Coffee Break: Taryn Rose Fierce

· · · ·

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.

Taryn Rose - Fierce (Black Nappa) - FootwearToday we're liking this basic black peep toe from Taryn Rose, which has great comfort ratings at Zappos. We like that the heel is under 3″, and that the shoe comes with arch support. The fact that it's on sale doesn't hurt — it was $475, now $299.25. Taryn Rose – Fierce (Black Nappa) – Footwear N.B.: Peep toes are not appropriate for all offices — know your office! (L-2)

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:

118 Comments

  1. This is a cute shoe, but could you feature some options to wear to court or on an interview. It’d be great to see some options that are flats or have really low heels (I’m already taller than many men!).
    If any posters have recommendations, that’d be great also!
    Thanks

        1. Thanks for the review! Those are very cute, but I would love to wear WWs to give my toes tons of room. Were you able to find these in these kinds of sizes at a Nordstrom store? I was going to order two sizes and return one.

          1. I wasn’t looking for wide sizes, so I can’t answer your question. I’m sorry! If it helps any, I thought the Sofft shoes ran pretty true to size — I’m usually a 10.5 in dress shoes, and the 10.5 fit great.

      1. I own two pairs- the black leather and the nude patent. They’re pretty comfortable. My left food is a wide, so I got a wide left, but it’s a bit too wide and my foot falls out. So I do what I normally do and build it up with the toe pads they give you at Nordstrom. I learned and when I bought my nude patent pair, I got the medium width for both feet, which works except if I wear them for too long.

        ^^Obviously I have really odd feet. But I’ll add that they feel too high. They aren’t too high on paper, but I own shoes that are higher and are more comfortable. I look funny when I walk in these. But this could be because I can’t seem to be able to fit them correctly.

        Oh, and I’m recently in the market for new black pumps, and I’ve gone to Nordstrom twice to try on shoes, and both times they didn’t have what I wanted, but brought out this pair. So Nordstrom stores do carry them. :-)

        But they are completely appropriate for court! :-)

      2. I own them and they are super comfy, I can wear them all day without any problem. I’ve worn them to court and interviews before and I thought they were appropriate. Not the cutest/sexiest heels, but you don’t have to wear 3+” stilettos every day!

        1. also, b/c they’re leather they conform to the shape of your feet. they felt too small the first time i wore them but once i broke them in they were fine.

          1. That is super helpful, thanks! I will have to buy a pair. I have always wanted to buy WW shoes in heels so that my toes (usually what hurts first in heels) would have more space, I’m looking forward to these!

    1. MC,

      I know you’ve heard this, but I think you should rock the height! I’m pretty petite (5′!) and I am constantly wishing I were taller in work settings. It’s an ASSET.

      That aside, for low/no heeled shoes to wear with a suit, I think it’d be best to find flats (or low heels) that fit all the other typical requirements of an interview/court heel – that is, dark, uniform color, pointy toe, if there is a heel, not too chunky, minimum embellishments, keep toe cleavage to a minimum, etc. A pointy toe ballet flat may be just the ticket.

      If you go on Endless (or any of the other online shoe sites- Zappos and DSW have the option too), you can limit your search you “flats” and “formal” or “dressy,” and that should lead you on into greatness ;).

      Good luck!

      1. Thanks for the tips!

        I think I get confused when it comes to embellishments. Lots of flats seem to have them these days and some are obviously not appropriate (large flowers, ruffles, bows), but what about “lacing” up the back? tiny bows on the front? or the little “studs” or buckles?!? (there are so many kinds of buckles and I fear I have no sense for what is tacky and what is sophisticated!).

        Also, re: pointy toe, is this necessary? With size 10 feet I tend to steer clear of anything that gives my feet added length.

        1. I think something with a small buckle or a more subtle detail like these: http://tinyurl.com/22lwypv is okay… I don’t do the pointy toe either, though I do like a more structured looking flat than a ballet shape, so I tend to like more squared off toes or those w/ details that aren’t huge/loud.

          1. those look really cheap. they’re not inappropriate for work but they do scream cheap shoe

        2. If this shows up twice, I apologize – internet is spazzing out. Anyway, I agree with Shayna. If pointy REALLY isn’t your thing, feel free to branch out, just make sure it’s formal. There are definitely pointy shoes that aren’t hugely loooong like some of the pointy heels, which I like a lot because they so closely mimic what a traditional high heel looks like, plus they’re slimming!

          Stay away from casual, funky, focal point, and I dare say “cute,” for the purposes of court and interviews, and look to “ladylike,” formal, tailored types instead. You want it to look like every other dress shoe, but just flat instead :).

          Something like: http://zapp.me/7641117 would work (re: pointy but not hugely lengthening).

        3. MC: I think the less frills the better, although some small details and buckles do not scream informal or school girl.
          I think rounded toes have a tendency to look less dressy in general, so you don’t want to add to that feel with bows, flowers, etc.
          Check out Brooks Brothers flats — they have some really simple, well constructed, elegant flats. One style currently in stores has a patent cap toe on an otherwise simple flat, which gives a nice detail without detracting from the professionalism & formality. Also key in terms of making flats “dressy” is the small heel — you know like a tiny teeny bit of heel so that the shoe is not completely flat a la Tory Burch flats, which would be way too casual for court or an interview. Not to keep plugging BB, but the usually have that small heel & it really adds to the look, imo.

        4. Since I’m petite but have average feet, I love almond toe shoes – more sophisticated than a round toe, but not as elongating as a pointy toe!

    2. Try the Vara/Varina by Ferragamo if budget permits. If not, you’ll know the style & can look for similar….

      1. I think you have to watch out with the Varina / Ferragamo; it can look cute or it can look like major old-lady frump. Sometimes the line is quite blurry between the two.

  2. Also would appreciate suggestions for interview blouses (other than button up shirts — those often are not flattering on me)

    1. 3L – know what you mean! The collared shirts don’t work for me under a suit. I’ve had a lot of luck with silk shells/camis from Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor LOFT, and the like.

      Focus on:
      (1) subdued colors, and simple patterns
      (2) NICE fabrics
      (3) simple/minimal details and clean lines
      (4) good tailoring
      (5) flattering neckline that isn’t too low

      The shirt under the suit should simply be a pop of color – I’ve even gotten away with a (not-low-cut, nice fabric) cami and a string of pearls under a suit – BUT that’s risky, so only attempt when you know you’re not taking off your jacket :).

      Lots of sales going on right now, too, so lucky you!

    2. Talbots has great silk blouses with cap sleeves that are pretty good for interviews because of the high neck. I’d also say rock some sleeved-ballet-neck shirts or thin sweaters underneath an interview jacket.

      1. YES! I had an interview yesterday and wore a silk shell from Banana and was paranoid the whole time because even the Small (I’m normally a Medium in brands other than BR and Talbots) felt too low-cut and big. Ugh. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but it made me very self-conscious once I noticed it, which you want to avoid at all costs. Next time I am wearing a boatneck, heat be damned!

        Lesson to self and others: practice leaning over a table (i.e. to pass out a resume) to make sure the blouse doesn’t fall too low when you sit at a conference table.

    3. I usually wear a light blue silk shell from Talbots. I’ve accepted the fact button up shirts just don’t work on me, as much as I wish they would.

  3. i do not like the heel on these. i like these much better: Enzo Angiolini Women’s Maylie Open-Toe Pump. search for it on endless.

  4. I don’t find these shoes flattering. Something about the chunky heel turns me off.

  5. These look a little dowdy to me. I think if you have a fairly boxy peep toe, you need a daintier heel to balance it out.

  6. Any tips to remain upbeat and focused while searching for work? I’m so discouraged I’m tempted to actually follow and blog about Lindsay Lohan…

    1. Slowly but surely the market is recovering, just be patient and don’t psyche yourself out (this is sooo hard to do while I am surrounding by panicky, negative, pessimistic, depressed law grads in the library studying for the bar). Against all odds, I am a fresh jd who’s managed to get some promising interviews during bar review. I imagine the market will get even better for those with prior full-time experience. I set aside a couple hours each week to search every job board, contact recruiters and craft cover letters to the things that look like a good fit for me.

      In fact, the SEC just announced it is hiring an additional 800 people: NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The Securities and Exchange Commission will need to hire about 800 new people to carry out the agency’s new responsibilities created by financial reform legislation, the head of the regulatory agency plans to tell lawmakers Tuesday.
      The new law would significantly ramp up the size of the SEC, which regulates financial markets.

    2. I almost replied to this assuming you were a lawyer, then stopped myself. I see the legal market improving, and I know many of our clients are cautiously starting to rehire.
      Be open to temporary employment. Put yourself out there; go to happy hours and networking events, or in-person continuing education events if that is available in your field. Go to fundraisers and benefits, if you can afford it. Present yourself as optimistic but realistic, and make yourself available – carry a business card, have your resume available quickly (for instance, if you carry a phone with e-mail capability, keep an e-mail with your resume saved that you can send on the spot), and have your “elevator speech” polished and ready.
      And remember – in this economy, you’re looking for the next job, not necessarily your dream job. The next job should put you a step closer to your dream job, or at least pay the bills, but it might not be what you always pictured yourself doing.

    3. In addition to temporary employment (which I am currently resenting), I have found volunteering or getting involved in SOMETHING very helpful. I have found it very easy to fall into that rut of watching too many TV marathons, so trying to do something useful or work-related every day helps.

    4. I think it helps to stay busy. Make sure you spend several hours a day sending out resumes, calling recruiters, searching for jobs online, etc.

      In addition to that, doing some temp work if you can find it is great. If that’s not available, get involved volunteering. I friend of mine who was out of work for over a year just got a job that way. The organization had paid positions available – they knew her, she applied, she landed the job.

      If you are in law, can you do some pro bono work?

      Another tip to staying upbeat, is to find something else outside of work that you can achieve at. Something like starting to train for a 5K race or a triathlon sprint that you can work at every day and really see your progress. Set some other personal goals that have nothing to do with your career and start focusing on them instead (hobbies, associations, fitness, volunteer work, writing).

      Good luck and remember that it won’t last forever. You’ll find a job, possibly even better than the last one you had!

    5. Lots of good advice here. I was unemployed for 6 months -first time ever in my career. A few things really helped -here are some of my strategies (I’m a workaholic, energetic type so this was a challenging period for me):
      1) Exercise! I had an aggressive training schedule and competed in a couple events. I figured as long as I had the time to amp up my performance, I should try. There is a lot to be said for the stress-buster benefits and depression-fighting endorphins you get.
      2) Keep a lot of irons in the fire. As long as I had some prospects and interviews, I felt productive and had hope that something was just around the corner (it was). By the time the right opportunity came together, I could easily discern it was the right one.
      3) Make your bed. Start with specific tasks that remind you that you are in control of this outcome. Make lists.
      4) Stay positive and only associate w positive people. This can be something of a discipline. Understand that there will be ups and downs – be gentle with yourself. It’s so important to reflect a positive attitude when you’re interviewing.
      5) Recognize that this is a specific, finite time in your life: you will get a job. In the meantime, do some of those things you’ve been wanting to do if only you had time. Visit your grandmother, clean your drawers, go to the library, have coffee with friends, cook.

      So good luck! I could go on but those are a few thoughts.

      1. This is really great advice, especially the part about associating with positive people. Thank you for posting!

      2. I totally agree with suggestion 5 – don’t let it derail you from looking for work, but take a vacation, visit family, learn French, beat a video game, learn to bake bread, etc. You’ve probably got more free time now than you ever will while working. Pick a couple things you might not have time to do later, and do them now. It will give you purpose, but it will also give you something to list as an accomplishment in an interview; I interviewed a bunch of laid off lawyers a while ago, and I always asked what they were doing while laid off. Those that had something to discuss always seemed to rank higher on my list than those who shrugged and said nothing. People who took classes or volunteered or ran a marathon or camped across the Yukon Territories just seemed like more interesting people in the end.

  7. I don’t like the Taryn Rose shoes. I’ve never tried them on, of course, but just for looks, blech. I’d rather rock a ballet flat any day.

  8. Taryn Rose pumps are not the most edgy, but I highly recommend them if you’re hoofing it back and forth from court or otherwise on your feet a lot on a particular day. They’re even more comfortable than my Cole Haans with the Nike Air technology, and (like Cole Haans) can be found at Nordstrom Rack at steep discounts.

    Easy for me to say at my medium-tall height, but I think even tall women should wear the heels and let the shorter men look up at them.

    1. Good to know, these a bit pricey to me for such a basic looking shoe. I will have to look for them at Nordstrom Rack.

      1. Agreed! I’m 5’9″ and refuse to wear a short heel. I am just so used to wearing a 3-3.5 inch heel that I feel as though I don’t walk properly in something shorter. I don’t care that, once I put them on, I’m over 6 feet tall. When I was in high school I was bashful about my height but now it’s one of my favorite traits.

  9. Sorry, but imo, low wide squared heels like this are quintessential frump. The open toe does not de-frump it.

    But if this is your style, I saw a whole rack of Taryn Rose shoes in DSW, so for more variety and better prices I’d suggest to go there. And I have heard that it’s a very comfy brand.

    1. I agree with freshjd. The overall look of these shoes is heavy and frumpy and adding a peep-toe doesn’t change that.

  10. Does anyone here never wear heels (or only wear them for special occassions)? I’ve been considering switching my shoe wardrobe over to flats, but I’m not sure if it would look as professional. Would anyone notice or care?

    1. I never wear heels. I wear flats to work, and I have some great flats that I wear for formal/special occasions. Yes, people notice that I always wear flats (my work group is very aware of every group member’s individual fashion preferences, but in a non-critical way). Obviously everyone will have an opinion, and this is only mine, but I think flats look very professional (frankly, much more so than a 3 inch heel with an open toe). Again – my opinion :)

      Wear what you like because no matter what you choose, someone is going to be talking about you behind your back…

      1. After an injury, I switched from a shoe wardrobe of almost exclusively heels to all flats. The only comments I got were from people complimenting me on my new shoes.

        1. While I LOVE those shoes, I probably wouldn’t wear them to my somewhat conservative Midwestern law firm job unless it was a casual Friday. The open toe with the sling back and the stacked wood heel combined would keep it out of my work rotation (although any one of those features alone might not be a problem for me).

          Having said that, I don’t think those shoes would be an egregious sin at my office. I’m just not edgy enough to try it!

          1. I would generally agree with the above — probably not work appropriate, but it depends on your office. Open heel + open toe + stack + wood is generally going to be frowned upon unless you are in a more creative field. If you’re in a conservative law office (as your name might denote), these definitely wouldn’t pass inspection.

        2. While some would not go for these, I love them. I don’t think there’s anything overtly inappropriate to them (at all) you have to look at your office culture to know for sure. If there are people at your level and more senior than you wearing shoes similar to this, go for it!!

          PS: I will now be purchasing the same pair.

        3. I think those are lovely. I work in banking, in the back office (so no client contact), and really, anything goes regardless of our business dress policy. I’d much rather see someone wearing these, or any other stylish shoe — heel, flat, peeptoe, whatever! — than some of the horrible, horrible shoes on some of my colleagues. (We’re talking Crocs, picnic sandals, tennis shoes…it’s fashion anarchy!) ;)

          1. Same at my mid-sized law firm; people save their tennis shoes for Fridays but otherwise anything goes and these shoes would be more formal than most (and I love them and want them).

        4. I think those are fine. They’re more feminine looking than the chunky heel of Kat’s featured shoes. Though the wood makes it a bit less dressy. If you could find the same shoe with a leather covered heel it’d be perfect.

        5. Really like these, in fact I might order them. Better style and price than the original posted shoes, IMO.

        6. Sorry, these would not fly at the SF firm where I work, but we’re fairly conservative.

        7. The slingback puts me off (for work). I’d get a pair of peeptoe closed-back pumps instead. But I am just very conservative, YMMV.

          1. I really can’t imagine any place nowadays where, say, a nice black leather closed-toe slingback heel is inappropriate.

      2. Hello to all fellow flat shoe wearers! I do wear heels occasionally, but only chunky ones, and never if I have to walk a lot. I’m very short (5’2″), but the pain’s not worth looking taller.

    2. I think a switch might be noticeable (at least more so than if you’d always worn flats). However, in my experience, no one will care. I suppose this depends on your particular office/the people you work with, though. Also, I think it will be more noticeable if you are already on the shorter side. I am only 5’2″ and I hate to wear flats; I feel like I have to look up to talk to people. It’s possible that no one else is noticing, but for some reason, I feel people do notice on the (extremely rare) occasions that I wear flats.

      1. Hmm, I’m the anonymous from 4:04 and I think that people probably notice because your height is different on the days you wear flats and so they are looking down at your feet to figure out why :) Same thing happens at my office when those who typically wear heels, wear flats (or vice versa)

        1. I should have said care, not notice. Duh! My wording is not so precise today!

        2. Yes, people do notice when your height changes. I discovered this after a coworker of mine told he that he didn’t recognize me one morning because I was taller (!). I’m the only woman in the entire building, not just company, who wears a headscarf (which I say to illustrate that I’m instantly recognizeable) but I didn’t think an extra 2-3 inches rendered me a completely different person.

      2. I’m 5’1″, and once when I was wearing flats, a partner at my law firm patted me on the head when I was giving him a report on a research project! It’s probably an over-reaction, but I’ve never worn flats to work again.

        1. YIKES! What did you do?

          I’m 5’4″, so hopefully I wouldn’t have to worry about that.

        2. I hope you slapped him. It could totally be justified as self-defense or something.

    3. I always wear flats, other than on super special occasions. At the beginning of each season, I go to DSW and buy all the fabulous flats they have. I find flats that are even more professional and formal than heels (rather than basic ballet flats). I’m 5’3″ and nobody has ever said anything about my shoes, other than the occasional compliment.

    4. I wear heels rarely. I don’t have to worry about the height issue (my one pair of nice heels makes me 6’4″ and they are courtroom appropriate). Conservative almond-toed black flats that conceal the toe cleavage are perfectly appropriate.

    5. After an injury several years ago I slowly started shifting all of my shoes to flats. This was back when I was working in a normal office, and no one seemed to notice….of course it could be because I was on crutches for a while and people were just glad to see I was wearing two normal shoes again!

      I love flats and have many, many pairs. I also have a few pairs of wedges for when I feel like “dressing up”. (Wedges are the only heels I can safely wear.) Now that I am traveling and on my feet all day on a regular basis, it makes even more sense to wear flats. Do you have to search a little more for the perfect pair? Sometimes. Is it worth it for the safety and comfort factor? Absolutely. Do I still feel fashionable? Yes!!

      I am 5’7″ if that helps.

      1. @RoadWarriorette, what are your favorite wedges? After seeing Ferragamo Flo Vara at Nordstroms, I suddenly decided I needed wedges for my depo travels. I’m hoping to find something almost as cute for about half the $500 Ferragamo price tag.

    6. I have a couple pairs of wedges and a couple pairs of heels under 2 inches. That’s it. Those shoes stay at work and I never, ever wear them outside the office. I cannot deal with walking on anything but soft carpeting in heels. I even put on my walking shoes to go to Starbucks. No one seems to have noticed or cared about my footwear.

      1. I only wear flats with pants. It is a pet peeve of mine to see women in skirts with flats. Even just a kitten heel will make your calves look so much better!

  11. I really really have a bias against boxy heels. I’ll be in DSW or similar and see a pair of shoes from the front that I love, only to be completely dismayed by the clunky heel. I also have a thing about square and super pointy toes…
    Let’s be honest I’m just a very-picky person when it comes to my shoes.

      1. I don’t like the clunky sound that boxy heels make when you walk down the hall. Smaller heels have a much more pleasant sound.

  12. To the poster who was asking about a *LIGHT GRAY SUIT* … Ann Taylor just put one up on their website which looks close to what you might be looking for. Banana Republic also has one available right now.

  13. I could use the help of you wonderful ladies. Unlike the problem that usually arises where there is no dress code, I have a dress code for an event this week but no idea how to implement in a good looking outfit: “As for dress code, collared shirts and sneakers are fine, however, trousers need to be worn (khakis or dockers) by all males. Women are allowed to wear Capris or trousers”

    Sneakers and capris? I cant think of a way to pull that off in any way. Any ideas?

    1. Just because you’re allowed to wear sneakers doesn’t mean you have to :) I’d wear black or khaki sporty flats, Merrell makes some cute ones. It’s unclear for women but normally when men are in khakis/polos (which is what it sounds like to me), women can be in sundresses, so that might be something to consider.

    2. i would do capris with a canvas flat or wedge sandal and a casual flirty top. Or a sundress.

      1. I tend to dress up a bit more than most of my female coworkers (I’m in consulting) but to an event where guys are wearing khakis and polos (and potentially sneakers) I would most likely wear a knee-length light-colored skirt (A-line or pencil) and a decently nice top with short sleeves, or a sleeveless top and a light cardigan on top. As for footwear, I’d definitely stay away from sneakers – I avoid them even at casual office events (unless I’m expected to participate in a sporting event, obviously) – and would rather go for some flats or perhaps a low heel with a rounded toe. Hope this helps!

        1. This helps a lot, thank you! My problem is it is going to be a relatively active day on a base, mostly demos, but can just picture us sitting on the ground a few times so I may try to find a nice pair of capris tonight.

  14. Random combo comment related to yesterday’s running bracelet and shoes:

    I was just thinking about this yesterday as I was shopping for heels. Is it weird for anyone else that all of the “work-appropriate” shoes (and most of what we’re supposed to wear if we’re fashionable/cute) for women are such that they would make it impossible to run away from an attacker? Even in super formal shoes men could sprint at any time if necessary, whether it is to make it somewhere quickly or because they need to run from a fire/attacker. On the other hand women would have to take off their shoes or find the time to switch into commuting shoes. I love cute heels but this upsets me.

    1. This has occurred to me too. Add a narrow pencil skirt and a large bag, and I’m really not ready for much if I really think about it. But what to do?

        1. Make sure you are allowed to have mace at work if you are planning on carrying it in your bag. Many workplaces prohibit any types of weapons on your person or in your car in the company parking garage (firearms, bladed weapons, mace/pepper spray, etc).

      1. Or, add a pencil skirt, heels, and baby in your arms when you are picking him up from work. And, it gets dark at 5:30 in the winter. I had a scary looking man come up to me for “the time” just as I approached my car in that situation. Thankfully, my Jetta key has a loud panic alarm button that did the trick.

    2. I don’t really anticipate getting attacked at the office, I guess. In any emergency I should have time to grab my commute shoes out from under my desk. If I’m on the street at night, I’m not going to be wearing heels.

      On 9/11, I know that the women in my building who drive to work and do not keep extra shoes around ended up having to walk very, very far in heels as we were evacuated. Years later it’s still what one admin assistant talks about whenever she remembers that awful day – her feet were so blistered they were bleeding. (I’m sure she’s not being callous, memories like that just stand out). So 9/11 is an extreme example, but women should always keep walkable shoes around just in case.

      1. I think in many emergencies at the office you might not have time to grab your commuting shoes, e.g., if you’re at a meeting in another floor of your building. In general I think it’s more than office-wear, and perhaps worst at night events when most women are likely to wear heels even if the eschew them in the daytime for more ‘sensible’ shoes.

        I am more bothered by the general idea that we bind ourselves into these positions where it is hard to defend ourselves. Mace is good for an attack (as is knowing self-defense etc.) but it might not be a person you’re running from.

  15. Random thread hijack:

    Does anyone have any suggestions for finding sublets other than craigslist? I have to move on very short notice, and I just want a place until January (working for a politician and worried I may not have a job after then), so a sublet or someone looking for a temporary roommate would be ideal, but craigslist is such a crapshoot. Also, I’m moving cities, so I can’t really go check out places on craigslist, making it even sketchier. Suggestions?

    1. What city are you moving to? I think this stuff really depends on the city. Facebook also does sublet postings though.

    2. and on the same note, does anyone have suggestions to where I should avoid living in DC for safety reasons? I know vaguely inside the district what areas aren’t safe, but I don’t have a clue about the surrounding VA/MD areas.

      1. Are you a law student? There are some law student only websites you can use. (I think NALP had one). Otherwise — DC — to be blunt and make it simple for you, live in Northwest. Georgetown, Glover Park, Foggy Bottom, Woodley Park are all good bets. I don’t know Maryland very well, but some friends have lived in Bethesda/Friendship Heights which is ok. My biased pick would be for Virginia — guess where I live?! Anywhere along the orange line is generally “safe” — Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston, etc. I’ve had friends in Crystal City too, but the orange line seems to be more heavily made up of your average 25-40 something professionals and there’s more stuff to do. If you’re going to be commuting via metro, the orange line (VA) is probably preferable to the red line (DC/MD). The red line is seemingly always plagued with delays. Take it for what it’s worth. My opinion/experience only.

        1. Another DC resident here — not much to add, but just wanted to chime in to say that Anon at 7:07 gave really solid advice. I second her recommendation to live on/near the orange line. Prices tend to be a little lower when you’re willing to live outside DC, but you’re not sacrificing much in terms of proximity/quality of life. E.g., when I meet friends for dinner in Georgetown, I get there much faster from VA than they do from other parts of DC. Good luck!

          1. Another DC resident. I know you said you are pretty familiar with DC, but I wanted to chime in and say that there are a lot of areas in NW that you will not want to live in. The specific areas Anon @ 7:07 mentions are good, but may not be your best options depending on what your needs are. For example, MetroBus service can be spotty and there’s no metro in Glover Park or Georgetown. Woodley Park is good, but areas of that can be not-very-public-transportation friendly, as well. I’d add Dupont to the list of areas in NW that you might want to check out. I’d stay out of Columbia Heights, Petworth, and Adams Morgan. There are some great places there, but the neighborhoods tend to be block-to-block. I’d also recommend checking out Capitol Hill. A lot of people automatically think NW when they think of safe neighborhoods in DC, but I love living on the Hill. Just be sure that the place you’re renting is actually on the Hill; it’s a phrase a lot of realtors/people renting out their places like to use even if it doesn’t really apply to their places. (I would stay south of H St, NE, north of Virginia Ave, SE and west of 14th St.)

            Anyway, now that I’ve gone on and on about DC even though you said you already know about it, I’ll mostly agree with what 7:07 said about VA. Clarendon, Ballston, and Courthouse are all good options. However, I also really enjoyed living in Crystal City. There aren’t as many bars, etc. there, but I found that the apartment buildings (there are quite a few of them) are filled with 20 and 30-somethings.

            Also, I’ve found that I’ve had fewer metro problems since moving to the red line than I did when I took the blue line. It always seemed to me that the blue and orange line had tons of problems! I think having smooth metro lines is just a matter of luck!

            Oh, and, like Anon @ 7:07, I don’t know a ton about Maryland, but I do like the Bethesda area. There are quite a few cute shops and restaurants up there.

        2. DC native, ditto to the other comments.

          NW generally is safe. The best neighborhoods are those close to red line metro stations (the reason it can be “plagued with delays”). I live in Dupont, so I’m biased towards that area. It’s really the best.

          Logan Circle is also good, and accessible via the Green Line (U Street) or Red Line (Dupont), and closer to the P Street Whole Foods. Just stay below U/V Streets and West of 11th/12th. Georgetown and Glover Park, while wonderful neighborhoods, are not Metro accessible and you’ll have to take a bus. If you want to get cheaper for a slightly less safe (not UNsafe, just more noisy, can vary block by block but generally good) I’d say Adams Morgan or U Street. Columbia Heights is very trendy with the hipsters now, but I still wouldn’t move there (and I don’t walk around there at night). Mt. Pleasant is also slightly less expensive while still moderately safe.

          I know nothing about VA, but in MD I would say Bethesda, Silver Spring, or Takoma Park. TP is the hippie suburb, and has a really beautiful historic area that is on the red line and less expensive than living downtown. That said, there are some pretty sketchy apartments on one end of town, to be avoided.

    3. Sometimes local universities have sublet/housing boards – you might be able to find a responsible grad student or something.

    4. I’d check if the local grad schools have a web board of some kind. Students often have unusual sublet needs, and just post to their college/school instead of worrying about craiglist strangers. And unlike undergraduates, you’ve got a good chance of getting a fairly serious/clean/quiet person in a grad student since they’re more likely to be paying for it themselves.

      Also, as a total guess, if you practice some kind of faith, the local chapter of your faith may have leads.

    5. We used Craigslist to sublet my fiancee’s place when he moved in with me and had no issues but I understand your hesitancy. There are online websites that I have not used such as roomate finder or sublet.com You generally pay a monthly fee to use them and I don’t know that they would be any safer then Craigslist.

      I would recommend calling a real estate agent in the area (they can help with rentals believe it or not, especially with so many people renting their unsold houses/condos), or getting in touch with a local property management company. Many regular apartments will do short term leases or know of those who do. For example, our property management company has about 30 buildings in our town, many of them have people who want to move out early for whatever reason – they lease those out on a shorter term basis.

      I think going direct with a short term lease from an apartment is much more reliable than Craigslist, of course Craiglist would probably turn out okay too. Also, depending on your budget, a lot of places do short term corporate rentals. They are furnished and generally more expensive than a regular apartment as they are targeted towards companies who foot the bill when employees need to be in from out of town for extensive times. Cheaper than a hotel and let’s people have kitchen access.

      1. thanks, I’ll check with some rental companies. I think corporate rentals are probably out of my budget, but I’ll see if I can find someone moving out early.

        1. I’ve had great luck with craigslist – got all of my apartments from there. Granted, I”m in NYC, not DC, so it might be different there. Actually I think that as the sublessee you have less risk than the other party – you can see the apartment and check out its condition; it’s harder for them to figure out if you’re going to pay rent/damage the place.

          1. Normally I’m ok with craigslist, but the problem is I’m not sure I’ll have a chance to actually go down to DC and look at places much before I need to move–I may end up having to pick a place without seeing it, which makes craigslist much trickier.

        1. I am not sure that you actually have to be an intern for all of the “intern” housing. You might actually call your alma mater and see if they have a database of housing that they recommend to their students who do internships in DC. You also could try your alumni association’s DC chapter.

    6. Have you tried padmapper.com? I have been using it to look in NYC and it collects listings from craigslist, WSJ and some brokers onto a googlemap so you can see the location of the apartments. I like it because you can look at apartments with actual addresses (makes me feel better), it also allows you search based on commute time, images and pets. You can also exclude craigslist. I haven’t tried it for DC but it is pretty fun.

    7. Also, if you did decide to live in the District, http://crimemap.dc.gov/presentation/query.asp will give you a snapshot of crimes that have occurred withing a certain perimeter surrounding any given address. A lot of the time you’d be surprised at the number (and type) of crimes that occur in seemingly innocuous neighborhoods.

      1. Yeah, those things can really mess with your head though – the city is dense enough that your odds of something happening are still pretty low in most areas mentioned here as places to live (though, by all means, people should take reasonable precautions).

        1. I disagree. I found this extremely helpful when moving. To each her own, I guess.

        2. Wow, I was extremely unclear as to what I disagree on! I disagree that it messes with your head. And, I agree that the chances of something happening are low and that most areas mentioned here are safe. However, I’ve found that even people who have lived in the D.C. area for years have incorrect ideas about which areas are safer than others. I think that tool is great for comparing areas, particularly if one is unable to see where exactly an apartment is before committing to it. I also think it’s great because so many listings are very liberal regarding neighborhoods. As I’m sure you know, D.C. has some great neighborhoods that are right next to not-so-great neighborhoods and people renting apartments often lump their place in with a nicer neighborhood when in fact it’s a few blocks away, which can make a huge difference.

          1. ::shrug:: I just think for most people looking at a list of every crime that has been committed in a dense area tends to create fear out of proportion to the risk. If you’re someone who’s good at looking only at the comparative analysis between neighborhoods, though, more power to you.

  16. My large academic medical center regularly has emails going around the residents and fellows (>1200 people) about sublets, rentals, etc. If you convince someone you’re a standup person, or have a contact, that might be a way in to a relatively harmless rental pool. Are you looking to sublet a place, or looking for someone to sublet from you?

Comments are closed.