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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Ponte Knit V-Neck Sheath Dress

Ponte Sheath: Classiques Entier Ponte Knit V-Neck Sheath DressOur daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. I am always a fan of Classiques Entier dresses — the hem length is great, the material is substantial enough that it feels more luxe than the price, the details are interesting but professional — huzzah. This one looks like a simple, flattering V-neck with sleeves and some interesting seaming details on the front — and I love that it comes in this springy teal (pictured) as well as black, white, and navy. It's available in sizes 0-16, regular and petites, for $228. Classiques Entier Ponte Knit V-Neck Sheath Dress There are some great sales on other Classiques Entier dresses, including this one, this one, and this one. Two lower-priced alternatives to the pictured dress are here and here (in slightly brighter blues); here's a plus-size option (in five color options). Psst: don't forget today is Triple Points day at Nordstrom if you're a cardholder (actually, it runs through 3/26, so you have a few days) — great time to stock up on basics like these hose, this skirt, this cardigan, this cardigan, or this camisole. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-all)

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:

216 Comments

  1. Be warned, while Nordy’s neglects to show a picture of the back of this dress, it is equipped with a full-length, two-way exposed zipper. Ick. Cheapens the dress to a price point far, far below what they are asking. Cant imagine wearing this at my business formal-ish office.

      1. It opens at the top so you can zip yourself in, and at the bottom so you can unzip to your own preferred slit length!! (what some 22 year old designer probably thought, with the double exclamation excitement)

  2. Any advice on getting over burn out? About a month ago I finished a very stressful project, and while I’m not stressed any more, I can’t seem to find my groove again. I can’t seem to find the “point” any more. As a result, I feel like I’m not as productive, not as helpful to colleagues, and generally speaking not as pleasant to be around at work. I don’t want to leave my job (I would likely have to move across the country to get another thanks to my niche field), but I don’t want to go on like this either so I would love to find a way to get back to the way things were! I don’t like that one project made me rethink everything about a job that otherwise used to make me so happy.

    1. Vacation? Even a few days over a long weekend might help…especially if they were at a beach with me. ;)

      1. +1. Have you been able to take some me time since the project ended? Taking time off to de-stress definitely helps. Also, make sure that you’re continuing to take time for yourself to do things that relax you, whether its exercise, cooking or just hanging out with friends.

      2. I’ve been trying to guard my days for a long trip to South Africa I have planned for the fall, so I’d like to avoid taking days if possible :(

        1. Leave at 2PM one day. Go get a pedicure, turn off your cellphone, and read an US Weekly or People.

        2. Even if you’re guarding your vacation days, taking one day off will make you feel infinitely better. Sleep in, catch up on the DVR, go get a massage or pedicure. . .

    2. What about the project made it so stressful? Was it the magnitude of the work, office politics, coworkers who didn’t do their jobs well enough, or that it just did not seem worth all the effort you put into it?

      Are you one of those people who thrives under pressure, such that having steady day to day work actually drains you a bit? Or are you just running on empty?

      Are there other sources of stress in your life, or, even if other parts of your life aren’t bad, are they not good, either? (I find that my butt gets kicked pretty hard when one thing is bad and everything else is blah.)

    3. Just go to bed early (like 9:30). It works miracles to have enough sleep. It may take a couple days, but it is free and doesn’t involve commitment.

    4. Go to a restorative yoga class. It’s my new favorite thing. You basically go and lie down on a mat and they give you pillows and blankets and you just rest in a few different positions for an hour, doing nothing. It’s glorious. I was never able to meditate before taking these classes.

        2. The description maybe doesn’t do it justice, but a good restorative yoga class is amazing. They use a lot of props to achieve very specific specific positions to create release without effort. Not stuff you are going to stumble into rearranging the pillows on your bed.

      3. LOL–I guess you guys are much stronger in resisting temptation at home. I like having a dedicated place to relax and recharge.

        1. And I should also say, that some classes will do more or less with guiding you through breathing or progressive relaxation techniques.

        2. I’m with you on the restorative yoga! The instructor at my studio shows us how to position the blankets, bolsters, etc., in a way that gives you a deep stretch. It’s positions I never would have thought to do on my own floor. Plus it smells lovely, and it’s a beautiful space and I don’t have dogs trying to lick me while I relax.

          2. The cat is 100% convinced that if I’m lying on the floor I’m desperately trying to pet him.

        3. It sounds amazing to me – I would totally pay for an hour of silence in a place where I can’t do anything but rest.

          1. This would stress me out. I would feel like I’m not rest restoratively enough, or properly, or something.

          2. I could use an hour of down time, but not having to do it on a schedule, with someone telling me (even gently) what to do, etc.

        5. My old job had this (for free). It was amazing. I’m not sure I could bring myself to pay for it, but I also don’t think it would be the same at home.

    5. If you’re kind of dealing with work haphazardly, ignoring non-urgent stuff, feeling at a loss as to what to do with yourself, etc. — are you someone who responds well to a to-do list and crossing things off? Sometimes forcing yourself into one productive day can have a snowball effect.

      Also seconding Anon’s advice to get extra sleep.

    6. Can you attend a conference or training or some other kind of productive “downtime” to get you out of the day-to-day of your job for a stretch?

      Maybe just schedule a doctor’s appointment or dentist appointments midday and just shift the time around within the week (I get major SAD at the end if winter, so some midday errands in early spring to soak up sun would help with my particular kind of funk this time of year, YMMV)

    7. Well what were you missing out on during the project? Have you done all those things?

      It recently took me 2 weeks of what felt like constant errands after I finished a trial to get back into a routine. Once I had all my dry cleaning/dishes/dog food needs fulfilled I still felt stressed so I took a day off and did yoga and got a mani/pedi with no phone. But you could do the same on the weekend. I just also work weekends so it was nice to pretend I am just a rich person who doesn’t work for a day.

    8. Try 10 minutes a day of meditation (I liked “8 Minute Meditation” as a starter book and the Insight Timer app for nice start and end chimes). And leaving your building for lunch every day. Those two things do a great deal to remind me to work to live, not the other way around.

  3. I bought this dress (back zipper and all) in black and wore with a collarless black and white structured jacket for an interview last week. In talking to the recruiter, she said to go business professional, but not lawyer formal. I got the job, and plenty of compliments on my outfit!

      1. No link, unfortunately, as I’ve had it forever and no longer sold in stores. I believe it was called the textured parisian jacket – from banana republic – it’like colorblocks of tweed and its much more formal in person than it appears on google image search. One of my favorites!

  4. Are government jobs (US) pickier about meeting the required qualifications? I’m looking at a posting that wants two to four years of relevant experience and I have a little bit less than a year’s worth of experience. I know for private employers you don’t have to meet every qualification to apply, but I don’t know if government positions are different.

    1. Some hiring managers may be willing to be flexible but if you do not meet the minimum qualifications your resume/application package may not get pass the initial screening conducted by the agency’s personnel office. So the hiring manager won’t ever see it. Also the agency would need to waive the 2 year requirement universally, not just for you. The good news is that time spent in part time work and internships may sometime be given credit to meet the stated minimums.

    2. Yay Kat! I do love this dress, but the exposed zipper is an invitation for Frank to test it, and I do NOT want him unzippeing me in public. FOOEY!

      As for the OP, it depend’s. For LAWYER job’s, there is NO way that someone can get a job requiring 4 year’s of LEGAL experience, if that person has only 1 year of LEGAL experience, b/c you have to be SEASONED to be a lawyer in the goverment. I know that the lawyer’s I worked with over the summer were VERY seasoned, in fact they were grizzled with experence, so much so that they could not get out of the goverment into other private sector jobs b/c their salaries were to good for what they actually could do on the outside. FOOEY!

      Now if you are NOT an attorney at law, duly admitted, you may have a better chance to fake your experience, but NOT if you are an attorney, b/c they can check those things with the bar asociation. The bar asociation also monitor’s your CLE credit’s so you can NOT fake those either. DOUBEL FOOEY!

      1. And, even then it may depend on the agency. In my certain branch of Federal government, HR filters applicants first and we never get to consider anyone that doesn’t meet the min. qualifications.

          1. Good point. My comment was intended to apply to federal hiring, agency dependent as Shayla mentioned.

      2. Federal. Sounds like I will be filtered out – I may still apply because the job sounds great and I can just hope that this agency really needs to fill the position and doesn’t have a million applicants (I’m living in dream world with that one). Thanks for the help!

  5. I’m not usually a big nail polish wearer, but I’ve recently found it makes me look more polished since my nails tend to be short. I am also wearing a gel manicure from a wedding 2 weeks ago that will need to be removed very soon.

    I have a big interview for a new role on friday. What’s a good color to get as a replacement for this current color (bright red, also starting to chip). My interview outfit hasn’t *totally* been decided, but will be a black suit and a neutral shell. What’s a mainstream color that is typical this season?

    Interview is for a leadership role at a large health insurance plan in the northeast, if it matters.

    1. Nude nails are always in style and will look professional. I like an opaque netural.

      1. What are your favorite opaque neutrals? I have been on the hunt for an opaque baby pink for what seems like YEARS and have had no luck.

        1. For a gel manicure, OPI’s Don’t Burst My Bubble. For something more white-ish, with a little more pop, Funny Bunny.

        2. If I want truly opaque nails, I get a shellac manicure from a spa. I find regular nail polish just isn’t opaque enough.

          1. Regular polish that has a white base, which a opaque pink is very likely to have, is going to have streak issues IME. I don’t love them. I usually have to do at least three thin coats to get even coverage, so the shellac idea is a good one.

      2. What if you have extremely pale skin (and thus hands)? I have avoided that particular color because the notion seems off-putting to me (also I don’t wear nail polish often at all). And I mean like skeletally white hands.

    2. I still love opi’s bubble bath and dulce de leche, and essie’s ballet slippers, if you’re going neutral. I think a dark deep wine color on short nails could still be great- like an essie bahama mama. Good luck!

      1. OPI Dulce de Leche is my favorite opaque nude. I would definitely do a neutral for an interview.

    3. If you’re wearing a black suit and neutral shell, it sounds like it’s for a pretty conservative workplace. I’d go for a pale pink.

      1. it’s not even so much conservative as it is boring. In my industry (broadly speaking, of course there are exceptions) and region, women are not particularly sylish or on-trend, so people default to the basics. Black suit, sensibly comfortable flats or pumps, shirt, basic jewelry.

        My husband always gives me a hard time about how “boring” I dress, but then I sent him some photos of the conference room I was in, which was filled with 20 black suits (men and women), boring shoes (on all), leather satchels that have been carried for decades, and ponytails (on women). He finally got it. We’re just not cool.

        My standard dress is a bit bolder, but for the interview, as for meetings with large clients, it’s back to boring.

    4. I vote pale pink or some sort of nude. Stay away from anything bright, trendy, or dark for an interview. Like you, I feel that I look more polished with a nice manicure. Pale pink/nudes are far less likely to show chips in the event you hack at one before you get to your interview and they are neutral and non-offensive.

    6. I’d go light pink for the reasons others have mentioned. Nominating Essie’s Sugar Daddy, which although terribly named, is my personal favorite pale pink.

      1. Ditto a neutral beige or pink — I am also a fan of Essie’s Sugar Daddy and Mademoiselle!

  6. Has anyone registered their dog (or other pet) as an emotional support animal? What service did you use? Trying to figure out what is most legit.

    1. There is no service to register your dog. Those websites are scams and harm people with real disabilities .

      The only thing you need to have an emotional support animal is a verifiable disability and a letter prescribing an emotional support animal from a licensed physician.

      1. There was a bit of a to-do about this in my town recently when someone was asked to leave a Whole Foods and the article I read claimed that stores (and presumably other businesses) are allowed to ask only two questions – whether the animal is a service animal and what it is trained to do. I didn’t look this up to see if it was true, but it sounds different from the response above. Is there a difference between a service animal and an emotional support animal?

        Regardless, having to prove you have a disability (and therefore disclosing the nature of your disability) to any business owner seems a little burdensome and against what I have generally heard about the right to use a service dog. Is this really the case?

        1. Yes, there is a huge difference between emotional support animals and service dogs! Emotional support dogs are not required to have any training and are only allowed on planes or in apartments that otherwise would not allow dogs–service dogs go anywhere.

          By verifiable disability, that just means your doctor has prescribed you with an illness that would benefit from an emotional support animal, such as PTSD. You would show the airline or landlord the letter from the doctor, it would say something like “KT has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and has been prescribed the use of an emotional support animal”.

          For a service dog, YES, business owners are only allowed to ask 2 questions–if the dog is a service animal due to disability (the answer is either Yes or No, you are under no obligation to disclose your disability) and what tasks the dog is trained to perform (actual tasks. “comfort” or “carrying things” is not a task).

          A business can ask you to leave if the dog is disruptive (barking, jumping on people, etc…basically anything that makes it clear this dog is not truly trained).

          I do have a service animal who is a medical alert dog. I’ve never had a problem and have never been questioned by any business–but she’s a legit service dog.

        2. Yes, service animals are different than emotional support animals. Service animals are trained to do tasks that the individual cannot do (seeing eye dog, etc.). Emotional support dogs are not service animals under the ADA without the task training component.

          1. I apologize for not including the very important services that dogs such as KT’s provide!

        3. CountC-it’s amazing what dogs can do! Mine is a seizure alert dog, but my parents train diabetic alerts dogs who can alert their person when their blood sugar is crashing or spiking and remind them to take their insulin.

          1. It is amazing! We had a gentleman that was watching a dog-in-training last week and he brought him into the office as part of his training. I saw him on my lunch-time run. I internally squeeeeed to myself since I knew I couldn’t/shouldn’t pet/play with the dog.

          2. Wow! How does it do that – is there something that it can smell, or does it notice certain subtle behaviors? Dogs are neat.

          3. Lyssa–I honestly have no idea and it’s an area under study–people theorize the pre-seizure, we give off certain hormones or our sweat emits a different scent so they can recognize smell; others think they can “hear” a change in heartbeat.

            There’s current research using dogs to detect cancer. Small studies have shown some dogs have been reliably able to smell the difference between a sample with cancerous cells and a normal sample.

          4. I had a termite-sniffing dog at my house once. I’m glad my nose isn’t that good. I do not want to know what the doggie (beagle-ish) thought of me.

            I’m sure they know who is on the rag and who isn’t.

          5. KT and Lyssa — I have a dog that is currently involved in one of the cancer studies. It’s just amazing. She can absolutely smell the difference between the samples with cancer and those without it. She goes to the lab a few times a week, and I try to go watch her as much as I can because it’s all just so fascinating. She does samples now, but when they were training her how to signal and use the equipment and all that, she was doing it with treats and they eventually got her signalling for a (literally) microscopic piece of a treat. The folks at the lab have told us that certain dogs are more reliable than lab tests.

          6. That’s so cool! It’s so fascinating. It’s amazing that no matter how many advances we make in science, animals keep surprising us :)

            Dogs-signaling the presence of disease is a really interesting line of study. Some preliminary studies have shown that reliable dogs can detect cancer before cells would even be recognized in a biopsy.

          7. Very interesting! I recall reading about the cancer thing a few years back, and always wondered what had happened to it. Imagine a world where instead of a mammogram, you’d get to just go visit a dog instead. It’s amazing that they can train the dog to be aware of the blood sugar issue without even understanding how the dog does it.

          8. If puppies were involved in my treatments, I’d got o the doctor much more often without as much grumbling :)

      2. This makes me so angry (one of my friends brings her chihuahua as a “support animal” on planes to avoid he dog fee). Also, fun fact: there’s no such thing as an ADA recognized assistance animal other than a dog and in very rare cases mini ponies, so if you ever see a “support cat” etc. know that it’s not protected.

        2. I hate this too! Someone tried to bring a dog into my brother’s ice cream store. It was clearly not a service dog, so he politely told her that per the health department, no dogs allowed. She insisted the dog was for emotional support. He honestly responded “isn’t that what all dogs are for?” I had to laugh. This from a 30 year old man who dotes on his mini daschound like she’s a child.

      3. KT: this is true for airplanes, but hotels require a “certification” separate from the therapist letter (which I already have). I am not doing this to game the system, whenever possible I stay in pet-friendly hotels and pay a pet fee, but I want a certification in case I’m in an emergency situation where I can’t find a pet-friendly hotel. I know an ESA is not a “service dog” and would never in a million years bring him in a grocery store or something like that!

        1. Emotional Support Animals are not granted exemptions for hotel stays, just airlines and apartments. You’ll need to pay the pet fee and look for a pet-friendly resort. Only service dogs are granted hotel-accommodation exemptions.

          1. Hotels definitely do not have to allow them, but my understanding is that many do. I would ask permission in advance and explain that the dog is an ESA (not a service dog).

          2. Right-you can ask permission all you want, but it’s no different than anyone who wants to bring a pet in. Emotional support animals are in no way covered under the ADA and hotels do not have to allow them or waive the fee.

            Providing false certification that doesn’t really exist IS gaming the system

          3. Lots of hotels allow emotional support animals. They don’t have to allow ESAs like they do service dogs. But many hotels that don’t allow pet dogs do allow ESAs. I have (with permission and documentation) brought my ESA to lots of hotels that do not permit pets.

          4. Absolutely! You can ask permission and bring your doctor’s documentation and if that works, great. But looking for some shady certification to download isn’t handling things in a legit manner. If the hotels won’t accept an ESA based on a doctor’s letter, that’s the end of it.

        2. Sorry to be harsh, but in my mind this is gaming the system. You don’t need the dog for any service, emotional or otherwise. You simply want to bring it to places where dogs aren’t allowed.

          5. You need better therapy – one that will help you move past this ridiculous emotional crutch. Your poor dog.

            I support service animals 100%. Any time, any where.

            I do not support people who lack grit and use defenseless animals to make up for it.

          6. AKB, I can live with being told I’m hurting people who have “real” problems, but I can’t live with being told I’m hurting my dog. My dog loves going on planes with me and I would absolutely not do it if I thought travel made her even the slightest bit sad or stressed or anxious. You don’t know her and in fact she has extreme separation anxiety to the point that we take her with us on road trips where it would be much cheaper and easier to board her (pet-friendly hotels are not cheap!), because we don’t want her to suffer. I’m not abusing my animal in any way and $crew you for saying so.

          7. So are you dragging the dog around for your well-being or the dogs’s? Again, sorry to be harsh but it’s starting to sound like you’d just prefer to bring your pet everywhere. It’s easy to understand how trying to frame this as a quasi-medical need would frustrate those who truly need a service animal.

          8. If your dog has severe separation anxiety, it has no place as an emotional support animal and certainly shouldn’t be presented with paperwork anywhere. You’re abusing the system.

            And plane travel is hard on any dog, even trained service dogs. The noise, small quarters, air pressure is really hard on them. Taking them unnecessarily because it’s easier for you is just not cool.

          9. If you replaced with , I would have the same reaction. It’s mean and selfish.

            Flying is stressful.

        3. You need him for the airplane, not the hotel. Stay in a pet-friendly hotel and stop trying to get false documents.

    2. Also, just…don’t. I feel like this blurs the line between legitimate service animals and people who just “can’t be away from their pets.” Which, by the way, turns into a self-perpetuating cycle where the animals have separation anxiety.

      I’m looking at you, person who put a vest on an English bulldog and expected me to believe that an animal that can barely breathe on its own is some kind of “service animal,” just so he can wheeze his way through a 8 hour flight next to me in the bulkhead.

      I like animals, grew up with pets, and hate this new tendency to feel entitled to bring your pets everywhere. Dogs don’t belong in grocery stores or department stores. Take them to a park or somewhere actually dog friendly.

      1. Well, there’s a big difference between service dogs and emotional support animals. Emotional support dogs don’t need to have any specialized training, they simply provide comfort and security, for instance, for those with extreme anxiety. I can see taking a dog on a plane if flying scares the heck out of you and hugging your dog soothes you.

        ESAs are only allowed on planes and in apartments with no-pet policies; they can’t be taken into grocery stores or other public areas.

        I on the other hand have a service dog and would be lost without her!

        1. I have wanted to raise a guide dog since my brownie troop went on a field trip to an institute for the blind (The Seeing Eye). In my hands, I wouldn’t be exempt (so I can’t participate), but I would love to.

          Maybe that would making toughing it out in BigLaw worth it — eventually working from home AND being able to bring my trainee dog to work with me on occassion b/c I’m the Ultra Boss.

          My sister’s friend had a dog that didn’t pass some tests to get placed as a service dog and we all loved that dog so much.

          1. You may want to check out your county’s ordinances and your company’s policies-many make exemptions for people who are training guide dogs.

            My parents do train service dogs (but unfortunately not for what I needed a service dog for!); my dad does IT for a big Fortune 500 company and he brings pups in training with him to work and has done so for 20 years :)

          2. KT – if I was your dad’s coworker, I would be simultaneously so happy that the company lets him bring the dogs, so thankful to him for training dogs, and constantly having to tell myself NO you can’t pet the puppy NO you can’t pet the puppy :)

          3. I think I’d need a bit more seniority (and for my children to be old enough to seriously help with this), but I will do some looking. I’m lucky to live in a city with a light rail, buses that go by our house, and sidewalks, so it would probably be perfect for training a city-type dog.

            I’ve seriously always wanted to do this and thought it would be my retirement job but maybe I can do it sooner.

          4. ^HA the no-pet-the-puppy is the most brutal. Visiting my dad when he would have 3 or 4 10-week old puppies at once was torture. I wanted to scoop them up and coo at them which is forbidden, boo!

          5. I think when they are puppies being raised by families, they are primarily family pets but need a lot of exposure to the world (elevators, walking daily on sidewalks, etc.). I’m not sure if this stage gets special accommodation (at least at first — they are just puppies when this starts out).

            When they leave to get screened and formal training, those people put vests on them as guide dogs in training and then you can’t pet them b/c they are working / learning to sit on the metro / learning to sit in an office while waiting on their person.

            I think there are two stages (maybe more). But yes, OMG puppies!

          6. ex-brownie: I can’t speak for all, but I know for service dogs my family trains, their training starts soon after birth, even before their eyes open. They’ll be taught to smell for triggers, follow your fingers etc. When they hit 8-12 weeks, they can’t be treated like normal pups. No picking up, for instance (WHICH KILLS ME! These puppy were made to be sshmoosed!) since that can cause some pups to learn to jump up on people. They start task training early on (pups at 12-14 weeks are usually taught to open the fridge, turn on/off lights, etc). Intensive obedience, etc.

            They often don’t get screened until 1-2 years of age; the “teenage years” is when the prey instinct kicks in for some dogs, so some will be eliminated from the program because they get distracted by birds or cats, which would keep them from doing their job 100% reliably.

        2. So this has been an interesting discussion for me. I hadn’t realized there were specific distinctions between service animals and ESAs. Your example of anxiety while flying makes sense, but then I start thinking about people for whom dogs cause severe anxiety and wonder whether the airlines are then required to re-seat them so they don’t have to sit next to the dog. Is there a reason that anti-anxiety medication would not work just as well for this purpose? I’m really not trying to stir the pot, just genuinely curious.

          1. It’s certainly a dilemma! I haven’t had it happen to me, but I know people with service animals who ran into issues because people on their flights were severely allergic to dogs. One disability doesn’t trump the other, so it was a nightmare for the airline. They ended up offering both parties flight vouchers and incentives to encourage one of them to switch. If they had had multiple people, I have no idea what they would have done.

            I have had issues where people in the workplace have been allergic to my service dog. The ADA requires workplaces to accommodate all disabilities, so my coworker was on the second floor and I was on the first floor and we used separate entrances and stairwells. if her sensitivity to pet dander hadn’t been helped by that, we would have had to work out an alternating work-from-home schedule so I could do my job with having a seizure and she could do hers and still breathe.

            As to anti-anxiety medication versus dog, it really is up to the unique situation and doctor. If a patient only has anxiety about flying for instance, anxiety meds likely wouldn’t work because they can take up to 6 weeks to work fully. A ESA would be a better solution for a short-term event.

          2. Great point. I also forgot about this.

            When people bring dogs on the plane, are they actually visible in the general seating area? On the floor near the passenger? On their lap?

            I have a friend who has a terrible phobia of dogs. She has to cross the street and get off it if she sees a dog. Locking a person with a dog phobia, on a plane, in the sky, with a dog is quite cruel. It’s forced implosion therapy….

            While I don’t have a phobia of dogs, I am very allergic and have been bitten multiple times as a child, as pets were not as carefully monitored when I grew up and I lived on a block where families routinely left their dogs out in the backyard all day while they were at work. And dogs learn to jump….

          3. Pet dogs have to stay in a carrier under the seat. A nice flight attendant will let them pop their heads out but they absolutely cannot be on a person’s lap. I travel with my dog a lot and normally put a blanket over her carrier (mostly for her but I assume it soothes those with phobias as well). I have also seen someone be re-seated because they are scared of dogs.

            Allergies are tough. I had terrible allergies to cats as a kid to the point that my parents would call the airline the day before the flight and ask if there was a cat on the flight and if there was they would cancel/rebook. I really think airlines should designate all flights as “pets” or “no pets” and at least 50% of flight should not allow pets (and I loooove traveling with my dog).

          4. Fears-it depends on the dog; for mine, since she’s fairly large (about 40 lbs), we always sit in the bulkhead and I purchase her a seat just so we have extra leg space. She lays on the floor in front of her seat and mine throughout the flight.

            For smaller dogs (particularly ESAs) they are usually on the person’s lap.

            In the case of phobias, yes, your friend would be subjected to a service dog on the flight, unless her phobia had been determined by a doctor to reach the point of disability. Then it comes down to the ADA covering two disabilities and the airline trying to work out a solution, either by sitting people at the opposite ends of the plane or offering incentives to switch flights.

          5. I’m not sure about ESAs and service dogs, the rules may be different for them, but officially pet dogs MUST travel in a carrier that is stowed under the seat in front of the passenger and the carrier must be fully zipped up. Some flight attendants (especially in first class) look the other way at people who unzip the carrier or even put the dog on their lap, but I guarantee you that the second someone with a phobia complains, the dog will be in the carrier, the carrier will be zipped up and stowed under the seat because that is the official rule about how the dog must be transported. They’re not going to let someone break the rules when another passenger is unhappy about it (and of course some flight attendants don’t let you break the rules even when the passengers around you are positively thrilled about getting to pet a dog).

          6. most service dog breeds may not fit under a seat

            i am sure they dont get flown as cargo

          7. I don’t think that the pet (small, non-trained) rules apply to service (larger, trained) dogs. Some German Shepherd dogs are guide dogs — do you really think they fit under a seat?

            IIRC, the underseat-pet has to be able to turn around comfortably in the carrier. There is no way that is true for a 40+ pound dog in an underseat carrier.

            [FWIW, if the pet, including a companion / anxiety pet, has to be under the seat in a carrier, why not just bring a carrier with some sort of animatronic “dog” in it? The Tamagotchi are almost perfect for this.]

          8. Correct, I’m sure the under-the-seat rule doesn’t apply to golden retrievers or German shepherds who are true service dogs. But that’s a very old issue and isn’t unique to airplanes since seeing eye dogs go everywhere their people do.

      2. Also, just to add one additional comment: Real service animals are carefully and intensively trained. It’s already an uphill battle getting random people to respect that and understand that these animals are doing a job and shouldn’t be petted, disturbed, etc. If you put a vest on an untrained animal just because you want to be able to bring your muffin to work, then that further undermines all the work that people have to do to get the ignorant public to understand how to treat an actual service animal.

        Rant over.

        1. Yes please. My dog went through rigorous training and cost a fortune. Seeing people slap on a $20 vest they ordered online on an untrained pup makes it that much harder for me.

          People now think you have to have a vest and ID on your dog to be a true service dog–which is not the case. The ADA doess’t require a vest or any ID at all, but because people think they can sneak their dog anywhere, they order this stuff from shady sites and their non-house broken dog who barks and pulls and growls runs around, then their dogs are terrible, then people distrust all service dogs.

          1. KT, between this and your personal finance comments, I’m ready to vote you for R-e-t-t-e- of the Year!

    3. I guess I should have anticipated the judgment. I am not bringing him to work or to grocery stores or restaurants or anywhere pet dogs are not allowed. He’s small enough to fly with me as a pet (and has before) but I want to be able to hold him on my lap during the flight to ease my anxiety, and when he was flying as a pet I was told I could not do this. As I said above in response to KT, I endeavor to find pet-friendly hotels at our destination (and pay pet fees if necessary) but I want the option to stay in a greater variety of places in case we’re stranded by the airline in a destination with no nearby pet-friendly hotels. I know he is not a service dog and I never identify him as such. He doesn’t wear a vest or anything like that. I’m just looking to get some paperwork identifying him as an ESA that I can show hotels and airlines if necessary. I have a therapist letter but apparently some hotels want a “certification” as well.

          1. It’s also false. Hotels don’t have to grant access to emotional support animals, but many do.

      2. And while I understand where you’re coming from, getting a false certification only makes it harder for people with service animals, because then hotels/airlines/etc expect the same phoney paperwork when no such paperwork is required nor is it sanctioned by the ADA.

        1. I don’t see how it’s a false certification. I’m under the care of a therapist and am doing this for mental health reasons — not because I want to avoid fees. I understand hotels do not HAVE to allow ESAs, and I would never tell them otherwise or threaten them with a lawsuit if they say no to my ESA, but my understanding is that many hotels that don’t allow pet dogs will allow ESAs if you ask politely in advance and can provide paperwork showing the dog is an ESA. I don’t see how I’m harming people with service dogs unless I’m trying to pass my ESA off as a service dog, which I’m not doing.

          1. Because there is NO certification. It doesn’t exist. Or I should say, it does exist, by shady false companies who sell made-up paperwork to people who want to pass of their dogs as ESAs or service animals.

            The only paperwork required by the ADA for an ESA is a letter from the doctor that states a verifiable disability and prescription for an ESA. That’s it. Any certification you get online is completely fake. Using those documents makes people staffing hotels and such think that such paperwork is the norm and will ask legitimate people with service animals for it…but since it’s false and isn’t required, legitimate people won’t have it. That’s how you harm them.

  7. Sometimes I buy 5-6 items online and nothing works so I go in to the physical store to make the return. Yesterday, I was making a return at Ann Taylor and the cashier made a big deal about me returning my entire order (5 shirts) and suggested that next time I shop in-store instead of online. She went on to say that they (Ann Taylor, I guess) would prefer that customers shop in-store instead of online.

    Huh? Really? I thought they would like to take my money any way possible.

    1. She means she would rather take credit/commission for your purchases rather than the individual store appearing as though it’s in the red, so to speak. Ignore her – these companies should be catering to you, not the other way around.

    2. I’ve had that happen too at Macy’s. I had an evening event and needed a cocktail dress; the store near me has a microscopic plus-size section and no evening-appropriate dresses, so I ordered 4 or 5 online to try on. None of them worked, so I returned them and they made a big fuss about em returning the whole order and told me I would be flagged from being able to return stuff in the future.

      I thought it was just one cashier having a bad day, but maybe it’s more common than I thought?

      1. I returned a North Face jacket I bought online to Macy’s (It was gigantically puffy) and they also were NOT pleased. I really dislike Macy’s and their dirty stores and horrid customer service.

      2. I had the opposite experience with Macy’s where I bought a fancy dress in the winter and returned it in the spring (so, definitely now out of season and no longer on the floor) and they were very happy to return it. I actually left thinking, Macy’s return service is so great!

    3. Back in the day when I worked retail at Victoria’s Secret, the brick-and-mortar and online business units were separate, which leads me to believe that they operated under different accounting systems. At that time, you could not return online merch to the store. If you are able to return online purchases to a store, I am not sure the same type of segregation exists in the accounting systems, but who knows. Either way, that was not a particularly customer friendly way to pass along that message!

    4. Pssssh. I’d have struggled to refrain from rolling my eyes. As if Ann Taylor hasn’t helped lead the charge into the wasteland of 40% off online “sales” every day.

      I’d prefer if stores made clothing in consistent sizing and if a small was actually small. But alas, this is not the world we live in.

    5. That’s just rude. I shop online all the time and frequently return most of my order. I’ve never had them say anything.

    6. I’ve had that happen at AT, too. And on top of that, a comment insinuating that I’d bought the clothes to wear to a job interview and was returning them after wearing. Leaving aside that it was a totally ridiculous assumption because the outfits were in no way appropriate for an interview, it left such a bad taste in my mouth, I haven’t shopped there since.

    7. I had Loft once reject my return because I made too many returns in a 90 day window (5, I think?). At the time (3 years ago) there was no policy anywhere (not online, in store or on back of receipt) that said they would limit number of returns within a 90 day period. I went to the BBB to get my return processed and made a huge stink of it, but was successful. Now that policy is everywhere – I have to think that I wasn’t the only person that ran into this and can’t imagine that it was me, alone, that caused the change. The reason they could track my returns was that they scanned (and still do) your drivers license when you make returns. Although, I found/still find that Loft scans them somewhat randomly (if sales person was in a rush, they’d skip the scan). Ann Taylor almost never scanned it. These are the only two stores that I’ve ever seen scan a license for a return. It was when they scanned my license that the return was rejected – they never got to the point of actually scanning individual items or my sales receipt because I was rejected at the scan (first step in the return process).

      I do 99% of my shopping online, so I’m right there with you. Between unreliable sizing, “fast fashion”, my schedule, my changing body size and their fluctuating sales, no, I’m not shopping in their stores. I will wait until I see something I like on sale, online.

      1. Huh, I used to work at AT and Loft (about a decade ago) and the only time licenses were scanned was for returns without receipt.

        Otherwise, a receipt was fine. And we had tons of returns but never limited people. We did have some truely whacky clients who would buy 10+ shopping bags worth of stuff in-store, only to return them piece by piece for years! That was before AT had the 90 day window. They never looked work so we just assumed the people were compulsive shoppers/hoarders!

        1. I’ve shopped at Loft for years and the license scanning started maybe 1-2 years before my incident. I never knew why they asked for it, and seemingly randomly since the scanning policy evidently was never consistently enforced. During my BBB challenge they (Loft) explained in their written statement/response to me that the practice was for <>… “merch control”? I mean, if I STRETCH, I suppose I get it – maybe people buy things and return them with tags on the regular because they’re wearing the dress out Saturday night and returning with tags on on Sunday every week, so they’re trying to track patterns… and maybe the license is the commonality between online and store purchases/returns…? Who friggin knows, but it’s so entirely ridiculous given all the other factors I mentioned. It probably took me 120 days to get about $150 returned to me.

    9. And if they carried size 16s in store, I probably would; but they don’t, so eff them.

      1. 16P. I’ve gotten a bit of side eye returning suiting items purchased online to an AT store. Because, you know, I should have shopped in the actual store and made a work wardrobe out of the 3 pieces in my size. The last time it happened, I said something. Their attitude did not improve.

    10. I will say that JCrew is awesome about this — I shop pretty much exclusively online and return the rejects to my local store, as the store often has a lesser selection of merchandise — and I’ve never been given any attitude.

      Brooks Brothers gets my vote for worst place to return items — they act like it’s your fault the garment didn’t look as good on you as it did online. Sorry not sorry, refund to my credit card please.

      1. Maybe tied with Anthro as the worst ever.

        I agree about J. Crew, and Banana is also good about it.

        1. Ugh – I hate the way Anthropologie makes you stand there and wait while they hand write a new sales tag for every item. It’s like they are trying to make it such a frustrating experience you won’t bother returning things!

      2. Oh, I had a wonderful experience at Brooks Brothers (and Macy’s)! Not so much with Ann Taylor.

        Actually, my overall experience shopping in Ann Taylor stores has not been great. Is too much to ask to be greeted. I didn’t realize how much pleasantries affect my shopping experience until I felt so neglected at AT

    11. ……Well then they should carry the full range of sizes in store, which they totally don’t.

      But yeah, that’s weird and she sounds like a terrible cashier.

      1. Pretty much every time I make a return at Gap I mention how annoying it is that they don’t stock Tall in store (or much over a US10 in my local branch, ugh), so they know I’m not choosing to do the buy-loads-online thing.

        1. I actually just returned some tall items that I bought online and they were tremendously rude about it.

          I usually have extreme sympathy to service workers and extend them a lot of latitude but this was really a bit much.

        2. Seriously, why don’t stores carry tall in store? I hate paying shipping just to find dresses that fit.

          1. Luckily in the UK they do free shipping on orders over £50. Which just ensures that I will *always* have to make returns since I add things to the order to make it up to £50.

    12. Of course they want you to buy at the store. The online sales are much, much better. the last two days, AT online had a flash sale of 60% off sale, while in store it was only 40% off. Some things were final sale online, so I ran over at lunch to try them on in the store. The items didn’t fit as expected, but if they had, I would have ordered online once back in the office. Last year I got two new suits for $45 each by playing this game and opening a credit card. I asked about it in store once and the manager said they can move inventory at 40% in store more easily and don’t have to go to the 60% often. It’s annoying to have to do it this way (I’m sure for them too) but I see no reason to pay more for the same clothes. And never, never, never buy anything at Loft or AT at full price.

    13. That is so annoying! I always buy enough online to get free shipping and I buy multiple sizes. Ann Taylor has tons of “online only” merchandise so you actually cannot buy it in the store (but you can return it there). Also, I’d venture to say that when I go shopping at the mall, they carry my size maybe 5% of the time. It’s simply not worth making a trip out with those kinds of odds. Luckily, Ann Taylor and Loft have never given me grief about it.

    14. This makes me so mad. Personally, I haven’t had the experience, since I tend to do my returns through the mail. But if I did it in a store and someone gave me that kind of attitude, I *hope* I would ask for their name and tell them that I was going to be contacting the company about their poor customer service being the reason I will no longer purchase from that company – online or in the store. I’ll take my money elsewhere!

    15. Sooooo they don’t want the business of women with small children? Because when I hit the mall at 10:00am sharp to do my returns (because 10:00am is like practically evening in babyland), the entire line at every store is women with strollers doing returns.

      1. So true. I have 2 little kids and a job with long hours. I shop online and return stuff that doesn’t work. That’s one thing I love about banana republic; they include a free shipping return label. Fabulous. If I don’t like it I chuck it back in the bag and into the mailbox it goes! Same with Next UK.

    16. Yeah, apparently Ann Taylor has completely different accounting/tracking systems for online and in store purchases, so it’s a little complicated and annoying for the sales associates to do online returns. The business as a whole also doesn’t recognize the efforts of in store personnel in handling returns or the added cost of shipping when it measures store performance, so a store that gets hit with lots of online returns is effectively penalized vis a vis a store that doesn’t. I can see how that would translate to an individual store manager not prioritizing having sales associates who are polite about the return process. It doesn’t excuse your sales associate at all, but it’s totally ridiculous and makes me much less likely to buy from AT.

      1. Interesting to drill it down to this fundamental problem of how does a company/location value the time of the personnel, when we see it as valuing customer time.

        Thanks.

    17. I got lip one time about returning online purchases to the Limited. Not major, but I pointed out that a) they didn’t carry talls in any of the stores within about a hundred miles, and b) the return-by-mail option refused to print a shipping label when I tried 3 different browsers on 2 different computers. That shut them up.

    18. Well that’s silly. Why would I go all the way to the store to try something on, go home, then order it online and pay the shipping charges?

      I often feel guilty for returning stuff I bought online, I’d rather return stuff by mail but that’s not always an option. I once got an attitude for returning a barely used hand soap from Bath and Body Works because I didn’t like the smell. I was being perfectly polite and the return policy totally allowed for me to return it, but she got cranky.

  8. I’ll be leaving my job for grad school this summer and I’m also entering a slow period at work right now (still expected to bill 8 hours a day, but there isn’t really enough there). Any tips for staying motivated? I plan to spend some time learning skills that will be useful in grad school (including a statistical program that is relevant to my job here as well), but any other ideas? I’m already getting so bored and my upcoming performance review is the only thing keeping me motivated at all.

    1. I had a friend who ended up doing a lot of business development (the behind the scenes stuff of actually writing bids/proposal, not pitching them to clients) her last few months before graduate school. In my industry they tend to be intense quick-turnaround deadlines, ymmv.
      Are there any conferences or publications where people have written the outline/abstract/whatever but actually getting the paper/presentations done is a low priority for them?

    2. At this point, you are working for you – for the benefit of having managers and co workers who will go to bat for you years from now. It says a lot about a person if she works hard even when she is leaving, and you would be surprised how, even ten years from now, it might be helpful to have people at your company say good things about you or give you job leads.

  9. Does Rogaine for Women actually work? Any success stories? Or is it easier to just get extensions?

    My friends and family swear that my hair thinning is not obvious (it’s not like you can see my scalp or anything), but I notice it and it depresses me. I notice thinner hair at the hairline and crown/top of head. The back of my head seems the same. I used to have thick hair, and now it’s limp and stringy. I’m embarrassed by how much this bothers me and affects how feminine and attractive I feel.

    Any advice?

    1. I use the men’s Rogaine. That’s what my dermatologist recommended and I’ve never used the women’s. It really does work – I grow a lot more new hair. The only problems are 1) if you get pregnant (and this is apparently not right away and only if you have a girl?), and 2) if you stop using it, you will stop getting the new hair. I use it twice a day, as recommended, but I generally shower twice a day when I go to the gym, so it’s not an issue. When I first tried it, I feared that you could tell it was there, that my hair looked different, but I guess my scalp and hair got used to it because it’s now fine. You do have to be careful to wash your hands after putting it in. I still use the liquid with a dropper, so I haven’t tried the foam.

    2. Any chance it is traction alopecia? Do you always part your hair the same way or wear tight hairstyles? Extensions may weigh down your hair and make it worse. Can you do a lighter/layered/shorter haircut and alternate your part each time you get it cut?

    3. I developed alopecia that started as general thinning, then came out in patches.

      I strongly recommend against extensions–the weight is too much for the thinning hair and will put it out faster.

      I wear wigs some of the time. When i can’t be bothered, I use Toppik, which is sprinkle on fibers. It clings to the hair I do have and makes it look 10x thicker. It doesn’t come off on my hands and stays put until I wash it.

      Additionally, visit a doctor and/or dermatologist. Sometimes thinning hair can be do to vitamin deficiencies, low blood levels, etc and can be a signal something else is going on. Or it could be something harmless. In some cases, your doctor may recommend injections to stimulate growth at the scalp. It works for some, but not for me.

    4. I lost a lot of hair last year because of stress and probably also perimenopause. (I got checked for vitamin deficiencies, thyroid, etc., and those weren’t the cause.) I’ve been using Rogaine for Women for about three months now, twice a day as directed. I believe that it’s helping. I seem to be growing hair again –there are lots of short “baby hairs” at the crown of my head, which is where the problem was.

    5. I noticed a lot of my hair shedding in the past year. I recently went to a dermatologist about it. She looked at my blood work, and said it might be from my low-ish iron levels. I have been taking an iron supplement, and I have seen less shedding.

    6. USE IT!! I started in january and it’s filled these awful thin patches and almost holes on my head….seriously, its amazing.

  10. Hi ladies, any recommendations for a white blazer to wear to my business casual office? I’d like it to be a “working horse” type of piece that I wear with dresses, skirts, even casually on the weekends. Thanks for any suggestions. Willing to pay up to $300.

    1. I’ve only seen it online, but I’m drooling over the white Cartonnier blazer at Anthropologie right now!

      1. I don’t have that particular one, but I have a white Cartonnier blazer from Anthro from years ago and it is my one of my top workhorse blazers. I love it so much I was even thinking of buying that current one hoping I’d love it even half as much.

    3. If you’re still checking this, I have a collarless one I love that’s made by Topshop. I bought it at Nordstrom.

    4. I really like the look of a white blazer but I know the collar and cuffs are going to become filthy very quickly. How do those of you who wear them keep them looking clean?

  11. I went to an event last night where I stood/walked for about 2-3 hours in 1.5 inch heels, and they were killing me by the end of the night. I have a hard and fast rule of no heels over 2 inches, and only on days when I’m not really going to stand/walk much because I find them really uncomfortable/painful. I have tried different types of heels too and I generally feel the same way about all of them, even those that others deem to be really comfortable.

    Is there just a learning curve/adjustment period that all women go through with heels, or are some people just really comfortable in them from the beginning?

    1. Everyone is different, and every shoe is different. I’m generally more comfortable in heels than in flats, because my high arches are better supported. For an event where I’ll be standing, I make sure that 1) my shoes have a stable heel which distributes my weight evenly, and 2) that the padding under the ball of my foot is cushy. But if you’re always uncomfortable in heels, they may not be for you.

    2. I find that smaller heels (1.5-2.5 inches) are the least comfortable – your feet aren’t in a neutral position like with a flat, but not in a true high heels position either. For me, kitten heels are the absolute worst. Ironically, you might be better off in a quality, supportive 2.5-3 inch heel (perhaps a wedge) than in what you are currently wearing.

    3. I think there is definitely a “learning curve” – I had a job for a few years where I wore heels Monday-Thursday every day, and typically wore 2-3 inch heels all day without batting an eye. Then I switched jobs to somewhere less formal, and now I mostly wear flats. On the occasions where I do have to wear heels all day long, I find I get sore much quicker, even though they are often the exact same shoes I used to wear!

      My most comfortable heels are Cole Haan Chelsea pumps – a moderate heel that is balanced by a subtle platform in the front and has the Nike Air sole.

      And +1 to the wedge suggestion, they are typically more supportive and comfortable.

    4. When I was younger, I could wear 4 inch heels all day no problem. As I got older, my tolerance for heels went down. A night in heels would leave me with aching knees the next morning :(

    5. Some people are naturally more comfortable in heels, if they have higher arches or shorter Achilles’ tendons or what have you. But even if you are not naturally comfortable in heels you can get used to it. I think wearing them for shorter periods helps your feet and ankles build up the necessary muscles, and you get more used to maintaining your balance while standing and walking. I’ve found that personally 2.5″ -3″ heels are more comfortable for me than lower kitten heels, and I always think wedges will be more comfortable but then they are not… I think maybe because they are less flexible? Anyway, wedges usually end up cutting up my feet.

    6. At 30 I have given up on heels and accepted that I will never under any circumstances, no matter what brand, find them comfortable. They are just not compatible with my feet. My inner feminist also likes to rage against the shoe injustices of the world (why are women expected to wear torture devices on their feet while men aren’t??).

      1. I used to be able to wear 3″-4″ heels with no problem. But since developing lower back issues, I only wear them if I won’t be standing much. Otherwise it’s 1-5-2″kittens or flats for me

  12. I know there are a couple runners on this site, please help! Is itpossible to do a 5k with only a couple weeks notice? For context, I elliptical regularly for an hour 4x a week and I lift weights so not quite couch to 5k, but I don’t have a running background. The event is just a fun run, not competitive, and a short distance at that so I don’t need to turn into a superstar overnight. Any beginner running tips or resources so I can train up a little?

    2. Yes! The absolute key is PACE. You will feel so tempted to run at pace with the people around you. Only with race practice was I able to over come this, but absolutely you should try the 5k. Worst case, you run/walk every 5 mins and you’ll still finish in a reasonable amount of time. Also, lots of people end up walking these 5ks – I can guarantee that even a run/walk approach will have you crossing the finish line well ahead of the last person.

      Hal Higdon has some good training plans, if you really want something regimented to get you through the next few weeks. I trained for a half marathon mostly on an elliptical (thanks, IT band!)… it’s not the same training as pounding the pavement (namely, you don’t get the strain on knees from literally pounding the pavement when on an elliptical), but with a 5k I think you’ll be just fine.

    3. Don’t be afraid to do run/walk combos, plenty of people do them in races. How are your shoes? They don’t have to be brand new, but you’ll be a lot more comfortable in a decent pair. One tip I picked up when starting back running was to shorten my stride a bit when my shins started to hurt. It seemed to help prevent shin splints if that’s an issue for you.

    4. Not impossible at all. As Opal said, don’t push yourself to keep up with the front runners and take walk breaks when you need to. The most important thing, IMO, is to make sure you have appropriate shoes (ones that fit and are designed for exercising). You don’t need to go out and buy new fancy running shoes though – if you have cross-trainers, you’ll be fine for a 5k in those. Go out and have fun! The key to fun IMO is not getting injured, so warm up a bit if you can (jog for 5 – 10 mins) and don’t sprint straight out of the gate.

    5. Definitely. Decent running shoes are key. And there will be many people run / walking. I run with music and trick myself into running further (e.g. run 5 songs then I can walk 1). Most importantly, have fun!

    6. If it’s in a few weeks, try doing the 5k (3.1 mile) distance a couple times ahead of the race just to see how you feel. You sound like you’re in decently good shape so a 5k shouldn’t be too tough – probably 30-35 minutes of jogging, depending on your pace.

      Just don’t do anything like decide to run every day leading up to the race – that’s asking for an injury or at least making yourself sore if you’re not used to pounding the pavement. A 2-3 mile jog every few days leading up to the race would be sufficient.

      And yes, +1 to everything everyone else is saying about setting a good pace. There are a lot of people, especially at fun runs, who really start quickly out of the gate and fade after like half a mile.

    7. You’ll be fine, plan for some walk breaks, but don’t overestimate the value of the elliptical- they are totally different movements, the main benefit of the elliptical is that your cardio system is probably decent, but running is a totally different kind of work on the legs, so you’ll probably be sore.

  13. PSA to those looking for old school thick jeans. The GAP “authentic” style delivers. Just bought a pair there last week which I’ve been wearing non-stop.

    I got them 40% off which made about $40.

    1. Like actual denim as opposed to the weird stretch cotton I find everywhere?

      I buy mine at western stores. Wrangler makes a lot of very flattering true denim, which you can also buy in size x inseam which I love. Q-Baby is my current favorite.

      1. Yes! Actual real denim. It’s incredible. Look for the ones marked “authentic”

  14. Another PSA. If you’re looking for a nice work bag, I just bought this one (link to follow) and absolutely love it. The leather is gorgeous — very soft and buttery — and the bag has tons of space without being bulky. It’s kind of triangle shaped with a wider base than top, which gives you more room without it bulking up under your arm. Also, the straps are adjustable, which is great if you want longer straps in winter to wear over a coat but shorter in summer. I easily fit my laptop, wallet, sunglasses (in case), phone, keys, small make-up pouch, and lunch. I also love that there’s no visible branding. Just a high quality bag that speaks for itself.

      1. Oh, also it has feet, which aren’t pictured, but which are a really nice touch.

    2. Oohhh, How big is your laptop? I was all set to get a Lo&Sons, but my laptop is too big at 13.25″.
      It’s been harder than I thought to find a decent bag…

      1. Not sure. I thought 13″ was on the smaller side. I think mine is that size and there’s tons more room in the bag than I need.

  15. Sigh. Can we band together as women to devise some sort of warning decal for divorced men? He was amazing and we had a deep and genuine emotional connection and we were talking about a future and we were completely compatible and there were no red flags at all…until they all cropped up practically overnight. Totally crushed. I’m moving on, but wow, this sucks hard.

    We really do need a rating system: “Has maturely processed his divorce,” “Still has work to do, but is overall well” “Still has tons of work to do, steer clear” and “Don’t even think about it.”

    1. Like how the brita filters tell you when they need to be changed.

      I’ve been there. Hugs.

    3. Also, you can look up a marriage license and a divorce judgment.

      But there is no girfriend registry (so: if you are dating Tim Jones, you can do a title search of sorts to see whether there is a current girlfriend already on file).

    5. Hugs! We need this for all men. “Mommy hugged him too much” “Mommy didn’t hug him enough” “Drinks too much” “Might leave you for Jesus” “Doesn’t play well with others” “Prefers video games over intimacy”. Add yours…

      2. Ha! Having experienced the “Might leave you for Jesus” I find this list hilarious

  16. Has anyone tried washing a Tahari blazer? I love Tahari suit seperates (found at Macys and other places) and have washed and hung dry the pants and skirts with no issue. Anyone tried washing the blazer? Any tips on washing blazers generally?

  17. I met someone at a networking event who offered to put me in touch with a bunch of people. Now I need to follow up to say thanks for your time, you were super helpful etc, but I need a script for the last part! How do I take him up on his offer?

    1. “I was so pleased to hear that you’d be willing to put me in touch with X, Y, and Z! Please let me know how would be best to go about getting connected with them.”

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