ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Sydney Flat

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dark red croc effect flats with cutout sides and V-tapered vamp

These Naturalizer flats look great — and I love the unusual dark red croc print leather, as well as the cool cutouts on the side of the flat and the sleek pointed toe.

The flats are available in four colors, sizes 5-12, at Naturalizer… they were $148 but are currently marked to $135 during the big Naturalizer “Signature Sale.”

(Naturalizer proclaims that “heels are back,” which I know makes many readers eyeroll… but if you want some heels they have a lot of beautiful ones. Not these fugly lace-up heels. But lots of other nice ones! Do note… I don’t think this is the first place I’ve seen both platforms and peep toes coming back… and there was an op-ed in the NYT (gift link) this morning about how all the cool kids are dressing like it’s 2006 again. Prepare yourselves, ladies.)

Sales of note for 10/23 (ALSO, friendly PSA – check any NAS or Amazon Prime Day purchases for the return policies…)

  • Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase + $50 off your $200+ purchase
  • Brooklinen – Friends & Family – 20% off sitewide and 50% off select bundles
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off select fall styles. Also, donate any gently worn coat in one of their stores and get $25 off your next purchase of $125+.
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off new arrivals + extra 15% off orders of $100+
  • M.M.LaFleur – 72 hours only, save 20% on jardigans (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off on other items)
  • Nordstrom – 5840+ new markdowns for women, up to 40% off
  • Talbots – 50% off one regularly-priced item, 40% off everything else
  • Theory – End of season sale is on with extra savings (new prices are marked)

44 Comments

  1. Reposting here for more traction.
    Please help this genx’r find new work pants. I have realized that slim ankle pants are not doing anything for me and are emphasizing my middle area. I am looking for wider legs but not finding much that is not very wide. Is there a middle ground? Bonus if they have some stretch.

    1. Somebody recommended Ann Taylor’s Jayne pants here last week, and those look like they might fit your bill. Also take a look at Talbot’s.

      1. Can confirm that the Jayne trouser is a great middle ground between narrow ankle pants and wide leg pants that swallow me whole.

    2. Check BRFactory’s Stretch Suiting midrise straight cut. They’re between wide leg and slim. They’re unlined but usually not too expensive.

  2. I posted over the weekend about taking my children skiing. I’m planning to take them the week between Christmas and New Year, which I know is very busy.

    Stowe came back and said it’s going to be very busy, the adaptive ski lessons at Killington are better but to also look at Cochran ski area.

    Can anyone familiar with Vermont share any experience they have. I’m not worried about a small resort, im looking for 2-3 hours of ski tuition for 3-4 days. The kids are level 1 autism. Think Einstein intelligence with the common sense of Mr Bean.

    1. Any chance that they’d be more into cross-country skiing to start? Falls aren’t dramatic on the beginner courses and once you’re away from the nordic center, people tend to really spread out. (Why I love it!)

      1. Please do not take kids cross-country skiing when they have asked to go downhill skiing! It is not the same thing.

        1. I am 40 something years old and still mad about the year my parents said they were getting us skis, only for it to be cross country skis.

          2. OP here. They most definitely want the whoosh of downhill skiing.

            I see this trip as the eldest’s wish list item. We shall be whooshing.

      2. Absolutely not into x country skiing. They want to throw themselves down the hill.

        My daughter really wants the whoosh.

    2. I have no knowledge about Vermont but wanted to share kid experience. My son has sensory issues and winter sports were a disaster. All the equipment was too heavy, itchy, or tight, and he could not handle it when he got cold and wet. Maybe try some winter hikes before committing to days of lessons.

      1. Not everyone has “sensory issues” some kids do just want to throw themselves down a hill.

        1. Sensory issues are very common with autism, which OP said the kids have. It seems like a relevant anecdote.

        2. +1. Don’t quit before you start. I vote Cochran’s or Smuggs if you can swing it.

      2. On the flip side, my kid with sensory issues and level 1 autism will only downhill ski (basically no other sports), and loves how cozy all of the layers and fleece make him feel.

        Sometimes group lessons are a mess. If you can afford private for a day or two to get him going, that might help, otherwise we just try to be flexible and go with the flow.

    3. We’ve been to Jay Peak a few times and love it. less crowded and less expensive than Stowe or Killington, because it’s less convenient, but I think it’s worth the drive.

      1. I agree with this recommendation in general. OP, I know you mentioned wanting to be 1h from Burlington, and Jay Peak is probably about 1.5 hours. Also, one caveat is that I would not say that Jay Peak is great for beginners overall, as it has pretty limited beginner terrain outside of the dedicated lower-mountain learning area. But, since OP will just be there for a couple days, the lower mountain area might be enough for brand new skiers for that amount of time!

    4. I’m not familiar with Cochran, but I would always start at a smaller resort – less crowded and they will get to go on the “big” lifts much faster. Also, most smaller resorts are focused on getting people into the sport, so the instructors tend to be really good at intro level teaching.

      1. Cochran is a family owned and run resort. Barbara Cochran was an Olympic medalist and her son Ryan Cochran Siegel is on the US Ski Team now! That said, I don’t know how they’d do with your kids but if Stowe recommended them, that would sway me. Smugglers Notch is also great for kids/families but I don’t know if it meets your geographic constraints.

    5. Killington and Jay Peak are colder and icier than most of the other Vermont resorts. I would not consider either place worth going to with more beginner-to-early intermediate skiers regardless of age (though IIRC Jay Peak may have a water park, so maybe that makes it worthwhile for you). I love Okemo for the family, fun-oriented day. I also generally agree with smaller mountains being better for learning. Mt. Snow may be worth looking at.

      1. Agree that Okemo would have been my first recommendation, but per the weekend post, OP wants somewhere that is within 1 hour of Burlington.

    6. I am a skier, have skied in Vermont, and have a kid with the same diagnosis. Stowe and Jay Peak are both great but if I had any other options, I wouldn’t take my kid skiing for the first time there between Christmas and New Years. It will be busier than any other time of year and the crowds can be a lot to deal with. In the busiest week of the year, it will be hard for the ski school to match your kids with an instructor who can meet their needs. Is there any chance you could go at another time of year? Is there a smaller resort closer to home where you could go for one day to try it out, before committing to a 3-4 day trip?

    7. I am not sure what your initial criteria are but Mt Sunapee has an excellent adaptive ski program. It is a busy mountain but the beginner area is totally separate.

  3. These shoes are nice looking; unfortunately, my feet would not be happy. Pointy toes are a hard nope these days. Call it the covid cure!

    1. Honestly, I don’t even like the look of a pointy shoe nowadays. All I can think about is how much their feet must hurt OR how weirdly shaped their feet must be for them to be comfortable in that shape.

    3. My Morton’s neuroma was entirely cured by Covid barefoot life and you’ll never see me in pointy shoes again.

  4. Reposting here for additional traction.
    Please help this genx’r find new work pants. I have realized that slim ankle pants are not doing anything for me and are emphasizing my middle area. I am looking for wider legs but not finding much that is not very wide. Is there a middle ground? Bonus if they have some stretch.
    I like these shoes. They’re low but still look professional.

    1. Hear me out – have you tried barrel leg pants? It’s the middle ground between the current nearly skirt pants wide legs and skinny pants.

        1. I would avoid barrel. If you are this late moving into the wider leg pants, you will be frustrated when the very distinctive barrel goes out of style soon.

          1. I feel like you have to cycle through pants more often than blouses. Sizes and bodies change. Throngs get woke a bit too much. Shoes change. You will never be done so just worry what looks good on you that you consider relatively fresh looking.

      2. Casual office and I love the Athleta barrel leg pants so much I have them in 3 colors now and am phasing out my elastic back pants with visibly tapered ankle length legs. I’m short and a 10 and the barrels look good and the tapers are just such a bad look to my eye. I’d love straight vs a barrel but these were the best I could easily find. I love them.

    3. I love the Madewell barrel leg trousers. I’m a pear-shaped size 10/12 with a tummy and I feel they balance me out and are flattering.

    4. Bootcuts and straight are still in. I still like the NYDJ knit ones, Radley makes some similar.

      If you’re used to slim ankle pants realize all of your proportions have to change. You can’t wear the same tops. I’d go to a store like Nordstrom or Dillards and ask an associate for help. You can’t order one-off pants online and hope to update your whole wardrobe.

    5. Recently someone posted good reviews of the Lee Women’s Ultra Lux Comfort with Flex Motion Trouser Pant. They’re available on Am@zon for about #5. I haven’t tried them.

  5. Reporting back on my quest for a dual voltage travel blow dryer. Bought the T3 Aire 360, which is the step-child of a blow dry brush and the Dyson airwrap. Pros – quickly dried by thick, wavy hair into a relatively polished style; functioned just as well in US and Europe. Cons- it’s not cheap and not the smallest to pack.

  6. I have some prior season Naturalizer flats. They are better quality than I thought they would be. They work on my duck feet.

  7. Any recs for smart casual flats or walkable heels for outfits like dark jeans and a button down? I’m looking for something comfortable for walking, but not sneakers as I’d like to look a bit more formal and polished. Going on a trip to London so could pick up something either in US or UK.

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