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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. MM.LaFleur has, as always, a number of great dresses right now. This laser stripe fabric is new to me, and I like it, particularly in the form of this flowy A-line dress, which seems like a nice alternative to a more structured sheath dress like the Annie. It’s $365, with limited sizes in stock at the moment; there’s also a pretty, origami-like top in the same fabric. The Emeline Dress This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.Workwear sales of note for 5.5.24
Our favorites are in bold!
- Nordstrom – Nordy Club members earn 3X the points on beauty; 30% off selected shoes
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase (ends 5/12); $50 off your $200+ purchase (ends 5/5)
- Banana Republic Factory – Spend your StyleCash with 40-60% off everything, or take an extra 20% off purchase (ends 5/6)
- Brooks Brothers – 30% off women’s collection
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- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles and up to 50% off everything else
- Everlane – Shorts from $40; bottoms from $60
- J.Crew – Shirts & tees starting at $24.50; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything; up to 70% off clearance
- Lo & Sons – Mother’s Day Sale, up to 40% off
- M.M.LaFleur – 100s of styles on sale, including classic shoes!
- Talbots – 40% off one item & and 30% off everything else; $50 off $200 (all end 5/5)
- White House Black Market – 30% off select full-price styles; extra 30% off sale styles & additional 20%
- Brooklinen – Anniversary Sale, 25% off
- Crate & Barrel – Up to 30% off spring refresh; up to 20% outdoor; up to 35% off spring kitchen event
- West Elm – Up to 60% off
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Anokha
Am I stuck in moderation? If so, my apologies for the repeat post.
Just need to vent. Someone stole my Christmas present for my brother. Literally stole it. It was delivered to our apartment building and left by UPS on the foyer table. None of our neighbors took it accidentally. This is the fourth package that’s been stolen in two years.
It wasn’t expensive (a male Forever 21 sweater), but it was the perfect gift given an inside joke — and now it’s out of stock.
I’m sure that the person who stole the package needed it. I should be gracious. I should be charitable.
But right now, I am wishing all the bad karma on them.
Anon
Our packages get stolen within about an hour of them being delivered to our house if we aren’t home to take them in immediately, so I commiserate with you. Don’t know how Forever 21 will handle it, but when we tell Amazon our package has been stolen they usually issue a refund.
Anon
Ugh, that is so frustrating. I’m sorry.
Someone stole my daughter’s “big” xmas present a few years ago. I was so upset. I called the company that shipped it and they replaced it with express shipping, and I had it sent to my company’s mail room, which was a big no-no but I explained the situation to the mail room guy and he was very understanding. In the end, it arrived on christmas eve at 5PM, and I had both the shipper and the mail room guy absolutely on team Anon’s Daughter & they were checking in constantly to make sure it was gonna happen.
I guess I tell this story to say, most people are good and nice but there are definitely some a-holes out there.
Maybe check on eBay for the exact sweater? or call F21 and explain? Maybe they have low stock but not no stock?
Anonymous
What even is this “I should be gracious” nonsense? Someone committed a crime against you. You’re entitled to be mad. That person didn’t steal an unknown box because they “needed” it – they didn’t even know what it was! – they stole because they’re a jerk.
ANYWAY. Yes contact the retailer and get a refund. Most retailers are pretty good about this. And if they’re not then write a scathing review. Sorry this happened to you.
January
+1. I understand the impulse to be charitable, but really, you’ve experienced theft.
biglawanon
Yeah this. That person is a jerk.
Shooz
Anyone here have any experience being in a long distance marriage because of your or your spouse’s job? How long was the period of separation? How often were you able to see your spouse?
Any advice or insights is greatly appreciated!
Anon
I had a long distance marriage during law school. DH loved his job, so he stayed in our city. I left during the school year for 3 years but came back over the summers. We saw each other twice a month because it was a short, inexpensive flight and DH had flexibility to work remotely periodically. We were young and childless so it worked out fine. It was hard being away from each other, though!
anon
I have done this multiple times and I’m doing it now. Frequency of visits has varied from once ever 2-3 months to every weekend. Once he was a 3 hour drive away, and once I was literally on the other side of the world, so it varies. Right now we’re at about monthly. We’ve done probably 3 years at a stretch and we’re 1 year into another 3 year stretch. Also, sometimes it’s his career that makes this necessary and sometimes it’s mine.
It depends on how long we’re talking, but my observation is that there’s a type of person who can do this for a stretch. We’re both very introverted, independent people, so while this is really not optimal, we’re not missing each other so much that it’s hard to function or anything. We’re also very career driven. We text throughout the day and facetime at night.
Not my favorite thing, but completely doable. You need to be honest with yourself about what you need, though.
Anonymous
Yep, my husband is a professor and this is very common in his field. I don’t think we know any dual career couples in academia that haven’t done at least some long distance.
We were bicoastal (CA-NY) long distance for two years while he did a postdoc. I chose not to move because it was only two years and by the time I’d taken the bar (I’m a lawyer) and found a job in the new state, his postdoc would have been at least half over. We were able to see each other for about one week at a time every month, which is a lot given the distance. This was due mostly to DH having a super flexible schedule (his institution let him teach a lot of classes that met only once a week so he could come out for 6 days at a time) and us having plenty of money for plane tickets due to my Big Law job. He also spent summers and his 4-week Christmas and 2-week spring breaks with me, so it wasn’t as bad as it initially sounds when you say “two years.” Honestly it wasn’t bad at all – I missed him of course but it allowed us to both throw ourselves into our careers in ways we probably wouldn’t have if we’d been living together. When we were apart we pretty much did nothing except work, which translated into a lot of career success for both of us. When we were together, we had to do some work of course, but we prioritized spending time together so it was really quality over quantity. I think it made our relationship stronger and my career would definitely have suffered if I’d moved with him and started over at that point (only to have to do the same thing two years later when he got a tenure-track job) so we really have no regrets.
JuniorMinion
I’m doing this now but only for 4-5 months. We see each other when we can (4 hr plane flight + 2 hr drive on my side) but its usually every couple weeks. I work 980s so I get every other friday off. Its definitely doable – I will say I was a person who lived alone in my early 20s and loved it so while I miss him, this is definitely a situation I already knew I was comfortable with.
anon
We did it for nearly 9 years, after 12 months into dating , somehow managed to get married then spent the first 3 and a bit years of marriage living apart. At the beginning it could go 6-8 weeks without seeing each other. We had to get really good at speaking on the phone. We never thought it would last that long but we kept thinking about our long terms goals as a couple and that’s what got us through. It took some getting used to when we were finally living together and he was there every night (but was lovely, and is still lovely – now expecting our first child so we have used our time together wisely!).
Living Apart
I’m late to this thread and not sure if you are checking. But I am doing this right now, different countries but same time zone, 3 hour flight away. We have been averaging visits every 2 months or so. I’m learning to plan for the transitions – the hardest parts are usually right before leaving each other, partly because we hold off on discussing important matters until the end of a visit so as to not “ruin” our time together and partly because I have a tendency to pick fights as a way of creating distance when my abandonment issues are triggered. I don’t advise this. Regular communication is key, and not just about the easy or day-to-day stuff. Keeping the bigger picture in mind of why we are doing this, and revisiting the question occasionally, is important. Not sure if this applies to you but be honest with yourself about whether this is a temporary separation but you are still very much together or whether this is a trial separation where you are seeing how it goes. Plan for the expense, both financial and time wise. Have a standard answer ready to give to friends, family and colleagues who ask why you are apart, preferably one that doesn’t invite follow up questions.
Anon
Has anyone dealt with anything like this?
I’ve been dealing with symptoms for a couple years that therapy and meds haven’t addressed. My psychologist was amazing for talk therapy, and we checked those boxes, so I moved onto my GP, and later, a psychiatrist, for meds. While the psychiatrist is great (and takes insurance!!), she is not at all interested in really discussing things, and so I’m normally in and out of her office with a refilled prescription in 15 minutes or less.
The problem is this: Mentally, cognitively, I feel scattered and forgetful and fuzzy headed, like my mind is kind of like that cloud that follows Pig Pen from Peanuts. The scattered and disordered-ness is stressful and it sort of creates a loop where it gets worse, particularly at work where I feel out of my league. I know anxiety and depression can cause these things, but I feel ok *emotionally* and have for over a year now, so I’m not sure that it’s anxiety and depression. The scattered-ness has remained through a series of anti-depressants. I’ve had basic lab tests and everything is normal for vitamins and such.
Have any of you dealt with anything like this? I’d love to move past this and get my mind back.
anon for this
This is SUPER common! Talk therapy is rarely something you do, check off the boxes, and are done with, as life changes and triggers happen and all that jazz. Your psychiatrist is clearly not the right fit for talk therapy but the meds seem to still be potentially useful. Best bet? Make an appt. with your therapist (since it seems you liked them), make a plan, and go from there. You may find that talk therapy with meds is best for you, even if the visits become less frequent during easier times, or you may work together to figure out whether you can keep talk therapy and taper off the meds (never do this without professional guidance as some have super scary side effects). Sending gentle hugs!
Anon
Oh gosh, sorry, mental fog means I didn’t explain well. There’s nothing “wrong” that I’d need talk therapy for – I love my job (just run of the mill work insecurities, ya know?), my family’s great, I have an adorable dog…overall, life is really good. I would literally have nothing to say to a psychologist other than, “Hey, my head’s foggy and I can’t think clearly.” What I meant to express in my original post…but forgot because that’s the way things go for me…is that maybe I’m not using the right words with her? Maybe there’s another description that someone else here has experienced that could help me frame it for my doctor so that I can help her have a light bulb moment?
Anon
Are you sure this isn’t a side effect of antidepressants? This could have many causes, but it’s certainly a very noticeable side effect of several drugs I’ve taken. I’m definitely not suggesting that you stop taking them, but it could be worth considering a dosage change or just accepting that it’s a cost of drugs that make you feel a lot better and not something that you should blame yourself for, just work with the best you can.
Rainbow Hair
When I started on Wellbutrin, I had massive aphasia — like I would be at payless on the phone with my mom and saying, “um I’m looking at… damn it… you know, I’m looking at… shoes. I’m looking at shoes.” It was bizarre and very noticeable and my doctor said it should go away after a week or two, and if not to come back in. It has gone away, largely, for me, but that experience makes me think that maybe what you’re dealing with is something like that?
Anon
It sounds like there might be a medical/neurological cause for this, rather than an emotional one. Maybe thyroid? It can cause a sluggish/cloudy-headed feeling. So can low vitamin D (I take a 5000 iu supplement twice a week which helps energy and alertness for me). I’d do some research on this, as what counts as medically normal is not often normal for women. Maybe get a second opinion from a doctor. If nothing comes of it, take vitamins, hit the gym, maybe try whole 30 in case it is food-based.
Anonymous
It’s called brain fog and it’s a common symptom of depression and anxiety, as well as the drugs that treat those. Unfortunately, my psychiatrist said it’s hard to treat unless you get rid of the source of the anxiety and depression (which in my case is not possible). She suggested meditation.
Holiday etiquette?
I’m going home with my SO for Christmas for the first time this year (with a caveat.) He’s one of five, and the entire family + most of their extended family will be there. The caveat is that we dated in high school, so I have met all these people before, but many of them have not seen in 11+ years (we are from a small town, so I’ve probably seen a couple of them in passing at another high school graduation.)
What is appropriate to take? Alcohol is out — would something like a nice bottle of olive oil be an appropriate hostess gift? (my mother lives about 10 minutes down the road but we’ll be staying with his folks.) I was going to take some cookies, too (a specific fun recipe I make and have won a couple contests with/sell as a side business.) — I’m guessing I wouldn’t be expected to take gifts for all the siblings, right?
Thanks for any tips! I am nervous but excited.
Anonymous
Woah you aren’t staying with your mom?!?
I’d go a bit bigger on the gifts. Send fliers ahead of time, do a big basket of goodies.
Holiday etiquette?
You couldn’t pay me to stay with my mother, but we are going to see her at one point.
Never too many shoes...
Did you mean “send flowers”? I spent a few minutes thinking how weird it would be for her to send fliers (or flyers) for her side cookie business and then bring them with her.
Anonymous
I interpreted it as fliers for her side business too and thought it was such a weird suggestion. Flowers makes way more sense, although I think it would be overkill.
Anon
Here’s how I’d break it down: 1) a “thanks for letting us stay with you” gift for his parents, 2) presents as necessary for Christmas morning for whoever will also be at SO’s parents house (discuss with SO), and 3) an edible contribution to the big family gathering (I’m guessing there is one?).
I met my now-fiance’s family back in May for his grandmother’s 85th bday. Something like 45 members of the extended family were gathered. I made banana bread for his parents as a hostess gift and a pound cake for the big family potluck gathering.
Olive oil is a good choice if you know she’d use it. Personally, I’m just a grocery store brand girl myself, so I don’t know that I’d appreciate it as much as I should.
Torin
I think the olive oil and cookies are perfect! I would not bring gifts for his family. I think even though you know them if you haven’t seen them in 11+ years you can treat it the same you would any other introductory Christmas with a new SO as far as gift giving is concerned.
Anonymous
Is SO giving gifts to his family? Can those gifts be from both of you? I would not set the expectation early in the relationship that I am buying separate gifts for all these people. His family, his emotional labor.
Holiday etiquette?
This was generally my thought too on gifts for each sibling.
...
Since that’s enough time for everyone to change and grow, I would act as if you are just meeting these people for the first time but to say “it’s great to see you” at meeting (so you’re covered if they realize they’ve met you before and they don’t feel bad if they later find out they met you but didn’t remember it). I would bring cookies on a dish that’s disposable or not important to you (so no worries about getting it back or the like). I might even do two kinds or three (or mix homemade and store bought) so it’s indicative of effort more than like a pot-luck at work (but I love to bake so maybe that’s just me). I wouldn’t bring anything more, nothing would be expected, especially since bf is likely gifting people so it’ll be assumed to be from you both (since women are often the gift buyers in relationships). If there will be lots of kids, you could always get a few cheap card games and put it in a nice basket or something for the kids to play while adults are socializing (though totally not necessary as they’ll likely have gifts to play with too, but maybe this if you felt certain you wanted to bring something). I might, however, drop off a small hostess gift and a handwritten thank you note after you have left from the end of the visit (whether you drop it off by leaving it there on the bed after you leave (for them to find when changing the bedding or mail something upon return).
Hope this helps!
Swallowing my pride
I read with interest last week’s thread about a diving in-house legal career and the need to take a poorly perceived job next month. The replies were sensible but I completely understood the feeling of sadness and fear as to future career aspirations.
I agreed to follow a great job opportunity for my husband to the other side of the world. For a month after the decision was made I suffered a terrible sense of loss of family, friends, home and job. I have a new home, but for over a year now I have had no life of my own. Family is thousands of miles away and although I have met people it takes time to make friends and I have no one I can call on to meet up with socially. I am most struggling with the lack of job as it not only impacts my sense of self-esteem but also means that I am completely isolated. Applying for jobs means I am home alone at the computer day in and day out.
I have a good degree from the top ranked university globally and I then obtained further qualifications. I worked in law for over 20 years and held senior roles including at the largest global professional services firm. Despite this, I’ve been told many times that the country in which I’ve found myself is “parochial” and skills and experience gained overseas count for nothing here. I cannot even get interviews as I have “no local experience”. I’ve been open-minded as to whether I work full time, part time, in contract roles or in interesting volunteer positions but have made no progress. I knew I was leaving a job but did not realise that I was abandoning my career and that makes me very sad.
From reading the thread from the other day, I now realise that I need to swallow my pride. I no longer have the status I had before but I need to get out there, earn my own money and be amongst other people. People here have said that I “might” be considered for administrative roles so those are the ones I’m now applying for. I’m specifically looking for the advertised jobs which pay the least. I’m finding it difficult to express my administrative experience but am doing my best in application forms and in covering letters.
Should I also make major changes to my resume? Or are organisations happy to see people with senior experience apply for the most junior positions available? For example, I could remove all prior role titles but leave the organisations.
I found this blog when I felt isolated following the move and am grateful to the people who participate and allow me to feel part of a community. Thank you!
Anonymous
Not sure if you’ll get this, but I’m sorry this is happening to you.
However, instead of applying for entry level positions, why don’t you spend more time and get a feel of what employers actually want and tailor your resume to the appropriate job postings? (aka postings that recognize your 20 years of experience)
Perhaps you need to talk to more people. People who actually work in the field and can give you dependable opinions? Perhaps you are not marketing yourself with the right language?
Anonymous
This is a long shot, but are you in Japan by any chance?
Swallowing my pride
No, similar time zone though, hence the difficulty in posting during the US working day!