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Coffee Break – Collina Shoes

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I decided to hunt for a walkable, attractive shoe for under $50 today… and I really like the Collina from Naturalizer. I like the little ties, which sort of makes them like Mary Jane versions of an oxford, as well as the cutouts on the suede. I like that it comes in so many colors (“Pavement” is pictured, but there's also a brown, a black, and a dark red “Cab Sav.”) What's more, they're 44% off at Naturalizer, bringing the price from $89 down to $49.99. Collina Shoes (L-2)

Sales of note for 3/26/25:

  • Nordstrom – 15% off beauty (ends 3/30) + Nordy Club members earn 3X the points!
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale + additional 20% off + 30% off your purchase
  • Banana Republic Factory – Friends & Family Event: 50% off purchase + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 30% off tops, tees, dresses, accessories, sale styles + warm-weather styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Shorts under $30 + extra 60% off clearance + up to 60% off everything
  • M.M.LaFleur – 25% off travel favorites + use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – $64.50 spring cardigans + BOGO 50% off everything else

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

205 Comments

  1. Saw these this weekend on a docent at a museum. She wore the pictured color with black tights and a skirt and looked cute. The complete look was a little artsy-quirky, but appropriate for her job. Also, she’s surely someone who’s on her feet a lot so I assume these shoes are uber comfortable.

  2. Just have to share – I have not been in a JC Penney in a very, very long time. 10-15 years ago, I would not have set foot in there. However, I went there over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised by the selection, and frankly, the quality for the price. I will post the dresses I purchased if anyone is curious. It really was a surprise.

    1. Here are the dresses I purchased, which I think are office appropriate and could work well with a cardigan or blazer. (and apparently, I was in a polka dot mood…):

      http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=1dc9d14&DeptID=70656&CatID=80145&SO=0&SelDim=23%7e&x5view=1&NOffset=0&Ne=4294957900+29+3+23+1031+1490+8+1545&N=4294936942+4294966575&Nao=63&PSO=0&bcCat=3&CmCatId=external|80145

      http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=1e2be87&cmOrigId=1dc9d14&cmTypeFlag=RichRel&cmCatID=external|80145

      http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?Grptyp=PRD&ItemId=1dc9d50&cmOrigId=1e2be87&cmTypeFlag=RichRel&cmCatID=external|80145

        1. Thanks – the polka dot ones have more of a crepe feel to them with more of a lining, the wrap dress is definitely the typical “slippery” jersey fabric. But, IRL, I think they are nice looking and not as “cheap looking” as the price would suggest. As I stated above, I was extremely surprised by the amount of things that I liked. Some very nice pattered tops, cute dresses, and some plain basics. It was definitely not my Grandmother’s JC Penney that I had remembered.

          1. Ok, so apparently I have a terrible memory. After looking at the dresses now that I am home, they ALL are more of a jersey fabric and not lined. (The crepe one was a different one that I tried on!) Sorry for the confusion – still like them, though!

        2. Generally, AmericanLiving has a very good heavyweight jersey fabric. I just wish their dresses would work for my body type (I’m a shortwaisted hourglass).

          1. Try Boden. I too am shortwaisted and curvy. Love their dresses and they hold up well. Runs a bit on the large size.

    2. Yes, please post! I have been thinking about setting foot again in there after all these years in light of Corporette comments in the past few weeks about cute dresses from there.

      1. The guy who used to run Apple’s retail store division took over JCP’s. Huge changes afoot.

        1. And I’m not impressed. I’m a sale shopper so I don’t like his “no sale” ideas. “Best price ” doesn’t cut it with me.

          1. Totally agree. A big part of the satisfaction of shopping for me is the hunt and the steal. Feeling like I got a deal (even if the original price was marked up specifically so it could go on sale) is a big mental thing for me haha.

          2. Yep, that’s how I am too, Anon NYer.

            I guess I will stick to Macy’s 80% off racks. :-)

    3. I got a great St. Patrick’s day green dress shirt there for $15. It isn’t super high quality but good enough to wear here and there for a couple years. It looks great under an otherwise boring suit.

    4. I bought a slip at my nearby J.C. Penney recently. and was also really surpised. The store had been recently renovated, the merchandise was good quality and with great prices, and the sales lady was very helpful. I commented on the store and merchandise and she said that their corporate has been upscaling many locations so they can compete with Macy’s for people who would normally go to Macy’s but are looking to save a buck during tight economic times. I thought it was a clever strategy.

    5. Liz Claiborne has an exclusive arrangement with JCPenney right now. Also, Jones New York has a JCP line that has some nice work clothes. The American Living line is a little bit younger and trendier than these but also has pretty good quality.

      For “disposable” work clothes JCP is a great choice. I work in a business casual atmosphere so have a bit of a wider range of options but find that I can get new pieces each season and not have to worry if they will last for years. I get bored with clothes before they wear out so these lines have been good choices for me. And if you are tall (I’m 5’11”) they have some good tall choices in pants.

      1. Oh, I should add, I ran through JCP b/c I parked out front. Ended up w/ two awesome deeply discounted Liz Cliaborne sweaters that I live in on the weekends now.

        1. I prefer JCPenney to Target for many things especially t-shirts for wearing at home and tops to wear underneath suits. Also, I often have to go prisons or very poor neighborhoods and I have to look presentable and professional but don’t necessarily want to wear expensive clothes. Cannot beat Worthingtons for decent fitting but cheap pair of slacks and a blouse.

          2. How sad is it than when you said Ellen, I thought ELLEN, and I could not figure out what you were talking about?

          3. And, they’re getting rid of their constant sales, and just having fair pricing all the time. Love it!

    6. I mentioned buying 2 pencil skirts from JCP a few weeks ago, and I’m planning to post some pictures of them later this week. I’ll post links when I have them, but they’ve turned out to be quite versatile and I’ve gotten compliments on them when I’ve worn them out. If you haven’t checked out JCP in a while, I highly recommend it for those looking for a lower price point.

      1. I rediscovered JCP when I was pregnant and was referred to them for maternity clothes. I bought several key pieces there. Just putting this out there for any preggo Corporettes!

  3. Kanye — any recommendations for wedding bands on Etsy? Looking for gold and simple, but not necessarily just a smooth round band.

    1. These are two of my favorite metalsmiths on Etsy:

      www[dot]etsy[dot]com/shop/CocoandChia

      www[dot]etsy[dot]com/shop/EnzoLuccati

      and SundariGems makes some really sweet eternity bands:

      www[dot]etsy[dot]com/shop/SundariGems

      PS if you’re in New York, I highly recommend Susan Barth. She does amazing work.

  4. I don’t get Naturalizer at all – the heels are awesome. Well made, attractive, comfortable and fit my wide forefeet and narrow heels. Why are all Naturalizer flats horrendous? Contrast stitching that looks dowdy and way too tight across the front of my feet and too wide for my heels. Feet don’t change shape when going from heels to flats!

    1. Agreed. I have tried their flats several times since I like the heels (I have the same foot shape), and they never work. Boo!

    2. Can I ask which width do you order, narrow or medium? I have the same foot shape, and desperately need new work shoes, but I can’t stand the try-and-return thing.

      1. I wear the medium width in heels. I just can’t get Naturalizer flats to work out, so I stay away.

        1. Thanks! I’ve never found a pair of flats that ever, ever worked for me besides sneakers, so I’ve just given up on flats completely (sigh).

    3. I’ve often wondered the same thing. Maybe the heels are designed by a different person/team than the flats. It seems like a very different aesthetic.

    4. Try Me Too or MIA flats. Me Too, MIA, and Naturalizer all have the same designers and use the same factories.

      1. I bought one pair of Me Too flats – ubercomfortable and great quality leather, but the soles dry-rotted through in the first 6 weeks of owning/wearing them. Has anyone else had these issues? For $80 flats (I paid less, but), I expect more.

        1. I had a pair of Me Too flats that lasted less than one season in light rotation. The soles were the problem. Too bad, because they were cute and reasonably comfortable.

      2. Me Too and MIA flats don’t work for me either, sadly. They have the same issue with being too tight at the forefront and too loose at the heel. And, I have a pair of 3″ Me Too wedges which are awesome. I don’t get it, argh. For flats, I like Earth Origins and Hush Puppies.

      1. No, I actually think those are very cute. I have a pair of these in Mauve leather (which is really like band-aid pink), which I think are adorable. Unfortunately, as above, I have never actually been able to wear them because the leather is so stiff and they are horribly tight in the front. Of course I have never gotten around to taking them back….

      2. I have two pairs of those, and they’ve held up really well. One of mine is a test pair from a few years ago. I like them better than most Naturalizer flats because they don’t have the wonky stitching.

    6. I haven’t had good luck with regular Naturalizer, but I bought these Naya low-heeled pumps in black for a recent trip where I knew I’d be walking and on my feet a lot

      http://www.naturalizer.com/en-US/Product/EC0201640-3008957/Naya/Inky+Navy+Suede/Naya+Daria.aspx

      and I liked them so much I went back for the navy suede. They fit my wide in the front narrow in the back (mullet?) foot well, and the heel is high enough to look professional, but low enough to be walkable.

  5. I am obsessed with these. They seem very academic-chic to me. I love them! My only question now is which color. Hmmm….

  6. Need some advice on the appropriateness of bringing a baked good containing alcohol into the office. My last day of a placement is St. Patrick’s day and I wanted to bring in something the whole office could share, along with my thank you card. I’m thinking Irish Car Bomb cupcakes…but those necessarily contain irish cream and stout. It’s a pretty relaxed office and I would label them as containing alcohol. Thoughts?

    1. I personally would think you were awesome. My last boss would think you were awesome. My new boss…would probably think you were awesome, but might also be a little judge-y about “omg alcohol in the WORK PLACE!” Unfortunately for your peace of mind, only you know if it would be acceptable! Most law firms, probably not, most places I’ve worked (including law firms and government offices) probably fine.

    2. Recipe please! Those sound delicious =D

      As for bringing them to the office, I find baked goods with alcohol don’t have that high an alcohol content once cooked. If you mention they’ve got booze in them, you should be fine, and popular ;)

    3. I made a chocolate stout cake for St. Patrick’s day last year and people loved it. I would be more concerned about the Irish Cream, which I assume is going in the frosting. The stout in the cupcakes will burn off, but the frosting is going to be boozey. I would probably get permission before bringing them in to my office, but my fairly relaxed office does not have a relaxed department head.

      Then again, it’s your last day. What are they going to do, fire you?

    4. I would think you’re awesome – I mean, who’s going to get tipsy off a cupcake? Doesn’t the alcohol pretty much “cook out” anyway?

      I would just wait until at least mid-afternoon to bring them out – no one needs to smell Guinness at breakfast time :)

    6. Just make sure you don’t call them “Irish car bomb” cupcakes. Completely offensive unless you’re looking to start a bar fight in Dublin.

      1. Yeah — I’d try to think of a name for them that doesn’t carry so many overtones (frat parties mixed with “the troubles” — not exactly a fun association).

      3. HATE the name “Irish car bomb” with a passion. Go with “Irish stout cupcakes”.

        I’d say leave out the whiskey filling. The chocolate stout cupcakes with the Baileys’ frosting (or even nonalcoholic frosting) sans hard liquor would probably be better for the workplace.

        Or just throw green sprinkles on regular cupcakes. Still festive!

    7. Okay, I am going to be the stodgy one. If you do bring them, I would call them something else. Irish Car Bomb just sounds so fratty – Irish Cream Cupcakes sounds way more office appropriate, imho. That’s my main issue. But, also, something you may not have thought of – there may be people with alcohol issues present. My stepfather, e.g., is a recovering alcoholic and for him even food cooked in a wine sauce presents a big issue. I am not saying that you need to nec. account for that possibility (certainly there may be people who don’t eat sweets at all, or who are allergic to X, or who have ” the sugars” – you can’t control all these things) but it’s just something to bear in mind. If it were me, I’d go with something equally festive sans the potential negative connotations. But, obviously, based on the other responses, maybe I am overthinking it.

      1. She should announce that the cupcakes contain alcohol, so people with issues could pass.

      2. I generally agree. While I think the cupcakes look delicious, I would try to avoid any alcohol that wouldn’t be cooked off. Like, the stout in the cupcakes could be fine, but I wouldn’t put any whisky in the filling or Bailey’s in the frosting. Ina Garten often uses brewed coffee to bring out the richness of chocolate, so you could probably substitute that for the Guinness (if you wanted to). Maybe to make them holiday-esque you could use some green food dye or mint flavoring in the ganache/frosting.

      3. I agree with the name thing at work – I referred to them that way since they are supposed to be a food version of the popular St. Patty’s day guinness/whisky/irish cream drink. Since I’ll have to make two dozen, I may make a dozen “irish cream cupcakes” and a dozen mint chocolate cupcakes (so I can use essentially the same batter and icing, plus/minus the stout and bailey’s.)

        Also, though…it’s St. Patrick’s Day…the day of semi-condoned day drinking.

        1. St. Patty’s is on Saturday. If your last day is on Friday, I would not assume it’s going to be a day of condonned drinking. Also, for people with alcohol problems, it’s a terrible enough holiday to get through, so the fact that it’s a drinking holiday does not make the not drinking any easier. I think your half and half solution sounds like a nice compromise, and definitely change the name.

    8. My sister-in-law and I keep talking about making those cupcakes. You’d be very popular with me. I say go for it.

    9. I was interested in your query and the responses, in part because I was pondering whether it would be considered inappropriate to serve iced coffee flavoured with coffee liqueur at a professional gathering which includes (a few) persons famous for their alcohol / addiction related research.
      Reading through here, I guess not… hmm… still feel we don’t need to get all prudish, just to prove we don’t condone alcohol dependance.
      Regarding those cupcakes, I’d tone it down in the frosting but keep the cupcakes and filling as described if I were you… Good luck. You rock!!

      1. I don’t think such food and beverages are inappropriate for that setting, but you need to identify the food/drink as being flavored with an alcoholic beverage – e.g., “Tia Maria Iced Coffee”, or rum cake, or bourbon chocolate balls (my personal favorite – brought to a PTA Christmas party!) – you give a heads up to those for whom the food could trigger whatever negative reaction alcohol gives them. This reminds me of a dilemma someone in our office faced when she wanted to give a large family party and serve drinks and wine, standard fare for her family. However, her brother was a recovering alcoholic, and the way he was able to stay sober was to simply stay away from places and events where alcohol was being served. I don’t know how she resolved it, but she was not at all happy about the prospect of hosting a totally dry event to accommodate her brother.

  7. I can’t post any actual details here for a variety of reasons. But can I just vent that the job hunting process can be incredibly disheartening and do a real number on one’s self-esteem. Its really, really hard for me to “keep my chin up” as people tell me. With rejection coming from every corner all the time.

    Its worse then dating. So much worse.

    2. Hang in there! Going through the same thing. Have a job that is “less than pleasant”, to say the least! I have been applying when something looks interesting, and sometimes never even hear back at all!

      Good luck – no real advice

    3. Well, we love ya!!

      It can be really hard, I could never decide if it was more frustrating to send out job packets and never hear back from the place, or to get an interview and never hear back, or even to just get the cold form rejection letter that just leaves you thinking…”did anyone even READ this???”

      All I can say is that we’ve all been there. That doesn’t make it any easier, but at least you have some company down there in your misery. Just keep trying and keep stretching for those fabulous jobs. I know you’re doing all the right things and eventually that’ll turn into the perfect job for you.

      1. Well — if I could use anonymous corporettes as references — I’d get a job in a sec. :-)

      2. For some reason, the word c*rporettes got me put in moderation.

        But if I could use you ladies for references, I’m sure I’d have a job in a second. Of course that job would be as a snarky internet commenter…which I’m not sure would really pay off my student loans.

    5. i have no real advice, but vent away! and perhaps drown your sorrows in a car bomb cupcake (or, if you’re like me, a cheesesteak).

    6. Hang in there – and please don’t let being disheartened prevent you from your awesome postings here!

      We are all pulling for you!

      1. I agree- been there- i tell people to admit you are miserable and that it’s hard. why pretend to be all cheery except when you have to have a game face. it is a depressing, difficult situation. it’s okay to say so and feel so.

    9. I feel your pain. I’m going on 9 months without a full time, paid job. There are good days and bad days. The bad days are so incredibly bleak.

      Trite platitudes and cliches s*ck, but I am trying to remember and focus on something my mom says about jobs and dating – “It only takes one.” This helps me to stop focusing on how many rejections I’ve gotten and instead work towards finding the right one.

      Hope this helps. And like others have said, it’s clear you’re a smart, witty, and thoughtful. It will happen – it will just take longer than expected.

      1. This.

        And the sports cliche “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

        I’m going through the same thing and it BITES!

    10. I’m totally with you, and I’m really not looking forward to my post-Bar exam job search.

      I would say that- while waiting to hear back- focus on doing things to enrich your life and boost your self esteem that you won’t have time to do once you get that job. Read classic literature, write an article, do some volunteer work, learn a new cooking technique, catch up with old friends, etc.

      Just do what you can and then try to relax.

    11. It’s the market, it’s not you. We know you’re fab. The right person at the right company just needs to make the connection with you.

      I know it sucks, but it’ll improve. Soon, I hope. Until then, I can only offer you my new fave phrase of encouragement (imagine this yelled in a throaty-hoarse Japanese salaryman way in a post-sake frenzy at a sumo tournament): GANBATTE YO!!!!

    12. I also feel your pain. Left a job early last summer even though my job searching hadn’t yet panned out b/c my mental health was really starting to go. Was unemployed far longer than expected so I took another job doing the same thing I was doing before and surprise, my mental health is really suffering again. I’m trying to hold out hope that eventually I will land a desired position but I completely agree with your word choice of the whole process being disheartening and doing a number on your self-esteem. Some days I find it utterly soul crushing. I send tons of applications and get no responses to follow up calls and then when I do get interviews, I always make it to the last round only to never get the job. I’ve been job searching for over a year now. I’m just hoping eventually something works out :(

    15. Sending good wishes to TCFKAG and all others job-hunting. It is so hard in every way, I know. There’s some great advice and perspective on this thread.

      1. You know, I’ll go ahead and share a motivational song recommendation: “Gotta Work” by Amerie. I heard it randomly once when I was numbly browsing a Sephora store, trying to drown some of my own career sorrows, and then went home and looked it up. It’s badass, belted-out reassurance of your awesomeness and divine destiny!

      1. agree- been there- i tell people to admit you are miserable and that it’s hard. why pretend to be all cheery except when you have to have a game face. it is a depressing, difficult situation. it’s okay to say so and feel so.

    17. I can relate! I feel like a slave to the mailbox as I wait for a rejection letter.

    19. I hear that. I am having the same feelings. Between the firms dragging me through hours of interviewing to the firms who are interested and then suddenly drop off the face of the earth to my interviews being blown off… oh so many issues. I sympathize.

  8. Families with federal employees and anyone that cares to read:

    I know we have frequently lamented the proposed federal shut down, hiring freezes, and pay freezes here in the past. I figure some would want to know this if they don’t already. I’m copying part from a memo from my husband’s union:

    The senate is slated to vote tomorrow on an amendment to the Transportation bill (SA 1826) to S. 1813 – that would freeze federal pay in 2013 for a third consecutive year. The savings reportedly would be used to offset the cost of energy policy changes and a wide array of tax breaks.

    The 2011 and 2012 pay free will produce $60 billion in deficit reduction over 10 years. The recently enacted payroll tax extension legislation will take another $15 billion from federal employees in increased pension contributions. Federal employees have done their part. If this amendment passes, another $26 billion will come from one group of middle class workers.

    Please consider contacting your congressperson and asking that they vote no on this amendment.

    1. Right there with ya! I could go on a long rant about how federal employees get thrown under the bus frequently, but I’ll spare you. You should also feel free to call leadership offices and voice your concern/displeasure.

    2. Swell. Although I have to admit, I don’t really have a good answer as to WHY they shouldn’t try to save money this way. Don’t get me wrong, I am a federal employee and am disgusted by the way we’ve been used as pawns for the last couple of years. But what do you say to someone in the private sector who hasn’t had a raise in several years? I try to make the case that instead of saying federal employees shouldn’t have such great benefits, we should be fighting for great benefits for ALL working people. But that seems to get me branded as some sort of commie, as does pointing out the vast discrepancies in pay between the average worker and those at the top.

      I also think that federal contractors should be subject to the same cost-reducing measures – it’s all the same money. I was a federal contractor for about 6 years before joining the government and I really have no problem with contractors, but don’t try to convince me that it saves vast amounts of money to use contractors instead of federal employees. I had basically the same benefits and pay as a contractor as I do now, plus contracting companies make a profit. I guess they could have fired me more easily and were not on the hook for pensions, although I am not too convinced I will have some awesome pension from being a federal employee.

    3. My sympathies. As an employee of another non-federal government I know how it feels to get little respect and to be thrown under the bus in the name of “savings.”

      1. Ditto. I keep saying I just want to be left alone to do my job and get a small COLA every few years.

    4. Thanks for the heads up. I’m not sure if my husband’s union will have updated them on this, but I’ll certainly bring it to his attention, and we’ll be contacting our representatives/senators on this, though given where we live and who represents us, I doubt it will do any good.

      1. For those who aren’t union (most professionals, I’d guess) consider supporting an association such as NARFE. They lobby on behalf of federal employees.

    5. Well- (as person who left gov for private company)- remember that most of us on private side don’t have pensions at all and less benefits. I get 10 days vacation a year only. Etc. And pay scale is comparable to federal. So, on the whole, many fed employees are ahead of the private sector in overall comp package right now- that’s why the ‘catch up measures’ movement is swinging this way. Not that it isn’t frustrating, I hear you, but the grass isn’t usually greener and perhaps try to remember that.

      I used to do employment/labor law and have seen market study numbers on this- not making it up via anecdotes… private sector got ahead in 90’s, then froze up while gov’t kept awarding more benefits and raises, now gov is ahead. it’s a pendulum thing. When the taxpayer base paying your salaries enjoy a lesser package, you can’t expect to win these arguments on a policy level- it will eventually come back to bite those in office.

  9. How do you guys handle colleagues who are just an embarrassment on conference calls with clients?

    I absolutely dread group calls with certain staff. Either folks don’t speak up when they need to (or aren’t paying attention?) so there are consantly awkward gaps of silence–and others just seem to lack basic judgment (like not saying what their job title is when asked to give roles at the beginning of calls or misrepresenting their scope, bringing to a client’s attention that we farm some work out when they don’t need to know [note: not in law but publishing and use freelance writers], or telling a nervous client that they’re nervous, too [!]).
    I’m working out of the office frequently and so I can’t communicate with eye glances, etc. like you might normally if someone isn’t speaking up. I don’t manage these folks but am in a more senior role in the organization. I would just mind my own business, but I fear we’re going to start losing business since we look so clueless half the time. I know I can be a bit of a perfectionist, so I’m trying to let up and recognize that everyone has to find their own way and has different styles of communicating. But I honestly end each call wanting to sink into the floor. I also don’t want to bring it to the attention of the overseeing VP–I’m worried that will make it look like I can’t get along with others or something. Mind you, the problem is with the same folks all the time and certainly not everyone.

    Any advice for dealing with a conference call that’s going downhill fast?

    1. Have a group chat window open through messenger / communicator to allow for a “back channel” communication to the internal team.

      Either one-on-one (ie “Julie, I’m going to ask you a question”) or to the whole group.

    2. Although it won’t help comments like “I’m nervous,” what about circulating agendas that are more detailed than normal, for example with bullets on what each person should be prepared to discuss?

      For the role issue, could you put everyone’s name and title in the meeting invitation, so that people can just give their names on the phone?

      1. I am not sure if this is the right approach but I would pull whoever is doing this aside and in a nice way explain that although you are sure it isn’t his/her intention, some of the things he/she says isn’t putting the company in the best light. Are these people inexperienced or early in their career? Maybe they need someone to point these things out to them. I would also remind them that you are going to ask for their input during the conference. That may be enough to get them to start focusing on calls.

        I think you are absolutely correct in addressing this behavior. It is unprofessional.

        Definitely handle yourself before going to VP.

    3. How long has been going on?
      Have you actually lost business in a way that can be attributed to the lame conference caller?
      Have you received any negative customer feedback on the L.C.C.?

      I am a perfectionist myself and am sometimes mortified when I see the errors on others’ work. I would be embarrassed to produce at this level and were I the client, I would never sign off on this… but guess what? I am not the client; the client is fine with the product received; if I called out the issues I am having, my organization would get in trouble with the client and potentially lose business… not to mention that I personally would look bad to both staff and the client.

    5. I think the suggestions made by other posters are great – especially IM if you can do it.

      Assuming you know who is responsible for what, why not jump in when you sense one of those awkward silences about to derail the discussion? For example, “Great question, Client. Hapless Colleague, you’ve been taking the lead on that aspect of the project. Can you fill us in?”

      To minimize inappropriate over-sharing, discuss with colleagues or circulate a brief note – something like, “Although our use of freelancers on certain projects is completely within ethical boundaries, we find that sharing their role with clients can lead to confusion. Please refrain from mentioning freelancers during client calls.”

    6. Can you ask HR or your big boss to send out guidelines for conducting conference calls? It seems like a perfectly reasonable thing to have a training or handbook on, and that way no one would take it personally.

      1. I just want to say thank you all for your suggestions. I’ve got the meeting planner in the loop to include titles on invites now. I’m also talking directly with the (somewhat) newbie who is the worst offender about the impressions we’re trying to give on calls and some basic dos and don’ts. As I gave it more thought, I realized that much of his background came from being a reporter (as was mine when I started out). Perhaps he just doesn’t quite understand the role shift toward client service. I’m sure much of his background has consisted of traditional PR firms pitching to him–so perhaps he hasn’t quite accepted that they are not there to serve us. They are our client and we are there to serve them. I’m trying to give benefit of the doubt. We work in a small industry. So I’m concerned that if the client has a bad experience that it will burn us with others. (We don’t always have means for feedback–so repercussion would just be them not working with us and us not realizing why.)

        At any rate, thank you all so much. These were some very practical suggestions that hopefully can ease some of the pain. If not, I may start gnawing on some of those alcoholic cupcakes referenced earlier to numb my head a bit as I continue to knock it against the wall…

  10. I know there’s a tech thread today but I thought this one would have the most traffic.

    I’m curious about what kinds of apps you ladies have on your smartphones. Mine are organized into folders – music, entertainment, photography, reference, productivity, social, health, shopping, games, books, and utilities.

    Any apps that you can’t live without? I love Solitaire, Lose It!, and Pandora.

    What are your favorites?

    3. On the topic of apps, has anyone tried “Zombies, Run!”? It’s an app….the reviews range from “amazing” to “total waste of money”.

      I’m curious, so I’ll probably just pay the $8 (because that’s one, like one trip to Starbucks?), but I’d love to know if anyone else has tried it!

    4. i am just not an app person. i have ruelala (never used and not sure why i downloaded it, to be honest), yelp and urbanspoon (used once or twice each), and then facebook, twitter, instagram and words with friends (all of which i use constantly). oh, and shazaam, which i’ve only used a couple times – it identifies a song that’s playing by artist and title. my husband is constantly telling me to download different games, but i’m not big into games.

    5. Droid TV. It works like a DVR, recording prime time and some shows that you select (Big Bang Theory, Royal Pains, The Good Wife, etc.). Kind of embarassing to admit, but it’s the main reason I use my tablet.

  11. Oh good god, someone just cooked stinky fish in the microwave that is approximately 15 steps from where I sit. Despite spraying an odor neutralizer, I can still smell it and it is horrible! I know we’ve had threads about this before and I’m not trying to start anything, I’m just saying, GAG!!! Luckily(?) I’ve been in this office since the beginning of January and this is the first time we’ve had this. Hopefully that means it is very very VERY rare…

    1. Keep spraying! Maybe it will discourage future fish cooking in the microwave. That said, not everyone is as cognizant as Corporettes are about the perils of fish in the office. Hopefully the fish cooker noticed the smell and will reconsider his/her lunch in the future.

  12. Reposting to a more appropriate thread:
    Yo EK (I think) – I just caught up on the weekend thread. Check out Hush Puppies at the Herald Square Macy’s for comfortable flat shoes with support. They have a whole comfortable shoes area (I think it’s the 4th floor 7th Ave building).

    1. I’m sorry your boss is being terrible. But – I have made this recipe and it is delicious! Very jealous!

    2. I watched the first GCB last week on your rec Bunkster and I got to say, it was better than I expected. I’m excited to add it to the rotation. :-)

      1. I just watched the 2nd last night with a glass of wine and I think it will become my regular Sunday-night-cuddled-up-in-bed-with-my-kitties-mourning-the-end-of-the-weekend-and-my-SO-going-back-to-his-house habit!

  14. Any suggestions for early maternity wear? I’m only 10 weeks, but this is my second pregnancy and I’m showing much earlier than in my last one. I’m not sure it’s really visible to others, but my pants are uncomfortable to close. I’m not sure I’m showing enough for true maternity clothes yet (and I haven’t disclosed yet, so would rather not go there just yet). I have been trying the Bella Band, but find it incredibly uncomfortable. And I suppose I could just buy some larger sized pants for the transition, but I would think they would be too big anywhere but my belly. Any ideas?

    1. Have you tried wrap or a-line dresses — anything without a waist (or with an adjustable waist) may alleviate discomfort.

      One lesson I learned during pregnancy was not to fight maternity clothes — I felt super uncomfortable and gross until I just bit the bullet and bought some maternity items. So. Much. Better. I realize you don’t want to “out” yourself just yet but you may just have to go with maternity clothes prior to when you were planning…good luck!

    2. have you tried looping a rubber band or hair elastic between the button and button hole on your waistband, and then wearing a long top to cover it?

      I know how you feel. By my third pregnancy I felt like I was six months pregnant by the eighth week.

    3. I’m 20 weeks and went through the same thing you’re going through (3rd child). I say, go ahead and bust out the maternity pants, keep them up with a Bella band, and enjoy your non-maternity shirts for a couple months more!

    4. I bought pants 2 sizes up and wore them until 14 weeks, when I had told work. Yes, they were big, but it was better than having a straitjacket around my tummy! :)

    5. Thanks for all the suggestions. I work in a conservative place (suits most days), so I’m not sure how to make the switch to maternity or larger clothes without “outing” myself. But maybe I’ll just have to share the news sooner than I had planned.

      1. I used the elastic band trick mentioned above and wore long camisoles to cover the waistband.

  15. Hi All,

    I have an interview with the general counsel of a company for an in house position in a few days – this is the third and final leg of the interview process. I have previously interviewed with others from the legal department, including the individual who would be my direct supervisor. I am excited but nervous and not sure what to expect. I will be transitioning from a law firm if this works out, so never interviewed with a GC before. Any thoughts on what a general counsel may be looking for in an interviewee? How to prepare? What sorts of things to discuss with him? I imagine the interview will be more big picture than the previous interviews I have had with the members of his team…but really don’t know what to expect. Any insights y’all have will be very helpful!

    1. One thing I think in-house is looking for is a sense that you understand how a business runs and the necessities of running a business and working within that environment. In-house offices are a cost-center that are constantly having to justify themselves, so knowing that you understand the way corporate America thinks will be important.

    2. being in-house, I think its important to highlight (1) your reasons for wanting to be in-house and BE SPECIFIC here to show your interest/commitment to the role (2) your interest/understanding of business and how that can affect legal reasoning (3) your ability to work with non-legal folks. good luck!

    3. Demonstrate that you understand the business and like the idea of collaborating with your business partners (clients). We have had candidates who don’t know who the CEO is and can’t really come up with a reason why they want to be in house other than not having to bill their time. Both pretty much rule you out. Agree with TCFKAG’s comments.

    4. I agree with the other comments, and would also mention that not only is collaborating with the business very important in-house, so is being able to communicate with business people in a concise (non-lawyerly, to some) manner. In addition to being aware of business issues generally, be sure to highlight industry-specific knowledge, if you have it. Good luck!

      1. agree on need to communicate not just with lawyers, also to think like this. are you willing to jump in on a variety of things as needed? is this appealing? can you recommend strategic direction, spot issues where others may not notice, etc. rather than just being a cog who does assigned motions or research memos (but also willing to do those when needed)? these are the kind of things i valued in my GC office.

    5. Hope this isn’t too late.

      I kept detailed notes of my interview with my GC so I could share with other friends who might like to go in-house.

      Questions my GC asked me…
      * Why the transition to in-house now?
      * What do you dislike about practicing at a firm?
      * What do you like about practicing at a firm that you don’t expect to get in-house?
      * What intangibles do you think you would get here but not at a law firm?
      * You’re hiring outside counsel to represent us in a $30M dispute. How do you evaluate staffing levels and proposed rates?
      * Outside counsel have a spectrum of personalities–from junkyard dogs to those who are more passive and go with the flow. (1) What are you and (2) From what end of the spectrum would you hire?
      * To succeed in-house, you have to develop relationships with people internally. How would you do that?
      * If you make this transition, where do you see your career in 5 years?

      Questions I asked (didn’t take as many notes on these)…
      * If you were to hire me, what does a successful outcome look like 6 months from now / a year from now?
      * How do you build relationships internally?
      * Company-specific questions about where the business was headed.

  16. Has anyone tried “negative heel” shoes? I just read this book about foot pain that recommended various exercises, posture improvements, and negative heeled shoes. They suggest Kalso Earth shoes, which are on Zappos and Amazon. But, a quick internet search revealed people who have ruptured their achilles tendons or had other foot problems caused by negative heel shoes. I guess it just sounds like a bit of a hoax or other silly trend to me, but I don’t know. (And obviously these are not office-appropriate shoes — more for commuting or wearing around the house.)

  17. Don’t buy the hype about these toning your legs & glutes or such shenanigans. Total bollix. However, I had some chronic lumbar spine issues and (pre-surgery, I haven’t worn them since) found MBTs and Earth shoes were helpful for back pain relief.

  18. I have a second interview this week at a law firm! I’m surprised I was called back and resigned myself to staying here – now I have to start thinking again.

      1. But of course! I’ll also wear a hair elastic on my wrist.

        In all seriousness, I am very torn on what to do if I get offered this job. I love what I do but my employer (local govt) doesn’t seem financially stable. I’ve never ever thought of working in a firm, but if I did, this would be the one I’d want to work at.

  20. What’s the hives thoughts on attorneys being friends with suppot staff outside of work?

    An assistant in another department also runs and has just started training for a half-marathon. I also run and have also decided to also start training for a half-marathon too. We just found out that we are both new runners and both training for a half-marathon. Then the idea came up about running together on the weekends. I thought this was a great idea, but we haven’t been able to make it work with our schedules.

    Then she approached me (privately) and said that she and another attorney in the office were friendly and that other attorney was told not to be friends with support staff and has since stopped talking with her during work hours.

    No one has made any such comments to me, but I’m curious to hear what others think?

    1. I think a lot of lawyers look down on it. But I have several friends (including one of my best friends now) who were staff (and I was a lawyer) at my former firm. I got to know them when I worked there–including going to lunch, having drinks, going to spa days on the weekend, and running and swimming with my now bff. I am so glad I didn’t miss out on some great people just because they didn’t have JDs.

      I always found it interesting that female associates would become friends with partners’ wives who didn’t have credentials–some kind of grad degrees–and were stay at home moms or women with less “impressive” sounding jobs, but would NEVER have dreamed of being friends with support staff who had the exact same level of education as the partners’ wives….

      I think becoming friends with people you work with (really those who work for you) can create an issue for some people if you have to tell them their work is substandard, not timely, etc. because the line between boss/subordinate have been crossed. But a similar dynamic exists when partners and associates become friends.

    2. I was friends with a couple of the support staff at my old firm (though not my own assistant, but only because her desk was far away from mine). Not “bosom buddies” or anything, but friends. But then again, I got laid off, so don’t listen to me! (It had nothing to do with me being friends with the support staff though.)

      1. My old workplace (not law) had an unspoken rule about not making friends with the support staff. I don’t think it’s a total no-go, but you may have to keep the interactions to off hours (versus – where are we going for happy hour after work discussions, etc).

        1. In my old workplace it wasn’t just an unspoken rule, it was flat out spoken. Of course, mostly that worked really well when we didn’t want to attend thing but didn’t really inhibit the true friendships that sprung up around the place. Anyway, I always suspected the rule was just there to keep us all from revolting. I’m still in touch with 4 of the support staff and only 2 of the attorneys.

    3. It’s discouraged in my office. The primary reason is that it’s hard to give or take criticism when the boss is a friend. Another poster brought up partners and associates, but I think that dynamic is different. I’m not sure that I can articulate why it feels different — maybe because the goal is for the associate one day to have the partner’s job? I don’t know.

      Another reason to discourage it is because young female associates (if you’re in law) don’t want to be seen as the support staff. There are so many stories out there about women always being asked to take notes, make copies, etc. I’m not saying this to disparage support staff AT ALL, but my goal to be a kick-ass partner one day (rather than a kick-ass paralegal), and I want to do everything I can to make sure all of the folks who will promote me see me in the role of kick-ass partner instead of kick-ass paralegal.

      FWIW, a woman in my same “associate class” started becoming very close with a partner’s wife, and I felt like that would have some of the same associations identified in my second paragraph. Also adding in that there are some things about partners’ personal lives that I just don’t really want to get involved in (marital spats, whatever).

    4. Personally, I have had fallout from being friends with support staff. I was in engineering, not law, but possibly a similar situation. My friend did not report to me directly, but people in her job position would ask engineering for trouble shooting and guidance. If engineers changed procedures, she and her peers would have to follow the new steps.

      Having me as her friend caused tension in two ways. Her peers perceived that she had “inside access” to problem solving and procedure changes, and gave her grief about that. I suspect she also played up that she had this access; there were lots of power play dynamics in her department.

      Secondly, as we spent more and more time together outside of work, it became awkward that we were in vastly different socio-economic classes. She started to make snide comments about what I could afford and how “it must be nice to be able to do/buy XYZ.” I was a young, single professional with salary to match, and she was a single mother making $10/hour. Nothing was going to change my education level or her parenting situation, no matter how much fun we had together at the gym.

      I eventually left that job and chose not to continue the friendship, which was a relief. Obviously, the personalities involved are what truly make or break a relationship, but I thought I would share my experience.

    5. It does seem to be looked down upon, but I would not let that stop me from becoming friends with someone with whom I shared a common interest. Especially if you work closely with this person, start slowly – meet up for runs once a week, be professional but friendly in the office, avoid weekday lunches/happy hours. That way, you can spot whether any boss/subordinate problems like SunnyD was talking about might come up.

      It’s not clear from your post who told the other attorney not to be friends with support staff, but it might be worth checking into the story. While some other attorneys seem to look down on it at my firm, I can’t imagine receiving any kind of official instruction not to be friends with someone.

    6. I walk several days a week with a clerk from another department in the city. I’ve gotten some criticism for it but I don’t really care.

    7. I am generally in favor of “anti-fraternization” rules. They are in place for a reason. But I do believe my office is an exception.

      I’m friends with our office manager. We are kind of strange in that the only non-attorneys in our 20-attorney office are 1 paralegal and the office manager. The two of them can work together but don’t get along (even though both are wonderful at their jobs).

      My office isn’t overly friendly but the office manager is a really neat woman who landed here in a recession and likes it but she could be doing a lot more elsewhere. So we are friends. I just think it would really stink for her to not have anyone in the office to talk to because of a rule that is meant for larger organizations.

      I was also friendly with my former BigLaw secretary. She was/is awesome. It was a horrible time in my life and she was there for me–even covering for me when I needed to escape. I was working in a snake pit and had no one to trust. She made it possible for me to stay sane.

    8. Unlike other people’s experiences, this would probably be strongly encouraged at my workplace. The head of my agency started a lunchtime running club open to everyone, and as not everyone is that fit, others are also encouraged to pair up with people at similar fitness levels to exercise on breaks, lunch, or in their free time. I often power walk during my morning break with a few of the assistants. No one seems to mind socializing in other ways either- going to lunch, happy hour, etc, is not really a big deal at all.

      1. Got bitten by this in past job… loved both ladies, we were friendly just at work, but they started being too friendly- ie asking personal things when male bosses were around, etc. that drew wrong kind of attention- but impossible to pull it back at that point if they know personal stuff. also if you need to encourage them to work a different way or critique them which you may not expect but can come up- it is harder when you feel like buddies. my lesson was: yep best to keep some distance while being as friendly as the guys are and sometimes a bit more. it’s a tricky balance.

    9. Just my 2 cents as I spent 3 years working as paralegal straight out of college…

      Of course it depends on the situation and the personalities involved but I thought it was very sh***y that none of the female lawyers I worked with were friendly toward me. I worked in 2 different firms and in both places the staff were treated like 2nd class citizens. It especially stung because I wanted to go to law school too so I would have loved to develop a mentor-type relationship with one of the women. It was difficult to cultivate that kind relationship with the male lawyers too because it could be seen as inappropriate and that the relationship was more than it actually appeared to be.

      All in all, if you work with the support staff and you pick up that they have aspirations to be an attorney too (common for people who take these jobs out of college) please be nice to them. Not saying you shouldn’t vet their intentions but I really believe it would have made a difference in my career path if someone would have reached out to me.

    10. In my experience working at law firms, both as a paralegal and as a lawyer, it’s usually been totally fine for lawyers to be friends with staff. At my current place it seems practically encouraged! We have a bowling team, go for happy hour drinks, go out to lunch for people’s birthdays, etc. For reference I work in a large office but with a small practice group with two paralegals and three secretaries, and our whole group mostly treats each other as equals. It’s been a nice change since previous places where power dynamics were wielded more aggressively.
      Basically: know your own office.

  21. I don’t know if I first found out about it here, but I just got the Mossimo Ponte Knit Pencil Skirt from Target last week in “Duchess Blue” (link to follow). I’m wearing it now for the first time and I. LOVE. IT. I’m seriously contemplating running to Target once I leave the office to get the rest of the colors they have. I’ve never tried “The Skirt”, but I think this may be the poor woman’s version. It’s got stretch, but the material is still pretty substantial. I’m in the process of losing weight (down 18 lbs so far) and I feel this will serve me well through more weight loss.

      1. Looks like a great skirt! Too bad it’s out of stock in a size M in all colors. (I didn’t check the other sizes.)

      2. I have it in the blue and the red and love, love, love it. Thinking of getting the black as well. I’d get the green, but feel I would have problems with styling it.

        I read about it in the comments here a few weeks back, I think it was Blonde Lawyer who recommended it.

  22. Shoe question- I wear most of my heels without hose (it’s hot & humid here) and, as a result, the top of the heel pad (where the padding meets the shoe) is getting all bunched up. These are nice shoes like Kate Spade and Cole Haan. Is this something I can cure with a little hot glue, or do I need to take to a cobbler? Just wondering if anyone has experienced this.

    Thanks.

    1. I’ve taken my leather soled shoes to the Leather Spa in New York (at the Plaza). They did an excellent job for what I thought was a reasonable price. If you don’t live in New York, I believe they will allow you to ship them to their store.

    2. This happens a lot to me too (and mostly with Kate Spade, FWIW), and I just take them to the cobbler. Never tried to a do-it-yourself-fix though, so I’m interested if there’s an at-home solution.

    3. I don’t have a suggestion for a fix, but a future solution. I wear terry cloth inserts in my shoes, because I rarely wear hose with shoes. They act like socks – keeping the moisture from ruining the soles, and they are machine washable. I really can’t say enough about them. I live in the South – home of hot and humid, and they have lived up to the wear and tear. I have about 4 pairs that make the rounds in my shoes.

      1. Where do you find these terry cloth inserts? They sound like just the thing I need to make wearing closed shoes without socks bearable. May ask on another thread if Google doesn’t come through for me.

        1. I got mine from Aldo. They are terry cloth on top and have a rubberized bottom so they don’t slip around. They are amazing. I would suggest that you bring some with you when you try on shoes, because they take up a little room and can make shoes snug.

  23. Hi DC Corporettes,

    I will be having dinner with a subordinate (and, possibly, his wife) in DC on a Monday night. Both of us will be staying at the JW Marriott, so I would prefer someplace near Metro Center. Back when I lived in DC (eons ago), I would have gone with some place like Butterfield 9 or the Tex-Mex place that was on 14th & G (?). Any suggestions? The colleague is European, if that matters.

    1. Zaytinya or Oya are both walking distance from Metro Center and have good food.

    2. Potenza on 15th & H is really good. Italian food, in-house cured meats, pizzas, pastas, entrees, good wine selection/drinks. I took my picky former boss there, and he really enjoyed it. potenzadc DOT com.

    3. Oyamel is one of my favorites in the area. If you want something more basic, District Chophouse is popular for out of towners.

    5. Thanks, Amelia Bedelia, but my colleague is a Spaniard living in Brussels and adamantly rejected the Belgian idea! Thanks for all of the ideas. I will welcome more!

      1. If he’d like Spanish food and can spend a bit, Taberna del Alabardero is amazing. It’s just a bit far to walk – about 15-20 minutes- but it’s a cheap cab ride.

        Chef Geoff’s is right near that hotel, and other than that, I agree with everyone else’s suggestions.

        1. Oh, The Hamilton is a new place that opened up right near your hotel, and the restaurant is really good. They also have a late-night bar with live music. It’s owned by the same people who own Clyde’s/Old Ebbitt.

      2. Some of these might be too far to walk, but I would recommend Central Michele Richard, Rasika, Proof or Zaytinya. For out of towners, I also like Potenza (particularly if you can sit outside) since it is so close to the White House and the food is generally good.

      3. You probably won’t be able to get a reservation at Rasika on such short notice (though if you can and your party likes Indian, it’s amazing!). I’ll add my vote to Zaytinya, although you should note it’s rather loud. Nobody has mentioned Ceiba, which is right on 14th & G and is quite good. If you’re into seafood, DC Coast is right up the street on 15th & K as well.

    6. Butterfield 9 closed quite a while ago, as did the Tex Mex place you mention (Red Sage I think it was called…or something along those lines).

      You will be around the corner from the W, which used to be hotel Washington. Rooftop bar and a restaurant overlooking the Washington Monument – really great place to take someone from out-of-town. You could start there for a cocktail and then head elsewhere.

      There is a new restaurant called The Hamilton that just opened on 14th and G (next door to where Butterfield 9 was)…I’ve not been there yet but it is by the group that runs Clyde’s and Old Ebbitt, so it is pretty trustworthy and very…American.

      Old Ebbitt is such a Washington landmark and that is also so close. but – make a reservation!!!

      1. Don’t forget a carpet bag that is bigger on the inside than the outside and key to a blue police box!

  25. Our high school just did the Gershwin musical “Crazy For You” (“I’ve Got Rhythm”, etc.), which features lots of tap dancing, and the dancers’ shoes looked just like the featured shoe. I’m not being snarky – they really did.

  26. I have these shoes and love them. They’re very comfortable and look great with my navy suit. The heel height is perfect. I’ve never purchased Naturalizer pumps before but I will definitely be going back after my success with these.

    1. What is the position you’re interviewing for? If it’s a legal profession, I would go with a suit. If non-legal you could probably get away with a dress, assuming it fits you like the model (in my real life, I find BR clothes to often fit not-as-pictured, e.g., lower cut, shorter, etc.) … BUT it’s very hard to match black to black. I think if you’re going to do dress plus blazer you should get a non-black blazer or if it’s black in an obviously and intentionally different fabric (e.g., tweed).

      1. Agree, and if you do go with the outfit as planned, that’s a lot of black, so make sure to have a great necklace to brighten things up.

    2. I think this dress can lean a little “c*cktail”. I’d stick with a suit if its really a powerful exec.

    3. I actually like the dress, but like others said, it will be hard to find a jacket in exactly matching color/fabric.
      Also suggest shoes or purse in a different color, e.g. deep red, to liven things up, or a silk scarf.

      1. Thanks for the replies! I think I will go the suit route based on your suggestions. Now, time to find a suit…

        1. agree suit best. when i pair with black dress (which doing often now per maternity), i do a black/white small pattern blazer or such in similar fabric to be clear it’s an ensemble not a mismatch.

  28. Hi – sorry for the threadjack…

    My husband and my wedding anniversary is coming up in a week or so and I’m completely stuck on what to get him. Could you lend a hand? What did any of you get your husband for your last anniversary or his most recent birthday?

    1. I often end up getting my SO silly things for his birthday (like a USB missile launcher) but I think his favorite substantial Christmas present from me was boots.

    2. I’m a big fan of experiential gifts. This year, VIP tickets to a beer festival. In previous years: a flying lesson, biking gear, kindle, and entry to a marathon.

    3. One of the biggest hits was fancy English shave cream (Taylor of Old Bond or Truefitt and Hill), a real badger hair brush, and a nice stand. He actually likes shaving now, and gets a much better shave than with drugstore shave gel.

      A really nice bottle of scotch is always a winner as well.

  29. A little late night thread jack (blame the cold meds!)

    I’ve been at my new, fantastic, small law job for 7 weeks now. Making a good impression, trying to learn the way my new partners want things, and generally enjoying myself…until I got sick this week. I was down all weekend with 102 fever, coughing, the whole bit. Went into urgent care today, and I think I’ll be ok to go in tomorrow, as in not contagious. Ok to produce quality work? That’s debatable. It is going to be rough, and I feel horrible for taking a sick day just 7 weeks into my new firm.

    Does anyone else ever have guilt for taking a sick day (when they are really sick)? I was such a mess I couldn’t even see the computer to write an email, my husband had to send the partners an email for me early this morning! I really like this firm – small law, but mid-law compensation and interesting cases. Love the partners. How do you ladies deal with sick days in an environment that is smaller and the “sick days” aren’t really set in stone? Their philosophy is more “do good work and don’t worry about the rest.”

    1. I’d talk to your boss and stay home. You’re sick. It happens. Whether it happens on your first day or on your last, you should stay home. Go to bed and get yourself better.

      Based on the symptoms you described, you are too sick to be at work.

  31. I have 2 pairs of the Collina shoes, gray and brown. They are very comfortable and stylish in a lady-like way. I do not have to stand or walk a lot at work so I can’t vouch for an 8 hour on your feet day. I will be wearing these for a long time. BTW, if you Google Mary Poppins, you will see that these shoes are not the least bit similar.

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