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This Longchamp tote has been around for years, but I don't think we've ever featured it. As far as long-lasting, classic, recognizable bags, this is probably one of the most affordable leather bags ($550) that's been around for such a long time. (Cuyana I think is recognizable to readers of this site, but not necessarily to every shopper.)
The bag looks small on the model, but it's 18″W x 6″D x 15″H — more than big enough for a laptop. It is unlined, has double handles and a silver toggle closure. Love the grain of that leather — it's really lux. It's $550 at Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, and other retailers. (Ooh, and there are colorful suede versions at Longchamp.com.)
(Ah, and we have featured it at least once before — if you want to see the boxy teal 2012 version, enjoy…)
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Some of the best work bags for women as of 2024 include great totes from Cuyana (with a zipper), Tumi, Tory Burch (lightweight, a laptop tote), Lo & Sons, and Madewell (north/south). Also try this highly-rated organizing insert or these clever pouches with some of the less structured bags! If you're looking for a budget tote (or one in a specific color) check this Amazon seller (22K+ good reviews) or this Amazon seller (60K+ good reviews).
(Looking for a luxury work bag? Here's our latest roundup…)
Sales of note for 9.10.24
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- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
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Anon
I’m starting a job search and wondering if asking for references is a common practice these days. I’ve completely fallen out of touch with former managers. If references are something I’m likely to need, I should probably start setting up coffee dates (I know, I know, I should be doing this regardless of job status but it’s just not my personality). I got my last couple jobs without any request for references but my reputation was also somewhat known to the hiring managers.
Ellen
It is a good idea, even if someone doesn’t ask for references, to have them available. That is why I remained in touch (if not close) with 5 of my college professors even now, and it’s been about 15 years since I even saw most of them. What is even wierder is that I continue to maintain contact with 2 of them who wanted to date me (and more), even tho I did NOT ever want to date them, because you never know when you need a good reference. One of the 5 professors’ has now retired, and I do not have his home telehone number or address. I need to make sure, as they get older and are thinking of retirement, that I get their home address and their cell numbers, as nowadays most people do not maintain their home numbers as they move away to retirement communities.
Anon
I really wonder about this IRL. Our policy is to have a random HR person confirm employment dates; no more. The person often does not even know the person dates are confirmed for. OTOH, I would go to bat for my good people who have left over the years (but not for everyone). I wouldn’t get a bad reference but would just stick to the party line and refer them to HR (maybe that makes everyone look bad though, if they don’t know that’s the official policy). But there are some really bad apples though and I want to avoid them when we hire (or imagine for a nanny for a baby where the old employer just coldly confirms dates and omits that they were a baby-shaker or took meds or liquor). IDK what the real answer is or should be, but I’d reach out. It can’t hurt.
Anon
“Our policy is to have a random HR person confirm employment dates, no more.” I wish places would confirm titles too, because someone I know recently lied on her resume and during the interview process about her previous work experience titles and got hired at my company at a much higher level than she deserves. Her resume states that she was 4 levels above what she really was at her last job, which I know is untrue because I worked with her there.
Nesprin
Yep, my hidebound institution absolutely requires 2 references, and there’ve been some reference calls that were a huge surprise to the referee and reflected really poorly on the applicant. Worth sending a quick email to past referees with current resume and a brief update and ask if they’re willing to be a reference in the near future.
Anon
Timely. One of my best friends is in the running for a new job at the government agency she currently works for in the same department she works for and they asked for external references. Like wtaf?! So yes. State government in places still does this.
They also asked for education references and she has been out of school for 20+ years. *headdesk*
Anon
So someone at the the front of the huge lecture hall is supposed to know the people in it? Or, gasp, the people in little boxes, maybe with cameras off, on zoom? I can imagine that it’s only a negative if anyone is memorable under recent conditions.
Anonymous
I work at a state governmental agency and we require references for internal job applications, but the references don’t have to be external. Although even internal references are kind of pointless, because the hiring committee will be made up of people from the office and we all already know about the person lol.
Anon
Right? We talked about that too, shouldn’t they already know the person and be able to get references from their boss and colleagues?? Le sigh.
Bonnie Kate
Yep, we ask for references and call them on our upper level hires. I think it’s fairly common; I’ve gotten called a few times for references for colleagues in the past couple years too.
Personally, I’d be totally fine with a colleague who I haven’t talked to in a few years just sending me an email with their current resume and asking if I would be a reference. I would actually rather the email than the coffee date, with maybe a throwaway line in there, “if you’re available for coffee sometime, I’d love to grab some with you.” so that way I can still say yes, and if I’m busy decline the coffee date without wondering what it was about.
Anon
Same.
Anon
FWIW, the job I most recently got (started spring 2022) required 2 manager references and 3 professional references. They all had to fill out a survey with about 20 questions–mostly multiple-choice, with a few open response questions. I did not want my current boss to know that I was job-hunting, so I had to ask previous managers. It was a remote position for a national non-profit.
Anonymous
That sounds miserable and added burden on the reference. I applied somewhere last summer and was asked to submit letters of reference, which also seemed like some sort of fresh hell.
Anon
I went through this as a reference and if it hadn’t been for a very dear friend of mine, I would have passed. It’s ridiculous.
Bette
I work at a Fortune 50 company and we are not allowed to give or ask for references. We only confirm dates of employment, as some others have mentioned.
Anonymous
I’m looking for a relatively small but spacious and organized purse. I have the Lo & Sons Pearl in Saffiano leather and it’s too stiff to fit hardly anything besides my wallet and keys. I previously had the Napa leather version and it was much better in terms of spaciousness, but the strap broke after only about a year. I also have the small Madewell transport tote, but it just doesn’t offer enough organization.
Do you have any recommendations? My budget is under $200.
Anon
Are you looking for something sporty (Kavu rope bags) or fancy (I like AllSaints leather goods in terms of value for the $).
Anonymous
Something on the fairly casual side. I would carry it daily to my business casual office, but also want to be able to carry it for errands and such on the weekend. I don’t think I prefer a sporty look, but I have been eyeing the Dagne Dover Kitty Puff Crossbody as a contender, which is on the sportier side.
AZCPA
A friend ordered the Kitty, so I saw it IRL and it was weird and awkward. While I love Dagne Dover, that one just isn’t a winner.
Anon
Check out MZ Wallace.
Anonymous
Check out MZ Wallace.
Anon
A real e-mail I got yesterday: “I didn’t understand what you meant in your instructions so I did this other task instead.”
buffybot
Honestly the lengths people will go through to avoid picking up the phone and having a conversation. Drives me nuts.
Anon
Yikes. Are you their manager?
Anon
I don’t think so. I can assign work to people junior to me. But I don’t really get to review them and certainly can’t replace them.
Anon
I would not expect this level of candor ever. I hope this is not ending with something like “so I took out the left kidney instead.” Yikes. Use your words, people. Use your words.
Anonymous grouch
This is why people mark themselves up with “wrong leg!” Prior to surgery
Anon
Has anyone successfully regrown their eyebrows? I have bald spots from over plucking and it has been years so I don’t think they’ll come back on their own. If anyone has successfully used a product I’d love to hear about it! If anyone has the same problem as me and doesn’t have a regrowth solution, I’ll plug a makeup product that has worked to fill out my brows this summer – Maybelline tattoo studio brow pomade. It’s the first product I’ve found that actually survives a trip to the pool. But…I would still rather have real eyebrows if I can!
Pompom
Me!!! I went from lil bitty 1990s scraggly lines to big bushy face hedges (what I was born with)…but it took me approximately 7 years to go from initial attempts at regrowth to where I am today (can go to work or be camera ready without any brow filler, gel, etc.). It was a LONG road, but it could have probably been shorter. I still occasionally bust out the Urban Decay brow box powder filler and a stiff brush, and I use Gimme Brow tinted gel 2-3x a week to feel polished.
I used a lash regrowth product from Sephora initially, probably used it 2-3x a week for about 2 years. Then I had to retrain myself away from the urge to tweeze. I accepted that my eyebrow area would look stubbly for a while (I have very pale while skin and black eyebrows), and honestly told my closest friends that what was going on (idk why, self consciousness?). I reoriented my brow maintenance from tweezing to trimming alone.
It could have been less tedious if I had gotten my anxiety under control earlier. I’m a compulsive tweezer or eyebrow hair puller, which is just lovely, and the pandemic and lots of anxious time at home staring at my face on Zoom definitely helped (not). Getting my anxiety under control has helped, as has conveniently losing track of my tweezers.
Anon
Thanks! Do you remember the name of the Sephora product you used?
Pompom
Revitalash sounds familiar, but it was 6-7 years ago.
Chl
I used revitalash recently with really good results. It’s often at Costco.
Chl
Just kidding. It was rapid brow.
Pompom
It was Rapid Brow! Yes! Thank you for jogging my memory!
Anon
I use RevitaBrow and have had great results. Ditto 2 friends.
MDanon
I’ve had great luck with NeuBrow after seeing it recommended on Andrea Linnett’s blog, I Want To Be Her. You can get it at Costco or Nordstrom. I apply it twice daily. I’ve always had thick brows, but I tweezed too thin circa 2003, and after using NeuBrow for a few months, I’m almost back to the Brooke Shields-level glory brows of my high school years.
Anonymous
I put a tiny amount of Romain for women on my brow area. They grew back beautifully.
Anonymous
For those who are long term or maybe even forever single, no kids, what types of things do you do when loneliness sets in? Bonus points if you don’t have a ton of friends either.
I do have some friends but not super close friends, and most are busy with their own husbands and young kids, so it’s not like I can just call them up on a lonely evening or ask them to grab a drink, nor are they close enough friends that they are inviting me to come hang out with their families. So while I text back and forth with some, I also try to keep my distance – like don’t bug them to the point where they just don’t want to hang with me at all. What kind of things occupy your time and your thoughts when you start to spiral about how you’re going to get through life like this? While I date some, I can’t just make someone be my boyfriend or husband and it just hasn’t happened and may not.
Anonymous
I took up an expensive time consuming hobby that I do with people. Try sailing, ski club, social dance, rock climbing.
Is it Friday yet?
+1 I have horses, rock climb, and ski, and those things all take up huge amounts of my time and also have plenty of built-in socializing. They also seem to attract a decent number of child-free people. Also see if you can find a book club or something locally, another good way to make friends. I also read a ton on my own, I’m on book 55 of 2022 right now. And like, lean into all the advantages of living alone, I love the quiet and independence and total lack of accountability to anyone!
Flats
Golf. Especially if you have good public courses for learning nearby. If I’m NoVa post a burner email and I will set you up.
Anon
I read a lot and have a good number of hobbies. I also sign myself up for new and interesting things (metalworking, recently!) and go hiking/hang out in nature. I take day trips to interesting places and take myself out to meals and the movies and anything else I want to do.
BUT, I do want to push back on you not asking your friends to hang. My friends are all married and/or have young kids and we still get together for stuff! Sometimes one on one, sometimes in full group, and sometimes in small groups. This is just a group of five close gfs total so it’s not like I have a ton of close friends locally.
Anonymous
Where did you sign up for metal working? Just curious. Not super interest in metal work though would be interest in woodworking and IDK anyone who does this besides guys who have their own shops in their garages, which I don’t have living in an apt. nor would I run out and invest a ton in equipment until I figured out if it was a one off thing or something I really wanted to do. In the DC area but curious overall where you’re doing metal work.
anon in brooklyn
I just signed up for a woodworking class. Just google woodworking classes in your area, I’m sure there are a few.
Anon
There is a blacksmith workshop in a nearby town that offers a variety of classes!
Anon
I think a lot of parents of young kids are bad at initiating stuff, but are always happy to be invited places. I know I am. I also don’t think you have to be super close to hang out with someone’s family? I’m sure you’re not bugging your friends by asking them to do stuff! But if you want to include their family you could suggest meeting at the zoo or a playground or something.
No Face
Stop talking yourself out of your friendships! Speaking as a busy working mom, I love seeing my friends and I am happy to hang. I can’t pull off last minute get togethers anymore, mainly because of work, but I love to see my friends.
Avoid “I want to get together soon” texts. Here are some examples of how I get to actually see my friends:
– I want to see Play at Theatre on Date and Time. Want to come?
– I miss you! Are you free for lunch during the week of X? I’m free that Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.
– I just watched the new Game of Thrones spin off and it was good! Want to come over Sunday night and watch the next episode?
Anon
Agree with this! I am not a mom, but all of my friends are. I ask for specific events/outings. Sometimes, I’ll even just get two tickets to something that I know I want to do anyway (and would be willing to do alone) and then I invite people. Almost always, I can find someone to come! And I’m fine if not.
Also agree on the classes thing mentioned above. I sign up for classes all the time. It’s a fun, low stakes way to meet new people with similar interests.
Vicky Austin
I love this, and I think it is an extremely important principle in just about everything. Make it easy on people! Tell them what you want!
anon
I’m married, but I would absolutely talk to a friend who called and I would love to go out to grab a drink. My husband and I do things separately all the time. Honestly even though I’m married, I still feel lonely at times. I work from home by myself all day and I don’t have a ton of friends I hang out with on a regular basis. If we were in the same city, u would hang out with you!
Clara
Would you be okay hanging out with their families? Personally as a kid I loved when various “aunties” or “uncles” would come over, a different adult for me to interact with and also social time for my parents.
Curious
And I love having another grown up at dinner, if you’re up for eating blue apron with us at 5:30. I just don’t have the energy to do more than one proactive invitation a week, even if in practice I can host twice if you invite yourself over. Yes strange, but true.
DeepSouth
Become a regular in a neighborhood bar/coffeeshop. There’s a neighborhood bar around the corner from me that I can pop in between 5-7 any weeknight and see someone I know. It’s not always my favorite person, but there’s someone there I can have a glass of wine with and have some conversation. Same with working in the afternoon at my neighborhood Starbucks. it’s the same sphere of people most of the time, so there are at least familiar faces, if you just need a little more stimulation.
Ellen
I do this on weekends with Myrna — we live in NYC and there are alot of bars on 2nd Avenue that we go to and we have no trouble meeting men. Of course, the men are not interested in long-term relationships, but there are times that we aren’t either — particularly on weekends– and since we both have our own needs, we do go out and meet men and vet them on the spot, but even if we find them hot and available,we do NOT take them back to our apartments and we are content to talk and socialize in the bar, and occasionally to take a walk together down to the East River promenade up to Carl Schruz Park if the weather is right. By sticking together, Myrna and I minimize the chance of our “hot insta-dates” doing anything to us they might otherwise try if we were each alone with them. You just have to make sure you have protection in case you decide to let things get hot and heavy, and remember that it is 100% YOUR decision, not theirs, to make about what you want to do, if anything, with them. Good luck to you!
Anonymous
Would you consider adopting a dog? I decided a few years ago I wanted to adopt a dog — I have met so many people because of him. I never could have imagined the joy he would bring to me, my extended family and my friends.
On the friend front, I have been walking on and off with my best friend weekly for 10+ years. When her kids were little I would work late that night and meet her in her neighborhood once the kids were in bed, we have walked during sports practices, and now we walk early one weekend morning.
Also, is there a theatre/orchestra/ etc you like that you could get seasons tickets to with someone. So much easier to organize that vs seeing what’s plying, picking a date, etc.
Anon
Solo traveling is amazing! I’ve been to Europe and South America alone as well as some domestic trips. I’ve gone to fancy dinners, Broadway shows, movies, museums, etc, alone. It gets you out of your head and really in touch with what you want to do.
Anon
I posted above but yes so much this! Even when I do date someone, I still solo travel.
Anon
Very frivolous (and nerdy) question— Is anyone here into Warhammer? I’m very interested in the game and the miniatures, but I fear I’d be the “old person” and one of very few women at any meet up. I’m almost 40! I’ve always loved tabletop games but have never tried anything like D&D or Warhammer but I can’t stop watching the little painting videos!
Anon
I’ve never played Warhammer, but I think you should go to a meetup! My husband and I (late 30s/early 40s) are very into tabletop gaming, and RP games are so much fun! I doubt you will be the “old person” though maybe one of few women. Don’t miss out on something fun because of that, though!
Senior Attorney
As the mom of a man who plays Warhammer, let me assure you that there will be men close to your age and they would LOVE to see you playing!!
Also, funny story (which may well dissuade you from hanging out with the Warhammer guys, now that I think of it): Some years ago my son was staying at my house and was, shall we say, between jobs. He just spent hour upon hour sitting at the kitchen table painting his Warhammer figurines. One day he had a friend over, and I walked by and said “How are your little men coming along?” He was highly offended and said “MOTHER! They are not ‘little men!’ Some of them are women, and some of them aren’t even human at all!” Of course I apologized profusely and as I walked away, I hears his friend sigh and say resignedly, “My mom calls them ‘little men,’ too!”
Vicky Austin
Bahahaha! Cute.
AZCPA
In most cases the crowd for tabletop and rpgs is pretty “old” – lots in their late 30s and 40s. I don’t do Warhammer, but super into D&D. I’ve met some amazing friends going to those sorts of meetups. Definitely go see what’s up.
Curious
So this might out me even more than the cancer story but y’all. We started daycare Aug. 1 and have already gotten COVID and (presumed, not swabbed because relatively mild) RSV. We have had 18 work days of August and 9 days of childcare, of which 3 were not full days. It makes me want to wear a mask around my child for the rest of my life.
Anon
Yup that’s unfortunately pretty normal, though I’m sure your cancer history makes all this illness scarier than it would be for other people. Hugs and healthy vibes!
Curious
Thank you! The only way out is through, right?
Anonymous
Yikes! You are due for some good luck, Curious!
Vicky Austin
+1 to this! Goodness! I really hope it gets better soon!
Anon
I read today about monkeypox in kids in a state next to ours (we live on the border of 2 states). I’m not not sending my kids to school after missing so much since 2019. But maybe they can wear lightweight joggers and not shorts. It’s hot here, so lots of skin on surfaces (and don’t get me started against local vax rates — maybe kids are 25% vaxxed and commonly we have to have routine childhood vaccination clinics at the start of pre-COVID school years). So far no local polio though, so that’s a 2022 win, no (OTOH, we are close to a lot of hippie antivaxxers, which in the past let us have lots of measles outbreaks).
Anon
Monkeypox in a daycare or monkeypox *spread* in a daycare? They’re pretty different. My understanding is that transmission takes a level of skin-to-skin contact (e.g., bed-sharing) that kids wouldn’t normally have in school or daycare.
Aunt Jamesina
Nooooooo! That really sucks. We’re currently waiting on RSV test results over here. I’ve missed three days of work this week since my husband has almost no sick leave left until January and might have to miss tomorrow also.
Curious
Noooo. Also, baby came!! I am behind the times :) How is it being a mom?!
Allie
The sickest I have been in my adult life was our first few months of daycare. It was awful. Hugs.
Anonymous
I know this has been asked and answered here but my search skills are failing me. I’m not a jcrew shopper and I’m working about sizing on the going out blazer. I hear people need to size down in JCrew. Should I order my normal size or size up for the going out blazer?
Anonymous
Just order the dang blazer and return it.
No Face
That is way more effort than typing a comment. If you must post a snippy anonymous comment, at least make some sense.
AnonMom
It has a bit of a shrunken fit so I would say go for your normal size, or the larger of them if you float between. I wear a Large or either a 12 or a 14 in tops, and the 14 in the going out blazer fits me. A 12 would be too snug for my comfort.
Cat
I’m usually a S in mall brand sweaters (34C, relatively broad shoulders) and take a 6 in the Going Out Blazer. That is the larger of my two JCrew numerical sizes for tops.
Anonymous
My measurements usually put me at a 6 in regular J. Crew; I ordered an 8 for the GO Blazer and it’s perfect.
Anonymous
The Going Out Blazer goes by normal sizing, not crazy J Crew vanity sizing. In other words, it runs TTS for other brands and a size small for J Crew. Buy your normal non-J Crew size or size up one from your usual J Crew size.
Jules
I would not size down. I’m a busty 14 and the 14 is a bit more snug than I would prefer.
Anon
Agreed, I think JCrew might run big at the smaller end of their range, but in the 10-14 category I find it runs smaller than say Banana or Ann Taylor.
Anonymous
Has the Linda Evangelista Vogue cover already been discussed here? I’m bummed that an article about “self love” uses so much tape to smooth her face and so forth. It just feels like more fakeness is not the answer.
Anon
I have had a very hard time mustering up much sympathy for her, tbh. She looks fine. She wasn’t horrifically disfigured. She is still capable of supporting herself in the lifestyle to which she’s become accustomed in myriad other ways.
Anon
I think that’s a very cold take. Modeling is her career. There like telling a concert pianist who loses several fingers that she can always work at McDonalds.
Anon
We’ve only seen her face, though. Apparently the bulges are all over her body.
Vicky Austin
I’m planning to spend from about October to April this year wearing sweater dresses and trying to shore up my shoe wardrobe. What shoe silhouettes do you like best with a sweater dress and tights?
Anonymous
Ankle boots.
Anon
Booties or shooties I guess? I don’t know the difference. Ankle boots!
Anon
Ankle boots with a block heel is my go to.
Aunt Jamesina
Lug sole ankle boots, depending on the silhouette of the dress.
No Face
I love sweater dresses! In the fall, I wear booties. In the winter, I wear knee high boots.
Betsy
Love this goal. My go to is a bootie, but tall boots are good too. Sometimes I wear flats, too, but then I almost feel a little barefoot.
anon
Boots of any height!
Cat
heeled booties feel very 2017 to me. I prefer knee high flat boots.
Anon
Funny I’m such an outlier here but I like them with opaque tights and Oxford shoes.
PolyD
I like this, too.
Also, combat boots and tights!
Curious
Dear Vicky, where do you get flattering sweater dresses?
Vicky Austin
Dear Curious, I regret to inform you that I have no idea. I love sweater dresses so much that I don’t care if they’re flattering. I want them to be warm and in a pretty colorway, and that is all. Perhaps as the winter progresses, I will learn a bit about styling them and can share. <3
Anonymous
What would you wear to a wake? I went to one the other day and was shocked at how many women were in bright pinks and one woman wearing a flirty white summer dress. But then I haven’t been to many.
Anony
I went to a Catholic church funeral early this summer; it was cool, rainy, and cloudy, and women were wearing the same as you describe. I showed up in black heels, black dress pants, and an elbow length dark gray sweater and almost felt out of place. It was really odd. I guess appropriate clothing for funerals/wakes isn’t a thing any more?
Anon
It seems people just add it to their list of activities for the day and don’t factor in clothing. I’ve even seen shorts!
anon
I’d wear a conservative dress.
In my area of the Midwest, the attire for funerals is simply “church clothes.” Some people wear black but it’s by no means a universal thing at all. It’s something I’ve only seen in movies, tbh!
Anon
I wear something subdued in a darker color but here in rural PA jean shorts are a regular sight at these events.
Walnut
I think wake clothing is a wider array than funeral clothing. Back in the midwest it was very much a “drop in” type event so you come as you are.
Anon
Wow, I’m surprised by these responses. My grandmother’s wake and funeral (Catholic) a few years ago were both very formal and black. Long Island, if it matters.
Anon8
Same! I come from a Catholic family in upstate NY, very formal and very black funerals for us too.
Anonymous
For the ambulance bill person from earlier – my family member has a medical condition that results in about 15 ambulance rides a year, which are generally not covered by insurance beyond a pittance. to give you a data point, in our high cost of living metro area, for an 8 mile ambulance ride, the entire bill is only about $700. Which really sucks, but nowhere near what it sounds like you are being charged.
Anonymous
Fun pick. That reminded me I have wanted a small leather version of the classic Longchamp travel bag.