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![Corporette's Suit of the Week: The Limited](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Limited-Wine-Suit.jpg)
![purple womens suit](https://corporette.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/purple-womens-suit.png)
Sales of note for 8.30.24
- Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
- Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
- Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
- Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
- Boden – 20% off
- Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
- Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
- Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
- Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
- White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale
Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Wildkitten
I love this. I love the colorblock dress with blazer.
Bonnie
I love it too. I’m not sure if I would wear it as a full suit but can see myself wearing the skirt and vest combo throughout the fall.
(former) preg 3L
Yup, totally just ordered the jacket, skirt, and pants. I doubt I’ll wear it as a full suit (unless it’s a really dark color), but having the option is nice (IMO). Since the care instructions say “dry clean”, not “dry clean only”, can I wash it on a gentle cycle in cold water and hang-dry?
Gail the Goldfish
Very likely. I’m pretty liberal with my gentle cycle washing of suits that just say dry clean and not dry clean only, and I haven’t ruined anything yet.
hoola hoopa
Polyester usually gentle machine washes fine, but viscose can be unpredictable. However I’m going with ‘very likely’ as well.
Sacha
I have a Collection suit and have washed the pants and skirt multiple times with great results — gentle detergent and delicate cycle. I am sure you could wash the jacket, since it is the same material, but I’m nervous about reshaping, so haven’t done it. I also have not found the pieces to change color despite being washed separately and with different processes, but I have a lighter color, so darker colors could have different results.
Kate
Wow, I kind of hate all of this. I’d wear the dress or jacket with other pieces, but nothing together–and the pants with jacket reminds me of Charlie’s Angels. The less said about the vest, the better.
Senior Attorney
You say “Charlie’s Angels” like that’s a bad thing…
HSAL
Yep. I am very pro-70s. I think that’s what I dig about the vest. I might not wear all of it together either, but I like the look.
hoola hoopa
haha.
I agree, Kate. My first thought was that this looked like something my mother would have worn to work. Not ‘inspired by’ but ‘exactly.’ I like a little nostalgia in my wardrobe, but this is too far for me. No thank you.
Wildkitten
I hate the pants. But I don’t wear pants anyway. I’ve decided they’re too hard to iron.
OP
They look like leggings. Since when are leggings part of a suit?
jlf
I could not agree more and I usually really like the Limited’s clothes.
Orangerie
I like most of the pieces individually, but..
“Take off your vest. You look like Aladdin.”
anon-oh-no
I have to agree with you on this one. This just looks like a cheep suit one might buy when just out of college. the slacks are hideous. I usually love a vest with a suit, but the styling on this is terrible and the color makes it look like a uniform. i feel like vests really only work in menswear fabrics.
Unicorn
Yay TALL SIZES!!
ELL
Agreed! Love it when there are tall sizes–and size 12 shoes like were posted yesterday.
LH
Yes, the tall sizes is a new addition to The Limited (at least for skirts and dresses – they had pants before) and I’m THRILLED! The colorblock dress is not available in tall and I’m sad about that because I love it.
LB
Reposting from earlier today, hoping for a response:
I am taking my FIRST deposition next week (gulp!). A while back, someone here had posted a link to several helpful videos and/or training materials on how to take depositions. Anyone know what I am referring to? Or if you anyone has any other advice on resources to utilize that are available online, please let me know. I’m specifically interested in any examples of mock depositions that I can view or even snippets of depositions (on how to authenticate a document, how to handle a difficult witness, etc.). Thanks!!
Gail the Goldfish
I don’t know the videos, but it looks like there have been several threads on this topic. On google, search “first deposition s i t e:[this s i t e’s address]” (with the spaces removed in s i t e, obviously) and several threads that look good pop up.
Emm
Not helpful now, but before your next one you should try to do the NITA deposition training. I found it really helpful and helps get you over your fears about it.
Unicorn
Was it the ABA litigation practice guide?
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/publications/the_101_201_practice_series/litigation.html
OP
Yes, that sounds familiar. Thanks so much!
Unicorn
Good luck!
Meg March
Looking for help styling a floral pencil skirt. It’s white cotton, with large cobalt blue and black flowers. The flowers-to-empty-space ratio is about the same as a skirt previously featured on this site (link to follow).
I’ve owned this skirt for a while, and really like it, but can’t figure out what to pair with it. I pretty much only wear white or black with it, neither of which I’m crazy about. Any great ideas are welcome :-)
Meg March
https://corporette.com/2014/05/22/ann-taylor-statement-floral-jacquard-pencil-skirt/
Wildkitten
Cobalt blue? Too matchy?
Meg March
I’ve been hesitant, because the only cobalt blue tops I have are just different enough that I think it looks like I tried to match but failed.
Senior Attorney
I actually kind of like not-quite-matching colors. Think of it as “thought about matching but decided not to” instead of “tried to match but failed.” ;)
Also, Pinterest is great for these kinds of dilemmas. Type in “print skirt” or whatever. Here’s a cobalt-and-white skirt styled with a navy top, looking awesome: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/50806302021384415/
(former) preg 3L
Light blue might work if you can find a lighter blue that goes with the cobalt. Or maybe yellow?
DC Association
Light blue might work if you can find a lighter blue that goes with the cobalt. Or maybe yellow?
tesyaa
I immediately thought yellow, too.
Jeepy
Ditto on the yellow.
Unicorn
I think grey or mint would be nice.
Amy H.
G*DDAMMIT already with the one-button suit jackets!!!
Hildegarde
Ha! This comment almost made me laugh out loud as my boss was walking by my door. I don’t like them either, but I have never heard such a vociferous reaction to one-button suit jackets. Or any kind of suit jacket, actually.
Anon
What is the reason for the distaste? I just bought one, tried it on and now I feel like it falls funny on my chest. I’m thinking of having it tailored in so it falls better, but is a one-button suit a mortal fashion sin I’m unaware of?
HSAL
Not sure about Amy H, but for me they usually gape out funny at the bust. You’d think the one button would work well with a large bosom, but I’ve found it isn’t often the case.
long time lurker
100% agree.
One- Buttons just make me look far wider than I am. Two or three button jackets all the way.
Amy H.
It’s not about fit for me — I’m nearly flat-chested so one-button jackets lie reasonably flat. I just hate the way they look! I much prefer the high gorge of a three- or even four-button jacket (which were more in style when I graduated from law school one beelyun years ago — probably imprinted something on my brain).
I haven’t analyzed it too far but for me personally I think the lower V of a one-button jacket looks more like an evening jacket or tuxedo jacket, whereas the high, short V of a three or four button jacket looks more like “work.” I tend to lean very menswear in my work style preferences, too, so that could be contributing something here.
I am making do with two-button suit jackets and have been for the last four years, but I am SO READY for the pendulum to swing back the other way — or at least have some blazers and jackets available at both ends of the spectrum . . . .
Hildegarde
I don’t think they’re a fashion sin at all; I just don’t like the way they look. Somehow they look like they got lazy (yes, the jacket seems lazy, not the person), or like there’s something missing. I also think often the button looks like it’s in the wrong place, so that the top half or bottom half or both doesn’t lay right.
a lawyer
I actually really like one button jackets, but I am 5’0″ and very long waisted, so for whatever reason (extra petite explains in an old post) they look good on me. The buttons that are higher up tend to make me look even shorter than I am. I think the long gap to the one button lengthen the look, and I don’ t have to worry about being busty enough that they don’t lie correctly!
Medic Maggie
GAH! I love the brown, but it doesn’t come in petite! These are some really pretty pieces, and I do like the way that they go together well, or as separates. I also do like the camel, which is available in petites. Lovely find, Kat.
mgolaw
Hi guys,
So i tried on the dress from this collection in the store. First, the color is a bit different in person, it definitely leans more brown than wine, and the fit was just a smidge off. Just thought I’d give you all an FYI.
rosie
Might be a more useful FYI if you included something (anything) about why the fit was a smidge off or your sizing. And which dress? The colorblock one or the solid?
mgolaw
Oops! Sorry, it’s been a long day.
So on the back of the solid dress, there are 2 darts that didn’t lie flat, they kind of stuck out a bit and it just looked odd. Also, (at least on me) the bust was a bit loose, even though the rest of the dress fit fine. Your mileage may vary though. (I’m 5’5” and i normally wear a 6 at the limited, but that dress fit in a 4). Hopefully that helps!
rosie
Thanks!
Missk
Adding for comparison (as body shapes differ). I have the 12P solid navy and don’t have the dart issues on the back or bust issues in the front. (34Ds, 5’3″). I like the sheath a lot and hope it holds up without pilling. (Only recently purchased, so cannot comment on the wear).
LH
I have the solid dress in a different color (in tall). I agree that the bust is a bit loose (even though I’m not particularly small of chest) and it could be a bit more flattering. That said, it looks perfect with a jacket on, and I want to wear one anyway because I’m always cold. The hemlength seems a bit shorter than 41″ to me, but I can get away with it (I have quite a few dresses that are 39″/40″). It also looks like it could be let down at least an inch.
HSAL
Because I’m a nerd, I’d love to see a new discussion about how people organize their closet, inspired by the Previously on C—-.. from 2010, so I’ll start.
Walk-in closet, left wall has a high bar for hanging longer items. Dresses go there, along with jackets and cardigans with a shoe rack below. Shelves on top store a laundry basket and out of season/size clothes. The back wall has two racks – Shirts on top (from left to right, summer tanks, long sleeved shirts/blouses, 3/4 and short sleeve tops, with shells all the way on the right), with more extra clothing and shoes stored on top. The bottom rack has all my pants and skirts, most hung on multi-piece hangers which saves a ton of space. There’s also another shoe rack on the floor. The far right of the back wall has 5 or 6 vertical shelves about 20 inches wide – they get all of my camis, tshirts, and casual pants/shorts. There’s a similar setup on the opposite wall – but that gets all my husband’s clothes. The right wall has another shoe rack – I have a shoe problem.
Wildkitten
Left to right. Tops, sweaters, dresses I am wearing a lot, skirts, pants, fancy dresses.
Nonny
Also left to right:
Casual dresses, casual tops, casual skirts, work tops, work skirts, work dresses, suits, formal wear.
Sweaters on the first shelf above the clothes. Large handbags on the top shelf.
On the floor: a big basket of smaller bags and purses and various ephemera; a few pairs of shoes (most of them are elsewhere).
Things like t-shirts, jeans, camisoles, athletic wear, etc. are in a dresser. In an ideal world I would have few enough clothes that they could all fit in the closet with maybe just a few things in the dresser – but right now I feel like I have too much.
abogada
Hanging: one section for shirts, 1 section for suits (matching jacket and pants/skirts on separate hangers, but next to each other), one section for jackets only, pants only, skirts only, dresses. Each section is organized more or less by color. Sweaters are folded on shelves and organized more by style: fine gauge, chunky knit, turtleneck, low-enough V neck that I have to wear something under them. T-shirts are folded on shelves and organized by graphic print in 1 stack and solid color in the other, and sleep/around-the-house t-shirts on a separate stack. Jeans folded. Shorts stacked. Workout clothes together on their own shelf. Small set a drawers on floor with underwear, bras, and sock. Some shoes in boxes stacked on the top shelves, and some shoes placed (sans boxes) in one of those shoe holders that hangs from the rack. I have a small closet, so I also have an IKEA wardrobe for extra hanging and shelf space. Only my clothes in my closet. Fiance’s are in his own closet in a different room.
TO Lawyer
I have a small closet (or too many clothes) so it’s very packed but this is how I organize it, left-to right:
Suits
Work skirts
Blazers
Work blouses
(this is where the middle of my closet is so fairly unaccessible)
C*cktail dresses
Going out/club dresses
casual dresses
work dresses
non-work skirts
non-work blouses
And each category is organized by colour, light to dark.
Shoes in the hall closet and fancier ones on shelves on the floor of my closet. Purses on the shelf above my clothes in my closet (organized by size – large to tiny).
T-shirts, jeans, sweaters etc. are folded in my dresser, which also contains underthings and my jewelry and scarf collections.
Medic Maggie
We turned a spare room into my closet. Our master bedroom only had one closet, though it is a walk-in, it’s not big enough for both of our stuff. The room had a tiny closet with just shelving. I think the room may have been a nursery, or sewing room, or something similar. It does have a large window in it, so it is more like a dressing room today, than a true closet.
We installed Closetmaid stuff on the long wall of the room. Left to right: all the tall things–coats, pants hung by cuffs, dresses, belts. The next “bay” is shelving for sweaters, jeans, shorts, etc. The next bay is high-low–all the blouses on the top, pants & skirts on the bottom. There are 2 shelves that run the length of the whole thing on the top. I store all kinds of crazy stuff up there–luggage, handbags, shoes in boxes, etc.
In the closet w/ shelves are: t-shirts, tanks & camis, longsleeve t-shirts; a crate with workout clothes, a crate with PJs and a crate with bathing suits (and by crate, sometimes I mean “diaper box”). Undies & bras are stored in a plastic 3-drawer unit on the floor, surrounded by shoes in boxes. Over the closet door is a shoe rack for flats and heels. I currently have all of my “chunky” shoes on the floor because I don’t know how to store them. They’re a little too heavy for the shoe rack, when all the weight is combined. Tall boots hang by pants hangers clipped to the inside of the top, on the shirt rack. Socks are in a big single plastic drawer under the shelf-bay.
Perhaps I’ll take a pic for the blog…
DH’s stuff is in his own walk-in closet. I need to find some sort of drapery or something to hang and pull across my clothes when I’m not actively staring at them, because I have noticed some fading from the window light. I don’t want a more opaque shade, because I like the natural light. I have my dressing table in front of the window.
anonsg
Left section, Top rack: Suits, button-up shirts, other work shirts and sweaters
Left section, Bottom rack: Work pants and slacks, skirts
Right section: Coats, casual dresses, other dresses. I don’t have work dresses.
Floor: Box with all purses, and another box of stuff for storage
Under coats and in corner of closet: Luggage with off-season clothes
Shoes are stored at my front door. I don’t wear shoes in the house.
All other clothes are folded in the dresser, including jeans, or other sweaters.
newly in house
Closet is the reason I bought the house – it’s about 8 x 14, with a separate “his” walk-in closet that’s off the my main closet. Entry door is in the middle of the room.
Door wall (left) – hanging rack with long-sleeved blouses (organized by color) and sweaters (organized by color); below is a 9-cubby organizer with baskets that have workout clothes, jeans, and casual t-shirts/tank tops (split into separate cubbies for separate types of items and then by color)
Door wall (right) – a 9-cubby organizer with baskets that have bras, underwear, shapewear, socks, pajamas, etc. (split into separate cubbies for separate types of items); above are hooks and shelves for scarves and small purses (large purses are stored on shelves above all of the hanging racks on the other walls)
Left wall – hanging rack with quarter-sleeved blouses, short-sleeved blouses, short-sleeved sweaters, and sleeveless blouses (organized by color within category); below are wall-to-wall shoe cubbies that are 4 shoes high and span 24 shoes across (each cubby holds 1 shoe, so the left one is toe-out and the right one is heel-out so I can see which shoes are which)
Middle wall – hanging rack with skirts, pants, suits, and blazers (organized by color within category); below are the same wall-to-wall shoe cubbies, but they span 36 shoes across
Right wall – hanging rack with dresses (organized by color but not by sleeve length); below are the same cubbies, they span 24 shoes across
And now I’ve realized that I have way too many shoes. This sounds way more complicated than it is, but it works for my OCD self.
houda
Mine is work in progress but almost done
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo2PBQzhzRU&list=UUoIUYa_HHx2gWMRoul1zW5Q
Rant
I’ve experienced a lot of misogyny today and all I want is to watch the boys club burn. Though a good cry may also help my frustrations.
Wildkitten
This cheers me up! http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/08/08/ironic_misandry_why_feminists_joke_about_drinking_male_tears_and_banning.html
Anonymous
Hugs (from someone who attended a meeting of 13 people this morning and was the only woman).
Rant
I was told that ‘we need a woman here, and you look like you like fashion’. I was in a boring outfit, this was the attempt of programmers to recruit me. Then comments on my shoes (black pumps), fitness routine, and aesthetic preferences all started. I don’t think they asked me one thing about my skills. Then you know dismissed everything I tried saying about my skills.
Reix
I was told ‘i didn’t want to share your phone with anyone’ by one guy in the meeting this morning, as an excuse of why he hadn’t put with me in contact earlier with a man in another team. So, I know what you are talking about. More hugs.
Wildkitten
How would you style this? Nude shoes? What color bag? http://www.lyst.com/clothing/kate-spade-mariella-dress-french-navy/
(former) preg 3L
Yellow or bright pink (not pale pink) or both.
Wildkitten
Perfect! I own bright pink! Thank you.
GingerAle
Or whisky/cognac might be good.
Miss Behaved
That colorblock dress is gorgeous in the black and honey shade!
meme
I recently tried The Limited’s suit jackets in store, and they did not work for me. I tried on a few sizes, and none would lie right across the chest. I’m not really busty (34C), so I do not know what the problem was. It seemed like a quality issue to me, but I’m no expert. I do love their collection pencil skirts though. They come in long, and they are washable.
Following up for the 2nd time...
I have done the email after one week for a contact at an organization I am interested in. Our initial conversation ended on the understanding that there would be a follow up or subsequent conversation. I know the person could be very busy so should I risk calling and maybe getting them at a bad time or…do another email?
Finance
Personally, I dislike when people follow up too quickly. I’d wait as many as three weeks if there was no time expectation set. Things move like molasses in my company, and it’s not a big firm – we are just that busy, and decision makers are that frequently out of the office. The organization you’re talking to may be in the same boat.
Parfait
My cat has cancer. A carcinoma, to be exact. I just made the appointment with an oncologist to get treatment options. I’m scared for my little fuzzy girl. The x-rays show that there’s nothing spread to the lungs or abdomen so that’s good but she’s looking at surgery at a minimum. Ach.
Unicorn
S0 sorry to hear that. It’s so hard when we know our furry kids are hurting but we can’t tell them we’re going to fix it. Hugs.
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul
I’m so sorry. :( I don’t care what people say about pets not being family members. I would be devastated if this happened to my cat.
Bonnie
So sorry. Remember that it’s ok to not go to extraordinary measures if they won’t add many good days. Hope you get some good news.
people skills
+1. My first dog died of cancer, and I really wish we hadn’t done everything we could to keep him with us. It really hurt when we eventually put him down, but he was in so much pain and had no quality of life and that hurt more.
BB
+1 I am so sorry to hear this. It is one of my greatest fears for my ~10 year old kitty, but I hope at that time, I will be able to understand that she is not a human. She won’t understand that “hey, this really hurts and your life is going to be awful for weeks, but there’s a small chance it will make you better, and you get a few more weeks with me!” like a person would. All I’m going to do is make her last days miserable.
Senior Attorney
Aw, that’s terrible! I’m so sorry! And +1 for “okay to not go to extremes if it’s not likely to add good quality time.”
Parfait
Thanks gang. I’m hopeful that we can just excise it surgically because the idea of radiating or chemoing my girl terrifies me. And my pocketbook.
She’s only eleven, and loves me so fiercely I almost can’t absorb it all.
I’m distracted and I already went and cried in a conference room once this afternoon.
Cats
First, I am so sorry to hear this. Pets are like family, but with the added stress that you are their sole advocate and decision-maker, and you just have to do your best at guessing what they would want. It’s so tough to be faced with serious medical problems for them. Second, I really hate to be a downer, but please think seriously about whether your finances can absorb pet medical treatments, and whether you would feel upset about the money you spent if the treatment weren’t successful. I hope that, if you decide to treat the cancer, your cat has many happy and healthy years ahead. But just know that even a 95% chance of successful surgery is NOT a guarantee. The money will be gone for good, either way.
Signed,
Pet owner mourning both the cat and the thousands of dollars spent on unsuccessful surgeries for a 7 year old cat. (Not cancer, though, if that helps at all.)
a lawyer
I am so sorry. I am not in favor of “prolonging death” but definitely will spare no expense to prolong good quality life and I have been in both positions with cats, in fact, with a single cat. At age 9, she developed a liver condition, had a PEG tube for months–at home, recovered 100 percent and lived to age 19, at which point she quit eating (heart and kidney failure treated with good quality life for a couple of years), and I had to let go. Very hard to make the decision as to what is right when. I feel for you and hope your vet can give you good treatment options.
On happy note, my sister’s cat just had a tumor (nonmalignant) removed from her mouth and seems to have made good recovery.
teslagirl
My dearly departed kitty had lymphoma, and had already gone through so much in the testing process that I couldn’t put him through chemo. The vet suggested trying steroids, claiming that I might be able to have enough few (and pain-free) months with him, and in fact the steroids worked so well that he lived for over two years, and was happy and normal the whole time (just eating and drinking a lot from the steroids). After two years he suddenly went downhill and I had to make the decision to put him to sleep, but I am so grateful for those two years that I got to spoil my little guy.
This Suit
I’m Ron Burgundy?
Unicorn
Well done.
Jeepy
YES!
Samantha
I’ve loved previous book recommendations from this group and need more suggestions! I’m looking for fiction but not super-light reading, something a bit thoughtful and with an interesting idea or two would be great. Strong female characters are a bonus but not a must.
For instance – mostly from recommendations here –
Recently I’ve read and loved several of David Mitchell’s books, beginning with Cloud Atlas and through The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. I went through a string of Ursula Le Guin before that and liked her writing and unusual themes but got a little bored after a few books. I liked Outlander, but found some of the later books (I read 4) became a bit of a drag. I also like Henning Mankel’s Detective Wallander series for some dark-ish detective work interspersed with musings on life.
cbackson
Have you read any China Mieville? It looks like I have similar tastes to yours, and I bet you would really enjoy The City and the City and Embassytown. I also suspect you’d like Iain Banks’ Culture novels (I’d suggest Surface Detail as an entry point).
chilledcoyote
Just read The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman – wonderful. The story’s told from the point of view of four female main characters (four sections to the book, each with a different narrator), so you get to hear all of their backstories and thoughts on their experiences. I didn’t realize it was historical fiction at first, but it’s the story of the Roman siege of Masada, which has a pretty tragic ending. Fascinating, though.
Avril
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, I loved this book and have recommended more than once. It’s a fantastical tale set in 1800’s NYC. It’s also a classic struggle between good and evil with some grey areas in between. Some romance too, great escapist read and yes I thought that a couple of the female leads were strong.
The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob – a recent read, loved the writing. This is a family saga, well written and effortlessly readable.
Buying In by Laura Hemphill – this falls on the side of light reading but it’s not fluffy, at least I didn’t think so. This is like the Devil wears Prada but on Wall Street, entertaining, the kind of thing you could pick on a lazy weekend afternoon.
The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed- features strong female leads, set in Somalia in the 1980’s the period before the country descends into civil war. Good writing and this author was listed as a “Best Young Novelist 2013” by literary magazine Granta. I thought this was unique because it’s one of those stories where this kind of thing is told from a female perspective.
Anna
I loved The Golem and the Jinni too. I also liked Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, the Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman, and several books by Tracy Chevalier (Remarkable Creatures was about two early, female paleontologists). As for mysteries somewhat similar to the Wallander books (at least similar in the sense I like them all, they’re written by non-American authors, and they tend to have some sort of social statement to make beyond the simple mystery): Tana French, Ian Rankin, Louise Penny (at least her earlier books, the last couple haven’t been as good), Lene Kaaberbol’s Nina Borg books, and Jussi Adler-Olsen.
Anna
One more: Serena, by Ron Rash. The heroine certainly counts as a strong female character, if not entirely sane. The movie is coming out soon, though it’s unclear whether it will be any good, given that it’s been in post-production for several years and may not even have a US distributor yet, despite starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.
buffybot
Just in case you didn’t know, David Mitchell just came out with a new book (the Bone Clocks) 2 weeks ago.
(I am a fellow Mitchell fan, and it’s been awesome to see his very diverse seeming collection of books coalesce into a connected whole.)
If you like the mystical aspects of his work and a bit of fantasy, may I suggest Alif the Unseen?
Also, if you haven’t done classic LatAm magical realism, I find Allende much more readable than Marquez (although both are lovely).
cavity maker
the wild rose series by jennifer donnaly, I really enjoyed it, and I thought that it was better than Outlander
KateMiddletown
The Limited has a SCANDAL inspired collection coming out next week!