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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Placed Iris Cotton Button-Front Shirt

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A woman wearing a brown floral button-front blouse and brown skirt

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

With The Devil Wears Prada 2 coming out later this year, expect to see a lot of “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking” references in this space. I would argue, however, that the florals on a chocolate brown background on this Vince blouse are a bit unusual, and worthy of a little bit of commotion. (Sorry to Miranda Priestly.)

I would wear this tucked into some high-waisted trousers for a gorgeous business casual look.

The blouse is $368 at Vince and comes in sizes XXS-XL. 

Sales of note for 5/8:

  • Nordstrom – Savings event – up to 25% off! Good deals on Veronica Beard, Vince, Reiss (esp. coats), and Boss, as well as Wit & Wisdom and NYDJ
  • Ann Taylor – Mother's Day Event: 40% off your purchase. Readers love this popover blouse, and their suiting is also in the sale.
  • Boden – 15% off new styles with code
  • Express – $39+ summer styles + 25% off everything else
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off swim, dresses, and more
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, and extra 50% off clearance
  • Lands' End – 50% off sitewide — lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
  • Lo & Sons – Mother's Day Sale: Up to 40% off — reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
  • Loft – 50% off your purchase + free shipping, plus 2 for $28 tanks and tees
  • MAC – Enjoy 30% off lip products and receive a 4-piece Mother's Day gift with $90
  • M.M.LaFleur – Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off.
  • Ruti – Take $55 off your purchase with code 55ONUS
  • Sephora – Free same-day delivery for Mother's Day with code
  • Talbots – 50% off wear-now styles (5/8 only)
  • The Outnet – Extra 30% off select styles, including Veronica Beard, Victoria Beckham, and Marni.
  • TOCCIN – Use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off!
  • Vivrelle – Looking to own less stuff but still try trends? Use code CORPORETTE for a free month, and borrow high-end designer clothes and bags!

180 Comments

  1. The Savannah Guthrie story has me gripped on so many levels. The raw humanity of the earlier videos she and her siblings recorded was so moving and so painful to watch. It brought to mind the hostage videos we saw back in the 80’s, when victims were forced to make these videos renouncing the U.S. and capitalism.

    I keep wondering – how does she come back from this (assuming she wants to, that is). Once you have been the news, can you deliver the news? Her persona has been super smart, very sunny and upbeat, but I have to believe this will change her, permanently. She’s handled other difficult situations with grace (Matt Lauer) but this goes so far beyond that. I can’t stop thinking about the ripples this will have for her, other high profile network stars (from a security angle) and just how crazy this world is.

    No question, just a ramble from a MN resident who is possibly looking for an escape from the hellscape of ICE.

    1. I’ve wondered the same thing. This is a life-changing event she’s going through, and I can’t imagine there won’t be a ripple effect. Mostly, I feel so terrible for her and her family. The whole thing is bizarre and awful.

    2. agreed. the whole thing is just so sad and tragic. it also has been special to see how her ‘Today Family’ has come together to support her. it seems like they actually like each other outside of work

      1. You are so right – remember the cooked up story about the rivalry between Savannah and Hoda? (Because obv women can’t work together without a catfight). Saw a clip from the national anchors on CBS and ABC also sending their support which was just lovely.

    3. This feels like a 2026 version of Lindbergh baby kidnapping. Just horrible and I am compelled to check in, hoping that someone has been caught.

    4. So sad. I read her book in the past. She’s an incredible person, not only a journalist, but she also went to Georgetown law school before joining the Today show. Her book was humble and self-deprecating and focused on her Christian faith, which is an unexpected take for someone in her shoes. I’ve read a lot of other celebrity memoirs, and none of them were focused on faith. I hope something comes through in this case, but sadly, I fear her mom was already killed, and now they are just trying to get back her body.

      1. I went to school with her and she’s brilliant, kind, and hard working — this has been heart breaking to see. I also keep checking in. Unfortunately my guess is that something happened during the initial kidnapping and the mom didn’t survive, but who knows.

    5. Kidnapping elderly people is extremely rare, so it makes people wonder what really happened in this case. If money was the motivation, why wasn’t a ransom note left at Nancy’s house? Why did it come days later? The videos released by the family started with all three siblings together, but the last video was just Savannah alone. Are they starting to suspect each other? The police searched her sister’s house multiple times. Her sister and BIL were the last to see Nancy alive.

      1. Is it rare if you break out kidnapping for trafficking or custody dispute from other types of kidnapping? I thought elderly people were at high risk for crime generally.

      2. Unfortunately, most violent crimes are committed by someone the victim knows, and that someone is very often a family member.

        1. Or help or people or relatives of people with proximity and familiarity. Highest risks are neglect and financial abuse.

        2. This just makes sense since most victims of crimes are chosen opportunistically/by access/convenience. So for any violent criminal, the people at highest risk are the ones who live with them or see them often. But they may also target people with other risk factors like vulnerability, incentives, etc. that factor in more than proximity/convenience.

    6. Google the NJ Exxon exec kidnapping, which was tragic and sad because the kidnappers were inept and the victim suffocated accidentally. I feel that that is what happened here.

      1. I can’t imagine the pain if you know your job inadvertently led to a horrible death for your mom, or kid, or whomever. I know kidnapping exec’s relatives is not new, but it seems rare, and the survivor guilt must be crushing. I have been trying to remain hopeful for the mother, but with each passing day, that is being replaced with hope that she did not suffer too much.

    7. New updates on the case: they have released pics/video from the victim’s door cam.

  2. This blouse, while eye catching, is tunic dress length and wouldn’t tuck well. And tucking would take away from the pattern. Maybe best worn with leggings, leaning into the dress look. The brown color is certainly not for everyone either – browns and florals aren’t the best combination. I’m a bit mystified by this pick, to be honest.

    1. I can see it with cream palazzo pants for a spring art teacher look? Not for corporate though!

    2. I think it’s gorgeous. As a brunette, brown is one of my best colors and hard to find.

      But I agree, don’t tuck this in. It’s meant to be worn over tight fitting slacks.

    3. I think this would be lovely on someone with the right coloring. Brown & pastels is a beautiful combo. This particular brown is too warm and muddy for me, though – I need mine on the more espresso side.

    5. It also looks shapeless. I’m tall – 5’8 – and an “autumn,” but this would look terrible on me. It would hide my waist and make me look like I’m wearing a sack.

    6. This is not my cup of tea at all. I think if it were a silky, flowy material, I might like it better. Mystified by this pick is right…

    7. I am mystified by how many comments reveal people can’t tuck in a shirt, and don’t know that skirts exist. Cotton poplin is a great fabric. It stays crisp in the heat.

    8. To me, it just reads very Naples, Florida. I could imagine it working similar to an oversized linen shirt.

      1. Yes! It looks like your older male neighbor would wear it very loosely buttoned–I can see the white chest hair now…

    9. This is one of the ugliest things I’ve seen here, and I’m including the April Fools posts!

  3. Does anyone have hotel suggestions for Granada, Spain? I will also take restaurant recommendations or activities/sites not to miss for Granada, Madrid, and Seville (the Alhambra, Prado, and Royal Palace are already on the list but everything else is up in the air). Thanks!

    1. We stayed at the Hotel Puerta de las Granadas and really liked it- great location, beautiful room, and reasonably priced, at least compared to Madrid. Wandering around Granada is just really fun but I also recommend the Carmen de los Mártires Gardens, right near the Alhambra- so beautiful, we just stumbled on it and I wish we could have spent more time there.

    2. Granada: St Nicolas view point, flamenco show in the Sacromonte, tapas all around the city (here whith each round you get to chose a different tapa, it will be explained in the blackboard). Outside go to Alpujarra villages or to Motril or Salobreña to eat pescaito on the beach (1 hour both options from the city)
      Madrid: depending how long are you going to be there. If you are into art the 3 big ones (Prado, R. Sofia & Thysen) or at least a round in Prado and to see Guernica painting in R. Sofia. Stroll around Austrias neighbourhood and Retiro Park. Traditional places to eat: Lhardy, Casa Ciriaco, La bola, Botin, Malacatin (all of them have “codido madrileño” that is the tipical dish). Casa Lucio or Casa Alberto are good too. For bar hopping go to La latina tube station and explore the streets around.
      Modern options: El paraguas, La maquina, Cañadio. Try tinto de verano or clara con limon (like shandy). Let me know if you need anything more specific.

    3. In Madrid I enjoyed the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum much more than the Prado, and found it easier to navigate (with loads fewer tourists). The Real Alcazar in Seville was much more interesting than the Royal Palace but I’d still see both if time permits.

      1. The Prado has a room devoted to Bosch’s Garden of Earthy Delights and it is so unreal to see it in person! Don’t skip!

    4. We stayed at the Parador Granada. It is literally *in* the Alhambra and was a really cool location and experience. We only stayed one night so location was really convenient. I also vividly remember getting the most amazing fresh hot churros with chocolate from a little restaurant on the plaza.

      In Seville, we stayed at the Hotel Alfonso XIII, which was incredibly stunning. If you don’t stay there (it was a splurge for us), they have an amazing breakfast buffet that is worth checking out. I also really enjoyed the Alcazar in Seville, along with just walking around the winding streets and stopping for ice cream. The Plaza Espana was also breathtaking and not to be missed. I heard that Seville is known for its flamenco shows, but we couldn’t check one out as we were traveling with small children at the time and all the shows were too late.

      Have fun!! We loved that area of Spain.

      1. The Parador Granada was my first choice but sadly already sold out for the days we’re going to be there:-(

        1. That’s a bummer! If memory serves, the Parador had a little cool outdoor cafe overlooking the gorgeous gardens. It was a lovely setting and could be worth a visit for breakfast, lunch, or coffee.

  4. Paris hotel rec? I haven’t been since pre covid and one of my favorite shuttered (RIP Le Saint). My able-bodied parents (70 yrs old each) are going in April for the first time and are looking for a nice, but not 5 star luxury, place to stay that’s in a solid location walkable to anything notable. TIA.

    1. I recently stayed at the Hotel Montalembert and really liked it. It was small, upscale, and had a small elevator. It was a very easy walk across the Seine to the Louvre, and was close to the Musee d’Orsay. I stayed there because it was close to Sciences Po (where my meetings were) but I felt like the location was excellent and the price was very reasonable. I will say the hotel restaurant looked overpriced but there are so many excellent places around it. Assuming your parents are coming from the US – one nice feature was a little spa locker room in the basement that was available when I arrived. I showered and changed upon arrival to the hotel and left my bags there until I could check into my room.

      1. I have no experience with this particular hotel but that is a HUGE value add to me in general as a business traveler. Lots of resorts do it but I haven’t seen very many hotels in major cities offer that as a perk.

    2. I always get an apartment through One Fine Stay in Paris – they have concierge services and I prefer having more room than a standard Paris hotel.

      1. +1

        We also pick by variety of Metro & RER access nearby – like we were tempted to stay near Parc Monceau our most recent trip because we love the neighborhood when we’re there, but the Metro access is less versatile there and we realized we’d be spending too much time commuting for what we wanted to see overall.

      2. +1 to One Fine Stay. They’re very responsive and I appreciate the ‘fill teh fridge’ service. Having a kitchen is a big plus for me as I prefer to have simple meals at ‘home’ during travel vs. eating in a restaurant constantly.

      3. My stuck-in-their-ways parents want a traditional hotel, but I hear you! I’ve heard great things.

      4. Not to thread highjack, but can someone tell me a little more about the concierge service? I am going to Paris this summer for a week with 2 friends from college. It’ll be the first time for 2 out of 3 of us. We were already starting to look into finding an apartment of some sort to rent for a week. This sounds really interesting!

    3. Loved Relais Christine. Great location– in a bus area but on a very quiet street, great staff, nice breakfast buffet. Fancy without feeling stuffy or at all influencery.

    4. My mom and I stayed at Bonsoir Madame near the Luxembourg Garden and loved it. Cozy boutique hotel in a very walkable area, lots of bistros and cafes nearby, and the staff were lovely. Planning to stay there again on our next trip to Paris.

  5. A close friends very recent marriage is headed for divorce. How best can I support her?

    She has told me all the details so I’m not overstepping in knowing or asking about it. I tried not to say too much about him and more just ask her questions and let her come to conclusions herself. There are some legal things she needs to do and some things I don’t think she should do – like not contacting his affair partner.

    She has a good job and a lot of hobbies. They don’t have kids. Their finances aren’t really combined. I feel so bad that this is happening.

    1. Just be supportive. Let her lawyer advise her on everything, up to and including not contacting the affair partner. Suggest counseling.

      My usual advice: if someone can afford it, interview two or three attorneys. Quality varies widely and fit is important. Some attorneys who have reputations as being bulldogs are actually quite bad; they create a lot of drama and expense, driving up costs such that they take the lion’s share of what wealth the couple has accumulated.

      1. Yeah I want her to get a lawyer so they can guide her on things like this.

        I hope its not a complicated divorce. Their finances are barely combined and they don’t own property together or anything.

    2. How awful. I think you’re there for her by letting her talk when she needs to, and if she’s local, going out and doing something fun that takes her mind off of things.

    3. Belle Burden’s book is good for ideas here. She talks about what was helpful and what wasn’t. Mostly just check in and be there for her as a distraction.

    4. When I was going through a breakup precipitated by an affair the thing that was most helpful for me were those friends who were just *there*. Who got takeout with me, sent a nice note in the mail, checked in via text. Especially after the initial fallout. It made me feel so much better and less alone. Also, I felt like the world’s biggest idiot for not seeing that the guy was clearly a jerk, so friends who kindly listened and avoided any kind of “told you so” attitude were appreciated.

      And when I was in full vengeance-mode a close friend pulled me aside and basically said hey, I know you’re enraged right now and feel self-righteous, but maybe don’t tell every person you encounter/contact the affair partner, so when you come out of this you won’t have anything to be embarrassed of. Extremely grateful for that, because she was right.

    5. She’s going to get a lot of hate for ending a marriage so quickly. Even though he was cheating. Reassure her that she’s making the right decision. She does not owe him second or third chances just because their marriage has been so short. If anything, the fact that he’s doing this so early in the marriage is MORE of a reason to cut her losses now.

      1. Unfortunately, you’re right about the hate. She’s going to get a lot of “but forgive him if he wants to make it work!” crap.

        And you’re absolutely right about cutting her losses.

    6. A few practical suggestions:
      (1) Friends came to my house and packed up his things–just put it all in boxes, put it in a room where I could close the door, and then when he (finally) came to pick it up, he was in and out in half an hour.
      (2) Friends helped me take all the pictures, art, etc., off the walls that reminded me of him and our history together, and helped me find things to replace them with things that were uniquely meaningful to me.
      (3) For other friends, especially people who are far away, I have sent new bedding–sheets, duvet covers, etc. I bought that for myself, and it’s really nice to have a new bed that’s not the “marital bed,” so to speak.

      1. Was totally with you until part three. Let her choose for herself I would be so grossed out thinking folks were thinking about my marital bed, even close friends. And I have distinct preferences. This would land really poorly if it were me. A gift card to Wayfair or something for “redecorating” is one thing. Buying me new sheets would feel ick.

  6. Looking for a good non-fiction book to listen on audio. I have a dozen audible credits (sigh, didn’t realize I subscribed). No memoirs, please. I have a 15-18 minute commute 2x/day.

      1. I realize I’m a curmudgeon but I really don’t like her affectation of single word titles for books.

        1. If it helps, that could be something her publisher is insisting on. Book titles are sometimes more in the marketing department than something the author gets final say in.

    2. I highly recommend “Money: The True Story of a Made Up Thing” by Jacob Goldstein. He also narrates the audiobook and was previously on the Planet Money podcast, so the audiobook felt like an extension of the podcast (which I really enjoyed). I learned a lot about the history of the concept of money and found it really engaging.

      1. ooh thanks for this, Planet Money is one of my favorite podcasts, but I must have missed this one.

      1. Agreed. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and his are fantastic.

        Also recently loved some of Ryan Holiday’s books, Selling Se*y about the rise and fall of Victoria’s Secret, Forever Strong, A Physical Education, and The Anxious Generation.

    4. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe is one of my all-time favorite non-fiction audiobooks. I would also recommend anything by Candice Millard (I especially loved River of Doubt, which someone here recommended). I also like Susan Orlean’s books, but I have only read them, so I can’t comment on the narration.

    5. If you like history (and leadership, and survival tales), I enjoyed Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.
      In a similar vein, and with the note that I haven’t listened to the audiobooks, Erik Larsen’s books are all good as well. Deadwake and Isaac’s Storm are my favorites.

      Others on my Audible list that I liked:
      Born a Crime (memoir, though)
      As You Wish (quasai-memoir, Cary Elewes about the making of The Princess Bride)
      Fascism, by Madeline Albright (a little close to home, predates T47)
      The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli- poetically written physics with a side of humanism, beautifully read by Benedict Cumberbatch

    6. I haven’t listened to it yet, but have The Plan: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi on my list — I enjoy her Lazy Genius podcast, and usually find some good tidbits to take away.

    10. ‘How to be perfect’ was absolutely wonderful and I’m not much for audiobooks.

    11. Everything Is Tuberculosis
      Marriage at Sea
      Midnight Rising
      Debt: the First 5000 Years

    13. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Read by the author, who has a lovely voice.

  7. Sometimes this group astounds me in finding dupes so seeking your help. We like the Room & Board Luka bed but want something that is wood. Does anyone have any leads we should look at? (We have looked through a lot of the wood furniture makers like Vermont Wood Studio, Thos Moser, Pompanoosuc, but haven’t found something open enough given that it will be in front of the only window in our bedroom).

    3. I have a real solid wood frame where the headboard is straight across rather than curved, but it has a similar airy vide. It has stood up well over the three years we have owned it, no complaints. Search for “Zinus Linda Wood Brown Queen Mid Century Platform Bed Frame” and it’s available from most of the major big box sellers.

  8. Straw poll that came up when helping my teen study for a vocab test – do you pronounce ‘detritus’ as DEE-try-tus or deh-treh-tus?
    I have only ever heard/said it the second way and I was genuinely baffled when she said the standard american pronunciation is the first way. Google informs me that they’re both correct, with the second one being common in academic/British parlance (I’m in a Big 4 and this is how everyone I’ve ever worked with says it).

    3. It’s one of those words I read but never say aloud. I would guess deh-treh-tus like detriment.

      1. +1 .

        A 5th grade vocab test was how I first learned that there are people who pronounce the L in almond, folks, palm, etc – the theme of the week was silent letters and some of my classmates didn’t know the L was silent! Now I always notice when people pronounce the L and it drives me nuts.

        1. Everyone says the l in both of those words where I am from. Maybe sort of between saying it and not in almond, but I definitely hear it in palm.

        3. Folks = fokes, but I don’t know anyone who says ah-mond or pahm. Were you in the south?

          1. Southern (though I’ve lived in various parts of the US and abroad) and I’ve never heard anyone say “ah-mond” or “pahm” Saying it out loud I feel like that would have to be more of a… strong New Jersey accent? This is a new one for me.

          2. Okay a bit of googling reveals that some farmers say “am-ends” in Northern California. I’ve still never heard anyone say it that way in real life, though.

          3. Doubt it because I’m Southern as they come and say all of those Ls except folks (and even then maybe sometimes?) If anything, we tend to add letters (My dad pronounces water “warter.”)

        4. Can I ask where you are from? I’m from various places in the midwest, and have never heard “almond” or “palm” without the “l”. I hear an “l” in folks too, but could get there without it. Are you saying “Ah-mond” and “pahm”?

        5. I’m the 11:14 almond poster. I’m from the northeast, and I think we tend to use pronunciation more similar to Britain on some words? My pronunciation is exactly the same as the first one on the Merriam Webster sound clips. (Same as walk, talk, chalk, etc – silent L also applies for “alm”)

          1. I can’t begin to imagine what I would think you are saying if I heard you using any of those words without the L informing the pronunciation at all. Wok? Tok? Chock? Ahm?

        6. Same! (Also same with salmon and Norfolk, which drive me nuts.)I had this in a history of linguistics class.

          I could look it up; it has to do when words were accepted into English from Latin, the Great Vowel Shift, printers trying to regularize spelling, etc etc etc — I’m sure no one wants a badly remembered lecture from forty years ago!

          Long story short, it’s not really a regionalism, but probably what you learned at home (so, sort of micro-regional).

      2. +1, and that’s how Google audio pronounces it. The “phonetic” spelling from this same source is duh-trai-tus, but I don’t know what phonics system has “ai” pronounced as a long I.

      3. This. And I’m a scientist in a field where this word is used regularly. This is the only way I’ve ever heard it pronounced.

    9. The internet is teaching me that I default to British english for quite a lot terms! I’ve worked with international teams and non-native English speakers for 20ish years now so I guess it makes sense. At least I don’t say ‘holiday’ instead of vacation!

    10. I don’t use any long vowels in this word. I think that means it’s the second pronunciation. My academic context is humanities though, not STEM.

  9. I love the look of a good crisp button-up shirt but find them uncomfortable — I always feel like my shoulders are restricted. I have narrow, sloped shoulders and a fairly small bust; is there a designer who might make a shirt that would be comfortable, or is this just how button-ups are and I should stop trying to fit the square peg into the round hole?

    1. Not sure of budget, but I am similarly hard to fit in a button down, and am considering going to a custom suit place and having one made. I know it will be $$$, but I’ve thrown away a lot of money trying to find that elusive one that won”t gap, yet still tapers at the waist, doesn’t bunch in the jeans.

  10. My husband and I are in our early 50s and are trying to figure out our saving goals for 2026 and 2027 (we do not have kids). We maximize retirement and are considering retiring early, perhaps in five to ten years. Our non-retirement accounts are currently 85% stocks and mutual funds/ETFs (primarily S&P 500 funds), 10% cash, and 5% bonds.

    We will be paying off our mortgage by the end of the year due to an inheritance. We have budgeted for charitable giving (and large financial gifts for nieces and nephews who will start college in the next couple of years), but are trying to decide where to put the extra cash beyond that. We feel very fortunate. Conventional wisdom says to increase the percentage of bonds to at least 15%. Perhaps, bond ETFs would be a good option? Where would you put the cash? Thank you!

    1. What is your mortage interest rate – does it make sense financially to pay it off or invest?

    2. do you have access to a health savings account? that’s triple tax benefit.

      how close financially are you to retiring?

      i would take the money now and pay for some big trips – you never know whose health will prevent you from going later, whether it’s yours and DH’s or a parent you end up being caregiver for.

    3. Yes, a bond ETF is a good option, especially if it is in your brokerage account. BND (Vanguard) is very popular. If you have a high marginal tax rate, municipal bond ETFs might be a good option for bonds in your brokerage account. Municipal bonds are free from federal tax, and some states have municipal bond funds that are also state tax free. I am in Illinois and there isn’t a good municipal bond fund in my state. So I invest in VTEB – Vanguard’s municipal bond fund ETF.

      Right now I just keep my cash in the best yield money market fund at Fidelity. But I do not keep as much cash as you do.

    4. If you’re willing to manage it a bit, I would do bond ladders.
      Otherwise, agree with ETFs or health savings accounts.

      I like the idea of a trip though.

  11. Can I just rant about the incompetence of people for a bit?

    Over the last two days, the following has happened:

    1. Colleagues left on the AI note taking tool, after an information session with a big audience concluded, and discussed personal career, salary, bad relationships with the manager, personal and medical topics – all of that then made it into the notes sent out to all 30+ people attending. Because I am so weird that I check AI meeting notes later in the day, I noticed and alerted them. But I guess no one else really reads those minutes, so WHAT IS THE POINT of AI???

    2. Another colleague send me 15 messages related to a meeting that they had accepted, as to: “where is the invite?” (on your calendar, I can see you accepted?), “why is no one joining?” (because you got the time zone wrong for your manager whose team you’ve been working on for 2 years, WTH?), and “what is the purpose?” (it’s in the title and agenda, FFS?)

    3. I sent 3 short bullet points of instructions about how to use a some discount code for a work thing to colleagues, including a note as to what NOT to do. Receive at least 5 emails back stating “it doesn’t work” and find out they have not read the instructions. Argh.

    4. Dealing with prior authorization of procedures for some health tests. Insurance representative does not understand what procedures after I provide CPT codes, claims the online cost estimator is correct and to go to another facility for cheaper care – then does not understand that that facility doesn’t actually offer the test, based on me calling there 3 times already. I even provided insurance person with screenshots prior to the scheduled call!

    WHY ARE PEOPLE SO INCAPABLE? WHY ARE PEOPLE, actually?

    And it’s only Tuesday.

    1. I empathize. My mini-rant for the day – a colleague emailed me at 7pm to ask for a file and then emailed again at 6am with the ‘high importance’ flag on. Shockingly, the file was not that important and I sent it at roughly 8:20am. No, I am not in big law and responding to non-urgent emails after hours is not SOP in my company. This person is just known to be like this.

    2. Ugh! This is why I hated my job when I wrote instruction manuals for a software company. I knew no one read them, so it was really pointless work. And the engineers would still be changing the product after the manual went to print anyway.

        1. Technical writers with years of experience (the kind of people who are so expert that their feedback on documentation to the engineers has helped solve engineering problems before) are being replaced by fresh college grads + a LLM subscription. There’s no way that doesn’t come back to bite anyone eventually.

      2. It’s as if people to not comprehend anything any more.

        Sometimes I think Covid has given everyone brain damage.

          1. I think it’s both; I saw the before and after play out in students who had had phones all along, and who weren’t impacted by lock downs.

    3. I experienced number four recently and it’s infuriating. The insurance rep could only name one in-network facility…and the facility stopped performing that type of lab work a over year ago. It turns out there’s no in-network facility at all. When it comes to insurance their goal is to be so unhelpful that you give up and pay whatever they tell you to.

      1. It is really evil. And I say this as someone working in a medical-related sector (pharma/diagnostics).

        I also really feel for all the people who can’t afford this, have no time or don’t have the mental capacity to deal with this. And also, I do not envy the poor nurse with whom I spoke on the phone 3 times only today – they deal with this how many times a day?!?

        If it’s infuriating for this middle-aged, financially privileged, take no B/S-level assertive white woman, then how much worse it is for everybody else?

      2. My favorite was that they told me to go to a facility 100 miles away, for a procedure that takes 5 min. WTAF.

        1. They almost never provide accurate and complete lists of in-network facilities and providers. I’m lucky if they provide a list of facilities that are still open and operating!

          I didn’t realize this and got an MRI on the jankiest old MRI machine at some MRIs-R-Us facility because it was the only nearby facility on their list. Then a household member on the same insurance needed an MRI and got it done at the world class university research hospital with the newest tech, and it was in-network and fully covered.

          2. The thing is, for one out of the 3 tests I need, the facility and cost recommended in my insurance online portal was actually accurate! It is mind-boggling!

            I only learned that I can do the 2 other tests at that facility as well because I went there for test 1 and saw a price list on the counter, and a note saying “insurance rates may be lower, depending on your insurance”.

            I am actually keeping a note to myself on gDrive to remember this dumb-foolery for the next time I have something complicated going on.

    4. Rant 1: nobody reads the notes until they need them. I went back to a recording of a call a few weeks back to confirm I was not in fact crazy about something a colleague committed to do

  12. Has anyone had an excision for a severely abnormal mole? My dermatologist said when melanoma can’t be ruled out, they treat it as melanoma and take it all out. I’ve been very lucky with my health so far and it’s the first time I’m having a “serious” issue. I’m nervous and a bit shaken, although I realize this is the point of annual derm visits, to catch something early. I’m having it out next week.

    1. DH just had one excised on the same reasoning. It’s statistically usually not melanoma, but you’ll get a pathology report after the excision letting you know what it was.

    2. yep I don’t even hesitate. if they’re doing the freezing-then-cutting thing it barely even hurts.

    3. I’ve had one and my mom has had them basically twice a year for the last 30 or so years (she’s of the, let’s slather on baby oil and sit out tanning all day preferably with a mirrored visor, generation). It really is nbd as long as it’s not on your face. If it’s on your face then see if you can get a plastic surgeon to do the extraction instead of the derm. The derm might recommend a plastic surgeon after the fact, but it’s much simpler if they’re the ones to make the initial incisions etc. – you might not even need scar correction.

    4. I’ve had several! Usually for me it’s the same time as my skin check. It’s painless to get out but I find the aftercare to be more annoying. They take slightly more than the mole itself to get “clear margins,” i.e., to make sure they got everything. So even if you’re catastrophizing thinking it’s cancerous, they are doing the most aggressive thing first. Mine have always been slightly larger than a freckle, so not very big. My tip would be to write down your questions for your appointment so you can be more informed. Often the results are “x, or y, no follow up needed” and it might make you feel better to understand what to do in those scenarios.

    5. I’m in my mid 30s and had at least five of these (lost count) and honestly, they are not a serious health issue. It’s on par with getting a cavity filled.

      1. I’ve never had a cavity so wouldn’t know what to compare it to but good to know that it’s not serious. I can tend to get all in my head.

    6. For me the worst part is the healing. Maybe because the cut is SO perfect, it is the itchiest scab in the world.

    7. I’ve had a bunch taken off in various ways. IME, the numbing (needle) is the worst part and the rest is NBD at all. I have had them scraped off, dug out, cauterized- just take some deep breaths and it’ll be over.

    8. Yes! Try not to be nervous — this is an easy procedure & it will deal with whatever it is, which will hopefully give you some peace of mind. Excellent on you for keeping up with derm visits!

    9. Be careful with the aftercare. I had a three-inch incision with twelve stitches. I couldn’t figure out why it hurt so much for so long, as I’d been using vitamin E on it. It turns out the just-in-case “antibiotic ointment” they gave me was for staph infections and other hard-core infections. No wonder it hurt! It was so unnecessary.

  13. I can’t seem to make a comment on the next post (“The Best Work Bags in 2026”) but the severed thumb(??) coming out of the top in of the featured bag in the main image will haunt my nightmares.

    3. Yikes – I’ve swapped out the images. No idea how I missed that — I think I thought it was a brown leather zipper tag and not a thumb. There’s a lot of AI images on the stock photo websites now. Thank you for reading!

      1. Thank you!! FWIW, I also thought it was a zipper tag at first; I really liked the bag and so I looked closer…

    5. Clearly you’re not in the severed thumb business, but we need tote bags too, you know!

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