Coffee Break: Modal and Silk Scarf

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I usually recommend Nordstrom's tissue scarves (and often check back myself to see what colors and prints they have in stock) — but I will note that some of my all-time favorite scarves have been silk/modal blends, like this one. The blend means that it's ultra soft — but it also means it's got more heft than a pure silk scarf (so it doesn't fly in your face on a windy day) and it's less likely to catch on your jewelry, tags, or whatever else it is that scarves always seem to catch on and run.

(Fun fact: DvF years and years ago made a great silk/modal scarf in so many fun prints — I believe it was called the Kenley scarf, and I had one and had bought one for my mother-in-law. Sadly I lost mine on a date night with my husband (sob!) — but I still occasionally check Poshmark or eBay for good options.)

The pictured scarf is a great price — it's $39 at Nordstrom.

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

82 Comments

  1. EXCELLENT. My terrible assistant was finally transferred to another team and so she is no.longer.my.problem! This has been my hope and dream since the day I started working with her. Sucks to be the other team, but I am ecstatic.

    1. Ha! Thanks for the laugh. Reminds me of a disastrous outreach assistant I had who now seems to have landed a job as a comm director. Here’s hoping I never have to work with her as a lateral colleague …

      1. The only thing she’s given me is fantastic stories for parties. Like that she wears a shirt with Jesus’ bedazzled face on the front. Regularly.

        1. Does she also wish you a “rapture filled day” as an email sign off? If so, I believe I have either worked with her or she has a sister.

          1. “Have a blessed day” is my number-one pet peeve email signature, especially if it’s in cursive. WHY, people…

          2. She’s all about the blessings in her email signatures. She’s also about hugs in the office, which I generally either back away from or say “No, I’m not a hugger.” That has not once stopped her. She’s also a crier.

            I CANNOT express how happy I am she’ll be working with some poor other (new) staff who don’t know what they’re in for. May the odds be ever in your favor, you poor things.

  2. Any recs for a drama tv show I can stream (netflix, prime, hulu, disney+)? I’m looking for something similar to Friday Night Lights/Parenthood/Jane the Virgin – some laughter, some tears. Cheesy is ok but not too maudlin (This is Us, I’m looking at you).

  3. I am trying to rehabilitate some cast iron that was my beloved Nana’s. It sat around for years while she was to infirm to handle it (the cauldron is a workout even for me, the chicken fryer is easier to use, and there is a cornbread thingie shaped like ears of corn).

    I thought I’d clean it well and season per a million blogs. But maybe I’m doing it wrong? Food seems to stick no matter what I do. I do wash after use and re-oil and then wipe the excess (I didn’t once and it got gummy; time to start again).

    I have heard to use oven cleaner to start totally fresh and then also NEVER to do that as it will cause deep pitting and ruin it (and then that you cannot ruin cast iron). What is the real deal? I miss my Nana terribly b/c she’d know these things. My mom has her own cast iron that is perfect and kept on the stove, so she has never encountered trouble with this type of cookwear.

    1. How are you seasoning it? You should put it upside-down in the oven at 350 or 375 for at least an hour.

    2. What are you cooking? Your temperature is probably also too high if food is sticking, in addition to maybe the seasoning isn’t great. You could check out the cast iron subreddit, but they’re pretty militant in some of their advice. It really is almost impossible to ruin cast iron.

      1. The temp could be too high. I have a new fancy stove that needed a hood b/c of the BTUs so I am probably running it hotter than on my prole stove.

    3. As a near vegetarian it pains me to say this, but, bacon grease. I have found that cast iron seasoned with olive oil, vegetable oil, or shortening seems fine at first but isn’t nonstick and gets kind of gummy. Seasoning it repeatedly with bacon grease is the only thing that has ever worked for me.

      1. OP here — you are speaking my language. Can you tell that there used to be a lard container next to the stove in my Nana’s house? Maybe that is what it needs. Some piggy love.

        [I guess I could just wrap the corn one in foil and put some bacon on the top of it and put that in the oven, then flip?]

        1. Give the corn one a light rubbing with bacon grease and put it in a 400 degree oven for half an hour or so. Turn oven off. When cool, remove the pan and rinse the excess off with really hot water. Dry it in the oven. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

    4. My best advice is to keep trying. Cook fatty foods like 80/20 ground beef or bacon in it. Wipe it out, then re-oil with olive oil or leftover grease (it seemed gross to me but re-oiling really helps). It took at least a year before I could fry an egg in our cast iron without it becoming a baked on mess, even using tons of olive oil. It will get better! I probably spent six months being disappointed in my cast iron. Now we use it daily and it’s my favorite pan. We’ve had it probably seven or eight years.

    5. Awesome! I wish I had some heirloom cast iron. :)
      My advice is that if it’s gummy or has excess residue on it, it could use a good scrub. I know that my cast iron has taken quite a while to get near nonstick, so I would just keep at it – just may take a bit of patience. If you’d like a product recommendation, I’d maybe get one of those chailmail scrubbers (all metal) to scrub it out after use – just use this, hot water, and elbow grease. I also like BuzzyWax to use on it for seasoning and for rubbing on after use (just need a light coating).
      And finally, for “nonstick” usage, make sure to use some oil or fat with anything that’s not already fatty, like bacon, and not to let it get too hot. Also, preheating the pan well before adding fat helps. It will never get as nonstick as teflon, but it will get better over time and with use. Good luck and enjoy!

      1. Yes, you have to preheat cast iron over medium heat until the whole pan is hot. It takes longer than you think. I preheat until I can feel the heat in the palm of my hand held an inch over the surface. Don’t add your cooking fat until it’s preheated.

    6. I never season mine in the oven, but I also never use anything other than oil and salt to clean it. Food will always stick to the pan the first mins of being added, but will as it heats up it will lift from pan so try and not touch it at first. Some pieces will inevitably stick, but as you finish cooking, those caramelized pieces are called fond and will make for the most delicious sauces. Lastly, some items are just not meant for cast iron, such as eggs, and are better suited for nonstick.

      1. You can do eggs but you have to use a lot of fat. Like you, I prefer nonstick just for eggs. I feel like the “slick as nonstick” claims are from cast iron evangelists. I love cast iron, but not for every last thing. Also see tomato sauces.

    7. I would put a little oil in it, heat it up on the stove top, let it cool back down but not enough that the food residue sticks again. Then I’d rinse it out and scrub only with a paper towel and a little more oil and then let it air dry.

    8. Just keep using it.
      It will never be non-stick like teflon, but actual use, not fussy seasoning procedures, is what gets it well worn in.
      Now you have an excuse to cook bacon, often (but never naked).

    9. This thread is a goldmine of advice, but I’ll throw in my 2 cents from recently buying a cheap “preseasoned” pan that stuck SO BADLY the first time I used it I was in tears, to having slowly worked it up to “Maybe I could fry an egg in this if I’m careful.” I followed the advice of one of the gurus on the castiron subreddit and used a blue shop towel to wipe the tiniest amount of Crisco/other veggie shortening in the pan, and put it upside down in a cold oven before turning it on to a high temp (honestly, I did it at about 375 while I cooked some other things). Then, letting it cool down in the oven for a few hours. I did this 2 or 3 times and it’s useable now, I have my fingers crossed that a combination of this and using it to make bacon will make it better. We can muddle our way through pan rehabilitation together!

    10. Cast iron does not like dish detergent
      I was taught to use a crumpled brown paper bag and table salt and scrub it out that way

      As to the seasoning ….yes everybody’s right bacon fat is your friend

    11. When you say you wash after use, what are you doing? No soap, ever. I got a cast iron chain-mail scrubber thing that works wonders — after dinner, I heat up the pan slightly, add a tsp of oil and a pour of kosher salt to the pan, then use the chain-mail until all the food bits are off. That’s it. You shouldn’t ever really wash cast iron — water at most, but it’s really better if you can just wipe it out.

      1. So dumb question, how do you not get poisoned by cast-iron pans in the oils or fats turning rancid if you never wash it? I know the food it’s probably fine but doesn’t it teem with bacteria after it cools down?

        1. I think this is two-fold. It’s not really a puddle of oil or fat sitting on the iron; it’s just a thin coating. Also, you don’t typically use the cast iron just once a year or something. Ours lives on the stovetop, and we use it so much that the fat coating is constantly revolving. You can leave oil or other fat out on the counter a long time before it goes bad, so it’s the same principle as heating up a tablespoon of oil that has been sitting in the bottle on your counter.

          1. not only is the thin coat of fat revolving, but it’s being heated up all the time. That will kill the germs.

    12. Also, barkeeper’s friend will strip the top coat so you can start over. My 14 year old cast iron pan will tell you all about. Then, rub off the light coat of rust that forms, dry immediately, then oil and heat. Alton Brown suggests canola oil in a warm but not hot pan, wipe off well, then into the hottest oven for one hour, let cool, repeat 2X.

  4. Posting an update to my question about what colors go with my beige bathroom. Thanks to the poster who recommended a rust color! I ended up getting some rusty orange-y towels/mats and they look amazing! Orange is one of my fave colors too, and I totally didn’t even think of it! In case anyone is wondering, I got the “terracotta” color from Frontgate.

  5. I’ve finally reached Closet Cleanout stage of pandemic life. After going through all my work dresses and setting aside those I couldn’t remember when I’d last worn them (like, in terms of years, not ‘since March’)… I am left with about 10 sheath dresses that are all either navy or black, sleeveless, cap sleeve, or 3/4 sleeve, most year-round but 2 each that are firmly ‘summer’ and ‘winter.’

    Memo to Cat – do not buy colorful dresses. You prefer to mix things up with a silk blouse under, or pretty cardigan over. Not with the dress itself.

    1. Congratulations. I feel like you have obtained some valuable information. Well done.

  6. Recently I’ve been really craving watching movies from the 90s and early aughts (for some reason this always happens to me in autumn – something about the crisp air makes me miss the terrible fashion maybe?). A few I’ve watched lately include Step Mom, Serendipity, and Beautiful Girls. Any favorites I should add to my list?

    1. Clueless
      Election
      Cruel Intentions
      Legally Blonde (hmmm… yes I like circa-2000-Reese)
      Dave (oh for simpler presidential humor like the challenges of balancing a budget)
      Unfaithful (although I think the fashion has actually held up)

          1. oh yes! Knew I missed one! To that end.. Home Alone. Peak 90’s clothes and decor.

      1. What about Autumn in New York? It is a very sensitive movie from 2000 with Winona Rider and Richard Gear, and this is the right season for it. She is so pretty in that movie and I wish I looked like she did now.

      1. I wait for Hocus Pocus every year, pop some popcorn, and watch it with the glee you would expect from an eleven year old girl.

    2. Clueless
      Scream (and I like the Scary Movie spoofs too)
      The Truth About Cats & Dogs
      She’s All That
      10 Things I Hate About You
      Save the Last Dance
      Pretty Woman (but this was 1990)
      Sleepless in Seattle
      The Cutting Edge

    3. 12 Monkeys might be too on the nose for our current hellscape, but I’ve thought about it a lot recently and it was definitely A Thing at the time.

    4. It sort of falls apart at the end, but Kathryn Bigelow’s The Weight of Water. Rich people behaving badly, peak Josh Lucas, Sarah Polley as a teenage axe-wielder, it’s pretty gosh darn fun.

    5. Bend it like Beckham. Central Stage. Drop Dead Gorgeous. Knotting Hill. Sweet Home Alabama. Bridget Jones. Two Weeks Notice. Miss Congeniality.
      Lots and lots of Sandra Bullock, Renee Z, Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant in different iterations.

    6. I didn’t see it listed yet: French Kiss! Peak ‘90s Meg Ryan with an incredible Jean Reno cameo- this movie is an unsung hero of the ‘90s rom com genre.

  7. A hopefully fun diversion. We bought a home in FL pre-pandemic (who would have known?) and will hopefully get there next year. I have 2 awesome guest rooms that are already mostly furnished but I’d like suggestions as to what to put in there to make them exceptional. I’m thinking — things like small puzzles, games, etc. — or creative suggestions to make them really enticing and welcoming rooms. Not that anyone will be my guests other than my grown children or immediate family :-)

    1. I love decorating with family art. Do you have anyone in your family who is artistic? I’ve found certain pieces to be great conversation starters, especially the more amateur ones. I also love, more than anything, when things are intuitive in the room and guests don’t have to hunt down a towel, an extra blanket, the power outlet, etc. Thoughtful design and placement of amenities goes a long way.

    2. An assortment of pillows. Not the decorative kind. The kind your head goes on to sleep. A really soft lightweight throw. Sunburn plus air conditioning makes a super soft throw feel so good. A variety of books – old fashioned made of paper books. A small coffee and tea maker so that guests don’t have to make themselves presentable enough to go to the kitchen for that first cup in the morning. A small fan or white noise machine for light sleepers.

    3. This would be a great place to put all your ‘extra’ books – things you don’t need to keep at your main home, but would be interesting to pull down and read when relaxing. Or, hit up a used bookstore. :)
      Also, having good non-overheard lighting is really great – useful bedside lamps, for instance. Makes things cozy!
      Phone chargers for apple & other if they forget.
      Kleenex, a nice hand lotion, a scented candle.

    4. -Wifi info in an obvious place (notecard on dresser?); check the strength in those rooms and add a booster if needed
      -Easy to access outlets (extension cord or power strip if they’re buried behind furniture)
      -Nice lamps for reading in bed
      -Variety of pillows and blankets (for sleeping, not decorative pillows or throws) – just a sheet + fluffy duvet means there is nothing for me personally between “too cold” and “sweating”
      -Fan (white noise for sleeping in unfamiliar house, also temperature control)
      -Hooks, so many hooks (for keeping robes and PJs, towels, etc off the floor)
      -Lots of hangers (it’s amazing how many two adults need for a weeklong stay with FL in laws)
      -TVs? Maybe? You know your family’s viewing habits better than I do. If everyone has their own favorite shows, having a personal smart TV they can log into can make for good alone time.
      -If any of the rooms don’t have their own bathroom, a little vanity area (mirror with good lighting, hairdryer) to help with sharing the bathroom, and providing fluffy robes is nice for not feeling exposed in the hallway

      Personally I don’t think puzzles or games would go to a lot of use in a guest room (I’m either sleeping, hiding out for a bit to get alone time, or showering) vs. having fun things in the shared living space to do as a group.

      1. in the line of wifi code, I also have written hints how to adjust for my non-intuitive blinds, and I might add instructions for the shower as well. If I ever welcome people into my guest room again.

      2. + a million to bedding layers and lots of pillows! People who don’t need lots of pillows can always take them off the bed, but those folks with old and decrepit bodies (me!) will appreciate having more than one.

    5. Aw this is so thoughtful! I second the suggestion for bedside lamps & apple chargers. A fan would be nice if there isn’t a ceiling fan (in that case, instructions). A basket with toiletries, sunscreen & aloe would be lovely

    6. A tiny Vornado fan that fits on the bedside table
      A copy of the latest “Best Short Stories” compilation
      A box of tiny disposable nail files
      Air freshener in the bathroom
      Toilet brush with disposable pads
      Box of disposable hand towels in addition to regular hand towels
      Bathrobes in the closet
      Charging station that comes with a variety of connecting cords

        1. These are all great suggestions. Thank you so much!

          Re-vamping the “games/puzzles” – I think I want to have some great games and puzzles scattered around my new den. Of course there’s the classic chess set, but what else might you suggest?

          1. I am glad they were helpful!
            I am not a games person (as in, I play them and would encourage you to have them around for sure but don’t have a repertoire of games), but a deck of cards and a book with card games instructions, including solitaire games, would be very welcome in any guest room I am staying in. A book of crossword puzzles, too, for when I have retired early to accommodate the host but before I am ready to sleep or wake up early.
            I would love to have some of the classic games around the house – Clue, Boggle, Scrabble, Monopoly, Uno. And I think a game like Trivial Pursuit or any other game with a deck of cards with questions (trivia or “personality”) that could be casually used for conversation, without actually playing the game, would be fun to have around. Then you can play the game or either just chitchat using them as a stimulus or engage in a casual challenge using the cards. That makes me think that a “The Book of Questions”-type book might be fun to have in a guest room.

          2. Depends on how family-friendly you want to be. If that’s not a concern, then Cards Against Humanity is great fun.
            Pictionary and Scrabble, of course. Trivial Pursuit is a personal favorite of mine.
            Our family loves SushiGo for some reason. It’s a simple but fun card game that kids and adults really like.
            Qwirkle is another great family-friendly game.
            Now I’m in the mood for board games!

        2. This comment brought back a funny memory. My best friend and I went to visit our other friend (guy) at his new place out of state. He made both of us feel so welcome. Had guest baskets for both of us with all sorts of goodies–our favorite snacks, slipper socks and all sorts of toiletries. Each basket also contained like 12 different types of pads, tampons and panty liners. My best friend was like, “Where did you get all of this?!? If I was bleeding that much I wouldn’t need a tampon, hell, you’d be taking me to the hospital. Is that why there’s slipper socks?” He really is one of the most thoughtful people I know though. We couldn’t have been older than early 20s. What other guy would think of that, especially at that age?

  8. Hi!
    Paging the DC area poster from earlier today who is planning on selling her mid-tier bike- I’m definitely interested!

    1. I would like a nice bicycle for NYC that is not a Citibike. Does anyone have one they can post with a price on it for me? Dad could pick it up and bring it to my apartment on 77th, unless you are close enough and ride it over yourself!

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