Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Margeaux Blazer in Four-Season Stretch
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
I love, love, love the color of this classic-looking blazer from J.Crew. It reminds me of a chocolate-covered raspberry. I have some fabulous blazers in my closet that I don’t reach for as much anymore because they look a little dated, but this cut looks timeless. (And even if I’m wrong about that in five years, I would still hang onto it for another five because the style will certainly come back around.)
If this color isn’t your thing, it also comes in five other solids and two great plaids.
The jacket is $248 at J.Crew and comes in sizes 00-24. It’s available in classic, petite, and tall size ranges.
Sales of note for 10/16
- Ann Taylor – 50% off + free shipping on everything!
- Brooklinen – Friends & Family – 20% off sitewide and 50% off select bundles
- J.Crew – Extra 50% off 3+ sale styles with code – includes lots of suiting, sweaters, and pants
- J.Crew Factory – Friends & Family, extra 15% off your purchase
- M.M.LaFleur – October Sale Event, best prices of the season (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
- Nordstrom – 5840+ new markdowns for women, up to 40% off
- Talbots – Friends and family, 30% off your entire purchase
- Theory – End of season sale is on with extra savings (new prices are marked)
Need shopping help for a unicorn.
Back when Tablots first introduced their “T” by Talbots athleisure line in 2019, I purchased a pair of pants from that line that I liked so well I quickly bought a second pair. They have been on heavy rotation ever since then and I’m sorry to say have given up the ghost. I need to replace them.
They aren’t leggings, they are more like pants. They are made of a substantial stretchy fabric, but they are not too heavy for summer or too light for winter, so mid-weight. I can wear them for walking, working out, pilates, etc, but then run to the grocery store with no problem. They are straight leg, and close fit, but not binding. No compression (which I hate) but a nice close fit. There is a seam down the front that I think helps give the impression that they are a bit elevated.
I’ve looked at all the obvious suspects to find a replacement: Athleta, Alo, Lulu, Adidas, Champion, Nike. I’ve checked Talbots and Old Navy. Are there any lesser known brands I should be checking out? Not concerned about cost – based on the two I soon have to let go of, the right pair will pay for itself over time.
Thanks for any shopping help!
Did you try the Athleta Endless pant? I really like those for a comfy pant that doesn’t look like sweatpants.
I bought these at Old Navy, but they might be heavier than you want: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=8626570320001&locale=en_US&vid=1#pdp-page-content
I know a lot of people won’t shop there anymore, but maybe try Target? Or, going the other way, maybe Chicos (I’ve only seen their catalogs, so this suggestion is pretty uninformed)? J Jill?
Starfish pants from Land’s End?
One of the ponte pants from Eileen Fisher? They have multiple weights of ponte, and they last forever.
Chico’s has had something similar. May take some hunting.
The corso pants by Lilly Pulitzer are my go to straight leg ‘athletic’ fit pants. The fabric is a midweight poly/spandex blend and very breathable.
I have a pair of mid-weight ponte knit pants from GAP that have a normal zip fly and tailored waistband. They are stretchy without having elastic, and I could definitely work out in them although I use them as office PJ-in-disguise trousers. They even have the welted seam down the front like you describe. No idea if they have a current version; mine were purchased about five years ago. If they are not currently available, it might be worth a secondhand search.
I’m turning 45 and increasingly interested in spending more on skincare and professional treatments, but I’m overwhelmed by the options and terrified of messing up my face! I’ve only done few (nourishing/massaging type) facials here and there.
I’m financially comfortable but still ridiculously price-conscious about beauty treatments. More importantly, I’m skeptical about what’s actually effective. I’ll consider regular facials, then read that a good skincare routine accomplishes just as much. I’ll look into Botox, fillers, lasers, microneedling, etc., then worry about side effects, unnatural results, or doing more harm than good. So I end up researching endlessly and doing very little.
I’d love specific, firsthand experiences: Have you tried Botox or fillers and loved or regretted them? Any particular areas you’d recommend treating or avoiding? Which facials, lasers, or other treatments actually made a noticeable, lasting difference? Which were a complete waste of money, or worse, negatively affected your face?
I’m not necessarily trying to look 25 again, just interested in aging well and figuring out what’s genuinely worth doing versus what is mostly marketing. Particularly interested in hearing from women who’ve taken a conservative approach and are happy with their decisions or wish they’d left well enough alone!
My .02 is Botox, on the forehead, nowhere else and nothing else. I’ve done that for 15 years and have remarkably few wrinkles at 50. I am personally not into fillers and fortunate to have great skin otherwise, so I just wash my face and am good at makeup. A good lipstick is a much heavier hitter than anything else too.
I have done microneedling, laser (though I don’t know what kind specifically, not something fancy like Fraxel), and get Botox in my forehead.
Microneedling helped with reducing the appearance of acne scars (especially smaller ones). Deeper scars need more treatment. It also can help with the appearance of wrinkles. I did probably 6 sessions and am happy with the results.
I did one session of laser treatment and it very quickly reduced a lot of the redness on my cheeks. I would do another session. Both microneedling and laser was done by the esthetician at my dermatologist’s office.
I get Botox every 12 weeks by my neurologist for a movement condition I have. It also helps with my vanity and preventing wrinkles. It isn’t a large amount and doesn’t look unnatural. I love it and will likely get it done forever.
This is helpful, thanks! What about hair? Balayage is tempting but seems to expensive and I’m not graying as elegantly as I hoped for.
Hair color is a nonnegotiable for me, not the person you’re responding to though. It’s the thing that ages you the fastest and sets the tone for your entire look. Spend the time here and you can skip a lot of other things.
+1. Gray hair or an unflattering color will age you a decade no matter what your skin looks like. I agree with the main commenter about botox and lasers. A retinoid and daily SPF are the best preventative treatments and non-invasive.
I’m wary of fillers. Yes a judicious amount can look great at first but you’re worse off long term. Eventually it will migrate and can cause more sagging once you stop using it.
I don’t think basic facials accomplish anything so I wouldn’t put money there. Similarly, I can do my own dermaplaning and eyebrow shaping at home so I would invest in the tools you need to do those things and then do them yourself.
Conversely, Botox is real and should only be done by a professional. When the time comes, I will probably go down that road.
I do Botox (every 3.5 to 4 months) in the 11s and forehead, and tretinoin cream every night. I also use Frownies stickers on the 11s and I think it helps the Botox last longer (may be placebo but it’s cheap!!!). And SUNSCREEN every day – when I look at peers (I am 48) I notice sun damage from those who are/were not as careful w/ sunscreen. Will look into laser for brown spots at some point.
Also I go to a board certified derm for my Botox. No med spa etc. etc. It is probably more expensive but I have no worries about looking “weird”.
FWIW, I think using Frownies on the 11s helps too!
I had Vbeam laser done by my derm for rosacea redness, and noticed an improvement in overall elasticity and texture. I did 3 sessions over the winter, although the most change was from the first one. I’ll likely get a session annually for upkeep.
I am trying to mainly embrace aging, but I’m willing to do the high-maintenance so I can be low-maintenance thing. Reducing my redness means not color correcting or wearing a full foundation daily, and I feel like I need less skincare to maintain my baseline.
Derms consistently say tretinoin for long-term skin improvement. I would go ahead and get a prescription strength tube versus the more expensive (and less effective) versions at Sephora.
I’ve done microneedling + PRP injections for the hollows under my eyes. I can see the difference in the before-and-after pictures, but it’s pretty subtle and didn’t move the needle (ha) dramatically. I probably won’t do it again.
Botox is relatively cheap, relatively low risk when performed by a good practitioner and if you hate it, it’s mostly temporary. That’s not to say I ones ever had a bad result or regretted it. Its been around for decades. It doesn’t turn you into Michael Jackson or Susan dell or whatever other person you think looks terrible. Micro needling can improve texture. Again, not terribly dramatic stuff. Lasers can have bigger risks and downtime, depending on the laser. Co2 lasers are no joke. Your first round of conservative filler probably won’t look crazy or unnatural but it is really important to have a good injector. I’m more wary of filler and the intense lasers risk wise than anything else here.
Here’s the thing I find kind of exhausting and I’m sorry to bring it up on your post specifically because it’s really about the attitude on this board generally.
I think what a lot of posters here want is some sort of permission to undergo cosmetic treatments without being vain, foolish, unserious and even deserving of a negative result. Because it seems like that’s the kind of person you imagine gets Botox and fillers. I really want to challenge that idea. I promise you that the vast majority of 44 year old women getting Botox are also trying to look their best subtly and not trying to look 25. You probably didn’t even notice we got it. Lots of us are also frugal, practical and responsible people with what we consider a tasteful approach and if you’ve been judging us maybe you need to rethink that.
Thank you for this thoughtful response! I agree that most women getting Botox or fillers simply want to look like the best versions of themselves. That’s exactly what I’m after too.
I do want to push back gently on the idea that I’m judging women who get treatments. Quite the opposite! I recently admired an older woman with beautiful silver hair, incredibly clear skin, and a polished appearance. That’s exactly how I’d love to age, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d had cosmetic treatments.
My hesitation is really about where to draw the line and how to weigh risks against benefits. Once I consider forehead Botox, why not DAO Botox? Lasers for pigmentation? Microneedling for texture? Filler for volume? There’s seemingly no upper limit, and I’m genuinely afraid of messing up my face.
I’d love to hear how women who’ve approached this thoughtfully decided what was worth doing, what wasn’t, and where to stop. That’s what I’m trying to figure out, rather than seeking permission to have treatments.
I think I’m in the same place as you (late 40s and never done Botox or fillers because I’m scared to mess up my face). I started doing at-home microneedling and have noticed a big difference (think my face, but 5 years ago). I also cut out foundation and am diligent about sunscreen and moisturizer (tallow-based) and red-light therapy. I also started watching my hydration and adding daily electrolyte packets in the morning. I may eventually go for laser treatment for pigmentation or explore other things, but for now I love this routine and how it’s enhanced my appearance.
I think you have it backwards. Only think about treatments after you have identified your concerns. There isn’t one procedure that is universally needed (well, nothing is a need in aesthetics), or universally successful. What is currently bothering you? For forehead wrinkles, botox is the gold standard. Every other concern will have different treatments with different prices, pain levels and recovery times.
So my number one tip is to find a derm that you trust (ask for recommendations from friends or on here, then check their instagram) and bring them an objective list of things you want to address. Then, come up with a treatment plan together (and you can do a focused research).
ive had a hpl photo facial and think it has made a huge difference in my skin. i think it had much more of an impact than microneedling.
The most important thing for good skin is wearing sunblock all the time. I wear sunblock religiously, and get frequent compliments on my skin. Second is tretinoin. I use it five or six times a week, and on the off night, I use moisturizer. The most cost effective way to get a prescription is a legitimate online pharmacy. I use Red Box, which is affiliated with Hy-Vee. It’s a simple online chat and/or questionnaire, and then they ship me the prescription with two or three refills. I’m sure there are other options.
I get Botox on my forehead, around my eyes, sometimes my neck or mouth area. I get filler to improve my marionette lines and make my face less hollow (comes with age). My doctor owns and runs a medical spa, and only she does the treatments. She not a dermatologist, she was a very reputable doctor in another specialty that wanted a change. What I think is key is that she modifies where she does treatment each appointment. My forehead is usually the same, but she puts the other Botox and filler in slightly different places, so you never get that overfilled look. She only will put the tiniest bit of filler in your lips once a year or even longer. She marks everything she does on a diagram and we review it each appointment. I’d like to say I researched her, but honestly I randomly found her because she’s near my house.
You can also ask your primary care doctor for a prescription for tretinoin at your next annual exam, then fill it at any pharmacy. I think I pay $15 a month at Publix. This saves me having to pay for any sort of online consultation.
Is there a specific concern you’re trying to address? I had a “1” instead of an “11” that was bothering me, and got Botox for it just as I was starting to get a static line. It made a huge difference, and I immediately started a fund to continue the $390 treatments. I get it about 3-4 times a year.
Also, I’ve done a couple of years worth of Microneedling treatments, which are backed by science, and I get a round of 3-4 in a doctor’s office, which is a bit deeper than the at home ones (and more sanitary IMO). It takes time and I’ve seen a difference, usually 2-3 months after completing the treatments. It’s not an in your face difference, but noticeable when comparing photos.
I’m intrigued by lasers, such as IPL and Fraxel, but haven’t taken the leap yet.
FWIW, don’t think spending a lot of money on skin products guarantees results, being consistent is more important, and in general I think regular facials are a waste of money.
So last year my manager was fired for hara55ing me and just generally being unstable after a third party investigation. She turned to some light stalking for a while before eventually moving on. Yesterday I ran into her at the grocery store, we were 15 feet apart and didn’t interact but she definitely saw me and now I’m worried the stalking will restart. Thanks for letting me vent since very few people IRL know and I really am not in the mood to be called anxious.
This sounds hard and awful. Sending you good energy, and the hope that this shitty behavior won’t start again.
Oof that is awful. How did your work handle it? Is there anyone there you could let know, just in the interest of documenting it? Were the police involved (if not- should you get them involved?)
My work handled it… poorly. She is very charismatic and I’m not so when they launched the investigation they went into it thinking I was the problem. Her firing was begrudgingly, so there certainly is still a lot of blame on me for ‘making them look bad’.
Oh gosh, that sounds so stressful! I hope they stay many, many, many feet away and you never have to deal with this again
Holy moly. Are the police involved? If so, can you update them?
What do you mean by stalking? Watching you at work/home/gym, following you, calling, sending you incessant emails, etc.? That behavior is criminal and should be reported to the police.
But if you mean she like followed you on instagram or viewed your linkedin a bunch of times, then probably not. It’s not wrong for her to be in the grocery store and it sounds like she did not try to interact with you.
Real stalking. She walked by my house 20+ times a day (I saved proof from my security camera) and followed me to the gym/store. Then she also attempted to ‘hack’ all my online accounts but I have two factor authentication so she was unsuccessful. I have IPs from her attempts to hack my various accounts provided by the tech companies.
Did you report it to the police?
Anyone want to do some vicarious shopping for me? Husband has a milestone birthday coming and we made reservations at a very big deal restaurant, but at a time and city where it will be very cold! I would normally wear a low-cut sleeveless c0cktail dress for something like this, but I hate the cold, so I need something that will look nice with (probably fleece) tights and probably have at least a little arm coverage, but I’d definitely still like something on the s3xy side. I’m 40-something, skinny, prefer a length close to my knees (no micro-minis or mid-calf midis), and I plan to wear heels (don’t want to buy boots). Budget is flexible.
Suggestions? Any other tips you have for dressing up in the cold?
Velvet. There are always lots of velvet long-sleeved dresses available this time of year. Boden has some very nice ones. You can get a really rich color like royal purple or deep green.
Wear a good coat and take a taxi/uber to the restaurant (or valet if you’re driving), and it really doesn’t matter how warm your actual dress is. I agree that a sleeveless dress might look out of place in the dead of winter, but unless you will be walking long distances outside, I do not think you actually need to worry *that* much about being cold.
You could always do a cape sleeve like this one: https://www.nordstrom.com/s/betsy-and-adam-cape-sleeve-crepe-sheath-dress/6547573?origin=coordinating-6547573-0-1-PDP_1_OOS-recbot-vertex_ymal_v5&recs_placement=PDP_1_OOS&recs_strategy=vertex_ymal_v5&recs_source=recbot&recs_page_type=product&recs_seed=7885969&color=BLACK
Do any of my fellow 50-somethings have a terrific eye cream to recommend, ideally available at Ulta? I need to pick up a replacement today, and I don’t feel like my Clinique all about eyes has been cutting it. Though maybe that’s just the best my under-eye wrinkles get at this age!
Wirecutter (from the NYT) did a podcast about eye creams recently – it is worth a listen. I think the one they recommended is by SkinBetter but please confirm – the episode are reach pretty short and explain their research and conclusions. Good luck!
CeraVe? They make two different eye creams, and my Ulta usually has at least one of them.
I love the CeraVe moisturizer but their eye cream did absolutely nothing for me.
Random q. I’ve noticed at hospitals and dr offices lately they will have me sign something without actually providing the document. So they will have a tiny electronic pad for signature and say “this is for the patient consent policy” or whatever the document is. When I ask where the document is, they go “oh. um we could print you a copy” this has happened multiple times.
my question is how does this actually protect them legally? It’s up to each patient to push to get a copy of these? it seems a bit either meaningless or kind of exploitative I guess? these are well regarded hospitals so I am not as worried about the actual paper as the whole concept I guess
Obviously they keep a record of the document for their files? I’m not sure why you think that’s exploitative.
Because the person signing it never gets to read it or see it, unless they insist on getting a copy. they are asking people to sign a document without even seeing it
I don’t know whether there’s any caselaw in this, but I will tell you that I’m a trial judge, and whenever I sign one of these I think to myself that I’d be very sympathetic to the defendant if any doctor/hospital plaintiff tried to hold anyone to anything in these “documents” in litigation.
The further I go in life, the more complicated everything and incomprehensible so many things seem to me, a person with above-average intelligence and a top of her class law degree. I’m sort of horrified when I think of how some of this must be to people with lower than average levels of intelligence or reading skills. It usually works out, but I don’t know what the solution is.
Couldn’t agree more. Especially healthcare. I feel for everyone who, due to age, illness, or education level, does not have the capacity and/or wits to deal with this in any meaningful way. The systems are designed to take advantage of the user.
Do all the documents end up in my chart? I HATE getting paper documents at the doctor. Please just pop it on my chart so I can download and file the PDF.
they do not (as far as I can tell). Sometimes they point to a version that is laminated and hanging up- that seems better in that at least there is a copy somewhere but I have no way to know if that is what I am actually signing. They just ask you to sign something you can’t see anywhere.
I’m not a trial judge, but have the same thoughts re: that comment. How can the hospitals possibly hold anyone to this?
I’m a hospital lawyer and I had that happen to me at a (not affiliated with my company) surgery center a few years ago, and thought it was weird, too. I didn’t push back, because I know what those documents say and I wasn’t really going to read them anyway, but I don’t like it and I would object if my company wanted to do this (completely different if they’re giving an I-pad with the doc and and e-signature space; in this case the doc was nowhere in sight).
I think it’s an open question whether this protects the company. You could argue that the patient waived the right to look at the form and that enough details were explained to give notice of what was there, but I do think that’s a stretch if the patient isn’t sophisticated and no one can say what was actually said. It could go either way, but I do think it seems a little exploitive in some cases.
Yes and I’ve noticed sometimes they just tell me to sign and don’t even say the name of the document they are asking me to sign! I just do it and hope for the best since I need the treatment, but I just don’t like the feeling. And even when they say what they are asking me to sign, I have no way to know that’s what I am actually signing
I’ve encountered this too. The thing often says “I have been provided a copy of XYZ” – and sometimes that’s true (eg. it was on the website) and sometimes it’s not. But either way, I *said* it was true; so I can hardly sue them and claim it was not
I know this board is full of lawyers so cover your ears for a minute :)…I’ve decided to just sign them. I am going to sign the paper anyway even if I disagree with it, because I need the product/service they’re offering, and you just can’t get by in the modern world and *not* agree to ridiculous terms. It annoys me, but I’m only going to actually insist on reading it if it’s something I might actually be able to walk away from. If I’m at the ER with a broken ankle, and they need me to “consent” to the use of AI in care without disclosure, to pay whatever they ask no matter what, and naming rights to my firstborn… so does every other ER in 1000 miles, so I’ll just sign it
IANAL and suspect nothing will come of this. I literally write in, either on the paper or on the e-sig device, that I was not provided a copy of the specified document and my signature here attests to this fact alone.
I did once get taken to an emergency room against my wishes. I fainted for reasons that were not a mystery, but an onlooker called an ambulance. I came to before paramedics arrived; they forcefully loaded me into an ambulance. I had no injuries and was in full command of my faculties the entire time, told them I did not want to go, did not need or consent to any treatment, was physically restrained by hospital security upon arrival and prevented from leaving until I signed the “discharge” paperwork. There was a paragraph stating that I agreed to be responsible for all costs associated with my stay, which I manually crossed out and wrote in that I was held against my will and not provided any treatment and did not actually encounter any medical providers, just reception and security, and that I did not agree to pay any costs. The hospital did attempt to send me a five-figure bill for my “care” and I told them to produce the agreement I signed. They could not, and I had a cell phone photo of it. That was a decade ago and the invoice mysteriously went away entirely.
not health care but one time my husband apparently signed for car rental insurance on an electronic pad, I was nursing a fussy baby, it was late at night, half the time those screens are broken etc. I filed a complaint with the state AG’s office and got a refund. if whatever you signed ends up having a real cost or impact to you I think a class action lawyer would have a case.
Ugh, car rentals are such a mess. We usually prepay on booking.com or directly on the rental company site, and 8 times out of 10, the agent at the pickup counter claims there are additional charges due at pickup. And we’re not talking extra insurance, e-toll box etc.
Even if we produce the booking documents outlining all the charges and the total with the payment confirmation, they still sometimes insist that more is due. My husband gets really pissed off when this happens, and once or twice had to threaten to report them to the AG for misrepresentation of the fees. Funnily, then usually a manager can “waive” the extra charges “as a courtesy”.
And yes, healthcare invoicing and consent signing is a big old mess. Even on myChart online check-in forms all the info is so hidden, and you feel like you’re signing away your firstborn.
On the consent topic, our school is the worst with privacy and data sharing.
They have 3 options for consent to share your kids’ photo and name:
1) share with everyone, including 3rd party service providers
2) share in school comms, which includes email newsletters and other comms
3) no sharing
Obviously, we selected 3), since we don’t want our childs name broadcasted in mass emails to the whole town (smallish Midwestern town). But selecting 3) means that their name and photo also won’t make it into the year book, so we have to tell the teacher managing the yearbook very year that we explicitly allow to share the pic for that purposes.
Now, all that would be fine, but how come event pics including a close-up of my child’s face end up on the Facebook page of the school at least once a month? We’re not talking kiddo’s face in the crowd at a sports or music activity with many others, but a literal close-up.
In the age of AI and identity theft, I have many many thoughts about this, but unless I address it every single time with the school, it is futile to try to protect my kid’s privacy. And I have other issues to pick with the school, so can’t burn all my capital on this issue even though I want to raise a real stink about this.
Question for the sewers in the group. While out of town this summer, I bought a pair of white linen pants(brand is Splendid). Did not realize until I got home that the side seams have an eyelet finish, so skin shows through, from the hem to the waist. Don’t love this feature and can’t return the pants, and wondering if there is a fix I can do (as a very novice sewer). I would love to put some kind of backing in so instead of seeing skin through the eyelet, you see white fabric. But worried that simply sewing a strip of fabric to the underside will look amateur. Haven’t tried a tailor yet, although I can if there is no easy at-home fix. TIA.
You can pretty easily sew a strip of fabeic behind it. Personally I’d sew it to one side of the eyelets with the leg ‘open’, then use washable tape to hold the other side and carefully close it all up.
I don’t see why you can’t just sew a ribbon or strip of bias binding to cover the outseam from the inside. It would be basically four long seams, two for each ribbon. If you don’t like the look, just remove it. Seam rippers are your friend.
Your biggest issue is likely to be whether the pant legs are loose enough to do this on a machine. If not, you will need to do it by hand or open the inseam so you can sew the ribbon on the outseams, then close the inseam back up.
Can you tack a strip of white grosgrain ribbon down the inside of it?
Yes, try it. If you don’t like how it looks, you can unpick the seam and do something else.
You can get something called “bias tape” from the notions department of a fabric store. I’d try that, if there’s one the right width.
If you start with a piece of white fabric, wash it first so that if it’s going to shrink, it does so before you sew it into the pair of pants.
Sewist! A sewer is a part of the wastewater infrastructure.
Ugh. Husband’s yearly checkup was today, and I tried to gently suggest DH ask his doctor for Wellbutrin. He “forgot” to ask even though the doctor spent a long time with him asking if he was OK, depressed, struggling, etc. (Husband showed up dressed like John Fetterman and has had record low vitamin D in the past, also gained 9 lbs.) I’m telling him he can ask the doctor thru the portal… not sure how forceful I should be. Our teenager has been asking if dad’s depressed and I agree some… chemicals might help him be happier.
Do you think a relationship can ever come back if it’s deep in the Gottman Four Horsemen contempt stage? Or if you reach that point, it truly is over almost all of the time? I’m talking sneering, looking down on someone’s habits, jobs, and income, judging them constantly.