This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
President Day sales have started, so I thought I'd do a mini-roundup — ladies, which stores get you the most excited? My Nordstrom roundup is here; the other sales I'm most excited about are in bold below… stay tuned, we'll add good ones as we see them! Updates on 2/15 in red…
- 6pm.com – Featured sales include office style (Nine West, Cole Haan, Anne Klein), “comfort in every step” (Vaneli, Clarks, Sofft, etc) and “Comfy and Stylish Boots” — plus dresses clearance (up to 70% off!). President's Day Clearance on shoes, bags, accessories, and more!
- Amazon – Take 20% off select clothing, shoes and more.
- Anthropologie – take an extra 40% off all sale items with code EXTRA40.
- Ann Taylor – take 30% off sale styles and an extra 50% off all sale styles.
- Bare Necessities – 25% off thousands of styles, plus big sales on Fantasie, Freya, Chantelle, Elomi and more.
- Bloomingdale's – Big Brown Bag sale, save 20-75% off.
- Boden – Clearance, up to 70% off.
- Brooks Brothers – Presidents' Day Sale, prices up to 50% off. 60% off their final Black Fleece collection!
- Club Monaco – Take an extra 30% off all clearance prices with code LONGWEEKEND.
- DvF.com – Enjoy up to 60% off select styles.
- Eddie Bauer – Extra 50% off clearance prices.
- French Connection – Take an extra 60% off all sale styles, plus free shipping with code FC60SL.
- Inhabit – winter sale, 70% off new arrivals.
- J.Crew – 40% off final sale styles. Two day event: $25 off your purchase of $125+, $75 off your purchase of $250+, $175 off your purchase of $500+ with code GETSHOPPING. Ends 2/16.
- J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything; prices as marked online. Buy any 3 items and get an extra 10% off, buy any 6 items and get an extra 20% off. Just for today: 40% off, online only. Prices as marked. Plus, extra 30% off clearance and free shipping with code SHOPTODAY.
- Kate Spade – Enjoy an extra 25% off all sale styles with code SPOTON.
- Lands' End – Save up to 50% off, including outerwear and swim.
- Last Call – Today (2/13) only, enjoy up to 85% off clearance. Extra 30-60% off everything!
- Loft – 40% off wear now styles, extra 50% off sale styles, and extra 60% off sweater styles.
- New York & Co – Valentine Doorbusters, 50% off entire store, and free shipping $50+.
- Nordstrom – Winter Clearance! See my full roundup for workwear and more here. I think new markdowns have been added, particularly with Zella and Alexis Bittar!
- Talbots – Now through Monday, take an extra 15% off markdowns, for savings of up to 80% off.
- White House | Black Market – New reductions, up to 70% off — plus B1G1 re: tops, and 25% off denim.
EmilyG
Also 25% off “almost everything” at Cole Haan.
HSAL
Government worker whose office isn’t closed today. What am I supposed to do without a new post/comments?
Meg Murry
Government worker whose office isn’t closed today. What am I supposed to do without a new post/comments?
Anonymous
According to a Bloomberg study, only 35% of U.S. employees get today off as a holiday. I think it’s weird there’s no new post.
Monday
For what it’s worth, there’s an interesting post up at Ask A Manager right now about being mistaken for an assistant in a male-dominated field. Threadjacks aren’t allowed, but it’s a very lively commenting scene there.
lsw
I know! :'(
HSAL
Okay, since I’m not the only one, who wants to talk about Scalia? I’m fascinated to watch what’s going to happen over the next year. I saw a tweet something along the lines of “it’s like this is America’s last season, and the writers are just going crazy.” I’ve enjoyed reading the articles about him, especially his friendship with RBG. Really great stuff.
anon
I have no love for Scalia’s judicial philosophy (to put it gently) but I feel sad for RBG. The picture of the two of them riding an elephant makes me smile. I hope she finds a new opera buddy.
I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. This is huge- and more fuel for the dumpster fire that is this election season.
Anon
I have enjoyed reading the different articles about him as well. I practice criminal defense, and so I appreciated his interpretation of the 4th and 6th Amendments. And although I disagree with almost everything else, I thought he was a wonderful writer and remained intellectually honest and consistent.
lucy stone
Yessssssssssss. This isn’t a state holiday here so my local government is open as is the courthouse.
CountC
I’m here too!
Anon
Ok, are we taking over this post then? :)
My current job is a bit of anachronism: it’s a small team inside MegaCorp and people spend their entire careers here. Seriously, people have been here 30+ years. The “short timer” has been here a decade. They LOVE the work and LOVE each other. Unfortunately, I don’t share their feelings. This job reeeeally doesn’t suit me for All The Reasons, and even though I haven’t been here long, I’m already dreaming of finding another job.
The thing is, these really nice people are grooming me for a lifetime with the company. Advanced trainings on internal procedures, overnight conferences, etc. I feel like I’m lying to them every day.
I’d like to stay for a year, because it’s good business and because paying back my signing bonus would be doable but uncomfortable for me. But I feel so guilty feigning interest in all these things when there is no way I want a future here.
Ugh. I don’t have a question, I guess, just guilt. They’re so nice but this job is SO not for me.
Opal
You can’t frame your professional choices around guilt/other people’s reactions. I believe this firmly, and adopted this framework of thinking when I left an otherwise “perfect” “OMG I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WORK THERE. YOU’RE SOoOOOoOo LUCKY” job that became toxic when I wouldn’t drink the kool aid.
Be professional. Be respectful. Be gracious for you time and the coaching you received; don’t burn bridges. But, you do you, and leave because it’s not for you.
Anonymous
Stay for a year, or two, unless it is actively toxic and damaging to you. Learn what you can, get a couple resume bullet point accomplishments, and move on without looking like a job-hopper.
Anonymous
Enjoy it for a year or two and move on. It sounds nice, just not where you want to end up. No big deal to leave.
Anon
Don’t make business personal. It sounds like it is really hard to follow in this situation, but no matter how friendly the company is, I guarantee if it came down to it choosing between the best interest of the company or your best interest, they would act in the best interest of the company. You need to do the same. I would second everyone who said to stay for a year, be friendly and professional, and then move on.
Anon OP
Thanks, everybody. Any advice for helping my mindset for the rest of the year? I’m often having to counter the thought in my mind that I’m “wasting time” in this job. I’ve discovered since coming on board that the job is only tangentially related to where I see myself long-term, and on bad days, I get really antsy to get out of here and build the career I actually want.
lsw
Are there ways to actively facilitate improving soft skills (or at least not directly job-related skills), if not hard skills? Like, maybe you want to be better at presentations, facilitating meetings, writing…I don’t know, but there might be ways to think about where you want to be, identify skills that would be helpful there, and then find ways to practice or improve in this job.
Anonymous
Get a grip. It’s a job. You got a bonus for it. The people are nice to you and providing you with extra training.
Anonymous
Do you really think you can’t learn anything at all at this job? Of course you can, right? Therefore, not a waste of time. ;)
Idea
I worked at a place like that. You have to realize… the reason EVERYBODY loves it and has been there so long… is because the people who didn’t love it left after a short time.
You’re OK taking what you can get.. .and then leaving. Your next place will value fresh vision in a way that this place doesn’t. This place knows the risks of investing in people. You don’t owe them anything.
No advice… but focus on “fit” – you’re not fitting in (I assume) but you’re trying (I assume)
Anon OP
Great perspective, thank you.
Jess
Okay, need some ethical help here. I am a super, super junior attorney (less than a year barred) and was lucky to get a job at a small firm, doing something I like enough – not exactly my field of interest, but litigation and learning experience. Pay not great, but whatever – experience. Anyways, been there under 6 months, and starting to realize that the boss is up to some not so ethical stuff – mostly billing. example – our secretary, who is very bright, will draft a pleading/ letter to client, and then the attorney will bill for it. not for review, but for drafting. she changes very little, as i said, our secretary is awesome and her work is great…but besides the point. They are also up to some strange stuff, tax wise – i had a job of sorting thru last years reciepts and found so many things they put on the “business” books that were…i dk…purses, drinks at “personal” time (not firm meetings, etc.) there is a lot im leaving out, but i did call my states bar ethics hotline over the tax stuff, was told basically i dont know for sure so can’t do anything, but as far as the billing, that’s newer that i realized it so i haven’t called yet. I don’t know what to do. I want to quit, to protect myself, but the job market sucks, and I’m not exactly top-tier, or top school. I’m competent enough, but…having a job I worked at for less than 6 months on my resume may hurt more than anything. Any suggestions? Help!
not enough information
Are you getting the whole picture here? Do you see the bills and the fee arrangement for the client? Is the attorney actually doing work on the document in some fashion or just sending it out unchanged and billed fully at the higher rate? In sorting through the receipts, are these the items that are actually being booked as expenses or are they just using the company cards and then settling up the accounts later?
Jess
I see the bills and the retainer letters – they clearly say x rate for principal attorney, y rate for legal assistant, big difference between the two. the attorney reviews the work for maybe 2 minutes, then bills the whole time that the LA worked on creating the document (she tells the attorney “bill 30 min”, for example)
As far as the cards, they are using company cards for these expenses, and putting them into the accounting system. There is a separate personal credit card that was once and a while mixed into the pile, and i was told to through those out. On the business card, a good example is – a grocery store trip for office “supplies”, including dish soap for the kitchen, things like that, shared, but also groceries for home, and things for the office that only the boss was allowed to have – special water drinks, snacks, etc.
Jess
And also key point i forgot – the owner/principal attorney and the firm manager who handles money are “related”. I don’t want to say how but you can guess.
Wildkitten
I think the boss can buy things only he is allowed to have and still count them as a business expense. Like, if you work late and your firm lets you order Seamless on their dime you don’t have to share it with the whole office for it to be a business expense.
Anonymous
If it is being used in the office, I think it’s fine as a business expense. But billing time for something a non timekeeper did is NOT OK. Call the ethics hotline.
Ellen
Yay! Pricey Monday’s! But these are sale’s so they realy can’t be that pricey, Kat! Dad has put another HIATUS on my credit, thru March 1, again b/c I am saveing to much money for the firm, but am costeing HIM money. I realy do NOT understand his logic, but since he is the MAN paying the bill’s, he makes the decision’s. FOOEY!
But as to the OP, it sound’s like your manageing partner could use a few lesson’s in ETHIC’s and ETHICEAL billeing. I learned early on all of the legal ins and out’s of billing’s so I am on the RIGHT side of the law in Everything we do. If I bill a cleint it is b/c the cleint will get the benefit of my billeing, and multiple cleint’s get the same treatement.
In your case, try and get an OUTSIDE legal person to give you a confiedential review. You can outline the status of what is goeing on here, w/o revealing the PRECISE legal firm you work for. We in the HIVE, as expert’s, can then OPINE on your situeation. Even Kat and Kate, who are not full time practioner’s, can opine, b/c of there EXTENSIVE review of these coments and their need to ensure that we stay ethical at all times.
I will have tell the HIVE about my expereince with Myrna’s freind’s freind tomorrow, as he came over to watch the NBA on TNT on my HTDV yesterday. I am not sure he will be the father of my childeren after all. FOOEY!
Anon
I worked at a firm (solo practitioner and myself) where similar things went on. Owner/attorney used company card and account for personal purchases. This attorney also delegated work to myself and our legal secretary that neither of us should have been doing (when I was a law clerk he had be draft briefs that he would file without ever reviewing, for example). As a fun bonus, we didn’t have malpractice insurance (it isn’t required in our state, but is a good idea if you are going to do sketchy stuff). I was much more concerned with him delegating work to me than the tax stuff. Yes the tax stuff was sketchy, but if he got audited, it wasn’t really going to impact me, since I wasn’t involved in any of the accounting/making the purchases, and really shouldn’t even have known about it. The delegating/malpractice insurance item was more of a concern for me since I would have been personally implicated if a claim was filed. My solution was to get a new job. I would probably advise you to do the same. It was uncomfortable to do, but it isn’t worth putting your reputation on the line to stay at a sketchy firm.
Jess
at least we have malpractice insurance…. how did you explain that situation to future jobs, if you don’t mind me asking?
anon associate
Why would you need to explain the situation to future jobs?
not enough information
You don’t mention it. You can talk about how you really want to focus more on x,y,z, you are looking for a bigger platform, etc. Practice your answer about why you want to leave over and over until you can deliver it smoothly and then transition into how your skills fit this new job. The legal community is small. If this firm is known for being a little sketchy, you aren’t expected to explicitly confirm that in an interview. If they aren’t known to be sketchy, you don’t want to be the one who starts that story.
Anon @ 12:25
Yep, this. Since malpractice insurance isn’t required in our state, I was never even asked about it.
CPA Lady
About the tax stuff– just because someone takes an expense on their books doesn’t mean they actually write it off on their taxes. I’ve done a number of returns for small businesses and a lot of them have book-keeping that I would define as “questionable” (mostly because they have book-keepers that are not trained accountants, not because they are intentionally trying to commit fraud), so I just look through expenses and anything that looks like it would be a red flag I question and then disallow or reclassify as a partner’s distribution. Also, the after- hours meals and stuff could possibly be client meetings, which are also partially deductible.
That said, you have a better idea of what is going on there than I do, obviously, and if it seems sketchy, time to dust off that resume.
anon
I can’t speak to the tax issue, but when I worked for a small insurance defense firm it was not uncommon for partners to bill for work non-billing assistants did. I don’t think it’s as much of a cause for alarm as you think. In addition to doing the brief review of the letter, discovery responses, whatever the assistant drafted, the partner also has to spent time telling the assistant what to do and monitoring the course of that assignment. While it still may not be as much time as gets billed, it adds up. Plus, some clients (ins. cos) are notoriously cheap and will look for any excuse to hack bills to pieces. So you wind up spending lots of time on projects that isn’t going to get billed, and you have to look for ways to account for your time that the client will pay for. So for example, it actually takes me 0.9 to manage the filing of a brief, but I can’t bill for “filing brief.” But, ethically, I feel I deserve to get paid for that time because doing it properly to protect the client’s interests required my time and attention. So the billing entry becomes “prepare exhibits” or “draft motion.” I suspect that is the same theory that underlies your partner’s actions.
Anonymous
This exactly.
Anonymous
The billing issue is remarkably commonplace. Telling the secretary to send out stock discovery is a billable event. So is doing letters and putting together stock motions. Is it better to say “directed secretary to send or stock discovery”, sure. But that’s not how most people do it.
Anonymous
My reading of the OP was that he’s billing for the amount of time it took the secretary to do it, not just the amount of time he spends giving instruction and reviewing. So if he spends 6 minutes asking her to do a pleading, she spends 4 hours drafting, and he spends 6 minutes reviewing, then he’s billing for 4.2 hours. That’s certainly not commonplace to my knowledge.
Anonymous
exactly–it’s not only “not commonplace,” but illegal.
bridget
Find a mentor in your area. First, you’re a new lawyer, and mentors are invaluable for people just starting out. Second, this is exactly the kind of thing you can discuss with someone more senior than you, give enough details so they understand, but don’t have to worry about outing yourself on the Internet.
As for this particular issue: the usual advice about networking, developing skills, and finding an area of law that you like. Start looking in the late summer, and it’s easy enough to say that you want more of X but your firm focuses on Y. Even a year out, you’re much more marketable.
Anonymous
The tax stuff may be ok. It sounds like most of the purchases were legit. And just because you use a company cc to make a purchase does not mean you are claiming it on your tax return. They may just want the points. Maybe not, but it sounds like you did what you could on that one and there is not enough evidence.
The billing practices are illegal unless the client knows and has agreed to them. What does the engagement letter say? You can bill for the time you spend instructing the secretary to draft the letter and you can bill for editing her work. You CANNOT bill for writing the letter if she wrote it. You should understand what the bill says and what the arrangement is. If it’s as you suspect, then you should check your state’s ethics rules. IN MY STATE WE ARE OBLIGATED TO REPORT MISCONDUCT–so you would be breaking the rules if you did not report this.
Online support group
Does anyone know if there are online support groups for family members of addicts? I thought I read somewhere this weekend that there are such online groups, but I can’t find it today.
Monday
Al-Anon has online meetings.
Idea
Have you tried your Employment Assistance Program? They’ve moved a lot of this kind of support stuff online in order to save money.
Online support group
I might be looking at the wrong thing on Al-Anons website bc I can’t find a true online meeting. Just yahoo groups and something similar. I may be willing to do that if anyone has any experience as to that format.
Anonymous
How about this? http://al-anon.info/MeetingSearch/PhoneMeetings.aspx?language=EN
Idea
Can you contact a local Al-Anon support group that might be able to direct you to an online resource?
Many mental health agencies or addiction support places (for the addict) might be able to have resources for you, too. Sorry I can’t help more. I’m experienced with mental health but not addiction help.
If this is for the poster with the husband who drinks and she leaves him with the baby if needed, I’ve been thinking about you.
Online support group
Thanks everyone. I’ll follow up on all of these.
No, not the poster with the baby. the addicts are my mom and my sister.
Online support group
I found what I thought I found over the weekend – online support groups twice per week through SMART friends and family. I’m going to participate this week.
I’m also going to look into the other suggestions.
Anonymous
I’m also at work. My new(ish) job doesn’t give us Columbus Day, Veteran’s Day, MLK Day or President’s Day off. We only get the more major holidays: Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. At my old job we got all of the above holidays off and I’m really surprised how much difference four holidays a year has made in my morale and job satisfaction. It seems trivial, and I know I could use vacation days if I wanted to, but it is just brutal going from New Years to late May without a day off, especially because we live in a cold snowy place. It’s snowy today and I would give anything to be hibernating. Grrr.
Jennifer
Agreed. So many people in DC have all of these days off, and it is brutal to be the only one in a friend group without these days.
Anon
Me too. Dang, holidays make such a difference for me.
Lone Engineer
I DO have today off, but I have so much work to catch up on that I’m at the office anyway. Ugh.
Anonymous
do you have more vacation days? I don’t get many holidays off (today included) but I have 20 days of PTO per year. So i use them.
Anonymous
Sadly, I have the same number of vacation days (15/year). I love to travel so I tend to hoard them for big trips.
anonforthis
Hi knowledgeable hive,
Regular poster anon for this. I’ve been actively trying to move from my senior associate role at a law firm to an in house role for several months, and I worry that my boss is catching on (more due to my detachment/dissatisfaction at work then my absences). I’m currently in process with one company, but would expect several more interviews before an offer (and I’ve been at this stage with several companies in the last 8 months or so and it’s gone nowhere).
Boss asked to go to lunch this week, which is typically a sign he wants to talk professional development. He is the kind of boss that *thinks* he would want to know if I was looking so he could help, but I’m nervous as to whether he will actually be able to treat me the same if he knew, and I don’t want to disclose to him as it may well be a “career limiting move.”
Any suggestions as to how to get through this conversation and how to handle? Thanks in advance
Anonymous
No way do you tell him you are looking around. Focus on your firm and ways you can grow or change things there when you meet for lunch. That may dovetail into a later conversation if you do move on.
KLR
If he asks you generally about how you’re doing at work, I think can you can be truthful without disclosing the job search: e.g., talk about the matters you really enjoy, how you are looking forward to more depo experience on Y matter, or how you want trial experience and ask if he’s aware of any upcoming cases, etc.
I would also flip it back to him. Acknowledge that you’re getting more senior and thinking about your future, and ask him what he sees as your future at the firm or if he has any advice about what sort of professional development opportunities you should seek out.
bridget
No real advice here (which is best given by people who have been in the situation), but perhaps you could talk about the “why” instead of the “what.” As in, you are looking to leave and go in-house (the “what”), but it’s obviously because (“why”) there is something about in-house that you aren’t getting in your current role but really want.
You can start off the discussion by what makes you happy in your current role (or what you used to do at the firm, but don’t do anymore, that gave you some satisfaction in your job). From there, you can talk about what you want to do that you aren’t doing now, or the things that are happening at the firm that are negative. You can also frame the discussion as “Thanks for being such a great resource for my career development,” and maybe go in with a few times when your boss really backed you up or steered you in a direction that enabled you to get to the point of being a senior associate at this firm.
JJ
Late reply, but I think making a move from a law firm to in-house is a different animal than lateraling to another firm. You might be a potential client, which usually puts the old employer-law firm on good behavior. I think it totally depends on your relationship with this partner, but I was open when I was interviewing at companies to go in-house, and my old firm was very supportive.
mom blogs/boards?
I’ll post this on CMoms tomorrow, but it looks like there’s no activity there today…
Can anyone recommend good pregnancy/new mom messageboards? So many of them just seem terrible and I’m not sure where to start. Blogs are good too, but I do love a good messageboard since there’s usually more content and more perspectives. I do find CMoms helpful but would be glad for some other options too.
Anons
Baby bumps on Reddit is OK and active. They might have some other groups on Reddit if you can get past a lot of the vitriol on the rat if the site. Definitely get an account so that you can prime your homepage.
For blogs, maybe scarymommy and Pregnant Chicken.
Anonymous
+1 on pregnant chicken and there’s a good comments section, too.
The birth boards on baby center and what to expect made my head explode.
OP
Yes, I read a comment that read, “They just want to tell you what not to do! I smoked through all four of my pregnancies and my babies are fine!” Wow.
My husband and I still joke about the one comment, though – “Don’t listen to anyone on this site. I only trust a doctor. You can only trust someone with a PhD!”
Anons
Sorry about all the autocorrect typos in my post above. I’m on mobile. I think you get the idea.
Also, check out the Longest, Shortest Time podcast. They have a Facebook group, but really it is the podcast that is amazing.
OP
Thank you!
HSAL
I only checked out The Bump and Babycenter, and yes, both were terrible. I really only read C-Moms (I went back through the archives like crazy) and for general blogginess I used this pregnancy calendar/site – http://alphamom.com/pregnancy-calendar-overview/.
OP
Good call, I should go back through the archives for sure. And get more savvy with searching them, too.
Anon
I will read online articles but, with few exceptions, won’t use any forums other than corporate moms. That includes a FB group I was added to by a good friend of mine who is a mom that was basically just her acquaintances and their friends. The final straw was when one mom went on a tirade about how all the other kids in her 9 month old son’s play group often had running noses and she wanted to know if she should tell the other mothers off for “allowing their babies to get sick all the time because she would never let that happen”.
lucy stone
I really like the forums on fertility friend. Most of the women on there are much more levelheaded than the other forums.
public service announcement
In some states that vote in the primary on March 15, tomorrow is the last day to register.
white dress to work?
Repost from the weekend thread for more responses:
Can people wear white dresses to work in a business casual environment? What about business professional? I’m lusting after the dress linked below and wondering if or how much I’d actually get to wear it to work or if it’s just more of a brunch thing.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adrianna-papell-pleated-crepe-sheath-dress-regular-petite/4228448?origin=shoppingbag
Anon
I’d totally wear that in a dressy business environment. My business casual workplace is super schlumpy (heeyyy, pleated khakis and mom jeans!!), so this would be out of place, but if suiting dresses fit in your office, I’d totally rock a white dress. In winter with a black blazer and tights; in summer with cobalt or coral or turquoise.
Genevieve
This is gorgeous. I think it could work for work. :)
Anonymous
This is beautiful, but I am having a hard time seeing it in my business casual office. It just reminds me too much of the dresses worn to rehearsal dinners and at Southern private school graduations, both of which give off a youthful image.
X
FYI. Private schools in the Northeast also require white dresses at graduation…
Anonymous
My public school required a white dress at graduation.
lsw
I would totally wear this to work. I have a chambray blazer from Lands’ End that would go perfectly with something like this – it’s a bit longer (not a cropped blazer) so I think that would keep it from looking too “ladies who lunch”. You could also do a bright cardigan (fuschia? teal?) and I think a big necklace would help too. I really love white, though.
Wendy
I so love this dress. I would wear it when the weather gets better, with white strappy shoes.
Anonymous
I’m going to a wedding in Dallas, about a month from now. I’m going to be almost 6 months pregnant. Any suggestions for
(1) a black dress that is either maternity or maternity-friendly that will get some use in New England between March and June (or even later on into summer)?
(2) a fancy bling-y necklace to go with it?
I’m not terribly worried if the dress is on the casual side if I can find some good bling to go with it. Wedding is downtown and somewhat formal (for Dallas). I also need something for the rehearsal dinner but I can probably wing it–would like some thoughts on weather in Dallas in early March, though, so I can pick from my closet of workwear maternity dresses :)
Anonymous
Early March weather in Dallas is a wildcard. Last year, we had an icestorm and freezing temps on March 1. This year, it’s looking like it will be in the 80s. It gets cool in the shade, so I’d maybe do a sleeveless sheath with jacket or sweater for evening and the indoor A/C blast.
Anon
I would get a black maxi dress. I had a nicer one that wasn’t even a maternity dress that I wore a lot early in my pregnancy.
Anonymous
I don’t know about maternity, but I do know that Dallas formal can be very formal (a less expensive formal than NYC but still pretty formal). I think a sheath dress with a jacket/sweater would be on the less formal end, so maybe appropriate for rehearsal dinner. Weather wise, you can’t count on anything so just be prepared for everything. Even if it’s hot out, the A/C will blast you inside.
Anonymous
My husband is in the wedding and I have a good sense of the formality, just not so much what one wears for the weather ;). I’m doing a somewhat evening friendly wrap dress (not sheath- I’m pregnant!) for the rehearsal and not worrying about it. Nobody else will care. This isn’t my first kid and I know the couple getting married well…the number of minutes I need to spend worrying about attire is minimal. Just have to find a decent black dress + bling to wear.
tesyaa
Try baublebar for the bling.
Wildkitten
People in Texas love Kendra Jackson. So on the one hand, a lot of people might be wearing her, but on the other hand, it’d be a fun souvenir as well as an accessory for the night.
JJ
Kendra Scott.
Socksberg
I followed that Bloomingdales link to the site and would up buying two pieces of fine jewelry on deep discount. Can anyone comment on the quality of the Bloomingdales in-house jewelry?
Anonymous
Very good in my experience. I had an issue with one earring, and it was immediately repaired by Bloomingdales at no cost.
Anon
Can anyone recommend plain cotton panties? This feels so ridiculous to ask, but I can’t find any good ones.
I’m embarrassed to admit that my favorite cotton panties are 10 years old from Hanes/Fruit of the Loom. The styles are long since discontinued. Lightweight cotton bikinis, not too thick, no bulky seams. Just…panties. I’ve bought several packs of Hanes/FOTL over the past couple years and none of them are doing it for me – too thick fabric, poor/odd fit, too thick seams.
So what do you recommend? I can’t exactly afford department store prices for cotton panties, but my panties are looking pretty awful at this point, so I’ll take any recs.
Genevieve
GAP body. Usually you can find a promo code to make the prices reasonable.
Anonymous
Jockey bikinis
Carrots
+1. You can find them at just about any department store and use their store coupons on them.
Anonymous
Uniqlo, Gap, and I know it’s department store, but if you can find them on sale Natori has great cotton panties.
Wendy
Love Jockey, Gap is my second choice.
Anonymous
Favorite dry shampoo, go.
mascot
Psst works pretty well. I have an Herbal Essence one that isn’t too bad either. I tend to buy whatever has the lightest scent. My chief complaint with most of them is that they are so strongly fragranced.
Anonymous
I like the herbal essences one as well.
RR
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. Best I’ve tried. Somehow manages to give all the benefits of dry shampoo without the white powder residue. I can’t even think what it smells like, so the scent isn’t overwhelming.
Charmed Girl
Aveda just came out with one. The mechanism for getting the dry shampoo out is a bit different than others (watch the videos), but it was great for me after surgery when I went DAYS without washing my hair. Plus it’s the Shampure scent that I love! It felt like a treat when I was feeling otherwise pretty crappy.
Anonymous
I got Klorane dry shampoo in a Birchbox and have since re-ordered half a dozen times. It is amazing! I spray it on, let it sit for a couple minutes, then blow dry/brush it in for a minute. It literally lasts over a day. Highly recommend.
Parfait
Klorane is the BEST.
Anonymous
I have tried them all, from low to high priced, and my favourite by far is Batiste, which is super cheap and available at the drugstore.
Anonymous
Baby powder.
Meg Murry
Along the same lines, a mix of cornstarch and baking soda works for me as well as (or better than) anything I’ve bought commercially, although you have to apply it very lightly to avoid turning your hair gray-ish or having white clumps. I’ve found applying very lightly to my scalp with a makeup brush and then combing (not brushing) it through works best.
Anonymous
I sprinkle baby powder in my hair at night and it absorbs the oil as I sleep and then I don’t have to worry about white residue after I brush my hair in the morning.