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Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Dress Fer

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Dress FerMango has lots (and lots) of great sales going on right now, including a number of dresses marked to around $50. For the office, I like this striped shift dress, with an asymmetrical neckline. Love that the black belt looks great with the navy stripes. Was $109.90, now marked to $53.99 (the sale is so good that only lucky sizes are left: this one is only size S, alas). Dress Fer Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-0)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

172 Comments

  1. Happy Canada Day for all the Canadian Corporettes! I’m so excited for fireworks tonight!

    The dress is also super cute, but there’s no shipping to Canada.

    1. Grey skinny corduroys, black short sleeved blouse, grey cardigan. Black flats. Business casual in-house (fridays are jeans casual).

    2. Fun!

      Grey glen plaid straight skirt, forest green knit shell, navy cardigan, black shoes, opera length (fake) pearls. The jacket that goes with this skirt is in my office closet.

      Intern, government.

    3. grey skirt, navy cotton blouse, navy/orange silk scarf around neck, gray (non matching) suit jacket, black leather/patent wedge heels.

    4. Long, skinny khakis, black skimmers, black polo.

      My torso looks freakishly short today due to a certain H drying said polo on high… should’ve looked a liiiiitle closer in the mirror before I left for work this morning. At least it’s Friday!

      1. Ha, I did this to my husbands polo… thankfully I saw it, rinsed it and streatched it back to size

    5. Blue/grey a-line skirt with a raised (textural?) print in the same color. Not sure how to describe it. Blue print draped mesh Halogen top. Black sandals.

      We rarely get to wear jeans, but were given the go-ahead today. But I’ll be driving to the Cape right after work and figured a lightweight skirt would be more comfortable in the inevitable traffic.

    6. Black and white striped dress (not prison-esque, I swear, the white stripes are thin), rose/pink cardigan, white belt with silver buckle, white pumps, silver beaded bracelet and matching earrings. And hose. Always the hose….

      No casual days in my office. Another firm in my building has casual Fridays and I’m always so jealous. Except today I saw a lady step off the elevator with her two-sizes-too-big jean skirt twisted so the kick pleat was almost on the side, her blouse was wrinkled and the buttons weren’t in the right button holes, and I couldn’t tell if she had lost a fight with her blow dryer/hair spray or if she was going for that flipped over 80s look and didn’t quite get there. I know, I know, I shouldn’t hate. Feel free to call me petty, ladies.

      1. Yes – We have casual Fridays and it is inevitably a race to the bottom. Be careful what you wish for.

        1. S.O. has casual Fridays and today he left the house in ripped cargo shorts, a polo shirt, and Vans. Last week he wore a torn Misfits t-shirt. (He’s a VP at a Fortune 500 company.)

    7. white and black dotted flats, skinny jeans and an express buttoned shirt I bought for 15 bucks. Love to be a scientist. I wear jeans, t-shirts and flats every day!

      1. I’ve got a casual Friday, too.

        Black J. Crew minnie’s with black ballet flats and a light blue oxford shirt untucked, light brown braided belt.

    8. Long white skirt with black embroidered flowers, bright coral colored tee tucked in, black jeweled flipflops and a sun hat. I’m in the office, but only for a few hours and no one else is here.

    10. Dark grey slacks, light grey cami, patterned black/white/red wrap silk blouse, black patent pumps, pearls.

      And wrapped in my giant scarf because my office is like an ice box.

    11. Navy jean-like trousers, blue button up three-quarter sleeved shirt, seersucker blazer and black Keen flats (take that to the lady who made fun of keens yesterday!)

    13. I had my first oral arguments experience with the new firm this morning (which, btw, I completely ROCKED OUT), so I’m dressed to the nines: Charcoal skirt suit, white pinstripe button down, hose and black heels, pearls on my neck and ears, hair in an updo.

      (Small, usually casual firm in the mid-south.)

    14. PJs! Well, at least for the next couple of hours.

      One of the benefits of being unemployed.

      2. Hah–I work from home, and am feeling hopeful about Seattle weather today, so I’m wearing olive capri pants, sandals, and a darker olive tank top! :)

        1. Makes me feel better about my “bar exam uniform”… lululemon pants (for the second day in a row), an old sweatshirt, and a headband! I can’t wait to rejoin the world of fashion in about three weeks!

    16. Khaki trousers, cream tee with chiffon details, navy cardigan with horizontal cream stripes, and cream patent flats (open-toed, GASP!).

      It’s jeans Friday in my office, but I have a meeting with a client who told me not to dress up.

    17. A cotton dress, tan background with pink flowers and beaded flowers on the bodice. That I bought at Costco for $20! And, when I was a Starbucks this morning, a complete stranger came over to me to tell me it was a pretty dress!

      Obviously, working at home today.

    19. Teal print wrap dress with cap sleeves, cream colored cami underneath, and metallic ballet flats. Casual Friday + no important meetings!

    20. Black linen skirt, black ruched tank (from Talbots sale, highly recommend) blue-gray lightweight cotton cardigan. Black peep-toe flats. A VERY casual half-day Friday.

    21. Black Gap premium true straight pants, an ivory georgette blouse with a pleated neck ruffle, a dark pink/red (raspberry?) cardigan from Lands End Canvas, gunmetal grey quilted flats, and a funky beaded necklace in tones of antique gold/bronze, mother-of-pearl, ivory, and dark red. I work in higher ed communications.

    22. Brown linen pants (wrinkled), gray scoopneck t-shirt, crazy yellow and gray flowered shirt from Old Navy. Black sandals that cover more foot than not, purple nail polish on toes. Silver flower necklace from Novica, the trinket and tchotchke division of National Geographic. Work at federal agency where dress code = clothes.

    24. Love this!

      An olive green lace tank & lightweight tan open front sweater with white straight-leg jeans that I rolled up to mid-calf (looks much cuter than it sounds) & tan Charles David wedges. For accesories I have a long beaded silver & white Banana Republic necklace…actually I just realized that 85% of my outfit is from there!

    25. Khaki J. Crew cafe trousers, white button down, green faux croc ballet flats.

    26. Tan kameez with mustard yellow and mauve floral print, maroon scarf that matches mauve flowers, super light weight cotton pants and mauve suede heels.

  3. I am in love this this dress. Not sure it will be work appropriate (that’s a lot of shoulder showing), but there is now one less for sale.

  4. I love this. I want this. I am no longer a size S, so I won’t be ordering it. Bummer. If I could have it, I think I might use a different belt, but that’s probably just me – I never did get into the sash look.

  5. Another holiday threadjack: My husband asked me the other day if I had to pick one designer to wear for the rest of my life, to all occasions, which would it be. Money is no object, but you can only wear clothes by that designer. I found that question exceedingly difficult to answer. So let’s play dream-world here. Which designer would you wear?

    2. Armani maybe? I’ve actually never even tried anything of theirs on, but it’s definitely my favorite ‘lust after’ designer.

    3. Does “occasions” include exercising?

      If yes, then Underarmour, and I would have to quit my day job and find something in the fitness industry (unless my company revises its business casual policy to include dry fit). I can’t give up training.

      If exercise is excluded, J.Crew.

    4. That is difficult!

      I think I would choose Oscar de la Renta. I love the classic style and I think there are great options every season for women of all ages, so it would work for the rest of my life.

        2. this.precisely.

          Can I have both oscar and carolina?

          Never worn, but certainly lust after them.

      3. Was just thinking (wistfully) that O. de la R.would be my choice. Same as shrink — never worn his clothing but have longed after them…

    5. My husband must be an exact 180 from yours. I don’t think he’d even understand that question. Does this include the body to go with the clothes. I have always liked Kors, and I usually like the look of the Chaiken lines (but have never owned anything). I know there are a couple funky ones that I can’t think of…

    6. I would drape myself in Armani and float around feeling amazing every single day. SIGH.

    7. Oooooh, Tahari, please! (including all of the Tahari brands, from Levine to Elie).

      1. Calvin Klein? Caroline Herrara? Both tailored and lovely. I always love everything by Chloe. This is difficult.

      2. I actually met Elie Tahari when I was a kid — IIRC my great-uncle was his doctor. For some reason we were in the city with visiting relatives, and we all went to Tahari’s amazing penthouse one evening for a short while. I think the grown-ups all had a drink, and I asked for water and they gave me sparkling. I felt very mature, but honestly didn’t like it. I remember so many details from that visit, and for whatever reason, it is one of the more vivid memories from my childhood. However, it wasn’t until many many years later that I realized who that “nice man who had a cool apartment with a goldfish pond in it” was.

    8. I want to say Lanvin… but I can’t imagine not wearing jeans for the rest of my life!!!

    9. How much money do I have, and can I buy bras and underwear and workout clothes from a different designer?

      If I have to get all my bras, underwear, and workout clothes from the same designer, I’d probably opt for one of Target’s lines.

      Otherwise, Brooks Brothers would be my top choice, assuming an entire store can count as a “designer.”

    11. Armani. Always classic and simple.

      I have Armani heels and I used to have a gorgeous red suit, but that was about 15 years and 15 pounds ago. Luckily, I don’t have to wear suits anymore.

      1. Second kate spade, but that could be because I’m still lusting after the online sales that I’m forbidding myself from taking advantage of!

      1. This is so hard! Probably Calvin Klein, since he has the low and high end brands and I love them all. But I would also love to wear Lanvin dresses every day for the rest of my life…I just don’t think Lanvin makes sweats, unfortunately. (or fortunately?)
        Great question.

      3. Chanel was the first thing that popped into my mind, too. Armani would be a close second.

      1. Another vote for Armani (classic and fits any body), and my second choice is Kate Spade (lustworthy and includes shoes).

    16. Ralph Lauren. To be totally honest, “preppy to the point of near-cliche” is kind of a good look for me.

      1. Ha! Me too! I never really even realized it until I moved out of the South, and everyone here comments on how my style is decidedly preppy. I always liked to describe is contemporary classic, but it’s a bit less contemporary than I like to believe. Oh, well! :)

    18. Prada. And Miu Miu if that counts. Everything I love that is not work wear is from Zara which apparently knocks off Prada like it’s their job…so…

  6. The suit I ordered earlier this week from Talbots just went on further sale. Has anyone had any success getting a price adjustment like this? It seems like they have a different sale every day, but I always get nervous that if I wait for a better sale that they might be out of my size.

    1. The same exact thing happened to me. I did their online chat thing and got the money refunded to my credit card. It was easy, and I was very impressed.

    2. Evidently their policy is inconsistent because I just asked on the online chat thing and here’s what they said:

      “We have a 14 day sale price adjustment policy. If something is purchased at full price, we will honor the discounted price if it is marked down and you contact us within that 14 day time frame… However, if an item is purchased on sale, and then is reduced further, the item is not eligible for a price adjustment.”

      I may have to try and get another person…

      1. Definitely go to another person – or call the customer service line. I was able to get a sale price difference refunded. .

        1. I too got an adjustment on my $500 impulse order last week. The order was “under the Corporette influence” but then so was the inspiration to call for an adjustment. So thanks, ladies.

          The customer service rep read me a long boilerplate spiel that I didn’t listen to because I heard her begin “under ordinary circumstances” so I knew I would be golden once she got to the end of it.

    3. Turns out when I looked at the new prices today (after receiving a new sale email) I was looking at the regular size prices but I ordered women’s sizes. No price difference in what I ordered. The customer service people were very helpful though.

  8. Where on earth is Mango’s size chart?? I thought I’d look around the site to see what else was available, but what’s the point if I don’t know how the clothes are supposed to fit?

  9. I’m leaving next Friday for a trip to London and Edinburgh. Does anyone have any suggestions for awesome stores/brands I should check out while I’m there that I can’t find here in the US? (I live in NYC, so I can get most major brands if they have a US outpost). Particularly any store with good clothes for work–I’d like another work dress or two.

    1. Get cashmere in Edinburgh. Last time I went looking it was reasonably priced (for cashmere), though the dollar was doing a bit better then. And everything was wonderfully soft and had a nice heft to it. Far better than what I’ve been able to find at the same price stateside.

      1. Agreed! My favorite scarf is a cashmere one I bought in Edinburgh years ago and it’s ridiculously soft.

    3. Went to Scotland about 6 or 7 years ago – on an impulse, bought a black lambswool capey shawl wrap with fringe (how’s that for a description?). It has turned into one of the best things I ever bought – wonderful to travel with, functions as an unlined wool coat, a blanket on the plane and a robe in my hotel. Always a little edgey, goes with almost everything, stylish – and warm!

  10. So today is my 40th birthday. Am feeling … good, reflective, but also somewhat unsure. I’ve accomplished the goals I set for myself by this point in my life but don’t really have solid future goals now. I almost feel in limbo today. Any brilliant thoughts or advice?

    1. i’m 41. it’s a tough decade for me — career & kids. Don’t want to downshift anymore, but confronting the inevitable limits on my professional ambitions. listening with open ears! :-)

    2. For my last birthday, I got a card that said “being one day older only really matters if you’re a banana.”

    3. My favorite thing about turning 40 is that I could afford to pay for my own party, and it was a nice one. Certainly better than what I could afford at 30 or 20.

      Just sayin’. :) Happy birthday!

    4. Happy Birthday! I turned 40 last summer and had a big party.

      I haven’t accomplished anywhere near all my goals. I’m not married and I don’t have kids, but I pay my own way and I think that’s enough.

      Go get yourself a cupcake and enjoy the day!

    6. I loved turning 40. I’m not sure why. I guess it was because I felt like I was finally an adult and didn’t have to take anyone’s crap anymore.

      I called it my “f*** off, I’m 40” birthday.

    7. Happy birthday! It’s fantastic that you’ve managed to accomplish the goals you’ve set for yourself; I would venture a guess that many (most?) people turning 40 probably have the opposite reaction, i.e., they haven’t done the things they thought they would have by 40. No real advice, just perhaps take the time to really be proud of yourself.

    8. Happy Birthday!!

      I know the feeling, lately I have been feeling like “Now What?!” New goals will come from unexpected sources for us both :)

      Now Enjoy your day!

  11. Happy Canada Day to all the Canuck Corporettes out there! Crossing my fingers that none of us have to go to work today (in Canada, that is)!

  12. Threadjack-

    I’m in a junior position with a sink or swim outlook. I really have limited to no guidance on how to do any of my job duties, which in itself wouldn’t be a problem. However, somehow I’ve been tasked with teaching myself, teaching all the senior people in my group, and ensuring that that the senior people complete their tasks appropriately.

    Some of the directives will be as follows “Coworker X is very lazy, will have nothing done, and it is your responsibility to make sure X completes the task to an acceptable level without actually doing the task yourself.” Needless to say I end up doing the task myself because I know I’m the one on the hook if the project is unacceptable. The work I do really gets no review, which is not something I need or want as a junior-level employee. I feel like I need to get training and mentoring in order to improve my skills, but I cannot do that if I am the one having to mentor everyone else.

    I feel like something needs to change and that it’s time to discuss a raise, but at the same time I feel like I’m never going to get what I need in terms of training/development from this job. I am still very junior, so I am not sure I am qualified to do senior-level work elsewhere at this point. Does anyone have any advice?

    1. I’d like to help you but i’m a bit confused by how you describe your situation. You are junior, and yet you are supposed to be teaching all the senior people and making sure they do their jobs? Your work doesn’t get reviewed, and yet you’re on the hook if it’s unacceptable? Huh?

      If the situation is really as enigmatic as it sounds I’d actually suggest you go to HR (or to a headhunter), as none of this sounds very logical.

      On the other hand if you happen to be in a “services” group where you basically have to convince people all day long to do things and help you, even though they don’t report to you … for example, if you’re in IR, or strategy, and rely on people all day long to provide info but have no authority to actually make them provide it … well, those roles are all about building internal networks and relationships and playing the politics. You may as well figure out whether you’re up for that or not, and if not, call a headhunter. Even as you get more senior, the rules don’t change.

      good luck.

    2. I’m also a bit confused; what field are you working in that you’re junior yet managing people and on the hook for their work? I’m imagining that commercial where the guy has to try and get work done working with a bunch of chimpanzees as co-workers. Unless you actually work in a zoo (which is one of my secret dream jobs, btw), I don’t think this may be the case. I know you probably don’t want to give too many identifying characteristics, but maybe a bit more information would be good for us to help you figure it out.

      1. I work for government. My department was tiny until a large group of us started, and unfortunately no one really knows much about the job we are doing. That’s why I am able to train people and review their work. It really does make no sense to me either, which is part of why I think it is time for me to move on.

        1. enough said. unless you have a real desire to stay in government (if so, i applaud your dedication) i would look for a way out. no idea where specifically you are but what with all the changes and cuts and drama going on in government departments across the country right now, things are going to get worse and more confusing, not better.

          if you’re not of a mind to stick with it out of principle or other reasons, move on.

  13. Going to visit my family this weekend with my long-time boyfriend who is almost certainly breaking up with me in the very near future (mostly because I’m an emotional wreck and I can’t seem to fix it). Trying to keep from crying at every turn, and from panicking that I’m losing my only chance for happiness/marriage/children. Today is hell.

    1. Do you have a therapist? It sounds like you really need one if you are an “emotional wreck” and having such anxiety over your family visit and your future with your boyfriend. Talk therapy can be enormously helpful. Please seek help.

      1. I do have one, but thank you for responding. I’m not sure it’s helping. I feel like it is easy to identify problems/triggers when I’m in a session, and then impossible to apply what I’ve learned about myself when I’m actually out in the real world. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough.

        1. If you have only tried one therapist, you could try consulting with other therapists to see if you find one whose style works better for you. However, in my experience, a lot of mental health healing comes in baby steps. I can usually only find one or two things each week that I can actually work on, even though we discuss a lot more than 2 things in a session.

          Have you considered bringing your boyfriend with you to a therapy session? It sounds like you’re very insecure about the status of your relationship, and it’s not clear from your comment whether it’s just your insecurity or whether your boyfriend is ready to move on. Perhaps some joint counseling could help make your relationship stronger.

        2. You may not be with the right therapist or you might need medication in addition to therapy. Even with therapy, your problems aren’t going to improve immediately. Like Eponine points out, you need to focus on one or two things at a time, or else you’re going to end up getting disappointed that you aren’t making as much progress as you’d hoped.

          Remember, this is about you and not your boyfriend. No one is going to make you happy, and if you’re expecting your boyfriend to do that for you, you’re going to be in for disappointment. It’s only when you can make yourself happy are you going to be happy with anyone else.

        3. Definitely try a different therapist. It’s like friends – the vast majority of people out there won’t click perfectly with you – that’s why you’re not best friends with everyone you meet. Find a therapist who does. I’d say try 6 before you start worrying.

    2. Well, I would say that if he can’t be supportive and help you feel secure and loved, then he’s not the right guy for you. I have all kinds of emotional issues/baggage/bad habits and over and over, I thought it was me, but then I met my now-husband and realized that I was picking *ssholes when I should be picking the nice guy (huge generalizations, I know). I am balanced, happier, and myself (and married with kids), and I wonder why I wasted 6 years of my life on a guy who made me cry/apologize/feel insecure so often. You deserve better – please reach out to your good girlfriends and demand that they tell you the honest truth about this guy.

    3. *HUG*
      Does he have to go with you? Why? If he really is giving signs that he is out as soon as possible, why prolong it? Why not just spend the weekend getting support from your family?

      Are you SURE he’s about to bail? Did you ask him how he’s feeling about your relationship?

      I know – 1000 questions. But important to ask yourself.

    4. And this is not your only chance for happiness/marriage/children.

      I (obviously) have no idea about your situation, but you can’t let that fear rule your decisions. Your happiness depends on you – not whether some outside force will make you happy.

    5. My long-term boyfriend broke up with me two weeks ago for exactly the same reason. He said if I couldn’t be happy, then he couldn’t be happy with me. I had my first appointment with a psychologist yesterday afternoon.

      I know it’s really cliche, but Marilyn Monroe was right when she said, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” It will get better.

    6. let’s forget about the boyfriend here. you need to fix you, and address whatever emotional wreckage issues are at hand. the boyfriend concerns – or a replacement – needs to wait until you, by yourself, are 100%.

      so fix that first – get yourself to 100% and then the happiness marriage etc. will follow, if that’s what you want. and don’t say that you need him or another guy around to get to 100%. no, you don’t.

      good luck and take care of yourself!

    7. Ow.
      Please calm down. If he is your long-term boyfriend you’re his long-term girl-friend too, so you must count for something in his eyes!
      Hope you find someone (anyone supportive) to support you in the immediate/short term and get professional help thereafter.
      It’s not being a loser to need help – it’s being a loser to ignore the need.
      Sneding good thoughts your way!
      Hugs

    8. While I applaud you for being in therapy & working on your problems, you may want to consider medication as well. I’ve had a pretty rough couple of years and have suffered from generalized anxiety disorder ever since. I’ve done a LOT of work in therapy and feel like I’m in a much better place, but I find that I function best and am happiest when I’m on a low dose of anti-anxiety medication. You’d be surprised at the difference it can make!

      Also, the person you’re meant to be with will work with you to make you feel better, not punish you for feeling worse. I know my worrying can annoy my SO at times, but he is great about going out of his way to calm my fears and reassure me when I need it.

  14. Ladies, I need to lose some weight. I am back to pre-baby weight, but I still cannot fit into my pre-baby clothes. I also have a lot of clothes from when I was thinner. I think my biggest problem is that food is one of the few things I enjoy right now. I am not the biggest fan of my job; it is high-stress and long hours, and I am also attempting to raise my one-year old and find a new job. How do I diet when food has been my escape? I know that it’s a bad mentality to have, but I need tips on how to curb it. Thanks!

    1. Don’t “diet.” Stalk the websites of fitness magazines like Shape, Women’s Health, Fitness, whatever for recipes. Some of them are duds, but many are surprisingly tasty… and they also often offer “healthy” versions of comfort food that, while not as satisfying as the real thing, are definitely good enough to keep you from feeling deprived.

      If you don’t have time to cook for yourself every day (sounds like that might be a challenge) maybe try making a big batch of a couple dishes on the weekend, then you can just heat and serve throughout the week. I’m often too drained to cook after a long day at work/commuting, so it REALLY helps if I have something healthy on hand that requires no prep effort.

      Good luck!

    2. Weight Watchers. It’s all about losing weight by learning to look at food differently. I’m still in the early stages of my weight loss (17 pounds so far!) but I feel like I enjoy food more now.

    3. A couple of thoughts:

      First, if you’re back to your pre-baby weight but not your pre-baby clothes, maybe some toning exercise is what you need? It’s hard with a busy schedule, but if you can find some lunchtime yoga or Pilates, join a gym near your office and take some bootcamp classes, or get some at-home exercise videos (I love P90X myself), that might help with both toning and stress.

      Second, I LOVE food. Love love love it. Loving food is not necessarily incompatible with eating healthy. Check out chefs like Rick Bayless and Jamie Oliver for insanely delicious but healthy foods. And blogs like thekitchn (no e) and Canal House Lunch and Whole Foods’ twitter feed. Summer is such a wonderful time for fresh vegetables like asparagus and tomatoes and kale. I’m a big proponent of healthy eating that doesn’t involve a great deal of sacrifice. =)

    4. food is such a useful escape. damn those pounds.

      sounds like you don’t have a lot of time for things like exercise and yoga and long walks … all of which might be healthier coping mechanisms, but require a bit of time and breathing room.

      what are your comfort foods and can you replace them with lower-calorie options? gorge on strawberries instead of chocolate? indulge in a really good, i don’t know – pasta salad instead of chicken parmigiana? graze on carrot sticks and hummus instead of cookies?

      just suggestions … at a minimum, try eliminating added sugar from drinks and or, best, sticking with water and unsweetened tea instead of soda or what have you. i have no idea what you’re actually eating, but just some ideas.

    5. It sounds like your shape changed due to your pregnancy. That’s totally normal! If you’re at your pre-baby weight, I wouldn’t focus on losing weight. Unfortunately, some of your clothes may never fit right again. However, focusing on toning and fitness, rather than just the number on the scale, is more likely to get you back into your old clothes. Can you afford a trainer? I’d go to a personal training gym twice a week – that is the best way to get the maximum benefit from your limited workout time.

      1. Yes. Give up on the pre-baby clothes. My body shape changed in all sorts of ways even after being back to my original weight, and things just didn’t fit right. Time to go shopping.

        1. Yes, this exactly. I am below pre-baby weight now, but my thin clothes from pre-baby didn’t fit at all and I got rid of a bunch of them. My tummy is a different shape, my rib cage is bigger, etc. Go shopping! :)

    6. Have you considered a meal delivery plan? They send you everything you need to eat for the day – 3 meals and 2 snacks – so you don’t do any grocery shopping or cooking yourself. A coworker did FreshDiets (I think) and I did BistroMD. The food is pretty good on both (certainly better than Lean Cuisine), and the breakfasts on Bistro are amazing.

      It took me a little while to see results but once the weight loss started, it continued for a few months at a healthy pace. I went off it when I plateaued because it just wasn’t worth the cost. One of the major benefits was that it taught me proper portion control. I wasn’t eating unhealthy food before – chicken and steamed veggies with some brown rice was a typical dinner – but apparently my portion sizes were way off. It might really help to break your food habits.

    7. Been there, and still there. Use this as an opportunity to buy yourselves some new clothes! If that’s not what you want, make something else your escape. I would suggest: makeup, pedicures, a great book, exercise (but who has time), music. Lots of water helps, too.

    9. With you. I’ve lost about 9 lbs on WW in about 15 weeks. It’s taking forever, but it’s happening. Feel you on the pre-baby weight but I definitely don’t have the pre-baby belly or boobs. I’m starting to run again, which is helpful on the stress part.

    10. A trick that may help: before snacking drink a big glass of water. It will fill you up and you’ll eat less. Alsi eat what you want but cut the portion size.

    11. I, too, LOVE food. I’ve found that reducing my portions of meat/protein at my meals and then having 3 snacks a day (between meals and before bedtime) with a combination of healthy carb and protein has really helped minimize my cravings. I still eat, just not as much at one time, which allows my blood sugar levels to remain more stable and helps me not binge on something – especially when I’m tired (which I assume you are). Then maybe try some sort of pilates/yoga DVD at night before bed (or in the morning) if you can’t get out to exercise. Good luck!

      1. 1. You don’t have to go back to your pre-baby weight. 2. It took five years before I was back to pre-baby weight.

  15. This dress is sold out! Major bummer. I should have checked corporette first thing instead of doing silly things like working.

  16. Any tips for buying a good but affordable couch in NYC (or within delivery-distance)?

  17. Husband just got an amazing job offer. He’s giving notice at his job that he hates later today! Yey! So happy for him :)

  18. Court this morning was like a living, breathing episode of What Not to Wear for men. Best example: Male (presumably) attorney, wearing a dark jacket, crisp white button down shirt, and unremarkable tie, along with a pair of baggy pants in a bright red and white gingham pattern and bright red sueded moccasins!

    Second favorite: male attorney wearing a blue (NOT navy) jacket, orange tie, too-short khaki pants, and these extremely bright light/dark blue argyle socks.

    1. Yay! We never play this game (always criticizing women). The other day I saw a man wearing a suit with navy pants and a gray suit jacket — not necessarily objectionable except they were different fabrics and the jacket was pinstriped.

      It was a total Monet (please god someone get that joke).

      2. Totally get the Monet. From Clueless right? “It looks good from far away but when you get up close it’s a big mess”

    2. I know you’re in the south but that just sounds like the typical hipsters up here in NYC.

    4. I’m afraid to receive confirmation, but with the red and white and blue and orange, it sounds like you were in Alabama!

  19. PSA: Limited is having 40% off everything (including sale) today and the green petal peasant shirt Kat featured recently is a steal (other good deals too). Code is plastered all over the site -“FIREWORKS” I believe. Site is blocked here so I can’t confirm.

  20. Threadjack – I just started a yearlong internship with a global corporation that I’d really like to build my career with. My question is, “Can tall women wear heels without making their male co-workers/supervisors somehow feeling inadequate and resentful?” (I know some men don’t care and I love them for that way of thinking.)

    Last week, my two supervisors (one male and 6’3″, the other female and 5’5″) invited me to lunch with our head boss from another state who was visiting our office. When I asked my male supervisor what this man was like, he told me and added that he was of slight stature (5’7″ was my guess when I met him). I’m 5’11” barefoot and usually wear a 3″ heel to work. I laughed and said, “Is that your way of telling me to wear flats that day?” He just smiled before changing the subject. Needless to say, I wore flats that day.

    Now, I usually wear flats on my first day anywhere new. I’ve noticed that the male higher-ups I’m interested in talking to about career advice are all shorter than me, around 5’8″. Part of me thinks wear whatever shoe you want but the other part of me remembers male teachers in high school and college treating me with animosity when they’d have to literally look up to talk to me. As it is, most of the men I work with are shorter than me and when I try to talk with them just to say, “Hi, how are you?” they mumble something and walk away rather quickly.

    Part of me thinks I’m overthinking this and subduing to sexist behavior while the other part of me doesn’t want to do anything to hurt my networking opportunities. I’ve also had random acquaintances make snide comments about me adding height to my already tall frame. I really don’t see why I shouldn’t, what does it matter if I’m 3″ or 6″ taller than you?

    Ok, rant over now. Any insight/advice you can give me is greatly appreciated. As I sit at my desk I’m wearing 3″ wedges, jsyk. Thank you in advance!!!

    1. Relax, and wear what makes you feel comfortable, not other people. I honestly think some women jump to quickly to the “oh they are sexist.” I really can’t imagine that the reason your male coworkers don’t want to talk to you is because you are taller than them. Men are taller than them all the time too I am sure, and they also deal with women who are more powerful or higher up. I know many 5’10-5’11 women, all very successful so I don’t think its been a hinderance. I understand feeling self conscious about it, but we all have something we feel self conscious about, whether its too tall too short too skinny too overweight, too pretty not pretty enough. Make yourself comfortable, and the people around you will be comfortable.

    2. I’m 6’1 in bare feet.
      I’ve never had this be a problem. I think all my superiors probably don’t enjoy looking up at me – male or female. I still wear heels. Usually people will comment on first meeting me, then they get used to it. I would be cautious about taking the dating world mantra that “men like women who are shorter than them” into the workplace.

      The one thing I am conscious of at work is standing when my supervisors are sitting. In my culture you don’t sit in a superior’s presence unless invited to do so. However, I have had a supervisor joke that I “loomed over them”. Now I always make a move to sit if a conversation is going to be long.

    3. At 5’10 I totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve found that it totally depends on the attitude of the (usually male) boss I’m dealing with… I’ve had one that it was cool to wear heels around because it didn’t matter, I’ve had another where I knew it was off putting to him to have me be taller, so if I was going to wear heels I’d counter it with a more feminine dress… I’ve also used it to my advantage and power suited up with a great pair of heels in part because I knew it put me in a more authoritative position. I’ve also had higher ups tell me to wear/not wear heels when going to deal with consultants because the fact that I’m female, taller than them and younger than them would be bad for the relationship… It sucks to have to think about the personality of the boss and how they’ll react to literally looking up at you (and yeah, it is sexist) but at this point I’ve incorporated it into my knowing how to dress for my office. So in the sense that I wouldn’t purposely wear something that would give me bad “ju-ju” with a coworker, I think about how my height/shoes impact my relationship/interactions with boss/coworkers and then figure out what message I want to send.

    4. I’m between 5’10” and 5’11” and I have worn heels my entire working life. Height makes you appear authoritative. I’m lucky enough to have this advantage, and there’s no way I’m going to downplay it. Wear your heels. Let the “men of slight stature worry” about their own height. It has nothing to do with you.

    5. I agree with everyone – wear heels if that’s your preference. BUT a quick public service announcement – I am in my mid-30s and I am developing a painful bunion on 1 foot. It’s supposedly hereditary, but I have no family history of it. I only have my (mostly 2.5″) heels to blame. So please change it up a little for your own sake. I *love* wearing heels, but now I have to wear clunky shoes for a really long time, if I want to avoid a painful surgery. Sorry for the wet blanket.

    6. This is an aside, but my legal research and writing professor (a woman) said that we should wear noisy heels in court because the clicking on the floor is indimidating! So I do :)

      1. Funny you should mention that – maybe it’s sad, but there is nothing that makes me feel powerful and confident more than the sound of my “grown up shoes” clicking on a hard floor. It’s almost worth the discomfort of wearing them. :-)

    7. I agree with everyone else – own your height! I’m 6′ tall and I routinely wear 3 inch heels to work (and I have some 4-5 inch heels for going out with the husband..shhhh). Whatever hangups the men have with that is their problem, not yours. Put your shoulders back, stand up straight (which is hard when you have to bend down to hear short people talking, I know), and strut!

      As an aside: my favorite person at my firm is a male partner who is, I kid not you, exactly 5′ tall. We get along famously. It can be done!

      1. I used to work with a tall woman who wore high heels all the time, and she stood up straight. She was striking and powerful! Rock it!

  21. Yes! Own your height! My best friend growing up is 5′ 8″. I’m 5′ 3″. She always towered over me. :) She has never let her height stop her from wearing high heels. I think being tall is an advantage in projecting authority. Being short I sometimes feel like I’m at a disadvantage. I’ve noticed that some men act somewhat protective towards me, and that’s annoying at work. I most recently experienced this when I was climbing up an insanely steep slope to do a vegetation survey (I’m a scientist) and my male coworker asked me if I was “okay” with the steepness of the slope. I grew up scrambling up stuff like that, so it didn’t really bother me. I was a bit taken aback, but I finally said, “Well, I wouldn’t want to build a house on it”. He laughed. My point is, I wonder if he would have said that if I were tall.

  22. Wow. Some of the outfits described for casual Fridays makes me think there should be some guidelines as to what is meant by “casual.”

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