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Updated: Mar 3, 2021 180 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Pendleton

Suit of the Week |

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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

I hadn't been to Pendleton in a while to check out their selections, but they have some nice seasonless suiting, particularly in unusual colors like the Moroccan blue above. All of the pieces are really affordable, AND they come in regular (sizes 4–18), petite (2P–18P), and plus sizes (14W–24W). Huzzah!

There's a pair of matching straight leg pants (lined!), as well as a short sleeve dress. The pieces are all on sale; they start at $99 and go up to $209.

Hunting for other basic seasonless suiting? These are some of our favorites:

Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)

Ann Taylor suit for women in Seasonless Stretch
Ann Taylor
black pant interview suit for women
Banana Republic
J.Crew Suiting in Four-Season Stretch
J.Crew
Talbots Luxe Italian Knit Suiting
Talbots
Mango interview suit for women
Mango (exact)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. anon

    [Deleted by management. Guys, please don’t repeat anti-vax rumors, especially without even a cursory link or reference to a reputable source.]

    • Anon

      “I’ve heard rumors” is just repeating rumors. Why do this??? I feel like a person with first-hand info should talk to someone in charge and not have someone else repeat stuff you have no first-hand knowledge of repeat to people who are . . . largely lawyers.

    • Joan wilder

      This comment should be deleted. It is nothing more than anti-vax disinformation that has no place on this blog (or anywhere on social media for that matter)

      • Anonymous

        Yep, agreed. You can’t find a single thing in the news about it. This should be deleted.

      • anon

        Nope, I’m not an antivaxxer. Already had 1 myself, actually. I heard about this real problem from someone who had it happen but is scared to report it, and they’ve talked to their friends who said it also happened at the same kind of event elsewhere. But obviously I can’t report anything because I didn’t see it.

        I can’t find anything on the internet about what happens to warm vaccines except they have to be thrown away. There have frequently been public health researchers on this board and I hoped there would be today.

        • Anon

          Why would they be scared to report it? This isn’t the right venue – contact your local health department.

        • No Face

          Why would they be “scared” to report it? Why wouldn’t you call your local health agency yourself to ask? Why would someone assume that a vaccine was too warm because it was “murky”?

    • Anonymous

      The issue is efficacy of the vaccine, not some kind of poisoning or the like. It’s not great if someone thinks they are protected when they are not, of course.

  2. Anon

    Can someone comment on how sizing runs for the Fold? I wear a petite 0 or petite XS at White House black market, jcrew and AT. I guess the size US 2 would be too big. Are there any similar brands with petite sizing?

    • anne-on

      I would say it’s pretty true to high end designer sizing – so I’m an Ann Taylor 2/XS or S, Jcrew 4, but vary between a 4/6 at say a Boss, Hobbs, Burberry and I almost always take a UK10 at the Fold (though I can size down to an 8 in their stretchy jersey pieces). I would think you’d be totally ok at the small end of their sizing range BUT it does tend to run taller than US designers so you might have issues with length/arm length etc.

    • Anonymous

      For me, The Fold runs larger than other British brands. This may be because it runs longer and less curvy, so I don’t have to deal with a tiny waist hitting at the widest point of my ribcage several inches above my actual waist as the limiting factor. For reference, I am a 0-2 in J Crew and Lilly Pulitzer, 25-26 in jeans, 2 in most non-vanity-sized US brands, and US4/UK8 in Goat and LK Bennett. In The Fold, I am US2/UK6.

  3. Sloan Sabbith

    Last day at work, in person was a year ago today…On top of a few difficult dad days in a row, this is just hitting me real hard. WFH is nice, but god, it’s been a long year.

    • Anonymous

      It was almost a year for me too. I went home before the rest of the office since I am high-risk and knowing now what we didn’t then, I’m really glad I pushed for it. It turns out WFH is a great fit for me, but yeah, it’s been a long year in so many other ways. I just found out my brother had COVID and thankfully was okay. He didn’t tell anyone until it was over.

      • Sloan Sabbith

        Same. I felt sort of overdramatic at the time and now I’m like “Yup, that was a good call.”

        • Anonymous

          Exactly. I had a gut feeling it was going to get serious and I’m so glad I listened to it. It was one of the first times where I really had to advocate for myself (with a WFH-hating boss), but I’m really glad I did and now I’ve learned more about the importance of self-advocacy for safety. The experience really taught me something.

        • Kat in VA

          Same here – my last day in-office was 03/13/20 and they told us to plan to work from home for “at least a month”. At the time it was like…*sigh* OK whatever. In retrospect, my company has been unbelievably conservative on the caution end of the scale with regard to the virus, and for that I’m super thankful.

          Not so thrilling is the fact that COVID delayed our office refresh/rebuild and I was informed a few days ago that we’re not likely to return until 2022. I am a relentless introvert but even I am suffering from no face time with people that I genuinely like to be around.

    • Anon

      Sloan, were you one of the people that posted about being really high risk but having an employer that wanted you back in person? If so, I’m glad that you were able to negotiate staying home. I do agree though, even if it is for the best, it is rough.

      • Sloan Sabbith

        No, thank god. My office has been good about it from day 1-they allowed anyone who self-defined as high risk or in a high risk household to work from home starting 3/4/21 with no push back at all and they haven’t even tried to pressure us to come back. In fact, they have a very firm “No working from the office unless you have prior approval” policy.

    • Anon

      I feel you. Last night I realized it had been a year since I traveled, so I went though my travel cosmetic case and threw out all the liquid products (mascara, foundation, etc). I used to travel 25-75% and I don’t think I will ever be there again. Certainly, I’m no longer in a place where I have a second (actually, and third) set of all my everyday products because I am on the road so much.

      Throwing away the stuff is not a huge deal, but just the realization was sobering.

      • Ribena

        I had a similar realisation last week. I realised I had three eyebrow pencils in my makeup bag and couldn’t work out why, until I remembered that I used to have an entire second set of makeup in my gym bag.

        • anne-on

          Same, about 2 weeks ago I went through and either tossed, or moved my ‘travel’ sets of makeup/hair products/perfume/etc. to my bathroom.
          Also, man am I glad I didn’t splurge on another Tumi roller bag and went with the Monos…which got used all of 3 times in 2020 before we all got grounded.

  4. Anonia

    How long do you think joggers will be ‘in’? I’m thinking of getting a second pair of Athleta joggers, but I do like my clothes to be long wearing and I’d hate to spend that kind of money on something I need only to have it go right out of style. Not that you have to follow fashion trends, but I’d like to be at least sort of up to date.

    • Anon

      I think you should get them if you like them. Plenty of people are still wearing skinny jeans because they have them. If they are flattering, functional and comfortable, it doesn’t matter if they are the newest thing. Also, no one can predict how long they will be stylish, but since fashion demand is manmade and the goal is to induce demand for new things, I’d say there’s a newer thing coming soon.

      • anon

        Exactly this. Joggers are still everywhere; I really don’t think they’re going away THAT soon. (Also, joggers turn out to be AWESOME for my muscular thighs and super comfortable, so I just bought 3 more pairs from ON.)

      • Mpls

        +1 – you pretty much can’t have both “trendy” and “long-wearing”. Pick which one is important to you and go with it. If it’s trendy, then just go with the one pair. If you find joggers have been more comfortable than your other lounge wear and you reach for them more and more often, get a second pair.

    • Anon

      Forever. Once they’re not “trendy” (although honestly who cares they’re comfy), they’ll be moved to the “comfy but put together relaxed so I’m not embarrassed to answer the door or go to the store” category.

    • Anonymous

      I think you will feel stylish enough wearing them as loungewear until they start to get shabby.

    • Flats Only

      I hope for a long time. When I was 11 I had a friend who had a pair of sweatpants (elastic waist, band at ankle) that were tapered and flattering, and I was so jealous of them. My sweatpants at the time were like balloon elephant pants. So I have bought up a lifetime supply of these tapered “joggers” that are like my friend’s sweatpants, and will wear them until they are dust.

    • anon

      You will peel my joggers off my cold dead body. I will be buried in my joggers! JOGGERS FOREVER!

  5. Anon

    Does anyone have Frye 14R boots? What do you wear them with? I have a pair that I got as an xmas present last year and it was too slushy to wear and then lockdown / WFH / The Year of Sneakers happened. Why can my brain not figure this out? Office is very casual (denim OK) and reopening (or: has never closed, but I can go in now that schools are reopening at least on some days in person). Do you wear these with dresses? I cannot figure out how any pants options would work (skinnies seem wrong; boot cut? is that the answer?).

    • Anon

      So 14R is the shaft height. What’s the style? Harness? Riding? Cowboy?

      If you’re talking about their harness boots, I have a pair and have worn them variously over the years with: dresses (mostly when younger), skinnies tucked in, and bootcut jeans (10 years ago and this year – it feels fresh in a throw-back way).

      • Anon

        Oh, I have no idea. It’s like the harness but has no harnesses on it. Not riding (has stacked heel, not flat, maybe 2″?). I think of cowboy boots as having pointy toes and this is a square toe.

        • Anonymous

          I think these are called the Campus? I have the Harness 12R which is similar and just a bit shorter. I wear them over skinny jeans or leggings, or with a dress and bare legs.

    • AnonATL

      Well I’m boring and decidedly not trendy, but I wear a similar style Frye boot with skinny jeans, a sweater, and a scarf or Barbour style quilted vest. You could maybe pull off a longer blazer with it too depending on the colors. I also have a boho above the knee dress that I think it looks nice with if I want to dress it up.

  6. Anonymous

    The Meghan and Harry Oprah interview is my Super Bowl. What snacks should I make? Ordinarily I’d do a full afternoon tea service but since I’ll be watching alone I’d like something a little lower effort without as many leftovers. But still on theme and Instaworthy.

    • Anon

      Is that today? Thank you.

      I would definitely go with the English theme here – maybe just some crustless sandwiches, a sweet or two, and a pot of Earl Grey tea.

      • Anon

        Also, I just hate how so much of the coverage of Meghan is overtly racist (Kate does something and it’s adorable, Meghan does the same thing and it’s because she’s uppity) so I want to see how much of that is addressed. I can’t stand reading about them online because the Meghan haters are a thick bunch who are everywhere.

        • Anon

          I’m note a hater, but I wish they’d get good PR people and actually listen to them. I just feel like one/both of them doesn’t get that they are really getting in their own way a lot of the time.

          [And I’d like a British legal person to explain to me how the suit against the Mail is actually going. Like Meghan “won” something but also can’t drop the suit without either the Mail’s permission or paying the Mail’s lawyers. And that Meghan’s legal team has been replaced at least once, that’s generally (IMO, based solely on my experience) not a good sign about the client (see also, Trump’s impeachment #2 ‘s first set of lawyers bowing out).

          • anon

            Yeah, they need to stop with the DIY press appearances. It’s not helping their cause, if they really want to live life outside the spotlight.

          • Anon

            I don’t think they ever said they wanted to live their lives out of the spotlight. They want to use their fame to bring attention to causes they support. They did want to live their lives out of the British press, though.

          • Anon

            My impression was the they’d have had a lot of protection in the UK that they would not have in the US, like their laws protect privacy whereas ours are very 1A-driven.

            Also, like does Harry need a green card at some point? Or to start filing 1040s (with all of those fun FBAR, foreign bank account disclosures, etc.?). I am a tax person, so this to me is totally fascinating (like who at the Big4 will have to deal with this, which is like a final exam fact pattern).

        • Anon

          The criticism is so bizarre to me because I look at Meghan and she seems absolutely flawless and all around delightful.

          • No Face

            When I see Kate, I see a skinny pretty lady in nice clothes. When I see Meghan, I see a skinny pretty lady in nice clothes.

          • Anon

            As an expat living in London, I think there are cultural differences at play here. To a British person, she could potentially come across as taking herself too seriously, preachy and hypocritical (not saying it’s true, it’s just the perception Brits could get of her). A good PR team could have definitely helped.
            Re the outcome of her case against the Mail – she won, but costs still need to be decided. Here, in England the winning party has the right to get the losing party to pay its costs, but it’s not automatic. See the judgment here: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Duchess-of-Sussex-v-Associated-2021-EWCH-273-Ch.pdf

          • Monday

            +1, No Face. Skinny pretty ladies in nice clothes, each fit for a prince of course! I’m not even really comfortable with the “first lady” role. I’m just not comfortable with professional wifehood, no matter how many projects or charities they may take on.

          • Anon

            See, I think Meghan is way more interesting, but that’s probably only because she had more of a life first.

        • Anonymous

          Maybe it’s not racist but possibly just peoples opinions? Hard to believe, but everything you don’t like or agree with isn’t necessarily racist.

          • Anon

            As a POC, I will tell you that I have never relayed a racist experience without some white person telling me it wasn’t racism but something else. It’s like they will reach and reach for every possible explanation other than racism. You’re doing the same thing. Put the coverage of Kate next to Meghan’s.

          • Anonymous

            theres a hilarious post somewhere on the internet with literally meghan and kate doing the same things and the headlines on them are polar opposites

        • Anonymous

          Kate’s coverage was pretty brutal in the beginning with a lot of mocking the ‘flight attendant’ mom and non- aristo background. Plus like long lense topless photos. And Chelsy Davy got a pretty rough ride too but Harry never commented on that.

          Obviously neither of those situations had a racism element but the press has definitely not always treated Kate as ‘adorable’.

      • Skipper

        Buttery toast with Marmite and cucumber sandwiches.

        I just saw an episode of Nadia Bakes on Netflix where she made bread & butter pudding by pouring melted ice cream and chocolate chips on sliced croissants and baking it. If you’re feeling decadent and like not cooking, this sounds delish.

        I know it’s not tea party food, but I’m always up for a big fried breakfast with eggs, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, and sausages with a stout mug of milky tea.

    • anon

      I don’t know how to feel about Meghan and Harry! I completely believe that they were harassed by the press and the royal family probably s u c k s. But they also come across as greedy for attention, despite them saying otherwise. It always seems like they want the perks of royalty without being involved, which yeah, is going to cause some family strife.

      • Anon

        I take Harry at his word. The press were harassing his wife and it reminded him so much of what happened to his mother that he wanted to be away from it at all costs. Trauma affects us for our whole lives.

        I also believe him when he says he wants to live a life of service.

        • Anon

          I feel like Harry should have stayed in the military and never left it. Maybe the CA National Guard will let him work or some place like Fisher Houses?

          • Anonymous

            Didn’t he fail the officer courses for advancing to the next level and that’s why he left? I thought since Eton it was common knowledge that he is not academically very bright.

          • Vicky Austin

            I thought they pulled him out of Afghanistan because his real identity was made too public for comfort and he was essentially a security risk.

        • anne-on

          I feel like Harry wants to be like Bill Gates, and Meghan wants to be like Angelina Jolie and it’s the disconnect between those two approaches (lots of good works! mostly private personal life! vs. lots of good works! but also glam public figure who does Vogue covers and such) that gives me a bit of whiplash and seems to be hard for them with regards to their PR. Neither is bad or wrong (and I think both of those celebs are awesome) but there isn’t a consistent tone.

      • Friday

        Agreed. I think being a royal would be horrific: I kind of applaud them for opting out. But also, if you don’t want to be a media spectacle maybe don’t go on Oprah? On the one hand IDGAF but on the other it’s a nice distraction from real life so I can’t be too hard on them. I’m sure none of us know the whole story.

        • Anonymous

          This–if he wants to opt out, why is he going on Oprah? They should just stay out of the limelight. Much more dignified.

        • Friday

          Amending my comment to add snacks. Sadly all my UK snack favorites are premade: Jelly Babies, lady fingers. What about stroopwafels? I know those aren’t from the UK but I do love them so. I’ve never had a watercress sandwich, but I’ve been intrigued since I read about them as a young girl. Kerrygold cheddar with pepper crackers? I’ll stop while I’m behind.

    • Anon

      IDK — I feel like if there is a big reveal, it would take about 5 minutes and I probably can’t tolerate the other 55. Like other people having the talking stick and sharing their feelings is fine, but OMG not for that long. I get that people could have a lot of material to b*tch about, but IMO Harry doesn’t and TBH I’d tune in for something lengthy . . . Anne Boleyn? Lady Jane Grey? Elizabeth I? Maybe I am too used to NPR, which gives extended stories (and that is maybe something you get to the meat of in 5 minutes).

      • Anon

        Ladies!! We have an intellectual on our hands. Everyone stop and admire this poster for being better than us.

        • Anon

          I think that the point is that historically, people have been treated really poorly by the BRF. And, honestly, it seems that M+H are trying to have their cake and eat it, too.

      • Anon

        Like maybe I’d like the Spark Notes version of this. If there’s some there there, great. But if there were a big smoking gun, wouldn’t we already know? Like the time someone put a horse’s head in their bed? The Omid Scobie book was probably written with some help from someone in their camp, so I don’t recall anything in that earth-shattering and it’s not like this year has generated any new material (and fewer outbursts from her half-sister).

        It seems weird that either Eugenie is/isn’t living in Frogmore now. I’m not sure if there is any drama with that (and the coat at Eugenie’s wedding). IMO most anti-Meghan stories originated with Fergie, but that is rampant guessing on my part but I see how Fergie could feel that her girls lost out (but rather lash out at Meghan, maybe look at Andrew???).

    • Anon

      Thanks for the reminder to avoid avoid avoid all social media and news sites for the next week. Can’t stand them.

    • Cat

      I wish they would go away and won’t be watching. For people who so badly wanted to distance themselves from the royals and such a small-minded colonial relic according to them… they sure grasp on for publicity’s sake.

      • Anonymous

        Awesome! Next time you ask for fun advice on something that you’re excited about I’ll be sure to chime in that I hate it and am avoiding it at all costs.

        Sigh. I just wanted fun snacks ideas.

        • Anon

          If you just wanted fun snack ideas, then just post that. I have learned to keep my questions here very direct with minimal extraneous details, otherwise you will just get a ton of comments with opinions on the detail part and not answers to the actual question.

        • Anonymous

          It’s basically all thread jacks all the time around here. If you want suggestions for British snacks then just ask that without the details to fuel the thread jacks.

          • Anonymous

            I’m glad you posted the details OP because I don’t want to miss it and I think your idea to celebrate via food is lovely. I will be copying this ,and you have given me a bright light in this dull week. Enough already with the thought police around here.

        • Senior Attorney

          Maybe make an English trifle? You could make a mini version, I think!

    • Anonymous

      I watched the wedding and some subsequent stuff but they don’t really seem to ‘do’ anything anymore so not sure what they would really talk about. Like do a pro-mask or pro- vaccine PSA or something?

      I heard the other day that for the other monarchies in Europe – the next generation is going to be all Queens because there are a lot of first born currently teenage daughters. Love the idea of like 5 Queens at a state dinner. The dresses and jewels will be amazing.

    • Is it Friday yet?

      Can you get clotted cream and decent scones? Because scones, raspberry or strawberry jam, and clotted cream with some earl grey or english breakfast would be a perfect partial tea service, and super easy to put together.

    • Anon

      MCVITIE’S. Any McVitie’s. All McVitie’s. If you’re me on my honeymoon and finally done dieting to fit into a mermaid dress, it’s one package of something from McVitie’s per day. Yeah…

    • HW

      Such a good idea. I personally might do scones and tea, and maybe a Pimm’s cup?

    • Anonymous

      In the oven:
      Pigs in blankets, dates in bacon or sausage rolls.
      Stuffed mushrooms.
      Tiny almond baked omelettes (eggs, cream, almond flour and seasonings baked in muffin tin)

      Sandwiches (tiny ones, just use 2 or 4 slices):
      Cucumber and cream cheese
      Cheddar, salad and pickles (or a ploughman’s)
      Egg and cress

      Sweet:
      Scones (freezes well) with jam and clotted cream (stovetop cc is quickest)
      If you do a plain cupcake batter, you can mix individual flavours in muffin size like lemon drizzle, raspberry and almond flakes (for bakewell tart), chocolateand seed cake.
      Millionaire’s shortbread (cheat version: premade shortbread, small amount of caramel sauce and melted chocolate)

      Tea:
      Assam with milk
      Gunpowder

      Bubbles:
      Gin Tonic
      Procsecco

    • Anon

      Honestly?

      Indian take-out and beer would be my favorite British influenced decadent treat. Because honestly…. do we really want to eat British food? I can say that as I lived there.

  7. anon

    Have we discussed how to style straight-leg cropped jeans? I strongly suspect this is not a great look for me but willing to give it a shot. Most pictures feature big, white tennis shoes that I personally think are uggggly, but maybe this is my junior high trauma speaking, when I was constantly trying to make Keds work for me. Spoiler: they didn’t.

    • Anon

      I bought two pairs of straight leg Levis to try on and they’re both going back. They’re not cropped, but I’m tall and ordered regular length and that is ankle length on me.

      I had forgotten how stupid it looks when the hem end kind of flares out to the sides because it’s tighter at my knees and calf and loose at my ankle. I also couldn’t figure out shoes. But if I wore them in a long length, they’d ‘break’ at the top of my shoe and go down to the back of the shoe, and I don’t think that’s right either. I then wondered if they’re only good for people who are straight up and down and not big in the thigh like me. I have no idea what to do with this style, so I’m probably sitting it out.

      For your full crop, how about a less bulky shoe – even some sort of low sandal like a birkenstock when it’s warm where you are?

    • Anonymous

      Are we talking about body-skimming straight leg or wide leg? I feel like the first can go with virtually any shoe (including short boots) and that they are designed to show off shoes of all kinds. The wide leg are “a look” and require shoes “of the moment” to really pull off that particular look. White dad sneakers are the very particular look now, but there are other alternatives. The best alternative, I think, is a funky Oxford — think From the Office of Angela Scott. But I also see them styled more femme with heels or espadrilles, which makes them easier to wear but, for me, kind of kills the point of being a little fashion edgy and suggests a different style of pants would be better.

      • Anon

        +1 to the differentiation between body-skimming and wide leg. Leave the wide legs to the youths, imo.

    • buffybot

      My personal theory is that the articles that circulated a few weeks ago that Gen Z is laughing at Millennials’ skinny jeans and side parts was paid psyops by Big Denim, intended to send us 30-somethings scurrying to the nearest Madewell to try on a bunch of jeans. I mean, I speak from personal experience.

      Just a somewhat related PSA, but I found the “balloon jean” to be just as ridiculous as you might expect (although I saw them on someone else and thought they were cute?) and the “vintage” jean to be….just like a skinny jean but less comfortable? BUT: I got a wide legged cropped jean from Loft that is actually cute! It’s the most nearly-middle aged iteration of this trend as far as I can tell, but wanted to let you all know.

    • Kitten

      I like them with booties that have a chunkier heel (I’m currently on the hunt for See by Chloe Mozart boots in my size). For a different vibe I like Cult Gaia-inspired heeled thong sandals that have an architectural look. I don’t have Birkenstocks or Dr Martens but I think those work as well.

      I only wear those types of jeans with cropped sweaters/tops or a form-fitting bodysuit because otherwise I feel frumpy.

  8. anon

    I have budget to send a gift to my employees, around $75-$100 (to mark one year of WFH). Would you prefer (1) Amazon GC, (2) curated gift box (you can pick one of 6 choices) or (3) themed snack box (maybe items local to our home office)? Mostly 30-something professionals.

      • No Face

        Always the correct answer. Small token gift (travel mug or something?) and money. I would do a VISA gift card instead of an Amazon one though.

      • Anon

        the op stated the 3 options and your reply is not one of those options. i’d prefer option (1) or option (2) assuming that when you say “you can pick” you mean that each employee gets to pick, not that you the OP is doing the picking. too many people have allergies, gluten free, etc. for a themed snack box to appeal to many

        • Anon NOT a tax lawyer

          I would also go with (1) or (2). While this site is full of people who hate Amazon, I have never encountered one of those people in RL. Have you run this past your tax people? The curated gift box probably counts as a de minimus but the gift card probably not (although this is way outside my area of expertise so insert standard disclaimer about legal advice).

          I would much rather have a gift box as a token of appreciation that a gift card or cash where half will go to taxes.

          • anonshmanon

            I try to minimize ordering from Amazon. Partially because of woke-type concerns about a giant company underpaying workers while also squeezing vendors with shady business tactics, and environmental concerns around ordering in general, and packaging. But a large part is also that it doesn’t fit my life in practical ways – I like to try on clothing in person, I loathe the hassle of return shipping, so I waste endless time wading through fake reviews to try and not fall for dud products; general hassle with mail delivery and porch pirates are the icing on the cake.
            I probably end up ordering on amazon 2-3 times a year if I don’t find what I need elsewhere. Therefore, even for an Amazon-avoider, the gift card may still be useful.

          • Mpls

            Amazon is my place of last resort for ordering things. Occasionally I will order something from them if I just can’t find it elsewhere or it’s just more expensive somewhere else. But usually I can find it somewhere else and will order online there. Except for ebooks. I have a kindle and will buy ebooks (which is what I use my Amazon GCs for).

    • Senior Attorney

      I think six choices of gift boxes is probably enough that everybody could probably find something they either like or could reasonably regift. So of your three options I pick that one.

    • Anonymous

      I would like #2 unless I were just getting by, in which case I’d take #1.

    • Cat

      Assuming you can’t do just cash, I’d pick the gift card. The last thing I need is more snacks.

    • Sunshine

      I’d be happily surprised to receive any of these. In order, I’d most like the gift card, the snacks, the gift box.

    • Anon

      I would love 2, the picking part is crucial to me. Not everyone loves chocolate. Not everyone loves cookies. If everyone can pick something (within parameters) that they like that will be great.

  9. No Face

    Any recommendations for a wellness retreat in the United States? I want to book a trip next year. My goals are to eat healthy food that I don’t cook, enjoy hiking and yoga, and get lots of spa treatments. I have heard of the Canyon Ranch, but that is it.

    • Anon

      That sounds amazing. I’ve also heard of Miraval but have no experience there.

    • anne-on

      Someone mentioned doing the Norwich Inn with a friend for a Milestone birthday and it looked SO pretty.
      Once I’m vaccinated I’m planning a mini-spa day in my town as I’m sure the local businesses could use the support – hopefully with a friend in tow – mani/pedi, massage, outdoor patio lunch, browsing a bookstore, nap. Bliss.

        • Anonymous

          My massage therapist got vaccinated in December (they’re health care workers in my state) and I resumed massages in January. It’s AMAZING. She still wears a mask of course (as do I) but I’m comfortable with the risks given what we know about vaccinated people being significantly less likely to transmit.

    • anonshmanon

      I’ve heard of Esalen, which sounds really beautiful, location wise. They do meditation/yoga stuff and also some more out-there spiritual stuff that I am sceptical about. And they are expensive.

    • fallen

      Kripalu for a yoga/health/mindfulness retreat. I went a few years ago for work and it was amazing in every possible way. I am planning to go again post-covid with my husband as a vacation!

      • Marie

        This was going to be my suggestion, as well. Very pretty retreat in the Berkshires.

  10. everyone is hanging out without me

    Posting for commiseration, I guess? For whatever reason, I am the only one of my local friend group who isn’t currently eligible for the COVID vaccine. People are getting vaccinated, and I am genuinely happy for them. Even relieved that I don’t have to be concerned for the health and safety. But now everyone is making plans to have, like, big dinner parties. These in-person events are taking the place of Zoom happy hours and game nights and so on. I am in my state’s last vaccine group, so I’m unlikely be vaccinated until May at the soonest.

    I just got an invitation to a party that had a little hand written note saying “we can set you up on the back porch and leave the door open so you can safely party with us.” Like, I’m worn out by all these COVID restrictions, and this just feels like the final straw somehow.

    • Anonymous

      Even vaccinated people shouldn’t be having unmasked gatherings until many more people are vaccinated and the virus is much better contained than it currently is. Vaccination does not confer 100% protection, and some vaccinated people will still catch and spread the virus and contribute to the development of variants. If you compare the models where vaccinated people continue mitigation measures with the models where vaccinated people return to more normal activities, the latter show a spike or a high plateau in infections in the coming months. Your friends are selfish and irresponsible. I am dropping many of my so-called friends for similar reasons. The pandemic has revealed who they really are and it’s not pretty.

      • Cat

        I have to say, I would have zero friends if I dropped people based on a lot of commenters’ standards here. (And my circle takes the pandemic seriously.)

        • Anon

          Yea I would have literally zero friends left. I have to just ignore it, be deliberately ignorant about what they’re doing if I want to have any friends left at the end of this. It sucks and I wish I could go back in time and never have to see this side of people so that I didn’t have to make this choice, but, alas, here we are.

      • Refinnej

        What, specifically, did your “so-called friends” do? I have a list of behaviors that I think are too risky to take but I am not going to freeze people out if their list doesn’t completely correspond with mine. Now if they are COVID deniers or something, I would understand.

        • Anonymous

          Pre-vaccine, we have: Going to a big unmasked wedding and then sending their exposed child to a (masked and distanced, but still) group activity with children from COVID-cautious on-line-schooling families, including mine. We ended up having to pull our kid from that activity, which for her and most of the other kids was their only in-person social interaction with other kids. Out-of-state vacations and not of the “rent a house and stay there” variety. Flying on airplanes. Expecting me to be willing to sing in a group setting. Sending their kids to unmasked sports practices and slumber parties. Asking me to drive their COVID-exposed child to school. Refusing to wear masks over their noses when they are members of the committee responsible for developing and enforcing an organization’s COVID safety practices.

          In my own family, again pre-vaccine: Hosting and attending unmasked dinner parties. Going to the gym unmasked. Going to restaurants. Flying on an airplane for non-essential reasons. Expecting us to host them overnight after they have engaged in all of the above activities. Expecting us to babysit children who are attending day care unmasked and live with a teacher who is teaching in-person in a school full of covidiots. Expecting us to go to restaurants with them. Expecting us to attend dinner parties. Making snide comments about how the real problem is “anxiety” over the virus instead of the virus itself. Then managing to score vaccines and gloating about it, while we patiently wait our turn.

          I could go on.

          • anon

            We must know some of the same people. It hurts. Sometimes I really hate being a rule follower.

          • Anonymous

            It’s not even about being a rule follower. It’s about having a basic level of humanity.

          • Anon

            Yep, I’ll add to this. Between unmasked dinners, unnecessary travel across state lines for entertainment, restaurant meals, and overnights at people’s houses, I know a LOT of people who didn’t do a damn thing to prevent spread. Not one thing.

          • Anon

            Also: “Making snide comments about how the real problem is “anxiety” over the virus instead of the virus itself. Then managing to score vaccines and gloating about it, while we patiently wait our turn.”

            This is my extended family. They got COVID from their own actions and then raced to be in Group 1A to get vaccinated. It was disgusting and they’re basically dead to me.

      • Of Counsel

        Actually a fair number of doctors (including Dr. Fauci) say that it is perfectly OK for small groups of fully vaccinated people to socialize with each other and CDC guidance on that is expected any day. While they could hypothetically spread/get COVID, they are extremely unlikely to get sick. So her friends are very likely following the guidance they received from their doctors or have seen on reputable websites/media. Also, I am concerned that the messaging that people should take the risk (minimal but not zero) and endure the discomfort (same) of vaccination and then be expected to live exactly the way they did before. It encourages people to think they should wait and let other people be the tests subjects, particularly people who think the vaccine was rushed (and to be clear I am not one of them but there are a fair number).

        OP – That sucks and I am so sorry. I sympathize. I am old enough that a fair number of my friends qualify for vaccination based on age and it is really hard to see them get together when I cannot join them. I keep reminding myself that it will happen soon!

      • Skipper

        Yeah, these are largely people who live alone or with another vaccinated person and who double mask when in public or otherwise around unvaccinated people. I can’t speak to the statistical likelihood of harm from their behavior. In fact, I think the data are very much still emerging. But I feel like this behavior falls far short of my personal standards for unacceptable selfishness. So. Yeah.

    • anonshmanon

      Ugh. I also have had an unexpected number of folks admit half-smug/half-ashamed that they got their first shot, because they qualified under some technical interpretation of the eligibility rules. Total commiseration. I mean, it’s fairly clear that the vaccines do prevent transmission, even though this was not a given at first. And I think that ultimately, the goal is to get us all back to a more normal life with the help of vaccines. But to watch others get there while you have to wait, yeah, that’s annoying.

    • Stayhome

      Yeah dinner parties are not responsible. When my friends and I all get vaccinated, we might celebrate with a hang out outside and distanced, maaaaaybe unmasked, yet that’s it until everything is much safer.

      • Anon

        This is what many responsible people have been doing pre vaccine (getting together outdoors and distanced, masks removed only if staying far enough away). Why are we telling people that even if you’re all fully vaccinated, nothing is changing?

        • Anonymous

          Because their actions affect everyone. We need to get spread WAY down, even though it’s great that individuals are getting vaccinated, and that means avoiding most unmasked indoor gatherings. I’m not even thinking about the variants but when I do it gives me chills.

        • Anonymous

          Being vaccinated doesn’t mean you won’t get it, only that you’re less likely to –but more important–that you’re less likely to need hospitalization or die. And it also doesn’t mean you’re not potentially spreading but suspected less likely. Add to that only 12 percent of the pop has been vaccinated so far. So there’s still a lot of people who won’t have the same benefit of being less likely to need hospitalization or die. THAT MATTERS. As more people get vaccinated those severe risks go down. Read some articles about “what to expect after being vaccinated” or the CDC guidance. It’s pretty clear that a lot isn’t changing. Once a higher percentage is vaccinated, there’s less risk of contracting yourself and harming others. High enough and you get something like measles where it’s basically out there but not too much of a concern. All of this presumes variants don’t throw too much of a wrench. And more data will make that clear. More data will also bring in more certainty around degree of risk of spreading to others vaccinated or not.

          • Anon

            Maybe this is all true, but people on this board (some of the most cautious) refusing the J&J vaccine and calling it the “bad” vaccine are certainly not helping. They have continually stated that their goal is to get the best stuff for their own benefit and that it’s wrong to expect them to do otherwise. Because their goal is not to die, not to help others.

    • anon

      Ouch, that hurts. :( I know it was well-meaning but heck no, I wouldn’t party on the porch essentially alone.

    • Anon

      I think vaccinated people can get together in small groups. In fact, I think the CDC will release some guidance on that in the coming weeks. One of the public information failures has been telling people they need to behave the same after the vaccines. It’s depressing and unnecessary. We should be encouraging vaccinations by saying the vaccines are a path back to living real life. ANYWAY, I commiserate because I am going through the same thing – lots of friends who are health care workers. Hang in there. I think we will get our turn soon.

      • Anon

        +1, exactly. I am the furthest thing from a covid denier, but the whole point of the vaccine is getting to do things like eat dinner indoors with friends.

        • Anonymous

          No, the whole point of the vaccine is so you don’t kill other people.

          • Anon

            A LOT of people won’t bother getting vaccinated if you tell them that – suit yourself

          • Anon

            For real, we could avoid killing people if we just all stay home – no vaccine needed. And for real, all the commenters here freaking out about why they can’t get vaccines sooner, is this because they are so, so, so eager not to kill people, or because they want to get out and about? No judgment if the latter. It’s not realistic to expect people to stay home once they and their group are fully vaccinated. I know I won’t. How is that wrong, especially when Fauci just said it’s ok?

          • Anon

            But having a dinner with other vaccinated people is not “pre-pandemic levels of mobility.” Once my friends and I are fully vaccinated and after the waiting period, we will absolutely gather together inside unmasked in groups of 4-5 people. But I will continue working from home, masking and distancing in public, and not eating inside at restaurants.

        • LaurenB

          “I am the furthest thing from a covid denier, but the whole point of the vaccine is getting to do things like eat dinner indoors with friends.”

          Huh? The whole point of the vaccine is that it is the responsible public-health thing to do, not because you don’t want to miss out on the next party.

      • Anonymous

        Agreed. I have many friends and family members in medicine, and this is the consistent messaging I am hearing from them. It is ok for groups of vaccinated people to hang out together, unmasked. This dinner party sounds like a great idea, and I do feel bad for the OP. I too will be one of the last from my social circle to be vaccinated, and I am a bit jealous that other people get to do things like this now, while I have to wait.

        • Anonymous

          Oh but to answer you question, I would go and sit by the back porch. I think any invites are good ones right now.

    • pugsnbourbon

      Oh man – I know your friends were trying to include you but I agree, it feels crummy. Sitting out on the back porch alone? Yeesh.
      I’m also in the last group (as I should be) and I commiserate. I keep reminding myself that our time will come.

    • Anon

      Oof. I understand this and can commiserate. I have a lot of awesome healthcare and education friends who are getting vaccinated. For example, my book club has been meeting socially distanced and outside (there are 6 of us), and half have been vaccinated while the other half haven’t. I was so sad after our last meeting when the vaccinated crew had carpooled just because it seems so glorious to be able to ride in a car with someone else without having to worry! I felt silly afterwards, but the stress and isolation have made everything difficult. I wouldn’t want to be at a table on the back porch in your situation, either. With my closest friends I keep joking but not that I hope they don’t forget about me and that they’ll invite me to stuff again once we’re all vaccinated.

    • anon

      That does hurt! It sucks to be left out, even when it’s the right thing to do with the pandemic, and especially when what the other people are doing doesn’t technically comply with public health recommendations. We live near my in-laws. DH’s parents are both divorced and remarried. His dad and step-mom “podded” with his step-sister and her family. His mom and step-father “podded” with another step-sister and her family. Even after there were outside exposures, they continued to see each other. I don’t fault anyone for choosing to be with some family, and I agree that we’re higher risk than any of the other families due to my work situation and wouldn’t have been comfortable being part of anyone else’s pod, for their safety more than mine. It still sucks to have been on the outside for a year!

      I know the invitation was well-intentioned. I would still decline and say you’re looking forward to joining them once you’re vaccinated (if you’d be comfortable).

    • LaurenB

      These people are morons, because getting the vaccine is not the green light to having big parties. This just means maybe you can have 4 people in your home total and if they are all vaxed, you can take off your masks, though still not a good idea to hug, kiss, sit close, etc. Honestly, I don’t get what is so hard about “stay the course even after you get your vaccine.”

      • anon

        What’s hard is that people are selfish assholes and apparently overachieving chicks think the rules don’t apply to them.

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