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Updated: Sep 12, 2024 88 Comments · by

Coffee Break: Convertible Backpack and Crossbody

Coffee Break

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convertible work bag - from reader favorite Lodis! backpack to crossbody

We're overdue to update our post a few years ago on the best backpacks for work, but a good friend prefers them for ergonomic reasons so I always seem to be keeping an eye out.

This convertible backpack (and crossbody and top handle bag) looks great — particularly considering it's from reader favorite brand Lodis, which always has intelligently designed bags. It has an exterior zip pocket as well as an interior zip pocket and two slip pockets, and has a top two-way zip. Nice. 

It's $348, available at Nordstrom, Zappos, and eBags in oxblood (pictured), army green, and a saddle brown suede.

Sales of note for 9.30.24

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Anon for this

    Adulting question—after a couple of incidents of water damage, my bathroom vanity needs to be replaced. The marble top is gorgeous and ideally I’d keep the marble top, but could also get a new top if keeping the old one is too difficult. I’d also need the edges of the mirror and sconces painted to match the new vanity.

    What kind of professional/shop could manage the whole replacement? The local carpentery shop said I’d need to bring in two other kinds of tradespeople if I engage them, which I’m not too keen on (it’s our only bathroom and we have little ones, so I’m hoping to get the disruption over in a day or two if possible).

    Also, I’m in Palo Alto if you have an specific recommendations. I’m hoping for good quality, but not super high end.

  2. ANP

    HELP. I’m starting a master’s program this weekend that’s a hybrid of in-person/remote classes, but it kicks off with a 2-1/2 day on-s i t e intensive. Dress is business casual — “Many students opt to wear jeans and a blouse.” I am convinced/terrified that I am going to be the oldest person there at age 37 and am having some self-confidence issues as a mom of three who’s going back to academia for the first time in 16 years. What can I wear to feel confident and in charge and not like a total old lady? (And yes, I realize that this is a confidence issue and that I should just buck up already…)

    • Pompom

      Ankle pants (if that’s your thing) + a blouse, or a spiffed up casual dress (like a tie waist sleeved henley shirt dress, or a simple knit shift), jewelry that makes you feel fabulous (long pendant? earrings that are a little fun?), polished but comfortable flats, bring a wrap or cardigan. You want to be comfortable, polished, confident, and memorable in the right ways. You got this!

      Source: work in higher ed admin for a program with orientations/sessions like this, see this all the time (in fact there is one happening literally outside my door as I type).

    • Anonymous

      As someone who works with grad students I can tell you that 1) you are hugely unlikely to be the only “old lady” and 2) your age and experience have almost certainly given you the tools to succeed that many of your cohort will lack. Stop thinking of yourself as old: think of yourself as prepared.

      • Pompom

        Oh, yes, this all day long. Depending on the degree/program set up, you may be in similar company! In any event, you’ll have a lot to contribute and learn from other colleagues in similar and different bands of experience. Soak it up!

    • eertmeert

      Was on average 8 years older than 85% of my masters class – but same age range as another 10% and at least a decade younger than the remaining 5%. And the extra experience was a definite plus for me.

      As far as what to wear, choose something that you can sit in comfortably for long stretches of time. The room may be air conditioned, so a warm sweater or outer layer is helpful. I am your age now, and I would wear (1) flattering jeans – slim leg looks good on me, but go with your best cut (2) patterned top with modern-ish print (3) jardigan (for fit and warmth) or sweatshirt- jacket (stylish sweatshirt cut like a cool jacket, not sure how else to describe) (4) booties with low heel or flats (5) long necklace (5) minimalist gold earrings (7) minimal, nude face makeup but possibly red lip.

      Laptop in tote bag, small notebook for jotting down notes, phone and laptop charger, water bottle and snacks, along with large-ish knit cowl or scarf for emergency warmth. I freeze sitting in AC, so the scarf might go over my legs or around my neck, depending.

      Most of all, have fun! This will be so great.

    • Anonymous

      Jeans + blouse/graphic tee/Breton tee+ blazer/knit moto jacket/fun cardigan/army jacket + ankle boots/wedges. Ponte knit dress+cute shoe+scarf.
      Denim shirt/striped top +fun color pants + ankle boot

    • Betsy

      I am in a master’s program where I am about ten years older than everyone else. It’s easier said than done, but try not to let the age thing bother you. If you let yourself feel weird about it you will act weird about it. Wear a casual outfit you feel cute and comfortable in without trying to be trendy. Personally I find that I feel most comfortable in my program when I put a little more effort into my skincare, hair and makeup than I did when I worked with people my age.

      It’s a bit of an adjustment to go back to school, especially when you’re one of the oldest people in the program. Try not to let that give you a case of imposter syndrome. I spent the first half of the first semester convinced that everyone else knew way more than me, which wasn’t true at all! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes. Good luck!

    • Nesprin

      You have 10 years more experience than the average attendee, you know why you’ve chosen this program and you are ready to kick ass and take names.

      Wear whatever would be comfortable and/or authoritative.

      Signed, scientist who loves working with returning students

    • Jen Germ

      Following with interest–in a different forum, I’ve been trying to figure out interview outfits. The shoes I’m thinking of are classic pumps, with 1″ block heels. Some people say they’re good, others are saying they’re old-lady pumps (I used that term in asking about the shoes, as a potential prejudice I wish to avoid). BUT I’ve noticed that the women who say they look like old-lady shoes are nearly all post-menopausal, like myself.

      Betsy says not to try to look trendy. I’m wondering if, in telling me to get more “interesting” pumps, they are, in fact, encouraging me to reach towards trendy and young in a way that will emphasize my age. (The “interesting” pumps are still very interview-appropriate, just have a few metal details that my original choice don’t have). I feel like so many of the things women of a certain age do to say that “age is just a number”–extreme hair color, cropped pants at the very start of the trend, driving VW bugs–all scream “oldster here, trying to look young!”

      Obviously, I’m not trying to pretend I’m a fresh ingenue, just avoid any links between youth and vitality the interviewers might have. Trying to get around all those corners warps my brain.

      • Anonymous

        I”m on that other forum, and know the discussion that is happening there. No, they are not telling you to reach toward young in a way that will emphasize your age. There is a world of difference between slightly more interesting and screaming “oldster, trying to look young.”

        • Anonymous

          Wow, way to block any input from a different source. That was incredibly rude of you—no wonder you went anon!

        • Jen Germ

          Wow, way to block input from another source. You know how rude it is—that’s why you went anon. Ugh.

      • Betsy

        Well, the reason I say not to try so hard to be on trend is because of how it affects the way you will feel and thus carry yourself. You’re going to be so much more confident if you’re wearing a pair of shoes that make you feel powerful than you will be wearing the shoes that are outside of your comfort zone. In high stress situations like an interview or a graduate program orientation, I think you should focus on wearing things that make you feel great.

    • Anonymous

      I went back to a graduate program in my seventies and the reactions of my fellow students were awesome!

  3. Anonymous

    Help me shop! I have $100 or so left on a gift card for Henri Bendel. What should I get?

  4. Garden Party Issues

    I need some help/tips with some “gardening” issues. I’ve been seeing a guy for a couple months and we’ve attempted to hook up twice but he’s had some issues with his “hose” each time. The first time he wasn’t able to stay h*rd, especially with a c*ndom, so no gardening. The second time, he could stay h*ard, but “bloomed” before there was any PIV action. He’s early 30s, so I don’t think it’s an age issue.

    He’s kind of shy and doesn’t seem super experienced in LGPs, so I’m thinking he gets anxious and nervous and is trying to do too much too soon…but I don’t know how to slow down other than me taking control of everything. How do I get him out of his own head and just make sure he can enjoy what’s happening?

    I *really* like this guy, so I don’t want to break things off because of this, but I also want a s*xually-fulfilling experience, especially if these are fixable issues.

    • Wanderlust

      IMO, nerves play a huge role in the beginning. Maybe once you get more comfortable together, the garden will flourish.

    • Anonymous

      Nerves can definitely interfere with having the gardening hose function properly. The first few times my now-DH and I gardened he wasn’t able to stay h*rd (admittedly, he was a virgin, but you say this guy is pretty inexperienced too). By maybe the 3rd or 4th time, he got over his nerves and it was great. I say give it time and maybe do some other stuff besides p-in-v for a while.

      • Anonymous

        Yeah, I would say give it some time. Maybe even an intensive weekend of work in the garden would do it. I think vice did an article where a couple gardened every day for a month, and the results were great. in the beginning there were problems, like quick watering, faulty hozes, etc, but after a week even: real results.

        Another option might be that he has a thing that he is into and he is too embarrassed to bring it up to you yet.

    • Is it Friday yet?

      I’ve dated a few with “performance anxiety” (seriously, that is what one called it), and in both cases, it was definitely nerves. One of them actually took V**gra the first few times we gardened (unbeknownst to me), so the first time something happened spontaneously…. it actually didn’t happen. With both dudes, it got better the more we gardened and the more comfortable they were with me.

      If he’s otherwise either (a) competent or (b) inexperienced but willing and open to gentle direction, I’d not make a big deal of it and put more pressure on him, at least for now. He should be willing to please in non-PIV ways, though, and let him know you’re enjoying yourself with him.

    • Anonymous

      Read “Come As You Are” by Emily Nagoski – it focuses more the female perspective, but I think there are takeaways that can apply to either gender. Things, like not focusing on making org@sm the point of the encounter. Do a variety of things that are pleasurable, but don’t define a successful experience by achieving that end.

      And it may just take some getting used to for him to – so it may be something that resolves with time, as long as neither of you get hung up on those early episodes as being “failures”. They’re just steps along the journey.

    • Anonymous

      ask him if it continues — and be sure to tell him you really like him! that might help him take a partner/team approach instead of a more solitary one

    • Never too many shoes...

      I hate the gardening metaphor so much.

      For the second problem (quick release), maybe consider first a bj/hj to completion before attempting intercourse. Most men are slower the second time around so it might help a bit.

    • Anon

      I would say this can become a slippery slope. When a guy has issues like this, your regular practices can become centered around his stuff and can mean that in practice your own needs get pushed to the side or are of lesser importance.

      Having been there, unless the situation improves rapidly, this would be a dealbreaker for me.

    • Anonymous

      Have you tried to talk to him about it? How does he respond? His reaction will tell you much more about this guy and how you two mesh than the fact that this is happening. I’ve dealt with it multiple times and it’s been a great litmus rest for how the guy handled tough conversations. If he shuts down and stonewalls me – that is how he will handle all of our fights. If he takes it personally and makes it all about him – he will make every conflict about how he can’t do anything right/I’m too hard to please/he’s not good enough. If he thinks he doesn’t need to take care of me just because his hose stops working – he will be selfish in many areas of our lives outside the bedroom. If he blames me – everything that goes wrong in our relationship will be my fault.

      Basically what I’d want to see from the guy is that he can handle this maturely. It’s ok for him to feel bad or be embarrassed (even though he shouldn’t be because it happens to literally everyone) but he should be able to not let it ruin the evening.

  5. Mom Management

    My mom is a medical professional in her 60s. She works full time and was active/athletic, but recently was diagnosed with a scary medical condition that was initially life-threatening, then was limb-threatening, and now, thankfully, is under control, with all limbs preserved. However, a lingering and probably permanent side effect is neuropathy, which is affecting her ability to do very basic things — standing from a sitting position, dressing herself in her preferred style, fastening her own seatbelt in the car….She is miserable, and she complains about this to no end. Of particular concern to me right now is that she is threatening to retire, which I think is a bad/rash idea — it would make her feel even more useless in the long run, she would be miserable sitting at home all day with the grumpy elderly relative who lives with them, and she may have many years left.

    For what it’s worth, my dad has a different neurological condition that has similarly impeded his own mobility for years now, but he is much more stoic and quiet about it than my mom — I acknowledge that this may make it harder for me to empathize with my mom and may be unfair to her (in my defense, I do not respond like this when speaking to her, but rather listen and be empathetic, I just find those conversations to be very frustrating and in some sense to feel unfair to my dad, and to reinforce how helpless I feel in the face of my mom’s unhappiness).

    I guess I am whining with a side of request for advice — is there anything you could recommend for me or for her in this situation? She refuses to see a therapist or to talk about this as a practical matter (only as a one-way b!tch-fest).

    Thanks.

    • Anon

      Your mom recently (your word) almost died, lost her ability to fasten her own seatbelt, rise from a sitting position, and to dress herself indepently and your issue is that she is complaining about it?

      Take a long hard look at yourself and don’t ask for advice on how your mother ought to behave differently.

      • Anonymous

        Yes. This. She can’t dress herself. Of course she is thinking about retiring, she is disabled.

      • Anonymous

        This. It shocks me how little empathy some people here have for their elderly parents. Your mother had a life-threatening condition and is now permanently disabled. Of course she is unhappy.

      • anon

        Yeah…….OP, did you even consider that your mom is making a very sudden, new adjustment to a disability? That she’s probably thinking about her age, the future decline of her abilities and her health, in new ways? That her mortality probably seems very real to her right now? Can you have empathy for her if you consider it from this view point? I have a grandmother that complains about the dumbest things and frankly has nothing wrong with her. She’s 82 and has some back stiffness and a bunion. She should kiss the ground she’s so healthy, and yet, all we hear is whining. It gets old. But what works for me is trying to figure out what is underneath the complaining (loneliness, fear of mortality, needing to feel cared for, facing her declining independence), and to try to have empathy for that.

        Also, don’t compare her to your dad, who has had much longer to consider his limitations, make peace with, and adapt to them. Look at it this way— there might actually be an end to the complaints once she adjusts.

        If she won’t do therapy, how about physical therapy? That could help her adjust physically and also be sort of a round-about way to get her some emotional support. She might even become more open minded towards therapy or a group if she meets people who are going through the same thing. It’ll also give her another outlet for expressing her frustrations so that it doesn’t all go to you.

        • YesIjudgeYou

          Your dad also had your mom to take care of him.

          Who does your mom have? Apparently not you. Think how that must feel for her as compared to your dad, who was able to valiantly be “Stoic” while your mom was still there to take care of all the things he couldn’t.

    • Panda Bear

      With a little more gentleness than anon at 4:04, I do agree that it’s only understandable that your mom is complaining about what she’s going through. I’d be miserable in her shoes, too. On the other hand, being the child or caregiver of an ill or disabled parent is challenging, and it’s OK if you need to ‘whine’ a little bit too. Maybe there isn’t anything you can do to change her, but perhaps it would help you to vent about it in therapy, or in a support group for caregivers. Not sure if she’d go for this since she’s dismissed therapy, but what if she could talk with other people who have faced the same medical issue? Since she works in a medical field perhaps she has colleagues or some kind of network that could facilitate meeting/talking with folks who have been through what she’s facing and offer sympathy or practical advice.

      • Mom Management

        Thanks — and to be clear, *this* is what I am looking for, advice on how to support her, not on how to direct her behavior. I understand that it is hard for her to do basic tasks, but I think she will be absolutely miserable in retirement (particularly given the elderly relative who lives with them). That said, apologies if my post was not phrased well.

        Unfortunately, my mom is totally opposed to therapy / support groups, and basically only vents to her immediate relatives and not to her friends or colleagues. She also only expresses anger about this, and I suspect that there is a broader range of emotion (sadness, frustration, fear) that it could be valuable for her to access and acknowledge. This tendency to anger would be consistent with her general approach to feelings throughout my life. That said, I guess it is up to her to do that, and out of my control.

        And if by chance anyone has any practical solutions to help get around some of the fine motor issues (like I know there are some gadgets that help with shirt buttons), I’d love to hear about those.

        • eertmeert

          “That sounds so frustrating, Mom. I am sorry you are going through this.”
          “It sure looks painful from where I am sitting, too.”
          “I am truly sorry you are going through this, Mom. I’ve reached my listening to venting limit for the day, though. I am going to go do X for a bit now, is there anything I can get you before I go?”
          “I appreciate how hard this is, and I know I can’t fully appreciate how challenging these new limitations are for you. I want to help, is there something I can do for you right now?”
          “Okay Mom, I have 15 minutes of listening in me right now. Go for it – but I am going to stop you when that time is up.” + topic changes once 15 min is over

          It sounds rude, but can you tune out while she is venting her frustrations? It’s not healthy, but she’s not going to stop anytime soon, and there will be times when you won’t be able to get out of the situation (driving to appointments, for example). Wondering if you can go into a happy place in your head during these times, and nod and “mmmhmmm” in the spots that feel right.

          Maybe check out Captain Awkward archives for scripts you can tailor to your needs. There was a recent letter about a husband who never. stopped. talking. and CA gave some scripts for how to put limitations on the amount of listening time the wife had to do.
          She also has a bunch of letters about dealing with difficult family members.

          Also, the caregiver support group would be an awesome resource. There’s gonna be a bunch of trial and error with this, and some things are going to fail hard, ad some things will work great, and your mom won’t love having her venting challenged and so that’ll be something to navigate. But hopefully you will all get to a better place where your mom feels supported and you are living with a reality that is sustainable.

          A side note, I’ve dealt with some long term health stuff that was impossible for my family members to appreciate how very life changing it was. They eventually got an inkling, but it was a huge challenge to communicate what I went through on a daily basis, and there was frustration and anger at my situation. So I totally feel for where your mom is coming from.

          And I definitely think you get that and are coming from a place of wanting to suport her long term. So good luck to you both – and to your dad. Sorry things are turning out like this, these life changes can be extremely tough.

        • Anon

          Okay, but you can’t make decisions for her about how to feel. Maybe *you* would feel better in this position if you continued working, but that doesn’t mean your mom feels the same way.

      • cbackson

        Agreed with all of this.

        Also, OP, I know someone who has severe neuropathy in her feet from diabetes and has a service dog. He’s a very large (awesome, adorable) lab mutt who wears a harness with a sort of stiff handle thing. She’s able to lean on him a bit, which enables her to stand, walk, climb stairs, etc. with much more freedom. Also, although she has him purely as a mobility aid and diabetes alert dog, I think that the psychological benefit of interacting with him has helped alleviate some of her depression arising out of her situation.

        Also, he can tell by smell when she has insulin issues and if he alerts and she doesn’t self-inject, he will go fetch her kit and bring it to her. He is also trained to alert others if she’s unconscious. In short, this dog is a rockstar and also a very sweet big lump when he’s not working.

    • Anonymous

      look up “gold violin” – they have lots of neat little devices to help people live independently. you say she can’t “dress herself in her preferred style” — what about her preferred style can she not do?

      • Mom Management

        Thanks so much for that tip! Her issues are buttons, snaps, zippers, belts, lace-up sneakers. She could do pull-over tops, elastic-waist pants, slip-on shoes, but she feels that those are not professional enough. I think it’s a generational thing — the staff coming in at age 25/30 today are dressed pretty casually and wouldn’t bat an eye at the second set of items, but she is still very formal professionally and hates the idea of letting that go.

        • Anonymous

          Would taking her to Chico’s and J Jill and Eileen Fisher help? So many very professional clothes that fit the bill!

        • Anonymous

          Has she done any occupational or physical therapy? That could be helpful. And its medical, so perhaps she would try it?

        • Anonymous

          the Eileen fisher magic pants are pull-on – Costco and uniqlo have nice ones too
          lots of lands’end ponte dresses are over the head
          you say medical – dansko clogs? crocs? rothys?

        • Anon for this

          OK. I’m 60 as well, and a professional. Recently had two chronic medical issues … in the last two years. One new and the other intensifying. It has changed A LOT of my daily life activities and in how I do my practice…

          I can tell you it is highly frustrating to depend upon other to do things. Even when the other person (DH) doesn’t mind. I can’t use power tools, kitchen mixer, vacuum, outdoor tools and equipment, and lord spare me from knives. I had to buy cut resistant gloves for the kitchen.

          Your mom has more limitations than I. It has taken me 2 years to even say the word “disabled” aloud. Your mom needs time.

          I think that the more you can focus upon what she can do (please don’t tell her there’s things she can do right now) … will help her. As people have suggested, try to find alternatives for clothing. There’s a lot out there than can still be professional. Even something like step into or pull over ponte dresses, a long looped necklace to get on easily. Then maybe St John or other knit jackets because they are looser and easier to get on than a structured jacket.

          She needs to continue working but may find that she cannot independently do some tasks. If you can figure out what those tasks are … there might be work arounds. If she was writing/typing alot, what would speech to text/Dragon software do for her?

          Just know this is a process. It’s horrible to go from 60 to feeling 85 in such a short period of time. When I say that aloud, people just reflexively say “oh no you’re not” but that’s no help to me. Quick losses of independence are brutal.

          You might call a social worker or ot/pt who works with stroke victims. Ask for adaptive technology and tools she can use. There are probably many websites with items to purchase.

          Above all, take care of yourself too. Your mom knows you care; that’s paramount.

        • anon

          look up Jag jeans pull on styles – they have everything from jeans to velvet to cords. I found them on a fashion blog (no zipper bulk!) but have used them for myself (lots of surgeries in midsection last 3-5 years) but originally bought them for my mom, now 83. She adores them and no one can tell there’s a pull on style top.

          Tunics and jardigans (looks like blazer but more give)

          Very conservative and trendy options with slip on/mules right now, no one need know.

          Also, my mom is going through a lot too. Sometimes I’m harder on her than I should be. I realized recently it is because we’re very alike. (Raise your hand if your mom had zero influence? Oh, hello crickets ; ) Mortality is terrifying to all of us. Give both of you a break.

          Look for caregiver help – might be useful for all 3 of them (mom, dad, relative). Your mom likely pulls more weight than you know. Also, people are crabby sometimes when sick. It sucks, it’s scary, it’s really hard to hear and handle.

          Recently, a former direct told me about losing her mom to dementia and how she wishes for another 5 minutes. I went home and made my mom something special.

          Wishing you all love and patience.

    • Jen Germ

      So much empathy for you! My dad is a doctor; I think succumbing to normal human concerns was very hard for him, because he thought it would show weakness (even though he would never call most of his patients weak). These days, he’s happy to go into surgery and be cared for by the same team he used to direct. Not sure how he got there, but he did.

      Your post also reminds me of a friend who’s father is a retired judge who clerked at the biggest legal proceedings of the 20th century and now has lost several physical abilities, to the point that he apparently has no will to live any more. Heart breaking! You don’t say what part of medicine your mom is in, but if it is something where she is able to work with her mind, and her physical abilities don’t directly get in the way, then I absolutely agree with you that she shouldn’t give that up. Otherwise, she’ll just have a higher percentage of things she can’t do.

      I very much agree with above suggestions that you get into a support group for care-givers, to be around people who get that your position isn’t easy, and won’t blame you for complaining about it.

      Practical/pragmatic/fashion things… In the recent post on high-waisted jeans, Kat gave examples of “good” crop tops. They all look professional and easy to pull on overhead; would your mom be comfortable in something like that? I don’t understand how laced shoes are more professional than slip-on loafers or pumps, and Naturalizers these days look amazingly different than I expect, but whatever; find her some shoes that have fake laces and are either slip-ons or have zippers. I’m not sure what to suggest for bottoms, other than that some pants have elastic in the back only, but look like there’s a belt in the front. Would she like those? If fashion is the issue that would cause her to retire, then it’s really worth spending some time on! (Of course, there’s always the possibility that this is what’s easiest to express, and there are other things that are related and more troubling to talk about)

      Good luck to you both!

  6. Anonymous

    any great chicken thigh recipes? need something for tonight — skinless, boneless. thanks!

  7. Eyeshadow advice/recs

    Any recommendations for a small eye shadow palette for work ? I tend to only wear one shade at a time, but like a little variety day to day. I had UrbanDecay Naked2 Basics. I used 3 of the 6 shades. I now have Too Faced Natural Matte. I use 3 of the 9 shades. You can probably guess which (the middle ones). I’m medium skinned caucasian brunette. Age 42. For work, I wear eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow and blush. I still consider myself a cosmetics novice and likely always will.

  8. cbackson

    How do we feel about J.Crew these days? They have some cute stuff and the price point has come down from the ridiculous/insane level it was flirting with. Thoughts?

    • Housecounsel

      I still love J. Crew. In the last month or so, I have acquired a great navy scalloped shift dress, a pencil skirt with a little ruffle, and four bodysuits, two button-down and two sort of cowl neck. I get a ton of my work clothes from there.

    • Anonymous

      they’re revamping soon (i’d heard september) so try on and return fast. and if you like something a lot, stock up.

    • anon

      I used to buy a lot from JCrew. Then stopped when prices, sizes and styles went off the rails. Now I’m slowly coming back. Picked up a few things this year.

    • Calico

      I recently ordered their Heritage blazer and a denim button down (something like Japanese selvage?) and am extremely happy with the quality and looks of both. I did get them at 40% off which helps.

    • Anon

      What’s the quality like now? It was pretty low for a long time, especially given the prices they charge.

    • Cat

      Meh. Was in store last week. Found one thing (the going out blazer, aka jcrew 365). Most felt too cheap, bright , or young. Mid 30s.

    • Anon

      Considering buying the cowl neck bodysuit that Kat linked to, but am nowhere near a store. Can anyone speak to the quality?

  9. Anonymous

    I’m 43 and have dark brown hair with too many grays. What are the options other than color? Is a gloss a thing? My Pinterest-fu is failing me.

    • Calico

      Same same. I bought Redken Shades EQ on Amazon. (You need to buy the processor as well as a toner shade.) I’ve found when I went a shade darker then my natural brown (for me that was 5N) it covered greys for a few weeks. It’s not as effective as permanent dye, but I like that I don’t get a root line.

    • Anonymous

      i use henna bars from lush. it’s been kinda fun! i use a shade redder and lighter than my natural black hair color so it just looks almost highlight-y

    • LAJen

      I have this same issue, and I am going in for the first time this weekend to have a demi-permanent color done. It’s billed as a color gloss, but it’s essentially a demi-permanent that will fade gradually over time rather than producing a line. I can report back with how it goes!

  10. Gernal

    I might post tomorrow but it’s 1 AM and I am frustrated
    I have hyperfocus ADD so have set-up a bunch of coping tactics.
    I also happen to be really good and experienced at what I do so tend to be very fast in getting through the work, which means I end up taking up more on my plate.
    I have noticed recently that my small project team stays up every night working until midnight when we start at 8AM.
    I also noticed that my output is much more sizeable than the rest of the team, including the inexperienced manager but that it doesn’t seem to go noticed since we make a single deck of slides for the client.
    It seems there is no way to reduce the face time expectation (German firm), would you reduce your output to preserve your energy?
    I was wondering whether the local colleagues are not slow but rather pacing themselves because they know we are staying late no matter what.
    What would you do? Continue to bear more than your fair share with no recognition or align with the rest of the team?
    If it were up to me, I’d keep my pace but go earlier to sleep but it is frowned upon and the nervous project manager is one of those who feel the need to look stressed and busy as a sign of achievement

    • Anonymous

      Suggest that once you get X slides done you go home? Does group interact much after hours or do people work separately?

  11. Jen Germ

    Dude, I’ve been following that bag for a couple of months! I nearly got it during the recent 30% sale, but tariffs to Europe where I’m living made it just as expensive as the original price.

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