ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Fallyn Skimmer Flat

My guide for interview attire for different types of offices is taking too long, so let's take a coffee break and ponder these cute yellow flats, which are on sale at Zappos. I like the bright canary yellow, the unusual heel on the flat (including the notched gold detail), and the low cut on the skimmer — always flattering. (Although we had a conversation years ago about whether toe cleavage was acceptable at the office… so know your office.) The shoes are $178 new at Nordstrom and Kate Spade (limited colors and sizes), but the yellow, at least, is down to $133 at Zappos. Fallyn Skimmer Flat This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 12.5

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

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81 Comments

  1. please someone tell me why i can’t get rid of the ad at the bottom of the screen? it is so distracting.

      1. I can’t tell if you’re being snarky or not but this reminds me of “Brules Rules” and made me laugh.

    2. OMG. I I don’t understand why it keeps coming back after you click the close button. So annoying.For the advertiser’s sake, I hope that’s not an impression they’re getting charged by.

      1. Yes, OP here. Sorry I wasn’t clear–but it keeps coming back after i close it. This is so annoying, and new for me with this site. I would prefer to Kat to deal with this so that readers can close the ad once, and be done with it vs. having to get an ad blocker.

        1. Can you tell me a bit more about what browser you’re using, or which ad you’re seeing? I can’t replicate the problem myself — thank you for reading!

          1. Hey Kat! This is happening for me using Safari on an iPad and the add is for Audi. I’ve closed it three times now and it shows no sign of stopping. :)

          2. Same, but it looks like it is gone now. Thanks!

            I don’t mind sidebar ads or sponsored content because I understand you are running a business, but the ads that block content will eventually cause readers to stay away.

          4. Yes, OP here. I am using Safari on a MacBook Pro. The ad comes back about 20 seconds after I close it.

      1. What ad blocker works on mobile devices?? PSA to blog-monetizers: I wouldn’t need an ad blocker if you didn’t use ads that were so obnoxious that they interfere with actual reading.

      2. Not OP but I can’t install an ad blocker on my work computer, which I think is fairly common.

  2. I have had a headache ALL DAY (front of head, above ears). Advil is not working. What should I try?

    1. Tylenol always helps me more than Advil for headaches and you can generally take the max dose of both, since they’re different active ingredients.

    2. Excedrin. It includes caffeine. Or depending on your caffeine tolerance, drink some extra coffee.

      1. I was also going to say caffeine, or a cold cloth on your temples if you can do that at work.

    3. If you’re not migraine prone and it feels like the WORST headache you have ever had, like a vise around your head, it may be a stress headache, in which case you would need stronger meds and possibly to just go home and sleep.

      1. I went to m*d for mentioning m*graines, I think. If you aren’t prone to them, but it still feels like the WORST head*che you have ever had, it may be a stress head*che, in which case you need stronger meds and possibly to just go home and sleep.

    5. Aleve is the only thing that works for my headaches. I take 3 if it’s severe.

    6. If it truly is severe, esp if you never get these headaches, NEVER take aspirin or Advil. Stick with Tylenol. If there is any chance you are having a brain hemorrhage, you don’t want anything that interferes with your blood flow. I say this as someone who had a hemorrhage 10 years ago. I truly didn’t have any idea at the time. It was just some pain. Then nausea. But mostly sensitivity to light. My boyfriend at the time made me go to the ER to get some medicine thinking it was a migraine (I had never had migraines) and next thing you know I’m getting a CT scan and they’re discovering bleeding and whisking me to another hospital (fortunately was a vein and not arterial leak, so no need to clamp).

    7. The combination of tylenol and advil often works better than either alone for me. Plus caffeine if needed.

  3. Do any of you have female friendships where you simply don’t discuss some issues? Or where you find a way to state your mind without telling them what to do – when that would potentially end a friendship?

    One of my closest friends (15+ years) hates her job – her boss is never around, and she’s bored. I told her to apply elsewhere or ask her boss for more projects, but she said she doesn’t want to do more work. I’ve tried to listen and not comment (not telling her what to do – it’s her job/life!). Last week she said she started drinking at work to make the time go by. I told her I hope she finds another way to deal with the boredom but I really don’t agree with drinking on the job. She changed the subject. Then today she said she was done with a six pack by 1 pm. Is there a way I can encourage her to get therapy or at least stop drinking at work? If she doesn’t, am I wrong for not talking to her anymore?

    Another friend (10+ years) recently got back together with a guy who emotionally abused her. She found out after they broke up that he has several children from past relationships, doesn’t pay child support or see those kids, and that he has a conviction for a domestic assault. I really want to be here for her if something happens, but I absolutely hate hearing about him and how she hopes it works out this time. Any advice for being supportive without supporting the relationship?

    1. I have friends with whom I don’t discuss politics, money, or sex. I have friends with stupid husbands who I avoid that topic. With these two friends though it both sounds like intervention time, especially if you’re already ready to walk away.

      1. I definitely avoid some topics with certain friends, including politics, religion, and certain life choices which I might not personally approve of, but I don’t have any friends who drink at work because of boredom and would really not be ok with that. I would try to start from a place of serious concern “it sounds like your job situation is leading to some abusive behaviors and I’m worried about you. You really need to get out of this ASAP. Do you need help?”. But if nothing changes I wouldn’t stand for it.
        The abusive thing is touchy. A friend of mine just got back with a guy after spending months telling me how awful he was. I’m trying to respect her decision and be happy for her but I really cringe when she talks about him. And we’re talking verbal/emotional abuse, nothing physical and no issues related to assault or child custody.

    2. Friend #1 may need some kind of intervention. She has a serious alcohol problem.

      Friend #2. I would encourage you to stay in her life as many abusers try to cut off victims. Next time you see her in person, be upfront that unless she would like help leaving him, you can’t talk about her relationship with him anymore. Going forward, planning more activity orientated outings (painting class, wine tasting, kayak tours etc etc) vs. brunch/dinner will help you stay away from talking about him as it gives her something else to focus on/talk about and helps her maintain an active life outside of her relationship.

    3. Gently, you can’t do anything but be a kind ear if they want to talk. But you are in now way responsible for keeping these grown adults from crashing their lives of their own free will. Your friend knows she’s not supposed to drink at work (in any case, her issue will soon be resolved because she’s gonna be fired, not if but when). You can’t do anything about that so why worry? Your other friend knows this dude’s issues, which is why they broke up in the first place, and she chose to go back with him. They are actively making their bed to lie in – it’s up to you to decide whether you are in a good emotional place to take on the mental burden of watching your friends destroy themselves. Distancing yourself right now is a perfectly sane thing to do. There is no obligation to support grown adults when you have already spoken your piece and they ignore it – especially if they have already identified the issue and know it is a problem.

    4. I mean, to answer your first question, yes. But it’s always about politics or the fact that I saw her now ex-husband’s red flags long before they got married (and urged her to wait/think/get therapy before making the jump), but that’s me.

      It sounds like your friends are in different boats. I see nothing wrong with distancing yourself from friend #1. However, I would be concerned for friend #2’s safety. Can you frame it to her that way? Guy’s got a domestic assault record for crap’s sake. I’m not saying I’m a professional red flag caller, but that’s a pretty hard one to miss.

      1. Sidenote that if your friend is drinking to combat work boredom, that does not sound like a work problem to me. That sounds like a drinking problem.

    5. Yes, I do not talk about raising children with some of my friends. Specifically, my very best friend and I are not on the same page with expectations of children and how we spend money on children. It is very odd but we do fine as long as we stay away from that. We talk about EVERYTHING else – sex, money, politics, being in the sandwich generation, food, exercise, decorating, clothes, weight, cosmetics, etc.

    6. You can offer help, support, advice, etc. but ultimately it is up to your friends to decide that they need to get help. My sister-in-law had issues with alcohol and did a stint in rehab. She relapsed for a few months and now is back on track with AA meetings and therapy. Through all that time, pleading and ultimatums from her spouse and family did not work. She finally decided to go to rehab again and start AA seriously and that’s when she got sober.

      All that to say, you may need to see your friends fail multiple times or make bad decisions and there’s nothing you can do about it.

    7. I feel like friend #1 wouldn’t be telling you this if she didn’t realize she needed help. Doesn’t mean she would accept help or intervention, but I think she’s not in control of her situation.

      I can’t tell if friend #2 is also sending out “help!” signals; sometimes people just want us to go along with them in pretending everything is okay when it’s not. Maybe that’s also begging for intervention; I’m not sure.

      1. Yep. If she’s downed a 6 pack at work by 1 pm, this is not a situation where “cutting back” is an option and I wouldn’t even suggest it to her. I think she is scared and is testing the waters by telling you. Likely she’s freaking out and needs to talk to someone. I’d def recommend counseling with an addiction trained counselor.

      1. Aw, I disagree. It sounds like she’s got two friends who are in rough patches.

        OP, if you need to set boundaries, do that! But I think that both of these friends could likely use some sympathy and support from you right now. I think you can say “Look, you know i’m no fan of Dude, but I love you and I’m here for you in good times and bad” or “Oof that sounds like you’re in a pretty bad place — have you considered checking out therapy or AA?”

  4. Any suggestions for a weekend in Toronto? Would rather explore neighborhoods and cute coffee shops than big tourist scenes. Will have a car.

    1. I probably would skip the car – traffic and parking can be really terrible.
      Great neighbourhoods for exploring include – Kensington Market, Distillery District (although it can be crowded), Chinatown, Danforth (now it’s multicultural, but started out as our Greek town), Yorkville (the posh shopping area). Toronto Island is fun, and is a short ferry ride from the waterfront.

      Toronto has so many fairs and street festivals on weekends in the summer. I would suggest taking a look at what’s happening on the weekend you’re in town. Taste of the Danforth is one of the biggest, but there are so many now, and they happen almost every weekend. Always a tonne to do in the city in the summer!!

      Welcome to Toronto!

    2. When are you thinking about? Also, in truth, if you stay downtown, a car is not really required. Toronto has a pretty extensive public transit system that can get you to most places and often it is quicker and cheaper.

    3. Hi, Torontonian here! I agree with waffles to skip the car except if you need it for other reasons (e.g. you are here to see family in a suburb, or going to Niagara Falls, or something else outside the city). Those are all really great neighbourhoods to see! (Although if you go to the Toronto Islands try to google it first to make sure they aren’t flooded.) If you like markets I would also recommend checking out the St. Lawrence Market. Saturday is market day, and the stands are bursting with all sorts of good stuff. I recommend the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel or the veal eggplant sandwich (split it; it’s huge) at Uno Mustachio, both in the main market building (the “South Market” which is not actually the southernmost building right now, confusingly). If you like cheese, go to Alex’s Farm Products – the guys back there are so fun and they are always happy to give out samples! In the white tent south of the main market building you will find the actual farmers.

      If you like cute coffee shops, may I suggest Henrietta Lane in Corktown? Very cute cafe located on the way to the Distillery District, if you’re walking (or taking the streetcar) that way from downtown. Tandem Coffee is also very good, further along King St to the east. Merchants of Green Coffee is also absolutely amazing but a bit far out; it’s in Riverdale on the east side of the Don Valley Parkway.

      Enjoy your trip! I love Toronto :)

  5. I interviewed for a job in government exactly 2 weeks ago today. I did not ask about hiring timelines then. The job is still posted. Should I email to follow up today or wait a week?

    2. In federal gov’t – I would wait at least another week. Government hiring is extremely slow, so much more than private practice.

      But, frankly, in your spot, I would just assume you didn’t get the job and mentally move on. I’ve never know a follow-up email to make an impact (not talking about a thank you note right after the interview, but I also think those are pointless). If you have another offer or something that impacts your time, it is worth following up. Otherwise, they will get back to you if they are interested.

    3. The posting for the job I have now was still up on Indeed after I’d interviewed. I had a minor freak to my dad over the phone, to which he said, “Honey, I have often assumed competence where there was none.” So I’d give it a week. :)

  6. I’m going to an allergist for the first time tomorrow. What should I expect will happen? Thanks!

    1. If they do an allergy skin prick test, be prepared for it to suck if you have a lot of allergies. I was miserable for the rest of the day, even with a Benadryl after.

      1. I’m not trying to be snarky, but wouldn’t take a Benadryl mess up the results of the test!? I thought the whole point was to see what you react to, and taking an antihistamine might suppress your body’s normal reaction.

        1. If they are planning a skin prick test they will have warned you as you’ll need to be off antihistamines for several days in advance. The skin prick test itself gives results within 10 minutes. To the OP – the actual prick does not hurt. Assuming you test positive you may want/need various antihistamines for after the test. When I had mine done I had welts on my back for roughly three days – hooray being massively allergic to pretty much all grasses. Counter-point, my two-year old has also had several prick tests because of food allergies and he has never had welts for longer than an hour afterwards.

          1. Oh. Maybe there are different kinds then. The last time I had one I think I had to go back to the doctor a day or two later for them to read it.

          2. I guess it depends on how strong your allergy is. In my case they told me the cat test started swelling up while the needle was still in.

            Yes, I do have cats. Keeping them. :)

    2. Ask them to do the subdermal tests on your non-dominant arm. They did the scratch test on my left arm and the subdermal test on my right… My right arm sore and bruised for the rest of the week, and work was awful.

    3. Assuming they will test you for allergies, bring water, a snack, and something to read. It takes a few hours.

      1. If you haven’t been there before, the allergist will probably just talk to you and examine you and decide what, if any, tests to order if you do need allergy testing, which would be at a subsequent visit.
        Also, My allergist’s office does not allow food or drinks (other than water), as some patients have food allergies. If someone ignores this request and eats there, they have to wipe everything down because it could be hazardous for other patients. So I would not recommend bringing snacks. They also request that people not wear anything with fragrance for the visit.

  7. Have any of you gotten into sewing as an adult? What’s the best way to get started? Can you recommend any good sources for classic/minimalist patterns? Thanks!

    1. Me! I knew some really basic basics from school craft classes as a child (like I can thread a needle and do a backstitch and know to sew with the right sides together), but I am 100% self-taught starting in my mid-20s. Honestly, buy a cheap sewing machine (my first one was ~$150) and start looking through sewing blogs that interest you. I would start with something like pillows or tote bags. There are tons of tutorials for these online, and searching will bring up good blogs. Find a blogger in your style and just give it a try. (I unfortunately can’t remember all the home dec and tote bag blogs I used to read as I stopped browsing them a while ago, but others may have good recs.) It took me about a year before I moved onto actual clothing, but that’s pretty much all I do now. For easy clothing patterns, I liked Sewaholic and Colette. I don’t like Colette’s style very much but their instructions are good. Generally, I would find an online pattern company that has a blog where they do a tutorial with lots of photos and a community you can ask questions of. Have fun!

    2. I tried sewing and it was not for me. I liked patterns from “Merchant and Mills” and “Sew Over it”. Merchant and Mills patterns are very minimalistic, I would love if I can get it done from some one (thinking of you Mom.. !).

    3. Make sure you read the sizing measurements. Pattern sizes are not always the same as RTW sizes. Pattern sizing for the Big 4 is different than the independents, so may be drafting for a particular body shape (Sewaholic – pear, Cashmerette – plus size, etc.) Independents are of various quality in terms of patterns.

      Quality fabric (and the right fabric for the pattern) can make a simple garment sing. Fussy fabrics (like silk) do better with a pattern that has fewer seams. Stable fabrics (like cotton) will work better for garments with more seam lines.

      For patterns – look at the line drawing as well as the picture on package. The line drawing is going to give you a sense of how many seams are involved and where they are placed.

      I’m not sure what you mean by classic/minimalist, though. Are you thinking patterns without a lot of seaming, and are simple? I’d say that’s a more modern and less classic approach. Classic tends to be more about non-trendy (IMO), and minimalism feels pretty trendy at the moment.

      1. Oh…and I learned as kid, but have gotten more into it as an adult. My mom was a sewer (garments and quilting), so I got her old machine and she set me up with a basic set of tools, which I’ve added to over the years.

    4. Yes! I’m in the process of learning — my biggest accomplishments have been zipped jackets for myself and kiddo!

      If you want to sew clothes, and have access to a kid, I’d start by sewing for them because (1) less fabric, and (2) more forgiving fit. Dresses that are too long for a kid are cute, shirts that show the round tummy are cute, it’s all cute. A too long tight-on-the-tummy dress looks less cute on me, ha.

      For specific recs, I have really appreciated the instructions from Sew a Little Seam, esp for the Ollie Bomber (adult and kid) and Once Upon a Pattern (princess dresses for kids with a thousand options and great instructional photos)… you can also find rando videos for particular things that seem tricky, like “understitching” or how to shorten a zipper. I’ve sewn the “In a Twist” dress from So Sew Easy and it worked out great! The video tutorial was essential though, and I had to rewatch some parts over and over.

    5. Me me me. There are a few things I would add to the above. Start with alterations, seeing how existing garments are made and how make changes to improve fit is an invaluable skill once you start making clothes from scratch. Get fabric from the thrift store to start, you can find whole bolts (that’s what a big roll of fabric is called) for a few dollars, and cheap fabric is great for learning. You will make mistakes! Don’t get deterred of your first garment or 3 are unwearable.

    6. Yes! I would suggest starting with either a dartless, woven top, or a skirt. I would not suggest zippers or other closures, nor darts, pleats, etc. for your first go. Helen’s Closet is a good pattern design company to look at (and listen to the Love to Sew podcast for inspiration) with two new patterns that fit into this category. I also think the Lou Box Top by Sew DIY and the Grainline Scout Tee are good, go-to patterns for beginners. When learning to sew, pick one pattern and make it until it works for you and then move onto the next. Recognize you will have to fit the pattern, but don’t be scared and don’t get too bogged down in it. I’d start with muslin fabric or thrifted fabric before moving to the good stuff.

      If you are interested in learning instead to sew with knits (which you can do with a zigzag stitch on a regular machine), I like the Lane Raglan by Hey June Handmade because raglan sleeves are easier, fit-wise. The Grainline Linden is also very popular. There are all sorts of beginning sewing patterns lists if you do an internet search. Likewise, there is a very active sewing blog/instagram world. Find a few that fit your style. In general, an indie pattern company will have more hand-holding and likely a full tutorial on its website and I think it’s easier to start there. Some of the other biggies are Cashmerette, True Bias, Closet Case Patterns, and Tilly and the Buttons. I also really like Sew Liberated. Have fun!

  9. Wow what was up with that maternity clothes poster yesterday afternoon who started out nice and then turned super snarky? I sincerely regret trying to help.

    1. Same! Was that the OP who was being snarky or somebody else? Couldn’t tell. Either way, I regret engaging.

      1. It was hard to tell but it looked like one of the commenters told her that no one would notice if she wore cheaper/ more comfortable clothing while transitioning to maternity clothing, and she took it as an insult.

        1. Plus everyone already knows she’s pregnant. She’s not fooling anyone who has been there, done that.

  10. Any tips for buying a used or almost new car? I purchased my current car from my father (and it turned out to be a lemon). I need a small reliable car that fits a car seat. I have about 15k saved and then I’d need to finance any remaining balance. I live in the DC area. Thanks!

    1. I bought a 2012 Subaru used for $12K. $15K is totally enough to get a used car outright! Even a newer one!

    2. Biggest tip is to bring your own financing – credit unions typically have better rates than banks.

      Also if you plan to keep the car for the long haul and want something dependable, check out Certified Pre-Owned. They typically still have time on the warranty and have been inspected to make sure they are running well.

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