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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 125 Comments · by

Frugal Friday’s TPS Report: Pencil Skirt

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

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. MICHAEL Michael Kors Pencil SkirtI am loving the black and white patterns that are everywhere this season. This pencil skirt from MICHAEL Michael Kors is great — I particularly like the way it's a ponte knit but looks almost like a tweed from far away. It was $80, but is now marked to $47.70 at Dillards. MICHAEL Michael Kors Pencil Skirt (Note that Nordstrom has the skirt in plus sizesicon for $89.50.) Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-3)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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

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About Kat

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

Comments

  1. Sydney Bristow

    My favorite skirt is a ponte knit pencil skirt from this brand. Excellent quality and I found it ran slightly big.

  2. EC MD

    Sorry for the early threadjack, but I just need to tell you all how much your support means — I had a crazy day yesterday (finding out I passed, moving out of my house, doing a clinic) and I didn’t have time to fully digest all the comments and good wishes til late last night. I had no idea when I asked for a little luck what the overwhelming response would be. Thank you all so so much.

    And to bring it back to more superficial pursuits, I’ve decided to buy my first real bag to celebrate the win. I ordered this one:

    http://tinyurl.com/3llslhb

    I can totally see why Cole Haan is the gateway bag to designer bags (my husband was lobbying for a leather Longchamp that was indeed gorgeous, but twice as much.

    Anyways, you all made my week. Thank you so much.

    • AIMS

      That bag is gorgeous!
      Congrats again :)
      It really is a fantastically lovely community here.

    • Sydney Bristow

      I missed your post yesterday, so congratulations!! That is a gorgeous bag!

    • lostintranslation

      The bag is so gorgeous and stylish! I think it will never go out of style. Congratulations on your boards!!

      • curious

        The funny thing is, all handbags go out of style. And they also wear out much qicker than you would think. Plus they get so dirty inside and there is no way to clean them.

        I have decided to stop buying the expensive bags. I can go to Marshall’s each season and find a good-looking stylish handbag for sometimes under $20.00. At the end of the season I can toss it out with no regrets.

        What is the handbag mystique anyway? I have asked several intelligent men about this and they definitely do not think a handbag is an attractive part of a woman’s attire!

    • IA_Eng

      I didn’t get a chance to comment yesterday, but a belated congratulations! And that is a lovely bag that I’m sure will be a nice reminder of your acheivement.

    • SF Bay Associate

      Gasp! That bag is *gorgeous*! Congratulations on your spectacular success!

    • Silicon Valley in House

      Congratulations again! I have this bag on the green (after seeing it here) and LOVE it!

    • Anon

      Ha ha. The gateway bag! I purchased the Vintage Valise Claire (slightly smaller than Kendra without the shoulder strap) in the brown color and I completely agree. I’ve been using it for about a month now and I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on it.

      Congrats on your acheivement, and enjoy you bag!

    • Nonny

      Excellent choice of bag, and congratulations again not just on passing, but also on getting through such a hectic and stressful week.

    • Unsub

      Congrats to you. My black Cole Haan is my absolutely favorite bag and looks great 5 years after I bought it. Way better than some of my bags that cost three times as much.

      Enjoy your success!!

  3. smashed3L

    Sorry for the immediate threadjack, BUT
    graduating 3L, employed (yay!). Just did my exit interview from a practicum related to my job next year. After a pretty good semester of working together (no major problems or corrections, lots of meetings and communication, all assignments completed with only minor edits), my supervisor gave me a scathing exit interview. Not one positive thing and a pile of personal insults (along the lines of “you’re just not cut out for this work.”) No specifics. I’m grateful to know not to ask him for a reference (seriously, I wouldn’t have known otherwise). But it seemed so unproductive and just cruel to throw it at me today, on my last day.

    So I’m going to see this supervisor again (small market) and I’m feeling so humiliated and crushed. Any advice on (1) follow-up with the supervisor, if any; and (2) how to get through the day? I feel like I can hardly face my colleagues and I’m dying to go home.

    • Cat

      What a horrible and bizarre experience – exit interviews / reviews should never be a surprise! Do you have any colleagues that you’re closer with that you could quietly sound out to see if anything similar has happened to them?

    • eaopm3

      I don’t think you can do anything to “fix” what happened, if in fact, there is anything to be fixed at all. I would always say positive things about your practicum experience and your supervisor if asked leave it at that. This is the kind of experience that you ought to take to make you more determined to succeed. It’s almost better that you are going to see the supervisor again – every small victory you have that he or she gets to witness will prove his or her judgment about you wrong. I feel that way every time I go to court and win a motion in front of members of a firm that chose not to hire me (as a summer, but still).
      Are you at the practicum or are you in class? If you’re in class and you want to go home, do it! I know many Corporettes would disagree with me, but the days in law school when I felt I simply couldn’t take another minute, I allowed myself to leave. Take yourself out to lunch, have a glass of wine and take a walk outside. You’ll feel better about everything. Congrats on your upcoming graduation and your employment!

    • lostintranslation

      I would be crushed as well (I’m at the end of grad school and guessing we’re about the same age). I would maybe take a walk, treat yourself to a latte, or download one or two cheerful or peppy songs if you have an iPhone. You’ll get through this!

      • JAN

        Ughhh… I am sure you feel as though you have been punched in the stomach. To the extent anything said during the exit interview was constructive, learn from what was said. Try your best to forget everything else.

        This happens to the even the best of us (including people I know who have easily made partner at very top tier firms). Amazingly, it sometimes does not take much or anything at all to rub people the wrong way.

    • CW

      That’s so terrible; I’m sorry. Was your exit interview with this supervisor, or did someone else relay his comments?

      Either way, I think that if you want an explanation you should follow up with him and say, “I’ve been thinking about my exit interview, and I would like to follow up with you about some of the feedback you provided. Would you please explain more fully what you meant by X? What do you think I could have done differently?” Based on his past behavior, I don’t know if he will provide any constructive feedback. If nothing else, it will confirm that he’s a jerk.

    • PollyD

      That does seem strange and I agree that it might be a good idea to try to find out discretely if this person typically reacts this way to departing students.

      Interestingly, I was just talking about something similar with a colleague the other day. Both of us have had the experience of getting along well with our thesis advisors, doing decent work, and then in the last couple of months of working together, having the advisor almost turn on us and say things similar to what you heard – we didn’t work hard enough, it’s doubtful if we’ll succeed in our fields, etc. We decided that it’s sort of like the separation process teenagers go through when they get ready to leave home for college – be really rude to mom and dad and act like home is miserable so you won’t so much mind leaving it. Maybe some supervisors do a similar thing – they hate to see their students go, so convince themselves that the students are bad so they WANT the students to go. I know that a few years after I left my thesis lab, after my advisor had told me many hurtful things about my work habits and probable lack of success, I heard from people still in the lab that said advisor was saying things like PollyD was the best worker he’d had and had gotten so much done. Crazy.

      • Monday

        This. I had similar experiences toward the end of my PhD program: senior faculty who had always praised my highly suddenly getting very critical, often on grounds that I just didn’t get (after 5 years of very specific positive feedback). I took it hard, for a number of reasons: I valued their opinions, I was used to being validated by them, and their words have sway with others. But I agree, as PollyD says, that it seems to be in some ways about the process of changing from mentee to professional in your own right. There’s some awkwardness that some supervisors don’t handle well. The same guy who basically seemed to call me lazy, at the time, has bent over backwards getting opportunities for me, and has nominated me for a national award. Uh…?

        The good news is that, first of all, I heard that many of my colleagues had the same experience. Also, these same people have apparently said great things to their peers informally, and the ones that matter have given me glowing formal recommendations as well. I’m still very confused about those few painful episodes during the final months of my program, but they will recede from memory eventually. What matters is what has happened since, and what comes next, and so (as people have said): take care of yourself, put criticism to good use in any way possible, and just concentrate on doing your best going forward. That will speak for itself, and this will become a fluke in the past.

    • E

      Wow, thank goodness you’re onto a new position after graduation! I’d recommend you do your best to brush it off as much as possible.

      There might not be, but if there was any feedback you found valid (and not just weirdly insulting), I’ve found it helpful to summarize a few pointers in an email to myself and move on. That way it feels like I’ve “done something” with the information and I can stop dwelling on it. Of course, then I try to make improvements over the long run, but it really helps in the short run so that a whiff of criticism doesn’t completely ruin my day or week.

      In terms of following up, I don’t think there’s much you can do at this point to change his mind. I might pop by to say a last goodbye when you leave today with a quick, “just wanted to say thank you for supervising me this past semester/year and for your feedback. Hope you have a great summer.” That would be very professional and show you’re the bigger person, but if you don’t think you can handle it, I don’t think it’s necessary.

      If you run into him professionally in the future, there’s certainly no need to further acknowledge the feedback. And it will feel great to have him see you’re doing well in your career.

      Right now, I might go for a walk, get a coffee or a treat somewhere, repeat to yourself that this guy is crazy, and force yourself to smile. Head back to the office and go around to your coworkers this afternoon saying goodbye, thanking them if appropriate, telling them you hope to see them in the future, and wishing them a good summer. While your supervisor obviously had all sorts of feelings about you and your work that he managed to conceal until today, that’s definitely not normal and you should not worry that your coworkers all secretly think the same thing.

      *hug*

      • Hel-lo

        E is exactly right.

        It’s a great idea to write down the useful pieces, and let the rest go.

        If you can stomach stopping by some other day and asking for more constructive feedback, do it. But I doubt that I’d be able to do that if I were in your position. Just move on and chalk it up to experience. This will not be the last mean/unpredictable boss you will have.

        And in the meantime, drink a glass of wine.

    • Exit Stage Left

      I’m so sorry this happened to you. Very similar thing happened to me, but at least I knew it was coming. In terms of follow-up, when you see this person again, just be cordial and professional. No use bringing yourself down to their level. In terms of getting through the day, I recommend treating yourself to a nice lunch or treat at lunch, and telling yourself that, eventually, you do get to go home. If you already have a job (lucky lucky!) then this probably doesn’t matter. You’ll be fine. :-)

      • smashed3L

        Just wanted to say thanks. (I’ve been hiding in the ladies room, such a cliche! So just read your comments now). I’m here at the office for the rest of the business day. My closest friend here (a junior associate) is taking me to lunch, and we’ve talked before about how this supervisor is a really strange guy who runs hot and cold. I don’t think that I want to discuss this feedback though, because I don’t really want many others to know I got it.

        I also emailed a very close senior colleague from my summer internship (we’ve become friends and she helped a lot with my job hunt), and she wrote back immediately to say: “He’s a moron. Let’s have dinner next week.” She IS my reference, so I’m feeling a little better. I love the advice about showing him how well I do in the future.

        Countdown til 5 pm starts now! In the meantime, I’ve got some transition memos to finish :)

        • K

          If he is hot and cold, chalk it up to that. Especially since the facts reveal everything was fine. He obviously has a thing or two to learn about managing if his first criticism came in your exit interview.

          I know it is so hard to get past (something similar happened to me), but do your best to ignore him and take a fresh start with the new job.

        • Ann

          Something similar happened to my husband when he was finishing up his master’s – a member of his thesis committee who had been, previously, nothing but supportive, turned on him suddenly and wrote him a scathing letter after he defended his thesis about how his research hadn’t been any good, and she didn’t see him ever being successful in any kind of academic work. He was really taken aback – if she had problems with his research, those definitely could have been brought up well before the thesis had been accepted and defended – and also, she knew he wasn’t TRYING to work in academia, and in fact at the time of his defense had accepted a job with a big defense contractor.

          About a year later, we bumped into a man who had been a TA for this professor and he apologetically told my husband that Dr. Psycho had found out about my husband’s job, demonstrated insane jealousy, and wrote the letter out of spite, basically. I apologize if this offends anyone and I am not trying to generalize, but I think some people end up in academia because they haven’t experienced a lot of success in the business world – or are afraid to try – and then that leaves them in the position of feeling jealous of and threatened by their students if the students succeed. In my own graduate education, I have run into that more than once. Unless there are grains of truth about your performance in what this person said – and I mean concrete examples of how you did not perform – and it was mostly opinions, like “you’re not cut out for this work,” I would take it as someone who is experiencing sour grapes, or is just unprofessional, or both. People who really want you to succeed will offer criticism that is A. specific, B. relates directly back to your performance or your relationships, C. uses examples to make points, and D. leaves emotion and personal opinion out of it, unless you ask. Whenever I see scathing reviews that are almost all opinion and have little constructive information, I tell the employee to take it with a very large grain of salt, to take what they can out of it that is useful and discard the rest, and to allow themselves a set amount of time to feel bad about it, and then move on.

          I wouldn’t write the guy a letter, but I would maybe bring it up to a student advisor, program supervisor, or someone who has contact with students who work with this person, and not make it sound like a complaint but more like a “heads-up, I got the equivalent of a letter bomb from this guy, so you may want to keep an eye on his interactions with students.” They may or may not do anything with the info, but it would be good for him to know.

          And since your reference is fine with your performance, don’t worry. I doubt anything this person has to say is going to follow you around.

          • Cat

            Ann, well said. Even though I have yet to be the OP when you reply, I appreciate all of your consistently thoughful comments!

    • MelD

      Ugh- I am sorry. I had a similar experience in a review- nothing but glowing comments about how much better I was than the prior employee in my position- and then at the review I was told I was not getting a raise because I did not appear to be working up to my potential.

      I ended up asking other trusted employees discreetly if they had any idea what went on and I found out my direct supervisor was known for her laziness and had been trying to hand off some of her duties to me. When I wasn’t able to complete the duties of two people, she complained and that’s why I got the review. My guess is that you should be able to get similar information from trusted colleagues. Just because you got a scathing exit interview doesn’t mean that the other employees didn’t appreciate your work ethic.

      • Omega

        I agree with other commenters. Find out if he is typically like this. Similar thing happened to me when I was a SA. Our mid-summer review actually happened towards the end of the summer. One partner, who I thought liked me, gave me a bad review. I got back to my office and was in tears, thinking I wasn’t going to get an offer. My associate mentor helpfully told me that he does this every year and I certainly had nothing to worry about.

    • Divaliscious11

      Don’t sweat it. It’s one person’s opinion. I once worked for a guy, not directly, but who thought I couldn’t cut it because he didn’t think mom’s could be effective corporate associates/attorneys and made the mistake of saying it out loud to a friend (he had no idea as we didn’t have any recognizable links, but were from the same hometown) who was interviewing for my position. This morning, I noticed he’s been trolling my linked in profile. Little does he know, I manage about a million bucks in outside corporate spend and if he was the last lawyer on the planet, I’d take the malpractice risk and do it all myself before I sent a dime of it his way…..

      Be confident in yourself! Sift through the crappy feedback for any nuggets of truth or concern, create an active plan to improve and move on. Success is the best revenge……

    • Miriam

      Ugh that’s so terrible! I’m so sorry he did that, but honestly, if there were problems with your work he should told you much earlier so you had a chance to improve. It doesn’t sound like constructive criticism, and it just makes him look bad!

    • Anonymous

      No need to follow up. I’d let it be a motivation to prove him wrong! And if you have the chance, definitely warn future potential interns to stay away from that particular practicum. Seriously – he’s a bad supervisor, and a jerk. Don’t let it get to you.

    • Marie

      Don’t worry about fixing it, you don’t want to further engage this guy on this topic. However, you could, i.e., after you leave, first thing next week or whatever, perhaps write an email saying something like you really appreciated the experience working for him, you really appreciate the opportunity to learn about X, etc. In my experience, the people who blow up that way tend to have *really* big egos, and they also tend to forget about it really quickly. As in, if you wind up doing well, they will be telling everyone that you were their intern and you were the best ever. The reason for the email would be, that it feeds their ego a bit without actually engaging and ends things on good terms, which might make it easier for you, at least in your own head, to deal with this person down the road. It also gives him an easy path toward being much nicer down the road, when you meet in a professional setting or when your name comes up. (Plus, if he responds meanly to your appropriately worded email, you can just write him off as a total psycho.) Dealing with him is probably great training, it is very good to know how to deal with these people. The trick is to make him think you two are on good terms, while also never giving him another opportunity to burn you. Ever.

    • downtownist

      Wow! What a disappointing way to end your practicum and your year. One question – did you admire this person? I’m not saying we can’t learn from criticisms handed down by people we don’t like, but one thing that’s helped me in dealing with harsh feedback is to examine the person giving it and, before beating myself up too much about their negative comments, asking whether this is a person I truly wish to emulate. If the answer is no, then it’s easier to let the criticism roll off my back.

    • kellyn

      Man, I hate this! This happened to a friend of mine after successfully completing a clinic, where she was the only one in the clinic to argue an immigration case in federal court as a student. At the end, the clinic director, knowing that my friend had gotten into a very minor fender bender on the way to the exit interview, spent 20 minutes telling my friend that she would never make it in the field, that she was awful to work with, and her work ethic was crap.

      Well, that friend works for DOJ as an immigration clerk in the honors program, she graduated top of our class, and will likely go on to do amazing work in that field.

      This clinic director was a hot and cold, fickle lady. She knew what she was doing substantively, but man, she needed to work on her people skills. I HOPE that your supervisor is the same– its them, NOT you.

      And honestly, if it had been such a problem all along, why did no one say anything to you?! That just leads me to believe it’s him, not you.

      Rock on!

    • curious

      What I would do in a situation like this is: wait a littlewhile until you have cooled off.

      Then invite tis person to lunch saying – “You are in the best position to give me constructive criticism”. If it is a good restaurant he will probably say yes. At lunch, lisgen to what he is saying. Then tell him how badly what he said affected you (lost sleep, couldn’t eat – whatever). His reaction may surprise you! If he won’t join you for lunch, write a reasonable letter to you.

      I once had a problem with a federal judge. It was a non-jury trial and I won hands down, although the judge di not accept my theory of the case and inserted his own. At the hearing on the attorney’s fees award (and with my clients in the courtroom) he chewed me out for having been “too agressive”, and he denied all agttorney’s fees. I crawled away and moved to a didfferent state.

      A year later, I wrote to the judge, knowing I would never practice in his court again. I told him how hard I had worked on the (very inmportant) case, and how he had humuiliated me. How awful he had made me feel. I had already been paid by the client, so that part of it hurt the client, not me. The judge wrote me a beautiful letter of apology, and asked why I had not brought this to his attention much sooner. he said he had no intention of harming me.

      Interesting?

  4. Anonymous

    A question relating to the moving post earlier this week: Any recommendations for a brand of vacuum pack bags (to store sweaters, pillows, duvets, etc.). They seem like a good idea in theory, but I have found they reinflate so quickly. Has anyone had good luck with a particular brand? Thanks!

    • kz

      The PackMaxx brand works well. I have that and the Space Bag brand, and PackMaxx works much better.

  5. Lawyerette

    Stress vent-I’m waiting to hear from a firm I interviewed with about a month ago. Loved the firm and it’s my only prospect for when my current clerkship ends. Hiring partner told me one month and it was four weeks yesterday-sooooo stressed!!!! UGHHHH. I hate waiting for the phone to ring!

    • Honey Bear

      Will be sending positive vibes your way!! Just think, as corny as it sounds, I really do think everything happens for a reason. :)

    • Anon

      Sending positive thoughts your way, Lawyerette! What area of the law are you hoping to move into after your clerkship?

    • K

      Sending good thoughts your way! I just had an interview this morning and I’m really hoping it pans out because I’m in a similar situation with one job ending and not having something lined up yet!

    • kellyn

      The post-clerkship job hunt has been awful! I wish you luck, Laweyerette! I need some positive reinforcement in hearing about your hopeful success!

      …. remind me why this clerkship was a “good idea”?!

      Sorry, negative nelly right here. Frustrated to say the least.

      • Dee

        I was in your shoes a year ago. After sending innumerable resumes and cover letters apparently into the ether and a few interviews that ended up going no where, I was really depressed when my clerkship ended and I was unemployed.
        Fortunately, the judge I worked for kept talking me up to all her contacts which lead to one interview, which lead to another interview (an absolutely terrifying one that I was sure I flunked), which lead to me landing a job that is absolutely perfect for me.
        My best advice is to keep chugging away, and if at all possible communicate with your judge about your job search. I had to schedule myself onto my judge’s calendar to get her to sit down and talk to me about it, but once I made it clear to her just how bad the job market was, and just how hard I was trying, she really went to bat for me and it’s because of that that I have a job today.
        Good luck!

    • Bk foette

      Good luck – you are in my thoughts! I know how post-clerkship job search stress goes.

  7. Dee

    I’m hoping you Corporettes can give me some good recommendations: I work in a business casual environment and I have a green corduroy blazer from Anne Taylor that I wear all. the. time. I’m looking to diversify so I don’t wear the same fairly distinctive piece so much. Any recs for interesting jackets to wear with neutral slacks and a blouse? TIA!

    • houda

      I am dying for a dark red blazer. When it is very crisp, it makes you standout without being too loud.

      • Anne-on

        I’d check Boden for some more interesting jackets – they have a few with really cute detailing around the neck and sleeves. I’ve also picked up a few interesting ones at Macy’s this time of year – they tend to pair their colored blazers with spring dresses.

    • LawyrChk

      My favorites are a navy blazer with a subtle plaid/grey pattern and a light gray tweed blazer. They go with everything.

    • AIMS

      Agree on Boden.
      Also check nordstrom — they have some cute ones, and many on sale (check the “rack” portion of the site, too).
      Anthropologie can be hit or miss, but they sometimes have cute and different blazers.
      Finally, JCrew has some really fun options for summer. I have had good luck with their schoolboy blazers.
      If your office is business casual, this may work for you for summer:

      http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/blazers/schoolboy/PRDOVR~36897/36897.jsp

    • PollyD

      And, don’t forget – White House Black Market, the subject of a TPS (right?) just a few days back!

  8. Summer in the City

    Found out today that I got a post grad fellowship that I interviewed for. It’s in an area that I really want to work in and I see it as the first step into the industry that I hope to make a real difference in one day. So very excited and thrilled to FINALLY have some good news (even if it isn’t a full time paid “normal” job)!

  9. Ameila

    I can never find something in my closet to pair with this kind of skirt. Every combination always looks too “Frumpy Librarian.” (Not to imply all librarians are frumpy, just that they are bookish and academic, and therefore have a more conservative, classic look).

    • downtownist

      I could totally do this and not be frumpy. I’d pair it with a black top or do white blouse + black v-neck sweater on top. Gold jewelry or chunky red necklace. Voila.

    • Cat

      I would pair this skirt with a white cami and a colorful boyfriend sweater (buttoned at the waist and possibly belted) – maybe a sunny yellow or tangerine, or a light blue. Also, I’m thinking maybe a 3/4 length sleeve boatneck or crewneck knit top — something crisp looking to balance out all the knit.

    • MelD

      I would pair it with a bright belted cardigan or top. You could also do a black or white top with a bright belt and jewelry. I think it definitely calls for some bright jewel tones.

  10. Anon in California

    Threadjack: I just have to share my shock about something. Yesterday I watched arguments in the California Supreme Court because someone in my office had a case on. The attorney representing the defendant in the first case on the docket showed up to argue wearing a aline black cotton summer skirt (wrinkled, of course) with a hot pink cotton cardigan with ruffle flowers on it. No pantyhose.

    And, she was *arguing a death penalty case*!!!! I would have thought that respect for the gravity of the situation, her client, or the court, would have dictated some kind of suit, even if it was old and tattered. I was really appalled.

    • Eponine

      I haven’t been to court in several years, but I recall that where I practiced, even a justice of the peace would throw an attorney out of court for not wearing a jacket. I can’t believe that isn’t the norm still.

      • Anon in California

        I know, I was shocked! You can get away with a lot in superior court, but this was the state supreme court on a death penalty case for crying out loud. For what its worth, everyone else was in blue/black/gray suits.

    • Hel-lo

      Do you think it hurt her credibility with the court?

      Maybe she was either 1) so good that it didn’t matter what she wore, or 2) so bad that a suit wouldn’t have made a difference.

        • Anonymous

          No way, arguments are scheduled months in advance an she was the counsel on the briefs– not a last minute fill in. I saw some of the judges glance around at each other when she got up, though they seemed skeptical of her argument on the merits too.

        • Anon in California

          No way, arguments are scheduled months in advance an she was the counsel on the briefs– not a last minute fill in. I saw some of the judges glance around at each other when she got up, though they seemed skeptical of her argument on the merits too.

    • mamabear

      Clearly, she doesn’t read Corporette.

      I am wearing today basically the outfit you describe, but only because I work in a business casual office, where Fridays tend to be even more casual, and it was supposed to be hot today. I would not wear it for external meetings of any sort, let alone Supreme Court appearances. (Of course, as I am not an attorney I wouldn’t have a Supreme Court appearance anyway, unless I were to someday be a defendant – hopefully not on a death penalty case!)

    • Bonnie

      Not wearing a jacket is bad and she should have been admonished on that one but I don’t see anything wrong with her not wearing pantyhose.

  11. Poorva

    Another threadjack…

    Anyone got boot recommendations? I’m looking for low-heeled dress boots that I can walk a LOT in. (I’m going to be spending the winter in France, so stylish, practical footwear is a must. Plus, I have pretty severe back issues, so comfortable footwear is a priority for me.) Ideally, I’d like something in the $100-dollar range, but everything that’s recommended (Duo, Bern, La Canadienne) seems to be $3oo or thereabouts. Are there boots available for $100, or should I just suck it up and buy the expensive ones? One caveat is that I can’t do online shopping- I live in a part of the world most retailers don’t ship to, so I’m planning on buying boots when I come to the US in June. Brand and store recs in DC/NYC/Orlando would be much appreciated. TIA!

    • E

      I think it will be challenging to get boots in the US in June – not really the season. But, on the bright side, any boots you do find will likely be marked down.

      When in NYC, give Century 21’s shoe department a try. DSW is another place to look (probably locations in various cities).

      I know you said nothing online, but you might also want to give Zappos a try while you’re here and have it shipped (usually 1-2 day shipping is free) to where you’re staying. Return shipping is also free.

    • MelD

      I think you may have some difficulty finding anything in stores in June as it’s probably too early for the new fall boots and most of the prior season’s boot collection will be cleared out. You may be able to find some of last season’s boots at the department store outlets. In Orlando, here is a Nordstrom Rack by Mall at Millenia off Conroy, and Saks Off Fifth and Last Call for Neiman Marcus at the Premium Outlets off International Drive. I just went to Premium Outlet off Vineland and didn’t see much of anything in terms of boots there. The Mall at Millenia had all the boots on the sale racks by February, so I imagine there is nothing there at all now.

    • anon in texas

      I got some great ones on sale under 100 from Talbots outlet. They were suade, but really worth while.

      I think that if you’re looking NOW, you’re going to have diffculty finding some. The brands that I looked at Tsubos, Clarks, Borne, and Talbots.

    • Anonymous

      Try Clark’s in the online stores. I think they have some that are a good combination of fashion and comfort, and most are marked down for the season.

    • CW

      Could you maybe do online shopping and have the package shipped to your hotel in any of those cities? You could contact the hotel and see if they will accept a package for you. I used to have boxes shipped to various hotels for clients all the time – it was never a problem.

    • Caitlin

      I have a pair of Clarks that I’ve gotten compliments on and are pretty comfortable. They were only $80 (50% off though) when I bought them 4 years ago (and they’ve held up very well). I bought them at the Clarks store on Madison in Midtown Manhattan (45th St or so), but like the others said, I don’t know that they will have a lot of boots in stock in June.

      Maybe it would be worth emailing/calling some stores in advance to ask about the boots they might have in stock to save yourself some frustration.

    • PollyD

      Fourthing the Clarks rec. It probably will be tough to find boots in the stores, but Montgomery Mall (or Westfield Shoppingtown, whatever it’s called now) in Bethesda has a Clarks store, as does Tysons.

      I have also found AK Anne Klein ankle boots to be very comfortable (rubber bottoms) but a bit more stylish-looking than Clarks. I agree with the rec to see if you can ship stuff to your hotel, Endless tends to ship things to me within 2 days.

      • LTG

        Shoot I just noticed you can’t do online shopping. But maybe they are available at a store nearby.

    • mamabear

      Just to slightly disagree with prior posters, I think summer is an excellent time to buy boots! I bought my favorite chestnut riding boots last summer, new in the box, on ebay for $30.

      If you know your size in brands that typically fit you well, this could be a great strategy.

      • Eponine

        PS – if you’re in DC, look for them (and other brands) at the Comfort One Shoes chain. But you could also buy online and have them shipped to your hotel – Zappos and Endless both do 2-day free shipping so even if you’re only here for a few days it’d work.

        • Anne Shirley

          Since you have plenty of time, I’d go with La Canadienne. Shop around, coupon it up, keep an eye on Lord and Taylor. I’ve gotten 2 pairs there for under $100.

    • Poorva

      Thanks for the advice, everyone! There’s a Clarks store opening in the mall nearest to me, so I’ll be sure to check them out. The others sound great as well, and fingers crossed I should be able to find something!

  12. karenpadi

    Threadjack but first I’ll apologize if any of this comes off as insensitive.

    I often have first meetings with engineers who are immigrants from other countries. My problem is how to pronounce their names in meetings. I was raised to give a firm handshake (eye contact) and to repeat the person’s name when introduced (e.g., “Nice to meet you, John.”).

    However, the people I meet with tend to say their name quickly (and some, very quietly) so I end up butchering the pronunciation or resorting to “I’m sorry, I missed that.” I usually need to know who is who at the table for scheduling follow-up meetings so even if they use an American nickname or shortened version of their name, I still have to ask “Are you so-and-so?” with the requisite butchering, or sometimes I resort to spelling the name out or pointing to their name on the meeting invite (with the requisite apologies). I feel like I’m being very insensitive not getting their names right the first time (or the third time).

    To prepare for meetings, I review the list of attendees and try to pronounce each name (but my pronunciation nearly always turns out to be wrong). I’ve tried looking up pronunciations on the Internet but that has also turned out to be a waste of time. I’ve started jotting down a phonetic spelling of everyone’s name but that feels very rude.

    Does anyone have a resource for learning how to pronounce names from other cultures or pointers on how to deal more graciously with this? Thanks in advance!

    • mhu

      I have no special advice, but some consolation. If they live in the US they’re used to people having trouble with their names.

    • zelda

      as someone who is american but has a very ethnic (southeast asian) first and last name, i have to say – i am on the receiving end of this all the time!

      i think as long as the other person is gracious and legitimately makes an effort to pronounce it correctly, or says something like “[zelda]? i’m sorry if i haven’t pronounced that correctly – what is the correct pronunciation?” and actually listens to my response, it’s totally fine. what i don’t like is if i can tell if someone is going out of their way to avoid saying my name, or mumbles it because they are unsure of the pronunciation, or (perhaps even worse!) totally ignores my correction (i usually opt to say something like “oh, actually, it’s pronounced [zelda]”. if i went by an americanized nickname i think i would also want the other person to use my preferred name when addressing me, rather than trying to use my given name.

      if you have to use a phonetic spelling to help remember, i don’t think that’s offensive at all (and who would see it besides you?).

      • karenpadi

        Thanks! I am glad to know my efforts are appreciated. If they use an Americanized nickname (or a shortened version of their name), I use that in the meeting. I use their legal name in documents so I still need to match the nickname to the legal name.

        I sometimes end up using my notepad as a sketchpad/drawing board. So the engineers may be looking at my notes to make sure I have it right or even write on my notepad. It can get pretty interactive!

    • zelda

      oh, just thought about it some more. would it be easier if you instead said “hi, i’m karenpadi” while extending your hand? that way the other party would say their name, and you would then be able to hear how they pronounce it and repeat it.

      • Lady bug

        I like that. You could also ask people for their card so that you get the spelling correct.

      • karenpadi

        That’s what I do, it’s the repeating back of the name that is difficult. The name is usually unfamiliar to me and they, being engineers, don’t always have the best business etiquette and speak softly or very quickly. I usually miss whole syllables. :(

        • zelda

          ah, i see! i do not think i would find it offensive or awkward at all were you to say something like, “i’m sorry, i didn’t quite catch that.”

          i will say though that sometimes this can get awkward! usually the interaction happens mid-handshake, but it has sometimes happened to me that the other party needs me to pronounce my name two or three times…. which means that at that point we’re just kind of awkwardly holding hands. can’t be avoided, though.

    • Also

      I’m an attorney, and I interact frequently with clients from other cultures than me. Many are Asian (Korean, Vietnamese, Laotian, Filipino, Samoan, etc.), and many are indigenous from my region.

      I think writing down a phonetic spelling for you is not offensive at all. I do it all the time on my files. If you’re using a notepad, write down the phonetic spellings on one page, and then flip the page over to a clean one if you’re sharing the notepad.

      It’s also ok to attempt to pronounce it as best you can and say, “Am I saying it right?” and the listen as many times as you need to get it right. “And let me make sure I have the spelling correct,” would also be appropriate. I also say, “What would you like me to call you?”

      They know you’re having trouble with their name. I think the more humble and respectful you are, the better. (And for what it’s worth – it sounds like you’re being humble and respectful already.)

      If you’re having a big meeting with these folks, would it hurt to take a minute at the beginning and say, “Before we start, I’d like to make sure I have everyone’s names correctly spelled for the documents,” and go around the table?

    • LTG

      I am a 3rd gen. American with an Asian name that people frequently mangle, but is not actually difficult to say since the sounds occur in English, even occasionally in the same sequence. I am never offended by people who query me two, three, or even four times to get it right, even after I have repeated my name slowly twice. Sometimes spelling it out helps, and sometimes spelling it phonetically helps. However, I am not an engineer; I am a words person!

    • Miriam

      I think it’s actually very nice and respectful that you are putting in effort to get their names right. I’m sure some people would just forget about it. People mispronounce or misspell my name all the time! Obviously it isn’t that difficult, but I really don’t care. I’m used to it. I’m sure they are also and are not offended.

    • Eponine

      My name often gets butchered.

      I’d just repeat it as many times as necessary to make sure you get it right. E.g….
      “Hi, I’m Karenpadi.”
      “I’m Agnieszka. Nice to meet you.”
      “How do you pronounce it? A-ni…”
      “Agnieszka”
      “Anushka?”
      “Agnieszka.”
      “Agnieszka”
      “That’s right, you got it.”
      “Agnieszka.”

      The more you repeat it, the more likely you are to get it right.

      • SF Bay Associate

        I knew an Agnieszka in school. She was incredibly nice, so it killed me when I said her name wrong. Sometimes I managed to get it right and felt like doing a tiny victory dance for pronouncing her beautiful name correctly. It’s still the hardest name for me, along with the “ng” sound in Vietnamese.

    • Cginnyc

      Don’t beat yourself up too much over it – the fact that you are making an effort is pretty good. I am originally from a country known for its engineers with unpronounceable names and my name often gets butchered, even by close colleagues who have known me for years, but I know they mean well. Also if the sides were flipped i.e. you were going to work in their country, most people wouldn’t be able to say your name with the exact American accent. Make an effort to get it right and make sure you do get them to write down names for legal documents but don’t fret over it!

  13. JMC

    Hey NYC Ladies: Any advice for a fun bar in which to throw a graduation party? I don’t want to pay for everyone’s drinks but would love if they had some kind of open bar/bracelet thing where everyone could pay their own way. Thanks! I’ve been searching around but everyone on here has such good taste, I had to ask.

    • Nonny

      Love love love, and I would totally take it on a business trip, but then I am someone who typically accessorizes a grey or black business suit with a colourful handbag.

    • Anne-on

      Very cute, but with the color and the patent it might be a bit much for a business trip. You might also want to check out Cole Haan, as was mentioned upthread they’re running a 25% off sale and they have a “vintage valise” line that has a gorgeous green colored tote.

    • anon

      Love the color and shape but not a fan of it in that material. The fake croc with that shine looks kind of cheap to me. I think something bright in another material will look far more sophisticated.

    • Bonnie

      I don’t love the shine on this bag. It doesn’t look like a $300 bag to me.

  15. tranquiljd

    Heading back to the main topic for a split second – I bought this skirt at Nordstrom Rack for $29.97. Limited sizes left online, but if you’re near a brick-and-mortar store, it might be worth the trip. I love it – fits well, very comfy, and is extremely versatile. Wore it to work today and to a cocktail party afterward and got many compliments.

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