Corporette.com

Updated: Nov 1, 2018 154 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Odette Knit Dress

The Personal Shopper (TPS) | · · · · · ·

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.

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Happy Friday! I'm liking this knit dress from Target's Merona Collection — a straight skirt, a flattering V-neck, and a “tumble dry low” care instruction? Sign me up. I'd wear it with a navy blazer for the office. The dress is also available in black and a taupey “earthworm,” and all 3 colors come in petite as well (navy/green, black, earthworm). It's $34.95 at Target. Merona® Collection Women's Odette Knit Dress – Navy/Green Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-7)

Sales of note for 10.10.24

  • Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
  • Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
  • Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
  • Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
  • White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

    • Nancy P

      Seriously. They couldn’t come up with a better name? I wouldn’t buy it on principle.

    • RRugosa

      I’m a mad gardener and deeply respect the humble earthworm’s valuable work in the dirt, but as a colour name?! Not so much. Just call it brown, please.

    • b23

      I’d be curious to hear from someone who has this about the thickness and clinginess of the material.

      • V

        Like Alex (below), I’ve also been happy with the Merona Collection dresses. I got the Marta Knit Dress a few weeks ago, and the knit is pretty substantial. I’m actually suprised that it’s rayon because it feels like a thick cotton. It’s a somwhat tailored fit, like the one Kat featured today, but it’s not clingy. I did have to bring it to the tailor though, to get rid of the awful exposed zipper in the front:
        http://www.target.com/Merona-Collection-Marta-Knit-Dress/dp/B004MX9B2Y/ref=sc_pd_gwvub_1_title

        • Alex

          I just got the Merona faux wrap that someone posted a link about last week. It’s poly/spandex, and it’s the same – substantial enough, not too clingy. I thought the skirt might be a little see-through and need a slip, but it didn’t (it is black, a lighter color might). I did have to tape the faux wrap together near the cleavage in order to make the gap foolproof for work. It’s really comfortable for the summer weather.

  3. Anonymous

    I wish they had the “earthworm” shade in that paisley print.

    I also wish the color name wasn’t “earthworm.”

  4. Alex

    I have had good luck with Target/Merona dresses. Just got another one that I like a lot.

    Morning threadjack. Has anyone with fine, straight hair tried a body wave or perm to get some body and texture? Any recommendations, cautions, etc? My hair is not thin, but it is fine and has NO life ot it at all. Thanks!

    • D

      I did this a few years ago for the same reasons — I had very fine straight hair and wanted some texture. I ended up with wavy to curly hair and was very happy with the results. I could airdry it and have it look pretty nice, and it looked better when I pulled it back because it didn’t lie flat against my head. I stopped doing it because (1) I do like wearing my hair straight on a regular basis and I was damaging my hair by straightening so frequently and (2) I didn’t like the way that it always started out as very tight curls before loosening up over a few weeks. I was constantly having to explain that I had permed my hair, and the whole concept has a bit of an 1980s-ish connotation. Maybe it is just my own personal bias, though, so take that with a grain of salt.

      Also, a friend of mine with very straight hair did the same thing, but instead of getting curls, she just did a body wave (i.e., very big rollers in the hair when perming — I think). She ended up with oddly frizzy hair and she didn’t like the results at all. It might just be an issue of getting someone who knows what they are doing, but I would be wary of a body wave (as opposed to a true perm) if your hair doesn’t already have some natural wave to it.

      • Emma

        On a similar note — trying to get more body — does anyone have any recommendations for a good curlers to put in your hair after you blowdry? I always end up with curlers that don’t stay in my hair very well — it’s thick and layered.

        • Newb

          I have had a lot of good luck with putting velcro rollers in my (dry) hair. I leave them in for a bit, put hot air on it for a few minutes, and take them out. It gives my very thin hair a boost and relaxes a bit throughout the day. I have naturally curly hair, but I usually put flat-iron curls in it for work. (These can also give your hair a bit of volume on top if you twist the flat iron toward your head.)

        • Nonny

          I do something similar with my dry hair on days when I feel like I need some oomph – but rather than velcro rollers I use hot rollers, which for my fine hair seem to work better than the velcro rollers. The nice thing about the hot rollers is that they clip onto your hair so they don’t fall out – so they should work for your thick hair as well. I heat them, put them in my dry hair, and walk around doing other things around the house while they cool down. Works well and I don’t have to fiddle with a hairdryer.

          • jcb

            What size rollers do you use? And if you use a curling iron, what size barrel? I was thinking about ordering a curling iron to use every now and then for volume, but gave up when I saw all of the size options.

          • Mondette

            I do this too. I use a set with large and medium rollers, and keep the medium around my face and the large in the back, on lower layers. All of them are fairly large. I think it’s a Conair set (maybe), but I’m not sure the size in inches.

          • Nonny

            My set is a Conair set and there are three different sizes of rollers. I use the small ones around my face, the medium ones, well, in the middle, and the largest ones at the bottom. Sorry, not sure about the size. Maybe the smallest ones are something like 3/4″ in diameter?

        • Anonymous

          I can’t use roll curlers at all (my thick layered hair just won’t take).

          What’s worked for me, based on the advice of my lovely long-term stylist, is to layer on a lot of product (pre-blow dry, post blow-dry and pre-curl and post-curl) and then use a very hot curling iron or ceramic straightening iron to work in soft curls.

          I have a 1/2 inch and 1 inch barrel currently, but 1.5 inches is what she uses in the salon and it seems to give better results. I use Hot Tools irons (lots of online sales on these).

    • Kathryn Fenner

      Don’t do it! I have tried every perm/body wave ever made, including the biggest mistake, one I got at a salon on Oak St. in Chicago before my wedding.
      All they do for my hair is make it frizzy–not “body”–frizzy cotton. Yuck. I can style it, which takes a lot longer, but any humidity and it reverts to the original wave pattern–uck. All you are doing is damaging your hair

      Try different cuts, spray on thickeners (I like Neil George FWIW)….and love the hair you got. Color might help, too, but tread lightly–it also can make fine hair frizzy!

    • govvie

      I would also think twice about going with the body wave. Maybe they’ve drastically improved in 20 years but in high school? Wow. I use volumizer, hair spray, a good cut, and also went back to Johnson & Johnson No More Tangles spray (flashing back to early elementary school). The baby products are made for fine hair, and it really does just let me comb through without added slickness or weight of conditioner. Highlighting helps, too.

    • In-House Mouse

      I have medium-long layered straight hair, and have had success rag curling my hair. I started doing this to avoid heat damage to my hair, and it works really well. It does make me feel like a little “mature” to set my hair at night (I just hit 30), but it results in beachy waves.

      At night, after a shower and while my hair is slightly damp, I section my hair into 3 sections. Make more, smaller sections for curlier hair. I sometimes add mousse to each section for extra hold. For each section, I wrap a first rag (about 6″ square) around the section of hair, then slide the rag to cover the ends of the hair. This takes the place of curling paper and helps keep the ends of the hair smooth. Then I take a second rag (10″ x 4″ strip, or so), and wrap the hair around it from the (covered) end up. When you get to your scalp, you tie the ends of the second rag into a half knot. For rags, I use sections cut from an old t-shirt. In the morning, I untie the rags and slide them out of my hair, add a shot of hairspray, and I’m done!

    • b23

      Thanks. I’m going to buy that shirt. On another note, could that model possibly look any more like a female version of Michael Jackson???

      • rg

        Word of warning. The yellow is more greenish that it looks on the screen (or mine, anyway). I ordered it and ended up returning it since I was looking for a specific shade.

      • Anonymous

        michael jackson and jessica simpson had a baby and it was that model! creepy!

    • eaopm3

      I have never ordered from Ann Taylor before. I am 5’8” and about 140 pounds with an average length torso… Medium in this top?

      • Duckie

        AT sizing is about the same as J Crew or BR. If you know your measurements, I find that their size charts are accurate.

      • Charlotte

        Ha! You are describing me to a T. I find that medium is usually the way to go with AT, partly b/c I have broad shoulders, and sometimes the small doesn’t accommodate for that. But I also find that I need to get both the small and medium to decide which one fits better.

        In numbered sizes, I usually go for 6 in tops and either a 6 or 8 in bottoms, depending on the garment. Their pants don’t really fit me well b/c while the 8s usually accommodate my hips, the pants gap at the waist. Hope I’ve helped and not confused you further!

      • Anonymous

        Small!! I am also 5’8”, 142 but long torso (and broad shoulders), and I always have to buy small at AT. (What the actually small people buy, I have no idea.)

  6. Duckie

    Hi Corporettes! I recently switched to a loose powder from a pressed powder, and I realized I need to buy a powder brush. Any recommendations? Ideally I’d prefer something that can be bought from a department store or CVS, because it’s a pain for me to get to a Sephora and I don’t want to wait for shipping if I buy online. Thanks!

    • AEK

      I’ve seen the drugstore brand EcoTools recommended on anti-cruelty and environmental sites. Apparently the handles are made from bamboo and recycled aluminum? Not sure about the bristles; a synthetic I imagine.

      • Supra

        I have heard lots of good things about EcoTools (available at Target, I think). I have not tried them myself, but they are supposed to be as good as more $$ brushes.

        • AIMS

          I have ecotools brushes, they work well enough, soft, don’t shed. Obviously mink or whatever is a bit better. But I feel a lot better using these, and they’re inexpensivem, too.

      • Nonny

        I just recently bought my first Sonia Kashuk brush (small eyeshadow brush) and so far am really happy with it – I would buy more and the price is right. Haven’t yet had the shedding problem that j-non refers to…

        I have also bought Sephora and MAC brushes in the past – I have a MAC powder brush and like it a lot, though MAC brushes are a bit on the pricier side. Perhaps there is a MAC in your local department store that you could check out?

    • j-non

      I like the Sonia Kashuk brushes too, but they do shed quite a bit, which can get irritating. If you are willing to spend a little more (eg. 35$ v. 15$) then Estee Lauder has a really nice powder foundation brush. Its shaped a little differently than a general powder brush (a shorter dome giving more control and you can actually buff it….). I suggest taking that route- good luck!

    • Duckie

      Thanks. Sadly, I don’t live anywhere with a Target, and the EcoTools line isn’t carried in local drugstores. Any recs for department store brands?

      • Monday

        CVS–and probably other drugstores as well–carry a brand of tools called “Essence of Beauty.” I got a Kabuki brush for using with pressed powder, and have no complaints about it several months later. It was about $16.

        • Duckie

          Thanks! Will check it out – come to think of it, I think that’s the brand of my foundation brush.

      • Jr. Prof

        EcoTools is available at drugstore dot com. Nice brushes, reasonable price.

    • NYC

      The studio line of brushes from ELF are awesome and super cheap. I think they carry the line at Kmart, but I always order online.

    • Makeup Junkie

      Physician’s Formula has a couple of kabuki brushes available that you can find at CVS: the Airbrushing brush and the Bambuki brush. The Airbrushing brush is much softer than the Bambuki so probably better for an all-over application

    • spacegeek

      I don’t like Sonia Kashuk because they shed too much and are too stiff for my tastes. Bobbi Brown, Stila and MAC are my go-to quality brushes.

    • Circe

      Aveda brushes are the best! I just love them. My powder brush has lasted 5 years and looks brand new.

      • Circe

        I know you said drugstore, but Aveda brushes can generally be picked up at any Aveda salon, and you end up spending less overall because you’re not constantly replacing them. Also second the rec for Bobbi Brown brushes.

  8. Legally Brunette

    I saw this in person and I thought the fabric looked fairly substantial and nice. I didn’t try it on though.

    Anyone shop the Nordstrom presale yet? I remember a few people saying that they were going to go last weekend. If so, I’d love to hear some comments on what looked good.

    • anon

      I looked. Nothing seemed that interesting to me. There were some great boots…but I really cannot buy more boots. I have plenty. Also some nice coats…but again, I don’t need more coats.

    • D

      I went yesterday. They have a great tweed skirt as part of the sale, and it’s about 24″ long (maybe even 25″); it was a very nice fabric and I appreciated the longer length. It was from the Classiques line. There was a matching tweed blazer, but putting the two together looked a little too matchy-matchy for me. They also had a nice selection of wool sweater jackets. I got a wool knit blazer from the Halogen line for about $70, it was nicely tailored and should be a good alternative to an actual blazer for more casual days. Good selection of shoes, although most of the pumps had very high heels (4″ or so). I only got a few things, but I really like the stuff I found. I might end up getting one more pair of shoes. I’d love to hear what other people found!

      • jcb

        Haven’t shopped the sale yet – just wanted to say doesn’t it seem like all of the pretty heels out right now are 4″? Or 5.5″ with a 1″ platform? I really can’t go over 3.5″ without having to sit down after 10 minutes. I have never really though of 4″+ as a standard height, but they are everywhere right now.

        • D

          Gah, I know. I wear 3″ heels on a semi-regular basis (i.e., maybe 2-3 times a week), and always thought of that as being the absolute limit for what was office appropriate. I think there have been discussions about that before on here. But I admit that I brought home a pair of 3.5″ or 4″ heels from the sale that have a front platform and lots of padding, so they’re pretty comfortable despite the heel. I’m still hesitant to wear them to the office, though — maybe just with pants, so the heel isn’t so obvious.

  9. Duckie

    Ugh, I got stuck in moderation. Trying again.

    I recently switched to a loose powder from a pressed powder, and I realized I need to buy a powder brush. Any recommendations? Ideally I’d prefer something that can be bought from a department store or CVS, because it’s a pain for me to get to a Sephora and I don’t want to wait for shipping if I buy online.

    • Legally Brunette

      Try the Sonia Kashuk brushes at Target. They always get rave reviews and are inexpensive.

  10. Batgirl

    I’m 5’3″ and 123 lbs. I tend to gain ALL of my weight in the tummy area so even a 3-5lb gain/loss makes a huge difference in how my clothing fits. So as small as the number sounds, I’d like to lose about 5 lbs.

    The problem? I’ve never in my entire life been able to purposefully lose weight. Any efforts to watch what I eat tend to make me just eat more because I’m feeling deprived/sorry for myself. I tend to have one of those metabolisms where I get hungry every three hours to boot. I exercise regularly(ish) but that tends to just make me eat more to compensate.

    I was thinking about looking into the Weight Watchers Online program because, while I don’t think I need/want to lose much weight, I do think that I’d feel more comfortable in my skin if I lost 5 lbs and that I could pick up better eating/portioning habits.

    Does anyone have any experience with WW or other recommendations for losing a relatively small amount of weight? I am guessing that if I cut out all alcohol, it’d fall right off…but I’m not sure I’m ready to take that plunge! Thanks!

    • The Online Shopper

      Batgirl – not too unlike you I wanted to lose just a few pounds. I attempted signing up for Weight Watchers online. Unfortunately, they do not let you sign up if you only have a few pounds to lose. I think they base it off of your body mass index (weight versus height) and your loss would need to be greater than 10 lbs. You probably would not qualify for their program.

      That said, for those who do qualify, my husband is currenlty in the program and has lost over 20 lbs since February. It is amazing for those who need it if you stick to it!

      Good luck!

    • mhu

      I’ve used Sparkpeople to lose weight. Basically, it’s a (free) calorie counting website. Logging calories was a pain in the rear, but a smart phone might make it easier. Also, for 5 lb we’re not talking about a 6 month committment.

      Also, I saw a friend last night who has been using WW. She’s lost over 50 lb in 6 months and looks fantastic! Her case is obviously different than yours, but she’s had great results.

      • Elysian

        I’ve also used Sparkpeople with some luck, but you have to be realistic about how much you’re actually eating – I bought a kitchen scale to help.

    • E

      It’s a pain, but I’ve found writing down every.single.calorie to be the way to go (and making sure I don’t go over some number, like 1500). Similar to the WW method, from what I understand (WW uses their trademark “points” that correlate with calories), but less money and less time commitment. There are various apps/websites that can make this easier. Otherwise, like you, I am prone to eat extra when I’ve worked out (often a bit more than the calories I burned!) and when I feel I’ve been good the prior day, etc. – leading to no change or change in the wrong direction!

      • KOB

        Agreed — You HAVE to write down every SINGLE calorie for this type of weight loss. You will lose weight if you do, I swear — but you have to be extremely committed to going for weeks at a time of only eating things you know the exact calorie count for. This basically means no eating out. I love the Lose It app for the iPhone. You may think you’re not eating much, but when you record everything those calories really add up quickly. You set a calorie amount for weight loss and you simply stop eating when you reached your calorie allotment for the day. It works!

        • Diana Barry

          Ditto, ditto. Calorie counting is the way to go. If you want to ‘trick’ your body into feeling fuller, try eating more proteins (meat/eggs/tofu), beans, good fats (eg nuts, olive oil, avocado) and veggies, and fewer processed carbs (eg white bread). I did this when I lost the last 5-10 lbs for my wedding, and used fitday to count the calories. Have also heard good things about my fitness pal and lose it as far as applications go.

          • b23

            How do you count calories for certain portions when you cook? For example, earlier this week I made bulgur and red quinoa, beets, edamame, balsamic vinegar, a little feta, and some olive oil. I made a big pot of it and split it up to take for lunch for four days. I guess what I need to do is measure how much of each ingredient I put in there and divide by four, right? Is there any easier way to do it? Sometimes the meals I make have a lot more ingredients, and I usually don’t measure — a handful of carrots, a splash of olive oil, etc.

          • CW

            Man, I am all over this thread right now! b23 – I use myfooddiary dot come to count calories. It’s $9/mo for the service, but you can create “recipes” based on all of the ingredients (you need to measure) and it’ll calculate the calories by the number of portions. You can edit the recipe based on new/different ingredients, and it’ll update the calorie count. Plus, if you have the nutrition label and the food isn’t in the database, you can manually enter it, and then use that as part of your recipe.

            So, to directly answer your question, I (personally) don’t think there is an easier way to get an accurate calorie count without measuring.

          • E

            I’d go just take a guess at all the ingredients – particularly after the first little bit where I’m usually more strict. Handful of carrots = 1/3 of a cup. Splash of olive oil = 1 tablespoon. Usually I err on the side of overestimating.

            The biggest pain in the butt for me is my daily salad bar creations at lunch.

          • M

            Ooh, I’m in the same boat! 5’2 and just resolved to lose 8 lbs by Labor Day and they are going to be very hard lbs. I love MyFitnessPal dot com. It is an online tracking device that is free, and has iphone/bb/ipad aps. It logs all your food, allows you to make and save recipes, and keeps as defaults the foods you eat on a regular basis. Also, it tracks your fitness and workouts and grants you extra calories to fuel after cardio activities, similar to the WWs exercise points.

    • CW

      I’ve used WW in the past, and found it to be helpful. Now I’m just sticking with calorie counting (using myfooddiary dot com), and exercise. My recommendation is to reduce the amount of carbs you’re eating and shift when you’re eating carbs (both super hard for me since I love my carbs!). Meaning, eat whole grain carbs (brown rice, quinoa, ezekiel bread, etc.) at breakfast/lunch, but not at dinner. At dinner eat a small amount of a lean protein, and a lot of veggies. My trainer said carbs at night are unnecessary because you don’t need to fuel up on short-term energy if you’re just going to go to sleep – the carbs just turn into weight gain.

    • Anonymous

      I’ve dropped over 50lbs in the past year. I’ve never used WW (but I have friends who RAVE about it) because I had success on my own.

      My number one tip would be do cut the amount of processed carbs in your diet. I try to limit myself to one serving a day and fill up on protein and veg snacks instead. I also get hungry frequently so I plan all my meals and snacks every day.

      Sample from yesterday:

      5:00am small can of tuna before I go running (one of the mini Chicken of the Sea ones — sounds weird to eat first thing in the morning but really gives me energy for my work out…)
      8:00am breakfast at my desk, Barbara’s Puffins cereal with skim milk (there’s my carbs for the day) and a hard boiled egg
      10:30am snack, a clementine and a mini Babel cheese
      1:00pm lunch, homemade salad with two veggie burgers (Boca Original Vegan Meatless, SO GOOD, I bring them frozen and microwave them at the office), lettuce, shredded carrots, broccoli slaw, peanuts, spray on balsamic dressing. Side of blackberries
      3:30pm snack, two clementines and a mini Babel cheese
      7:00pm dinner, grilled chicken breast, carrot sticks with some salsa, a plum
      8:30pm snack/dessert, a sugar free fudgsicle

      Whatever you go with, good luck!

    • Scully

      Calorie count for a few days- there are plenty of apps and sites that do this. It’s a pain in the butt, but it will be really helpful. Just see where your extra calories are coming from and pick a non-depriving substitute. For example, if your typical breakfast (let’s say a bagel and a latte) is 500 calories, could you switch to an English muffin or toast and tea for a 200 calorie drop? Can’t bear to lose the bagel without feeling deprived? Find somewhere else where you won’t mind a switch to a lower calorie food.

      Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are easy ways to add extra calories, but it’s hard for some people (me!) to switch to water only.

      I’ll add that bulkier foods like veggies fill you up longer because they take up more space in your stomach. I also found that in the morning, switching from mainly grains (toast, bagels, cereal) to a mixed meal with protein (greek yogurt with low-fat granola and fruit or toast plus an egg) help me stay full longer and avoid snacking.

      If it’s clothing fit, you might find that extra toning and cardio exercises will reshape your body without actually dropping the weight. I gained a few pounds while taking spin classes, but my waist measurement is smaller and my pants fit better.

    • Batgirl

      Thanks, these are really helpful suggestions! I think the key for me will be to watch mindless eating more (say, eating cookies after dinner) and substitute healthier foods into my diet. When I get lazy, I eat worse, but with planning, I do well.

      Any tips for cutting calories while drinking? I know the conventional wisdom is to drink vodka-sodas or white wine instead of beer or heavy calorie fruity drinks, but is there a better way? It’s hard when all summer outings with friends are centered on margaritas outside (which is so nice!).

      • Scully

        Corona?

        Try to find calorie counts for beers. This is a little difficult but the (estimated) info is out there. I found two of my favorite beers had different calorie counts, so I try to stick to the lower one (Yards Tavern Spruce=est. 130 calories, Dogfish Head Raison D’etre= est. 230 calories). Or drink glass of water in between each drink (which is a good idea anyway). I also have a hard time not ordering food when drinking with friends, so I only carry so much cash with me when going out.

      • Supra

        I am very similar to you. Its really hard for me to lose weight (although I never gain when I eat “what I want within reason”. In order to lose, I have to count all my calories.

        As for drinking, I have found that its not what you drink, but how much. I try to stay under two to three drinks and only drink two or three times a week. Its difficult in the summer, but drink slowly and drink quality drinks – i.e. a good beer slowly is better than a Bud Lite (in my mind). Its more calories, but more satisfying.

        • Supra

          That’s funny: Scully and I gave opposite advice.

          Here is why I think calorie counts in alcohol don’t matter – alcohol does a lot of bad things to your body. It slows down your systems, is hard to process, dehydrates you, etc. Therefore, I don’t really think a 130 calorie beer is “healthier” than a 200 calorie one. I think by drinking a lower calorie beer, you lull yourself into thinking you can have more. But, the harmful effects of more alcohol counteract the 200 calories you “saved” by drinking a lighter beer. I think sticking to less overall alcohol is better for weight loss.

          BUT, having said that, everyone’s body reacts differently. For me, I notice weight gain, sluggishness and bloating when I drink more drinks, but don’t notice it when I drink less drinks (that may have more calories).

          • Scully

            Actually, I see our advice as compatible :) I was thinking of the situation when you are more interested in the company than the drink- instead of two margaritas, two lower calorie drinks. I say this because if you have one drink, while everyone else has two, the waitstaff often asks multiple times if you are having another. But if it was me at home, I’d prefer less of a better quality drink. Your “drinking less overall” point is definitely the most important.

      • lostintranslation

        Aperol Spritz is summery and yummy (and my favorite). I’m not sure what the actual calorie count is, but based on the ingredients, I think it’s probably better than beer or fruity drinks.

      • CW

        I agree – I have the hardest time watching my alcohol consumption. I cut out alcohol completely on nights when I’m not going out, but when I’m getting drinks/dinner with friends it’s much harder. Plus, I have a really high tolerance, so my internal “stop” button takes longer to reach! A few tricks that I’ve heard of are to either alternate every alcoholic beverage with a glass of water, or to alternate sips between both. Both of which is easier said than done.

      • Clerky

        Everyone has given you great advice. One thing I would add is jump roping. It’s an amazing workout, it’s cheap, you can do it at home or at the gym, and I see a HUGE difference in my tummy/hips/thigh area when I do it, even if it’s only for 5 minutes a day. If you haven’t jump roped in a while it will be hard to do at first, but you’ll get better with time. I can now do 500 revolutions at a time, but in the beginning I could barely do 20.

        • anon

          Running has made me a total lightweight when it comes to alcohol. I really can’t have more than 1 drink without feeling it. So, I drink a lot less.

      • Duckie

        Not sure if it’s to your taste, but I normally drink straight gin with a lime wedge. I avoid all the calories from mixers, and because the gin is strong, I sip it slowly and usually only have one drink all night.

      • K

        I’ve found that lots of restaurants are offering “skinny” margaritas now for between 100-200 calories each. They’re not AS good, but I can indulge in one without the guilt, so it’s worth it to me.

    • lostintranslation

      The other commentors are spot on with the calorie counting advice, but I wanted to add something else. I’m in a similar position where I don’t *need* to looks any weight and only *want* to lose a little, but I wasn’t having any success and was just feeling kind of sorry for myself.

      I recently started reading two really sweet blogs that make eating healthy seem much more attractive to me.
      fitnessista . com is a personal trainer and class instructor, and she posts a lot of super healthy food that seems really yummy too.
      meganerdruns . com is more focused on the exercise component, but she also seems to eat pretty well, and I like her since I’m an engineer too :-).

      Even if these two blogs don’t resonate with you, finding something cheerful and similar might help you adjust your mindset, and then you’ll be more receptive to changing whatever habits or doing whatever you need to do to lose the weight. Good luck!

    • Anon

      I’ve found jumping on the Special K diet for 2 weeks to be very helpful. Yes, it mostly sucks to eat two bowls of cereal a day (plus fruits and veggies), but it keeps me focused and “shrinks” my stomach (read: re-sets my brain to understand what full is).

      After 2 weeks, I find I’m not as hungry as I previously was, and can go back to a balanced diet, consisting of smaller portioned meals.

    • Fiona

      I have a very similar frame to yours, Batgirl, and I also can’t deprive myself or else I just focus on DEPRIVATION all day long. One thing that I’ve found very helpful is to eat more protein throughout the day. Have yogurt or string cheese as a mid-morning snack, have a sandwich with some kind of meat at lunch, a protein shake for a late afternoon snack, etc. I feel less hungry during the day, which stops me from chowing down on chocolate chip cookies when my energy drops.

    • AJ

      I’m currently on WW, but I concur with The Online Shopper – they’re not going to let you join at your weight. There are minimum weights for every height.

      Having said that, it’s been amazing for me. I’ve lost 20 pounds in two months, and see no reason why I can’t be at my goal of -40 by the beginning of September.

      • Anonymous

        Has anyone here tried the Peertrainer website and/or Cheat System? I’ve done the South Beach diet before (lost 20 lbs) and did WW a few years ago (lost 10 lbs), but WW isn’t really cutting it for me any more. Peertrainer seems like a pretty good idea, and recommends a “Diet Fusion” concept (basically using what has worked for you from different diets all at once) combined with a daily reinforcement technique. I’m also thinking about trying the Extreme Fat Smash diet. For reference, I am active (exercise at least 3x per week) but have an EXTREMELY hard time losing weight unless I am super diligent about every calorie.

    • NYC

      Long time WeWa follower, also in the “less to lose” category. It is a great, very livable program that lets you account for real life (booze, dessert, etc.). Obviously there are a lot of people on the program with a lot more than 5 pounds to lose, but you will find people who just want to lose 5 points. There is a message board specifically for those with less to lose. I think they would let you join — you just have to be more than 5 pounds above the minimum weight for your height (which you are). Good for you and good luck!

    • Bunkster

      I did WW online back in 2005 and lost 35 pounds in 4 months so I will say it does work well. I’ve kept it off ever since.

    • Em

      Sounds like your body is happy and healthy where it is and doesn’t want to be five pounds thinner.

      • Batgirl

        This is generally where I come down on things–esp when there’s ice cream around. But I thought maybe I should try more of an overall “eat healthier”/”not like a 16 year old boy” thing for a bit and see if my clothes fit better. I hate the idea of dieting.

    • Emily I

      While watching what you eat is important, I find that when I have a small amount to lose (or that my clothes are tight in the tummy), I need to focus on exercise more than anything. I’m thinking about a combination of cardio (running, stairmaster) and core work (I find pilates especially effective for me). I recently lost my “last five pounds” without changing my eating habits much, but by being more consistent and pushing myself more in my exercising.

    • Bonnie

      What usually gets me on the right track without counting calories is packing my food for the day with an understanding that I can’t snack until I’ve finished everything I’ve brought. Today’s is: coffee, water, big green salad, fruit, hard-boiled egg, and string cheese. Usually by the time I finish it all, I don’t want the bad snack anymore.

    • Batgirl

      Wow, SO much great advice! Thanks to all!

      I feel like I should say that I really would like to focus on the small changes I can make that would make me healthier and (hopefully) reduce my waist line a tiny bit. I just know that for all my complaining (on rare occasions), I can actually afford to cut out some of the fried chicken, mac & cheese, booze, etc before I resign myself to none of my clothes fitting!

      Thanks!

      • Irish

        Also, consider if you are dealing with stomach bloat. I was recently diagnosed with a hormone imbalance and am being put back on hormonal birth control to fix it. It has only been two weeks and my pants are already fitting better. The hormones were making me crazy bloated all the time.

        The doc said women can get this while on hormonal birth control too. In that case you usually come off of it for 6 months or so to “reset” and then go back on. In my case, I was off of it so going back on will “reset” me. I feel so much better already.

        If it really is fat/calories, I’m a fan of South Beach.

  11. SF Bay Associate

    This may get stuck in moderation, so there’s a space in the address:

    Watch the last US shuttle launch live on NASA’s website now! 8 minutes and counting!!!

  12. Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler

    I am having a terrible. horrible. no good. very bad day. Here’s hoping it gets better.

    • eb

      Aw, hope your day picks up, or that at least the weekend is a good antidote to your Alexander-esque day.

    • Bunkster

      I just got out of that. It started Wednesday and lasted into yesterday afternoon.

      I’m sorry. I treated myself to a nicer bottle of wine yesterday.

      And I’ve just discovered that I’m in a calm before the storm. I’m going to have to work on Sunday. My co-worker was supposed to split the work with me, but he just announced that he’s taking a trip and won’t be back until Wednesday.

      Cannot even tell you how pissed I am that the boss authorized this, last minute.

      • Irish

        Maybe there is a reason you are unaware of – a family emergency or something.

    • Anon for now

      I’m sorry. Hang in there — wishing you a lovely weekend to compensate.

  13. anon

    Threadjack… What do I wear to an informational interview at a non-profit in DC (in the field of international development)? I have one black Talbot’s interview suit – should I wear that? Or would nice pants/blouse be sufficient?
    I don’t want to be ridiculously overdressed in a black suit, but on the other hand want to make sure I am dressed appropriately and respectfully.

    Love the Target dress above, by the way!

    • AIMS

      I would wear the suit but then make it less formal/dressy with some funkier accessories. E.g., wear some bolder, more creative jewelry or a fun pair of flats or lower heeled shoes, etc. I think you can really change the look of the outfit this way, and I think your more creative choices will actually go over well with an international non-profit.

      Btw, the last time I was in DC, I stumbled on this awesome fair trade shop, I think it was called Pangea. Something like the jewelry/accessories they sell is what I have in mind…

    • International Development Professional

      I work at an international development non-profit in DC and I do a lot of informational interviews. 8 out of 10 times the interviewee wears a suit, and the other 20% wear something like a pencil skirt with a button down. If the interview is at the office, definitely, definitely wear a suit (although it’s fine if it’s not your conservative one). If it’s in a coffee shop or something, polished business casual is fine.

      • Clare

        How do those informational interviews turn out? From point of view of someone in the job- have you ever recommended someone for a job because of one? Are there things that particularly resonate in your field? What can an information-seeker do to impress you or stay in your memory?

        I ask because I’m actually looking for a job in the development/NGO field, and people say to do informational interviews, but I wonder what comes of them– especially since, as you say, you give them all the time?

        • International Development Professional

          At my NGO, and as far as I know at many other NGOs and for-profit firms, we keep a resume bank and often we have a few candidates in mind already when we have an open position. So yes, definitely, they can lead to a job, although it may be several months out in the future. Usually I do informationals with someone that I have a connection to somehow – for example, they went to the my college, or they’re a friend of a friend. If the interviewee seems to be a good fit for a particular department, I forward her resume to that department.

          I’ve worked in the field for 5 years and probably done upwards of 50 informational interviews over that time, including some at OCI at my law school. The number one mistake that candidates make is not really knowing what my NGO does. Just being interested in international development generally isn’t good enough – I need to see that the candidate is specifically interested in the type of work we do (for organizations with multiple practice areas, you’d need to know what you’re interested in). For instance, I recently met with a guy whose background was in urban planning, and we don’t do anything like that; he said he was looking for a change, but couldn’t really explain why.

          A second mistake is one that mid-career professionals usually tend to make. They seem to think that because they’d be taking a pay cut or even doing some volunteer work, and because they went to prestigious schools and worked at prestigious firms, we’d be glad to have them. Nothing could be further from the truth – our positions are extremely competitive, and while we don’t mind hiring career-switchers, they need to have built up a track record of activities related to our work.

          I don’t interview a lot of junior or entry-level professionals, but one thing that I hear is that a lot of them don’t know anything about international development, and they just want to travel. Guess what – the most junior person in a department is unlikely to travel, and is very likely to spend a lot of time working on Excel spreadsheets and making coffee for meetings. If we have the impression that you aren’t willing do pay your dues, you’re not going to get a job.

          I also think it’s important to be able to articulate why you want to work with an NGO instead of a for-profit development firm, or vice versa.

          Other things to keep in mind – foreign language skills are very important; time spent living in a developing country is almost mandatory; despite the laid-back stereotype of nonprofits, NGOs do a lot of lobbying/Congressional meetings/funder meetings, etc, and can be quite formal both in dress and in hierarchy; there’s usually a lot of work for much less money than you’d make in the private sector.

          Hope this helps – I’d be willing to trade email addresses somehow if you have more questions.

          • Anon3

            Thanks for your insights – I’m not the OP but this is really valuable information.

          • anon

            Original poster here. Thanks so much for the wardrobe advice – it was really helpful! I’m so glad I checked with corporette before showing up in an inappropriately casual outfit!

            AIMS, I am familiar with Pangea – they have nice stuff, though sometimes pricey. Have you ever checked out Ten Thousand Villages, if there’s one near you? Similar stuff and occasionally some lovely jewelry.

            International Development Professional, thank you for the tips on informational interviews and NGO’s in general – also very helpful. I would very much appreciate trading email addresses so that I could ask you a few more questions, if you are willing. Anyone know how to do this, other than setting up a temporary email account and sharing the address here (not ideal)?

          • International Development Professional

            @anon – I think setting up an anonymous email is the only way, but fortunately I have one :). It’s non.anon at yahoo dot com.

          • anon

            THIS!

            You are SO right on with your comment about career switchers. I have been in international development for 10 years now and repeatedly meet mid-career switchers who come to interview with us because they have decided to “take it easy” or “do something fun and interesting.” Most of them seem to think they are trading down by working at a nonprofit. Most people also think any nonprofit would be lucky to have them simply because they worked in the corporate sector. So far from the truth… it’s a more complicated job because the ultimate mission is much harder to define than profits (e.g. if we help this low income community get into farming, are we encouraging them to encroach upon forests?), the resources available are fewer (no expense accounts or money to hire temps to do grunt work) and the field is fiercely competitive because of the responsibility one can enjoy relatively early in their career. If you are looking to switch to a nonprofit career so as to have better work-life balance or because you want to travel, please know that most nonprofits will sense that you are not doing this because you are passionate about their cause.

          • Entry Level Professional

            International Development Professional,
            I know these posts are a few months old, but I found your information regarding interviews within the international development sphere extremely helpful. I am a fairly recent grad (class of ’10) and I am currently applying to a variety of nonprofit places in DC, NY and Boston. I would love to ask you a few questions via email if you are willing. I have consulted several colleagues/professionals within the field and academic advisers about my resume and overall application, but I would love to hear your perspective as an experienced interviewer.

            Thank you!

  14. Monday

    Following up on my threadjack a while back about moisturizing products for curly hair: I wanted to let anyone also wondering know I’m having success with a brand called Use Me. My sister let me try it out while I was visiting her, and I soon bought my own! I have a moisturizing conditioner, which you use in the shower (it’s just called “moisturizer for dry or coarse hair”) and then a creme for after the shower called “curl up and shine.” The stuff is not cheap, but it’s the first that has actually worked for me. It’s all vegan and sulfate/paraben-free, and I love the scent.

    • somewhere(less)cold

      Thanks for the recommendation! Do you get this at the drugstore/Sephora/other?

      Also, “curl up and shine” reminds me of this hair salon that I always giggle about when I drive by–Curl Up and Dye. Just wanted to share.

  15. Makeup Junkie

    thanks to the Corporette who recommended Dr. Scholl’s flats! I got them in the mail yesterday and I love them.

  16. Lyssa

    Thought that you big city gals would get some Friday amusement out of laughing at us flyover hicks:

    I’m at a depo today in my medium-sized southern city. Went into the building (which, in my defense, I had parked underneath in such a way that I couldn’t see the building from the street) and found that it had more than one set of elevators, for different floor groupings, something that I’d probably only seen on vacations.

    I had to go to suite 2500- so, I got on the first set of elevators, thinking that I had to go to floor 2. Well, it didn’t go to floor 2, so I thought that maybe it meant the second floor from the main, or something. Well, that didn’t work, so I rode back down and wandered over to the security desk to ask what floor I needed to go to. Security guy says “mumble mumble fifth”, I said “fifth floor, OK” and he says, “No, twenty-fifth floor”.

    Yes, ladies, it had not occurred to me that, in a building over ten stories, I would have to look at the first *two* digits of the suite number to get the floor.

    • Duckie

      Apparently your mid-sized city has taller buildings than DC! Don’t feel bad.

    • AbbyA

      Love this! In North Dakota, the state capitol building, at 18 stories, is by far the tallest building in the enitre state. It would not readly occur to one that an office building would be 25 or more stories high.

    • ElevenElle

      I grew up in a small town in Alabama where there weren’t even any buildings with elevators other than the hospital. I seriously had only been in them at the hospital until I moved to Atlanta.

  17. dc lady

    anyone attend the battle of the law bands last night in dc? while there were more men performing overall, the women that got up there were amazing! so inspiring.

  19. M

    I am a complete klutz and fell walking back from a meeting the other day (right in front of Grand Central, so every commuter/tourist in the city could see me) and tore a hole in the knee of my favorite suit.

    Anyone had any luck contacting the manufacturer for a replacement pair? It is a Theory suit, if that makes a difference.

    • RRugosa

      Speaking as a fellow klutz, I’m sorry this happened to you. If the suit has been dry-cleaned a few times, the new pants might still look different from the jacket :(

    • zelda

      never tried to get a replacement pair (a rip not due to normal wear and tear doesn’t seem like it would generally be covered), but if it’s your favorite suit and the tear is clean i recommend looking into getting the damage rewoven!

      there aren’t that many places that do it, but i live in chicago and have had great luck with without a trace (http://www.withoutatrace.com/reweaving.html), which does accept pieces by mail.

    • Anonymous

      Every Theory suit I’ve seen is sold as separates. Their flagship is in lower Manhattan (Meatpacking, if i remember correctly). Since it sounds like you are in NYC, I’d take the pants in there and have the sales associate run a search.

      If it’s their signature light wool fabric (Tailor is the fabric name), they put that out every season, so buying a replacement should be a snap.

  20. Bunkster

    My post is stuck in moderation so I’ll just repost without the links. There’s a big Boden sale going on right now. I just bought the Poppy Love Spring shift in Natural and the Terrazzo Notch Neck shift in Sailor.

  21. K

    Just need to share my embarrassing moment of the day…

    I’m going to a good friend’s wedding this weekend & wearing a pretty, bright pink strapless silk dress. I’m very fair & normally stay out of the sun, but I will get airbrush tans for special occasions. I went last night to get airbrushed before the wedding, since I didn’t want to look washed out against my dress.

    Anyway, the airbrush machine wasn’t working properly & wasn’t spraying out enough solution as it should, so the technician went over me twice instead of once like she normally does, so I’d get enough color. Well, I woke up this morning, showered off the bronzer/excess, and I AM SO TAN. Like, bordering on Snooki/orange tan. I am mortified! I almost worked from home today to save myself the embarrassment of having to go into the office, but then something came up and I had to go in.

    So now I’ve sequestered myself at my desk for the rest of the day & am trying to avoid human contact. Fortunately, it’s pretty dead in here and no one’s said anything. But I am so mortified. I can’t wait to go home and take another shower and pray that it fades away enough before the wedding tomorrow night! Ugh…if only I wasn’t so vain sometimes…:)

      • K

        That’s my plan. Unfortunately all of my dresses with sleeves are too “wintery” for an outdoor, summer wedding, but I’m planning on bringing a wrap to help cover up some of the Snooki-ness if it doesn’t fade well tonight.

    • Fiona

      Oh no, how embarrassing! I am also very fair and have had an incident or two with spray tans. Do you have access to a pool? One thing that might help is going swimming in a pool with chlorine for a little while – it should bleach out the tanner a little bit.

    • ElevenElle

      Bathe in lemon juice. Heh, but get pictures first. This is definitely one you’ll look back on and laugh.

      • KW

        I was just going to suggest lemon juice. That and exfoliating should help a bit. Good luck!

    • ML

      Lemon juice WORKS. I’m just not sure how to do it so that it fades evenly. But i’ve used to get too-dark patches around my ankles, etc. and it works great.

  22. ElevenElle

    Half off Depot posted this deal today: “$99 for 6 Laser Hair-Removal Treatments on Small Body Areas at Skin Matters ($1,440 Value)”

    I would LOVE to get my underarms done (which count as a small body area) but I don’t know anything about the location doing it. How dangerous is this?
    Here’s the description of the place offering the deal: “Skin Matters is one of the premier medical spas in the Atlanta area, bringing you professional skincare for more than a decade and offering more than 33 collective years in the skincare industry. Experienced aesthetician and laser specialist Lisa Johnson Mangrum and her licensed professional team use carefully calibrated cosmetic procedures and the highest quality of equipment in the field of cosmetic lasers.”

    • PollyD

      I think it’s hard to get a good read on the quality of these places. That said, I decided to go ahead with lower leg treatments at an American Laser Center a couple of years ago. Googling the place just found people upset about payment plans (I didn’t care because they gave me such a good deal I could put the whole thing on my credit card and pay it off that month), and upset that hair loss wasn’t as good as they wanted. I take complaints about efficacy with a grain of salt – the procedure is NOT guaranteed to result in permanent hair loss, I think they are only allowed to claim hair reduction, not even sure if the FDA lets them say “permanent”. Plus, it works best if you have very pale skin and dark hair, which I did. At the place I go, nurse practitioners perform the treatments, which made me feel a little better. If you are fairly pale and have dark hair, you don’t really have to worry about burning, but it’s always a possibility. See if you can get some EMLA, I did find the treatments sort of painful, but underarms are much smaller than legs so at least it doesn’t take as long.

      I will say I am very happy I decided to do this. I can go a few days without shaving (probably more, I’m just a little obsessive) and I don’t get a “5 o’clock shadow” on my legs by the end of the day anymore. What hair does grow back seems to be finer, too, which I am pleased about. Also, my legs don’t seem to be as itchy as they used to get before I started. Not sure if it’s because I’m shaving less or was allergic to my own hair or something.

  23. Janie

    Another embarrassing moment today! Just realized I’d been walking around all day with the bright red dry cleaning tag still on my black pants – attached to one of the belt loops. Whoops.

  24. So Glad It's Friday

    Long-time lurker here. Does anyone have recommendations for a great line of jeans made for petites? I’m in the market for a nice new pair of dark wash denim, but I’d prefer not to have to get them hemmed (and I’m short — 5’4″).

    Thanks in advance!

    • AIMS

      Anthroppologie sells a pair of jeans, I forget the name, that’s just for petites. Levi’s does some jeans by inseam so you can get one just right for you. If all else fails, look for “ankle” length — I am about 5’4 and that fits me just right.

      • AIMS

        Oh — not sure where you are but — if you have a uniqlo store near you, they have great jeans, super cheap, and they do free hemming in-store.

  25. counselorcap

    Anything that cheap makes me suspicious. I’d have to see the fabric in the store.

  26. V

    I got it and like it a lot. I think it can definately fly at work for a comfy Friday. That being said, I’m at a suburban firm in the NYC area where, generally, the style is a notch or so below that of a Manhattan firm, so YMMV if your firm is filled with snappy dressers.

Back to Top

About

Work with Corporette®

Serious Stuff

work fashion blog press mentions