This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Loving the look of this boatneck blazer from Prada. Boat neck jackets can be tricky to pull off for the office, if only because you don't want your bra to be poking out, but you also don't want bare shoulders where your bra should be. I think for work I'd wear this with a wide-necked t-shirt, so the space between where my bra begins and the jacket begins is completely covered in fabric. The jacket was $1510 at retail, but due to the Designers Gone Wild Sale going on at Bluefly it's now marked to $963.04. Prada Black Wool Blend Boat Neck Jacket Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)Sales of note for 10.24.24
- Nordstrom – Fall sale, up to 50% off!
- Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event, 30% off! Suits are included in the 30% off!
- Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, and redeem Stylecash!
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – Friends & Family event, 30% off sitewide.
- J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Up to 30% off on new arrivals
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 40% off entire purchase, plus free shipping no minimum
- White House Black Market – Buy more, save more; buy 3+ get an extra 50% off
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
AN
I have a similar boatneck fitted jacket in red with bracelet length sleeves and I struggle to style it even with the tee suggestion. Maybe I’ll try a tank beneath to avoid the bra peek out problem.
The sleeves on this appear weird in the pic but maybe that’s because it’s on a mannequin?
Bonnie
Designer clothing often has really long sleeves. Not sure why. Maybe they assume it will be tailored?
JenK
AN, did you get your similar jacket recently enough that there might still be some left? Where did you get it? I like this jacket a lot, but not enough to spend half a year’s clothing allowance on.
Litigette
I think this is stunning, and I couldn’t pull it off because of the “what to wear underneath” dilmna. My problem with boatnecks is always that they look graceful and chic until I put anything under them – even a simple t-shirt…it always seems to ruin the line. Tube tops??
AIMS
I would try a tissue thin slouchy-neck turtleneck. Maybe that could work?
JJ
That’s a great styling suggestion, AIMS. I never would have thought of that (and this is why I love Corporette).
Unfortunately, as my mother tells me (jokingly), my shoulders are broad enough to land planes on, so boatnecks are out for me.
L
Ditto! Boatnecks make me look like a linebacker.
Monday
Maybe also, if you want less weight, an almost totally sheer crewneck? I’m thinking something that looks like chiffon, with only one layer. The neckline would end up looking like a necklace, which might be more graceful than a tee, which I agree tends to spoil the boatneck effect. Of course, the top I am thinking of probably couldn’t stand on its own if you needed to open up the jacket or take it off….
Eponine
I think boatnecks look nice with little spaghetti straps sticking out, but that’s probably not a work-appropriate look. I’d wear a shirt that’s not visible at all under the jacket. I disagree with Kat – I don’t think it shows so much shoulder that it looks inappropriate, so long as you also wear a bra that’s not visible (maybe a strapless).
curious
I have a boatneck suit jacket and I think it can be styled well with a turtleneck and also with a boatneck top that is slightly less low cut. The color has to really harmonize – not too much contrast.
Did anyone besides me have fun spotting British fashion gaffes at The Wedding? They used to say Think Yiddish Dress British. Maybe that should be reversed now.
AnonInfinity
I wasn’t interested in the wedding at all, but I had so much fun looking at the pics of the guests on Friday morning and sending links around with comments. Now I want another one to come along so I can look at some more of those “creative” fascinators.
Hel-lo
My main thought was that if I were invited to that thing, I’d be wearing contrasting colors. I don’t care if it’s what the Queen wears, those all-one-color outfits rub me the wrong say.
Hel-lo
Crap. I meant “way” instead of “say.” (I wish there were a way for us to edit our own comments on here, like to fix spelling errors.)
Anon
Does anyone have suggestions for a good tailor in Chicago (downtown/Streeterville/Gold Coast area)?
Honey Bear
Gold Coast Cleaners at 900 N. Lake Shore Drive. It’s on the first floor of a condo building, so you go in through the service entrance on the North side of the building and ring a bell. I know it doesn’t sound great (it being a dry cleaning service and all) but I kid you not, they do an absolutely amazing job here (I’ve been 3 times) and for the cheapest prices you’ll find downtown!
AEK
Golden Needle. Excellent.
BT
Second Golden Needle, but pricey.
Bianca
Third Golden Needle!
Anonymous
Fourth Golden Needle! If it’s a piece you care about, well worth the money.
MHU
Maria’s Alterations at 11 E Adams is good for basic jobs, like hemming, etc. I wouldn’t necessarily trust them for anything fancy, however.
Anonymous
Posts like this are why I love this blog.
Great piece (I can find a similar item cheaper or vintage) that I normally wouldn’t consider, but now I’m thinking how to wear it and how to style it.
Great work, Kat.
Lucy
Please post links some of those similar items! (Not the vintage, naturally.) This is gorgeous, but alas, I aspire to keep living indoors and thus can’t drop 1K on a jacket, even if it’s on sale.
g
Sorry for the threadjack. Has anyone ever tried toning tennis shoes? I have some money left on an Amazon.com gift card and have always been curious to try them. New Balance has a whole bunch right now that are really cute and just look like normal tennis shoes. These would be in addition to my regular running shoes–I was thinking they would be nice for when I’m out walking around the neighborhood.
Thanks!
Ru
I have these http://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Womens-Shape-Ups-Physical/dp/B001OW6TI0 and I use them for commuting. They are the most comfortable shoes ever. I don’t know if I would run in toning shoes (and these aren’t made for running) but I notice after walking around in them all day, that my calves and thighs are sore. They’re really great for commuting with longer length pants that you wear heels with and they’re also supremely comfortable for standing in all day.
Anonymous
I have a few pairs of FitFlops (which are toning sandals, not tennis shoes) and I love them. They’re incredibly comfortable and supportive and I can walk all day in them.
MHU
The scientific consensus appears to be that toning shoes don’t provide any fitness benefit (unfortunately).
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129027089
anon
I got MBTs before toning shoes were ubiquitous.
They do change how you walk and my legs feel more tired when worn.
BUT, I wouldn’t buy them again and not sure I’ll wear them again. Mostly they tighten your calves. If you wear heals or run ever, your calves are tight. Tight calves lead to other injuries. So, I think toning shoes promote injury without the benefit that comes from actual exercise like running. I think they can actually be harmful. I wouldn’t buy them.
Jay
This. Anything that seems to promise a shortcut to fitness always makes me nervous.
Eponine
My FitFlops (that was me above) don’t seem to have any discernible fitness effect; they’re just really comfy.
Hel-lo
That’s a good way of putting it: “injury without the benefit that comes from actual exercise.”
Anything that seems too good to be true probably is.
AtlantaAttorney
I have the New Balance ones and they are incredibly comfortable. I don’t really buy the toning effect claims, but if you’re just looking for a great walking shoe, it’s a good one. FWIW, I have narrow feet and high arches.
mamabear
For what it’s worth, a work friend of mine recently started having back problems for the first time and went to see a chiropractor.
The chiropractor asked immediately whether she had been wearing those “shape up” shoes.
She admitted she had.
He said, “A really good first step would be to throw those things away.”
KH
That’s what my PT said (when the shoes came out). She said they work by making muscles work harder by altering your natural gait. It will show up somewhere – hips, knees, ankles, low back.
M in CA
I second this. Don’t get the shoes. A few years back I got the MBTs and wore them according to the instructions. About a month later, I had two severe lower-back spasms within a week of each other. I ended up having to go to PT and took months to recover from. There were other factors, of course (extreme, extreme stress in my life at the time) but my instinct tells me the shoes also had something to do with it.
g
Thanks for the comments. I’m already running 25-30 miles a week, and was thinking they’d be nice for when I just go for little walks down to the coffee shop. It sounds like I’d be better off just getting some cute regular tennis shoes.
You guys are awesome!
another anon
Threadjack – Does anyone have experience returning to Cole Haan outside the 30 day returns window? I bought a bag that I thought would work for my laptop. Laptop fit fine in the bag without a sleeve, and it seemed like it would fit fine with one as well. So I took my time finding a sleeve…finally found one I liked this weekend, and now, it is a VERY snug fit to get the laptop with sleeve into the CH bag. It could work if it had to, but I’m really not happy with it. But I am about 2 weeks past the 30 day window in which the receipt says I can return for full refund…. I am going to try to make it over to the store tonight…just wondering if anyone has any insight into what I can expect… Thanks.
Eponine
No but please tell us what happens! That’d be useful info.
mamabear
I returned a pair of shoes I’d worn once to the Cole Haan store. I never do that and I felt embarassed, but I also felt the salesclerk had pushed me into the wrong size. They were really nice about taking them back and giving me the right size (which I thought was the right size all along.) So I would think they’d be pretty cool about your return, particularly if you get something else in the store rather than money back.
2...3L
I ordered something online that I also kept past the window. I emailed their customer service, and they were really nice about it – I was able to send it back for a full refund.
mia
Threadjack-
Apologies. I’ve fallen madly in love with this skirt and it is on sale but I would need to be able to wear it to work (mid size fairly casual law firm as a 1st year) to justify it.
http://www.asos.com/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1323813
Anonymous
That’d be fine in my business casual office if you styled it with a solid-colored top (as opposed to the patterned top they have here) and simple pumps.
E
Oooh, interesting! I’m thinking that’s a little too “out there” for the office, but I totally see why you love it.
Ann
I work in a pretty casual office, and I’m not sure if that would fly here. It’s not the pattern so much as the shiny beading. It very much looks to me like something you’d wear to a social event.
I have to say, I love the skirt – I think it is really interesting and distinctive – but I can’t see it working in an office environment, even with a plain top. I think all eyes would be on your bottom half, which is not necessarily where you want them.
anon
I’m all for pushing the envelope at work, but the shiny beads make this a no go for the office. Cool skirt tho.
Diana Barry
I agree – like the pattern, but it is too much for work.
L
Agree — no go for work.
Bianca
The black and yellow look too honeybee-esque for me
GovtMom
This. All I could think of was bumblebee. Sorry!
P
I kind of like the yellow and black, but the shiny-ness makes it problematic.
Hel-lo
I think you should by it and save it for Halloween, when you will dress as a sexy bumblebee and wear it with knee-high boots.
It’s not for the office.
Casual does not mean dress like you’re going out with friends for drinks. It means dress like you’re going to the country club with your grandparents.
Honey Bear
LOL @ Hel-lo! I totally agree. This skirt is hideous and I can’t imagine anyone looking halfway good in it no matter how casual your office environment is.
meme
I have to agree that this is too shiny for the office. It may be “casual,” but it is not “business.”
Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler
Is this skirt (http://bit.ly/ix9G1U) business casual appropriate? My primary concern is the exposed zipper.
TIA.
Eponine
I generally think exposed zippers are too come-hither for work, but this one doesn’t look sexy. Unfortunately, it looks kind of ugly and out of place on the skirt, so I don’t like the skirt for that reason.
L
It looks a little bit like it was made wrong – like they forgot to put the trim around the zipper to hide it, if that makes any sense.
Argie
I sometimes wonder if the exposed zipper trend is like the sleeveless/raglan sleeve trend in that zippers (like sleeves) are a little complicated to put in while fashioning a garment?
Anon from Chicago
its 8 bucks. dont worry about whether you can wear it to work. but sure — with a button down and a (probably open long) cardigan on a friday it would be cute
mia
Never buy an 8 dollar skirt for anything let alone unless it started off at 50 and went on sale…
I’m not saying there aren’t low quality expensive things out there but there are not many cheap high quality garments and while a skirt for eight dollars may seem like a good value for eight dollars it is not a good value in general.
Michelle
At that price, I think it can work for sure… the exposed zipper is pretty short and the skirt is pretty basic so if the fabric is nice I think it could be fine. Particularly since jackets/cardigans will actually cover the zipper. For business casual I think no problem, personally.
Hel-lo
A guy friend of mine told me recently that when he sees an exposed zipper, he wants to unzip it. Same for a wrap top/dress, and same for a scarf. He wants to unwrap it like a present.
It made me think differently about the way I wear scarves.
Anono
Perhaps you should just think differently about your friend. ;)
Hel-lo
That also.
But I think he was being at least somewhat honest… we like details like an exposed zipper or a tie at the waist because it’s a sexy detail. His comment helped me understand why there’s sex appeal to those things.
anony
I entered the site moody and intending to look for support. (Separating from SO, moving on my own, worry about work and finances). Then I read a few comments and started smiling again. THANKS. Back to work…
Jurastudentin
For my law school graduation (!!!!!), I bought this dress: http://bit.ly/iTJHrD
I really want to wear my new shoes to graduation because they are so comfortable. They are Cole Haan Air Tali pumps in aubergine – http://bit.ly/iVnOGF
I know they don’t really go together, but I love the dress, and I love the shoes. Can this combination work, or am I blinded by my love of both of these items? TIA!
b23
I think they would absolutely, without a doubt, work. In fact, I think that is a totally lovely combination and the contrasting shoes will be fashiony.
Honey Bear
b23 – what about the fact that the shoes are suede? You don’t think that matters?
Ru
Actually, I think the suede would go really well with the dress, the different texture makes the look interesting. I wear plum suede pumps year round.
b23
I wear suede year round too. I don’t think it’s a rule that suede is supposed to be worn in the fall. Also, from a distance, like in pictures or from the audience when she walks across the stage (yay!), you won’t be able to tell it is suede.
By the way, I got the most incredible feeling when I walked across the stage for law school graduation. Writing this post took me back to that. Have an awesome time!
Honey Bear
Jurastudentin – if the shoes were a different material, the combo would definitely work. Personally I don’t think suede shoes are right for the spring season or with a silk dress. But color wise – it’s totally fine.
Abby
I agree. The fact that the pumps are closed-toe, and suede, and aubergine, screams “Fall” to me, while the dress is super spring-y.
found a peanut
I agree. Suede shoes with that dress will look very off. Otherwise, purple is fine.
Atlantia
I agree as well. But maybe you can buy yourself a little graduation present of a new pair of spectacularly comfy shoes?
Ru
I can’t view Ann Taylor images at work for some reason but google is telling me it’s a white dress with blue flowers and green leaves. If that’s the case, I think it’s totally ok to wear the aubergine pumps. Go for it! And congratulations.
Lyssa
I think that it works and will look super-cute. Congrats on your impending graduation!
Hel-lo
I think it’s about how daring you want to be. The combination pushes the envelope slightly, but I think in a beautiful way. Wear it. Gorgeous dress.
Jurastudentin
Thanks for all of the feedback! I may still wear them since my dress will be concealed by my gown. If I don’t wear these, I will likely just wear my neutral pumps.
Lisa
Does anyone have a good tailor in Portland (OR) they like? I have a suit I need to get altered.
cubedweller
I’d like this info as well, as I’m moving to Portland at the end of the summer. PDX Corporette meetup in September, anyone? :-)
Mille
Add me for a meetup :)
cubedweller
Email me at PDXCorporette@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to organize something when I get to town!
Jr. Prof
Threadjack: workout problem —
I’ve finally gotten into a great workout groove, going to 3-5 yoga classes a week with my favorite yoga teacher. This plan was working out so well that I upgraded from my usual 10-pass series to a pricey unlimited membership, with a minimum commitment of three months, just about a month ago. I’ve now learned that my favorite yoga teacher is no longer teaching at the studio where I got the membership, and apparently the parting of ways was not amicable. I no longer want to support the studio. And I’m not interested in the teaching styles of the other teachers. Yoga (or other) teachers are not infinitely substitutable widgets. The main reason that I bought the membership was to have unlimited classes with my favorite teacher.
Any advice on how I could cancel my membership? Particular phrases to use? Though I’m not a lawyer, this seems like breach of contract to me!
cbackson
Alas, it’s only breach of contract if the agreement you signed with them stated that she’d be teaching there. Most likely, it didn’t. Does your agreement say anything else about your cancellation rights?
Jr. Prof
A look at the website says “no refunds” and also mentions that classes and teacher availability are subject to change. I don’t remember if that was on the initial agreement I signed. Probably… Sigh. I *never* would have bought the membership if I’d had any inkling my favorite teacher would leave, after being a strong and consistent presence for 5+ years. Any recourse at all here??? Not only do I not have access to the classes I want, but my general feeling about the studio has soured…
Eponine
They might let you cancel just to be nice, if you ask very politely, but there’s no legal reason why they should.
From the perspective of an avid yogini and yoga instructor – if you can’t cancel, can you try different classes and teachers? If it’s a large studio surely they have many teachers, and you can’t have tried them all. Yoga is about becoming your highest self and you shouldn’t let your self-realization be tied to a single teacher.
Jr. Prof
Totally agree! However, after trying most of the other teachers during my increased yoga commitment, I’ve found that the favorite teacher is offering a lot of what I need to learn right now (more in the personal/ spiritual/ emotional realm, than in the physical postures). Other teachers are fine – probably great for other people – but not offering what it is that I need at this particular time.
Ironically, maybe six months ago, I had thought that I should switch teachers (after 5+ years with this one) and perhaps I had learned all I could. Then the teaching kicked into a whole ‘nother level – following an intensive workshop, I think – and it’s really helped me go deeper.
Eponine
That’s great then – I wasn’t sure if you were new to yoga. If they don’t let you cancel, maybe you can do a few classes a week purely for the physical workout to get your money’s worth, and a couple per week with your favorite teacher at the new studio. Good luck.
E
I do think you can tell them that the quality of service is not up to the level it was when you joined and assert your desire for a refund. You can say you feel this was an instance of “bait and switch.” I might tell them you’re considering going public with your complaint if they don’t honor your request for a refund and/or that you’ll contact the Better Business Bureau.
If you put it on a credit card, you might see what your card company has to say about this – they’d possibly allow you to initiate a chargeback. I think you need to beef up your argument as to why the other offerings are not comparable/up to the same standard as they were when you signed on though. Even if the chargeback goes through, the studio could still go after you for the money it believes it’s due.
Abby
Respectfully, this seems a bit heavy-handed and unsupportable. I honestly don’t see how this is a “bait and switch” or how the studio/gym did anything to merit a threat of being reported to the BBB or being the subject of a credit dispute. I personally would not utilize this approach but would instead do something similar to what EC suggests below.
cbackson
I agree – the OP had the membership for a full month before the teacher left. I don’t think there’s a bait and switch here.
EC
Probably no legal recourse, but there’s no downside to calling and politely asking for a refund. I would explain that you got the membership to work out with the teacher, and since the teacher is no longer at the studio, you don’t want the membership anymore. No need to explain the bad blood political stuff. If you can’t get what you want from first person who answers, try to talk with the supervisor (nicely) – you need to talk with someone who has the authority to give a refund.
Sometimes it’s also helpful to have alternatives. Do they have a store where they might give you the remaining value of the membership in store credit?
somewherecold
Along those lines, if they won’t give a refund of your unused months, maybe you can suspend the remaining months (like the store credit idea) so you can try the studio again in a few months after some of the bad blood has dissipated.
anon
They probably don’t want a bad review on yelp. I’ve leveraged that before. That I hope a business will do the right thing, but if they don’t, then I will have to use yelp and other outlets customers have.
Divaliscious11
Err…I would not recommend extortion…. Particularly if they can show Potential negative impact based on your threat….(How did you hear about us? question on application could do it…..)
OP – I’d focus more on your cancellation rights, but you contracted with the studio, not the instructor.
anon
How is this extortion? Prior to yelp, consumers had no power to say “I want to purchase from you, but not on those terms” other than to go elsewhere. Yelp levels the playing field. Unless you post a false yelp, they can’t do anything. You can say you were disappointed that your favorite teacher quit right after you bought an insanely expensive package and they studio said “not our problem” (if that is what occurred).
JJ
It’s not perfect example of extortion in the legal sense, but 1) most people take Yelp reviews with a very heavy grain of salt, and 2) you’re more likely to attract flies with honey than with vinegar. I think calmly and politely asking for a refund and being as nice as possible will get a lot further than threatening a bad review on a website. If someone came up to me and said “give me my money back or I’ll give you a bad review on Yelp,” I’d have a hard time keeping a straight face.
Divaliscious11
No it’s not a perfect example, and it’s actually closer to blackmail, (if business reputation is not considered property – but i’d argue that it if it can be listed as an asset on a balance sheet then it is at a minumin intellectual property) but the gist is accurate if you’re suggesting she obtain money (the fact the she gave it is not relevant) under the threat of a negative Yelp review. Some people actually use Yelp as a source of information on a place they’ve never been before. With regard to OP, they didn’t do anything wrong, in terms of the contract. She contracted for services, and they can provide them.
anon
If she posts a yelp review that says “I bought an ulimited package believing my favorite teacher would continue teaching there and she hasn’t. I am not using it, don’t want to use it, and don’t find other teachers acceptable to me” that’s hardly “extortion” or “blackmail”. Its the truth. Someone can read it and say “who cares”. Someone else can read it and say “geez. don’t they realize their teachers, not their space, are their greatest strength”.
Some people respond to honey, others don’t. Ask politiely first, but if they say no, and since the OP is upset, I don’t see why they shouldn’t know she will tell other people she is upset. In fact, I think most businesses would rather know so they can do something about it in advance of negative discussion. The OP is obviously very upset and will probably at the very least tell her friends what happened to her.They’ll tell their friends, the story will morph and the studio (if its smart) would be better off refunding part of her money.
AT
While I agree with the other commenters that you probably don’t have legal recourse, I personally would go into the studio, be nice as pie, ask to speak to the manager, and explain that you’re really disappointed that instructor X is no longer practicing there, and since you always and only went to her classes (if that’s true — if not, tailor accordingly), you’re wondering if there is any way you can get a partial refund for your unlimited 3 month. I might elaborate on how this particular teacher was instrumental in your taking to the yoga, and that you just haven’t found the same synergy or inspiration from other instructors. I would keep the tone civil, nice, even a touch apologetic (but firm).
I say in person because in my experience people are more prone to give you something you’re not entitled to if they are face to face with you. Also, from my experience at various yoga studios, the people that work there are generally pretty chill and customer service oriented and do this because they love it, not because it’s a cash cow (your experience may vary, especially if the only instructor you like left on bad terms – you may not have positive impressions of the others there…), and will LIKELY though not definitely either give you a partial refund, or offer some other sort of compromise.
Good luck!
Jr. Prof
Thanks so much for all these thoughtful angles on the problem! I hate conflict (reason #1 why I am not a lawyer!), so I am steeling myself with your words of wisdom to approach the front desk tomorrow when I got for my usual class (which is now listed with a substitute). I will try the ‘nice but firm’ approach, and see where that gets me.
I’m not adverse to posting a negative yelp review, especially as I’ve noticed a number of ‘more corporate – less yogic’ changes of late. No doubt the studio owners need to meet their bottom line, but they seem to be doing so at the cost of the quality of teaching/ service at the studio.
AT
Seriously, good luck. I’m a lawyer, and I hate conflict in my personal life (though I’ve somehow steeled myself for it with opposing counsel, et al., most of the time). And just know — if the nice way doesn’t work, you can always bash them on Yelp ;-) Seriously though, that should probably be your last resort. If they are not accommodating when you go in there in person, I would still try to keep your cool, excuse yourself politely, and then write a long, detailed (and still polite) letter to the studio/chain’s management explaining the issue, your proposed resolution, the unsatisfactory treatment at the studio, and request a response.
Bonnie
How is this unsatisfactory treatment? Instructors change studios all the time. Jr. Prof signed on to get yoga instruction not yoga instruction only with instructor X. You can nicely ask to be let out of the contract but I think it’s downright wrong to post a negative review on Yelp because you’re not happy with the obligation you took on voluntarily.
Eponine
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with posting a negative review. You might also write an email or letter to the owner, if you don’t get anywhere when you ask for the refund. Tell her you were a longtime student but you’re extremely disappointed in the direction the studio’s taking. Don’t make demands or say mean things, just be honest. If I were a small business owner, I’d want to know if students were leaving because of this sort of thing.
Hollis
Threadjack – do any of you ladies play golf? Can you recommend a womens’ golf shoe that’s comfortable and won’t make my size 10 feet look gigantic? I’m a novice golfer.
EC
I have a pair of Ecco golf shoes, and they are very comfortable. In my experience, you do have to pay for comfortable golf shoes – my first pair was a $30 pair of Footjoys, and they routinely ripped up my heels and caused foot pain. I bought my Ecco’s at an outlet mall, so they were reduced price. You can also sometimes buy last year’s model on discount at a regular golf store.
No idea what an Ecco shoe will do to a size 10 foot, sorry!
mamabear
I have size 10 feet and I think my feet look quite dainty in golf shoes. Mine are two-toned beige/white numbers that I bought at the golf pro shop, so I can’t remember the brand. But most golf shoes have this saddle shoe type thing going on, and it’s quite flattering to a larger foot. (Though I don’t really think of my size 10 foot as all that large, since I have a friend with size 12!)
AT
Also a size ten, and echo the Ecco love (tee hee!). They were the least boat-like of any that I tried, and pretty comfortable.
Puma also makes a golf/street shoe called the Golf Cat that my roommate seriously loved — she wore them all the time, even when we weren’t golfing, and they were probably as “dainty” as you’re going to get with golf shoes.
Cora
AT do you know you are giving out your email address every time you post?
AT
Thanks for that! I thought you had to leave your email address in order to post, but I didn’t know it was visible!
Bridget
Congrats on learning to play. Generally, golf shoes only last one year, which was a surprise to me because I don’t play that much (15-20 rounds per year).
Footjoys are the best quality shoes in my opinion. They have good support. In particular the Dryjoys are the best because they offer a 2-year waterproof warranty; most shoes are 1 year at most. The compromise is that they are expensive (but they do last 2 years vs. 1 for most others), and they aren’t the cutest in the bunch.
NYC
I got mine at the outlet mall (tons of great golf gear for women there, since few play). They are nike and cost maybe $25 (super clearance). They make my size 10s look small, and look like an athletic shoe. All the fancy leather ones made me look like a clown.
Divaliscious11
Footjoy.
wannabe bargain shopper
With so many shopping options available, brick and mortar and on-line, how do you all keep up with the various sites your frequent and stay on top of sales, coupons, etc? I have to shop for myself and 2 kids and I feel like there is just so much information out there, shopping overwhelms me. I always feel like I’m not getting the best price or cute outfits but just scrambling to buy enough to keep us clothed seasonally appropriately. I see recs to boden, asos, and other sites here regularly, how do you stay on top of it all?
KH
I always go through ebates. It’s a discount on top of whatever other discounts I can find (the amount varies by retailer). Amazon is the only big retailer I can think of that is not on ebates.
Ru
I want to sign up for ebates, have a referral link?
SF Bay Associate
Here’s one: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=cqvWIIYWTrtSHXRC9I6RSw%3D%3D
I also do all my purchases through ebates. Zappos isn’t on ebates either, but my last quarter’s check was over $60, thanks to all the holiday gifts I had to buy. I also always check retailmenot for a coupon before I purchase anything online.
KH
Just eBates.com. They send me a check quarterly and the rebate varies between 1% and 10% (or more!) of the purchase. The site says they debit back any returns that you make, but I’ve never noticed that happening. I think too that they send you a gift card (choose among several retailers) within 6-8 weeks of your first purchase. I chose $10 at Home Depot.
found a peanut
I use a website called shopittome.com. You select the brands/sizes you are interested in and every morning you get an email with the new stuff that went on sale.
Also, I would recommend checking out the “deals and steals” section of a website called The Purse Forum (http://forum.purseblog.com/deals-and-steals/ ). People posts coupon codes and upcoming sales dates for a variety of stores (not just purse-oriented stores) and it’s a very good resource for finding deals.
Diana Barry
I keep a running list of things the kids need and things I would like on my to do list at the bottom, so if I see one of those things I can get it. I have a Banana card and so most of the kids’ stuff I need to get is from Old Navy – cheaper and lasts longer than it takes them to grow out of it, plus they have frequent deals (I get their emails) and I get free shipping. Then I get $10 coupons that can be used at BR/Gap/ON. Except for outerwear – I have an LL Bean card and buy the kids’ winter coats, snowpants, rain boots etc. from there (v. good quality). I only buy things with some kind of discount, unless it is a specific work-related item, like a suit that I think will sell out. When I get emails from stores, they get filtered into the “coupons” section in my email and then I look through once a day to see if there are any deals. For Boden, I get their catalog, which usually comes with a coupon – I order enough to get the coupon and free shipping/returns, and then return the stuff I don’t like. I also do that with Zappos – order lots of shoes and send most of them back. The UPS store is half a mile away, so it is easy for me to return stuff. Also, when ordering stuff, I google for coupon codes. The blog Jcrew aficionada has all of the codes for J crew and Madewell together on one page.
I tried shopittome but didn’t like it – it isn’t organized in a way that works for me.
Bunkster
Every time I shop online, I google for a coupon for the site. There almost always is one and if there’s not, I usually don’t buy the item.
Lyssa
I’m just shopping for me (no kids), but I have a few stores that I know that usually have things I like, which I have credit cards (very seldomly used and immediately paid off) from- this puts me on their mailing and email deal lists. When I get a coupon, it goes into a little box on the fridge, and when I’m heading shopping, I just grab all of the ones there. I try to sort through them for expired ones in the car most of the time.
I haven’t kept up with the emailed ones in any appreciable way; I get too many and they go straight in the delete box unless the offer catches my eye right away. But I can recover them easily if I realize that I might be going to that store or there’s something that I want. Otherwise, I just kind of keep my eyes open for things that I like/have been needing (I would probably keep a list on my phone if I had kids to worry about in this regards).
I get the shopittome email, but I’ve never taken advantage- I occassionally see things that I like, but they’re usually not good enough deals that I decide they’re worth the trouble of ordering online, etc. Also, I don’t love how it’s set up- I set one max price, whereas the “max price” I would pay for, say, a dress, is very different from the max price I would pay for a top- I’d like to look at them differently, but you can’t do that. I rarely more than glance at it lately, and, while I haven’t cancelled it yet, I wouldn’t miss it if it went away.
Anonymous
I have a leather envelope in which I keep all coupons I receive that I expect I will or might use, including printouts of email coupons or sale announcements. I keep the envelope in my work tote, so it is with me at home and at work. Before I buy something, I check to see if I have a coupon. I still miss a lot. I get over it. I don’t have time to dwell on it.
Eponine
I sign up for emails from all my favorite stores and created a gmail filter so they skip the inbox and are automatically labeled as shopping. That way I don’t see them unless I want to see them (avoiding temptation), but if I need something I can peruse my shopping emails and look for good discounts.
Mille
Stunning. Wear a strapless bra. Would look much, much better with a matching skirt. Wouldn’t wear it with jeans.
fitz
no – that jacket is FUGLY.