Coffee Break: Teddy Pointed Toe Flat

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1. For those who use leather continental or zip around wallets, how much do you typically spend and what is your maximum? I will typically spend up to $200 but recently saw a $500 wallet that I love due to the unique color. I would have no problem spending that much on my husband, sisters, or parents but for some reason, spending that much on myself (even when I can easily afford it) feels frivolous.

   1. I have a LV zip around wallet and have carried it for 5 years now. I know it’s “girl math,” but the cost per wear is absolutely negligible. I love it and would buy it again in a heartbeat. (And it’s not just the “label” though it was my first designer piece – it has a perfect number of card slots and pockets for me.)

      1. “girl math”… isn’t it ridiculous how being prudent about money, in that it’s often better to choose a higher priced option that is better quality and will last longer, has been reduced to a gender stereotype that disparages women?

   2. I have a Comme des Garçons zip around wallet that I’ve been using for more than 10 years. It still looks great and I still love it.

   3. I have one from Cuyana. I think it was around $150. I wouldnt personally spend $500 (that money could buy me a plane ticket somewhere really fun) but it sounds like you can afford it pretty easily, so I say go for it. Or suggest it to your spouse for a birthday or holiday gift?

      1. I have that zip around Cuyana wallet. It has been great. No issues. It’s maybe 6-7 years old. But I carry a little card case now.

   4. I have a Bottega Veneta zip around that I found in the sales for more money than I wanted to use. It felt silly to use even that just to carry money, but I love it and it is a true William Morris moment (beautiful AND useful).

   5. I have a Coach long zip-around wallet that I got in 2016. It was about $200 at the time from their full-price store. I loved the oxblood color, but I’d say it hasn’t held up as well as I’d like over time. It was in very good condition until about 2020 and now looks pretty beat up. I now have a smaller Chanel wallet, which was significantly more expensive, but brings me joy so was worth it in that sense.

   6. Mine is 16y old. LV epi leather.
      Got during pregnancy as nothing else would fit.

2. Red isn’t my color (I was dismayed to search for a red top for a Christmas party last month and discover I didn’t even have one red top for the holidays!), but I like the look of these!

3. Oooh, I like these.

4. Those are beautiful shoes.

5. Anyone undertake a home renovation of an “old” house? 1920s/1930s that hasn’t been updated for at least 50 years? Anything you wish you knew or considered beforehand?
   Let’s assume money is not an issue in this fantasy world and we can spend about a year doing it.

   Background: we are looking to move in the next 2-3 years. I know home renos take forever and wondering if I need to start looking for architects, designers, etc now while we wait for something to go for sale.

   1. I’ve done this. Double your budget and your timeline. We lined up everyone ahead of time and it was a great decision since it meant that we could have our architect and contractor walk through the house before we made an offer. Plus it will take a long time to figure out the right team.

      1. oh, and now is the time to make energy efficiency improvements!

         1. And don’t forget to budget for plumbing and electrical upgrades that will likely be necessary and desirable. I live in a “flipped” 1940s house and every repair person who has been here has shaken his head at the flipper’s failure to put in a new electrical box. And it does cause issues because a lot of random things are connected to the same switch bc they didn’t want to pay to put in a bigger box. The plumbing was updated and that has been great (knocks on wood).

            1. Putting in a new box yourselves shouldn’t be horrendously expensive, FYI. Agree that the flippers should have done it!

   2. We are in the middle of drafting plans now. 1920s house that was semi-modernized in early 2000s but lots of Very Old House problems like old plumbing and weak framing. I’d say it’s fine to start researching architects and designers so that you have 2-3 per category when you are ready to get to work. You may also want to have a structural engineer at the ready to do an inspection before you make an offer, just to ensure there isn’t anything major hidden.

   3. Yes- we bought an 1850s rowhouse for well under what comparable size homes in our neighborhood cost, but knowing we wanted to renovate. We lived in it a few years before doing anything and it really helped us know what would work best for us as opposed to guessing how we would use certain spaces. We did move out for the reno rather than trying to live through it, which was 100% the right choice even though it added like $20K in rent (plus $2K for the two moving trucks) to the overall budget.

      We hired an architect and a contractor; it’s easier but you pay a premium if you use a design-build firm that does it all in-house.

      1. +1 to living in the house for a few years before starting a reno. We ended up using rooms differently than expected and that influenced the scope of our updates. We did live in the house throughout — moved the dishwasher into the basement and carried dishes up and down the stairs, through the construction site (there were only a few days when we had to go outside to get to the basement). We had one working bathroom throughout and we like to camp so could deal with the fridge and stove in the dining room and plastic shelves with all of the food and dishes.

   4. We just finished one up in July (1929 house). I think the only thing specific to an old home is that you hire an architect and contractor who exclusively or largely work on old homes. If the house hasn’t been touched in 50 years, behind the walls there are going to be things that are not typically seen in a house that would have been built in 1990 or later (e.g., knob and tube wiring, lead paint, windows with weight pockets and sash cords). We anticipated surprises would come up in our renovation, and our contractors always responded with “okay, how do we make this work?” Rather than “WTF is this?” We met with a lot of contractors and some said they did work on old houses and then peaced out after discussing the renovation with us because they realized the challenges an old house renovation would bring.

      We also hired an architect first then got contractor recommendations from our architect. They had to do a lot of working together once the renovation started so it was very helpful that they had done many, many projects together.

   5. I did a big renovation in my 1909 home. Much of it was fixing prior renovation fit. We’re badly done and we’re completely broken by the time we bought the house.

      What was important to me and what I recommend is that the renovations you do “fit” the house, you’re not going to change your house into a mid century home or a modern architecture home if the bones are of some other style

      I’ve seen too many renovations that just don’t fit with the rest of the home, and I didn’t want to be one of those people that kill of the original character out of my home

      my kitchen remodel Used new appliances for sure because that’s what’s available but the tile on the wall and the countertops and the style of cabinetry fits in with the age of the home.

      We also remodeled two bathrooms and were obsessive about using as many of the original fixtures as we could but all the tile and that kind of thing we had to replaced, including the floor, and the walls and light fixtures are in the spirit of the original age of the home.

      1. Sorry for all the typos. I was dictating.

6. I own these shoes in black. They are extremely comfortable. I already own bright red flats, or I would otherwise be tempted.

7. Has anyone used any Color Wow products? They are stalking me on Instagram and I have a coupon lol! I have dark straight hair which I color. I don’t really style my hair – usually just air dry. I was looking at their hydrating mask and dream coat.

   1. Yes, and I really like them. I use the dream coat spray and it really does improve my blow out.

   2. I use their Dream Filter mineral remover because I have well water. It makes a huge difference! I won’t even wash my hair anymore without using it and will bring a travel bottle even when I’m staying somewhere with city water.

   3. Yes I love the One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream. Works as advertised, easy to use.

   4. Yes, I use the volumizing mousse and frizz control serum and I really like them.

   5. probably too late replying but it’s big in the UK. Great for frizz control and my hairdresser swears by a lot of their products.

8. Red is the main colour in my wardrobe, although I don’t have any red shoes.

9. Favorite bar to stash in your desk for busy times? Something that will really keep you filled up for a stretch, ideally. I am finding myself with several days of back-to-back meetings.

   1. the costco Kirkland nut bars are nice.

   2. Amazon Aplenty peanut butter chocolate bar. Mostly nuts.

   3. I like the Epic bars, but I only like savory foods so most others aren’t really on the table for me.

   4. I love Kind bars, but Pure Protein bars (available at Costco and Amazon, among other places) are filling and taste not-so-bad.

   5. Perfect bars

   6. Clif Bars. Tasty and filling.

      1. Clif Kid bars! much more palatable and you can have one or two. I like iced oatmeal cookie.

   7. Kind bars (or hard boiled eggs stashed in your purse!).

10. Well, after buying Cole Haan for nearly 15 years, I am done. I prefer wide because I have a bunyon but I have several regular size wedges and boots that I have had for years. Just got some cute boots delivered and between the quality and fit, I won’t try their shoes again. Might have to splurge on SW.

    1. SW shoes fit pretty narrow in my opinion. I got wides and they were more like regular widths. I ended up wearing once and giving away because they hurt so much, which was painful given they were definitely a splurge!

    2. Cole Haan runs narrow. I can only wear their athletic shoes, and some of the athletic shoes still don’t have enough room in the toe box for me. However, they have lasted me well (I am wearing a 2019 style and have multiple colors).

    3. Heh. I had to google because the only SW I could think of was Sherwin Williams.

       Spoiler: It’s Stuart Weitzman…

    4. If your foot runs wide due to the bunion, try Paul Green (coincidentally the brand in this post). They are one my feet probably 8 or 9 days out of 10.

       1. I will!

11. Red will be everywhere in 2024, or at least from February on, because it’s Year of the Dragon.

    We dragons agree – rawr.

12. I found out that a legal assistant I had the pleasure of working with for 4 years as an associate and income partner, who was truly the nicest and best legal assistance I’ve had in over 20 years, just retired from her firm. I haven’t worked with her for the past 3 years since I left that firm. She lives pretty far from the city where we practice and she’s pretty young to be retiring (in her early 60s I think). In any case, I would like to acknowledge her retirement and wish her well. She loves reading novels, has two rescue dogs, and I’m not sure what else she likes to do. Married, no kids. What would be an appropriate gift for her? I have no idea on budget – maybe $100?

    1. Gift certificate to her local independent bookstore. Usually easy to buy online.

       1. +1

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