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Holiday Open Thread

Nina Ulexa SandalsAs you may have guessed from our “Bargain Tuesday” post today, we're taking off for the holidays (and hope you are as well). We will be back to post about any good sales we hear — but until then, enjoy the holiday thread and whatever holiday plans you have.

We thought the “non-office clothes” recommendation went over well with last weekend's open thread, so we're going to continue it — these shoes aren't quite casual, but are great for holiday parties. We like the ruffle on top, and the lack of sequins — nothing to snag a long skirt or dress, or a fancy-ish pair of trousers. We'd wear them with bare legs (and a driver and/or pair of snow boots standing by) but we think they could also work with the right pair of tights. Best of all, they're part of the many shoes that Piperlime has on sale at the moment (lots are 40% off, even though these are not) — these were $89, now $69, available in sizes 5.5-10 in black and gold. Nina Ulexa Sandals

100 Comments

    1. I wondered the same thing. A friend’s bridesmaids all wore the Nine West shoe for her wedding and they ALL complained about how horribly uncomfortable they were (even the sky high heeled shoe whores in the group!)

    2. I don’t know, but I really don’t like either of them. It’s also funny that there are no foot models wearing them in any picture…they probably do not look good on a person.

      1. I generally despise Nina shoes. Every $40+ pair I’ve bought, I wear once to a party and fling into the trash the night after ;-) I also find that Nine West hurt my feet (even if they are leather)… I stopped buying them about 10 years ago. BUT, the recessionary crunch led me to buy several pair when they were on sale at 6pm.com for $14.95 each… No pointy toe ones though (I’m not that cRaZy!). AND, yeah, you won’t confuse them for Valentino’s, but they don’t hurt my feel like they did a decade ago. The quality has improved. Alot. I’d rate them up there with Tahari, Anne Klein, and Circa Joan & David nowadays. (wow, don’t I sound snobby! LOL).

        1. I have had some bad experiences with Nina shoes in the past, similar to Lawgirl, but if they’ve improved the quality I may try them again. Not this pair (I chase a preschooler around, and the last time I tried heels over 3 inches I sprained my ankle running after him down the driveway) but I see them all the time on sale at TJ Maxx and other places.

          I like the ruffle on this – if the heel was a little lower I’d totally get it.

          1. I’ve actually tried those sandals on…I think they look quite cute, especially in the champagne color, but they are terribly uncomfortable.

            My sister, however, just got a pair of red satin, peep-toe pumps from Nina for her wedding. Not only are they adorable (these: http://www.beallsflorida.com/r/The_Touch_of_Nina_Pumps_Polyurethane_Womens_Shoes_Evening/product?styleid=147336&, but in red), they are actually comfortable. I have a low tolerance for uncomfortable shoes and almost never wear heels, but these were remarkably supportive.

    1. Ha! Agreed. I’m down with peep-toes and tights, but I don’t think I can extend that to sandals. Not least bc it it just way to cold and slushy out there for sandals.

  3. Not a fan of the ruffle on either version — it looks like the hungry hungry caterpillar crawling up your foot.

    @Kate — yikes, those shoes look more painful than this pair — maybe the quality/size of the strap? And the poor bridesmaids all having to buy matching shoes on top of the dresses… couldn’t everyone have just worn a pair of their own black dress heels??

  4. Here’s a question for those of you in the colder regions. I’m in Chicago, and frequently go out to nice restaurants/lounges/house parties. I haven’t really figured out how to do that without ruining my shoes or at least arriving with cold, wet feet/tights. My mentor at a prior firm told me that she wears her snow boots and carries her heels (she has beautiful shoes) in her bag, or even just in her hand if she is carrying a clutch, and then checks the snow boots with her coat. Does anyone else do this? I can’t imagine myself being able to elegantly change shoes at the front of a restaurant.

    1. I think this is a little weird. Does she also take off the warm socks she had on with the snow boots in the front of the restaurant so she can put on heels? I think it’s sort of the equivalent of putting on your makeup on the bus – it’s not gross exactly but it’s strange to see someone getting ready like that in a public setting. I am also in Chicago and typically wear boots instead of heels when it’s slushy or snowy out.

      1. That is usually my go-to as well, but boots just don’t cut it sometimes when you are dressing up a little more than usual. Ah, well. I don’t think that she does a whole sock-change or anything, probably just tights or no socks (e.g., my snow boots are fleece-lined, actually meant to be worn w/o socks). But still, taking off your shoes … just seems odd. You’re right, it would be like putting on concealer on the bus or something. Well, maybe not quite that bad! Putting on lipstick on the bus, maybe.

      2. I don’t think it’s weird at all to wear boots and change when you get there. However, just like “putting on your makeup”, if you have to do it somewhere other than your home, then do it in the bathroom.

      3. Tim Gunn condones such activities in his book – he suggests wearing appropriate walking shoes (in his example, flats) then slipping behind a potted plant to chanage into your nice shoes.

    2. I definitely wear boots and change if I am wearing a skirt or something else with nice shoes. Better that than ruin the shoes! Do the places you go not have benches/waiting areas at the front to let you sit while changing shoes?

      1. I am so glad to hear that you do it, too! I was hoping to get some positive responses so that I won’t feel so odd trying it out. I guess that’s the answer – if possible, use the seating area to surreptitiously change.

    3. I am also in Chicago…normally I would just wear flat leather boots under pants (my mentor at my firm does the same thing) to meetings, restaurants, etc however if such boots don’t work with the rest of my outfit or if the weather is really bad, I will wear snow boots and then change at the restaurant (I typically try and do so in the ladies lounge rather than out in the open). In typical Chicago fashion, I find that the weather dictates my shoe choices which in turn dictate the rest of my outfit.

    4. I don’ t know if this is proper, but I definitely do it. I try to change shoes around the corner from the restaurant or place where I’m meeting people and generally try to be discrete. You definitely don’t want to ruin your good shoes (nor permanently ruin your feet hiking around in heels). I usually do sneakers and just bring a large enough bag to stuff them into or put them in the coat check. Tacky? Maybe. But I’m comfy and stylish whilst indoors.

    5. Who knew so many of us were in Chicago?!

      So couple options: 1) Change shoes in car and valet/park in garage attached to destination; 2) Wear dressy boots; 3) Wear snow boots and dip into the ladies room and change, place snow booths in a stylish bag and check with coat.

      1. I guess this is no different than changing in/out of flats during the summer, boots are just not as easy to deal with. I love the bag idea. Would feel much less weird handing over a bag than handing over boots.

      2. I just bought a nice leather tote for just this reason. I’d been using a rather utilitarian nylon tote, and it felt too casual when going into really nice restaurants. With a nice enough bag, you don’t even have to check it; it can discreetly sit by your chair.

        My issue isn’t usually switching from winter boots to heels, but from motorcycle/scooter appropriate protective boots to heels.

    6. Yep. I’m a Chicago native who lived half her life in Colorado, and I carry my shoes (and bring them in an extra bag if my purse is small) and change in the lobby or bathroom. The coat check guy won’t even blink.

      1. Yup, I’ve checked boots and socks with my coat. The only people that gave me funny looks are people that would brave 3 feet of snow to wear their strappy sandals with a minidress in -30 snow anyway, so whatever. No one sees you check your stuff anyway, so who cares?

    7. I lived a loooong time in the land of the serious ice and snow and cold and slush – Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa. There was no question: everyone wore warm, waterproof boots (the waterproof part = fiendishly difficult to find, but the prospect of the next unavoidable slush-puddle kept you searching). No high-heeled boots, since there was so often ice and you could fall and concuss yourself, which is a real party-mood-killer. Also, for evenings out, the boots needed to slip off easily, and you tried for party shoes that slipped on easily. Thus, no undignified bending over to fiddle with straps and buckles. Changing from boots to shoes always happens inside the venue because it’s -30 outside. Shoes were carried in pretty bags that went in your coat pocket.

      If I had back every hour I spent searching for the above-described boots… and for a warm coat with a hood (minimal hairstyle damage)… I had a LaParka for ages, it was the. best. But they don’t make them anymore. Fools.

      I love Canada, it’s the BEST country in the world, but our weather is the. worst.

  5. Another question for those of you in Chicago/cold areas: In a few weeks I will be going to Chicago for my sister’s bachelorette party. What do people wear to go out when it is 5 degrees? What kind of tops? And what kind of shoes? I have a ton of cute flats, and a nice pair of boots, but don’t own any snowboots or anything like that, and I don’t know if my boots are okay in snow. Help!

    I really like these shoes btw, but I can’t wear heels like this.

      1. You would be surprised what people go out in when it’s 5 degrees! These days I usually opt for a non-worky sweater, or layer a cute warm-weather top under a belted long cardigan or sweater-robe thing that I love. Nice, dark-wash jeans and flats or boots are fine to wear to most places in Chicago. You may want to bring a skirt or dress/tights/tall boots if you want to dress up more. The snow might be a little high for flats, though.

        You will be fine w/o snow boots, I didn’t have any up until a couple of years ago, just used my regular nice boots (but beware that you have to clean them when you get in, and may end up with salt stains). Just be sure to bring your warmest coat, and if you don’t have a set of scarf/hat/gloves, you will want to buy or borrow some!

    2. It depends on where you are going, but I often end up choosing a cozy cashmere sweater dress with wool tights and flat boots. If it’s really cold, I sometimes will put a long tie sweater over a more fitted sweater dress. I also find that I dress like jcb, with dark jeans, a long cardigan and a fun top underneath.

    4. It all depends on where you are going. If you’re going to attend one of those bachelorette parties that has the party bus to bring people from the hotel to a club and then to a bar, then you probably can’t wear the boots because you may not be able to get in with them. However, if you’re going to one of those bachelorette parties that’s relatively low-key and doesn’t involve a club under the El tracks, then I agree with layering a cute top under a cardigan + dark jeans + nice boots/flats.

      1. That reminds me re: dressing for the weather. You’ll probably need to dress extra warm. I have a bunch of friends from Texas/Deep South that all but hibernate come October in Chicago. However, layering is always a good idea. If you are going clubbing, nix the long underwear though. You’ll die of heat stroke; not the best way to end a bachelorette party. :-)

    5. For daytime, sometimes if it’s not too wet, you can do okay with sneakers. Do you have any big enough to wear thin cotton socks with thicker wool ones over top? If they do get wet, at least you can dry the sneakers in a dryer overnight.

    6. I’m also in Chicago. Women tend to wear dresses and sleeveless tops at “dressy” bars/lounges, despite the cold. Cabs are plentiful and you should be able to go from door to door pretty quickly if you plan your route properly. When I go out to crowded places in river north or lincoln park I wear an H&M coat- in case it gets lost/stolen/spilled on- it won’t be the end of the world.

      Provided it isn’t actively snowing, you can get by with closed toe shoes. Otherwise flat boots are probably a good idea.

    7. “going out” clothes for a chicago winter differ fairly little from other, warmer cities. i’m always surprised by how much skin you see in nightlife areas despite the freezing cold and wind (the wind is the real problem).

  6. A holiday “thank you” to C and all the folks who comment. I’ve been inspired to fix up my wardrobe, and have loved the pieces and comments found here. My wardrobe issues stem from pregnancies, with the obvious weight gain and loss, but also the less obvious shoe problem. My feet grew a half a size when I was pregnant, and never went back to normal. All my lovely shoes were too small on me. I also hung onto old suits that technically still fit me, but looked all wrong these days. So even though I put in the time and money to dress professionally when I first started out, I pretty much needed to start from scratch again at age 40. Thanks to this blog, it’s been easier and more fun than I thought it would be.

    1. Ditto!!! Pregnancy really rearranges everything in the body, and my feet grew too. Thanks to Corporette! :)

      1. Boy howdy, I hope my feet don’t grow when I get pregnant—they’re already a generous size 10.

        Is this common?!

        1. Kater: yup. They won’t get longer, but they’ll get, um, fatter around. Probably not enough to need to go up a width, but up a size is common. Such is life.

          1. Thank goodness for feet getting bigger after pregnancy! I went from an impossible-to-find size 5 to a [slightly] more normal size 5 1/2. Big whoop. But it did help.

  7. Happy Holidays to all.

    Thank you Corporette for picking up my wardrobe as I start my legal career. Looking forward to lots more good advice from you and everyone here in 2010.

  8. Adding to the chorus of ladies who love this site! I have learned so much from C and everyone here. Importantly, I have learned that it’s ok to start spending some money on myself and not feel like I need to buy everything from TJ Maxx or Marshalls. I’m still a bargain hunter, but I now see the value of buying a few choice investment pieces that will last a long time.

    1. But you can still get great shoes at Marshalls! (I always get my “keep under the desk flats” from Marshalls or TJ).

  9. I live in New England, where weather dilemmas are similar to those of Chicago. I swear by Payless “patent leather” pumps, which are actually made of PVC or something like that, but they are surprisingly comfortable, weather-proof, and wipe clean after a rainy or somewhat muddy trip. I have found that it isn’t easy, graceful, or convenient to walk into a restaurant and chance my shoes, even if I stop at the ladies room when I first arrive. They are usually less than $24, and they save my nice shoes and my outfits!

    1. Sounds like Payless has really stepped up their game.. I personally prefer Target cheapies ;-D

      1. Payless are much better quality, I think. Too many of the shoes at Target just look cheap. I loaned a friend–a model who’s worked internationally–a pair of patent peep-toe slingbacks from Payless a while back, and she couldn’t believe that they weren’t designer! lol

  10. I live in Chicago and honestly, most times I’d just grin and bear it for the few steps you’re going to be taking outside. But I don’t see anything wrong with bringing shoes and changing. It’s cold weather. People understand.

  11. I’ve bought myself an ankle length black wool/cashmere coat (I’m 5’3″). Love it. Keeps me warm even in party dresses. Feels like I’m wearing a blanket when I go out in the freezing cold. If I have to walk a few blocks, I wear flats and hold my heels in my hand. I stick the flats into the pocket of my coat at coatcheck.

  12. Anybody have tips on getting salt stains out of pants in between dry cleanings? I’ve never managed to master the art of tucking my pants into my boots without having them wrinkle terribly or come untucked (usually in the middle of a slush puddle), but then I get salt stains.

    1. It’s really hard to get out salt stains. But to prevent them, put on your socks and pants, then neatly (neatly is key to avoid wrinkling) fold your pants tight around your ankle and calf, and put on a pair of knee or tube socks over the pants to hold them tight. Then put your boots over them.

    2. Salt stains on pants: I have been able to steam out some spots, and get tougher spots out by rubbing with a wet washcloth, BUT this must be done as soon as possible. If the spots remain long enough to dry and set, they may never some out. Looks like we’re in for a wet winter in the East, and my new resolution is to inspect and correct after every wearing.

  13. I also need to know how to get the salt out. K, to prevent it from happening, wrap an elastic around your leg or boot where you want the pants to stop and pull the elastic around the pants. The extra material will fall over the elastic and your pants will stay put. I learned it here!

  16. Happy holidays to all! If anyone is still reading the message boards — I have a last minute gift giving question. What would most people prefer to get: a nice bottle of wine or a nice bottle of champagne as gift?

    The person I have in mind loves wine, but I am not sure how they feel about champagne. I am leaning toward champagne, however, because I would have an easier time picking a “good” bottle of bubbly, whereas I don’t know enough about the giftee to know what kind of wine they actually enjoy (and wine is also much more subjective, in my opinion). Any preferences among the commenters? Any opinions would be really welcome :)

    1. In my experience, people who enjoy wine enjoy a wide variety. So I think you’d be safe either way. Personally, I have no palate, really can’t tell one from another, but my friend the wine connaisseur (ok, let me show off my French: connaisseuse) enjoys anything of reasonable quality.

    2. Hubby and I enjoy both, and will break out champagne on regular weekends (actually did last weekend, watching the snow fall in Philly) — so I’d vote for the champagne!

      As an aside, if there’s anyone in center city Philly reading this — the state store at 19th and Chestnut is having a fabulous sale because the store flooded (need to clear out stock because the cases got wet). Some really good bottles for cheap.

        1. I love champagne! It makes a great gift. But you could also get them a bottle of prosecco- sparkling itlalian wine. It is a bit more of an “everyday” bottle.

          1. I have to disagree with that – prosecco screams “cheap” to me, gift-wise – and it’s usually so sweet. If these people are into wine, they probably are past the sweet wine stage.

    3. Hmm, I guess I’m going to be the lone voice of dissent. I don’t like champagne but I LOVE wine. You can have wine just by itself or with food, and seems just so much more versatile than champagne. Champagne is seasonal and there aren’t too many good uses for it except maybe for special events. Wine is perfect for any occasion! :)

      1. Not too many good uses for champagne? You’ve got to be kidding. I would drink it every day if I could and I think that laundry day is a perfectly acceptable excuse for popping open a bottle. And it is very versatile–it can pair with most any food and also is a great apertif. Just ask the French.

        That said, I rarely give it as a gift, the exception being a hostess gift at a large party where people will be mingling and drinking a variety of different drinks. That way, if she’s a champagne drinker, she can save it for later, and if she’s not, there are bound to be people at the party who would like a glass.

    4. I think most people who love wine also love champagne, but there are a few people who don’t – I have a couple of friends who claim that it gives them headaches (though I suspect they tried only cheap champagne, back in college). Personally I love to break out the bubbly fairly frequently (life is short!), and there are some good deals this year – Roederer grand brut is always a good standby and it’s just around $40. But you really can’t go wrong with a good bottle of red – most anyone who loves wine will appreciate trying something different even if it isn’t exactly up their alley.

    5. Champagne goes well with food. Most people don’t use it that way, but it is great with dinner.

      1. Thanks everyone!! Going to stop by the store tonight & see what inspires, but based on the responses will probably go with the champagne! You guys are awesome :)

    6. Wine. Just get a nice bottle of wine, any variety, and you should be fine. They could always serve it at a dinner party if nothing else. I find that red is generally a good bet for a true wine lover. And in the red family, a cabernet sauvignon in particular seems to always be a hit.

  17. most people go through wine faster than they do champagne, which screams “event” – but this time of year champagne is very seasonally in demand, so I think either is really fine.

  18. I haven’t started officially celebrating yet, but I wanted to wish all of you fellow C-readers a very wonderful holiday season! Thanks for all of your stories, insights, and comments. My wardrobe wouldn’t be the same without them! Cheers!

  19. I saw these shoes in the mall today, I have to say I liked them in real life. The ruffle is actually pretty delicate. Or, the Nine West ones were nice …

  20. Happy holidays, everyone! Fingers crossed that flights get off the ground at O’Hare tonight!

  21. I like these shoes – very cute and fun without being over the top.

    Anyone else in the office on the 24th? I’m in Asia and it is a normal work day, but I brought a Santa hat and some homemade caramels to share with my group. They all think I’m crazy but it puts me in the holiday spirit anyway! :)

    1. I will be at the office until 31st !!!!
      I think there are only two of us in my floor not taking the holiday off!
      btw I am in Africa.

      1. I was not in the office on the 24th or 25th because I was traveling but I’ve worked every day of the holiday weekend–and I am based in the United States. :(

  22. Sorry to hijack the discussion, but I just got some awesome news and I’m so excited I have to share.
    A few weeks ago I was accepted into my law school’s circuit trial court internship program for the spring semester, where I’ll be interning for a local judge. Well, I just found out that not only have I been assigned to a criminal division (my first choice – I want to be a prosecutor), but I’ve been assigned to a very well respected judge who handles alot of big deal, high-profile cases!
    Any advice out there from former judicial interns, clerks, or judicial assistants? I am very excited and definitely want to make a good impression!

    1. Congrats, JC! I’m a prosecutor and LOVE it, so it warms my heart that you’re leaning in that direction. As a former judge’s clerk, I’d recommend being really outgoing and getting involved in as much as you can. It’ll be what you make of it. Sit in on as much as possible, even if it’s boring arraignments, and don’t be afraid to seek out other judges to watch as well. It shows you’re genuinely interested. Good luck!

    2. All judges are different, so it’s hard to give general advice. But, with that caveat, just work hard, be yourself, don’t be afraid to ask questions, always do your research before asking questions, and just try to show your enthusiasm and your commitment at every opportunity.

      Be nice to the judge’s staff. That includes everyone! The clerks, the secretary, the court officers — everyone!! A large part of the judge’s impression of you will be shaped by what the staff will say to him about you, so just something to keep in mind. Be professional and cordial to all. And, also, don’t be afraid to ask his clerks for help — just be sure you do some quick research first to make sure the answer is not readily available.

      Find out what kind of hours this judge keeps and act accordingly. If he is early to work, show up really early, too; if he works late, make sure you stay late also.

      If you’re heading to talk to the judge about a particular matter (e.g., a draft you’re working on, or some research assignment), and you find that you’re a little nervous (or even if you’re not), jot down a few bullet points of what you need/want to say. This may seem silly but it’s really helpful. Judges are sometimes impatient and they want information communicated quickly & concisely — I found that writing my thoughts down first helped me articulate them much better when actually having the conversation (and also often helped me recognize holes in my reasoning, or avenues that needed extra research).

      Also,. do your research on the judge (though it sounds like you already have). One helpful tip is to read some of the judge’s published opinions. This will give you a good feel for their writing style & can be helpful when you’re working on a draft of an opinion (which ideally you will do during the program). Pay attention to any quirks (e.g., some judges like to write in the first person, some do not, etc.).

      Last but not least, try to build a relationship with this judge that will last beyond the program term. Ideally, this internship will lead to a lifelong relationship!

      Congrats & best of luck!!

    3. I second the recommendation to sit in and watch as much as possible. Also, take the opportunity to really get to know the judge and the other judges, bailiffs, staff attorneys, etc. Those relationships will serve you well your entire career!

      1. I second the recommendations above, and I would also add that you should try to quickly get a handle on the interns’ role in chambers and act accordingly. I clerked for a federal appellate judge last year and he also hired two interns every semester from a local law school. The judge was perfectly nice to the interns, but he did not like fielding questions directly from them. If any issues came up regarding something the intern was working on, the procedure was that the intern should go to a law clerk who would then deal with it. The judge would only be approached in extreme circumstances, and then only by the law clerk.

        I know this situation was probably a disappointment to some of the interns who wanted more interaction with the judge, but it was just the way he had operated for decades and wasn’t about to change. That said, I know that he gave good recommendations for interns who were well-regarded around the office (a large part of that good impression was due to their ability to quickly discern the workplace hierarchy and act accordingly), and who did exceptional work for the law clerks. With judges, you never know what you are going to get as far as the dynamic of chambers…but you can almost always get something valuable out of the interning/clerking experience if you approach it the right way. Good luck!

        1. My judge was the same way with interns. She was actually happy to talk to them if they scheduled a time, and would also drop by to talk but she didn’t want to be interrupted by them.

  23. Whoever is going to see “Up in the Air” should pay close attention to the clothes that Vera Farmiga wears (when she is wearing clothes), especially the satin shirts. They look so sexy and so buttoned-up all at once. What could be better with a suit? Note that “Natalie”, the younger associate, wears cotton tailored shirts, which, while nice and neat are a bit stiff looking at the neckline, and don’t begin to have the beauty of their silk satin counterparts.

      1. She did look fantastic. I was disappointed in her character at the end!! Interesting movie.

  24. Has anyone taken a sweater in for reweaving?

    I love cashmere. For many years I’ve refused to buy any sweaters that are not cashmere or high-quality wool blend, with the thought that it was an investment and they would last forever. Then a couple of years ago, I noticed a hole in the left elbow of my sweater. And then another in another sweater. Now almost all of my cashmere sweaters have holes in the left elbow!! I guess I am often pondering, with my head in my left hand, elbow on the desk. It’s terrible.

    My dry cleaner tried sewing the holes together, which didn’t work at all. I’ve thought about reweaving (there’s a place down off MI Ave in Chicago that seems to be known for it) but it seems expensive – maybe I would be better off just buying new sweaters. Anyone done this before?

    1. Oo, that’s a lovely jacket! I really like the Kiwi color. Have you seen it live, or just in photos? My only concern is that the buttons might look a little plasticky, although they’d be easy to replace.

  27. I’m a law student, and need advise about logos on eyeglasses. I found a pair of discounted Fendi prescription glasses that are lovely when viewed from the front, but the “double F” Fendi logo is repeated along both stems. It’s rare that I wear anything with a logo. Would these glasses be considered tacky?

    1. As a matter of personal taste, I avoid clothing and accessories with obvious logos on them. Apart from my personal preferences, I think a logo on your face is a mistake professionally – it seems unnecessarily flashy. (A logo on a handbag, shoes, etc. probably wouldn’t be as much so.) Chances are that people will be looking at you from the side as well as from the front. If the logos would be obviously identifiable from any angle, I’d pass.

    2. I agree with Emily — probably only if the logo pattern is low-contrast. Also, depending on your work wardrobe, Fendi’s general attitude (expensive mod hipster?) may or may not suit the “mood” of your clothing. Can you picture wearing them with a suit during negotiations / in trial?

    3. It sounds subtle enough that it doesn’t matter. Personally, if I saw you, I wouldn’t know what that F logo stood for anyway. I’d avoid ostentatious labels but this seems fine.

      1. Thank you for the advice, ladies. I was also unfamiliar with the F logo, prior to seeing this pair, and I can picture wearing the glasses with a suit. The logo pattern is noticeable, however, so it sounds like this particular pair may not be a good choice.

    4. My frames are Prada (is it possible to even get non-designer frames anymore?) They do say Prada on the side, but it’s just the word, small and fairly unnoticeable unless you get really close to me. I wouldn’t say no to a great pair of prescription sunglasses because of a logo (again, is it possible to get non-designer frames anymore – I go to Lenscrafters for crying out loud!), but everyday glasses, probably not the best choice.

      1. I have noticed a proliferation of designer frames too, and I also go to cheap eyecare chains. I think it’s hilarious. Most chains sell non-designer ones too.

  28. Anybody have any suggestions for a good brand (or style) for leather gloves? I need a new black pair. I can’t really afford to spend a mint on them, but if I found the right pair for my boney hands and freakishly long fingers I’d be willing to shell out some bucks.

    2. Land’s End cashmere-lined gloves are regularly priced at $50-60 but are frequently marked down to $25 or so (check the overstock section of their site). I can’t comment on whether they work for long fingers, but their return policy is very liberal.

    3. I got a really nice pair at Coach outlet last week for under $50 with the sales going on. I was surprised to fit into a 7.5 because I usually have problems with the fingers or palm area being to short for me. Even the 7 was not bad.

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