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Tuesday’s TPS Report: Sleeveless Pique Sheath Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

Magaschoni Sleeveless Pique Sheath Dress

I really like this ruched navy sheath dress by Magaschoni. The stretch-pique cotton should be super breathable for summer (but without all the wrinkles of linen), and both the bateau neckline and scoop back look bra-friendly. The dress was $325, but is now marked to $195 at Neiman Marcus. Magaschoni Sleeveless Pique Sheath Dress

Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.
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P.S. If you're hunting for a navy sheath dress, this Elie Tahari should also be considered — it's on sale for $160 at Neiman Marcus and has a fun neon zipper.

Sales of note for 4/24/25:

  • Nordstrom – 7,710 new markdowns for women!
  • Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including 100s of new arrivals
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
  • Boden – 25% off everything (ends 4/27) (a rare sale!)
  • The Fold – Up to 25% off
  • Eloquii – Spring Clearance: Up to 75% off + extra 50-60% off sale
  • J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Up to 60% off sale styles + up to 50% off summer-ready styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100 + extra 20% off $125
  • Kule – Lots of sweaters up to 50% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – 3 pieces for $198. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 50% off last chance styles; new favorites added
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Friends & Family Event: 30% off entire purchase, includes markdowns

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

151 Comments

  1. I’m just going to say it – just because the zipper is neon does not make me like it being exposed anymore.

    I feel like such an old fart sometime (tell those youngin’s with their exposed zippers to get off my yard. Harrumph!)

    2. I mean seriously. Where are the days where you can look like you were sewn into your dress by chipmunks and squirrels a la Cinderella?

    3. I agree. I think it’s slightly more acceptable on that dress because the neon goes around the front neckline as well and looks more stylistic rather than the usual “throw on an exposed zipper! so modern!” I’m still not a fan of the exposed zipper in general. It just looks cheap to me.

    4. I don’t like the neon zipper either. I saw an attorney wearing a great dress suit with neon trim that was completely ruined by a neon zipper peeking out from below the jacket. I do love the Magaschoni dress though, especially that the neckline is high but not so high that it would make me feel like I was being strangled.

    5. I’m with TCFKAG. The piping and zipper are hids.

      If I’m in the mood for an ’80s homage, I’m going with a Stop Making Sense giant white suit, not a nod to Liz Claiborne sportswear.

        1. We’re not talking about the item of the day, we’re talking about the item linked to at the bottom of the post (the Elie Tahari) where if you look at the back, trust me you will see the neon. And then we can be besties again.

    6. I sort of like the neon zipper, and I’m usually not an exposed zipper fan. But, I also don’t think this dress would have much longevity in my closet – a year or two at most before the neon piping and exposed zipper would be outdated.

  2. I like. Probably too low cut in the back for me to feel comfortable wearing to work without a sweater and I thought the zipper would bug me, but it doesn’t. (Also, the back vent is stitched closed – haha).

    Any success stories out there with people current on mortgages, don’t have enough equity for a traditional refinance, and have gotten an interest rate reduction for a non-Fannie/Freddie backed loan?

    1. Rosa has the Tahari dress, and I think she got it at Nieiman Marcu’s in White Plains NY. She look’s great in it b/c she is very svelte. Personaly, I love it too, but my tuchus is way to big to have such a styleish dress b/c it would be to tight in the back and it would look stupid. Dad says that he will get me a new bicycle so that I can ride in the City with Myrna. My bike is old and not workeing, so I am goieng to donate it to Big Brother’s and Big Sister’s. YAY!!!!!

      Dad called me last nite and said that he want’s to meet me in the City this week and spend a day at work goeing over the books and OBSERVEING what is goeing on at work so that he can start to forumulate his opinion’s on efficeiency. When he was first starting out, he worked for the CIA on very important matter’s of security so he know’s how to fix thing’s. I told him I would have to check my calendear b/c I have some depo’s and court appearenaces and I do NOT want to miss him b/c he take’s me to lunch and we eat good food together. YAY!!!

      He said NOT to think so much about food b/c of my need to loose weight. FOOEY I told him, I still have to eat and I do NOT buy 6 cupcakes any more at CRUMB’s. I will ask the manageing partner to join us. Hoepefully, the manageing partner will NOT charge dad for the meal.

  3. Clothing choice threadjack (this is not me complaining for once!):

    My grandma’s memorial service is this weekend. (As a side note, no one is sad, she had lingered for a long time, this is a life celebration type of thing.) I am not sure what to wear.

    Choice 1 – navy textured suit dress, V-neck sheath with short sleeves, BR, with matching suit jacket if I am cold
    Choice 2 – Boden black/white/grey graphic print V-neck sheath dress (looks like wide paint stripes, kind of, but it is not a flashy print), sleeveless, with cardigan for church
    Choice 3 – top/skirt ????????

    Constraints – I will have to pick up the kids, sing during the service, and eat kielbasa afterwards. :)

    2. Given that it’s more a celebration of life, I’d wear the second, it feels inappropriate to say festive but it feels a bit more cheerful. For my Nana’s service, I wore a pink cashmere sweater, she hated people dressed all in black and I like to think she would have liked me looking a bit more cheerful at a very sad time.

    3. I like 1, and if your grandma’s favorite flower is in season, pin one to your shoulder or tuck one in your hair.

    4. The 1st choice sounds more traditional, which may not be the best choice for the type of service you’re describing. If Choice 2 is more comfortable, I say wear that. I have often worn black & white print dresses to sing at funerals and have never felt comfortable. The one and only time I ever felt weird about what I wore was the one time I wore brown. Total miss.

    5. I personally would go with 2, just because you said it yourself, its a celebration of her life – not necessarily mourning her death – my answer does change somewhat if you’re participating in the service or whatever by doing a reading or something, than I think more formal is better.

      I also think if you go with one, I’d brighten it just a smidge with colored jewelry (maybe in a cobalt blue or a turquoise or a pink) – something with a little sparkle and a little spring/summer life to just add that bit of happiness to the outfit. And I love the idea of wearing your mother’s favorite flower in your hair as a quiet nod to her. You could also get them for your daughters (I forget, you have at least one daughter yes) so they can feel that connection to.)

  4. I didn’t know I needed a navy blue sheath dress until I saw this post.

    Not only is the posted dress lovely, but the “you may also like suggestions” that popped up for me on the Neiman Marcus website were also lovely.

  5. Bag TJ: I KNOW there are posts on this topic, but the most recent I found is 2 years old.

    My $30 laptop bag from Target, which I used every day for at least 3 years, has finally bitten the dust. I dragged this puppy from home to work (in the car and on the train), made it carry my laptop, power cord, lunch, and misc. papers.

    I need to replace it. I’m OK with making an investment in a new bag, but it has to be perfect. Otherwise, I’m looking at something in the sub-$100 range. Specific needs:
    – must hold standard 15.4″ laptop (note: this means the laptop spot has to be at least 15″ wide–the laptop measurements are diagonal, not horizontal).
    – I’d love an outside pocket for my phone. I spend too much time in airports digging for it.
    – I’d like this bag to REPLACE my handbag, but if it can’t, it must hold a small handbag
    – must hold about .5″ of paperwork, a laptop, charger, mouse, water bottle (inside or out), wallet, small makeup bag, and keys (if replacing handbag)
    – I’d like shoulder straps, not handles + long strap
    – black
    – feet/ stands on its own
    – can fit under an airplane seat without too much hassle (turning on its side is OK)

    I found a couple McKlein bags on overstock, etc. that looked like they’d fit the bill, but I have no idea on quality. If I spend $100 to get a $30 cheapo bag, I’d rather just spend $30. For the right bag, upper end of pricing is $250, but you can talk me higher.

    HELP ME, HIVE!

    1. Have you looked at the Lo & Sons bags? I have the TT and the OG, and I think their bags would fit your requirements. I’ve been nothing but happy with mine. The TT wouldn’t fit your laptop, but I think the OG or the OMG would, and there’s another one specifically designed for 15 inch laptops. There are outside pockets. I use mine to replace my handbag. I actually bought their little bag (the Mott), and use it as a wristlet/crossbody bag that I can just throw in the big bag. Both of mine hold all the stuff you listed–probably more paperwork (and the OG a change of clothes and shoes). Both have shoulder straps. Both are black and have fit. Both fit under the airplane seat easily. They are also light and clean easily.

      They are a little pricy, but you can always find sales (I think I usually pay 30% off), and their customer service is awesome. The zipper pull came off on my Mott, and they just sent me a new one (a new Mott–not a new zipper pull). You are talking directly to the owners–to people with the last name Lo–when you have problems. Great, great company.

      1. Wanted to add that I got the Lo & sons after both a Target bag and a $300 Hobo bag broke on me. My TT is several years old now and still in great shape.

      2. I looked at Lo & Sons because of all the rave reviews here. The TT is out for the following reasons:
        – not wide enough (only 14″ wide, my laptop is just about 14″– I need a 15″ bag)
        – too deep (will just fill with junk!–and no, carrying my laptop sideways won’t work)
        – pocket outside isn’t what I want- it looks like a paper pocket and not much else. Plus, I don’t want to have to dig for it.
        – generally too big (mostly too deep)

        ::sigh::

      3. What color do you all recommend for the OG? I’ve been trying to phase black out of my wardrobe. The two main coats I wear are a dark brown and bright orange and I mainly wear light greys, beiges, navy, and orange/coral. I was thinking the plum because that would complement/contrast with those colors well, but would that just be too much for everyday wear?

    2. Wow, Brant, you described almost exactly what I am looking for! I have a current bag that fits those descriptions that’s getting kind of old, and I might honestly just buy the same one. It is the Fossil Executive tote. I purchased it about 3 years ago so I don’t even know if they still make the same style. I did order a Lo & Sons bag but it was too bulky for me. I was disappointed because I know so many women on here love it.

        2. It is really such a trusty bag, it’s too bad they don’t sell it anymore. I do wish it was just a little wider to hold some more items in it though. But in the past 3 years I haven’t been able to find a better bag that suits my needs (which sound just like yours). I have been considering the Rebecca Minkoff MAB leather tote – have you seen it? It was actually featured on here a bit ago. I saw it in person and the size looks great. My only hesitance is that on the inside, there isn’t a compartment for the laptop, so it would just be floating around inside the bag, but not sure if that would bother me or not.

    3. I travel frequently and LOVE the OMG by Lo & Sons. So convenient that it slips over my suitcase handle while going through airports. Fits perfectly under seats and looks professional to use during the work day. I also have a Michael Kors large nylon tote that fits laptops, etc, but doesn’t fit over my suitcase-still great for travel and would be good for commuting. The MK bag was around $100 and you can find it pretty much anywhere.

      1. The OMG is a nice bag, but not the type of bag I want. Too big to carry to client sites/meetings unless I’m also schlepping my suitcase :). I also want to use it to get to/from the office, and there’s just too much extra room in the OMG. I’d just fill it with junk.

      2. I travel weekly, and have similar bag issues–has to hold a lot, including a purse. I have up and got a TSA-compliant backpack. It’s not good looking but it’s black and basic and holds everything and has pockets. I’ve seen lots of guys with the same or basically the same one–Swiss Army.

        1. I don’t want a backpack. I do travel, but not weekly. This needs to be 50/50 travel tote vs. go-to-work tote. Ihave our standard issue company bag with super comfy padded arms and logo that I can switch to vs buying a new bag.

          1. How about the MK saffiano tote. I believe it’s at $150, but it’s got an inner pocket for a laptop/separating laptop from work papers and comes in a bunch of colors and basically looks fab.

    4. if you look at ebags online you can enter in your precise laptop and then they will search for what fits your ‘puter.

      I love my briefcase by Siamod (from ebags online) it’s a nice cherry, has both handles and a strap (removable) and fits my laptop and files oh so well.

      1. OH yes it fits under the airplane seat, holds my charger/battery, cords, extension cords, but not much more so I have to have a purse.

    5. Highly recommend the voyageur mansion carry-all by Tumi (investment piece – sometimes it’s on sale). I’ve used it for everyday and international travel, and it’s a great bag. My fave are the secret pockets by the handle straps – perfect for boarding passes and phones while the rest of the bag stays zipped.

        1. DAGABBIT! That is it! My dream bag! Not only pockets, but a luggage handle pass-thru! AND IT IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE!

          It’s an investment piece for sure, but it meets all my needs, so I’d be OK with it. Any hot tips on where to find one?!

          1. I would check airports that have Tumi stores (random, I know) and also Bloomingdales. I found it in both places last year — haven’t looked this year. I would definitely look at it in person to make sure it meets your needs…

    6. I’ve had my eye on a few MZ Wallace bags . . . they are beautiful and little more “work” looking to me than the OMG (which I own and love for travel and the gym).

    7. My bag comes from Jack Georges which makes a variety of styles of hand made leather work appropriate bags and I love it and its held up beautiful to almost three years of daily use (and lets be honest, abuse, I’m not very nice to it.) I don’t even think I’ve ever gotten it professionally polished or fixed up or anything and it still looks great.

      Wow…now that I think of it….that’s kind of amazing.

      1. My husband has had one for four years and it still looks great. Jack Georges makes a nice bag.

    9. I really like ClaireChase’s bags. I find them to be excellent quality with LOTS of space. The prices on the website are pretty high, but you can frequently find them new on E bay for a fraction of the cost (that’s where I got mine).

  6. Stuck in moderation – repost

    Mid-career changer here. Took the LSAT yesterday. Feeling awful about it…….didn’t tell anyone I was taking it because I didn’t want to field questions about changing career paths so I don’t have anyone to vent to except ‘rette . Ugh..

    1. Don’t get down! You can take the test again! Sometimes the games are just awful! Give yourself a few weeks to have fun this summer and get back on that horse. You still have to apply in the fall either way. Getting your apps in after the late Sept/early Oct LSAT will be fine! The application cycle ran really late this year due to the drop in applications, so that will not be a problem.

      In the meantime, check out Steve Schwartz’s LSAT Blog, and, if you have a strong stomach and can deal with ridiculous 20 year olds, the Top-Law-School forums. You CAN do this!

      1. Or, you may have done awesome. I thought I did terrible on my LSAT and seriously considered cancelling my score. Glad I didn’t since it actually exceeded my goal for myself. So, sometimes that awful feeling in the pit of your stomach is simply unnecessary doubting of yourself and a release of pent up stress.

    2. You have no clue how you did. The LSAT isn’t like other tests that you can nail. Even people with OOC amazing scores got a ton of things wrong.

      1. Thank you for your support, everyone. I did guess on 5 of the LG questions which I notmally don’t do and my timing for one of the LR sections was off. Combined with the fact that I had two terrible PTs that I thought I did decent on are making me feel totally confused about what to expect. My poor performance for the LG really blew my confidence but I tried to keep it together to finish the test the best I could…

    3. People who leave standardized tests feeling like they “nailed it” often did badly because they just didn’t think about the questions hard enough (this is especially true of the Bar and true in descending order of the tests you take before that for law school – so pretty true for the MPRE and kinda true to sorta true for the LSATS.) So don’t assume you did awful – in all likelihood you did pretty close to what you were testing at when practicing. And the beautiful thing for you all now is you don’t REALLY have to decide whether to pull it now, since you don’t get the average you get to pick the highest (right?)

      Anyway – congrats on being done with that step. And you should just tell people your plans – be confident in your choice and if people give you cr&p about it – its really about their issues and experiences (which admittedly are good to know in the current legal market) but if you’re sure its time to be sure – ya know?

    1. Co-sign. This dress is AMAZING — hides my post-baby pooch, has pockets, looks great with a blazer or sweater, is machine washable, holds up well. I’ve actually become a huge fan of Lands End dresses for work as of late. Bonus: no need to pay return shipping if your stuff doesn’t fit, just return it to a Sears store.

      1. Your post-baby pooch must be an order of magnitude smaller than my middle-aged gut. :/

    2. That looks like more of a fit and flare which would be perfect for me. I think I just might have to try it.

  8. Just a tip – if you are applying for a stodgy corporate internship, and you are listing your qualifications, it’s totally fine if all you have is restaurant experience. You’re new to the working world, that’s why you’re applying for an internship, we get it. What’s NOT fine is listing on your resume under that experience that you “developed expansive beer knowledge (both personally and for work too)”

    I laughed, but my boss (who will ultimately select our intern) definitely did not.

    2. This sounds like the same guy we interviewed once, for a research internship, who happened to be on (or possibly even captain of) the university football team. His response to a question about time management and juggling priorities was basically that football and fraternity life had taught him to work hard and play hard, and how to throw some killer parties…

      It’s too bad he wasn’t qualified, though, because he looked pretty much exactly like Clark Kent.

  9. I’m a fifth year associate who started at a new firm (biglaw) a little over a month ago. People in my immediate practice area are swamped. There are two partners and each relies very heavily a midlevel associate, one a little senior to me, one a little junior. There are also a couple first years who seem fully staffed, though I think they are also utilized by other partners. I was definitely brought in to work with the two partners in my group.

    The problem is that I am not getting enough work. At all. The partners have been travelling, and I’ve been working with them mainly through thier favored associates (which I know is unsustainable).

    For those of you who have lateralled, is this normal? (at least the slow start part?) I was looking for a job for over a year and am really excited about the position, but I’m starting to get worried.

    1. I’ve heard (and read, on here) that it takes up to 6 or more months to fit in at a new firm for laterals, and that you should spend this slower time networking with your new coworkers and learning about how the firm does things. Congrats on the new job!

    2. As a fifth year, the work that you’re doing is substantive enough that the partners are going to want someone whom they can trust. Since you’re new and they’ve been traveling, it’s unlikely they’ve had enough exposure to you to feel completely at ease. It’s therefore your job to show them what you can do. You’re senior enough now that you should know what all the steps are for any matter and should be able to anticipate the work that needs to be done next. If you’re currently staffed on a matter (and you should be — if you’re not, that’s the practice manager’s responsibility at least until you get more established; if you’re in big law, I’m assuming there’s someone who does the assigning for your department), determine what the next three or four steps are, think through them, and do a write-up for the partner saying “here’s what I see needs to be done, here are the major issues we’ll need to resolve, here’s how this may impact the client’s business, here are the tasks I intend to do, and here are the things that will need to be done by partner/junior associate/paralegal [yes, you can tell the partner what to do — phrase it as decisions the partner will need to make, or issues to be raised with the client].” Then do the work you listed as appropriate to your level. Worst case if the partner disagrees with what you say needs to be done, there might be a few hours of work lost (hopefully the partner will write it off but still let you count it). But I’ve never known a big firm partner who thought less of an associate for trying to take stuff off the partner’s plate and move the case forward. This will help the partner to appreciate what you can add and to turn to you directly next time work needs to be done.

      Also, be sure to get on the partners’ calendars next time each of them is in the office. And it never hurt to learn when their secretaries’ birthdays are and bring something small on those days (cupcakes are nice). You want to be sure you have the access to the partners you need and the associates are not the way to go. They may feel jealous of their relationships with their own partners and may see you as competition, even if just subconciously.

    3. I am also a recent lateral (3rd year) and would love to hear advice for laterals. :) TIA!

    4. I completely cosign the advice above–when my group is busy, we just don’t “adopt” our laterals fast enough. It makes them feel worthless, because everyone else is working like crazy and then they just don’t know how to get staffed. Patience is key. Talk to the seniors and ask if you can do discrete tasks, or ask if there are any clients/matters that they’d like to hand down. You can do “shadow work” where the senior is still client-facing (so the relationship doesn’t transition publicly, which could ruffle feathers) and also get a senior to look over your work product. It’s a win-win. Definitely express to the partners that you are available and ready. I work in a transactional practice, so the memo described above wouldn’t go over well…but it’s a know-you-office sort of thing.

      In the interim, watch PLI or firm training videos, research a specific area of law (JOBS Act or something else that’s new) and just be there will bells on–don’t get down. This is a hard transition, but it doesn’t mean they don’t like you. They wouldn’t have hired you if they didn’t want to ramp you up as soon as they have time. You’re not forgotten. You’re just less important than getting the current deal/case done. Don’t worry. Relax, go to the gym at lunch (within reason) and always be ready to rock any assignment you get, no matter how small.

    5. I just started at a new firm as a 5th year. I’m in a new state and new practice area too, which means that everything is pretty different from what I did for the first 4 years. I was really slow for the first month and a half, to the point that I was billing 3 or 4 hours most days. It’s been just over 2 months now and I am finally getting enough work. I think there is definitely a transition period, though I know how you are feeling and it made me very anxious as well.

      My partners travel too. I asked them for work when they were in the office. I also sat in on team meetings other associates had to see how they worked up their cases and tried to implement those strategies in my cases as much as possible. I also started writing an article to be published with the partner, which served the dual purpose of letting me get to know the practice area better and keeping me busy with something productive. Hang in there it will get better!

  10. Can anyone help me figure out what the term is for those displays (I’ve seen them in magazines or on Pinterest at times) for hanging pictures? I don’t mean hanging a picture frame, I mean actual photos hanging down by wire.

    I know there is some sort of horizontal bar, from which a bunch of thin wires/cables hang, with unframed photographs tucked into the wires at the bottom. I think I have seen them in Target and Bed Bath and Beyond near the “dorm furniture” areas but I don’t know what they’re called.

    My google-fu is failing me and when I’m looking, I end up with either picture hanging hardware (for hanging frames) or pictures of people being hanged (hung?). Anyone know what these displays are called?

  11. I love this dress. Love it.

    Eye Cream TJ:
    Any recommendations for eye creams that deal with dark circles?

    The women in my family don’t get wrinkles (yes!). Instead, our eyes darken to the point that the older ladies have permanent black eyes (not so yes). The process is starting with me and I may as well look into eye creams. Do any actually work? If not, then in my future I’ll just look like Storm from X-men after a fight.

    1. I can relate. My mom told me this weekend “Aw, too bad, looks like you and your sisters have REALLY inherited my big dark undereye circles.” Gee thanks, Mom!

      I can tell you what doesn’t work – the eye brightener (Vitamin C) from the Body Shop. No visible difference after using it daily for about two months. It feels nice and cooling, though.

    2. I’ve tried a few eye creams designed to deal with dark circles and nothing makes a visible difference. I can usually tell they’re working because the under-eye area is moisturized but no dice on the dark circles. My mom has had the same experience.

      I think I read somewhere that eye creams can’t really help with dark circles (if someone has a success story, I’d love to hear it!) Your best bet is probably concealer unfortunately.

      1. You are correct that under eye cream cannot attack your dark circles. The darkness is caused by the thinning of the under eye skin, which causes the blood there to show as darkness.

        Your better bet is to start looking into cosmetic options. I would highly recommend Bobbi Brown for under eye concealer. I am a fellow natural raccoon, and I like her products.

        1. That’s too bad. I’ll try Anonymous’ suggestion for Clinique. If that doesn’t work, I’ll just deal with it.

          For makeup, I use Bare Mineral’s “well-rested” underneath my powder so I look fine. I just wanted to see if I could just get rid of them. Pipe dream.

        2. Famouscait’s explanation is exactly what my dad the ophthalmologist tells me. And my mom calls me raccoon.

    3. I’ve found success with Clinique’s Repairwear Laser Focus. It’s marketed as a wrinkle cream but I’ve noticed my dark circles have decreased substantially.

    4. I’ve heard good things about Clinique’s eye creams. I, too, have some lovely dark circles, and I go the concealer route. I swear by Benefit’s Boi-ing concealer for my undereye circles. It’s incredible.

  12. I supervise a veteran who frequently makes sweeping negative generalizations about women in the military. When I say frequently, I mean almost daily. He complains about lots of other people he served with individually, but women are the only group he generalizes. Not being involved with the military, I feel a little sensitive about how to address his statements – he’s not making wider statements about women in general. It comes up primarily in conversations with other veterans that I am in ear shot of. My inclination is to address this, because it would absolutely color any job reference I gave him in the future and he should have the opportunity to correct it. Any suggestions on how to approach it?

    1. What about engaging him in a thoughtful conversation about it? The kind where you ask a lot of questions to make him really think through his position. If he wants to make the statements, he should be prepared to back them up. If he finds he can’t, he may be more wary of making them (at least at work) in the future.

      1. Unfortunately he has lots of explanations for why he feels that way. It is possible he served with a couple women who made poor decisions and weren’t called out on them, but also entirely possible that he is perceiving double standards that weren’t there. I don’t have any expectations that I’ll be able to change his mind, I just want him to recognize that expressing his sexism in the workplace isn’t appropriate.

    2. “You know, I’ve noticed that while your complaints are usually limited to specific individuals, you frequently make sweeping negative generalizations about women in the military. I was wondering why that is. Someone certainly thought Ann Dunwoody was a capable soldier and leader.”

    3. If you are this person’s supervisor, you need to shut this down. For one thing, he may be creating a hostile work environment for any other women who overhear the comments. You should take him aside and say, “You have made several negative generalizations about women in the military. This is inappropriate, and you should refrain from making these comments in the future. If you don’t stop, X will happen.” Where X = a negative reference, formal discipline, or whatever.

      Don’t engage with him on whether the comments are “true” or whether he is entitled to make them because of his service. Negative generalizations about women in the military are negative generalizations about women. They are inappropriate, full stop, and it is your responsibility to bring him in line.

      1. You’re right. I missed the part about OP being his supervisor (I was just seeing it as a co-worker complaint). Depending on the state, it may be way too little to create a “hostile work environment” as defined by law, but it’s not appropriate whether actionable in a law suit or not.

      2. Oh, and document this conversation with a memo to file just in case it escalates in the future.

      3. Thank you, that phrasing is really helpful. This is one of the more uncomfortable situations I’ve had to deal with since becoming a supervisor.

  13. I have a friend whose daughter was born with a severe disability, to the point they’ve been trying to decide whether they can raise her or whether it would be in the baby’s interests to be adopted by a family with more resources and more experience with the disability. I live across the country from my friend, but want to do something to let her know I’m thinking of her and her family as they go through this difficult time. Do you ladies have any suggestions for something I could do from afar or send to her that would be comforting without creating any obligation or imposing any burden on her? Thanks for any suggestions, as I’m at a loss!

    1. Honestly, a thoughtful card would be nice. Maybe dinner delivery in their area (or gift card to a place that delivers). I think going through something that difficult, it would be nice to know people understood and cared about me and were willing to help research/write/shoulder to cry on.

    2. This is horrible, there is a good chance this baby won’t be adopted by a loving family with more means. I could not fathom keeping this person as a friend.

      1. Wow, way to judge a situation that you no absolutely nothing about and people you have never met before.

      2. You are not in this person’s shoes. It must be an agonizing choice for her friend.

      3. Uh, they might have someone in mind with more resources. Like aunts/uncles, etc.

        Either way, this comment is really harsh.

  14. I finally got a Clarisonic, and I have a large grin when using it because I feel more part of the c o r p o r e t t e s circle :)
    For now, I am at the (hopefully temporary) stage where my skin is purging.
    I cannot wait until I see those amazing results everyone has been raving about.
    And no, I didn’t get Paula’s Choice products, though I did try to find them unsuccessfully.

    1. Unfortunately, Paula’s Choice products are only available via mail-order. No brick & mortar sales.

  15. I’m not sure how to handle this – we have an ongoing problem with the elevator to part of our building. There is no way to take another elevator and it is really inconvenient to take the stairs (it’s really a fire stair and not public). This morning, one of the staff got stuck in the elevator on the way to work. Inevitably, when someone posts on our internal listserv about the elevator being out, they’ll sound irritated or make a flippant comment. My boss doesn’t like this because he says it’s publicly airing grievances and he has asked us to ask our supervisees to stop. We think it’s harmless because it’s internal and they have a point. What do you all think?

    1. People should use a professional tone whenever communicating in a professional environment. Expressing frustration with the elevator may be fine (depends on the purpose of the listserv), but posts should still be professional in tone, meaning they should focus on how the elevator issue is impacting employees’ ability to work and should not be either PO’ed or flippant. That just makes everyone look bad.

    2. I think if your boss wants people to stop (and you are the boss of those people) you should tell them to stop, since this is a silly hill to die on, and basically your job is to do what your boss says, within reason.

      However, I think you should call maintenance every time until they get annoyed enough to fix the elevator. Elevators are dangerous technology and should always be maintained into good working order.

      1. We do call maintenance every time, but it has gotten ridiculous how often it’s broken. I have missed appointments with people because I didn’t know the elevator was broken and didn’t know why they didn’t show up.

        And the comments are really harmless. For example, “The elevator is running again (for now)” or “The elevator is working again. Who knows for how long.”

        1. I completely agree with TBK and Anonymous, that (1) people should use a professional tone in a professional environment and (2) this is a silly hill to die on. Do what your boss asked and just tell your subordinates, “please use a more professional tone on the company listserv.” Maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but at least you will have done your job.

          1. I actually kind of disagree that this is a silly hill to die on. People are actually getting stuck in the office elevator; that’s terrifying to a not insignificant segment of the population. Being reprimanded for making an extremely mildly snarky comment about the situation is kind of Orwellian. If OP pushes back against her boss, and the boss insists, I’d say he’s choosing a silly hill to die on; I don’t really think that that’s the case for the OP.

      2. Love “this is a silly hill to die on”! A good test when I’m getting PO’d about something.

    3. Unless the e-mails say something like “God, this company is the worst. I can’t believe they let the elevators break down AGAIN,” I think your boss needs to get over it. People can and should express some annoyance with minor daily frustrations like the elevators constantly breaking; it’s how people bond, and shutting it down is just going to provide more fodder for complaints (that you won’t see this time). The point at which I think it makes sense to intervene is the point at which this crosses over into venting about your employer instead of the building maintenance.

    4. I don’t get it. What does he mean by “publicly airing grievances”? The elevator being out, if you can’t take the stairs, sounds like a very legitimate “grievance” to me!

      That said, he may just be annoyed with the building management that they haven’t fixed it yet – e.g. he KNOWS it’s a problem and doesn’t want to be reminded of it again and again, if he has asked the maintenance people to fix it and they haven’t. But it’s still a valid complaint if the elevator is STILL NOT FIXED, so I don’t really get it.

      1. No, he’s not annoyed because it’s not fixed. It rarely inconveniences him. His office is in another part of the building. He is just concerned with how things look.

        1. But it’s affecting your work. People no show for meetings because they cannot figure out how to get to your office (probably doesn’t look so good if these are visitors to your office). Perhaps that can be addressed by putting a sign with a number to call if the elevator is out so that alternate agreements could be made?

          However, if there was a higher-than-normal chance that I could get stuck in the elevator, I would definitely want a warning. Can you have another listserve made that only includes people that are in your part of the building?

          1. Yes, this. I get where people are coming from regarding to just do what your boss wants, but I would hate to be the no-fun manager that goes in and tells people to stop venting their frustrations, etc., as Em described (and they do seem like legitimate grievances and warnings). Perhaps suggest moving it from an official internal listserv to a smaller informal group e-mail?

          2. Yes, that’s exactly how we felt. We didn’t feel like our staff were being in appropriate so we felt uncomfortable saying so. This was also coming from people who are usually really positive – they’re just extremely frustrated. Unfortunately, we can’t move it from the internal listserv because we have a conference room on this side of the building that others need to use and people on the first floor need to know how to redirect visitors to our floor. The last time it happened, my colleague pushed back at the boss and told him that the frustrations were reasonable and that he needs to work with maintenance on the elevator situation.

        2. Perhaps you should start a log for him–not just when it’s repaired, but how long it was broken, who was on it, result of them being held up for that long. When you give it to him, you could me tion that people are concerned about the impact this is having on their work, because it is so frequent.

          1. We’ve done that (not the log, but talking about impact). His assistant has to call maintenance every single time and it’s on our listserv. It was broken twice today. So irritating. And the repair guy was in another part of town when she called the second time. Argh.

          2. There are codes for elevator function and repair. I’d be annoyed enough to print out every single email/event related to this elevator and hand it to the boss and tell him to deal with it. That many occurrences is ridiculous.

          3. Whether its a log or a stack of emails, there should be some way to show him that it’s not just a pesky little thing that happens once in a while. It is frequent and disruptive & damaging. And in showing him that, you’re also showing him that you know that. Don’t threaten him, of course, but I would think that once he saw that you had a good record of the negligence, he’d be prompted to take action.

            If you have a good relationship with his assistant, you could talk to her. My guess is that she doesn’t like to talk to him about it because it makes him grumpy, so she gets his opinion as quickly & unobtrusively as possible, so it doesn’t sink in to him that it’s a couple times a day.

  16. I’m moving from NC to Seattle, WA in a few months. My spouse and I are interesting in purchasing property and have fallen in love with several units located in condo buildings that are co-op run. I understand the legal differences between a condo and a co-op (owning shares of stock in a corporation and whatnot) but I’m less familiar with the reality of actually living in one. I’m curious if any of you can relay what the experience of living in a co-op is like. Any other advice about Seattle living would also be appreciated! We’re interested in the Queen Anne, Capital Hill, and First Hill neighborhoods, specifically (or rather, as interested as one can be having never visited and living 3,000 miles away).

    1. I’m a little biased because I’ve had trouble selling my co-op. The biggest thing is how big the underlying morgage is and what rules they have for subletting — I’ve found that has dissuaded potential buyers (on top of the fact that they don’t understand the whole co-op situation). I would also talk to people in the building and find out more about the co-op board — mine is ok but they’re very conservative about things like making repairs, etc.

      1. Biased is fine! Since we have no point of reference, it’s very helpful to hear about other people’s experiences, good and bad. Thanks!!

    2. Get ready for a battle. It took me 6 months and 8 failed offers (all over the asking price, usually about 10% over asking) to finally buy my home in Seattle. I ended up in Capitol Hill and love it, but Queen Anne and First Hill were also on my list. Might also add Ballard, Fremont, and Wallingford. I would stay flexible on neighborhood and not zero in on a single neighborhood because there are so few listings and you will have so much difficulty finding properties to purchase.

      1. @B, I am pretty nervous about the prospect of actually successfully buying a place on our timeline. We’re visiting late June, and hope to submit some offers. Then it’s back to NC until late August, when we move to Seattle for good. I’m just not sure what to do. Financially, we are in a position to buy. I’m reluctant to sign a 1 year lease, only to find the dream place (and successfully buy it) a month or so later. Then again, we will need a place to live. Based on your experience–and perhaps common sense, too!–our plan to simply buy during our visit seems like a pipe dream. sigh

  17. I want to thank everybody who was so awesome and supportive when I posted my mid-divorce pity party on last weekend’s open thread. Over the past few days I’ve had (to quote my favorite movie, “Pulp Fiction”) what the alcoholics refer to as a “moment of clarity,” and I have a plan of action and am feeling a lot better about things. I might even be able to get my house back after all.

    You ladies are the best!

    2. You’ve been in my thoughts — I’m glad to hear things are looking up! You sound like a pretty incredible lady, so I have no doubt your situation will only get better from here.

    3. I didn’t participate in the original thread but I have been thinking about you and what an awful experience you must be having. You are fabulous and I am rooting for you. In particular, I will keep my fingers crossed for you to get your house back.

      1. Agreed. What has happened to you sounds terrible but it sounds like you’re handling with a combination of kickass and grace. We’re all cheering you on!

    4. Hang in there – I’m glad things are looking a little better for you. You will get through this – I promise!

  18. I am so burnt out on boring salads. I need something that has a good crunch to it. Does anyone have a favorite (or two) salad recipe or crunch topper?

    1. Not sure what crunch you are looking for, but Smitten Kitchen did a greek salad w/ lemon and oregano. It has all crunchy veggies, no salad. Not very exciting, but I usually throw on cucumbers, shredded carrots, nuts, or toasted chickpeas for crunch (also from smitten kitchen). You could make some sort of homemade crouton and season to your liking? Tortilla strips?

    2. I find that changing up the dressing can help a lot. Whole Foods has a peanut dipping sauce (comes in a glass bottle, I think it is displayed near the soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc.) that I like, and then I’ll switch up my ingredients a bit, too. It’s good with tofu, almonds, mandarin oranges, scallions, and rice noodles. I also like adding “treat” ingredients (avocado and/or mandarin oranges, for me) to make the salad a little more appealing.

    3. When I get bored of salads, I stop putting lettuce in and force myself to find other veggies to fill up on. It helps. Also if you don’t own dill (the spice), I would highly recommend adding it to your salads. It’s a great, flavorful addition without being too strong or spicy.

      1. Oh! And you can also do roasted chickpeas! Again, lots of spice options, and I’ve done it with other beans (cannellini, adzuki, black beans), with some success, though they’re not as good as the roasted chickpeas. You don’t really need to do what the link below says, I just rinse them, and toss them with olive oil and spices, and bake at 350-400 for…I don’t know, 40 mins? Basically until they are my preferred level of crunchy.

        http://thekindcookie.com/blog/2013/5/16/salt-and-vinegar-roasted-chickpeas

    5. *dried cranberries, goat cheese, pistachios

      *orange, red, and yellow bell peppers, cannellini beans, and shredded white cheddar

      *strawberries, feta, walnuts, spinach or arugula

      *chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives

      *radishes, avocado, arugula, carrots, red pepper hummus

      *rotisserie shredded chicken with any of the above

      Also, sunflower seeds add a great crunch and are a nice change of pace!

    7. Fried POLENTA. I have no idea if someone’s already said it. But it looks like regular old croutons but it tastes like heaven walking on earth. Like seriously, I think if heaven exists it will be one of the foods that will make the cut.

      I first discovered their existence on the salads served at my wedding oddly enough (when I tasted them at the tasting I was like THIS SALAD IS THE ONE I DON’T CARE WHAT ELSE THERE IS) and since then I’ve seen them around and my friends made them at a dinner party and now I love them. Plus gluten-free!

      Anyway, before you all think I’ve lost my darn mind or become Ellen…FRIED POLENTA.

      1. This is GENIUS. (Apparently I’ve turned into Ellen too.) Is it cooked polenta, thickened, cut into cubes and pan-fried?

        1. So I’ve never personally done it, but I believe so yes because you need it to hold up against frying – ya know? I did a quick google and Giada from the Food Network has an easy enough looking recipe (as do many many others). But seriously, its like the food of angels.

      2. It’s also on the shrimp salad at the Nordy’s cafe — amazing. It’s totally normal that I have the ingredients memorized, right?

    8. My roommates and I post-college had a go-to salad we ate probably 4x/wk that we just called Big Salad. It’s spring greens, baby spinach, arugula, corn (from a can), dark red kidney beans, crumbled gorgonzola, red onion slices, and shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with a vinaigrette made from balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, a few shakes of mustard powder, a crushed garlic clove, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together in whatever proportions sound good to you. It has a great mix of tastes and textures, and is a pretty complete meal nutritionally.

      1. Grr moderation because of the name of a salad dressing beginning with vinai and ending with the last four letters of thissite.

        My roommates and I post-college had a go-to salad we ate probably 4x/wk that we just called Big Salad. It’s spring greens, baby spinach, arugula, corn (from a can), dark red kidney beans, crumbled gorgonzola, red onion slices, and shredded rotisserie chicken mixed with a vinaigr—e made from balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, a few shakes of mustard powder, a crushed garlic clove, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together in whatever proportions sound good to you. It has a great mix of tastes and textures, and is a pretty complete meal nutritionally.

    9. All through the spring I was doing almonds, oranges, dried cranberries, with sesame ginger dressing (I love TJ’s brand).

      I’ve recently switched to strawberries, banana chips for crunch, cucumbers, and poppyseed dressing.

      If you like more “savory” and less “sweet” salads, I also like adding crispy bacon to my salads; asian noodle type items, macadamia nuts, or oyster crackers.

    11. If you have access to a Trader Joes, try the “Inner Peas” as a topper. Other good crunchy toppers include: radishes, wasabi peas, pita chip pieces, roasted chickpeas, and bell pepper.

      1. Don’t do this. I bought a bag of them yesterday, and now they are gone. They are too delicious.

        youve been warned ;)

    12. I swear by Onion Crunch in my salads! It is sold by the salad topping area (I think) although sometimes it is with condiments.

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