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Updated: Feb 18, 2022 54 Comments · by

Coffee Break: ‘Depoe Bay’ Pump

Accessories· Coffee Break· Fashion· Shoes· Wear to Work

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Jeffrey Campbell 'Depoe Bay' Pump

We’ve noticed this shoe before, and now the comfort ratings have us totally mesmerized — we like this Jeffrey Campbell pump, particularly in the brown, but also in the black and the khaki. We like the decoration — the buckles and O-rings are fun and reminiscent of saddles — and the brown tone keeps things out of the S&M arena. We’d try them with a seersucker blazer and simple skirt, perhaps.

They’re $124 at Nordstrom. Jeffrey Campbell ‘Depoe Bay’ Pump

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Comments

      • anon

        Honestly curious here – what about these do you think makes them inappropriate for work?

        • A

          If you look at the top view on the link, you can see these are some pretty heavy buckles. In my office, they would get more than a second glance. and not for the right reasons.

        • AN

          Yes, I would like to know that too. These would be fine at many, if not most/all offices.

        • Emily

          The resemblance to cowboy boots probably makes these inappropriate for any day but Friday at my Midwestern office.

  2. ceb

    Super cute . . . I wouldn’t try to pair them with a skirt, but they would look fantastic with pants.

    • anon

      Agreed … not sure about the styling suggestions, but I like the idea of these with khaki pants and a nice neutral top. Also, nothing about these screams S&M to me …

    • fresh jd

      Yes, I think they’d be appropriate peeking out of pants, but not a good look with a professional skirt or dress. On the weekends I might pair it with a khaki or denim skirt.

  3. Suze

    Too many straps/too much hardware for anything but ‘jeans shoes’ and these are, IMHO, priced too high for ‘jeans’ shoes.

  4. Experienced

    Off topic but humorous. Remember the comment recently, in reference to DC Lawyer’s public service announcement on appropriate dress , where the commentator rightly guffawed at the notion of a sundress and cardigan as “professional”? Well. I was in the home office last week, where the summer dress code is decidedly more relaxed, and a very sharp young woman was dressed nicely for a summer lawn party in the sundress/cardigan combo. She was giving a presentation and stretched to point something out on the ppt screen, but caught herself and said, “Excuse my reach but if I stand in front of the screen my dress will be see-through.”

    Had to share.

    • K

      That’s hysterical. But then WHY OH WHY did she choose to wear it if she KNEW that was the outcome???

      And as for the shoes in this post: they’re very cute shoes for JEANS.

      (Sorry about the caps, guess I felt strongly about this!) :)

    • Erin

      Oh snap. Why would you wear this? I can wear a sundress/cardigan to office on a casual day, but I’d never consider anything but business formal for a presentation! And she KNEW the dress was see through? WTH, people?

    • RKS

      O.M.G.

      I cannot imagine pointing that out to a room full of people, who now have the visual in their minds.

      • fresh jd

        The crime here was that she knew it and worse still, pointed it out to a room full of men and women. I would have left that presentation remembering nothing but her comment. And I’m sure it instantly made the men visualize how it would look if she did dare to step in front of the glaring ppt screen. My gosh.

        • Experienced

          Exactly -frankly I can’t remember what she presented on! It was totally the comment and accompanying visual that was memorable. Re: age, let’s just say old enough -likely late twenties.

        • anon - chi

          Ha. Exactly. The strange reach would be a LOT less memorable than the announcement about why she was doing it in the first place. I wonder if she realized how weird it was after she said it?

    • KelliJ

      How old was this person? It just makes me think of that picture of a young Lady Diana Spencer in the backlit skirt where you could see her legs. She was young and naive. After a certain age though, there is no excuse.

    • Ru

      Hilarious. Why couldn’t she just say, “The light from the projector hurts my eyes” or something innocuous like that? Goodness gracious.

  5. Lawgirl

    These are kinda cute, in tough-chick, earthy kinda way. I see some potential here. So surprised that people are slamming it as inappropriate for work and/or anywhere for that matter.

    • i'm nobody who are you

      These would work in my office. Come to think of it, I don’t think anybody in my office pays attention to the shoes anyone else in my office is wearing. I don’t know if the rest of the world is as judgy as corporette readers.

      My only caveat would be hardware noise: if people can hear your shoes clinking down the hallway, that’s a no-no.

      • Meredith

        That’s what I was thinking! I hate walking down the hall and listening to my shoes clink or squeak. This pair doesn’t look like they’d make much noise, though.

        They would also fly at my office, but I can see how they might be a little to funky for some very formal places. They’d be a great casual Friday option, and I love the idea of neutral pants and top – classy.

        – Meredith
        cubiclechicblog.com

      • spacegeek

        These would work in my office as well. No one cares about shoes, and I wear relatively-funky ones to dress up otherwise plain outfits at times. Have to say, Jeffrey Campbell shoes are quite comfortable due to the leather linings and soft leather uppers.

  6. Cat

    I agree with others who have noted that the style and multitude of the straps/buckles makes these a little “much” for work (at least for BigLaw). I’m all for including personal style, but can’t quite picture sitting next to the partner on a conference call with that dangling at the end of my leg.

    A quick Zappos search turned up the following alternatives (and now I’ll be tempted to keep shoe shopping while trapped at the office…):
    http://www.zappos.com/calvin-klein-garren-dark-brown-waxy-tumbled-leather (yes, the buckles are shiny, but noticeable in a professional way IMO)

    http://www.zappos.com/franco-sarto-ticket-caramel (a little more casual)

    http://www.zappos.com/circa-joan-david-presley-dark-brown-dark-brown-leather (preppier)

    http://www.zappos.com/geox-d-tokio-y-coffee-leather (ooh, a wedge — love them)

    • legalicious07

      I really like the CK pair! (Though I must admit, I actually like the original suggestion as well. I think they’d look great peeking out from under a pair of pants.)

    • Anonymous

      Sorry, but in the words of another fellow poster here, those are all frumptastic.

    • naijamodel

      I know!? Sometimes the picking-apart that goes on here can be a bit ridiculous.

      I’m not in Big Law, true – but if I was, I would wear these shoes. I would wear ’em now, but I can’t afford them. A person can be office appropriate without being a Stepford wife.

      • Cat

        It’s not a buckle issue per se, which I don’t think anyone could argue with a straight face :) If you click through to see the directly-overhead view of the shoes, it may help clarify why some are calling these office-inappropriate — the angle pictured above makes them look dressier than they really are IMO.

        The chunkiness of the multiple rings / buckle is just too informal for my office (and the way the leather is treated — so the toe and edges of the straps look age-weathered/darkened — makes them look more like weekend shoes to me).

  10. Sara

    I work in corporate and don’t see anything wrong with a buckle or two. My question here is- why Depoe Bay? It’s a nice little town on the Oregon coast where one can see whales sometimes… not a place people where any kind of heels though:)

    • jennifer

      I thought the same thing! I love Depoe Bay, but if I’m there (fishing or thrift shopping), I’m wearing galoshes or Chacos.

  12. Elle

    I love these shoes and would definitely wear them to work. (Mid-level associate at midwest larger lawfirm).

    • Anonymous

      These aren’t my style, but these would be totally acceptable at my large Midwest law firm.

    • jcb

      Same here, I am probably going to get them for work (Chicago biglaw) – and wear them with both pants and skirts. Guess a lot of people won’t like my shoes! I think they’re great, though and am in need of brown heels. Somehow I lost my standby pair of dark brown heels – not sure how that happens …

  13. Mary Lou

    Hi Corporettes!

    I was wondering what are your favorite ways to beat first interview nerves?

    In particular, day long interviews- how do you keep your energy up if appointments. are back to back?

    • lawDJ

      Keeping up energy is all about starting with good energy reserves and staying hydrated IMO. My advice is pretty much the same advice I would have if you were taking the bar or a long test.

      Try to get 8-9 solid hours of sleep the days leading up to it (if possible :)
      Have a good and hearty breakfast with protein, carbs and some fat (e.g., egg whites with veggies and ham, toast with butter, coffee with milk).
      Bring some almonds for energy, sneak them in if you feel your energy slipping, even 4-5 will do the trick.
      Bring a water bottle in your purse (though they will likely offer you water).
      Don’t hesitate to ask to to go the restroom between interviews if someone is escorting you from one place to another (if they aren’t, just go :)
      Wear something comfortable that you feel confident in and wear shoes that allow you to walk around quite a bit without hobbling or without enduring pain (or too much fussiness on your part)..
      If you’re having a lunch interview, bring a Tide pen just in case something spills, the next interviewer doesn’t have to know.
      Bring extra copies of your resume.
      Smile, the interviewers went through what you’re going through, and they know how much of a process it is. I’m convinced that’s part of the reason most places do these kind of long things, to see if any “crazy stuff” comes out when you’re really tired.

      Good luck in the interviews! :)

    • Emily

      This sounds counter-intuitive, but when I was going through day-long interviews I woke up half an hour earlier than I needed to and called a friend so I sounded awake and alert when I showed up. At some point, the adrenaline will keep you going; just make sure you have time to crash afterward.

      Chewing mint gum also helps perk me up when I’m drooping a little. Sometimes mint chapstick helps in a pinch.

      • E

        I agree – get up a bit early, get totally ready to face the day, and ensure that you never have to rush.

      • E2

        Mints between interviews is a good trick, but I would not be chewing gum during an interview, and I might even shy away from chewing it between interviews – particularly in a room with windows/glass walls or if the next interviewer could walk in any minute. I HATE looking at people who are chewing gum (or hearing it even if I can’t see it) and I know I’m not alone.

        • RKS

          No, you’re not alone. I have listening to gum-chewing, too.
          And in an interview, just no.

  14. stc

    I second the talking to someone else first-I ususally call my dad and ask him to talk to me about something unrelated so the first words I’ve spoken that day are to an interviewer.

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