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Updated: Sep 9, 2011 148 Comments · by

Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: 1960s Chanel Pleated Camel Vintage Dress

The Personal Shopper (TPS)

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Our guest poster this week: Lisa Carnochan from Privilege — a huge welcome, Lisa! – Kat 1960s Chanel Pleated Camel Vintage DressHello Corporette readers! Can you hear me in the back? Raise your hand if your flight was delayed at O'Hare! (Always a good ice-breaker at national meetings, that one.) I will be here all week with my TPS picks. Thank you to Kat for the lovely invitation. As background, I'm 54, semi-retired, and tend to look at professional attire from the end of that long career hallway. Imagine rows upon rows of office doors and greige carpet. Cold bagels, smart people. Oh, wait. That was then. Today, for Splurge Monday, let's look at a piece you might wear at the pinnacle of your profession. I imagine this vintage Chanel dress, pleats swinging, on the board room threshold. Or, if things take a difficult turn, testifying at a Senate hearing. Brown pumps. Diamond studs. A trench coat for the passage from driver's car to building lobby. Not much else required. You will want, by then, to have established a certain style signature. You will want others, when they see you, to nod their heads a little. “Oh yes, she often wears vintage, or dresses, or large collars.” The specific details are yours to choose. The dress is $1,260 at C.Madeleine's. 1960s Chanel Pleated Camel Vintage Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail [email protected] with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-0)

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

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Comments

    • b23

      I like that too! Unfortunately, no help on a cheaper one, but that doesn’t seem like a terribly high price to get the real thing.

      • nyc anon

        I know — I’ll probably just end up biting the bullet =) I tried H&M and Forever 21 for a knock off with no luck…

    • e

      Check out Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx – I have seen several belts like this at discounters.

    • Annie

      I got something similar (3 strands) from Jcrew, but I don’t think it was any cheaper…

  2. Diana Barry

    Hrm. I don’t really like this at all. I suppose it could look nice on the right person, but I don’t care for the coat-dress style at all.

    • M

      I think if I saw someone wearing it I would wonder to myself “Why won’t she take her coat off? What’s under there?” Maybe it looks better on…

      • Cat

        I love this dress for its jacket-inspired detailing — sort of the cheater’s way to wear a suit. I think in person, it would move and sway enough to distinguish it from actual outerwear.

        I wish I could pull it off as is, but think I would open up the top button and fold it over (trench/jacket style) to give my short neck some breathing room.

        • Lisa

          Ha! Why don’t you guys tell me what you REALLY think?::) It’s OK, for some reason my generally thin skin doesn’t mind these comments too much. I can give you 95% assurance that from my experience with Chanel this dress would fit beautifully, and the skirt would hang with all sorts of fluidity. So it wouldn’t look at all like a coat, when worn. I’m not tall per se, but am broad-shouldered and middling slender. For anyone with my my body type this dress would look good.

          Now, you may not like it anyway, I get that. The color isn’t easy for everyone, and the collar is larger than we wear these days, but those little Chanel details like the tailoring of the pleats, the drape of the fabric, or the chain they sew into the hem of their jackets, most likely render all concerns about fit unnecessary.

          • Always a NYer

            While this dress isn’t my taste, I’m surprised to see Chanel available online. When did this start, if you know? Thanks!

            Love your blog, btw =D

      • Mousy

        This was my thought exactly.

        A Senate hearing? No way.

        Lisa, sorry. Sometimes we just don’t like things that are posted. It’s not an attack on you personally, and you don’t really need to defend yourself. Kat doesn’t. The world would be boring if we all agreed on everything.

        • Lisa

          Mousy – My apologies if I appeared to be defending myself. That was not my intent. I did however mean to add in some additional information commentors might not have, i.e., what Chanel pieces are like in hand, and the way the details affect fit and feel, as well as to wave a “Hey, no harm no foul, I take no personal offense” sort of flag.

          I still imagine I’d wear a dress like this to a Senate hearing. But, since I’ve never testified, I could be wrong. We are bound to have different opinions of how to dress at the pinnacle, given that by then one will most likely have found a particular personal style signature.

          • GovtMom

            As someone helping to prepare a very senior woman at the pinnacle of her career to testify before Congress soon … no, just no. There’s a uniform you wear, as a nominee or later, when called up to testify. This ain’t it.

          • Lisa

            GovMom – I was imagining myself testifying, which at this point is highly unlikely. Even at a stretch, the only thing I might have anything say about is why we ought to open up more H-1B visas to highly skilled workers. Would this dress be inappropriate in that context? I’d love to hear what an insider really DOES wear on these occasions. What is the uniform?

    • anon

      I think this is beautiful. As pictured, it doesn’t seem so flattering, but I imagine it on, say, Sigourney Weaver (I’m trying to think of women with the requisite presence, gravitas, authority) with all the appropiate styling and I think it would rock.

      In addition to being appropriately senior and all that, I think you’d also have to be quite tall and lanky. This rules out Madeleine Albright and HRC, unfortunately. Maybe Michelle Obama would look good in it?

        • Anonymous

          Glad you’re posting, Lisa. Love your blog.

          It’s actually given me more compassion and sympathy for my mom, who’s about your age. That’s a high compliment BTW!

      • K

        Hey anon at 11:42: Look at the next open thread for the picture of Sigourney Weaver as the image for the “stylish professional woman”!

        LPC, I love the dress, but alas, I am too short, too busty, and too thick to wear it. (Wow, that might have fulfilled my self-loathing for the week. LOL.)

  3. GRA

    While I’m not a huge fan of this dress, I am so happy to be introduced to C.Madeleine’s. WOW they have some amazing vintage!!

    • Nevadan

      I don’t junderstand – is this an actual vintage dress or a copy? Either way, I think it’s just awful. How does this dress relate to the sixties, which I thought were all about short chemise dresses and trapezes?

      • Cat

        actual vintage. I don’t understand your comment about the dress not being 60’s enough – in 50 years, would you scoff to see 2011 Chanel that did not involve skinny jeans??

      • Argie

        And the 60s started with fashion evolving from the 50s. People didn’t just wake up in 1960 and say “hey, I think I”m going to cut 2 feet off of my hem and move the waist line up 6 inches”. I think a lot of the go-go 60s items we think of are more late 60s – and geared toward the young and hip. I can totally see this as 60s fashion for the more mature, refined lady.

        • Lisa

          In the 60s my mother was too short to wear this dress:). But she might have. This is actual vintage, not “vintage,” so may or may not pick up the memes we’ve attributed to the decade. Tough crowd! I better tell the catering people to serve the wine sooner than we planned.

  4. Anonymous

    Need advice . . .

    Alright, ladies . . . I need some input from a few career-minded women!

    As I’m sure you know, job prospects in the legal market are slim right now. I am a year out of law school, and I recently accepted a job offer that I am less than crazy about. My start date has been deferred to allow me to complete a temporary assignment that will end in the coming months. I would like to continue looking for a better fit. Would doing so be a bad move? And, if not, at what point would it be in bad form to accept a “better” offer?

    Looking forward to hearing your words of wisdom!

    • Batgirl

      I think it would be incredibly bad form if you’ve already accepted an offer. You’d completely burn that bridge. But maybe it’d be worth it depending on the other offer. If I were you, I’d stick with this job and start looking after a year has passed. The market will hopefully be a bit better by then and you’ll have put in a semi-respectable amount of time (two years would be ideal but why be a martyr?).

    • Anonymous

      If you accept the offer you owe them a year unless it’s completely unbearable — and you have to let them know it’s unbearable and give them a chance to make it better.

    • Anon

      I think I would need more information to make this decision. Are you in small legal world (i.e. small-ish city and/or niche practice group?). If yes, I’d be wary of burning bridges. Otherwise, I think there is no harm in continuing to look. If something comes up that blows your socks off, then you can make that decision at the time. Just be careful that no one finds out you are still looking. FWIW, this has happened at my firm twice (people deciding to go elsewhere at the last minute) and no one here has ever really cared that much. If you have a good enough reason, people will understand. It’s your career.

      • Anne Shirley

        Also depends on the position they offered you- if it is below market rate/obviously subpar in some way, they in all likelihood won’t even be surprised. If the job is a good one, but not for you, then I’d tread more carefully. Frankly though in this market I’d be surprised if you find anything else

  5. SF Bay Associate

    Yay, a week of LPC!

    Question for those who wear rings daily, such as engagement/wedding/fine right hand or other fine jewelry: when do you take them off, if ever? Do you sleep in them? Shower? Gym – cardio? Gym – weights? Dishes/laundry? Heavier cleaning chores involving chemicals like bleach? Hiking/outdoor activities? I’m new to wearing a ring and I currently take it off during all of the above because I’m worried about damaging it, but I’m wondering if I am being too cautious.

    • AN

      Firstly, congrats! Here is when I don’t wear my ring.

      1 sleeping
      2 bath, shower, pool etc
      3 doing household chores
      4 traveling ( mine is a 2 ct cushion cut and I’m scared I’ll lose it)
      5 weekends around the house ( usually I’m running errands, playing with son etc so prefer not to)
      6 working out

      I’m probably overly worried but this system works not just for the e ring, but generally for jewelry. Except earrings where 3 , 4 and 5 don’t apply.

      • Anonymous

        This is exactly when I don’t wear my ring. But, the downside is that since I take it off so often, I’ve had many scares of almost losing it.

      • CW

        I pretty much do this as well. I have a designated spot for my ring, and I take it off when I come home at night, and put it back on before I leave the house in the morning. I don’t wear it at the gym either. When I first got my engagement ring I was so nervous about it, but I got used to it after a while and forget it’s even on.

    • DC Kolchitongi

      Well, I’d forget my own head if it wasn’t attached, so I NEVER take either of my rings off unless I’m at home standing right next to my jewelry box. My rings are sapphire/diamond/platinum and they can take the abuse. If they get dirty, a quick dunk in jewelry cleaner makes them all sparkly again.

      Oh, and congratulations on your recent engagement!! (or whatever ring-related milestone you just experienced!)

    • JJ

      Congrats!! It took me a solid few months at least before I was used to wearing my engagement ring. Now that I’ve been married over six years, I’m pretty established in my routine.

      I basically only wear it when I’m out of the house – unless I’m leaving to go workout (I don’t wear it when I’m running/gym/walking dogs because my fingers swell and it’s a beast to get that sucker off afterwards). I have a ring holder on my dresser, and as I walk out of my bedroom each morning, I put my ring on. When I return at night, I always immediately change out of my work clothes and the first thing I do is put my ring back on the ring holder. Having a “dedicated” spot to keep my ring and being conditioned to *always* put my ring back there has saved me a lot of heartache.

      • KM

        Exactly this. I put my ring on right before I leave and take it off as soon as I get home. My dedicated spot is the box it came in which is on my dresser. Congrats!

    • AnonInfinity

      I just don’t love the feeling of my rings on my fingers, and I don’t want to worry about losing them. Consequently, I wear my rings to work (if I remember) and when running errands/eating out/etc (if I remember). I take them off when doing everything on your list. I generally take my watch, necklace, and rings off as soon as I get home from work.

    • Diana Barry

      Congrats! I only take mine off when I am doing some messy cooking (eg kneading bread). I wear lifting gloves at the gym and they don’t bother me then (I have a cut that doesn’t stick up, so they have no issues fitting under the glove).

      I remember taking mine off all the time when it was new. Then I relaxed. :)

      Oh, and I took them off when I was about 5 months pregnant for the duration bc I was worried that my fingers would swell too much to get them off!

    • Mella

      I don’t wear my ring at home. It comes off when I first wash my hands after walking in the door, goes on a hook, and goes back on when I leave the house again unless I’m going to martial arts where the rule is no jewelry. My husband adopted the same habit of off-at-home. It’s a small moment of sweetness when I see our rings nestled together on the same hook, and I don’t have to try to fit latex gloves over mine if I clean.

      My ring also comes off at work if I’m going to be at my keyboard for a while, and goes back on when I leave my desk. It’s not that the stone is large or the ring was expensive; I just like my hands and wrists bare when I type.

    • Cat

      I leave mine on for almost everything except chemical cleaning, weights (fear of scratching), and going to the beach (slippery sunscreen + waves makes me nervous!). I usually wear them for other outdoors stuff because they fit perfectly and I’m good about not knocking them into anything, so I’m not nervous at all about them slipping off accidentally, (grain of salt: I’m not the particularly active type (light hiking / biking / kayaking)).

      After 7 years both rings are looking good – the platinum isn’t as shiny-perfect as it was originally, but I actually like it better that way. My friends that have eternity bands for wedding rings do baby them a little more, I think – with the diamonds/prongs going all the way around, they are more nervous about damaging the prongs and losing a stone.

    • MJP

      I wear mine all the time, except when I’m going to get a hand massage (like during a manicure). I’m married all the time, so why would I take them off? Note that my answer would be different if I were a surgeon.

    • MissJackson

      I take my wedding/engagement rings off:

      (1) To sleep, not out of any concerns for the ring, but for comfort
      (2) For serious business cleaning (but never for laundry – although maybe if your particular cut is prone to snag issues?)
      (3) For cardio/weight lifting, sometimes. If I leave from my house or work out at home, I sometimes take them off for comfort (my hands tend to swell from the heat/exertion/slight dehydration on long runs), but I’m not entirely consistent and certainly have worn it. In fact, I am 99% sure I wore both rings to run a marathon last fall.

      I would also consider leaving my engagement ring at home for travel to some locations.

      My personal take on this is that I’m much more likely to lose the thing than I am to damage it, and the more often that I take it off, the more likely I am to lose it. Additionally, I don’t like to “leave it” anywhere other than my house. So, I’d rather work out with the gym knowing it’s on my finger than leave it locked in my locker.

      I have appropriate insurance, and I love my ring, so I generally wear it all the time. I take it the the jewelers frequently for cleaning (free) where they also inspect the setting each time, and haven’t seen any signs that it’s worse for the wear after getting dirty while gardening, sweating while running, or soapy in the shower, etc.

      I think you’ll probably get a wide variety of answers here, so do whatever you’re comfortable with, and try not to stress!

    • gov anon

      I take mine off for bed, showers, heavy household chores, greasy dishes (but not if I’m just rinsing plates to put in the dishwasher), and cooking that requires me to “mix” with my hands (think meatloaf, bread dough, etc)

    • So

      I leave it on for everything except showering, serious cleaning, weightlifting and handling raw meat/poultry/fish, but, like you, I’m new to this whole ring-wearing thing too, and I’m still trying to figure out what’s right for me.

    • MaggieLizer

      Oooo did your ring just come in? It sounded really lovely from your description in an earlier post. Congrats on your recent engagement and beautiful ring!

      When I’ve looked at rings before, I expressed concern about getting a four-prong versus six-prong setting because I’m super clumsy and figured I would lose the stone. Every jeweler I’ve spoken with has said that the chances of losing the stone in even a four-prong setting are very low, but it’s really about your comfort level. By the same logic, your ring would probably be fine while working out, etc., but if you’re going to be distracted because you’re worried about it, then take it off.

    • Anonymous

      I feel safest and most myself with it on. I only take it off to sleep, and wear it in every single other situation. I wash it every Sunday night with toothbrush & handsoap, ready to face the week sparkling. I often look down, after all these years, see it, and smile. I try to say a sweet something to the mister (quick tiny 1-sentence email) when I see it and think of him.

      • JJ

        I love this idea about the quick email to the hubs (or significant other). I might adopt this practice if I can ever remember.

        Also impressed that you remember to clean it every Sunday. I always think of doing that, but it ends up being every month or so. And when I finally do get around to cleaning it, I’m always shocked at how “pretty” my clean ring is.

    • Arachna

      I never ever take off the wedding band. It’s a simple gold band so really unlikely to be damaged and doesn’t interfere with anything.

      I mostly put on the engagement ring for going out and whenever the spirit moves me. I have worn it sleeping, showering, gym etc. none of which damaged it and I’m not sure how why it would.

    • LawyrChk

      I take my ring off for washing dishes, swimming, and washing my hair. I leave it on during strenuous exercise, sleeping, and chores (although I don’t do much gardening or the like). I’ve had my ring for 7 years and it seems to be in excellent condition still. FWIW, I do have a 6-prong setting, which helps me feel less nervous about the stone getting lost.

      • Jane Fairfax

        I live in my wedding band and engagement ring. I even wore them under my gloves when I worked in the lab. I only take them off when getting a manicure and during the last couple of weeks of my pregnancies. The engagement ring is pretty simple and low profile, bought when my husband–then fiancé–was selling cell phones between college and dental school.
        Hmm-now that I look at one of the four prongs holding in the diamond appears to be chipped; this post may have just saved me some major heart ache! Looks like I am off to the jeweler at lunch.

    • Anon

      I generally wear mine all the time. The only times I have taken it off have been during the hand massage part of a manicure and during my third pregnancy (my hands swelled more than the first two and it was uncomfortable.) But otherwise I wear it while cleaning, showering, sleeping, working out, at the beach, working, etc! My husband typically wears his all the time too. Sometimes he will take it off if he is doing something that will get it very dirty (like car mechanics.)

    • NYC

      Never take my wedding band off. Take my e-ring off when sleeping and don’t put it on until I am showered, perfumed, and hair sprayed. I leave it on for all hand washing and lotioning through the day (I am just careful not to slather it with lotion).

      I worked in a jewelry store during college summers and can attest that you are MUCH more likely to lose your ring if you take it off many times a day. If you are going to take it off for regularly occuring events, may I suggest that you have a set place where you ALWAYS put it when it is off. Buy cute little dishes and put one by your bed and one by the kitchen sink (but not too close). Then train yourself to only put the ring there when it is off. Makes scares much less likely. Also, never take it off when out of the house.

      If it is a hard stone, you are not likely to damage it. Dirt and gunk is really the only issue, and you can just regularly clean it to deal with that.

    • anonymous

      IMHO, unless you have an extremely delicate ring, you are much more likely to lose a ring than damage it.

      I only take mine off for the beach and sometimes for baking that requires my hands to get really mucked up (kneading bread).

      I have to say, though, that I’ve never lost the spinning habit.

      • Kady

        Ick! Now I have two excuses for never wearing my jewelry.

        I never wear my w/e rings b/c I went up 1-2 ring sizes during my pregnancies (and never un-swelled) and have been too damn lazy to get my rings resized.

      • MissJackson

        Yuck. This is incredibly extreme, imho. There’s a difference between “I never take it off, ever, and I never clean it” and “I wear it in the shower, but clean it every week.”

    • North Shore

      My cousin didn’t wear her engagement ring much, and left it in her bedroom. She went to look for it once, and it was gone. She never found it, and thinks it was stolen by someone doing work at her house, but she could never prove anything. The only times I’ve taken off my rings in 15 years are to swim in the ocean, to clean the rings, and at the end of pregnancy when they were too tight. My engagement ring is heirloom (from my grandmother), and I had the prongs redone at first to make sure the stone is safe. I have the jeweler check it periodically to make sure the setting is still good. Actually, my engagement ring was a replacement ring given to my grandmother from my grandfather because she took off her original engagement ring to wash the dishes, and she lost it. So, I’m far more worried about losing this ring than damaging it.

    • Liz

      I always wear my diamond wedding band. Usually only take it off at the gym or swimming in the ocean. Though I tend to use gloves when cleaning, but I don’t think cleaners would damage a diamond.
      On a related note: I have an heirloom diamond that I just inherited and I am looking to have it set. I bought a band and the Jewlers said they would set it same day I drop it off, but they don’t do it in front of you. Is this something I should be concerned with. My mother told me to stress that I would like them to do it and how will I know it’s the same stone that I gave that I get back? FYI this is a reputable Jewlers.. London Jewlers. Any advise is welcome

      • anon

        Re: resetting a stone– does it have any flaws noticeable through a loupe? That could help you identify it.

    • Anon

      I take them off as soon as I get in the house and change. I don’t like to wear rings when running but wear them hiking, traveling, etc. Since we got a rider on our insurance, I don’t worry about losing them. It’s more of a question of comfort. When I first got engaged, my best friend gave me a ring holder like this: http://www.amazon.com/CRYSTAL-RING-HOLDER-ROUND-Holder/dp/B001F7GZDI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1315844122&sr=8-2
      Since I have a dedicated place for my rings, I have never misplaced them. With regard to other jewelry, I rarely take off my earrings. They’re diamond studs with screwbacks so they’re a pain to take off.

    • Argie

      My PSA – Don’t wear gold while swimming/spaing in chlorinated water. The chlorine will react with the gold. In case its an issue for anyone. :)

    • Sutemi

      I take mine off frequently so I keep it only in a few places when it is off. I have a specific place on the dresser at home, a specific place at my desk at work and one pocket of my bag. That way I can always find it to put it back on!
      I take it off when I walk into the lab before putting on my labcoat; when lifting weights; when using power tools and when sleeping.

      • shrink

        I actually wear my MILs ring. She only wore the engagement ring, I think. I have them soldered together as the bands are wider at the top and they would swirl under … also a jeweler recommended this to keep the high top of the wedding band from rubbing on the prongs of the engagement.

        I take it off …
        1. house renovation/construction work
        2. gardening, mowing, planting
        3. swimming/play in the pool
        4. gym
        5. putting on lotion
        6. travel

        For most anything else, I wear it … sleeping, eating, bathing, cleaning the house. It’s now over 50 years old and other than one resizing and one time prong replacement, it’s been “through it all.” Without this, my husband’s only item of inheritance, we would not have afforded an engagement ring. I have worn it much longer than my MIL did (they’ve been divorced longer than they were married), so it’s really mine.

        • Anon

          I take mine off every night (and put it back on after showering in the morning), when I exercise, and when mixing ingredients by hand. I have a four prong setting and a 2.5 carat diamond in platinum and as my jeweler said to me, “A 4-story building can fall on you and you would be dead, but the ring will be fine”!

    • CSF

      I take my ring off for:

      1) Mushing up meat with my hands (see: meatloaf).
      2) Applying lotion or hair products.
      3) Scuba Diving

      It stays on for 99.9% of everything else.

  6. Ru

    Love it, great pick!

    To my fellow Fossil-obsessed Corporettes in NYC, I was aghast, AGHAST, to discover that the Burlington Coat Factory on 23rd and 6th is selling Fossil handbags at half off. Gorgeous leather messenger bags, small purses and huge totes, in light tan and light gray. You’re welcome.

  7. Oneanon

    I remove all my jewelry (earrings and ring daily, necklaces on occasion) before all exercise, shower/bath, and sleeping. So I guess you could say that, unless I’m wearing my work clothes or casual clothes, then I’m not wearing my jewelry either.

  8. Bunkster

    Boston-area Corporette meet-up continued…

    It looks like we’ve got 7 or 8 people interested so far. Right now, I’m thinking either Thursday, October 13th or Thursday, October 20th, but I’m flexible. I’ll let other people think about where we should go.

    And I set up an email account for this (bostoncorporette@gmail[dot]com).

    Thoughts?

    • Ses

      Oops – posted new instead of replying. In case you didn’t see: Oct 20th is the best of those for me – but either is doable.

      Also, this is a long shot but since the Boston ‘rettes will be reading this thread… Anyone going to see Lupe Fiasco tonight?

    • R in Boston

      Will email from my personal account when I am home tonight. I’m changing jobs the week of the 17th, so I can’t vouch for my availability on the 20th, but I really really hope I can sneak out of the office that evening. 13th works.

    • Boston bound

      Hello ladies, just moved to Boston two days ago and was thrilled to see this post about a Boston meet up! It’s exactly what I was hoping for, now that I’ve moved to a completely new city. I will email you directly, Bunkster. Really looking forward to meeting you all.

  9. psdisaster!

    Ooooooh this happens to be just my size. I suspect it would look much less like a coat and more like a gorgeous dress if it fits just right.

  11. Little Lurker

    @#*&!!@$!

    Corporettes, my ex BF has just moved to my neighborhood. We broke up this year and are currently in the no-communication-whatsoever-stage, which I insisted on. He was all “let’s be friends and talk about our feelings” and I was all “no dude, you had 3 years to talk about your feelings”, blah blah blah.

    WHY WOULD HE MOVE HERE ARGH. I WAS HERE FIRST. Yes, we’re going to run into each other — there’s only one hip synagogue in town.

    Normally I would post this under another name but you know what? I don’t even care. I need some Corporette love/advice/tips on retaining dignity in public.

    ARGH.
    LL

    • Argie

      I’m so sorry – that totally sucks.

      I live down the street from my ex – in the condos that are part of the homeowner’s association with his townhouse. But, I am pretty much guaranteed to never see him, since he only leaves the house to go to work, which he does 80 hrs a week. Which is part of the reason for the being “ex”.

    • MaggieLizer

      Ew how obnoxious. Have an exit strategy ready for when you run into him so you can keep the conversation short and pleasant. Try to remember that you’re being nice to him for the sake of your reputation and not because he deserves it. Other people who don’t know your history with him may judge you if they overhear you being short or chilly with him, and if your synagogue is anything like my childhood church, things like that get around quickly. The first time is the worst, but it will get easier. Good luck!

    • MissJackson

      Years ago, I was in a similar circumstances where it was pretty much certain that I would run into my ex. My advice:

      (1) Be polite, but short. “Hello, ExLittle Lurker” is necessary. “It’s so great to see you!” is not.
      (2) When you see him, give yourself a little mental pep-talk: “this man is in my past, and he is not significant in my present.” After a bit of training, seeing him around will not be so nerve-wracking, but it will probably take awhile.
      (3) If you think he’s likely to try to “talk about feelings” and “be friends” and you’re sure that you’re not ready for this, don’t open the door at all. That probably means no asking about his family, no inquiring about his job/hobbies/whatever, no asking how his is. If he starts in on this, cut him off politely and say that you’d rather not discuss ___ with him. It’s really key to be polite, especially if other people are around because the worst thing you can do is make it awkward for other people, too!

    • anonforthis

      Try to take comfort in the fact that you might actually not run into each other all that much. My boyfriend and I live together, and his ex (who has been much hyped as a crazy, awful, mean person) continues to live on our street exactly two blocks away, MUCH to my chagrin, and he’s constantly afraid we’ll run into each other but it hasn’t happened once in almost three years. Actually, he has run into her twice when he was out walking by himself, but I have yet to see this scary person. Anyway, I sympathize, and wish you didn’t have to deal with this situation. Good luck!

    • clueless summer associate

      Are you me???? My ex just moved into my neighbourhood…and I was here first! No tips, honestly, just commiseration.

    • Sally Bowles

      I just did the same thing in reverse. In May I moved into the neighborhood of an ex. We had an extremely bad breakup seven years ago, and haven’t spoken since then. This is NYC, so I told myself it’s not really “his” neighborhood, and thought the chances of running into him in the grocery store, drug store, on the subway are slim to none because I moved several blocks and one subway stop away. I still spent the last four months looking over my shoulder in dread. Then one day last week I finally realized that seven years is forever in NYC apartment-dwelling years, and that he’s probably not even still in the neighborhood. So I finally relaxed. I’m sure you can guess what happened next – the very next morning I ran into him on the subway. Yep, he sat directly across from me. Luckily it’s a short ride and I had on my sunglasses, so I pretended (not very convincingly, I’m sure) not to see him. Sigh. I refuse to change my routine so that it doesn’t happen again, so I’m sure it will. And I’m sure I’ll handle it just as immaturely as I did last week.

    • M in CA

      No advice, just sympathy. It sucks, especially if you’re going to see him at temple! Ugh with the HHs coming up too, when we’re supposed to be all atoning/forgiving … hang in there Little Lurker. There’s some great advice here.

      • Little Lurker

        This is just extra reason to be at my parents’ house for High Holiday season.

        Thank G-d I’ll be able to avoid him during the Ten Days. I don’t think either of us are ready for apologies this year.

    • Mackie

      You can plan on exactly what to say when/if you run into him, but I’m sure you will run into him when you are completely not expecting it! That’s how it works for me and any preparation will be out the window! I know it is annoying, but just relax. Don’t stress over something that will not really matter in the long run.

      I think that advice was partially me telling it to myself!!!

  12. Inva

    About to tell my boss that I’m pregnant. Unreasonably nervous! I have a very family-friendly company, but a slightly less family-friendly job (consultant). Oh well, nothing I can do about it now!

    • JJ

      Good luck! If it makes you feel better, I was unreasonably nervous, as well. Instead, I found out that my boss had many of the same “complications” that I am having and we’ve gotten much closer as a result of my telling her. So, I needlessly worried and built up my “telling” as a much larger deal than it turned out to be.

  13. ML

    I used to take my engagement ring off more when I first got it. These days I never take it off unless I’m 1) kneading dough (about once every five years!); or 2) handling bleach or dye with my bare hands- again, hardly ever. I do all major cleaning with it on, I just wear gloves. I wear it to bed and work out. My wedding band is a plain gold band, so not an issue and like others said- i’m more worried about losing than damaging my (sapphire) engagement ring. When it’s on my finger at least I know where it is! (I suppose this could change if I had a small infant and was afraid of scratching him/her).
    Congrats on your ring!

  14. anonymous

    I’m hoping you all can help me out with a trivial, but annoying issue.

    I usually wear thigh-high stockings rather than pantyhose. I now have many pairs that are perfectly fine as far as the hose go, but the silicone on them is no longer “sticky,” so they slide down. Is there any way to restore the stickiness, or do I just need to toss them and move on?

      • anonymous

        My fear with a garter belt is that it will show when I walk. I mostly wear pencil skirts.

        Maybe I should look into spray on tan instead.

    • Elle21

      Oh… the awkwardness of walking to the office and having your thigh-highs fall down… I have had this happen to me several times and it is mortifying!! I’ve always just tossed them after this happens to me. The only other thing I could think of was some sort of garter-like contraption but was unwilling to go that far to save the few pairs of hose that would probably run in the next wear or two anyways. If anyone else has any advice, I’d certainly be interested.

    • Vivian

      You should just wear Knee high stockings. That way, you won’t have to deal with Garter Belts. Those are so old fashioned!

    • Lyssa

      I would just toss them and get more. I’m not sure which ones that you’re buying, but I buy the super-cheap ones and consider them to be a disposable product (I probably get 5-10 wears out of each, and they get runs (or toe-holes. I hate the toe-holes.) before the elastic wears, but I only pay about 35-45 cents per pair, so it’s really not a big deal.)

      • anonymous

        Where do you get them that cheap? These are from Walmart — George brand, I think? But they were still like $5.00 a pair, so I hate to just toss them after two or three wearings (especially when the hosiery part is still run and snag free).

        Maybe I will look into a garter belt, though that won’t work with pencil skirts (I’d be afraid of a line when I walk).

        • Gem

          I wear stockings (occassionally hold ups but generally true stockings with a suspender belt) probably 4 days a week. No one has ever noticed (in my environment someone would definately say something) and I wear pencil skirts. As long as they are reasonable quality (you might want a slip if they are thin/clingy/unlined). It’s more about the confidence to not second guess your choice and start twiddling with your layers. Maybe start with fuller/heavier skirts over winter so you don’t have the nervy ‘what if it shows’ feeling?

  15. Lawgirl

    LPC, love your humor and writing style (short, punchy sentences and all! LOL). So glad you’ll be doing TPS this week. YAYER!

      • Lisa

        Hi guys! Ha! You remember the Great Short Punchy Sentences Debate! Thank you and I’m glad to see you here. This is rather less writing, more pictures, than usual, so thanks for the welcome.

    • Bursting out

      Hi Lisa —

      Another BIG fan here! And getting bigger by the day… if you’ve got anything to say about looking professional while pregnant, I’d love to hear it (and surely will hit up Kat when she’s writing more regularly). Seems like we have a couple other pregnant ladies around here, too. So much of what I’m finding is either baggy & shapeless, or glorified yoga pants, neither of which seems ideal for presenting a powerful, professional image.

    • The Bad Wife

      Hi Lisa! I also love your blog. It inspired me to get my first manicure and buy some good leather boots (I’m 26!). My dad had tears in his eyes when I cleaned them over Christmas. He said he knew that I was now “all grown up”.

      • Lisa

        Hi guys! I really do appreciate you saying hello. As for pregnant, oh I bet Kat has something to say:). I was pregnant in the era of shoulder pads, so the honking big blazers helped to distract from my even larger stomach. I wore black or blue pleated maternity skirts, a white linen tunic banded at the hem (i.e. didn’t float free or make me look like a sailboat), and a blazer in a bright color.

        And I talked fast, so they knew I’d get to the end of what we were discussing before I gave birth.

  16. b23

    So I posted something that got stuck in moderation (I have no idea why), and now it has disappeared. Ugh.

  17. cbackson

    Y’all, I have to threadjack with a cautionary tale for all the running corporettes.

    I went to run my marathon yesterday. I was actually winning the race (yes, winning) at a 3:04 pace. At mile 25, I apparently (I say apparently, because I don’t remember it) collapsed from a combination of heat stroke and a blood sugar crash. I woke up in the hospital with people swarming all over me, wearing an oxygen mask, with almost no memory of anything (and by anything, I mean that I didn’t remember where I’d gone to college, where I worked – all I could recall was my name and my parents’ names).

    I’m fine now, but since a lot of ladies here are marathoning in the next few months, just a reminder to please, please make sure that if you’ll be running in the heat, get in some training in the heat. My peak training ended before we finally got hot weather here, and so I wasn’t acclimated at all. And if you’ll be running alone, definitely have a buddy/significant other/family member/etc. “on call” for you, who knows where you are and whose phone number you have with you. I couldn’t remember anyone’s phone number (including my parents, who were on the East Coast in any case), or the names of my friends.

    It was a big, big reminder for me that the sport that I love is in fact dangerous, and that I need to be more prepared for emergencies. Please stay safe out there, ladies – and if you’re ever concerned about the weather on race day, scratch. There will be other races. I really wish I had.

    • Janie

      OMG. I’m soooo glad to hear you are ok. I know an ICU nurse who had a patient (for more than a month) who collapsed while running a marathon (on mile 6!) of a heart attack. He was in his late 20s and it was his second marathon, no prior health problems. Scared the crap out of me! He’s ok now (it’s been about a year and he recently visited the ICU nurses).

      • cbackson

        It is actually really scary how often that happens. An elite US marathoner died at the marathon championships a few years ago of an undiagnosed heart problem. He was in his early 20s.

    • Amy H.

      Oh, no — I’m so sorry to hear you went through this, cb. Relieved to hear that you are okay now.

    • JM

      oh my. I am glad you are okay and thank you for the reminder. This actually happened to me (the collapsing, not winning) during a marathon a few years ago. It was scary and reminded me that the marathon distance cannot be taken lightly. I hope you take a long break and take care of yourself.

      • cbackson

        I have never been so frightened in my life. It was almost four hours before I could remember anything. I actually made them call a priest for me (by the time he showed up, I was all, Erm, turns out I’m not dying, so…we’re cool).

  18. TheOtherCoast

    This is a very J. Peterman write up. For those that remember J. Peterman. And that is a compliment.

  19. Bee

    I would want some sort of belt with this dress, perhaps something very simple and certainly high quality. The spacing of the buttons above and below the waist seam seems to call for something at the waist.

  21. Legally Brunette

    Lisa, I love your posts (your last one on Corporette was probably my all time favorite Corporette post) and I also read your blog from time to time. This dress is gorgeous. I’m not sure what I think about the color on my complexion, but it’s a stunning dress. So happy to see a dress with sleeves as well. I’m looking forward to your posts this week.

  22. Karena

    Thank you so much for featuring Lisa! I love her site.

    Lisa, I know you are so happy to not have to dress for success any longer and now can look casually chic working from home!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

    I have a fabulous Giveaway from Interieurs I hope you will come and join!

  23. HHH

    I’ve never read your blog but am a follower of Lisa’s. This is an interesting and very interactive group you’ve gathered, but I am a bit put off by your title. Would any man ever describe a group of his friends or co-workers as “over-achieving?” What is over-achieving? It is accomplishing more than ones intelligence, education or work habits would dictate. I don’t like the term and I think women who are well educated or accomplished do themselves a terrible disservice by describing themselves this way.

    • The Bad Wife

      I think you are overthinking this. I’m a 2L who would describe many of my male classmates as overachieving (and not in a flattering way).

      It just means Type A people who like to get things done.

  24. Terri

    It’s a gorgeous dress…though I am not willing to jump through the hoops necessary to stand at the threshhold. Nevertheless, I want to make a style impression on the next generation of pajama clad students.

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