want a (even lower-paid, that’s fine) job in a non-profit. I have several areas where I believe I would excel and find a meaningful career. I am having some trouble with tailoring my cover letters, however. I have thoroughly researched Ask a Manager and other sources, and I definitely go into my pro bono and volunteering efforts and other experiences working with/helping vulnerable persons. I still feel uncertain about how to best go about this. Any experience or advice is very much appreciated!

    1. Yay! These are VERY pretty shoe’s but a little too flashey for my office and for court, even tho they ARE closed toe. I would wear them if I was in charge of my FIRM, but I work for the manageing partner and he want’s me to look a littel conservative while still doeing things to ACCENUTUATE my “body line” and cause the judge to ooogle me and make me WIN my case’s! YAY as long as I win! I do NOT think the judge even see’s my SHOE’s, tho he DOES make me stand sideway’s and twirl around a few times, when I start and finish my ORAL arguement’s and when I examine the witnesses, includeing the CLAIMEANT’s!

      As for the OP, you are a litegator like me, and just the other day, I learned for the FIRST time what a NON_PROFIT was. If you join one of them you will have MUCH better furnature b/c they have to spend all the money they take in on salarie’s and furnature. I wish I had non-profit furniture but with MY Salarie here at the firm. I guess you also do NOT have to work that hard at a non-profit b/c they do NOT care if they make money or not. YAY!

      I do non-profit stuff already b/c my CLE’s I have troubel billeing to any specific cleint’s, and the manageing partner want’s me to do some CRIMINAL PRO BONO for him, b/c he remebers some search and seezeure law he want’s to persue with ME doeing the legal work for him, but HIM takeing the credit with the BAR ASSOCIATION! FOOEY on that! I do NOT even care about CRIMINAL Case’s b/c I have NOTHING in common with those peeople. I am law abideing and FOOEY on them if they are NOT. The manageing partner is lookeing to become an ALDERMAN in his town in the HAMTON’s, so he is pretendeing that he care’s about these issues. I say if I can NOT bill for something, I am NOT goeing to waste my time on it. My first 7500 hours this year are already SPOKEN for by the manageing partner, and that does NOT leave me with many extra hours to waste on this stuff. DOUBEL FOOEY!

      Myrna said she would go with me tomorrow to the retreat at the Manageing Partner’s house. That is great b/c she will drive me out and I will NOT have to go on the LIRR with some of the other partner’s and retired partner’s. I realy do NOT like sitting next to Walter, who retired when I started b/c he alway’s passes wind and pretend’s it was NOT him even tho he is the ONLEY one sitteing there farting. TRIPEL FOOEY! I will still have to ENDURE him at the manageing partner’s house, but NOT on the LIRR, b/c it is VERY stinky to sit next to him for 2 hour’s. Myrna said she would NOT sit anywhere near him at the manageing partner’s house b/c he also like’s to PINCH us! FOOEY!

    2. If you do it, and you have this really weird feeling in late December/early January that something is wrong, but you can’t quite put your finger on it, just remember: no bonus.

      Not a reason not to do it, it just felt really weird to me the first year, and I couldn’t figure out why.

      1. As someone who has worked as a public service lawyer since graduation, I lol’d at this. Perspectives can be crazy.

        I’m sure the OP is aware that there are no bonuses in the nonprofit world.

    4. Phone ate my response, but short version: passion for mission is necessary, not sufficient, so make sure your CL focuses on transferable skills, not just volunteer and pro bono (unless that’s directly applicable of course!). Also, take care to get the tone right, since I think HM will consciously or unconsciously use that as a barometer on cultural fit. My experience is with administrative side, not direct service, and I’m assuming you’re talking about a career change, not just a change in industry, although I guess the same advice would apply there as well.

  8. Does anyone have suggestions on how to support a long distance fiancé on his job hunt?

    My fiancé took a job that is great for his career in New York, and I live in Florida, so it’s not close. He’s been looking for a job, but it’s been 6 months and nothing yet. I’m tempted to say “just come home, you’ll find something eventually”, but that’s not his personality. After a recent opportunity with 2 interviews that he was just rejected from, he’s pretty down, and I’d love to cheer him up, but I also would love tips on how to better support him.

  9. This is not something I can brag about IRL….but I got my bonus today and it was 10k more than the entire year’s salary I made my first year out of undergrad (I’m 9 years out).

    I am NOT in finance or any other profession with traditionally huge bonuses…but I got two big promotions in the past year and my bonus is now a bigger part of my salary…and our company knocked it out of the park this year.

    ***heads to bank to convert money into coins, fill a kiddie pool, and dive in Scrooge McDuck-style….[reality: put more money in my tiny baby’s 529 and maybe take the family out to dinner. at a chain restaurant because that’s where the kids want to go.]**

    3. Fantastic!!!

      I also made a big leap a few years ago, I still have to pinch myself to believe it sometimes.

    4. That’s exciting! I’m not there yet, but I’m finally at a company where bonuses start at about 3 months worth of your salary and go on up to 12 months worth and beyond. Even though I have been practicing for 9 years, it goes based on seniority with the company so I look forward to being there!!

      CONGRATS!!

    5. I fantasize about jumping into a pool full of money! Please do this and then put the money back.

  10. Has anyone recently gotten a letter saying that their interest rate is going up because American Express decided that “based on their credit profile” it was too low compared to what other companies would charge? I did and am trying to get my official report to make sure all is okay but am a bit freaked out by this. I don’t really care about the rate b/c I pay my balance in full each month but it’s making me think something weird is going on which is making me nervous and of course the website where I’m supposed to get this report isn’t working right now.

    Also, a question: should I get all three now at once or just the one that Amex says it relied on? Thanks!

    1. I did and ignored it because I never carry a balance. However, I wanted to share this experience of the “based on YOUR credit profile” language to make you feel better and perhaps empower you to reduce the rate.

      In 2009, I received a similar letter from Chase, who held the HELOC on my house. They said that because the value of my house had fallen so much, they were reducing my HELOC (which I had never used) from $250K to less than $100K. It made no sense. I still had over 75% LTV at $250K. And although values had dropped in my county, I keep a sharp eye on comps to my house and the value of my house had not dropped that much.

      When I called them, I learned that they used some kind of automated valuation system that is not specific to my address and that estimates value based on a bunch of stuff not specific to my house. I think it was called AVR. In any case, in the same way that the market now bearing higher interest rates =/= YOUR credit profile getting worse, the AVR estimate =/= the actual value of my house.

      There was an appeal process, which I used, in which I had an official appraisal done and sent it to them. They raised my limit back to the original and paid the appraisal fee. It was kinda stupid because I still have never used the HELOC (I have it for the mythic epic family health apocalypse we all fear), but I felt vindicated.

      1. Thanks! That does make me feel better! I’m going to get my report anyway just to make sure, and then assuming all is well, may call Amex and see about negotiating it back down. Honestly, I don’t even know what my old rate was because, like you, I never carry a balance. But it’s probably good to have a low APR credit card just in case. I just panicked as soon as I opened the letter because immediately my thought was that someone is ruining my credit score by opening up cards in my name and amex is finding me less credit worthy as a result. Good for you for fighting for the principle of the matter, btw, and for sharing your story.

    2. My husband and I both did. I did an online chat and in five minutes each, our rates were back down.

      1. d@mnit. Just posted below that my call was unsuccessful, so i’ll have to try the online chat.

    3. I got that too and had an annoying call to the 800 number where they wouldn’t budge. Mine was in increase of more than 3.5%, making it considerably higher than my visa interest rate. I’m planning on using my AmEx a lot less because, while I also don’t carry a balance, if anything unexpected did happen that would require me to carry a balance (lost job, serious injury, unexpected major expense) I want to be prepared.

  11. To Raleigh NC from yesterday’s afternoon post: Will you have a car?

    Raleigh is terrific, but I am more familiar with Durham, so wanted to poke around before replying. If you’re “stuck” downtown, there is still a lot of great stuff to do. Recommended restaurants: 42nd Street Oyster Bar (seafood; my favorite), Beasley’s (Southern chicken), Chuck’s (burgers), Fox Liquor Bar, Fiction Kitchen and Remedy Diner both serve tasty vegan dishes, and I have a soft spot for Caffe Luna (Italian), since I had my wedding reception there. Non-dining downtown and nearby: North Carolina Museum of Natural History and the Contemporary Art Museum are both in walking distance. The arboretum at N.C. State should be a short bus/cab ride away. There is some nice shopping at Cameron Village.

    If you have a car, I highly recommend making it to Durham. Duke Gardens will be lovely at the end of the month. The Museum of Life and Science is always great. The Durham Farmers Market is open Saturday 10-noon with food trucks parked nearby. Fullsteam Brewery and Motorco (music/food/bar facility) are nearby and often have something happening in the evenings. Excellent new restaurants are always opening, but I especially love Pizzario Toro and Mateo’s Tapas.

    1. Thank you so much! We will have a car, but not a lot of time (I’m also not sure where we’re staying… my friend took point on most of the planning), but I’ll pass this information along. I really appreciate it!

  12. Those shoes are right up my alley but I’m off high heels for the duration because of the broken ankle.

    *sob*

    3. She broke her ankle but new guy has been a true gentleman throughout! And the marine is coming home or going to grad school or something awesome, I forget the specifics.

      1. Broke her ankle on the ski trip, I mean. It sounds like her life is full of many more congratulations than condolences, despite the injury setback.

  13. I just wanted to vent about my financial fail. This was my first month using a separate checking account for all of my bills, which happens to be my online account. I underestimated the time it would take to transfer money from my regular account, which resulted in me bouncing my rent payment (direct debit) and having to pay a $75 NSF fee and a late fee of 10% of my rent!

    I really hate the new management company at my complex. They recently bought out the previous company and promptly raised the rent/fees while providing much worse service/management, including losing my apartment keys which were left at the office for me to pick up. They don’t have any sort of package tracking system (unacceptable) and maintenance takes noticeably longer to make repairs or take out the trash.

    1. I have no experience with big corporate leasing companies but I have been a landlord. I had a tenant bounce a check. She emailed me immediately, explained what happened (work screwed up her direct deposit and she didn’t get paid). She was very apologetic and had a good track record so I waived any fees and I ate the $10 my bank charged for the bounce, knowing her bank was likely charging her an even bigger fee.

      It sucks that this happened but you might want to try reaching out to the LL.

  14. Hi! My name is Allison, and I’m a medical resident in Alabama. I am on the hunt for a weirdly specific item of clothing and I thought maybe Corporette readers would be a good audience to help me out. Three and a half years ago, when I was interviewing for my residency jobs, I bought an amazing suit from Banana Republic. It was my first and only “grown up” suit I’ve ever bought, since I don’t wear suits to work, and I absolutely fell in love with it… I swear I tried on 40 different suits at different stores and BR was the only one who made a pencil skirt that fit my curves appropriately. Unfortunately at the time when I bought it, I was the thinnest I’ve ever been in my life. I’ve got some grown up job interviews coming up and I am realizing the size 4 skirt is nowhere near fitting. The blazer still fits like a glove. I know it’s a long shot, but is there any chance anyone has a navy BR lightweight wool pencil skirt from the 2011 era in a size 8 they wouldn’t mind selling me? The navy they were using back then is actually more of a blue/gray shade with kind of a texture to the fabric, and they have since switched to more of a classic solid navy. I’d also be interested in pants of this color as well (in a 6 or 8). I hope this isn’t too spammy of a comment! Thanks in advance if anyone can help me!

    2. Sorry, I do not, and you may have some minor issues with fading in different colors based on dry cleaning (i.e., your blazer vs. another’s skirt/pants), but that said, try checking on eBay and maybe repost in the morning thread to get more responses. Also, why not get a non suit skirt or pants and try pairing that with the blazer for slightly less formal occasions? Maybe white or light gray or even a bright color.

    3. This doesn’t help you (since I’m still wearing it), but I think I have that suit – is the waistband on the skirt kind of high-rise? So awesome…

      (Also, if it’s the one I’m thinking of, it wouldn’t go well as a separate – the jacket is pretty obviously a suit jacket, not a blazer.)

      1. Yeah that’s the one! The waistband is really high and slightly higher in the front than the back, which sounds weird but is SO flattering. Sigh… Gaining weight is the worst! And yes, it is hard to pair with separates. I guess I’ll keep checking eBay!

Comments are closed.