house ad reads "OUR TOP TIPS FOR WINTER BUSINESS CASUAL"; background image shows a young professional woman wearing winter business casual and walking in a snowy city

Coffee Break – Misty Pump

Reader E wrote in to recommend this lovely purple pump, noting “I first got this one at Nordstrom Rack in the grey which has blue tones in the croc pattern. Really bridged the gap in my shoes from the too-staid, too-parochial navy pump and plain grey ones. Loved it so much, found the purple suede…

Coffee Break – Linda Crocodile Bag

Ha cha cha. I remember being incredulous the first time I saw the price tag on a Nancy Gonzalez bag at Bergdorf’s — yes, nice, but HOW many thousands of dollars did they want for it? But over the years I really have come to appreciate the structure, craftsmanship, and just flat-out beauty of these…

Coffee Break – Code Pumps

It fees like a good cordovan/burgundy pump can be impossible to find — but it’s a great basic color to have in your wardrobe because it’s one of the few colors that everyone agrees goes with navy. I like these 3″ pumps from Seychelles, which look like a classic anyway — sure enough Zappos has…

Coffee Break – Women Writers II Umbrella

Coffee Break – Women Writers II Umbrella

I can’t decide how I feel about this umbrella. On the one hand: hooray for lady writers! On the other hand: MUST the “delightful caricatures” make all the authors look so, well, fug? On the third hand (which I’m discovering one needs), perhaps it’s too schlocky anyway. Opinions? It’s $24 at Amazon. Women Writers II…