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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 153 Comments · by

Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Studded Trim Cardigan

Fashion | · ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
Burberry Studded Trim CardiganWe are loving this sweater — it's conservative and ladylike, but with some serious edge in the studded trim. It's a look that Burberry does well, and this basic wool cardigan (with a hidden placket) is no exception. We'd wear it with an all-black outfit or, perhaps, a white button-down and a pair of maroon trousers. Lovely. It's $595 at Burberry.com. Burberry Studded Trim Cardigan


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About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. surrounded by lawyers

    This reminds me of the post and discussion about letting your rocker personality show a little at the office. I’m into it–though not for $595.

  2. Shayna

    Cute sweater but wouldn’t spend more than $100 on it (and even $100 would be a splurge)

    Honestly, if I’m going to buy something Burberry, I feel like I would sooner spend the extra $100 or $200 (on top of the $595 this sweater costs) to get a Burberry trench (which I would wear until I die, at which point I would probably insist on being buried in it), rather than this sweater.

    • anon - chi

      Ditto. I think it’s cute, but this just doesn’t seem special enough for the splurge pricetag, whereas a Burberry trench would.

      • Shayna

        Exactly – and upon further reflection, should I ever have $800 to spend on a trench and do so, it would become a “listed item” in my will

        …and yes, I have now officially spent too much time considering this!

      • anon today

        I just ordered a burberry trench (it was $1500), bag and rain boots (and manolos, and an armani suit). Parting gift to myself courtesy of the credit card my lying (ex)bf gave me. Maxxed it out and said goodbye :)

        • B

          Oh my gosh, that is so utterly lacking in class!

          What the heck happened to taking the high road?! I’ve dated my share of HUGE jerks (we are talking guys who steal my cc info, try to get me fired after we break up), but I would never even think of doing such a thing.

          Shame on you! And on the similarly unclassy corporettes who thought your behavior was something to cheer about!

          • anon today

            So just for the record, and zero to do with B’s comments, the irrational upset has subsided and I plan on returning all the stuff. Restitution is a form of justice and luckily the damage is reversible. I am really not that type of person, I was just in a manic mode and being egged on by female family members.

          • anonymous

            Well, anon today, not to diminish the significance of the “retaliation shopping” but it is good that you are able to reverse your mistake, and did not do something permanent like damaging his property, car, etc. Maybe a kickboxing class would help channel some of that energy. Just don’t let him hurt you further by doing self-destructive stuff.

    • AE

      I got a black Burberry trench for $595 at the Nordstrom’s anniversary sale this year. I plan to wear it for years!

  3. NB

    Very pretty, but you can definitely find the equivalent for much less.
    Also, if anyone likes Anne Klein, there’s 25% off today for Columbus Day.

  4. LPC

    I dunno. Seems like a ripoff to me. A ripoff of designers, using the row of studs that Alexander Wang did so well in his bags, and a ripoff of the customer, what with the price and and all simply for wool. Couldn’t they at least have done thick cashmere to warrant the tag?

    • KelliJ

      If they had done cashmere, they would have charged double. ;-)

      Not feeling this one today.

    • k

      I have one! I purchased the mid-sized one about 3 years ago, in the ivory color. I didn’t comparison shop so I’m not sure how it compares to other jewelry boxes, but I think it’s quite stylish and holds a substantial amount of jewelry (but then again, I don’t have a lot of large “statement” necklaces, so that might be a concern). I don’t notice anything that suggests shoddy quality — it’s held up well over the past 3 years and looks substantial. I suppose the one concern might be the strange mothball-ish scent it’s had since Day 1. But you only notice that when opening it. Overall, I think it’s a great piece.

      • Cat

        I also have the medium size (I think – hinge opens the top and then there is a lift-out tray). The key doesn’t feel like anything special, but then again if I were really concerned about security I wouldn’t have picked it.

        Generally agree with k’s comments (including re: big statement necklaces — I don’t have anything much larger than my strand of pearls, which fit nicely in the bottom compartment in their flat envelope). Not sure I would describe the smell as mothballs but it does have a distinct aroma when opened.

        • D

          @k and @Cat –

          The smell really doesn’t go away? Is the smell strong or unpleasant enough for me to reconsider getting this box?

          • Cat

            I think I’ve gotten used to the smell — it isn’t terrible, more like a version of new-car smell from whatever PB does to process the leather/suede. In fact, I suspect it would go away if you gave the box a good airing-out before use.

    • MsZ

      I’ve been using tackle boxes for years for my jewelry. They are inexpensive, transparent, fit nicely into drawers, and allow for customized dividing into compartments of different sizes.

      • Anonymous

        I have a large rack with hooks for all of my large necklaces and it makes a pretty decoration by itself in the bedroom over my dresser. The rest of the jewelry is in the top drawer in plastic containers. RE: tackle boxes. Compare the prices on a tackle box to the price of a sewing box or “craft” box! Wow! Men do get off cheap!

    • D

      Thanks for the replies so far!

      To clarify, I am looking specifically for a “decorative” jewelry box – something that will look nice standing on my dresser. I bought my current one at a yard sale when I was 11 and it is much too small. I also have a necklace tree for my chunky necklaces :)

    • SF Bay Associate

      I’ve never seen the PB one in person so I can’t comment on it, but I do have a very similar jewelry box from Red Envelope. It’s great, looks pretty substantial, doesn’t smell like some of the corporettes are reporting regarding their PB one, and was less expensive than PB’s.

      Around the holidays, Nordstroms also offers truly lovely jewelry boxes too.

      • D

        wow, thanks for sharing the Red Envelope idea – their leather jewelry box is amazing and much cheaper ($90) !

    • Young JD

      Got the medium sized one as a gift a few christmas ago and I love it. Like the other commenters, I don’t have many large “statement” pieces, but the extra space under the top tray is plenty for the large-ish necklaces I do own. And it looks great on my dresser.

      I have one small complaint with the travel case. The earring holders come out every time I take it somewhere. (Granted, I could easily fix this with a little super-glue, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.)

      On the whole, I think it’s a good investment!

    • Me

      I was just at the store today admiring it. I actually ended up liking the medium size more even though it would hold less pieces. That’s fine for me right now since my entire jewelry box and its contents were stolen earlier this year and the recovered pieces are sitting in evidence lock up until the statute of limitations runs out or they catch the criminal. But barring a situation like that for you, the large box was nice and there was a nice solid quality to it but the dollar amount did turn me off.

  6. SCS

    Threadjack: I am a very organized person, but I cannot figure out a good way to organize and store my bras. While I don’t have a huge bra collection, I don’t have enough drawer space to line them all up. I can stack them, but then I only wear the ones on the top of each stack. I don’t like to turn one cup inside out and have it “spoon” with the other cup–doesn’t seem like that’s good for the bra. Has anyone figured out a good way to store bras? It’s certainly a problem we all have. Any insights are appreciated.

        • lawyergrrl

          A clerk at a good (independent) bra store confirmed once that you should never “spoon” bra cups. She advised that we inevitably place the same cup into the other & this leads them to become misshaped / differently shaped. Better to hang bras or, if lucky enough to have the space, to place them with cups side-by-side.

          • Anonymous

            I stack mine one on top of the other so the cups don’t get misshapen, but they don’t take up too much room.

      • s

        I attached several hooks to the back of my closet door, and hang them from that. SOOO much better than putting in drawers if you wear any lined bras. (Or padded for that matter.)

    • Another Sarah

      I also noticed that I would only wear the ones on top. So then I started only washing them when I was wearing my last clean one. I would never put them in the drawer in the same order, so they would eventually be evenly worn. :-)

    • NYC

      I have just started using a belt hanger from BBB, which has four hooks that spin around (all hanging from one hanger). It has been a MAJOR improvement over the mangled mess they made in my lingerie drawer.

      • NYC

        If you google walnut belt spinner, it should come up. But I just found some non spinning ones on amazong that span the length of a hanger and would also be great for bras.

  7. Anon

    I keep mine on a tie rack in my closet. Keeps them all organized and easy to find.

  8. Anon2

    Kat posted some closet organization tips a few weeks ago and I wanted to share that I did a complete overhaul this past weekend. My husband held up all my clothes (item by item) and I was ruthless about donating items I haven’t worn in 6 months to a year. We dropped off 6 garbage bags full of clothes and shoes at Goodwill and can now see everything I have (and love everything I kept).

    I feel so much better about walking into my closet and knowing whatever I pull out fits great and looks great on me – I was holding on to things I will never fit into again or were dated and there was just so much wasted space.

    • Chicago K

      W0w – congrats!!! This has been on my to-do list for the past few months. It seems like I might be throwing almost everything I own out though. So much of it is pilled/old looking – even stuff I bought 6 months ago. Sigh.

    • ceb

      That sounds like HEAVEN! I meant to do a closet clean-out this weekend, but just like every other weekend for the past 6 months, I found something “better” to do (My reasoning went something like this: I could catch-up on my DVR-ed “Real Housewives of DC” . . . That sounds like a MUCH better idea than cleaning out my closet.)

      I would estimate that about 80% of my closet space is taken up by clothing I will never wear again. Thanks for the inspiration!

      • Anon2

        And the kicker is I think the organization karma gods smiled down on me because I’ve been stalking a pair of shoes for a month and found them in my size only on clearance that afternoon (mind you, we were working for about 5 hours that morning and were in dire need of a break).

        ceb – We had music on the entire time and made sure to relax the rest of the day. Plus, we started early. I’ve done the same thing with friends and it definitely helps to have some help. I was looking at mountains of clothes and really needed that extra push of “are you ever going to wear this again?”.

    • Midori

      Go you!! That’s fantastic. I did a mini version of that this weekend and got rid of a bag of clothes. Now I can see the treasures that were hidden in my closet but I couldn’t find through all the stuff I didn’t like. It’s hard for me to let go of old stuff (it’s the miser in me, I think), but in the end, I think it saves me money because I’m not always feeling like I need to buy something new because I can’t find anything I like to wear. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything nice, it was that I couldn’t find it!

    • AE

      Congrats to you!

      I did a huge clean out and reorganization of my whole condo in March of this year and got rid of countless bags of trash, 12 bags of clothes and two boxes of books. I had the Salvation Army pick up the clothes and books. And by the way, they were the ONLY charity I could find in the DC area that would come and pick up my donatable hoard from my home. Other charities did not want all of it or wanted me to lug it to their drop off centers.

      Two weekends ago, I had the bug again, probably because of Kat’s post, and cleaned out my closet again. I have a huge California Closets renovated his and hers closets I share with my fiance. I had held on to some suits and other clothes I could no longer fit into or that were not my style anymore. I have been revolutionizing my style over the last four or five months to finally dress like a 30 something professional in 2010 in clothes that flatter my figure (i.e. out with the khakis, pastels and drab cardigans and in with the properly hemmed dress slacks, pencil skirts, work dresses and pumps). I moved those older and ill-fitting items out and reorganized everything so that my suits and work bottoms were on the top hanging racks, and separated my tops meant for work from the ones meant for going out and organized the two sets from light to dark. Now getting dressed in the morning is sooooo much easier it is now a pleasant experience. I can find everything and it all fits and looks good.

      Thanks Corporette for inspiring me to dress well and giving me some of the tools I needed.

  9. Chicago S

    Quick Sale Note
    Gap is doing 40% of instore, 45% if you use you Gap card today only.

    Below is a code for a $10 shoebuy dot com gift certificate that expires tomorrow that I will not be using. Good for 1 use only.
    Gift Code
    P141961124936298

  10. Big Firm Lawyer

    I’m curious to know what the British corporettes think of Burberry!

    • MJ

      Not British, but lived there for a few years. This came up on a post a weeks ago. Burberry in excess (like too many pieces worn all at once) is considered “chav” which is to say, low class. Most Brit women would still drool over a Burberry Trench or similar classy statement piece.

    • nonA

      I think the negative connogations are about plastering yourself in Burberry plaid.

      I think of it as akin to the Coach logo fabric, i.e., someone who is plastering themselves in Coach Logowear = tacky (saw someone on a subway once with Coach logo boots, coach logo purse, coach logo hat, coach logo scarf, and probably other coach logo items I’ve forgotten at this point) . Someone carrying a lovely leather Coach bag = classy and timeless.

  11. Eponine

    Ooh, we got a new post on a holiday! I wasn’t expecting that! So nice to read Corporette at home in my PJs on a Monday afternoon.

        • surrounded by lawyers

          I couldn’t forget it’s a holiday–walking to work in DC this morning was like excavating a ghost town.

      • Eponine

        Oh really? It’s a federal holiday, I didn’t realize people would be working. In DC everyone has the day off. Sorry – didn’t mean to rub it in.

        • C

          Working in D.C. today, definitely not a holiday for us (in the private sector).

        • rebecca

          I’m in DC and I had to come into work! I’m at a non-profit too, they’re usually pretty nice about holidays …

      • AEK

        Me neither! AND I work for the government (local), but we don’t have it off…which is why I deliberately left for work early this morning so I could stop at the post office on the way and mail a gift…oops. Meanwhile, the biglaw firm I used to work for did give the holiday off, although I always ended up at the office anyway.

    • ERP

      I was also pleasantly surprised by the holiday post. I’m also slightly comforted by the fact that many of my fellow Corporettes are also at work today!

      What are you all wearing today, with it being the holiday? (I have on gym clothes because I wasn’t expecting anyone else in today – eek I’m a little embarassed for myself!)

      • SF Bay Associate

        It’s just a regular Monday in biglaw. I don’t think anyone took the day off or is dressing any differently. Today may as well be only Canadian Thanksgiving instead of also Indigenous Peoples Day.

      • Anon L

        I’m here today…and was here Saturday…the fun, fun life of an (almost) third-year associate…

    • Chicago K

      To to rub it in…but as one of the banker Corporettes, I was happy to see a new post and be able to read it in my gym clothes too. :)

    • Miriam

      I really could have used the day off. 4 classes in one day was not a smart decision! My b/f has off and I’m so jealous!

    • Carrie

      Columbus Day is one of those days that makes me long for the days of my judicial clerkship. The stretch from October to February was pretty sweet.

    • Suze

      Really, Eponine, be considerate of the rest of us private sector drones :). Glad YOU enjoyed Columbus Day! Well, at least there was less traffic than usual…

      • Anon

        Suze, until I saw the smiley face and your handle, I was worried someone was honestly giving Eponine a hard time! :) Haha :)

      • Eponine

        I seriously had no clue that so many people worked on Columbus day. I’ve never not had federal holidays off.

        How was your fundraiser/concert? I’m still jealous of you.

  12. Parisienne

    I have noticed that certain items that I thought were passe are really useful after a few years’ rest. Especially true of summer clothes. I think it is not wise to get rid of items I have not worn in 6-12 months. But I do have storage space.

    • Anon

      I have found this too, multiple times! I’ve cleaned out my closet based on the 1-yr wear rule and have found myself very disappointed when I have a special event that a certain top/bottom would have been perfect for, only to find that I threw it out! I think a better rule for me if I haven’t worn it in a year is: (a) does it fit well, (b) is it a classic cut/style, (c) do I even like the piece. If the answer is no to these AND I haven’t worn it in a year then I’ll toss.

      • KelliJ

        Those are my rules too. I also add (d) is it stained, faded, or otherwise just looking miserable. I also find that I have clothes that I thought I liked, but always skip over or pull out and put back when I’m getting dressed. There must be a reason why I never want to wear it.

        • Midori

          Yes, that’s my rule. Do I frequently pass over it or try it only to put it back? Then that probably won’t change and it’s time to either get a version of it I like or do without.

    • Anon2

      Alas, we downsized to a much smaller place and I really couldn’t hold on to many of the items anymore (4 bedroom house to a small 2-bedroom apartment with one closet). I do regret donating a fabulous military-esque jacket a few years ago but that’s really the only item I’ve ever thought of. I also upgraded my work wardrobe a couple of years ago and never got rid of the old stuff at the time.

  13. pdx account-ette

    Help!

    I’m starting my job at a large accounting firm next week! The following week, I will be flying with the other new associates at my office to a three-day national training. The training is being held at a compound type facility (the hotel, conference rooms and restaurants are all in the same location). We will be arriving Sunday (the evening before the training starts) but I’m assuming due to the facility where the training is being held there’s a good chance we will be seen by “higher-ups” as we arrive/check in to our hotel rooms. I want to be comfortable on the plane but I don’t want to be underdressed, what should I wear in this situation? As a newbie I have no idea what is appropriate – I greatly appreciate any feedback!

    • Elle 2

      I don’t think a business dress outfit is called for, however, I don’t think you should wear sweatpants or crummy jeans either. I think dressy jeans or the female equivalent of khakis are fine as long as you look put together. My go to travel outfit is dressier jeans, shirt, and a casual outerlayer layer (e.g. cardigan, boyfriend cardigan or casual jacket). Depending on the destination, shoes are always real shoes or leather boots, as opposed to sandals or tennis shoes which give off a more casual vibe.

      My husband travels for business all the time and is a little more formal than my suggestions. For work, he ALWAYS flies in khakis or dress pants and a button down or a polo on the theory that you never know who you’re going to run into.

      In my college/law school days, I used to fly in jeans or sweatpants and a sweatshirt but now, even for personal trips, I wear something coordinated and nicer. Chances are you won’t see anyone you know, but I once ran into a partner and a corporate client I work for on a plane trip back from Vegas and… I looked like I was just flying back from Vegas! (i.e. ripped jeans, long sleeve faded t-shirt, flip flops, no makeup, and that certain smell and look about you when you are returning from a weekend binge!). It was horribly embarrassing. So, now I try to take my husband’s advice and always dress to impress (or at least not to embarass!)

      • anon-ny

        As an aside: I once ran into a client on vacation – I was on a train after an extremely strenuous hike and after some casual small talk we discovered he is a client of my firm. We snapped a photo so I could send it on to the partner he works with for a surprise laugh. I really didn’t care that I was in hiking gear (dirty gear at that) because I was on VACATION! I just don’t think one needs to look professional at every possible moment.
        Yes, when traveling on business look put together even if you dress down to fly – when I take a red eye for work I will dress down in comfortable jeans and a cozy cardigan instead of my suit. I did this last week traveling with the a client and a superior. I think the key is what was stated above – everything looked pulled together – dressier ballet flats, dark wash, boot-cut jeans, nicer long-sleeved top with a good cardigan and pashmina. I guess I just don’t believe it is a secret that I’m not always in a suit or other business attire.

      • Anonymous

        I also think that if you have any problems going through security – for whatever reason – it is better not to look like a ragamuffin.

        • Anon

          This. Probably a bit different for men than women, but my s.o. takes extra pains to dress well and look unassuming when he flies because he has olive skin, dark hair, has stubble about 30 seconds after shaving, and has a large, imposing build. Since he started traveling in khakis and a button down rather than jeans and a hoodie, the “Sir, you’ve been randomly selected…” moments have reduced dramatically.

    • SF Bay Associate

      We do associate trainings in similar compound style. I’m surprised that some of the higher ups aren’t flying with you. Regardless, yes, you will see them when you land/check in. You may be sharing airport shuttles back to the hotel complex.

      When my firm does national trainings, the west coasters fly in dark jeans, ballet flats, and nice sweaters/blouses, i.e. denim Friday appropriate outfits, and the guys fly in khakis or slacks and a button up shirt. The east coasters, especially DC and NY, fly in suits. The midwest and non DC/NY east coast associates fly in business casual. It’s pretty hilarious when everyone shows up at the hotel. Sometimes the NY partners raise an eyebrow at the west coasters, but the west coast associates and partners don’t care – we’re not going to conform to super formal NY dress code just because there are some NY people there.

      During training, the NY and DC associates are usually in suits, and the rest of us are business casual. I find it pretty funny. I like to think of the mandatory suit-wearing for DC and NY as part of the reason they get paid bigger bonuses than the west coast.

      Also, do NOT check luggage. Do not be That Girl that everyone has to wait for at baggage claim/ at the cab because you couldn’t pare down what you needed into a carry on.

    • EC

      Another thing I discovered (uncomfortably) is to choose your plane reading material carefully if you may be flying with your higher ups – I found myself relegated to “sleeping” when I realized that the only books in my bag were titled “Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs,” and a book of feminist poetry with a title I don’t even want to post here! When in doubt, a newspaper is probably the safest choice.

    • MJ

      Would also add that you should bring a pashmina or heavier cashmere sweater to throw on over your conference outfits. A/C in hotel conference rooms can be murder, especially if it’s for hours at a time. You’ve been warned. Good luck at your new job!

    • anon

      ClockChick I love you! i just got a great pair of shoes and saved $38! I actually didn’t realize Last Call had an online site. Corporette is the best. I am giddy.

      • ClockChick

        Awesome :-) I didn’t know either until a friend forwarded me the info – now if only the rest of them (Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks) would put their outlets online!

  15. JSO

    Threadjack, I recently began working at a court where the staff attorneys wear suits everyday. The male attorneys only wear the jacket if they are sitting in court but it seems like the female attorneys never take their jackets off. Is this normal? I usually wear a blouse or sweater under my jacket, so I don’t see a problem with taking the jacket off when I’m working in my office. I am often warm in my office due to its location in the building. And as I am writing this, I am quite warm in my thin sweater as we are experiencing near record high temps. So is it unprofessional for a woman to take her jacket off?

    • Anon L

      Does the top you have on have sleeves? If the level of formality seems to dictate that women keep their jackets on, I’d only be comfortable taking my jacket off if I was in an appropriately conservative top with sleeves. But if you’re warm, in your office and have an appropriate top on underneath, I think you’re fine taking off your jacket.

    • Lyssa

      I’ve noticed that, too, and I agree with JSO- as long as your top’s OK, its fine. I think that for women, it’s more of an outfit to have the jacket on (and I know that I personally have issues with tucked in tops- I have a short torso and think tucking looks funny on me, but would usually tuck in under a jacket, so don’t care to have the jacket off (if that makes sense). I also (and I assume that this holds for women more so than men) tend to be cold indoors, so I wear my jacket most of the time.

      In other words, I think that women tend to wear the jacket for more logistical reasons, not because its unprofessional to take it off. :)

    • MJ

      I used to work at a SUPER-formal law firm in NYC. Jackets were OK to take off in your office, but females would put the jacket back on if they were leaving their office for any reason (bathroom, coffee break or meeting). I think it’s fine to take off as long as you’re not wearing a strappy cami or anything too revealing!

  16. Anon

    I like this until I clicked on the link, clicked on zoom, and found that the studs are very, very pointy. Up close, they look a bit bondage-y to me. : o

  17. Ida

    Can anyone help me with the MPREs? My school is giving no information on! I am signed up for the November exam and am taking a one day barbri review course in October. To prepare for that, which book did you prefer? A quick google search just gave me about a million options. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated!

    • v

      The BarBri book will be fine. It has a ton of practice questions and all the relevant information. And it’s not a particularly strenuous test – unlike the bar exam, the vast majority of people pass the first time. (Though be prepared to feel like you failed coming out of it; the questions are written ambiguously enough that it’s hard to know for sure you got the right answers. The odds are high that you did got enough of them to pass, however.)

      • Cat

        I took the one day BarBri and otherwise definitely did not do any more studying than BarBri suggested. Agree with v – the BarBri materials were more than sufficient (and yes, the exam is JUST vague enough to leave everyone thinking they failed — yet I know no one who had to re-take).

    • EC

      Any book that has lots of practice questions will work fine. You don’t really need a “strategy” on the MPRE – just a working knowledge of the usual types of issues that are featured. I second v’s analysis that most people pass without too much effort, even though everyone walks out feeling like they could have failed.

    • MsZ

      I second everyone else’s suggestions. In addition, the advice that helped me the most was, when in doubt, go with “What Would Jesus Do – Minus One.” In other words, the most angelic answer isn’t going to be correct – take it down a notch and go with that one.

      • Ida

        Love that, thank you! The Barbri course doesn’t seem to come with a book, just the online materials, but I will call them tomorrow to find out if I’m right about that. Thanks everyone!

        • JessC

          I remember I got my MPRE book when I paid some amount to BarBri (not the final payment, but the next to final?). Anyway, watch the lecture, read through the MPRE outline and do the practice questions.
          When I studied, I think I spaced it out over a couple days. It’s nooo big deal at all – if you have a general, basic knowledge, alot of the answers are common sense.

      • Anonymous

        I did not study for the MPRE (although I had taken a mandatory ethics course as a 2L) and I passed using this strategy.

    • Anon

      Jesus minus one! i.e., consider what Jesus / an upstandingly moral person would do and choose the answer that is slightly sleazier.

    • Anon 23

      Agree with others. I took the bar bri class and followed their guide and passed with a really high score. I honestly think I wasted time over studying. Just remember that the most moral answer is probably not the right one.

    • Midori

      You can’t sleep with your clients (unless you’re in Texas), perjury is bad, and you are not allowed to burgle the judge’s chambers.

      There. Now you know all the black-letter stuff you need. Otherwise, the WWJD-1 rule is about right.

    • CSF

      Tried to post this earlier, but it hasn’t come through yet, so I won’t include the link this time. Kaplan has a FREE mpre prep course all online. Just google it, and it’ll bring you right to the page. This is what I used successfully!

      • MelD

        I used this one too and it was fine. It won’t get you a stellar score, but I got high enough to pass in every state, which is all that matters.

      • sittininla

        this is what I used as well. I only studied for one day and did fine. Actually better than my friends who did Barbri.

      • Ida

        I’m actually doing the free Barbri class, its like 4 hours long 1 day. Is there a longer version?

        • CSF

          Kaplan is 4 hours long, but it has a lot of online stuff you can use too. Practice tests, practice questions, study guides to print out. I spent cumulatively about 5 hours studying through Kaplan (didn’t watch the whole thing, found the other things useful), and did extremely well.

        • I

          Do the barbri class – you don’t need more than this 4 hour class. They give you a handout with blanks, which you fill in during class (i think this is supposed to keep you engaged). All you have to do is study that handout – nothing else. You will do fine. I am pretty sure I never opened a single book on the MPRE.

    • Legally Brunette

      Just to give you a different perspective, I barely studied for the MPRE and failed. The second time around, I studied way more than I needed to and passed with flying colors. I consider myself to be a fairly smart person too (top of my class, federal clerk). :) Just wanted to offer you a different point of view, lest you feel inclined to just wing the exam like so many people do!

      • Anonymous

        Same thing happened to me … was dealing with a lot of personal stuff (deaths in family, breakups, etc) and got an 84. You need an 85 to pass in my jurisdiction, so I needed ONE MORE QUESTION.

        The second time around, I did the BarBri lecture and completed the practice questions that BarBri has online, and got triple-digit score. Much happier the second time!!

    • Geri

      i did a pieper review course a few weeks in advance, then typed up my notes, ignored them, took one practice test every few days, sat in on BarBri a few days before the test, did more practice tests, and, in short, way overstudied. i got a 133, much higher than was necessary.

  18. Sleepy Anon

    Threadjack: I would love to hear your tips for waking up/getting out of bed in the morning. I’ve been sleeping through my alarms lately — I set 2 of them, one regular “beeping” alarm and one cell phone alarm, but somehow I have been sleeping through both of them. Actually I’ve more likely been “snoozing” but for, like, 2 hours. By the time I wake up I don’t even remember hitting the snooze button. I’d say this is unusual for me but I’m realizing it’s been going on for a few months. I think I’ve been in a bit of denial about it. My boss finally called me on my lateness today, so obviously it is time to address and fix this problem.

    What do y’all do to get out of bed, even when you’re exhausted in the mornings? Do you have nighttime routines that you find help you in the mornings? Any tips and tricks?

    • Anon2

      Put the alarm clock on in another room or the other side of your bedroom? Then you have to get out of bed to turn it off. Maybe go to bed earlier if you can? It’s hard at first – I used to go to bed between 1 and 2am because I couldn’t sleep (waking up at 6:30am). Now I don’t exercise at night and it’s helped a lot.

      Try getting a nighttime routine down like ironing your clothes for the next day, packing your lunch, cleaning the kitchen, etc. Try to unwind a bit with a glass of wine or hot tea (decaf) – whatever settles your mind. I try to read before bed, too – fun stuff, maybe a mystery or biography.

    • anon

      Clocky (http://www.nandahome.com/products/clocky/) has helped me somewhat. Though I have to put him across the room on top of the dresser if I really, really, need to make sure I get up, because I have learned to catch him while I am still half asleep.

      Good luck with this…I am naturally more of a night owl myself and this has been a big challenge for me as well.

      • JessC

        That might be the most entertaining thing I’ve seen in a while. I might have to seriously consider getting one.

      • s

        HA! Hilarious! I bet my dog would just loooooove that . . . so add in scampering dog barking like crazy on top of the alarm. I doubt anyone could sleep through that . . .

        • anonymous

          Scampering dog barking at strange moving device…yes, I can picture my dog, too. :) Maybe the OP could get a dog? He definitely lets me know when it’s time to go out at “wake-up” time in the morning.

    • Anonymous

      Are you depressed lately? Is your job a drag? Sounds like you don’t want to go to work for some reason. I go through this periodically.

    • EC

      Nothing really worked for me until I got married and got a dog – if the hubby’s grumbling about my repeated snooze-hitting doesn’t wake me up, the knowledge that the dog will pee on the floor is sufficient.

      But seriously – the dog wakes me up because she relies on me to do something immediately upon waking up. There is no optimistic thinking that I’ll make up the time by skipping breakfast, because the minute I roll out of bed, I walk the dog. Can you set up a work out date that will get you out of bed immediately? A trainer, or a neighbor? Someone who will be disappointed if you don’t arrive, and who will be persistent in demaning that you arrive?

      Another thing to consider is maybe you aren’t getting very good sleep at night. My husband insists on going to bed by 10:30, which means I usually get 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep at night, which makes it much easier to wake up in the morning. On nights one of us snores, neither of us wake up very easily. Tape yourself sleeping at night (video or audio) – if there is a lot of interrupted breathing, you might try to improve the quality of your sleep.

      • Anon

        Another vote for accountability. I teach a 6am class and knowing I have to be there to unlock the gym and work my students for an hour is always enough to get me out of bed!

      • Anon 23

        Unless you start walking the dog and then going back to bed which I have been known to do. But at that point, it is a conscious decision.

        • anon

          Or unless you have the world’s laziest dog. I sometimes have to call him when I am putting my shoes on to let him know that it is time to go out.

          • anonymous

            Thank you….you just made my day by providing a good laugh! Laughing w/you & your dog, of course, not at you…. Boy, I sure miss mine when I’m on a business trip…

    • LawyrChk

      I always find that I have difficulty getting out of bed at times, like now, when I have to wake up long before the sun comes up (thanks to Daylight Savings Time change). It usually gets a lot better once the time changes in a few weeks.

    • Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler

      In undergrad I started setting three alarms on my cell phone at 15 minute increments. That way I can get the satisfaction that comes with hitting the snooze button and at the same time wake up, slowly. I find that by the time the third alarm goes off I don’t want to stay in bed anymore.

    • Anonymous

      I have heard some of my friends mention that they set the alarm on their phone to vibrate and place it in the bed with them near their pillow. The vibration wakes them up. I suppose it depends what kind of phone you have and how strongly it vibrates but it seems worth trying.

      Another possibility, if you sleep in a fairly dark room, would be to get one of those lamps that illuminates gradually, to mimic the sun rising.

      • Chicago K

        You can also buy an alarm that goes under your mattress and makes the entire bed vibrate. lol, they are targeted towards the deaf, but are also very helpful for very sound sleepers!

        My fiancee did the cell phone under his pillow thing once, and the entire bed vibrating woke me up in such a fright I thought I was going to severly injure him if he didn’t find that thing and turn it off ASAP. Not a good way for me to wake up…but I am the world’s lightest sleeper.

    • Midori

      Oh man, I have this problem. Having someone/something depending on your doing something or doing something in the morning works for me. But do consider other issues–as someone else suggested, depression could be a factor. Also illness (mono, chronic fatigue, etc.) or even pregnancy (surprise pregnancy is more common than you might think!). Might be worth ruling out some of these things.

    • Sleepy Anon

      OP here — thank you for all the good tips and advice. I really appreciate it. :)

      • s

        you could also try one of those alarm clocks that starts to light up. i think they’re called “sunbeam” or something. they have a kind of funky look. using one worked for me when i was going through a similar “sleep through anything period”, but i found it annoying once my sleeping got back to normal.

    • Me

      I just want to say that when I began oversleeping it started the same way, the phantom snoozing, the dual alarms, and eventually I went to the doctor and discovered my thyroid was having severe issues. Depression also causes similar issues which is why my thyroid went unnoticed for so long. So advice #1, get one of the alarm clocks you have to work to shut off. Advice #2, have a physical done. It can’t hurt.

    • Anonymous

      See a doctor. I had the same problem in college and it was allergy-induced apnea. I still hate getting up (i want Clocky!) but it’s nothing compared to a real sleep disorder.

  19. Amy

    I also have a $10 Shoebuy.com GC that is going to expire tomorrow if anyone wants to make use of it.

    P358613071920531

  20. Bejeweled Again

    I had a beautiful burlwood jewelry chest from Nordstroms for 30 years which sat on my dresser. I kept almost every thing in it. And then about amonth ago, my house was broken into and the only thing they took was the entire jewelry box, basically taking 35 years worth of jewely with lots of sentimental irrepaceable items.

    To replace it, I bought a handcrafted jewelry chest from Jewelry Boxes by Reid — http://www.jewelryboxesbyreid.com/
    It is beautiful and I have started to replace my jewelry collection, although it will take many years and some things can never be replaced at all. I highly recomment you check out that website if you want a truly handcrafted piece.

    One moral of the story — don’t keep all of your jewelry in one place. I now have unlikely hiding places for some of the more valuable replacement items.

    • KelliJ

      I am so sorry to hear this. I hope you are able to find pieces that you will love for years to come.

    • Me

      The same thing happened to me this year. I was devastated. Apparently some pieces were recovered (like my class ring which is how I was located) but they haven’t been able to provide an inventory list yet.

      My new plan is to lock away my nicest pieces in my secretly hidden, chained to my house’s foundation safe. Then put my costume pieces where they can get stolen again.

    • s

      i have a friend whose apt was broken into. the thieves grabbed her jewelry box, dumped it out on the bed, rifled through it, decided none of it was to their liking, left it all in a heap, and took the BOX (along with the TV, etc., etc.) she was glad they left all her jewelry, but found that the it not being good enough for the thieves to be humorously insulting.

    • kellyn

      My mom has a jewelry box on her dresser for the costumey and everyday pieces that are “medium nice.” But she keeps the really nice stuff in a shoe box with the rest of her shoes. She knows which shoe box contains the goods, but what theif would decide to steal a whole bunch of nine west and enzo shoes in a woman’s closet and just happen upon the jewelry? It’s an ok system, I guess!

    • Anonymous

      One tip on hiding places, keep an inventory somewhere with some type of clues that only mean something to you/your loved ones. You don’t want to forget where you put it away, which I have done. If it’s well hidden from thieves, it may be well hidden from you as well. I now keep my more valuable/ sentimental pieces in a safe deposit box at the bank. It is a pain when you suddenly want something but I rotate things out to wear them periodically. This way I only have a few pieces at home at once but I do get to use everything.

  21. Bejeweled Again

    Thanks, no. Just a break in while nobody was home, thank goodness! While it was a painful loss, in the end, it’s just stuff….. And now I get to buy some pretty new things. That’s why I bought a really nice replacement jewelry box. I did not want to keep looking at that empty space where the old one used to be and I actually like the new one even better.

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