ByElizabeth Hours Updated
Comments 248 Comments

Thursday’s Workwear Report: Half-Zip Ponte Midi Dress

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A woman wearing a black midi dress and black slingbacks

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

This ponte dress from Nordstrom’s in-house Caslon brand would be a great basic to have on hand. A long-sleeved dress is great for days when trying to pick out multiple coordinating pieces feels like too much. I have a few dresses like this in my closet for hectic mornings, and I’m always glad to have them available.

The dress is $99.50 at Nordstrom and comes in sizes XXS-XL. It also comes in navy. 

Sales of note for 4/24:

248 Comments

  1. Any experiences with ICL surgery from this board or people you’re close to? I am not eligible for lasik or PRK. I am 36, -10.75 and -9.5. I live alone and would love to be able to see something (anything) in the morning, even if I need readers or other corrective lenses with a lower prescription over time. How much time off screens/reading did it require? Did you adjust well? Would you recommend it?

    1. I haven’t had that, I had lasik with a Rx not quite as bad as you but strong and it’s the best thing I ever did. At the time, I wasn’t willing to consider alternatives if I didn’t qualify, but having done it, I’d absolutely do whatever I could including ICL. It’s a miracle to see without glasses and I could care less about needing readers.

    2. I had it done 10 years ago and still am thrilled with the results. My prescription was about the same as yours (-10.5 and -10). I have 20/20 vision now, but I find for driving at night I benefit from glasses to fix my astigmastism. It is amazing to be able to swim without glasses, to wake up and see things etc. The recovery sucked. But still happy I did it and I would do it again, maybe sooner if I knew how good the results would be.

    3. I have not. However, I recently asked my eye doctor about this. I am not a candidate for lasik due to dry eye. She said the risks were the same with ICL surgery or any other eye surgery.

      I am, though, a candidate for Ortho-K lenses. I am 36 with -5.75 and -6. I was wanting to make a change due to starting to have some far-sightedness and needing to be more active with my kids. I have ordered the lenses but not gotten them in yet.

    4. Sorry for the late reply, I’m west coast. But yes I had this done almost 10 years ago—I had a -14. The one thing that sucked is at the time I couldn’t get them with astigmatism correction also? And my vision is a lot worse in the dark, so it was only corrected to about 0.5 and I need glasses to drive at night. But it was still the best money I’ve ever spent. It was about a day or two after of still semi-blurry vision (though they said it was technically well corrected by the next morning) and the eyedrops were a pain. And the day of surgery gave me a horrendous headache. But again—best money I’ve spent.

    5. Offering you another perspective: I’m -9.0 and -7.0 dpt, 43 years old, and have considered ICL on and off in my 20s and 30s without ever pulling the trigger. Potential side effects (dry eyes, scarring etc) kept me nervous enough not to go ahead with it. The way I thought about it is that I only have two eyes, so unless it’s about saving my eyesight, I didn’t want to undergo “unnecessary” surgery.

      I fully get you though on the “I want to see anything in the morning”. I’m never the first one in my family who notices that the shower needs a clean, and can only shave my legs over the sink with my glasses on – these are small annoyances to me, but I get how they can bother someone else more.

      Now that my eye sight is changing again with age and I need bifocals, I’m okay with never having done ICL.

      1. My prescription changes every year. I would not want to have surgery just to avoid glasses for a year.

      2. This kind of thinking kept me from getting LASIK for far too long. It’s the best thing I ever did in my life. Also, you will likely need eye surgery for cataracts at some point so might as well enjoy a full life of good vision now if you’re a candidate.

      3. Yeah, I’m 48 and don’t yet need bifocals (though it’s definitely harder to read teeny tiny writing!) so it’s been 10 years so far of no glasses. But even with that, with as bad of vision as I had, having a cheap easy prescription I can get contacts in, or glasses made in an hour? Where I can easily buy reading glasses if needed? Worth it.

    6. I had the surgery done in June 2024, when I was 46. My prescription hadn’t changed in about 10 years, although I clearly will be needing reading glasses at some point soonish. Long-term dry eye is much less of a risk for ICL than it is for lasik, because it doesn’t permanently change your eyes.

      My experience with recovery was that I couldn’t use screens for about 2 days, because the extreme eye dilation they did took a LONG time to wear off. I had dry eyes post recovery for about 3 months, which was very scary because it was one of my main concerns. My eyes are now back to where they were before the surgery, which is to say quite dry but no worse. I use preservative-free rewetting drops a few times a day, which I have had to do for years.

      My eyesight for those first few months felt not as good as it was with glasses, due to the dryness. As soon as that was over, my eyesight went to what it is now, which is actually clearer than I had with glasses.

      Not having to wear glasses has been amazing – I can wear a face covering in the winter without glasses fogging over, can read an alarm clock, can go swimming, etc. I am 100% happy I had it done and I have recommended it to everyone I know.

    3. Oh my. Even worse than I thought.

      Trump, and the world economic elites truly disgust me.

  3. What is your favorite (grown up) spray on hair detangler? Would like to avoid too much fragrance if possible.

      2. I don’t know what I would do without this stuff. It makes such a HUGE difference in my hair being combable and keeping it from being frizzy, whether I straighten it or scrunch it for waves.

    2. Not what you asked but I brush my (dry) hair before getting in the shower. Afterward I only need to apply my usual oil/serum instead of detangler. There’s less hair to clean out of the shower drain as well.

      1. +1 me too. Long, wavy hair.

        I use my tangle teaser brush before showering, and few strokes after, in towel dry hair. Different brush for styling.

        When I have winter tangles from scarves and hats, the tangle teaser works great.

      2. long wavy/curly hair — I only comb and brush my hair in the shower, so by the time I get in the shower it feels like a rat’s nest. I detangle with a wide-toothed comb after I put conditioner in (any conditioner), and then before I put product in I use one of those Define/Bounce curl brushes to detangle again (it also puts my hair in nice clumps for curl purposes). that’s it. there’s a NYM detangling spray I use as a leave in sometimes but it does have a strong smell.

  4. WWYD? I am currently at Job B. I left Job A about 3.5 years ago solely to make more money. I am still in contact with them and I know they will take me back gladly. Health insurance is not an issue. Married, mid-30s, spouse’s job is very stable, 3 young children all in daycare.

    Job A- half hour commute, fully in office, not a ton of flexibility. Pay would be about 85k to start, but yearly increases. 85k is pretty much our break-even point with current expenses. Definite path to promotion. Pay likely topping out in mid 100s. Pension. I’m very good at this job and love it, along with the people whom I miss a lot. Very stable position. Can be stressful, but is also very impactful and rewarding work.

    Job B- Fully remote and very flexible. Pay is commission based and has ranged from 160-220 over the last 3 years. Don’t love the job but it’s fine. Stressful due to an eat-what-you-kill structure; if I don’t do well, my salary goes down. Hard to ever take off or fully disconnect because of that. No clear path to advancement, other than essentially unlimited compensation if I do really well. Less stable than Job A because it’s tied somewhat to economy, and a layoff is possible.

    I am finding that I’m really lonely after 3.5 years fully remote. I also feel like a square peg in a round hole- although I’m okay at my current job, it’s not my passion and I’m not particularly talented at it (I loved job A and it plays to my natural skills). Paradoxically it’s less prestigious than Job A even though it pays less, and I’m finding that matters to me. When I think about retirement, I can’t really imagine doing this for another 30 years. I’ve also found that because my work is directly tied to my compensation, I feel more money stress than I did at lower-paying Job A, because I knew I could count on a steady paycheck no matter what. On the other hand, Job A a substantial paycut and the flexibility will make home life more challenging.

    1. I’m in a Job A myself and I LOVE it (good at the job, love it, great people, impactful and rewarding and meaningful work but lower pay and fully in office). I’m a SINK with a very short commute, so for me it’s a no brainer, even though I’m entirely dependent on my own salary. I know if I were in your shoes, I’d be muddling my way through Job B wishing I was back at Job A.

      You mention the Job A salary being your family’s break even point – with 3 kids in daycare I’d imagine at least one of them will be starting K soon. Would that transition give your family enough breathing room with the salary? But also – with a kid in K will your home life be more hectic with two drop offs/pick ups each day?

      You also mention that you can never really disconnect at Job B due to the compensation structure. What’s the leave policy at Job A? Can you duck out to make it to the kids’ holiday concert or special guest day at school? Is it generous enough to make up for having to commute again?

    2. What’s the hit to your joint income? Because taking what is essentially a 50%-66% pay cut on your income alone is a huge change.

      How good & stable is that pension? Like, is not not something the company might freeze?

    3. I’d stay at Job B until you have an option C. I could see taking a paycut for a more steady role but a paycut AND a full time in office role with 3 small kids would be a total non-starter for me.
      Even in your lowest paid years you’re still making $75k more than in Job A. Why not lean out a bit and dedicate more time to job hunting/networking?

      1. +1 on the “lean out a bit more.” Can you go to work on how you’re approaching work and learn how you can relax a bit, so that you’re able to disconnect, take time off? Be a mid-performer, not someone at the top of your game? Sure, maybe you’ll earn less, but you’d also earn less if you were at Job A.

      2. A HUGE pay cut, no less. Strong nope, given that it would also involve giving up flexibility that makes having small kids easier.

        Can you “lean out” just a little at Job B? If it’s really eat-what-you kill, can you just try to kill $125K worth of whatever it is, vs. shooting for the stars at all times?

      3. This is where I fall too. Too many ticks in the negative category for Job A, even if you otherwise love it.

        Re Job B, you said that “if I don’t do well, my salary goes down” – but even the lowest salary from the last 3 years is still almost double what your salary would be at Job A. So what if you just lean out a little bit? Try to coast a bit and lessen your internal pressure about being the highest earner at Job B, keeping in mind that your salary will still be much higher than it would be at Job A. And down the road if you get fired, you can more seriously consider Job A then.

        FWIW, I never appreciated having a flexible job more than when my kids were (are) in elementary school. It is SO helpful.

        1. Yeah, this is where I’m stuck. Job A sounds much more pleasant in many ways, but there is a substantial pay gap AND it’s less flexible. I have needed more flexibility during the school-age years, not less, so it’s very hard for me to tell someone to give that up! If your spouse has more flexibility, then maybe Job A is an option.

          1. Yes it sounds like her oldest child is still in daycare. I appreciated flexibility much more in the elementary school years, so I’d be hesitant to move away from a flexible job before your oldest starts K.

          2. This was my experience with 3 kids. I had to switch to part time once all 3 were in elementary school. I was in a job very similar to Job A and was able to leverage a 60% position with flex on which days I’m in office. Like set hours but I’ll come in on Fridays if I needed to leave during my regular hours on a Monday. And I can occasionally WFH.

            Everyone I work with who has 3 kids either had a full time nanny or a unicorn flexible part time nanny during elementary years or left or managed to get part time due to random days off, after school activities, commute times etc.

            Your happiness in Job A matters as well, it’s not just about the kids. But I think the reality of 3 kids in the elementary school/middle school years means that Job A will be stressful for scheduling reasons.

    4. My hot take is that a fully or mostly remote job when you have kids is actually not great! Sure, the flexibility is nice but I found it to be way too limiting socially. Being remote isn’t terrible when you’re in your 20s and 30s and can hit up happy hour with your girlfriends after work or join the rec kickball team, but with young kids your evenings are devoted to the “dinner, bath, bed” mad rush. Which means, most days, your outlet for adult conversation and socialization is just your spouse.

      It’s been HUGE for my mental health and just enjoyment to get out of the house every day and talk to other adults face to face! I do have awesome coworkers, many of whom are real friends (not just “work friends”), so I do feel like I meet my need for connection in the office. I also have a train commute (25ish mins each way), which I use for “me time” (reading, knitting, podcasts, or enjoying the silence) which I didn’t get when I was remote.

      1. OP here and you articulated this far better than I could. I have almost no day-to-day interaction with other adults and that’s really weighing on me. I am feeling isolated and although I make an effort to see friends, it’s just not the same as the camaraderie of being in the office.

        1. Can you build that into your schedule in other ways? Like a lunchtime fitness class with a friend or professional association engagement?

          1. Unless OP runs in a different social circle than I do, most people are at work during lunchtime.

            I WFH and the added commute time of having to drive round trip to do something in the middle of the day is a large barrier to building in any social contact during the workday. I can’t disappear for two hours on a regular basis and getting in the car to drive somewhere eats at least a half hour cumulatively from any mid-day trip.

          2. It depends on the logisitics, which only OP can know. I’m able to do it because I WFH and my friend works in a nearby building with a yoga studio on the ground floor. It’s only 5 mins from my house and a 45 minute class. A lot of gyms/fitness studios offer a 45 minute lunch time option.

        2. Consider adding more adult interaction in the daytime or evenings. Maybe you need to make more on an effort? Book club? Fitness class? Meet a friend to walk the dog at lunch time? Friday morning coffee date or lunch? Use that flexibility in Job B to add the social aspect from Job A. I would never consider a 5 days in the office job (plus 30 minute commute!) with kids about to be in elementary school. It is hard even when I’m in the office only 3 days a week. My 7 year old was upset with me recently because I hadn’t signed up to be a volunteer for any of his field trips this year. Total mom guilt pile on but I’m saving PTO for a longer vacation. And to give up that flexibility of Job B AND take a huge pay cut!? No way. Stay in Job B, perhaps leaning out a bit, and look for Job C (maybe a hybrid situation).

      2. Huh, my experience with work from home with young kids is that there’s a lot more opportunity for connection and socialization than there was when I worked full-time in an office. I can grab coffee after drop off, meet a friend at lunchtime for a workout class or walk in the neighborhood, and I always chat with people at school pickup. I do have a lot of SAHMs or moms who work part-time or in very flexible jobs in my circle.

    5. If you were 60+ I’d say take job A, but it sounds like the salary is simply too low even with possible future promotions.

      1. This. I cannot imagine taking that kind of pay cut unless you’re independently wealthy from some other source and working for fun. It will take far too long at A to make up that gap if you ever do.

          1. But money also buys things that make your life easier in other ways like a weekly cleaning service, or less stress about vacation costs with 3 kids (especially when two rooms are often needed), or flying in grandparents for visits, or day camps/extra curriculars.

        2. Job A sounds awful to me (I love the flexibility of remote work, especially with kids), but you don’t have to be ‘independently wealthy’ to take a big pay cut for work-life balance or happiness. If they can make the new salary work, factoring in her husband’s salary and potential lifestyle adjustments, then it may be perfectly workable. I took a similar pay cut a long time ago and am very glad I did.

    6. I took the prestigious job (105k salary) over the industry job (185k salary) because I really did not want to have clients and sell my soul. But my calculus is a lot different because there are no kids in the mix.

    7. It sounds like Job A isn’t a bad situation for your family, so in that situation I’d go with Job A.

      Even as a mother, you deserve to pursue the job you like better. Even if it’s less flexible or it pays less. As long as the flexibility and pay isn’t negatively impacting your family, I think it’s totally fine to take the job YOU want even if there are drawbacks. Job B has drawbacks too. There’s no 100% perfect for you and your family job, so might as well do the one you like!

      It sounds like you’d be much happier at Job A – that counts for a LOT for your family too. While less flexible, it seems like your time off is time off – that’s not something you have now! It sounds like despite the commute, you’d probably get to be more present?

    8. Did Job A work for your family and your daycare needs when you were full-time in office? I’m a now-former fed, and full-time return to office would not work for my family with two kids (one daycare, one K) based on the commute time, even though I loved my colleagues, the work, and the benefits. To leave my Job A (fed), I chose between Job B (totally remote, amazing pay but billable hours, ambivalent work) and Job C (two days WFH, strong pay, interesting work). It’s still early days for me, but I’m glad I hunted for Job C. Do you think there’s a Job C out there for you?

    9. This is so tough! What do other opportunities in your area look like? I like the advice here to lean out a bit & build your network looking for an Option C (and perhaps could help on the social front as well).

      With Option A, I worry about the logistics. Who gets sick kids/random days off/dr appointments, etc. If your husband earns more & it becomes more critical to protect his job, would it mean you becoming the primary parent? If so, would that be feasible?

      At the end of the day I do believe you should move. It’s not good to stay in a stressful job day-in/day-out & I would guess the consistent stress over time compounds. In your shoes, if I couldn’t find Option C, I would probably jump to Option A while trying to stay open to an Option C in the medium term.

    10. Is there a job C? I also hated being fully remote. But I would find it really hard to go from 160-200 to 85k.

      1. This. Lean out a bit in your current job and look for a job that has more of what you want and a better salary than Job A.

        1. You owe it to yourself to seriously job hunt for at least six months. Your options are more than just job A and job B if you are earning so much money and obviously have skills to offer. If you are mostly missing having in-person connections, there are surely other jobs that can offer you that!

    11. For that pay cut I’d be trying more things to make B work or looking for Job C. Can you join a coworking space?

    12. OP here and I really appreciate all of these responses. There may be an Option C. It’s 3 days in office, pay would be low 100s. Similar work to Job A. I think it’s worth exploring and am setting up a chat with a friend there to discuss it a bit more.

    13. Why did you leave job A? Has that reason really changed? It’s easy to look back on past jobs with rose colored glasses. But I strongly suspect that whatever caused you to leave in the first place would still bug you a few months after going back to job A.

      I would look for job c.

    14. I would keep Job B, start to live like you are earning the salary from Job A, throw the difference in savings, and look for a Job C and/or more adult interaction. In this scenario you are saving up so you can move to Job A or similar down the road if needed (or maybe a Job C that is also lower pay), or if Job B becomes unstable. Job C may also be you doing something completely different, or part time, or who knows what- but you will have the financial cushion in place for it.

      Ways to interact with other adults while WFH:
      – get involved in the kids’ schools (you can do this evening hours)
      – join a gym (weekends, mornings, lunchtimes)
      – pick up or rekindle a hobby

      I think you will find as your kids get older that you want to have more of a community presence in some way.

    15. For me it would depend on overall financial situation.

      If you have your retirement, college savings, etc. fully funded, then switch to A.

      If you still need to save meaningfully for big items, then you need to suck it up in job B for a while longer until you have met your goals.

      I have three kids and a similar job that pays well but is remote and i have zero passion for. I have specific savings goals that I am working towards and once we have met them, I can think about pivots.

    16. I give you permission to go back to job A. Of course if C is an option, that is wonderful. But to enjoy your day with colleagues who are your friends and doing the work that you love with the respect/prestige sounds great. The commute is not horrible. I would see if you could push for 1 or 2 days from home, if they wont raise your income.

      That pension is gold. Add does it include retirement health insurance too? If so, it is very valuable and the pension makes the salary drop much more palatable. Remember, some people value $ more than quality of life on this site, and want their fancy vacations and housecleaners more than an ulcer, but stress/loneliness/unhappiness with your job sounds like hell to me.

  5. I’m over thinking this, but interested in what everyone wears for work travel when you’re not heading directly to an event. If you are flying and staying the night in a hotel prior to any professional events, do you dress for comfort or do you dress professionally just in case you run into a colleague?

    1. I generally wear my dress casual outfit on the plan (nicer jeans, loafers or dressy sneakers, sweater and blazer) simply to not have to fit it all in my carry on.

    3. I dress cute-comfortable, not in officewear. Like stuff I wouldn’t mind a colleague seeing me in if I ran into them while doing errands. Jeans with tons of stretch, linen pants with elastic waist, etc. If long-haul, cute joggers.

      1. +1. On top I like a butt-on down (is that still a bad word around here?) in a relaxed fabric.

    4. Comfort!

      I’m just as likely to run into a colleague in the hotel gym or in the lobby before I’ve had my coffee as I am on the flight. Trust me, I’m dressing for comfort then too :)

      I’m also lucky to work in a field where people are normal and no one would bat an eyelash if they saw me in my comfy clothes (as long as they’re not clubbing clothes!)

    5. I never fly in sweats/clothing I wouldn’t want to run into someone I know in. With that caveat, go for comfort!

    6. I’m guaranteed to be the same flight as colleagues, but we work in a casual dress code workplace. I wear jeans and an athleisure top. No leggings, no sweats, no shorts. But more importantly my hair is done and I wear makeup for domestic flights. I aim for casual but not sloppy.

    7. Depends on the length of the flight. If it’s 8+ hours and I need to sleep on the plane then I’m going to dress to sleep on the plane. For a 2 hour flight I’ll wear a pair of trousers and a nice shirt or sweater, not exactly business formal, but not total schlump.

      1. +1 – anything international or over 7hrs and I dress for comfort and change in the airport if necessary.

    8. Comfort. Presentable comfort that looks pulled together (athleisure fabric pants, very clean sneakers, jacket or top that’s not schlubby), but I never aim for “professional.” It’s the same type of clothing I’d wear if I went into the office on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

      1. Reading some other answers and caveat is that I’m a “put together person” even when comfortable so my hair and makeup are always done and my comfortable clothes aren’t sloppy. I’ll also still accessorize with jewelry.

        1. +1 to this. I aim for northeast preppy comfort – makeup and hair done but not overly made up, nice sneakers, jeans or golf pants, nicer sweaters/sweatshirts, not PJs or head to toe athleisure or spandex.

      2. Ditto. Put together comfort and mascara always (general rule of my life, not just for travel).

    10. Put together relaxed comfort. Think more Frank & Eileen or quarter zip knit than pure athleisure.

    13. Comfortable jeans and cotton layers on top. I don’t wear dress clothes, or anything I plan to rewear during the trip, on the plane because anything I wear on the plane gets stinky. For shoes, fashion sneakers if I am going to need them during the trip, otherwise my workout shoes to save luggage space.

    14. I like Old Navy’s dupe for Athleta Brooklyn pants because they have functional pockets with zippers + a looser fit shirt to accomodate a silk tank underneath. Then I wear either a sweatshirt or an oversized blazer on top.

    15. I have purchased dress sweats/ travel outfits for this purpose. Current favorites are from Rhone.

    16. I wear what I would wear to the office on a Friday – nice jeans, boots or really nice sneakers, and a knit top or a sweater that is a step up from a sweatshirt (like a good quality quarter zip or a leather jacket). My athleisure is leggings, and I just don’t want to be in spandex chatting with other lawyers or judges. I think I look good in my leggings and I don’t mind running into people at the hotel gym or if I’m out on a run, but I like a bit more polish if I anticipate seeing people at the airport. I’m in my early 40s and work in a big city for context.

    17. Cute casual for sure. My most comfy jeans, stylish sneakers, and a trendy tee or fluffy sweater.

    18. Unless I’m going directly to a meeting with no time to change from the airport, I don’t fly in work clothes. Minimal jeans but again a 4 hour or shorter flights. I have been on 9 hour flights with my boss and there’s no way I’m wearing dress clothes on those flights. Comfort all of the way.

    19. If a short flight, comfy jeans, white sneakers, nice tee, denim jacket or similar (weather depending).

      If a longer flight: cute athleisure.

  6. ISO recs for mascara for my 60-something mom. She wants a simple formula, easy to apply, not trying to do anything dramatic (no fluffy plumping, volumizing, length doubling), just nicely defined lashes. The Maybelline pink & green tube isn’t a hit.

    I previously liked Maybelline Define-A-Lash before I switched to a more volumizing product (had tried pink & green myself and didn’t like) so suggested that one, but any others to suggest for her?

    1. I live and die by the Tarte tubing mascara. Prior to the Tarte, I used and liked the Ilia limitless lash mascara – I switched only beause I wanted tubing.

      I like to buy it in the travel size – that way I actually can use it up before it expires/dries out. I wear mascara probably 6 days a week and still can never get through a whole full size tube.

    2. Glossier mascara – for me (same age as your mom), it’s exactly what you described. No clumping, no flaking, just defined lashes.

    3. I’m in my 50s and want a basic mascara that darkens my light lashes. I avoid waterproof because I find it hard to remove and I just don’t need it. I currently use Lancome Definicils High Definition and I’m very happy with it. In the past I have used Clinique High Impact Volumizing Mascara (which I don’t find particularly volumizing, but that’s fine for me) and was also very happy with it. I only switched because the Clinique only comes in black and I wanted something a little softer.

    4. I have finally found a mascara I will repurchase when needed – Westman Atelier. Expensive, but only need to buy twice a year, and it goes on nicely, washes off nicely, and comes in a pretty brown (in my 60’s, I find brown much more flattering than black). I think my search for the perfect mascara (which yes, took me into my 60’s) has finally ended.

      1. Thanks for mentioning the color. I hadn’t thought of that. Do you use an eyebrow pencil, and if so, what color? What is your current coloring like?

    5. The Cover Girl Clump Crusher in the green tube is great. I love it because it seems like a “drier” formula, so it’s not all smudgy and wet when I put it on. That Maybelline pink/green tube one is very wet.

      The brush has individual plastic “teeth” vs. spiral bristles, so it coats and defines lashes without being gloppy and sticking them together.

      1. I swear by this one as well. I’ve tried fancier mascaras but I keep coming back to the CG one.

    6. Chanel makes a great brown mascara which I find much less harsh than black. It’s $40 so not that much more and you get to give her a splurgy gift.

    10. Try a tubing mascara, there are a lot more on the market now. Swede is supposed to be amazing

  7. With so much happening in the world, I had not paid any attention to precious metal prices, but that changed this week when my husband discovered that his favorite classical guitar strings had been discontinued. After a mad scramble to buy a stash, he learned that it’s because the bass strings have silver in them, and the price of silver is through the roof. Who knew?

    Anyway, with that in mind I read this article today (gift link), which didn’t add much to my understanding. But the comments section is a journey!

    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/business/silver-gold-prices.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IFA.SRYh.JIOmgW1gwkdW&smid=url-share

    1. This reminds me that I need to get new valuations for my instruments and up my insurance coverage.

    2. Yeah, got a breathtaking amount for some teeny bits of gold chain and some dented earrings.

      1. Where did you go to sell and how much did you actually get? I need to do the same thing. Do I actually go to a “we buy gold” place?

        1. We went to a local jeweler, after first asking how much off the spot price they are paying. Some places take too big a commission for themselves.

    3. I knew they were up but assumed it was *because* of so much happening in the world – gold does well in instability.

      1. Yep. The world is afraid of the US Dollar. And so am I. My gold index fund is bananas.T

    4. I have some old gold and silver jewelry that I inherited and will never wear. I was toying with selling it anyway – would now be the time or would prices for old, non-ultra-valuable jewelry be less affected?

      1. You’d be selling that jewelry for the metal value, so if they’re solid gold and silver their prices would be up as well.

      2. This is a good time to sell that stuff. Both gold and silver prices are up. Make sure they are a place you can trust and that they carefully remove any gemstones.

        1. I don’t know any places I trust for this (a whole new world to me) but the stuff is just sitting in my drawer and any money I can make off it would be better than none…

    5. Silver commodities are going to be the next gamestop, but for good reason vs. hype. We are invested in them and they’ve gone up a crazy amount in the last few months. There is only so much and it is heavily used for tech purposes.

      1. The news about Samsung’s commitment to silver storm mining was when we invested, and the prices have gone up tremendously since October.

  8. I really like this dress, but do we not all already have enough black or navy dresses? How about some other colors?

    On the other hand, the utter dominance of boring neutrals for the past few years has put a curb on my impulse shopping.

    1. Counter point: I am here for the “boring” neutrals. There are very few colors I care to wear except as a small addition to my otherwise no doubt boring to you outfit. To each her own.

      1. I am also here for neutrals. I am sick of finding a silhouette I like and then discovering that it only comes in muddy brown, muddy pink, and muddy green.

    2. Yeah, I can always use another black dress. Many of the colored ones don’t work for me in my urban environment.

    3. I really love wearing colors, but realized a few years back that I had a lot of “statement” colors for work clothes, but not a lot of neutrals that work with everything, so had to proactively find them. It’s a lot easier to wear my colors now that i have neutrals to pair them with!

  9. How do you insure irreplaceable things? Most of my antiques are replaceable in that there are others out there that exist, however a few of my pieces are one of a kind with significant historical provenance.

    1. You do your best to get an appraisal, get a rider, and insure the pieces so that you at least get money if they are stolen or destroyed.

      1. I mean. An insurance policy isn’t a savings account. The amount of money you will pay to the insurance company to insure that revolutionary war era musket or whatever is probably more than what you would get if there’s ever a payout. You’re better off saving or investing that money.

    2. I don’t. I don’t insure anything I wouldn’t replace if lost/broken/stolen. The cost to insure it just isn’t worthwhile to me.

      1. +1. I have inherited several beautiful family pieces, some of which are worth a lot, but I wouldn’t replace them. For me the main value is sentimental.

        1. I think I might not have been clear these aren’t family pieces, I have very intentionally acquired them and I would replace them (if possible, but it’s not which is the point of the question). One example, I have the original Mayor’s desk from my city it was custom built for the mayor in the early 1700s of a now extinct tree species. I use it as my own desk, it’s not decorative.

          1. The desk is a good example thanks. It’s functional but also unique. Think about what you would want to replace it with if something happened to it. Presumably you’d want another beautiful, expensive, maybe antique desk. Since you bought it, you don’t have to appraise it to at least get a quote from the insurance company for what a rider would cost. Do the math. Does it make sense to pay the insurance premium in the hopefully unlikely event of a house fire? Or do you prefer to “self insure” ie take the max value the insurance company would assign to a desk under your homeowners insurance and you’re on your own for the rest?

          3. But would you replace the desk with a similarly antique-meaningful-expensive piece (albeit obviously not from the same provenance) such that the cost of insurance would be worth it? I’d look at how much the premiums are vs. how much you’d think of spending on a replacement and go from there.

          6. I would look for another really cool old desk that tickled my fancy whatever that ended up being. I certainly wouldn’t replace it with something mass produced

    3. I’d highly encourage you to talk with your insurance broker about this, particularly if they are independent. Your homeowners policy likely excludes or really caps coverage for these sorts of items. There are policies specifically available for arts and antiques, or you can add riders on to your other policies. It’s not as expensive as you think. Our general rule is if the value for the item is over our deductible and/or the cap for coverage, we will make sure there is insurance coverage for it in the event of catastrophic loss (e.g., hurricane).

    1. Despite living somewhere where it regularly gets many degrees below zero, I almost never want to wear a below the waist jacket. But for the very rare occasions where I do, I have an Eddie Bauer Sun Valley parka that I got on a Black Friday sale for $100. They come in petite and I didn’t have to size up so much to fit my chest that the lower half was overly voluminous, which is one of my big problems with longer coats- I’m a small person and they either swamp me or are so tight I can’t move my arms. Otherwise, my regular puffer jackets are from Patagonia and Marmot, but I wasn’t willing to pay to pay their prices for a coat I’d barely wear and didn’t fit as well, though I love their waist length jackets.

      1. I about fell over when I saw the prices on long Patagonia coats. Holy cats. And I’m from a place with cold weather!

        1. In between. I never ever wear a long coat in the car because it’s so uncomfortable but also dislike wearing one walking because I get too hot and it’s hard to layer and upzip and the hood is annoying. I only wear it when I’m walking somewhere for a relatively short time or will be doing a lot of standing outside and it’s very cold.

          1. ‘In between’ is just code for living in the suburbs but not wanting to admit it.

          2. Highly recommend getting the kind with a 2-way zipper, so you can unzip from the bottom – that’s what I have and I even bike it in it pretty comfortably (shorter trips for errands, I’m not roadwarrioring 30 miles in my puffer, don’t worry)

          3. I live in a city but I WFH so I don’t commute. I walk to run errands, visit friends, and exercise, and do a lot of winter hiking, but also drive to get to things further away. Not all cities are as dense as NYC, DC, etc. Most are somewhere in between, if not almost as car centric as the suburbs. I feel lucky to live in a neighborhood that’s as walkable as I do, though I certainly can’t walk to everything I need.

      3. Seconding the Eddie Bauer long puffer coats, especially for the price. I live in NYC and have a dog, so I spend a lot of time walking outside, and have been living in my Eddie Bauer puffer this year.

      4. Seconding Eddie Bauer. I have a knee-length lightweight real down puffer from them from last year. Keeps me warm on the commute. A few feathers come out occasionally, but for less than $100 on sale I’m content with that. FWIW I am petite but ordered the regular length, and it comes down to the top of my boots for , but otherwise fits very nicely – sleeves aren’t too long, waist is not too low, etc. So if you’re petite consider that as an option to get more warmth.

      5. LLBean has cheaper but warm options, especially if you wait for the seasonal 50% off sale prices

    4. I LOVE my black hooded Zara calf-length puffer. They have a similar one on the website now; I got mine a couple years ago. It is extremely warm, reasonably priced, and is as stylish as a giant puffer jacket can be.

      1. Was going to recommend a Lands End one – I got one for Christmas in 2019 and I was walking back to my apartment this week after shoveling snow for two hours and thought about how cozy I was and how much I love this coat.

      2. +1! My husband loves his Levi one, too. His is probably puffier than mine. I like how both have the option to unzip at the sides, too, to easily sit in down and walk without being constricted.

    6. I really like my Lands End Women’s FeatherFree Insulated Diamond Quilted Maxi Coat. I got it in green maybe two years ago. It somehow is very warm without being super bulky, long, and I like an attached hood. I have an Eddie Bauer coat that has a removal hood that I never use because it’s always unbuttoning when I try and use the hood.

      And I know LE gets a frumpy rep, but I do like the way the jacket looks. Size way down, as always with LE.

    7. Not the cheapest by far, but I waited until this one went on sale and then grabbed it:

      https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/product/mackage-farren-light-down-coat-0400095823602.html?dwvar_0400095823602_size=Medium&dwvar_0400095823602_color=BLACK&site_refer=CSE_GGLPLA%3AWomens_Clothing%3AMackage&country=US&currency=USD&CSE_CID=SAKS_G_PLA_LIA_SMW%3ASAKS_G_PLA_LIA_SMW_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23019492843&gbraid=0AAAAADO6JtSmlK-tZVrRX-tS-JjyoKQLU&gclid=Cj0KCQiAp-zLBhDkARIsABcYc6tS3P3OLl5g1mml8iAi6yiQM7ePICl1JMYFHr3QBvXRI5LakbglNlYaAmWeEALw_wcB

      My view is, if I am going to live in MN (never been more proud to call it home), I get to have an extensive and sort of expensive coat wardrobe. This one is my workhorse, however. No discomfort in car.

    8. I do not need to wear one often so I just go with the long Lands End puffer. It packs down really small and is super warm.

    9. I have a long Uniqlo puffer – I call it my sleeping bag coat – which isn’t sleek, but it’s really warm. I walked about 20 blocks in it yesterday morning in sub-zero wind chills and was fine. Looks like there are a few options online, but lucky sizes only.

    10. Thanks all. I live in the mid-Atlantic and have resisted getting a long coat for years because I haven’t been sure how often I’d wear it, but to repeat: I. Am. Over. It.

    11. lands end stadium coat. got it in regular medium even though im technically a petite small, in order to have the extra length olus plenty of room for layers. I love it and would not go back.

    12. Thigh or knee length is a must.

      Uniqlo has great down puffers for the price.

      Below -15 C with windchill (5F) I either need more layers – so a bigger size – or I need warmer than Uniqlo.

      The warmest one I’ve had, good for -45 C/F, was a down coat from the North Face. Lately I’ve also been looking at Fjallraven. Shearling hat and mittens are also nice to have.

      1. What shearling hat do you have? I am looking for one. Would love one that gives my ears some protection.

        I live in a very cold windy area that is regularly with temps below zero. My warmest coat is a full length shearling coat. Incredible.

      2. I’ve been stealing my husband’s ski coat to survive the current icepocalypse, since it comes down to my knees. I’m not going back. A Uniqlo puffer the approximate dimensions of a sleeping bag has been ordered.

        1. I hear you. When I see people dressed in short coats in my very cold city I just think they must be tourists or new transplants. Just – why?

  12. Be kind, please, but I need some help making some mental adjustments. I am now in my mid-40s. Within the past 12-18 months, I have started looking my age. For awhile, I could pass as a 30-something, but now there is zero doubt that I am in my 40s. The changes are subtle, but they are happening, both in my face and in my body. I am having a hard time with it! When photos from 5-10 years ago pop up on our devices, I feel a little sad about not looking that way anymore. And lest you think that I was ever the hot girl, I wasn’t. Just medium-cute. It’s still an adjustment.

    I can think of several good things about looking older. I have a better sense of my style and what works. I have some gravitas to work with. I make a point of not looking sloppy, ever. I still color my hair to cover the grays and I use decent skin products, but I don’t do any facial treatments, botox, etc.

    So, wise women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, tell me how you adjusted and leaned into your age. I see plenty of women on Instagram who look incredible, and I aspire to be that way.

    1. I feel this. I’m only 41 but I feel like the aging has accelerated recently. My 8 year old daughter was looking at photobooks from our honeymoon (late 20s) the other night and said “Wow Mommy looks sooo much younger! Daddy looks the same!” Super great for the ego.

    2. 38/39 is when I leaned into being serious about skincare. Actives (vitamin C, retinols), sunscreen, and good moisturizers. I also did a few rounds of lasers to get rid of dark spots/redness, and I think a redlight mask has made a real difference. I’m planning for a facelift in my 50s but that’s obviously an extreme solution.

      1. Lasers have helped my skintone incredibly. I think they’re the single most effective thing I have done. I am light on the botox, and very light on the cheek filler (although if you ask the poster who replied to me the other day, everyone knows about my filler but is too polite to tell me it is obvious). Filler can be helpful as you age because your skin loses volume.

        As to how I have leaned into my age, I have done the things above to keep my appearance up, I have cut my hair a bit shorter, finding that my very long hair did not match my vibe anymore, I am always professionally dressed in nice clothing appropriate for my age, and I am enjoying the gravitas that comes with finally looking older. I am so happy to be past being the youngest person in the room.

    3. I haven’t ever “leaned into” my age, but I have made peace with it. That said, new signs of age at every stage always hit me by surprise, as if I can’t quite belief it happened to ME. I realized I had a totally unconscious viewpoint that all those women with wrinkles or crepey skin or chin hair had “done something wrong to end up that way” and I was somehow going to be the exception. Nope.

      I will say this: the way you’re seeing your younger self now is how, in 15 years, you’ll look back at your 40something self: So young! So pretty! So fresh-looking! Knees that still worked! No chin hair! No jowls! What fun it would be to be able to move that easily again, and wear those kinds of shoes again!

      It’s about taking advantage of the stage you’re at — make your older self happy that you spent your 40s enjoying how you looked and how well your body still worked, rather than rejecting yourself because you weren’t in your 20s anymore.

      1. YES that’s exactly how I felt! I remember younger me judging older women thinking they had somehow done something wrong to look that way. I used to feel so good in my body, bursting with energy and youth and collagen, and I just assumed it would always be that way!

        I was so naive and so smug. Little did I know that aging comes for us all, if we’re lucky!

    4. I think the 40s and 50s are hard because you can easily look much older than you feel. When I’m in my mid-60s I think I will be comfortable going full-on Helen Mirren, but right now in my late 40s I just look saggy and sad. I am focusing on building muscle and dialing in the perfect haircut.

    6. I’m 45 and definitely feeling the same way. I was medium cute at best, but I could really ride that for a while even with no makeup, etc.

      I notice a big difference if I am hydrated, moisturized, and well slept. Also, what I eat seems to make a big difference in how my face looks. Salt, sugar, dairy, carbs, alcohol, and processed foods… they all show up in my face after I eat them. I still eat them, but now I know the consequences. If I want to feel my best, I avoid them.

      But the biggest thing is… acceptance. I try to tell myself, “what a gift that I get to see myself age!” I get some balayage but I do not cover my greys and I’m trying to embrace that I’m essentially watching myself change in real time, which I think is kind of cool. I also think/hope that aging this way can be a model for younger women.

      I feel more polished if I do my hair, wear jewelry, and wear structured clothing. I cannot do filmy clothing without substance. I need lining and tailoring, even in casual clothes!

      1. OP here, and I really regret covering my grays when they started. Because now, if and when I want to quit doing all-over dye, it’s going to be a whole thing with the skunk line in my brown hair. Really wish I’d done the balayage thing.

        1. A good hairdresser will able to transition you. Low lights on the grey plus highlights on the non-grey natural color to make it the same color as the low lights will break up the skunk line. It takes a couple years to fully transition depending on hair length and growth rate. Depending on how quickly and in what pattern you go grey, some people end up with a natural skunk line even without dying their hair.

        2. I’m glad I haven’t covered my grays! I have two white streaks amongst the salt and pepper and they look really rad. Posting to say gray hair can be awesome in case anyone is on the fence–just rock them. I also had some amazing women I looked up when I was first starting out that had amazing heads of full silver–happy to now look a little bit more like those amazing, powerful women.

          1. I also found a rad silver streak when I stopped coloring my hair. It’s my favorite thing.

        3. Have you talked to a good colorist about other options? Demi permanent color plus balayage may help you grow in the gray without a harsh line.

        5. You can ease into it by coloring your hair a lighter color than dark brown. And moving your part helps too – dye the area around your new part until the old part is sufficiently grown out. It’s a process, involving a major haircut at some point, but I’m glad I did it. I’m 61 & did it in my late 50s.

      2. A big +100 to all of this, especially tailoring/well made clothing making a big difference at this age.

      3. Where are your favorite places to buy clothes? I feel that shifting for me, too. I completely agree that clothes without substance no longer work for me. (I mean, I don’t know if they ever did, but they definitely don’t now!)

      4. Yeah, I always get a little annoyed when people say you should be grateful for your relative’s annoying behavior because you’ll miss it when they’re dead, but after several friends died this year (in our 40s), I really am feeling this way about aging. One of them I’d known since we were toddlers, and we’d always joked about growing old together. Now she’s gone and it’s just me going gray alone, which is devastating, and still feels a like such a privilege. I know that doesn’t help when you’re trying to work through things in the moment, but at least occasionally it can be useful to also think about the bigger picture.

        1. I will second this. I have outlived two siblings. One died at 16, the other at 24. A nephew at the age of 3. They will only ever look young and it is terribly sad. At 53 I have earned each one of these wrinkles. I try to be thankful for the health I have and the things I have seen.

    7. I am 46 and people (honestly or not) say I look like I am still in my mid 30s. Here’s what helps me: regular manicures (do them myself), consistent skin care, fresh hair color, styled hair, Botox for my 11s, never leaving the house without blush and mascara, regular workouts, clothes that fit me properly, quality over quantity in clothes, classic jewelry, no alcohol, low sugar, and, sorry to say, genetics.

      1. I look 10 years younger not doing botox and never wearing make up, only regular skin care (always sunscreen!) & being active for fun. If you need all of those things your genetics are not that good sorry.

    8. I’m saving up for my half facelift. Every time I look in the mirror and feel sad, another $5 goes into the pot.

    9. I have found that I need to readjust to color choices. Some colors that used to look great on me are now just…not…good (i.e, red, most pinks, black). Other colors that used to be wishy-washy on me, are now great and really light up my face (blues, greys). I’m a high contrast/Winter, and I’ve moved from looking great in the really strong darks to looking better in the bright winter categories. So, TLDL, pay attention to what colors look good on you now, not what used to be your best.

      Also give yourself grace comparing yourself with influencers on Instagram. Remember, that is their job to look great in photos and they know how to do that, and can take the time to take millions of photos to get the most flattering ones. They are the modern equivalent of 1950s store models.

    10. A few things I do: I remind myself that how I look is the least interesting thing about me. I remind myself I am fortunate to be alive, to have made it this far in life, and it is a gift to grow old. These help me.

    11. A combination of things. When I’m most frustrated I remind myself that I’m grateful to be able to age. A dear aunt of mine died at 44 and never got to. I’m 41 and as the age of her passing approaches, it seems to haunt, motivate and scare me all at once. I was a mid-teen when she died. It’s incredible to think we’re nearly the same age.

      But then also a healthy dose of regular hair appts, facials with dermaplane (getting all that fuzz off really makes a huge difference in how I feel), and I’m about to start some very, very light botox on a particular set of lines at the top of my forehead that seemingly appeared overnight. I feel good when I do things that make me feel good, which sounds so basic. But I do it all for ME. Not for men, not for my husband, not for my job.

    12. Early 50s and I see no need to lean into aging. Have I adjusted? Sure. I no longer do heels for every day office wear and rarely for dressing up. I’ve adjusted my style to be less cutesy overall. But I color my hair, get Botox, wear makeup, stay very current on clothing, etc. I would personally feel awful if I let it all go to hell just because I hit a certain age. Plenty of people age beautifully and stylishly and I consider myself one of them.

    13. Get off Instagram, and off your phone really.

      Live your life. You are so so lucky. Don’t let it pass you buy worrying on insignificant things.

  13. Since this group always has great recommendations – looking for restaurant, bar, and don’t miss shopping and cultural sites in Seville, Jerez, and Malaga. Will be there in late March (getting out before holy week descends) and traveling with a chef and a wine rep so nothing is too weird in those categories! We’re doing all the side research as well, but I always love a first person account. Have already started tagging all the cloistered nun bakery windows in google maps for exploring purposes.

    1. Not under the radar, but the Royal Alcazar in Seville is spectacular. I’ve been to Europe probably 20-25 times and that’s on my very short list of all-time best sights. Also I don’t remember specific restaurant names, but salmorejo is a must eat in that region of Spain.

      1. Agree! The Alcazar is amazing. The cathedral and La Giralda are also fun (if you’re up for a climb and lots of people, the views are worth it). El Rinconcillo is among the oldest tapas bars in Sevilla, and it’s delicious. I adore the porras at La Colonia in Pla de Encarnacion under The Setas.

        If you’ve got any Roman empire nerds in your group, it may be worth it to head just outside of Sevilla to Italica in Santiponce, a somewhat short bus or uber ride away.

    2. In Malaga go to El Pimpi for drinks&tapas and dont miss the Picasso museum and the Alcazaba. Try the espetos in any chiringuito in the beach.

  14. Seeking very specific New Orleans recs! I will be there this weekend staying near Marigny. Dinner reservations are already taken care of. Where should I:

    have coffee
    get Sunday brunch
    shop
    wander around
    work in the afternoon from a cafe

    I have been there many times so I don’t need to do the obvious must-sees like Cafe du Monde. Seeking more locals-only type recs. Thank you!

    1. Not a local, but go every other year for work and like to find different things to do. Last time we were there we went to Chance in Hell Snoballs and that was super fun and off the tourist beaten track.

      We really like The Ruby Slipper but I think that is pretty known/obvious.

      We also really like the WW2 Museum and go every time we’re in town.

    2. Ayu Bakehouse for coffee pastry in the morning. Delicious carbs. For wandering, Magazine Street is always recommended for a reason. I’m partial to Molly’s Rise and Shine as someone who likes breakfast (before brunch-hour).

    3. It’s a touristy spot but the fried green tomatoes eggs bene at Cafe Fleur de Lis is one of the best brunch meals I’ve ever eaten.

  15. Why is it so hard for me to find an under blazer top? I need a scoop or v neck (not crew neck). I have a lot of mid section so not a tee shirt. Any ideas? Actual link wouldbe appreciated I’ve looked at all the usual recommended spots. I’m fine with polyester but don’t want shiny

    1. I know you said not a tee shirt but I bought 4 of Target’s Mossimo t-shirt (58% rayon / 42% polyester): 2 in black and 2 in flecked gray. They (and a thin Limited Camel colored merino wool sweater) are the only tops I wear under a blazer. Of course Target doesn’t sell this shirt anymore (I found one on poshmark after googling “target mossimo t-shirt rayon polyester” and reviewing the results). But maybe look for thin shirts with that mix (rayon / polyester); my shirts have a silky feeling to them and don’t bunch under my blazer’s sleeves at the shoulders / upper arms. They are also forgiving in the mid section (not tight but also not oversized / sloppy). The one I saw on Poshmark is “Mossimo Black Lightweight Tee SMALL”, seller katexo4

  16. Highly recommend everyone go read the comments on top post on the Kate Spade Facebook page. The caption is: “We like to think of this bucket bag – which has a sneaky spade flower base – as a love letter to our iconic logo. #katespadeny”.

  17. What online banking do we like? I am divorcing E*trade for their abysmal policies and service.

    1. I have Capital One (high performance savings and regular checking) and love it. Very easy to move money back and forth instantly and the savings account has a good interest rate.

    2. When it comes to online banks, I don’t recommend being loyal to any particular one. You’ll get comments saying that people “love” a bank and that they’re stuck with it forever but interest rates can vary so dramatically and most have similar attractive offerings and customer service etc. Don’t be afraid to change more than once! Ally has met our needs.

    3. My local credit union. I bank fully online through them. While there are a number of B&M branches in my daily vicinity, the last time I visited one was to deposit a large insurance reimbursement check several years ago.

    4. I consolidated all of my investments, retirement accounts at Fidelity. Now I use them for most of my “banking” needs as well. I have a Cash Management account that gets a very nice high interest rate and I can do online bill pay, write checks etc. I can withdraw money from almost any ATM and get refunded the fees. I have checks deposited directly into this account, and easily transfer money to my brokerage account for investing or putting into the highest yield money market fund. I also use the Fidelity credit card for 2% back on everything and have the rebate go directly into my investment accounts.

      If I had a good credit union near me, I would belong to them for my brick and mortar banking needs. For example, the rare time I need a lot of cash, or a medallion or something. Since I don’t have a credit union near me, I use Chase, and strongly dislike them.

    1. yes this lovely. i don’t think wearing black is an issue most places anymore and i agree with you. i hate being cold.

    2. Torn. I really like the dress, but it’s a little bit “glamorous young window at the funeral” for a wedding, for my taste. On the other hand, your temperature concerns mean you’re looking to be covered up, so maybe that’s sort of baked in. Is there something similar with maybe a sequin or something?

    3. Looks great. Whether black will stand out at the wedding is really location dependent. I wouldn’t even think to question it, it’s so common.

    4. Love it. FWIW the last winter wedding I went to in New York the majority of the women were wearing black.

    5. Perfect.

      I might be tempted to wear a statement shoe, as long as there isn’t snow on the ground.

    1. Me! Idol I and second shot at love are my current faves. Also Mercy For None and My Name for the eye candy

    2. A lot of J-drama lately if I’m honest! But Netflix’s Potato Lab was cute and funny. Tempest was a little uneven for me, but the action scenes were great.

  20. what brand and kind of blush do you use? I am 50, pretty good skin, use a very like liquid foundation. Currently have a NARS chubby stick but whenever i’ve used the same thing for a decade i try to take pause and wonder if there’s something better.

    2. I started using Merit cream blush and I really like it. Pretty colours and easy to use, I just blend with a beauty blender.

    3. I’m early 50s and I really like the Haus Labs blush stick. It blends well and it’s really easy to keep it very light or make it a little more intense.

    4. Laura Geller’s baked blushes. Gorgeous swirls of color. I’m never like this, but they’re so pretty I want to collect them all. My mom (80) and I (44) have dramatically different coloring and both wear Tropic Hues if you’re looking for a place to start.

  21. Can someone speak to how The Fold London sizing runs? There are some dresses on Poshmark that I am eyeing, but no returns so I don’t want to mess up on the sizing. I’m an hourglass, and normally a size 6 in LK Bennett dresses.

    1. it’s not so nice but does the fold have free returns? you could order something new to get a gauge, return it and then go from there.

  22. Any recommendations for centrally located accommodations in Paris? Travelling with our teens so doesn’t need to be kid friendly but budget is more mid-range than high end. Trying to avoid AirBnB but need a kitchen /kitchenette because of some dietary issues.

      1. Thanks! That’s actually my go- to for many cities but they have a minimum 5 night stay for most places and we’re only there for 3 nights maybe 4 at absolute max.

Comments are closed.