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Tuesday’s TPS Report: Slim Jersey Pants

Donna Karan New York Slim Jersey Pants | CorporetteOur daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Donna Karan has specialized in basics like these pants for years, and you can see why: these pants look awesome. Professional, sleek — but sexy somehow, too. I like the seams, the comfort level (they're made of jersey), and the vented hems. They're $595, available in limited sizes. Donna Karan New York Slim Jersey Pants Here's a lower-priced alternative in regular and petite sizes, and a plus-size option. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-4)

Sales of note for 12.5

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. Unhappy 5th year lawyer here. Anyone have blog/book, etc. recommendations discussing alternative career paths for lawyers?

    1. I have a friend in a similar situation who recently left her firm to work for Westlaw. Apparently, they hire a lot of lawyers to do everything from summarize cases to teach workshops, etc..

      I once had a book called “what to do with your law degree” or something like that, but I don’t remember it being too helpful, but maybe you would find it a good place to start. The only thing that stuck with me is ‘become a career services advisor’ at a law school, which amused me because I remember most of my school’s career services people as being the worst.

    3. I left private (big and small) law practice and found a job in a state court system as a lawyer. I can’t recommend it enough. If you can swing the massive paycut, you should definitely look into it. I’ve never been happier professionally and I’m glad (for now) that I didn’t leave law altogether.

      1. This, except I’m now a Fed. I love that I still get to be an attorney. I didn’t want to assume I hated all law just because I hated big law. If I didn’t like government, I would have acquired more skills transferable to an alternative career path, or in-house. So, I would throw out there that you should do some soul searching to see if it’s the current job you dislike, or the practice all together. If it’s the practice, then definitely get out there and find a different path. If you think it might just be your current firm, try a different way to be a lawyer and see if that works.

        1. +++++1. The law suits most personality types because there are so many types of law you can practice. I have been an attorney in the non-profit world (poverty law), the state, big law, and now a county government. Before you give up, make sure it’s not just your particular situation. You too, can be a happy lawyer!

    4. I have a few friends that went into insurance claims and policy in non-lawyer roles. I also know a few lawyers that went into regulatory compliance/risk management for health care systems/non-profits in non-lawyer roles but I think the later may have had a masters in public health too.

      1. Both insurance claims and policy work as well as compliance/risk management interest me. What types of backgrounds did your friends have when they moved into these fields?

    7. Any type of compliance (either being regulated or being the regulator) would be good for someone with a law degree who doesn’t necessarily want to practice law.

  2. Does anyone know how to become a policy advisor to a member of congress/ what the career path looks like/what qualifications you need or how you get picked up for something like that?

    1. Are you sure you want To? This article has a decent overview of what it’s actually like. http://www.slate.com/blogs/quora/2013/11/07/congressional_staffers_what_s_it_like_to_work_for_a_member_of_congress.html

      If you are sure, I’d suggest working on a campaign or working your way up from intern, staff assistant or LC. It’s difficult to get hired on at a level any higher than that, as hill experience is pretty critical to be able to do your job well. I’d reach out to the offices that represent you (during a recess) and ask to meet with their staffers for networking.

      House and senate both have resume banks. I would also subscribe to the brad traverse and tom manatos lists. But know that it’s a really tough place to break into and is often much more about who you know than what you know.

      1. Unless you’re a scientist (PhD) then you can break in through the AAAS fellowship.

    2. It’s really difficult.

      To start, there’s a hierarchy of jobs: intern, staff assistant (admin), legislative correspondent (does research for higher-ups and answers the mail), legislative assistant (what you’re thinking of as policy advisor), legislative director (oversees the member’s legislative goals), and chief of staff. There can be other positions depending on the office.

      Everyone, and I mean everyone, has to start as an intern. It doesn’t matter if you went to Harvard, you have to intern first. This can be either a campaign internship or a political office internship. Experience with state politics will do in a pinch, but federal’s preferred. If you don’t have this experience, unless you’re some exceptionally specialized snowflake, you’re not getting in. (By exceptionally specialized snowflake, I mean someone from a federal agency who propagated the rules on the ACA or is a North Korea expert, etc.)

      The biggest thing to understand is that having a nice GPA and a JD/MBA/Master’s of whatever isn’t enough. There are two ways to get in: 1) know somebody or 2) be somebody. Remember in Legally Blonde where they all sat around outdoors introducing themselves – deworming orphans in Somalia, etc? If you don’t know somebody, you need an exceptional resume like that to cut through all the static. Every job posting receives hundreds of applications – you have to rise above.

      Be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. People with graduate degrees frequently start as LCs. And the pay is dismal. On the House side, an LA makes in the neighborhood of $40k. On the Senate side, an LA makes $60k-ish. You can find salaries on legistorm.com.

      For more info, check out rollcall.com and read the articles from the Hill Life section (top nav bar).

      If you google the topic, I think you get a fair number of good articles as well.

      1. Why do people want these jobs? Is there a payoff down the road? IIRC, my friends with these jobs were also waiting tables to help pay their rent (and were lucky enough not to have any debt from school, which I think is rare these days).

        1. Not everyone works to make a ton of money. See: schoolteachers, social workers, etc. Some people believe in public service. Many people end up cashing out, but if you want to get rich there are much faster ways to do that, like becoming an investment banker.

          1. I think Anonymous’s question is legit. There’s not working to make a ton of money, and then there is busting your butt during your professional day job but still not making enough money to meet your living expenses. That’s a big burden to bear, even if you believe in public service. There are also much easier ways to have a fulfilling career in public service than being an intern on the Hill.

            I’ve always been genuinely curious as to what the powerful allure is to jobs like this (it’s just something I’ve never experienced/not my cup of tea and don’t have many friends who have). I’d love if someone could shed some light!

          2. I get that (re the $), but what I recall is this curious dichotomy b/w jobs that you can get that pay 40-60 (maybe that’s just to start?) on the hill with all sorts of incredible degrees (and sometimes shocking debt) and living 5 to a group house somewhere and having part-time jobs on the side and people who do something the pays similarly (but with no debt, but no associated glam-factor either). I get it when you are 22-25, but I never saw anyone stick it out past then and hope that it’s not all ramen and laudrymats into your 40s (which is OK, but only if you want it and not if you are stuck there).

            I know that some folks to do this while they figure out life (and maybe half go to law school), but I’m having a hard time as a first-generation off-the-farm person explaining to a child looking at college that this maybe is why The Defining Generation was writen (maybe I should just wave that book around a lot?).

          3. Very few people last into their 40s for those exact reasons – because it’s hard to pay your mortgage and daycare when you make $40k and can lose your job at any moment (b/c your boss loses her election or becomes secretary of labor or is caught in a scandal – none of which are in your control). They don’t start the job at 22 in the hopes of cashing out at 40. They leave at 35 because they have to pay for daycare.

          4. 9:13 Anon here and I totally agree with your first paragraph, 10:18. And 40-60 isn’t to start: internships are usually unpaid. As a staff assistant I made $27, as an LC $32. And this was in the past five years. I’m glad I held those jobs. I made incredible friends (all of my DC friends I met while working on the hill), and now work in a job I love in congressional relations, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without hill experience. I started at the beginning of a new congress, and especially at lower staff levels, everyone is friendly and wants to meet new people– lots of folks who moved to dc from their district and didn’t know anyone. Kind of college 2.0.

            That said, I did it when I was in my early 20s. Living in a closet-sized room of a group house, living off the finger food free at receptions and drinking $1 bud lights on payday wasn’t a big adjustment from college. Now, there’s no way I would go back to that, but I’m glad I did it.

          5. I love my job. I’d do it for free if someone would keep the interest from compounding on my loans. I know it reads cheesy, but it really is the greatest honor to serve others in this way. I’ve been fortunate to have so many wonderful opportunities in my life and the desire to give back just flows out of me.

            Perhaps outsiders don’t understand that staffers make law. Elected officials are busy with meetings and press calls and luncheons, and often it’s the staffers sitting around a conference table hashing out details and making laws. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for elected officials to be everywhere with their hands in everything.

            It doesn’t matter to me that I’m making 1/3 of what my law school classmates make. Sure, I have days when I get annoyed or frustrated, but I love serving so much that those things are small potatoes. My policy area touches every American in some way. And not just Americans – the world is watching what we do in this arena, as well. I’m crafting policy that hopefully works for the good of millions of people. I can’t imagine a better job. I’ll move on at some point to an agency or lobbying, but for now, I love this work too much to leave.

          6. Nice!

            I’m happy to have you working for us. Thanks for doing what you do.

            And I understand this mentality. Working as a scientist (grad student/post-doc) and a medical student (MD PhD program) in my past was reminiscent of this lifestyle – crazy hours, low pay, and you are surrounded by smart, driven people doing interesting work that can have a theoretical impact that is huge beyond you. It is wonderful.

            I totally get the drive.

        2. I have worked at both the state and federal level as a legislative staffer and now I work in policy for a non-Legislative government role. I do it because I love it. Health policy, in particular, is something I am absolutely passionate about and I like to think I make a small but significant positive impact on the world.

          I have found that most staffers have a few things in common that lead them to this work, namely:

          An interest in ‘how the sausage gets made’
          A love of high pressure work environments
          An obsession with the West Wing
          A commitment to ‘making a change’ on a micro or macro scale

          I love what I do, but I really love not being at the whims of one individual (think: a 5am phone call asking if you can have a letter to the editor written by 5:30 regarding some obscure article that was emailed to you at 4 am).

        3. Yes, there’s payoff. Huge, if you want it. Lobbyist are overwhelmingly former Hill staffers. The work itself is terrific. The hours are cr@p as is the pay, but if you want to be where the action is, this is it. Members have so many bills to vote on and have to do so much campaigning that the nuts and bolts work (drafting legislation, meeting with stakeholders to get input on legislation, wheeling and dealing with other member’s offices, critiquing other legislation, making recommendations for your boss re votes on bills) is done by staff. So it can be an incredible amount of power and influence — whether you want those things for their own sake or because you feel like you will really help the American people by doing this work. Then when you’re tired of the late nights and high stress for no pay, you can go to a senior executive branch position (pay isn’t astronomical, but it will give you a decent living even here in DC), to a think tank (pay can be pretty bad there, too, but hours are good and little to no stress), into academia, to K Street (hours can be bad, but pay is fantastic), to a company that has a government relations office here in DC (every big company has one), or to one of those tiny consulting firms headed by former agency heads/Senators/etc. that do very very successful boutique regulatory consulting.

        4. If you stick it out you might get into a lobbying or consulting firm based on your inside connections. If you are really good (and lucky) you could climb the ranks to a more prestigious position, maybe in the White House or at the top of some agency. Although even those gigs don’t pay well compared to private sector, if you are high profile it can translate to a cushy private sector job. I know people who have gone this route.

        5. I love my job. I’d do it for free if someone would keep the interest from compounding on my loans. I know it reads cheesy, but it really is the greatest honor to serve others in this way. I’ve been fortunate to have so many wonderful opportunities in my life and the desire to give back just flows out of me.

          Perhaps outsiders don’t understand that staffers make law. Elected officials are busy with meetings and press calls and luncheons, and often it’s the staffers sitting around a conference table hashing out details and making laws. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for elected officials to be everywhere with their hands in everything.

          It doesn’t matter to me that I’m making 1/3 of what my law school classmates make. Sure, I have days when I get annoyed or frustrated, but I love serving so much that those things are small potatoes. My policy area touches every American in some way. And not just Americans – the world is watching what we do in this arena, as well. I’m crafting policy that hopefully works for the good of millions of people. I can’t imagine a better job.

      2. As an alternative to working directly for the member’s office, Congressional Committees also have staff that do a lot of the actual policy research/legislation drafting. A lot of them have law degrees, though some just have specialized knowledge, and the pay is usually a little bit better. They’re divided by party (except for a couple of committees–I think Ethics and maybe something else?) and each party gets a certain number of staffers (majority party gets more, obviously). I’ve been out of the loop too long to know how those are hired, so someone else can weigh in on that.

        1. +1 to working on committee staff. It’s what my fiance does and he loves it. He got it through friends/an internship though and started out of law school.

          1. +1 to working on committee staff. It’s what my fiance does and he loves it. He got it through friends/an internship though and started out of law school.

          2. I worked for a committee. The hiring is the same as above: internship or super specialized knowledge. Some committees offer fellowships, but those are more targeted to PhD students, etc.

            I do know one person who made it to a committee from a law firm, but he knew people.

          3. Are vacancies posted somewhere? I looked but couldn’t find anything. How do you actually apply? I have a PhD and a couple years experience in the same field.

          5. For the House, there’s a weekly email. Google “House vacancy bulletin.”

            For the Senate, there’s a website. Google “Senate employment bulletin.”

    3. Great replies above, but I do think there’s another path to being specifically a policy advisor rather than going the LC route. At least for my somewhat niche field, certain think tanks are a bit of a revolving door to Congress/the White House. CAP is an obvious one right now, but Brookings, AEI, New America, Heritage, etc. are all also important players, and there are many more. So one route is to go to school for a bunch of years (Ph.D. preferred, but not always necessary depending on field), then work your way up in the policy landscape. Even some of the big foundations are growing in influence in D.C. I’d start by identifying a few people whose jobs you’re interested in, then see how they got there. The Congressional Research Service is a great place to start, as are the various House/Senate subcommittees and their staffs. And while the pay isn’t the greatest, it’s also not the worst. Again this might be more reflective of my particular industry/field, but it’s my two cents.

  3. I just got a really beautiful pair of Gentle Souls booties from Nordstrom. Even though I got them 60% off, they are the most expensive shoes I’ve ever purchased. So my question is: how do I care for them and make them last? They’re black leather. I already sprayed some protective spray on them. But what else should I do? I tend to be really hard on my shoes, but I’d like to make these last.

    1. You can take them to a cobbler and get a protective sole put on to keep them from getting worn, if they have heels you can get a heel cap to keep it from wearing through, and they can even reinforce the toe to keep it from scuffing.

      For regular maintenance, use a leather conditioner to clean them every couple of weeks–it will keep the leather soft and supple and will keep it from cracking.

  4. I’m going to replace my hardwood floors in my condo in DC, around 550 sq ft. Anyone have any recs for a job like this? I’m looking for both materials and labor. Thanks in advance!

    1. I’ve heard many many good things about Angel Floors, out of Silver Spring. They are busy so it will help if you don’t have a definite timeline. When I was getting quotes, they were also the cheapest, but weren’t available in my time frame. A neighbor used them and was very happy.
      I would not recommend Total Floors, out of Alexandria (which is different from Total Floors out of Fairfax). I used them and had a lot of problems (as did a friend).

    2. I hate the dark wood floors in my condo. They show every footprint, smudge, or drop of water and are impossible to keep clean. I wish I could replace them.

  5. I got the Halogen v-neck cardigan at the NAS. It is a longer than I’m used to. Can someone help with styling ideas (work, weekend)?

    I am totally style-deaf, so if you say “wear with jeans” I will want to know: skinny jeans? boot-cut? With dress = with sheath dress? with skater dress (I don’t think that that would work)? With The Skirt?

    1. I would do skinny jeans or slim pants, a casual chambray or plaid button down, and cardigan over for a fall/weekend look

      You could do a fit and flare or sheath dress with the cardigan and a belt for work

      I also love pencil skirts and a nice shell with a long cardigan

      1. +1. I like to balance a fitted top with loose bottoms, or vice versa. A long cardigan to me would pair well with more fitted bottoms, so a pencil skirt or skinny/straight leg jeans.

      2. I saw a long cardigan styled with a short pencil skirt and it looked good on the model. I have seen 2 or 3 cycles of long cardigans/jackets coming in and out of style, though, and I decided it’s not a good look for me – sort of dowdy on me.

    2. Do you button the cardigan? I’m used to buttoning midde/top buttons on hip-length round-neck cardigans or just leaving them open.

      I did so much better when I lived in suits or gym attire. The in-betweens are a challenge.

      2. No, not usually, so I make sure to buy cardigans that hug my body well– heavier weights > light. If you put a belt over it as KT suggested, that’d also work.

    3. I bought the same cardigan and in addition to what was suggested by others, I plan to wear it with wrap dresses.

  6. Can anyone help me with a shopping challenge? I’m looking to round out a capsule work wardrobe and I’m looking for work tops in white, black and gray. I’m hoping to find some tops that are machine washable, around $30 each, and are appropriate for work (preferably sleeved tops). Most of the tops I’m seeing in stores are either button-downs or blouses that are very flowy and boxy. I’m an hourglass so more fitted tops would look better. Any suggestions/ideas?

      2. That’s perfect! Thanks for the rec. I’ll probably pick one up and see how much I like it. I’d be willing to spend that much if it’s a true workhorse piece.

    2. Once fall hits, I’d recommend the Lands End short-sleeve sweaters. For summer I tend to just wear basic t-shirts found at Marshalls, plus cardigans or blazers.

  7. My Dr has me on a temporary (hopefully) gluten free diet while he tries to diagnose what is wrong with me (maybe celiac, maybe something else). I haven’t bothered to mention it at work because the restrictions are likely coming to an end soon (have a doctor’s appointment in September to confirm) and I don’t want to tell everyone I can’t have gluten now, and then have them ask why I am eating pizza and cake one month from now. But I am now attending an event where I will have to dine with colleagues and have to specifically submit dietary requests to the organizer (colleague) in advance. Any advice on how to navigate this? Just say I’m gluten free and leave it at that? Say I’m GF temporarily? Is that TMI? Is there another way to phrase it like “no gluten please” that would make it clear that it’s not an allergy, I won’t die if I accidentally eat some, I’m not nuts over cross-contamination, I just can’t eat pasta or bread or baked goods? Thanks all!

    1. I think you should just say, “temporarily GF per doctor’s instructions.” If you want to, you can add that it’s not a big deal cross-contamination wise, you just need to avoid X and Y.
      I have a stone fruit allergy that causes my face to swell up but that doesn’t otherwise seem to be life threatening so if someone asks me about restrictions I will usually tell them that I don’t eat peaches, plums and apricots, but not to worry, I won’t go into anaphylactic shock if they have a peach dish on the table; I just need to know what to avoid.

    2. I think since you are specifically submitting dietary requests you should specifically submit that you cannot eat gluten. That’s such a popular dietary restriction right now that I don’t think your colleague will remember. I was a vegetarian for 20 years and people still occasionally ask me like, if I eat red meat, because they don’t really remember what other people’s dietary quirks are.

      1. Yeah, piggybacking off of this, (in my experience) as long as you’re not a jerk about it, no one will give it a second thought. (Note: being a clear self advocate does not equate with being a jerk)

        Also, if you were saying ‘no gluten’ one month and next month rocking out with brownies and someone asked you about it, it would be 100% normal, acceptable and sane to say ‘Oh! My doctor wanted me to temporarily cut out gluten to narrow down some health issues, but luckily I’ve been okayed.’

        People will only really start to judge you when you start to be that person telling everyone that gluten/dairy/soy/bananas/air is POISON and you can’t BELIEVE that someone would ever put that into their body ’cause yours is a TEMPLE OF AWESOME one week and then eating Cheetos and McDonalds milkshakes the next week.

        1. For this reason, I think adding “per doctor’s instructions” would be helpful when you mention that you’re avoiding gluten, so it sounds less like you just jumped on the “I don’t eat gluten because I’m awesome that way” bandwagon.

    3. Temporary Elimination Diet Per Doctor’s Instructions. Then they don’t get stuck on the gluten and remember it again in 3 months and wonder why you are eating a girl scout cookie, and that way if you have to cut something else out later on for doc tests – you can use the same phase.

  8. They are jersey and expensive? They look OK, but I don’t think that the heels work with them (I’d wear heels like this not with jersey pants). I prefer the lower-priced version not just because you could buy a week’s worth for the price of the main item, but because they look more like pants and less like leggings (so maybe Betabrand as an alternative)?

    1. I think the vented hem makes them look like they are too long on the model. I’ve only ever seen a vented hem on pants that hit around the ankle.

    2. I actually don’t think these pants look professional at all. I’m a fuddy-duddy, but back in the day, tight office pants were a huge no-no. I am not averse to tight pants now (times change), but these are too legging-esque for my taste.

      1. Agree, these seem way too tight to me. They also don’t seem like they’d be flattering except on the slimmest of rulers.

    3. I have the lower-priced alternative. They are incredibly comfortable and have held up great at more than 2 years old. But the waist is huge and they stretch so much over the day that they are almost falling off me by the end of the day even though they fit great in the morning.

      1. +1

        Yes, this is the problem I have had with similar pants. As they stretch you get the diaper butt. I have wondered if I bought a higher quality they truly would last longer and not stretch as much.

        I also agree that many do not look appropriately professional and the danger is too figure hugging.

      2. That’s what’s happened to me with the Banana Republic Sloan pants. Super comfy then super diapery.

  9. I went to LOFT this weekend and tried on a few pair of pants and found a few pairs that fit great in the waist but were either too big or too snug in the pelvic area…

    Does anything know what the solution to this issue is? Is tailoring my only option or would buying the same size in “tall” work?

    Also, is this a thing other people run into? Would love any advice on certain brands/styles that help avoid this.

    1. I do run into this, and I can’t figure it out at all — doesn’t seem to be a hip issue, exactly. I have very high hips, and a butt, so maybe that’s it?

    2. It sounds like they just don’t fit you because the rise isn’t long enough. I would try pants from another brand.

      1. +1 cr0tch depth is a thing that is different for different people. Google for sites that talk about pants fitting (for sewing) and see how to measure. Then you can measure that seam (when you shop in person), if you need help without trying on.

        1. I did some research on the website and it looks like the inseam on their “pants” is 3 in shorter than the inseam on their jeans. I’m going to try some Tall sizes and see if that doesn’t fix the issue.

          Thanks so much for your help!

          1. Nope. Inseam is the length of the pant (cr0tch to foot/ankle). That could be the difference between having full length jeans and ankle length pants, and shouldn’t make a difference in how the pants fit over your hips.

            Cr0tch depth/rise is running a tape measure from your waist in the front, through your legs and up to your waist in the back. Talls might still fix your issue since, like petites, it shifts the over-all proportions.

          2. @Mpls – for some reason I can’t reply directly to your comment.

            Thanks for explaining the difference between inseam and cr0tch depth. How does knowing the depth help when shopping online though? It doesn’t seem to be a dimension thats published on the website… is there a correlation between inseam length and depth?

            Thanks!

    3. I have this problem and have to buy tall. Gap/BR works well for me- my best is Gap true straight

  10. Tried to post this yesterday, but my comment went into moderation/the ether forever and didn’t post until late:

    Is anyone going to the Kayo Women’s PE Conference in DC in October? In the process of putting together a proposal to get my firm to send me, which got me thinking that it would be a great opportunity to meet some other ‘rettes.

    1. I’ve never heard of it (despite being in DC and in the fields). I do know several of the sponsors. Has anyone attended before?

      1. It looks like it is relatively new (3rd annual). I haven’t been before, but thought it might be worth checking out.

  11. Are there any good management book recommendations from the hive? I thought we had covered this recently but couldn’t find the thread. Thanks!

  12. I’m in defense consulting and looking to move into government/do political work. Any thoughts on how to make this change or where I should start looking for information?

    1. Yay! I love these Donna Karan slack’s! They have good lines and seem to be abel to hide my oversize tuchus. But $595 is a littel steep for me. FOOEY!

      As for the OP, if you are interested in workeing for the goverment (in DC) , your best bet is to go to your local congressman and ask there, briengeing a resume showeing what you have done. Because he is YOUR congressman, that is the best place to start b/c you vote for him, and if he does NOT help you, you could vote against him and tell other’s to vote against him, and before you know it, he is out lookeing for a job also.

      So make sure to meet with him personaly, and dress well. Be conservative, meaning NO open toe shoes, and NO 4″ heels. You can also forget about wearing above the knee skirt’s until AFTER you are hired. I think that you MUST deal with the realities of DC, meaning that men will be pinching your tuchus and asking for you to go home with them — and they mean busness. If you are MARRIED, be sure to wear your ring, b/c you do NOT want to lead them on and have them chase you with their pant’s down later. FOOEY on men like that. I wish you the best of luck in your desire to do political work for the goverment. It is a rough busness. YAY!!!

  13. I’m coming to NYC this week and would love some hive recommendations —

    Can anyone recommend a fun bar near the High Line/Chelsea that would be good for a happy hour that could turn into dinner?

    I’ll be with 7-8 people, so ideally it would be lively after work but not so crowded that we can’t get in. A couple of us can get there around 4:45/5 to grab a table. Nothing too pretentious. Some will just come for drinks and some will stay to eat, so it would be nice to go to a place where a formal menu isn’t a requirement.

    Outdoor space would be great!

    Thanks so much!

    1. That area is tough, but you could check out Death Ave Cafe. It’s less of a bar and more of a casual restaurant, but they do have a full bar and a backyard. Tipsy Parson has great cocktails but is a little further east and, again, more of a restaurant than a bar.

    2. I like the Half King for that sort of thing. The outdoor space isn’t the best, but it’s a great bar with good food, and it’s large enough to handle a big group.

    3. Alta Linea at the High Line hotel might be an ideal option for you, although it can be crowded. You could claim a space at the bar where there are long communal stand-up type tables and get food there, or put your name in for a table and sit down later with those who want to do dinner.

      Other options include: The Park (I think the food is nothing better than average, but it has a huge space and is pretty), the Americano hotel, the beer garden at the Standard Hotel (though it may be a mob scene)…I’m sure there are others but struggling to come up with them at the moment.

  15. Nothing about these pants reads “professional” to me. The fit and slit at the bottom read 90s to me.

    Kat, while in the past I thought this blog was too strict about professional dress code, I think many of your picks show that you aren’t spending time in an office these days.

    1. I LOVE THESE. They’re what everyone in my office is actually wearing, except so much nicer. Yes, arguably stretchy black pants aren’t the most professional, but they work at my job. Moving to these really nice ones would be a serious wardrobe upgrade.

    2. These are creating a serious long-butt look on the model. I have enough butt all on my own, I don’t need pants to make it look even longer. You know how women love Lululemon leggings because of the insta-butt lift they provide? Wrong direction, Donna Karan.

      1. LMAO! “Long-butt look” and “wrong direction, Donna Karan” made me guffaw. Thanks for that!

    4. Ditto. They look like fancy yoga pants to me.

      Serious question, can you actually wear pants with no zipper to the office? I can’t fathom any type of pant that would work.

      1. Answer: Definitely Maternity pants.

        I never realized how much zippers and buttons were holding me back from feeling true joy in life until I bought maternity pants.

          1. So true. And now I love my stretchy waistband jeans & black pants. . . . and my youngest is starting preschool this fall.

        2. Can you recommend some specific pants like this? Zippers and buttons are ruining my life. Basically I want yoga pants that look like work pants. Is that a thing?

          1. The Theory Thaniel pant. I have three pairs. I have my tailor let out the hem to make them a touch longer because I prefer that they look more like ankle pants than crops (I am 5’8″).

        3. +1. I was really concerned after coming back from maternity leave about remembering to zip my pants.

    5. Have to agree. If it looks like something I wore to the clubs 12-15 years ago, it is not office appropriate.

    6. I’d wear them to work – I own the lower priced version and wear them to the office – but with a long tunic or sweater.

  16. Maybe I need more than one…My “gear” raincoat finally bit the dust after almost 15 years–the seams came untaped. It was a Moonstone, and the company is out of business. I don’t have a “dress” raincoat, or even a dress-y lighter-weight coat. I have a big down parka, and a soft-shell fleece. That’s about it.

    I’m not entirely sure what I’m after, so I would just love to see your favorite coats (that aren’t the giant down parkas–cuz I don’t need one of them). Ideally, under $200.

    Show me what you love, and tell me why.

    2. I have a Trina Turk rain trench that I bought at the NAS this year and the fit is divine.

    3. Trench coat? Car Coat?

      Maybe check out what Lands End has for fall – they’ll do a range from warm parkas to dressy parkas to wool dress coats to rain trenches.

    4. When I was on vacation in Seattle a week and a half ago, we found ourselves needing something a little warmer and drier than what we had packed. The Columbia store happened to be by our car rental agency and I was pleasantly surprised to see they had some nice not-so-sporty looking options.

      I bought this, which I really like (also comes in plus sizes): http://www.columbia.com/womens-take-to-the-streets-trench-1557431.html?cgid=women&dwvar_1557431_variationColor=981
      And this is the one that first caught my eye: http://www.columbia.com/womens-zenith-vista-jacket-WL5112.html?cgid=women&dwvar_WL5112_variationColor=027

  17. where were you in your career development/ how did you feel about it in your late 20s? I’m 28 and just feel like I’m working so hard but still so much further behind where I feel like I should be at this stage in terms of experience and moving up in seniority. I know I’m supposed to be junior and not very important, but I’m trying to get a sense of whether where I am and how I feel is normal for my age/stage of development

    1. I was three years into my job as a lawyer and felt like I was floundering. Now seven years into this job I have a better handle on everything, but and still learning a lot and excited about my work most days. At 28, I had received one promotion and now have received another one. The set up at my job pretty much requires someone to leave before a promotion is available and there is not a lot of turnover at the higher levels, so I am probably stuck at this middle level for a while. Thankfully, it doesn’t really affect the type of work or opportunities I am given (except no opportunity to manage at this level. But same case assignments, trainings, etc.)

    2. I’m 33 now, and I have recently been in your shoes. A lot of my college friends and acquaintances have gone on to do cool, remarkable things so quickly in their lives and it’s hard not to compare myself to them. At 28, I ended up leaving the field I was in due to no clear path of advancement and starting with an entry-level job in a related field.

      However, since starting in my current job, I have been promoted once and feel comparatively less need to see where I’m at versus others. YMMV in your field, but I measure my career progress by how well I’m serving my clients, how well I’m doing my job compared to others holding the same job title, and by assessing my sense of how much I have yet to learn in the job I’m performing. Knowing I am doing my job well but still have the potential to learn a lot more about doing it well makes me content with my progress and less likely to compare to peers in other lines of work. Perhaps if I reached a point where I felt I had learned all I could or that I was being held back from opportunities to grow, I would begin to look outside of my department and for opportunities to move up at another company.

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