Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Pleated Cotton Skirt
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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
The styling on this H&M skirt looks a little more beach-y than office-y, but I think a 100% cotton skirt would be a great business casual option for summer Fridays. Swap out the bikini top pictured for a twinset or a button-up blouse and you’ll be ready for work.
Opacity is always a concern with white clothing, so this might be an opportunity to grab a slip from the back of your closet if you’ve got one.
The skirt is $44.99 at H&M and comes in sizes XXS-XXL.
Sales of note for 4/17:
- Nordstrom – Beauty savings event, up to 25% off – nice price on Black Honey
- Ann Taylor – Cyber Spring! 50% off everything + free shipping
- Boden – 25% off everything (thru Sun, then 15% off)
- Brooklinen – 25% off sitewide — we have and love these sateen sheets
- Evereve – 1000+ items on sale, including lots from Alex Mill, Michael Stars, Sanctuary, Rails, Xirena, and Z-Supply
- Express – $29 dresses
- J.Crew – 30% off all dresses
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything, and extra 50% off clearance
- Lands' End – 50% off full price styles and 60% off all clearance and sale – lots of ponte dresses come down under $25, and this packable raincoat in gingham is too cute
- Loft – Friends & Family event, 50% off entire purchase + free shipping
- Macy's – 25% off already reduced prices + 15% off beauty & fragrance
- M.M.LaFleur – Spring Sale Event – Buy More, save more! 10% off $250+, 15% off $500+, 20% off $750+, 25% off $1000+ (Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off if you find any exclusions.)
- Sephora – Spring sale! 20%, 15%, or 10% off depending on your membership tier; ends 4/20. Here's everything I recommend in the sale!
- Talbots – Spring sale! 40% off + extra 15% off all markdowns
- 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!
Would you do this? I’m a lawyer and I’ve had my own criminal defense practice for six years. My husband is a big law partner. We have two kids, ages 7 and 10. Our usual set up is that my work is generally pretty flexible, I am careful about not taking on too many cases so that I can do most of the after school parenting, sick days, etc. I have been very busy the past few years and it has been stressful. It occurred to me that basically all of my current cases will be wrapping up (sentencings) by early June. Should I plan to just take the summer off instead of taking on any new cases now?
The idea of not having to juggle childcare and to just hang with my kids sounds appealing, but I’m reluctant to actually do that for a few reasons. I’m worried it might just lead to the end of my practice completely. I’m worried I will be bored. I’m also worried my husband will think I’m boring / not contributing to the family. I’m also worried about how other lawyers will perceive me and think that I’m not a serious attorney that they would refer cases to.
Money is not a concern. We live in a low cost of living area and are basically FIRE but not acting on that yet.
what does your pipeline look like? if you take referrals, do you think those referrals will dry up after turning down the work? could you turn down work completely for a month, then start ramping up again (slowly) after that point?
to me it sounds like a dream … just make sure the work is there after you are done.
+1. I would love to have the summer off.
How flexible are the summer camps around you? How flexible can your schedule be with hearings and trials?
Why would you announce to anyone (except for your husband) what you are doing?
My inclination is to take on a reduced case load. Refer cases out, and don’t tell people why. You have been slammed recently, so everyone knows you have plenty of work. Enroll the kids in camps. Pull them out early if you have the afternoon off, or don’t send them every single day.
I think my hesitancy around this is that while it is amazing to have flexibility, I personally struggle with it sometimes because I have these nagging feelings of “I should be working” and the idea of just shutting it down for the summer and fully engaging with home and kids is appealing. And sometimes a case that seems simple turns into a lot more and I don’t want to end up scrambling.
I think I might need to sit down and really think through what my goals are.
I’m wondering if you are defaulting to the other extreme, even if it’s not what you want, because you aren’t on an even keel with your work. You might find those feelings resurfacing again over the summer, albeit in a different form.
sounds like this summer off could be an insightful practice run for actual retirement from your job, and could help you figure out a lot of things without having to make that forever change.
As long as taking a step back doesn’t dry up your referral pipeline when you’re ready to ramp back up, then absolutely take this time off! My kids are similarly aged and it would be a dream to have a summer with them and slow everything down for a bit.
What do your normal sources of work look like and how frequent? The only downside I see here is if you have a small group of referral-generators and, with you turning everything down, they find a new go-to. Is something in between an option, where you take only a couple of cases for the summer, to keep your leads “warm”?
I wouldn’t announce to the community what you’re doing… just quietly do it.
Exactly. There are so many reasons why you might defer clients that are referred to you.
If one of your referring sources asks about availability, you can say that it’s temporary for a few weeks, and can proactively communicate once you’re at your usual capacity again.
But I wouldn’t communicate that to everyone.
A summer is just a few weeks.
At those ages a lot of kids want to go to camp and be with their friends. I’m not sure it would be fun for them or you to be home all summer. I do think if you could plan on a lighter load so you can do fun stuff together in the late afternoons, that would be really nice.
IDK if your criminal defense work is paying clients (like white collar crime, etc. with paying clients who want to stay out of jail) or indigent defense where you are just getting referrals. If the former, that work could really dry up but do cases come in on the regular? Could you do lunches with those referral sources and treat your summer sabatical as its own big case that will wrap up by August / September? I feel that summers in court are slow other than for first appearances, discovery, motions practice, and pleas. No one is seating a jury then if at all possible. If you do indigent defense work, IMO that work is never going away. There will always be poor people and they will always need a seasoned lawyer (especially one who doesn’t need to make money and can actually service them well). So IDK. If you can afford the time off, I’d do that. I’d just keep your staff on the payroll and maybe get a continuance if anything big rolls in that you’d otherwise want.
If you are taking appointed cases that work will always be there, but how easy it is to dip in and out will depend on the assignment system.
I’m skeptical that this would lead to the end of your practice unless you want it to. Try it. This is a huge perk of your set up. If you don’t like the impact on your business you don’t have to do it next year.
I feel like I’ve worked with a lot of male professionals too who take time off to travel or do the vacation house or whatever. You only have so many summers with your kids (plus to travel while in good health) (plus see grandparents while in good health and compus mentis) so if money isn’t a concern I’d chance it. If you’re sitting in the office twiddling your thumbs you’re going to regret it.
Is there any amazing case that could drop in your lap or something else that would be amazingly professionally fulfilling?
2+2 is not equaling 4 here. The summer is like 10 weeks. That’s an extended vacation not a death knell. I’d do this in a heartbeat. Just don’t make some big announcement to your referral network, you can just be too busy at the moment or have a conflict for anything that might come in right now.
Eh, I disagree on styling this skirt for the office. I actually really like it for “play” and if it were more “just below knee” midi would go for it… but this is close to maxi, and voluminous, and would do nothing but annoy me as it got caught in my desk chair wheels.
Yeah, I would feel a bit sister wife wearing this to the office. A midi length would be better.
Has anyone been to Palm Springs the week between Christmas and New Year’s? I’m hoping for weather that is pleasant to be outside in, but like compared to NY. So jeans and a sweatshirt would be fine. Don’t need pool weather. Am I in the right weather zone?
we’ve looked into that same trip and decided it wasn’t warm enough for us to be happy – daytime highs pleasant for exploring but too cold at night for our desire to have dinners outside.
I feel like South Florida would work; Charleston can be really iffy. If you can see the weather a few days out and book something last minute, it can be delightful (or awful). Florida for the win here.
The weather in the desert can be hit or miss at that time of the year, though it will definitely be more pleasant than NY. Chances are you will be fine in jeans and a sweatshirt during the day. Nights will be cold.
yes. and yes that’s about right. we played golf but definitely a sweatshirt and probably more like a light weight jacket.
Just a vent, not looking for advice – but sometimes it’s really hard to be married to someone who doesn’t really know how to be happy.
I can relate to this, and this is something we covered extensively and not really successfully in couples’ therapy. At the end of the day, I can’t make him be happy, and he would have to do some significant individual work unpacking why he doesn’t know how/feel like he deserves to live a life that excites him or makes him feel content. I think there may be some under-treated depression at play here too, but all I can do is encourage him to vary his treatment. It’s a very powerless feeling and can lead to me feeling like I have to run this happy home on my own from an emotional standpoint.
Sing it, sister.
I’m sorry. Nothing else to add to that; it sucks.
Like never? Not in small bites (a cookie, that first sip of martini or cool lemonade on a hot day?), not ever? Would he be open to a happiness challenge à la Gretchen Rubin?
I feel your pain. I have been married for over 25 years and my husband has no idea how to be happy.
I kinda can’t imagine how you married him in the first place? Didn’t that drive you bonkers when dating?
Not OP, but people change over time.
I feel like this is either a fundamental personality trait (and therefore present from the get go) or depression (and therefore at least potentially treatable, though I recognize it’s not always that simple).
Wearing a simple Farm Rio blouse today and it makes me so happy.
This is kind of a fashion question. Mustaches and fire departments — how / why did this get so common? I just saw the picture of new 2026 recruits to our city’s fire department. These are young guys; so many mustaches! It’s like the 70s are back! My cousin is joining the fire department elsewhere and she says that it’s the same there (rural area). Is it job-related (maybe they can’t have beards with the masks so mustaches are all that’s allowed)? IDK if hair / grooming habits are is as identifiable with other vocations, but this has gotten so noticeable since my cousin joined (all my SM feeds are fire related now it seems).
Beards are hot in general but I wonder if they can’t have those because it affects the way any facial protection sits on their face? I know my brother shaves if he’s anticipating wanting to wear a mask like in a plane. (He’s just covid cautious though.)
Mustaches and mullets are in right now among the young guys in my rural community across all vocations. That stupid broccoli cut hasn’t hit here yet.
it has nothing to do with fire departments and everything to do with being a current trend for 20-something dudes in general. I am sooooo glad it wasn’t the thing when I was that age because I find it to be such a turn-off.
I for one am amused that the youts are all trying to look like Mike Ditka. Or 1970s adult film actors.
I don’t think these guys have put two and two together about the impact of grooming on their ability to get dates.
Yes it’s the trend right now. My husband (mid-30s not 20s) took Covid as an opportunity to play around with his facial hair and had settled on a mustache by 2021 maybe? He wasn’t trying to be trendy–like I think it was lowkey a gag for his friend group–but it ended up really suiting his face, so I guess he became a trendsetter by accident. It’s been funny to watch all the young guys start looking more and more like my husband.
FWIW, his dad and uncles were all initially appalled but have come around.
Before I met him, DBF had a beard/mustache combo for years. For whatever reason, he shaved it off and updated his match.com profile with a new pic. I saw it and messaged him the next week.
We’ve been together 17 years. I always jokingly remind him that if he hadn’t shaved it off that weekend, I would have scrolled on by and we would never have met!
No beards are allowed due to breathing equipment. Firefighters of all generations sport mustaches. My firefighter husband thankfully does not.
It has been a tradition for a long time in fire departments – I think I heard it originated as a way to limit smoke inhalation back in the day. So, I also did a quick Google on this for fun…check out this NYT article on this very topic…from 1986! https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/21/nyregion/the-fireman-s-mustache-badge-of-the-brotherhood.html
I have a mostly good marriage and am having trouble relating to friends who are divorcing. It seems like more than one of my friends’ divorces follows the same pattern.
First a heartfelt conversation about how awful the marriage has been and they are breaking up. It feels shocking because I thought they were happy. Then I, of course am supportive, and sympathetic. I’m careful not to disparage the soon to be ex husband but I dive in to support her. Checking in, buying lunch and dinner so there’s lots of girl time. Making sure her birthday feels special. Then, a few months later the reveal: there is a new guy and he’s perfect. Oh and by the way he’s been around for a while. Since well before the divorce talk. But you won’t judge right?
I don’t judge I just…I guess I also feel betrayed? Like they get my buy in with the initial conversation about how they’re lonely and it’s hard but were also kind of misleading me. Does anyone else get stuck in this pattern? Like I don’t want to outright ask whether a friend has been cheating on her husband at these initial conversations but it seems like it’s extremely likely. I’m post reveal in the latest one and absolutely ready to just pull back and feeling kind of duped. This is the third time this has happened to me. Am I just crazy naive?
Huh, divorce is just completely uncommon in my circles so I haven’t seen this. I don’t have a single friend who’s divorced outside my 20s. In my 50s now, big city, highly educated professional set. But what you described isn’t really shocking.
Same, but a lot of people had a starter marriage right out of college that didn’t work (and has nofallout / drama / kids) but are on marriage #2 for 15-20 years. BUT I hear that there is another wave when the kids go off to college, so hoping that that’s not the case with my circle.
IDK but my sense is that when a couple split up, things are generally not great and haven’t been for a while. The driving force is often (always) one person has started leaning out AND towards someone else. Otherwise, things could stay meh forever (and maybe get better). I feel that it’s usually been the guy leaning (wives in my divorcing cohort are often very busy with littles and have no time for anything) and the tell I’ve been seeing is who starts working out, out of the blue, is the leaner.
But yeah, I hear you on feeling a bit used and mislead.
I don’t think it’s weird to have an honest reaction to what looks like infidelity – however, I can see scenarios where this might not be as bad as it looks. Maybe she has been effectively divorced and casually dating for a while before talking to you. And, I know for me, I tend to keep any issues in my relationship pretty private, so these reveals could seem huge.
But also – there are plenty of people that have a hard time being single, and will jump to the next person quickly.
Your feelings seem normal, and it’s OK to not feel good about infidelity, but I would evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis and not make assumptions, especially if someone is important to you.
I’ve had a few friends like this – often the divorce is the last step in a drawn out splitting up. Sometimes they were already functionally split up and even still there will still be a period of grieving their old future, regardless of there being someone new. In many respects, I treat the elephant in the room of potential overlap the same as a friend who I know is pregnant but hasn’t told me yet. I don’t ask the ultimate question (even when I see them heating up deli meat) and when they are ready to share they will.
Bra recommendations needed! I am a 32A/B and ordinarily wear an underwire push-up to create a normal-looking shape. I look downright weird in a sports bra because the compression flattens me out and then my ribcage sticks out farther than my chest. I need to find some sort of bra that gives me a normal shape and will stay in place for dancing. I tried wearing my normal push-up, but it slid around too much. I have not had luck with the brand Pepper. Fellow IBTC members, help!
Brooks Crossback 2.0 sports bra. Provides some support and some shape.
Not a part of the IBTC, but maybe adding something like Cakes to your sports bra would help add some volume, and won’t slide around?
I highly recommend going to a private bra person for a formal fitting. I am also in the IBTC and ended up with a Natori bra (not push up) that is beyond wonderful. I went with black because $$ for me and I wanted it to look good for a long time. Look in your area for one, they are generally small women owned shops.
Does anyone have a bench or chair in the bedroom that is good for draping half-worn clothes? I know the answer is to have less clothes, but until that day, I need something that looks nice in the bedroom and doesn’t drop clothes like my current chair that is all wood with sloped arms.
The answer is hooks inside your closet. Separate from your clean wardrobe but not strewn about your bedroom.
I have a thrifted wood piano bench that is long enough for my folded up dog-walking clothes and to sit on for putting on shoes.