This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I've known of the brand Sam Edelman for years, but it recently seems like they're really stepping it up a notch, because they have a ton of great pumps out right now. I'm particularly liking this slingback pump (available in black, camel, a two tone white/camel, and a zebra stripe). The camel in particular looks like it would be a great shoe if it matches your leg color; the zebra also would add a lot of whimsy to an otherwise boring outfit. They're $115 at Nordstrom. Sam Edelman Orly
Sales of note for 9.30.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Fall Cyber Monday sale, 40% off sitewide and $5 shipping
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Anon
These are gorgeous and I love Sam Edelman shoes.
fresh jd
Ditto, although I’m not sure if they’re worth that price.
Alex
I like them, too. Slingbacks aren’t for me, though. Neither are “mules” or backless. Just can’t wear them.
Argie
Question – I have a pair of shoes that I need some help in making fit. They have the heel cup, open sides, and then a peep toe front (see link below). The heel cup is a bit big and my thought is to try some of those cushy heel liner things. But given that the shoe is supposed to work by squishing the foot between the heel and the front strap, does anyone have any other bright ideas on how to keep this thing on my foot? http://bit.ly/mLu9Eh
(Different size, style is not an option. And yes, they will be dyed. Sigh.)
Rani
Bridesmaid?
Try a cushion/pad underneath the ball of your foot —
http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Cushions-1-Pair-Packages/dp/B001EPQ9AU/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1305661849&sr=1-3
I have narrow heels and tried the heel liner in some shoes, but this seems to work better for me. It kind of pushes your foot back into the heel area.
It may be better to get something that isn’t so slippery– like these (also includes heel liners, so you could try both)
http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Petals-Womens-Heavenly-Heelz/dp/B002MCTNLG/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1305661849&sr=1-4
Argie
Bridesmaid – yes. I have a personal hatred of peeptoes – my toes tend to poke out weirdly. So I will never be wearing these outside of the ceremony – I’m planning on changing into other shoes for the reception.
Delenn
In that case, definitely try inserts under the ball of your foot rather than heel grips. Heel grips will try to push your foot downward into the toebox, pushing your toes out the front of the shoe, while ball of foot inserts will push your foot back into the heel cap and minimize toe exposure.
I’ve never had any luck with heel grips in any case. For me, they usually come off or make the shoes hurt more.
(formerly posting as Ann-on)
Ru
I’ve used the heel grips in combination with these http://www.drugstore.com/dr-scholls-for-her-high-heel-insoles-womens-sizes-6-10/qxp217684?fromsrch=dr+schools+heel+insert and they are spectacular. I was wearing 3.75″ peeptoe stilettoes for 6 hours, no pain and my threshold is normally with 2.75″ stacked heels. Very highly recommend.
Kanye East
You could also put some moleskin inside the forefoot upper to take some of the volume out.
PollyD
This, plus maybe a folded up pad of gauze, held in place with the moleskin? Might also help keep your foot more snugly in place.
AT
If your dress is long (i.e., will cover your ankles), check out www dot heelstraps dot com. I’ve used these with mules and strapless sandals on occasion (with pants, so you can’t see them), and the worked great. Not sure if they would work with the relatively large heel cup you have on those bridesmaids shoes, but they might be an option, and would definitely keep the shoe on your foot for the step-together-pause-step-together-pause trek up the aisle.
UpNorth
Corporettes,
Help! I am beginning a new job right out of grad school and I need some guidance as to what to wear the first day on the job/whether I should ask about a dress code. Does asking make me look like a lightweight? Would asking HR be appropriate? This is job in the bio-sciences industry.
Nothing has been explicitly mentioned, but when I was there for the interview, the common theme was khakis and button-downs (mostly men in the office).
Also, I haven’t heard about a meeting time or place for the first day (start date in two weeks). Do I look high maintenance if I inquire first?
TIA!
AJ
There’s nothing wrong with asking, but it sounds a lot like my first job, in scientific consulting. The women in my office wore a lot of different things – the older ones wore a lot of khakis + blouses, the younger ones wore slightly more formal trousers or skirts or dresses. The TPS today would have fit right in; I wore shirtdresses, a-line skirts, pencil skirts, sweaters and refined tees when I worked there.
ADL
Check in with HR or the person who recruited you. Or did you interview with your manager? You could always ask him/her. They’re used to those questions for people starting on the first day.
anon
I wouldn’t think twice about asking HR.
I don’t know your industry at all. But whenever I’m pretty sure that most men won’t be in business formal (univeral suit and ties), then I’ll often wear a simple wrap dress, nice jewelry or scarf, and jacket. It’s easy enough to take the jacket off if it ends up being more toward the casual end of business casual. Hopefully you hear back from HR though and don’t have to guess too much.
Yaffa
Normally on the first day I wear very comfortable shoes – you might be walked around the whole building to meet people and taken out to lunch! And yes, totally fine to ask HR, but if most men are in khakis and button downs a wrap dress or pencil skirt and blouse should be appropriate for you.
Teodora
Tia – you should overdress until you get it right – it can’t hurt. Someone said comfortable shoes and it makes sense. What industry?
UpNorth
Ladies- thanks for the feedback.
I had also heard from some that I should overdress the first few days– does that come off overzealous?
Industry is bio-sciences/biotech.
Yaffa
Eh. At a law firm, it wouldn’t seem overzealous. However, I’ve seen several commenters say that in their casual workplaces, overdressing is perceived as trying to make others look bad. Sciences tend to be especially casual compared to other professional fields. So – maybe don’t overdress.
PollyD
Yes, science does tend toward the over-casual. If there are labs in your building, the dress code for people in the labs is probably something along the lines of clothes + no open-toed shoes. It really depends on what you are doing, but when I was at a biotech (small company with research labs and manufacturing on the premises), dresses, skirts, and shoes of the type normally advocated here as “business casual” would definitely have been at the high end of the formality scale. I’d probably go with nice pants, comfortable shoes, and a nice cardigan/top combo. This should be nice enough, but not too nice that you don’t fit in. After the first day you can get a better idea of the dress code. About the shoes, another thing I have noticed is that both in biotech and now in government, very few women wear shoes that make noise, i.e., no clickclack of heels down the hall. The shoes many of them wear make me weep – really thick rubber soles, blunt-toed maryjanes, basically, picture something a toddler with orthopedic issues might wear. I refuse to succumb to clunky shoes, but try to pick pairs that aren’t too aggressively clacky.
s
I usually hate all slingback shoes, but I really like the style of these. The zebra ones are fabulous.
I have a $100 nordstroms gift card too.
I need styling help though before I take the plunge. How would I wear these?
Bonnie
You could wear these with pretty much anything. If they’re “nude for you” they’d probably work with all skirts and dresses.
ADL
These go with anything. Skirts, dresses, jeans. Sigh, I’m on a shopping break right now (perhaps they’ll go on sale with the Nordstrom anniversay sale..here’s hoping).
Monday
You mentioned you like the zebra ones, so I take it you’re asking what to wear with those in particular? I’d say (as did Kat) something pretty basic. A solid neutral dress? Denim on bottom and black on top? I’d say no other patterns, and no bright colors. The outfit should not compete with the shoes. Enjoy!
SF Bay Associate
If you get these, be sure to check for a price adjustment when the Half Yearly sale starts on the 25th. Who knows – they may go on sale!
Annie
Rant. I had a telephone hearing before a magistrate today and prior to the magistrate getting on the phone, I was on with two male attorneys representing other clients. One of attorneys (“A”) mentioned that the magistrate was pregnant and would be leaving on maternity leave soon. I replied that I would have to congratulate the magistrate and wondered out loud who would be handling the magistrate’s docket over the summer. A’s response was this is why they don’t let the magistrates where he practices take maternity leave and screw up the docket. I was so surprised I didn’t respond. Now I’m frustrated with myself for not telling him that was ridiculous or making an appropriate quip to the same effect. Grr.
Too bored to bill
He’s a tool. Anything you would have said would have gone in one ear and out the other. While it would have felt good to have said something, nothing you would have responded with would have changed how he views the world. Just feel bad for his wife/girlfriend/sister/mother.
Sneezy
I agree with too bored. Some of the men at the attorney generals office took a paternity leave and there were lots of negative comments about that – especially because the state attorneys get 12 weeks. Even some of the women attorneys referred to it as maternity leave and acted annoyed they had to take on his case load.
People like that attorney suck. Instead of telling them, I always just make an excuse for them and move on. Guy who cuts me off in traffic? Probably just really has to poop. Guy who says bad stuff about maternity leave? Probably just having problems getting his wife pregnant or maybe problems getting laid.
Saying something to him just opens the door for him to judge you on your opinion, but it won’t likely change his. Making up an imaginary reason why is funny, satisfying, and you never regret it later. Life is too short and maybe so is that guy’s……well you get the idea.
UnSub
I’m about to have a telephone interview with a great company. Just sitting here nervously waiting. Please send me some luck.
Anonymous
Here you go:
╚══════════════ ೋღ☃ღೋ ═══════════════╝
Good luck!
Bk foette
Good luck to you! I have yet another interview on Friday. Keep hoping one of these have got to stick — right?
Unsub
Thanks all. And Bk foette – one will stick. Hang in there.
awkward!
Ok so this is an awkward question but I don’t know who to turn to. Please help! New office. Everyone has the same chair, which is plastic (leatherette?) and doesn’t breathe. At. All. Sitting on it all day is um, shall we say hot and uncomfortable in strategic areas. To make matters worse, it is small and very slick so anything I put on it slides around and eventually threatens to deposit me on the floor. I try to get up a lot but it doesn’t help too much. Has anyone dealt with this? Any thoughts?
Sneezy
Either:
Scope out the office to see if anyone else has any type of cushion or cover on their chair. Then, copy their idea, form an alliance with that person regarding a chair revolution, and buy a small desk fan for your feet.
Or:
If no one has anything on their chairs, craft your own using a hybrid of some type of regular breathable cushion and non slip jar opening material. Then write a letter to the company that sells these chairs and recommending they sell your custom non-slip cushion as an accessory to the chair. Become millionaire. Quit uncomfortable chair job and travel world.
awkward!
haha! i’ll take (b) please!
Yaffa
They make attachable chair covers that don’t slide around – I’d get a fabric cover. Sounds very uncomfortable.
Sally
Can you switch your chair with your visitor’s chair? My swivel chair is very uncomfortable but the plain chair that is supposed to be in front of my desk is great so I just switched them.
anon in dc
Quick update! A few weeks ago I was bemoaning the long and tedious process of getting a security clearance for my new job. Everything turned out ok and I will be starting soon! Thanks again to the Corporettes who stepped in with all their encouraging words and thoughts. It was kind of a stressful time, and I tend to be a worrier. I’m glad it all worked out in the end.