ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Studio Slingback Flat

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black patent slingback flat

These slingback flats are bestsellers, and it's easy to see why — they look sleek and sophisticated, but also walkable and comfortable.

This is the kind of thing I'd probably wear sheer knee-high socks with (like these), but you could also try the trendier, shorter sheer socks (like these). (I've noticed readers mentioning trouser socks — what are your latest favorites?!)

The shoes come in black, white and silver in leather, and a pretty caramel tan suede, in sizes 5-11 for $168, at Everlane.

Sales of note for 4/21/25:

  • Nordstrom – 5,263 new markdowns for women!
  • Ann Taylor – 25% off tops & sweaters + extra 40% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50%-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Boden – 10% off new womenswear styles
  • Brooks Brothers – Friends & Family Sale: 30% off sitewide
  • The Fold – 25% off selected lines
  • Eloquii – $29+ select styles + extra 40% off all sale
  • Everlane – Spring sale, up to 70% off
  • J.Crew – Spring Event: 40% off sitewide + extra 50% off sale styles + 50% swim & coverups
  • J.Crew Factory – 40%-70% off everything + extra 70% off clearance
  • Kule – Lots of sweaters up to 50% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Earth Day Sale: Take 25% off eco-conscious fabrics. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Madewell – Extra 30% off sale + 50% off sale jeans
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 50% off last chance styles; new favorites added
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 30% off entire purchase w/Talbots card

102 Comments

  1. What’s standard practice to notify your employer when you’re going to be out sick multiple days in a row? How often do you check in with an update?

    For context, I have a part-time assistant, who let me know she was suddenly and seriously ill on Tuesday (blood in vomit), and was doing further testing to see what it might be. She said she’d let me know more that afternoon, but has not sent anything since, and I’ve also called and texted her and gotten no answer. I don’t care how long she needs to be out for, and I don’t want to harass her but I also need to reschedule and rearrange things if she’s going to be out for weeks, so I am a little irritated I can’t reach her.

    1. Does she have an emergency contact on file with HR? If so, contact that person. If she has been absent from work since Tuesday, I would definitely try to follow up to see if she’s ok (not because you are irritated she hasnt called and you need to rearrange things– be a human!).

      1. This! What if something terrible happened and she is too ill to call for help and no one else has noticed that she’s missing?

    2. If anyone I knew went MIA after telling me they were vomiting blood, I would be concerned, full-stop. She could be gravely ill and too weak to email or she could’ve received a life-threatening diagnosis and not have bandwidth to think about anything else. Moreover, you are basically asking her to predict how sick she is, when that isn’t possible for anyone to do. She may get better in days; she may never be the same again. It’s absurd to expect her to be able to tell you either way. If there are things you need to reschedule while she’s out, reschedule them. But if it’s a few weeks out, there’s no reason you need to know right now and can’t wait a day to hear from her.

    3. OMG no. If she was vomiting up blood only 48 hours ago she’s probably undergoing a battery of tests or maybe recovering from surgery. If you haven’t heard from her it means she’s incapacitated, doesn’t have enough details yet to provide you any information, or she’s dealing with a life threatening condition and you’re the last thing on her mind.

      Stop bugging her. Arrange coverage through the end of next week. After the weekend send her a message saying you hope she’s doing well, you have coverage for the rest of the week, and if you don’t hear from her by Wednesday you’ll go ahead and arrange coverage for the following week as well.

    5. Standard practice is to call her backup- it should not be the case that one assistant being out means a ton of extra work for you.

      1. OMG — I want to work where you work. We are too leanly staffed. A small accident or a sick kid is havoc. There is no redundancy or backup. It’s like people cut to the bone in 2008 and there is no slack left in the system and a reluctancy to add capacity that won’t be 100% utilized at day 1 (which is insane). At this point, people have no capacity to even train a new person. It’s awful.

    7. Girl, if your primary emotion when you can’t get ahold of someone after they tell you they are vomiting blood is irritation about how it will impact you and your schedule, you are severely overinvested in your work and underinvested in your humanity.

        1. I’m still stunned by the one wanting to discipline the salaried employee for calling in PTO at 6:30 am when there was no specific business impact. You admit there is no policy in place and the only “crime” was that Mondays tend to have a lot of meetings. Maybe expect folks will be gone from time to time to take the PTO they have earned and that Mondays and Fridays are going to be days folks will most likely want to take. That’s the kind of manager that would have me stopping work at 5 on the dot and never being honest with again. Hop on email on a day off or grab a call? Never again. Talk about killing motivation of not only that employee but others witnessing as well.

    8. Thanks for the reality check! She said it was a suspected ulcer and I may have under-reacted since I have a relative with ulcerative colitis who will go in and get tested for bloody stools all the time with no further treatment done. I will let her know I will stop bugging her.

    9. I love how you frame this question as wanting to know what “standard practice is” when you’ve already decided that you are not happy with what she’s done and really just want to vent and seek validation for your feeling that she’s in the wrong.

    10. Omg get a grip. She’s severely ill and a part time assistant. Figure it out.

    11. um wtf! I find it horrifying your reaction is annoyance at maybe needing to rearrange work, not concern for her! I think you should contact HR/emergency contact out of concern but not about when she’ll be back to work!

      I think it’s standard practice to check in daily (hey boss, still feel like crap, i’ll be out!) for like the flu, but that goes out the window with a medical emergency.

      1. It would never occur to me to check in daily when I have the flu. I say I’m sick, and I’ll probably be out for a few days. After the third day or so, I would probably recheck in. But not if I felt terrible

    12. What? The right message here is to contact HR and either have them reach out or have them get an emergency contact and make sure your employee is okay.

      Work-wise, assume she’s out for the next 2 weeks until you hear otherwise. Be pleasantly surprised if she comes in but plan for something longer term.

  2. help me shop – i used to wear a lot of those twill skinny pants and am looking for something similar for summer but in a more modern shape like bootcut or flare. not denim, 5 pockets… i kind of feel like i want black or dark olive? oh and i need petite so that’s a PITA. thank you!

      1. I just got some of JCF’s High waisted girlfriend Chinos that I like. They definitely run a bit large. I got them used at ThredUp – they have a lot if you know they work for you. They are more straight leg, but relatively wide I would say, and 100% cotton.

    2. Evereve Joelle linen trouser
      Sanctuary boyfriend utility pant
      Kut from the Kloth Meg pants

    5. Old Navy Pixie flare come in olive and maroon. Also love their WOW Bootcut. I can afford more expensive brands but just really like them.

    2. My stylist says anything you put in your hair is a heat protectant so you don’t need a special product for this. I use a thickening spray on wet hair and it does the trick.

    3. I have a Tresseme one (red bottle) that I like. It’s whatever version my supermarket had in stock and I’m nearly through the bottle without any complaints.

  4. I feel like people don’t always respond positively to me but I don’t know why. This is more so in passing – like I feel like making small talk or meeting people at parties I struggle to connect the way others do in a way that leads to longer term friendships. How do I go about figuring out what I’m doing wrong?

    The only negative feedback I get that is a clue is that I am overly sweet/happy and have heard that people find it difficult to figure out how I actually feel about things (like that they wouldn’t trust me to say ‘I hate this’ or that my statements are genuine). I’ve had that feedback 2-3 times. I’ve also had someone else say that I am so nice, but he feels like I often redirect the conversation away from myself. Like I ask people a lot of questions and act very interested, but when someone asks of me, I may not answer as in-depth before redirecting it to the other person. So perhaps I am coming across as overly peppy / sweet and not genuine in a way people don’t connect with as easily?

    I will say I get a lot of feedback that I am very pretty, extremely warm/kind, thoughtful and charming. But then it doesn’t translate into forging longer term connections / friendships with people I’m interacting with. Does anyone else struggle with actually connecting with people and turning passing interactions into an actual connection?

    1. I have an acquaintance like this. Two observations: 1. She lacks humor. She rarely cracks jokes, and they’re never self deprecating. If someone can’t make me laugh I don’t find them very interesting, or I get the feeling they’re merely tolerating the conversation. 2. She doesn’t share anything personal or less than upbeat. It feels like she’s hiding something or putting on a fake happy face. So my advice is joke around a bit and try sharing information that you wouldn’t reveal in a job interview.

    2. I’m very confused about this whole scenario. How are you getting feedback? Are you asking people if you are good at making friends?

      As a adult in my mid-40s, I enjoy meeting new people and I’ve added a few long term friends since college but my life is rather busy so even if I get on well with someone at a party, I’m not likely to follow up with further social get togethers regardless of how happy/not happy/too happy they are.

    3. Is it possible that you come off as someone people would like to get to know better but then don’t follow up? i feel like there are stages to adult friendship where it’s like: meet, get together, get together regularly, join an activity or club that meets regularly together, become close friends. I’d encourage you to reach out to the people you’re interested in befriending somewhat regularly. Obviously take a hint if they’re not interested but there’s nothing wrong with inviting people to coffee, Pilates or hour happy hour. Figure people are busy and try not to take anything personally. Then have fun!

    4. One possibility: sweet/happy + redirecting the conversation back to the other person can be tone deaf and hurtful.

      If people are redirecting the conversation back at you, take the hint. Bare minimum, they want it to be more balanced give and take.

      Sometimes, they might be begging you to just drop whatever it is you keep prying about.

      Consider as well that if you combine that endless redirection back to them with “sweet and happy,” you could be forcing people to emote in positive ways about painful things they don’t even want to discuss.

      If that isn’t you, I’m genuinely glad. Please consider, though, if you’re respecting boundaries (because conversational redirection IS a boundary).

      1. I run from people who have been told to ask all kinds of questions at parties and work functions. I really hate to feel interogated.

    5. It sounds like maybe people don’t feel trusted / don’t feel like you make yourself vulnerable? So you’re a pleasant person to interact with, but there’s less of a sense of connection?

    6. I think these two previous comments have very good points about how somebody might struggle to connect deeply and/or put people off engaging.

      To build lasting friendships it’s important to be able to not only *act* interested but actually be vulnerable and share emotions, ideas and information. That might be uncomfortable to you, though, especially if you are peppy and happy-acting as a little bit of a defense mechanism.

      It sounds like you might be so focused on *acting* friendly and happy and interested that you don’t actually listen or respond in kind. You don’t have to bare your soul to strangers (don’t!), but if you redirect a lot some people might feel interviewed (or interrogated), this could come off as performative or dismissive rather than you trying to build a connection.

      It’s very difficult to make friends as an adult. Most people do love to talk about themselves, but unless you are able to be a little vulnerable, it will be surface stuff. In my experience doing an activity together is more easy to build on than just conversation.

    7. I don’t think you should try to alter your personality or overanalyze how you come across. It’s okay if not everyone wants to be your friend. Friendships don’t just happen because people like you or think you are charming. They happen because you get to know each other over time, find things in common, and make an effort to hang out. If you are being pleasant with people and know how to chat casually, that’s the starting point.

    8. In case you check back… I would be put off, or at least disinclined to invest in a friendship with someone who doesn’t share much about themselves and constantly redirects the convo back to me. Yes, people like talking about themselves, but that will only get you so far. If we just met and you basically interviewed me, then I don’t get to know you at all except as someone who will listen to me talk. That’s fine, but what about that would inspire me to get to know you? More importantly, you’ll never get to a deeper level of friendship or connection without also sharing about yourself. This doesn’t mean blab all your secrets to someone you just met at a party, but deeper friendships require actual vulnerability from both sides. That’s what creates mutual trust and connection. It really can be off putting after a while if one person doesn’t reciprocate that. Why do I want to let someone in when they don’t want to (for whatever reason) let me in? It makes me feel too vulnerable due to the lack of reciprocal trust, or like I’ve overshared, or like I’m not trusted, or like the other person doesn’t think I’m important enough to get to know the real her.

  5. I think Everlane’s quality has diminished as their offerings have multiplied, but in my experience, their leather shoes remain excellent quality and value, from a cost-per-wear perspective. I have a pair of almond-toe, black leather flats that I’ve had for more than a decade, and they still look great. I’ve had them resoled at least once, and I wouldn’t be surprised to get another decade out of them. Within the last year, I bought a pair of their loafers, and I am similarly pleased .

  6. I’m wondering if anyone would like to weigh in on backyard design. I have a small private backyard. There is large deck accessible from my kitchen and family room made of that plastic material that seems popular but looks hideous. I’m considering a fire pit or outdoor door fireplace in the area beyond it which is currently grass with a high stone retaining wall ( built into a hill). My questions are: do you build a pergola over the deck? Replace the deck with a more natural material? im probably considering a built in grill area but is a built in bar preferable? A hot tub? Outdoor tv? We basically underuse our yard and I’m wondering what might help. We built a grassy area by cutting into our hill for kids to run around and we are not interested in a pool. I tried hiring some landscape designers and no one was interested (small project for my area). What makes a deck area comfortable for an afternoon with friends? Also considering an outdoor shower because my kids are at the beach a lot in the summer. Thanks!

    1. If bugs are a thing in your area, I’d cover and screen in the deck. Mosquitoes, flies, and bees are the things that prevent me from spending more time in my backyard.

      I would not invest in a hot tub or outdoor bar. Maybe a nice built-in grill or firepit if you know you will actually keep it clean and use it, but keep it simple. The fancy outdoor kitchens get gross and then no one wants to use them. I find outdoor TVs super tacky, but you do you.

    2. What’s the climate like in your area? That’s a big factor. Without knowing which region you live in my only advice is go for individual chairs over couches. I don’t know if the outdoor couch itself is always uncomfortable or people just don’t want to be next to each other while sweating, but it’s always the last piece of furniture guests choose.

      1. Great point. Im in the north east. My backyard kind of faces south so it gets hot for the area the afternoon. That said, I don’t want a cover my deck because I need that light the rest of the year. (Sunny kitchen in the winter is vital right?)

        1. Skip the pergola and get a few umbrellas for shade. Have a proper table where people can eat with a knife and fork. I wouldn’t build a full outdoor kitchen but just have a surface near the grill to set down a large platter. In general there should be enough surfaces for a pitcher, a few serving platters, and each person’s plate and glass. Create a clear path from your back door so you’re not weaving around furniture while balancing a tray.

          Propane fire pit tables are popular with adults. Your clothes don’t reek of smoke afterward and there’s less fuss to start the fire.

        2. Retractable sun shade or awning.

          The house I grew up in had a large deck out back that was accessible from the kitchen and the sunporch at opposite end of the house.

          On hot days it kept the main living area inside the house cooler when it was out, and made the large deck perfect for outside dinning and hanging out most days.
          You get much more sun coverage than a fiddly table umbrella as the day goes on and the angles change.

          Just pull it in when you want the light inside or have bad weather.

    3. I dob’t have personal experience (renter) but I’d lead with what activities you want to do and the flow of using the space for that. I was able to start watching way less tv by rearranging my living room so that sitting down to paint or play the violin was as easy as it was to sit down and turn on the TV. I think a similar principle applies here.
      My dream backyard has a deck that’s optimized for outdoor cooking and eating (gas grill and stone pizza oven, a covered spot with a table and chairs), and has a fire pit and some logs to sit on, native plants filling out all the edges. Maybe a patch of raspberries in the back, but that would come later.

    4. I personally love my (small, gas powered) fire pit and use a gas grill routinely. I’d love a pizza oven but my deck is really small (and ~40 ft off grade due to our slope!).

      I’d add an umbrella (or a retractable cover), so that you keep the winter light but have more comfort during the summer. Depending on size you may want either a dining table or a couch or both- do you see yourself eating outside or hanging out? I went for a tiny couch and sit on it regularly.

      Given that your deck is right off your kitchen, you may not find much benefit from an outdoor sink or fridge- any chance you could modify a window for a pass through?

    5. Pergolas with a retractable cloth shade are nice if you want some shade without permanently blocking the sun.

      As for your other ideas, think about what you and your family want and do and would *realistically* use it for. We just redid our patio and are in the market for furniture. We’ve prioritized an area for our pizza oven and grill (both of which we already have and use frequently ), a lounge area with a fire table, and a dining area since we host a lot of summer barbecues. I would also consider the longevity of your choices. Is this your forever home? How long until your kids are young adults?

      A hot tub sounds terrible to me because I don’t like them all that much and I wouldn’t want the maintenance or electric bill to go with it. My in laws used to have one and loved it, but they also rarely used it and elected not to get one again when they moved. But if you want it and can afford it, go for it. I probably wouldn’t replace perfectly good decking just because I seriously hate waste and financially, we have other areas we would want to prioritize our money on for our home. But maybe you really can’t stand it and have plenty of money to burn. For the outdoor shower, any reason your kids can’t just hose off? It seems to have a limited use if you don’t have a pool or beach in your backyard. Adding plumbing can also add a ton of cost to a project.

      1. I end up in this situation at the local beach a few times a week in the summer where it’s post-happy hour and my sandy kids need to go but there’s a line for the beach showers. So they track sand into my house and need baths and I feel like an outdoor shower would be awesome for this.

        1. I would definitely put in an outdoor shower. There are nice ones that hook up to a hose bibb so you don’t have to deal with plumbing. They will still need baths afterwards, but won’t track sand in.

        2. I’m just saying I wouldn’t personally prioritize it in this scenario because we just make our kid use the hose outside our house in that scenario, there are a limited number of years where sandy kids are a concern, and plumbing adds a decent expense to the project. But if it suits you and your life, do it!

          1. As an adult woman who often tracks sand and dirt through the house after an outdoor adventure, your logic only applies if you assume people stop playing in the sand when they get older, which isn’t always true! That being said, I’d want my shower to be somewhere it could be heated, since I get messy whether it’s warm outside or not.

        3. is the beach walking distance? otherwise you’re still dealing with sand in the car & an outdoor shower sounds like a pita to maintain with real winters!

          agree w others to think about what activities you want to do – cook? entertain? sit around a fire? garden? drink coffee & read a book? then design around that.

        4. I’m not understanding . . . is this backyard within walking distance of a beach? if so, an outdoor shower is great.

          Actually, if the backyard is that close to a beach, that would change all my answers on what to put into it or how to design it.

          So I guess the way to start is with your lifestyle: what do you guys like to do outdoors, how many people are coming and going in your backyard (to and from a beach?). You say “post happy hour” — does that mean “happy hour” is something you guys do regularly? Is it just you, or you and guests? All of that would shift my answers.

          1. So the beach is technically walkable but we take the car. And yes the car is super sandy. We call it the beach car. Were there a lot but most summer nights on Friday or Saturday there is a band or a food truck so we hang with the neighbors while the kids play sometimes until about sunset. So that’s the happy hour thing. It would be great for after that. I’m also imagining I could also shower there after the beach or a long run.

    6. My thoughts:
      Yes to a firepit. Firepits make the outdoors so enjoyable. Maybe 1-2 heat laps strategically placed in the seating area.
      Agree that chairs are better than those outdoor sectionals.
      If you hate your decking material, you could cover part of it with a large outdoor rug. IDK, I freaking love my Trex deck. It is so much easier to clean and maintain than our old wood deck.
      Not sure what the point of a shower is if you don’t have a pool.
      A grill area is great, but I tend to agree that outdoor kitchens get pretty gross and dirty, so I’d keep that minimal.
      What’s your privacy situation? Would more trees and plantings make it feel nicer?
      Pergolas are nice for adding shade and defining a space.

      2. I would love to replace my wood decking with Trex. We spend so much time and money replacing rotten planks and refinishing the deck every couple of years.

        1. I was skeptical but it has been 100% worth it for us. Our climate is so harsh on wooden decks. I take the natural approach in many things, but I will probably always have a composite deck.

        2. Yes! It’s called trex. I hate that it’s plastic but it seems wasteful to throw out all that plastic. I suppose it is low maintenance.

          1. I’m pretty sure it’s a made from recycled materials if that makes you feel any better about it.

    7. We got a brick patio because we thought that was nicer/fancier than concrete and hate all the weeds. Our stairs are made of that Trax stuff and they’re great.

      We have one of those electric bug zappers that you turn on 2 months before the season starts.

      I always find string lights inviting but my problem in the summer is it gets dark too late for me to appreciate them since I’m in bed by 9:30.

      Are you growing any flowers? Full sun is great for that. Get a packet or two of zinnia seeds and dump them in open dirt after your last frost date. Benary giants or
      Oklahoma seem to be the favorites.

  7. Do you use poems from the lab vitamin c serum? What does it smell like to you? I naively assumed it would smell like oranges and instead it smells like lunchmeat. Or maybe my serum is bad?

    1. I think all vitamin C serums have sort of a burnt smell. So it’s probably not bad, just how they go. (I use a different brand, but was also a little taken aback initially.)

    2. The only Vitamin C serum I’ve ever found that wasn’t stinky like this is Ole Henriksen Truth Serum.

    6. Normal, especially as it gets older. That’s the best vitamin c serum I’ve used. I literally see improvement the next day. But I admit it’s hard to wear to bed because my dog wants to lick my face.

    7. Hot Dog Water is the best description I have for the iconic $185 Skinceuticals Vitamin C and Ferrulic acid serum. It’s a good sign, I’m sure.

      You can buy “stabilized” vitamin C serums that don’t have that smell, but they won’t be as effective as the unstable l-ascorbic acid serums like this one.

  8. the average american woman is under 5’4″. I am 5’7″. Could someone please explain why every “maxi” dress on the market is on the floor when i try it on? are people hemming casual dresses?

    1. Because clothes are not designed or manufactured for average-sized women. I’m 5’2 and if I want a maxi dress I look for one that’s advertised as a midi.

      1. Maxi dresses are designed for the standard models (5’8-5’10 last I heard) and to be worn with heels.

        1. Definitely not intended for 5’10” + heels, which would be over 6′ total. I’m 5’10” and have a very hard time finding maxi dresses I can wear barefoot.

        2. I’m 5’10 and all non-Tall-sized maxi dresses are well above my ankle. Absolutely could not wear them as maxis with heels.

          1. This. At 5’10” I don’t even bother trying on a maxi dress and I’m just happy if a midi dress hits mid calf vs just below knee length.

        3. I think of maxi dresses as casual dresses that are typically worn with sandals or flats, not heels. I’m 5’7 and the maxis I find seem to hit at the intended length, around or up to a bit above the ankle. And gowns are formal and intended to be worn with heels, so they’re longer.

          1. Retailers have started labeling evening gowns as “maxi dresses” or “maxi length.” Which I agree with you is incorrect, and makes it even harder to search both for actual maxi dresses and for evening gowns.

        4. No, that’s not true. Fashion models are different than fit models. I’m 5’10” and if what you said were true, I wouldn’t constantly have problems finding pants long enough for me. But that’s the story of my life.

          Fit models are supposed to fit into the standard height and size ranges.

    2. hmmm…. I’m 5′ 7″ and I don’t have this experience. Or are these formal dresses, where it is assumed you will be hearing heels?

      1. op here. nope talking about the sort of casual 40s summer dresses that are being shown right now.

      2. I’m also 5’7 and have never experienced this issue! I actually feel like this height is the sweet spot where most clothing items are the proper length.

    3. And yet at 5’6″ I find all dresses to be extremely short-waisted. My conclusion is that clothes are made for women with very long legs and very short torsos.

      1. We all are different. Nothing is made for any of us.
        I have a short torso, with long legs. No dresses fit me.

        1. This is me. 5′ 4″ and 175 pounds is a 14P. It would be lovely if all the stores carried larger than a 10P but few do! As I have gained weight, wearing the petite size has become more of an issue for me.

        2. Well, trust me that none of today’s clothes are made for women who are the average height or smaller. There just isn’t much that works for most of us, shorter or taller, thinner or thicker.

      2. It’s very regional within the US m. I think the average height for a woman in the Midwest has got to be at least 5’5”. We’re just bigger here. I’m 5’11” and know a surprising number of women my height or taller. The majority of my friends are at least 5’6”. California is sooo different. I feel like an overgrown giant when I go there. And it’s not just the increased percentage of people of Hispanic or Asian descent; even the white people there feel tiny to me.

        1. Yes! Also a Midwesterner who blends in at 5’8”. Other places, I feel like a giant.

    5. I do! It’s a lot easier to hem something shorter than add length to a skirt.

  9. Corporette’s review nails why these slingbacks are a workwear staple—the buttery-soft leather and 1.5″ block heel offer all-day comfort without sacrificing polish. At $150, they’re a smart investment for capsule wardrobes. My only gripe? The narrow toe box might challenge wider feet.

    1. This is a 5 star copy of a 4 star review. It reads like AI. So interesting. You forgot to include the brand name.

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