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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
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…
Associette
Nanette Lapore suiting is one of my favs. Even at $278 I think that this is a great piece!
The Online Shopper
This is a great jacket. Neiman’s has it in all sizes still, but it is still marked full price. http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod127940002&parentId=cat23200740&masterId=cat1740734&index=55&cmCat=cat000000cat000001cat000009cat27960733cat1740734cat23200740
SF Bay Associate
I wonder if Neiman’s price matches! If Nordstrom carries the jacket, it price matches.
The Online Shopper
SF Bay Associate – we are in luck! According to the Neiman Marcus chat http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/service/nmSiteMap.jhtml (chat link on left-hand column):
Neiman Marcus “will match a price shown on Vendor/Designer websites and other competitor websites provided the item is an exact match and the competitor’s price is a current (not past) regular or sale price. ” To get an adjustment online you can initiate a customer service chat (link above) and provide a current URL, or fax a copy of the advertisement and you are good to go. Woohoo!
AccountingNerd
sorry for the early threadjack, but this is a fashion emergency! I got a new pair of white jeans that are way too long, but I don’t have time to take them to the tailor because I’m going out of town and want to wear them. I know someone on here has mentioned hemming tape or something like that. Where do you get that stuff? Thanks :)
Kady
“Style Snaps” are one of the brands that are out there. I actually found mine at a local CVS that carried random “seen on tv” product, but others on the board have said that they’re available at Bed Bath & Beyond.
ADL
At a sewing/fabric store (think Jo Anns) you can get either iron on or sticky hemming tape. You may even be able to get it at WalMart.
Bonnie
I got some at target recently and found it very easy to use. The hardest part was finding my iron!
Lucy
If they’re skinny or straight-leg jeans, could you cuff them? I keep seeing women in cute casual “capris” that are really just regular jeans turned up at the bottom. (I’m talking a 6-in cuff, roughly.)
Emily I
I’ve done the cuff thing with skinny jeans before. Actually I still haven’t taken them in to get them hemmed because it works just fine. I sometimes wear them tucked under (no cuff), or roll them up a couple of times (cuff) for a more casual look.
(previously) Oh help....
[[threadjack]] I posted yesterday morning in the Weekend Open Thread asking for advice regarding break-up sex, and I didn’t get back to it until later in the evening. I’m replying here to specifically thank two Anons, theirway11, Laura #2, and Miriam (and hope they see it) for their compassionate but straightforward anonymous advice.
Break-up sex will not happen. I knew it was a bad idea, I just needed a few intelligent strangers to list all the reasons why. ;) I actually really like 2nd Anon’s advice about no sex for a month to avoid rebounds — my new plan! What would we do without Corporette???
Oh and regarding the jacket — I think I’m about ten years too young in my professional career to get away with wearing this….
Hel-lo
Yay! You made the right decision. :)
(About the ex. Gorgeous jacket, IMHO.)
(previously) Oh help
Thanks for the support!
re the jacket: I’m just out of college, trying to look professional. Femininity/style happens later, sigh.
Anon
THREADJACK!
This is really random but I need a new hair iron. I figured I would ask here first before jumping the gun on my own, debating going with the ghd at Sephora….anyone have any amazing suggestions? TIA!
Anonymous
What is it with everybody prefacing their questions with THREADJACK!!!111!!! It’s really unnecessary.
Not a dig at this particular Anon, just a general observation.
Lyssa
I sort of get a kick out of the folks who apologize for threadjacks- they’re my favorite part of the site!
anon
Ha. On another list I frequent, people who DON’T preface threadjacks get jumped on for not putting OT: in the subject line. It’s also fun when topics spin off onto natural tangents and posters either change the subject line and confuse people (“I thought we were talking about X”) or don’t change the subject line and confuse people (“Why are we talking about Y? The subject line says X.”)
Accountress
I love my $25 ConAir one from Target (from about 3 years ago). It’s got adjustable heat settings, a dry/wet hair switch (if you’re looking for that) and automatic turnoff after a certain length of time (don’t know the exact length of time, I’ve never had it on longer than 30 minutes.)
Hair type: I have have heavy, thick hair (and lots of it), that won’t hold a curl, so I straighten 2-3 times a week.
A. L.
Do you mean curling iron or flat iron?
I use a ceramic FHI that I ordered on folica.com (great prices compared to the salons), after seeing my friend with Diana Ross hair easily straighten her hair with it. A similar sounding brand, CHI, is another good one.
tk1
I love Hot Tools. I have the 1.5 inch wide ceramic straightener and it works great. I also have a 1 inch one which I don’t like as much.
lostintranslation
I bought this Remington Shine Therapy Iron: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LIXTFC to replace an old and broken CHI Iron. I have pretty soft but super-texturized hair and it works great. It doesn’t “feel” great like a ghd/FHI/CHI etc., but for that price, you can’t go wrong.
Miriam
I love my Remington wet to straight flatiron. You can’t beat it for the price (about $30) and you don’t have to blow dry first.
Westraye
I received a ghd as a gift and it’s great – no complaints.
2L
I think what brand is best depends a lot on how often you use it. If you’re just doing the occasional flat-iron for special occasions, or touch-ups on bangs, etc., I think you could get away with a conair or revlon that you can find at target and even drugstores. However, as someone who has been using a flat iron every other day for about 9 years, I can tell you if you’re doing it on a regular basis you need to invest in a nice ceramic iron. Right now I use a Chi, but I’ve also had good results with Solias (I like the results from the latter better, but the cords are more fragile and they burn out faster). Also don’t forget to invest in a good deep conditioner or pre-iron spray – very necessary to protect your hair!
Bunkster
I don’t remember what the brand of my flat iron is, but I will tell you I’ve barely used it since I got a Babyliss blowdryer. My Babyliss blowdries my hair straight.
I actually got my first Babyliss at TJMaxx. You can get a nice one from Amazon for about $35.
Honey Bear
the CHI brand, hands down best ever! :)
spacegeek
I have the same one my hairdresser uses. A “HAI” 1.5″ one, with a variable heat setting. Not cheap, but I’ve been happy and I figured he probably has one that would last and treat my hair properly. Got it from folica.com
Decor Cutie
Depends….I have very curly hair and the Sedu Revolution is AMAZING!! Straight and shiny with hardly any product, and stays that way even in super humid North Carolina!
ProfessionGal
I think someone petite can pull this off best. I don’t think it’s matronly, though. In fact, I think it’s a great, fresh alternative to the strict dress codes in some offices, like my accountant friend. She’d love this.
Cream is always one of my favorites to wear. I have dark hair, so I like the contrast. And, the creamy color always makes you look clean and crisp. Only bad thing about this material for us southern ladies down in Dallas is that it’s just too hot! But, on the other hand, it’s always freezing in the office. ;)
Bonnie
Very cute jacket. I have a hard time fitting sweater jackets into my wardrobe: too dressy for business casual days and not dressy enough for court.
Diana Barry
Ditto – it is really cute, but I think it is not dressy enough to match with the rest of my wardrobe at work (I am always wearing jackets now).
s
threadjack: i’m curious to find out if any corporettes have opinions on this. i’m getting some very divergent thoughts from my friends and husband.
i have an ex-boyfriend from years ago with whom, shall we say, things ended badly. tried to rape me (unsuccessfully thank god), sent me abusive letters, etc etc. after i cut him out of my life entirely, he’s tried several times to contact me over the years (no apologies, just trying to get back in touch), all of which i’ve met with silence.
now he wants to be my facebook friend. the note he sent was again no apologies, just wanting to talk.
obviously i will not be “friending” him. but do i just ignore the request and block him, or send him a note of some kind saying “NO!”? part of me wants to vocally stick up for the frightened and cowed 19 year old I was. something short with the theme “since you ask, why yes i am doing quite well. and i will never be your friend.” some of my friends think that sending anything at all initiates contact and nothing good will come of it. but part of me just wants to SAY it, for me, for the sake of speaking up belatedly. and then there’s also the “write it, but don’t send” idea.
what would YOU do?
Monday
Block. The best way to stick up for your old cowed and frightened self is with total silence toward him. You don’t even want him to be able to see your photo, any comments you leave on mutual friends’ pages, etc.
On your own time, do whatever you need to, including the “write, but don’t send” method. I say this because I don’t think anyone capable of what he has done to you is going to truly hear whatever you have to say to him anyway. The only shred of possibility for that would have come in a message from him with a very sincere apology and a description of all the things he has changed about himself since his abuse of you. As it is, there is no sign of any change, so he has no place in your life.
Oneanon
Ignore and block. Nothing good can come of contact with this person (any contact, even a NOT EVEN ON A COLD DAY IN H*LL response).
If you need to get your feelings out there, write a letter to him, but don’t send it.
SF Bay Associate
Do not respond in any way, shape, or form. Do not give him an ounce of your attention, which is exactly what he wants. He doesn’t get to have what he wants from you anymore. Do not open the door to him re-spinning your relationship into one that makes him look/feel less badly. There is nothing that he can say to you that will change what he did. I also have a bad ex, though not as bad as yours, and six years out, he still tries to contact me on dates relevant to our relationship and major holidays. I have not responded ONCE and he STILL texts me.
Take your deservedly angry energy and urge to say NO and channel it into charity work, to pro bono, to the gym, to your therapist. There is nothing for you to find in responding to him. Block him.
Mir
If you have ignored as many requests as you say you have, this guy knows you don’t want to talk to him. It sounds to me like a power play–especially in light of the attempted rape and abusive letters. If it will make you feel empowered to send back a firm “no,” do it, but then make sure he can’t respond. Most e-mail providers and social networking sites give you ways to “block” users from contacting you; set up auto-delete filters on your e-mail, and block him from facebook and any other sites you use so that you can go about your life and not have to wonder when the next unwelcome request will show up in your inbox.
Also, I’m not sure how much of a creep this guy is, but PLEASE (everyone) be very careful how much personal information you post online. Anyone with a little bit of determination can track you down based on name, city of residence, and place of employment.
Anonymous
His payoff is any kind of attention from you.
Keep a detailed list of all attempts at contact (better safe than sorry), and if you’ve ever called the police on him record the officer’s badge # and the incident report number. A dumb cop will interpret any response from you as “encouraging” this nut (trust me). And who knows how this guy will or will not escalate things.
Also, sorry you went through this. The smart thing to do is NO CONTACT.
anon
As someone who was raped and sexually assaulted, my advice is to do what you want to do. Don’t do what he wants you to do. Don’t do what anyone else wants you to do. Speak up if you want to speak up. Don’t speak up if you don’t. Whatever you do, just make sure its on your terms. No one else’s (not his, your husband’s, your friends, Corporettes’…). It sort of sounds like you do want to speak up and that will empower you. If it will, please don’t hesitate to do so, even if no one else thinks it makes any sense.
Circe
I would be very concerned about speaking up. Read “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin DeBecker if you haven’t. It may feel good for you to express yourself, but is it worth it if you have to face escalating harrassment?
anon
Its the basis for a lot of my therapy. I’m not saying be stupid, but she can block him just as easily through facebook after speaking up as she could without speaking up. I think this forum is pretty safe to speak up if she wants to do so.
GovtMom
Another vote for The Gift of Fear. A no is a response, so it’s giving him what he wants.
Me too
Been in pretty much an identical situation. Both my husband and I have simply blocked him on FB. He has repeatedly reached out to me and my husband over the last 8 years. I have never once replied to him. Sometimes I fantasize about writing back and telling him off or at least telling him he needs to move on with his life, but I don’t think it would be a good idea (my therapist agrees too). I also think that writing back has the potential to make him more angry/crazy/psycho, and you definitely don’t want that to happen. Write a letter to him in your journal to vent your feelings, and just don’t send it. Hugs to you.
anon
Do NOT contact. Period.
anon
I don’t know what is going on with my response. I have personal experience with this, but worse (hopefully this will survive moderation) and have been in therapy for it. my advice is to do what you want to do. Don’t do what he wants you to do. Don’t do what anyone else wants you to do. Speak up if you want to speak up. Don’t speak up if you don’t. Whatever you do, just make sure its on your terms. No one else’s (not his, your husband’s, your friends, commenters here…). It sort of sounds like you do want to speak up and that will empower you. If it will, please don’t hesitate to do so, even if no one else thinks it makes any sense.
s
Thank you all for your thoughts! And hugs to those of you who’ve been in similar situations; there are sadly far too many of us in the world.
To clarify, my thought was to send a response, then block immediately so he can’t reply. There will definitely be blocking.
Re: harnessing my anger, thank you for the suggestions. I actually have done years of domestic violence pro bono work and a lot of martial arts classes.
He has a wife now, who looks a lot like me. I wonder how things are for her . . .
anon
Hugs to you ,whatever you decide to do.
Me too
My ex has a wife AND a kid, yet still contacts me/my husband. From the grapevine, I’ve heard that the wife is beautiful, nice, and otherwise seemingly great. I simply don’t understand his obsession with contacting me.
Hel-lo
My advice is to block completely, and unfortunately, any of his friends and family if you’re still in touch with them. (I had a similar situation, and I sent a card to his grandmother before I cut off contact – she was just too sweet to let go.)
And please remember – You are absolutely not responsible for his behavior with his current wife. I went though a period of self-doubt, like if I would have spoken up earlier, maybe he wouldn’t be able to hurt that woman. But you can’t worry about that. I needed to just move on. If you’re still worrying about that, he still has control over you. (Not that you say you are, but just in case.)
Diana Barry
No contact. Block and filter everything. If you need to write a letter, write, don’t send.
Miriam
I would ignore and block him on everything! Have you thought about getting a restraining order? I’m not sure if that is possible at this point, but something to consider.
No Contact
He wants your time and attention (even if you spend it only in your own head). Don’t give him what he wants.
If you have to spend even an iota of time on him, spend it doing constructive things that make it more difficult for him to contact you again. One of those is blocking him.
Another thing to consider is reporting him to FB. Their terms of use, Section 3 (Safety), Item 6 say:
6.You will not [use FB to] bully, intimidate, or harass any user.
http://www.facebook.com/help/new/?faq=13247&ref_query=repor#!/terms.php
Other ‘Ettes may disagree, but I’d be inclined to report him. Not sure how much, if any, follow up (aka “time that belongs to YOU not him”) that might take, but if it turns out to be more than you want to spend, you can drop out of the system later.
Caroline
Just adding to the pile. I could have written this same post and will say what (almost) everyone else is saying: NO CONTACT. It sounds like you’re sticking up for frightened 19-year-old you quite well — keep paying that forward by helping other survivors of domestic violence. Don’t re-engage with him, for whatever reason. Write the e-mail if you need to (and Lord knows I’ve written it plenty), but don’t send it. As everyone else has said, he just wants contact. He doesn’t care what kind it is, and nothing you say to him will register beyond the fact that you’re willing to still be in touch with him. Stay away, and let the good work you do and the strong woman you are now be your triumph over him. Hugs to you, sister — it ain’t easy.
Michelle
you SO need to play Kate Miller Heidke’s “Facebook Song” – find it on ITunes, it is FABULOUS and right on target for your situation. Here is a YouTube version… definitely NOT office appropriate! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7MuwPlOiNQ
s
HA! That made my day, THANK YOU!
(One fantasy draft of the e-mail I decided not to send: “I thought you’d fallen off the face of the earth. Damn.”)
Honey Bear
I would not respond anything to him, even if you are saying “I don’t want to be your friend.” Any response from you will just encourage another response from him and you guys will go back and forth. Just block him – that way he can’t see anything about you – your profile picture, your networks, location, etc. I’m sorry that that happened to you and I hope you can block him and put him out of your mind.
cbackson
I would definitely wear this. Super-cute.
fresh jd
Ditto, I wish it was on a bigger sale. It is soooo cute!
somewherecold
Me, too. I like it a lot, but not within my budget.
Monday
Another dumb question from me: does anyone have thoughts about how to keep both fingernails and toes painted, in tasteful combo? Now that it’s getting toward open-toe shoe I feel kind of weird having one color on my hands and a different one on my feet, but I can’t leave either one un-painted because on my toes it just looks weird and I will pick at my nails if they’re nude. (Keeping them painted at all times was the way I kicked that habit.)
I tried a Sally Hansen French manicure pen but found that it chips almost instantly, even with topcoat. Should I just get over the weird feeling of 2 different colors? Is it considered dated to have matching colors on toes and fingers? Do I have another option I am not thinking of? Thanks, bear with me… :)
Lyssa
I think that 2 colors is fine if one is neutral- I prefer a dark/bright color on my toes, but have trouble maintaining that (and feel self-conscious about it) on my fingers, so I usually do a light, close to skin toned color up top and a red or pink on my toes. That said, I usually go bare on my fingers, because it’s just so much trouble to keep them nice.
MelD
You said you just paint your fingernails to avoid picking, so why not use a clear coat or a really light/transparent color on your fingernails and then you can go for something bolder on your toes? I don’t think there’s any requirement that they match, but you don’t want them to clash or both be too loud.
Bonnie
Ditto. I go for reds, pinks and purples on my toes and neutrals (usually the french manicure base). I’m not opposed to dark colors on fingernails but have trouble maintaining them chip free.
Megan
Personally, I love different colors on my fingers and toes. I’m currently rocking a light green (called Mermaid’s Tears, which just makes me laugh) on my fingers and a sparkly black on my toes. I do work in a VERY casual environment, though, so these are both perfectly acceptable.
AJ
Yeah, my fingernails are currently unpainted because the polish was chipping terribly, but I have a dark green called Envy on my toes and had a coral called Odelia on my hands before that.
Accountress
I wear open toes a lot, and no one has ever picked up on it when my fingernails and toenails were two different colors. I usually have a nice bright red on my toes, and it lasts (figuratively) forever.
If you think it’s imporant, have you considered getting a gel manicure on your fingernails that will last for quite a while, and painting your toenails a matching color? There are some great systems that have been discussed on Corporette before (I love me some OPI Axxis!).
Oneanon
I think as long as your nails are nicely maintained, not chipped if painted, and the colors are appropriate for your individual workplace, then anything goes. Matching colors, different colors, painted toenails only, no paint at all just nicely maintained, etc…
Jay
I also prefer different shades–neutral on my fingers and bright/dark on my toes. I think the only time I’ve had matching fingers and toes in the past ten years was for my wedding.
Cat
I like a medium raspberry-ish color on my toes and pale pink on my hands — hooray for peep toe friendly office!
Monday
Thanks all! I will probably try out all of these suggestions and see how it goes.
Hel-lo
There’s no rule any more that fingers and toes must the be the same color.
I suspect this rule dates from the era of matching eye shadow to clothing. Don’t do that.
I think it looks much better to have something subtle on fingernails, and something fun on toenails.
NYC
I once read in a fashion mag that they should be the same color or your toes should be darker than your fingers. I follow no rules and often have pink/orange/red in conflicting places. Good thing I am tall and the two are far apart.
Oneanon
Anyone have a good recommendation for an iPad case (the first generation, not iPad 2)?
spacegeek
My usual reply: check etsy.com!
Wondering
This is a gorgeous jacket! Great pick. Too pricey for me right now, but I love the style.
Kady
me too (*le sigh*)
Curious
A lot of people seem to use pales or neutrals on fingernails and a brighter tone on toenails. I think this looks good, but the two shades should coordinate nicely, and also with lipstick. In this small city everyone seems to be wearing pale lipstick shades.
toobrusk
Any advice on how to answer the question “Are you seeing anyone”? The answer is “no”, but when I just say “no” it accross as defensive. I’d like to meet someone, but I’m happy now and don’t want to induce pity in people I see occasionally.
Ses
Happy sounding “nope!” with a smile. Then subject change: “What about you? How’s your spouse/bf/gf/family?”
Hel-lo
“I’m having a lot of fun being single right now.”
MelD
How about “No one special”? That doesn’t seem particularly curt to me, but at the same time I don’t think people would feel bad for you. Honestly I am very happily single at the moment and feel like the direct approach is sometimes the best one when people act like they feel bad for me.
Pebbles
Cbackson,
I hope this doesn’t seem creepy, but how was your date??
EC MD
I was thinking of her last night too, so if you’re creepy, so am I
Wondering
I’m curious too!! Hope it went well, cbackson!
Ru
I wanna know, too!
cbackson
Aw, thanks guys! It was actually…really fun. We met up for drinks, talked for a few hours, and both seemed to have a good time. I was pretty nervous at first (and worried I wouldn’t recognize him, so I dispatched the bartender to look around and see if there was a random dude waiting alone), but quickly forgot that this was “OMG A DATE!” and had a lot of fun talking with him.
It wasn’t, you know, love at first sight or anything, but I’d be happy to see him again. And I got all of the what-will-this-be-like jitters out of the way. Of course, there was no physical contact beyond a goodbye hug, so I still have the “oh crap, I’m kissing someone new!” moment to get through :).
AND, perhaps most importantly, I wore: cute jeans, cuffed, with new espadrilles, a pink tank top, and a light cream cardi. Thanks for all of the suggestions!
Hel-lo
Ooh, or “I live a very chic bachelorette life,” with a smile and preferably big sunglasses. :)
ADL
Love this response. I usually reply “nope, it’s just me and the dog” with a big smile.
Fashion Cloture
Thanks for sharing the Nanette Lepore jacket. I love it! It’s perfect for Hill staffers and lobbyists on Capitol Hill and can be paired with a dress, skirt, or slacks.