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Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Colorblock V-Neck Cardigan

Work Cardigan: Halogen Colorblock V-Neck CardiganOur daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Readers love these cotton cardigans generally (they come in a zillion colors!), but I particularly like this colorblocked sweater. Not only is it on sale, but the colorblocking is such a flattering effect. I'm featuring the purple/navy version because it showcases the details the best, but I think I personally like (gasp) the white and gray one the best. (I know, you didn't see that one coming, did you?) Even though I wear tons of black most of the time, a white sweater can be really versatile (and, cough, a great way to summer-ize a mostly black/gray/navy wardrobe.) The sweater also comes in a gray-blue version — all three color combos are marked to $40.80 in regular and petite sizes; they were originally $68. Halogen Colorblock V-Neck Cardigan The cardigan is usually available in plus sizes, but it seems to be almost entirely sold out — tons of this highly-rated Sejour cardigan on sale though. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-4)

Sales of note for 12.3.24 (lots of Cyber Monday deals extended, usually until 12/3 at midnight)

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

244 Comments

  1. Recommendations for best fitness watch under $200? I can’t have wifi but want gps to track my runs, and want it to monitor heart rate and all that. I am currently considering the fitbit surge, but I’ve read that the steps and heart rate calculators aren’t that accurate. I’m wondering if that’s going to be a problem with any device at that price point, or if I should buy something else instead.

    1. From what I’ve heard, the most accurate heart rate monitors are going to be chest straps, not wrist watches. Depending what you need the heart rate calculator for, a wrist might be accurate enough, even if not completely accurate.

      I’m pretty sure there are websites and articles out there that compare and contrast and speak to this…

    2. I’ve been considering a garmin forerunner but they appear to be over $300. I use the kinetic gps app on my phone to track my runs and plan my training.

      1. I’ve got a Garmin Forerunner 15 (about $100) and it worked well for tracking runs. It doesn’t track heart rate, but I didn’t care about that feature.

        1. This is what I have and it’s great! It finds satellites faster than dh’s more expensive Garmin. The only thing to be concerned about by this watch is the battery life. It lasts about 4 hours per charge, so you might run into trouble if you are training for a marathon. It’s ok for me because half marathons are my longest distance so far. And as previously mentioned – no hrm.

    3. So it might be more, but you can buy them refurbished. I love my Garmin watch for this and find that it’s really accurate for long runs, etc.

    4. I have a Garmin that tracks GPS and has a heart rate strap. They have several in your price range.

    5. I’d get the Garmin 220 + HRM. It’s a slightly older model so it’s come down in price but is still a great watch–many people from my running group are still buying it. If you don’t want a strap and are willing to increase your budget to $300, I’ve really like my 235. It has the optical HR built into the wrist side of the watch face. It’s not quite as accurate as the strap as others mentioned, but I have mental breathing struggles with something around my chest so I’m willing to take that tradeoff.

  2. Ski jacket question:

    How good are Lands End ski jackets (3 in 1 parka or squall jacket) for kids? Has anyone tried them?
    Thanks

    1. Excellent. The snow pant bibs are very good too. Kids outerwear is what I’ll miss most about shopping at Lands End (boycotting in light of their abysmal reaction to the Gloria S. issue).

    2. Wonderful. Im in Wisconsin and the winters are long and cold. Most kids wear this jacket or the other popular one by LE.

    3. I spent too much money on Lands End for my kid. He lost the jacket. I was so mad.
      Orange Old Navy jackets from now until he can buy his own.

      1. My then 20-y-o lost his super-warm LE jacket at college in upstate NY, they don’t grow out of this . . .

        1. I’m laughing with you. I told my 13 yo son to put on a hoodie the other morning and realized he had lost every last one of his hoodies. He must have had five of them at the beginning of the school year.

          Do you think Target has any hoodies at this time of year? No. We had to go to North Face $$$

    4. Love them. Buy them at the end of the season for the next year. My kid wore the inner fleece layer nearly every day for months and it still looks brand new. High quality zippers, so easier than you’d think to zip that layer in and out as needed.

    5. I hated 3 in 1 jackets when my boys (I have 3) were young. The sleeves always bunched funny and were uncomfortable. And what a pita to get the liner in. Granted ours were generally from Sears, not Lands End, but we much preferred buying a warm coat and a jacket when they were young. We’ve had good luck with Old Navy, but our favorite place to get kids outerwear is Costco.

    6. Lands’ End makes excellent quality outerwear for all ages. That and bathing suits.

  3. I love these cardigans and have wanted them to make a vneck version, but I just can’t get on board with this colorblocking. Solid version, please. I’d buy all of them.

    1. I own a gazillion of these cardigans in the regular crewneck and love them. I’m always stalking them to grab any that go on sale.

      1. How well do they hold up, pilling wise? How do you wash yours?

        I also love the v-neck, 3 quarter sleeve versions, which are most flattering on my shape, but have a hard time finding them in decent quality.

        1. I know others have had trouble with pilling but I haven’t. I think the quality is nice. They hold their shape really well. I’m totally not careful with them. I wash them in warm water and throw them in the dryer on medium heat.

          1. Thanks for this info.

            I’m actually amazed you wash warm and dry! The colors don’t fade fast?

            I usually wash all my clothes in the delicate cycle trying to extend their life, and never dry, but have had a lot of my cardigans lose their life quickly.

          2. Mine haven’t faded at all and I have some that are even a few years old.

            I’m the laziest person with laundry. I throw everything in together (except towels and bedding). I think I adopted my stepmom’s rule of not buying any kitchen stuff that couldn’t go in the dishwasher and applied it to laundry.

            I use Tide Free and Clear detergent and Bounce dryer sheets. Not sure if that makes any difference.

          3. Sydney, other than the fact that I wash clothes on cold and tumble dry low, our laundry routine is exactly the same, down to the only items I sort out (bedding and towels).

        2. I’ve had trouble with them pilling relatively quickly and I’m pretty careful on washing-cold gentle cycle, flat to dry. Perhaps I’ll try Sydney’s washing method and see if it doesn’t somehow counter intuitively help with pilling.

          1. I wonder if they are pilling because the fibers mat more when airdrying, clumping up more to form the pill, as opposed to drying, which would fluff and separate the fibers? (totally making up stuff here…)

          2. I find a lot of my knits when I lay flat to dry end up pilling, particularly on the surface on which it was laid flat to dry. I line dry instead of lay fat to dry almost everything that needs to be lay flat to dry now.

        3. I wash cold and tumble dry and haven’t had too many pilling problems. I do try to get in at least two wears between washings just in case.

    2. +1. Thanks to this site I’m a Halogen cardi fan and a crewneck convert. I always preferred v-necks but the crewneck Halogen is so slim-fitting that it doesn’t look frumpy like most do. I haven’t had mine long enough to see any pilling yet but there’s no cotton in it so I’m guessing that’s why people say they keep their shape more than other ones.

      1. Ahhhh… thanks for this info.

        Yes, I have seen blends/synthetics hold up much better than cotton.

  4. My life is crazy. I have 15 minutes in the early morning (light out now, but not in winter) and 15 minutes after dinner where I could start squeezing in workouts. Currently, I have a 90s-style aerobics step and some 7-pound weights (so I do squats with those or some curls). I have a hand injury that means I can’t do pushups (but I can do planks). I’m not much of a runner (unless I am doing some trail running or an actual event, so not helpful for maxing out my limited time), sadly.

    Any good sources for broadening this up or recommendations?

    1. Have you heard of the 7 Minute Workout app? It tells you to do certain exercises for a time interval (it counts for you) then you get a short break and start another exercise. In 15 minutes you could do two rounds of exercises. I don’t believe it requires any kind of equipment, either.

      1. No — I am a fossil with a blackberry. I just assume that apps aren’t for me (and another gadget with a screen is not for me, either; too much job is making me a neoluddite away from the job; sooo tired of looking at anything screen-y).

        I am wondering — if you can pay for a training session someplace like crossfit (or lifting based) and just get ideas? I don’t need to join a gym or anything (we have a family membership at some place I don’t have time to get to except for kid activities already).

        1. Crossfit gyms usually do an “on-ramp” program: you pay upfront for five sessions or so and learn the movements and lifts. However, crossfit workouts can be pretty equipment-intensive – barbells, kettlebells, pullup bars, etc.

          I’d check out the Bodyweight Fitness sub on Reddit. If you have a little cash to throw at some equipment, a couple of kettlebells and a speed jump rope will give you lots of workout options. There are lots of websites that have “travel” crossfit workouts, too, that use minimal equipment.

        2. 15-minute workouts – I would suggest the Luddite version of the NYTimes 7 minute workout. It’s fantastic!

          Google it and it gives you an old-fashioned paper guide. No app required. The article also has a video that shows the moves so that you can watch it first, then print out the guide, which will make the first time easier. No equipment is needed other than shoes and a bench for dips and steps. There’s also an advanced version so when you master the first version, you can start on the second.

    2. Yoga with Adriene has some good 15 minute videos which I find nice if I have a bit of spare time.

      1. Yes! I love Yoga with Adriene. I also have started doing the short targeted workouts (approx 7 minutes) from Blogilates. She can be a bit, um, exuberant, but I like the exercises.

    3. Google “Travel WOD” and you’ll get some great at-home workouts from CrossFit gyms. Also, Melissa Bender has workouts sorted by length. I’ve even done some longer ones of hers and just limited the number of reps so to stay within my time constraint.

    4. Fitness Blender on Youtube!! They have a ton of free HIIT workouts (High Intensity Interval Training) that you can do in 15-20 minutes in your bedroom.

      As an avid exerciser, they’re great.

      1. +1 I love Fitness Blender! I created playlists on YouTube with different categories of workouts.

    5. PopSugar Fitness has a bunch of workout videos that lead you in 5, 10, or 15-minute intervals. You can focus on a specific area or do a full-body workout.

    6. Ballet Beautiful Body Blast is 4 15 minute workouts. I also have the sculpt and burn, which has 2 30 minute sessions, but the second floor section is hard enough that you may want to split it in two.

    7. I like to get on youtube and pick out workouts. It’s nice because you can see how long each one is. I do a mix of Jillian Michaels stuff, kickboxing, yoga, pilates, barre workouts, random cardio stuff.

    8. I would do the Bikini Body Guide- it’s 4 rounds of 7 minutes each- you could do 2 in the am, 2 in the pm. They’re a tough workout though, be warned.

  6. Federal jury trial in the summer- Wow, I am really surprised by how many of you are in the must wear hose group in response to my question yesterday! You have certainly made me reconsider…or I might just wear pantsuits the whole time to “skirt” the issue. Since many of you asked, the trial is in E.D. Pa. Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions.

    1. Unless I’m now going to learn that pantsuits are not formal enough for federal court. Ugh.

      1. I treat pantsuits vs. skirt suits as a matter of preference rather than formality. I don’t buy into the thinking that a skirt suit is more formal for women because it’s more….womanly? I wear pantsuits in interviews, in courts, anywhere I’d wear a skirt suit. If people think less of me because I’m not wearing a skirt, I’m willing to take that hit.

        (And FWIW, when I wear skirts in courts I do wear hose even though they irritate me, so I’m not just a generally “I wear what I want and screw decorum” person.)

        1. I would agree with this but I’m not a lawyer and I live in a casual city compared to DC and New York. I wore a pantsuit to our board meeting this week and it was fine. In fact, none of the women there were in skirt suits, including our GC.

      2. If anyone tells you this, it is a lie. Pant suit is fine, full stop, forever. That’s all.

        I really hope you are thinking as hard about how to put on your case as you are about your wardrobe!

        1. Of course I am preparing for the actual trial way more than the few questions about my wardrobe. But I would like to have the wardrobe situation squared away to not have even think about it right before or during trial, when I will have more than enough on my plate. And I am glad I asked, because I learned something new.

        2. This is such a condescending comment. You sound like an old male partner talking to a young woman attorney about how she is such a . . . woman.

          1. Thank you Anonymous. I am glad I wasn’t the only one who found the comment to be condescending.

          2. You mean the best-dressed person doesn’t win? What kind of judicial system IS this? What are we even judging?! Which fashion celebrity is going to be The Judge?

          3. +1. I give a lot of thought to what to wear to a trial, a presentation, etc. – doesn’t mean I ignore the substance of it. Recently I was a co-panelist with a 40-something lawyer from NYC who e-mailed me a few days ahead to ask what I was going to wear at our Saturday morning CLE for young lawyers (mostly asking if we should we do suits or go casual). She apologized for asking a silly question; I told her it was not silly at all, everyone thinks about these questions. Fooey on anonymous at i:42.

          4. I guarantee you she is thinking equally hard about her trial as she is about her outfit. She wants to do everything perfectly and make sure that something silly like wearing the wrong pants doesn’t harm her client. That’s a good lawyer!

    2. I’d wear hose in Philly (and I am in NYC). My former prosecutor friends all do. (I mean, the women.) Also, they keep it freakin’ COLD in the courtrooms. Don’t want the jurors falling asleep, and the judge has a robe keeping him/her warm…

    3. Honestly, I have started trending towards wearing pants more. I actually feel more confident, comfortable and in control in pants…. and I know this is sad to admit but…. It is off putting to me when my male co-worker’s gaze go to my legs (and too often, butt) when I wear skirts. It’s like they can’t help themselves. But I guess I am giving them some naked skin…

      I want people looking at me. But my face.

      This is why I wear heels to give me a few inches so I am more in line with the height of my male co-workers and more pants. When I was younger, I wore more skirts.

      I work in a male dominated field. Not a lawyer. Maybe the guys I work with are more immature… Maybe I should just ignore them. But I feel really great and powerful when I am wearing sharp, tailored separates with pants, and my strong heels.

      I wonder if jurors sitting in the box sometimes might get distracted a little bit by the appearance of female lawyers vs. male. Suspect this has been studied…. I could see that helping or hurting.

      Don’t hate me for this!! It’s just my working world and probably my style preferences…..

        1. Nope, Ellen is too busy for us now that she’s got her replacement beau. Ellen, come back. Online friendships need to be attended to as well :)

    4. It’s not so much “you must wear hose” because hose themselves are somehow magical. The point is that nakedness is not ok for business formal. Bare legs are not business formal, yet. They may be widely accepted because there are very few business formal venues left, but federal court for a jury trial is one.

      And yes, if a man is wearing a skirt, bare legs are not appropriate for him either. Even in Bermuda the men wear tall socks with their short suits—- because bare legs are not OK!

      1. It’s weird to me that sheer, skin-colored hose count as clothing that is markedly different than bare skin. I mean, as far as clothing covering important bits on any other part of the body, sheer, skin-colored nylon does not really count as covering up skin to me. And also then it seems like pants should for sure be more formal than skirts, and tights more formal than sheer hose. And gloves! Women’s fashion is such a strange thing.

    5. I have a multi-week fed court trial coming up this fall, and am absolutely building up my formal workwear in advance. Get that sorted out ahead of time so you are not dealing with it later. I attended a seminar recently on women in the courtroom, and surveys show that jurors definitely scrutinize women lawyers, including what they are wearing, and they talk about it. Trials can get boring, and they are always watching the lawyers. You want to look professional and not have your appearance distract from your case.

      Interestingly, the seminar also addressed an advantage you have — juries are usually majority or more women. They want to see women lawyers and want to relate to you. Some corporations are making a big push to hire women trial teams for that reason and because we can win our cases. So go into this with confidence!

      1. Thank you for this. Anecdotally, my sister was on a federal jury in a civil case that last 2-3 weeks. It was winter, cold and raining, so the jurors were miserable with their walk from the parking lot to the courthouse. One female attorney wore weather inappropriate shoes (slingback I think), and the female jurors noticed and talked negatively about it. It did not play a role in the outcome, but it is a subjective part of the process that can be minimized.

    6. Aaaaand, because this came up and I was wondering–I got a notice for federal court jury duty this summer. What does the appropriately-dressed juror wear? Does this answer change if I’d prefer not to be selected for a jury?

      1. I was on a jury panel once, and my dress went to casual-day-at-the-office to leggings and long sweater by the end of it. Jurors are generally pretty casual, I think.

      2. Whatever I am comfortable sitting in for hours and would normally wear on a day off work? I’ll sit if I’m selected but I’m certainly not wearing the same work clothes that require drycleaning.

        And a scarf, because apparently it’s cold.

      3. Pants or a longer skirt. Those juror chairs are “one size fits all”, so you need to be able to shift position and get comfortable. Always have a sweater or wrap that you can take on and off. Courtrooms may be really warm (especially in the mornings after a holiday weekend because many federal buildings turn the HVAC to baking over the weekend to “save” energy) or really cold and you need to be prepared.

      4. I did this last summer! I wore casual but put-together outfits for my two days of selection–I think a pencil skirt, t-shirt, and cardi for my first day of selection, and then a dress + cardi for the second. It was indeed FREEZING. I was probably one of the more formally-dressed people in the pool, but I did want to demonstrate my respect for the court.

        In terms of not getting selected, I didn’t see the formality level of people’s dress having anything to do with it.

      5. I’ve thought about how to dress to avoid getting picked and decided on an up-tight, formal attorney look. Boring dark traditional suit. I bring my briefcase. My theory is that they don’t want to take chances on someone who is likely to be opinionated, other jurors will defer to her legal knowledge, and she will sway the jury to her point of view. So far its worked.

        1. Hmm, I hope this is true. I’ve been called twice; once the case pled out and the next time — when I was in suit separates if not full lawyer-in-a-dark-suit mode (it was hot!, I probably had bare legs :) — I was released but only because I knew the victim in the domestic violence case and one of the witnesses. (The victim was a rep at one of our major clients and the witness was an admin there, it was kind of awful.) I was grilled at length about whether I could be objective — um, no — and not released until the fully jury was empanelled. Maybe they would have struck me anyway, but next time I’ll go the full suit route.

    7. This has all been interesting to me too. I’m not an attorney but I will potentially be doing some expert witness work in the near future. Most cases will settle but it’s possible some will go to court. I never wear hose. I wear skirts every day, tights in the winter, bare legs in warmer weather. I’m 50 and in San Francisco.

  7. I purchased the Halogen blazer featured in the Nordstrom sale picks on Tuesday and Wednesday and it arrived yesterday. It is a pretty shade of light blue but it pops more than was obvious online. Even though I love it, I can’t figure out what to wear under it. I tried it on with navy this morning, but the contrast was too much. Any styling advice? Thanks!

    Here’s the link: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/halogen-zip-pocket-open-jacket-regular-petite/4407213?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=BLUE-%20WHITE%20TWEED&cm_mmc=Linkshare-_-partner-_-10-_-1&siteId=j3wYAlndgaI-DjaVvluvpyAeCoy1DJdSHg

      1. Ooo coral is a good idea! Thank you! I was worried that I would only be able to wear the blazer with white (which I don’t have a lot of).

    2. Navy, maroon or red (actually a great way to make it seasonal and not be all 4th of July/Americana).

      1. Oops. Need to read better. And thought you were asking for advice on pairing bottoms. I would wear something cream underneath and pair with colors just mentioned and also camel.

  8. Washing silk blouse advice?

    I hand wash my silk blouses, but they just do not look great afterwards. I suspect some tops I get shrink along seams, which alters the shape. They also lose some of their softness and really require ironing/steaming. Add up the time it takes to hand wash, dry carefully, then steam, and the risks to color fastness/shrinkage etc… I’m not sure it is worth it not to dry clean.

    Any tips? This time I tried adding a few drops of hair conditioner while rinsing the blouses, which was supposed to restore some of the “natural oils” so they wouldn’t feel so stiff after cleaning and would drape better, but it didn’t seem to help?

    1. Yes, wet washing silk will risk shrinkage because the mfr likely did not pre-shrink the fabric. You may see color bleed out, but that is not unusual. You can try a vinegar rinse to conteract any soap residue, but the best way to get the softness back is with heat, so you’ll need to iron/steam them. Dry cleaning isn’t doing the silk fibers any favors.

      You can sometimes getaway with just wearing the thing, since body heat is sometimes enough to release the wrinkles.

      As for handwashing – eh – I just stick my silk tops in a lingerie bag and machine cold wash, gentle cycle with a short rinse time, then hang to dry.

    2. Are you washing with soap or detergent? If the latter you should really look into a good soap like dr bronners.

    3. Over time I have switched to home dry-cleaning, using the Woolite brand drycleaning sheets. You put the shirts in the dryer for 20 min on medium and they come out unwrinkled and clean. It’s a lot easier on them, though I agree that the quality should be better in the first place.

        1. Yes, it can work with just about anything other than leather (and one or two other fabrics that the packaging warns clearly about). No prewash is necessary. It’s one of those things that works so well and so counter-intuitively that I don’t really want to know what’s in those sheets. I try to wash my hands after handling them; they have a very potent smell and feel.

    5. I often machine wash (lazy!) or hand wash – excellent ironing skills is where the texture/drape returns. I actually take all my washed blouses silk and cotton to be ironed at the dry cleaner – I don’t like their methods of “cleaning” so I do that and leave the hard stuff for me (ironing, repairs etc) to the professionals

  9. I am being heavily recruited by a small firm to go back into private practice. I am currently inhouse and technically a 5th year attorney. I have been very clear to the partners at the new firm (who used to be partners at my old law firm) that I would only consider joining the firm if there were partnership prospects. They are open to the idea. The thing is, we are in an industry where it is very hard to bring in new clients and I want to propose an alternate path to partnership. Something akin to large law firms where some partners are rainmakers and others make their way to the top by working/billing crazy hours. I am considering proposing a minimum of X hours per year for 3 (4?) years to make partner (with some sort of buy in?). My concern is, what happens if the hours just don’t exist? Looking for the collective wisdom and input of the hive on my proposal – any suggestions?

    1. I’m not exactly clear on what you’re trying to ask them. Are you asking them to guarantee you partnership if you meet your hours target? Because they can’t do that. They don’t know what the market will be like, what their collections will be, etc. in 3-4 years when you’re up. And anyone who promises you partnership this far out is lying and you shouldn’t work with them. The best they can promise is of counsel or a similar role.

      I also don’t see any upside of this proposal. When you’re up for partner, of course the firm will look and your billable and collections. They’ll probably have a number in mind that they want to see on paper. You proposing what that number will be is meaningless at best and harmful at worst – because what if your number is higher than theirs?

      It’s totally fair, though, to ask for clarification about their business generation expectations. On average I would say small firms tend to be more eat-what-you-kill than large firms, but there are certainly exceptions. Do they have a couple of big rainmakers who spend all their time on the golf course and don’t really practice much? Or do the partners all service their own clients?

  10. Flying out of DCA this afternoon (domestic flight). I have TSA precheck, but should I give myself more time to get through security anyway? Since I got precheck, it’s never taken me more than 5-10 minutes to get through security at DCA. But I’ve heard such horror stories lately, and it’s a holiday weekend, so I’m a little worried.

    1. I just traveled last Friday and it was perfectly fine — 15 min thru security without precheck (in Terminal B — A always takes a bit longer). Given that it’s a holiday weekend, give yourself a bit more time but not hours — maybe an extra 30 min max should be totally comfortable and even that won’t be needed. Also check Twitter #Ihatethewait — people have been tweeting real time and if a massive problem is popping up at DCA, you’ll know it and can leave earlier.

    2. Last Friday afternoon I gave myself an hour and a half at DCA and sat airside for an hour and 25 minutes, but I was worried, so I’d give yourself plenty of time. You can check what the precheck lines have been like online if you google it.

      FWIW, I waited longer at precheck in MCO on my return.

    3. I would. Pre-check lines have been growing to my eye. Pre-check applications have gone up per the news. And it is a holiday weekend.

      1. I’m one of the posters who traveled last Friday — pre check lines are growing bc airlines (or maybe TSA itself) are granting/denoting people as pre check on their boarding passes to get them thru the lines. (I don’t think they’re growing bc lots of people have gotten approved already — if you just applied in the last few weeks, you’re waiting a while for an interview these days). I got pre check on the way back from ATL on Sunday and it was great. It’s an enticement to get more people to apply for pre check and for right now it allows airlines to get their customers through so that the flights are taking off full bc it’s a headache for airlines to re book you these days given how few empty seats there are. The pre check inducement worked for me — will be applying for global entry — though waiting until after the frenzy of applications dies down.

        1. You inferred a cause and effect that I did not imply. But new Pre-check applications are approved everyday. I agree with your assessment nevertheless–as someone who also traveled last week.

    4. What about DCA with non-precheck? Our work travel agent randomly gives it to us and then not (even on the same trip). I’ve never thought about it until lately (and think it too late).

      Not for this weekend — usual work day up&back travel to places like LGA, CLT, MSP.

      1. Thursday and Friday afternoons are the busiest times, but even then it’s not too bad – I’ve never had to wait in line more than a half hour (although the last time I flew was a month ago, so can’t account for changes more recent than that). I have often been in lines with no more than 5 people during off-peak times.

      2. A travel agent can’t give you pre-check. If you’re randomly getting it, it’s from the airlines.

  11. Are you supposed to tip in a medi-spa? I’m talking about a place attached to a dermatologists’ office, where I saw a physician assistant who performed one of those filler injections to treat some scarring and paid with my HSA card.

    I wouldn’t have even thought of it, but when I went to pay, the card slip had a place for tip. That feels awkward to me.

    1. If you went for qualified medical treatment, don’t tip. (Pretty sure it’s not covered as an expense :)) You don’t tip when you get your pap smear, right?

      If you went for a cosmetic purpose not prescribed by a doctor, then tip, if you want.

      My massage place has a similar thing – I go of my own volition, without a medical reason to get the service, and I go on a regular basis to see the same person, so I tip (and pay tax on the service).

      1. Does a prescription-only medical treatment (as in, one that could only be distributed and performed by a medical provider) but that is done for cosmetic purposes count as a qualified medical treatment? That’s where I feel confused. It seemed a lot more like the experience of getting a pap smear (well, OK, maybe more like getting a flu shot) than the experience of getting, say, a facial or massage.

        1. Qualified medical treatment is an IRS tax term, so I would double check their definition. Qualfied medical expenses are split into 3 categories (if i recall) – Always medical expenses, sometimes medical expenses and never medical expenses. The sometimes category of items/service there are recognized as being borderline cases – people may seek them out for medical or non-medical reasons (like massage and others), so in order to be considered a qualified medical expense there should be some documentation (like a prescription) that you obtained those services because your doctor told you to as part of a treatment plan.

          Like my massage example, I am going because I find it helpful, but it was not prescribed by any doctor, so I wouldn’t be able to justify is as a qualified medical expense and use my HSA funds. The massage center I use charges differently (non-sales taxable if a medical expense) and requires documentation in order to charge as a medical expense.

        2. Some medical treatments only accessible thru a doctor are not considered qualified medical expenses, if they are specifically excluded from the list of qualified expenses – like face lifts. “Cosmetic procedures” also falls under the scope of strictly non-covered medical expenses – so it really depends on the nature of what you had done and your doctors understanding of what is qualified and what is not.

          But if you can get service/treatment without a doctor’s prescription, then it’s a borderline case where you would need documentation to prove

      2. I asked the receptionist. She said since it’s a doctor office, it’s not expected. But she also said the asthetician would appreciate it, so it’s up to the clients.

    2. No. Absolutely not. Actually, they should not even have that tip line on the slip.

      I’m a doctor, and…. just shame, shame to the clinic for this.

      Their assistants are likely paid VERY well. And you are likely paying a pretty penny. They absolutely do not deserve your tips.

    3. No, that is absurd. I would absolutely not tip a doctor/nurse/PA.

      On second thought, lets all just add tip lines and see what happens. Feel free to send a tip when you pay your CPA for you tax return preparation.

      But seriously, no.

      1. So… my CPA is delightful and has done wonderful, amazing things for my marriage. In that, I mean that he files my tax returns in a timely and correct manner, is available to answer questions via email, and made it so that my spouse and I never, ever, ever, had our yearly standoff about ‘Are you SURE you did that right? Did you remember Y? Are you SURE?’ (admittedly, yes, this went both ways and we usually ended up each doing our joint taxes independently to confirm the other’s work.)

        I would TOTALLY tip him. And his delightful office manager.

      2. I actually worked at a law firm where all of the engagement letters included a paragraph that if we achieved a wonderful result, the firm might propose a bonus that the client would have the option to pay. I never understood why a client would pay that–it was a practice area where you hope to never need that type of lawyer again in your life, so it’s not like they wanted to ensure a good relationship (nor do I think they should have to essentially tip to do so).

  12. Tips/makeup recommendations for makeup for covering up pretty bad acne? I’ve been working with my dermatologist for a couple years, but have yet to find something that is working to clear my cystic acne/rosacea. Lately I’ve been getting much more self conscious about it, and after reading the post about makeup yesterday I really feel like I need to get more proactive at covering it. I’ve been avoiding heavy makeup because it hurts and it only exacerbates the problem. That said, I’ve only tried drugstore makeup. So this weekend I’m making the hour drive to Sephora and leaving my self-consciousness/pride at the door. Any suggestions to get me started?

    As far as actually treating it, I’m definitely not giving up. I tried antibiotics for a couple years, which didn’t really work and I got a lot of yeast infections, and I was uncomfortable with being on a daily antibiotic for that long. Last June I had high hopes that switching my birth control from Mirena to the Paraguard to take bc hormones away would help, but if anything its worse than before. I’ve been on spironolactone for maybe 6-8 months now, and it doesn’t seem to be helping yet, although I’m still holding out a very small sliver of hope that it will kick in. Topicals generally don’t do much at all; right now I’m using Aczone with indeterminate results. I have an appointment with my regular doctor and my dermatologist in the next few weeks, and I have it in my head to try and see if they’ll let me try taking a birth control pill like Yasmin (not removing the IUD – love that for worry free birth control) to see if that would help. I definitely flare up around/during my period, although the acne never really goes away completely. Any suggestions? I think the only thing that I wouldn’t try right now is Accutane – that freaks me out.

    1. Not at Sephora, but for my annoying skin, MAC is a godsend. the Studio Fox Powder foundation in particular=amazing

      1. Highly recomment cover girl clean concealer for spot concealing followed by MAC StudioFix and a little bit of powder blush. Most Nordstrom and Bloomie’s have MAC. StudioFix is great because it’s like make-up for dummies…you just build coverage until you are covered.

        All the folks down below recommending liquid foundations or primers or BB/CC creams are going to REALLY screw up cystic acne. You do not want stuff that is designed to settle in your pores, not let your skin breathe or provide non-powder-based coverage. Trust me…even my very limited forays into non-comedogenic liquid foundation have resulted in seriously bad cystic acne that takes weeks to clear.

        I would also consider Accutane in the Fall (not in summer–it’s just too hard with sun exposure) and birth control pills–note that it takes several months for BCP to kick in, but they really help with my cystic acne. I have never been able to finish a full course of accutane, but even a month or two will give me much better skin for 1-2 years thereafter. I will also note that Accutane is also super-hard in Winter if you live in a very cold-weather climate due to dry indoor air and wind/snow on your skin when you are outdoors. So spring/fall are best.

        Do not believe Sephora people who tell you that something is non-comedogenic. It might be on a person with typical skin, but if you already have cystic acne, it likley will not hold true for you. Sorry…them’s the breaks. I wish you luck.

    2. I dont have acne, but I have very sensitive rosacea-prone skin and I like the BB cream from Boscia at Sephora. I dont know that it would cover up acne, but it at least does not make my face burn.

    3. Definitely worth trying a BCP. I’ve had good results with ortho-tricyclen (it’s a generic now but I can’t recall the name). Haven’t tried Yaz myself. What about Accutane freaks you out? I’m a big fan. It’s a pain and the side effects of drying and sun sensitivity can be a lot, as is the monthly testing protocol, but it was definitely worth it for me. I was not TTC, so not an issue. But I’d certainly try the pill first if you haven’t. You’d more than likely get put on one with Accutane anyway, so start there.
      As for makeup, I used dermablend for a while. I thought it was effective but I hated wearing it. Except the setting powder, which I still use as my go to with drugstore products for the rest. I don’t have facial scarring, luckily.

      1. Re accutane – The extreme drying and the pain, mostly. From what I’ve read, I imagine the drying to be really bad and drying everywhere. Then I can’t wrap my head around the timing. How long did you have to be on it? I’m in a sales position, and attend conferences/trade shows monthly. Obviously the acne isn’t good, but I really don’t want to go looking like a burn victim too….

        1. I don’t understand the burn victim comment, am I missing something? Accutane may be drying, but burn victims typically look like their skin has melted, not mummified.

          1. That was a poor choice of words on my part that I didn’t really think out, based on my super limited reading of internet stories. I guess I’m not sure of how to describe what I’m worried about, but you’re right that burn victim isn’t it.

          2. I have found topicals to be much more of an issue with respect to visible peeling, except on my lips, which did demand some regular maintenance. The dryness (resulting in some pain) I experienced was lips and interior of my nose as well as some dry eye at the highest dose. I got compliments on my complexion all the time when on Accutane. It’s not for everyone, but as you can see, there are a lot of positive stories to offset the horrors you are reading on the Web.

        2. My take on Accutane: I had horrible cystic acne in my teens and early 20s and for me, it was a miracle drug. I was hesitant about it at first and now I kick myself for not using it sooner. After 8 years, my skin is completely clear other than the occasional hormonal pimple. Some tips: start taking it in the summer, when the air isn’t as dry and your skin will naturally be a little oilier. Avoid wearing makeup as much as possible and moisturize three to four times a day. Also, per my dermatologist, there isn’t a prescribed timeframe for taking it – it’s more about getting a certain amount of the drug into your system to get it to work. I took it for a year and a half, taking a very low dose per day. Other than very dry lips and the occasional instance of dry eyes, I had virtually no side effects. Of course, everyone’s different and YMMV, but please don’t be scared!

          1. +1. I had tried everything in my teens/early 20’s for my horrible, horrible acne and finally Accutane was the only thing that worked. The side effects were not horrible. My skin was a little drier and so I used lotion and chapstick more often than usual. I live in a very dry climate and am used to applying chapstick multiple times a day anyway. I was on it for about a year and I wish I had gone on it sooner.

        3. I took Accutane in my early 20s and it was the best decision I have ever made. I was very worried going on it too but it was fine. Jsut remembered to have chap stick with you at all times- seriously. I would panic if I didn’t! haha. I still get the occasional pimple but nothing like I used to have. Your skin can look a bit red but NO ONE will think it is some condition or disease. Plus you can wear powder to neutralize the red.

        4. To Don’t be scared!, Anon, and First Year Anon – thank you for the good personal stories. I have it in my head that it would be an incredibly bad experience, and maybe it’s not as bad as I’m envisioning. I basically have chapstick everywhere anyway, so I can step up that game. You’ve definitely given me something to think about …I think I’ll talk to my derm about it at the next appointment; maybe try adding birth control pills for a couple month (since I have to anyway) and if that doesn’t work trying accutane in august.

          1. Laura B, FWIW I had the same apprehensions about Accutane you did. I’m in my early 30s and didn’t get bad acne until my late 20s, but most people I know had it in their teens so my understanding of Accutane was based on the late 90s/early 2000s. My PCP said that the horror stories from back then are when they put everyone on the same extremely high dose, the knowledge and experience on it has improved a lot in the last 15-20 years, and they can start you out on a much lower dose without the terrible redness and peeling. I haven’t had time to get into the derm she gave me a referral for to actually discuss it in more detail and look at going on it, so no personal experience, but just thought that was interesting. It’s at least worth a convo with your PCP/derm.

          2. I HIGHLY recommend Accutane as well. I had horrific acne and it was the only thing that cleared it up.

            While there are some horror stories for every drug (seriously just google tylenol), I think you are drastically overstating the risks in your head.

            For some more anecdata, I have super pale, super sensitive skin and while I did take precautions to stay out of the sun even more than I usually do, uppped the strength of my moisturizer, and regularly used a gentle exfoliator, I had no huge side effects. I’d say the drying for me was actually less than regularly using some of the stronger topical creams that I had used.

            The confidence boost was tremendous though. Accutane has now cleared the problem up about 85% and I can now easily manage the rest of the acne I get by taking spirolactine (sp?). My skin is clear and even enough that sometimes in the summer, I actually go to work without makeup.

            I feel vain for caring so much about my skin, but it has frankly made a huge difference in my confidence level and frankly my level of friendliness. I found it harder to be outgoing when I was so nervous about my skin.

            And, this could be a product of the vibes I was putting off, but I now find that people are much more likely to approach me, see me as “put together” and professional. It’s incredibly unfair, but I’ve found it to be true.

            Good luck! Also, one note of advice, shop around until you find a derm that works for you and values your concerns and really understands your type of acne so that they prescribe the right course of treatment. I spent years with a bad doc, feeling terrible about my skin. Shop around until you find someone you like and will give you the service/results that you are looking for.

          3. Also, I have zero makeup skills so don’t have good advice there, but check out Belle at Capitol Hill Style.

            She has been very frank about her serious struggles with acne and has offered a lot of good makeup advice in the past. She’s a former pageant person (and lawyer) so I trust that she knows her stuff in terms of covering acne in a way that works for the office.

    4. I can’t help with the acne side of things, but I can help with the make-up! You will definitely find fuller coverage foundations at Sephora, because pricier foundations usually contain more pigment than drugstore foundations. The best full coverage foundations at Sephora (listed in order of my personal preference) are:

      – Marc Jacobs Remarcable Full Cover Foundation
      – Kat Von D Lock It Foundation
      – Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer
      – Estee Lauder Double Wear

      1. Acne-prone, rosacea-inclined, sensitive skin here, too. I can second the recommendation for Kat Von D “Lock It” Tattoo Foundation. Heavily pigmented, so a little goes a very long way, and you can use it as either full foundation or spot concealer. It does need to be set with powder, and can smear if you touch your face throughout the day – but I need to avoid touching my face to avoid more acne, so it works for me!

        I’ve found that it needs to be thoroughly washed off at the end of the day, and I also feel like it’s a little more inclined to clog pores if I leave it on well into the evening or overnight, so YMMV. (“More” meaning “more than the lightweight liquid foundation I was wearing before.”) But it’s much gentler on my skin than I expected from such a high-coverage foundation, and my skin is picky.

    5. Accutane worked miracles for my daughter with bad cystic acne. I understand the reasons not to take it – monthly appointments, blood work and pregnancy tests – but the results are unbelievable, and the entire course of treatment is often under a year.

    6. Bare minerals or another similar powder foundation always worked best for me. It provided some moderate coverage without spackling stuff all over my face. I tried a billion acne products (including Accutane), but the only thing that stopped my cystic acne was birth control and Accutane to a lesser degree. I don’t understand why dermatologists didn’t prescribe me birth control for acne earlier — it is so much less harmful to your body and better than the risk of having a flipper baby.

      I think using a cleansing oil may have helped prevent some irritation from all those topical acne products – truly I think they made my skin worse, and also, I think I may be allergic to salicylic acid because even now it makes me break out. I used to use Shu Uemura cleansing oil (which I do not think Sephora carried, I may have ordered it online or gotten it at Neiman Marcus), which was pricey but worked well. It was pretty much the only one sold in the US at the time, so there may be others now. My face was so oily, I think it being an oil helped to dissolve all that stuff better than a water-based cleanser. That was around the time my face started to improve, so I’m not sure how big of a role it played. I would maybe try sensitive skin products if you’re looking for new face stuff. Also, there is some evidence that eating a low-GI diet will improve cystic acne. I never really tried it, but if it might be something to look into.

      1. I was looking at bare minerals online, which helped prompt the sephora trip. Spackling is a good word for exactly what I really want to avoid.

        That’s encouraging about the birth control helping. I agree about a lot of the topicals making skin worse, which my derm agreed with six months ago and pulled me off of most of them.The cleansing oil intrigues me – one of my best friends made me an essential oil mixture that I’ve been using for the past few weeks and I swear helps, and I’m typically very skeptical of essential oils.

        1. You really are going to get the longest wearing coverage from a liquid foundation though. If you’re worried about your makeup looking cakey, using a beauty blender (the black one is the best for full coverage) will leave a beautiful airbrushed finish.

          1. If you have very oily skin, liquids sometimes don’t have such great staying power vs powders, since powders can absorb oil.

        2. I have terrible acne and just couldn’t do Bare Minerals because it is basically no coverage at all–might as well just go bare faced. Same experience with tinted moisturizers and BB creams. The best experience I’ve had is with the Hourglass Immaculate liquid foundation and Lancome Teint Idole 24 hour formula (I’m using Lancome now because it’s a better color match for me, but if you want to start with a lighter formula I’d suggest Hourglass).

          I know it’s counterintuitive, but go with liquid over powder. Liquid is more of a “feel” adjustment but powder actually makes things worse in terms of grease for me. The best way to describe it that I can think of is like when your lips are really chapped and you don’t have any lip balm so you lick them just to moisten them–you know your saliva is actually drying them out and making it worse, but it gives you a few seconds of temporary relief. Layering on powder is only going to make oil worse throughout the day, even if the instant-matte feeling is satisfying. Don’t give in to it.

          1. Oh, and for concealer I recommend the combo of Bobbi Brown corrector (first step) followed by Nars creamy concealer. That covers all of my scars except for the ones with pitting that I need to go in and have filled.

    7. Bare Minerals is great for even coverage that isn’t too heavy. I’m also a big fan of Too Faced’s Cocoa Powder Foundation. It’s a very light formula that seems to be much kinder on my skin, though it doesn’t wear as long as Bare Minerals.

    8. I’m 30 and still have continual acne, but makeup really does work wonders in dealing with it. I really like Murad’s stick concealer for covering blemishes (it has a bit of salicylic acid in it and helps treat the blemishes instead of making them worse). I’ve had very, very good results with NARS skin tint as a light foundation that covers my acne without exacerbating it; Bare Minerals Blemish Remedy is great for fuller coverage. Also I’ve just started using an Origins Zero Oil Pore Purifying Toner that I’m really happy with, and I LOVE Urban Decay’s DeSlick makeup setting spray–both of these do a super job combating oil through the day.

      I stick to drugstore face wash and moisturizer (Nivea Soft is GREAT) but fancy makeup is totally, totally worth it.

    9. Ah yes, acne and oily skin. I have much experience with this. For everyday, I use concealer (either Clinique acne solutions if it’s an active bump, but that has salicylic acid, so maybe not that, or MakeUpForever’s concealer I’m blanking ont he name of. Laura Mercier also has a good one), Clinique’s Even Better foundation, and MUF HD powder. I have to dab with an oil sheet around noon, but after that, it seems to stay less oily the rest of the day. For days I’m going to some event and need to step up the coverage/matte-ness, I am still tinkering with the routine, but currently it is: smashbox primer + Lancome color correcting primer, a blend of Clinique even better and Hourglass Immaculate foundation (immaculate by itself is almost too matte and starts to get a little cakey on me), Laura Mercier transparent powder (the MUF has silica and looks weird in pictures, hence the switch for events), Urban Decay DeSlick setting spray.

      And for the actual acne, the only thing that keeps mine clear is a sulfa antiobiotic (whatever the generic of Bactrim is called) + Aczone(am) and Tazorac (pm). Other antibiotics, birth control, spirnolactone, and a billion different topicals did not help. The one thing I never tried was accutane. (Spirnolactone had the nice side effect of getting rid of my horrible cramps around my period, but did nothing for my acne). I’m not wild about staying on antibiotics, but it really is the only thing that helps.

      1. I should add I do break out more if I’ve had a lots of sweets and/or alcohol and my skin was exceptionally clear when I spent a month abroad not eating processed American junk, so I think there is some diet component to it.

      2. Last tip from me, just in case you didn’t know: Sephora stores will give you samples. I highly recommend getting several options, trying for a few days,a nd then since you’re far from a sephora, just order online whatever works.

    10. A few brands that seem to keep my sensitive skin under control:

      – Clinique has an “acne control” version of their foundation which I think has salicylic acid in it. I used to use this when my skin was more problematic and I’m not sure if it helped anything but it definitely didn’t make things worse.
      – Now I typically use Dr. Jart BB cream, which provides medium coverage and plays really well with my skin. (I think my skin is “happier” from using it.
      – If I need more coverage, I use Cover FX foundation, which I think is great – it layers really nicely to add as much coverage as you need and doesn’t seem to cause any irritation. It’s definitely available at Sephora and would probably be a good place to start.

    11. I had acne for years that only recently cleared up. I recommend powder over foundation. Also, definitely try lots of different things until you find something that works. I think that makeup is confusing and stressful, but I’m glad that I stuck it out and found products that really work for my skin instead of continuing to use mediocre products.

      Also – other people may disagree, but I find that diet play a huge role in how my skin looks. When I’m eating super healthy, my skin is really great looking. I didn’t notice this until the few months before my wedding, when I was eating ridiculously healthy (greens at 2-3 meals/day, fish, almost no bread, tons of fruit, green tea instead of coffee, no alcohol except for red wine once in awhile, no dairy except for Greek yogurt, etc), and even though I was stressed, my skin looked fabulous. I definitely deviate from that diet now because it was too restricting for me, but it was a really important lesson.

      1. I absolutely believe that diet probably has something to do with it, although I struggle with how to restrict my diet while still living a lifestyle that makes me happy. I’ve always been blessed with a high metabolism and am very slim, so eliminating things like dairy or sugar or caffeine, while I think it might make a difference, are really hard to give up. It’s a self-defeating thought, but I also think about that if I did give up one of those things and it did work, am I really not going to eat them for the rest of my life? I’m not at that point yet where I can commit to that.

        1. Are you me? I struggle with the same thing. However, dairy and sugar both give me a gut, and make my acne worse. Caffeine makes my monthly cramps a LOT worse. Vanity has finally won over my love for food. You really should try an elimination diet. I havent had deep cysts for about a month. I use salicylic and glycolic acids everyday, and .05 retinol every other day. My skin is at the point that I can just wear heavy powder, brow pencil and mascara. My gut on the other hand…

        2. Same anon as before – yes, that’s exactly why I didn’t stick to that diet! I like ice cream and croissants and coffee and generally not depriving myself. my skin isn’t perfect now, but I don’t want to be a slave to my appearance. Life is too damn short to not have a beer because it might give me a zit.

    12. I have struggled with cystic acne as well. What has been working really well (but not perfectly) for me is a medical grade glycolic acid face wash.

      For make up, I wear dior snow bb cream (not stocked by sephora, available through Dior department store counters), dior concealer, and sephora loose powder (the yellow one, which helps with redness).

    13. Have you considered a knowledgeable esthetician/facialist? I have moderate acne and a mild glycolic peel works wonders in preventing future breakouts. It’s gross, but professional extractions clear things up for me quickly. Mine is not severe, but facials have been a good investment for me. A guy friend with severe acne is doing a fraxel(?) laser treatment soon for scars and breakouts. That’s an expensive option.

      If I can see a breakout coming, I wash my makeup brushes every few days – an esthetician’s tip.

    14. Thanks to everyone that responded!! Skin is such a personal experience and different for everyone, so it’s really helpful to hear lots of different experiences and recommendations. Something will work eventually, right?? :) And in the meantime, lots of makeup to try.

      1. If you haven’t already, it would be worth checking in with your gynecologist in addition to your dermatologist–turns out my cystic acne was caused by some hormonal imbalances, and addressing those has begun to calm my skin down. Avoiding dairy and sugar as much as possible and taking probiotics has also helped, though I haven’t found this to be the miracle cure that some say it is.

    15. Jaded pediatrician/adolescent med doc who has treated LOTS of acne here. It sounds like you have tried and failed all of the conservative, reasonable treatment regimens. It also seems like this is affecting your appearance, self esteem, and quality of life.

      I would encourage you to try Accutane sooner rather than later to minimize additional scarring. The longer you wait to treat, the acne itself–and resultant scarring– will become more severe and difficult to manage. Are their side effects? Absolutely. But these are managable.

      So yes, go to Sephora and treat yourself to some fabulous cover up products. But the acne itself is absolutely treatable and I would encourage you to seek it out.

    16. I have rosacea – I recommend trying Oracea or doxycycline 20 mg (not antibiotic strength) to treat your bumps. I thought for years I had acne but really it was p&p from rosacea. It has done wonders for my skin. Be careful with accutane, it is thought to actually cause or make rosacea worse. This is likely where my came from when I took it for it acne in high school.

      I use urban decay naked skin. It covers very well, keeps me really moisturized and looks flawless. I also recommend the related finishing powder and concealer. Good luck!

  13. DCA-LGA flight, departs 0600 and arrives around 0700, connecting to a JFK international flight that leaves at 1000.

    This is a Friday morning flight. For scheduling purposes, my only other option is the redeye. I’ve done this connection before but always the opposite way, so it wasn’t a huge deal if I missed it because I could catch the next shuttle. It sounds in theory like it should be plenty of time, but given the TSA situation, I’m a little nervous. I will have a checked bag.

    1. It should be fine. Transiting passengers (e.g. those connecting from a domestic flight onto an international flight) normally have a different security line than passengers just showing up at the airport for a flight. Checked bag shouldn’t matter. It should be checked to your final destination when you check in at DCA.

      1. Would it? I thought baggage didn’t transfer when there was a change of airports.

        1. Ohhh sorry, I totally misread this question and missed the fact that you were changing airports in NYC. Yeah, the baggage definitely won’t transfer in that case. And 3 hours seems really tight for the connection then.

        2. It *might* be checked to your final destination, but I’m betting in this case that it won’t, since you’re changing airports (and probably airlines)? I’d call / chat with an airline person to be sure. You *should* be OK since it’s still early in the morning for JFK.

      2. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a separate security line if you’re switching airports.

    2. It’s fine though those options sounds miserable. The shuttles are rarely that late and esp not the 6 am since the plane/crew is already in DCA the night before; and the timings they give you officially include a decent amount of time spent taxiing the runway/waiting for clearance to land at LGA/getting a gate at LGA. I can’t imagine you being more than 30 min late (if that) which gets you out of the plane at 7:30. If it takes even a half hr to collect baggage (which is NOT going to transfer itself), you’re out of LGA at 8; you’re at JFK by 8:30. That gives you 1.5 hrs to get to the gate at JFK. While JFK is a disgusting zoo, the security is never THAT bad even when it’s bad nationally — 1.5 hrs is more than enough and at that airport they will typically allow you to jump the line if your flight is about to leave.

      1. Yeah, I don’t love my options – I was on the 6 am DCA-JFK flight which now no longer exists, so I got a little screwed by AA, but I need to be at my destination by a certain time the next day so these are my only options.

        Thanks for weighing in.

        1. Could you take a late Thursday night shuttle or Amtrak to NYC and stay the night in a hotel near JFK?

          1. Thursday shuttle I could, amtrak could not because I’m booked through on this ticket already. But at that point I’d probably just switch to the redeye.

        2. And I assume there’s no other major airport from where you can make your int’l flight and still get overseas on time? Like ATL? I think it’ll be fine — per the timings detailed above — but that’s a long annoying start to an international trip.

          1. I have an eye on all of them – possibility I could switch to Toronto, but that’s it. And agreed – it wouldn’t bother me as much if it were on the back end!

      2. LGA to JFK could take half an hour if traffic is fine, but you could also be stuck for half an hour or more in traffic just at the spot where the Van Wyck and the Belt intersect. Sounds really stressful to me.

  14. Currently, my husband and I have joint financials. Financially, it works absolutely fine, but here is the challenge: The responsibility of our financial life falls completely on me; I pay all bills (incl. his med bills), set the budget, balancing competing needs, long term planning, etc. My husband has no idea how much we have, why I balk at certain expenses, or ask to wait a few months to do things.

    My husband is recovering from severe depression and, in the past, has simply not been up to the challenge of taking on any responsibility for our financial life. He is making improvements and I have been embracing the methodology of no longer being codependent, i.e. not taking on his responsibilities or living his life for him and allowing him to fail or succeed on his own. I am exhausted by being the only one responsible for our financial life, and being the one to tell him that X is not in the budget this month. I would like to separate our financial lives so that we both contribute to our expenses (childcare, mortgage, etc.) but I am not in the position of total control over his finances too. Any thoughts (other than on the state of our marriage, thanks) are welcome.

    1. I think its really normal for one spouse to be primarily in charge of money and bill paying. And it should be the more responsible one. Because if you’re married, his bad financial decisions will affect you too. A friend of mine lost her husband suddenly and found out that he hasn’t filed their taxes in 10 years because he just couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. He was deeply depressed and was also the one in charge of the money. Their finances are a disaster and she’s left to pick up the pieces.

      That said, it sounds like you need to have regular meetings to get on the same page in terms of your financial situation. My sister does all the money stuff in her marriage, but she and her husband “meet” once a month to talk about the budget, any upcoming big expenses, etc. Your husband should see this budget you are making and you should discuss it. You need to be making long term plans together rather than doling out bits of information to him when he needs them. I understand you’re sick and tired of holding your entire life together, but money is not the thing I would want to “let” my spouse fail over. I would pick something with lower stakes like household chores or something.

      1. +1. I handle all the budget stuff, bill paying, etc. But DH and I “meet” about once a month and go over how much we have in various accounts, short-term needs (new pants), what we need to save for (travel, weddings, etc.), and what the budget is (usually set based on the previous month, open to discussion and adjustments). We also talk once or twice a year about major, long-term things — retirement, whether and when we’d like to move, etc. I agree that the worst part of handling the budget is saying, “We can’t afford that,” and feeling like the “no” person. That is partially relieved for us by giving each spouse some pocket money every month, which we use for things like lunches out, coffee, happy hours, etc. It still comes up, but I’m starting to believe DH when he tells me not to feel bad about saying no.

    2. Having lived through a similar situation, I would advise against separating finances and instead come up with a method for keeping him in the loop and making decisions jointly. You could also establish a separate account for each person’s “fun” money, to be managed separately, so you don’t have to be the one telling him to wait until next month to buy that new bike or whatever it is he wants. If he is doing really well and you are sick of paying the bills, you could ask him to take charge of the joint accounts (but monitor to ensure that things are really getting done). You could also ask him to take responsibility for individual tasks, like rebalancing an investment account or hiring a contractor for a home improvement project. If he relapses, you don’t want to get into a situation where his paycheck is getting deposited into his separate account that you can’t access to pay the bills while he is incapacitated.

      I don’t think it’s unusual for couples to designate one person to handle the day-to-day financial tasks, which is easier and eliminates the risk of the “but I thought you paid it” scenario. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as both partners understand and are in agreement about the big picture, and know how to access all the accounts.

      1. Also–do you want to separate your finances because you are tired of the burden of managing everything on your own, or because you are tired of his complaining that you are mean and controlling because you manage the finances? Those are different problems with different solutions.

    3. I posted here a little while ago with a financial issue (weird sort of split finances that I was controlling but feeling stressed and out of control about) and the overwhelming response was a) talk to him about it and b) have completely merged finances but give fun money over which there are no questions asked to both people. I followed that advice and it’s been working well – or at least in the sense that I feel way more in control and not stressed about it!

      We had a good talk. And now we each get $X amount of money each month for separate expenses – lunches out, happy hours without our partner, clothes, sports and gym fees (except one sport we do together). It’s been good – I don’t feel scared about major purchases coming out of the account I don’t know about, and he can’t judge my shopping habits. I feel much more responsible about that money, particularly in terms of stupid expenses like coffees and lunches, and more willing to bring a lunch if I know spending $15 at that salad place means $15 less on shoes.

      It sounds like that approach might work for you – it would make your husband responsible for his own stuff (you can even widen the amount of things that fit into the fun money category) and encourage his financial literacy while still protecting you and your family from bad financial decisions and unpaid bills…

    4. I’m handle all the finances, but my husband is generally aware of what’s going on. Personally I would have trouble giving up that responsibility just for my own peace of mind. We each have responsibility over our own separate credit cards (although we each have a copy of the other’s card just in case), although DH usually reviews his and then I actually pay it. We take out cash every month that we divide up into four piles: DH discretionary, my discretionary, together money (eating out together, etc), and groceries. The together money was something we added last year when we caught ourselves having slightly martyr attitudes over who paid for dinner.

      We don’t have regular check in meetings, but I usually let him know when I’ve paid bills and will mention if something is off/abnormal for that month. We have common financial goals that we discuss every few months. These discussions tend to come up organically, but if they didn’t or it was harder to talk about, I definitely would go to having monthly meetings where we sat down and reviewed everything together.

      1. This is what we do. I’m in Finance but DH handles all the bills and joint accounts since he’s actually more responsible/ organized. We each have “fun money” – basically an agreement that our individual credit cards won’t be more than $X/month – so we can spend without the other nitpicking, but it all comes out of joint account and gets paid off each month. We also have to ask each other if we’re making a BIG purchase all at once, more than $X/2, just to make sure we’re aligned on anything really “big”.

        We used to have monthly check-ins about our overall budget, but honestly with young kids it got really boring to say it’s basically all going to housing and daycare and food – we don’t have as much discretionary to chat about. So we turned those into date-at-home nights and just bring up any big changes and then watch a movie.

    5. We’ve been in this situation. Mental health and everything. Co-dependency, responsibility. Both ways, you name it.
      In theory, we have a standing budget talk appointment once a week.
      In practice, it doesn’t work out like that.
      But it’s a nice theory. We used to go to Starbucks and do it on Sunday mornings (in public, no fights, just look at screens, make calls, pay bills). We could do it again? I’m not sure why we don’t.

          1. Ok. Well I wouldn’t be. That’s what my home is for. I don’t need Joe Schmoe at SBUX knowing that if we really push we can pay off our student loans this yr but we’ll need to shovel some of the savings into a new dishwasher and IVF. And talk about the awkwardness of running into someone you know as you’re elbow deep in credit card statements!?

          2. I’m cool with this too. I’m pretty open about money. If someone wants to know something, I’m happy to discuss. I won’t volunteer as that’s not generally appropriate, but I’m happy to talk about it in public or with others!

    6. I think if your spouse fails at money, it may have dire consequences for both of you. I think you sound like you have a solid grip on your finances, but your husband’s focus has been on his health. But now that he’s getting better, it’s time for him to be looped in fully. I’d suggest having a meeting where you go over your fixed expenses (childcare, mortgage, etc.) and typical variable expenses (groceries, etc.). Show him how much disposable income you have month to month. If he’s on the same page as you about spending, then when he asks about spending X on something you can point to the agreed upon budget. Also, monthly meetings are needed about money, full stop. I think both partners need to be on the same page or at least be aware of the finances.

    7. I don’t think separating finances is a good idea in your situation.

      Instead, can you designate a certain percentage as “fun money”? Take the amount out in cash for the two of you, so he has his “own” money to spend on things he wants without having to ask for permission, and you don’t have to be the one saying “it’s not in the budget”. When his cash is out, he’s done.

    8. My husband and I have always been team joint finances, because honestly it seems easier to have one person overseeing the big picture. But, we have separate accounts for recurring/expected bills, savings and discretionary spending, which sounds like it might work for you. I don’t really care whose paycheck goes into which account (for example, technically mine generally funds our recurring expenses and his funds the discretionary spending, with a monthly transfer between accounts to make the numbers work) because we view all money coming in as ours. But this situation makes sure we know we have the recurring expenses and savings covered every month and then we really just have to focus on the discretionary account and it’s pretty easy to see when we need to cut back on spending. Another thing that helps is we rarely use credit cards except for big purchases where we want the miles, so we don’t have unexpectedly high cc bills at the end of the month that exceed what’s in the discretionary account.

  15. I had serious issues dressing myself this morning. My office is casual on Fridays but when it’s nice out, I try to avoid jeans and instead wear a casual dress or something similar. I had absolutely the worst time finding something this morning. Any suggestions?

    Thanks all!

    2. I just bought a shirt dress in a silky fabric for this reason (casual fridays in nice weather). I also have some blue skinny ankle pants that are more fun than just jeans.

    3. We have biz casual Fridays as opposed to casual Fridays (so no jeans) but I love shirt dresses and A-line or circle skirts or dresses (I normally only wear sheaths).

      1. Do you have specific shirt-dress recommendations? I struggle with finding ones that don’t make me feel as though I am wearing a paper sack.

        1. I have also struggled to find a shirtdress that feels flattering. What worked for me is buying one without a waist tie, and allowed the shift of the fabric to define my waist instead. Mine is from BR factory, but I don’t see the same one on their website. (Mine is similar to the cotton-linen shirtdress.)

        2. J. Maclaughlin. Nice, flowey fabric that doesn’t make it look like I’m about to embark on a safari or wearing a tarp. They’re on the expensive side but are having a sale today….

        3. Loft has great ones, actually. They’re poly, but I can’t do silk as a shirt dress – I’d be a wrinkled mess by the time I got off the subway. I have a long-sleeved one from the winter and they have short-sleeved ones now. I always belt, sometimes with the self-belt, sometimes with a real one.

    4. I like the fit and flare dresses from Lands End. I top with a cardigan or denim jacket in a dark wash. I’ve also found a good selection of dresses at Nordstrom Rack. I really like the Max Studio brand.

  16. Trying to put together a go-to summer outfit for weekends. I want to get this skirt from Boden:

    http://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/womens-skirts/a-line-full/wg643-grn/womens-green-print-printed-cotton-a-line

    I was thinking to pair it with a white t-shirt but I don’t want to wear a cami underneath. Looking for suggestions on some non-sheer white t-shirts, or open to other tops that would go.

    For shoes and accessories, I have a zillion various flat sandals and was thinking that I could add a scarf or jewelry.

    This is my first attempt to put together a “uniform”! Based on my repeated panic of nothing cute to wear when it comes to a casual evening out, trip to botanic gardens, picnic, stroll around town, etc.

    1. I would totally wear this skirt with a yellow or grey tee. Even chambray would look cute.

      Adorable skirt!

    2. Perfect opportunity to play with the Outfit Maker on the Boden website. I like that skirt with a navy t-shirt (such as the Lightweight Boatneck or the Shell Top) and flats (Bonnie studded flat in navy).

  17. Help me with warmer weather casual Friday options!

    I work in a business casual (emphasis on casual) office, where we have casual Fridays. On casual Fridays, you see everything from jeans and a short-sleeve button down shirt or jeans and a logo/band/sports t-shirt on men, to a maxi skirt or maxi dress with flip flops on women. I have seen “fancy” sweatpants as well (sometimes even during the week – sigh). When it’s cold out, I go with a darker wash jean and either a business casual top or a more causal top under a blazer. This feels like a heavy option now that it is 80-90 degrees with major humidity out. I have a heating pad and blankets at my desk to compensate for a lighter outfit.

    Today, I am wearing cream colored skinny jeans (which are NOT body con in fit) and a sleeveless silk peplum top in a cream and lime green geometric pattern with rose gold metallic strappy wedges (open toes shoes are more than fine here). I like this outfit quite a bit and am trying to brainstorm more summery casual Friday outfits.

    I have some other colored skinny jeans at home that are not too tight for the office, but would love to hear suggestions of other fun summery casual Friday combos. Help me!

    1. I like to wear:

      -Cropped patterned pants, white/navy/coral t-shirt or top, navy/white/black blazer on top.

      -Casual dresses from Boden with sandals. Especially sheath or rushed options, sometimes the full skirt looks a little young. Black Jersey dresses with colorful cardigans.

      -White jeans and white blouse with cognac sandals. Or baby blue jeans (they are having a comeback) with a white blouse and light-colored scarf.

      Muted metallic flats, cognac sandals, or stacked sandals are my go to footwear.

      1. Thanks! I could actually wear all of those options throughout the week. :) I need to find a pair of patterned Minnies (or equivalent) because I love that option!!

    2. I work in a really casual industry and at a very small office with no dress code, so basically all of my summer wardrobe would be your typical business casual friday. I love my outfit today, although I’m sure it will have some of the ladies here clutching their pearls: dressier dark blue SHORTS :), short sleeve cream blouse tucked in, white wedge sandals, and the Bobeau One-Button Wrap Cardigan in cream. I wear a lot of dresses, this being my newest favorite one: http://www.loft.com/cap-sleeve-flare-dress/403564?skuId=20919603&defaultColor=2638&colorExplode=false&catid=catl000013

      And then to compensate for the lighter outfit, I have a blanket in my lap and my space heater on. :) Yay for 80 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside…

      1. Yes to casual Loft dresses too! They have a number that would look cute with a cardigan, maybe a light tan belted one . . .

      2. that dress is really pretty but in what world is it a cap sleeve?! am i crazy or is it pretty clearly a sleeveless dress?

        1. Nope, not crazy, it’s definitely sleeveless. It’s got a cute little piece of fabric that makes it wider which I really like, but I wouldn’t call it a cap sleeve at all.

          I wore this yesterday with black knee high boots (it was raining here) and a black pattern knit blazer. Loved it.

  18. My husband has an ex-wife who is flirting with bankuptcy (and always has been) and seems to have some shady finances. We’ve always kept very separate finances (but with open dialogue) to keep items out of his name (will change that at some point once his CS obligations end in a couple of years). He has been concerned that any $ of his is something she might lay claim to, so we have tried to limit that exposure to him only (so few joint assets). FWIW, we got married older, when we each had a lot of stuff, none of which we’ve retitled; we do have youngish children together.

    Am I the only one in this boat?

    I know if his child applies for aid at private college (not so much public ones where we can probably just write a check for tuition directly to the school), we would need to share joint info with the school (and only with the school), but otherwise we think that this is practical. [One thing we haven’t done, but would suggest when the child is >18 and maybe away at college, is that the child check his/her credit report to make sure that the ex hasn’t taken out any credit in the child’s name, which I understand can be a huge problem.]

    1. No experience with the stepkid situation, but that last point is a big one. My husband’s father took out debt in my husband’s name when he was a minor and ruined his credit score. Fortunately, my credit score was good enough that I was approved to buy our home solo (although I definitely couldn’t actually afford it solo; my husband’s savings were/are essential to both the down payment and the monthly mortgage payment). It could have been an absolute disaster if my credit were less stellar.

    2. One thing that may be a giant red flag (or could just be weirdness) is that when the child got a license, we tried to set up a small bank account just for spending $ and the various gift checks that child gets from various relatives on our side. Even a small UGMA account met with a lot of resistance from the ex (like that part from Million Dollar Baby where the mom doesn’t want the house/car/whatever b/c it would mess up her welfare or something).

      1. Not sure if you’re still reading, but if you area really concerned about fraud with your child’s name, you can request the information that will appear on their credit report (when they turn 18) while they are still a minor. Then, you can work to address it (which may require a police report against the perpetrator, not fun) before the child turns 18 and it becomes visible. More info here: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/1271/should-i-request-credit-reports-my-children.html

    3. You only need to share joint info with the school if you file joint tax returns with your husband the year prior. If college is still 2+ years away, you can file taxes as Married Filing Separately, and then Ex Wife won’t be able to get any info about your finances. Regardless, I think colleges don’t share info from one divorced parent to the other — I think you all submit your documents to financial aid, and then you all receive the same award package, but it shouldn’t detail why you qualified/didn’t qualify for certain aid. You could always call one or two colleges that your step-child is thinking of applying to now, and ask how they handle this.

      1. This was not exactly our experience this year with private colleges. We had to provide our taxes regardless of whether we filed together, and the biological mom (DH’s ex-wife) had to provide hers. The rule most of the schools used for calculating aid was the income in the household where the child spent the majority of nights in the last year. Since that was us, both of our incomes counted and the mom’s didn’t matter.

        But, yes, the schools are very careful to not give any information about one parent’s situation to the other. You submit your documents separately from the non-custodial parent.

        Thanks for the suggestion to check the child’s credit to make sure the mom hasn’t pulled a credit card in his name. Egads–I had never thought of that and sure hope she hasn’t.

  19. Seeking advice? Commiseration? Support? From the hive today.

    I started at a new law firm a few months ago (big law 3rd year associate) and work closely with 3-4 partners, all of whom are male and at least 25-35 years older than me. So far, I have a great working relationship with all of them and have gotten positive feedback on my work product.

    Now that I am getting more comfortable in my surroundings, I have started letting my guard down a bit and getting to know these gentlemen personally-I don’t mean anything out of the ordinary- just small talk around the office, how was your weekend, sort of getting to know a bit more about each other. The problem is this/ my personality is very enthusiastic and bubbly. I have always been very happy go lucky (my friends often compare me to “kimmy schmidt”). I can certainly tone down my personality in work-related meetings and discussions but find it difficult to keep my personality bottled in all the time.

    Yesterday I was talking to one of the most senior of these partners (who is in his early 70s) and we were talking about coffee (specifically our mutual love for the same obscure shop) and he said to me “you know, you have a very interesting personality. How old are you?” My answer: 29. His response: “not to take this the wrong way but you have a very youthful personality.” Now I was immediately horrified – he then said that he didn’t mean it in a bad way but was surprised to learn that I am so much younger than his daughters.

    I am 29 but I have also been married for several years, am settled down, and always make sure to dress very conservatively for work and minimize any youthful qualities. I think it’s just hard for me to downplay my personality 100% of the time/ especially because I work so so closely with these gentlemen that it is not something I can turn on and off.

    I don’t know what exactly I am looking for–I know the general (and good) advice here to make oneself appear to have more gravitas but I guess I am just wondering if I am doomed to either act like someone I am not or risk damaging my career.

    1. It might not be as bad as you think. The younguns seem so young to me (45, so a lot younger than your partners). I lived with fax machines with curling paper and typewriters when I started working, and modems you plugged your old-style phone into. These kids . . . if you say “444 days,” you get a blank look. They lived at home with their parents on 9-11. They are just . . . young.

        1. Though Google tells me its the Iran Hostage affair. Which happened the year I was born….so you know, gap in knowledge.

      3. Is this a reference to the Iran hostage crisis? FWIW I’m 49 and had to google it, if so.

      4. I remember yellow ribbons around trees, that song, and the hostages on the nightly news (with the day count prominently displayed), and my parents (who didn’t stay up past 9, it seemed) staying up late to see the hostages freed. We all went to see Argo a few years ago and it was surreal.

        I’m 45.

    2. I think you’re reading way too much into this. If you got this comment in a review or even delivered to you in a negative way, I can see why you’d be concerned. But a casual remark made in passing like this is not something to worry about, especially because he emphasized that it wasn’t a criticism. I’d just keep on keeping on.
      (Although I’m a little confused, because if he was surprised to learn you’re much younger than his daughters doesn’t that suggest that your personality makes you seem older than you actually are?)

      1. Agreed. I think you’re reading too much into his comment. Has it affected the work you receive? Your professional growth opportunities? If not, then I wouldn’t be too concerned.

    3. I might be able to describe myself in the same way. As long as it is able something you’re able to turn on and turn off in the right setting, it’s not an issue.

      My non-work friends laugh at me when I tell them I scare the crap out of people that I interview or are junior resources at work (I’m not mean, but good at my job and relatively intense); they just can’t reconcile goofy me with how I work. Even my work friends in different practices are surprised when they hear me on work calls.

      I think as long as you’re able to do your job in the professional setting without any judgment letting your personality show through at the right time is not an issue.

    4. He thought you were about the same age as his (older-than-you, yes?) daughters? Then it seems to me you have succeed with the gravitas and don’t really have anything to worry about.

      His comment about interesting and youthful was kind of weird, but it doesn’t seem to me like you really need to change anything.

    5. For what it’s worth I think I’m in the same position – partly it’s my natural cheerfulness but I’ve always wondered how much is also a legacy of performance sports and arts and training to keep sweet and smiling no matter how bad the fall or the judges scores – so, eventually I just decided to own it and be who I’m happiest as and people can either take it or leave it. Those who take it turn out to be people I’m happiest working with which makes me happy to go to work, but I’m aware I’m also very privileged that I can afford the risk of any negative career hits. I guess I’d suggest trying to do what makes you happy if you can, otherwise there’s loads of advice on this website to help you assimilate or “pass for normal” as my mother likes to say

  20. Might be too late for this post, but…I have to go to a fundraiser next weekend that’s billed as a “Tennis Shoe Gala.” When I asked my host what to wear, she said a cocktail dress (WITH SNEAKERS, omg). So I’m going to get something cute from Rent The Runway but am on the hunt for, like, sparkly converse or something. Do these exist? Any other alternative ideas? This may qualify as the worst dress code ever.

    2. Sparkly converse are definitely a thing! I know lots of people who have worn them at weddings.

      1. Found here:
        https://www.katespade.com/products/keds-for-kate-spade-new-york-glitter-sneakers/888445361234.html?source=CAPLA_DF:888445361234:KSP&KPID=888445361234&cm_mmc=PLAs-_-All-_-All-_-All&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pla&pla=pla_888445361234&cvosrc=cse.google.888445361234&mr:trackingCode=C0F48971-88EE-E411-8294-BC305BF923E4&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=plaonline&cvo_crid=45657184173&cvo_campaign=all%5Cshop%5Cshoes&cvo_adgroup=Shopping%7CNonbrand%7CFull%20Price%20Items&cvo_device=c

    4. You can search on DSW within sneakers for gold or silver sneakers if you want some bling. There’s a surprising decent selection!

      1. Who knew there were so many glittery sneakers? Now I kind of want some . . .

        ANP, the $25 ones from Amazon are nice in that they have a 1/5″ platform, so you might feel a little bit like you’re in heels with your c*cktail dress?

  21. I made an appointment for my first “Personal Stylist” session at Nordstrom for during the cardholder preview of the Anniversary Sale. I. Am. So. Excited.

    2. YES!!!! I loved this so much. And all the friends I’ve rec’d to have had really good experiences as well. Hope it’s awesome!

  22. I am newly in the market for business/business casual wear (transitioning from years of casual/business casual). I am getting the basics down but am struggling with suiting – I like the concept, have a couple that I really like, but:
    1, don’t need to be super-business-y on a daily basis so in the market for slightly more casual options
    2, I run hot. I am always hot, always sweating, I’m that person. I can’t bear the idea of wearing even 3/4 sleeve jackets in the summer. I used to have a short sleeve jacket, a casual blazer with a peplum kind of detail, that was great for elevating outfits a notch but not causing overheating.
    I can’t find any reasonable short-sleeved suiting options. I really dislike the sleeveless vest things and anything with a tie/belt. No issues at the office with going sleeveless, lots of people do, but I don’t like to do it as a rule (trying not to be the lowest common denominator). Is this ridiculous and I should suck it up? Any suggestions?

    2. I have to wear suits to work and I also run hot (just as you describe) and I opt for seasonless wool and linen because it’s lightweight and breathable. I roll up my jacket sleeves, and wear short-sleeved blouses so I can take my jacket off if I’m hot. I’ve never found any good-looking short-sleeved jackets, and probably wouldn’t consider wearing one in my business office anyway.

      That said, if you’re in a business casual office, why bother with suiting at all? I’d focus on finding dresses and blouses with sleeves so that you can forego jackets altogether.

      1. +1

        I too run hot. I always wear short-sleeved blouses under jackets (as opposed to sleeveless shells) so I can take my jacket off. I wear sheath dresses with sleeves and often with a jacket or structured sweater that I can remove. I do wear 3/4 sleeves in the spring and summer and do find that they are cooler. Would never wear a short sleeved jacket.

        I also keep a short sleeved lightweight cardigan (like the one shown in today’s post) in my office to wear over a blouse if I do end up with a sleeveless top under a jacket for some reason.

  23. I have rosacea – I recommend trying Oracea or doxycycline 20 mg (not antibiotic strength) to treat your bumps. I thought for years I had acne but really it was p&p from rosacea. It has done wonders for my skin.

    I use urban decay naked skin. It covers very well, keeps me really moisturized and looks flawless. I also recommend the related finishing powder and concealer. Good luck!

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