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Coffee Break: Jayant Pump

Jayant PumpWe did our big roundup of classic, comfortable work heels yesterday — but every so often you want to wear something fun! I don't think I've seen such a tweedy, textured shoe as this before, and I really like the flared block heel. We're picturing it in the “lotus multi tweed” (which I'd probably wear with all the same outfits I've recommended wine-colored pumps for), but note that it comes in a black matte leather and a pink patent leather. A tweed shoe like this would probably be primarily an “office shoe” for me, i.e. one that lives below my desk and I switch into from my commuting shoes — with limited outings for lunch on clear days — but that's me. The pump is $79.90 right now, but after August 6 it'll go back to $120; it's available in sizes 4-13 in medium and wide widths. Jayant Pump This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 12.5

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

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96 Comments

  1. What are the best polo shirts? I’m in need of a refresh. This would be to wear on weekends with shorts, or with jeans to the office on Fridays. I want something that is cotton, not a technical fabric — I’m not actually playing polo :) Preference for simple, classic, no big logos. I prefer not too boxy — I have one that I think is from LL Bean that is too boxy, so not that.

    3. Ralph Lauren/Polo makes a couple of cuts I believe. I’m an hourglass and the pima polo shirts from Lands End fit me nicely.

    4. I would bet that Lands End has what you’re looking for. And I know they offer a lot of their knit shirts in different cuts so you can avoid the boxy.

    5. On women, unless you are playing polo or golf, I vote no to these types of shirts.

      2. +1 Polo shirts are hopelessly unflattering on most women. There is a small subset of women that looks nice in them; I think you have to have narrow shoulders and a straight figure. But yeah being boxy is just what polo shirts do. If you don’t like the look then get a different style shirt.

      3. Meh, I already decided I like them. I’m a b**stfeeding mom, so I like to be able to pull up my shirt easily to nurse the baby. I figure these are the best option to look reasonably put together, and not have something too clingy or low cut, since I often have children hanging off me during my weekends! I like that they are a little looser and have sleeves, since: no worries about perfectly shaven pits, no pit stain issues, and no sunburned shoulders. Happy to hear of alternatives though.

        1. I nursed for somewhere around 28 months altogether and never once thought a polo shirt was the answer.

          There are lots of nursing shirts, which I actually thought was the best way to go. Asos has a ton.

          This one is basic but cute, for example http://www.asos.com/asos-maternity-nursing/asos-maternity-nursing-wrap-top-in-crepe/prd/6162513?clr=cream&SearchQuery=nursing%20top&gridcolumn=4&gridrow=4&gridsize=4&pge=1&pgesize=72&totalstyles=76

          Or, if you’re just pulling your shirt up any way, what’s wrong with a regular tee shirt/top?

          You can also wear a nursing cami under a cardigan or other top when it gets cooler.

        3. I’m a broken record here, but let me introduce you to my BFF Athleta. I really like a couple of the sunlover items – I have both the long sleeved and short sleeved T-shirts. They’re lightweight and breathe really nicely, they’re draped in the back so you look like you tried, but the drape has a little mesh insert so your back isn’t exposed to the sun. They’re loose through the middle (because of the draping) so you’d be able to lift it up easily. I’ve worn the long sleeved one on a hike in 90+ degree weather and I wasn’t too hot (well at least not because of the shirt).

        4. As both a BF-ing mom (not now, but I have nearly 3 years experience) and a golfer, I can’t think that the golf shirts that fit nicely (not overly boxy) would be easy to pull up. I vote nearly any flowly, meant to be untucked t-shirt or blouse in the world over that.

      4. Eh, if the op likes them I’m sure she looks pretty good in them. FWIW, I think they’re cute in a sporty preppy way. I like brooks brothers and classic polo.

  2. DH and I recently hit a huge financial milestone we’ve been working towards for years and want to take a nice vacation somewhere warm this winter to celebrate. We travel a lot, but normally we stay in fairly modest hotels and we’d love to splurge on a luxury resort this time. We only have a week and will have our preschooler with us so we don’t want to go too far. We’re focusing on the Caribbean or Central America (since we’ve been to Hawaii several times) but I’m having a hard time narrowing down my search. I’d love personal recommendations. We like pretty beaches, snorkeling and SUPing, and good food.

    1. How about Aulani…allows for preschooler entertainment but also lots for you as well. It’s the Disney Hawaii resort. Wait–you prefer Carribean…maybe Atlantis?

      1. Nah, no Disney. Kiddo thankfully shows no interest in it yet and DH and I are not fans. Atlantis isn’t up our alley either. She loves even very simple swimming pools and beaches, so we don’t really need much to entertain her and we’re not looking for something with a ton of families since we don’t especially enjoy vacationing with other people’s kids. I’d actually prefer a resort more geared to adults but obviously they must allow children.

    2. Check out the BVis – Cooper Island, Peter Island, Scrub Island. All three have different types or resorts. Scrub Island has a particularly killer and high end resort. You’d have to do a little homework about the preschooler, but it’s definitely a family destination in general (speaking from personal experience, though we usually charter a sailboat and don’t stay at the resorts, but we certainly visit them – lots of families).

    3. Congrats.
      You might want to think about Grand Cayman.
      The 7 mile beach hits a lot of your criteria: beach, snorkel/scuba, food.
      Both the Ritz-Carlton and Westin are good options – close to restaurants so you can walk without needing a car.

    4. Check out Colombia. Not a terribly long flight from most U.S. cities.

      San Andres y Providencia are a little less known than Cartagena and absolutely beautiful. Cartagena is amazing.

      Conde Nast’s Johnasens had some amazing recommendations for Colombia that we loved.

    5. Belize! Look at Victoria House if you want a resort on the water, we had a wonderful time at Banana Bank Lodge in the jungle.

  3. Yikes.

    What is it called when people knit all over things on sidewalks- like bike racks, trees, or lamp posts?? It looks like they got to this shoe, too.

    2. Yarn-bombing? I think these looks great though, and I’d totally wear them with jeans and a cashmere sweater.

    4. Yarnbombing! Though this shoe looks more upholstered to me than anything else.

    5. It looks like a fancy version of knit socks. Want to go out on the town but are tired of your feet being cold all the time? Introducing, sockheels! Enjoy the warmth of cozy knit socks in this fashion-forward pump!

  4. My friend and her children are visiting this weekend. Are there any fun games for an almost 1st grader and almost 5 year old? Would also be interested in a fun pool toy or two.

    Thanks!

    1. Can’t speak to pool toys, but we recently had a first-grader over who really enjoyed playing with my toddler’s water table.

    2. How about a float that they can both fit on? Slice of pizza, shark, that sort of thing. Diving sticks and balls to toss back and forth are fun

    3. Do you have a pool? If they don’t, that alone will be excitement enough. I’d probably get two floats, if you’re getting floats, otherwise there’s likely to be a fight over it.

    4. The 5 year old I had over last weekend was just as excited about bubbles and sidewalk chalk as his younger siblings.

    5. My kids love simple pool noodles. Or a pool ring for each to float around in. As for games, my kids liked Memory, Candyland, Clue (if the older one can read and the younger one can play on a team with another adult) or Clue Jr., Uno, Go Fish, Old Maid, Twister, Zingo (or just Bingo), Pop the Pig, Headbandz. Haha sorry, we like games in our house!

  5. Whoops, posted too late on the morning thread.

    A poll of low consequence for the end of the day:

    Is three colors of the same dress ONE TOO MANY?

    I found my unicorn -1 knit dress (true unicorn would have pockets) and I’m thinking of keeping it in all three colors…which seems insane, but I truly love this dress and it fits my needs almost exactly. I’m definitely keeping the color I love (olive, have worn it twice), keeping the color I like pretty well (berry, worn it once) and I’m on the fence about keeping the third one (yellow, kept tags on while I decide). The yellow one is the least flattering shade for me but it’s also a very pretty shade, and I don’t have much yellow, so it’s tempting. But is it just crazy to have three colors of the same dress and will I then look bizarre wearing one iteration of this dress each week?

    1. No, I think you’re fine (full disclosure – I have three versions of MM LaFleur’s Aditi dress). People will notice the color, not the cut of the dress. Assuming it’s not something really wild and out there.

    2. I’m all for simplifying my life and if it looks great on you, go for it. Presuming this is a simple cut though? That way it won’t be as noticeable because you can trick it up with accessories to throw people off. :)

    3. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. I have multiples of the Land’s End fit and flare dresses. They are in different patterns, but still the same style.

    4. I don’t think this is inherently bizarre but you don’t love the yellow, so return it.

      1. +1 – the concept is fine, but I don’t think you’re going to actually wear the yellow one, so that’s why you should return it. You probably don’t have anything in yellow because you haven’t found a good yellow for you to wear. Go buy a second one of the olive instead.

        1. Agree. Buy a second of the olive, stash it away or rotate between them – I have two of MMLaFleur’s Nisa in Galaxy Blue and appreciate knowing if my toddler causes irrevocable damage to one, I have a backup. And int the meantime, I alternate between them.

      2. +1

        Having three of the same dress in different colors is completely reasonable, but if you don’t actually like the color of one of them that much, I would really ask yourself if you’ll actually wear it. If you don’t think you will, return it.

    6. I say keep it! People really don’t notice much except broad strokes about what you wear (source: I had rainbow hair for like a year and no one noticed).

      I think what you’re most likely to get is a fuzzy assumption that you have a defined style. Source: I have one dress in three colors (berry, black, and shamrock green), and two very similar ones in green and black… and no one has ever said anything about my always wearing the same dress in different colors except when I meet a new woman sometimes they say, “wow, what a nice dress.”

    7. NOPE I do this all the time. I say keep the yellow dress. I too usually fall into ruts of wearing the same style/color, but I’ve found that when I branch out I’m usually pleasantly surprised by lots of compliments.

    8. No, not crazy. I think it’s fine to have three different colors of the same dress and just wear them as if you had a “uniform.”

      I have 4 colors of the exact same top, because I just like the idea of a uniform outfit for work.

    10. I have, on multiple occasion, bought dresses in multiple colours because I love them so much. (And, full disclosure, am thinking of doing it again this weekend.) But what is this unicorn dress??

    11. I vote not weird and have multiple of the same wrap dress in different patterns and solids from BR. I’m fairly certain no one has noticed beyond possibly thinking I wear a lot wrap dresses.

    12. Good points, all – and right, no one really notices! I’ve been wearing different blazers, etc. so hopefully it will all work out.

      Just grabbed the link and I see that’s even more on sale than when I bought it! Link to follow, but it’s the Caslon Twist Front Knit Dress from Nordstrom.

      3. I have this in black and navy. I love it. It’s so light and comfortable. But the flip side is the thin fabric requires a slip.

    14. Wearing all three in one week is probably a bit much, but I also have triplicates of multiple magic clothes and have never felt strange rotating through them all over the course of several weeks.

    15. I responded on the other thread – exchange the yellow for an extra olive. By the time your dress starts to show wear, it will inevitably have been discontinued. You’ll be glad to have a spare!

      1. Can you give each a different silhouette with styling, like a different kinds of toppers? Or with distinctively different tights and shoes? Then no one will ever notice.

  6. Our son needs occupational therapy, and there are no OTs in our state providing the services we need in network for our insurance plan. Our OT is in network for other plans offered by the same insurance company and has offered/asked to join this network, but the insurance company has refused (I’m not sure why).

    Has anyone had success getting an insurance company to allow a provider to join a network, or to get a waiver allowing in-network rates and limits? If we continue with OT, it’s a difference of about $4000 for us (the in-network vs out-of-network deductible).

    It’s so frustrating that an insurance company would/could say a service is covered but then not have any in-network providers, and not allow providers to join the network.

    1. I would think the fact that you have no alternatives in your network would be a reason to argue for escalation within your plan. To argue that even if the provider isn’t made in-network, the costs of his procedures would be covered as in-network for you (which sounds like a difference without a distinction).

      So, you may have ask about getting treatment approved for an out-of-network provider, rather than getting the provider added as in-network?

    2. Yes, I was able to get a waiver for a lactation consultant — in theory lactation services were covered but there were no in-network providers, similar to your situation.

      It was a pain but the exception processed fairly quickly (it took about 4 days, which felt like forever at the time!). We both had to fill out forms including her Tax ID number. They added her to the network on an exception basis (meaning, I think, that I could only get services from her and she could only render them to me for the purposes of the network). Then I had to fight a couple times with actual claims, reminding them that I had this exception waiver. It took a lot of effort for about $1200, but ultimately we got paid for everything. (This was Carefirst.)

    3. Will the OT agree to limit their charges to whatever they are getting reimbursed by the insurance company, say the in-network rate or whatever it is? This doesn’t solve your deductible issue, but it’s a start.
      Or, can you negotiate a cash rate with the OT for the time being and see if you can use HSA/FSA funds to pay for this.

      1. Well, the OT will charge us the “cash pay” rate, which is about 2/3 of what they charge the insurance company and about twice what our in-network copay is (until we hit the out of pocket max). We’re paying the cash rate for now. But yeah, the deductible and out of pocket max are the big problem.

    4. New York state has some kind of regulation that if no in-network providers cover a medical service, they have to cover the service at in-network rates. Usually the insurance companies deny it anyway, and you sometimes have to escalate with a letter to the state attorney general’s office. I know this in the context of a home-birth midwife. I’m not a lawyer though so can’t cite any specifics, but I did it twice successfully. Might be an avenue to explore.

    5. Yes, it’s very typical for employers and/or plans to approve an out-of-network provider as in-network if there are no other providers within a certain range (e.g. 30 miles). Ask your Benefits Department or the insurance company to consider it. It is much easier than trying to get a provider added.

  7. Laugh of the day. This week (yesterday and today) I noticed that the intern is using the office coffee milk for his cereal every morning.

    1. So? I don’t understand why you think it’s funny. Do you think it’s juvenile to eat cereal or something? The office is providing the milk, yes? Why shouldn’t he use it?

      1. I think that’s hilarious. Joke = something unexpected. I don’t expect people to use office milk as the main component of a meal. Therefore funny. (And also a little funny because it’s a little juvenile since many/most grown adults literally cannot digest this much milk in one sitting. And also a little funny because he doesn’t care and is doing all of the above, judgement be damned).

        1. Huh? Sure thee are some people who have lactose issues by most adults have no problem drinking a glass of milk or a bowl of cereal with milk. Both my husband and I have cereal and milk regularly.

      3. Because it’s intended use is for the office provided coffee, not his breakfast.

        1. I still don’t get why it’s funny. If he’s doing something wrong, tell him, but don’t laugh at him. It’s a good teaching moment for an intern.

          1. It is wrong, he’s functionally stealing organizational resources. It’s funny because it’s so out of touch. No point in telling him now because it’s his last week and I’m not his manager.

          2. How is it stealing? It wouldn’t be stealing if he were using it for coffee, right? and how is it out of touch?

    2. My office provides us with several different dairy and non-dairy milks, half & half, along with the little fake-diary creamer cups. Most of the milk goes for cereal, oatmeal, afternoon snacks, whatever. People don’t usually use the milk in their coffee, they go for the half & half or the creamer cups.

    3. There is no such thing as “coffee milk”. There is milk and milk can be consumed in a variety of ways.

  8. I’d like to walk 1.5 miles as the last part of my commute and need to figure out what shoes to wear.

    Should I just go all out an wear athletic shoes with my office attire? I’d rather not, I think. Especially since I bump into a lot of coworkers near my building. But are those faux athletic shoe flats like Sketchers really any better? I don’t think I can find a true work shoe that is supportive enough for my (older) feet for 3 miles total of walking.

    I’m planning on changing into office shoes, but I am not sure what to do about shoes for the walking portion.

      1. Nike Air’s all the way! I walk 2 miles a day each way to work and never wear pumps with my dresses, even though men say I look dumpy walking with these. I need to be comfortable, and these do it for me. The construction guys on 3rd Avenue get on my case b/c they stare at my tuchus and do not like it if women don’t wear pumps with their skirts. I do not get paid, however, to amuse these dudes, and I am sure they would not want to challenge me to a mental contest, even if I agree with them that I do look better in 4″ heels, I do NOT wear them walking 2 and from work! YAY!!!!!!

    2. I actually think all-out athletic looks better than faux athletic (it’s obvious why you are wearing the real athletic shoes). On the other hand, I can’t bring myself to wear sneakers when I travel, so I always have a pair of European style walking shoes or boots in the cutest style I can find (like something the Walking Company would sell). YMMV on whether your work wardrobe would look totally wrong or kind of okay with that kind of sensible shoe, but if it looks okay people might not even notice the change in footwear.

    4. I’d just wear athletic shoes (personally I’d go with All iris, which I find insanely comfortable). I just don’t believe anyone cares what I wear outside and commuting shoes are fine/professional/normal, etc. I’d leave your work shoes in the office so you aren’t lugging another pair with you.

    5. Athletic shoes. Change when you get to the office. Done! As long as you look put together when you get to the office, it’s highly unlikely anyone will notice, and you shouldn’t care if they do.

    6. I’d wear athletic shoes- but not your bright purple running shoes that you actually work out in. Instead, wear a streamlined, chic pair of black and white sneakers – links to follow. These will look intentional and current, and not like you’re straight out of Working Girl

    9. I would just wear actual athletic shoes! I live in DC, fwiw, where the metro is full of women in suits and sneakers. (Someone needs to tell the congressional interns to get with the commuting shoe program, poor things.)

    11. I have the same problem! I have a 30 min walking commute so I bought a pair of sketchers all black running type shoes, very comfortable, but they clash with my professional clothes. All summer I have been wearing these awesome sandals, which are nice enough for my job I can keep wearing them during the day, and I almost need to now because of the tan lines. They have lots of support and are very comfortable and the soles are rubbery so I can hose them down!

      https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/bare-traps-stacey-wedge-sandal/416801?cm_mmc=CSE-_-GPS-_-G_Shopping_Sandals-_-New_Sandals&cadevice=c&gclid=CjwKCAjwtIXbBRBhEiwAWV-5nnxrB8zwotoJR0rCs1aWIdLNxykW_gqiPblCvrBdz5TGLAKT5O-92xoCu0EQAvD_BwE

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