ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Candace Leather Satchel

kate-spade-cameron-bagI love this bag and would wear it with neutrals (particularly all black, with a red lipstick), but I love when bags and prints give you inspiration for entire outfits. I mean, everything about the colors is right here — the depth of the purple, the brightness of the red — even the proportions, with about 15% red and 85% dark purple. The bag itself is $378 at Nordstrom; the red/purple combo is just one of many colors the bag comes in. kate spade new york ‘cameron street – candace' leather satchel (It's hard to find a good duplicate here, but this clutch has similar colors and is under $50. This $40 red satchel doesn't have any purple elements but is similar.) (L-all)

Sales of note for 12.13

  • Nordstrom – Beauty deals on skincare including Charlotte Tilbury, Living Proof, Dyson, Shark Pro, and gift sets!
  • Ann Taylor – 50% off everything, including new arrivals (order via standard shipping for 12/23 expected delivery)
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 400+ styles starting at $19
  • J.Crew – Up to 60% off almost everything + free shipping (12/13 only)
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off everything and free shipping, no minimum
  • Macy's – $30 off every $150 beauty purchase on top brands
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off, plus free shipping on everything (and 20% off your first order)
  • Talbots – 50% off entire purchase, and free shipping on $99+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

145 Comments

  1. That bag is gorgeous. Swoon.

    It’s getting chilly here in Scotland so today I broke out a new purchase – tights from M&S with 54% merino wool – and was incredibly cosy and comfortable all day. Highly recommend!

    1. It’s even more gorgeous in person. I stared at it forever last time I was at Nordstrom. That color purple is my favorite and has been forever- taking advantage whenever I can that it’s in this season and buying /everything/ in it, as it’s a year-round color for me.

        1. I wish I didn’t know about this….I also never carry my laptop with me, but oh god is that pretty.

          1. I might need to just start carrying it around so I can justify buying the bag. It is too pretty to live at the store, right?

        2. I also love this Satchel. Dad says NEVER to buy a satchel unless it is REAL leather, NOT pleather or some thing else; and definiteley NOT Swade, b/c when that get’s wet, FORGET IT! FOOEY on Swade shoes also! I had a pair of swade shoe’s and they got RUINED in NYC walkeing on the street’s. DOUBEL FOOEY on them. I could NOT return them either.

        1. I agree. Purple is my favorite color and I think this is a beautiful bag, but I don’t think it’s purple.

        2. Can we all just agree that Kat believes that burgundy/wine/merlot IS purple, even though 99.8% of the rest of the world believes it is not?

  2. Has anyone traveled to Cuba? Did you do one of the permitted trips, like people to people or go through a third country? Any other tips?

    1. Capitol Hill Style just got back from Cuba a couple days ago. Keep an eye on her b! og as she is due to post an update/review of her trip soon!

      1. Meh. She’ll probably paint the experience as underwhelming given her typical judgy/Debbie Downer tone. Right now she’s whining about coming home with a virus.

        1. +1 I also can’t believe she chose Cuba for her first ever international trip.

        2. Huh, I never feel like she’s a Debbie Downer, I always feel like she’s trying to give a complete, well-rounded view of things. Like, critical as a critique should be a critical evaluation, which I appreciate in this era of rah-rah trying to sell you something bloggers.

          1. I prefer her tone 100x’s more than trying to convince us that Ann Taylor’s 50% off sale is the greatest gift to all of us. But that’s just me.

      2. She also posted a few weeks ago that she was going there and got tons and tons of advice in the comments, so you can look for that now.

    2. I’m going in December. I’m doing a legal people-to-people trip. I can update with info after the trip.

      1. ETA: The legal trips are horrendously expensive. Our is more than $4,000 a person for a four day trip just to Havana (and that’s excluding flights). But it was important to me not to go illegally and I very much want to see Cuba before it opens up to American tourism. Commercial flights are starting this fall from Miami and many other restrictions are loosening. I’ve heard the same thing about not being able to use credit cards and the food being terrible. I am looking at this trip as more of an adventure than a vacation, but I’m very excited. If you want to read a book about Cuba that gives you some flavor for the country but that’s not a travel guide, I’m reading Julia Cooke’s The Other Side of Paradise: Life in the New Cuba now and really enjoying it.

        1. How come they are so expensive? Can’t you just fly to Toronto/Vancouver and do a vacation package from there? Or is that still illegal?

          1. It’s still illegal. Currently for US citizens to go legally, the trip has to fit into one of 15 or so special categories. Most of them don’t apply to tourists. The one that does is what’s known as a “people-to-people” trip, so you have to go with a tour company that’s certified to offer these tours, and they gouge you on the price because they can. Many US citizens fly to Canada or Mexico and go from there and that’s cheap but it’s illegal.

        2. I’m the Anon from 3:57. It is definitely more of an adventure than a vacation! I don’t regret going at all, but now that I’ve been I’m not dying to go back. Now that I think about it more, I think it’s because of how much I was harassed. When I was on the beach reading outside my hotel, a man came up to me and whipped his d!ck out. Later, when I was walking on the beach *with my dad* a man offered him money for me. It was not pleasant to be on guard against creepy men the whole time.

    3. I’ve been twice — Once through Mexico City and once when I was already in Costa Rica. I went to local travel agencies both times who set everything up. It was super easy. I am glad that I went to Cuba but I don’t know that I would go back again anytime soon. There are some very aggressive people on the streets trying to get you to buy this or that or come to this restaurant, etc. Much more aggressive than any other place I’ve been. And the food in the state-run restaurants is god awful. I really liked the Museum of the Revolution in Havana and the beaches at Varadero. And all of the Havana Club rum.

      I know there have been lots of changes recently with US relationships and rules, so I don’t know if this still applies, but you have to have cash. At least when I was there, an American credit card would not work at all, so you have to have enough cash with you. There was no easy way to get more money if the cash ran out.

    4. what are the new rules? Can you just fly to a third country and then down? If you can do that and fly via Canada, I’m sure some of the Canadian ‘rettes might have recommendation for hotels etc.

    5. The secret to good food in Havana is to make friends with the locals and stay away from the crappy resorts where all the Canadians stay. There was also a NYT article about the advent of private in house restaurants and I can attest to this personally. The one house restaurant I went to has since closed down so I don’t have any recs but this would be one of the first thing to research.

  3. Can anyone recommend a good dinner spot (for one) in Palo Alto/near Stanford?

    1. Zola, Tamarine, Oren’s. Those are just restaurant recs. I’m not sure about solo dining.

    2. If you’re not into anything fancy, I would grab a super-yummy and not expensive dinner at Pluto’s on University Ave. They make amazing salads, great sandwiches and have yummy a la carte sides. You can usually get out of there for under $10 for something decently good. If you want something fancier, I do like Oren’s (not much fancier). And Lyfe Kitchen too.

      If you are _really_ near Stanford and don’t want to go downtown, there are a number of options in the Town & Country shopping center on the corner of Embarcadero and El Camino Real (if you leave Stanford via the exit near the Stanford stadium).

      1. Ooh yeah Pluto’s is good. I also like Sprout, another make your own salad place on University that’s much closer to Stanford. Depends on what part of Stanford you’re in but T&C may not be closer than the businesses on the near part of University Ave. I do like Gott’s in Town and Country though, and Kara’s Cupcakes (there’s a Sprinkles in the Stanford Shopping Center and those are my favorite cupcakes ever but Kara’s is a close runner-up and more of a local place).

        1. There is a Sprinkles cupcake recipe book coming out next week. They’re my favorite too and I celebrated when they started opening in NYC several years ago.

      1. Hm, under $150? (Unless there’s something fancy you want to recommend!) No parameters other than a place I would hopefully not feel awkward alone.

        1. You would be hard pressed to spend $150/person at the nicest restaurants in Palo Alto.

          My favorites: birch st, st Michaels alley, mayfield bakery, Fuki sushi. Bird dog is the hot place right now and is excellent. I used to think flea st cafe had the best dinner in the area, but that was a while ago and it would be worth confirming on Yelp. Madera has a great view of the hills but has a corporate hotel feel (because it is one). I’ve heard Zola is great from someone whose taste i trust.

          Overrated in my opinion: tamarine, evvia, lure and till

          You should get a reservation at any of these places just in case, since it’s reunion weekend. I assume that’s why you’re in town.

          1. Second Birch St! I’m not a fan of Flea Street and it’s pretty far from Stanford (although Birch Street is kind of far too…but I think Birch Street is more worth the trip).

    4. For Greek food, Evvia in downtown Palo Alto is a bit $$ but very good. Similarly Reposado for Mexican. I like Oren’s recommended above. Indo is a bit away from your area, but has nice outdoor dining and happy hour drinks and I like the ambiance.

    5. If I am back in Palo Alto I:
      – Have a breakfast at fraiche (the SF Chronicle bowl (yogurt + oatmeal) is my favorite
      – Get tacos or a burrito from Sanchos
      – Go to Back A Yard (not the restaurant in Palo Alto but the one in Menlo Park) and get jerk chicken and a corn festival
      -Have ice cream at Tin Pot Creamery
      – Go to Rangoon Ruby for the Tea Leaf Salad
      – Go to Philz for coffee
      I also enjoy the farmer’s market on California Ave and if I had a crazy food budget for the meal and if Baume had a spot open – thats a pretty spectacular dinner.

  4. Is there anything I can do about junk mail? We are on the Do Not Mail list, but I don’t feel like it does much good. We constantly get catalogues (to which we never subscribed), political mailers, and other junk mail that goes straight into the recycling– but I don’t want to spend ten minutes every day dealing with it. I call the magazines and ask to be taken off, but there are so many, and I don’t know how they got our address in the first place. I tried PaperKarma and did not find it effective.

    Perhaps a separate question, but is there a way to refuse mail that’s addressed to “Resident” or “Our Friends At…” I don’t want all these ads and don’t know how to make them stop.

    1. I mark all the addressed stuff “Return to Sender” and dump it at the postbox down the street every so often. Doesn’t stop everything but it helps.

    2. I am in the same boat. I am paranoid that I will miss mail I actually need because it gets lots in the pages of junk mail.

      I find junk mail to be an embarrassing waste of paper and fuel. I want to scream at these marketers that is not the 1980’s anymore… Times have changed!

    3. I can’t stand all the junk mail either, especially the W Magazine that comes every week and is so tall that the mailman has to jam it in so that the rest of my mail gets smashed/bent. But unfortunately, that junk mail and the businesses that pay for it seem to be what’s keeping USPS afloat so that we can get the mail we actually want (and ship packages for cheaper than UPS/FedEx–I always use USPS when I’m mailing something because it’s so much cheaper and Priority gets it there the same time). For that reason, I shrug and accept it, and am pleased that the apartment I live in now has a trash can right next to the mailbox station so that I can sort through the junk mail right when I pick it up and not even bring it into my home, rather than letting it pile up and become daunting.

  6. OMG I totally did book tea at Sketch at 12:30! Will you be there? Hair tie on wrist for the secret signal?

      1. YES!! Our ressie is at 2PM so we will definitely overlap!! Lets coordinate – I’d LOVE to meet you – my email is nancydarbydrew at the google mail

    2. Was too late yesterday, but make sure you check out the bathrooms at sketch! Weird suggestion I know…but they are very unique! Like an art exhibit.

      2. Oh I will – thanks for the tip! And major shout-out/thanks to London Leisure Year for sending me London recommendations – this board is really cool. I don’t comment all the time, but really appreciate the advice & community.

  7. 1. There is walking and NYC transit commuter walking. I can do the former in work shoes. For the latter, I miss hose and it’s not cool enough for tights. Feet: shredded. How do you ladies do it? No-show footies? Or just changing shoes (will remind me, forever, of Yuppies and their white first-generation Reeboks). There was oozing muck on the 6 yesterday, so confirming my no-flipflops policy (which also moves the blisters to around my big toe).

    2. Has leather (or “leather”) jumped the shark? Other than the lady on CNN with her red leather wrap dress (which I sort of like, plus leather would be grippy enough not to unwrap (DVF: looking at you)), it’s a bit mass-market. Almost like a Juicy velour track suit? What do the edgy people wear these days?

    3. The Lo & Sons OG continues to be the Best Mobile Office Ever. I do think that the MZ Wallace bags are prettier, but I need something I can sling on a wheelie bag (with a laptop and about 2 reams of printouts) and go.

    2. Work shoes stay at work. My commuting shoes in cooler weather are Ecco slip on sneakers that are comfy without socks.

    3. I wear Asics Metrolyte slip-ons sometimes, and the rest of the time, quilted van eli ballet flats that have good arch support. The Metrolytes run a smidge wide, but the corset detail on the back is super-cute. Z_ppos has them.

  8. Let’s talk about fall fashion and continue yesterday’s discussion about riding boots and puffer vests looking dated. What do you wear to looked pulled together and keep warm on the weekends or for a very casual Friday? What’s trendy for warm tops these days?

    1. My favourite winter look is a fit and flare dress with thick black tights and boots, a massive scarf, and a coat. Either that or skinny jeans, boots, thick sweater, massive scarf, and a coat. I just got a double bre asted reefer jacket which I’m in love with.

    2. I refuse to believe that puffer vests could ever look dated. Nothing that comfortable should go out of style!

      1. If it helps, I’ve always thought they looked ridiculous :)

        If it’s cold enough for puffer-anything, it’s cold enough for full sleeves.

        1. People wear puffer vests over long sleeves. They’re not just walking around with a down vest on and nothing underneath.

          I love my puffer vest and will keep wearing it as long as I want! Hooray for living in the Midwest outside a major city…fashion trends take quite a while to reach us. Riding boots, skinny jeans and puffy vests are still very “in” here.

        2. I don’t understand it either. Do your arms not get just as cold as your body?

          Also, as an apple-shaped lady, I can’t imagine wanting to add volume to my middle and not follow that through on my arms. I’d look like a big puff ball with little spindles sticking out.

      2. I have a North Face vest that gets a lot of wear in the fall with leggings and a longer shirt. So comfy for running after the kiddo.

      3. I refuse to believe that dressing like Han Solo could ever be not cool.

    3. Haha I just bought an ivory puffer vest at J Crew Factory because my husband and I are going as Han and Leia (sporty snow outfit Leia) to a nerdy Halloween party. And also because it will be comfy AF.

      2. You are so lucky to be abel to go to a party with your HUSBAND. I do NOT even have a boyfreind, so I can NOT go to any partie’s like you. FOOEY!

    4. It may be that the j.crew-esq./barbour/knock-off barbour vest look may be a bit “last year” this winter, but I had been rocking puffy vests for years prior to last year and will continue to do so – esp. sporty ones (my Patagonia nanopuff specifically) this winter. As a functional piece of outerwear, it continues to make sense. As a fashion-piece, well, I probably wouldn’t go buy the houndstooth j.crew puffer this year if I were you…

    5. I think there was ‘a look’ a few years ago that looked like this: long/big hair in curls, red lipstick, plaid shirt, puffy vest, skinny jeans tucked into tall riding boots. It was everywhere, check p!nterest. (Pumpkin Spice Latte optional but always posed with a Starbucks cup!) I don’t think any of these items are per se dated, but the look in total is. I think a puffy vest looks cute still but try to avoid the whole look – wear it with a sweater or fleece and sneakers and a baseball hat. (On that note, Patagonias really became super trendy in the last 1-2 years again). Or if you want the plaid shirt, try it with a wool skirt or under a leather jacket or mix patterns with leopard flats. Or try riding boots with a sweater dress or shirt dress or plaid mini skirt and sweater. In other words, just mix it up a little bit!

      1. It’s a very “I’m currently in college and in a sorority” look. It’s never something I’ve wanted to look like.

        1. In Atlanta this is how every woman for the last 4-5 years dressed for her fall-themed engagement photos/family photoshoot. Always taken at Piedmont Park, on the side of the hill below the Active Oval for the skyline sunset shot.

    6. To me, the Han Solo look is the off-white tunic top hanging below the vest, black leggings with brown riding boots. I wear my vests with t-shirts or slim fitting sweaters and jeans and sneakers. I’ve also been known to rock a hoodie on the weekend.

    7. Black jeans, black booties, white or black T-shirt+comfy v-neck cashmere sweater, black leather jacket, scarf.

    8. I busted out my cute riding boots (and skinny jeans) last weekend and my husband teased me about the Han Solo thing and I had to google it, but whatever. I was wearing a band tee on top, does that make me cool? (Ha probably not.)

    9. I see a lot of thick chunky sweaters (turtlenecks are back… ergh) with culottes. I don’t want culottes to be back..bahh.

  9. All of my pjs are worn out, but I feel like all of the pairs I have purchased recently (primarily gap body and anthro) have pilled and stretched out very quickly. Any brands that have held up well? I like to sleep in shorts and a cami.

    3. pj salvage. I just got two new PJ sets at Nordstrom rack. I like the pants with tank/tshirt, but they do come in shorts too.

    6. Anything from target labeled “fluid knit” – its the comfiest material I have ever felt, not expensive at all.

      1. +1. I basically bought everything in the Gillian O’Malley “fluid knit” line from Target over the last month. It’s pretty much the smoothest material I’ve ever felt.

      2. Yep – they’re amazing and they hold up really well. I just bought some new ones recently, but I’m still rocking a pair of pants I bought 10 years ago. No pilling, just keep getting more comfortable.

    7. Garnet hill is the best. They look like you escaped from a Florida retirement community but they are my favorites.

    9. I buy my pajamas from LLBean. I don’t know about their shorts and cami, but their flannel pajama pants/sets are awesome and they last a long time…

  10. Anyone going to the Boden Sample Sale in Oaks, PA this Saturday? I’m debating… it’s about an hour away from my house.

    1. Worth it. I got seven super-cute dresses in Boston. Always get there two hours before the doors open and you can swoop in and get first pick. Bring huge bags to take your giant haul to the try-on area in. Wear a cami and leggings/boyshorts so you can feel less naked in dressing room. Profit.

    2. We are going with toddlers. Like crazy people. So if you see a woman with a red stroller- that’s me.

  11. I’ve got a night alone in Chicago tomorrow. Long distance SO and I were supposed to have a romantic getaway but due to work, he won’t be able to fly in until Saturday morning. I get in around 7p will be staying near the House of Blues (Dearborn and W. Hubbard). Any tips? Should I walk to the Bean? Fun bars or restaurants I should check out solo?

    Thanks in advance!

    2. Love the Bean. Definitely walk there. It’s lovely at night.

      It will be cold though, so have your boots/booties, decent jacket/coat, cozy scarf and gloves.

      Walk over to the Purple Pig and see if you can squeeze into a seat at the bar. Maybe you will be lucky.

      Right now GT Fish & Oyster has a beautiful warm lobster roll that I am obsessed with. I think the lightly fried onion strings are even better, actually…..

    3. Hopleaf Hopleaf Hopleaf! So I can live vicariously through you. They have mussels and frites and you can sit at the bar and drink Zombie Dust (or one of the bajillion other beers they have). You could take the train from where you’re staying, or the bus. Or a cab or uber.

  12. What body wash or shower gel does everyone use? I’m looking for something “natural” (low in parabens and carcinogens and such) but I don’t want to go all the way to the fragrance free.
    I like a refreshing/”real” fragrance like citrus or lavender. I don’t like the fake fruity or flowery fragrances.
    Used to use the 365 Lavender body wash from Whole Foods. Also tried the Trader Joe’s Citrus body wash.
    Just tried the Philosophy Margarita body wash, but looking for a change.

      1. +1 Kirkland makes a great citrus body wash that is not overpowering but refreshing.

    7. Indigo Wild brand. Any scent is good. Sold at Whole Foods and Publix in my part of the world but the best selection is online.

  13. due to some nerve damage, I’d like to ditch wearing a bra entirely and just wear camisoles. I don’t need much support, being a near AA cup, but I can’t seem to find camisoles that are either thick enough to wear under a shirt so nothing pokes through, or a camisole with a built in bra that does NOT have the elastic bit, as the nerve damage sits exactly where a bra band sits. Does such a thing exist? Should I just buy some cheap ones and cut off the elastic?

    1. I’d look at fitness tops – Lululemon/Athleta. I find those to be thicker than the Old Navy cami-with-a-buildt-in-bra style.

    3. I like the Uniqlo heattech ones. No bra and they are thick enough you can’t see through them. Not sure about n*p coverage without a bra, but they aren’t transparent at least – even in white.

    5. If you’re not looking for support, why not just a tighter cami combined with one of those silicone n!ipple cover things? I bought a set ages ago and wear them every time I have a strapless dress.

    6. Hanro touch feeling – they’re kind of tight enough for a little support but not too tight. Expensive, though. You can often find them on sale on the website or on Amazon. I do have some Uniqlo heattech and like them, but the ones I have are pretty thin and you can see through them.

  14. What’s the main difference between leggings and tights? Are tights opaque and leggings are not? Purchasing online and want to get the opaque kind.
    Also, someone mentioned Nick+Zoe style pants at Target yesterday, how do I find these? Are they good for pear shapes?

      2. Not always. I wear footless tights with my tall boots so I can wear regular socks that are more comfortable.

        1. I will concede the existence of footless tights, but if you show me a pair of legit leggings with feet I’ll side-eye them pretty hard.

    2. I would say the biggest difference is whether or not they have feet. And leggings have seams, so I wouldn’t wear them under a dress or skirt because you can tell they’re leggings.

    3. No, it’s the opposite. Leggings are more opaque than tights. Tights are also often shiny (like thick hose) and have a foot on them, while leggings usually end at the calf or ankle.

    4. Is there anywhere I can find leggings without a seam and with feet? Essentially, thick, durable, long-lasting tights that aren’t shiny?

      1. spanx makes reversible tights (black on one side, brown or charcoal on the other) and they are super durable and twice as thick as normal tights. I’ve had 2 pair for 3 years, and still no runs.

      2. +2. If you want thicker tights to wear under dresses and skirts, Marks and Spencer offers them in different deniers. The higher the number, the thicker they are.

      3. Yes. Except for when they are running tights, and then they are exercise pants, basically leggings with perhaps more spandex, designed to be worn as pants. Fashion terminology is complicated.

  15. Thinking ahead to Christmas gifts – any ideas for 20 month old niece? We’ve decided to typically do a $25-40 gift for Christmas – first niece/nephew (last year was this standing activity table type thing) and then college fund money for birthdays. I was thinking blocks or books but any other winners out there from the parents in this group?

    1. Stomp rockets. She will love them. She can do them herself or her parents can help. Cheap, easy, hours of fun.

        1. Yep. She will love to watch if she doesn’t quite have enough ooph for them, and she will still love to play with the pillow anyway. It’s fun. My nephew loved them at that age.

    2. Books always win… also, my kids all loved push toys — toy lawnmower, shopping cart, umbrella stroller were all big hits.

    3. Duplos or Magnatiles. My kids have been playing with Magnatiles for 4 years now and I got them when the oldest was around 2 years old. Tons of fun for adults too. Both suggestion will last a long time and can be added to.

    4. Tonka dump truck with blocks.

      Fisher Price barn or circus or airport or garage. The old ones are the best … as in ebay.

      I’m a 3 decade long child development specialist if that matters. You can also look in Ames & Ilg masterpiece “Your Two Year Old” for ideas…. and M. Segal’s “Your Child at Play” for forward ideas.

  16. The colors of this bag reminds me of one of my favorite bag companies that I learned about from someone on this site.

    http://www.graf-lantz.com/jaunt-petite.html

    These bags are a combo of felt and leather, which makes them very light. I just can’t carry that much weight in my bags. No zipper though.

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