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Splurge Monday’s Workwear Report: Gillis Wool-Twill Midi Dress

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. We're picturing this Joseph dress buttoned all the way up, but you can also unbutton the top button for more of an army-green dress-coat kind of look. I like the details — the corded buttons, the thickness of the wool, etc. — and I think of Joseph as a brand where you're going to spend money on the tailoring and the fabrics more than any sort of ostentatious design. To that end, they've got a really great sheath dress if you're looking for a $500 sheath dress. The pictured dress is $626 at Net-a-Porter (marked down from $895). Gillis Wool-Twill Midi Dress A couple of more affordable alternatives are from Barneys and Splendid, and a plus-size options is at Talbots (also in other sizes). This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.

Sales of note for 12.13

  • Nordstrom – Beauty deals on skincare including Charlotte Tilbury, Living Proof, Dyson, Shark Pro, and gift sets!
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off everything, including new arrivals (order via standard shipping for 12/23 expected delivery)
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 400+ styles starting at $19
  • J.Crew – Up to 60% off almost everything + free shipping (12/13 only)
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything and free shipping, no minimum
  • Macy's – $30 off every $150 beauty purchase on top brands
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
  • Talbots – 50% off entire purchase, and free shipping on $99+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

292 Comments

  1. This dress is gorgeous. I like clothing in this “strict” vein though I think you have to be very thin to make it work.

    1. Disagree. What makes this work is the quality of fabric and expert tailoring. A very good tailor should be able to make this work on any body shape.

      1. I agree with Godzilla. For this kind of money, we should be able to get nice wool suits. Besides, this dress is better for svelte women with no tuchus as opposed to me; a stocky woman WITH a tuchus. When you have a body people will NOT look at your face, but if you have a stocky body, you need a cute face, like mine, to stop men from focusing on my tuchus! FOOEY!

    2. I kind of like it (even though this length would make me look stumpy).

      This is verging into Extra From Hamilton territory though.

      1. It’s perfect for dressing up as a pilgrim for thanksgiving without looking too costumey.

        1. I would just wear it to work when I had a day where I needed to feel extra in charge. Gorgeous!

      2. Thanks for the link to this blog — bookmarking (as well as the site for the scarf shop she mentions in the linked post . . . I am going to be in Paris for a few days in the spring and was looking for some new spots for shopping)!

    4. I’m still not sure how I feel about this dress. On one hand, I love that Army look and think it looks bad*ss. On the other, my immediate thought was “Jane from Tarzan.” But….I’m not sure that’s a bad thing? Maybe with a different belt? I’m still mulling over this one.

      1. I think either you have the confidence and style to wear this and look totally BA, or you don’t.

  2. There was a post late on the weekend open thread about US cities to visit during the holidays that are easily walk-able. My recommendation is New Orleans. We’ve been there a couple of times in December after Christmas. The weather is pleasant and you can easily walk the French Quarter to use Uber/Lyft or the street cars to get to other areas of the city.

    We booked tickets to Chicago, but this will be my first time visiting. It’s the off season so I got a good deal on a hotel through HotWire.

    1. My now-husband and i spent the time between Christmas and New Years in New Orleans when we were dating. We had a great time. Second this rec.

    2. agree! Weather in New Orleans is mild in December French Quarter is beautiful/walkable. Make restaurant reservations ahead of time…it can get busy with visitors and locals around the holidays.

    3. another great city to visit is Charleston! walkable, amazing restaurants, on the water

        1. The past couple of times I’ve booked an flight + hotel package through either Delta or Southwest and we’ve stayed at the Marriott on Canal Street. It’s close to the St. Charles street car stop and close to everything in the French Quarter. Previously we’ve stayed at the Hotel Mazarin.

          We’re huge fans of craft cocktails and these are some of the places we visit each time:

          Latitude 29 – Tiki drinks and food. Try the Missionary’s Downfall. It’s like a rum smoothie with pineapple and mint.

          Sazerac Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel – They serve drinks only, but there’s also a restaurant in the hotel. I don’t remember the name. It’s beautifully decorated around the holidays.

          Compere Lapin – Expensive, but some of the best food I’ve eaten.

          Arnaud’s French 75 – Haven’t eaten at the restaurant, but the bar is beautiful. Hard to believe such a classy place is so close to Bourbon Street

          Jimmy J’s & Ruby Slipper Cafe – had good breakfast food at both places.

          Killer Po Boys in the back of the Erin Rose bar

          Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone – Try and get there early so you can get a seat at the bar.

          Bar Tonique – This looks like a neighborhood dive bar, but they serve yummy cocktails.

          You can find more recommendations on Thrillist and the Trip Advisor forums.

          1. LOVE Latitude 29! Headed back to nola in the spring (long after mardi gras) and I’m saving these reccs.

        2. We did an awesome air bnb!

          Loved brunch at Brennan’s, the Port Orleans brewery, Magazine street in general, La petit grocery (sp?), the Rum Room, Shaya, and the Standard for eating.

          Frenchman street for general fun (instead of Bourbon street)

        3. Just so folks know, this was not me asking for recommendations in my own city. Wanted to jump in and say that, yes, weather can be mild at that time of year, but it can also be that wet windy cold. A few years ago, a friend who is from here and lives in DC now came to visit that week and the weather was decidedly not mild!

          La Petite Grocery is awesome, as is Coquette. There are some newer restaurants on Magazine that are getting good press. Be aware that Shaya is in dispute between John Besh and Alon Shaya and Alon Shaya is no longer associated. Domenica (in the Roosevelt) is another Besh restaurant. They’re all good, but there has been a major scandal over sexual harassment at Besh restaurants and John Besh has been removed. Willa Jean is the only one with a female chef.

  3. We booked a beach getaway for the week of Xmas! Looking for recommendations for a beach hat that keeps the sun out but also looks cute. Ideally <$50.

    1. Sol a Mer. Over your budget but the best hat you will ever own and will last for years.

    2. Goorin Brothers makes a great straw floppy hat. I hunted for years and finally sprang for one of theirs because I need a hat in a size L as opposed to “one size fits all”. I don’t see the exact hat I purchased, but it’s very similar to “Shalone” one on their site. It’s held its shape well even though I stuffed it in a suitcase/drawers, and it is very comfortable.

      1. Um, are you me? I need a size L hat as well and bought the Lucy from Goorin Brothers.

        They do have the Shake It style (only in size L) for $60.

    3. I always say this but buy your hat at your beach destination. That’s where all the hat shops are, and even a crushable hat will look its best pre crushing, so if you buy it there, it’ll look its best on your trip. And then when you’re home you can say “oh, this is the hat I picked up in Maui”

  4. What are folks reading these days / over the holiday weekend?

    I just finished Ali Smith’s Winter and am reading the Whole Brained Child and Lincoln in the Bardo (which I’m thoroughly perplexed by).

    2. I really liked The Hate U Give, I LOVED This is How it Always Is. It was the kind of book that I was wondering what the characters were doing while I was at work.

      1. +1. Just read This Is How it Always Is. Loved it, gave it to my mom and my best friend to read too.

    3. Just finished and loved A Gentleman in Moscow. Started on Sloane Crosley’s new novel The Clasp.

      1. I started A Gentleman in Moscow, but it hasn’t sucked me in yet. Hope to finish it but I do hate slogging through a book.

        1. Haven’t read Gentleman yet, but Rules of Civility took me a looong time to get into. But once it got going it turned into one of my top reads of 2017. So I’d recommend sticking with it!

        2. Rules of Civility is one of my favorite books. I could not finish A Gentleman in Moscow and finally gave up.

        1. That’s too bad! I love her short stories so was really looking forward to this one.
          I have Towles’ Rules of Civility on request at the library, too. I realized I need to read more novels that make me happy because the newspaper is just too much these days.

          1. I LOVED Rules of Civility. I actually enjoyed it even more than A Gentleman in Moscow.

    4. I’m reading The Radium Girls, about the women who worked in WWI-era factories painting with glow-in-the-dark paint made with radium and their subsequent illnesses and lawsuit. It’s grim, but very well written and I can’t put it down.

      2. I just finished that! SO good, although i did have some wicked anxiety dreams about my teeth and jawbone falling out.

      3. I’m next on the library hold list for that! I’m hoping my number comes up this week so I can read it over the weekend.

    5. I just finished Killers of the Flower Moon, which was terribly sad and made me angry, and am now reading Grey Matter:A Neurosurgeon Discovers the Power of Prayer… One Patient at a Time.

    6. Give Lincoln in the Bardo a chance. I was so confused until I was about 75 pages in. But then I thought it got SO good.

      1. I listened to the recorded book version of Lincoln in the Bardo and it was incredible. I think it would have been a tough read but it was a fantastic performance (all the different actors helped me keep the different characters straight).

    8. Lincoln in the Bardo perplexed me until the last page. I didn’t dislike it, per se, but I also think I didn’t quite “get” it.

      I read The Sun is Also a Star last week and keep thinking about it. Same with Turtles All the Way Down. There are some really, really good YA fiction novels out there.

      I’m reading Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret because I desperately needed something light this past week. I finished What Happened yesterday (I’m still with her), and I’m partway through The Obstacle is the Way (not loving it, who is this dude to talk about obstacles?) and the second Outlander book (tore through the first one in days. I’ve been reading the second one for two months.)

      Trying hard to finish 10 more books before the end of the year to hit my goal. Next up on my list is The Forever War and Catching Homelessness. I’m also trying to read a book off of a list I made in high school of 100 books I wanted to read (with reasons why I wanted to read them). This is proving difficult, because high school me was extremely pretentious and there are not that many books on my very-highbrow list that I want to read now. It will probably end up being Man’s Search for Meaning (high school me “Kind of Aristotelian!”), The Marriage Pact (high school me “Uh, Jeffery Eugenides and I are like BFFS.”), Notes from a Small Island, or The Great Railway Bazaar.

      1. The Marriage Plot is really, really good, though. Especially if you were an English major.

      1. I had such high hopes for Manhattan Beach, but was really disappointed. It was fine, but didn’t live up to all the hype around it.

    10. I would love to hear more about Lincoln in the Bardo. I heard George Saunders speak recently and I found him compelling. The reading did not pull me in, though.

      1. I loved Lincoln in the Bardo, but it did some time to get the writing style – maybe two chapters? It’s written from multiple perspectives, with a combination of historical and fictional sources. Each block of text cites a source at the end. Some are actual letters or articles, some are fictional characters. Once the flow made sense, I was completely captivated. The odd form makes it possible to deal with broad themes – war, slavery, what we need in a president – alongside very personal themes of death, love, and faith.

    11. I have the Hamiltome to read this weekend (and my tickets for the spring just arrived . . . SQUEEEEEEEE)!

      I also have How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids on hand based on recs on this s i t e. I plan not to read it in front of my MIL without a cover over it.

      I am halfway through Questlove’s Something to Food About and am enjoying it . . . but I think it is best read in smaller pieces (which is why I am only partway through it).

      Trevor Noah’s memoir Born a Crime was very good.

      1. Ms B, I like your style—Born a Crime was awesome and thinking of stealing the MIL idea.

      2. +1 for How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids – it’s so good (and a little scary for this pregnant lady, but still so good).

      3. Just a second opinion, I don’t recommend Born a Crime– it’s interesting to learn about something I don’t know much about but the characters are so unlikeable I quit about a third of the way in. It’s an easy read but not a particularly enjoyable one (though there are occasional funny parts).

    12. I am getting started on The Indifferent Stars Above. Been on a nonfiction kick for a while.

    13. Sourdough by Robin Sloan is a quick, fun read, as is The Misfortune of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton.

      1. Seconding Sourdough, reading it right now & enjoying it. Just finished The Address and Cork Dork. Those were good too. Up next is The Necklace.

    15. Have to admit that after binge watching Big Little Lies I am on a Liane Moriarity kick. Just finished What Alice Forgot and liked it a lot. Next up: The Husband’s Secret.

      1. I’m in the middle of The Husband’s Secret right now. Have you read Truly Madly Guilty? Loved that one as well.

    16. I’ve been on a huge nonfiction/memoir kick recently. I started The Smartest Kids in the World last night and I’m really enjoying it so far. I just finished It’s Not Yet Dark, which is a quick but incredibly moving read.

    17. I finished 1Q84, then read Discovery of Witches (which I think I got from a recommendation here) and will probably read the second book of the trilogy this week.

      I just started Hillbilly Elegy and like it so far.

  5. Help me find a one day a week uniform!

    I’ve been appointed an adjunct professor at a local university law school. I have a very casual job and don’t have a lot of nice clothes. I’d like a go-to outfit for the 12 weeks of the class. My typical style is very understated and monochrome (gray, black, sometimes a dark purple), with skinny pants/jeans and boots and flowy tops. I’d like to buy a few items that I can wear interchangeably for the entire semester and feel confident when I’m secretly a little overwhelmed!

    Thanks.

    1. Get a swacket or two and wear with your regular clothing. YMMV since it’s a law school but unless professors came from industry, they were usually dressed in academic schlub attire.

      1. Most academics (except for advanced career and some in the business school) don’t make a great deal of money, so forgive us for not dressing as stylishly as you.

          4. “Schlub” is perfectly descriptive. I did not read it as judgey at all.

        2. You can dress “stylishly” in inexpensive clothing. So not making a great deal of money is really not a reason.

          2. You can, but it’s much harder. You have to have a knack for putting outfits together if you’re shopping at places like marshall’s. By contrast, you can walk into Nordstrom and have a stylist put a few outfits together.

      2. Law school professors dress a lot better than most academics. Most of my full-time law school profs wore business casual clothes and the adjuncts (who were usually working professionals who came in to teach night classes) usually wore suits, but presumably because that’s what they’d been wearing all day at work.

    2. Even if you’re not a dress girl, my MM LaFleur Etsuko dress is golden. I have it in two colors and it is just perfect. If I had to own only one dress, this would be it. [If budget is a huge concern check out lands end’s sleeved sheaths and get some funky scarves.]

      Also, if you know your DVF size (I can’t wear her wraps, but the print shifts and shirtdresses are fun), you can get steals on eBay.

    3. I would pick up two ponte blazers to wear with your skinny pants/jeans – maybe one a lighter grey and one black. Change up the looks with a stronger color in your top or pant or scarf.

    4. Consider what will be comfortable to wear when standing for a longish time relative to many office jobs. I am a full time academic and it only took a few classes before I realized that teaching in any kind of heel was a fool’s errand unless you are a heel superhero.

      Also, if you wear a skirt or dress, I encourage you to make sure it goes at least to your knees or even an inch lower. If you drop something (chalk, marker, clicker, notes, etc.) you want to be able to get it quickly without risking your modesty. I know that sounds archaic and sexist. Unfortunately, IME a lot of young male students will have some maturing to do and I was once rather upset by some audible snickers once even though nothing of interest was showing.

    5. I agree with the suggestion of a few blazers to dress up what you’ve got. Also perhaps a skirt or two? I’d go with a-line because that’s my preference, but pencil skirts would probably work too with what you’re describing.

  6. Has anyone tried MM LaFleur’s Prospect Puffer? It seems like the answer to my coat woes, but I’m hesitant to drop $600 on a coat when I can’t find any reviews.

    1. I have not, but I love how it looks! I’m actually looking for a new coat, maybe I’ll stop into the Chicago store to try it.

    2. I haven’t, but I have the same question about MM’s Bianca coat. Anyone tried it? Is it warm?

  7. Is everyone’s office totally dead today? Mine is so quiet. I planned to come in all week to get some work done, but I can already tell that I’m going to be distracted because it’s so quiet and do a lot of online shopping…ugh!!!

    1. YES. My office also has a weird policy where we need to ensure that there are bodies in the office for ‘coverage’ (even though 99% of what I do can be done remotely). This plus my ‘I don’t want to make my staff work Black Friday because they’re going away to visit family’ attitude means I’m working a full week minus Thursday.

      Bright side: wearing a new Boden Ottoman shift dress that 100% feels like pajamas.

      1. thank you for doing this for your staff. I’m the youngest (although not the most recently hired) attorney in my office and because all of my colleagues have kids/family/etc, I’m the default “coverage” person for all holidays. I’ll be here all week, except thursday, too.

    2. I had one meeting scheduled for today, and the other person did not show. My one staff member is clearly suffering with a cold, so I suggested she go home and rest to see if she can get better before 21 guests arrive at her house on Thursday. I hope I get a lot done in my quiet office this week!

    3. YES. Lord help me – I need to get through this day. It’s my only full day this week. 1/2 tomorrow and then FREEDOM.

    4. I wish it was dead! We’re gearing up for our big end of year push, so I have exactly 90 minutes unscheduled today, including time for lunch. Oof.

    5. I’m in a weird dead-slow-but-important-work phase. Like it’s so quiet here, but there are important things that will come across my desk ~sometime today~ that I have to be ready to turn immediately… but in the meantime, it’s so so dead. I’m working on my boring backlog projects and wishing that the few remaining people who are here weren’t here so I could blast some pop music.

  8. I received a huge car rental claim for major damage to a car I didn’t rent. The bill is for several thousands and looks legit so my best guess is someone impersonated me. I don’t think I’ve ever even rented a car before. Should I call them first to get more details or contact someone specializing in this? Do I ignore it? Please reply if you know someone (I’m in FL but I assume for initial consultation, it doesn’t really matter?) I know I was a part of the Anthem BCBS leak, possibly Target and Experian too. Thanks so much ladies. I hate that this is ruining my Thanksgiving :(

    1. I’m not a lawyer so maybe someone will have better advice, but it seems sensible to start by calling the car rental agency (especially if it’s one of the national brands), finding out if the bill really came from them, and explaining your story. If they push back or if the bill isn’t legit, then I’d escalate to finding a lawyer or whatever. But they may tell you that they have no record of the claim (so it’s some random person trying to scam you), or that they have some process by which you can prove you didn’t rent the car or something (file a police report, etc). Seems worth it to get that information. And sorry that you have to deal with this!

      1. Yes and call the number you find by searching 0n line, not the number on the invoice. If it’s all a scam, someone could be impersonating *them*.

        Same rule goes for any invoice that doesn’t look right (i.e. credit cards, hotel stays, etc.)

        1. Thank you for chiming in! You’re right, I’ll call the official number. I guess I haven’t because I didn’t want to give any info that might be used against me later or for them to call me constantly to collect – I probably watch too much TV!

          1. Keep it generic -“I’m calling regarding X communication received. Could you please confirm whether or not this is legitimate?” Start there, keep it vague. If they say yes, then I’d at most ask for facts and stay super high level – date/location of rental maybe. Then ask how you proceed with a dispute. Make it information gathering, not information giving so to protect yourself.

            Signed,
            Not a lawyer, but always suspicious of people wanting my money

  9. Recs for inexpensive but very soft pajamas? All of mine are worn out and I’ve been sleeping in my gym clothes.

    2. The PJ Salvage brand at Nordstrom Rack is usually super soft. My favorite PJs softness-wise are Cosabella, but they’re not cheap, although I’ve found them for as little as $30 on Rue La La and Amazon, so keep an eye out (and size up, they run smaller than US brands).

    3. I like pajamas that double as longewear so no flannel kitty prints for me. I usually wear Soma Cool Nights knit lounge pants and camis with a cozy sweater but recently forgot to pack them on a longish trip.

      I ordered a pair of Arabella pajamas from amazon because i could get them the next day. They are half the price of the Soma and just as soft. Around $38 for a top and pants. Check them out.

      2. +2. The modal tshirts are also great. I wish I could wear the modal joggers all day.

    5. Target has some amazingly soft pajamas that wear very well. It’s their house brand- Gillian O’Malley or whatever.

      There are frequent sales or coupons available.

    7. I ordered some Ekouaer pajamas from Amazon Prime for about $30. They are super cute and comfy.

    8. Alternative Apparel Eco-Jersey pants – lightweight and soft. (Amazon usually has a good price on ’em.)

    9. I actually got these awesome ones at Costcpo $230. I am usually an LL Bean pajama fan but these are so soft. The only downside is this weird little button at the bottom.

    10. Honeydew Intimates – they’re sold at Nordstrom or Bloomie’s and can be frequently be found on sale. I do find that the line runs small, though, so size up in most styles.

      1. +1,000 That was what I came to post. I bought a bunch last year and they’ve worn well. They’re very comfortable.

  10. I received a huge car rental claim for major damage to a car I didn’t rent. The bill is for several thousands. Should I call them first to get more details or contact someone specializing in this? Please reply if you know someone I can consult (I’m in FL). Apologies for multiple posts in advance, it keeps going into mod. Thank you!

  11. I was caught in a wind tunnel this weekend and lost one of my leather gloves. They were special gloves because they belonged to my late grandmother. Obviously I can’t replace the sentimental aspect, but I’m looking to find a quality replacement pair that I can hopefully grow to love as much. I’d like them to be cashmere-lined leather gloves. Anyone have recommendations? The leather of the pair I lost was so smooth and flexible after years of wear. Hoping to find a pair that also improve over time. TIA!

    1. I have a similar pair from LL Bean that must be 10 years old. If they still make them, I highly recommend them.

    3. I feel like cashmere lined leather gloves show up in stores every year as a Christmas gift suggestion. I have some ages old from Nordstrom and they are as gorgeous as the day I bought them. They are the house brand.

    6. Elma gloves on am @ zon – leather in lots of colors, very soft, cashmere lined, touchscreen capable, prime delivery and crazy affordable. Seriously.

      1. +1 to this – I had some fownes bros ones and returned them in favor of my elma gloves.

      2. Are they uh…..as shiny as they look on Azon in person? Also, what’s the fit? I usually need children’s gloves my hands are so small.

      3. These are my favorite too! I’ve bought several for myself and also as gifts; they’re incredibly soft and warm (and touchscreen). The ones I have aren’t shiny at all so maybe you’re looking at a patent option?

    8. I have some that are the house brand from Saks and they weren’t too expensive as far as cashmere-lined leather gloves go. Bought them in January or February 2016. They had a huge color selection at the time.

  12. I have a pair of pewter loafers that I love, but I always have difficulty styling for work. Suggestions?

    1. I view metallic shoes as a neutral. I wear them with everything. So long as you’re wearing mainly solids, I think you should be fine. Example outfits: black pencil skirt/white blouse/olive green blazer; maroon pants/black top; any grey and black combo; black pants/rust colored blouse.

      1. Same. The only thing I’m a bit cautious of with my beloved pewter shoes is color families. Like if I had camel/warm brown type clothes, I would hesitate to wear them with the cooler pewter. (But since all my clothes skew cool-colored, so far no problem.)

        Today I’m wearing a charcoal sweater dress, black tights, and pointy pewter wedges.

    3. Yes they’re a neutral, I agree. I like things like this for breaking up an all black outfit but they’d work with really any color. I can see them looking great with navy or denim if you have a jeans day at work.

      I don’t really wear loafers but I’d probably style a pewter flat with a black dress and gray tights.

  13. I was thinking of making some purchases now and then asking for price adjustments if/when they go on sale during black friday.

    Today seems to be within the price adjustment window for the two stores I am interested in making purchases from – madewell and gap.

    Purchases would be made online with a cc and I am hoping to be able to get adjustments via their chat windows.

    Is this a genius idea or is there something that I am missing?

    1. Your credit card might also have a purchase protection feature that will allow price adjustments within a certain window. I’ve done it successfully (outside of black friday). Just be sure to save your original receipt and do a print screen of the lower advertised price in your cart

    3. It’s going to be retailer by retailer. If I had to guess there are protections against this in favor of the retailer and not the shopper.

    4. Many retailers with price adjustment policies specifically prohibit price matching against their own or other retailers’ Black Friday pricing. Might be worth reading the fine print where relevant.

  14. Now that I’ve got a baby at home, my silk shells aren’t working for me anymore. I’m looking for plus-sized polyester blouses with a simple neckline (my favourite silk shells have a plain scoop neckline or a slightly gathered jewel neckline). Sleeveless or short-sleeved is fine. Ideally under $75 per blouse. I’m a 2X or 18W/20W. Any recommendations?

    1. Have you looked at Talbots? They have some washable polyester ones and on sale they are in your price range. They have W and petite W sizes.

      1. +1000 to Talbots. I always find fantastic deals on their website, and you can often get further discounts by taking the extra step of buying a discounted gift card for your balance (I like Raise and Cardpool for this). I snagged an extra 30% off a big purchase by stacking that on top of a major clearance haul.

      2. I initially looked at Talbots.com because they are my old standby for plus-sized work clothing, but didn’t find anything plain enough/that I liked so I’m widening my search.

    2. Also J.C. Penny has a lot of this type of thing, and you’ll pay way less than $75 per.

    3. JC Penney Worthington Essential short sleeve tee. It’s got a gathered neck and true short sleeves (ie, not elbow length and not cap). I bought five in different colors and my workday uniform most days is the tee, skinny ankle pants and a cardigan. I’m a 1x (14/16); the tee goes up to a 3x. These have the advantage of being inexpensive, especially on sale, so when your baby throws up beets on your shirt or hugs you after fingerpainting, you won’t cry if you can’t get the stains out. (Been there, obvs.)

      2. I’ll second this one. I have 3 of these. Penney’s also has other great washable work tops.

        I’d also recommend taking a look at Kohl’s. I don’t have a specific recommendation there, but they are another go to for washable work clothes for me.

      3. Are these tops long? I am on the hunt for shirts that are longer (hit at least hip level).

    4. I wore my silk tops through the baby years but I also washed them. Dry cleaning is for the birds. Have you tried that?

      I also changed my clothes as soon as I could after getting home.

      No recs on polyester shells. Maybe branch out into nicer looking knits for the time being?

        1. I washed them in the hand wash cycle of my front loader with other delicates, detergent either woolite or euclan or forever new, and hung to dry. I have a standing steamer so if they were wrinkly after drying I gave them a quick steam, but mostly they weren’t.

          Washing silk will give it a softer “hand” – if your item has a satiny finish, it will start being more matte with washing – but I prefer that anyway.

      2. I try to get dressed right before I leave and change as soon as I get back, but I’ve got a really pukey baby and don’t have the discipline to refuse to go near him while in work clothes which is what it takes to keep them clean. I did trywashing 2 of my tops because I wans’t keeping up with the drycleaning cycle and the finish went weird on both and one shrunk. So, now I need some new tops anyway!

    5. Slightly out of your price range, but I’m obsessed with NYDJ split neck blouses. They come in long sleeve and sleeveless. Poly, washable, simple, lots of colours.

      1. Second this re NYDJ. See if you can find on sale. I bought one recently and it wears like iron. I don’t think I could wrinkle it if I tried.

        RE Talbots. I find there patterned polyester shells wash and wear much better than their plain ones, but I did buy a couple of the plain ones that have a tie at the neck this year and they are working out fairly well.

  15. I wear a simple pair of pearl studs almost every day. They are faux, probably from Target. I think I would like to replace them with some real pearls. I would like to spend less than $200 (and possibly WAY less than that, depending on feedback).

    Size: Help me decide on size? I think the ones I have are 7mm. I would not classify them as large, and I don’t want large, but I also don’t want tiny ones. Is 7mm fairly standard? Should I go a little bigger? I am 30 if that’s relevant.

    Cost: Can anyone tell me why some “real” pearls are $30 (JCPenny), some “real” pearls are $125 (Blue Nile), and some are $375 (Tiffany)? Is it worth the difference?

    I would love to just click a link and buy some if you have any to recommend. Thanks for your help!

    1. Do just a little reading about pearls – kojimapearl has a good “about the pearls” section – so you will know what you’re spending your money on. The cheapest pearls tend to be chinese fresh waters, but times are changing and there are some really nice CFWs available now (but most of them are still pretty bad.) Nicer pearl studs are probably akoya pearls – Japanese salt water.

      For a single pair of 7mm studs I’d personally buy akoya pearls. They are subject to higher grading standards before being exported and you’re more likely to end up with a really nice, lustrous pair.

    2. JC Penny pearls are probably going to be freshwater pearls, not high-quality Akoya pearls. Tiffany jewelry is always marked up way above its value. I would go with Blue Nile.

      1. I bought my pearl studs from Blue Nile, they were $300. I wear them all the time.

    3. I got a pair of 9mm pearl studs at Costco for about $100 and they look great. I wear them constantly.

      3. This! My first “real” jewelry was a pair of pearl studs from Costco that I received for college graduation. Looking great 10+ years later!

    4. I have a freshadama necklace form Pearl Paradise that looks really fancy. Supposedly it looks like akoya but without the higher price tag. You might like: 7.5-8.0 mm White Freshadama Freshwater Pearl Stud Earrings ($115 plus they’ve got random coupons) Link to follow. I liked the one from Blue Nile too but I think it was more expensive for the same size.

      1. https : / / w w w . pearlparadise .com /collections/freshadama-pearl-collection/products/75-80-mm-white-freshadama-freshwater-pearl-stud-earrings

      2. Seconded, I love my Freshadama studs. As for size, if you want something understated, go with 8mm and under. If you’re looking for the “gumball” look, you’ll need 9-10mm+.

        Please DO NOT buy pearls from Tiffany. They are such low quality unless you’re buying the gem-grade, ultra-expensive strands (and even then, way overpriced).

    5. I also wear pearl studs every day, and also generally wear 7 mm and think they’re the right size for me (not big, but not tiny). I’m not very knowledgeable about pearls, but have been happy with the freshwater ones I buy on Amazon. My current ones are from “The Pearl Source” with 14K posts on Amazon (the 7mm to 8mm ones) for around 45 dollars, and I’m pretty happy with them.

    6. You will not be disappointed by Kojima or Pearl Paradise. For something on the cheaper side, I suggest Blue Nile or Ross Simons. Pearl Paradise will have a big Black Friday sale, but move fast.

    8. I have a pair I was gifted, I think they are Mikimoto. I’d sell for cheap if you are interested. Never worn, still in box. Post an email address if you are interested and want to see pics.

  16. Chicago folks….

    I’m looking for a fun experience-type gift for in-laws who are late 30’s, no kids, live in Wrigleyville.

    They have season tickets to Cubs and Sox games, so those are out. Any ideas?

    3. Steppenwolf has a good ticket gift deal, I think. They can pick the plays and dates they want. Or get them a ChicagoPass so they can play tourist for a weekend. So many locals never go to the Skydeck, Art Institute, Shedd, etc.

    5. Any local concerts they’d like tickets to? (At Wrigley, United Center, House of Blues, Thalia Hall, Ravinia, etc.) Some things to do: there is axe-throwing, Kaiser Tiger has curling (weather permitting), plays (Hamilton if they haven’t been), tickets to the local museums (MCA, AIC, Planetarium, Shedd, Field Museum, MSI, Chicago History Museum, Botanical Gardens if they have a car). If they are foodies, you can do ‘season tickets’ to Next (Restaurant) where you eat there 3 times at different themes. You could also do tickets to Alinea.

    6. Sign them up for the Chicago Marathon. It’s an awesome experience and who wouldn’t love the shock and awe factor of finding out you have to train for a marathon. There really is no way for this not to be the most talked about gift.

      5. Ha!

        Someone signed my husband up for (just) a 5K where we were going to be on vacation and told him (well, he got a confirmation email) about a week before the race. He was so mad. I was madder, like get your paws off my vacation!

      6. “There really is no way for this not to be the most talked about gift.”

        Well sure, but everything said will be negative. You have to be kidding.

      7. That’s dumber than the girl who signed her BF up for a skydive as a birthday gift!!!

          1. That was me! He loved it — he was super pumped :) We had an amazing time, albeit scary. So it worked out just fine…

      9. I hope you are joking. I am a runner and I would hate this gift. Runners, including people who do marathons, select what races they do strategically to fit with their training schedule and their life. And unless they are fairly serious runner, they wouldn’t even automatically qualify for the marathon and be in a lottery.

      10. Signing me up for any athletic activity without my knowledge is kind of an unforgivable offense in my book…

      11. I love this idea! I’m currently registered for my 5th Chicago Marathon.
        But my I’m sure my friends and family would object to this gift

    7. Revolution Brewery tour?

      There are also cool food tours a bit further north – check out Spice of Life Tours.

      The Chicago History Museum has super fun outings – I’ve done a speakeasy tour on a trolley with them, but there are other themes too.

    8. Unless you know they like sports generally and not just baseball, I wouldn’t get them season tickets to another sport. I would go with a restaurant gift card (Acadia or Next would be a great choice if you know they are foodies, otherwise OpenTable is a good default choice and will allow them to put it towards a number of cheaper meals if they’re not into fancy places).

    10. Victory Garden Theater — perhaps even the smaller studio theater.

      Alternatively, wine tasting classes at Binny’s.

  17. I need some encouragement. I’ve been job hunting for months with radio silence on everything I’ve applied for. I’ve reached out when I can and usually get a typical HR response that I’ll be contacted if my skills match their needs. My current climate (private sector, not law) is so bad that high level executives, directors, and managers, many of whom have been here for 8+ years, are dropping like flies to leave for other companies. New leadership is belittling us to the point where we now have to keep a detailed log of everything we do. Literally, 9:57 – took a restroom break, 10:04 – started on X, 11:17 – submitted X and these are the 8 things it consisted of. It’s demeaning and I don’t know how much more I can take. Not sure what I am looking for here other than encouragement and maybe job hunting tips. I’ve been told I probably shouldn’t expect to hear anything at this point until January/Februrary, but if that’s true, why are companies still posting vacancies?

    1. Can you reach out to any of the execs, directors, or managers who have left? Maybe they have additional openings at their companies. And they would obviously know why you’re leaving.

      In the meantime, can you play bad management bingo throughout the day or week?

      Hang in there.

      1. Thank you. I did actually do this and I have one person trying to get me in. We’ve been in contact for about a week now so maybe that one will work out.

    2. Can you rework your cover letter and resume? Sometimes you need a boost in that area in order to get real responses.

      1. +1. My first suggestion is to work on your resume and cover letter. Read Ask A Manager if you haven’t already. Ask a trusted family member or former co-worker to take a look for you and give you feedback. You can’t control the companies’ timeline, but it’s likely that nothing is happening until next year, take the extra time to put your best foot forward with your application.

        1. +1000 on a deep dive into Ask A Manager. Her advice is focused, down to earth, and it works. I was contracting/consulting until recently. Once I started following her advice, I stopped having gaps between contracts.

    3. Are you me? Sending apps into the void while everyone around me drops like flies. I’m working through my network, but nothing has clicked yet.

      Any thoughts on how to rework a cover letter and resume? Or how to get quality advice on what you’re doing wrong? What kind of a professional do you look for and how do you vet their qualifications?

      1. It certainly does feel like a void. I don’t necessarily think that it’s my resume or cover letter as I’ve had several people in different sectors look at it and tell me that it looks great and that they would hire me if they could. I’ve always had high remarks about my resume and cover letters during past interviews as well. I do work in a niche industry but it is disheartening to hear nothing.

        2. Agreed. I’m one of the anons above who suggested taking a look at your resume and cover letter, but it sounds like they’re probably good. It is just hard.

      2. Career coaches *can* help with this. Ask around to see if anyone in your area or field has used one.

  18. Does anyone have experience with Suistudio? They are a sister brand to Suit Supply that recently launched and specialize in women’s suits. They seem to a step above the mall brands but not quite as expensive as designer. I’ll eventually try to make it to their store and will reply back, but curious if anyone has beaten me to it and has thoughts. At the very least, it’s great to see more focus on interesting women’s suits these days!

    1. I haven’t purchased a suit from them, but I did get a camel hair coat and a turtleneck. I’ve never dropped $700 on an item of clothing like that, but it’s so worth it. I wear it almost every day from late fall through winter except for the very coldest days. It’s classic and gorgeous.

      I tried on one of their suits a couple of years ago, before the official launch (I was with my BF at a SuitSupply, asked if they made suits for women, and they lead me upstairs to the small studio with samples of the line that is out now) and I found them nice but if I remember correctly the pants were unlined and not terribly structured? I don’t know if anything’s changed.

    2. I am intrigued by this, and so happy!

      And also will have Sususudio stuck in my head (except as Suit suit studio).

  19. Welp, I got my first performance review comment along the “be friendlier” vein today. It was couched in “focused and driven women like us tend to…” so I’m not super upset.

    Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long.

    2. I routine get both that and that I’m too friendly/relaxed and need to assert myself more. It makes no sense.

    3. I’m not saying this is applicable to you, but please do keep in mind that “be friendlier” can be legitimate feedback and is not always related to gender. Yes, there tends to be an expectation that women will be “nicer” and they are disproportionately critiqued on this… but it doesn’t mean that if someone tells you this that you should dismiss it out of hand as being directly related to being female.

      Signed, a female supervisor who has had to tell both male and female team members that they need to be friendlier

    4. I’ve given this feedback to both men and women. A little friendliness goes a long way in work environment.

  20. Favorite fun and unique stocking stuffers for adults?

    Under $20/item and anything on amazon or Nordstrom would be great…

    1. Travel mugs!

      Converse socks? (Depends on the footwear choice of the recipient)

      Fancy chocolate bars!

      Phone chargers!

      A set of good scissors! (I would die of joy, anyway.) Or cool pens?

      Whiskey stones! (Tiny bottles of booze?)

      Those little things you put at the bottom of a wine glass to identify it at a party.

      1. I was debating the Whiskey stones a while back, but the reviews turned me off. Does anyone here have them? Cool or useless?

        2. Depends on the whiskey drinker. I like my whiskey neat so I generally don’t like it cold and I don’t like it watered down. If I liked it cold just not watered down they would be perfect. A lot of people that like it “on the rocks” like the ice watering it down so they wouldn’t love stones either.

        3. I think you have to know how your recipient prefers their whiskey. I like mine on the rocks and like the slight amount of water that ice adds those big ice cube molds get far more use than the whiskey stones. If you want a cool cocktail gift, fancy bitters are fun. The ones from 18.21 are delicious.

        4. I’ve found they aren’t comparable in cooling qualities to a single small ice cube. Second mascot’s bitters recommendation instead – particularly interesting flavors. Our favorites are Smoked Orange (for anything), Celery-Dandelion (for gin-based drinks), Black Walnut (for anything bourbon), and Grapefruit (for subbing in place of angostora).

    2. Trivia/fun card games that you can play with other adults while drinking in breweries!
      That can’t just be me and my dh…

    3. A fun magazine that is specific to their interests and/or one of those magazine issued cookbooks that come out (best Soups collection or whatever). An orange and a walnut always. Agreed on pens/highlighters, socks, booze, fancy chocolate or cocoa or hot sauce or whatever. A pocket sized umbrella.

      And my favorite stocking stuffers: coffee mug lids that fit on mason jars and a silicone sleeve that fits on the handle of your cast iron pan so you don’t grab it and burn yourself. (Links to follow)

    4. Clever/cutesy post-its. Small personal care items. This year DH is getting a knife sharpener recommended here. Always some expensive meat candy like salmon jerky. I usually do a Trader Joe’s run to fill in with sweets etc. Gloves. CDs. A small paperback book.

    5. I was obsessed with head lamps last year — gave them to everybody and the feedback was great.

      https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW87K4K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

      Also somebody gave us this great trivia game called Wine Wars and it is so, so fun!

      https://www.amazon.com/Wine-Wars-Trivia-Geeks-Wannabes/dp/0811868346/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511201043&sr=8-1&keywords=wine+wars+game&dpID=51kB7Bp7SnL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

    6. Lottery tickets/scratchers
      Cozy socks
      Chapstick or lip balm (I’m always misplacing mine and you can never have enough)
      Some nice chocolate
      Practical, somewhat unique travel-size items (my mom once gave me a travel-sized lint roller in my stocking and OMG I loved that thing)

    7. One of the perennial favorites in my family has been off-beat print magazines — literary magazines, expensive shelter mags, cultish art magazines, Monocle, The Economist, whatever strikes my fancy at the best newsstand I can get to and lines up with some interests/possible interests of the stocking owner. They’ve been great because they migrate all over the house and everyone ends up reading/looking at them sooner or later over the holidays.

  21. I had a job interview this morning for a job I really want and I feel like because of that I shot myself in the foot. I was so nervous because I want the job, I was talking really fast and kind of babbling and I feel like it was a disaster. Ugh.

    1. Deep breath. You probably have interpreted it much worse than it actually was.

      This is going to be hard, but now that you’ve interviewed, it is time to just move on. Send your thank you follow-up. Then just set that opportunity aside. If they come back to you, it will be a lovely surprise.

      For more on this, I highly recommend Ask A Manager.

  22. No idea why my earlier comment is in moderation

    Can i buy things now online (from madewell and gap specifically) and then get a price adjustment on black friday?

    Is this a genius way to subvert the system or am i missing something?

    1. I don’t think you can get price adjustment unless it’s regular price right now? Plus most coupon code say not good on previous purchases etc. Nordstrom adjusted the price of some items that went on sale on BF for me but it was just a coincidence. Please report back if it works for you! I’m a fan of Madewell too :)

    2. Eh – I don’t know if the black friday deals are going to be that much more awesome for those stores. GAPs already doing 45% (for cardholders, I think), and I wouldn’t expect it to get that much better.

      I mean, I’d be more likely to order now to make sure I got it, and then order again under the black friday deals (assuming they are better), and then return the previous order, rather than trying for a price adjustment.

      1. Gap’s doing 45% off for everyone; 50% off for cardholders (just ordered DH 3 new pairs of pants as his are running threadbare). Not a cardholder and got the 45%.

      2. The BEST Gap sales are usually 60% off for cardholders, 50% off for non – is the extra 5-10% worth it to you?
        I am stalking Madewell as I could use another pair of jeans and hate paying full price for them!

  23. Can anyone recommend a weatherproof, knee-high riding boot for narrow calves? I am headed to NYC for a week in December and would like something comfortable and casual for walking around. I am considering the La Canadienne Emilia,but that is a lot to spend on a boot I’d rarely use again because I live in central California. Thanks for any suggestions!

    1. As a fellow narrow calf woman (with the added insult of large feet), I’ve given up on finding knee-high boots and have embraced the ankle boot trend for the last several years. La Canadienne is wonderful – 6pm usually has a selection for under $200.
      But I’m sure you can find far cheaper if you are looking for more casual styles

    2. You’ll have to investigate the calf circumference, but Blondo is an excellent lower-priced alternative to La Canadienne.

    3. Blondo. I am a size 12 with extremely skinny calves and ankles (former swimmer). They carry 12s at Nordstrom. I have two pairs and wear them CONSTANTLY in Winter. They are skinny enough for me. You’re welcome!

    4. What is your calf circumference? I lot of boots will have this listed if you buy online. I have very narrow calves (less than 11″) and wear a size 11. I have never found a fitted-style boot that works, so I go with styles that don’t matter if they look a little chunky, or booties.

      1. Cole Haan does a smiliar stretch leather. I bought the following boots from Nordstrom Rack and they fit my skinny calves – Tali Grand Stretch Wedge Boot

  24. Suggestions for a housewarming present for a long distance friend? Budget is $25-50. She’s pregnant so alcohol and fancy cheeses are out. She’s crafty and has very particular taste when it comes to decorating so I’m skeptical I could pick out art or something for the home that fits with her taste, especially on my budget.

    2. A gift card to home depot, if you don’t feel it’s too impersonal. In the months after we bought our house we were there just about every weekend.

      3. Does this apply if the house is new construction? She hopefully won’t need to do any maintenance or renovation for a while.

        1. She’ll still need house stuff, though – light bulbs, furnace filters, garden hoses, etc…

        2. …command hooks, trash cans, towel bars, a sawhorse for the garage, welcome mats, that stuff that goes under rugs to make them not slip, toilet brushes, a shower squeegee, doggy door, flower pots, mops…

          1. …garbage bags, recycling bags, leaf bags, cleaning supplies, holiday lights and a ladder to put them up with, hardware/light fixtures/painting supplies to change the builder’s standard hardware/light fixtures/paint…

    3. Bouquet from a fancy florist near her new place?

      Alternately, a bottle of luxury olive oil, or I like to give the traditional Jewish housewarming gift of bread and salt, so your house will always have abundance and life. The bread is harder because you say she’s long distance, but Williams-Sonoma sells sourdough bread via delivery, or you can probably Instacart bread from Whole Foods or Wegmans, depending on if it’s available where she lives. Or she would probably like anything from Food52, since they cater to people with particular tastes.

      https://food52.com/shop/collections/our-favorites-under-50

      My picks would be the Shoyu set, the totem pillar candles, and the beautiful batter bowl.

    4. It’s a little boring, but I like to buy nice new dish towels–usually the Williams Sonoma ones in a neutral color. It feels like a new home should have new dish towels, but it’s something that’s hard to buy for yourself when you’ve just dropped all your savings on a down payment, closing costs, renovations, etc.

    1. Museums in Balboa Park. Or if you’re at a conference and haven’t done it yet, there’s a good walking path behind the convention center that goes along the marinas and down to some little shops and restaurants.

  26. Are capital gains included in the amounts towards the tax penalty? We got a notice last year that we needed to pay quarterly taxes. We upped our withholding to cover the amount, but we’ll probably still end up owing a significant amount due to DH’s bonus and me getting a significant raise in the middle of the year (chose higher single rate plus a little extra for the taxes when I got the raise). But now we’re realizing some significant capital gains, so I suggested that we send in a big check to cover those taxes now. We should probably do it either way, but especially if those are counted toward the amount that would impact a penalty.

    1. I’m not certain, but I’m pretty sure it’s due for <$1,000 or 90% of your tax liability, which would include capital gains taxes.

      1. +1.

        Make your estimated tax payment now (if only because you have the actual cash now and then can’t accidentally spend it between now and April 15).

      1. Ditto on needing to talk to a tax professional. Given your situation, I would reach out to major accounting firms with private client services groups if you do not have a recommendation you can trust. My experience is generally that if they will be too expensive for what you need, they can recommend other people who do what they do in your area at shall we say an appropriate price point for your needs.

  27. I applied for a job over the weekend I think I’d really like. I know it’s too early for anything, but positive vibes into the universe would be appreciated.

    It also feels very nice to be taking a step towards escaping the he!! that is my job.

    1. In your shoes! I had 2 interviews over the last 2 weeks! I don’t know if either of them will go anywhere, but it feels so good to take those steps and feel like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck!!

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