Wednesday’s TPS Report: Drape Neck Jacket

146 Comments

1. I recently started working in an office that takes “open office” to the extreme – there are no assigned desks and every day you sit somewhere else. While I’m adjusting to the weirdness of this – it’s hard not to have your own space! – my body is not. Usually, you adjust your desk space over time, tweaking the chair, monitor, etc. until it feels right. Sitting in a different desk every day, I’ve noticed my back (especially upper back/shoulders) getting all kinds of weird pains and knots. I’ve read up on some chair/monitor adjustment tips, but does anyone have any ideas on how to make this arrangement better for my body?

   One cool thing is that some of the desks are optional standing desks – maybe that is going to be the ultimate solution.

   1. I’d try for a standing desk

   2. That SUCKS. (No tips, unfortunately – just commiseration.)

   3. There has to be a reasonable accommodation that you can get to make sure you’re not in pain (though I will say using a standing desk helps a lot). I’d raise your concern with management or HR – maybe you can change desks every day but have a designated chair that you use? Seems silly that you should be in pain for something that’s easily fixable.

   4. I don’t adjust over time? I’d figure out what works and do that everyday. Figure out how your feet need to feel on the floor, set your chair there. Figure out where your monitor needs to be to meet your eyes and put it there. And carry on.

   5. Can management put numbers on the adjustable components so you can figure out what the best setup is for you and just adjust to that when you show up every day? I’m thinking like a spin class, where the seat height is numbered so you can walk up to any bike and know you need a “7”.

      I’m not sure how universal standing desks would work–a standing desk should be at a different height for each person based on their height, so if these are all fixed desks at one height you’re still going to have alignment issues. Your company needs to make it easier for people to adjust quickly each morning, or at least allow special accommodations to those people who want to reserve the same desk every day..

   6. What’s the rationale being this concept? I don’t get it. Does it increase productivity? It would do the opposite for me.

   7. Come early so you can have your pick of desks and/or have a greater chance of sitting at the same desk as the day before.
      And yes, sorry you are in this situation. Open office space is awful.

2. I’m thinking of getting some lightweight cotton pajama pants for summer to wear as normal pants on weekends/casual days/for travelling. They’d have prints on them, but nothing too pajama-like. Is this a ridiculous idea? I’m looking at some on sale at anthropologie, and I’ve definitely bought a nightgown or two there that definitely passed as a normal dress. Any reason not to do this? like are pajama pants cut really differently or something?

   1. Yes. This is ridiculous and people will notice. Why can you not buy normal cotton pants?

   2. I think pajama pants are often not great at staying up. I think it’s because they’re made for lounging, not regular activity.

   3. I really, really don’t mean this to sound rude but, have you ever worn pajama pants before? I was something of a connoisseur in my teen years and they’ve got various distinctive elements like elastic waist bands that may not be that tight; general bagginess (so they’re comfortable to sleep in); little flaps in front of the crotch; a soft texture. I know loose pants are in right now but I’d just go with regular cotton. They’ll be more durable, too.

      1. I’d go for athletic pants. Those are designed to stay on during a variety of activities and are super comfortable. But I know that’s not everyones’ style.

         1. Lululemon leggings (the luon kind, not luxtreme) are the BEST things ever. So soft, so comfortable, so flattering – highly recommend.

   4. Why not buy the “soft pants” from Old Navy that are loose and drapey and some with elastic waists that are meant to be worn as actual pants? To me, the idea of wearing pajama pants as real pants is similar to non-pregnant women who wear maternity pants. Sure, you can do it. But you’re a fool if you think people can’t tell what you’re doing.

      All this said, I’ve been known to travel in pj pants on car trips. Is that what you’re talking about? If you’re only getting out of the car in random gas stations to pee and then changing when you get where you’re going, I’m totally fine with it. But again, you’re not fooling anyone – you’re walking around in your jammies.

      1. I did this, and I *love* them for traveling!

         1. Not on trains and airplanes, right? Even college students doing this is gross, but for actual adults, please respect the social contract and wear clothing when in public!

            1. I’m not the poster above, but I love this comment, because it gives me complete and utter joy to know that there is someone with so little going on that they can (1) notice and (2) care what I am wearing when I travel. So long as everything is covered and none of it is covered too tightly, I cannot imagine even bothering to see what I am traveling in, or me bothering about what someone else is traveling in because I am worried about my own life and goings on. But someday, if I’m lucky, I’ll be so at ease and without any worries of my own that I will notice and care. Thank you for that.

               For the OP: you do you. But I agree that actual PJ pants aren’t your optimal travel option. There are So Many drapey pants in the world right now that are just perfect for this purpose. For instance, Uniqlo has a whole line of pants called Relaxo or Relaco or something like that that offer a casual version. Or places like BR or JCrew offer “dressy” versions.

            2. +1. Clearly I don’t stay at the Ritz when I travel, but I am always shocked at how many people come down for breakfast at hotels in what are clearly their pajamas. Seriously? How hard is it to throw on some clothes?

            3. Yeah, I definitely tend towards dressing for comfort and practicality rather than fashion, and am not particularly judgmental about what other people do or wear, but it is really not that hard to put on actual clothes when going out in public. It’s not like our modern category of “clothing” which includes a multitude of soft stretchy machine-washable knit fabrics and plenty of elastic waists, is a particularly small or difficult target to hit. If I see someone in pajamas, I assume it’s a child or that the person must be sick or something (maybe if it’s a red-eye or overnight train ride?). But also, then your pajamas are all dirty from travelling and you can’t wear them to actual bed. Isn’t it easier to just put on comfy casual clothes? (I’m not outraged by people wearing pajamas in public, just more… baffled? like, why? do you not own clothes in a category between formal and pajamas? or just haven’t done laundry lately?) Also it reminds me of the Ramona Quimby story where she has new really soft flannel pajamas, and can’t bear to take them off, so she wears them to school under her regular clothes and then gets too hot. I mean, I sympathize with that feeling of just being soo comfortable and not wanting to take off pajamas, but I feel like that moment of comfiness just doesn’t last when you actually wear pajamas all day.

               You know, when travelling there is a LOT of time spent standing around waiting in lines with nothing to do but watch the people in line in front of you while you wait for your turn. I actually don’t understand how people can just be so oblivious of the world around them sometimes, or expect that everyone else is equally oblivious. You miss seeing such interesting things! And it might take your mind off your own worries a little to really be in the moment and notice who and what is around you.

            4. EAU, I can see you’re offended, so I’ll just go ahead and dig myself deeper. I think awareness of other people and the world around you, and consideration for the comfort of people besides yourself, is actually much more of a virtue than simply being worried about one’s “own life and goings on.” If you open your eyes and participate in society, instead of being 100% self-focused, you’ll realize that sometimes you do something slightly other than exactly what you want to be doing, for the sake of others. As you’ve said, there are a lot of other ways to dress comfortably without being in pajamas.
               You know who gets to see me in pajamas? My husband and family, my friends, maybe the delivery guy…common theme is they see me IN MY HOME. Outside the home, a lot of us don’t want to be confronted with the forced intimacy of seeing a stranger in sleepwear. I’d rather you not wear a bathing suit at the airport either, for that matter. Context matters.

            5. I totally agree with Anono’s 2:05 comment.

            6. .

      2. Those soft pants are amazing for traveling, especially on planes. They look like actual clothes, they feel like jammies, they can be washed in hot water after getting off the germ-infested planes… good stuff. :P

   5. I got a pair of harem pants from H&M when travelling for something easy to throw on. Very cheap and as comfy as pajama pants, but a bit more on trend. Also, real pants.

      1. Similar — I have a pair of black Michael Kors elastic waist pants that I wear on long plane rides.

      2. These linen joggers from Loft/Lou & Grey are awesome – on trend, tidy-looking but relaxed, super comfy. Not printed, though, but the colors are pretty versatile.

         http://www.loft.com/lou-26-grey-linen-zip-pocket-joggers/363490?skuId=18703344&defaultColor=&colorExplode=true&catid=cat1970010&priceSort=DESC

         1. I got a pair just like these from Loft a few weeks ago (slightly different styling), and I love them for summer wear. Super comfy. I regret not buying a few more pairs.

   6. Just say no.

   7. +1 to everyone saying buy real comfortable pants and wear them as pajamas, not pajama pants to wear out in public. Athletic pants (not skin tight leggings/yoga pants, but looser ones) are good for this. Land’s End has a bunch of knit pants that would fit this bill – the Starfish pants, other knits and yoga pants that are more like loose sweatpants than skin-tight leggings.

      Some of the stuff on the Anthropologie website looks closer to pants than the average pj pant, but I would be concerned about how thin the fabric is or is not before wearing out in public as actual pants. I see their webs!te has “sleep and loungewear” together as a group. The loungewear is a maybe, but I would be concerned that the sleepwear might be too thin and potentially slightly sheer in the sun.

3. Associates – how do you organize your notes? Notebooks for each client or matter? Yellow legal pads that you tear off, staple and then file? Do you file the notes in the file (even if you don’t have a satellite file)? Do you file the notes in your own office/binder/etc.? Do you scan/transcribe/otherwise deal with it electronically?

   I have a system but I’m not convinced it works all that well and I’d like to hear from others. I would love something electronic but I’m not sure how to implement.

   1. Hahshahahahahagaha

      I write them down in notebooks, one at a time, a jumble of matters, and I leaf through them to find stuff.

      If it’s critically impt it gets a memo to file. If not I find my method works just fine.

      1. This is also my “system.” Sometimes when I am feeling organized I tear the pages out and put them in a work file.

         Oh – but I do start a new page for each day/matter, and I write the date and the matter number at the top of the page, which helps a lot.

   2. Ohh, great question! I’m really interested in what people do. My system is way less than perfect: I use one notebook for all my cases. For anything in there that needs to be preserved or shared with the client (interview notes, meet and confer notes, etc.), I type up a memo to file that goes in the electronic folder for that case. For less formal things, like notes of internal meetings or status updates on a big document review, I’ve recently started using OneNote with one of my case teams. So far, I really like it, and I like that the other 2 associates on the matter have access to it and can update their portions.

      I work with partners who take all their notes in notebooks, rip the pages out, and then have their assistant “start a file” for the matter. They only have their assistant type up memos if it needs to go to the client. Otherwise, the rest of the team gets an oral download.

      For a specific notebook rec, I love Ampad double sheet writing pads, which have 3 holes punched on the left. That’s been huge in depos, hearings, and trials, when we write up last minute questions or talking points, then we can rip off the page and add it into the outline binder in the right place, rather than having a bunch of loose sheets of paper to fumble with.

   3. It depends on the type of note. I don’t think it matter where you keep your notes, but if they are important I would make sure they are saved in the file on whatever computer system you use. Either write a note on the computer or scan it into the file. That way you will not lose it or waste time looking around. Most firms have a notes file within each file. If it is a note for your own benefit and information, then you can keep it just on your computer or have certain person files.

   4. I wrote notes of meetings on a notepad, then tore them out. I kept one binder for most of my notes, with a tab for each matter, I’d then hole punch, staple, and file the notes of each meeting. For big matters I’d keep a separate binder for notes of just that matter. I got tabs for each month and year to keep them organized in the big binder. I found for big matters it was very helpful to be able to quickly flip back to notes of a meeting that had happened months ago.

   5. I’m not an associate any more, but I have FINALLY found a system that works for me. I’ve tried a variety of things over the years and this is the only one that works.

      I have a notebook for each client (or matter, depending on the size of the client and matter). not a 3-ring thing you can add to; more like a steno notebook. I write the client name on the front and then all important information on the inside cover (c/m number, important phone numbers etc). Everything that I write down goes in this notebook. all of my notebooks sit upright on my desk between 2 book ends, so they are always right there and I can easily grab the one I need.

      I also have an accordion folder for each client that loose paper goes in. Usually I have dividers for things like “pleadings” “notes” etc. These sit on my credenza behind my desk so they are accessible, but not immediately so like my notebooks.

   6. Not a law firm associate but I keep a notes folder in each file. If it’s something very important, I’ll type up a memo for file. For things that are shared, I’ll send an email with the info and put the sent copy in the appropriate email folder.

   7. I’m no longer at a firm (and am actually very organized) but reading this question and the responses gave me severe anxiety. Probably a good sign that a large firm was not a good fit for me.

   8. I am interested to see all the responses to this question! I work at a firm that does both plaintiff and defense work, and we pretty consistently have about 50-75 active cases at any given time. My firm also maintains both physical and electronic files, and unfortunately, there is not a central organizational system (it tends to vary according to the partner/associate in charge of the file). Individual notebooks were pretty much out of the question with this system. After several bouts of trial and error, several years ago I started carrying around multiple notebooks (my personal favorites are the ringed 5×7 notebooks with StonePaper inside – they fit perfectly in all of my purses/bags, but are still big enough that I don’t have to hunt around for them). The pages are perforated, and the ink never smears, regardless of what pen/highlighter/sharpie I may have handy, and I never have to worry about them getting confused or mixed up with the standard legal pads or steno pads. I label mine – one is for Notes, one for Time, and one for Ideas. The Time notebook is for those random occasions I am not in a place to dictate my time; those I date and tear out, placing them in a file in my office and have my secretary enter for me. The Notes I use primarily at the office for meetings with partners/clients/staff to jot down what we talked about. These notes are generally just for me – I do not save them in client files – they are really to refresh my recollection or be a convenient place to store notes until I actually need to do something with them (such as jotting down notes as I review medical records in a case to prepare/dictate a detailed medical summary later). That way, they are handy, all in one spot, and easily accessible whenever I need to work – at home, traveling, or at the office, and I am not dependent upon physical files or even necessarily our electronic system. I date them, and review at least every other week to make sure any projects or random ideas don’t get lost in the shuffle. Random assignments get added to by electronic To-Do list in Word, which I update weekly. Critical items are added to my calendar, and any substantive items that I need to remember I will dictate a memo to the file so I have a back-up. The Ideas notebook stays in my purse, so if I am out and think of something related to a case, I can jot it down quickly without worrying about if it has merit or not. It could be an idea for a motion, a new legal theory, a topic for an article, whatever. These I review again on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, and decide if I want to run with it or not. Generally once every couple of months I will go through both notebooks, crossing out or shredding notes/pages that are no longer relevant, highlighting and going back to things I may want to go back to and following up on those. My 3 notebook system has garnered a few chuckles around the office, but it works for me.

   9. Any notes important enough for me to keep at all need to stay in the file. Most of the time my notes are transformed into a letter, report, memo or court materials that stay in the file, and then I shred my notes. I hate all the institutional knowledge that is lost every time a file is transferred, which is why I make sure everything I know about the file lives in the file and not in my notebook.

4. I think I need someone to tell me to suck it up–vent: My boss chastised me on Monday for something I was not guilty of. The accusation was for something that would be very out of character for me. When we talked on Monday I was embarrassed and apologetic (stop saying I’m sorry!!) for something I did not do. Now, I am still really upset about the allegation and my feelings are hurt that my boss and other colleagues would assume the worst from me. At 3 am I contemplated telling my boss that I am upset and requesting an apology. This is crazy, right? I should just move on and let it go.

   1. You want your boss to apologize because you failed to stand up for yourself? Suck it up and move on.

   2. You should not request an apology but you should definitely clarify that you did not do the thing you were accused of.

   3. I’d consider it a valuable lesson learned–don’t apologize for what I didn’t do–and move on. It might seem non-productive at the time, but it’s amazing how often I have used those valuable lessons down the road.

   4. Why did you apologize for doing something you didn’t do in the first place? Did you admit to doing something that you did not do? If you stated at the meeting that you did not do it, then I see no point in talking to your boss again. Even if you either did not make clear that you did not do it, or implied that you did, frankly, the ship may have sailed on that too, although I guess it would be a closer call as to whether it is worth it to make clear to your boss that you did not do this thing. But not to ask for an apology!

      I think you need to move past the hurt feelings stemming from your boss and colleagues having “assumed the worst” of you. Apparently they were misinformed. But in the future, yes – stop saying you’re sorry! I constantly remind myself, especially in emails, not to apologize unless I actually did something wrong or made an avoidable mistake. Otherwise, I delete the sorry immediately and focus on what can be done to correct the situation. Once you start checking yourself in this way, you’ll be amazed how many times “sorry” is not necessary. Sorry is when you really screwed up. Not “sorry to ask you this question but … ” or “sorry I didn’t do the thing you thought I did” or “sorry for speaking up for myself but . ..” You don’t need to preface every statement with that, and yes, it will leave you in situations like this where you are frustrated that you didn’t take a stronger stance in the first place.

      1. Thanks to everyone—really needed the unbiased and wise advice. And, yes, I did make it clear that I did not do anything wrong and did NOT admit to doing something I didn’t do.

   5. Note: ideas you have at 3 am on this kind of thing are typically because you’ve been dwelling for too long and your mind is working itself into knots, not moments of clarity.

5. I would like a white tank that somehow doesn’t stain or get grubby or is see through – so probably not cotton. I was thinking of this one:

   http://www.shopbop.com/brushed-jersey-long-tank-james/vp/v=1/845524441906969.htm?fm=search-shopbysize&os=false&extid=affprg_CJ_SB_US-4441350-rewardStyle&cvosrc=affiliate.cj.4441350

   Does anyone have that one or have another recommendation? I have a black one in a jersey like material that I just love, so I’m on the hunt for something similar. Any ideas?

   1. Yes, I have this exact tank both in black and white and I really really like it. Highly recommend.

6. How do you get possible sweat stains/smells out of dresses in between dry – cleanings?

   I work in NYC, and wore a short sleeved dark colored dress all day. It was burning hot and I was outside for a bit, so I’m sure I sweated into it. Right now I’m just trying to air it out – anything else I can do?

   1. If a dress smells and it can’t be washed, you need to dry clean it. There’s no alternative unless it’s so lightly soiled that you wouldn’t notice anyway.

      1. You can also try spraying it with a mixture of vodka and water, inside out.

         1. Diluted rubbing alcohol also works; same concept; the alcohol evaporates as it dries. Add a drop of essential oil if you want.

      2. Dry cleaning often doesn’t remove smells for me. Rubbing alcohol or vodka kind of works sometimes.

   2. I bought the dryell kit to help get more wears before taking garments to the cleaner. I’m not happy with the dryer contraption but the stain remove spray is wonderful at removing odor and made the purchase worth it. I’ve sprayed on the into the armpit areas of jackets, let it air out, and smell is gone.

      The Daily Connoisseur also had a recent post about how to prolong clothes freshness between cleanings.

   3. Hang to air and spray with Febreeze.

7. First steps in weight loss? I’m at that stage where I’m frustrated with myself, feel like I know what I need to do (actually make an effort to have healthy food on hand and then eat it instead of seamlessing pad Thai all the time) and in just not doing it. Anyone who has succeeded in getting started on weight loss have any tips to share?

   1. This may not work for everybody but I highly recommend doing a three day juice detox. My personal favorite kind is by Ouri’s Fruit. You can get it on Amazon. It makes you feel so good, so in tune with your body and so motivated to stay healthy and active and love your body. Again, may not be for everyone but I love it. If you can’t or don’t want to do the whole detox thing, a much easier thing would be to only get the green juices (same company or any other kind, just look for cold-pressed organic ones) and start your mornings with one. Have a green juice first thing in the morning and your day is practically guaranteed to be happy, healthy and positive.

   2. Meal plan. Use my fitness pal to track what you are actually eating. Drink a glass of water to start every meal.

      1. Right but how do you start? I know what to do, it’s the turning the switch part that I’m struggling with.

         1. You say “today I am starting” and then start.

         2. Just do it. No excuses. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re tired of feeling this way. There are no tricks or shortcuts – you just have to decide it’s time, and then follow the excellent advice above/below.

         3. Try eating a little better for a few days. See how you feel afterwards. When you go back to your “regular” eating, you’ll probably feel a difference in the way your body / mind feel. It can take a few tries to get going and having it stick. Also, realizing that once you are eating healthier, that you’re going to slip up or have a bad day or week. It’s then about not beating yourself up and getting back on track.

            (Not saying this is you, but) I personally struggle with BED and emotional eating. I had to face facts that I couldn’t do it solo and needed the help of professionals.

            1. If you’re looking for good recipes, SparkPeople, CookingLight and “diabetic recipes” are usually health-friendly.

         4. One step at a time! If everything feels overwhelming, pick something manageable and start there. You want to eat less takeout? Commit to making yourself dinner two nights a week, not seven. You want to eat healthier while you’re at work? Make sure you have healthy snacks for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; tackle lunches out (or whatever) once you’ve got your snack game down.

            You can do this. You do not have to “fix,” track, etc. every single part of this process immediately. You can make smaller changes, one at a time or at whatever rate seems manageable to you, and they will be good for your body.

         5. I started by just tracking my meals on myfitnesspal. I decided I wasn’t going to make changes for the first week, but just get in the habit of entering everything. Well, that quickly led to changes because it made me think–do I really want to eat this and log it? After that first week, I started planning meals to fit within my calorie goal and added in exercise.

            1. +1 When I was using Fitness Pal I literally would avoid eating things because they were too miniscule to make them worth entering or it would be too much effort to try to look them up and find the right serving size. A little ridiculous, but it worked (at least until the whole thing became cumbersome and I quit).

            2. This is pretty much what I did – track a normal day’s food, then look at the final number and feel my eyes bug out. I started changing things pretty quickly after that – it was kinda scary seeing just how much I was eating.

         6. I am getting that it may be the commitment here that is an issue. I always say “I’m starting July 1” or “tonight, I’ll eat healthy”. Obviously the follow through sucks.

            Just do it now. Get up right now and drink a glass of water. For your next meal, make it healthy (whatever healthy means to you). One step at a time and your next step is right in front of you. You don’t have to meal plan a month of paleo freezer dinners or buy a journal or download a cookbook on your kindle. Not right now (although you should plan when you next have a chance). You’ve gotta make the next meal healthy. Then the next one. Then the next one.

         7. For me, logging the food was the first step. I also use myfitnesspal and it works very well for me. You don’t have to cut down the food you are eating. You just log it to get an idea of what all you are eating and what kind of adjustments you may want to do to your diet. From there, you may want to make incremental adjustments to your diet till you reach your nutrition and calorie goal and still be able to enjoy life.

         8. Starting small did not work for me because there were no immediate results and it was too easy to backslide. What did work was picking a day to start and getting extreme for a for weeks after that (eg 1100 calories a day/ everything counts) and keeping it mostly up (going to 1200-1400/day) until I hit my goal. By doing it all in, I saw immediate results (as in a couple pounds a week) and it all became much easier to keep up.

            1. I can see how this would be effective because I too found results to be very motivating!

   3. Start keeping a food journal/using an app to track calories. Be honest about what you are putting in your body.

      Step 1 is figuring out what your patterns are (me: eat very little during the day, come home after work and need ALL THE FOOD IN MY FACE NOW -Ellen Caps style- and consume 600+ calories of tortilla chips and wine while cooking dinner) and what you need to do to change those (me: have a healthy snack planned and prepared to eat when I get home from work- an apple, a cheese stick, a cup of tea and slice of toast with pre-measured peanut butter).

      Also- measuring is your friend. I use measuring to keep me accountable. I have now acquired containers that I know are exactly 1 or 2 cups so I can portion accordingly. This is especially helpful for things like pasta and cereal. I was easily eating 2-3 servings of cereal without realizing it and those calories added up.

      For me, weight loss is all about diet but the gym is what impacts how I feel and how my body looks the most. The best advice I’ve been given is that the best workout is the one that you do regularly. Figure out what you like, be it distance running, 30 minute Fitness Blender workouts on YouTube (free, challenging and AWESOME), or meeting a friend for an hourlong walk and gab session a few days a week.

      Good luck! These are a few tips that have helped keep me on track and helped me lose a pesky 25 depression pounds a few years ago. Now that I’m growing a tiny human, I’m finding that these same habits are keeping me on track and healthy throughout pregnancy.

   4. One meal at a time. I started with healthy breakfast + lunch (planned and also happen when my willpower is freshest). Then, if you are ordering food in all the time, make a list of 4 or 5 healthy options to order and then that’s the list you order from. Remove the decision from post-work, ravenous you.

   5. I kicked off healthier eating by first tackling office food. Got rid of all snacks but almonds and packed healthy foods for each day (portion controlled). Then, I tackled food around the house. Good luck!

   6. I learned that it’s not all about food. Food is a major part, but you have to increase your activity level. You don’t have to become a gym rat, but just move more. I lost 40 lbs 4 years ago using weight watchers, and it wasn’t until I increased activity that the weight really started coming off.

   7. This isn’t related to weight loss, but to having overall healthier eating habits. I’m a big believer making a plan, and then acquiring and prepping everything during the weekend so that it’s brainless and easy during the workweek. For me, that would look like deciding I want to have salads for lunch on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and chopping up all the crap I want in them on Sunday. Also making a big soup, curry, quiche, or whatever else will be a good leftover, for lunch on Tuesday and Friday. Same goes for snacks. I love fruit and nut butter, so I keep a stock of almond butter at my desk and grab an apple or banana every morning to go with it. For dinners, I’ll commit to making something that I can do quickly, on autopilot (pasta with lots of veggies; broiled salmon with green beans; veggie quiche) a couple of nights a week, and then fill in with 1) leftovers from the Sunday big cook, and 2) the healthier equivalents of seamlessing pad Thai, which I keep on hand. For me that would be (healthy) canned soup + a salad, frozen vegetarian Indian dinners (channa masala seems to be consistently good across brands), or maybe a Newman’s Own pizza.

      Personally, I feel so much better when I stick to a healthy, largely veggie-based diet. I have more energy, my skin is better, and I feel just…healthier. But please remember! This is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Takeout pad Thai is not the devil, as long as you’re balancing it out with other options for other meals. I really recommend checking out one of my former running buddies’ blogs if you’re interested in a sane, happy, and balanced approach to food, meal planning, and finding your balance between pad Thai and kale salads: http://www.thereallife-rd.com/

   8. I started my weight loss “journey” 18 months ago. So far, 70 pounds lost. I started seeing a nutritionist, who helped me devise a meal plan (after several weeks of writing down what I eat every day). Biggest helps:
      –Starting out small — like really small. (Like “When you order your pad thai, get a side of steamed veggies” small. Then maybe getting a dish most of veggies and protein, fewer noodles. Then having simple, ready to go meals/ingredients ready to go, so you eat home cooking more. Or “ensuring you’re getting enough water without sugar in it” small.)
      –Making changes very gradually. I hate veggies. At first, my goal was to eat any veggies, no matter the preparation. Now it’s to eat it without much added fat (so steamed, a lightly dressed salad or in a marinara sauce) and at least 1 every day.
      –Getting active. This is the hardest thing for me to do. At first, it was making sure I walked outside for 30 minutes at least once a week (but to get myself out the door, I would tell myself I only needed to do 10 minutes. Once I was out there, I stayed for the full 30.)

      1. Yes.

      2. Agreed. I’ve lost 35 pounds this year and plan to lose another 40 or so more (no deadline, just as the weight comes off). I’m the opposite of 2 cents: I love being active and working out, but I also love eating and drinking. And that’s where my problems are. I cook almost every dinner we eat and already prep lunches for work, so I was eating relatively healthy foods. I had to focus on portion control and decreasing calorie content.

         For me, that meant using a lot less potatoes, pastas, cheese, dairy, oils, etc. in my food. Instead of pasta and with chicken, marinara sauce, veggies, and mozzarella cheese, I’ll have grilled chicken on zucchini noodles, marinara sauce, grilled veggies, and tiny sprinkling of parmesan. I watch my portions. My goal is to not drink on weeknights simply because the calories aren’t worth it. But, if I have a happy hour for work or with friends, I make sure that I eat healthily during the day and enjoy my drink that night. Instead of a “cheat day,” I give myself one “cheat meal” on Saturday and Sunday. That might mean having a grilled steak and roasted potatoes for dinner one day and having pizza for lunch the next day. That gives me something to look forward to, and I can plan my food cravings.

   9. Stop thinking of yourself as “Chubbins,” for one. You can’t hate yourself thin. Presumably, you have achieved many a goal in your life before – this is just another one. You’re going to make a plan and you’re going to try your best to follow it, and if you miss one of your steps along the way, you won’t wallow or hate yourself, but rather put it back at the top of the to-do list for tomorrow.

      1. +100000

      2. This! I love the emphasis that this is one goal among many, and that you’ve had past successes. Great perspective!

   10. I need to start this too. I just bought a pair of pants in the largest size I’ve ever worn. Blech. Do you have a Fitbit? There’s a group of us there I should see if there’s any activity in.

       I’m thinking I want to focus on drinking a ton of water, do a “reset” cleanse of super healthy, high protein, low-carb foods for a week to reset my thinking patterns (not for any real physical cleanse, that’s bunk), hit a 10k/day step goal for a month once my foot injury heals, and make a point to eat healthy, filling breakfasts. After that stage, I’ll move on to an easy schedule of 3 workouts a week, and reexamine my eating habits. Hopefully the walking and water will have stuck, and I can add in healthy habits.

       I do know that what you eat is more important than hitting the gym all the time, assuming you do a reasonable amount of activity every day (ie not commuting by car AND sitting at work all day AND coming come to sit all evening).

   11. Just start small. Get breakfast stuff for the week and eat a healthy breakfast every day. Or grab a salad for lunch instead of pad thai. I find if I try to do too much at once, I fail and end up at Chipotle.

       or instead of trying to hit the gym three times a week right away, go for a walk after dinner. It’s all about baby steps. You can do this!

   12. I find focusing on the scale is frustrating, and calorie counting triggers bad behaviors for me. So, I focus exclusively on habits, and let the scale fall where it may.
       – I use the app twogrand to track my food (its like instagram, but food only! I really recommend it!)
       – I have a healthy breakfast every day, and pack my lunch 4/5 days a week
       – I walk at least 1 hr everyday
       – I go to the gym at least 3x/week
       – I run or spin class at least 2x/week
       – I limit snacking after dinner
       – I try to get enough sleep

   13. It helps me to prepare food for the week on Sunday. I’ll cut and prepackage fruits, veggies, and other healthy snacks (little containers of hummus, srtring cheese, etc.) to take to work with me and have a rule that I cannot get an unhealthy snak until I’ve eaten the food I brought with me. By the time I do that, I usually don’t want the junk.

   14. Freezer cooking is my saving grace. I can spend an afternoon/evening batch cooking moderately healthy meals and (key for me) portioning everything out. To have “seconds” requires defrosting, which for whatever reason completely deters me. And I always know that I have something delicious at home which makes me less likely to go for takeout/happy hour nachos/etc. My absolute favorite freezer recipe are frozen burritos. I put quinoa, refried beans, black beans, a bit of cheese, salsa, onions and peppers in a tortilla. Wrap them in plastic wrap, freeze, wrap in a paper towel and nuke for 3-4 minutes. I top with sour cream, more salsa, and 1/2 an avocado for a super satisfying dinner with around 400 calories and 15 g of protein. Other freezer meals I love: curry, red beans and rice, spaghetti sauce (served over zucchini noodles)

   15. While we’re on the topic, anyone have any suggestions for when you’re doing the “right” things and yet there’s no change? I have some baby weight I’d like to lose and I’ve been tracking in myfitnesspal for a month now. I put my info into a bunch of online calorie calculators and took something of an average (those numbers can be all over the place), and took a similar approach to finding the right fat/protein/carb balance. I’ve added in 20 min of jogging 3-4x per week (which is all I can physically handle these days). When nothing was happening I dropped 50 cal/day from my target. Still nothing. Still moving up and down in the same 3-5lb range. On the plus side, I guess, I was stuck in that range even when I wasn’t watching what I was eating. What’s wrong here? I had terrific luck right after law school with the Weight Watchers online program, but that was before they changed to the new points system. And anyway I was in my 20s then and did nothing but work, work-out, and go out, so I was logging a lot (a lot) of gym/running hours that I just can’t fit in these days. Should I just keep moving the calories target down? Very frustrating to be working hard with zero results.

       1. I would highly recommend adding weight training instead of running only. Maybe do 2x per week of running, and 2x per week of lifting heavy. Putting on muscle mass made me look smaller and happier with my body, and makes your metabolism better. Also consider adding in metabolic conditioning workouts or high intensity intervals, they are really effective at burning fat.

          Also make sure you’re eating “clean”, and I try to not have any grains after lunch, which has helped too. Not no carbs (because I eat fruit, sweet potaotes, etc.), just no grains like wheat, rice, etc. after lunch.

          1. Yes. You need weights. And you need to do intervals (of high intensity and low intensity) instead of jogging.

       2. I would look carefully at your portions. Are you certain that your calorie count is accurate? Do you measure everything? If you just eyeball a tablespoon of peanut butter you can be off by 100 calories! If you are certain everything is as accurate as possible, then I would keep moving your calorie goal down and either way try to add in some strength training.

          1. yes – I’d break back out your measuring cups and re-set your portion sizes – that’s what made Weight Watchers more successful to me than anything else, was teaching me how much “1 cup” or “1 serving” actually was, and I need to re-do it every so often or my portion sizes creep back up.

             1. I have a digital scale I use for pretty much everything. I only eyeball meals in restaurants and I haven’t had many of those lately.

       3. What works for me is cutting out all bread and beer and significantly reducing carbs generally (no restrictions on fruit, vegetables, beans etc. so I guess just starch heavy carbs). I haven’t eaten a slice of bread all year and I’m significantly slimmer. Otherwise I only eat moderately healthy, do track in MyFitnessPal occasionally for a calorie control check.

       4. TBK, I’m also thinking about going back on WW. Do you just not want to track points? For a while they had two options but perhaps no longer. I also have the same frustration – doing all the right things and no results.

          1. I just reject the idea that you can eat all the fruit you want and still lose weight. And then I’ve heard that it’s “oh, well, within reason really” but then what’s within “reason”? Plus I feel like they’re too hard on fats and proteins while giving you a pretty wide berth on carbs.

             1. This. The WW system just does not seem like it teaches actual good habits. If you only eat 1200 calories a day but all of those calories are ice cream, it’s not going to go awesome for you.

       5. Co-sign on making better use of your 20 minutes. Jogging for 20 minutes is better than nothing, but it isn’t going to really make a difference for you.

          Instead, try this:
          5 minute warmup (jump rope 2 minutes, rest 30 seconds, repeat twice)
          10 minute circuit of as many sets of the following as you can complete in 10 minutes: 5 burpees, 10 pushups, 15 squats, 20 situps
          Repeat jump rope portion

          You’ll get much more out of these 20 minutes than you did the jogging, and all you need is a jump rope.

          1. Exactly! And when I don’t have a jump rope, I still mime it and get a good sweat!

          2. I’ll try this. The running has been mostly because we have a treadmill in the basement and so when I get home from work, I change into workout clothes, play with the kids for 10-15 min, then do bedtime, do dinner prep for the grown-ups’ dinner, then squeeze in a 20 min run downstairs while dinner’s in the oven. It’s not ideal, but it’s the only time I’ve been able to find so far. (I tried getting up before the kids, but they have spidey sense about when mommy’s busy and would wake up early every. single. time. I’d try to work out in the morning.) But this looks like something I could do in that 20 min window, too.

             1. I think Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred is a good starting video to incorporate strength and cardio and it is over fast! I saw results pretty quickly with it (and could not walk the next day, haha!)

             2. I think Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred is a good starting video to incorporate strength and cardio and it is over fast! I saw results pretty quickly with it (and could not walk the next day, haha!)

       6. Don’t discount the effect that age has on this. What worked in my mid-twenties isn’t working in my mid-thirties. Adding in strength training can help with the appearance aspect.

       7. What worked for me (pre-babies) was cutting out added sweetners and grains. It had a drastic impact, and because it didn’t limit the quantity of food, didn’t leave me hungry. As someone else pointed out, not no-carb – still had reasonable amount of fruits and sweet potato (lost my period going too low carb first and learned my lesson). As drastic as it sounds, it honestly wasn’t too hard to follow once I got into it and I kept it up for a year until I got pregnant. Now that I am starting to wean and no longer have bfeeding to keep me in shape, I’m likely going to start again. I’m not sure I will be so strict, b/c kids!, but I know this is the way to make a real impact for me.
          There was also a good piece in the NYTimes recently that emphasized diet over exercise as the route to weight loss (although I agree with others that weight training can impact shape)

   16. I think this is one situation where Ellen should be consulted. I know she is always concerned about her tuchus, and that she has lost weight by walking to work every day and measuring her progress through her Fitbit. She also has her dad watching her steps to help ensure she loses weight. I believe her regimen has been successful, so let’s hope Ellen chimes in here. Good luck to you. Remember, the old Chinese proverb says that a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. You can do it!

   17. I’ve been struggling with the same thing for months. I would start some plan, then backslide within days. It was a matter of motivation rather than of knowing what to do. I am finally three weeks in to eating healthier and exercising more, and what worked for me was external motivation. Our office began its annual summer walking challenge and you have to average 10,000 steps per day to qualify for prizes, so I’ve been working really hard to do that. That definitely increased my daily activity level. Also, I signed up for a martial arts class. I’m committed for the next six months, paying whether I go or not. Even better, I can’t just drop out and keep paying but never show my face again, because my daughter goes too and it’s her primary activity. I find that the physical activity makes me feel better about myself, which makes it easier to make healthy food choices. I started tracking my food in My Fitness Pal at the same time as starting the walking and martial arts, and this time I’ve stayed with it past the first week. Now that I’m seeing some results, I’m encouraged to continue. I know that sounds like a lot, but I’d tried a dozen variations of starting with one small change and it just didn’t work for me. I had to really commit to being healthier on several fronts.

   18. So I’ll just add to this. I’m overweight (by a lot) and I’ve started and stopped about 100 times. With some professional help and reflection I figured out that the weight was really a byproduct of my unhappiness. I liked going to lunches because I needed a “treat” for dealing with work or stressful issues. Now that I know that info, I’ve been able to tackle the systemic issues and weight loss feels less intimidating.

       I’m on the downward trend (yay), but I’ll say the things that have helped me was committing to a process, not the scale. So I made goals that should lead to weight loss (measuring and tracking all my food even the “bad” stuff, going to the gym, drinking water). It gives me the chance to honestly reflect on if what I’m doing is in line with my goals.

       Finally, don’t focus so much on the numbers as much as how you feel about yourself. You can be a size 2 and hate yourself just as much as if you’re a size 20. If you’re having trouble staying on track, refocus your goals on health, not weight.

       1. I appreciate this response a lot, especially your last paragraph.

       2. I’m replying to this to say, yes, you can totally hate yourself at a smaller size. I’m a size 2/4 depending and have never been bigger than a size 8 and I have always struggled with my body image. I’m still struggling. The road to self-acceptance is not easy.

   19. Thanks so much everyone! That has been really helpful and given me a big boost of confidence that I can tackle this.

       1. I’m not sure if you are still reading this, but when I’m trying to just start a diet or better habits, I’ve always found that it works best if I start on a Monday. I eat what I want over the weekend, and then go grocery shopping on Sunday and do as much food prep for the week as I can. Then Monday morning, and Tuesday morning, etc., I can just grab my healthy lunch (usually a salad) and snacks from the fridge and hit the road. If I’m prepared to eat well, I’m so much more likely to actually eat well. I also schedule my workouts in advance, if that helps.

8. I have a random problem. I was recently laid off and I am doing per diem work for several attorneys. I was hopeful that the first attorney I started working for would hire me full time, but that will not happen and I no longer want to work for her. She is very disorganized and sloppy. The biggest problem I’m having with her is she doesn’t pay me regularly, but I don’t want to burn my bridges especially if I need references later on. She is also treating me like an associate attorney and wants to just hand me files to be completely responsible for. She doesn’t seem to understand that it is her responsibility and I will help her if I’m paid for my knowledge, time and work. Any suggestions on how to firmly tell her she must pay me for my work and that she cannot rely on me to handle her files? I want to be polite and respectful, but I feel like she is taking advantage of me.

   1. Why don’t you want to handle files? That seems reasonable and good experience.

      I’d separate the payment issue: “we need to set a payment schedule and you need to stick to it or I obviously can not continue working with you.” And also stop it. She’s stealing from you. Your top priority should not include being polite.

      1. I’m working for two other attorneys in addition to her. I will go into the office on a particular day or work from home for her, but other days I’m working for the other attorneys. I’ll do what I can get done and bill her for it, but it is her file and ultimately her responsibility to get everything else done. She can’t just say here, do everything that needs to be done on this file. I’m a per diem attorney and unless we have some set schedule each week, she shouldn’t rely on my for entire files.

   2. If you are per diem, are you an independent contractor? Have you billed her for your work?

   3. Hug’s to you. It is so DISCERTEING to have to hear about women attorney’s who are disorganized and sloppey. They put all of of us professional women in a bad light. You must tell her just what you told us. Nameley, that you are being paid for your advise and council, and you need to pay the rent like everyone else. FOOEY on sloppey women like this.

      I worked with a woman when in college that was a similar mess. She hardly ever bathe’d, so she had a distinct smell of body odour no matter what she wore. I also lived in a dorm with a woman from overseas (Germany) who never washed her sweater’s, so even tho SHE bathe’d, the smeley sweaters smelled bad once she warmed them up. Even tho she was VERY pretty, men did NOT want to have sex with her. It is very difficult to work with peeople (men OR women) who are sloppey or smelley. DOUBEL FOOEY!

      But as to legal peeople that are sloppy in their own WORK, a similar approach must be followed to deal with them. If she is sloppey, You MUST tell her that she MUST be more organized and that you can NOT be responsible for her case file’s, b/c you do NOT have a retainer agreement with her or her client’s. Without a retainer agreement, you have NO basis to be protected for your activities. At my firm, the FIRST thing we do is to sign a retainer agreement detailing all of the rules of the releationship. That means who does what and when and how you get paid. You also want to get a lien on all of the work product if she or the cleint don’t pay and you don’t want to have to turn over your file’s to the clieint without getting paid. So you are getting the worst of both worlds. No agreement with the client, and no payment with a sloppey lawyer who won’t pay you. You need to tell her that she need’s to shape up or you will BOTH be in trouble if the client’s get P.O’ed at her. TRIPEL FOOEY!

   4. Don’t work for free. Email her a bill every Friday with a payment due date the following week. Asking you to handle cases doesn’t seem unreasonable to me.

9. Kat shared her MM LaFleur experience a few months ago. I’m thinking of ordering one of their bento boxes. Has anyone ordered from there recently?

   1. I just ordered a bento box! The style choices were good. I put in that I wear an 8 at Ann Taylor. Based on feedback here, I was thinking that would get me a 10 or 12 in MM LaFleur, but they sent 8s. The 8s were definitely too small. I didn’t have a really good recent size example from one of their options so this should work better if you do have a good recent size from Theory/AT/etc. In terms of the products, I thought some of the fabrics seemed a bit flimsy for the price but liked the styles. I would have kept all of the clothes if they had been the right size. The return process is very easy and packaging is included. Very good experience overall!

      1. Good to know. How quickly did it arrive?

         1. It took a while – about a week, I think. I’m in NC, so it might be faster if you’re located in NYC.

            1. Thanks!

   2. I have a few MM LaFleur dresses purchased over the past six months. I did not do the bento box because I wanted to choose the styles myself. Some of the styles just look too frumpy or or are obviously unsuitable for my figure. The items usually arrive within a week. Returns are processed quickly (within a week of mailing). I am long-waisted, so most of the items (even those labeled tall-friendly) required alteration. I am a 0 tall at J Crew and Ann Taylor and a 2 in Halogen and Classiques Entier. A 2 in MM LaFleur is on the more fitted side, but a 4 is way too big.

   3. I tried it twice & thought it was OK. I ordered two bento boxes & kept one dress from each. I’m normally a pretty classic/conservative dresser working in a BigLaw environment, but even I thought the outfits were ultra conservative, bordering on a little frumpy.
      Packaging & returns were easy with both shipments.
      My mixed results are partly my own fault, as I was between two sizes with the first box and requested the larger size, and as a result all but one of the pieces did not fit. I did not see any easy option to do a “do-over” with the smaller size (which would be a GREAT option if anyone from MM LaFleur sees this post!) so I just returned all but one item. I emailed with the company regarding a second box but there was a few months delay before they sent it since they were updating their styles. The second box fit better but I liked the style overall less.
      The two dresses I purchased were around $150-180, I think, and I do like them. Quality is pretty good — better than Banana Republic, not as good as Brooks Brothers.

10. How many credit cards should I have? I have one with no balance and a low credit line that has an annual fee and I was planning to close it but AmEx is trying to convince me to hold on to it and convert it after I’ve paid my annual fee and then get my fee refund. Is it worth the hassle? I’ve only had the card for one year (hence cancelling before the annual fee hits.)

    1. Well, AmEx doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Why not have them convert it BEFORE your fee is due?

       1. They won’t convert until I’ve had it for a year.

          1. Amex will remove the annual fee if you cancel the card within one statement period of the fee being charged. So, I think lawyr’s concern is not really that big of a deal. It’s not like Amex is trying to get you to let the annual fee hit under the promise of a refund upon conversion, and then they’ll suddenly deny they ever offered it. *If* that actually happened (highly unlikely IME), you’d just cancel the card completely and get out of the annual fee. Issuers don’t like it when you cancel cards, so they’re going to do whatever it takes to keep you–converting to another card without the fee, or offering you a fee refund or some other perk (reward points, higher cash back %, etc.) is one way of doing it.

             1. Forgot to add (and I’m getting this error when I try to edit: “Warning: sprintf(): Too few arguments in /home/corporet/public_html/wp-content/plugins/simple-comment-editing/index.php on line 153”)

                As a general rule, for anyone who has a card with an annual fee, you should call every year and ask them to waive it or ask what they can offer to mitigate the fee. If your card is a common travel rewards card, Flyer Talk forums are great resource on the exact script to use, and what kind of offer you can expect to get. For example, SPG Amex will typically offer 3,000 (or more) points to retain you. You do generally have to say you plan to cancel the card because of the fee, but if you get a hard-line rep who doesn’t offer anything, you just say you want to think about it some more and will call back. Then you hang up and call back to get someone else before they have a chance to note your file. Do this process with your Time Warner/Comcast bills too. All of these companies intentionally inflate prices to discount them–don’t be one of the people who overpays because you felt bad asking.

    2. I think at least two cards, just in case you lose one/it stops working, with whatever credit limits you’re comfortable with. I don’t have an AmEx, but friends who do think it’s the best card – but keep in mind it’s not accepted everywhere. I would cancel the card, assuming it’s not your oldest credit line.

       1. I’d have at least 2 major credit cards. I’d convert it to a card with no annual fee, personally. Only cancel it altogether if you get a new card from somewhere else first if you would otherwise have less than 2 cards.

    3. Obviously, it’s a very personal choice, but I like having 2 credit cards with at least one a Visa/Mastercard as they seem to be the most widely accepted.

       For the purposes of your credit report, if it’s your oldest card you want to keep it alive unless it starts to make no financial sense (e.g., the Fee can’t go away). When I was a credit analyst, I didn’t blink an eye at someone who had between 2 and 4 credit cards, provided that they weren’t maxing all of them out.

    4. I currently have five and it’s too many. They’re spread between AmEx, Visa and Mastercard. I use the one card for routine lunch expenses and starbucks runs (my “allowance” card) and another joint card with my husband which is used for 95% of our household purchases.

       My three stragglers are an AmEx that I use for Costco purchases, which I’ll drop as soon as Costco starts accepting Visa, a MasterCard that I used for awhile for a 0% interest rate while cash flowing some house projects, and another Visa that has awesome international travel benefits.

       One thing my husband and I have been considering is moving all of our automatic payments onto one card and all of our point of sale purchases onto another. It’s been really annoying to update all of our automatic payments after every data breach (Target…I’m looking at you.)

       1. Thank you! This is very helpful.

    5. I have three – an AmEx with amazing points, a United Visa with amazing miles, and a Nordstrom card. The AmEx and the Visa have big credit limits on them, and I usually use less than 5% of my credit limit on them. I pay annual fees on them, but I also regularly cash in the points/miles so I figure it’s worth it. The Nordstrom has a very low limit, but I’ve similarly never come close to hitting it.

       The above makes me sound like a miser, but my checkbook seems to think otherwise… :-)

    6. Ha! I use credit cards for everything (paid off weekly) and have a few. I have the following: (1) personal Visa that I use for almost everything (free cash back every month!); (2) horse Visa that I use for horse expenses (I have a separate checking account for this purpose – I like things separate); (3) a business Visa that I used for business expenses when I was self-employed (shocker, also a sep checking acct for this – I haven’t closed it because it doesn’t hurt anything); (4) a Nordstrom card (I don’t really need this, never use it, and forget why I opened it); and (5) an OLD Chase Visa that stays open to help my credit rating that I never use. I have an excellent credit score, so I am not rocking the boat.

       1. I’m just here to say 1) I wish I had a horse 2) I wish I had a horse visa.

11. Help with sizing, please! Do Lands End petite dresses run true to size? If I wear a 2p in Ann Taylor do I take a 2p in LE? Same with Boden dresses please. I’m 5′, 107 lbs. Really appreciate help from you ladies.

    1. Boden has a size chart with measurements. LE tends to be boxy. Boden tends to be short-waisted. I would order multiple sizes and return some.

    2. I am at the opposite end of the size range from you, but I’ve found that Land’s End does tend to run true to their size chart measurements on my end of the scale, so I’d recommend getting a friend to measure you and compare to the actual size charts. LE does tend to be slightly boxy or at least not skin-tight, so if you are after a more fitted look you may need to go down one size from your measured size.

       And Land’s End has free returns by mail or in Sears stores, so if you can swing it on your credit card, order multiple sizes. That’s what I always do, I never order just one size of anything from places with free shipping and free returns

    3. Look at the Boden measurements chart of the actual measurements for the item (but remember ease!)

12. Anyone have suggestions for where to buy casual t-shirts for very busty women? Any price range is fine. I just need to significantly upgrade my current stock. Thanks!

    1. I’ve been having god luck with Boden and Eddie Bauer t-shirts lately.

    2. I like j crew stripes tees. Also lands end.

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