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Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Scuba Dress

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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

When I was first starting my career, I found a Calvin Klein dress at Macy’s that fit me perfectly, so I bought it in three colors.

I wore the heck out of those dresses in my junior associate years when I was still trying to figure out what on earth “business casual” meant in a white-shoe law firm. (And what it meant in 2010 is very different from what it means today!)

In any event, I still recommend Calvin Klein for building a work wardrobe on a budget, and this scuba crepe fit-and-flare is just begging for someone to buy it in all six colors. I really like the meadow green, but you can also grab black, navy, and gray basics. 

The dress is $49.97 at Nordstrom Rack and comes in sizes 2-14. 

Sales of note for 5/8:

  • Nordstrom – Savings event – up to 25% off! Good deals on Veronica Beard, Vince, Reiss (esp. coats), and Boss, as well as Wit & Wisdom and NYDJ
  • Ann Taylor – Mother's Day Event: 40% off your purchase. Readers love this popover blouse, and their suiting is also in the sale.
  • Boden – 15% off new styles with code
  • Express – $39+ summer styles + 25% off everything else
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off swim, dresses, and more
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, and extra 50% off clearance
  • Lands' End – 50% off sitewide — lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
  • Lo & Sons – Mother's Day Sale: Up to 40% off — reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
  • Loft – 50% off your purchase + free shipping, plus 2 for $28 tanks and tees
  • MAC – Enjoy 30% off lip products and receive a 4-piece Mother's Day gift with $90
  • M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
  • Ruti – Take $55 off your purchase with code 55ONUS
  • Sephora – Free same-day delivery for Mother's Day with code
  • Talbots – 50% off wear-now styles (5/8 only)
  • The Outnet – Extra 30% off select styles, including Veronica Beard, Victoria Beckham, and Marni.
  • TOCCIN – Use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off!
  • Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!

278 Comments

  1. Hi, I posted yesterday about dog deterrents. It was interesting reading everyone’s input – thanks. I am contemplating getting a normal whistle and/or ultrasonic dog bark deterrent device. For those who own dogs, how do you think they would respond? Would the loud noise startle them enough to retreat? I don’t want to agitate them more.

    Context is walking in my suburban neighborhood. Recently 2 dogs got loose and attacked a woman and her dog in front of the house. Animal control is aware but dogs are still there and are reported to be loose often. I walk by this house often and want to be prepared.

    1. The whistle might serve to draw human attention to you. I doubt it would change the behavior of a dog coming at you.

      I have zero faith that an ultrasonic bark deterrent device you carry would have any impact on them at a distance, and any repellent effect should they get close to you.

    2. I wouldn’t walk by that house. A whistle won’t stop a dog who is going to attack you. A meal delivery driver got attacked by a dog yesterday and had to be airlifted to a trauma hospital.

    3. Since you asked, I think the whistle and the ultrasonic dog bark deterrent device would both be totally useless. I do not think a loud noise would startle them enough to retreat, no.

    4. Long time dog owner, dog lover, and holder of a scar from a dog incident while on a run.
      You got some good advice for issues with single dogs. Obnoxious, large and dumb, but not malicious is what you’ll most often encounter. The alpha-b*tch-voice-of-God telling them to go home is pretty much always sufficient. This is the sort of voice that everyone within earshot knows you mean business. You may want to practice if you’re soft spoken or come from a particularly quiet household. The “but he’s frienddddlllly” type owners will think you’re overreacting, but you aren’t. They are idiots and you are drawing attention to their idiocy, so added bonus.

      I don’t carry anything when I run, but if you do, make sure you get pepper spray and not bear spray. They work differently. Bear spray makes a fog/screen between you and the animal, while most other pepper sprays work in a stream. The latter is better in the situations you describe.

      Where things get legit dangerous is if you encounter more than one dog. Pack behavior is real and it is scary. I am a savvy dog handler. One loose dog, I can handle. Two, and all bets are off. I have a dent in my leg from such an incident. Be loud, get people out of their houses, make all the ruckus. If a neighborhood resident hadn’t rolled up on his way home from work, I’m sure it would have been a lot worse. It was a few stitches, and rabies prophy when the person who had been keeping the dogs denied they were theirs and refused to work with the authorities. That was expensive and annoying but not painful. These were two hunting hounds, not the sort of bully breed most people immediately think of when they think of stray dog issues. That said, I still run, I still have dogs and I still love dogs. This was one incident in probably 10,000 miles over 25 years and has not colored how I feel about running, the outdoors or dogs.

      2. My dad is an avid runner and also loves dogs. He has been actually attacked by a dog once in decades of running. He has encountered stray dogs many times, but only once did one bite him. But it bit a big chunk out of his arm, he needed serious antibiotics, and months long follow-up with the wound clinic. He has a big scar. He had to fight the dog off before the owner came and called the dog back.

      3. Yes to all of 10:44’s comments. I am not the dog lover I used to be, in large part because of the number of irresponsible and oblivious owners out there. It only takes once.

    5. In this scenario, I would avoid the area in question. If I couldn’t, I would walk with pepper spray and a hiking pole or walking stick, and be prepared to get loud. I would also make sure that those reports that the dogs are loose are reported to animal control, every single time, instead of being grumbled about in the neighborhood gossip channels. If there has been a record of an attack and a bite already, AC should be taking this seriously. If they aren’t, you and your neighbors should make noise until they do.

      Dogs are not going to give a F about a whistle or ultrasonic bark deterrent in that scenario.

    6. A wild or completely aggressive out of control off leash dog will not stop at a whistle.

      It sounds like these dogs are being territorially aggressive (got loose, bit someone in front of “their” house). I would walk in the other side of the street or avoid the street entirely.

    7. I was attacked by a dog and was glad I had pepper spray as that was the only thing that stopped the dog from biting me.

      1st, I want to caution you that you may not have advance knowledge there is an unsafe dog to watch out for. I had walked this route multiple times before. In my case a large storm the previous evening had knocked down multiple fences in the area. I think the dog had escaped from that. I had no way of knowing.

      Because I yelled and screamed and made a lot of noise, all I can say it doesn’t work. If the dog is going to attack you, it will. I was in a subdivision surrounded by houses. NO ONE came out or responded to my yelling.

      I was lucky someone drove by and saw what was going on. They stopped their car but didn’t get out. They distracted the dog just enough that I was able to pepper spray multiple times. The dog kept coming in spite of the car and additional person yelling at them.

      It took a little while and multiple sprays before the pepper spray affected the dog enough to back it off and let me leave.

      I have been attacked by a dog twice in my life. Bitten once. Dog was put down in that case.
      I know of at least 2 other people who were attacked seriously by dogs.
      It is not that rare and all of these were ‘pets’ and all but 3 attacks were in cities (one in country).

  2. If you were a politician or similar public figure, what would your “uniform” be?

    I saw an article about how Mamdani wears suits everywhere. Press conferences, sports games, meetings, everywhere. It looks professional for sure, but also he wears a pretty similar suit every day. I’m sure he has multiples of the same suits.

    I don’t think that would quite work for a woman, but something like the solid colored pantsuits would.

    1. I’d wear a single breasted navy suit with ankle length straight pants and sharp flats. With lovely blouses or loud t-shirts for civic pride.

      To that end: where are you getting silk blouses with subtle patterns or detailing in 2026? I can’t do a collared shirt because I have a short neck.

    2. Why wouldn’t that approach work for a woman? I used to work with a woman who had a pretty similar wardrobe.

      2. A plain black suit with different blouses (equivalent of different ties) would work.

        1. Agree. Check out the NYC Police Commissioner – she looks very professional and no one spends any time dissecting her clothes.

          2. Hard agree anon at 9:30am.

            Jess Tisch is amazing. I think it speaks volumes that so many people spoke up during the transition for her to remain in role. We are so lucky to have her.

            International women’s day had an interesting post about the women running NYC. I didn’t know women are running the MTA and PA.

    3. I don’t know about her uniform, but I was very impressed with the manner and professionalism (and confidence) of Judge Maya Guerra Gamble in the Camp Mystic hearings this week. It was obviously very disturbing subject matter and the defense attorneys engaged in unprofessional and unethical behavior, but she was like a master class in handling it. Apparently she also presided over the Alex Jones infowars case. As I get older, the more I think your style of holding yourself and conducting yourself matters the most. But for all I know, she does have a uniform too!

      1. The plaintiffs engaged in very unethical behavior too, ftr. They said it rained all day on July 3 when it literally didn’t rain at all. They were playing very very loose with the facts.

        1. He literally didn’t but ok. I was referring to defense counsel saying (caught on the livestream) to the plaintiffs’ attorneys that they would “burn in h3ll,” not to mention the shenanigans that led to this hearing in the first place.

      3. The plaintiff’s lawyer was also very unethical – playing very very loose with the facts. He said directly it was raining all day on July 3 when it was literally not raining at all.

        1. I wouldn’t call a characterization of weather “very unethical.” With all the testimony that came out during the hearing, it doesn’t matter any way because the facts speak for themselves. The camp management was a disaster waiting to happen. I am so sorry for these families.

    4. Not a public figure but in professional settings a lot. I like low key dark solid color pant suits with interesting tops, totes and shoes.

    5. Honestly, I’d prob do something similar. He’s probably always bouncing between things where a suit is needed (or pulled into them, even if it’s not on the schedule), so why not just always have that on for the day?

      1. I think it also just looks good and respectable all the time. Makes him look like the mayor. It’s a good idea.

        1. I’m a big fan of men conveying authority or professionalism by wearing suits to places they’re not entirely necessary. If I were a men’s sports team coach, I’d like to be one of those ones who wears a suit to the game and makes the players wear suits and ties for press conferences.

          1. Agree! You’re the mayor, you’re the coach, you should show up like it. I love when sports coaches wear suits.

      2. that makes sense to me. You might want to be casual for meeting kindergartners or attending a ball game, but then have to give an impromptu press conference on something serious. Suit all the time is just practical.

    6. I think that it really depends on what women are trying to convey. We have much more leeway, which is a double edged sword.

      Ideally, it would be some combination of shoring up any weaknesses while still being on-brand.

    7. It’s interesting because this is in contrast to a lot of the fashion-related content I consume. I love reading about royal and election clothing choices for example. If I was a public figure, I would use fashion as part of my personality and to convey various things. Alas, I am not…but I do hold a number of leadership roles that have me in various places…and at the same have many clients who are located in rural areas. I tailor my outfits for what I am doing that day…so don’t see myself necessarily picking an “outfit” so much as a “style”.

          2. If you’re talking about journalist Elizabeth Holmes, agree that her content isn’t typically professional attire. I was just commenting that I enjoy her insights in to the thought that goes in to what people wear, particularly royals and the “WAGs” to people of power. I get conflicted because I hate that these message are largely left to the women, but did enjoy hearing her line of questioning to Shapiro this week around his tie.

            And if you’re talking about Other Elizabeth Homes, the felon, no. Def not the professional vibe I’m going for either.

          3. Ahhh yeah I definitely thought you meant fraud E. Holmes. Whoo was pretty up front that the black turtleneck thing was…part of her strategy to appear credible and Fraud more profitably. Sorry!

      2. Hi! I posted the original comment, and yes, I do follow her on insta and she is one of the reasons I enjoy this content so much, although seems like she posts less on insta and more of her content is behind a paywall now.

    8. I would probably go with colorful suiting/dresses in high end crepe – a lot like what Kamala wore on the campaign trail. My feet cannot do heels, so fancy flats (loafers/brogues/etc.) plus soft shirts. I am small, with a short neck, so tend to look better in softer suits (like what The Fold sells) vs. highly structured suits that folks like Queen Letitzia/Princess Kate wear.

        1. I liked a lot of Kamala’s clothing, but it really bothered me that her sleeves often looked too long for her, which then made her jackets look too big on her. I remember even trying to look up if there was a stylistic reason for it!!!

          3. I always wondered why her blazers fit that way–I thought it detracted from the look, but also assumed she had better advice on styling than I did.

        2. Disagree that Kamala Harris looked good on the campaign trail. She wore clothes that were so bland that they washed her out and nothing she wears is tailored. With her skin tone, she could really pull off some vibrant colors!

      2. Kamala did a lot of columns of color. It didn’t look the same as Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits – I guess because the silhouettes were pretty different.

    9. Sheath dress with a jewel toned blazer and 2.5 inch stacked heels. Every day.

      A friend of mine came back from maternity leave and just bought 10 black and charcoal machine washable sheath dresses (she’s an attorney). She wore them for about 4 years pretty much every day and looked polished and together. She just… never thought about what to wear in the morning in the best way.

      1. I’ve done this before (I was tired of decision making and MM La Fleur was heavily discounting dresses just like this). The dresses plus a blazer/cardigan and I was set for years.

      2. I love this idea actually. For the other options I was thinking that I wouldn’t like to wear those every day but this would feel my style and still work.

    10. I would dress like Queen Leticia of Spain. She does professional power business wear really well, IMO.

    11. I wore monochromatic outfits. Also, I wore a lot of tshirts from local organizations, schools, events with a blazer. I really liked a sheath dress with pockets (Boden) and always wore flats. With long days taking you from offices, to parks and trails, you have to be able to walk comfortably.

  3. We’re moving and need to buy a washer/dryer. They’ll be in a laundry room (yay!). I really hate how frontloaders get the musty smell and need to have the door left open, so I want a top loader. Any recommendations? Is the popular Speed Queen (not sure which model everyone loves?) the way to go? In addition to wanting the clothes to get clean, would love if the machine wasn’t too loud. The laundry room will be adjacent to the main living space.

    Also, would appreciate recommendations for any known sale/coupon opportunities.

    1. The usual advice near me is to check appliance stores and not just national chains, consider scratch & dent if you really want a good discount, and choose the dumbest tech you can find.

    2. We have a bare-bones Speed Queen pair (top loader washer) that is probably 20+ years old with no problems. Heartily recommend.

      1. Same, although I have to admit I acquired a purely mechanical set that I’m not sure they make any more.

        2. I bought it from a tiny little shop in a crummy part of town. The owner said that they weren’t going to make the purely mechanical ones for very long, and that he wished he had the capital to buy up dozens and warehouse them for future sale. I’m going to sell my house in a couple of years and a non-negotiable will be that the 18 year old Speed Queen set leaves with me.

    3. Can’t say enough good about our Speed Queen. They aren’t the quietest on the market – ours are in our upstairs hallway and we can hear them when we leave the doors to the closet open. I’ve bought them twice – once for our old house and again when we moved, so I’ve never had one more than 8 years, but in that time I’ve never had to call a repair tech.

    4. I would strongly suggest a speed queen or buying a vintage top loader. My 1998 Kenmore came with my house, it’s been repaired once (cost $105). The lovely gentleman who fixed it told me to never get rid of it because it cleans better than new machines and is built like a tank. I do have a new speed queen dryer which I love, the dryer that came with my house was from the era of planned obsolescence.

    5. I’ve bought two washing machines in the last couple years (sigh), and compared prices between the big boxes and the local appliance stores. They were almost always identical. The best times to buy are definitely the big holiday “weekends” which are more like three weeks around Memorial and Labor Day, maybe Black Friday too?

      Also, make sure to measure your space carefully. Our decision was driven in part by which models could make it down the stairs to our basement.

      1. I think the value add of the appliance stores is supposed to be not botching the installation (if you don’t have someone else doing that).

        1. Yeah, we’ve tried both. Track record is the big box doing just fine on the two things we ordered from them (one of which we couldn’t get from the local store), and the local store doing a shoddy job on one of the two we got from them (and really badly screwing up one for a friend), so I’m not convinced it matters that much.

          1. The way I see it, the local store is free to be either better or worse than the big box store. There’s a lot of room to be better, but plenty of room to be worse, same as for coffee shops or pharmacies or whatever else.

    6. Agree that if you want longevity and minimal issues, go with the least computerized option possible regardless of noise level, color, style, or anything else.

      My 30+ year old Whirlpool mechanical top loader is ugly AF but it is a workhorse that handles everything without issues. We have spent maybe $200 total in repair parts in the 20 years we have owned it. The matching dryer is also going strong, although we do have to spend a Saturday morning replacing the two dollar thermo-resister thing every year, the drum belt every 5 years, and the felt gasket once a decade. We would consider taking these with us should we ever move out of this house.

    7. Counterpoint. I do not get the hate for modern front loaders at all. They really do a great job at not using too much water and are easy to access. Yes, I leave the door open to air out after use, but it’s just not a big deal and I’ve never had mold issues.

      1. It’s a big deal if you don’t have the space to leave the door open! My closet door shuts a washer door for me. And some of us live off of wells in places where the issue is too much water, not lack thereof. It’s amazing how different people can have different needs.

      2. +1 The mold thing is overblown. The one time i had odor issues, it was not mold but that the drain hose was too far down the standpipe. Solution: pull the drain hose up two inches until it’s above the water line.

        1. When I smell mildew in somebody else’s house, it’s nearly always the front loading wash machine. I get that it doesn’t bother them, but it still bothers me.

          2. I realize they don’t all mold or mildew, but way more do than people realize, because they got used to the odor and aren’t noticing it. When people walk around with clothes smelling like mildew, I really think this is why.

          3. I live in a country where 99.9 percent of washing machines are front-loaders, and I’m ridiculously sensitive to mildew.

            It’s not the washing machine. It’s a user error. Mildew is from not drying the clothes in a timely fashion, not from washing them in a front loader!

            It is very, very easy to avoid a musty washing machine.
            It is also very, very easy to get nasty wildewed clothes if you don’t dry them quickly enough or have too humid a climate.

      3. I like to add something. And I feel that I dont trust the gasket in a way that a top loader lets me not monitor it for the inevitable leak.

      4. Inefficient washers barely use any water. The difference between a HE washer and my vintage inefficient washer is the equivalent of one single hamburger a month. That’s how little water it is in the grand scheme of things. Water is what cleans your clothes, not worth weirdly skimping on.

        1. It’s not that I worry about wasting it, I find it’s too much and makes them too hard to dry. I don’t like dealing with sopping wet clothes.

          3. This makes zero sense. An HE washer and a standard washer both completely saturate the clothes with water. How else would the clothes get clean? In both cases the spin cycle spins out the water. IDK whether HE washers don’t spin as vigorously by default because they are trying to save electricity, but you can generally set the machine for a more intense spin cycle if you feel the clothes are coming out too damp.

      5. If they meet your needs, that’s fine!

        But they don’t always use enough water to get things really clean for me, the door hanging open is a big deal when I’m walking into it all the time, I don’t trust that they’ll live as long, and I have always been able to get all my laundry in and out of my top loader so far.

      6. My laundry room is essentially a narrow hallway. An open washer door would block the hall, eventually resulting in injury to a person or dog traversing the hallway and damage to the door.

        The handful of times I have used a front loader when traveling, my clothes have come out less than fresh. Seemed like there was not enough water to wash the soil out of them and even with only a miniscule amount of detergent, they felt filmy. I ended up handwashing in the sink in order to get them clean enough to wear before I went home.

      7. OP here and we either have to leave it closed, resulting in mildew issues, or leave it open and bang into it constantly. Narrow hallway. I prefer a product that doesn’t cause that.

      8. I really like my front loader. Granted, it’s in my basement so I keep the door open and I wipe the gasket when I’m done using the washer. Granted, the kids have flown the next, so I do laundry one day a week. The top loaders with agitators beat the crap out of clothes.

        Re some of the comments above about the clothes not coming clean, I suspect people were using too much detergent. 1-2 TBS is all you need.

        1. I am one of those commenters, and since I only use 1-2 TBSP in my top loader at home, I use far less when attempting to use a front loader. Like, drops. Could be the Airbnb machine just had tons of buildup, but my clothes came out dirtier than they went in. I ended up hand washing my undies in a sink and using a salad spinner from the kitchen to get the excess water out.

        2. Top loaders don’t use any more detergent than that. I think the clothes come out clean because of the water and the agitator.

    8. Get the Speed Queen. We couldn’t get the bare bones model during the pandemic and needed something quickly so we got something mid-level. It is great. We love it with a passion I didn’t know was possible for a washing machine.

      You won’t regret it.

    9. Bought a Speed Queen based on the recommendations from this board. Love it. It actually cleans clothes. Shakes the house when it is on the spin cycle but that does not bother me.

    10. When I moved, I called up the local appliance store and asked for the washer my grandma would have had. They showed up with a basic white top-loader from Amana, along with its accompanying dryer. The set cost about $800. Works great, clothes get clean and dry, no fuss.

      1. I love my Amana dishwasher. It’s so old and I know it can’t possibly last forever. I’m hoping if I get a new one it will be the same!

    11. I really love the high efficiency top-loader option, which is hardly ever mentioned. I’ve had a Maytag and a Samsung, and they’ve both been good. The Samsung allows for some adjustment in water level if that’s a concern for you. And I LOVE being able to throw in a load in the morning and have the delayed start option on so that everything is getting finished up around the time I get home.

      1. I have an HE top-loader and vastly prefer it to the HE front-loader we used to have. I don’t think they nearly last as long as a good old-fashioned Speed Queen with the agitator, though.

        1. They don’t last as long, for sure, but if you want the shorter agitator, it’s a good option.

    12. I bought a house that already had Speed Queens in them, and absolutely loved them while they worked, but unfortunately ours were the exception to the rule about longevity. I still really wanted a top loader but didn’t want a Speed Queen after that experience, so I went with a simple, knobby GE and it’s been totally solid.

    13. I know the conventional wisdom is to buy a Speed Queen but I’ve seen increasing mentions that the newer models aren’t as durable. Check out the buyitforlife reddit for more info. My strategy is always to go to Costco, buy whatever the best is for my budget that fits in the space. Costco automatically extends the warranty and has great customer service.

  4. At risk of reviving the cardigan wars, what’s a good topper for a dress like this? I think a blazer with a skirt that long and full just looks like a lot of fabric, at least on someone like me (small and easily overwhelmed). But a cardigan risks looking too …churchy?

    Maybe I just don’t like dresses with skirts like that. (No topper is not an option for me.)

    1. I’d do an interesting denim jacket. Last year denim lady jackets were out and those are great toppers when you want to be polished and casual.

    3. A lady jacket that hits right at the waist, or any sort of cropped open jacket works well for this type of dress. I prefer A-line skirts/dresses and moto jackets, cropped open cardigans, and even denim jackets can all work well. The most important part are the proportions, so you need to try a few options on to make sure the topper hits at the right part of the waist.

    5. Depends on the occasion. This is the type of dress I wear most often, and have done everything from a denim jacket to blazer to wrap to sweater.

    6. There are lots of options, but how they work depends on shoes, fit, and the level of formality you’re going for.

      Most formal, okay with some frump – traditional fine-knit cardigan and pumps or flats
      Fairly formal, less frumpy – lady jacket and pumps or flats
      Moderately formal, somewhat creative – Y2K-style shrunken cardigan and funkier shoes, like a heeled oxford, chunky loafer, or square-toed mary jane

      There are probably ways to wear it with a chunky cardigan like the one from yesterday, a longer open cardigan, or an oversized blazer. But the shoes have to match the vibe of the topper.

  5. Did we ever get an update from Church Jeans? She randomly popped into my head this morning and I just hope she is doing ok.

  6. Friday question – what site/app do you use to check the weather? I feel like everything I use is absolutely inundated with ads, to the point it doesn’t function well. Do you pay for something?

    1. Just the app on my phone. I agree, whenever I try to go to a webpage to check the weather, the ads are overwhelming and slow the page down to the point that it’s unusable.

    4. I pay $20 for Carrot, because you can tweak the interface to look the most like Dark Sky (the weather app I LOVED and miss!). It pulls from a number of providers. Definitely worth paying to avoid ads, but there are cheaper ones that are also fine if you aren’t as picky about layout as I am (like Hello Weather).

      If anyone has other suggestions for Dark Sky replacements, please let me know!!

    7. I really like WTForecast. It has the basic information, it’s easy to navigate, it’s free, and the ads are generally a small banner and not at the level of those in The Weather Channel app. However, it is irreverent. It makes me smile every time I open the app, but if you’re bothered by cursing then it’s probably not for you!

      If you want in-depth analysis and tracking, there is a group of meteorologists that is located near me that offers subscription services. It’s BAM Weather. They have service models for businesses, etc. that require weather tracking and analysis but there’s also a level for personal use. It’s maybe $100 per year? They’re very thorough. I have followed them since they were starting up and providing local weather info on Facebook, but it’s now an established business with some high-profile clients. Who knew weather consulting was a business model?!

    8. If you already have a smart watch, there’s usually a weather option in settings.

    9. Weather Underground on my computer with adblock and the iphone app where there are minimal ads that don’t interfere with use.

    12. Forecast . Weather . Gov
      Add zip code. It’s where all other weather sites get their forecasts

    13. I’m in Norway, and use YR, the public service weather service and app. Free, no ads.

    15. MyRadar app. There are ads, but it’s tolerable for the really solid radar functionality as we come into storm season.

  7. A direct report is getting married. I am thinking through the ways to celebrate her which can be easily carried over to a male getting married, which will come up in the next year.

    I’m not American so I don’t know the typical norms.

    1. My workplace does showers for whichever half of the couple it is. A few weeks prior to the wedding day.

    2. This was ages ago but a white shoe financial services firm I worked at in the early aughts gave everyone an extra week of vacation and a gift card when they got married, it was lovely. The women would typically also get a lunchtime shower, paid for by the firm, with either a gift card or small items. The men would often get a happy hour paid for by their team.

      1. My first thought was that an extra weekend of vacation would be so nice, but that’s so clearly discriminatory!

    3. For pretty much all big events, we just collect at a single point and then do a gift card (if they’re registered just to there) for that amount in a card signed by all of us. In office, we do just cake and coffee/similar. If we know alcohol is okay, it’s common for the boss to give a bottle of decent champagne along with the gift card/card combo. Low key, allows people to give whatever works for them with minimal pressure, allows for rounded amounts.

    4. I don’t think there’s a specific norm for this- it varies widely, and nothing but smiles and congratulations is fine. But I think a low-key shower (cake and punch, minimal decor, and a gift card from the team) is a really nice gesture that works for either sex.

    5. My old firm had an assistant have a card that people could sign, and collect money. The money would be used to buy something off the registry. It was the same process when someone had a baby, except there was also an afternoon shower with dessert/treats. The process was the same regardless of gender.

    6. I just give a generous gift off their registry and wish them well, and remind them to take the time off they need, and not to do any work while they are out (and make space for that to happen). In our workplace, the associates all have a group chat and organize activities with each other; I believe they also do some kind of celebration/gift giving for weddings and babies, but the partners are not involved. I think they are probably quite happy to not have their boss attend. Personally I do not think you need to organize an event or celebration unless that is really part of your workplace culture. Not everyone wants to be celebrated in this way, and you set a precedent. I learned this recently when my team grew, and suddenly we were taking the whole team out for lunch for birthdays on a regular basis. Now we have a smaller tradition of buying flowers and a card.

    7. In my experience, the “shower” had been carried over to men for babies but not for weddings. If I ran the zoo, I’d buy everyone lunch and present the person getting married with a gift card. I’m not a shy person but I really hated opening gifts at my office shower.

      1. Maybe it would be different at a tiny company or for a man but an office shower sounds mortifying. I don’t want my colleagues celebrating my bride era or drawing extra attention to a pregnancy. Give them an extra PTO day or set out a cake in the lunch room.

        1. they really aren’t that bad. Usually an hour at lunch.
          -Company orders catered something (variety of sandwiches, salads, sides, dessert nibbles)
          -The person opens a card from the department and a few physical gifts (as most opt to contribute towards a gift card to a registry store as opposed to buying their own thing)
          -The end

        2. I thought it would be mortifying to have one, but it’s my office culture and it ended up being fine. We have them often enough that it’s a nice chance for people to catch up and eat cake, it’s not all focused on the honoree.

    8. I think the norms are specific to your firm rather than to America overall.

      My office does not formally do anything for weddings, although if colleagues hear about an upcoming or recent event they will congratulate the employee. Individual managers probably give a card and something off the gift registry, and if there is a friendly group of peers they often do a celebratory shower or lunch on their own.

      1. oh yeah, I commented above about the showers, but to the OP, I’d suggest checking with your peers (fellow managers) about what is typically done for weddings. If no other managers throw formal showers and then you start…. that would be a mismatch.

        My point about the showers was more that whatever a workplace does, it’s usually the same for a bride or groom. That could be a shower, could be the manager just quietly buys a nice gift off the registry, could be a corporate gift (like a gift card), etc.

    9. My team pooled and bought something off my honeymoon trip registry. It was very nice of them.

    10. I’d get my direct report a really nice bottle of champagne (like beyond a Veuve) and possibly two champagne flutes to go with it and a handwritten, heartfelt card.

      I work in finance fwiw. Office culture isn’t too gift-y (lots of dudes), but this is what I’d do for any direct report or colleague I’m close with.

      I’d skip the in-office shower. That would be a little cringe in my workplace. I could see the admins wanting to throw a shower-ish lunch for a bride colleague, but not a groom.

      1. It’s cringe everywhere. It’s just important to a certain type of person to do a cutesy shower. I don’t understand why a lunch plus a group gift card isn’t the norm.

        1. That says more about your definition of “cringle” than workplace culture and norms throughout the country.

          I have worked places where a wedding went without any formal acknowledgment to places with company-sponsored lunches – but the latter was very much an “acknowledge every special event” type of place with monthly lunches for birthdays and quarterly pizza parties as well. None of them were cringe. They were just different cultures.

  8. Any bass players in here (like the wooden instrument, not the one you plug in in a rock band)? I played violin as a kid, but would have chosen the bass (based on watching one Police video for me; overruled by parents with subcompact car). I was thinking of trying it now that I’m adult, but looking at the logistics of it, maybe my parents were right and I should stick to violin (which I still have).

    1. I played violin briefly, classical guitar more robustly, and would love to dabble in bass at some point. Could you rent one to try it out? Music schools near me have student quality ones available.

    2. My husband found a vintage 3/4 sized bass on Reverb. It’s big, but not crazy. And it has a wheel that can go on the pin so when he takes it places (in a gig bag) he’s rolling it, not carrying it.

  9. Here for job-seeking advice on 2 levels: 1. Getting almost any job, to pay money now – what would you do and how? Where is hiring? Are there still temp agencies to walk into and get a substitute-receptionist type job? And 2. How to get back into a similar low-6-figure mid-manager consulting career? I am doing the usual on LinkedIn – what works, how to put myself out there? I am getting to a few final rounds but not many even initial screes. It’s hard out there, and here. Please be kind. Thank you.

    1. Similar circumstances. Yes, there are temp agencies for secretarial work. I had a good experience working with a temp agency, but I ultimately wasn’t chosen for the two jobs near my house.

      Does your state offer unemployment that’s worth anything? The Deep South states only offer like $200/wk, so you’re better off working, but some blue states can be very generous.

      Everything I’ve read said hiring is coming into a slow down. I’m planning on my job search (mid-high 100s, willing to go back down to 100, in a niche field) to take 9 months.

      I also had to make the painful decision to let one of my credit cards go to collections. There just isn’t enough money to go around. I called for a payment adjustment and they wouldn’t, so…

      Good luck. All the sympathy in the world.

        1. Made, dear, made. Now I make $400/wk on unemployment, as local part-time jobs couldn’t guarantee me more hours than that and, as discussed, I haven’t been hired for full-time, temp jobs. Please go ahead and tell me how YOU would live on $1,600/month, plus some money from family.

          1. Thank you for the clarification; I did not pick up the past tense from your post.

        2. Stop with the judgement. Obviously it wasn’t an ideal choice, so circumstances probably made the decision for her. It happens.

    2. I’d personally look at Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, something that will offer benefits plus work. Temp secretary work sounds awful. Or look into being a server or bartender so you have days open to interview.

      1. Depends on the person. I enjoy this kind of work, and would prefer it over Trader Joes.

    3. For 1: substitute teaching, camp counselor, babysitting or nannying, bartending, cater waitering, event staffing for concerts/festivals/etc.

    4. Almost any job: how do you feel about working with kids? All the school districts near me are hiring always, in the $20-30 range for roles like bus driver, aides, etc.

      Similar: Home health care & personal care aides also in great demand, in home and in institutions. These entry level roles don’t require a medical/nursing degree, maybe just a CPR certificate.

    5. Substitute teach from now until the end of the school year. Local rec departments are probably currently still hiring summer supervisors for temp summer staff. Sell stuff you own and don’t need on poshmark/ebay/fb marketplace/mecari.

    6. Re: getting back to your former career level – am mostly posting in solidarity. FWIW, I was laid off last year and *just* got an offer – for a more junior role (originally posted at 2-4 years experience, reports to a first time manager, and a 30% pay cut from my last role in a higher COL city).

      So here’s a data point for you: no one in my “real world” is going to know this. They are only going to hear the positive gloss “Starting a new job, doing exciting thing!”. So if there’s any internal shame or “why is everyone else doing so much better…” in your mind, remember that you are most likely not seeing a realistic picture of other people’s careers

      The second point – while the job market is still pretty rough, it does seem like it’s opening up a little. For me, from April ’25 – Nov, I got literally zero interviews. In the last few months, I’ve had about 10 first round interviews, of which 2 led to offers. That is out of 100s of apps, so not a great conversion rate, but anything is better than 0%!

      Hugs and strength to you! You’re going to figure this out.

    7. If you have a BA you can substitute teach as a hold me over. No, the $ is not great, but it would be something. Best of luck!

      1. Where I live you don’t need a BA to sub, just a high school diploma. It’s scary.

    8. Look for substitute teaching, working as a teacher aide, look at nonprofits. Do you have anything you can sell — clothes, jewelry, furniture? Also, consider side hustles like dog walking, pet sitting, house sitting— Aja Dang has some great, actionable videos on side hustles. Here is one: https://youtu.be/BHoU9yO9g0s?si=z1iPeOo6Fj0XHNnx

      Money may be tight, but consider investing in hiring a job coach. The job search field is changing fast, and they may be really useful. Let them know upfront about budget constraints to use their time wisely. And get someone with actual recruiting experience.

    9. The job boards that worked for me were LI, Indeed, and https://hiring.cafe/

      Be sure to look for local jobs, as well as remote ones for your skillset. Apply to remote jobs that are designated for your area or country. Also, try searching for different job types. For example, search “English degree” in Indeed if that was your major, and that might broaden your options from what you might have considered.

      Tailor your resume and cover letter to include as many specific key phrases from the job ad as you can (so AI rates you as a top candidate). Submit your application on the company website directly. I would also sometimes message someone directly on LinkedIn, if it seemed like they were the hiring manager (especially if they shared the job in a post and seemed active on the platform) with a short intro explaining why I’d be a good fit for the job. Some of those messages were ignored, but one of them did get me a job interview at a fabulous company for a stretch role. As long as you are polite and concise, I don’t think it can hurt, although your mileage may vary.

      Do you belong to any local FB groups? For example, there’s a mom’s groups in my area, and people frequently post on it for advice about job searching or asking for opportunities. That can be a good way to get referrals to temp agencies or local companies hiring.

    10. Not sure if you are still checking, but just read this and wanted to chime in. I work in HR Consulting and professional staffing. I would suggest getting connected to a professional staffing firm (i.e LHH, Robert Half) vs a staffing agency that does secretarial work. The firms mentioned above will have options that are more in the line of work you want and many of our clients temp to perm roles (basically try this role for 6 months before we offer you a full time role). Given cost pressures this protects the employer from a messy and expensive hiring process. It’s not employee friendly, but that’s the way it goes these days. Recruiters are like real estate agents. They are paid only when they place you – so they want to place you. They are paid by the hiring company so you are not out of pocket.

      All of the suggestions below are great – but I would try really hard to get a temp role in the field you ultimately want to work in. Good luck!

  10. I’ve realized that although my work wardrobe functions well and I have everything I “need,” it also has become quite boring. In other words, I’ve gone too hard on basics and have neglected to add “personality” pieces. Curious about how others balance this. I’m not one to add personality with lots of accessories; it’s just not my jam. My office is on the dressy side of business casual.

    1. I gravitate towards basic clothing pieces in cool neutral colors. I have a forest green Kaai Pyramid bag to add personality. You can also add personality with more colorful shoes. For big meetings where I want to project more seniority I like an interestingly cut structured dress a la The Fold, but not in a crazy color.

    2. I read an interesting article recently about how fashion in generally is swinging this direction–we all went so hard on the basics and all the social media trends that suddenly we all look the same! Now there is desire for originality. Personally I have been seeking to buy only interesting pieces, such as a unique blouse or pants tailored uniquely. Then I am trying to fit them in with my existing clothes so that every day I am wearing an “outfit” rather than just clothes.

      1. That sounds like a good approach! It sorta happened without me realizing it. For awhile, post-Covid, I needed to rebuild my wardrobe because my size changed. So I went for lots of versatile mix-and-match basics. And it worked, and I look put together! But I can’t say that it’s sparking much joy, if that makes sense.

    3. For the last two years, I have focused on buying more interesting blouses, often with prints but sometimes other detailing. And I’ve upped my price range for these items. I am finding that if I have about 7 interesting tops that I genuinely like, I do not feel the need to constantly shop, which I did feel before.

      1. Ugh, I think you are right. I need to spend the extra money on a few pieces that I truly love and look forward to wearing, rather than trying to get the best price on everything.

    4. I still like scarves and brooches and statement necklaces or quirky earrings. Smaller and more versatile. with the occasional “statement” or noticeable blouse or lady jacket. I don’t wear all of it every day of course, but most days I feel like I fit in well and I’m wearing something that I like that maybe represents me somehow.

      1. How are you wearing scarves? I have several that I love but styling them baffles me.

    5. I think wearing basics in an on trend color is a good way to do this without too much trouble. Like, for example, a butter yellow sweater or blazer this spring. I also usually look at nordstrom or bloomingdales and what they are showing as trends for the season and if i like any of them i lean in a little with some not too expensive (like a johnny collar sweater or mary janes or whatever)

  11. I’m still sending good thoughts to the woman who was trying to get her mother in to the doctor/hospital for memory and personality changes a couple weeks ago. These situations can be so hard! Please send us an update if you would like.

    1. She did post one hopeful follow-up. Her father called 911, and they took her Mom (unwillingly) to the hospital finally. I think she was held for observation and testing. I have thought about her too.

  12. Posting again about my friends’ 50th!

    Another idea popped into my mind yesterday: They are travelling to New Zealand over the summer break. I will check with her what’s the planned itinerary, but for the birthday gift, now thinking of:

    – Coffee table book of New Zealand photography. It doesn’t have to be a touristy photo book, but maybe some landscapes would be cool, or maybe something portraying native culture, as she’s very well travelled, has lived on various continents, and I think she’d like that. Could be one photographer or several different ones.
    Before I go on a Google hunt, does anyone from this wise hive have any recs?

    – Since they redid their patio, I could get some cute string lights, maybe the paper balloon type, or the tiny LED’s that twinkle.

    I’m envisioning her sitting on her patio under the twinkling lights enjoying her photo book while sipping some champagne and eating fancy cheese.

    1. Yes to the book no to the patio lights – those are a project and you don’t give people a project. They’re also personal and you’d be amazed at how specific they can be to your actual space. For the book, look at Assouline, they make gorgeous coffee table books. I would also broaden from her upcoming trip, who knows if she’ll like the place.

    2. What’s your budget? For a NZ trip I would want to ship home allllll the wine bought from the local vineyards directly, but no idea how much that typically costs from NZ as opposed to France & Italy, which is generally reasonable enough that you still come out ahead vs. buying imports from a local retailer at home.

    3. Not what you asked, but if they are going to Queenstown and you want to just give them gift certificates for a dinner out instead, both Botswana Butchery and Nest are really excellent fancier restaurants (Nest also has amazing views if they go before sunset). There is a Botswana Butchery location in Auckland as well, though I didn’t like it as much as the Queenstown one. A friend gave me a gift certificate to Nest for my birthday trip, so they will definitely do emailed gift certificates.

      1. I was actually thinking of that. Once I know their itinerary, I will look into restaurants or maybe even a coffee or ice cream shop (or maybe a chain) so they can grab something as they are out and exploring.

    4. No to both. What about a certificate to Victor or something she could use on her trip? I would add a novel like a mystery or something fun to read and learn more about the culture.

    5. How about the Wick LED table lamp by Graypants for her patio? I’ve given them as presents and they are good for indoor and outdoor use.

  13. Does rosacea have flares? My skin is scarlet. It’s been for several weeks. It doesn’t itch, but it more like a sunburn. Same sunscreen as last year. Allergies are making me miserable but I take Claritin and get allergy shots. What is up with me?

    2. Yes, flares definitely happen. I have rosacea and have noticed that seasonal changes can really trigger mine. The up-and-down temperatures of spring are really hard on my skin. Not to mention allergies. My experience is that it does settle down when the weather is a little less volatile.

    3. Yes, before I was diagnosed and treated, I would get sunburn-like skin flares. My cheeks were flaming hot and bright red, it was uncomfortable to mildly painful.

      My derm put me on Metro gel and there was small improvement. They switched me to triple cream and my rosacea is basically nonexistent now. Once every few months I might see a hint of it come back; the triple cream knocks it right out. Night and day difference and I wish I had sought out a derm decades ago.

          1. Try “rosacea triple cream” for many, many resources. It’s not exactly obscure.

        2. It’s a compounding pharmacy mix of metro gel, ivermectin, and azelaic acid.

    4. Rosacea can definitely flare. I’d start with a mask of sulfur cream, de la cruz, very cheap and available at all drugstores. Leave on for 15 minutes or so then wash with a very gentle cleanser (vanicream is great for this). I have to cut back on my makeup and apply everything with a sponge or fingers, brushes irritate my skin at this point. If you have one, or are open to buying one, my red light mask is amazing for both eczema and rosacea.

      1. Interesting, I just started using a red light mask this week, and I’m hoping it will help with my rosacea. How long did it take for you to see results? I’m using it every 3 days for 10 minutes.

        1. I use the CurrentBody one. I only realized it was helping after I had red wine at a family party (which normally causes a flare). I saw some very light flushing that evening vs. the bright red flush/red pimples along the tops of my cheekbones I usually get.

    5. Have you started taking any new supplements recently? Flushing is a common side effect of some.

  14. not to be a dead horse but i would definitely want to wear a cardigan over this dress in an office :)

    1. NOT TO BE A DEAD HORSE has me cracking up. I am sure it was a typo, but I am so tickled.

    2. I think the typo actually works better than the original phrase given you, the poster, would in fact be the subject of the beating :)

      3. I think the cardigan discussion has almost become something like the button-up shirt spam that showed up a few years ago.

    1. This color unfortunately doesn’t work well with my face, but if it did I would wear the heck out of this

    3. I also can’t wear tops in that particular shade of red, but I bought some flats in that color toward the end of last summer. They made me so happy and I am so excited to start wearing them again! I’d wear that jacket all the time if it worked with my complexion.

    5. Macy’s has a bunch of colors in a very similar style. Search for Women’s classic denim jacket.

  16. aw thank you that was me. unfortunately all of the tests were normal, but her cognitive tests were generally ok also. (MoCA was 23 out of 30, but geriatician said under different circumstances she might answer differently. For clock she drew a stopwatch.) Official diagnosis was clinical depression and beginning dementia. We’re still hoping to get her for more bloodwork, but in the meantime have hope that starting Zoloft will help, as well as stopping Timolol eye drops. (Iron was OK but iron saturation was low. They didn’t culture urine b/c microscope said there was nothing there.)

    1. Maybe consider B12 shots if iron saturation was low. Sometimes it’s a “can’t hurt, might help” kind of thing in beginning dementia (assuming kidneys are okay).

      1. Did they check ferritin, too? That can be low along with low saturation and cause symptoms before the actual iron number drops.

        1. There is currently no way to rule out B12 deficiency with blood work; it’s known to be possible with normal serum cobalamin, normal MMA, normal homocysteine, and normal red blood cells/counts, so it’s not recommended to go by bloodwork alone. But that means it’s hard to figure out when B12 shots are indicated. Some of the causes of B12 malabsorption also cause low iron saturation, so it’s sometimes a clue.

          2. Okay? I am grateful my family has been able to see doctors who go beyond the kind of inadequate recommendations and standards of care that would leave a lot of patients suffering needlessly.

          3. For context, a glibly undereducated provider did once discontinue my grandma’s treatment for “that’s not how we do things” reasons, and she relapsed just as bad as the first time (thankfully she recovered again too). But if this guy had been her original doctor, we never would have known she could have been treated at all. It’s dangerous to see doctors who don’t know what they don’t know. The idea is not to do worse than the standard of care and all the various guidelines out there; any doctor who isn’t doing better than the guidelines is failing a lot of patients and wasting their degree.

    2. I hope something does help some and am sorry you’re all going through this. I hope the geriatrician continues to be a good resource.

    3. 23 out of 30 is abnormal, but depression alone can cause this. I hope she will have follow up with a good geriatric psychiatrist to manage the depression. It is also great for most of us who live a long life to have a geriatrician as our PCP. Down the road once the depression improves, she should see a Neurologist who specializes in Memory disorders. These doctors can all be very booked up and hard to find, but as long as someone is working on the depression now you have a good start. But try to get a Neurology appointment in the books – even if it is 6 months or more away. Keep us posted.

  17. Any button down shirt recommendations for someone with a larger bust? I haven’t worn one for years because they wouldn’t fit somewhere or the other, but I feel like its worth a try. I own casual linen button downs, but I wear those unbuttoned as a layer, not as a shirt.

    1. Rochelle Behrens The Shirt has an extra button inside the placket the prevent bustal gappage. I have one and really like it. They sell them at Nordstrom and Tuckernuck, among other places.

      1. I’ve also been happy with the no-iron button front shirts from Chico’s-of-all-places.

    2. I recently got one from BR Factory that fits me well. I’m only a D-cup, though, so ymmv.

  18. I’m going to be in Buffalo tomorrow with my daughter. Anyone know if I can just show up at the Niagara Falls park to view it? Do I need to plan in advance for the Maid of the Mist boat? We’re driving in, will only have a few hours tomorrow afternoon (maybe 3-6pm) of free time.

    2. You can just show up to see the Falls. If you prefer art check out the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Falls is nice but….just that.

    3. Cave of the Winds is a great tour that has its own souvenirs – highly recommend it! I can’t remember if we bought tickets online for timed entry – lines move fast. If you are there near sunset, the golden light (and the rainbows in the mist) are fantastic.

    4. The Canadian side is MUCH nicer than the US side. In fact, I don’t think I ever viewed the falls from the US side, in spite of the fact our relatives all lived in Buffalo. So we’d go across the border just for the viewing.

  19. think some of the ‘rettes here are closer to my mom’s age so — what do I get my mom for a retirement gift?
    the party and celebration side is covered. Maybe relevant info – she had a ‘side hustle’ as a SAHM but primarily is a story of her going to back to fulltime work when my parents divorced and working very hard from entry level to a senior position. So I’m super proud of her getting to this spot of financial security. (and I know she’s very frugal and risk averse). She’s not really a person who likes or cares about designer labels. She liked her job fine but not something like a teacher or lawyer where it tends to define the person sometimes! Lives in a condo so no gardening but is very crafty, does yoga, is very health conscious. Thinking about planning a trip for us?

    1. If a trip doesn’t work out, maybe jewellery? It’s my favorite way to mark occasions. Perhaps something she couldn’t wear on the job, like a larger ring.

    2. Unless there’s a splurgey item that you know she’d particularly like but won’t buy for herself in retirement (jewelry may well fit this bill), a trip together is perfect. I’m not retired yet and my kids (both daughters) are in their early to mid 20’s, but time with them is already what I want the most.

    3. OMG if my kid planned a trip for the two of us I would be over the moon with delight!!

      1. Yes, I feel that this is the best gift.

        For my Mom, my brother and I flew in for her retirement party and surprised her. She was so thrilled.

      1. Or since she likes yoga, maybe she would appreciate a trip to Kripalu in the Berkshires.

    5. My local botanical garden always has crafty workshops, yoga in the garden and summer jazz bands in addition to their excellent cafe, gift shop and general garden walks. Maybe yours has something similar for a celebratory activity?

    6. A trip is the prefect gift! If you don’t already have a place in mind, you could be open ended with it. give her a gift certificate to redeem for a mother-daughter trip. Then, you guys could pick the destination and dates together.

    8. Can say with recent experience (retired Jan 1st) did not want my kid to buy me anything it; hubs and I planned a 30 day trip to Europe and the kids met us there the the second week,,,was fabulous to travel with them

  20. I appreciate that the hem is a little longer but otherwise this pick feels so dated to me! Like cut 4 inches off the bottom and this was everywhere in 2018. This feels like something in my closet I could still ‘make work’ but would never buy new now.

    1. I know what you mean, but I’d still put it in the “basics” category instead of a time/place category. I am always looking for a no frills sheath dress w some stretch. Don’t like this one at all, but I understand its appeal, generally.

      1. Same. But between the commenters who cling to old looks and the routine selection of dated looks and the recycled old posts, this is hardly a fashion space.

    4. this reminds me of something i would have bought at tj maxx 10 years ago for an unpaid summer internship when i was broke AF.
      that plastic scuba fabric is the worst :(

    5. i think someone here suggested what i am about to say because i think it may be true: so few people buy stuff like this anymore that the vendors who sell “work clothes” (calvin klein, jones) aren’t updating their silhouettes, they’re just rereleasing the same stuff. i had this dress in khacki 14 years ago. i bought it at lord and taylor and wore it with invanka trump pumps.

    6. Same, except that the skirt is also a bit fuller, which updates the look a bit. I have a colleague who has like three very basic colored fit and flare dresses from a decade ago that she wears on repeat, and she just never looks right. To be clear, I am not super fashionable, nor is my profession or the area where I live.

      1. Maybe she is just trying to look acceptable with minimal effort so she can focus on her work.

  21. Family drama time. My step-niece’s birthday is on Sunday apparently. I didn’t get an invite, though I usually do to her birthdays. I’m pretty sure the reason I’m not invited is that her dad and I work together in the family business (he’s my step-brother-in-law). We had a big conflict a few month’s ago because he blew up at me, and then tried to say that I blew up at him. When we had a conversation about it with our boss (my stepdad, his father in law), he tried to lie through his teeth about everything, and I wound up going off on him about how badly I think he treats people (he’s yelled and belittled and demeaned at lots of people before). We’ve worked together for two years prior and I’ve found him nothing but surly, angry, and passive aggressive, so the last incident had worn me thin.

    I am sure it was intentional that I’m not invited to the birthday. However, my mom assumed I was coming and says that my stepsister/brother-in-law are assuming I’m coming too. My mom has gone ahead and clicked the “invite others” button on the invite to invite me as well. Is it fair for me to assume that I’m of course not invited and that showing up would be a huge overstep?

    1. woof. How has it been at work since then? If this were a normal office you’d either have to get over it or one of you would have to leave, and gonna say it would be you given you are the less-closely-related employee.

      1. So I am actually the more closely related employee. Stepdad has known me since I was 6. He doesn’t care for BIL too much (BIL is not a good employee) and has said he’ll fire him if he can’t get along with me.

        1. I was going to say that being a step-daughter could mean you are more close than a son-in-law depending on the timing of each marriage, etc. I know many step-children who are very close with their step-parent, especially if the step-parent helped raise them.

    2. Man I’m so glad I don’t work at a family business anymore. I hated when the family put me in the middle of their drama. I accidentally even got the granddaughter fired once.

    3. You should go. I come from a family with a multigenerational family business and if there’s any chance of success at either the family or the business, you need to get along. Even if it’s faking it and playing pretend.

    4. I think I’d go, and take the opportunity to normalize relations with him.

    6. Will your niece appreciate that you’re there? I think you could assume you’re not invited, or you could go and act oblivious to the weird social dynamic, or you could go and try to get along for niece’s sake and mom’s and stepsister’s.

      2. Agree. I think the question is whether your niece would want you to come to her party

    7. huh whut? How old is the niece? If she’s younger than 20, you go. Celebrating niece is far more important than doing a guessing game with potentially abusive, definitely asshole dad.

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