Coffee Break: Southport Avenue Cameron Bag

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1. I’m looking for the holy grail of men’s briefcases. I like the looks of the stuff at JW Hulme, but I don’t think they would work for my husband. I think Saddleback’s stuff looks a little too rugged. My H is an attorney in a small town who is in court every day. He’d like a small pocket for pens and business cards and would like it to be able to hold a laptop. It won’t regularly so it doesn’t need a sleeve, but it needs to fit for when we travel. I’d like to spend under $750 but would go a bit higher for the right bag since hopefully it’s the last one I’d ever buy him.

   1. Have you looked into Lotuff?

      Small step above JWH, still made in the USA. I feel like they’re a it more formal, plus they don’t have any JWH branding.

      1. Also wanted to add that I massively covet their Zipper Satchel for myself…whenever I get my next promotion, it’s coming home with me! :)

      2. Those are awesome and might fit the bill. I’m going to show him options and let him pick, and I think there’s two bags that might work. Thank you!

      3. OMG. I love all of that. For myself.

      4. Or Frank Clegg Leather. Similar to Lotuff, I think maybe they worked together once? Very nice.

   2. TUMI Arrive collection, my hubs loves his!

   3. Try Bosca. Nordstrom carries some of their stuff.

      1. +1 to Bosca. Very high quality.

   4. Have you looked at Brooks Brothers? My SO has one and its gorgeous, has a laptop sleeve that’s removable, and lots of little pockets for pens, etc. It looks better now than when he got it.

   5. Check out Jack Georges. I bought my husband a briefcase he’s used every day for five years and it looks great.

2. Looking for recommendations for hair products. I don’t typically do anything with my hair other than shampoo and condition it. What are your favorite hair products for when you want to make a bit more of an effort to look nicer? I’m a real newbie with this. I have shoulder-length, fine, straight hair. Kinda dull.

   Also, can anyone recommend a good protective face moisturizer for when you have to spend a lot of time outdoors in harsh conditions (wind/cold/dry)?

   Thanks!

   1. Ponds dry skin cream comes in a pot and is really thick and oily so I use it when I’m going skiing. No SPF, but I don’t feel all dried out by the end of the day.

      1. I love Pond’s too. Another vote here.

   2. Lush celestial. It’s amazing!

   3. I like the macadamia oil products and orofluido elixir. Also, obliphica is really nice. I got all of these products as samples in my birchbox and they are fabulous.

      1. I was actually really impressed by the Macadamia Oil Cleansing Conditioner – it’s like a mouse you work into your hair and rinse out (in place of ref. shampoo/conditioner). Not sure how it would work on OP’s hair but it made my wavy hair look perfectly beachy.

         My friend who has hair like OP loves Moroccan Oil shampoo/conditioner.

   4. After seeing it on a list of desk supplies here, I tried John Frieda Secret Agent smoothing anti-frizz creme. It makes an absolutely huge difference on my hair, which is just longer than shoulder length and somewhere between straight and wavy.

      1. +1

   5. For straight hair, a nice shine spray (kerastase is nice) would help or something like KMS free shape, which should help with blowdrying and overall styling.

      1. Sebastian Shine Define is great for giving crazy shine to straight fine hair. My hairdresser uses it on my hair and I love it… I don’t use it regularly only because I try to go 2 days between washing and if I use any product my hair gets oily/greasy by the 2nd day. If you’re an every-day washer though, I highly recommend.

   6. My youngest son and I have really dry skin that seems to really suck up moisture. I’ve found a few that I like very much, and I generally don’t differentiate between face & body moisturizers.

      I’ve found Yes to Carrots body butter; Seeds body butter; CeraVe (in the tub, not the bottle); Clinique body butter; and Biotone (which is technically a massage cream, but it is incredible)

      For face-specific, my favorite moisturizer was a gift from my sister, and it was Ole Henriksen Nurture Me cream

   7. I also have shoulder length fine, straight hair and I love Bumble and Bumble dryspun finish. It’s got the volumizing effects of dry shampoo, the ‘make your hair look nice’ part of hairspray and isn’t itchy or gritty or sticky or stiff.

   8. For fine, straight hair – mousse for a little volume. I use the Tresemme stuff and it doesn’t make my hair crunchy at all, just gives it some volume.

      I also like to use that salt spray stuff – I got some totally cheap stuff called Not Your Mother’s or something like that at Ulta – I spray a little on my hands then rub it through my dry hair. I feel like it gives my hair a little more texture. It does tend to be a little drying, though.

      I like the Moroccan Argan Oil conditioner in the fat blue bottle. I also like to use, once a week or so, DryBar’s Mudslide hair mask. I put it on wet hair, do my thing in the shower, rinse it out, then follow up with a bit of shampoo at the scalp so my hair isn’t too weighed down.

   9. Hair product recommendations (I have fine hair but a lot of it):

      Living Proof Prime
      Rusk Thick Body & Texture Amplifier
      Herbal Essences Naked Sheer Shine Mist (I use it on second day hair only)
      Pantene BB Cream for Hair

   10. I have hair exactly like yours and I use Kevin Murphy Easy Rider. I rub a bit into my hair before drying and then put a little around my partline to tame my absurd flyaways. On days I don’t wash my hair, I just do that second step. It takes maybe an extra 30 seconds and makes a huge difference! If I want to get really fancy I also use shine spray.

   11. Great suggestions. Thanks, all!

   12. I have very fine hair, and I swear by Bit Far Hair spray and velcro rollers. I blow my hair dry, put int he rollers, do my makeup, spritz my hair with hairspray, then take the rollers out, and it looks super polished and voluminous with very little effort.

3. Shopping challenge: I’m newly pregnant and since I can no longer buy clothes, I’ve decided I need to round out my accessories wardrobe. I really want to dip my toe (haha) into wearing booties but this is a more fashion-forward look than I’m used to…so I need a cute “introductory” bootie that’s not too out there. I plan to wear them to my biz-casual (very casual) office with tights and a skirt or dress. Given the fact that I’m preggo, a wedge heel is probably more forgiving than a regular one. Black, camel/light brown and/or gray are all contenders and I want to stay under $100. Any of you have something that fits the bill that you just love?

   1. It’s a little bit above the $100 threshold, but the Sam Edelman Petty is my new favorite pair of booties and they’re comfortable.

   2. As someone who’s currently mid-pregnancy: watch out on buying shoes. My feet started to kill me around 18 weeks and I had to put mega-insoles in everything (meaning many things no longer fit, including all but one of my work shoes) and had to stop wearing particularly hard-soled shoes altogether (including the boots I bought at 14 weeks). And my feet haven’t even started to swell yet.

      1. This. While my feet did swell at the end a lot, I was really lucky and they didn’t get bigger. That said, I could wear exactly one pair of wedge heels and one pair of boots at the end of my pregnancy. I found the boots while cleaning my closet out last week and tried them on – they were comically large. Not to dissuade you from buying wedge booties. I would totally go for it. But don’t assume they’ll be a pair you can wear next winter.

      2. I would love to have this problem! With any luck, I will find a guy who will MARRY me, but need some help b/c dad say’s now that I am to intimidateing to men. I refuse to be a wall flower. FOOEY on that! Am I being unreasoneable? I don’t think so, but will rely on the advice of the HIVE.

         Should a woman with a JD and over 5 year’s experience just say to people that I just do what my man wants me to do and say what he want’s me to say? I say NO, and even Rosa is on the fence here, but it seems to have worked for her with Ed and the 3 kid’s.

         What does the HIVE think about being assertive? Or not?

      3. +2: my feet went from 6-6.5 pre-preggo, to 7-7.5 while I was pregnant & just after birth of second son. Since losing 50+ pounds (and back to my “fighting weight”), my feet are now 5.5-6. Don’t spend a ton of money on shoes (or bras–trust me on that one too) while you’re pregnant, because you might not be able to wear them forever. Like my pregnancy-purchase Keens. They’re 7’s. And way too big.

         1. Ditto. Do not spend a lot of money on shoes or bras. Spend enough to be comfortable (the alternative is misery!) but don’t count of every being able to wear either again, even in subsequent pregnancies.

            Signed,
            pregnant for the 3rd time

      4. I know every pregnancy is different, but I had no/minimal swelling on my first two go-rounds. Thanks for the reminder, though!

         1. I have 6 kids and my feet are more or less the same 7.5 they’ve been since junior high. I wore all my shoes throughout all my pregnancies (except when comfort was a factor), so it’s definitely possible for feet to remain the same size.

         2. Accidentally reported, sorry!

   3. I have the Vince Camuto Vala booties and love them (they do have a heel, but I love them anyway). They work really well in my business casual workplace, a little more fashiony than a plain pump, but still very classic.

      1. I have these too. Love them.

   4. I can’t fit my feet in any of the shoes i bought in my first trimester now, at 14 months postpartum. My feet went up at least one size sometime after i got too tippy and swollen to wear heels.

      1. Oh, i also had horrible backpain for a big chunk of my second trimester that kept me from wearing heels.

   5. I have these in “grey” (but it’s really more like taupe/tan) and I love them. The heel may be a deal-breaker for you but I wear heels every day and these are among my most walkable. And the price is right! (BTW web site says they run small but I found them TTS.)

      http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/bp-trolley-ankle-bootie/3194050?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=bp._%27trolley%27_ankle_bootie:371572&cm_pla=shoes:women:boots&cm_ven=Linkshare&siteId=fV7QgDWUWe0-JvwD9uPdOfSgvPUobIS7Kw

      1. Glad I scrolled down to see if anyone posted the BP trolley. I rarely if ever wear heels so they are higher than my usual comfort level but I love them! I have the taupe ish gray color but secretly want them in all colors. Very comfortable. If it’s helpful, I often have trouble with boots being too tight across the top of my foot but the material is very soft and seems to break in and conform to different foot shapes well.

   6. Last year I bought a pair of DV by Dolce Vita wedge booties at Nordstrom. They don’t have the same style still, but they do have 4 other styles:

4. Does anyone know if Aritzia ever has sales or coupon codes?

   1. There’s usually a sale in January and June. Other than that, no coupons and they have an awful return policy if you buy things on sale (final sale).

      1. Return policy is better on final sale items when you buy online.

5. Kat, not sure if this is an issue on my end, but wanted to let you know that I am unable to see the comments on my work computer – either on IE or Chrome. My iPhone loads them just fine.
   It was fine this morning.

   1. Same

      1. And now it seems fixed (for me).

6. Love the color – different but neutral – but don’t like the shape.

7. Note that this bag was made for the outlets, so I suspect the $448 “original price” may be an inflated “this bag would normally retail at…” price. It still looks like a nice bag for the price though.

   Can anyone speak to the quality of Kate Spade and whether there’s any difference in quality between stuff made for the outlets and regular stuff? I’m a Coach loyalist but am probably going to buy a KS bag soon because I love their recent offerings but I’m wondering how they will hold up.

   1. I have one regular KS bag and one KS outlet bag that both get about the same amount of use…and I haven’t noticed any appreciable difference. The outlet bag had a shinier finish (not patent, but with a sheen) that has rubbed off on some wear points, but the zipper, lining, pockets, etc. seem on par with the regular KS. The outlet bag is bigger too, so I’ve packed it heavier and stressed it more.

      ETA – I bought both through the online sales from the KS s!te, so I didn’t pay full price for either.

   2. Kate Spade outlet is designed to be 50% off, so 50% is in fact actually full price.

      I’ve used the kate spade warranty for both outlet and retail kate spade bags, they repaired my outlet bag and refunded my retail bag. Great experience both times.

   3. I have two outlet bags and both are holding up well to heavy use. I would buy them again.

   4. Good to know, thanks.

      1. I have two kate spade bags ( regular, not outlet) that are five or six years old and still look great. Granted, I change my bags to go with my outfits so neither gets daily wear but they are well made and both have lots of details, pockets, zippers, etc. and no obvious logos. My other faves are coach, Dooney and brahmin.

8. Since we’re always looking for nice, business-appropriate flats around here –

   http://www.toryburch.com/bedford-flat/41148359.html?start=5&dwvar_41148359_color=465&cgid=shoes-flats

   (In black and blue. I might buy both).

   1. Those are cute. I have a pair of similar pointy toe snakeskin-looking flats from J. Crew from a few years ago (in a grey / black) and I wear them all the time. They are a fantastic neutral without being neutral shoe.

   2. Love.

   3. Wow. Those are GORGEOUS! To bad I can’t do $275 for shoes. But tempting.

9. So I was inspired by mention of Uniqlo on this morning’s thread to check out their website. I very much liked what I saw! Any advice on how the sizes run?

   Mostly I am interested in sweaters and the dresses. I find that Loft dresses fit me very well, but Boden tends to be too narrow in the hips, if that is of any use.

   Thanks. Or not, for enabling me to spend more money.

   1. I find that it runs a bit small – I take my normal size, but know that things will fit more closely than BR or Loft or Boden. If you like things with more ease, size up.

10. Which would you wear – sheer black Spanx hose or black Spanx tights or just a Spanx shaper in this situation:

    I’m a bridesmaid in a wedding next weekend. The dresses are long and dark – you only see a tiny bit of my foot, and a little bit of my leg in the back slit. I’m wearing black closed toed shoes. Its supposed to be only a high of 48 on the wedding day, and we will be taking some photos outside (yay)

    Given the above conditions, should I go with Black Spanx tights for a tiny bit of extra warmth, Black Spanx sheer-ish hose to look a little more fancy than tights or just plain Spanx since I tend to get runs in my tights/hose easily no matter what I do? The bride is not a bridezilla so I don’t think she’ll really care.

    Opinions? Or should I just order both on Amazon Prime and return the one I don’t wear? And on the same lines – is there a difference between the Spanx reversible tights and non reversible? Its only a $2 price difference between reversible black/gray and plain black – is there any other difference?

    1. I am super compulsive so even though the bride hasn’t expressed a preference, I would poll my fellow bridesmaids and see if we could all agree on something. And my vote would be sheer hose.

    2. Plain spanx or spanx sheer hose. Tights aren’t formal enough.

       I’d probably go with ordinary control top sheer nude hose if I were concerned about being cold.

    3. I would wear nude Spanx hose – black may look odd if not everyone is doing it. But for future reference, the reversible Spanx tights are thicker and completely opaque compared to the non-reversible ones which are like 80% opaque. I prefer the non-reversible.

    4. Ask the bride her preference for everyone. If she cares enough to have you wearing dresses that work into some overall look, then she may care.

       Personally, I think black looks casual and weird. That would bug me, and I’m usually an unconventional, anything-goes type (I didn’t even have bridesmaids).

    5. No tights. You will also likely get hot at the reception. Maybe wear an above the knee shaper that you can take off when you get inside?

    6. Thanks everyone. I had a feeling sheers or none was the correct answer, I was just hoping I was wrong and tights would be ok since you only see a tiny bit of my foot. Probably going to throw my Capri length running leggings in my bag to put on during pics if its freezing – they won’t be visible in any way

11. I came across a suggestion a month or two ago for American-made, “heirloom” style knives. They were kind of utility knives used for everything from hunting to carving meat, with beautiful handles.

    I can’t for the life of me remember what the brand is! And to be honest, I don’t even know if the recommendation came from here. Does anyone know what I’m talking about? I think I would like to get one as wedding gift for future husband.

    1. Don’t remember the convo, but this seems like something you could get at an arts fair or a similar event.

    2. I don’t remember the convo, but my mom ordered an oyster knife for my dad from this guy-it was nice and it looks like he makes regular knives: http://creativeknifeworks.com/

    3. Cut Brooklyn does handmade knives. They are beautiful (though not cheap).

    4. Thanks all! I think I figured it out– Randall Made Knives. But I’m also going to check out your other suggestions.

12. Any recommendations for a nice necklace for my mom’s 60th? I’m willing to spend up to $500, bonus points for something with a blue stone (her favorite color). Something more on the simple/classic side of things, she is not very flashy and doesn’t wear big jewelry. Even jewelry store recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

    1. Blue Nile has a lot if nice options in that price point, including both stationed and pendant necklaces with blue gemstones.

       1. This one is particularly beautiful: http://www.bluenile.com/sapphire-bar-necklace-in-14k-white-gold_41736?elem=title&track=product

          1. Thanks!! That necklace is exactly the type of thing I’m looking for.

          2. Love that! Adds to wish list…

       2. I like Ross Simons for jewelry. How about something like this:
          http://www.ross-simons.com/products/832521.html

    2. The Jewel Box in Juneau, Alaska has some really beautiful and affordable aquamarine jewelry. I don’t think you can buy it online, but you can look at it on their website.

    3. Check beladora2 for lovely estate stuff. Turquoise is a great option that would work with your price point.

    4. Thanks for all the great recommendations!

13. Zulily has Cole Haan on discount today – some shoes, sunglasses and a few bags.

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