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.
Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
If you’re a woman who has been wearing business casual clothing for a few years or more, I’m going to go ahead and assume that you’ve got a black cardigan hanging in your closet already. Maybe it’s great, but I’m guessing it’s probably a little bit blah.
If you’re looking to elevate your look, consider this cotton-wool version from Modern Citizen. The architectural sleeves and slightly cinched waist provide something a little more exciting than your basic silhouette, and the cotton-wool blend looks like the perfect weight. Make it your new back-of-the chair go-to or save it for a special occasion.
The sweater is $168 at Modern Citizen and comes in sizes XS-1X. It’s also available in buckwheat.
Sales of note for 9.30.24
- Nordstrom – Beauty deals through September
- Ann Taylor – Extra 30% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off sale
- J.Crew – 50% off select styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything + 50% off sale with code
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Friends & Family 25% off
- Rag & Bone – Friends & Family 25% off sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – Fall Cyber Monday sale, 40% off sitewide and $5 shipping
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- White House Black Market – 40% off select styles
Anonymous
Great pick except for the crazy long sleeves. Whyyyy?
Anon
I know! I have short arms, I would look like a little kid in their dad’s jacket.
Anon
I have LONG arms and unless I’m in need of gloves, any sleeve color but black is an impediment if you deal with ink on paper, especially at work, so even I will pass. Indoors it doesn’t work. Maybe OK on an outdoor item (nah — just have gloves).
Anon
Yeah, I’m a big cardigan fan, but as someone with short arms and a large chest, I can tell it would just look sloppy on me- too long in the arms and would either bulge over the chest or hang awkwardly unbuttoned
Anon
Oh I love it, it makes the sweater have some style, otherwise it’s a basic, boxy, lands end lookalike.
Anon
I love it!
anon
Me too! The cut of the sleeves is what makes it unique too.
For my body it works great. I am tallish and slender with a short waist.
Anonymous
Wow, very rarely do I comment on the fashion here, but this cardigan is a winner. Looks polished but is actually secret sweatpants. Meep I guess I’m spending money today.
NYNY
I love this! Modern Citizen opened an actual store in Soho, so I may go try it on to see if the sleeves are workable or ridiculous on me.
Anon
Thanks to the person who recommended the Cover Girl dupe of Black Honey. I threw one into my Target order, not expecting much, but am really happy I did. Super flattering and it feels good on my lips.
Anonymous
Specifics? I missed the rec.
Pep
Weekend Open Thread: Covergirl Tinted Lip Balm in Berry
New Here
Related – can anyone recommend a color similar to Black Honey that stays on a while? I have worn BH for 25 years and love it, but hate that it wears off so fast.
Anon
I enjoy putting a lip stain under any lip product, so when they wear off, I’m at least covered from a color perspective. There are many lip stains out there, but I really like the Covergirl Outlast lip stain and REM Beauty lip stain.
Anon
Same! And I like the cover girl shape better Thank you!
anon
How soon is too soon to leave a new job?
I got laid off from my job of 20+ years at the end of April. Thankfully I found a new job a few months later, but it’s a (W2) contractor position so I get paid and that’s it. No benefits, PTO or paid holidays. I’ve been on my husband’s health insurance plan.
About a month ago, my husband found out he was getting let go as well but he is able to stay on until next March. Once we got that news, I started up my job search again because I have no idea how long it will take for him to find another job and I don’t want to risk being without benefits.
The contract for my job goes through next July and I was told there is a “potential” for a conversation about converting to a permanent employee, but that’s really not a guarantee.
I’ve been at my new job for a couple of months and I sort of feel bad job searching again so soon. However, I feel like I need to look out for my best interests especially with my husband’s job situation.
Ses
Don’t even feel a little bit bad about this. Your family and health coverage come first. Get a job that works for you.
Employers have to know that contractor positions like this aren’t attractive to a lot of people because of these aspects, and the asymmetry of risk (it’s easier to let a contractor go, and the employer doesn’t take the hit if a contractor becomes ill and can’t work). The tradeoff for that is that contractors leave for better positions and they’re less reliable as long term employees.
On your cv if asked about the short stint just point out that it was a contract position, not a full time permanent role.
Anon
This, exactly. I wouldn’t have expected you to stop looking. You don’t a have a job you have some interim income.
NYNY
100% this. It’s a contract position while you are looking for something long-term. Any hiring manager worth working for would not give it a second thought.
Anon
I don’t think it is ever too soon to leave if you are in a job without those types of benefits. Especially if you are moving to a job that does have those benefits.
anon
I don’t see how an employer can expect an employee to stay when there are 0 benefits. I would not feel bad at all about searching.
Anon
+1. I can’t even imagine feeling any kind of guilt in this situation.
Anon
Of course you should look for a new job.
Anon
I mean this to sound harsh towards corporations, not you: which is your first priority, your current employer or your family? Is your family ancillary to your life, or do you work to support your family?
If your job isn’t giving you enough to support yourself and your family, leave.
My advice: be choosy about where you land next, because a dysfunctional situation can cause all sorts of problems (two short stints in your resume, people start to wonder).
Anon
Two short stints doesn’t matter very much when you point out to new employers that it was a short term contract role.
Anon
Your last point is really industry-dependent; it wouldn’t look weird in my sector at all.
Anon
And contractor roles aren’t the same as permanent ones. I would question why someone stayed a contractor for a long time though.
Anonymous
Never ever put a company before your own interests. They would throw you into the meat grinder if they could make a buck.
Cora
It’s a contract job. No one will be surprised that you were still looking. It’s very natural for a contractor to leave for a full time job.
Cat
It’s a contract position. Everyone, including your current company, knows folks are prone to leave those for positions with benefits. No red flag for your job search.
OP
Thanks for the feedback everyone! I work as a business/system analyst. It is a tech adjacent job because I’ve always worked closely with IT and software development teams. The job market for that industry has had lots of layoffs lately and overall the job market seems to be pretty rough. During the time I was job searching, I got lots of rejections and even ghosted after an in-person interview. This contract role was my best option at the time and it was better than having no paycheck.
I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to be more picky this time around. I’m not pursuing any more contract roles without benefits. Some good news though – I got an interview request for a role I applied to last week and it would for a permanent employee role. Hopefully it will work out!
Anonymous
Just wanted to say to definitely look. People won’t even blink at something project-based. I had a somewhat similar event in my career and took a low-paying job at a digital marketing agency thinking I was getting benefits but finding out later that their health plan’s network was pretty much useless in my part of the country. I used the time to interview like heck and ended up somewhere making twice as much at a VP level with great benefits and a great team. I’m now in my second year there and thankful every day. Please don’t feel at all guilty. You have to do what you need to do to protect yourself. If they cared about longevity, that position would already be long-term with benefits. And that you were somewhere else so long already shows that you aren’t a flake.
Anon
Congratulations on the interview and good luck!
Anonymous
Contractor positions are inherently not permanent. There’s always a risk that you will find a full time position. In today’s market, it’s hard to know who will convert you to a full time position. Are there other people in your group who started as contractors? How’s the company/department financials?
Either way, I’d look. It can take half a year to a year to get a job (or not). Then you’d have specific offers to compare against your current position, rather than a nebulous “better job”.
Anonymous
Leaving a contract position is not the same thing as leaving a salaried position.
Anon
I’m so sorry you are going through this. It’s a very tough employment market right now.
My take is that work between jobs doesn’t have to stay on your resume. Heck, being laid off last year I have taken on 4 different jobs doing very different things. I’m still applying for full time roles and I don’t expect the full time role I manage to get to be equivalent to the roles I was last properly employed in.
None of these roles will go on my resume once I’ve secured the position I want to be known for and I’ll leave it as a gap. People don’t need to know what’s not relevant. If a role was a minimum wage position stacking shelves in a supermarket (who doesn’t love a discount on food and benefits offered) but my previous role was general council for a medium sized business, it makes zero sense to put it on my resume. We all have to hustle sometimes. None of these companies show any loyalty to their employees.
Anon
Retrying now for more traction: has anyone bought the moon shaped bag from Baboon to the Moon? Never heard of them but the bag looks promising and it’s all over my SM feeds. Or just go with something like LeSportsac? I like a nylon bag but I am finding out the hard way that I need pockets. Opaque pouches done help me out beyond just one for period products.
Anon
Caroline Moss of Gee Thanks Just Bought It talks about that brand all the time. Maybe you’d have luck in their fbook group if you’re part of it?
Anon
I absolutely love this, except for the patch pockets.
Anon
A friend and I are rewatching The Sopranos. We also chuckle re Mob Wife as a style for the kids now (especially nails). And then this week we got to the Gloria Trillo episode and OMG I could wear her outfits now and love them. The actress is in Tulsa King now — is that watchable?
Pep
We really enjoyed Season 1 of Tulsa King.
I’m actually trying to sell my BF on a long weekend trip to Tulsa. I want to stay at the Mayo and visit the Woody Guthrie Center and the Bob Dylan Center. (We’re music people)
Anon
The downtown architecture is worth it, especially if you’re into Art Deco. You can come up with a walking tour pretty easily. There was a LOT of oil money flowing through there in the early 20th century.
Anon
Annabella Sciorra – Raped by Harvey Weinstein, and one of the main witnesses at the trial that convicted him. She’s a hero.
“In October 2017, Sciorra leveled allegations of rape against the film producer Harvey Weinstein. In an article published by The New Yorker, Sciorra alleged that Weinstein raped her after he forced his way into her apartment in 1993, then over a number of years repeatedly harassed her. Sciorra was the key witness addressing the predatory sexual assault charges during Weinstein’s trial in 2020, leading to his conviction.” From her Wiki
ABanon
Why is that an important thing to say when her work/style is being discussed?
ABanon
My apologies, I see you’re saying she’s heroic. I thought you were just informing us she was a rape victim since that stands out like a title.
Anon
What she did could have been career suicide, and it was for many. She is absolutely a hero!
AIMS
Frivolous fashion question – do certain colors read as too casual? I really love light gray but often feel like it’s a step down in formality for a reason I can’t really articulate (vs. darker gray, black or white, for ex.). Maybe because I associate it with classic sweatpants?
Trying to pick a sweater color (GH is having a sale on their cashmere sweaters) and can’t decide between the light gray and the white….
Anon
I think light grey reads as less formal, but not as much if you wear it with say a navy or black or dark grey suit. What’s GH? Intrigued by a cashmere sale ….
Anon
Also unable to parse out what GH refers to and curious. Please someone translate!
Cat
Garnet Hill
anon
Garnet Hill, maybe?
anon
Seriously. What a stupid acronym. Say what you mean.
Cat
People use acronyms for mall brands all the time here. BR or BRF, JCF, LE…
Anon
Lol love when people get pissy because they don’t know things.
Anon
I don’t think so, but when I wear light gray, on me it doesn’t look intentional, rather like something that got dingy in the laundry. You may have better coloring for wearing it than I do.
Anon
Lots of light grays are heathered or otherwise sort of mottled in a way that does make them look like sweatpants and therefore less formal. They can also look a a dingy white when they’re too light. But in the rare light gray that avoids those issues, I think they can look nice.
Anonymous
Maybe because in men’s suiting it is viewed as more casual?
NYNY
I’ve always felt like light grey fabric is tricky to get right. I have owned some gorgeous light grey sweaters, but have also tried some that were too yellow-toned for me, or too flat, somehow. I always need to see it in person to know if it will work.
Cora
I feel the same. Light grey seems like it should work in theory but often doesn’t in practice.
Anon
Unless it’s suiting fabric light gray always reminds me of pajamas or sweats. The color somehow dumbs down the garment. I’ve learned to avoid light gray except for loungewear.
Anon
Same. In a suiting fabric, I tend to pair light grey with navy to up the formality.
Anon
I am always on the lookout for a beautiful, unheathered pearl gray. In a nice fabric I think it’s modern and elegant. I do think that a weathered light gray or less than stellar fabric does read as very casual.
Cat
+1, it’s not the color, it’s that light gray is so often heathered like sweatpants. I have one Jackie cardigan that’s a beautiful pure pearl gray that I have babied for like 15 years because it’s so perfect.
anon
That pearl gray is so hard to find, but it looks fantastic on me. I have a BR silk cotton cardigan that’s at least 5 years old and I will hold onto it until it falls apart.
Anon
I love a pearl grey too, so hard to find!
Anon
I had a light gray cashmere sweater and every time I wore it I felt it looked like I was wearing an old-school sweatshirt. I do feel like it’s a casual color, especially since the cut of a classic cashmere crewneck does look like a sweatshirt.
Anon
I feel like I have this question every year, and yet, the answer still remains out of my reach. What’s a winter shoe that can be worn with socks (cold office), is flat (occasional knee problems), and looks good with pants? I usually end up in a heeled ankle boot and my loafers just don’t seem cute enough for a full length pant.
Anon
Flat boots with a pointed toe, lace up oxford. Loafers are in but also not my favorite.
Anon
Are we talking trouser socks or wool socks? If it is wool socks you want (or anything thicker) I think boots are your only real option. There are plenty of styles – I grabbed these last year on super sale and can’t wait to break them out this fall:
https://www.stuartweitzman.com/products/sondra-sleek-bootie/SH217-BLK.html?ogmap=PLA%7CACQ%7CGOOG%7CSTND%7Cc%7CSITEWIDE%7COutlet%7CSW_OTL_Google_PLA_Signal_NA_Generic_National_PMax_NA_BAU%7CSW_OTL_Google_PLA_Signal_NA_Generic_National_PMax_NA_BAU%7C%7C21111910032%7C%7CUS&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6c63BhAiEiwAF0EH1AvMKqVi2bxRZSezWoJrK390Uqc_m1874ytFMy64ewEzgYlsAOutfBoC7SEQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Anon
Boots.
NYNY
I love menswear-inspired lace-up oxfords with pants, especially wide leg trousers. Details like brouging (those lines of perforations) make a difference, and I prefer a chunky sole over something sleek. If you prefer something more delicate, maybe a mary jane or ballet flat with pointe shoe details?
Anon
+1 to an Oxford. The style can lean masculine, but I’ve had in the past sleekly cut Oxfords that were more feminine and didn’t look like I was just wearing my dad’s shoes
Anon
Doc Martens, or a clone. I prefer a zipper like the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial boots.
anon
I wear flat boots throughout the winter.
Brontosaurus
I also go with flat boots – I have my eye on these: https://thursdayboots.com/products/womens-duchess-black-chelsea-boot
Anon
Flat boots
Anon79
If it’s thin socks, maybe a “sock boot” style that’s a stretch material to allow for the wider foot?
Anon
Wear shorter pants.
Anonymous
The answer remains out of reach because . . . there are very few options. Flat, closed-toe shoes come in the loafer/ballet flat/skimmers variety, the laced/bucked variety (oxfords) variety, the sneaker variety, or the boots variety. Of those, I’d only wear oxfords or boots with socks.
Anon
I was browsing around for oxfords just this morning and saw buckled oxford options at a couple of places – J Crew, Stuart Weitzman. I think I might check those out if I were you, OP.
Anonymous
Not sure how formal you are, but I get a lot of use out of my Cole Haan shoes that are sort of a mix between a sneaker and oxford.
anon
Just bought these in black in a wide width to be able to wear with thin Smartwool socks.
https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-sas-saddle-slip-on-loafer-black-suede/product/9902406/color/106
Trial Question
Lawyers – thoughts on wearing this to federal jury trial (defense side) as counsel? Or do you think you absolutely always need blazer jacket? I lean towards later but this feels quite formal to me.
https://thefoldlondon.com/product/arlington-dress-navy-jersey/?_gl=1*gs19vc*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxsm3BhDrARIsAMtVz6N_1Uc_WWKrgLPGE-leR0iras8ymMYanc85GbUC7DbL4j5CQI-4vTcaAmRjEALw_wcB
Anon
This dress is gorgeous! A federal jury trial is one of the few situations where I would not wear it, though. That is the time to wear the boring lawyer suit in my experience.
Anon
Not a lawyer so I can’t speak to the appropriate for trial factor. However I have tried that dress on in person and it was VERY fitted through the hips/thighs/backside. Think the fit of the costumes in Suits. I’m more pear shaped (5’4, size UK 10) and it was too ‘va va voom’ for my conservative office. Going up a size just made it look weird considering it’s a jersey fabric, not a wool or suiting fabric.
Anon
I’m the person above (I am a lawyer who tried cases in federal court), and I didn’t notice it was jersey. This is an even bigger reason that it’s not a trial-court dress in my eyes.
Anon
I have this dress in black and navy. I love it but would never wear it to work. They are my occasion dresses.
Anonymous
I would stick with the jackets, either a blazer or a Chanel inspired cut.
Anonymous
How many days? If you’re going a week or more, I’d say yes. But I think wearing an official jacket/blazer the first couple of days is important.
Anonymous
I have worn something similar from The Fold in a federal jury trial BUT it was actually a separate jacket and skirt, the fabric was wool, and it was chalk-striped. I would not wear a jersey dress in a federal jury trial.
Anon
Depends on your jurisdiction, in my California federal court this would be amazing in federal court generally but I’d say more for oral argument. I also think it reads very expensive. The expensive part would give me the most pause depending on what you’re trying to signal or say as part of your case. It might be appropriate but generally defendants don’t want to be seen as rich.
Anon
I agree — if things go wrong, especially as a woman, I don’t want my clothes to be remotely memorable. And I don’t think that my client wants that, either. I want to be in such appropriate attire that it’s unremarkable.
anon
It’s a have to try it on at a minimum — looks like it could quickly veer into business casual club wear of the aughts if your backside is not flat.
Anon
My backside is not flat and it’s perfectly appropriate for wearing outside of a club. It’s just not necessarily day wear.
Trial Question
Thanks everyone for the input – going to try a few full on suits from the Fold was just wondered if I should throw this in my cart too but I’m going to take it out based on responses and call out on fit. Trial is a month and for various reasons don’t think I need to be so boring as pure black pantsuit every day, but also not overly memorable for sure! Welcome ideas for places to get suits that are a step above Ann Taylor besides the Fold, MM La Fleur, Boss….
Anon
I’d include Reiss and Veronica Beard on that list as well as Scanlan Theodore.
Anonymous
LK Bennett and Lafayette 148
Anonymous
Oh, and Elie Tahari
Anon
Personally, I’d check in with your jury consultant and get their opinion. I’d also keep the receipts, a month is a long time to settle.
Kate
Hard no.
Anon
I’m in search of true crime podcasts that aren’t about gory crimes – think financial crimes, like the FTX debacle. I love the podcast Swindled and the new Betrayed mini-series but would be interested in longer form (multi-part) if it’s done well.
Anon
There was a great one on Theranos, can’t remember the name.
Anon
Bad Blood?
Anonymous
There may be others but that’s the one about Theranos that I enjoyed. There’s also one about MLMs (which is not specifically crime, but really close IMO!) called The Dream that was well done.
Anon
Serial season 3 – it’s about the criminal justice system in Cleveland, it’s really well done.
Anon
I just listened to Burn Wild, which was about ecoterrorism in the 1990s and early 2000s and really enjoyed it!
Anonymous
Queen of the Con is good. Also Chameleon.
Mpls
Corporate Gossip isn’t exactly true crime, but it a lot of financial/corporate malfeasance.
JTM
Scamanda was really good – about a woman who faked having cancer to scam people out of thousands.
Anonymous
I enjoyed The Orgasm Cult series, although some parts are nsfw as the title suggests – it’s a corporate scam about the OneTaste organisation. The Dropout is the other Theranos podcast and I think is the one the TV show was based on. If that’s the kind of thing you’re talking about Scamfluencers is good for single episodes per story, other long form ones I enjoyed were Fallen Angel (about Victoria’s Secret) and Intrigue: Burning Sun about the Korean celebrity sex crime rings. I also have Buried: The Last Witness downloaded, about a UK forever chemicals investigation, which was well reviewed but I haven’t got around to listening to it yet.
Senior Attorney
In the romance scam vein, Twin Flames was nuts…
Anonymous
I really like true pod style podcasts about other mysteries. So these aren’t crimes, but if you like that style, I would listen to Reply All’s Case of the Missing Hit (probably the best singular podcast episode I’ve ever listen to) and the Rumor (investigating a baseball/celebrity gossip rumor from the 90s).
Anon
Scamfluencers!
Anon
The Retrievals? Not all about crime, but the underlying crime is infuriating.
Criminal is about various aspects of crime and sometimes about specific crimes. I feel like they may be running out of material, but the old episodes were great.
Anon
WWYD? I live in a dense neighborhood of older houses on small lots. Someone bought a duplex and paved the front yard so there would be two concrete parking spaces for a business. Apparently massages? There are no signs, just a security camera. It’s not zoned for businesses and the whole thing seems sketchy (the dog owners have figured all this out from their daily walks). I realize I work from home all the time but no one comes to my house, takes up extra parking, etc.
Anon
Report it, if it’s not permitted in your municipality.
Anonymous
You have two issues – the paving of the front yard and the business. I might call your zoning department and just ask about both of these issues and whether they are allowed. They may be able to give you information. But if not, you may be out of luck.
I’ll also add, everyone hates on HOAs, but this is where they do serve a purpose…
Anon
Although the problem here isn’t that there aren’t rules, but that the rules are likely unenforced. Paving is a big deal where I am b/c we have too much impervious surface already, so storm runoff is a huge deal. Not to mention the aesthetics. Also, you need a permit IIRC for a curb cut; you can’t just run a driveway over stuff the city has put in (like sidewalks). Commercial in residential is . . . maybe tolerated during the pandemic, but not so much now, especially something trying to sneak in.
Anon
From my friends with HOAs, the bad ones enforce random things at cruel times (a person with an infant or recovering from surgery penalized for having too-long grass) or with a heavy hand and then overlook QOL items by people in the in-group. Many are fine and bland — pick up trash, see to exterior maintenance, replace the roof on a building, pay insurance on common areas.
Anon
I’m always a fan of minding my own business.
Anon
The irony of coming here to say that instead of collapsing the thread…
Anon
It’s always good to remind people that some things are genuinely not their business.
Anonymous
No it’s okay to want to keep illegal businesses out of your neighborhood. Especially since the type of business OP mentioned often includes human trafficking
Anon
I would 100% be on the lookout for human trafficking in an illegal, home-operated “massage business.”
Anonymous
Really? That seems more like an independent massage therapist working out of their own home. I’ve seen multiple people do this (although I don’t know if that’s ok for a particular city/state). Presumably it should be easy enough to tell what type of people are coming by.
Anon
Because human traffickers have signs on them?
Anonymous
+1
Anon
This. Is it causing an actual problem?
Anonymous
In my experience, people who cheerily ignore regulations like this will go on to ignore noise ordinances or set up an illegal business. It’s better to get early action so they know the city has an eye on them,
Anon
Yes — don’t get me started on the AirBNB that opened up when our neighborhood hoarder’s kids inherited the house.
Anon
Sorry, but I don’t trust a random person to know all the zoning regulations for where they live.
Anonymous
In my city this is all sorts of illegal so I would call to report the unregistered business, I would also report the parking spaces as there are rules about hard cover to prevent floods. My city is pretty good about this stuff, and often ticket and fine promptly when called.
Anonymous
In my small town I would call city hall and speak nicely to the receptionist and she would tell me exactly who I need to complain to about this. Probably zoning.
FP
I had a very similar situation in my neighborhood, where certain types businesses are allowed to operate out of homes despite it being zoned for residential houses. Hairstylists are allowed a certain volume of customers per day and can’t put up any signs to indicate a business being run from a home. This neighbor paved over their yard for parking, put up neon signs in the windows, and clearly had a much higher volume of customers than what was allowed (like 20+ instead of the 4 per day allowed). Our city allows an anonymous codes violation reporting, so I did that and honestly – probably many others did, too. Codes was at their home within a day or two to clarify what was allowed for a home operated business and threatened a fine. It was fixed pretty quickly. Check your city’s codes website to see how a report works.
Anonymous
I would check with zoning — if they had permission to pave their front yard there should have been signs up, I think there’s a notice period. At least in our neighborhood there are signs up whenever someone’s adding a pool, patio structure, etc.
I think this can affect your home value so you’re right to be concerned. Both the massages and the paved front yard are bad.
Anon
In our city, we can’t do things in the city’s right of way in the front yards or within 5 or 10 feet of a property line. So you can’t pave over a whole front yard.
Seventh Sister
I’d report both the business and the paving, assuming neither is allowed in your neighborhood. I have a neighbor who routinely breaks our town’s code sections about wall height and yard sale frequency. Since he sprayed me in the face with a hose and didn’t apologize, I’m pretty sure he knows it’s me because I dislike him. But the yard sales have stopped, pretty much.
anon
I live in a neighborhood where no one complains about neighbors and certainly doesn’t call code enforcement on neighbors. If there’s something that really needs fixing, one talks nicely to the neighbor.
That all goes out the window when someone makes absolutely zero effort to be a good neighbor, especially if it seems like whatever they’re doing is just business for them (versus actually living there). So, rude illegal flippers? Code enforcement called. Homeowner making some changes but doesn’t want to deal with our (over the top awful) local inspectors? No one says anything.
It works well.
Anon
I am so curious as to what the result will be here! Please report back!
Anon
I would probably do nothing. I dislike neighbors and neighborhoods where people complain about things to their local authorities as I think it makes for a lot of unnecessary tension. This doesn’t sound visually ideal but far from enough of a problem to do anything about.
Anonymous
Flooding is a lot more than not ‘visually ideal’.
Anon
Where on earth are you getting flooding?
Seventh Sister
I prefer talking to neighbors and trying to work things out informally, but there are plenty of people who won’t do a darn thing unless they get something official from the city. And in my town, it’s not just the new people, it’s the old-timers who loathe everything about what our town is like in 2024 except that the tract house their grandma bought in 1950 is now worth $1 million-plus.
Jane
What do you do when you can’t decide if your frustration with your job is a midlife crisis, a time for change in the job because it’s not great or a burnout?
Anon
You need time and space to figure it out. The pickle is how you find time and space. If you can’t take a vacation/break, then are there other ways to find time and space? Maybe setting aside tasks that are set aside-able? I
Anon
an executive coach can help you find clarity on this
anon
Looking to plan (last minute at this point) a trip over new years out of Houston with kids. Any ideas that wouldn’t break the bank? We’re going skiing later in the year. Not looking for an all inclusive. Something easy that wouldn’t be crazy expensive. Help me brainstorm!
anon
I’m always a fan of driving down to south padre, especially when it’s not hot out.
Anon
There are lots of nice beach resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean that aren’t all-inclusive. It’s an expensive week though.
Anon
Hike Big Bend.
Drive up to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Stop at Crater of Diamonds state park on the way for diamond mining. Go to the crazy old bathhouses. Hike at Hot Springs Natl Park.
NOLA.
pinata
It is super easy to get to Cabo from Houston. There are resorts galore, or you could get an air bnb in san jose or one of the other smaller towns just outside Cabo. It is all very safe and a lot of fun over the holiday season. Beautiful weather. There are fireworks over the water in Cabo on New Years.
Anon
Has anyone ordered from Aligne (https://aligne.co/en-us)? They look like a cool artsy option for interesting business casual and I’m inclined to try them out but would appreciate any real life feedback.
Anon
I just ordered a coat from them from the Vogue roundup linked elsewhere in this post! We shall see. Free returns at shopbop if it doesn’t work, because yes, I did read the fine print. Not a regular shopbop customer.
NaoNao
I did! I really wanted a button-front long-line vest for the summer and Aligne had/has a cotton poplin one that looked beautiful.
I agonized over the size and womp womp it was wrong–too big. I did size up because it was EU sizing and a fitted/no stretch garment but erred on the side of too big. The construction and quality seemed on par with the pricing, maybe even a bit more than one paid for–in terms of quality to pricing ratio but not a “steal” or anything. I didn’t do an exchange because the armholes were cut really large/long and I felt that even sizing down, this wouldn’t resolve the armhole issue, since the I wanted the garment to fit just like a shirt/blouse but in vest format. Otherwise, I’d say it’s a solid brand, although I recall shipping took quite some time.
Anon
I think the ‘affordable’ part is debatable but I was shocked at how interesting and well curated this Vogue list was. I’m tempted to buy a solid number of these options!
https://www.vogue.com/affordable-fashion-edit
Anonymous
That is a good list; some smaller brands that haven’t hit my radar. While we assessing it, does anyone know how Reformation fits?
Anon88
Generally runs small, and sometimes has odd/impractical cuts. That said, when it’s good, it’s good.
Anonymous
Thanks!
anon
I’d say it runs designer true to size. But, small for vanity sizing. I normally like to try on in person because the revisiting the 90s aesthetic can be hit or miss.
Anonymous
Agreed, I found Reformation tops/dresses just fit oddly on my post-kids body. It’s something that probably would have worked in my 20s/early 30s at my fittest times.
Anon
Super small and don’t even bother if you have any kind of chest.
Anon
I just bought a sweater dress from Reformation. It is a bit short (I’m 5’8), but not painfully so.
For reference, I bought a medium and it fits relatively well (slightly large up top). I’m early 40s, marathoner, hourglass, 145 lbs, 32DD.
Anon
I really wish shoes that look like comfort shoes anyway would incorporate orthotic features, or conversely that actual orthotic brands would adopt current looks!
Anon
On the topic of Vogue, I just finished the doc series In Vogue: The Nineties on Hulu and it was very good!
Anon
Thanks for the link! Just ordered something. :)
Anon
What do you do with sneakers that are worn out? I feel weird donating them when they have lost all support, but I also hate to throw them away if someone would be able to find use from them.
Anon
My kid’s school does a ‘reuse a shoe’ drive by Nike every year. Maybe google that and see if there are any near you that you can drop off?
Anon
I would toss it. No one has use for old sneakers that have lost all support.
Runner
there are groups out there who will take and recycle sustainably. My run club is currently holding a drive, but you can also google any local to you running stores who may take.
Sneakers 4 Good is one of our partners and we’ll do sneaker collection drives
Anon
Omg throw them away, nobody wants your trash, not even the poors.
Anon
Yeah, shame on OP for trying to be more sustainable instead of just making more trash! Obviously the only options are foist them on the poors or straight to the landfill.
Anon
“The poors”? What the hell is wrong with you?
Anonymous
The Fleet Feet near us has a big box for used shoes.
anon
I volunteer at a women’s homeless shelter and we always need shoes, especially sneakers. Unless they’re literally unwearable, we can use them. Worn sneakers are way better than the $1 flip flops a lot of our clients come in with.
Sunshine
Thanks for saying this. This is the reason I have donated my used running shoes, which don’t have much tread left in the places where I wear out the tread but otherwise are in tact and look pretty normal from the outside. I figure those shoes are better than what I see some unhoused people wearing. I’ll keep donating them.
Anon
This! Even worn out shoes that are good quality are loads better than new, bad shoes.
Anon
I do the 90s dad thing… current running shoes > short runs > hiking/general walking around > yard work. By the time they’re too ratty for yard work they’re no good to anyone.
Anon.
This.
Anon
Save them for rainy days. I keep pairs like this in the trunk of my car in case I need to do something unexpectedly messy.
Anon
GotSneakers dot com. They send you a giant bag, fill it, ship it, they send an Echeck depending on quality.
Anon
Chuck ’em.
Anon
I donate them.
I run 450 miles in my sneaks and then donate to the woman’s shelter so a sister can walk 1000 miles. Each year I also donate new running shoes and running clothes including running bras, leggings, shorts, tshirts and socks because running is an excellent solution for a lot of mental health issues which women suffering hidden abuse experience. The clothing is easy to wash by hand and dries quickly, so is a great outfit for someone struggling.
My family don’t understand why I donate. I don’t have my own yard. I hike and have one pair of old sneaks for that. I run 450 miles in 3 months so that’s 4 pairs of sneaks a year that can go to good use. After 450 miles I get it band issues so really not worth my while to keep running in them.
Anon
I am considering organizing a union at my nonprofit. I supervise one person and do not know whether I am ineligible to unionize due to being a “supervisor.” How can I find out the answer to this? Do I need an employment attorney? Would the prospective union be a trustworthy source of information? TIA!
Union yes?
Have you looked at Nonprofit Employee Union or similar organizing entities? That would be my first step
In my nonprofit managers are not part of the bargaining unit but that is part of what gets hashed out in the contract I think.
Your question about whether the prospective union is trustworthy source of info is a key one. I would say they are essentially also selling you a product and sometimes they oversell in my experience. A lot of our union are, I think, a little underwhelmed with what they have gotten out of it so far (they were already well compensated). I say this as a union supporter: it’s not going to solve all your org’s problems.
OP
Yes, I am looking at NPEU. They have organized nonprofits like mine.
I appreciate your perspective. I hear you that a union will not fix everything. I am not particularly pro-union, but I am looking into organizing because I am out of options.
Anonymous
You can call your local NLRB office (the website will show you which region you’re in) and ask for the information officer. They have an attorney/investigator assigned to take calls from the public every day, and this is the exact situation they’re there for. You can run through your specifics with the information officer and hopefully it will be clear whether you’re legally a supervisor under the NLRA.
If you want to do your own research, Section 2(11) of the NLRA spells out the supervisory indicia: hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or responsibly to direct them, or to adjust their grievances. Most of them are pretty obvious even if you’re not a labor lawyer. The fuzzy ones are assign and responsibly direct. Are you held accountable if your report screws up? If not, you don’t responsibly direct. Can you independently decide what hours your report works, or in what location, or what major assignments your report will undertake? If not, you don’t assign. (Lead controlling case for this is called Oakwood Healthcare, by the way.)
anon
I’m not the OP, but thank you!
Jules
This is all correct (finally, a question in my area of expertise!), although I’ not sure an NLRB IO will give specific advice on the question.
Here’s a summary of the law in this area:
Supervisors
Section 2(11) of the National Labor Relations Act states:
The term “supervisor” means any individual having authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or responsibly to direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend such action, if in connection with the foregoing the exercise of such authority is not of a merely routine or clerical nature, but requires the use of independent judgment.
The traditional test for determining supervisory status is:
(1) whether the employee has the authority to engage in any one of the twelve criteria listed in Section 2(11) of the Act;
(2) whether the exercise of such authority requires the use of independent judgment; and
(3) whether the employee holds the authority in the interest of the employer.
Possession of authority consistent with any of the indicia of Section 2(11) is sufficient to establish supervisory status, even if the authority has not yet been exercised. Fred Meyer Alaska, Inc., 334 NLRB 646 (2001). The burden of proving supervisory status lies with the party asserting that such status exists. NLRB v. Kentucky River Community Care, Inc., 121 S.Ct. 1861, 1866 (2001), 167 LRRM 2164.
The Supreme Court and the NLRB in recent years have focused on an employee’s use of “independent judgment” in assigning work and directing other employees. In Kentucky River, the Supreme Court rejected the Board’s earlier interpretation of “independent judgment” in finding that registered nurses do not use “independent judgment” when they exercise ordinary professional or technical judgment in directing less-skilled employees to deliver services in accordance with employer-specified standards.
Following the Supreme Court’s guidance in Kentucky River, in 2006 the Board in Oakwood Healthcare, Inc., 348 NLRB No. 37; Croft Metals, Inc., 348 NLRB No. 38; and Beverly Enterprises-Minnesota, Inc. d/b/a Golden Crest Healthcare Center, 348 NLRB No. 39, defined these terms further:
Responsibly Directs With Independent Judgment. Regarding the authority to “responsibly direct” other employees, the Board held that “for direction to be responsible, the person directing and performing the oversight of the employee must be accountable for the performance of the task by the other such that some adverse consequence may befall the one providing the oversight if the tasks … are not performed properly.” The NLRB’s General Counsel in briefs filed with the Board has suggested that, to determine whether a potential supervisor has authority to responsibly direct other employees with the use of independent judgment, the Board should consider three primary factors. The first factor is whether the individual “has been delegated substantial authority to ensure that a work unit achieves management’s objectives and is thus ‘in charge.’” An individual is considered “in charge” if he or she has a high level of authority over employees in the work unit, is not “closely overseen by superiors,” and/or if he or she is relied upon by management to make sure that policies and rules are enforced. The second factor is whether the potential supervisor is “held accountable for the work of others.” The third is whether the individual exercises “significant discretion and judgment in directing his or her work unit.” The General Counsel notes that the direction of routine and repetitive tasks and merely restating another superior’s directions, as well as the existence of established procedures and rules, cut against a finding of independent judgment.
Assigns With Independent Judgment: The Board in Oakwood held that “assign” means the act of “designating an employee to a place (such as a location, department or wing), appointing an individual to a time (such as a shift or overtime period) or giving significant overall duties to an employee.” It defined “independent judgment” to be “at a minimum” the authority to “act or effectively recommend action, free of the control of others” and to “form an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing data.” Independent judgment “contrasts with actions that are of a merely routine or clerical nature.” The General Counsel has suggested that this term should be defined to mean that the potential supervisor assigns work to other employees, where the work is of differing degrees of difficulty or desirability, and the individual makes assignment decisions based on “his or her assessment of an employee’s ability or attitude.” This factor is not satisfied where the assigned work does not differ with regards to difficulty or desirability, or where the potential supervisor relies on nondiscretionary factors in making the assignments. Therefore, if an employee such as a leadperson primarily prioritizes or assigns work based on standards provided by management – or some other objective factor, such as due date – and does not use independent judgment in making the determinations of what work is to be done or by whom, the employee would not be a supervisor.
OP
Thank you so much for this. I am trying to translate the criteria to my specific workplace. I suspect I am not a supervisor based on your citations, but my sticking point is that it is hard to see how even our top executives are supervisors using these criteria. In my nonprofit decisions like hiring, firing, promoting, etc. are done by committees not individuals.
Responsibly directing is similar. Workers in my particular division produce widgets, so our job is having ideas for widgets, pitching ideas to internal committees, and producing widgets if they are approved by the committees. I do not “assign” the person I supervise to produce widgets, but it is hard to say whether any one person actually “assigns” this work. The widgets are the main thing my nonprofit sells.
Anonymous
Hi. I’m the one from upthread who said to call the NLRB IO. (I actually agree that whether the IO would give situation-specific advice depends on a multitude of factors, but I stand by my initial take that it’s the best starting place.)
With respect to hiring: if everyone on the committee has absolute veto power over a candidate, everyone is a statutory supervisor. An exception might be if one person is only there to evaluate technical know-how. Same with promotions and firing– every single person who has the power to stop an action, or to make the action happen, is a supervisor.
The magic of responsible direction is whether you can be held accountable. If you tell the person you supervise “finish that widget today,” and the person doesn’t do it, would you get your wrist slapped for the widget producer’s failure? If yes, that would be responsible direction. If all you can do is say “finish that widget today” but the wide variety of widget-related assignments on the person’s plate came from above, and nothing happens to you if the widget-maker does a bad job, you are not responsibly directing.
I take it you are not on the committee that decides which widgets will be produced? If not, it sounds as if the “significant overall duties” are not being assigned by you and you are not a supervisor.
But, don’t listen to anonymous commentators on a fashion blog. Give the NLRB IO a shot (it’ll be free and anonymous) and if you still aren’t sure after that, maybe a labor lawyer. And note that employment attorneys are not automatically labor attorneys… and if they think they are, they can make a mess.
OP
Thank you for this. I am obviously new to this landscape.
OP
I read the second comment from the NLRB poster but cannot reply to that message for some reason. My responses:
That is right: I am not on the committee that approves widget ideas. And I do not suffer direct consequences if my report does a poor job on widget production. This is useful to think about, and I promise not to make final decisions based on comments from an anonymous fashion blog.
I tried calling the regional NLRB twice but got sent to voicemail. Unfortunately I am not comfortable leaving my name or number. My nonprofit’s leadership has made vague but chilling comments about pursuing lawsuits against staff who speak out over the past few years. I have stayed because making widgets is a great job and my fellow widget-makers are brilliant, but the working conditions are so uncomfortable I am starting to believe I need to change things or get out. Neither option looks easy.
Thank you again so much for your detailed comments.
Anon
I’ve worked in 2 nonprofit union environments, 1 of which unionized while I was there. The unions were UAW and CWA. Supervisors could be in the unit as long as they didn’t have independent authority to hire and fire. Directors such as myself could be because I was still a sole contributor.
Jules
Check back, I have a long comment in mod.
Anon
Former union organizer at a large government org, now management at a nonprofit — I think talking to a labor attorney would be helpful. I’d also recommend talking to peers at other unionized and/or recently unionized orgs in your sector. One of the hardest things for me as a union organizer was regularly (as in multiple times per week) telling people that I couldn’t help them, their issues weren’t grievable and not in the contract, and their best route was finding a new job. We also denied people promotions when their job wasn’t sufficiently changing enough and the promotion would move them out of the bargaining unit which I hated so much. Now I see unions in my sector promising things that aren’t bargainable, as well as bargaining lasting for many many years with no end in sight, and union leadership having turned over several times. Unions can also be great and I think it’s worth really understanding the lay of the land first!
OP
Wow. Thank you for this perspective. I looked around a bit and found that my previous employer recognized a union in 2021, but they still do not have a first contract. My grievances are not about pay or benefits, but about working conditions, organizational priorities, and board membership. I suspect that more junior widget makers in my division do want better pay and benefits.
Anon
I found yesterday’s contentious threads on the boundary stomping family inviting themselves along on OOP’s vacation kind of sad for me, personally.
Do any of you with “less than ideal” families of origin ever feel like that? Like, I wish my family were reasonable! “Just do this easy thing that will work with reasonable people, duh!” IDK maybe I need therapy, though I have had lots. I am supposed to see one of my siblings tomorrow and I am already bracing myself.
Anon
Is it a possible Hallmark movie moment, like a graduation or a wedding or moving into your first dorm? If so, my sister can make it a drama fest about her. Things that other people get to celebrate are just hurtful memories to me.
An in-law’s relative got into a fight with another relative at a restaurant. Both were women.
Anon
No Hallmark moments in my family, that’s for sure. Everything ruined by “look at me, I’m the victim” drama from multiple parties.
Anonymous
I’m with you, I so wish I had a functional family. I skipped my own university graduation because it would have been too much emotional labour. It’s so sad how much I’ve missed out on
anon
I am right there with you OP.
anon
Family can be hard. I definitely find myself wishing things were different sometimes, but I try to refocus on the good and what I can change (my own patterns and how I raise my kids).
It also helps to live really far away.
Anon
Every family is different and the poster asked for a specific kind of advice. So I think the commenters tried to respect that, which is good. I know my own family finds “nuclear family time” forced and boring and we tend to be at our best w extended family. Maybe, giving grace where none may be owed, her family thinks their presence might contribute to a better and more memorable time.
Anon
I don’t know what you’re on about, maybe doubling down on (bad) advice you gave yesterday, but that’s not what the current post is about.
Anon
This is a perfect example of boundary crossing! Even if you do don’t want nuclear family time (which is totally fine) respect that others do, and don’t impose yourself on other people’s vacations. Someone who can’t respect that OP wanted a vacation with just her husband and kids because “they think their presence might contribute to a better and more memorable time” sounds like a raging narcissist (how self-centered do you have to be to think your presence improves every vacation!?) and does not deserve any grace.
Anon
I’m the Easter poster. (Side note: profound thanks to all of you who responded to me about that. I’m saving your replies. Thank you.)
It comes in waves. There is frustration at the pure senselessness of it all, and sometimes, there is a cross between Zen-like acceptance and sadness.
At least for me, accepting the negative emotions is key to being at peace with it all. It IS wasteful, senseless, and hurtful. I’m not hurt because I have a thin skin or am “too sensitive;” I’m hurt because it’s hurtful. I’m angry because no one benefits from this dysfunction and enabling.
Anon
Yes, stories about functional families can sometimes make me feel sad about my family of origin. But the family I’ve created with my DH is wonderful, so I try to focus on that when those sad feelings come along. My difficult family member is my mom (everything is always about her; guilt trips; sibling who is questioning whether to even have a wedding because of the dynamics that might happen; I’ve cut off all contact except physical mail). Thinking back on certain childhood and young adult memories used to make me very angry on a regular basis. The following framing helped me: try to (1) accept and (2) be at peace. As time has passed, I can accept that this is just how my mom was and is. I don’t need to either forgive her or believe that any of her behavior was excusable. If I accept that, oh well, I have the mom I have, I am much less angry. I’m still sad sometimes (especially when I see other people with healthy mother/daughter dynamics), but my emotional reactivity has gradually lessened and I am much closer to a place of acceptance and peace, which brings me and my current family greater happiness.
Anon
I have a pretty happy family, not perfect, but on the whole really happy and close and decent (imo) with boundaries, and I still find a lot of those threads exhausting and not true to life. Of course some people aren’t going to respect boundaries or be rational and respond well to the “perfect” response.
go for it
seeking opinions please~
which is better: TSA precheck or Global Entry?
I know that Global Entry is more of a pain to obtain, takes longer, and has a higher cost
Anon
Do you do any international travel? Check out benefits of Global Entry. We went for it because we had an upcoming trip, and it did make everything easier at the border.
CMS
If you do Global Entry, you automatically get TSA precheck with it. But GE is a much bigger pain to do. But if you travel outside the US at least once a year, GE is worth it.
Sunshine
I didn’t find GE to be a really big deal to get. It’s some admin, but not a ton. And GE gets you TSA. If you anticipate traveling outside the US anytime in the next 5 years, I’d go with GE. It’s absolutely worth it.
Anon
Depends how close you are to an enrollment center. The nearest one to me is a 2.5 hour drive each way, so it was a pretty big deal to do the interview and I had to take an entire day off work. But if you live in a major city, it’s less of a big deal.
Anon
Do they not do this at airports any more? I tacked mine on to a domestic trip I was already taking.
Anon
Some people don’t fly every month to just tack onto another flight! And no airport within 3 hours of me does the processing.
Anon
Not all airports have enrollment centers, and it’s hard to align the appointment time (timeslots are very limited) with a flight time. You can interview without an appointment after arriving into the US on an international flight, but a lot of people don’t fly internationally on a regular basis, plus I usually arrive home late at night from international trips and the enrollment centers don’t stay open that late.
That said, you do it once and you’re set for life, I think. I’ve renewed GE twice now without an appointment. Technically they reserve the right to make you re-interivew every 5 years but I don’t know anyone who’s had to.
Anon
Global Entry includes Precheck, so getting that is a no brainer to me if you ever travel internationally.
Anon
I can’t speak for Global Entry but I recently went in for TSA Precheck to an offsite location (not the airport) and I had a my pre-check code less than 24 hours later. Very painless experience.
Cat
Global Entry includes TSA Pre, for an incremental charge. Although nabbing an interview spot can take patience, it’s worth it even if you only fly internationally occasionally. Think a 2-minute walk through immigration where you barely stop moving.
If you don’t want to bother with that, the MPC app can be helpful for shortening the arrival wait times. It’s being rolled out so might not work at all airports yet.
Anonymous
Sadly, the MPC app is not available at all airports yet. Including mine. But if you’re coming in an airport that does have it, highly recommend.
Anon
As everyone noted above, I was planning GE over precheck, but then couldn’t nab an appointment forever — always booked out and my local airport only has them for the next three months or so. So I reupped precheck recently. Customs and immigration has this new mobile passport control app that made it super easy last time I flew international and it was easily 1/4 the length of global entry. So that’s my plan moving forward.
Anon
You can use Mobile Passport Control, even if you’re enrolled in Global Entry, so having GE will never result in a longer wait than not having it. I agree MPC is a good alternative for those who don’t have Global Entry though.
Anon
Just pointing out that it’s BS that:
1) These programs prop up security theater, which is often discriminatory;
2) Are an end-run around privacy laws and constitutional limitations (because they’re “optional”); and
3) Aren’t free.
If any politician wants to run on a platform of redoing our current approach to airport security, including eliminating programs that make it easier for rich people to get through security, that would be great!
Anon
My frequent work traveler friends will fight you on that last bit. I used to be one, I am not any more, but it makes sense that people who do this all the time should be able to speed through.
Anon
Many, many credit cards cover the enrollment fees for GE and/or PreCheck, so they’re effectively free for a lot of people. I think some employers cover them also.
I also don’t really have a problem with people who are willing to pay for something getting faster service than people who aren’t willing to pay for it – that’s kind of basic economics.
Anon
If you were going to buy a new puffer coat this year, what brand would you buy? I’m on the West Coast so don’t need Canada Goose, nor do I want to spend that kind of money.
Anonymous
Lands End
Anon
+1
go for it
I bought a thigh length one from Stio on sale last year, it is not truly packable though.
If super warm does not matter and you want packable I would look at the Uniqlo offerings this year.
Sunshine
CapHillStyle did a puffer coat roundup a few weeks ago. She also has one Amazon one that she has raved about. I’ll post both in a reply.
Sunshine
https://caphillstyle.com/capitol/2020/11/25/the-find-the-warmest-jacket-ever.html
https://caphillstyle.com/capitol/2024/08/22/the-range-packable-puffer-jackets.html
Anon
thanks!
Anonymous
Uniqlo
Anon
+ 1.
Anon
Love, love, love my Aritzia puffer.
Anonymous
+1
anon
Eddie Bauer, LL Bean
Anon
Patagonia or LL Bean (comes in petite sizes, which matters a little less for puffers than other jackets, but is still a plus)
Cerulean
I got the Essence long down coat from Helly Hansen on sale this summer and it’s really nice. I’m in Chicago.