ByKat Hours Updated
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Splurge Monday’s TPS Report: Super 130s Vintage Pleated Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Super 130s Vintage Pleated DressI normally find Black Fleece clothes a bit too avant garde for the office, but I really love the look of this pleated wool dress. I love the tiny pleats on the top, the larger pleats on the skirt, and the waist detailing intrigues me — it half reminds me of a high-waisted skirt, and half reminds me of a crop top (which, I fear, is a look that is coming back). Either way, it's completely appropriate to wear to the office, and it looks vintage and new at the same time. Lovely. It's $450 at Brooks Brothers. Super 130s Vintage Pleated Dress 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 1/22/25:

  • Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
  • AllSaints – Clearance event, now up to 70% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
  • Ann Taylor – All sale dresses $40 (ends 1/23)
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything
  • Boden – Clearance, up to 60% off!
  • DeMellier – Final reductions now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
  • Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
  • Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off; new markdowns just added
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
  • J.Crew Factory – End of season sale, extra 60-70% off clearance, online only
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 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:

151 Comments

  1. Very interesting! I like the details and the color / texture – so classy for fall.

    However, 1) that pseudo-crop top element is a little weird – and especially if you look at the side profile view, it ventures dangerously into controversial Empire Waist territory …. and 2) if you’re busty, are those pleats across the chest going to gape oddly?
    I also wish the model looked a bit less awkward/uncomfortable in the frontal view picture, but now i’m just being nitpicky.

    2. I think it’s the kind of dress that’s going to make some women look and feel fantastic and elegant and stylish, while others will want to rip it from their body as soon as they possibly can. A signature piece, if you will.

      1. I agree. On me I think I would look like a stuffed sausage – I have a wide ribcage and anything that hugs it like this would, would mean it would be too large everywhere else, or too small around the ribs.

  2. i think this is beautiful. considering whether i really need another dress for work. . . .

  3. Regular poster but wanted to be anon for this. Anyone heard of “Renaissance Weekend” (established by Linda and Philip Lader)? I’ve received an invitation and am wondering whether I should go. From looking online it looks like they were very popular in the 90s when Bill Clinton was going, but the latest info I can find on them (not on their website) is from 2006 or so. They say they’ll waive the registration fees, but it’s still not a free vacation or anything.

  4. Maybe it’s just the styling but she looks a little pilgrim-ish. I’m sure some stylish people could make it look amazing though.

    1. I’m thinking the same thing, but instead of pilgrim-ish, my first thought went to Christina Ricci when she played Wednesday in The Adams Family.

      1. With a touch of East Coast debutante.

        I’m guessing most people would need to have it carefully tailored around the waist/ribcage for it to hang right.

        And it would LIVE at the dry-cleaners.

          1. Made me think of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which was fairly unpleasant for me.

    4. My first thought was Mennonite – not quite Amish, but almost. All you’d need is the bonnet.

    5. The styling is horrible. Take away the tights, maybe some bright shoes (I’m thinking red pumps), hair up, and an eye-catching scarf or necklace and we are no longer on Plymouth Rock.

  5. This is gorgeous. I love, love, love it!
    This is one of those looks that I think would actually look better on a “regular” person (for lack of a better term) than on someone who is model-tall & thin (not that those ladies aren’t regular people, too :) ). Oh, and I completely agree with Kat’s description of Black Fleece clothes generally. I always wonder who — besides Tilda Swinton — is meant to wear some of those numbers. Although, looking at the latest, it does look like they have brought it down to earth a bit; some of those piecess are seriously lovely.

    1. Really? I would wear all of it. I think it’s gorgeous (and I have to giggle at Kat’s choice of adjective, because Brooks Brothers is one of the last labels I’d ever describe as “avant garde.”)

      Then again, I not-so-secretly have a crush on Tilda Swinton.

      1. I think it’s a combination of styling, proportions (the clothes seem to be cut with a 5’11 silhoutte in mind) and, really, mainly, the first collection — as I said, looking at the newer stuff, it seems much more practical. Plus, maybe there’s just a little disconnect between BB’s traditionally stodgy clothes and the more random aspects of the Thom Browne stuff in the Black Fleece collection (taking that dynamic and twisting it upside down a bit).

        At any rate . . . who doesn’t love the Swinton?!

      2. I think Tilda Swinton looks like a ghoul.

        Great actress, but she’s not really my idea of “beautiful.”

  6. I like it. But what’s with companies calling their styles “vintage” instead of “vintage-inspired”?

    I also love her boots, although I suppose they’d be too much in an ordinary, conventional office.

    Brooks Brothers and “avant-garde”? Is that oxymoronic? :-)

  7. O, this would be a disaster on me. I’m petite and a little hip-py, and I think I’d look lost in the folds of the fabric, and also wider than I am. I’d also worry about a little-girl effect. Yet I agree with AIMS that it doesn’t seem terribly flattering to a model body type either…

    Threadjack: I know it’s way too early (and hot) to even be thinking about tall leather boots, but I am trying to do some fall wardrobe planning. How much extra space should there be in the calf area of a boot that ends a few inches before your knee? I find that if I go for a skin-close fit, I can’t get the boots on–and yet when I get the necessary extra room, I’m afraid they look too loose around my calves. If anyone has thoughts, either in inches/cm or by some informal measure, please share. Ideally I want to be able to tuck pants into them for weekends, AND to wear them with skirts/dresses for work…

    1. my personal feeling is that there should be just barely enough room to tuck a pair of skinny jeans/leggings into. Your concern over the boots being too tight or too loose is why you have to try on a bunch of pairs of boots to find that one pair that fits you perfect. I suppose its a bit like obscenity: you will know the perfect pair when you see it.

    2. It depends on the boot style. Riding boots would have some space between the calf/shin and the boot, but they’d stay up on their own. Slouchy boots would also have some space, and slide down and wrinkle a bit. Whatever the “normal” kind of boots is called would be more or less tight against the leg, without slouching, although it doesn’t have to be skin tight. I too find that my skintight boots are too tight and I really struggle to get them on. If you look for ones that are rather stiff and won’t slouch, you can get away with having some extra room between the boot and your leg.

    3. fwiw i think having a little bit of breathing room between the boot shaft and your actual calf can actually be very flattering to one’s legs!

      1. I agree. I think it makes the leg look slimmer, whereas a too skin tight look can make it seem like the boot is too small. My general rule of thumb is I want the tips of my fingers to comfortably fit in the boot opening. This way, I know I wont be struggling with jeans getting tucked in.

      2. It probably depends on your calf size. I have really short, measly calves and too big a shaft just makes my calf look that much skinnier.

      3. I think it depends on the size of your legs. My legs, from the knees down, are stick thin and if I wear boots with wiggle room, I end up looking like that mean farmer lady from Chicken Run who wears rain boots. My solution is a pain but a necessary evil. I have to make sure my “tall” boots are tailored so they fit snug. I have boots for tucking in jeans and boots for leggings/jeggings/bare. It’s annoying but I’ve tried bulking up my calves and nothing works.

    4. Actual riding boots or polo boots sometimes have little elastic panels around the top. I love my polo boots because they fit snugly with tights and they are still comfortable over skinny jeans.

  8. This dress definitely has potential. Styled all gray and black it looks a bit somber. I’d definitely have to add in some color.

    On an aside AKA threadjack, has anyone used Priceline for international travel?

    1. I attempted to use priceline (and several other travel sites) for travel to South America. I found a better price by going directly to the airline (Spirit Air) as for some reason there were fees included in the travel sites that weren’t included at the airline site.
      I found Bing flight price predictor very helpful as well – I waited to buy until it no longer indicated the price was going down and saved about $100 off of the price when I first searched.

  9. Meh. I think it looks frumpy on the model and kind of little girly. Maybe it would improve in personn.

    1. Wow… I think she should get a special award from The Man Repeller for repelling without even needing to accessorize.

      1. I actually like the neckline and print. If it were on sale for significantly less I might put in the money on tailoring to shorten to the knee and take in the waist. But as is, yeesh.

        In other news, found a tags on 100% silk talbots top in a pretty plaid at a thrift store over the weekend for $4.75. Huzzah.

      2. My husband said, “Even on sale, I can think of lots of cheaper ways to repel a man.”

        1. Hahaha. He should read the blog – it’s amazing how much some of the high fashion-y stuff costs, and it’s so ugly. But I guess that’s why people say women dress for other women.

    5. Ha! Though I actually might try it with high high platform heels to see if it worked … I kind of like the print/neckline.

  11. Wondering if anyone has advice for searching for a legal job post-law school/bar. It’s a relief to be done with the bar, but I no longer have access to the recruiting information of my career center and feel like I don’t know where to begin.
    Would love to hear people’s success stories here!

    1. are you sure you don’t have career center access anymore? This seems odd to me… My career center and others are very active in trying to find jobs for alumni. Does your career center formally cut alums off, or are you just assuming you can’t go to them because you are no longer a student?

    2. Are you sure you don’t have access to career services resources at your law school? It seems crazy that your school would cut you off after graduation and not have online resources even if you’ve moved away. I’m 6 years out and still able to search my school’s online board.
      As for advice, I’d say paying for some of the online resources is not money wasted. I’d also suggest joining organizations, attending events where you will meet lawyers, and keeping in touch with your classmates.

      1. This. I moved to DC to study for the bar and got reciprocity to the career centers of local law schools through my school. Can’t hurt to call them and ask what they can do for you, regardless of where you actually are.

    3. My bar has a lot of statewide listings- both in their own classifieds and just on the site’s online repository. My career services was just awful, so I feel you. I had a friend who was a year behind me at the local law school emailing me more relevant listings. I got my current job just by applying online via my state’s government employment system. I hear that is really rare though. My agency hired two of us that way and is not back to the old networking method. We have someone who was recommended by a former intern who was in her BarBri class.

    4. I know everyone else’s already said this, but I actually got my current job (1.5 years after graduation- I wasn’t out of work, just not in a good job) through my school’s career services website. Check and call and ask if they have anything. Otherwise, I would just tell you that a) it sucks out there and don’t feel down because you’re going to have to make a lot of attempts that won’t go anywhere, but b) talk to everyone that you can- Consider setting up shop out of your home and taking appointed work, if you don’t find anything. Ask any solo/small firm attorney if they have extra work that they want to farm out (I did research and drafting for a solo and it worked (and paid) pretty well) or know anyone who does. Volunteer. Check legal aid- my local one has a system where they assign cases to 2 attorneys, one experienced and one new, so that they both get the pro bono credit and the new attorney gets the experience- it’s a good way to meet people; I asked the attorney that I was teamed up with to lunch and picked his brain. Etc.

      Good luck.

      1. Thanks for all your supportive comments.

        Just a note as to my school’s career services — we were cut off from the online career postings but we still have access to speak with the career services staff but they are generally unhelpful, especially since I am looking for a job in NYC and my law school was in California.

        Have people had success with networking and other job postings with the NY bar association?

        1. I found my job (in new york) on lawjobs.com. A lot of it is recruiters for laterals, which doesn’t help recent grads, but you can sort by direct employer listings only. There were a handful when I was looking for recent grads (I had been out of school a year).

          1. and the ny state bar website has job postings (it’s free to join the bar association if you’re newly admitted, and I think if you’re a recent grad), but a lot of those were things I had seen elsewhere.

  12. Hey all-style threadjack. I bought a pairs of “formal wedges” (Joan and David Annalyn) to wear with a cocktail dress, and also under a gown for black tie. do you all think wedges/patent are a no-go under a gown??? help please!

    1. For me wedges are too chunky for formal wear. But then I don’t like huge platforms either.

      1. I think they’d be okay with the right cocktail dress (although until I saw the right one, I’m not entirely sold on them being right for a cocktail dress, either), but I don’t think they’re formal enough for a gown.

    2. I looked at the shoes. For the cocktail dress — meh. For the gown, maybe — if it’s long enough that only your toes peep out. But then, it would also seem just meh to me. You could do better.

    3. Without seeing the items in question, I think wedges can work with the cocktail dress, but I wouldn’t wear them with a gown.

    4. Stupid question: What’s the difference between a cocktail dress and a gown?

      I’m imagining length – like a cocktail dress is tea- or knee-length, and a gown is long, i.e., what one would wear to a state dinner at the White House. Like the difference between what a high school student would wear to homecoming and prom? Is this at all in the right ballpark?

      And I’d love to see a picture of the patent leather wedges.

    5. I like the shoes and think you’ll be fine if your gown is long enough. For hte cocktail, if it’s the slingback patent ones with bows, you’ll look adorbs.

    6. I have a cocktail dress (black) that is halter, crepe layering and silk accents that I often pair with black patent wedges when I need to dress it up. In fact, I wore the outfit to a black tie wedding and I received many compliments.

      With that said, I would stay away from wearing wedges with a formal gown. If the attire requires you to wear a gown, then I would stick to heels.

  13. Complete SWOON! Love this. Completely office appropriate with, as someone said above, a touch of Wednesday Addams. And maybe a little Emily Strange.

  14. I just witnessed something very sweet. A car has broken down right outside South Station. There are 4 teens (college age and a couple younger). Instead of whining and complaining or hunching over their phones, they’re playing charades in the middle of the sidewalk. So cute!

  15. Hi all,

    I need a suit for court but have limited funds. I’m only taking pro-bono cases right now. Any advice? A (female) judge was already snarky with me once about my outfit.

    Thanks

    2. Try Banana Republic or Ann Taylor loft off-season suits. They’re starting to consider it “off season” already for summer even though you could probably wear that suit for a few more months. Outlets are a great start, too. Then there’s H&M which could work in a pinch. I’d get one jacket with the skirt and pants that come with it–makes it two suits for a third of the cost!

      1. I second the outlet advice. I’ve gotten many great suits, blouses, and accessories at the Ann Taylor outlet. Also, I don’t know if this is good advice since obviously you never want to take on more credit cards than you need–but I shop at AT, LOFT, and their outlets enough that having their card has been a great move given all of the coupons and the points reward certificates. (I also pay it off every month–if you’re not likely to be as disciplined, then you don’t want to expose yourself to high interest charges.)

    3. What’s your budget? You can get suits at Macy’s, Dillards, etc for ~$60 off the clearance rack. JC Penney’s has Jones Wear suits for about the same price. Have you tried Ross or Marshalls for suits from Anne Klein, Tahari for ASL? It takes a little digging through the clearance racks but you should be able to find something. Good luck!

      1. I agree about all of your suggestions. You never know what you’ll find at Ross or Marshall’s, but JC Penney is the place where you are most likely to get a nice suit without all of the hunting and digging. I actually went there recently and was pleasantly surprised by the cute cardigans with details, nice shells (short sleeve and sleeveless) slacks, skirts, dresses, suits, etc. Also, I noticed they have jackets/skirts/slacks sold separately, so you could buy a nice jacket and mix and match it with slacks and skirts you already own. I would suggest never paying full price at JC Penney – it looks like there is always a sale (and maybe look online for a coupon)! Good luck to you and way to go on taking on the pro bono work.

    4. Try a department store. I’ve gotten GREAT suits at Macy’s for well under $100. Look for a coupon in the newspaper and try to hit them when they have suits at a percentage off (often 50!). Check the clearance racks, but even the non-clearance (but still sale) suits can be very cheap. I really like the Nine West label suits – they are very youthful looking and often come with a coordinating top.

    5. Keep an eye on the sample sale sites too. Ideeli and Rue La La have tons of suits when they have their final sales – I’ve scored Calvin Klein and Tahari suits for under 80 from both. Even if you need some extra tailoring (since you won’t be able to try it on or return it), the cost will still be well below retail.

    6. Aside from the department store recs people have already mentioned, the Limited has decent sales on suits. They often do $50 off a $150 purchase, or half-price bottoms, so you can get all 3 pieces for much less than full price.

      Don’t forget that signing up for a store credit card will often get you an extra % off.

      1. The Limited gives anyone who works in education 15% off in stores. They might let you have the discount if you tell them you do pro bono only.

    7. Ann Taylor is doing its friends and family sale starting tomorrow. 30% off your whole order with code FRIENDS. I would also say you should plan to take whatever you buy to a good tailor and get whatever alterations it needs to really fit you. In my experience, $50 worth of tailoring gets you way more than going up $50 in the price of a suit if you have something reasonable to start with.

    8. I was in a crunch before some law school event that I needed a suit for and I got a nice one at TJMaxx or Marshall’s. It was Nine West and less than $50.00.

      For the future, I recommend signing up for coupons from the Ann Taylor and Banana Republic factory stores. A few times a year they have HUGE sales and they usually send coupons that you can use on top of the sale price.

    9. Ann Taylor outlet often has great suit sales on basic suits. The issue with the inexpensive department store suits is that they often come in a pair, and if you don’t necessarily wear the same size on top and bottom, it’s not worth it. Alex Marie at Dillard’s is a reasonably priced separates brand, and you may also be able to get good deals at Ann Taylor or BR outlets.

    10. Try ebay in brands you know how they fit. I’ve gotten gently used suits on ebay for great prices.

      1. Ditto ditto ditto! Almost all my suits have come from ebay. They’re all Ann Taylor, J. Crew, and Banana Republic. Be sure to ask the sellers for measurements.

    11. JC Penney. The East 5th line always has conservative suits. They’re polyester, but not shiny; I bring them on travel because they’re washable and don’t wrinkle.

    12. Thanks everyone! I’ll be checking some of the suggestions this week before I have to go before this judge again.

      Angela

  16. Desperately seeking hair advice…

    I have not gotten my hair cut since early May, so it’s currently an inch or two above my bra strap (too long for me). My hair is Caucasian, very thin, somewhat fine, and has zero volume. It has little-to-no natural wave, but it manages to frizz in humid weather. It’s otherwise healthy.

    It dries quickly, but I am all thumbs at blow drying. I have very little patience for styling (5 min or less is ideal).

    I’m considering two options: (1) a long bob (around collar length) with side-swept bangs, or (2) a body wave and a trim.

    1. Has anyone had a body wave? Did you like it? Do they just create excess frizz? Is it possible to get wavy hair, or will it just look like a loose spiral perm?

    2. Any other suggestions/comments for an easy-care haircut that’s not a mom cut? Has anyone’s hair caught your eye lately?

    1. I have the same type of hair I have been mulling over Reese Witherspoons hair from the Paris premier of Water for Elephants. If you google it you will see the image she is wearing a great red dress.

    2. Same hair, same question.

      FWIW, the best cut I have ever had was a layered shoulder length bob that I would flip out with a blowdryer. It was fun and unique. Unfortunately, it probably took 10-15 minutes to style, and since I’m young-looking anyway I wanted something more professional when I started work.

      Now, I have a side-swept bob as you described. It’s low-maintenance but a little too boring for me. I also find that it requires very frequent trims or else it ends up overgrown and flat. I have no qualms about trimming my own hair, but if you aren’t the same way then I’d imagine this could get pricey.

    3. I had a “body wave,” which is really just a normal perm but with bigger rods. My hair is similar to yours. I had mixed feelings about it. It did not eliminate the need for me to blow dry my hair but it did eliminate the need for any volumizing products. I would blow dry my hair and then run a large barreled curling iron through the ends and go. It did take time off of my morning routine. If I didn’t blow dry it, it would sometimes get frizzy, definitely didn’t give me “beach waves” or “Giselle waves.” I also didn’t really get to know the curly part of it though (unblow-dried) as I never had time to experiment (3L year). I am considering getting another one because it did a ton to volumize but don’t expect it to replace normal styling unless you are willing to put the time into learning how to style curls and buying those products. The longer it is in, the less curly it becomes.

      I would also suggest finding a stylist you really trust who has done these types of perms before. I talked to mine 3 or 4 times to have her walk me through it before I did it because I was so nervous of ending up with 90s perm (which I did not). She had several clients who got them regularly.

      Good luck!

    4. If you get a bob cut the right way, you can flip your head over and brush straight when drying. When you stand back up, it will flip under a little, like a classic bob should. The cut is backward-layered, where the very slightly shorter layers are underneath, not on the top. Any good hair stylist should be able to do this cut for you.

      I would not get a body wave if you’re a minimal styling person. Unless you want to wear it curly, you will have to blow dry it straight.

      I think a classic bob with sideswept bangs is not a mom cut. To me, the current mom cuts are volume-on-top short haircuts.

    5. I recommend finding an expensive stylist and asking their suggestions. It took 3 years in my current town, but I finally found someone to whom I could say, “I want something different. Do whatever you’d like.” And trust that the style would look good with my face and fit into my routine. A good stylist is worth the effort and the dough.

      But for your real question – I think the sideswept bangs look is really cute, and not “mom” at all. But you may have to invest more than 5 minutes a day. I think we all wish we could have a routine that short, but if you want to look good, it takes more than 5 minutes. (And product. You just have to buy different products and try them. There’s really no shortcut around that.)

    6. I have the same hair and struggled with this for years. I finally got a stacked bob and I love it. For work I blow it dry, but it’s short enough that it doesn’t really take more than 5 minutes (I usually take my shower, eat breakfast, and then dry my hair, so it air dries part of the way). It also doesn’t require the ridiculous contortions that hair stylists always tell you are really easy, all I had to learn was which hand to hold the brush in. I don’t use any product. On days I don’t go to work I just let it air dry. It doesn’t look as good, but I had a cowlick when my hair was long, so I’m satisfied as long as I can go out in public without putting my hair up.

  17. Threadjack!
    Does anyone have recommendations for podcasts to listen to while exercising? I’ve been listening to This American Life, but now that I’m caught up with them, 1 new one per week is not enough for the amount of time I spend at the gym.
    I’m not looking for music: I find I want something to keep my brain occupied so I don’t start thinking “jeeze this is hard!”
    Free would be great, but not a must.
    TIA!

    2. I really like “To The Best of Our Knowledge” which is free and very geeky. I also like all the NPR food, book, music, etc. podcasts. And Terri Gross interviews are always interesting.

      A Prairie Home Companion is hilarious IMO but not to everyone’s taste.

      I really wanted to like “Stuff You Missed in History Class” but I couldn’t stand the voices and mannerisms of the hosts, so … there went that. I really don’t like Ira Glass’ voice either though, so you may like this one.

      A friend of mine likes “Hardcore History”. It’s a little, well, hardcore for me.

      Finally, I’ve listened to The Moth a few times and that’s a good one too.

      Hope that helps.

      1. To provide another perspective, I absolutely love Stuff You Missed in History Class- it’s probably my favorite podcast.

        Other Recs:
        Nutrition Diva
        Savage Love
        Wait, Wait…don’t tell me

        Really, I feel like there ought to be more podcasts I’d like out there, but I don’t know how to find them.

    3. Free and supremely distracting: Dan Savage’s Savage Lovecast at thestranger dot com.

      1. Seconded. Sometimes, savage love is the only thing that can get me going (on the treadmill :) ).

    4. I personally can only do music for exercising to keep me motivated, but for when I’m commuting, I love the intelligence squared debates. They are podcasted through NPR.

    5. The Sporkful is really funny (if it doesn’t bother you too much to think about food while you work out!). If you’re into politics, I always enjoy Slate’s Political Gabfest, and their other offerings can be interesting, too. I like Dave Ramsey (1 hour of his show, available daily), even though his system is so predictable that I feel like I can answer every question now (that’s a good thing about his system, and it has a sort of warm comfort to it). I recently discovered something called The Memory Palace which was facinating stories about historical figures/events, but they haven’t offered any new ones in a while (but its well worth it to catch up on the prior ones).

      All of those are free, and served me very well when I had a monster commute in law school.

    6. I like the Judge John Hodgman podcasts. Free. Very silly. Not sure if you are familiar with John Hodgman, but needless to say he is not a real judge and he “solves” the most ridiculously silly disputes (e.g., “dish soap or hand soap”? or “snob v. slob”) I can’t even say they are laugh out loud funny, but just something about them is very diverting and appealing. Each one is close to 30 min., and make time go by very quickly.

    7. If you like This Life, you’ll probably love The Moth, Radiolab, and if you also like history “Stuff you missed in History Class” by How Stuff Works. Those are my workout faves, esp The Moth.

      1. Ooh these are on my list too. LOVE The Moth. Radiolab, Stuff You Should Know, and TechBits are a couple of others. Storycorp, PRI Selected Shorts (stories) also, The Splendid Table (food), The New Yorker Fiction, and TEDTalks. (I drive an hour each way to/from work, so I podcast *alot*.)

      1. Best Ellen comment EVER. I can’t believe no one else saw this – what a shame.

        1. Ha! I didn’t have any idea what to say, so just ignored it.

          Ellen certainly doesn’t know how to spell “Indenture.”

    11. from NPR / Public Radio:
      – To the Best of our Knowledge
      – NPR Book, Food, Movie, etc. reviews
      – Terry Gross Fresh Air interviews
      – A Prairie Home Companion

      other:
      – The Moth
      – Stuff You Missed in History Class (the hosts annoy me, but so does Ira Glass)
      – Hardcore History

    12. I’m a fan of Slate’s Political Gabfest, Double-X Gabfest, and Cultural Gabfest. Also really like “Stuff Your Mom Never Told You”. If I had more time, I would listen to the other “How Stuff Works” podcasts.

  19. Hey all, I’ve been super stressed lately and this has resulted in very tight back and shoulder muscles. I want to get one of those massage pads you can strap to a chair, but I don’t want to spend $100+ on something without trying it out only to find it doesn’t work well enough. I want something that will really knead the muscles. Heat is not required (and actually not preferred). I am willing to spend up to $150. Any recs?

    Thanks in advance.

    1. I can totally commiserate. I have stress related tension as well as some funky residual tension/imbalance from an old injury. I’d recommend going to a Brookstone, because they have a lot of massager floor models. My personal experience:

      – the strap to a chair shiatsu type massagers don’t work for me because at that angle, there’s no weight behind the kneading. It just ends up feeling like it’s rubbing my skin, and isn’t all that comfortable.
      – want massager: comically SATC and predictably did not help for the back/shoulder tension.
      – what really works long term for me is Iyengar Yoga with a crazy involved teacher. I’ve found that moving your own muscles is deeper and the effects are more lasting for me than even a series of massages from a human. But Iyengar yoga can be a little kooky, and is really dependent on having a good teacher. Sorry, know that’s not exactly what you are looking for.

      If you find something good, please report back. Maybe there is still a massager out there somewhere for me

      1. What is kooky about Iyengar yoga? It is after all the almost the original form, rather than the funky hot yoga and the other whatchacall it yoga.

      1. This is what I do as well — my coach taught me in high school and is better than many novice massagers because it applies a more uniform pressure.

      1. Seconded. Nothing beats an actual massage. Hire a self-employed massage therapist. The “spa” therapists never seem to provide any actual therapy for me.

    4. Thanks all for the replies. Re: Yoga, part of the problem is the Yoga Sculpt classes I’ve been taking. After I work the muscle out, hard (at 6 am) I go to work and sit all day and all the lactic acid builds up and hardens (?). I can’t consistently go at any other time and I’ve added some Hot Power Fusion classes in to aid with the stretching, but it still hurts when I’m sitting for 8 hours.

      1. Oh, hmm. I can see how that’s a problem. Can you get in some stretching at work? I usually stretch mid-day, and use an exercise ball to sit on/stretch over. Sitting all day is just so bad for you, and yet so unavoidable. Maybe you can do a restorative (Iyengar) class once a week?

        I have never really liked those strap-to-the-chair massage things. In my experience they just kind of vibrate and heat. Maybe there are better ones out there.

      2. I think you may need to seek out other yoga alternatives that aren’t power yoga. I know when I did power yoga, I had a lot more soreness than I get going to other types of yoga that are geared more toward stretching/flow. Even if you can’t get the same class in regularly, going to them sporadically after work may be a better choice than doing one religiously before work and having to sit still all day.

      4. Any chance you can get a stand up desk? Mine has alleviated a lot of back problems.

    5. If you’re having a recurring back or shoulder problem, also look into getting professional help through your insurance. My back was a mess from stress and I was able to go to massage therapy where they worked out the kinks. It was definitely worth it and I only had to pay my co-pay.

    6. Pilates will cure what ails you. I just started – have my 10th session tonight – and I’m amazed at how it has (1) loosened up the parts that get tight when I’m stressed; and (2) strengthened my core muscles including mid-back/shoulder blades so that they are less likely to get sore. It’s not cheap – I’m paying $55 a session – but it’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent.

      1. I second this. Back when I was studying for the bar, and just a poor student who couldn’t afford regular massages, my shoulders and neck were so tight I could barely move my head or my arm to write without yelping in pain (yeah, the MBE was fun). About 30 minutes of Pilates mat workouts a day was the only thing that loosened me up. So maybe switch up your yoga classes with a few Pilates classes or see if you can fit in some of the basic mat moves after yoga class or in the evening.

      2. Thirded. I have had back/shoulder stress-related tension, and lower back trouble from lots of cross-country flying. The core training in pilates has been the only thing that helps. For me it treats the cause, addressing my poor posture/hunched shoulders/unsupported back, rather than the symptom (pain).

        $55 seems high for a pilates session. I don’t do all reformer or cadillac work–good mat & springboard work have had the same effect for me, and cost about 1/5 the price, especially if you can get into a group class. But definitely key to find a good teacher. I now selectively take some of the classes offered for free at my gym since 2 years of training with my first teacher was able to cement the proper body positioning.

  20. Random technology question: I am in search of some kind of app/device combination that would allow me to keep an electronic to-do list by either typing or hand-writing on the device with a stylus. Doesn’t exist, right?

    1. I haven’t used it yet, but I think Evernote might fit the bill. It’s an organizing/list-type app that synchs with an online site.

    2. Hmmm. I have an app on my iPad that allows me to handwrite notes into a to do list but I don’t think you can email it or type an entry.

    3. You can now find a stylus that will work on smart phone screens. I know i’ve seen them for iphones in particular. That, combined with evernote seems like it might fit the bill.

  21. The Brooks Brothers dress would flatter someone with narrow shoulders and/or a long torso, I think. Being broad shouldered and slim hipped, I would look terrible in those sleeves. Now that I’ve read some of the comments, I would also be thinking, “Mennonite, Amish, Pilgrimish…” lol!

    I do want to thank Kat again for mentioning the Brooks Brothers silk and cashmere V0neck cardigan sweater last week! It flatters me and fills a gap in my wardrobe! Even though they didn’t have petite sizing, the XS fits me well. It covers enough of my torso (down to my crotch), has small armholes, and the sleeves are just a touch too long. Folding the sleeves up once solves that problem. Besides the miraculous price ($39 from $118!), another fabulous feature is the silhouette. When the garment is buttoned up, it DOESN’T MAKE ME LOOK FAT. Very hard to find a cardigan that skims instead of clings. If it doesn’t make me look fat by clinging, a typical cardigan adds visual bulk with dropping armholes, billowing sleeves, and aggressive blousoning. The Brooks Brothers one lets me wear a shirt underneath without bulges.

    1. I recently discovered some very nice silk blend cardigans at Nordstrom Rack that skim and were in some gorgeous deep fall colors (plum, teal, navy, etc.). And bonus, they were only $20.

  22. Threadjack: In need of relationship advice/tough love …

    I’ve been together with a great guy for about seven months now. We have loosely talked about marriage and kids already (although more in the sense of “we want this some day”) and he’s the first man I could imagine these things with. (We’re both in our mid-twenties.) We’ve also talked a bit about our exes. I know he split up with his last girlfriend because of the distance (USA – Europe), not because he didn’t love her anymore or anything similar. Now I have horrible pangs of jealousy when he mentions her. How can I get over them?

    Like, some weeks ago he said something along the lines of “I should give you a cute nickname … but you can’t be [name], that was the one before you”. I’m normally quite self-confident but that somehow just … tipped me over the edge and I had nightmares that he still loves her and just uses me as a sort of rebound. Or when he mentioned how he loved it when she would do [sexual favor] which I won’t. Gave me awful mental images as well.

    Any advice from the older and wiser corporettes out there? I guess I’m just overreacting and need reassurance.

    1. Sorry, but that comment is off. Unless you had said “call me __”, that was gratuitous and shows she is on his mind. Older and wiser – I’d be concerned he’s not over her.

    2. It’s just not appropriate to talk about what a prior partner would do in bed.

      Sounds to me like she’s still on his mind, too… And that you should tell him about your concerns. Whether it’s your problem or his, it’s a problem for your relationship.

    3. Wait – in your dream he mentioned the “favor” thing that she used to do, or he did that in real life? I think that’s really strange. If you don’t think it’s strange, then maybe mention to him that you’re really enjoying the “here and now” with him, and that when he talks about his ex, it takes away from that.

      You might want to assess the situation in general, though, if he’s still talking about her, especially… intimate things about her. I’m an advocate of honest relationships, but I think there are some doors left closed – because no good can come out of them.

      1. No, that was in real life. And yes, I think it’s best to talk to him … thanks again, ladies :)

    4. in both of these cases he could have expressed his feelings without mentioning his ex. his mentioning her unsolicited i think suggests either that he isn’t totally over her yet, or he wants to make you feel jealous/insecure – both of those would be red flags to me.

    5. Just talk to him. Tell him how you are feeling. Ask him if he’s committed to being with you or if his flame still burns for the other lady and he’d jump ship if she came stateside (of course don’t word it that way). Stop suffering in silence, and don’t let your mind create answers to questions that you can just as easily ask and have resolved.

    6. I do not think you’re overreacting by being upset. I agree with the previous comments – he is either not over his ex, or he is trying to make you jealous. If he’s trying to make you jealous, it could be because he is trying to determine the strength of your feelings for him, or he could just be extremely insensitive/a jerk.

      I think you need to say something to him.

    7. He still is into his ex. That doesn’t mean that your relationship won’t work out. Life isn’t like in movies, where two people have a deep psychic connection and overcome all kinds of odds and move to other continents for each other. For all you know, his ex has totally moved on and is marrying someone else.

      I do hope you that you can have an open and honest conversation with him about this. If he is wholly committed to you and just has some wistfulness for his old relationship, that will fade with time. But if he would pursue her if she moved back to your city tomorrow, that’s a serious problem. So you need to talk, and find out what he’s really feeling. And if he won’t open up with you, that’s a warning sign, too.

      1. I second Eponine’s advice. I’ll add that this behavior is likely a mark of his immaturity. It seems he is trying to make you insecure. Even fairly good guys do that sometimes when they feel a little out-matched. You’ll need to have an open discussion about this- absolutely don’t let it simmer because it will mess you up if you continue the relationship in fear of him leaving you for “Her.” He also needs to be called on this behavior or he’ll keep doing it.

  23. I am intrigued by this dress. But it looks very little-girly.

    Any ideas how to make it look more adult by adding a belt or a scarf or something? I’m trying to imagine it, but I can’t think of something that would successfully accomplish that…

    1. I think the model’s frame, long straight hair and lack of makeup make it look little-girly. Ditching the black tights would help too.

  24. Both comments are red flags. No reason that he should be bringing up his ex – esp. intimate details of their relationship, like pet names and bedroom activities – unless it’s in the context of a conversation of clarifying for you his former or current feelings for her. To bring these things up gratuitously is mean and unnecessary. Talk to him!

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