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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. There are some crazy sales happening around the web today, probably as stores clear out whatever didn't sell during Labor Day weekend. In particular, Boden has some great ones going on — the shoes, my goodness, the shoes). As far as work clothes go, though, I'm liking this simple wrap top in a variety of fun prints. Lots of sizes are left (both petite and regular), and it's marked from $48 down to $30. Huzzah! Boden Wrap Top Other good sales I've noticed: Talbots (nice $13 blouse!), Club Monaco (love this $69 dress for the weekend), and of course the Nordstrom Clearance Sale continues to chug along… Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-all)Sales of note for 9.10.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Save up to 40% on new markdowns
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Warehouse sale, up to 70% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- White House Black Market – 30% off new arrivals
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
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And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Ellen
Yay! Fruegel Friday’s! I love Fruegel Friday’s and this Boden top! And the price is right also! Great pick! I have just gotten a top that look’s alot like this from Rosa–I am so thrilled that I actualy fit into it b/c I have lost alot of weight in my belly area — tho I still have some work to do, dad say’s, in my “cabooze”. FOOEY on dad for stareing at my cabooze and telling me this right in front of Myrna, who has no cabooze at all. But she does alot of swimming. FOOEY on swimming in the Hudson river, which has alot of fish and eeel’s swimming all over the place.
I am having holiday dinner at Grandma Leyeh’s this Sunday and Myrna is goeing to come with me (and drive). I am so glad b/c I do NOT like to take the bus and subway up there. So many men make clicking sounds at me up there. It is gross. In any event, I wish the ENTIRE HIVE who celabrate the Rosh Hashana holiday a VERY happy new year. I am goeing to pray that this is the year for me where I can find a man who wants me for my BRAINS and not just my body! YAY!!!!!!
Anonymous
Anyone do complex/high stakes business negotiations as part of their job?
If so what types of training did you undertake to become better at this type of negotiation?
I am growing into a (non-legal) business role where this will be more and more required. I am very comfortable with day-to-day negotiations and more straightforward situations; it’s the “high stakes/high pressure” stuff that I am very new to and currently really feel out beyond my skis. Have certainly been reading Ury/Diamond etc. books but need more than that.
Looking for any and all advice from those who have walked this path and are successful in this on a regular basis. Mentor me, please :)
Anonymous
Anatomy of a Merger (via library; think it’s out of print) and Smart Negotiating by the guy who was a partner at Skadden
also, consider playing poker
finally: liars poker and the black swan
part of the skills are being a good listener / thinker; part of the skills are being calm under pressure; none of the usefull skills are screaming or being an a**hole
cbackson
I’m a deal lawyer, so this is all that I do. Honestly, experience is the best teacher – your own direct experience, and your experience watching others. It sounds like you already do this on a day to day basis, so I bet you really have all the skills you need to handle higher-stakes stuff, but I know the transition can be nerve-wracking. Preparation is key – understand your own position upside down and backwards; have a very good sense of the overall value of the relationship and this particular piece of it; and come to it with the perspective that these are problems to be solved, not battles to be won.
Ultimately, it’s not so much about being able to bluff or strategize; it’s about being able to see solutions. Thinking about counterparties as your businesses’ partners, rather than opponents, helps to keep the right perspective, in my view.
Anonny
I’ve read a couple things, but have found that just getting more reps is the only answer. Either actively work on as many deals as you can or listen in/track deals that you are not otherwise a part of.
Rant
My boss does this jerky thing every time I ask for time off. He says “probably, let me think about it, I’ll let you know tomorrow” which is ridiculous, because we don’t have any special projects on (I wouldn’t ask for those days off if we had something going on). I am pretty sure he does it just as a power play (he’s weird like that). Anyway this happened yesterday, and now the flight I was going to book for my holiday has gotten $200 more expensive since yesterday. End rant.
kc esq
Try deleting your cookies or booking from another computer. Apparently prices can be higher when there is repeated views from the same computer, or so I read in a travel tips article.
Anonymous
While I do not doubt that your boss does jerky things, I have also seen instance where this is a common reply from a boss. Most bosses do not remember every project for every person and can fairly determine – on the spot -if a vacation request is for a good time. So it is common to ask for a day to consider it. Remember, you probably don’t know how many other people have also asked him for vacations and for what days, so he may be doing a little calculus in him mind.
And speaking from experience, you learn the hard way that this is a good answer to MANY questions that pop up in the work place. I often speak too quickly.
I feel you on the plane tix though.
Rant
I wouldn’t be so quick to call it a jerk move except he only does it to me and not to the others in my group. Heck, some of the others in my group just put their time off on the calendar and don’t even ask him.
Anonny
So why don’t you just put it on the calendar like others? Better to ask for forgiveness than permission?
NYC tech
So, why can’t you do this too?
Rant
I’m still kind of new in this position and technically under my contract I am supposed to get permission before taking time off. I can’t say for sure that is in everyone’s contract, maybe it’s a new thing.
lost academic
Can’t reply to the comment below, but I’d ask around – maybe it’s in everyone’s contract and they all routinely ignore it. I empathize with the desire to clear everything when you’re new, but I think discussing with your colleagues to get an idea of when you can stop with this charade is going to be very helpful.
tesyaa
I am sure this is not you, but I have this person in my area who finds cheap flights and then literally comes running to his supervisor (who reports to me) to ask if he can have time off – and expects a quick answer on the spot. We DO have projects with tight deadlines and busy times (which often get extended), and it’s not reasonable for him to expect such a quick response. We’re not jerking him around as a power play, trust me… sometimes if it’s a longer time he’s asking for I might want to clear it with my own boss.
lawsuited
It could be worse. My boss would say that, not get back to me, avoid giving me an answer when I followed up, and ultimately refuse the request because court dates, etc. had been booked for the days/weeks I requested in the intervening period. One of the reasons I quit that job was because it was impossible for me to get vacation approved.
Wildkitten
If you can – fly Southwest. You can buy tickets early and get a refund if you have to cancel.
Anonymous
Not a refund, but a credit with Southwest for the price. I fly them about twice a month for work and it makes changing flights super easy!
Anonymous
So mention it a day earlier. And if other people don’t ask why should you? Send him an email that says Boss, I’m taking leave on Thursday, 9/10 and Friday 9/11. There are no currently scheduled projects, and John Doe has agreed to be my backup if anything comes up. Thanks”
Anonymous
Yeah, in my old job, I used to request time off like this, as in “I’m taking these days. everything is settled workwise. Let me know if this doesn’t work.”
Brant
I would word this differently, especially since you are new. Send the calendar invite like everyone else, but wit the message “Looking to take Thursday, 9/10 and Friday 9/11 off. There are no currently scheduled projects, and John Doe has agreed to be my backup if anything comes up. Please let me know ASAP if you have any issues.”
The default here is that it’s ok, but you are giving him a very easy opportunity to let you know if it is NOT ok.
BEsky
I often answer this to my employees because while I want to give them all the time off they want, I need to be sure I don’t give them all the same days off. His response is not unreasonable, you just sound like your taking it harshly.
I am a boss and dont expect my boss to respond in less than 24 hours for a vacation request. It makes sense to make sure you are adequately staffed. And maybe the other employees have been there longer, ask through email, mention it in passing. I doubt they all just “take off and dont tell anyone”.
Go have a drink, grow up, welcome to life.
Anonymous
also, with most carriers you have 24 hours to cancel a reservation. so maybe next time just book and cancel if needed within that window?
Anonymous
They probably need a day to confirm that there’s nothing on the horizon, in case something’s coming up that didn’t immediately come to mind for them. They don’t want to give you the green light and then immediately realize they need you in the office that day. Your boss needs a day to make sure that vacation request is fine, just go into it realizing they’ll take a day to respond so you ask early enough.
Hollis
Check again after the weekend and your ticket may be back down again. A lot of airlines hike up prices over the weekend when more people are searching for flights and then bring them back down during the week if the seats are not yet sold.
AIMS
A shoe recommendation. Just got these in the mail and am very pleased. Comfy, cute, and best of all because they have a strap, the shoe doesn’t fall off my feet the way so many flats do. Spent the evening wearing them around the house and so far, so good. Time will tell how they hold up, of course. They come in black and red, too. I’m debating ordering a black pair but not sure if the strap will look odd with tights. FYI. http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Leather-Ankle-Strap-Ballet-Flats/WF00322,default,pd.html?dwvar_WF00322_Color=BRWN&contentpos=36&cgid=0380
tesyaa
adorable and I want black flats, but looks like the black is already gone!
AIMS
No, BB just has a stupid website that lists each color separately. Black still available in most sizes. http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Leather-Ankle-Strap-Ballet-Flats/WF00324,default,pd.html?dwvar_WF00324_Color=BLCK&contentpos=34&cgid=0380
PS: I love the helpful reviews. “Shoes did not fit and I returned them.” “I cannot wear pointy flats.” FWIW, I ordered my regular size and they were fine for me.
tesyaa
Thanks!
bridget
I just bought those, too! Beware, the red is slightly pink/purple (not an orangy or bright red). Love them.
Anonymous
Love a flat with a strap!
Not the biggest loser
I’m part of the exec staff at a workplace starting a “biggest loser” competition to promote employee health. I think it’s a nice idea in theory; however, I have no desire to participate. I am overweight and I have started working on getting fit on my own (seriously – saw a doctor, joined a gym, have a trainer, the whole 9 yards – and I’ve lost 8 lbs). Sure, I could possibly benefit from participating but I simply don’t want to draw attention to myself in that manner. And I’ve always felt that things like weight are personal and these kind of activities in the workplace strike me as undignified. How do I articulate that to the director/other execs without sounding unsupportive/clueless about my own condition?
tesyaa
We have a health & wellness fitness campaign every year that does not explicitly mention weight at all (focuses on healthy eating and exercise). I can’t imagine that mentioning weight in the workplace is a good thing.
mascot
Just ask what the plan is for people who don’t want to participate. There will be people of all sizes/shapes who have their own valid reasons for not wanting to join in. These programs should be voluntary anyways.
bridget
Focus on fitness goals (miles walked/ran, training for a 5k, hours logged at the gym) instead of weight goals. “Guys, let’s not bring weight discussions into the workplace; this other thing is way more professional” will be fine.
Anon
My (large, international) workplace has an annual employee health competition and points are measured by steps walked. Employees get pedometers, the different offices compete against one another etc. No weight.
NYC tech
I hate these. I find them disrespectful to the employees, with an overly simplistic view of health. Only time I’ve been tempted to sign up for one was the work competition that started when I was 7 months pregnant, and ended a week after my due date – thought maybe I could win an iPad and make a point about the ridiculousness in one go.
SC
I love this idea.
NYNY
My organization does a team step challenge and distributes fitbits to anyone who participates. It’s great, because there’s competition without getting into weight issues.
In a previous organization, there were annual “biggest loser” competitions, which I always opted out of. I pointed out that weighing people in the office was too big brother for my taste, and that the competition wasn’t necessarily healthy, but enough people liked it that I gave up trying to influence it.
Blonde Lawyer
As far as not participating, you could just say “I’m currently following my doctor’s health plan at the moment and won’t be deviating from it for this competition.”
tesyaa
I like that a lot.
Anonymous
I don’t. It sounds like you’re justifying being a fatty but don’t worry you totes promise you do hate yourself.
Anonymous
Are you sure you understand what words mean? That is such a twisted interpretation.
wow
There’s always one… Sigh…
lol totes
totes
Uhh...
Are you sure you read that right? Because that’s a super cynical take that doesn’t even seem to rely on the words involved. And seems to elevate the program at work as being better than the doctor’s advice.
Dulcinea
I read this comment as sarcastic, as in, what the company is doing is fat shaming, and by excusing herself from participation by explaining she’s working g with her doctor, op would be sort of agreeing with the company’s initial premise. No one should feel the need to justify why they don’t want to participate in this program. I personally think the program is a bad idea for all the reasons others have mentioned.
Anonymous
@dulcinea. EXACTLY. It’s fine to just not. You don’t need to justify with an excuse about the doctor.
Blonde Lawyer
Actually, anonymous has a point here because I read the last line of the question wrong. Where it says
“How do I articulate that to the director/other execs without sounding unsupportive/clueless about my own condition?”
I was taking “that” to mean “I don’t want to participate.” But “that” actually means I don’t think this is a good idea in general.
My response was advice on how to not participate without sounding unsupportive/clueless about my own condition. (OP’s words). I don’t think OP has any obligation to sound not clueless about her own condition but this is what she was asking. Knowing that she wanted to parlay that the activity was a bad idea in total, my response doesn’t cover that.
However, I disagree with anonymous that my response says “I know I’m a fatty and feel bad about it.” Nothing in my response suggests that she feels bad. It says she follows her doctor’s health plan. Her doctor’s health plan could be “don’t change a thing! You are great just the way you are!”
lawsuited
I think OP is also concerned about communicating with her fellow execs that maybe the “biggest loser” competition is not a great idea because it may make others, beside her, feel uncomfortable. Overweight people are allowed to be overweight, whether or not they are on a doctor’s health plan, and this competition sends a message will send a strong message to overweight employees that their employer wants them to weigh less than they do now, which is strange and overbearing.
lost academic
In addition, I came from a family where a parent had massive problems with anorexia and so I’m very sensitive to situations that cause disordered eating and unhealthy relationships with food. There’s much better ways to create health goals that everyone can take part in without that.
Anon
+1. This is why I don’t like Paleo challenges/whole30/whatever. Yes, eating mostly “real foods” (things you grow, things that are born and raised, etc) rather than processed food is better for you. And if you want to eliminate a food group because you think you’re sensitive to it? Cool! But if you want to eliminate a bunch of foods unnecessarily and arbitrarily, and act superior about it? Um, no. That’s a slippery slope, dude. Also call me when they find depictions of coconut flour muffins in those paleolithic cave paintings.
Anonymous
ooo! I know! Processed food bad, but give me that processed nut flour so I can make my gross tasting non-wheat bread.
Just eat the d@mn muffin.
Also, apparently cavemen did eat porridge.
emeralds
+a million. This kind of stuff makes my skin crawl. I doubt it would come up in my workplace (too much HR for the win!) but I swear to God if it ever did, I would get up on my recovered eating disorder soapbox and start screaming about it.
Blonde Lawyer
Hmmm now I’m wondering if they would be subject to worker’s comp claims if they triggered someone’s eating disorder or caused other health issues from unhealthy weightloss.
WC lady nerd
It’s a mental disorder so you cannot include it without an accompanying physical injury.
For example a guy with a pre-existing heroin problem (psychological diagnosis like an eating disorder) who kicks said problem and is an A.A./N.A. rockstar. He injures his low back at work and they put him on pain meds. Then they take away the meds or reduce them and he goes back to heroin and overdoses killing himself. He has an arguable WC death claim or if he didn’t die you could add the aggravation of the addiction to the claim and get his treatment paid through the claim.
But let’s say his work activity aggravates an old heroin problem, no WC claim.
I all states but 7 require a physical injury to be compensable. It’s a big deal with first responders who don’t have a physical injury but suffer from PTSD. You get an officer who’s seen dead people, disfigured people, dead kids and they are fine. Then, they have to investigate all the evidence in a child porn case and that’s what causes the issue. But no WC for that.
monkey
Maybe have them watch the episode of “The Office” in which they attempt this challenge ;)
Anonymous
Why do you need to articulate anything? You aren’t being asked if your company should do this, so I don’t think you need to go into all the reasons it shouldn’t be. If anyone says “hey why aren’t you doing the Biggest Loser thing” I think a good response is “because I didn’t want to” and if you’re pushed by someone important “my health is personal and I prefer to keep it separate from the office.”
Anonny
+1
MDMom
Yep. I’m relatively young and relatively fit and I always opt out of these. I don’t mind the fitness goal competitions (steps etc), but I refuse to do any with a weigh-in. (1) it’s personal, and (2) I don’t want to lose weight (well ok at this precise moment I do because I’m currently postpartum and a little bit above my prepregnancy weight, but I accept its unlikely to happen until I’m done breastfeeding, I refuse to cut calories at the moment, and it is still none of my coworkers’ business).
People have rarely asked for an explanation when I opted out. I think “because I don’t want to” is more than sufficient for most people. For those who push, you could just say you think having your weight recorded at the office is creepy. I wouldn’t go into any details about you weight loss plans/progress. It’s none of their business and it comes off a bit defensive, when you have absolutely nothing to be defensive about.
Anonymous
Tell them you want to be more inclusive, since that would only appeal to a select group of people with extra weight to lose. Even if my work had a Biggest Loser competition (it doesn’t) and I wanted to participate (I wouldn’t, it’s tacky), it would be pointless because I don’t have any weight I should be losing. You could suggest enrolling everyone in a step competition or something similar instead.
Anonymous
I think this is a really positive way to frame it! I like the idea of being inclusive.
FWIW, this is more what my office does, we promote “healthy living” – e.g. eating more vegetables and getting physical activity, which are things that everyone benefits from
Senior Attorney
Good grief.
I would hate it if my employer all of a sudden decided to be my mommy and nag me to eat vegetables and exercise. I mean, I do those things but it’s none of my employer’s business…
Anonymama
I think a lot of workplaces do this because they get a break in health insurance rates if their employees are healthier/they take an active role in encouraging healthy habits. So it’s really a business decision, not trying to be someone’s mommy. At my workplace it mostly consists of healthy recipes and tips to stay active in the monthly newsletter, and maybe a weekly after-work yoga class.
CHS
I could be wrong, but I think this is often a program run through health insurance companies that provides a certain discount to the employer for offering it, in an attempt to prevent costs further down the road. I’ve never been somewhere where it wasn’t at least somehow connected to a broader discussion of escalating health care costs.
Anon
I hate to say it, but this whole discussion and the likely rational for the program (health insurance) is just another reason why universal healthcare is so much better. Who wants their workplace telling them what to eat and do with their lives?
bridget
My company self-insures and is really into healthy living. I like it – there’s a free company gym, couch to 5ks, mile challenges, etc.
And anon? If the federal government paid for our health care, then it would have its nose into your business. Universal health care changes the entity that bosses you around; it doesn’t remove it at all.
Not the biggest loser
Thanks for the awesome feedback everyone. It’s an awkward position to be in, as I’m sure the expectation is that since I’m part of the executive team I should be onboard with the programs they initiate (even though they didn’t include me in planning – obviously!).
As many of you have stated, it is true that I shouldn’t (and won’t to the best of my ability) provide them with my personal reasons for not participating. My original question was phrased in that manner (I mentioned that I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, weight loss is personal, these types of activities are undignified) and it was good to hear everyone’s feedback about keeping my personal reasons to myself and not having to explain anything. Great point!!
My suspicion is that I may be asked why I’m not supporting this initiative which is where I may have to explain (as lawsuited states) that I think it’s a bad idea for the organization (not inclusive; targets those with weight to lose vs encouraging healthier lifestyle for all).
I’ve only recently gained weight and I’m extremely self conscious about it. So even when I have legitimate issues with anything health/weight/fitness related, I automatically assume that anyone I’m speaking to will discredit me/dismiss my valid points for being heavy. So if I were to say “This initiative is not all inclusive and targets only those with weight to loss and that may make people feel uncomfortable.” my concern is that the person I’m speaking with will think “She’s just saying this because she’s fat.”
I should probably give people a little more credit. Thanks everyone.
kc
I bet this is one of those things where as soon as you point it out, everyone will go “oh crap! why didn’t we see it that way!”. For whatever reasons someone has blinders on. I just think a biggest loser competition at work is SUCH a bad idea!!
Jordan
All I want to add is that I do not participate in these but I love when the office does because there’s less cr*p food around the office.
New Tampanian
Kat, autoplay showtime advertisement right below this post.
Calico
Same here. Using Safari
Anonymous
Chrome for me
autoplay video issue
Autoplay LOUD NYFW ad playing on loop nonstop right above the comments.
Bewitched
Kat, yesterday and today I am seeing video ads (with audio playing) above the fold. Today, it’s a NYFW (NY FAshion Week?) ad. Thanks
Emmie
Same here
BEsky
She has no job but this website. This is how she CHOOSES to run this page. I suggest if you do not like it, lets start a new page. There are tons of webpages without this problem. IF she refuses to hire someone to adequately run this page, then losing views is the result.
This top looks like a nursing shirt.
Bonnie
Right. It’s Kat’s website and she’s choosing to ignore the repeated comments about problems with ads and questions about subscribe and edit functions. That there were only 99 comments during the last long weekend should be an indication of how many regulars have stopped coming here.
Hollis
I know people have asked this before, but no one has really provided a good alternative of where professional women have the ability to tap into the collective advice of the hive. Is there another website that’s similar to this one where the comments discuss similar types of threadjacks?
Anon
Me too – today it was on the main page above this post but below the weekly reading post – auto play audio and video for The Affair. Couldn’t find it fast enough so had to mute my computer – big pain.
Kat G
Hi guys — thanks for reading! As I’ve mentioned before (yesterday and other times), I don’t always get to comments in the day of, so it’s really better to email me if there’s a problem via the “contact me” link.
As I’ve also mentioned, I’m trying to run the ads myself below the fold now — I am hoping I can stop the videos more easily than my ad network could, but I do at least need some information such as the product being advertised, but if you can right click and grab the URL that’s even more helpful.
We have questions pending with people who make the “subscribe to comments” plugin; we’ll get it up and running again as soon as possible. Thank you again!
SF in House
Me too
nutella
Same for me, too, below the last comment. First time I’ve had autoplay ads. Also using Chrome.
Gail the Goldfish
The Internet has ads? (adBlock Plus FTW)
mascot
Ha, that was my thought too. It doesn’t have trackers either, thanks to Ghostery.
Emmie
I have this top in multiple colors in both the long and short sleeved versions. It is my absolute favorite stealth nursing shirt – it’s not officially a nursing shirt, but with a nursing bra or tank underneath the wraps separate easily and it works perfectly.
KS IT Chick
My husband & I are going to a social event at the invitation of one his of vendors/suppliers tomorrow night. I’m planning on wearing a coral & white striped maxi dress with brown leather sandals. (It’s at a zoo and we were told to plan for walking around pretty much the entire evening seeing all of the exhibits and listening to the bands.)
Last night, the weather turned into fall from summer. It’s going to be in the low to mid-70’s when the event gets started at about 5, then by midnight (when it is done) be down in the upper 40’s to low 50’s.
With the coral dress, would a navy cardigan be a good choice color-wise? I know I will be to warm in a long-sleeved dress but to cold if I don’t have something to put on as the temperature drops.
tesyaa
I’m a fan of navy with coral, so I vote yes.
Anonymous
Yep, I love coral/white and navy
Emmie
I love navy and coral!
Dulcinea
Navy and coral is one of my favorite combos! I’m wearing it today.
anne-on
For anyone on the fence about the Alice shoes Kat linked to, I have the mid-heel and the flats and they are both insanely comfortable and did not need any time to break in whatsoever. They are also some of my most complimented shoes, so that’s a bonus ;)
bed help
My bed needs a makeover. How do you style your bed? Do you use a dust ruffle? A down comforter or one of those flatter ones (I don’t know what they’re called)? How many pillows? Did you buy a set or create your own look?
I’m at a loss about how to do this.
Wildkitten
PB Teen has really cute bedding and pretty reasonable example beds. I use a down comforter with a duvet cover that I can take off and wash.
Wildkitten
Also West Elm.
Anonattorney
I have a flat white bedskirt (no ruffles) and an “ocean” colored duvet cover for my super fluffy down comforter. My sheets are a darker shade of blue. I have 3 pillows and my husband has 2 and a body pillow. Instead of shams we have various decorative throw pillows to add some color to the solid-color sheets. But it really just depends on what you like!
Bonnie
We have a brown bedskirt that matches the bedframe and hides the storage bins. We use a down comforter and have several sets of duvet covers/shams/sheets that we switch out in different colors. White sheets look great but in my experience are really hard to keep white. FWIW, the down duvet in our guest room is from Ikea and has held up very well.
Senior Attorney
Go look at Pinterest. They have about a zillion photos of pretty beds.
Eco and ethical fashion subscription?
In past posts Kat’s started discussions about the effects of fast fashion and finding sources of eco and ethical clothing. We’ve also talked about subscription services like Rent the Runway and Gwynnie Bee. What does the Hive think about a service that would provide high quality, stylish business outfits on a rental basis? The environmental benefits would include reducing the amount of textiles that go to landfill. The benefits to the customer would be to decrease the size of her physical wardrobe (and associated closet size, cleaning time and cost, etc.) while increasing the size of her total wearable wardrobe. The clothes would be sourced from manufacturers that have sustainable practices in at least one of these areas: water use; energy and emissions; waste (efficient use of materials, reuse and recycling); chemicals and toxicity (dyes and finishes) and fair labor practices.
Assuming the clothing is high quality (natural fibers or blends, proper weight, lined if needed, retail price point of outfit $700-1000), current, fashionable, and well fitting, would you consider renting business clothing through a subscription service in which you received two outfits (comprised of suit and blouse or dress and jacket) per month, wore them as much as you wanted and received replacements on their return? Would you pay $150 for such a service?
Thanks for any input.
Anonymous
No, I wouldn’t. I’d consider renting clothing a special occasion thing. It’s fine once a year for an event, but for every day, I don’t think I’d pay that much. It’s more expensive than buying my own stuff that I could have tailored. Plus, I travel a lot, so for me in particular, it might be kind of a pain. Also, while you talk about sustainability, there’s a bit of a conflict with the idea of sustainability and shipping out clothing all the time, but I think you could focus on the ethical production and other practices and deemphasize that. I might do it if I was expecting to change sizes a lot, or especially if I was pregnant. A lot of women don’t really know what to wear during pregnancy for work and understandably don’t want to buy a lot. I’d rent a maternity suit, but I probably wouldn’t buy one.
Wildkitten
Same.
Anonny
Negative.
BEsky
I can’t wear them everyday. Also, I have a feeling a month of loaning an outfit is going to put significant wear on it. If the renter washes it, will it be ruined? Or Drycleans it and it gets ruined?
No.
Meg March
I might. I would worry about fit– so many of my business clothes are tailored, which obviously wouldn’t be an option. But I would probably do a trial of it, and might keep with it if the pieces were a little more statement/memorable, since those are the types of clothes I hesitate to buy.
Anonymous
No. It just wouldn’t provide me with enough clothing.
What I would like is if I could use Rent the Rubway for a great Hugo boss dress or that Michael Kors suit.
But even that would be for special.
Bonnie
No, and shipping the clothes back and forth would really devalue any ecological benefit.
August
I don’t have to wear suit or any formal clothing for work. However, I would like to point out is the clothes provided by Rent the Runway are the ones that people don’t want to buy. Cost per wear of those items run into hundreds of dollars. For professional clothes people wear daily, even if the initial cost is $1000, cost per wear drops very quickly and becomes cheaper than renting those clothes.
Sydney Bristow
I so rarely have to wear a suit that I might consider renting one. The cost would have to be significantly lower though. For $150-200 I’d be able to find a cheap one to own for those rare occasions. I might consider it for $50.
lawsuited
I don’t think I’d sign up for this.
I have enough difficulty making sure my wardrobe fits well and I’ve spent a life time figuring out the stores and silhouettes that work best for me plus a lot of money on tailoring for most of my work wardrobe. I don’t know how I could rely on a mailing service to do that for me, and given that I really can’t wear ill-fitting clothes to work, I’d have to have a back-up work wardrobe anyway, in case the selections from the mailing service didn’t work.
OP Eco and ethical fashion subscription?
Thanks everyone for your comments. You raise good points. I won’t be launching this business anytime soon. But if I did, one of other benefits it could bring is reducing decision making—you’d always have nice looking, well fitting current outfits that varied, without having to invest much time or thought. But that would be tricky to achieve for a large customer base.
As for comments about shipping, I’m not sure how to calculate it, but from what I understand, the positive effect of significantly reducing clothes purchased (assuming this achieves that goal) would more than make up for the environmental effects of shipping back and forth.
MJ
I think you’re totally missing the point. I am a nearly six foot tall, short-waisted long-limbed almost plus sized, not the same size on top and bottom former swimmer. There is NO WAY you could send me an outfit in a box that (i) I wouldn’t need to iron or dry clean to have it look sharp and professional and (ii) that would actually fit my crazy body type if you picked it out for me.
I have to buy separates, or get things tailored. I like natural fabrics, not synthetics. I hate having to ship things back and I don’t like shipping from work because it makes me look like a shopping diva.
There’s a number of reasons why I will never, ever sign up for the kind of rental based wardrobe service you’re talking about, not least of which is that I can order nearly anything to keep (not rent) from places I know I like, brands I like, quality I like, and have them shipped two-day.