ByElizabeth Hours Updated
Comments 218 Comments

Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Front-Slit Sheath Dress

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.

A woman wearing a blue sheath dress

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

Ann Taylor is really showing off with its dress collection this season. This short-sleeved sheath caught my eye because of the gorgeous blue color and super-flattering seams at the front.

Add a blazer for a more formal look, or wear it on its own if you’re an always-warm New York native sharing an office and a thermostat with a Floridian. (Or is that just me?)

The dress is $149 full price at Ann Taylor and comes in sizes 00–18.

Sales of note for 5/14/25:

  • Nordstrom Rack – Looking for a deal on a Dyson hairdryer? The Rack has several refurbished ones for $199-$240 (instead of $400+) — but they're final sale only.
  • Ann Taylor – Suit Yourself! 30% off suiting (ends 5/16) + 25% off your full price purchase (ends 5/18) + extra 60% off sale (ends 5/14)
  • Talbots – 40% off all markdowns (ends 5/18) + 30% off dresses, skirts, accessories, and shoes
  • Nordstrom – Beauty Deals up to 25% off (ends 5/17)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
  • Boden – 10% off new women's styles with code + sale up to 50% off
  • Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything + extra 60% off sale + $1 shipping on all orders
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off long-weekend styles + 50% off select swim and coverups
  • J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100+ + extra 20% off $125+
  • M.M.LaFleur – Lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
  • Rothy's – Up to 50% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off

218 Comments

  1. I’m a klutz who loves to wear bright nail polish – what a combination. I was doing gel manicures for a while but it adds up and I felt it was damaging my nails. Recommendations for your most chip-resistant home nail polishes? The Sally Hansen Xtreme wear seems to work well. I have a Sally Hansen top coat but its running out anyways, so looking for a new one.

    1. Dazzle Dry lasts longer for me than anything else I’ve tried. It’s a whole system, you have to order online and it’s not cheap. But it does last really well on my nails. And it dries really quickly, which is important to me because I’m also a klutz and I frequently mess my nails up before they’re dry with regular polish! It will start to wear off the end of my nails a bit but it very rarely chips.

      1. I used to use dazzle dry and now I use Color Street stickers. It is an MLM, which I don’t love (my friend from high school was selling them initially, so I got some and really liked it), but I find it worth it for the lack of smell, and it doesn’t chip at all!

      2. +1 for Dazzle Dry. In addition to being more durable, it is also somehow easier to apply evenly than traditional polish. I was never able to do my own mani neatly until I started using Dazzle Dry. Get the full-sized kit, not the mini, because the mini brush is difficult to use. And get the ridge filler basecoat for a more gel-like look.

    2. As a clutz who loves nail polish myself, honestly the answer for me has been to maintain regularly – repair the chips once they appear and once they chip again, redo my nails. I don’t use top coat so the process is faster and irks me less.

      1. Yeah this is my plan and what I used to do before! Chips bother me a lot so I just re-do that nail. It’s like Theseus’ manicure – how long has it “lasted” if youre just replacing one nail at a time. I usually used top coat though so maybe I won’t do that.

    4. Have you considered doing gel nails on yourself at home? I’ve been doing my own gel nails at home since 2011. The removal process does thin your nails because you have to buff them to rough them up to get the polish to stick. However, what really damages them is improper removal. They need to be soaked off in acetone, not filed off or peeled off. With gel polish on, my nails are much stronger than my natural nails were before I ever started it. I only have rare occasions where I don’t get at least 14 days of chip free wear from gel polish. I don’t like bare nails, so the thinner natural nails that I have now never bother me because I always have polish on them. If you are just not interested in gel at all, I’ve had multiple friends become obsessed with the Olive and June brand for its chip resistance.

    6. I either do the Kiss press on nails, the Le Mini Macaron at-home gel system or the Dashing Diva semi-cured gel strips. I think out of the three, I prefer the LMM the most but all of them are good options!

      1. I liked the Kiss press on nails, but after a little while I found when I run my hands through my hair, my hair gets stuck in the glue between my natural nails and the press on nails, and some hair gets pulled out.
        It started driving me nuts when I would unconsciously touch my hair several times a day and then my nail would get stuck in it, weakening both the nail glue and my hair, resulting in an embarrassing few seconds of then trying to detangle my hair from my nails! I’ve sworn off Kiss nails just for this reason. I guess I could get the glue sold separately and try regluing every time a nail edge starts to slightly pull away from the nail.

    8. I have just discovered Lily & Fox nail stickers via Insta, and am super impressed with the durability. I put some on 10 days ago, used top coat (Essie Good-to-go), and they are still looking great.

      I have best results with nail polish if I prep my nails really well. For me, that means, pushing cuticles back, removing any excess skin on the sides, filing in shape, and then using one of those multi-surface files to smooth and polish the top of the nail. Then, wash hands really well, and use an alcohol or acetone cotton pad to wipe away any dust or oils.
      Only then I apply nail polish making sure I go over the tip of the nail with topcoat to seal.

      Also, the longer my nails are, the more polish chips, so I’m keeping them pretty short, barely longer than my fingertips.

      1. Second that! I’ve also gotten nice sets from Nails Mailed. Just read the “Color Street tips and tricks” web pages and do most of what they say. The stickers are not as flexible/thin as CS, but are 1/3 of the price and I can get 2 applications out of a set of the former.

  2. I want to host a new years day open house style party. I went to one as a kid but really have no idea how to get started from a planning standpoint. I’m thinking about 12-4pm on New Years. We have a big house in the suburbs and kids ages 5-10. I’m imagining a more kid-oriented zone in the basement (kid friendly snacks, tv, video games, coloring/lego/puzzle type setup, air hockey and foosball is down there too). Upstairs would be a couple of food/seating areas, adult mingling, music playing throughout? Our kids’ playroom is on the 2nd floor. I think we’ll just make that off limits (or maybe make that a play area for the younger kids? the 4/5 girls that want to play dolls?)
    because I don’t want kids running from the basement to the second floor.

    The downside is our kitchen is really a 70s style layout (with modern decor)- more of a prep space than a gathering space/central hub you see in modern houses. Our dining room and living room are large and very functional and we also have a “study” or “den” type room on the main floor that has a TV- but the main TV is in the full finished basement.

    Suggestions on what to serve, # people to plan for at any given time, how to bring out / stage the food throughout the time slot? I’m just starting to make a guest list but I’m thinking of inviting ~40-50 families, with a yield of maybe half that (is that right? Lots of people are out of town on NY day, right? Many people we know ski so they’ll likely still be gone, though we are coming back the day before), spread over the 12-4 (or whatever) window.

    1. Oh that sounds lovely! I’m doing something similar the week before Christmas (school runs til the Friday so folks will be around). I’m thinking 10:30-12:30 on Sunday, hot chocolate, good coffee, fruit salad, and cinnamon rolls.
      Our house is tiny in comparison, 1000 square feet and we’ve managed a birthday party with 14 kids and 14 parents (everyone said yes, and the parents stayed which we didn’t anticipate)

    2. I love these parties, my parents’ friends have done this for decades and it’s a big hit. Although not formally a potluck, a lot of people bring nibbles. There’s no formal meal which contributes to the open house feel. But tons of snacks. I don’t have any real suggestions but just wanted to cheer this idea on!

    3. This sounds great. Only thing I would suggest is to allow access to the upstairs playroom for doll play and maybe put a kids Christmas movie on in the smaller tv room with popcorn for the kids that aren’t into being as social or needing a break. That way it’s like dolls/dress up play upstairs, video games/foosball/lego in the basement and kid tv area on main. With that number of people I do think a few different kid spaces will allow you/parents to redirect kids if they get tired of or overwhelmed by that area.

      I would also bump the time a little later – 12pm says to me that lunch will be available. Maybe do 1-5pm?

    4. That sounds terrific! If you invited me to this a party I would definitely be thinking “This is an awesome party!” and not “What a bummer about their kitchen layout.”

      For the grown ups I would serve heavy hors d’ouvres and maybe have a sandwich station with slightly more options than bread and fancy cheese. I would consider a French fry bar for the kids (but probably the grown ups will also partake) – lots of dips and different fry styles and you can buy big bags of fries and pop another batch into the oven whenever things are running low.

      1. OP here- I threw that out there more for suggestions on flow/ where to keep the food etc, not because I think people will be judgy. In a more modern setup the obvious place for food and gathering is the kitchen but that doesn’t work for us as the kitchen runs along the back of the house and is long and skinny (no island).

        1. I think the only issue with the separate kitchen is that you have to avoid spending much time in there, and make it so guests don’t have a reason to go in there, either. So it’s fine to pop in there to grab another tray of turkey and cheese roll ups from the fridge, not so great to be in there making the roll ups for 15 minutes. You’ll need to have a full drinks station outside of the kitchen so that people aren’t going in there for ice or water or whatever. And you’ll need a place for people to put empty/used plates and cups so that people aren’t going into the kitchen to find the trash can or to put something in the sink. That might actually be a lot of work, but someone else suggested hiring a couple people and that could be a good idea too.

        2. my parents house is like this and they always did a lot of hosting and flow worked great! they would put all the food on the dining room table and drinks in the entry foyer. adults would either stand in the dining room near the table, sit in the living room adjacent to the dining room, or walk through the kitchen to sit in the family room. the kids would usually end up in the basement. depending on size of spread, they’d also put desserts on the kitchen table. typically tried to stick with room temperature food to make serving easier.

    5. The reason people hang out in the kitchen is bc that’s usually where the food and host are. If you set up a food and drink area that’s central in the other rooms (maybe take over your dining room as the setup area, like if you’re serving chili or whatnot plug the slow cooker in there and leave it) it might help?

    6. Oh, I would love this. I really don’t enjoy staying up late but I still like the holiday to feel festive! I think you have a solid plan. Kids in the basement, grownups upstairs. If you can, have little stations set up throughout the area, but don’t stress if your layout doesn’t allow for that. The hospitality is what matters most! Definitely go for appetizers and small bites. You don’t need a ton of options, you just need quantity and to keep an eye on which things are running out.

      1. I love the idea of various food stations. I actually hate it when everyone bunches up in the kitchen, because I feel like it is not conducive to mingling.

    7. For menu options, you could have a couple of traditional New Years’ “good luck” dishes: pork and sauerkraut; black eyed peas; collard greens are a couple that come to mind at the start. I’ve hosted something similar that was pork and sauerkraut themed (German tradition of good luck in the new year). Mine was super small (I think I only invited like 10 people total and 5 showed up), so I only had two things out, but I just kept them on the stove top on low once they were cooked to keep them warm and let folks serve themselves as they were interested.

      1. This. We do pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes. In Pennsylvania so it is typically cold and even can be very cold on New Years Day. Casual hot food served buffet style, with some finger foods/apps and footbal games. Can be the best day of the year.

    8. It’s worth hiring help. Perhaps a high school or college student or a couple of them. Back when I entertained large crowds with some frequency, an acquaintance’s son served as my bartender and my childhood housekeeper was available for cleaning, serving, and/or clean up. It’s helpful to have someone to keep the food service filled and looking fresh. And it’s helpful and wise to have one person who is handling any alcohol. It helps to keep the drinks from being over poured, and the guests from being over served.

      1. I agree with this. If you want to enjoy your own party, having a helper or two makes all the difference. If you don’t have another source, you can probably find somebody with good reviews on TaskRabbit.

    9. Plan your food options to minimize kitchen time during the party. Think charcuterie, spiced nuts, veggies and dip, etc. Make sure the food won’t get gross if it’s sitting out for a while. For example, have a platter of toasted bread with a bowl of bruschetta topping on the side so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Pick something that can stay warm in a crock pot, like meatballs. If you want more hot options throughout the party then choose food that doesn’t require close attention while cooking. Maybe frozen spinach and artichoke dip that goes in the microwave and a couple trays of those Trader Joes appetizer bites that you can throw directly in the oven.

      I’m always an advocate of self-serve drink stations far from the kitchen. Slice a bunch of lemons and limes in advance. Fill a cooler with soft drinks and mixers. Put out all the necessary tools: corkscrew, bottle opener, stirring spoons, ice bucket, multiple jiggers or shot glasses.

    11. My sister used to host one and what worked for meals was to start the food with a bagel + fixings spread since it is New Year’s Day so brunch food worked. Bagels, lox, cream cheese, onion etc. Bagels pre-sliced and toasted and ready for serving. Then she would have something going in the slow cooker that would come out around 3. Usually pulled pork/chicken, cornbread, toppings for people to self serve.

    12. My only tip is to hide all TV remotes if you do not want football to be a major focus. The date of your open house may present a challenge if you don’t want TV to be a focus.

      1. Although if it’s a football crowd, there’s nothing wrong with having football be the focus.

        1. Yes, I go to a football-focused open house on New Years Day every year and it’s very fun if that’s your thing.

    13. I’ve done that before. Put all the food and a bar setup or whatever people will be drinking on your dining room table. Is the Christmas tree close to there? If you have speakers play some Christmas tunes at a lower volume so people can hear each other

      And yes to the kid zone. I even hired a babysitter so that the parents didn’t feel compelled to be with the kids all the time. Put on some Disney and they’ll kind of watch that, kind of get into your kids’ toys.

      Enjoy!

    14. I do this every year, in a small apartment, and it’s wonderful. I’ve been doing it since my kid was a baby, and it was really sad to miss those two covid years. I usually end up with between 30-45 people in a 900 sq foot apartment (2 bedrooms, but 1 bedroom gets closed off for the cat to hide in). It’s cozy but fun!

      I do brunch foods — bagels and spreads and lox, a couple of baked goods (blueberry coffee cake is a must), and one savory casserole. I also do some fruit and it’s always popular. For drinks, I do juices and coffee and have a bottle of wine on hand, but people usually bring bubbly and I stick it in the fridge and then open an hour or two into the party. Last year I made a pitcher of negronis but they weren’t really popular — people either stuck to coffee or went for the wine, but know your crowd. I make sure everything is prepped ahead of time (early the day before, before we go to a NYE party), so the morning of I just pick up fresh bagels, stick casserole in the oven, and set everything up, and enjoy. Some friends bring something they make every year — deviled eggs and a cinnamon bread, and one family always brings a dozen donuts, and that adds to the spread. My kitchen is not a gathering spot and it’s not an issue, people go in there for coffee or drinks and sometimes linger, but most people are in the living/dining room. Food and plates are set out on the dining table. Make sure you have a large trash can or bag in a clear spot so people know where to put trash. I normally hate disposables but this one time annually I usually get a stack of discounted Christmas paper plates.
      Kids usually are in my kid’s room or running in circles around everyone. Introverts sometimes go out on the balcony. It’s loud! I usually have music on when people are arriving but forget about it and it turns off and I don’t even notice. People love it and are already asking me if I’m doing it this year. I tell people to come at 11 and the last people usually stay until 6ish, though most people come closer to 12 and leave by 4, so I think your hours sound right, and towards the end it’s usually a small number of kids and adults playing Mario Party on the TV.
      I would advise telling your kids to place any toys they don’t want to share in an area that’s off limits, and hiding any scissors and messy craft supplies — those are the only issues we’ve had in the past. If you don’t want food brought to certain places, make that clear to the kids. I don’t plan for kid activities, the kids manage fine on their own.

    15. I agree with you that kids running from basement to the top floor is a bad idea, and makes more rooms to clean. If the basement is large enough then one end of it can be puzzles/dolls/board games and the other end can be more active games (fort, pillows, or TV with a holiday movie). Agree on hiding scissors, also hide paint otherwise you may end up with paint spills.
      Restrict food to one room if you dont want kids grabbing a juice and running downstairs. Have a space (kid table?) where kids who are eating or drinking must sit.
      Mimosa bar or bloody mary bar for the adults. Have cold foods only so that you are not running around trying to heat up stuff, that doesn’t work for open house style parties. That doesn’t mean salads alone, it can be cooked foods that are not too bad when eaten cold. Finger foods are great for this. If you have a thermos style container or a tortillas box which keeps food warm, that might work for one thing. Have chairs grouped in small cozy corners so that people are talking in small groups and its not a quiet hush when one person in a large living room is talking and everybody has to listen.

  3. Going to the Carrieban for the first time over the Holidays. Those of you who go to resorts in the Carrieban, what vaccines, if any, do you get? Do we really need the thyphoid shot? Hep. A? DtaP? Others? I am wondering if they are truly needed or travel clinics are just pushing them. We already do all vaccines recommended here (Canada) but I also want to keep vacines to what is necessary only. We are going to Puerto Plata (DR) in a resort with good reviews, if that matters.

    Also, any other travel health precautions we need to take, apart from only drinking bottled water?

    1. Also Canadian. We did Twinrix (Hep A/B) but I don’t remember DtaP? Travel vaccines may be totally are different from what you need locally. Like my kids have the European tick one that you can only get in Europe because we are outside in a rural woodsy location there every single visit.

      Bottled water is great but the risk is also in ice or food prep.

    2. It’s spelled Caribbean FYI. The main worry is mosquito borne illness so you want to bring good repe11ent. Major resorts might fog for them but it’s not like a mosquito knows or cares whether it’s at a “good” property.

      Whether or not you need to worry about fresh produce or ice varies by country. Never gone to the DR so can’t help with that.

      I’d suggest bringing your own basic OTC meds along with, since if you need them, resorts often stock a small pharmacy but you’ll be paying like 10x the cost of a drugstore at home given the captive audience.

      1. Generally in a big resort in the Caribbean you don’t need to take precautions beyond bottled water, and even that may not be strictly necessary (many big resorts have their own water filtration systems). I’ve never been to the DR either, but in Mexico we always eat ice and fruit and have never had any issues. Ask the resort people – they’re used to lots of American guests with sensitive stomachs and will tell you what if anything you need to avoid.

    3. You should have a TdaP vaccine regardless of travel (there are whooping cough outbreaks in the US) and Hep A is widely recommended for travel. Those are once every 10 years vaccines, so we don’t get them constantly, just on the recommended schedule. Typhoid is a little different – those are needed more frequently (I think every 2 years) to be effective, and we don’t get them before every Caribbean trip although we did get them in 2015 before a trip to Thailand. Personally, I think the risk of typhoid is very low in the Caribbean unless you plan to go way off the beaten path, which you’re not doing and we don’t do (although our pediatrician was really freaked out when we took our kid to the Caribbean before she was old enough for typhoid vaccines, so YMMV.)

      We’ve never done anything special for mosquitoes. The big resorts all spray, and I get far fewer mosquito bites in the Caribbean than I do in my backyard in the Midwest.

      1. I contracted whooping cough as an adult and it is no joke. Get the vaccine for both that reason and tetanus. I don’t know anything about diptheria.

    4. The key for me for the DTaP is the T which is for tetanus. I think everyone should get that one no matter where they live and it’s good for 10 years; to me this is not at all a travel vaccine and you should get it if you don’t have one even if you are not travelling. I’d check to make sure you haven’t received that vaccine already, as it’s usually part of the regular set of vaccines (google tells me also in Canada) so you may just be due for that vax. Hep A and B are regularly scheduled vaxes now and not just for travel; my kids got them as part of the usual schedule. Hep A is linked to food and water that are not properly treated so your risks go up if you’re in areas where food safety is a problem, so sorta linked to travel? (Honestly I think US food safety is so often and issue I don’t think if it as purely a travel vax.) Hep B is generally – if I recall correctly – transmitted by more direct contact (blood and fluids) with an infected person so to me more of an “optional” one depending on other things. Typhoid would suck but is generally something you can treat, especially if you are otherwise healthy and have access to good health care.

      1. +100 to the Tetanus comment. Tetanus spores are present in the environment, and especially if you get your hands dirty in the garden or similar, you could be exposed through scratches in your skin.

    5. I’ve been to Cancun, Barbados and St. Lucia and have never gotten special vaccinations. I do bring my own OTC meds – Tylenol, Aleve, Zyrtec, Sudafed, Pepto and Tums. I’ve also started bringing Azo in case of any UTI issues.

      Be mindful of alcohol consumption. At an all-inclusive it can be easy to go overboard with the drinks.

      Wear plenty of sunscreen and bring mosquito repellent. I like to bring a reef-safe sunscreen. Thinksport is the brand I’ve used in the past.

    6. I’ve been going there my whole life for vacations and never once got a special vaccine.

      3. Ditto. but as others have mentioned, Some of these vaccines you should just have and you need to get in regular increments. If this is the incentive to get yourself updated, then go for it.

      4. +1

        I recently got tetanus (TDAP) because my doctor said I needed it for living in the US, not for travel. I hadn’t had it since over 20 years ago with all the college vaccines.

      5. Not understanding the logic. I know lots of people who go their whole life without a car crash, but I would still wear a seatbelt.

        1. Logic is that it’s not necessary to get vaccines to go to the Caribbean. You don’t need a seatbelt if you are walking.

    7. On the “other travel health precautions” question, maybe bring your own carbon monoxide detector? I don’t know why, but it seems like there have been so many stories lately of guests at resorts getting very ill/dying from CO in their hotel rooms. I know the incidence is still extremely small relative to the number of guests, but a portable CO detector is also very cheap and could be used for other things. Failing that, definitely travel insurance, lots of bug spray, and lots of sunblock.

    8. If you’re checking a bag, bring your own sunscreen. It’ll be expensive to buy at the resort. I was at an all inclusive in DR a few months ago, and it was like $20 for a cheap No Ad brand bottle.

      1. Even if you’re not checking a bag, you can still bring your own sunscreen. I use a Neutrogena sunscreen that comes in 3 oz bottles and I always pack it in my carry-on for beach vacations.

    9. As many people have already said, some of these are part of the standard vaccine package. I did want to make two points: (1) If you are not up to date on tetanus and have a potential exposure (think you step on a nail or get bit by a dog) in a foreign country it can be much harder to get the shot on an emergency basis, which could really ruin your trip. It is best to be up to date on your tetanus vaccination all the time, but particularly if you are traveling; and (2) Something like 30% of Hep B cases have unknown source. It is an extremely hardy virus and lives for something like a week on surfaces. When people say it is transmitted through blood (and s*x) they are right and s*x workers and IV drug users are at highest risk- but I got it in law school when I was living like a nun. The health department’s best guess was that I got it from improperly sterilized manicure equipment (the place I was going was cheap but in retrospect a little sketchy). It is now part of the standard vaccine package in the US for children but I highly recommend it for anyone traveling.

      All of that said, if you are staying in a resort you probably don’t need typhoid unless you are planning on leaving the tourist areas.

      1. Dog bite is a rabies risk, not tetanus, and you would need post-bite rabies shots if you don’t have definitive proof that the dog is up to date on rabies shots. Rabies vaccines aren’t normally given in advance, unless you have plans to be handling wildlife. So don’t get bitten by stray dogs while traveling! But otherwise I agree.

  4. Where can I go to relearn pants and boots? Catalogs aren’t helping and there aren’t really magazines except for home decor and things like People at the grocery store. Any place on insta or websites? I’m just putting in heavy wool socks with my Docs and saving heeled boots for tights and dresses until I can figure out how to dress now that my ankles are cold in flats. Now that we are past skinny jeans + booties, my kind is drawing a blank.

    1. remember before skinnies how you had different types of pants for different shoes? we’re back there. pretty flats go with bootcut or flare jeans hemmed for them.

        1. With Chelsea boots, especially lug soles.

          But honestly, skinnies have a time and a place, and tucking them into boots for winter is perfectly acceptable.

          1. Yes, I’m going to switch to slimmer leg pants for winter to tuck into my winter boots for my commute. Not skinny, but not wide leg either.

          1. +1

            In winter, switch to cropped pants with high shaft booties (so no exposed skin… wear tights or high socks) if you want to be the most current. I also still wear some skinnier pants with traditional shaft height booties, and some long flared/wide leg pants with heeled booties. Mix it up. There are no strict rules anymore. Truly.

            I also do lots of skirts with tights and boots/booties of all types. Mix them up. It is just easier to deal with than the pants/boots/shoes/heel height game.

      2. +1 and a solid ugh. This is also why I’m holding onto my skinnies for winter. I was driving home around school dismissal on a rainy day and saw a group of high schoolers gingerly holding up the hems of their wide leg/flared jeans to keep them from dragging in puddles and soaking up the water. I laughed my head off as I had an immediate flashback to doing the same thing in my teen years – I guess everyone has to learn the hard way the downside of unhemmed voluminous pants!

        1. Yeah, even here in CA, I still have one pair of skinny pants for rainy days. We had ALL THE RAIN last winter/spring so I can’t imagine there’s any left, but you never know!

    2. I thought about this all morning! Here’s where I’m at:

      Chelsea boots with a higher shaft under cropped flairs and wide legs. (Currently wearing- I think this works on my short self better than a taller person.)

      Pointed toe heeled boots under full length flairs and wide legs. (Be still my elder millennial heart; this gives you legs for days)

      Wider shaft knee high flat boots with skinny pants. I think this is looking more fresh than a traditional riding boot and it will give your lower half volume so the tops that work with wider bottoms still work and your pants aren’t dragging in the winter slush.

    4. I would pay for a stylish person to come shop my closet for me and pull together current looks from what I already have. I don’t want new clothes, but I think I’m going to have to give my booties the winter off (although one pair of Sorels is so comfy and they may work with longer flares on a non-rainy day — they cover the top of the bootie so it’s not as apparent that it’s not a full boot).

    5. Cropped: visible funky knee high sock + chunky loafer or low sleek ankle boot, tights or knee high hose + flats for a warmer climate, but I’ve phased out my truly cropped pants for winter and do skirts/dresses or ankle pants rather than the mid-shin cropped styles.

      Full length: chunky loafer, duck boots for commute then switch + dark shoe-matching socks, high-shaft sleek boot + tights under the pants

      Skinny or slim pants + slouchy moto boots, modern cowboy boots, or sleek socks + slim low profile shoes (and a commuting boot)

      I like Refinery 29, The Zoe Report, Cosmo (online), street style IG accounts, and websites like Nordstrom that have roundups of different brands.

  5. Hello, little over two months ago I posted about being in a 4 year relationship and finding out my partner was not on the same page with me about marriage. The feedback from the post reinforced what I already knew—it was time to get out. I broke up with him two days later and save for a few issues, went no contact. The breakup has gut wrenching but I know deep in my heart I’m doing the right thing and 9 weeks later, the pain has eased. I’ve journaled every day, sometimes multiple times a day; it’s been a very helpful tool to process my feelings and see my progress through the breakup. I make it a point to always have something fun to look forward to on the weekends because that is when grief hits the hardest. A real game changer has been to try new activities: art workshops, a new exercise class, etc. Doing these have been fun and given me something else to focus on. Going no contact was extremely hard, I felt like I was going through withdrawal from a drug. It turns out, there’s scientific data that supports this feeling. I have a list of things to do/people to call when the urge to contact strikes so that I can resist the urge. The Breakup Bootcamp podcast has been an amazing help; I love that it has evidence based information back up the recommended healing strategies. I can see that I made the right decision and the pain and grief is subsiding; I know in a few months I will feel even better. I am excited about building my future, even if it looks different than what I imagined a few months ago. I hope this helps someone else who is going through a breakup, thinking about a breakup, or supporting someone through a breakup.

    2. I remember your original post, and this is a wonderful update. Wishing you all the best as you continue healing and growing.

    3. So proud of you. Hugs or high fives, your preference, from this internet stranger. It’s so hard.

    4. I’m really proud of you.

      Thank you so much for sharing what you have learned with us. You will really help other people who read here.

      I’m so sorry it is so hard. Wishing you the best as you continue to move forward.
      You can do it.

      1. Thank you! My hope is that sharing here helps other people. Things are getting better and I’m very hopeful about the future I’m building.

    5. Wow, thanks for the great update! Hang in there — better days are coming!!

    6. Hang in there! About a year after I ended a similar sounding relationship I met my husband. And my life is a billion percent better than I ever imagined it could be. Wishing the same for you.

      1. Thank you! I love hearing this story. While I hope something like this happens for me I am also concentrating on building a life that makes me happy without a partner. After all, I know I’ll be with me the rest of my life so this is a great time to invest in myself.

    7. I’m proud of you, stranger. Thank you for sharing. I’m going through a breakup and this has given me so much reassurance.

  6. The nail post that started today’s thread inspired me to ask – what are your favorite manicure colors for this fall? I recently stopped biting my nails and doing at home manicures has helped – I keep my nails short and neat and have been wearing ballet pink or light purple polish (Sally Hansen Lavendear). I’ve never done polish before and want to explore fall colors! What do you like / are you seeing people wearing? Some shades I’ve seen online that look interesting to me are Olive and June’s Favorite Beanie (a grayish blue tone), some olive shades, classic reds, Essie’s Midnight Delight (brown), OPI’s Yoga-to get this blue (navy), Essie’s Playing Koi (burnt orange), and Essie’s Wicked (deep purple brown). I am brand new to the nail game so advice on things to do or avoid when going for bolder choices would be appreciated!

    2. FWIW I find at home manis with dark colors to be way harder. Streaks show really easily. I’m currently enjoying Essie’s Lady Like light mauve, but go to the pros if I want something dark like Wicked.

    3. Having a cleanup brush is key with dark colors! Get a small eyeliner brush, and dip it in nail polish remover. Then lightly go around the edge of the nail and proximal fold to remove any excess polish. I LOOOOVE dark colors for fall and winter. A few faves (yes, I’m an Essie devotee):
      Essie Off Tropic (dark green)
      Essie Wrapped in Luxury (burgundy). If you can’t find it, Bordeaux is similar.
      Anything from Essie’s fall 2023 collection
      OPI Less is Norse
      Wicked is always a popular choice, but it doesn’t do much for me. It looks black on me, not plum.

      1. If pink is your comfort zone, try something like Essie’s Angori Cardi, which is a deep mauve. Really, really pretty.

    4. Right now, I’m wearing Orly Pine-ing For You. It’s a very deep, dark pine green.

      I picked up a prescription at CVS yesterday and the burly pharmacy tech noticed it and complimented the color, so I’ll take that as a win!

  7. Hoping to get some towels during the holiday sales. Any good recs? The ones I’ve touched in stores just seem thin and not terribly nice. I don’t want super plush but I’d like something that will last.

    1. Brooklinen! I got some a couple years ago and they’re so nice. Thick and plush, they wash well and have held up with heavy use. I have white and haven’t bleached them, but the hand towels are looking a bit dingy so I may try. I honestly look forward to wrapping myself in the bath towel every day after a shower lol

      1. I really like the Resort Collection towels from Frontgate. Ours have held up really well for several years now.

    2. Well, I don’t think they will be on sale, but I highly recommend the Restoration Hardware 892 gram Turkish towels. I’ve continually had towels from this collection and think they’re just fabulous. We got some for our wedding ten years ago that are still going strong – we don’t baby them at all – washed in hot water and dried on high heat. They’re not super plush and have a good weight to them.

      1. I still have Ralph Lauren hand towels from my freshman year of college (20 years ago!).

        Bought RL “Payton” bath sheets from Bloomingdale’s in 2022 and they are AMAZING. Still thick and fluffy almost two years later.

      1. LMAO, I’m dead. Finally, a designer lewk you can recreate by spending $10 at Walmart.

    6. We really love our Frontgate towels if you want something colorful and plush but absorbant.

    7. Someone here recommended the Vera Wang towels from Kohl’s and they are great. If there are levels, I don’t remember, I think they’re the high one. And you can for sure find a sale. I’m not a Kohl’s regular but it seems like one of those places where nothing is ever full priced.

  8. Seeking ideas for meals to feed a houseful of guests during Thanksgiving week that are 1) easy, 2) pork-free, and 3) cheese-free. Thank you!

      1. If beef isn’t ok, you could also do turkey or chicken meatballs. If you’re buying them pre-made, check the labels carefully – many things advertised as a different meat contain pork casings.

    2. I like the Signature Spicy, Smoky, Sweet Chili from Iowa Girl Eats. It’s pretty easy and you could double it.
      Taco bar where people can customize their toppings
      Spaghetti – I usually brown some Italian sausage and add my favorite sauce. You could use ground beef to avoid pork.

    3. Tacos (without cheese)? Any kind of pasta and sauce, chicken pot pie, stir fries, chili.

    4. On the make ahead front, if meat + minimal dairy is ok, Shepherd’s pie. Also, depending on your area, I’m always a fan of cabbage rolls as filler for feeding a bunch of people, especially when I can buy a big tray from somewhere.

    7. -Spaghetti and (beef) meatballs with garlic bread and a big salad
      -Crockpot chili with cornbread
      -Stir fry with meat of choice and lots of vegetables, rice, and some kind of Asian-themed appetizer from the frozen section (egg rolls, etc.)
      -Taco bar
      -Burgers and hot dogs on the grill or under the broiler if it’s too cold to use the grill

    8. Taco bar for sure (chicken salsa in the crockpot, maybe shrimp or beef, then all the sides separated)

      Make your pizza station, just have vegan cheese or lots of other toppings so the df person gets what they need

      I’d also order a sandwich catering platter or make your own- nothing wrong with sandwiches for dinner!

    9. Make your own salad or grain bowls are especially great once you have leftovers.

      2. Not OP but Patriot Blue at Banana Republic Factory is this color and I’ve been loving the pullover I have in it.

  10. Another holiday question: Where do you find your favorite holiday gift wrap? I bought some last year, from a brand that I thought was good (i.e., not from Target), and it was flimsy, thin, and terrible. I don’t need Martha Stewart quality, but I do prefer a heavier paper!

    1. TJMaxx/HomeGoods has the best paper for the money IMO. You can get a huge roll for $8, or a normal roll for $4, and it is nice, thick paper. It’s the only place I get it (for all occasions).

    2. I really like the sugar paper brand that they sell at target – it’s very sturdy. Container store is my other go to. And the Paper Source has gorgeous stuff, but it’s pricey.

      2. OP here, and I drool over Paper Source and Rifle Paper Co.’s wrapping paper. Maybe I should splurge and consider my gifts part of the holiday decor!

    4. Target actually has some thicker, fancier paper in addition to the cheap thin stuff.

    6. I actually think Target’s house brand paper is pretty good. You can order online. The $5 rolls are a terrible price per sqft but the $3 or $7 rolls are pretty good.

    8. You probably already know this, but I would stay away from IKEA. Pretty colors but flimsy and the color rubs off as you crease the paper.

    9. I order mine from Nashville Wraps. It comes on giant rolls (“cutter rolls” come in a box that you can cut the paper on, sort of like tin foil), is a manageable width that seems to produce less waste than what is typically sold in stores, and is usually delivered next-day (to Atlanta). Also, this is probably not a helpful recommendation, but Tractor Supply has some great quality farm-themed paper.

        1. I not only bought chicken paper for myself, but I also bought goat and duck versions for my friend who has goats and ducks. Nothing says Christmas like chickens in Santa hats!

  11. Does anyone have a Lo+Sons Windsor 2 bag and can tell me if it’s worth $125? It’s an elevated-looking small crossbody/ belt bag. I need something to replace my current setup, and I’m looking for something a little more put-together. Thanks!

    1. Waverly 2? I have, hmm, probably too many of them. I think of them as practical rather than especially stylish; for me, they work for both dressy and casual occasions. They’re big enough for phone, glasses, lipstick, headphones, and a couple of credit cards. It’s exactly the right size for every day for me, but if you’re carrying a lot of stuff, they’re not your bag. I like the options – wristlet, belt bag, crossbody, shoulder bag – and always bring one when I travel. I do think the removable straps aren’t as attractive as some other bags I have, but they make up for it with utility. Oddly, they come in 2 sizes that are almost identical. I have both sizes, and don’t particularly prefer one over the other.

      1. Ooops, I did have the name wrong! But I am very grateful for this assessment. This is a big help. Thank you!

    1. I hope so! I’m watching today’s news and also hope that the incubators Israel is bringing to al-Shifa make it and that the Hamas command center in the hospital is destroyed. I mourn the loss of innocent life and wish Hamas weren’t so horrific – building a command center and weapons cache in a hospital where premature babies are treated is about as low as it gets (not to mention a war crime), or perhaps almost as low as diverting donated fuel to power more rocket attacks rather than hospital generators.

      1. Raiding a hospital where premature babies are being treated is also about as low as it gets…

        1. Nope. Not when terrorists who have civilian hostages have chosen to base themselves there. My heart breaks for any children harmed, but it’s not Israel’s fault that Hamas is using innocent Palestinians as human shields. And they do it for precisely this reason – so people will be outraged when Israel retaliates. It’s not a coincidence, it’s a deliberate choice on the part of Hamas.

        3. Actually, the news reports are that the IDF brought medic-trained soldiers and soldiers who speak Arabic to bring the incubators plus baby formula and medicine inside the hospital and hand it off to hospital staff. For a couple days now, the IDF has established a corridor starting at the hospital where the IDF is not shooting and invited people to evacuate. The hospital staff say they can’t because “someone else” (not the IDF) shoots at them when they try to leave.

        4. Anon at 2:08 has already been appropriately embarrassed for this comment, but I’d just like to pile on: You’re despicable. Your point of view quite literally incentivizes Hamas’ use of premature babies (and other innocent, hospitalized civilians) as human shields. If anyone wonders how people in the past could excuse (or even participate) in history’s worst atrocities, Anon at 2:08 shows that it’s not a question relegated to historical debate.

  13. Got some good advice here last week about how to tell my direct report that she can’t say “no” to everything as her first response, thank you! I ended up explaining what I meant to her in detail and sharing an article on the “yes and” concept and at the end she said “I see I do that and can work on that” which is a huge win in comparison to her normal response.

    4. Please share the article on “yes and” – I think I may need some of this too. Not at work (I say yes to everything there) but often to DH suggested ideas.

      1. It was a Big Think article called “Why “Yes, and…” Might Be the Most Valuable Phrase in Business.”
        I looked through a few before deciding on this one because I didn’t think the improv part of it would really resonate with her. I liked that this focused more on why you would use it at work. I’ll put the link in a sepate comment.

  14. Ten years ago, Ann Taylor had beautiful clothes. Real wool suits, real silk blouses, quality tailoring — and all reasonably priced. I walked into an AT store yesterday and everything feels so cheap — no better than H&M or Zara IMHO (but at 3x the price). Sad!

    1. They aren’t the only ones. I used to live in the Classiques Entier Nordstrom store brand; silk tops, great suiting fabrics and tailoring.

      2. I still have several blazers and sheaths from that line – I love, love, loved it. Some of the suit pants don’t fit me right anymore but it’s hard to bring myself to get rid of them!

    2. I was surprised to see in a post last week that they carry 100% cashmere for a not ridiculous price. I got a couple of things that are coming in the mail today!

      1. I’m waiting for that sweater too.

        But the quality of cashmere has just plummeted.
        My hopes are not high at all.
        I bought it more for the color/style.

    3. Agreed. And Walmart now has better clothes than Target. I don’t even know where to shop for my 14P size anymore. Jones NY stopped carrying petites.

        1. +1 for Talbots. They have a plethora of sizes (petites and plus petites), so it can take some trial and error to find your right size, but once you do, they are fairly universal.

    4. AT sill has some good cashmere sweaters, but these should only be purchased on super sale. I hate that wool suiting and dresses are so difficult to find (not counting sack dresses).

    5. Buy on eBay or similar. You can tell a good cashmere sweater, for example, but the way the cuffs and hems are finished. Charter Club now is crap; Charter Club from a few years ago is excellent.

      1. Oooh this is fascinating! Can you provide more information about how cuffs and hems are finished indicate quality? Would love to know what to look for.

  15. I am currently suffering through a conference that is so cold. I’m in pants, a long sleeve top, a blazer, boots, my coat, and gloves and I’m shivering, my teeth are chattering, and my fingers and toes are starting to experience raynauds. Even the men are complaining that it’s cold.

    Any ideas on how to avoid further misery?

      1. No it’s in house at another company in my field’s office. I can’t find anyone who works here to mention the temperature to.

        1. I would keep hunting someone down. If it’s truly that cold, it sounds like you’re in a room with no heat. It’s only likely to get worse unless someone knows.

      2. I’ve been there, done that. The hotel did nothing.

        As to what to do, I’ve twice went to a TJ Maxx/Marshalls to buy long underwear or leggings to wear under my pants.

    3. Is leaving an option? :) only kind of kidding.

      I weirdly have advice on this though –

      I have been known to take long (like man length) bathroom breaks during conferences when the bathroom is heated really well compared to the rest of the conference center. In one popular conference center, there are three different bathrooms and I can tell you which one is always really well heated. Then on my way out let the water run to get really really warm and spend a long time washing my hands and getting them really warm.

      All of the above is assuming that the conference is 50+ people. If there’s a bunch of people around, then no one really should be paying attention to you, and if they notice you’re gone they’ll just assume you got a long work call.

    4. Continually drink tea or hot water. Hold onto the cup to keep your hands warm. You have my sympathies. The office is too d-mn cold if I’m shivering while wearing a sweater, blazer, long pants, and boots.

    6. Commiseration. I would go complain. I I went to a conference that was being held in a small arena in October. It was so cold! It was so cold that people started going back to their rooms for more clothing or warmer clothing. That was insufficient for the cold, so people went back to their rooms and got their outdoor coats, gloves, and scarves to wear. For many of us that was still insufficient and when some smart people moved off the floor and to the top rows of the arena, most of us followed. Attendees were several hundred and I’d guess about 75% of us were sitting way up high as near the top as we could get where it was at least slightly warmer. Come to find out that they had laid flooring on top of a freaking hockey rink.

    7. Leave? “The heat in this building appears to be broken, I look forward to coming back when that’s been sorted.”

    8. Definitely glad this during the lunch break. The heat might not be turned on or may be broken.

    9. I always travel with Lands End silk long underwear in my bag. It’s thin and smooth and easy too wear under office clothes or jeans. It doesn’t take up much room or add much weight to my bag, and I have slipped into a restroom many times to add or subtract this mid-meeting. Yesterday, it was on sale 1/2 price but I don’t know if that is still the case.

  16. Advice on surviving 18 mos til a colleague retires? He does the bare minimum, argues against anything about change, and comes across as easy going while being a speed bump to progress. Bosses want to not fire, just wait. They know he is terrible. I am pulling out my hair in every meeting because he has to be there due to job description but is only a hindrance!

    1. Sounds like your manager doesn’t want an age discrimination suit in his hands. That’s understandable. It’s cheaper to pay him to sit around.

      If this man is a hindrance, is there any way to redo the job descriptions so you take over that work? If he’s at least not in those meetings, it might help. Any make-work projects to which he can be assigned?

      Sort of random question: what is the plan when he retires? Will someone competent fill his role or will the work just land on everyone else?

    2. Does he really have to be there or can he just be on payroll while “WFH” for the next 18 months?

    3. Show him some grace. Change is hard at that age. And remember he will be gone in the blink of an eye.

    4. Depending on the job, I have seen companies allow extra WFH time (so say 4 days a week instead of 2) as a ‘transition to retirement’ option to get hinderances out of the office. One of the lawyers I worked with was definitely only actually working like a half day out of his 4 WFH days towards the end.

      And in the last six months or even year, they are told to focus on making sure all files are up to date and complete or some other paperwork busy work stuff, or stuff labelled like ‘corporate memory retention’ – updates on old files or something.

    5. Sounds like someone needs to teach him the “yes and” lesson from the poster above.

  17. THANK YOU to whomever on here told me about The North Face limited lifetime warranty! I paid $25 to dry clean my 7+ year old parka and took it to our nearby store to send off to their warranty department. About 2 weeks later I have a $299 gift card in my email! Best news ever! I ended up buying a Fjallraven Nuuk coat, so now am not sure what to do with the gift card! Ideas?

    1. wait, what is this warranty? do i have to have a local north face store to partake in it?

      2. I should clarify my jacket had a small rip of the shell near the bottom of the zipper. My understanding is that sometimes they may repair it and send it back to you, but I guess they decided to just give me a gift card for mine!

      3. no you can ship stuff in. My husband is still wearing his NF ski parka from the 90’s and has had the zipper replaced twice.

    2. On this note, I can make a plug for Deuter who have a lifetime warranty as well. DH’s backpack is ~15 years old, and they fixed up several seams, elastic side pockets and zippers. Their website says they will send you a new backpack if they can’t repair it, but I love that they actually fixed up the old one. I paid only to ship it to Colorado.

    4. Jansport has a similar policy. My kid is rough on backpack zippers and also really likes the discontinued print on his pack. For the cost to ship the bag to them after the school year ends, they replace the zippers for free and send it back each summer.

Comments are closed.