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Frugal Friday’s Workwear Report: Smart Straight-Leg Trousers

A woman wearing a black top, black heels, and mustard-colored tailored pants

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

Pre-2020, I was wearing skirts and dresses to the office at least 75% of the time. In the last year or two, I’ve moved to Team Pants, and I have no plans to return. This straight-leg trouser from River Island looks like it would be an incredibly versatile item to add to my closet. Pair it with a blazer and fun blouse for a more dressed-up look, or a turtleneck and loafers for something a little more casual.

The pants are $49.99-$65, depending on color, and come in sizes 2-14. In addition to the beige, they come in black, pink, and stone.

Sales of note for 12.5

196 Comments

  1. I feel like cuffs in pants catch horrifying things. And I grew up doing my own ironing and hating having to press them. Other than this picture, I haven’t seen cuffs in the wild in a long time.

    1. they were on the suit of the week on wednesday too – let’s hope they’re not coming back, i hate them also.

      2. Also not a friend of the long legged.

        0 idea who they’re supposed to look good on since they look a mess on this model who’d look good in a paper bag.

    3. My high heel once caught in the cuff of my pants when I was coming down the stairs. I was ok, but I swore off cuffed pants after that.

      2. I did that, and fell down hard on the sidewalk, scraping my palms and knees, and staining the knees as well.

      4. That happened to me on my way out the door to a clerkship interview waaaaay back in the day. I got the job and never fixed the pants because they were “lucky” but man I could have lost teeth in that fall ;-)

    4. I had cuffed linen walking shorts once. Ugh. Hot rumpled mess and the cuffs always were looking bad on the back side of my legs.

  2. I tried to do a scarf today to break up an outfit of just solids and lost about 15 minutes of time. Are we still wearing scarves? Help! Maybe I am rusty after years of relying on shirts with words as it WFH daily driver.

    2. I’m wearing scarves much less frequently since the pandemic. I think the balance just looks off now. When I was wearing slim pants or pencil skirts on the bottom and wider silhouettes on top, a scarf made sense. Now I am wearing higher waists and fuller pants/skirts, often with my top tucked in, so a scarf seems out of proportion.

      I just tried one a few days ago, and ended up taking it off. In any case, I try never to fuss with a scarf. They look best when tossed on or knotted in a sort of careless way, in my mind. Any complicated tie or pinning looks outdated to me.

    3. scarves aren’t currently trendy. i’d look at older pictures of icons to see how to wear them. off the top of my head, scarf as belt, scarf worn unlooped around your neck with a blazer on top. i keep seeing babushkas at shopbop and the like and think they’re the height of hideousness.

    4. like, a silk scarf or a drapey long scarf / infinity scarf? if the former, they take way too long to achieve the careless look that’s the only modern way to wear them. if the latter, send them back to 2016.

    6. You could try tying it on your purse. Then you have the color with your outfit, and you have the scarf handy if you get cold and need it.

    8. I wear scarves and so do all the women in Europe whenever I’m there. I’m not one for following trends but if I were, I’d be reassured by that.

      1. I just got back from Paris and noticed that all the Parisian women were wearing scarfs and socks (none of this bare ankle when it’s cold out thing American do because we have a horror of visible hosiery).

        That said the whole chunky infinity scarf inside when it is warm outside thing is definitely over.

        2. Yes!! I am a diehard sock fan. What kind of shoes did you see the Parisian women wearing with socks?

          1. Mostly loafers and oxfords (not lug soled; I did not see many of those) and “nice” sneakers. Considering that the Veja is the “in” sneaker at the moment – to the point I suspect it is on its way out – I was surprised to see very few in Paris. Lots of Addidas, particularly the Samba, for casual wear.

            It was cool and rainy enough that there were also a lot of boots with sheer but not nude hose.

          2. I am obscenely pro sock (like if I were on Only Fans, I would have my socks on, maybe aiming at that submarket, which I feel has to be out there).

      2. I am from Europe originally and can confirm that scarves never went out of style there. Scarves are a practical item
        with more city walking and using public transport where you might be waiting at a drafty bus/metro stop.

        I would wear a scarf drapped loosely around my neck – I think elaborate knots could look dated. You could use a brooch to keep the scarf pinned in place, but the secret is to not look overdone.

    9. I wear silk hermes scarves and hemes-like scarves. They aren’t trendy, but that’s part of why I like them. I usually knot them casually or use a scarf ring.

    10. I love scarves and wear them regardless of trends, they’re a signature piece. I personally prefer a large square and I tie it around my neck more like a turtleneck that doesn’t connect to the top (I like some skin space there). I like them in place of a necklace (warmer and less heavy) and to brighten my face. I’m not a trends only person, but I do wear other trends to keep an overall current look. I also think scarves are more done in Europe, which will always read more sophisticated to me than American style.

    11. I wear scarves quite frequently (late 30s, corporate job that has casual dress code – but I’d still do it if I had formal dress code). I’m kind of surprised at all these “no one does scarves anymore” comments? Isn’t that kind of like saying “no one does necklaces anymore”? Like it depends on the scarf and how you wear it.

      Anyway, I basically have 2 ways I tie them: 1) make a loop and pass the ends through the loop then tighten. This works well for scarves with more body, so usually not thinner silk ones. 2) wrap around my neck twice, then tie into a loose knot. Adjust how it sits and how tight/loose it is based on what you’re wearing. If I’m wearing it under a blazer, I have it tighter than if I am wearing it over a sweater where I might want it to flow over more of my shoulders.

      1. ” I’m kind of surprised at all these “no one does scarves anymore” comments? Isn’t that kind of like saying “no one does necklaces anymore”? Like it depends on the scarf and how you wear it.”

        It also depends on what kind of necklace we’re talking about. I don’t see statement necklaces, or long necklaces, on people any more. I am saving mine in case they come back, but I don’t wear them regularly.

        Scarves look dated to me, sorry. Regardless of whether they’re long or square and how they’re tied. Scarves read matronly and fussy to me, and not in good ways. When I see one I think the person hasn’t bothered to refresh their wardrobe for about 10+ years (it doesn’t help that I usually only see scarves on people who are still wearing their hair and makeup as it was circa 2000 or before).

        I guess we could argue about whether scarves are classic; they’re not current right now. Not everyone cares about looking current; I do. My scarves are in storage with the statement necklaces. I may pull them out again in the future but by the time the trend cycles back around, they’ll probably look dated and I’ll get something else.

        1. I wear a silk scarf for utilitarian purposes — an enormous Jim Thompson square, almost shawl size, that I tie over my hair if it is sprinkling rain or super windy, QE2 style (although more tied off Jackie O style). I also wear it double-wrapped around my neck and torso under a coat or jacket when it is chilly outdoors. It’s also my go-too travel scarf. Other silk oblong scarves make an appearance on occasion under a coat for warmth.

    12. I will wear a silk scarf in the winter when my neck is cold. They are warm and not bulky. That’s it though.

    13. I also wear scarves frequently because I love them. I work from home, and my office gets cold which gives me an excuse to wear them. Plus I can be wearing a bland and casual looking t-shirt but if I throw on a cardigan and scarf I look on camera like I’m dressed for work even if I’m basically in pajamas otherwise.
      I prefer lightweight long silk scarf, especially rougher texture silk rather than the satin finish. One dominant color but with a bit of accent in a pattern. My favorite tie is a variation on the loop where I add a twist and tuck the ends through separately so it is a bit of a braid.

    14. I was a daily scarf wearer pre-pandemic but I haven’t worn much them since. But… today I am wearing a very plain dress and I tossed on my one and only Hermes scarf (a gift that I hadn’t gotten around to wearing), loosely knotted, and I’ve gotten two compliments already and it’s only 8:46 a.m.

    15. I think it depends on the type of scarf and how you wear it. I wear scarves when I’m cold because fashion be damned, I like to be warm. I don’t see how scarves for warmth could ever be out of style, just maybe not infinity scarves. I don’t wear them purely for style or as part of an outfit though. I’m sure there is a fashionable way to do it, but personally I’ve never been a scarf person unless I’m cold.

    16. Pinterest has lots of great ways to tie scarves. I love them. Don’t listen to the haters! Soft, warm, comfortable…what’s not to love!

    17. I am liking wearing square scarves, like a bandana, carelessly tied, for color. The long scarves look tired to me.

  3. I’m interested in Ojo Santa Fe after hearing about it here and trying to decide on number of days and time of year to visit. I’m not a huge fan of the heat so I’m assuming peak summer months are out, but are there any times of year that are especially nice there? And is a week too long?

    1. I think a week would feel long. It’s lovely but not huge. But 5 days would be amazing if you’re going to rent a car and do some sight seeing (you should! Driving out there is amazing). I love fall in Santa Fe. Like October, all the fire pits etc on because it is brisk at night, but gorgeous and sunny all day.

    2. I live in Albuquerque. A lot of people think northern New Mexico has the same climate as, say, Phoenix. It does not. Albuquerque is at about 6,000 feet above sea level, and Santa Fe is at about 7,000 feet above sea level, so they are not nearly as hot as other places on the same latitude. Because it is high desert, there is a huge swing in temperatures from night to day–up to 30 degrees in one day. So on the hottest days in July, Santa Fe can get to 90 in the afternoon, but it will be 70 in the morning. We also get monsoon rains in the late summer. The rainiest month in New Mexico is actually August.

      The “original” Ojo hot springs are further north than Santa Fe, past Espanola. That resort is called Ojo Caliente.

      The best month in general in New Mexico is October, although September and November are also nice.

    3. I went in late September, and the weather was perfect. I bet October would be similarly amazing. It got warm in the daytime, but not too hot, and cooled off quite a bit for the evenings.

      We were in the city for 5 nights, and that felt perfect. We had a couple of days of checking out the city, a spa day, and a road-trip day. We went to Bandelier National Monument for the road trip day. If I’d planned better, I would have gotten us tickets to see Georgia O’Keefe’s house and studio near Abiquiu for the road-trip day.

    4. Source: I live in NM

      – A week at either of the Ojos (Ojo Santa Fe or Ojo Caliente) would be too much, I think. They’re both nice but they’re not Canyon Ranch. You could stay for three days at the spa and then do another couple of days in Santa Fe or Taos. Most people who don’t live here find that a week in NM, unless you’re coming for some big event or are really into outdoor activities, might feel a little long.

      – Northern NM is always cooler than Albuquerque and points south, but it still does get hot. Being in a hot spring when it’s 100 degrees outside is not my idea of a good time, but people still do it. Fall is the best season in NM but everyone thinks that, and so you need to book soon – things fill up fast. I will just say, they’re predicting a strong El Nino this year which usually means a stronger monsoon season in the summertime, which can then extend into the fall. Our monsoons can bring daily heavy thunderstorms every afternoon, sometimes that get so heavy they cause flooding or wash out mountain or smaller roads. Later fall – October into November – may be a better bet if you want to be outdoors a lot. Also, the last few years we have seen that winter doesn’t really start until almost January – early December is more like fall than it is like winter, so that might be an option also.

      – I also just have to pitch my favorite NM spa, which is Ten Thousand Waves, and which I think is superior to Ojo Santa Fe, although not the same experience. You can stay at Ten Thousand Waves; their lodging is called Houses of the Moon. I haven’t stayed there since the pandemic but when I was there in 2019 the food, rooms, spa, all was on-point. I have been to the spa many times without staying there, and that’s also an option, although the spa is in the Santa Fe Mountains (so not walkable distance from, say, the Santa Fe plaza) and so you’d need transportation back and forth. Driving in Santa Fe is not difficult although the traffic, surprisingly to many, can be a little crazy at rush hour in the morning and afternoon.

  4. Any recommendations for fashion sneakers? Looking for something comfortable, lightweight, and somewhat supportive. I’m not a fan of thick soles or all white sneakers since I can’t keep them clean.

    1. Any recommendations for fashion sneakers? Looking for something comfortable, lightweight, and somewhat supportive. I’m not a fan of thick soles or all white sneakers since I can’t keep them clean.

      1. I am not a sneakerhead, but I did not need to know this existed. . . Off to spend all my money!!

        1. I know I do. And they wouldn’t even be my first pair of pink glitter sneakers…

      3. Yeah you need those. If I saw you in those I’d stop you on the street and tell you I liked them.

      4. Someone here had recommended P448 in the past, and I’m full on addicted now. I swear that the Jack style was made for my feet. I go up a size, and I swear I’ve never had anything fit so well. I don’t even want to say how many pairs I’ve bought in the past year. I’ve got some of the plain styles. But every once in a while they’ll do something glittery like this and I lose all willpower. Whichever one of you first pointed me to them I love you and my wallet hates you. Tip–sometimes Nordstromrack will carry not only old styles but some cute styles that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

      5. The internet has spoken. Who am I to argue? Think I might just add to cart….Happy Friday to me lol

        (For anyone else considering P448s, like Anonymous at 12:11 I also go up a size from my normal flat/heel size; but I also have to do this for all of my athletic sneakers oddly).

          1. Yeah, they used to be around $250 are more $300 or so in new styles now. The website has 30% coupons and sales all the time. Still expensive but not that expensive. I’ve been able to snag a few pairs off Nordstrom’s site for around $120-!50 when they go on sale (they tend to move pretty quickly).

    7. I have some cute ones from Gola. Not too pricey, the soles aren’t too thick, and they are very light weight.

    8. My Golden Gooses are my most favorite pair for city walking. I have high arches and somewhat fussy feet and find the internal small wedge in the Superstars very comfortable. For a much less expensive pair and different look I also like my Nike Daybreaks.

  5. Please give me suggestions for online or app exercise sessions or programs. What are your favourites? I was very much enjoying Nike Training Club but they’ve done something to the app and it no longer works. Before that I did free videos on Fitness Blender. With NTC no longer working I’m desperate to find something new. I workout about 5 times per week, mostly HIIT and I don’t have any equipment although I’ve been thinking about getting dumbbells. I don’t mind paying for something which is good. Please help! Without exercising, my whole life feels off
    balance.

    1. Peloton. You don’t have to have a bike or treadmill to get a subscription to the app, and they have a huge library of great workouts. Worth every penny to me. I do recommend getting dumbbells but they have a lot of just body weight workouts.

      1. +1 – I use it every day and have for 2+ years. It has everything I need. I have dumbbells (a wide range but you could get away with fewer) and like having two yoga blocks for the yoga classes.

        1. Another +1 for Peloton. We don’t have any Peloton equipment but the app is excellent. They have a massive back library of HIIT and it looks like at least 3-4 new HIIT classes ever week; you’ll never run out of new content.

          I think Pelotons shadowboxing classes are fun too; since you like HIIT I’d check those out.

          I definitely recommend getting a couple sets of dumbbells (I started with 5s and 10s, then over time added 2s, 3s, 15s, 20s, 25s) and trying the strength workouts. 10 years ago I would have not thought I was a strength workout person at all and I love them now.

      2. +1 to Peloton. Their off-machine workouts are great, and they add new things all the time. I also like that there are multiple instructors so you can get different styles. And also always fun to do a random themed workout here or there!

      3. +1 for the Peloton app. It’s only like $13 a month, and there is a huge library of workouts – strength, yoga, meditation, pilates, barre, outdoor runs/walks. I used the app for months before I finally got the bike, and I split my workouts between rides & strength/yoga.

    2. I like the Sweat app! Although I’ve been intrigued by the Meg Squats app too, stronger by the day (has anyone tried it?)

    3. I’ve been doing Heather Robertson videos (on YouTube) for the past few years. She has lots of videos of different lengths, some low impact, some not, some with equipment, some with no equipment. Nothing fancy, but I like them.

    4. I read NTC as “not trying to conceive” and and was highly entertained by the thought of that “no longer working.” It is definitely time for a weekend.

    5. I really like Get Mom Strong. Despite its name, you don’t need to be a mom to do it. There are different series of workouts that are all strength-based. Some are pretty hard. I’ve gotten in great shape from only doing 30 minutes a few times a week.

    7. Obe Fitness is my fave. They have a wide variety of classes both with and without equipment, and the instructors are fantastic.

    9. I do an online workout called Jolly Bodies. They have a digital studio with a new workout every weekday. It’s a married couple (their last name is Jolly), and they’re very body positive and focus on strength and feeling good. It’s $40/month, but you can do two weeks free and decide if you like it. The workouts are usually around 30 minutes and easy to do before work. You can get by with minimal equipment (I have three sets of hand weights no larger than 10lbs, some ankle weights, a couple of cheap resistance bands… you could do it with even less). Website is jollybodies.com and I highly recommend!

    11. I am like a broken record with this, but – Les Mills. All kinds of well-thought workouts, you can do them with or without equipment, great instructors to keep you motivated, and it works.

  6. These don’t even look good on the model. Pass on pleats and cuffs and bulky waistband.

    1. I think that color doesn’t look good on most people, and that stance isn’t great (though great for seeing pant details), but the hot pink pair is very cute imo.

    2. I love retro-looking pants like this but yeah, I don’t know who they look good on.

      1. Me. They look good on me as long as they’re loose enough through the hips that the pleats don’t puff. I’m tall with a straight (but not thin) frame. I was actually going to suggest that the poster from earlier this week who is still wearing BR Sloan pants check these out instead.

    3. I like the details but they need to be wide-leg so it looks more intentional.

    4. The hot pink color looks better and the pose is better. But agreed that these only look as intended for a small segment of the population.

  7. Just finished up a jury service and I have some questions for the trial lawyers out there! While I’m happy to do my civic duty, I found the scheduling very frustrating- the judge would never give us more than 12 hours notice as to what time we had to come the next day, if we would be ending early, if we had a day off, etc. He would slowly scroll his calendar at the end of each day to see what the next one would look like. One day we came in for literally 20 minutes just to be told we didn’t need to be back for two weeks. This was after I blocked my whole day, and the following week. Couldn’t that have been an email???? I asked the clerk repeatedly for more advance notice but she said everything had to come from the judge, apparently verbally in person. Was that just a quirk of the judge, or is that normal? It just seemed very inconsiderate to those of us who were also juggling a job, kids, a husband, etc, and will make me extremely wary of jury service in the future.

    1. Oh, no. Jury service is clunky like the DMV. Everything is Soviet-era once it starts and at least now in most areas you can phone in the night before to see if you are needed. But not all citizens have access to email, so phone technology is as good as it is going to get for a long time.

      I mean, as civic obligations go, it isn’t like we are drafted to the military or national service at 18, so I feel like it is not awesome but an annoyance for a few times in a lifetime that I am OK with. I probably spend more time on my taxes in a decade than I do on jury service.

      1. Adding: jury trials are very hurry up and wait, especially criminal trials where you get all ready to go, and then stop, and then go, and then there is a motion, and go, and pause, and arraignments after lunch, and go, and bail reviews for other cases, and go, and then they work on a plea, and then a juror gets food poisoning, and then someone has COVID. IDK that you can make it better — it is the nature of the beast. I see so many retired people get put on juries because they don’t often have the timing issues that workers have (but maybe have chemo treatments or dialysis or something else, so it’s not like all their time is free, either).

    2. Some of this is poor management and some of this is just a necessity of trial. You could absolutely have email communications and can sometimes give a heads up about days you won’t be on but it’s also a lot of juggling multiple schedules and moving parts that are often hard to predict in real time. For example, witness schedules may change or a judge may have to deal with other emergencies in other cases that suddenly need to be addressed. Throw in the fact that some courts (NY state courts, for ex.) still don’t allow for overtime right now (meaning that court officers, reporters and clerks have to shut down at 4:45 unless they have special permission to work longer) and it makes it very hard to juggle everything that any one judge has to doin a day and may lead to a lot of frustration for everyone.

    3. Each judge is the king of his own courtroom. In jury trials, many judges try to lay out a general overview of what they expect the schedule to be on the first day so the jury can plan. And I’ve never had a jury trial with a two week break in the middle. We may have a day off (often friday), but the judge has always told the jury that on the first day.

      I think this trial was just in front of an inconsiderate Judge

    4. This is part of the reason I’m no longer a practicing attorney. Trial dates kept getting moved due to the judge’s schedule. So frustrating!

    5. Were you chosen for a jury or were you just showing up day after day for jury selection?

    6. Yes, this is pretty normal. Many judges could not care less about anyone’s schedules but their own. I was a prosecutor for 7 years and have done about 20 jury trials. Judges *should* block off their schedule for the days the trial is estimated to take. Not all do. Post Covid, judges were under pressure to move cases quickly due to the lengthy backlog. Many would double book. I’d have a jury in the morning, then have to handle motions/sentencings/whatever else at lunch, then resume my jury in the afternoon. Sometimes those lunchtime matters would take longer than expected, pushing resuming the jury trial back. What you’re describing seems a bit extreme but yes unfortunately things come up all the time during trial that impair or change scheduling. It is immensely frustrating to the trial attorneys.

      1. Judges and court clerks stack trials because they assume most will fall off at the last minute.

        1. Yes, I know this. That doesn’t create issues for jurors though so I didn’t feel that was relevant to post here. But I am well aware of how difficult it is to tell a traumatized child victim that the case they thought would be over with next week was in fact postponed indefinitely because the judge scheduled five jury trials in the same week, and another one is going instead .

    7. This is not how it is in our courthouse. Trial jurors generally come every day, 9-5, till the trial is over. Depending on the case, that could be a day or weeks.

    8. I have only done one capital case that lasted just over a week for the guilt portion and then, after a break, 2 1/2 weeks for the penalty phase. The defense, State and Judge were all very cognizant of the jurors feelings, patience and schedule and it was still terrible for them. It is simply impossible to give advance notice of delays or breaks. No judge can predict the moving parts of legal arguments or witnesses. That said, jurors are an integral part of our justice system and jury duty is the only real requirment of citizenship in this country. Thank you for your service on the jury.

      1. Yes. Things just come up in the middle of trial that have to be dealt with — motions that need to be argued, witnesses that are suddenly unavailable, maybe we need a language interpreter who is half a county away. Every time I do a jury trial I swear I won’t make the jurors wait or be surprised, and every single time something happens to make a liar out of me. We really do appreciate your service and we really are doing the very best we can to make the most of your time.

      2. As a trial lawyer, this is it exactly. There is no way to predict exactly what will happen, because the witnesses are real people who can say unexpected things that may suddenly require the judge and the attorneys to deal with legal issues that the jury cannot overhear.

    9. Judges are like the airlines, they overbook, because a lot of cases settle. They also often have motions in other cases on their docket that take priority, and so a trial day can be sort of start and stop. Your judge was likely just fitting the trial in where she could.

    10. In my jurisdiction, there is a lot of hurry up and wait but the judges really do respect the juror’s time and make every effort to be efficient in scheduling. Sometimes that means other motions get heard first thing in the morning or during lunch, but they really do try and prioritize the trial and let the jury know the schedule at least a day in advance. It is not perfect by any means and unexpected things often come up.

  8. Traveling to Quebec City in October and would love recommendations for where to stay, where to eat, and what to do! Willing to go higher budget as it’s for an anniversary trip. Thanks!

    1. I had a really lovely stay several years ago at the Hotel du Vieux-Quebec. They provide breakfast each morning in a wicker basket outside the door, it was very charming. Spotlessly clean and a great location.

    2. Quebec City is wonderful! It’s been a few years for me, but for restaurants, Le Lapin Sauté was great. I stayed st the Château Frontenac, and while the building was worth visiting, I didn’t think the rooms or amenities were anything special and they felt very generic.

    3. I liked the Monastere des Augustines for something unique. Food was wonderful and the vibe very relaxing.

    4. I happen to think the Chateau Frontenac is worth staying at — our room was wonderful and definitely worth the money, plus the spa and bars and restaurants on site are divine.

      We did a really fun day trip to Ile d’Orleans and definitely recommend that. (It looks like you can do an e-bike tour and I would totally do that!) We particularly enjoyed Domaine Steinbach where the son of the family that runs the place gave a hilariously passionate sales pitch for their products.

      1. Glanced at their website and it looks like they updated the rooms since we stayed there and it looks a lot better! It was very 90s generic hotel room when I was there around 2014ish.

    5. For restaurants I liked Chez Boulay Bistro Boreal and le Saint Amour. Aux Anciens Canadiens is a little cheesy but interesting for classic Canadian fare. Maison Smith is good for snacks. I recommend taking the cable car to the lower city – the Musée des civilizations is interesting and the area is cute. I also wasn’t a fan of staying at the Chateau Frontenac (although I do think they renovated the rooms recently) but I highly recommend getting a drink at the bar. For hotels, I’ve enjoyed Le Priori, Hotel 71, Auberge Saint Antoine and Le Germain. I like Strom Spa for a nice spa experience, walking around the Plains of Abraham, and if you are up to leave the Old City for a bit the area around avenue Cartier is popular with locals and has a more laid back vibe with cute restaurants and coffee shops. I second Senior Attorney rec to do a tour of Ile d’Orleans if you have time (note: you need a car). Early October should be extra pretty with the foliage, but it’ll probably be gone if you go past the 15th.

      1. Thank you so much for the recs! These are great. We did look at Chateau Frontenac but I am leaning towards a smaller boutique hotel and just getting a drink there as suggested.

  9. Any suggestions for Instagram or blog accounts where I can find some ideas for new colors to paint the exterior of my house? Also open to color suggestions. Current house is white with navy window trim bungalow style in the DC area and we’re painting because the paint is peeling, not because I don’t like the color.

    2. Yes! Maria Killam. Used her blog/books/exterior paint course after she was suggested here and was really happy with how it turned out.

    3. I found it hard to find inline exterior inspo because it’s so location specific. Emily Henderson or Becky Owens might be a place to start. From your description, I’d do white and change the trim to black and do a red door. Classic New England. I also just walked around the neighborhood where I live and took photos of exteriors I liked.

      1. this, or browse redfin for cute houses that have a similar silhouette as yours!

    7. Try Sherwin Williams West Highland White or Greek Villa. One is warm the other is cool. And a light grey for the trim/shutters. Can’t go wrong!

  10. Sorry for the gross question but I couldn’t find a straight answer when googling and it’s not in the instructions for my covid test kit. If there is blood on the swab when you are doing a home test from dry nasal passages, will that interfere with the accuracy of the test? I have symptoms and keep testing negative but I’m really not sure if this bleeding is affecting that.

    1. I would think blood would be more likely to cause a false positive than a false negative. The test is looking for the presence of certain antigens, so long as the antigens are present it should test positive regardless of what else is in the sample. Blood and other fluids can cause false positives (I know at one point people were testing tap water and getting positive results) but I’ve not heard of them causing false negatives. So I think it’s probably fine but I’d encourage you to keep testing.

      Some people here will no doubt tell you it HAS to be Covid if you’re symptomatic, but I’ve had dozens of non-Covid viruses (some with fevers) since 2020 and have still not had Covid. I do have kids in daycare so I’m more likely to get sick than the average person, but still… there are tons of viruses are out there. Colds, flu, RSV, adenoviruses, etc.

      1. Agreed, I know more people who are sick right now from regular colds and viruses than COVID.

      2. I think everyone here who knows that COVID is the most contagious thing going around also knows that past COVID infection is associated with increased susceptibility to other infections, so the likelihood of having something else is actually quite high these days!

        1. I’m the poster you’re replying to and I’ve never had Covid. I test frequently and always when symptomatic so I would know if I’ve had it.

    2. No, it shouldn’t. I tested almost daily for a period of time in there and had that at one point and it didn’t make a difference.

    4. Unless your swab is saturated with fresh blood, I don’t think it interferes with the test.
      FWIW, you should be swapping your throat and cheeks for maximum accuracy, as well. We do it this way in our family:
      Swab inside of left and right cheek, press and roll the swab quite vigorously against the mucosal surface several times. Then, open your mouth wide and say Ahhhhh while you rub the swab several times against the back of your mouth where your throat begins (upper gum/sides) to the point where you’re almost gagging. When you’re done with this, insert the swab into each nostril and again rub and roll a few times. The key is to insert not vertically up the nose, but horizontally as far as the swab goes. It should feel uncomfortable and often people start sneezing.
      Whenever I see the nonsense of just swirling the swab at the front of your nose, I shake my head.

      Signed, working in the sector and have tested several friends as positive when their own gentle swabbing was turning up negative.

      1. I have heard this, but only anecdotally. I have never seen from an official source that you should be doing this. Do you have one? I hate how confusing this all is at this stage in the pandemic.

    5. I’d suggest doing a PCR test as well if you haven’t already. Anecdotally, the first time I had covid it never showed up on a home test, only on the PCR.

  11. Is there an AI chat program that you can try for free without signing up with email/phone #? I wanted to try Chat GPT but I don’t want to give up my phone number.

    1. I don’t think I gave away my phone number for Bing or You.com, but I use them on my computer and not my phone, so I’m not sure what the permissions for the phone apps are.

      1. And for Bard I just used my usual Google credentials, but it’s not nearly as good as Bing or ChatGPT.

      1. Chat GPT rejected my registering for an account with my Google Voice and demanded my actual cell number. I declined to provide it and so didn’t get an account.

  12. Anyone here familiar with the quality of Calpak bags and luggage? I’m considering a hard sided carry one and maybe also a laptop bag (because they have a discount for buying two items).

  13. Any tips for prioritizing job applications when your current job is taking all your time? I’m a lawyer, partner at a small firm. I’m interested in going in house (no illusions about it being easy, I crave less “working in a vacuum” which is what I do now). My area has one primary recruiter but for Reasons, I do not want to work with him. I am struggling to update my resume, let alone create tailored versions for different jobs, then get through online apps, … it’s just a lot.

    1. Focus where you have connections. You certainly can get a cold interview but it’s easier if you know people.

      1. +1000. For in house at tech companies in particular, it’s almost a non-starter if you don’t have a contact who can submit your app for you (outside of a recruiter contacting you directly – I’ve had friends get jobs that way too at FAANG companies).

      2. +1

        Do you have any trusted client contacts or peers? Word of mouth is the way to get yourself coffee or drinks and passing your resume along straight to a decisionmaker.

    2. If you mean how to prioritize doing the work when you are busy, my suggestion is first thing in the morning. Plan 3 days a week to sit at your desk for 30 minutes and knock out what you can in that time before turning to your current job.

    3. Your area likely has several recruiters. Big national firms like LHH or Robert Half have teams that cover all regions. Some specialize in Boston, others in DC, etc.

    4. It is not as much as you’re making it truly. You do not need more than one weekend morning to update your resume. You don’t need a new version everytime. Just get it done.

    5. I used to do it in the evenings after everything else was done or on weekends. It wasn’t fun but you gotta just do it.

    6. I recommend checking your linked in to see which of your law school classmates are doing recurring. Many recruiters will read over your resume and just give you ideas and talk through things. For me, I spoke to Liz Hudson Proodian who works in the Florida area and previously Dallas. Even though I’m in a different geographic area, I reached out to her as a law school classmate and she just had great ideas and connections.

  14. What brands are good for busty women for going out tops and so forth? I totally forgot about the brand Shoshanna until today…

    1. Is this the Shoshana Longstein who was Jerry Steinfeld’s girlfreind years ago? She was both very pretty and very busty, and that is why he was interested in her, but I think she became a clothing line designer, which may be what happened with Monica Lewinski, who got romantic with President Clinton years ago. Jerry wound up marrying another very pretty woman, but Shoshana Longstein was very pretty and I always wished that there was a guy like Jerry Steinfeld available for me 20 years later when I was busty and ready for marrage and children.

  15. Does anyone have any experience with Enovid? It is an anti-viral spray made by a company called Sanotize (misspelling intentional). wrt COVID, they have two trials: one clinical trial in India showed that it cut the time to test negative after a positive test with mild symptoms almost in half; the other study (not a clinical trial) in Thailand showed that people who used it after an exposure tested positive in fewer numbers than people who did not use it after an exposure. They have a phase III clinical trial planned for the US to test prevention of infection (you can see it on the FDA clinical trials website). Wondering if anyone has any experience with it or anything to share. TIA

    1. Looking at the ingredients list, I’m thinking snake oil. Ingredients are salt, vitamin C, methylcellulose (a thickener) and 2 preservatives.

      Vitamin C has been shown in some testing to interfere with some forms of viral replication in a dish, but in clinical trials, it’s basically useless unless you have rickets.

      1. Oooh, I was wrong.

        I pulled up the clinical trials entry, and one of the two preservatives, sodium nitrate is supposed to be a nitrate donor to increase lung nitric oxide. Nitric oxide does do things in viral infection, but I’m not sure about the breakdown kinetics of nitrate to nitric oxide, nor am I able to find the concentration of nitrate in this product. So I’m still suspicious that you can buy this stuff on amazon right now, but I’m willing to change my mind and I’ll be interested in the results of the trial when they come out.

    2. My ENT likes for me to use saline (properly prepared so I don’t get brain amoebas). I wonder if Enovid was tested against saline, or if it’s possible that it’s just the nasal passages working better when they’re kept moist?

    3. How could anyone have experience with it if they started clinical trials in the US yet?

      2. People were just buying it from pharmacies in countries where it’s already available OTC. Like buying Bromhexine or preservative free Alaway (though I think that might be available stateside by now).

  16. Anyone else with long COVID? I just went through 30+ tests, MRI, X-ray, ultrasound etc only to be told I’m perfectly healthy and this is probably long COVID. I have freezing hands and feet as well as extreme exhaustion. My doctor visibly winced when he touched my frozen hands. But this doesn’t feel like a real diagnosis, like it’s some conspiracy label theory. I just want help and to feel better.

    1. I do not have it, but I know at least one friend who does (pre-vaccinated positive test). Do you live near an academic medical center with a clinic? From what I hear, that is the way to go. Apologies if that is already where you got all your results. FWIW, I think the costs of long COVID, on individuals, on on society and on the economy, are grossly and disturbingly under appreciated. I hope you can get some relief.

      Also, the federal govt considers long COVID a disability that must be accommodated in the work place. Good luck!

    2. My husband had long COVID last year and it resolved itself within 3-4 months. It was scary but he did get over it. I feel like taking it easy and trying not to freak out (which is HARD) is really the best way to go.

    3. Long COVID is a real thing. A good friend of mine was the owner/head trainer of a crossfit-ish gym that he ended up having to sell because he got long COVID. He did end up getting better eventually but it took 18-ish months and he had sold already before that point.

    4. Be aware that tests for autoimmune conditions can have surprisingly high false negative rates (e.g. as high as 20%). If your symptoms start to mimic a particular autoimmune condition more closely, it hasn’t necessarily been ruled out by negative blood work.

      It’s not actually possible to be “perfectly healthy” and also have long COVID, so it sounds like the doctor is not treating this like a real diagnosis. It may help to find out who near you treats patients with post-viral ME/CFS, since there is some overlap in symptoms and potential therapeutics.

      1. fyi – there is also a very high false positive rate for many autoimmune screening tests. tricky.

        1. This varies widely by test. Some tests are highly specific, and false positives are ultra-rare (but can sometimes happen in the case of cancer). Other screening tools like ANA are just clues that could mean very little!

          Know the sensitivity and specificity of tests, I guess, is the takeaway, before assuming anything has been confirmed or ruled out for sure.

    5. Welcome to the world of autoimmune diagnosis. Unfortunate that you need to be here.
      You should be tracking your symptoms. You may want to look to see what people with Raynauds do for your hands, like I wear gloves year round and there are some creams that feel warming on the skin that are useful. The exhaustion is not something I’ve found much help with. There are some long covid clinics popping up here and there, it might be worth trying to find one relatively near you and seeing if they can help. Also, if you had a PCR test when you had Covid, preserve that report somewhere, I feel like at some point people with LC will need to document their disability in order to get disability help.

      1. hah yes. my number one life tip is “don’t get an autoimmune disease”. OP, whatever you have in this undefined wasteland of autoimmune/CFS/Long COVID, I’m sorry you’re here and I hope you find relief.

        You will probably need to talk to many doctors in order to get a correct diagnosis. AI and related diseases are notoriously misdiagnosed, unfortunately

      2. Seriously. I started down the path of autoimmune testing in 2016 and all they were really trying to do was rule out cancer. They basically said “well, it doesn’t seem like you have cancer, let us know if you die. Goodbye.”

        In 2020 I was finally diagnosed with two autoimmune diseases (not uncommon as they are comorbid) when I had a massive flare up that seems to have been brought on by a severe “flu” I had in March 2020 & could not get tested for COVID. So who knows, maybe my autoimmune disease(s) were brought on by COVID, I will never know. I am fairly sure whatever was going on in 2016 was one of them, but I think the second was new in 2020 based on symptoms.

        Anyway, I tell my long story to tell you that it can take a while, and also that most doctors just want to get you out of their office. Sorry you’re experiencing this!

        1. Yes, I’ve been told several times that I probably don’t have cancer, as if that’s enough and a suitable answer to me feeling dreadful all the time.

          1. The unfortunate reality is that the allopathic medical system does not care how you feel physically. They just want you not to die. The crappier you feel without actually dying, the more money they make.

    6. Anecdotally I know people who had relief from long Covid by taking Paxlovid or anti-coagulants. I think there’s a theory that microclotting is the cause of a lot of long Covid cases. Sorry you’re going through this.

    7. Well freezing hands and feet and fatigue is pretty non-specific. It is a good sign you don’t have pain/sensory loss/weakness etc that would be more concerning with your symptoms. So in many ways this should be a relief that all the tests are negative so far and you are lucky. The bad diagnoses don’t usually hide so well, and time reveals most bad things too. so far so good.

      But I know this isn’t reassuring. It is frustrating. Even more frustrating that they are brushing you off and saying it is long COVID when honestly they are just trying to reassure/placate you. But COVID could be contributing especially with the fatigue.

      Would it help to hear that I have the same exact complaints as you? And I’ve never had COVID.

      I would recommend you do what I do. I closely follow-up with the best doctors who know me well to see how things change with time. We check my thyroid regularly, keep an eye on hormone issues, watch for new symptoms, and optimize all the things in my control that can make it worse (sleep, exercise, stress, eating well, mood issues and noting big weight fluctuations etc…). At some point you need to keep pushing through and ask how you can move on from here. change the things you can

      1. “The bad diagnoses don’t usually hide so well”. Unfortunately this is not at all true for autoimmune and related diseases. I think the average time to diagnosis is something like 4.5 years, and much longer for some of them. Ten years in, and my disabling disease is still diagnosed as “probably psoriatic arthritis but we’re not sure”. And I’ve been to Mayo etc.

        1. If you are on disability and actively deteriorating because of your disease, that is awful and that is incredibly rare after 10 years of searching. That isn’t the OP.

          1. I don’t trust you if you think this is incredibly rare. ME/CFS isn’t even a rare condition!

          2. Of course ME/CFS is condition. I was talking about conditions that have no diagnosis.

        2. Many autoimmune diseases start slowly and indolently and many don’t progress, which explains a lot of the delay for diagnosis.

          And most patients are women! that explains a lot…

  17. what are your favorite things at the store Pact? about to put through my first order.

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