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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Stretch Wool Peplum Jacket

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Lafayette 148 New York Stretch Wool Peplum JacketHere's another great sale on a blazer: this stretch wool peplum jacket from Lafayette 148 New York. I like that the color is extremely versatile, and for once I like the peplum/flounce. It was $498, but is now $149 (sizes 0 and 6-14 still left). Lafayette 148 New York Stretch Wool Peplum Jacket Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)

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:

182 Comments

  1. Dear r3tt3s, I am about to have a call with my manager wherein I tell him that a) I am expecting my 2nd child and b) I am going to start looking for a new job internally because I can’t travel after kid #2. (I’m currently a consultant and barely hanging on with one kid.) I know it’s the right thing, but I’m nervous. This guy doesn’t have kids and loooves traveling, so I hope he is somewhat understanding. I would really appreciate any spare assertive working mom vibes you ladies have to spare this morning!

    2. Good luck–I hope he sees your worth and helps make the transition easy for you. I don’t do ANY traveling, and I’m barely hanging on with 2 kids!

      You never know, he may be more understanding than you think. My boss is a 50-something never-to-be-married bachelor3tt3, but is more like a crazy cat lady. She has nieces/nephews, but no kids of her own. She is surprisingly understanding of the need for families coming first. He could surprise you too.

      1. +1 a lot of people without kids don’t have them precisely because they understand what’s involved.

    4. Congrats! Can I ask why you need to tell him that you will be looking for a new internal position post-#2 now? Might that be done closer to the due date, or does it need to be now?

    5. Thanks, all, for the congrats and good vibes! It went pretty well – he was very understanding and thinks we can work through the travel issue so that I can remain in my current role. Fingers crossed! I did think about waiting to tell him about looking for a new position, but in the end I decided to be as honest and up-front as possible. That usually tends to pay off at my company…so far, I think it was the right strategy. Really really appreciate your comments, everyone. They sent me into the call in a good frame of mind!

  2. I want to buy one, but apparently they’re dry clean only. I don’t like to dry clean because of the hassle and the chemicals used in the process – does anyone know if the silk blouses can be handwashed instead? I also have a JCrew silk chiffon dress that should be dry-cleaned, but I’d rather hand-wash that too if possible. Anyone know how strict dry-cleaning rules apply when it comes to a delicate fabric like silk?

    TIA!

    1. You can always tell this in advance…some silks have weird treatments, some will end up with water spots. My rule of thumb is that if I want to wear something again, I will shell out for dry cleaning. And that’s also why I don’t have a ton of DC-only clothes, too. I have ruined a few silk things over the years by accidentally putting them in the washer, or by thinking that some gentle hand-washing would be OK. Sometimes, it’s just not OK.

    2. I’m always cautious about silk. I find that washing changes the texture of silk. What was once a silky, satiny charmeuse will take on a more brushed/peached texture. Dupioni is softened by the wash, and isn’t quite as crazy shiny and rigid. I’m not sure about chiffons and georgettes, but I expect that the outcome would be similar.

      Dryel?

      1. I’ve actually heard that a diluted white vinegar rinse can help with the stiffness post wash. I’ve also had luck with ironing on the silk setting with just a little bit of steam (Jcrew shirts and georgette) to get the smooth and shiny back.

    3. My understanding is in theory silk should be able to be handwashed, since it’s a natural fabric. However, I handwashed a silk blouse I got from J.Crew, and it shrank noticeably. Someone posted here the other day that companies will coat lower-quality silk garmets with something to make them shiny. Given J.Crew’s much-discussed general decline in quality, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were the case. If the dress is silk chiffon it’s probably not shiny, so you might be ok, but I would weigh how attached you are to the items before handwashing them.

    4. Almost everything (except acetate and felt) can be wet washed. The dry clean/dry clean only tags are CYA for people who ruin a garment after not paying attention to care instructions. The Laundress actually has a pretty nice chart about care instructions for different fabric types.

      Silk can always be wet washed. Don’t leave in the water to long, keep it out of the sunlight while drying. You may have some shrinkage happen. The trick is going to be ironing/steaming the fabric to get it to look like it did before you washed it.

      2. (Other readers and) I have found that the Blythe blouse from J. Crew does shrink, far beyond recovery to an acceptable size, after even the most painstakingly careful hand wash and drying. I did not break any of the Laundress’ guidelines. I don’t know what happens, but it’s made me a lot more skeptical of any J. Crew (or Madewell) silk. Be warned!

        1. Shrug. I have the same blouse, and while I have noticed shrinkage, it’s been within an acceptable range. I did buy the shirt a little on the big side, in part because that was what was available, and because I knew of the shrinking issue. I’ve both handwashed and machine wash (cold water, knit cycle).

          I’m just all for avoiding dry cleaning whenever possible. And it’s rarely absolutely required.

        2. Everything I’ve ever handwashed (following the careful handwashing instructions) has shrunk.
          Silk, cashmere, you name it.

          I don’t like dry cleaning, but I vastly prefer dry cleaning to ruining clothes!!

    5. I don’t have any advice on hand-washing vs. dry cleaning, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience with Everlane silk blouses generally? I’ve been eyeing one for awhile but have yet to take the plunge. Their tops often seem to look weirdly boxy on their (decidedly not boxy) models, but it’s hard to tell.

      Also would appreciate any thoughts on the overall quality of their clothes over time. Does it seem as high end as they describe, or more just like regular J.Crew/AT/BR?

      1. I’m an Everlane convert. I started off with t-shirts when I was so frustrated by J Crew’s thin, see through and prone to pin holes after one wash (on gentle). I have a couple of silk blouses and find them comparable to Equipment in terms of fit/style but at a much more affordable price point. Read the measurements on their fit guide and order accordingly. I initially sized up because years of J Crew not allowing for chests to fit in shirts. I ended up exchanging for a size down once I figured out that their size guide/measurement chart is accurate. You can also email them about the fit and I’ve found them to be helpful. Overall I’ve been pleased with the quality and customer service. I wear a M in their silk shirts and I’m 5’6″ and a 32DD.

      2. I just purchased my first top from Everlane. it’s a button-up silk top. I find that it is slightly larger and a little more boxy than, say, an Ann Taylor silk button-up. I am 5’2, 115 lbs, and the XS is a little too big for me. With that said, the shirt looks fine tucked in, and the material is great – very soft. I would recommend (just size down).

  3. I like the wool pants pictured with this jacket (and they’re on sale). Can anyone talk about how their pants fit (true to size? best for straight shapes? best for moderate pears?)? Thanks!

    1. I don’t know if it depends on the pant, but I have a pair of Lafayette 148 pants that fit my moderate pear shape beautifully.

    2. I have only tried on Lafayette 148, didn’t buy – my recollection is that they run BIG.

      2. Yup, the ultra high-rise doesn’t work with my long torso but short-legged build. Lafayette148 pants gave me a serious case of Grandpa Butt.

      3. So glad to know this – they have pants in plus sizes, and I was contemplating them.

  4. Eeks, just sent emails out to potential interviewees for my fieldwork. Fingers crossed I can get some interviews scheduled. Otherwise I’ll fill my fieldwork days with waffles and frites.

      1. Definitely could..although I don’t fancy the post-trip meeting with my supervisor :)

    2. I’m sure it will work out. And that you’ll still get plenty of time for waffles and frites!!! ;o)
      Good luck!!

  5. Thank you ladies for introducing me to the joy that is fleece tights. On the second-coldest day of the season, I’m toasty in my fleece tights (walmart brand–who knew??), tall flat boots & wool tweedy skirt.

    I’ve got my oatmeal, my hot chocolate…I’m ready go to.

    1. It’s cold (for here) this morning. I have my allergy tests so I thought I’d go casual – in a hooded sweatshirt, denim leggings, and boots.

      1. Ditto! I bought some yesterday and am already in love!!! Mine are some brand from Ross, $5 and they’re fabulous. I doubt these will run, like my previously purchased “tights” which in retrospect were more like black stockings.

    4. It looks more like what Hollywood thinks we’ll wear in the future (The Matrix, anyone?)

          1. Since the name is transliterated from a language that doesn’t use the English alphabet, Jung may well be as correct as Jong (although Jong is the accepted Western spelling). Kind of like Qaddafi and Khadafy.

    6. Yep. And also, when did “blazer” become a synonym for “jacket?” Back in the day, a “blazer” was a certain style of jacket — single or double breasted with one to fourish buttons, lapels, long sleeves.

      And you kids? Get off my lawn!!

      1. Agreed, but I think that in the SEO-dominated world of online shopping, anything which falls int0 the category of “jacket, not outerwear” becomes a “blazer.”

    7. +1

      I remember Queen Latifah rocked her prison matron costume in the movie version of “Chicago”, but that’s because she’s awesome.

  7. Thanks for all the “get to bed earlier/get out of the house tips” last week, everyone! I’ve been trying to put those tips to practice this week and it’s going well so far (well, working from home today, but still!).

    Next mission: get personal life organized. I was always very dependent on my moleskin dayplanner, but now that things have gotten more digital, I’m trying to move most of my life to my phone/the cloud. I use Google Calendar for big things (travel, etc) but my small pocket planner for day-to-day appts, etc. Anyone have any experience with or tips for converting everything to Google Calendar? Or some other tool/app? I would love to have a place where I store birthdays, due dates for paying bills, travel, etc. Is Google Calendar it?

    Thanks!

    1. I use Google Calendar for most things and Wunderlist (thanks to a thissite recommendation) for to dos. I also have a paper yearly calendar so I can see my conference / travel / teaching schedule at a glance.

      1. I used Google Calendar for all of the sorts of things you mentioned. Here is what I have:

        1) Appointments (I send an invite to my work email and any other relevant parties)
        2) Bill due dates: I have a recurring bill-pay reminder every two weeks, and I batch any non-auto-pay bills into these two chunks. I also schedule (separately) big annual or semi-annual bills like insurance.
        3) Birthdays: Recurring appointment every year on the same date, with reminders two weeks and one week in advance.
        4) Other Milestones (baby due dates were big for a while – I could hardly keep track)

        I just started using wunderlist for to-do items and Ziplist for groceries/recipes. I use evernote for packing lists and other wordy things (anything that I would use one note for on my work computer).

        All of these have websites and apps, making it easy to sync between devices.

        1. I do this. I use google calendar, and sync on my iphone with CalenMob. My calendars are:
          – Personal – me plus family: appointments, games, practices, girls nights, parties
          – Bills – everything, even annual events like bar dues
          – Dates to Remember – birthdays, anniversaries

          For notes I’ve been using the iphone Notes app, but it isn’t great; I’ll try wunderlist.

          My work calendar is on that Outlook Work App. There are multiple logins so I don’t even bother to get it on my phone.

    2. I have multiple Google calendars synced to my account so I can keep track of my personal calendar, chores (reminders to do laundry, change air filter, etc), outfits I wear each day, meal plans and the Tasks app on my Android phone syncs as a calendar as well. I’ll be watching this thread to see if anyone has a better system.

      1. this is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever heard of. Why on earth would I not have thought to put those sorts of household tasks on a calendar!!! Nice work!

        Do you have any other apps that you use?

      2. I do this as well. I also share my DH’s calendar, and share my work calendar with him as “free/busy.” Google Calendars really hold my life together. I can see them on my iphone, my ipad, and my computer. You can have as many calendars as you want. So easy to use.

        Having one electronic calendar and one on paper seems a little unweildy, IMO. Just asking for things to get forgotten.

    3. Mabye you should have your Dad do all of your organizeing for you! That is what my dad doe’s and it free’s me up to do alot of other thing’s, b/c I do NOT have to waste any time paying bill’s or doing tax return’s or anything administreative! YAY!

      But my dad is pusheing me to get MARRIED already so that my HUSBAND can do this instead of him. FOOEY b/c I do not want to have to marry some schlub just b/c my dad is getting lazy and want’s to retire and moove down south. I told him I would send him all the forms I get and he can do all the work from wherever he moove’s. He said that he want’s out, and Ed is doing all of Rosa’s paperwork so I need a guy to do mine. He wondered why Sam is not good enough and I said he was NOT even a citizen and that I do NOT want bad teeth and if I moove with him back to the U.K., I might have teeth like Grandma Leyeh by the time I was 40. He did NOT agree. He said I could come home 2x a year for dental check-up’s and that if I married Sam, he would pay for my airplane ride’s! FOOEY! He is being VERY dificult, especialy b/c I am not sure I would even want Sam making love to me every day, which he said he would SURELEY do. Why is it that men want to have sex all the time?

      Anyway, I have a question for the hive: I was walkeing in today with Myrna’s fur coat on and slipped, fell on my tuchus, and got dirty snow and ice all over it. Should I take it to a DRY cleaner’s b/c it is FUR, or should I go to a place that specialises in FUR? Can anyone recomend a place on the upper east side that handel’s FUR cleaning? I could go into Bloomie’s and ask them, but I do NOT think I am to welcome there. I was also thinking about L&T, but I did NOT buy any furs there. HELP!

      1. Grown, professional women are capable of managing their own finances.

        (I know everyone loves Ellen, but I get tired of seeing her little theme over and over and over again.)

    4. Just a tip – get your nighttime/morning routines down pat before you try to add too many more new habits to the pile so that you don’t overwhelm yourself and give up on everything. Glad the tips are working for you! I’ve been adding multiple alarms for myself, too.

    5. the multiple alarms are working well for me, too! Thanks again for starting the convo. ;o) Of course here I am at 8:15 commenting on here when I should be in the shower already ;o\ oops! But this is way better than when i used to keep snoozing till 9. And i did actually get to bed at 10 last night because my phone kept yelling at me ;o)

      I’ve been using iCal and now BusyCal for many years to keep track of pretty much everything in my life. Including a separate calendar with all my bills listed by due date, and anything else like that. But I also agree with January about getting one thing really solid before doing too much, that is exactly how i have sabotaged myself many times in the past.

      1. I like the Sleep as Droid app because it buzzes me with “go to sleep” alarm ~8 hours prior to my first scheduled alarm. And you can set up math problems or other stuff to snooze the alarm (I disabled that SO FAST). The Pandora app also has an alarm feature which is new. Nothing like waking up to Britney Spears, amirite?

        I should probably put in a 9:45pm go to sleep alarm just because, that’s a good idea.

        1. I have multiple ones at night. ;o) one to remind me to take my pills. one telling me to get ready for bed. one that says “You better have your ass in bed!!” and then a ‘go to sleep’ one. At the moment i”m having fun thinking of creative and sarcastic things to say to Future Zora ;o)

          2. I managed to get out of bed today by the time “Are you EVER planning to shower??” came around. Hurray. I’m glad the love of snarky reminders is helping others.

            I also use snarky iPhone proximity alerts. As I pull up to my house, I currently get “You forgot to buy cat food again, didn’t you.”

    6. Also, if you iPhone, and you put in the contact’s birthday, the phone will remind you (without your having to put it in the calendar)

    7. I store birthdays, bills due, and travel in my google calendar. I also store bills due in my wunderlist. And I also carry a moleskine. I’m a lady who loves lists…

      1. Ditto. Birthdays, anniversaries, work schedule, appointments, etc are in iCal. Appointments have 1 day before and 1 hour before alerts. I use the reminders app on my iphone for to do items that I need reminders for or a little extra motivation to complete them. I also carry a notebook and use the Bullet Journal system to organize it so I also have appointments in there. I’m totally a list person.

        1. I’m a total list person–I think that’s why it’s been hard for me to convert to electronic lists. But I also hate carrying huge notebooks with me all the time. I’m going to look into iCal and Bullet Journal–I’d never heard of either. Thanks!

          2. Oh and iCal is actually just Apple’s calendar program. Google calendar is probably very similar.

          3. Like Sydney said: iCal is the Apple brand calendar. I’ve actually switched to BusyCal, which costs money, but has much more functionality than iCal, I can more easily sync all of my local computer calendars and multiple google calendars into one application, and with my phone.

            But google cal is the same idea: i have different ‘calendars’ with different colors for different things. I have $$(which is all income and bill due dates), ‘personal’ ‘travel’ ‘culture’ (which is things I hear about that i kind of want to go to. If i actually commit to going, they switch to ‘personal’) a few different calendars for various work things. And then i set different reminder alarms for things, like reminding me to check into a flight, or reminding me to pay a bill.

            I like having them all in calendars with different colors, because then i can look at the month view and see at a glance what I really need to do this month or this week. I also use the ‘personal’ calendar to remind me of a specific thing, like to pick up half and half on the way home after work. And set an alarm so that as I’m leaving the office I get the reminder alert. Otherwise I just forget to look at the todo list at the right times, and then i forget something until it’s an inconvenient time.

          4. Oh yeah, and I’ve even added in stuff like: “change air purifier filter” which is an every four months appointment, and “car service” every three months (bc i never drive more than 3,000 miles) … anything like that that. Custom repeat is the best thing that ever happened to me in the history of EVER.

  8. I’m thinking about getting a pixie cut. However, my current wardrobe is on the masculine side and my job requires that I wear pants and flats. Is there an easy way to feminize my current wardrobe of straight leg pants, ballet flats, cardigans, and button downs? I think it would be easier in the summer, but right now it’s freezing and it seems like all I have to wear are crew neck cable knit sweaters.

    3. Fun earrings and necklaces can feminize your outfits. Stores like Forever 21 and H&M are good for cheap jewelry. Also consider swapping out your button downs for softer blouses. Something like this can still be bworn with your pants and cardigans: http://www.loft.com/petite-collarless-utility-blouse/325648?colorExplode=false&skuId=15295798&catid=catl000052&productPageType=saleProducts&defaultColor=3918
      When I cut my hair short, I also amped up my makeup a bit.

    4. feminine prints & colors? ruffle-neck shirts/similar? I would be looking for classic pieces as well, with some statement jewelry. Accessorize.

      Pixie cut is awesome, if you have the right bone structure for it. I would love to get one again, now that I’ve got a more angular face (not fatface anymore…)

    6. “Softer” looking blouses to wear under cardigans? I’m thinking silks or maybe sheer with a cami underneath (if appropriate for your office), bow tie necklines or ruffles? I love pixie cuts!

    8. I’ve got a pixie. My style skews more feminine but I’ve seen women with more androngenous styles rock the cut (see, e.g., the blogger behind You Look Fab). Wear lipstick, more dramatic eyeliner, earrings, or animal print. You can also work in headbands if you can stand them and other hair baubles, anthro usually has a good selection. Seriously: cut off your hair. You will never look back!

      1. Well this is embarrassing–clearly that’s how you spell “androgynous” before your morning cup of coffee. facepalm

    9. All of these are great suggestions. To add my experience–I had a pixie cut for many years and found it never looked masculine when I actually styled it with a product in the mornings. If you go to a good hairdresser, the actual cut will look different on you than it would look on a man’s head. Maybe it’s my own bias, but I think that good pixie cuts are incredibly feminine.

      Also, with earrings, I always felt weirdly exposed when wearing anything other than studs, like you’d look at me and just see EARRINGS!

    10. I just got a pixie cut within the last six months, and I’d say that makeup is what helps the most for me in keeping the look feminine (and I also have a pants and blazers wardrobe that’s not especially girly). I feel like I look more dowdy than masculine when I don’t wear makeup and style the pixie a bit — it looks less fashionable and more utilitarian if I go completely au naturel.

  9. Thanks to whoever recommended Something New on the chick flicks thread a few weeks ago – I watched it recently and thought it was lovely!

    1. It was me! I LOVE that movie. I identify so much with the main character – they really got the life of the workaholic career lady right. If only I had a yard guy who looked like Simon Baker…

  10. Wool pants – do thick, itchy (kind of kidding), lined wool pants exist any more? I’m not talking about the dainty suiting tropical weight wool pants. I have some Eddie Bauer wool pants from a couple of years ago that were a heavier weight wool and lined, but their current wool pants are a blend (I think) and are very thin. I would love a pair of somewhat casual looking (cut more like jeans than work trousers) 100% (or close to it) wool pants. I would also love them to be not much more than $100. I think these do not exist, but thought I would ask.

    I’ve checked Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, Boden, Nordstrom, even Athleta, Patagonia, and REI thinking there might be something that doesn’t look too outdoorsy, but no luck. This winter has reminded me that wool pants are really so much warmer than jeans or corduroy.

    1. Lands’ End (wearing some right now) and Banana — but my Banana ones are kind of old. Also, Brooks Brothers. I’d Google some for you but can’t at the moment.

      1. Thanks – I forgot about Lands End. I have to admit, their dresses do not work for me. The regular size is too big (proportionately) but the petites don’t quite work either. But they are so easy to order and return, perhaps I shall give them a try. And I have an awesome tailor, so if the fabric is right and the fit is close, I’m willing to pay for tailoring.

    2. I can’t check right now, but look at Lands End and LLBean. Do you want these for work or for casual wear when you want something warmer than jeans? If the latter, check out flannel (or fleece) lined jeans.

    3. Brooks Brothers has wool flannel pants that are trouser style so may not be as casual as you’d like but are a good winter weight. I think most are in the clearance section for around $99 now, but it’s very random sizes only.
      Talbots usually has some version of this if their style works for you.
      LL Bean Signature and J Crew usually have some kind of a heavy wool plaid trouser, and they usually do cropped pants that might be more casual (though you’d have to tuck them into boots to get the warmth)…
      If you’re looking for casual but warm weekend pants though what about flannel lined jeans or cords?

    4. Mine are admittedly old, but I have gotten wool flannel pants in years past at BR and JCrew.

    5. Pendleton has think wool lined pants. I think the rise on mine is kind of high, but in this weather I don’t care, since I’m wearing with a sweater.

    6. Try Sierra Trading Post. They often get some “odd” stuff that is a little less traditional. FWIW, I have a pair of Banana Republic & a pair of Old Navy wool/blend lined pants that are very heavy and warm.

    7. Thanks for all the ideas. I need to go to a Talbot’s store – I remember their pants did work for me in the past. I will also check out Sierra Trading Post – I have looked at Zappos and 6pm.com, but didn’t think about STP.

      I do want actual wool pants – pants that are warm, but not jeans. The casual/informality factor isn’t a dealbreaker, but I would like something a bit more slim/straight cut than drapey trousers.

      Thanks for the shopping help, I do appreciate it.

      1. FYI, I feel like the Talbots catalog and online are much more “my style” than the brick and mortar stores. They make me feel old, and I can’t find anything I like.

  11. Can someone please explain what it’s like to work in-house? I’m a second year associate in the corporate group of a mid-size firm (250+ lawyers), thinking of transitioning at some point in the future. I do mostly M&A work, with some greneral commercial contract work. I’d like to know more about how in-house positions compare to firm work, and how to set myself up on a track to transition in-house in the future.

    1. You’ll need to narrow down your question a bit more to get more substantive responses (asking what is it like to work in-house is like asking how do jeans fit?), but I will give you a few points of note from my experience:

      – fewer hours
      – better coworkers
      – less stress
      – respect for vacations
      – more interesting work
      – initial paycut but i am at the point now where my salary plus bonus plus non-cash compensation (stock/401K match) is probably meeting or exceeding what my BigLaw salary would have been by now

      1. I agree with Anon for the most part, but just want to point out that my in-house job actually respects vacation far less than BigLaw (I get the crises that aren’t really crises, just you-forgot-to-tell-me-about-this-before-I-left type things). I also have waaaayyy less flexibility than I did in BigLaw. Those days of sneaking out to get my hair cut/run errands/grab lunch with friends are gonzo. And having real vacation days that had to be tracked and logged (not just sorta/kinda flex days where I worked a little bit but was out of the office doing something super fun) was a huge adjustment for me … especially when they weren’t respected.

        That said, wouldn’t trade it for the world. The majority of my time I spend on my niche practice, and the rest of the time I do all the “regular” in-house work as I am the company’s first (and so far only!) legal hire (another set of pluses and minuses for another day). I have a handful of coworkers who work for me, and am in a mid-size company in a “fun” industry; you would know the company and industry if you heard it, but more details would out me. :)

        1. I’m the Anon from above and I agree with In-House Optimist re: flexibility, vacation respect, etc. It varies from company to company. We totally have flexibility to grab lunch, run errands, have a personal appointment, etc. I know other places that are much stricter on hours-at-desk. Like anything else, do your diligence on the particular places you’ll eventually end up applying.

        2. It’s a mixed bag for me, but generally it is more of a butt in chair kind of job– I’m paid to be here for certain hours, not so much for the work I do. But my boss doesn’t really see it that way– she values my advice and my work. The fact remains that I pretty much have to be here all day, every day. Still better than billing hours and working nights/weekends though.

          Another aspect is that, at least in a mid sized company like where I work, there’s not as much salary potential unless you can make the leap to general counsel. No big bonuses, raises are tiny. The money is definitely good, just not huge. On the other hand, there is no up or out kind of stuff. It’s not expected that I “move on” in a couple years. Attorneys have worked here for their entire careers, and experience is respected. Contrast that with a lot of law firms where the only people over 50 are the staff and a few head honcho partner types.

          1. Also, actual sick and vacation days. I’m just not here those days (but checking email sometimes if I’m in town and not on my deathbed). Without billable hours, those days have actual value.

      2. I think that “interesting work” really depends on the type of in-house job. If you’re an M&A lawyer, for example, you’re less likely to handle major, bet-the-company deals as an in-house attorney.

        In general (as outside counsel) the major downside that I see is that in-house counsel often seem to get significantly less respect from their internal clients than those clients accord to outside counsel.

        1. I wouldn’t say “less respect.” More like they’re a challenge to manage because we’re all on the team and have more repeated contact. Also, when you’re in house, you get exposure to internal employees you would never meet as outside counsel. I think of it as more like running a business than practicing law sometimes.

          1. I think this is a very accurate statement. I also find myself doing non-legal things on a pretty regular basis (project management, budgeting, managing/training coworkers, admin work, attending management/strategy meetings w/no legal component, etc.). I love it – I definitely feel closer to the actual business – but if that’s not what you’re interested in, it could be a downside.

      3. I agree with this list; I’ve been in-house at a few different places & I’d just add that the people/politics of the law departments make the biggest difference so if you decide to go in, make sure to try to figure out the environment & culture during the interview process if you can. Nice people = a job you’ll never want to leave.

    2. I think part of it is that I don’t know the scope of “in-house”–how would I narrow it down? Size of company? industry? etc? If I need to do that, can responders just include some tidbits about their job specifics??

      1. I work in house at a a public company with about a $50B market cap. I do securities, primarily continuous disclosure for the company and its larger subsidiaries that have reporting requirements. We have about 100 lawyers in-house doing everything and anything you can think of except criminal and family/estate law.

        The hours aren’t necessarily better. It is very busy during annual disclosure season (i.e. right now. I should 100% be working, not wasting time), and my hours are probably 8am-10pm + 5 hours on the weekend from January to April, but the summer is quiet and my hours are more 9-4. September-January is steady, 8-5. I like the scope of my work, I get to learn so much about the company and understand the nuances of what is important to the company, and I love my co-workers. And I make more, but I honestly would be here even if I didn’t make more. I love my job, even when it’s busy.

        The only thing I miss from my old firm is a centralized document floater group available 24/7, I spend a lot more time editing my own stuff now. I still have an assistant, but she isn’t here when I am at 9pm, so it’s a pain.

  12. Random legal-y question for some tech work I’m doing. If I’m storing client data (not financial, general personal contact details, cv etc) through the cloud on a paid service which offers ‘bank-level’ security, am I liable if that information is somehow released through some sort of data breach?

    1. PII? Yes, in almost every state. If you’re concerned, encrypt your data. Just because some company claims they offer “bank-level security” doesn’t mean they actually do.

  13. To the r3tt3 looking for a sewing machine, I sew yesterday’s post to late to weigh in, but I beg of you, don’t buy a cheap machine from a big box store, Amazon, or even JoAnn’s/Hancock’s. Please.

    Find yourself a local dealer. Bernina, Pfaff, Janome, and Husqvarna/Viking are all good. I myself prefer Janome and Husqvarna. But it’s really a personal preference thing. Any of those brands should have a decent low end model. The advantage of the local dealer is that you can “test drive” before you buy. Also, since many people who are serious about sewing/quilting will often trade up when a newer model comes out. So you may be able to buy a nicely refurbished machine with a few more bells and whistles (which can be nice to have) for a little more than a low end machine would cost. The local dealers will often give you a getting to know your new machine class or two as well. Also probably has a relationship with a good repair guy for those times when things go wrong. And finally, run from the new Singers like the plague. They just don’t have the same quality as the did in Grandma’s day.

    1. Grandma’s Singer sewing machines can be a bargain. I bought a mid-60s model from a shop that repairs & sells new & used sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. Sews forward and backwards, no zigzag, serger, or embroidery, but works for me since I don’t have time to do anything much anyway ;-).

      In the mid-70s I learned to sew on another Grandma model: heavy cast metal, painted black w/ gold-paint decorations. This one didn’t even sew backwards–you had to turn the fabric around while it was pierced by the needle.

      I should seriously ask the Smithsonian about becoming an exhibit. Less privacy but think of the money I’d save on rent!

      1. My mom used to have one of those black and gold Singers. That just brought back such memories! I think she might have randomly inherited it from someone. I think it even came with its own table (where it flipped under and over for sewing). Aw. I kind of wish I still had that table.

        1. >I think it even came with its own table (where it flipped under and over for sewing).
          You reminded me that decades after learning on that first old Singer, I inherited and still have my Grandma’s machine which previously belonged to my great-grandfather. The machine is currently not usable because the electricity needs to be rewired (my grandpa’s creative repair having long since unraveled) but I can’t bear to part with it.

      2. +1 “becoming an exhibit”

        The late, great, David Rakoff did this for a stint in the Barney’s window display one year in the weeks leading up to Xmas and Hanukkah. He did a great radio piece for NPR called “Christmas Freud”that my DH listen to every year as part of our own holiday tradition.

        But back to the sewing machine thing: I have a starter Janome that’s cobranded with Sanrio, so it has Hello Kitty motifs all over it. It’s been very reliable for the very basic mending/hemming and other simple things I do. (Am not that experienced or advanced with sewing.)

    2. None of the new versions of old brands have the same quality. I have a 30 year Elna (inherited from my mother) that runs like a dream. But I wouldn’t buy a current Elna (I think they still make them) because it’s been bought and retooled and is not the same quality.

      My only caveat is that the Bernina and Husqavera are going to have pricy accessories. So, look at the price of the machine, but also know what it’s going to cost you to get a different foot, where you have to get your bobbins (because different brands take different sizes), and stuff like that.

    3. I have a newish Bernina (a 1008). I upgraded from a Bernette 80e (a basic Janome model with Bernette branding) a couple of years ago. While I LOVE it, I agree with Mpls that the accessories are pricey. I have paid a pretty penny for different varieties of feet. I’ve always been able to use whatever random bobbins that surface at the fabric store, though. I also have to pay a lot more to have mine serviced. ($200 as opposed to $100-$150). I don’t think I’d go with any other machine, though. Mine is a serious workhorse and I use it frequently. Turns out that making throw pillows/curtains/duvet covers/dust covers is criminally easy.

      I’d also throw out the recommendation to ask about purchasing a display model. They are usually less expensive. I paid $500 as opposed to the $850 MSRP for my machine because it had been the floor model for a couple of years. I also recommend mechanical machines over computerized ones. I find that I really don’t need many of the fancy features, and that using/learning them on other machines has been more work than it’s worth.

    4. I still strongly disagree. As I posted yesterday, I have made tons of blankets, duvet covers, hemmed pants, and done all kinds of projects around the house on my $60 Brother from Walmart. It works fine. As another poster said, even the Hello Kitty model works fine.

      Spending even $500 on a “low-end” Viking or Bernina or Husqvarna seems quite expensive for a beginner.

  14. Maybe someone has some insight into this –

    Everyday me, my boss and my bosses boss must leave the office at the same time. They insist that I leave when they do. By insist, I mean they come into my office and say “it’s time to go, let’s go” and if I say I’m working on something and say I’m going to be a while you guys should just go, they start badgering me about what I’m working on and then my boss convinces me that I finish that tomorrow. It’s not like I can’t be trusted to work in the office alone – I come in on the weekends sometimes to finish things up and they are aware of this.

    I think they’re trying to make sure that I don’t overwork myself. This job isn’t an overly stressful job. I came from public accounting which was much more stressful. It stresses me out more to leave early with something half done than to just stay until it’s done. I also struggle with being motivated so when I’m on a roll it’s best for me to stay rolling. Has anyone else ever dealt with something like this? It’s super weird.

    Maybe I should just start being firm with them and saying – “I’m going to stay until I’m done with this because it’s the most efficient use of my time”. Then my boss will say I can finish it tomorrow and I will reiterate the same. It’s like they enjoy controlling me or something.

    1. Are you sure you’re not completely misreading your office culture? How many people are in your current office? Do you have urgent deadlines they’re making you miss? Are you working on weekends BECAUSE they force you out earlier?

      1. Also, how long have you been there and/or in your current position? Is it only you or do they clear out everyone? Are you working weekends because you need to do so to meet deadlines or because that’s your nature?

        1. I’ve been here about 6 months. There are only three people in our group including me so everyone else in our office does their own thing.

      2. Thanks for the response Godzilla. I don’t think I’m misreading the culture but it’s a possibility. 13 people in my current office, most of our people are in our other office on the east coast. It is only us three in our group.

        My boss sets internal deadlines for me to meet and it causes me to miss those. Like last night, I said I agreed to have X, Y and Z to you tomorrow and if I don’t stay and get this done I won’t have it ready for you tomorrow. He said oh don’t worry about it, you can do it tomorrow, let’s go. I understand that ultimately it is up to him but this isn’t efficient for me because I’m in the middle of something. Also, now it’s hard to tell with him when a deadline is a true deadline or a deadline where he’s just going to say not to worry about it. I’m the type that needs a little fire under by booty to get things done…which I know isn’t always good but it’s my personality. When he does this is removes the fire.

        Yes, sometimes getting booted out early does result in me needing to come in on the weekend.

        1. Are you in government? I am, and am sometimes shooed out because they can’t pay overtime and (in my agency) not always grant comp time.

          1. No, I am in a private organization that does not provide comp time and I’m salary. Thanks for asking though.

          2. Are you exempt from overtime requirements? Being salaried does not automatically make you exempt.

      1. +1

        Another issue could be they are putting subtle pressure on you to finish work in a shorter time period. If you are a perfectionist type, this can be quite stressful. I would try coming in early first, and make sure you have a “feedback” meeting with your boss soon to make sure you guys are on the same page with regard to expectations.

        1. Yeah. Sounds like they value you leaving on time more than they value the quality of your work. Which is different, but it’s the way some places work.

    3. Maybe the person before you did something weird after hours? I’d meet with them to discuss your schedule and explain that you prefer to work later.

      1. This. My predecessor under-performed for months. As a result, when I started, I had to keep a timesheet to indicate what I was working on (for a few months, until they knew I wasn’t cut from that same cloth).

      2. They’ve mentioned that the previous person worked early mornings and left around 3 pm to pick her kids up from school. They don’t come in until 9 am so they only worked with her for about 6 hours a day. They’ve mentioned that they never really knew if she was there that early.

        But what I don’t get is why it matters – – it’s not an hourly job, I’m salary. The stuff has to get done. It’s not like I’m staying super late and then not coming in the next day. If anything, I end up working more hours than them because I’ll stay late (and by late I mean 630 or 7, not serious late) and still work the same number of hours the rest of the week.

        1. The fact that you’re already staying at least 2 hours later (I assume) than the last person may just be setting off alarms for them to make sure you aren’t over working yourself. It sounds like work-life balance is important to them so I’d just take that at face value. I agree with saltylady that it might be helpful to talk to him about schedule expectations to figure out exactly what they want. If they do want you to leave at X time everyday, you may want to push and explain what you said here. When you’re on a roll with something, you prefer to keep working regardless of time, rather than trying to pick it back up later.

    4. You haven’t been there long and are replacing someone who worked very different hours. While their behavior is not typical, it’s also not completely out of the norm.

      (1) Have a discussion with them wherein you explicitly tell them you appreciate their focus on work-life balance and that you like to work a certain schedule or finish your active tasks before leaving, but will be contentious to make sure that you’re not over-doing it. Since it is not office-wide culture and they were flexible with the previous person in your position, I think it’s reasonable to expect them to be okay with it (eventually, at least).

      (2) Address workload, also. It may be that previous person was a slacker and you are getting so much more done that they assume you must be working a lot of over time. It may be that you’re miss-reading cues on what is and is not important to complete and you need to learn to read your boss better and develop a system of reviewing priorities and deadlines. It may be that they know this is a slow time so you need to take it easy while you can because you’ll all be working late hours soon. It may be that you are spending more time on a task than necessary or need more practice/training to be more efficient. It could be a mix of all of the above or something else. But if you feel like you need to work weekends to get the work done, and they don’t, there’s a disconnect that needs to be discussed.

      (3) Take it easy and follow their lead on days that work for you. Leave early on slow days, if that’s what they are doing. It will reassure them that you’re complying with their work expectations and give you the benefits of a relaxed office.

  15. Bought an expensive handbag on sale on Bluefly – didnt realize it was final sale. I like it but dont love it. Other than just chalking it up to my poor attention to detail skills, I see two options: 1) call customer service and beg; or 2) throw it in the box with other (returnable) stuff I am sending back from same order and seeing if they give me a pass. I once unknowingly returned some things to Gap or Banana outside the time window and they took it back and sent a gently chiding email to me. While I completely realize this is my fault, it was +$900 and I’ll be pretty bummed to not love it. Advice?

    1. Do you buy from them often? I’ve found that places where I spend a good bit of money (as I admitted below, I may have a shopping problem!) are more willing to bend their rules for me when I make mistakes like this. Otherwise, I don’t see anything wrong in putting it back into the box with the other items and seeing what happens.

    2. Re-sell it here, or on eBay?
      Consignmemt shop–knowing you’ll take a partial loss?
      Donate to cause that provides bags to temporarily impoverished job seekers / prom-goers (Bluefly ignoramus here) & take deduction?
      Re-gift to friend or acquaintance who fits the above category?
      Keep and use as a gentle reminder to shop more carefully in future? Think of it this way: $900 is approximately 4-6 hours of therapy. Not trying to be elitist or Privileged here; my life is in its currently happy shape because my family helps to keep a LOT of behavioral health professionals in business. (My only privilege is in being able, materially and mentally, to take advantage of this good fortune. Some folks cannot afford the $$$; others can’t, for whatever reason, accept or absorb help offered by professionals. Therapy isn’t the only Good Influence in life, but if one needs it, it can be enormously helpful. Okay, end rant.)

      1. I understand the sentiment behind your donate suggestion but I’m not sure it would benefit an impoverished job seeker to show up at an interview with a $900 bag (that actually probably sells for much more if purchased for that price at Bluefly on final sale).

        1. Thanks for your correction & your gentle wording. When I suggested “donate” I forgot the fact of “$900 bag.”

  16. Has anyone had their thyroid levels tested for a baseline measure? It has been suggested to me in my youth by a gerontologist, but I asked a doctor once who thought I was insane. I’m nearing the age when my mother began exhibiting the symptoms of hypothyroidism but was not able to get a diagnosis or treatment because her thyroid levels were in the normal range and she had no baseline test for comparison, so I’d really like to do it. I’m wondering if it really is as strange a request as the first doc (not my current doc) thought, or if it was just them.

    1. If you have a family history, make sure to mention it to your doctor. Perhaps an endocrinologist is a better bet than a general physician.

    2. As long as you aren’t having any symptoms, at your next physical ask your pcp to check both your thyroid hormone levels and your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). If your thyroid levels are normal, but TSH is high, it means that your body isn’t getting what it needs. And if your mother’s hypothyroidism is due to Hashimoto’s, ask to test you for thyroid antibodies. Your family history should justify the testing, and the doctor will get a more complete picture from the results.

      1. +1. Keep pushing for tests other than TSH if that by itself seems “normal”. My hypothyroid was subclinical for a while before it finally went over the threshold where they would treat me for it.

    3. I had my thyroid levels checked out when I was 25 — it shouldn’t be that strange of a request to an endocrinologist if you have a family history. And if you’re having some “mystery” health symptoms that would be explained easily by this test, then it should be even more normal. You may want to get your vitamin levels (like D) checked at the same time.

    4. Absolutely–you could probably roll it up into your annual preventative exam.

      My “baseline” was “normal” (and I do use those quotes), but I felt like crap all the time. I pushed for a more comprehensive test, and lo and behold, I have hypothyroid via thyroiditis wherein my body is basically rejecting my thyroid. So, my baseline left me with what was considered a borderline low / subclinical diagnosis, but when we went for the thyroid antibodies and T3/T4, the numbers were way out of line, even though the TSH result wasn’t enough to warrant treatment. I’ve been on synthroid now for over a year, and feel much better.

      Also, for thyroid, there shouldn’t need to be a baseline to compare to. You either have it or you don’t. If you get a baseline now with a result of 10 (random round number), and that’s normal, then you’ve got nothing. If you go back the next year and your next test is a 1 (again, random and round), then you have it. The first test doesn’t tell you anything other than that you’re trending downward, but that’s not relevant at this point.

      I’d say, unless you have symptoms (and boy, howdy is that list long and confusing), the test isn’t going to do you any good. However, being that age, with a genetic predisposition and ANY of the symptoms, get the test. And keep pushing until they figure out why you feel like crap.

    5. Thank you, all. This is extremely helpful information! I’ll definitely get antibodies checked. Comparing what you’ve all said with my mom’s version of her diagnostics, I’m guessing that was never done.

      I am having symptoms, but they could all be easily explained by other things in my life. I’m mostly getting really paranoid given what happened to my mother and want to make sure that I don’t go undiagnosed and untreated if I do have hypothyroidism. Knowledge is power and all.

      1. while you say “can be explained by other things in my life” that is true. My HT got diagnosed when I was a mother of a 2-year old, and a newborn. Duh, I’m tired. All.the.time. And moody, and cranky. But, when I started piecing it together with dry skin, inability to lose weight, I pushed for the more comprehensive test.

        So, yeah, you could be tired, cranky, hungry, dry skin, whatever, and yes they can all be explained by other things, but usually when you have several of those symptoms, it’s worth getting checked.

        Incidentally, I noticed while shaving one day, that my shins were unusually bruised, and remembered that easy-to-bruise was one of the symptoms. I was also losing hair at an alarming rate. Got my numbers checked, and we had to up my dosage. So, there is definitely correlation/causation. I am trying to hang tight till April when I’m going to have repeat bloodwork (every 6 months, with a thyroid ultrasound yearly), but I feel like I’m experiencing the same symptoms again–bruising, fatigue, hair loss/breakage, but I don’t want to go through the whole rigamarole of getting tested, adjusting dosages, and then additional testing after 6 weeks. It’s just tedious and I don’t have the patience for it right now.

  17. Have any of you ladies had any lucking selling your used designer bags on ebay? Any considerations/tricks that might be helpful? I cleaned out my closet last weekend (yay for room for the hangers!), and realized that when I was stressed out while working in BigLaw, I developed a serious designer bag problem … as in, I have almost a dozen (!) that have been used 1-3 times and then were tucked away back in their dust bag never to be used again. As I’m pretty embarrassed about this mindless shopping (so, so wasteful!), I’m hoping to try to recoup some of this by selling them. (I intend to donate all the other clothing/suits/business clothing to a local women’s shelter.) A coworker recommended ebay as she’s purchased a few bags from there, but I wasn’t sure where to start and if it would be worthwhile. I’d love the hives’ advice!!

    1. You should post descriptions and prices on here. Maybe people here would be interested. I would!

      2. Ooo I’ll do that – I am going to inventory them when I get home for sure! :) I’d love it if I could find them a good home with someone from this site! Thanks!!

        1. We’d have to send you a money order and trust that you’d send the bag but I’m willing to do that. (just like Ebay)

    2. I don’t have experience selling my own things on ebay, but the consignment shop I use places my higher-end handbags on ebay rather than selling them in the store. If you don’t have a presence on ebay already, it can be hard to be a credible seller, especially because handbags are counterfeited so much. So doing it through a middleman might be a good option for you (of course, the consigner takes a cut, so that’s the tradeoff).

    3. don’t mean to threadjack, but I have a vintage (early 1980s) caramel-colored ostrich leather italian-made handbag that I am looking to get rid of. It’s in immaculate condition. I have been trying to find out its value, and haven’t found any good leads. However, I want to sell it. Anyone interested??

      1. Sorry… but I had to giggle…. 1980’s “vintage”? Gotta love it.

        It sounds beautiful though.

        1. Thanks for making those of us who also remember the 70s and 60s feel _even more_ like we belong in a museum. :-)

          1. I feel it every day working with college students. I asked a student her birth date yesterday (we were looking at the census calculator that can tell you what the population was on any given day) and it was July 1992. I had already been a faculty member here for 2 years when she was born.

      2. I know–not exactly “vintage”…While I was not old enough to appreciate this bag the year that it was manufactured, I was at least a school-aged child…At least I didn’t call it an antique???

        Feeling old? Yep–I heard a song from my late middle school-early high school years on the “classic rock” station the other day.

        Surely someone wants to buy this bag.

    4. The Purse Forum has a really good subforum for how to sell bags on ebay, with lots of tips for avoiding scammers (which can happen to you even as the seller) and getting the best price. Unfortunately as noted above, it can be hard to get a great price if you don’t have an established ebay account with high feedback. The cut you’d take from that may be enough to justify using a consignment shop.

      1. Ladies, thank you all so much for the advice! I’m going to inventory what I have tonight and will report back in case any one is interested. :) I’ll also check out the purse forum, and see if there are any interested consignment shops in the area. Thank you thank you!

  18. Do any of you ladies have any tried and true cellulite tips? I’ve used some creams and massages with a little success.

    Basically, I have five weeks until my SO gets home and would love to change my body as much as possible. I’m about 20lbs overweight, with lots of cellulite. I’m hoping to lose about 10 pounds before he returns, but is that an unreasonable goal? Any other tips to make me look and feel better? Firmer skin, etc. fwiw, I’m in my mid-20s.

    1. I think losing 10 pounds in 5 weeks is a reasonable goal – that’s losing 2 pounds a week. What is your current food and workout regimen? After hearing that, I can give you some additional tips! If you lose weight, then some of that cellulite will most likely go away too (although really thin women can also have cellulite).

    2. I don’t think 10 lbs in 5 wks is unreasonable but cellulite is genetic, it has nothing to do with weight. Skinny people can have cellulite and heavy people can have none. That’s why creams/massages etc don’t really work. Reducing overall body fat and increasing muscle tone can improve its appearance, but you can’t ‘get rid’ of cellulite.

      1. +1

        I was an athlete and slender all my life, and even at age 16 I had cellulite and was embarrassed to be seen in bathing suits. Genetics can really suck.

        It is true that improving muscle tone does improve its appearance, as does decreasing body fat, but it wont go away unless you get liposuction…. which I don’t recommend.

        Squats are a really good lower body exercise. Look for a Youtube video showing proper technique that isn’t hard on the knees.

        I recommend investing in an outfit (for day and night!) that you love and that is figure flattering and you feel good in to get ready for your SO’s return. I’m all for getting healthy too if you could improve your habits, but it is pretty easy to distract the “male eye”…. we notice 10 lbs and cellulite much more then our men do. Trust me.

    3. 1) I’m sure your SO will be happy to just near you and not concerned with your cellulite.
      2) The best way for me to feel better about my body is to exercise regularly and eat healthily (but not diet). IME, focusing on losing weight, rather than taking better care of myself, makes me struggle more with being happy with my body.
      3) Re: cellulite, some people have it, some people don’t. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

    4. I lost 15lbs in five weeks before my wedding with a combo of Insanity and P90X (workout plus diet). You can find a calendar that mixes them together online. I put it all back on during my honeymoon though … oops? I think if I’d transitioned back into eating/drinking instead of just eating all.the.things (but hello, it was my honeymoon! no guilt!), I would have been able to maintain or at not gain it ALL back!

      I got nothing for cellulite though … I have finally accepted that it is now a permanent friend that I must live with it and get used to.

      [I just realized I am all over the comments today! Eek!]

      1. Another vote for Insanity. I lost two clothing sizes and got really buff after a month of Insanity.

        1. I’m guessing that Ew is concerned about people who (thanks to advertising/media’s depicting tall, leggy, super-thin people as the Beauty Ideal) develop poor physical self-image and mistakenly identify as morbidly obese their basically-healthy-even-if-a-few-pounds-overweight bodies? Next steps: unrealistic dieting, self-denial that becomes self-starvation, and/or fullblown eating disorders…?

          But blush, enough from moi today. This has burned my quota for the next few weeks.

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