Coffee Break – Raquel Large Tote

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1. At this price point, I like the bags from Strenesse better. I also like Liebeskind’s less slouchy purses as well. If we’re talking about “buy before I leave Germany” :-)

   I just wanted to report back on two pairs of simple pumps that are easily found for <$50:

   1. Steve Madden's Pinelope in black suede: Despite having a really thin heel, they feel extremely stable. I really like that they look ok with both pencil skirts as well as dresses (Like the famous Reiss Shola dress… drool). ($29.90 @Nordstrom Rack)

   2. Liz Claiborne Johnnie Pump in deep red patent: I get a lot of compliments on these shoes, but what I like most is that the heel is chunky yet not clunky, and the soles and the heel have super grippy texture that keeps me from sliding around. ($30ish at DSW)

   I love the look of Loubs and other pricier shoes, but "until" I have my own, both of these are holding me over nicely at guilt free prices. Just wanted to pass on the tip.

   1. The Pinelope Pump: http://tinyurl.com/6h57spf
      (The suede wasn’t amaaaazing, but I actually prefer a cheaper shoe in this case, because I’m worried that I would just ruin a more expensive suede shoe anyways)

      The Johnnie Pump: http://tinyurl.com/6gpl2o9

   2. Those Pinelopes in Taupe Suede are amazing…

2. I’ve been waiting for the coffee break! Can we talk about (clothing) wrinkles?

   I recently started working as an associate at a law firm, and I’m noticing that all of my bottoms (skirts, pants) get wrinkled (even when freshly drycleaned) after a few hours of sitting at my desk. I hate when I visit the restroom and see those creases across the front of my skirt. At the moment my workwear is mostly from Ann Taylor and BR. Do I need to focus on higher quality clothes to avoid wrinkles? Should I be looking for certain fabrics? What do you all do to avoid/deal with wrinkles?

   1. I just avoid linen like the plague. On days were my clothes tend to easily wrinkle, I just remind myself that “everyone wrinkles” and it’s obvious it is caused by simply wearing the clothes rather than my lack of ironing.

      My husband and I were cracking up at an infomercial yesterday morning but if you are truly bothered by wrinkles it may work for you. It was essentially a sprayer that released who know what and allows you to de-wrinkle on the fly, while you are wearing the clothes. The canisters reminded me of that dust off stuff you use on your keyboard. You may kill the ozone in the process but at least you can look well-ironed at all times.

   2. Wool blends will wrinkle less than cotton or rayon blends and normally the wrinkles will fall out when you hang them up. Poly doesn’t really wrinkle at all, but obviously it has other issues. Silk and linen tend to wrinkle a lot and need to be steamed/ironed to remove the wrinkles.

      I think wrinkles are pretty much unavoidable if you’re sitting all day. You could try using starch, but I’m not sure how that would work on your bottoms.

   3. I have this problem too. I have no clue what to do about wrinkles in wool. I’ve been thinking about experimenting with starching heavy cotton. Might that work?

   4. I smooth my skirt right before I sit down and that seems to help a bit.

   5. Some wrinkles are unavoidable but those don’t really bother me. Others can be avoided with more careful sitting, etc. E.g., I try to pull my skirt down neatly before sitting, I avoid putting a purse in my lap when on the train if wearing a looser skirt, etc. Heavier fabrics do tend to avoid wrinkles more. I think you also have to distinguish between normal wrinkling that no one will ever pay attention to (e.g., slight creases on the skirt) vs. sloppy wrinkling. If it really bugs you and you have an office to yourself, get a mini steamer and go to town before import meetings.

      1. Thanks for all the responses–it’s good just to know that people are accepting of wrinkles.

3. For shirts: switch to brooks brother’s. Best investment ever for shirts that look fresh all day!

4. So today, enjoying my 50 pound loss, I am wearing a new Calvin Klein gray sheath dress with fabulous black opaque DKNY tights. I have not worn tights since I was a kid (and that’s a very long time ago, as I have been in practice 30 plus years). I was shopping at Nordies and wanted to buy The Skirt in the dove gray color but hesitated because I am unsure if you could wear tights under it and if so what color. What do you think? I tried it on with my black tights but was not sure about how it looked. I would rather not wear hose since these tights are so much more comfortable! How would you ladies style it?

   1. Congrats on the weight loss! I was at an event once where Donna Karan spoke, and she said that more than anything else, women approach her all the time to tell her that they: (a) love her tights or (b) love her tights and are wearing them “right now!”

      1. OK, for my fall shopping can I get a suggestion for tights that are not shiny? At all? What fabric content (or other specs) should I be looking for? I don’t mind some sheerness, but I’m ready to stop making this purchasing mistake…

         1. Cotton ones should be shiny.

         2. Haha, have you tried DKNY tights? They’re fabulous! I don’t recall them being shiny at all, and they also don’t have that dreadful “bike shorts” effect going. Hue also makes non shiny tights (and tights in every color of the rainbow, fyi). I bought some tights last week at Nordstom Rack in Union Sq., don’t recall the brand, but they were in a gray package & I don’t think they were too shiny, but maybe our definitions of “shiny” differ? They also sell a pair of gray tights there now, which I bought last year, and, if you like gray tights, they are the the very antithesis of shiny, and they’re really cute, too.

         3. I buy the ones from Costco. Seriously. They come in packs of three, and they are great. Good weight, good stretchiness, good low sheen (not shiny). Good price, obviously. Black only. Never tried other colors.

         4. My favorite tights (from Hue) are not shiny at all. They’re called simply HUE Opaque Tights, and they’re 86% nylon, 14% spandex.

            I’ve read that the higher the spandex level, the less itchy they will be. But spandex also tends to be shiny, I think. At any rate, the Hue ones are not itchy in the slightest.

   2. I love DKNY tights. They’re always the right weight and actually opaque and never itchy like some tights.

   3. I think black opaques would look good with a lighter grey skirt if you are wearing black somewhere else, like a black jacket. This wouldn’t work for me as I am bottom heavy and it would be a like a spotlight on that area, but if you are built differently (or don’t care!) then I think it would be nice.

      You can also find heathered charcoal gray tights through Hue. I prefer DKNY tights personally, but have not seen many color options.

      And congratulations on your weight loss!

   4. I have a dove grey sheath dress that I wear in the wintertime with black tights, black heels and a black cardigan. It works really well – the cardigan kind of pulls it together. So you could probably do the same thing wearing a black top with your grey skirt.

   5. What about navy? I feel like navy tights are great because they walk the line between “I have fun colored tights” and “I have traditional neutral tights”.

   6. I’m wearing The Skirt right now in Camel with black tights, and think it looks like a pretty cute combo! I would definitely do gray w/black tights. By the by, thank you Corporettes for spreading the word about The Skirt. It is FAB!!!! I must get it in every color.

      Re: tights – I swear by the Assets (cheaper version of Spanx at Target) tights. They are $12 a pair, totally opaque, warm, smoothing, and I have had a few pairs for at least 2 years that I wash after each wearing and are still holding up amazingly well.

5. Nice post! I do love Coccinelle bags. Am hoping to buy one this coming december. Coccinelle bags looks best for my corporate attire. :)

6. Ok I want to do a PSA about the limited. Some of you were looking for items to help transfer your wardrobe sizes.

   So right now if you buy any jacket, dress or skirt, or pant, you get one of your choice for free. (so you can do two jackets, two dresses, one jacket one pant, etc)

   Shirts are buy one get one free (this includes some nice looking sweaters)

   40% off all accessories

   And you are virtual dollars which are 25 dollars off the next 50 you buy, and if you sign up for secret savings club, they put 10% of what you spend in an account for you. so the next time you shop youll have that and the 25 off of 50.

7. Threadjack: I’m clueless about shoes! What color shoes can be worn with tan/khaki-colored pants? I’m also looking for a pair of black pumps. Any recommendations? I’m confused by the different materials: patent, leather…which is the most professional?

   1. Almost any color can be worn with khaki. You just want to make it uniform, if in doubt. E.g., black shoes, black belt; brown shoes, brown belt. Personally I prefer medium, chestnut-ty brown with tan, but you can do almost any color.

      Regular leather is the most professional, imo, for pumps, thought patent leather is certainly acceptable. Suede is another option, but that’s typically best for colder months (September – April maybe).

8. Coccinelle may be an Italian brand but the bags are made in China.

9. They are sold at Saks in the US.
   I just bought one, plain black. It is soo hard to find a nice black leather handbag that isn’t cluttered with a ton of hardware, buckles, chains, and logos.
   They are amazing – one of the most beautiful bags I’ve seen or owned.
   And pretty cheap – under $500.

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