Weekend Open Thread: Madewell
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
Hunting for something to wear with loose, flowy pants that veers away from PJ territory? Someone (a reader here, if I'm remembering correctly) was just saying that she found that a denim shell is the best thing to wear with those pants because it adds a bit of structure while keeping it casual and fun. This Madewell top looks great, and is on a pretty great sale. I like that there are no buttons to gape or give that “peekaboo” effect that some of the vests do. I could also see the top being great with a maxi skirt.
The top was $98, but is now marked to $49 at Nordstrom, with lots of sizes left. There's a similar option in linen, also marked down (and whoa, Madewell has a TON of denim shells available right now!)
If you don't like the ruching here, there are a lot of similar pieces. I like these at Nordstrom: Favorite Daughter, Ted Baker, All in One, and Yumi, as well as these at Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and Gap.
Sales of note for 8/21:
- Ann Taylor – 25% off fresh fall styles! Also, there's an online-only warehouse sale — $20 tops, $25 sweaters, $30 pants, and $40
- CVS – Epic beauty sale, $10 off when you spend $30 (Walmart is having its “Beauty Event” as well right now!)
- The Fold – Up to 50% off, further markdowns
- J.Crew – Last chance summer styles on sale
- J.Crew Factory – 8/21 only: 50% off pants and shorts, and free shipping on all orders
- J.McLaughlin – Extra 40% off sale
- Lilysilk – Anniversary sale, save up to 70%
- Me & Em – Sale! Up to 60% off (new lines just added, exclusively online)
- M.M.LaFleur – Lots of new pieces added to sale (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom Rack – Clearance, new markdowns up to 75% off! Nice selection of Vince, Veronica Beard, Reiss and Rag & Bone, a ton of affordable work dresses from Calvin Klein, Maggy London, Eliza J, and Donna Morgan
- Revolve – 20% off most beauty!
- Talbots – End of season clearance, extra 70% off markdown tops and extra 60% off other markdowns
- Theory – End of season sale is on!
Oh, I remember the popular girl circa 1997 having a top like this…anyways. I’ve been applying for jobs lately and occasionally an employer app system will disclose that they use AI to scan and rate/rank your resume and that you can opt out of such scanning if you want. This particular disclaimer says that the score will read “Not Available” if you choose not to permit the AI scanning. I can see the scanning/declining cutting both ways. Any advice from anyone in HR which path to choose as an applicant? (And yes, my resume is loaded with keywords, but there are a million synonyms possible and I’d appreciate a human who understands synonyms reading my resume.)
I don’t think a human will set eyes on it if you opt out. You’ll just go immediately to the discarded pile.
Yep, cutting your nose to spite your face. You can hate AI all you want but companies don’t.
I also had a job search recently, and I felt like ticking that opt-out box would indicate “I’m a high-maintenance employee.”
my instinct, your resume will disappear into to the ether as HR sorts resumes by their AI score and “not available” will be the bottom if it shows at all.
I currently have a 2010 Toyota RAV4 with around 140,000 miles on it. Recently dumped a bunch of money into it, so fingers crossed it should last for a few more years. I have a daily highway commute with dangerous drivers and two teenagers who will both have their licenses in the next 1-3 years. Thoughts/opinions re: getting a Corolla Cross or new RAV4 as an additional car? My thinking is that I’d take that to work and the older vehicle would be for any of us to use around town. My only hesitation is wondering if the newer car should be the one the teenagers use because of updated safety features.
I’d have the teenagers use the newer car. While they should 100% still use mirrors/check with their eyes not a camera/etc. the additional ‘training wheels’ on the new car will likely keep them safer and be more helpful for them vs. you.
I vote that you have the teens drive the old car so if/when they buy their own first cars they’re not accustomed to relying on the safety features that may or may not be present in their future cars. Also worth considering whichever car has better gas mileage should probably be the one driven more (meaning you take the newer one to work).
We recently upgraded our old Subaru to a Hyundai Tucson and I really appreciate the safety features, especially blind spot detection. I’m not a big fan of the argument that safety features make you less careful – hasn’t been true for me pretty much anywhere in life. It just provides an extra layer of protection. A lot of people argue that oh if you use a lifejacket for your toddler, you won’t supervise them at the pool, but I do both, just like I check mirrors and over the shoulder and still appreciate the blind spot beep.
I’ve alway read that statistically people do tend to compensate for safety features. But your way is better!
The above post is timely. I last looked for a job a WHILE ago and found my current position through just being friendly enough with the opposite side of a deal team to discuss that I was looking for another job. The job has changed a lot since I started, but the employer has been the same.
Can anyone catch me up on how job searching has changed in the past 10ish years? Do people use LinkedIn? Lunch with everyone in your network in case they have a need or know of one? IDK how you even do this now that doesn’t feel like yelling into the wind. I guess everyone uses a neutral-named (not “spicygal98”) gmail.com address (vs hotmail or g-d forbid AOL).
your way is still the most effective way IMHO – people who know your work wanting to hire you or refer you. And, quietly letting old colleagues or trusted current colleagues know that you’re looking.
How do you manage email? I’m a law firm partner. I have many days a month when I am in meetings or calls (sometimes unexpectedly) for 5+ hours a day. My inbox will get out of control and it’s so hard for me to get through it, respond, add to to-do list, delegate, etc. I am convinced that someone out there has email figured out. My firm is small so I have a fractional assistant who cannot keep up with email herself, so I need something that I can do, not rely on a system or someone else to handle. I am willing to paying <$1k/year out of my own pocket if my IT will clear a system if it is actually helpful especially for storing and searching. My firm uses Outlook.
Things I have adopted that help: try to read email within one business day, even on horrid days. Confirm receipt and calendar follow up. Delegate as soon as possible. Implement a booking software tool so clients can find time to talk without waiting. When I'm back from a multi-day meeting, doing a first pass where I sort by "from" instead of "date" to mass-folder/delete email chains I don't need, then sorting by date and working bottom up, adding to my calendar based on priority. (Sorting by conversation doesn't work for me, too many side emails and forwards). I am still regularly feeling underwater for email. Clients aren't complaining, my actual deadlines are not in danger, but I don't feel good. Tips?
do you block time on your own calendar? If my week is getting out of control I am liberal with this to protect my head-down email & work time.
And if clients can DIY-schedule things that can sometimes backfire, in that it cuts down on that specific type of email, but at the risk of them jumping on your calendar for something that you might have asked to speak about in a day or two.