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Wednesday’s Workwear Report: ‘Somerset’ Cotton Blend Cardigan

Three Quarter Sleeve Cardigan: Kate Spade New York 'Somerset' Cotton Blend CardiganOur daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Wow: not only is there a ton of Kate Spade in the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale (JUST started!), but it's interesting to see that the brand now offers a size “XXL,” presumably for size 16. That's great news for everyone on the cusp — and this sweater is great news in general. I like the fresh, crisp color, and the bow detail on the sleeve. I'd wear it with navy, gray, white, possibly with a pop of yellow or sky blue in the mix. The sweater was $198 but is now marked to $118. (Six other colors are available for the original price.) Kate Spade New York ‘Somerset' Cotton Blend Cardigan Here's a lower-priced option in XXS-XXL (with one print in plus sizes, and a stripe in plus sizes at Nordstrom Rack for $19); two plus-size alternatives are here and here. Don't forget to check out our plus-size picks from the Nordstrom sale. Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-all)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

211 Comments

  1. Question for those of you who get migraines: I’m in my early 30s. About a year ago I started getting a couple kinds of migraines. Mostly they were the ocular migraines that are the aura without the headache. They’re annoying and sometimes makes me queasy, but they tend to pass fairly quickly. I’ve only gotten the full blown headache migraine two times in the past year. Usually if I just get the aura, my head will hurt at least a little bit, but I can take some advil and it’ll be ok. Sometimes I’ll have a cluster of auras over the course of several days in a row. Nothing has really changed in my life in terms of my diet, hormonal contraception, etc. Is this something that just happens? After a lifetime of no migraines, boom! fun with migraines!

    I’ve been to the eye doctor to make sure it wasn’t an eye problem, and everything looked fine. Since I’m rarely getting the severe headaches, I’ve not been to a real headache doctor, but the auras are really annoying.

    1. I had migraine with aura (and still do on occasion) and the ocular disturbances were linked with an inner ear infection.

    2. I used to get migraines about 10 years ago, and they mysteriously stopped. Can you identify a specific trigger?

    3. Yes, migraine type and frequency can change over time. But it can be good to check in with a doc if and when your headaches change.

      Do you notice that they cluster every month, related to your monthly cycle?

      Sounds like it is time for you to see a headache neurologist. You might now want to review your habits to see if there are any triggers they can pinpoint. You may also want to learn about the medicines available, in case you get a migraine that doesn’t respond to Advil. If the auras are becoming so frequent they are interfering with your life, some folks will start taking a preventative MED.

      Meanwhile, get a small pocket calendar, and start keeping track of your headaches/auras. Write down when, they come, what type, what you take to treat them (if anything), and if it helps. Also write down if anything unusual happened that day (ex. skipped meal, too little sleep, stressors, other illness, menstrual cycles etc…)

      Common migraine/aura triggers include skipping meals/eating too late, sleeping too little or too much, alcohol (esp. Red wine), sometimes certain foods. My Mom needed to sleep a very regular schedule… Even on weekends… and eat at regular times every day. You may need to look at your work station and make sure it is ergonomic or the lights aren’t triggering headaches.

      Migraines are really common, and a lot of it is genetic/your biology. If anyone in your family has migraines and has a medication that works for them, the same will often work for you.

      If you live near a major academic hospital, they often have headache docs in neurology.

    4. I’m 30 and have gone through a whole cafeteria of migraine changes over my life. I sometimes get aura, sometimes not. For about a decade flashing lights would trigger the aura followed by a debilitating painful migraine. Then I didn’t get an aura for a decade, until I was pregnant, at which point I got it twice in the third trimester. I’ve had times where I got migraines every week and other times where I would go 6 months without one. I just find a prescription that works for me (naratriptan before I was pregnant and Fioricet while pregnant and BFing) to manage them.

      1. So glad you mentioned the prescription you’re on during pregnancy/breastfeeding. DH and I are just starting to talk about TTC and I’m so terrified of having terrible migraines and not being able to take anything for them.

        1. Obviously YMMV, but my migraines are SO MUCH BETTER during pregnancy. I get way fewer. Apparently that is very common. So I hope you are one of the lucky ones! And, after talking to my ob/gyn and neurologist and reading through some studies, I felt comfortable taking Imitrex during pregnancy. I didn’t take it all the time, but I also needed way, way less than I did before pregnancy. My migraines have a strong hormonal component, so I am pretty sure that that is why they were much improved. I do still get them with other triggers (barometric pressure changes, unmitigated bright lights, etc) but it is amazing to get only 1-2 a month. Good luck!

    5. I was on BCP for years with no problems, then developed migraines. I couldn’t believe the two were connected so I didn’t consider changing options. Went off BCP to TTC and the migraines disappeared. Just because BCP hasn’t caused problems in the past doesn’t mean it isn’t an issue now. Just a thought.

    6. I started getting migraines after a year on BCP. They lasted for at least a week, and varied in type. I did some digging and found that my brand had migraines as a side effect. Within a month after getting off BCP, the migraines stopped.

    7. Just an FYI, there’s a heightened risk of stroke and/or blood clots if you’re on any birth control with estrogen. My OB’s office will not prescribe combo pills to women with migraine with aura. I switched back to regular birth control after weaning my son and started having an episode per week after only having problems once or twice a year before pregnancy. Went back off of the birth control for an IUD and have had one headache in the three months since then.

    8. I get migraines during summer. I am from a different country and the Sun is not very intense there and I never experienced migraines. I didn’t get migraines when I lived in East Coast. It started after I moved to California. I dread summers (june, July and August) here. I saw that they generally start when I am in my car.

      Few things that helped me are:
      1. Wearing high quality sunglasses. I bought a pair of Maui Jims.
      2. Cold water with me all the time when I am outside. I have a tall hydroflask insulated bottle.
      3. Eating before I get into my car and making sure I never get hungry.

      1. And the headaches are very bad and OTC pain medications don’t help. I just have to let it run its course which is usually overnight.

      2. I have a co-worker who has problems with light sensitivity and migraines, particularly fluorescents – she got a pair of migraine-specific sunglasses and sings their praises frequently. They’re from a brand called ‘Theraspecs”.

    9. I’d echo the neurologist rec because “auras” without headaches can actually be a type of seizure. Try and note if you “lose time” when you experience these.

    10. My migraines have gotten much more frequent as I’ve gotten older. I have learned that a big trigger for me is dry air and big changes in barometric pressure. Using a portable humidifier at work has done wonders for me.

      1. I suffer from occasional migraines with aura and barometric pressure issues are usually what set me off (although I’ve had three periods of cluster migraines over the years at periods of high stress, which were horrendous).

    11. I am in my mid-20s. I have been getting ocular migraines that include the aura before migraine since college. My aura tends to be a combination of bright lights and vision distortions. I track my migraines and try to keep track of food/stress triggers to see if any of them are linked. So far, I think I get migraines when I consistently drink caffeine over a period of time and suddenly drink a lot less or forget to drink coffee one day and then I get a migraine that day. I also get migraines if I skip a meal. I also have vision triggers – bright lights or watching a video with distortions tend to cause them – and some auditory triggers – some high pitched beeping causes migraines for me too.

  2. Anecdata – I’ve had hormonal migraines since I started getting a period. In the last year or so, my migraines have become more severe and less controllable (were reduced for a long time by hormonal birth control and a daily medicine to prevent them). My endocrinologist has chalked the change up to hormonal fluctuations that occur around age 30.

    1. My experience has been largely similar to MNF, especially the change after age 30. Two things I have found helpful: Botox for migraines, and checking with my dentist for TMJ issues (I sleep with a mouthguard now at night).

  3. Gift advice needed, please! A coworker is retiring and invited me (and much of the office) to her retirement party. I don’t know her well at all and don’t actually work closely with her, but she’s always been nice to me. Suggestions for what to get her as a token retirement gift?

    1. Yay, Kat and Kate! This is such a pretty Kate Spade cotton sweater! I love Kate Spade and this cardigan is JUST what I need for the summer b/c our new office is VERY cold when the air condition is on. FOOEY!

      As for the OP, I think you should get your freind a subsrcription / Membership to the AARP. They have great discount’s and a magazine that even my dad read’s all the time. Dad is a life member, but he said you can buy a 1, 3 or more membership that is NOT to expensive at all. Since she is retireing, she will need to know alot of stuff like about 401K’s, presrcrimption medicine’s and travel discounts at hotel’s. Dad get’s the discount at Mariot and Hilton hotel’s with FREE breakfast’s too! YAY for AARP!

      I hope AARP will be around when I retire b/c I know that I will be smart like Dad, and get all the discount’s! YAY!!!!!

    2. Ask somebody else going if there’s a group gift you can contribute to (this is common where I am). Otherwise, things that most people like: consumables (coffee/tea/snacks), gift cards to a local coffee shop/bookstore/amazon, a thoughtful note and a subscription to a magazine you think she’d like.

    5. Probably going to sound like a scrooge, but either a note or nothing. My mom went through this whole downsizing thing post-retirement, (as a lot of people do, I think) and got rid of a ton of stuff. She has everything she needs or wants and is still getting rid of more stuff all the time.

      Also, when I was a teacher I got a ton of random “generic gift items” at the end of every school year. I ended up giving most of them to goodwill or tossing them. A nice note would have been so much more appreciated.

    1. Nay. I’d consider them on very hot days for a scheduling conference, but even then why must you? Get to the court in sandals but change into closed-toed shoes when you arrive.

    2. I say nay, mostly because I don’t think open-toe looks good with suits, generally. Also, trial means you’re inside in a (probably heavily) air-conditioned room— is the ventilation really necessary? I’d just wear your usual dress pumps or flats.

      That said, if you do it, I hope you mean just a peep-toe pump and not a dress sandal.

      (FWIWI work at a major city federal court.)

    3. Nay. Also, if I was going to trial in federal court I would consider wearing hose. But depends on your local bar, anybody local you can ask?

    4. Federal court is about as business formal as it gets. Nay on anything except pumps or flats.

    6. Agreed, this is one time where you go formal.

      In long trials (two weeks, e.g.), I have sometimes stepped down the level of formality a bit – mismatched suit separates, e.g. But not open-toe shoes.

    8. Nay on open toes, but I have no objection to a smart pair of sling-backs. Definitely hose in nude for you (not tights in summer).

    9. Nay to open toe shoes, but I disagree with previous posters regarding tights/hose. It just depends on the bar. I just finished up a two-week federal trial where no-hose and mismatched separates were perfectly acceptable.

    10. Nope. I’m in a casual west coast city and would never wear open toe shoes to federal court. I don’t think you have to wear a matched suit as long as your separates are very nice and very coordinated. I still remember the (male) attorney who wore a seersucker suit to federal court for a hearing in the South. Don’t be that person. Federal is extremely formal.

  5. I woke up tired this morning…so tired I actually feel kind of foggy around the edges. Not sleepy, just exhausted–and I think I slept basically enough last night. I’ve never had this. What gives? Any tips to get through the day?

    1. Allergies? Bad dreams?

      I’d prescribe a cup of something caffeinated + 20 minutes brisk walk in the fresh air. Also, now is the time to get all those annoying niggly admin-y tasks off your plate – use pomodoro method if you have to.

      1. Thanks…never heard of the Pomodoro method but I agree it’s a good time for those admin-y tasks.

    2. Drink lots of water. I find some jumping jacks help me clear my head and get some energy, but drink water first.

    3. Maybe you’re getting sick? Go to bed super early tonight. A ridiculous amount of sleep (like, 10+ hours) always helps me when I feel under the weather.

      1. I worried about that (the closest analogue to how I’m feeling now is how I feel before I get a cold), though at least now I don’t feel the other signs of incipient illness. I will definitely try to sleep a lot tonight.

      2. Any chance you are pregnant? My only symptom (30 some years ago) was being so tired I thought I was dying. Never had morning sickness but the tiredness lasted the first three months. I had never heard of it as a symptom of pregnancy, but it can be, just not talked about much.

          1. OMG, this! I have never been so tired in my life and in a way I could not describe.

    4. Could you be pregnant? Did you have caffeine too close to bedtime (which for me can mean even in the late afternoon will affect my sleep)? Are you stressed?

      Things that help me–drinking coffee, drinking ice cold water, walking around outside, stretching. Then I try and work on things that don’t require too much brain power.

      1. I have an IUD, but I guess it’s not impossible! And I did have caffeine in the late afternoon, though I thought I slept okay. Thanks!

    5. Wow, I feel this way more often than not and it’s been that way for years. Is it really true that most people don’t feel like this frequently? I’ve just been assuming that it’s normal and something that I’m supposed to be toughing out, so I’m shocked to hear someone say that they never feel exhausted and foggy headed. I do have several chronic health problems, but am otherwise healthy (normal blood work, etc.) and get a reasonable amount of sleep every night.

      1. Given that it’s chronic for you, you might consider sleep apnea. My understanding is that sleeping an appropriate amount but waking up exhausted is the classic symptom. Not trying to diagnose the whole world and OP’s issue of occasional fogginess is one I’ve had (I assume I’ve woken up at a crummy part of my sleep cycle), but if it’s happening to you so routinely there might be a solvable issue.

      2. Through no merits of my own, I have always felt quite healthy/good on a regular basis (I realize this makes me very lucky), so I might be an outlier in terms of never feeling like this. I had an ex who was much more “sickly” (for lack of a better word) and did often feel bad/tired/depressed without a recognizable cause, so I know it’s not just you.

      5. +1 – I had the same thought. I sleep well, usually 8+ hours a night and I am always foggy and exhausted.

      6. I’m very glad to hear that I’m not the only one, though it makes me a little sad to think about what I might be able to do if I wasn’t so “sickly.” I’m willing to work hard, but my body just doesn’t seem to hold up, whether it’s the chronic health conditions, the constantly getting sick, and the exhaustion and fogginess on top of it. I’d really love to hear from people who are able to cope with those things along with a demanding job, since I don’t think I’m doing the best job of it.

        1. I can tell you that my ex was really adamant about listening to her body and resting when she thought it would require more than she could handle (calling in sick, not doing social activities, not just “pushing through it” because it was expected by someone). If she didn’t put her foot down in this way, she ended up paying for it later, either by getting sick, feeling even weaker/more tired, or just being in an awful mood.

          And I’m sorry if the word “sickly” seemed rude.

          1. I try to do this. It means that, on occiaision, I may skip a run or night at the gym, bow out of HH or dinner, or not clean whatever I needed to clean that night. I do think it helps.

          2. Oh, I don’t think sickly is rude at all- I use it jokingly to describe myself since there isn’t really another good word. It seems old fashioned, but it’s hard to think of something else that adequately describes the way that there’s nothing major wrong with me, but I just seem to get hit harder with a lot of different health issues than most people do. For a long time, I thought that I just wasn’t tough enough to power through things everyone deals with, but I’m coming to realize that I really do just have more to cope with than most people do (while also realizing that I’m fortunate enough to not have any major health problems). I try not to beat myself up over it, but it’s hard to figure out what’s a reasonable amount to suffer through, when I’m just being a wimp, and when I should be trying harder to get medical professionals to help me.

      7. You may want to talk to your doctor and get a sleep study done. If you fall asleep very easily (ex, during the day you could easily nod off during a boring meeting), it’s possible that you have a sleep disorder related to narcolepsy.

    6. If you’re saying you slept “basically enough” – does that mean you are running on the edge of not enough sleep? Sometime it takes a couple of days for a bad night’s sleep to catch up with me – so if I barely got any sleep on Monday night, I’ll feel ok if a little slow on Tuesday, but even if I get my normal amount of sleep on Tuesday night, on Wednesday or Thursday I’ll feel like crap and like I could sleep the clock around. I agree with others that you should clear your plate and plan to go to bed extra early tonight – even if you don’t feel all that tired then, at least get in bed with a book or magazine (no screens) and try to sleep earlier.

      Also, not sure about your area, but in my area the temperature just jumped up pretty quickly and now it’s hot-ish and stuffy in my room at night – so maybe you were in bed for your normal amount of time but it just wasn’t good sleep.

      1. That might be…I’ve had a couple days in a row on the low edge of my acceptable range of sleep. I’ve never had it hit me so hard, though, but I’d much rather this be the answer than that I’m unexpectedly pregnant!

        1. While extreme exhaustion (like fall asleep eating dinner at 6:30 exhaustion) is my biggest symptom in pregnancy, I’d say that one or two foggy mornings likely doesn’t mean that. I would tend to agree that you probably just didn’t get the night of sleep you thought – you probably slept fitfully, or were too warm. Or it’s just a build-up from a couple of short days. I’d go for a brisk walk to a nearby coffee place, get a coffee of your choice, and come back to your desk after at least 20-30 minutes of brisk walking and alternate coffee and water. Try and go to bed early tonight.

        2. Also, as I get older I realize that I just can’t hack the schedule I used to run when I was younger (in college, early 20s, etc) when I was fine on 5 or 6 hours of sleep or less a night – because in reality although I was often getting 5-6 hours most nights, I would often have a weekend day when I would sleep past noon. So if you are also not sleeping in on the weekends as much as you used to (even if it was only an hour or two, not an extra 4-6 hours), you may need to re-adjust what “enough” sleep means on a weeknight. When I’m being responsible about it, I set “go to bed, for real, right now” alarms for myself because even though I’m not really feeling tired at 10 pm and could easily feel “not really tired” at midnight, I’ll regret the later bedtime in the morning, or in a couple of days.

          1. This is probably all true of me at age 34. And I have a really hard time sleeping in nowadays, even if I have the time…to add insult to injury.

      2. Chris Fleming suggests trip to your restaurant in MB. I DUNNO what it is….this restaurant.

    7. Could you be getting a migraine? I get them rarely but they present almost like pregnancy symptoms for me at first. Extreme exhaustion, nausea, brain fog. Then a day or two later I get the actual head pain.

  6. Worried I have become allergic to dogs.

    I’ve been coughing for maybe 8 weeks and went to the doctor a month ago. Diagnosed with severe bronchitis, put on an antibiotic. Didn’t get better, went to a different doctor last week. Put on different, stronger antibiotic. Still not much better.

    My mom just pointed out that (duh) I moved in with my boyfriend about 8 weeks ago. He has two large, heavy-shedding, dirty dogs. My mom is severely allergic and it often presents as bad bronchitis. I’ve had a hive or two (but sometimes I get them from stress), but I don’t have runny/itchy eyes, sneezing, etc.

    My cough is much worse when I am vacuuming/sweeping. Assume it is because I’m stirring up dust/dander. The house is also crazy old and dusty, so it could be dust, which I already know I’m allergic to.

    Last night I took Benadryl and this morning I am feeling a lot better. I know I need to go back to the doctor, but with 2 appts in the past month, it is really tough.

    My plan is to take both Zyrtec and Allegra daily. Get boyfriend to use furminater on dogs regularly. Bathe dogs more regularly. Wear a dust mask when I clean and clean more often. Get a HEPA filter. Don’t let dogs in bedroom.

    Do any of you suffer from this and have suggestions? It looks like there are products for both the dogs and the house that “neutralize” dander and dust mites.

    Getting rid of the dogs is not an option, so please don’t respond suggesting that.

    1. Your doing all good things.

      It is very, very hard to address this…. I’ll be honest with you. I cannot live with cats or dogs for this reason, and my brother (similarly allergic) eventually separated with his girlfriend because she couldn’t live without her cat. Sad…

      I would see an Allergist. Sometimes you can desensitize with shots.

      1. Also…. Did your doctor tell you to take both Zyrtec and Allegra daily? I would not do that unless you are checking in with your doc. Be careful.

        1. I agree.

          I am very allergic to dogs. This didn’t stop my parents from owning them when I was a kid, though! During my childhood, I think the constant exposure allowed my immune system to adjust and by the time I was moving out for university, I wasn’t medicating or suffering any symptoms.

          Flash forward to now…my parents went on vacation last week and asked me to dogsit. I agreed. I was practically nonfunctional all week with the most terrible allergies I’ve ever experienced – no amount of allergy medication was helping. Out of desperation I went to a pharmacist and asked what I could be taking and he strongly advised against mixing multiple formulas. I’ve also learned that allergy medications are intended to be and tested for seasonal dosage – which means that, according to this pharmacist, we aren’t sure whether they’re safe for daily year-round use.

      2. By “couldn’t live without her cat” you do mean “recognized that she made a lifelong commitment to the cat when she adopted it and could not in good conscience abandon an innocent animal for the sake of a boy” right?

        1. Oh god eye roll. You do get there are options other than dumping the cat on the side of the road to die right?

          And ummm why are you being so unpleasant? Girlfriend chose her cat. What more do you want here? Shall we all just die and let cats take over?

          1. Yes. We should accept our cat overlords sooner, rather than later, and all will be well.

        2. Oh come on. If you’d pick your cat over your life partner… you’ll end up alone with your cat. Ethically re-homing isn’t that hard.

          1. Who said anything about a “life partner”? If you have a cat, you don’t start a relationship with someone who’s allergic to cats. And if you’re allergic to cats, you don’t start a relationship with someone who has a cat hoping they’ll just get rid of the cat.

          2. ^This. If a guy I had dated was allergic to dogs, he wouldn’t ever be more than a guy I had a date with, because my pets are important to me

          3. You sound like the kind of person that buys a puppy and “re-homes” it when it isn’t cute anymore.

          4. Nope. Not at all. I don’t have any pets because I recognize that I’m not in a place to make a lifetime commitment to them. But I think people are more important and if I needed to I would find a loving home and give them away. My family had to twice when we moved internationally. Putting them in quarantine for 6 months seemed cruel and selfish. It was really sad, but I don’t think it made us bad people.

          5. The fact that they did it twice proves my point. Selfish is getting another pet and abandoning it, too. Maybe some people don’t care about the mental/emotional health of those animals (or placing it below the enjoyment you get while having them) – so don’t get more. It sounds like you’ve made a mature decision for yourself and understand the commitment.

          6. What if you start a relationship with someone who has never owned pets and doesn’t think they have allergies but develops one after living with you and your dog/cat? This absolutely does happen . The situation a lot of you describing is very black and white.

          7. THEY DID NOT ABANDON THEM. They found new happy loving homes for them. Like sane people do. Giving your cat to your mom because you had to move doesn’t mean you don’t care about animals mental health. Good grief you’re awful and I hope you die and get eaten by your cats.

          8. This happened to me when I adopted my own cat. (Didn’t know I had allergies, since I didn’t have any to the family cat growing up). So you see an allergist. Abandoning my cat wasn’t an option on the table. I’m not that kind of person.

          9. “That kind of person” who understands that there are options in life other than a) be a horrible human being or b) be a total martyr to a pet.

          11. To anonymous at 11:25 – I’m very happy that worked for you and I say that genuinely. However, a lot of people can’t afford to see an allergist (either due to time constraints that would make frequent appointments difficult or due to financial concerns – especially since allergists will often recommend shots that are a very involved option for most). And then some people who see an allergist still might not be able to manage their symptoms to the degree they’d like. What I’m saying is, every situation and person really is different and as long as a pet owner is acting with compassion I don’t think you can generalize across all cases into “rehoming is always cruel and unnecessary”.

          12. To Anonymous at 11:30 – I agree that real-life is never as black and white as this thread is making it seem.

          1. +1 Seriously. Owning a pet is forever. I’d feed my little man before myself if it ever came to that.

          3. I’m not Anon @11, but Yes. I made a commitment when I brought my pets into my life that I would care for them. If I was too broke to feed both of us, of course my dog would eat first

        5. Oh good grief. This crap again? Is your thinking so benighted that you can’t see that there are options in between *dump a partner* and *just take cat outback and shoot it*?

          One of my best friends has cats. Her BF was allergic. They started dating, he took allergy shots. Now they’re married, she’s pregnant, and he is head over heels in love with the cats. Really glad for the both of them that she didn’t kick him to the curb because he was “just some boy.”

          This is some of the dumbest, sanctimonious BS… what would you prefer? That a cat gets adopted, lives with a caring owner for 6 years, and then gets rehomed to a friend or family member, OR that that cat lives in a shelter for 3 months and then, because it isn’t adopted, gets euthanized? I would LOVE for one of these ethicists to answer.

    2. I would look into getting allergy shots, for the long term. I don’t know about dogs, but I do know someone who got them because he was allergic to his girlfriend’s cat.

    3. How about boyfriend cleans? You’ve been posting about this for a while right? You were going to take the subway with your vacuum, you were going to clean before moving in.

      How about he steps up a bit. First, hire professional cleaners for a deep clean- are their curtains? They need to be taken down and washed. Are there rugs or carpets? They need to be professionally steamed.

      Why on earth are his dogs dirty? Unacceptable. He needs to wash them more often then, and furminate daily.

      And why are you cleaning this mess? Does he lack hands? Does mommy-ing and maid-ing for him turn you on?

      Sounds to me like you have a mild manageable allergy that is being aggravated because you decided to move into a filthy home.

      1. Yeah… I’m kind of here. I thought all that stuff was going to be done before you moved in. It’s possible it’s the dogs, but you’ve said 1) you are allergic to dust and 2) the house is very dusty. Why wouldn’t you think it’s that instead of a new allergy?

        But in general the dogs shouldn’t be filthy so yes that should get fixed . They could get a summer cut too

      2. +1

        I remember OP posting about this too and I’m sad for her that nothing has changed.

      4. An allergist will certainly tell you that you should not vacuum or sweep (whether allergic to dogs or dust or otherwise), if you are experiencing allergies.

        Also note that you may not be allergic forever–often when you are very sick, you get what is called hyper bronchial sensitivity, which means that lower than normal amounts of allergens will really set you off. This happens to me when I have bronchitis, because I also have allergies and asthma.

        I also cosign the advice that you should get to an allergist or pulmonologist or ENT asap–regular doctors are not nearly as good at this stuff.

    4. Have you talked to your doctor about allergy shots/immunotherapy? A family member has had good results with those for their environmental allergies (and has also been able to keep the much loved family cats as pets.)

    5. I developed an allergy to the family cat during my first year away at university. It’s certainly possible.

    6. You need to see an allergist. Most (all?) allergy medications aren’t intended for long-term, year-round use and I would have serious concerns about what you’re doing to your health with this “regimen.” I know you say giving up the dogs is not an option, but are you willing to sacrifice your health for them? I wouldn’t be (and fwiw, I’m a dog lover who thinks of my dog as basically my child). Maybe the answer is that this is not the right relationship for you or that you and your BF can’t live together until the dogs have passed on. I don’t know. There’s no easy answer, but I don’t think you should just dope yourself up with Zyrtec and Allegra without consulting a doctor.

      1. What is your basis for the statement that allergy meds aren’t intended for long-term use? I’ve had allergies my entire life. The many, many doctors I’ve been to have unanimously said that allergy meds are meant to be taken every day. The effect of the pills builds over time, so it doesn’t do much good to only take them when you expect to experience symptoms or are already experiencing symptoms. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been scolded for trying to take the pills on an as-needed basis. I’ve finally decided to follow my (many) doctors’ advice and I live a much happier, healthier life.

        1. Yes, in the same boat, and my allergists have always stacked multiple types of meds – antihistamines, anti-leukocytes, shots, inhalers, nasal sprays, eye drops – the works. And always year-round. I agree that the OP should see an allergist, but giving uninformed medical advice isn’t helpful.

        2. I agree with this, but Zyrtec + Allegra should not be combined. OP needs to pick one.

          Also, I did shots for 10 years and it never completely eliminated the symptoms from my dog. My dog is a non-shedding poodle, but he plays outside at doggy camp several days a week and tracks home all the pollen. I have to brush and bathe him weekly to get the pollen off or it just stays in his coat forever, and maintain a strict cleaning schedule. Just going on allergy meds and shots may help with the symptoms a little–for me it helped during low pollen periods–but during high pollen counts you’re still going to be a mess unless you control the pollen and dust already in the house and being tracked in.

          A few other things: +1 to the recommendation to sinus rinse daily, and also shower at night before you go to bed to get all the pollen off of you. My pup got used to sleeping on the bed before I realized that he was making my allergies worse, and now he’d cry all night long if I tried to keep him out–so if that’s the case with your dogs, at a minimum buy extra pillowcases and put a fresh one on every night so you’re not sleeping on one they’ve laid on before or during the day when you’re gone.

      2. So I’m allergic to everything that grows and my allergist’s recommendation is Claritin(night) and Allegra (morning) at the same time and a prescription nasal spray and eye drops. I take all of that from February to September. Its a pretty standard prescription for where I live which is rumored to have some of the worst allergies in the country. Its this or allergy shots, which would be once a week and require me to sit for at least an hour after the shots to begin with because my reaction was that severe to the allergy tests. My employer isn’t going to go for that.

        1. Same. This is what mu husband has to do spring, summer, and early fall. Texas allergies are no joke.

        2. Most reputable allergists make everyone wait after shots to ensure there isn’t a reaction, and still carry an Epipen after that. Those of us in Texas have to do the drugs+multiple nasal sprays+eye drops+sinus rinse+shots year-round because there is no break in the pollen season. Allergists open at 7am to get shots done before work. It’s just life.

    7. I am allergic to my own cat and have it under control by keeping the house clean (I recommend a Roomba as a bonus), grooming her regularly (she’s a long hair), and taking allergy medication prescribed by my allergist. I have the Winix HEPA filter and it does make a difference. No issues in my own house – but when I visit someone’s house with pets, it’s a whole different story!

    8. Sorry you’re dealing with this! Could you get the dogs groomed on a regular schedule? Grooming my pet a few days before my sister’s visits has really helped her allergic reaction to Fluffer.

      Also, I found moving in with my boyfriend (now DH) incredibly stressful. It was exciting and happy, and a huge step in our relationship, but it was also a big adjustment. That kind of stress can aggravate any medical condition. What I mean to say is that, if you do have allergies, they’re probably acting up hugely right now because you’ve just made a big life change. Naturally, pursue treatment for your symptoms but please be kind to yourself and remember that your reaction may decrease by itself.

    9. I’m allergic to my dog (and horses) and I deal with it-obviously not recommend for everyone, but I love dogs and horses and need them in my life to be happy, so I make it work.

      For my pup, I get allergy shots and she is brushed daily (very long-haired, double-coated breed) and bathed every 2 weeks. Otherwise she’s exceptionally clean (she goes out of her way to avoid dirt and puddles) so it’s not so bad. When I brush her, I have to shower immediately afterwards or I sneeze and get hives.

      Horses I am horrifically allergic too, but the shots help, and when I go to the barn, I take an allergy pill an hour before I go and another on the way home.

      Again, I am not saying anyone SHOULD do this, I’m just saying if you love the guy AND the dogs, there are ways to make it work.

    10. Scientifically, the worst possible time to be inside is right after you sweep/dust/vacuum – leave the home immediately if possible after those activities, wear a mask during, and that will help. You might consider running a programmable Roomba when no one is in the house to get more cleaning done without suffering.

      I’m allergic to cats but not ALL cats, so I feel your pain – things get worse sometimes, and it’s not always easy to acclimate.

    11. Step 1: go to an actual allergist – for all you know, you are allergic to some variety of flowering tree in your BF’s backyard that you didn’t realize (this happened to my husband, his allergies went insane when we moved), or something else in addition to dust and/or the dogs
      Step 2: if your BF owns his place, have him change the filters on the furnance/ductwork. If he doesn’t own the place, talk to the landlord about having them changed on a regular schedule.
      Step 3: Hire someone to do a really thorough cleaning when you aren’t around. Have carpets shampooed, etc
      Step 4: in addition to a HEPA filter, get a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter – otherwise you are just sucking up the dander off the floor and atomizing at least some of it back into the air

  7. Two weeks ago I posted about having to take Plan B and my concerns. I’m happy to report back that I got my period and life is back to normal. Thanks for all the support ladies!

    2. Congrats! I was the AnonForThis that also responded with the similar issues – I also got my period! Glad to see it worked out for both of us!

      2. Hooray! I’ve been keep all of the ladies posting with BC concerns in my thoughts, and I’m so glad that the two of you are back to normal!

  8. I wanted to follow up and thank the commenter who said not to stop TTC until you have a job offer in hand. The job I thought was definitely going to work out suddenly went radio silent. They finally got back to me, and they decided to change the role significantly.

    I’m so glad I did not put my life on hold for something that was never mine, and I wanted to pass along this story for anyone else it might be relevant to. They had asked for references and shared benefits info, but until you have that offer in hand, just keep moving the rest of your life forward :)

    1. +1 Thank you for sharing your story…
      I have a surprise pregnancy and was considering terminating because my career has been stagnant and I’d just gotten a promotion and I was excited to lean in.
      I am currently expecting this summer; meanwhile, the position and management have not been supportive of me.
      I think I made the right choice, too.
      Good luck.

      1. Congratulations! I myself am such a planner and control-freak, but I’m learning that we really cannot control everything in life. Somehow I have to just trust that it will all work out.

  10. Does anyone know whether Nordstrom still does mascara madness? I’ve always relied on their buy 2 get 1 free at the beginning of the half yearly sale, but haven’t seen it this year…

      1. Lancome Hypnose or Lancome Definicils are my go-tos. Both are less dramatic than some of the mascaras that have come out in the last couple of years, but are pretty goof-proof and deliver reliably good-looking lashes whereas the more dramatic mascaras I’ve tried (Lancome Hypnose Drama, Too Faced Better Than S*x, Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir) as often as not leave me with clumpy, spiky, weird-looking lashes.

      2. Dior Diorshow. The original regular one, not one of the newer complicated versions. It’s pricey but the best.

  11. I need some beach vacation destination ideas in the US with with warm water (so not Cape Cod/Maine, etc.), and easy to get to for two families, one coming from DC and one from Boston. We would love to be able to drive to the destination but it’s not essential. 3 kids, ranging from 1- 4. 1 week stay.

    Looking to rent a beach front property for late August. I know we are planning this very last minute and our original plan was to go Cape May, NJ. But we’re having terrible luck with rentals and what is left is very far from the beach or not nice.

    Where have you gone for a beach vacation with kids that you absolutely loved? It would be nice to be in a place that has other kid friendly things to do since we can’t spend all day on the beach every day.

    Myrtle Beach? Hilton Head? Other ideas? Thanks!

    1. Hilton Head! Less crazy than Myrtle Beach, gorgeous surroundings. I went in August and the water was SO warm, I couldn’t believe it. I’d never been in an ocean that warm before, it was like a bath tub.

      1. The airport for Hilton Head is the Savannah airport so you might want to look at Tybee Island as well.

      2. There really isn’t much else to do other than sit on the beach at HH though, from what I remember. Unless you count the outlets?

        1. There is lots to do. Miniature golf, water park, nature preserve, bike rentals and paths, and Harbor Town, are all things I have done and can think of now. Plus you can go to Beaufort and Savannah (expect traffic back onto the island). As a kid I went to one-day day camp programs where we went crabbing and boating plus evening concerts for kids. Not sure that still exists.

    2. Bethany Beach in Delaware is really nice, but not sure it qualifies as “warm”. Easy drive from DC.

      1. Ha! Depends where you’re from. As a New Englander I find it incredibly warm. As in you don’t get shooting aches up your legs and you don’t have to wait for your shins to numb up before going in deeper.

      2. It would be warm at the Delaware beaches in late August, most likely. Rentals would still be expensive if you were looking in peak season (but it ends in the last week of August, I think). If you really wanted to visit Cape May, it’s just a ferry ride away from Lewes, which is north of Bethany.

    3. Long Beach Island, NJ is excellent for families. The vibe is similar to Cape May, very relaxed, not a lot of partying or day trippers. There are several mini-golf places for the older kids, there’s a small amusement park with a water park (that has an area appropriate for little wade-ers), a lighthouse to visit, and tons of restaurants that are kid friendly.

      My family has a home there and it’s one of my favorite places on earth.

        1. Also, I don’t understand why people are pushing NC and SC beaches for a family coming from DC and Boston. New Jersey and Delaware are full of excellent family friendly beaches where the water is plenty warm in August.

          1. Not to pick, but because she herself suggested Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach, so people were providing other similar recommendations.

          2. Wildwood Crest NJ is great for families. Boardwalk and attractions are close by in Wildwood proper but the Crest has beautiful beaches and is very family oriented and quiet. Diamond Beach is the nicest area.

    4. I don’t know where my first reply went, so apologies if this double posts.

      Long Beach Island, NJ!

    5. Do not stay at Myrtle Beach. If you want to go that direction, stay at Sunset Beach or Ocean Isle Beach in southern NC. You can always drive to Myrtle for a day to do Boardwalk at the Beach or the other cheesy things (which are painful as an adult, but sort of interesting to kids).

      1. +1. I would not stay at Myrtle Beach. Is there a reason you’re not looking at the Outer Banks? I love them and they’re very family-friendly. I’ve usually stayed in Corolla and have loved it every time; Corova is also cool but is more logistically challenging, since it’s 4×4 access only.

        1. Love Cordova but OBX is a real haul from Boston. 12-14 hours. The airport isn’t great either- flying into Richmond is the best you can get direct.

    6. Consider some of the NC beaches around Wilmington, like Ocean Isle or Holden Beach. Since it’s between Myrtle and the outer banks, it tends to be more locals/quieter. Schools in the south go back early so you might find some good beachfront in August and the water is super warm.

    7. Not Myrtle. Hilton Head, the islands around Charleston (Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s), some of the non-Outer Banks and Crystal Coast NC islands (Ocean Isle, Holden, Topsail, Emerald Isle). If you’re willing to fly, Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach is not far from the Jacksonville airport and nice. I’m partial to the Georgia Golden Isles because that’s where my family always went growing up (St. Simons, Jekyll, Sea Island (sea island is pricey)), but I’ll warn you the water with those is not even close to clear–too much silt from the nearby river–but there is a good amount of non-beach stuff to keep kids entertained. You shouldn’t be too late to find something at the southern beaches for late August–like NC beaches said, schools start back pretty early here. Though if you’re from the North, you may find the Southern humidity unbearable in August, in which case, look more to the NC beaches, which aren’t *quite* as bad as SC/GA/FL.

    10. If you’re considering NJ, Block Island is only a litle bit further North and is beautiful and fun with a range of activities.

      This may be too “lame” for a vacation, but we used to spend a lot of the summer on the shore in Connecticut as kids. Lots of lovely small towns (like Stonington, Old Saybrook, Madison, Mystic) with enough local aquariums, museums, etc that were a short drive away. Since it was on the Sound, it was warm enough for swimming and well-protected enough to be safe for un-parent-accompanied sailing. Also small town independent-kid-style tennis, biking, movies, etc. I would highly recommend this for a longer time but probably not enough of a destination if it’s only a week or less.

      1. It is a PAIN to get to Block Island from DC….I have to for a wedding this year and my options were a long train ride + ferry, 8hr+ drive + ferry, or a flight to a car to a tiny airport. Wouldn’t be fun with kids!

    11. Pawleys island. Quiet little town but things to do and if I recall about 20 minutes from myrtle if you want to do something like mini golf or something.

    12. I’d go down to the Gulf with small kids – you never need to worry about riptides, the water is much warmer, etc. Pensacola/Gulf Breeze, Tampa, Sarasota, etc. There’s also less suspended silt which bothers some people. Id you’d rather stick to the East Coast Atlantic, I’d go to St Augustine – a lot to do for families, way cheaper than the places like HH.

  12. I just finished putting together my spring/summer capsule wardrobe (I can generally only get it together to switch over every 6 months so I do a fall/winter capsule and a spring/summer capsule) and I feel a much prouder than I should for the dubious accomplishment of collecting pieces of clothing together. This capsule was particularly fun because my work wardrobe is about 5 years old (I graduated law school 6 years ago and haven’t done much updating/replacing since then except when something got ruined by a burrito or not following washing instructions) so I did some significant updating with a capsule wardrobe mindset rather than my previous criteria which were “I like this and it fits”. I can’t wait to get dressed every morning!

    1. Congrats! Planning outfits has become a serious stress in the mornings – I should definitely try your approach!

  13. Who has a few great handbag suggestions for me? Looking to spend $300 or less, I’d like a fun color – I currently have a great black and a great brown bag, so I’m set there. I’ve been browsing Nordstrom’s sale but nothing is screaming BUY ME!

    1. The kate spade surprise sale is going on right now. Lots of cute bags in cute colors.

    2. No recs on particular bags, but as to colors I’ve had two that I loved and were surprisingly versatile, one in eggplant purple and one in red with black and cognac color-blocking.

    4. Dagne Dover is having a sample sale. I bought the 13″ tote in a bright blue colour a couple months ago and I really love it! It has tonnes of space for my every-day stuff and it isn’t too expensive. I’m also finding the coated canvas to be very durable.

    5. I got a mid-blue Furla tote that I’ve been very happy with lately. Lots of other color options. It’s almost boring in its simplicity but it really goes with everything as a result.

  14. For those of you in therapy for Anxiety, at what point did you decide it was time to see a therapist/talk to your doctor about it? I’m at that, “I don’t know if I need coffee, therapy, wine, a hug, a nap, or a vacation” point.

    1. I saw it getting in the way of my life.

      I was (am?) dealing with PPD and anxiety, hand in hand, so it was an increasing inability to hide my tears at work + one morning, sitting in my underwear on the floor of the hallway feeling unable to get up and go to work = ok, time to get help. I actually had my first panic attack during(/after I ran out of) a therapy session which convinced me that my MD was onto something when she told me I had anxiety, not just depression.

      Wishing you hugs, wine, vacations, coffee, naps, and therapeutic successes!

    2. If you have insurance coverage you might as well try talking to your primary care physician or an in network-therapist (If you can find one). I am pretty much always in need of coffee, therapy, wine, a nap, AND a vacation, so you might as well try them all!

    3. I’ve dealt with anxiety, depression, and OCD in varying degrees since I was a kid. I know when it’s time to get a “refresher” course of therapy when, like Anonono said, it’s getting in the way of my daily life. When I’m scattered and worried at work, when I can’t enjoy a night out or a garden party with my husband, when I just can’t shut the worries up enough to concentrate on anything – that’s when I know.

    4. Sorry in advance for the novel.

      For me, it was when I started having physical symptoms to my anxiety that could not be explained by doctors. Ive had a variety of different manifestations over the past 15-20 years of my anxiety. At one point in my life it was sudden very painful puking/pooing at the same time. At another point it was breaking out into unexplained hives. Another point was classic panic attacks where I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Random chest pains. I’m thinking that my recent migraines may have something to do with it too, because I think they are party triggered by the amount of tension I hold in my jaw and shoulders all the time.

      The puking was the straw that broke the camel’s back. There was one day I was at a museum with some friends, and a man went to move a trashcan. He had dropped something behind the trashcan, and was just moving it to pick up his lost item. I thought he was about to throw up in the middle of a public place, which was one of my biggest fears since the random puking incidents began. When I saw him grab the trashcan, I jumped backwards, started shaking, and crying. At that moment I decided I needed help. So whenever a new anxiety whack-a-mole pops up, I know it means I need to calm down or slow down or seek help.

    5. According to the psychiatrist I saw exactly once, I am “high-functioning” with anxiety disorder. I’ve sought out therapy and medication once when I was having problems coping with some difficult circumstances and went from high-functioning to barely functioning (trouble sleeping, frequent crying, frequent panic attacks, lashing out at my husband). I think if your anxiety is getting in the way of you living the life you want, that’s when it’s time to seek help.

    6. My anxiety is much less intrusive than the other posters, so I wanted to chime in just in case you thought, “Oh, I’m feel like I’m really struggling here, but it’s not as serious as everyone talked about, so maybe I shouldn’t seek help after all.”

      I agree with the idea of it interfering with your life. For me, I was behaving in ways I didn’t care for and it was affecting my relationships with people. These behaviors weren’t necessarily extreme, but they were outside the realm of what I wanted from myself and were impacting how I interacted with people.

      Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has helped me immensely. Give it a try. Therapy doesn’t need to be This Big Thing. It can be a tool in your kit that helps you live your life better.

    7. I’ve kind of accepted that due to my own brain chemistry, I’ll always have some sort of ‘baseline’ of anxiety present in my life. It’s just how I’m wired and I’ve learned ways to take care of and manage my natural anxiety on a day-to-day basis (7-8 hours of sleep per night, regular exercise, reading before bed, etc.).

      That being said, I’ll call my doctor for a prescription and/or seek out a therapist when I notice a) I’m stuck in a nonstop obsessive thinking loop about one particular thing for an extended period of time or b) I’m starting to experience physical manifestations of my anxiety (tightness/heaviness in my chest, insomnia, etc.).

      My husband is also a good gut-check for me. He knows that my natural inclination is to be anxious, but he will call me out if he notices things getting particularly bad.

      If you’re not quite sure if you want to go the therapy/meds route just yet, look up some cognitive behavioral therapy exercises for anxiety. Focused breathing and thinking exercises where I imagine my anxiety dissolving or floating away can help calm my anxiety down quite a bit.

      1. As a therapist, all of this is a good way to look at anxiety. Albert Ellis has some good workbooks that can introduce you to the cognitive behavioral world. I also recommend using the “five minute journal” as it can focus you upon the positive which may also help.

    8. When I couldn’t go for more than an hour without having a worried stream of thoughts running through my head. And when I felt like it would never get better. Called a therapist, who later put me in touch with a good psychiatrist for a medication regimen. 3 years later, I still take the meds and I still see her weekly, but it’s more so I don’t slip back into that anxious state.

    9. When I was crying at the general practitioner’s office — I needed someone to talk to, and they gave me a list.
      I didn’t know it was anxiety at the time.
      It might not be! It might be something else!

  15. Things that make me happy on a dull day at work: my basketball team is playing tonight and my very conservative suit just happens to be team colors. Only one person in the office has noticed I’m intentionally wearing my NBA playoffs suit today. Tee hee.

    What’s cheering you up today?

    1. I’m also looking forward to watching a basketball game tonight! Who’re you cheering for?! I’ll be watching the Toronto Raptors.

        1. So my brain just went to “light blue and orange? that’s an odd suit color combo” until I remembered that duh, they axed that color combo 10+ years ago.

          can you tell that it’s been a while since I paid attention to sports? Nothing wrong with it, it’s just not my thing. :-)

    2. I have an excellent visual in my head of a woman wearing a beautiful suit with a basketball jersey layered over it!

  16. Thanks for posting about this sale, Kat. I finally found the perfect pair of dressier wedges for an outdoor wedding I’m attending this summer. So happy to cross that off my list.

  17. Those of you who like Jockey Skimmies, please tell me your secrets to making these work. I bought a pair after hearing about them here, and I’ve spent all morning yanking down the thighs after they roll up and pulling up the waistband after it rolls down. I bought the mid-length “wicking” kind. Maybe I should have bought the longer ones? Maybe they’re too small for me?

    3. Yeah, the shorter ones have a lot of bad reviews due to the thighs rolling up, and the wicking ones were always sliding down on me (maybe I could have used a smaller size for those? I was between sizes so I sized up and probably should have sized down). I’ve been able to re-purpose the wicking ones to wear instead of underwear under pants that otherwise gave me VPL unless I wore a thong, but they never worked for me under skirts for the reasons you mention.

      But the plain vanilla longer Skimmies (not wicking or anti-static or shorter or cooling or any other extra feature) are my go-to – and the cheaper version at Target (JKY slipshort) is pretty decent too.

      1. I agree, the wicking ones always slide down on me too. I have several pairs of the plain longer ones and they are great!

    4. Yes I think size up. The lady at the store told me to get a small and I should’ve gotten a medium (and I don’t have thick thighs).

    6. The shorter ones and the wicking ones always roll up for me. But the long original ones are magical

    7. I’m just going to put it out there, unless you want skimmies for the prevent-flashing purpose, I highly recommend Monistat anti-chafing gel. It’s the best. I usually only need to reapply if it’s 100 degrees out in NYC with high humidity and i’m spending the day outdoors (after about 4-5 hours) or if it’s been over 10+hours since application.

  18. Anyone done a writing test as part of a job interview? This is for a job that has “writer” in the title so I’m not surprised that I’m being asked to do this, but I’m not sure what to expect. I’m currently a lawyer. I can write well and write relatively quickly but I was raised with computers and spell-check so I’m not sure how great my spelling will be if it’s handwritten. Thanks in advance for any insight!

    1. I have not done one on-site at the interview, personally, but required one of people I was hiring in my last job.

      We gave people a couple articles to read on a topic relevant to my industry, and asked for a 1-3 paragraph summary/analysis. I never dinged anyone on spelling (unless it was really atrocious). I was looking for the ability to come to a logical conclusion and present it in a clear, organized way with a variety of sentence structures, good command of grammar and appropriate word usage. I didn’t expect perfection, I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t hiring someone whose work I would dread having to review and edit every week.

    2. I have asked candidates to do writing tests for me in interviews. Finance job but one that requires a lot of writing, so maybe different from law. For me, the purpose was to weed out anyone with weak writing skills – basically a general threshold of writing ability.

      I would ask for hand-written essays so that I could more clearly see the candidates’ thought processes when writing, and not just the finished (edited/spell-checked) version.
      I would choose a very general topic and ask the candidate to write an argument for or against (their choice).

      I was looking for a well-constructed argument and a good understanding of writing (including paragraph structure, word choice, etc.). I know others hiring for similar positions would ask for more technical pieces, so there is a wide range of what could be tested – at least in the capital markets world.

  19. I did also, and I am a lawyer. I did 5 hours of free legal research and writing for a company that I was interviewing for an inhouse position, which I did not get. Those cheapskates had me do real work for them they would otherwise have to pay outside counsel to do for them. I did a great job on the memo, but did not click with the hiring committee. That will teach me never to do free research and writing for anyone again.

    1. Or maybe they had already paid outside counsel to prepare a memo for them on the topic and wanted to see how your research compared?

    2. +1 I did a data analysis for free as a part of a job ‘test’ which on a contract basis I would have normally charged about 2k. They used my ‘test’ analysis for their business and didn’t hire me.

    3. Sorry, that’s awful. They’ve told me this will be a 30 minute test so I don’t think they will be getting any serious work product out of me. (Btw, this is not a legal position; I’m looking to transition careers – sorry if that was confusing!)

    4. I had this experience, interviewing for a position as a legal temp. I got the temp job, and then a permanent job there, but I definitely gave that jerk 10 hours of my work for free, and it should’ve been a red flag for how he treated employees generally (highlight: “congrats, we want to hire you on full time. but you have to take a pay cut. oh you want to stay a temp, so you don’t have to take the pay cut? then we’ll cut your temp hours.”) …

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