ByElizabeth Hours Updated
Comments 278 Comments

Wednesday’s Workwear Report: Inlet Cotton-Blend Knit Blazer

A woman wearing a dark gray blazer with white inner top and dark blue denim pants

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

Faherty seems to be having a moment on social media (or at least it is on my feed), and this knit blazer is one of my favorite pieces that I’ve seen so far. The fabric is a bit casual for it to have a place in my rotation of more formal work outfits, but I think it would be fantastic for a more casual office.

I would wear this with my favorite Eileen Fisher crepe pants and an office-appropriate T-shirt for a comfy, but polished, casual Friday look.

The blazer is $198 at Nordstrom and comes in sizes XXS-XXL. It also comes in heather gray and deep brown heather. 

Sales of note for 12.5

278 Comments

  1. I saw a stylish attorney that I don’t know well enough to ask directly wearing a woven material midi skirt with pockets. It was gathered at the waist; no sewn-down pleats. It looked so simple and elegant and comfortable. She paired it with a sweater and pointy-toe flats. Any thoughts on places to look? My shopping habits formed pre-pandemic and were either classic suiting pieces or athleisure and IDK where to look for clothes like this.

    2. Sounds like Me+Em maybe?
      Also ask her next time! I’ve never had my day brightened more than from another woman complimenting my outfit.

      1. So long as someone doesn’t appear to be in a rush and isn’t actively scowling, I will compliment and ask any random stranger about their clothing or accessories.

        1. Me too! When another woman (especially some you don’t know) compliments your outfit/haircut out of the blue, you know it’s on point!

    3. Zara has one. I feel like skirts like this are all over this season, although maybe not with pockets.

      I have found that most people like to be asked about their outfits and respond positively.

    4. At a minimum, go to department store sites (Nordstrom, Saks, Macys, etc.) do a quick filter on skirt lengths/shapes/fabrics, and see if anything looks like what you’re looking for.

    6. Jenni Kayne Lauren skirt? Black or white, 100% cotton, pockets, gathered (not pleated), elastic waist.

  2. Does anyone have / wear the Penelope Chilvers long tassel boots? I can’t figure out if styling these relies on skinny jeans or if they are current for 2024. I’ve wanted them for a while and might self-gift but wonder if I have waited 10 years too long to pull the trigger.

    1. Accounting for Luxury on Youtube just bought them this year and loved them. She might have some videos / shorts on it. I don’t think they’re current, but they are timeless.

    2. I do mainly wear them with skinny jeans, but I love them and feel they’re timeless (a la Princess Catherine … I call them my Kate Middleton boots). I’ve worn them with skirts before but I can’t say I’m fashion forward so not sure if that’s stylish. They’re super comfortable and will last forever.

    3. I have also coveted these boots for years. I don’t think they are current with pants now that skinny jeans are out, but you could probably style them with midi dresses.

        2. I just did a search and it seems that skinny jeans are starting to make comeback now that we have all gotten rid of them.

          1. The web has been saying that for at least a year, but I have yet to see it in real life or even on a fashion blog or influencer.

          3. I feel that anyone with tall boots, whether they are cowboy boots or some kind or riding boot type thing, will always need one pair of skinny jeans.
            Also, I was pulling out my winter clothes last weekend, and think I will still be wearing some of my oversized sweaters with skinny jeans. The thing that has really changed is that older skinny jeans really came in at the ankle, while newer silhouettes are more of a stovepipe?

        3. There’s a difference between “people still wear them” and the style being “in” or “current.” Skinny jeans are not fresh or current in any way, even though people continue wearing them.

          1. I’m sure you can still buy a pair of skinny jeans at your nearest Walmart. That’s not telling you anything about fashion, though.

      2. If I’m looking at the right boots online, I think those would be great with a wool skirt. You don’t need skinny jeans to wear them.

    4. I’ve been seeing tall boots coming back this year (mostly worn with skirts), and I think its only a matter of time before skinny jeans come back along with them. Jean trends seem to have sped up recently.
      Plus, if Kate Middleton can have her Penelope Chilvers boots for 20 years, surely skinny jeans will come back at some point in that time period. This internet stranger says go for it.

      1. Tall boots were a thing long, long before skinny jeans were a gleam in a designer’s eye. We just wore them with skirts or under “bootcut” jeans.

        But then I HATED skinny jeans, resented being told that my bootcuts were frumpy and dated (on this very site some 10+ years ago), and particularly despised the look of clunky ankle boots with a sliver of skin (the amount varying of course from season to season) showing below jeans that made my legs look like they were encased in sausage casings with horse hooves at the bottom, so I am biased.

        And to be clear, I acknowledge that it could be cute on other people. I was just never one of those people.

  3. For those of you with Lady jackets or the less-structured cardigan version, how are you styling them? I am struggling with making outfits.

    1. Cropped ones work best with dresses (length of dress can’t be too long). They’ve become my go to at conferences when I want to look dressier but not be uncomfortable in a blazer. I struggle pairing them with jeans and pants.

      1. I have the cropped jcrew ones and wear them with pants all the time. As long as the pants are high waisted, it looks fine to me.

        1. I agree that a cropped lady jacket and high waist pants with a fuller leg are a great look for certain body types.

    2. I’ve always styled chanel (collarless) jackets like this with either dresses or higher waisted pants. In the early aughts I wore them over flowy tanks/longer sleeved tops with skinny jeans. These days I’d pair it with a midi skirt and a tucked in top, a cropped top with wider legged pants/jeans, or over a dress and worn instead of a jacket. If I was younger this type of jacket would look great with a big bell shaped midi skirt in a shiny fabric and a matching bra top.
      You want to be careful with proportions of what you put under it – sleeker tops or dresses that only gently float away from the body are better to wear under this type of jacket vs. voluminous ones.

        1. I can’t do column of color unless it’s black. Otherwise, it’s too Magnificent Tennenbaum’s / Run-DMC adjacent.

    4. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I really cannot get on board with them so I’m giving you permission to let go if you can’t, either.

    6. Do you know why you’re struggling — can’t find the right underlayer? Can’t figure out the proportions?

      Personally, I really like the look, but I don’t wear them because the shape doesn’t work for me and I don’t feel like myself in them. That rounded, crew neck is really hard for me to wear. I feel far more like myself in a v-neck or an opened neck. I’m also pretty relaxed, natural, and large; the shape of these jackets is more refined than my natural demeanor and body lines. I do better in something with more ease.

      1. OP here. It’s what do I wear under them other than a very plain microfiber shell? I can wear with any tee or turtleneck on weekends, but my Office Blouses seem to be very colorful / patterned / extra because I used to pair them with very plain suiting jackets. If the Lady Jacket is a tweed or has trim or buttons, all of a sudden my mind can’t compute. Just embrace maximalism? Maybe I just need to echo a color of the jacket into the blouse? Maybe I’m bad at clothes?

        1. I think Lady Jackets work best paired with neutrals or worn over a dress. If that isn’t your wardrobe this simply might not be a good item for your closet.

        2. This is a lot of unnecessary anxiety over a piece of clothing. You need to think of a lady jacket as a shirt on its own, basically. A shell or a t-shirt underneath. It’s not like wearing a blazer with a coordinating blouse.

        4. I struggle with pairing a textured jacket too. I like your idea of pairing a color/pattern in the underlayer with the jacket to help with cohesion. I also enjoy putting the jacket as a focus and echo a column of color:navy, tan/caramel, grey, green, etc. I just echo the combo in my jewelry choices or match the color of shoes to the jacket to give a blended, intentional look.

    7. Off white lady jacket, above-hip length not cropped, navy boatneck tee, medium wash straight leg jeans, sneakers or chunky boots depending on weather.

    8. Chanel style jackets and other cropped jackets look funky on my long torso pear shaped frame, especially as I wear pants daily.

      So I don’t style them.

  4. Hello! How do you get over the regret of an expensive purchase? Bought a new Stearns & Foster mattress Jan 2023 after testing many in stores. This is the brand my husband grew up with and his parents use, so it felt familiar and the salesman did a good job selling it by telling us it should last 10-15 years. For reference, we are 30 and tend to spend more and buy things once instead of buying cheap and having to replace often. Unfortunately, it was way too soft so we were able to do a one time exchange. However, the new one is too firm (my lower back and hips feel stiff) however my husband feels fine. We are on the 3rd mattress topper to try to make this work. I want something soft enough for my hips, but not so soft that I sink in too much (we are both tall with slim builds). After talking to friends, we spent 3x the amount friends have spent on a similar mattress which makes me feel regretful and wasteful both financially and from a landfill perspective. Appreciate any insight, mattress topper recs, or commiseration on mattress shopping or other expensive lessons learned.

    1. I’d chalk this one up to bad luck and stop blaming yourself. There will always be purchases, even expensive ones, that don’t work out. If you can afford a new mattress that allows you to sleep comfortably, just get it. (I’d be a little wary since you already tried two and both don’t work for you – can you get an exact replacement of your previous mattress? Presumably you were sleeping on something that worked for you before).

      1. The mattress we had was so old and saggy it was causing back pain. You could also see the imprints/sagginess.

        1. I think 8:40 meant that you could look into replacing your old mattress with the same model… that’s what we’ve done.

    2. You get over the regret by letting go of it and releasing any expectation you might have that if you just try hard enough you will always make “right” decisions that bring good outcomes. You did the best you could with the information you had. Beating yourself up over not knowing what you didn’t know is . . . useless.

      Also, you recognize that sometimes buying an expensive thing that doesn’t work out is the downside to your approach of buy once/buy expensive. It’s inevitable that sometimes the expensive thing you buy won’t be the right thing, for reasons you are not able to foresee or control.

    3. So it sounds like one of you is happy with this purchase. Does that make you feel any better? This is one of the hard parts of being married, sometimes you have different preferences on shared items, both about how much you spend, how much time you spend researching and trying to get the best possible deal or fit, and in terms of which item will suit you best. Obviously you both need a bed that you can sleep in without it causing you pain, but sometimes that is genuinely difficult to determine until you’ve slept on it for a while, and it can be hard if you have different needs. Did you give in to his preferences too quickly when making this decision or did you not know what you needed or did you just want to get the purchase over with and settled for something less than ideal?

      1. I do feel better that my husband is not in pain. He hates that I am. Lol. The current firm mattress felt great for both of us in the store. It took a few months for me to make the connection between the stiffness/pain and it being too firm for me. We did a ton of research before buying anything.

        1. You’re young, and I *never* want to discount the way a person perceives pain… but have you tried PT?

          Yes, the mattress could be “causing” pain, but, in my experience, it’s a lot easier to be in pain in bed when there are some underlying weaknesses. I… have a lot of personal experience with this happening.

          1. I was going to mention this too. It’s probably not a bad idea to at least start thinking about your exercise habits and daytime ergonomics as well. How you sit in a chair all day could be affecting your sensitivity to mattresses, and trust me, it’s only going to get worse as you get older, so if you have bad habits, better to start dealing with them now.

          3. Are you a back sleeper or a side sleeper? Do you already have extra pillows positioned between your legs if you are on your side, and behind your back? Or if you sleep on your back, a smaller pillow under your knees? I assume your PT taught you this, but often they don’t unless you specifically ask about bed positioning recommendations.

            Some of us may be more anatomically prone to back pain without good positioning, or maybe you have early spine degeneration. So adding the pillows might be key.

            FYI – I share a lot in common with you, and am dreading buying a mattress. I actually went through the mattress buying process for a disabled relatively not long ago, and it was a year of hell. So much research. 4 different purchases, trying everything including air (sleep number) with so much lost $ and multiple returns. And the huge hole in the staircase ceiling plaster left by the bed movers reminds me of the process every day.

        2. Yeah, sometimes it just takes a while to figure it out and there’s no way around it. I do hesitate to spend a lot of money on things like that, but you have to sleep on something!

    4. Just get a new mattress, you spend far too much time in bed and sleep is so important to live with a bad one. My recommendation is hotel mattresses. If you’ve stayed and liked a Westin or Four Seasons bed, you can recreate that at home.

      1. We’ve done that twice. The first time was a Borgata bed, which lasted 10 years and was a great decision. The second time was a Four Seasons bed, and I’m in the same position as OP. We spent close to $3k and within two years it’s terribly uncomfortable and lumpy and you can see/feel where we sleep. We are average size people. I feel your pain, OP. I think about replacing it almost daily but I would like to get 5 years out of it.

    5. Just get a new mattress. Life is too short to fret like this.

      See if there’s a way you can donate/rehome the mattress to someone in need.

      1. Interesting – thanks! What do you like about this topper vs memory foam/gel. The latex mattress world is still new to me.

    8. To help assuage the guilt about “wasting” money, can you donate the mattress when you do find a new one? I can imagine that local DV or homeless shelters setting up housing for their clients need all kinds of furniture, as well as any orgs involved in refugee resettlement. They may not all take used cushioned items (like mattresses or couches) but it’s worth finding out.

    9. Get a new mattress. It’s a sunk cost so don’t stress over it if you can help it. I had a similar experience- hip pain that progressed to pain down my leg and a limp- all of which turned out be due to a bad mattress. We bought one mattress which did not help, ditched it and got a second one- problem solved. You should not sacrifice your health so that your husband is pain free. A mattress that allows you to adjust the firmness of each side individually should help- (Sleep number bed?).It’s basically an air mattress and different from a traditional construction, but they do work. They are pricey- maybe a Black Friday sale is coming….

    10. The firmness of the mattress you need is mostly determined by your height and weight. Also whether you sleep on your side or back. So if there is a big difference between you and your husband you might not be able to both sleep on a mattress with the same firmness. Seperate mattresses or a mattress with separate firmness levels are options that could help

      1. +1

        Sometimes I wonder how in the world 2 people sleeping on the same bed can possibly be comfortable. How can a 6′ 2″ man who sleeps on their back possibly be comfortable on the same mattress as a 5′ 3″ slender woman who sleeps on her side, for example? Impossible.

        Maybe a split king with individual controls on each side (sleep number) is worth trying.

      2. Interestingly, we are similar builds (tall and slim). I think the difference is my “womanly hips” vs his straight hips lol. I’m 5’9″ 145lb, he is 6’3″ 160lb

        1. Womanly hips are my curse! I don’t feel supported on soft mattresses, but can’t lie on my side on firm ones. Firm mattress + soft topper worked for us (it sounds like it’s not working for you though). Before that, I had one of those pregnancy pillows to kind of fill the gaps.

          1. And we also went with a wool + latex topper (DH appreciates it too so we’re both happy now).

        2. Just did a quick check based on those numbers and could be you need soft and he needs medium. Honestly sleep is so important, so no need to regret having to try a couple (expensive) things before figuring out the right fit. My parents guest room has some great and very expensive mattresses because they both had trouble finding the right fit.

        3. We got a 3″ latex topper from Avocado for similar issues and it’s great. It has enough give to let my hips sink in, but is firm enough that it doesn’t sink overall.

    12. Mattresses are an insane product–like why are they one of the only items that are sold like cars, and you can actually negotiate (at least at a Mattress Firm or other speciality mattress store)? Don’t beat yourself up because the industry is nonsensical. I didn’t realize that you could get a better price and paid “sticker” for a mattress when my husband and I were first married. Oops, live and learn. When we bought a replacement recently, I checked out Consumer Reports reviews and ended up ordering one with decent reviews that seems to fit what we were looking for (firm but not too firm) when Costco was running a Labor Day sale. It is probably not the perfect mattress, but I feel like I did sufficient due diligence to feel ok with the purchase. While I was researching, I found advice citing Brad Pitt of all people that said you should buy a firm cheaper mattress and splurge on the Temperpedic pad–so maybe that’s worth considering?

      1. wait, I did not know you could negotiate at the mattress store. Learned something today!

        1. There used to be like a mattress guy website where he showed the big mattress companies and all the style names they use for the same product at different sellers to get around “lowest price guarantee” promises. If it’s called the satsuma at Macy’s but is called the clementine at a mattress chain but is the same mattress, then you can’t Google for the best price on the satsuma or clementine. He was doing a great service by putting it all together. I did get a great deal on a mattress by just bringing his printout to a mattress store with me.

    13. My husband and I had a similar situation. We spent a lot of money on a mattress when we bought our house in 2020. By 2024, the mattress on his side was already…exhausted. It was sagging visibly. I wrestled with the regret and waste of having to replace a big ticket item for us. But the bottom line was that it was no longer working for him. Mattresses need to be comfortable. You spend way too much time on them. Look at it from a cost per use perspective. That made me feel better. For your next mattress, if you have the space, consider getting a split king and you each chose the exact mattress preferences for yourselves.

    14. I wouldn’t treat it like a moral failing. Would you feel the same about the decision if you had an accident or health issue that caused you to need a new mattress? It sounds like you need to go try some in person. Mattresses are really difficult to buy because even trying them in a store isn’t the same as sleeping on it.

      Also, don’t compare what you spent to what someone else spends. People value different things. I would try to donate it which can be hard or post it on your neighborhood page. Some nonprofits can’t accept the mattress but there are people who can’t afford them that will buy them in good condition. Worse case scenario, it can be recycled.

    15. I really like my European style Continental set-up, with a big undermattress, two separate pocket spring mattresses in the middle, and then one big mattress topper on top. The two separate mattresses can be different firmness.

      I’m about your size and hourglassy, and sleep on my side, and have a medium mattress, with an ultra soft 3 inch latex and wool topper. The result is a soft feel that can support my hip dip well. I cannot sleep well on a firm mattress, and get physically bruised with back and neck aches. I hate memory foam mattresses, they just give me a dumpy imprint with no support.

      I would get a new one as soon as you can afford, and make sure that you both get a different side. It’s not worth it to sleep badly or get bad neck or back pains.

  5. I’ve been eyeing a used Mulberry Alexa bag as a work bonus splurge, I’d like to be able to use it carrying my work laptop as an all seasons bag. I like how they look after being a bit worn in and have gotten slouchy.
    Would you use the OS Alexa as a work bag? Would my shoulders die if I had to carry it a mile or so?
    Is there a substantial difference between the mini and regular size?
    Would you buy new or used?
    Is there a different bag you’d recommend instead?

    I commute on public transit and higher end bags I see the most are LV’s, Tumi’s, and recently more Prada.
    My work bag rotation is a leather tote from Tumi that’s a bit heavy in black and navy leather with silver hardware. An LLBean canvas black backpack, and a summery bottomless pit crochet tote from The Sak (it goes on forever, I love it). I’d like something a bit slouchier, less ‘upright and formal’ than my Tumi but still polished for my casual office.

    If I don’t go the work bag route I might look at the mini instead as an everyday type bag. I worry I wouldn’t use the Regular size because it’s bigger than I need for every day (I don’t carry a lot of extras when I’m not commuting, usually just phone cardcase wallet keys and sunglasses) but not big enough for a work bag.

    1. The Alexa is such an OG bag there should be tons of in depth reviews on Youtube from people using it as a work bag. I agree about getting it used. They will plummet in value/have little resale

    4. I have the mid size Alexa and it gets kind of heavy. I’d be hesitant to go with the large one for that reason. And you can’t fit a laptop in anything but the large. I’d avoid the mini—it looks almost comically small in person.

    6. I had one 10 years ago and got rid of it, the flap and closure was super annoying to deal with.

  6. Thoughts from fellow lawyers on the Google story in the NYT? Some things are shocking (chat retention not happening even while on legal hold is a major miss), but I admit I chuckled hard at the idea that “lawyer says don’t put anything that would look bad in court in writing” is even worth noting.

        1. Not the same poster but honestly it’s vaguebooking. Put in a headline if you want people to discuss it.

          1. Eh, I feel people definitely do that sometimes, but when someone mentions the top article in the NYT and tells you it’s in the NYT, I don’t think that’s vaguebooking. It’s easy to find and links can get you stuck in mod (I’m not OP).

          2. I am quite confident that people with law degrees are capable of finding the article.

          3. It’s not just this one. People reference articles that are weeks and months old. Absolutely drives me crazy and it’s lazy.

          4. Yes, please if you are trying to start a discussion, give at least a one line explanation of the topic / issue so we can decide whether to pursue? So lazy and annoying.

          5. You know that personalization algorithms make it so that your top story is not everyone else’s top story, right?

          6. No. Vaguebooking wouldn’t have mentioned NYT or Google. This one was pretty specific.

          8. Let’s see. Make a bunch of people go Google something (that won’t appear the same in search for everyone due to how algorithms work with news these days) or share one simple link on something that isn’t breaking news?

            It’s lazy and annoying.

      1. Yep! And this is the latest in 18 months of coverage on this topic. It’s a very widely known and discussed topic amongst IHC and lit/reg lawyers who support them — I’ve already attended 2 CLEs that covered it this year!

    3. My thought, as a fellow lawyer, is stop posting on here without telling us what you are talking about.

        1. I’m not curious about vaguebooking on my fashion blog. Just tell people what you’re talking about. My NYT headlines are about Ukraine

          1. I clearly am talking about the article in the NYT this morning about Google’s document retention and training practices.

            FWIW, googling “Google document retention article NYT” would’ve saved you 199 keystrokes, and going “oh, I don’t know what this is about so I’ll just scroll past” would’ve saved you 236 :)

          2. I’m totally fine here actually! I’d rather use my keystrokes to complain about annoying vaguebooking than hunt down something I might have no interest in.

        2. If multiple people are saying something is an issue, perhaps consider the feedback and post a headline?

          2. Maybe it’s also a cultural issue. The vaguebooking gets annoying. It isn’t that hard to say, “link in comments to avoid mod” or to copy-paste the headline into the original post.

            Even if one particular vague book is on the front page (whatever that means in a digital era), maybe just… let’s all make it a habit to be clear what current events we are talking about?

          3. It is a cultural issue, because I think it’s embarrassing AF to act like people need to cater to your inability or unwillingness to find something online. If something doesn’t ring a bell for me, I just assume that it’s not for me and move on without demanding someone provide me with more details.

          5. 10:58, if you want to talk about something, it’s best to tell people exactly what you want to discuss.

          6. @Anon @12:29 – a gift link was posted three hours before you added this valuable contribution to the conversation.

  7. I was late yesterday but wanted to add my thoughts, after travelling to London in January this year with my 7 yr old:

    Your list seems a bit heavy on the “ambiance” activities (gardens, markets) and a lot is outdoors. For the age your kids are and the season, I would add a few kid-friendly indoor options:

    – London Transport Museum is in Covent Garden, and is wonderful for kids (and adults) of all ages, it has so many things you can climb, touch, tube simulator etc
    – Tate Modern is my favorite kid-friendly art museum, and it’s free unless you want to see special exhibitions. It’s an easy walk over Millennium Bridge towards St. Paul’s from there
    – a personal highlight for my son: if you’re strolling along the Thames and at low tide, you can walk down a few steps to the river shore and go treasure hunting (aka mudlarking): lots of artifacts like clay pipes, fragments of old tile and tableware, some date back to the 1600s. Obviously wash hands after you’re done with mudlarking. (Also, tons of bones, I believe from the slaughterhouses that used to line the river.)
    – in Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum is free and amazing for kids (ships!!!), it also has an amazing outdoor playground (The Cove). The boat ride there will give you a nice panoramic view of the city from the water and about 45 mins break from walking.

    For playgrounds, be aware that some have opening and closing times, and if it’s very cold or icy, they may be closed altogether for safety reasons (metal bars, freezing/slipping danger).

    2. I agree and also wanted to note that Liberty is right around the corner from Hamley’s. I left my husband/kids in Hamley’s playing with toys while I bopped around Liberty for a bit solo. They came up to meet me on the Christmas floor (amazing!) but having solo time to browse the jewelry and beauty market was great.
      Ditto with the V&A and the Science Museum – my husband is a big science nerd but doesn’t care about textiles so I dashed across the street to the V&A for an hour and then we all met up in the V&A gardens. There is a nearby ‘science tea’ at the Ampersand hotel that colleagues have raved about – make reservations though!

      1. Ditto I was going to say if there are two or more adults, I would trade off some alone times so adults can shop, grab a coffee or see a museum too. Especially with playgrounds, that would be a good opportunity to grab alone time.

    3. Also the RAF museum. We look the tube there & then walked the 4 blocks to the museum. We would go gangster hangar so being outside was great. One of our London favorites though definitely under the tourist radar.

      1. My boys LOVED the war museum but unless your kids are very into military stuff it might not be as big of a hit. The plus side is that once you’re at the war museum it’s not a bad walk back over the Westminster bridge to Big Ben/Parliament/Westminster Abbey. The views are much better for photos on the bridges vs. right up close and the walk is very cool imho.

      1. Ah, interesting!
        We did not really take anything we found home since we weren’t sure about the legality of taking something potentially ancient, but we saw lots of people walking on the shoreline. A kind stranger who was there too showed us some of her finds and explained the whole thing.

  8. Favorite pair of jeans purchased in the last year? Rise, color/wash, length, whether you wear them to work or simply casual?

    1. Madewell perfect wide leg jean and Abercrombie 90s straight jean. Both in a medium wash, although I want a dark wash now too. I have big hips and both their curvy fits are amazing for me.

      1. The Emmett Wide Leg jeans are my absolute favorite right now. They are so soft and comfortable. Also I’m 5’2″ (but have long legs compared to torso) and Madewell’s length is just right for me.

    2. Kut from the Kloth Catherine boyfriend for casual (medium wash, worn cuffed)
      rag & bone Dre low-rise boyfriend for either casual or work (I got ivory most recently and they are not at all see through and super versatile)
      Mother dark denim, ankle crop – either casual or work

    3. Old Navy “wow” wide leg jean in a dark wash and black. They’re so comfortable and the leg is on trend. I have a casual office so I can wear them to work.

      1. I also wanted to add, sizes/colours go out of stock all the time but keep stalking the page, they restock frequently.

    4. Talbot’s Straight leg. Bought the denim (dark wash), two colours of cords (navy and black), two pairs in velvet (green and purple). They are the most flattering and versatile I have worn in over five years.

    5. I also loved the Gap cropped, high rise Strider for summer. Worn a light wash non stop.

    6. J. Crew wide leg trouser jeans, I get compliments every time I wear them, from young and older alike. I wear them to work, occasionally casually.

  9. Is there any benefit to having two dental insurances? I have been pretty surprised by how much out of pocket coverage is required under plans generally. But I don’t know if having coverage under two policies is meaningfully helpful.

    1. No, because then the insurances argue the other one should pay the bill. See if self-pay is cheaper.

      1. I’ve heard from friends for orthodontia, this is not always true and they’ve had double coverage. That’s truly the extent of my knowledge of the topic. Maybe someone knows more??

    2. Like everything else with insurance, it’s almost impossible to tell in advance. Generally, the plan that covers you as an employee will be primary to the one that covers you as a dependent; for children, the usual rule is that the plan of the parent whose birthday is earlier in the calendar year will be primary.

      Then, you would need to look at the SPDs for the two plans, to see what their benefit percentages and annual and lifetime limits are. You also want to find out (should be in the SPD) if the secondary plan has a “non-duplication of benefits” provision. Non-duplication means that the secondary plan calculates what it would have paid if primary, subtracts what the primary plan did pay, and then pays the difference (which could be nothing if the primary has a more generous benefit percentage and/or allowed amount).

      It becomes pretty complicated pretty quickly to figure out how you would fare: you’d need to know what your provider charges; what each plan allows as the approved amount; the various deductibles, coinsurances, and annual/lifetimes maxs of the two plans; your premiums for the two plans; and whether your provider is in-network in both plans.

      In short, if you know you’re going to have very expensive dental services next year (or a child getting braces), it might be worth trying to game this out. But for a typical year of two cleanings and an X-ray and a filling, it may not be worth the time and frustration to try to get all the info (never mind the hassle of dealing with two dental plans and claims).

  10. My experience yesterday at the eye doctor bothered me and I’d like to get your take.

    When the tech took me to the testing area and I was seated on the stool in front of a machine, she asked, “Would you like to pay $44 for [fancy test] or get your eyes dilated?” Unless the official recommendations have changed, None of the Above is still an option, but all she said was “or.”

    When I went to checkout, the lady was clicking on the computer for-ev-er. She finally looked up and said, “Your total today is $748.36.” The eff?! Ohh, she went ahead and included a year’s supply of contacts. No paper invoice. No opportunity to see the cost of the exam vs the cost of contacts. No discussion of whether or not I *wanted* a year’s supply of contacts. I bristled and she backed the contacts out and showed me on her screen (no paper available) the cost of the visit.

    This whole thing felt slimy and made me so angry for people who think they’re going for a visit that insurance pays for and instead they get “guided” into spending lots of money. But am I overly sensitive? This is a national franchise chain (so every office is its own business) that I’ve always been happy with, but my first time at this location.

    1. And the point that I implied but didn’t state – I’ve never had these things happen like this at any other visit. Always, “Would you like the back of the eye test? You haven’t had it for a few years and it’s recommended.” And, “Do you need contacts today?”

    2. that particular person sounds annoying and pushy. I’d go somewhere else for your next visit. unless you have a particular reason for continuity I find most of those places pretty interchangeable, and then just buy my contacts online.

      2. Disagree. Health care & insurance is a nightmare. Most of us aren’t made of money. That is a crazy high cost for any doctor’s appointment. And if you have insurance, you are allowed to say “please process via my insurance and then send me my itemized bill”.

        It is common now for offices to ask you to pay ASAP, and sometimes pay prior to services. When I get my MRI etc.. they call me ahead of time and ask “would you like to pre-pay?” No – Why would I do that? You going to give me a discount? Didn’t think so. What if the scan got cancelled, or I got sick, or your estimated cost is wrong or my insurance company pays more etc…. I’ve had to fight back to get $ back though when they overcharge me.

        1. The only slimy thing going on here is that they reordered her contacts without asking whether she wanted them. She protested and got the charge removed.

      3. Must be nice to be rich. I would be very mad about an unexpected $750 office visit charge.

        1. It wasn’t for the visit, though, that included the contacts, which she got taken off the bill. A year’s supply of contacts is usually $600-700, so the visit was only probably $50-150, which is pretty normal for a eye exam that includes contacts fitting, even with insurance.

          1. Which she didn’t ask them to include. It feels very scammy to me, and I’d be unlikely to go back to that place in her shoes.

          2. And she didn’t pay for. She’s not getting ripped off here. You’re allowed to say no to things.

        2. It is nice to be rich! You should try it!

          But also, plenty of poor people are capable of saying “no” or “is that necessary?” during appointments. In fact, I’d say they’re more capable of it!

    4. My take is that this is somewhat slimy but pretty standard sales practices — what makes this slimier is that it’s linked to your medical care.

      If this were me, I’d either recognize that I have to be an assertive self-advocate upfront at this place, or go elsewhere. Many people don’t question doctors at all, which is what makes these tactics gross.

    5. I’ve been to 9 or 10 different eye doctors (ophthalmologists and optometrists) over 40 years and was never given the option not to get a full eye exam. That always included dilation until those optomap things got popular, and then they started giving you a choice which you preferred (definitely the optomap, dilation ruins the rest of my day!). I agree that adding in contacts is scammmy, though.

    6. What was your appointment for? Were you fitted for contacts? I can see how if you make an appointment for contacts (my national chain Dr makes you specific if it’s a glasses or contact visit, contacts have more pieces), are fitted for them, they assume you actually want them. And if not, just say no thanks.

      I have worn contacts for 20 years and have astigmatism; I always get either the dilation or the new retina version (fwiw my health insurance covers the retina test! My eye dr told me it would be $40 if health Ian doesn’t cover it as it isn’t covered by my vision plan). I have never been presented with “no” as an option for this part of the exam.

      1. You can ask for no (to dilation or the fancy eye scanner) but you usually have to sign a waiver saying you’re turning down recommended medical care. It’s a standard of care to do one or the other

        I agree it sounds slimy but it feels within one standard deviation of optometrist pushiness. I am nosy and willing to be socially awkward; the last time I was at the optometrist a young woman who hadn’t realized her insurance had lapsed was close to crying while the front desk lady was explaining they had a special “buy one, get there second half off” deal on glasses, which doesn’t help when you definitely can’t afford one pair, and just jumped in with “Hi I couldn’t help overhearing and I get my glasses from Zenni, they usually cost $X and you can use a prescription from anywhere, if you ask for a copy they’re legally required to give it to you; and btw the Walmart optometrist in town does exam + prescription for $70 no insurance, have a great day, byeee!”

    7. I had a similar experience two years ago, including both the dilation/upgrade conversation and presenting me with a bill that assumed that I wanted to order a year’s supply of contacts. I got what I wanted after I asked questions and pushed back. But I felt like I was interacting with a salesperson, not a medical provider. That was my first (and only) visit there, so I left the place a negative review and never looked back.

    8. The first one doesn’t bother me. Not everything can arrange a time for an exam where they can be fine with having their eyes dilated. He told you the cost and gave an option. The second one would really piss me off, and I would be complaining to their customer service about that

      2. +1 That’s the standard price for the non-dilation option which, yes, you should be getting on a regular basis. You wouldn’t skip your annual blood tests, would you?

        1. Yes, I would, when I don’t know how much it’s going to cost and whether I can afford it, or if it’ll push me in into debt, go to collections, and ruin my credit (and ability to rent an apartment, get a car loan, etc). This is what sucks about US healthcare. I’m incredibly grateful to be in a position whether I can take the financial risk of getting recommended health care now; it certainly hasn’t always been true for me

          1. That parade of horribles makes sense if we are talking about, like, emergency surgery, where the costs are large and truly unexpected. Both eye dilation and annual blood tests are expenses you can and should be anticipating, and neither is large, even if you are paying fully out of pocket.

    9. I boycott the national chains whenever possible because I hate getting the feeling that some business school major presented a slideshow at corporate headquarters with a graph showing how profits would soar if they get pushier with add on expenses. If you can switch to a locally owned or academically affiliated office, you may be happier.

      I’m currently frustrated that I have a medical contraindication for dilation and insurance still won’t cover the fancy test. When are they going to drop dilation and update the standard of care already?

      1. Agree with local/academic offices often having better service.

        My previous chain optician/optometrist got my prescription glasses and sunglasses wrong 3 times one year. I have a high correction and my high-refraction lenses need to be mounted into the frame in a way so that the rim of the lenses doesn’t protrude forward out of the frame (not a great look, makes it look like your lenses are ashtrays, IYKWYM). The chain sent the chosen frames out to some lab for mounting, and they get it wrong not only once, but three freaking times. I was beyond mad, because if I’m spending $800 per new pair that I’m wearing from 6am to 11pm every day, AFTER insurance (and the frame was the usual $150 pre-insurance, nothing fancy!), they better get this perfect, FFS.

        I switched to a local optometrist who does his own mounting and lense cutting, and when I started to explain what I needed using the right technical terms, he said: “You should not even have to know all these details, we will take care of it.” Got it right on the first try, and now my whole family including my kid who’s inherited my myopia sees only this doctor.

    10. I’ve learned to ask “Is this required?” or flat out say “I’d like to skip this” at the optometrist. In my experience they always present these services as mandatory but quickly back off if you question them. For the contacts thing you could’ve told them “No, I didn’t agree to purchase contacts. Cancel the order and remove that from my bill.” This part is scammy and would make me switch optometrists for the next appointment.

    11. What chain is it? Some chains, like America’s Best, are extremely slimy and have questionable business practices like this. Definitely avoid them.

    12. “This is a national franchise chain (so every office is its own business)” this is your problem. You’re treating healthcare like it’s a an off the shelf good. Find a locally doctor-owned practice, I doubt these are truly independent practices either. More likely a private equity firm owns them all. My DH is an optometrist whose practice was sold to PE, this is the kind of crap that happened after the buy out. Corporate is mandating scripts and procedures to techs and front office staff, docs have no say, and all of them hate their jobs.

      1. It’s a huge problem; I’m sorry your DH got caught up in it too. My dermatologist’s office was bought out and the doctors seem miserable. Ads play in the lobby, and they push diagnostic biopsies for all diagnoses; they’re basically useless now. (I can’t even talk about what happened to the local veterinary hospital and its patients and some of its providers when PE bought it out but not everybody is still alive.)

        For OP, Costco affiliated practices can be good.

        1. Yes, and the worst scam at Dermatologists lately is sometimes doing double biopsies …. “we need two small samples”, and then of course charging you double for the procedure and double for the pathology. And now more private clinics are now starting to do pathology in the same group/”company”, which should in theory decrease the cost but it has been higher in my experience – especially when they double the biopsy!

          I will never go to the Derm “chains” again. Not only did the last one double biopsy/do their “own” pathology without even asking/telling me, they got the wrong diagnosis for my problem. They referred me to get PRP injections in their clinic after the biopsy was “inconclusive”. PRP costs thousands out of pocket, can require many treatments, with actually no proven benefit for what I actually had.

          1. I get why you wouldn’t want to pay twice, but the last biopsy I had, two of the three cores were benign and one was cancerous. It’s actually better to do more.

    13. Similarly, my elderly mom recently saw an odd $200 charge to her dental bill and was told, that’s to guarantee your next appointment. What??? She called them back and asked for a refund, then called Amex and disputed the charge. Who “pre-charges” for the next appointment?

      1. That is wild! I’ve had to pay a portion of a major expense (like when ordering crowns), I guess so that I don’t no show and leave them with crowns that only fit my teeth? Did this office think they could just extend this logic to appointment reservations? I’m glad she was on it.

      2. That is genuinely awful, to the point that I would consider contacting the state’s consumer protection agency.

    14. As others said, this is why I don’t go to chain eye doctors or dentists. They are always trying to sell you something. Like my dentist asks me if I want the optional fluoride treatment but the “dental spa” places will sell everything under the sun as treatment.

  11. Recs for tuxedo shirt for my slim 6’2″ son? Would prefer something with built-in buttons vs. french cuffs (he will lose the cuff links) and not see through if possible! I need to buy it for his music performances (school provides the tux but not the shirt).

    1. Joseph A Banks has tuxedo shirts on sale right now. Their pleated front shirts require studs, though. Their flat front dress shirts use regular buttons on front and cuff.

    4. no tux shirt is “not see through” – your son needs to wear a white undershirt with it.

    5. Try H&M for lower cost if you can get away with a white button down and not a full tux shirt; they are cut slimmer generally and also have specific slim-cut styles

  12. Can anyone who has done the IB diploma program in 11/12th grade (or have a kid in it) explain the “pathways” and SL/HL levels and whatever else I should know? Specifically for a junior deciding between AB Precalc, SL math, and HL math. “H” means hard is all that another mom told me and mentioned “colors” and it’s all a blur. We went with IB to decide fewer things (working mom, not IB myself, from the stone ages where every successful high schooler has a FT executive SAHM tiger mom running the show and we are just loss). School is enormous and very hands-off, almost like college.

    1. In my understanding IB is better if your kid wants to take AP tests/SAT2s (SAT subject tests) as they’ll be better prepared. BUT you may need extra tutoring as not all of the IB classes focus on the AP exams and it’s not an exact 1 to 1 overlay. I found the subject matter SATs much easier than the AP exams and didn’t do anything specific to prep for those but your kid’s mileage may vary
      For example on the needing to teach to the AP test – When I took AP European history and AP American history we knew which time period our DBQs (essay) questions would be on. Our teachers focused a LOT more on those time periods as the essays are a big chunk of your overall grade. The IB teachers may not have that same focus so your kid might need some extra help to ensure they are prepared for the AP exam. I’d lean in hard on passing the AP exams with at least a 4/5 as not all colleges take IB exams for credit but almost all do take AP exam results.

    2. For the IB diploma they have to take a 3-4 HL courses and 2-3 SL courses, for a total of six. They also need to take courses in each of several subject matter areas. Choices are likely to be limited by what courses the school actually offers. At my daughter’s high school, all IB diploma candidates had to take English HL, History of the Americas HL, French or Spanish SL (HL was not offered), and either biology or chemistry HL. For math they could choose between SL and HL. There were only a couple of elective options offered, and HL or SL for the elective depended upon which math course they took. They also had to take an extra two-year course that didn’t count towards the diploma called Theory of Knowledge, where they fulfilled their extended essay and CAS requirements.

      If you’re looking to maximize college credits, AP may be a better choice. My daughter’s college only gave one semester of credit for most of the two-year IB courses, and for some courses no college credit was offered at all regardless of score. She could have taken two AP courses, each worth a semester of college credit, in place of each two-year HL course. I also feel that she graduated without a solid foundation in history and science. If she’d pursued the AP pathway, she would have had time to take AP biology, chemistry, and physics. On the IB pathway she only had time to take biology at the “college” level. The IB history curriculum is not a survey course; rather, teachers get to choose isolated topics on which to focus. This would be fine for a kid who had already taken AP US history and AP European or world history freshman and sophomore years and already had a good sense of how the pieces fit together, but that wasn’t possible at my daughter’s school.

      HL math is intense. The first year is basically AP calc BC, and the second year is assorted topics. A kid needs to have done well in precalc to survive the first year of HL math. SL has no calculus and is used mostly by students who are weak in math but still want an IB diploma.

      In terms of AP math courses, there is no such thing as “AB precalc.” There are calculus AB and calculus BC. Precalc is a prerequisite for either. Some schools use AB as the first year of calculus and BC as the second; in other schools, BC is a faster-paced first-year calculus course. Much of BC is a repeat of the AB material. AB gives one semester of college credit; BC gives two semesters.

      1. I went to a private school that did IB diplomas. I didn’t do it because it was A LOT. I would have done terribly in IB math or science. My school offered the option of only taking single credits, so I did HL English instead of a full diploma. I’m very glad I did. My friends who did the full diploma were absolutely killing themselves the last year of high school with the amount of work they had to do, plus all the exams.

      2. IDK re college credits. IIRC, the best schools are stingy with AP credits, especially in your major, but are as likely to give credit for AP and IB. At most, it may make it easier to finish in 4 years, but rarely does a kid get done in less than 4 years (so a budget crapshoot for the parent). Mid schools may be more generous, but do you really want that for core learning? I get it for “I got a 5 on Physics and can now concentrate on my biology / French / whatever degree and a minor” but it’s sold as doing college faster and I swear between schools getting stricter for credits and not having enough sections of needed classes, no one finished on time even, let alone early. I think kids really to it to signal that they can do harder and standardized work so can get into a harder college, never mind the credits.

        1. The credits are useful if they get you out of fluffy basic GE requirements so you have enough room in your schedule to double-major. At my daughter’s college a lot of the GE courses are not as substantive as a good old-fashioned survey course in biology or history or literature. There are a lot of “physics for poets” and “English for people who hate to read” courses in colleges these days.

    3. This post made me laugh, recalling when my then-high school age daughter plaintively commented, “I need a tiger mom.” I was complimented that she did not put me in that category, when sometimes it felt like I might be pushing the long term too hard.

      1. My daughter wavered back and forth between accusing me of being a tiger mom and accusing me of not being enough of one.

    4. I’m not sure what AB Precalc is, but I did regular ed Pre-calc/trig, and then SL math studies, which was like stats, logic, cool stuff. The true smarty pants did SL AP Calc for a year and then maybe also HL AP calc. I pretty much bombe Pre-IB trig/precalc, so I knew SL Calc was not my path. Going with IB to decide fewer things does not jive with my experience, but it’s been 20+ years, so what do I know.

    5. Hi I did IB back in the early 2000s. It sounds like the curriculum has changed to Math Approaches vs Math Applications – that’s a distinction that is new. I took HL math AFTER taking precalc at a public school and was still woefully unprepared for my college level calc and physics courses. I think it depends on if your kid is planning on a major like physics/economics/engineering.

    6. I did the full diploma with SL math in the early 2000s and I’m not up to date on changes. Back then, HL was a great way to go in greater depth in my stronger subjects and one weaker subject with a beloved teacher. Generally, HL was two years or one year with a double period and SL was one year. I would recommend HL math for a student who loves math or will need a lot of math for their college major.

      I prefer IB to AP because of the option to go deeper in a few subjects while getting a good rounded education.

      My experience was that IB is great if you have strong teachers, but I think it could fall apart if you don’t. AP is much easier to self-teach (which I did for an extra course).

      1. Agree one million percent on the last paragraph. IB depends entirely on the teachers. There are no supplemental resources to speak of, the papers require guidance, and there is a very specific writing style to be taught. AP is just memorization and writing standard essays, and there are tons of resources for self-teaching.

    7. “Fewer decisions” is a terrible reason to pursue the IB diploma. It’s a ton of extra work, especially in the senior year when even the AP kids are having an easier time than junior year, with a questionable payoff.

    8. Kid is in IB, doing HL math. Found SAT easy and also IB kids apparently have an easier time even at elite colleges like U Chic, NW etc. we will find out soon.
      But in our case, the school offers only IB. We’re outside the US.

  13. Thank you to whoever recommended the Julia Jordan jumpsuit when I asked for holiday jumpsuit recommendations! I bought one with the tags on from Poshmark for $18 and it’s perfect.

    1. That was me! I’m so glad you like it. I’m wearing mine to the opera this weekend.

  14. Does anyone sell on poshmark? I have gone up a few sizes and have clothing I need to get rid of. I usually donate items (because it’s just an article of clothing here and there), but having to buy new clothing isn’t cheap so I’d like to recoup some costs. I’m a teacher, so balling on a budget here.

    I don’t think consignment would really work because most things in discarding aren’t nice brands (lots of Old Navy – which isn’t accepted at my local consignment).

    1. Is it really worth selling Old Navy on poshmark? I can’t imagine you would make anything back.

    3. Poshmark is FULL of cheap mall clothes. You won’t have much luck selling. Just donate.

      2. Idk I thrift a lot and definitely buy ON at thrift stores – something that retains for $30-50 sells at a thrift for like $10 so I’m happy with that!

    4. I have sold nice brands on Poshmark and it’s a hassle and I did not make much. For ON, 100% not worth it, just donate.

      1. This. I sold $300 Reiss dresses for $30-$50. Given the cost of shipping, the math doesn’t math for people to buy Old Navy on Poshmark.

    5. It’s only worth selling barely used higher end brands. Even then, you have to price at a steep discount or be prepared to negotiate to drop your price a lot.

    6. If my neighborhood were having a garage sale in the near future I might try that. Otherwise I’d just donate.

    7. Just to add a little bit of a different perspective – selling on poshmark is kind of a hassle because it requires pictures, etc. so my recommendation would be to pick a few items that are current and in very good condition (ie with tags; worn once, etc) and list those and see how you fare, how much you make, etc. Then you can decide whether its worth it to list your other items.

    8. I don’t think people would buy Old Navy. Consignment stores don’t take it because it doesn’t sell.

    9. It’s become really hard to sell anything on Poshmark, regardless of the brand. It’s something to do with a new owner and pushing the model of live auctions where items go for real cheap. You’ll waste a lot of time taking photos/ writing the listings with minimal opportunity to sell.

    10. Paying Poshmark shipping for Old Navy clothes makes no sense, so it is not worth the time spent photographing, listing, packing, shipping. The calculus might be different for more expensive items if they are the type of thing that sells.

    11. Do you have a local Rhea Lana’s consignment sale? I’ve had luck selling my Old Navy/Target clothes there, even though it is for “kids”. They have a “Juniors” section and I just put them in there (sizes L-XL) and I’ve bought 1-2 things!

      1. Also, another option is local Facebook Resale. I’ve sold stuff in a local moms group for $5-8 a piece and had good luck.

    12. I sell on Poshmark but mostly higher end outdoor kids clothes. Like a Patagonia jacket my kid wore for 4 months and then outgrew.

      Some sellers do sell a ‘mystery box’ or a bundle of NWT or NWOT lower end clothes. Not sure if this is just a thing for kids clothes though.

      Some Jcrew and Boden will sell. Like if I have a Jcrew dress I love but regret not getting another colour option – I’ll check Poshmark. Unless it’s new with tags, you won’t find buyers for Old Navy stuff. And even NWT you’ll need to offer discounts like buy 4 get 40% off or buy 4 and get free shipping in order for it to sell.

    13. I tried to sell some really nice brands on Mercari due to my weight loss and nothing moved. It got to the pont that it wasn’t really going to be worth it to me to package them up and mail them, so I took them all to a donation center. Maybe someone who is really into those brands will get a little thrill when they find one of my old pieces. If they end up on the racks at all.

  15. I am finally feeling ready to get Botox for the first time, but I feel so scared! I am not scared of pain or the injection or anything like that, but I am worried that it will look weird or feel weird afterward. I am looking at Botox in the forehead area.

    Any advice or experiences to share?

    1. If you’re afraid, don’t do it. If you feel anything other than “I want this”, don’t do it. It’s okay to look how you look.

    2. I’m in my mid-thirties and have been getting botox in my forehead and my 11s for two years, most recently this past Friday. I get mine from a plastic surgeon because I don’t trust a medspa.

      I was nervous to get it the first time, but once you get it once, you realize it’s not a big deal at all. I’m five days out from my injection, so I’m juuust about feeling the full effect now. I don’t notice a change in my ability to raise my eyebrows at all, although if I look a mirror I can see a difference.

      For me the most noticeable change is that I can’t furrow my brows at all. When I scowl or squint I can feel myself trying to move my eyebrows but nothing moves. It feels slightly weird for the first few days, and then I stop noticing. If you go to a good injector and start conservatively, you won’t look weird. My mom– extremely observant helicopter parent– did not notice until I told her. But once you get it I bet you’ll start noticing that a ton of people’s foreheads also don’t move, haha.

    3. Don’t let them get too close to your eyebrow or your eye will droop. I looked awful and couldn’t wear my contacts until it wore off.

      1. +1

        My mother had botox once for her migraines. She had had refractory migraines for years, and when Botox was found to have benefit in some patients, her neurologist tried it on my Mom. Her neurologist… not well trained in botox injections. Of my goodness, her eyes/brows looked crazy for months. And it didn’t help her migraines, sadly. My Mom is a good sport, but she worked in a Big Law firm in high up admin and I’m sure her appearance was discussed.

      2. Start slow. I got too much first time and my eyes also drooped with spocked eyebrows. Apparently some people are more sensitive in that area than others. But Botox wears off pretty fast anyway

    4. It does feel weird after. You can’t move your face and there’s a feeling of heaviness. For me, it always feels weird and so after trying it a few times I stopped. I went to a very respectable (expensive) cosmetic dermatologist and she did very “light” botox.

      It’s worth trying if you’re really curious – worst case is it wears off in 3 months and you don’t do it again.

      1. I love love love the feeling of not being able to frown. It improves my mood so much. I don’t get it anymore but I did for 10+ years and always loved the feeling more than the cosmetic benefits.

    5. you’ll be fine. my first time was my derm it hurt so much and didn’t really last, 2nd time was a med spa (really 1 person) who injects all day long, she knew her stuff, was up to date on latest trends, drugs etc, she schedules all new pts for a follow-up in 2 weeks and will touch up a few units then for free, and it didn’t hurt. I disagree about people using plastic surgeon over med spa, I want someone who does it all day long! Ask your friends for recs.

      1. +1 I have used both and medspa injector who does it all day long is the one for me.

  16. Anyone making something other than turkey for Thanksgiving? Looking for your favorite ideas for a group of 4….no dietary restrictions

    1. I usually prefer ham over turkey, because it’s easy to transition leftovers into cold sandwiches or soups after.

    2. I’ve done turkey pot pies with a homemade crust. Other years I’ve done Kurnik (also a pot pie, but different fillings).

    3. I despise turkey (and actually Thanksgiving foods generally). The one time I hosted Thanksgiving I did a beef tenderloin (used Ina Garten’s recipe) and it was delicious.

    5. My family likes to do ham sometimes. Works well with a lot of the classic Thanksgiving side dishes.

    6. I much prefer the flavor of a roast duck, and it slots well into the place of the turkey with whatever sides you want to make. I fill mine with prunes soaked in red wine, a bit of onion and apples, then slow roast for a few hours.

      1. This is what we’ve done for or family of three. Tastier, less leftovers, and festive enough.

        We’ve also done a lamb shoulder one year which was excellent.

    7. My husband and I do homemade pizza every year. We do one with roasted fall veggies (brussels sprouts and bnut squash), goat cheese and cranberries as a nod to Thanksgiving foods, but the rest are just whatever toppings we want.

      1. We’ve also done homemade pizza, and other years we’ve done butternut squash lasagna.

    9. My family has beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce. I do not eat meat so I just enjoy the sides :)

    10. Individual cornish hens. Bonus points if someone enjoys a bit too much and makes the hen dance across the table.

      2. Please talk about how you prepare it! Do you buy the whole fish? They’re huge, right?

    13. I’ll be at a restaurant on the day, but our friends giving main will be a beef Wellington.

      1. I’ve always wanted to do the Zuni Cafe Roast Chicken and Bread Salad for Thanksgiving. The bread gives it a bit of stuffing vibes, and it’s kind of a production, so feels special.

        1. Just fyi the reason the Zuni chicken is good is it’s a small bird. The method doesn’t work once you get into a big enough chicken for a group. I’d do the same idea but roast normally, not the high heat/cast iron pan flipping.

    14. Ham is pretty common in the south. If you’re trying to avoid turkey leftovers, you could do a breast. You could also do a rib roast or lamb. I also have made a fancier lasagna some years.

    1. Not the OP, but that’s brilliant. I ordered one based on the top critical review, in which the reviewer noted that she expected the bowl to be as big as her head but it was actually the size of a mango. I don’t know why that made me LOL, but it was enough to hit “add to cart.”

      1. LOL, that is quite a review! I’m not sure WHY you’d need a pistachio bowl the size of one’s head, but to each her own!

      2. I somewhat agree, but I have to admit…. my uncle is impossible to buy for, and doesn’t “need” anything, and is picky as heck, but he eats pistachios every day and would likely love this.

      3. You clearly don’t eat pistachios as often as some people do. If this gets used several times a week, it’s not a waste at all. It looks like it would also be great for cherry pits.

        1. Exactly. Not a waste of space if it is used. Some people always have a bowl of nuts around.

        3. I would also use this for olives! My dad *loves* pistachios and while I was initially expecting this to be gimmicky, it actually seems like one of those little life hack items that could make this very specific experience better.

  18. Does anyone have a bag from JW pei? I keep seeing these promoted everywhere and it makes me curious / skeptical.

    1. My sister has had one for several years, she loves it. I wanna say she has the mini flap crossbody in the brown croc color.

  19. Mild case of vandalism that made me chuckle this morning: on my way to work, someone defaced the YOUR SPEED sign that displays your mph, so that it reads YOU PEED.

    3. my fave was from my hometown, which had a nursing facility named Pocopson Home. Vandals removed 4 of the letters and voila-

      cops Home.

      1. Def thought this was going to say poop home. Yes I do have 3 kids under 10….

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