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Splurge Monday’s Workwear Report: Striped Silk Banded-Collar Dress

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Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. This striped silk crepe dress is so lovely. I like the slightly blousy sleeves and the silk belt. It would be a great business casual look with a navy blazer and gray heels. If you’re worried about it, I’m officially giving you permission to wear white after Labor Day. Enjoy.  The dress is $2,990 at Neiman Marcus and available in sizes 2–14. Striped Silk Banded-Collar Dress Two more affordable options are this shirtdress from Derek Lam (on major sale) and this plus-size shirtdress from Vince Camuto (also on sale). This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support! Seen a great piece you’d like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.

Sales of note for 4/24/25:

  • Nordstrom – 7,710 new markdowns for women!
  • Ann Taylor – Friends of Ann Event: 30% off your entire purchase, including 100s of new arrivals
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off
  • Boden – 25% off everything (ends 4/27) (a rare sale!)
  • The Fold – Up to 25% off
  • Eloquii – Spring Clearance: Up to 75% off + extra 50-60% off sale
  • J.Crew – Mid-Season Sale: Up to 60% off sale styles + up to 50% off summer-ready styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Extra 50% off clearance + extra 15% off $100 + extra 20% off $125
  • Kule – Lots of sweaters up to 50% off
  • M.M.LaFleur – 3 pieces for $198. Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 50% off last chance styles; new favorites added
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Friends & Family Event: 30% off entire purchase, includes markdowns

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

242 Comments

  1. Looking for lavender scented bath and body items for Christmas gift for son’s girlfriend…she is in mid 20s…looking for alternative to mall store items….gift suggestions appreciated.

    2. L’Occitane’s lavender things are lovely (and of course very expensive), I love getting them as gifts.

        2. I think I would be very impressed and appreciative if I received L’Occitane from my in laws!

          2. op here….thank you for that and agree that its not very expensive and purse sized hand cream is a must

      2. I’m surprised you all consider this expensive? I was just at their shop in Paris recently and assumed it was kind of a slightly higher-end Bath and Body Works. If this is a good gift, I may buy it for my relatives!

        2. I don’t think it’s expensive either but it has more of an upscale caché than Bath and Body works, and I think their scents are more naturally derived.

          I’m scent-sensitive. B&BW is one of those stores where I have to sit on a bench outside while my daughter is in there. LO doesn’t bother me at all.

    3. My small town is full of artisan products like this – they carry them in every local boutique. Etsy would also be a good option.

    6. Thymes of London, either plain lavender or lavender honey scents are lovely. Available online or usually at fancier gift shops.

  2. Good morning. I would like to start wearing pantyhose/nylons. My waist is a size 12/14 – I carry a lot of my weight in my tummy. Pantyhose always feel too tight and hurt (even when I size up). Can anyone recommend a brand they find comfortable in the waist? Thanks in advance!

    1. M&S is great for tights and pantyhose. I wonder about one of the new brands as well, Snag or Heist, which have the wider waistband? Alternatively, maternity tights might be a good bet, since they are meant to go over the tummy.

      1. Just ordered some Snag tights and love them! I was between sizes and sized up, and they’re not tight at all but also don’t feel like they will fall down.

    2. Commando is the only brand I have found comfortable in that regard — it has a wide soft waitband that sits very high. A bit pricey, but the tights at least are durable – can’t speak for the nylons.

    4. Leggs has a few options (sheer energy and silken something) that are “waistband free” or have a “no roll waistband” … these are the only ones I wear and I’m a similar size. They don’t pinch. Has to say it on the box tho!!

    5. Get control top. I know it sounds counterintuitive but hose that rely on a single band of elastic to hold them up have a much tighter waist than hose that have an entire girdle-type area to hold them up.

      I personally like Spanx brand. I can’t vouch for the cheaper Assets line at Target but lots of people like it.

    6. Second the comment above re: control top being more comfortable, sometimes. I’m a size 14, carry weight in my stomach, and at 5’4” have a hard time finding tights that aren’t too long. The Berkshire tights in queen petite size work great for me, are sturdy enough to last the whole winter without runs or snags, and are affordable (to me) at $10-$16.

    8. warners no pinching sheers are amazingly comfortable. I wish they were a little more sheer but for comfort and affordability, they are a dream.

    9. Thank you everyone for the brand suggestions and ideas! It’s appreciated!

  3. I just got back from a great trip to Vienna – thanks for all the recommendations here! One thing I noticed is that a lot of women on the streets were wearing riding boots rather than booties. I know that we always talk about how riding boots are out of style, but has anyone noticed them coming back in any other cities?

    1. It may be that riding boots are ‘technically’ out of style, but if you live in a city and have walking commutes, then riding boots are the superior choice. They prevent ice/sludge from going down your shoes, keep your calves warm, etc.

    2. My DH is Austrian so we go there a fair bit. I feel like riding boots were never really ‘out’ there. They are the go to winter boot for women for generations. They don’t wear Uggs or other fluffy winter boots in the city – only like moon boots for apres ski. Booties seemed to have been more of an fall/spring shoe replacement vs a winter boot and they never that a super popular moment like in the US.

    3. I’m in Virginia, and riding boots definitely seem to be in in Richmond and Charlottesville – and of course up in horse country (Middleburg, Warrenton, etc..). I see them less often than booties in DC, but they’re around.

    4. In true winter climates I don’t think they’ll ever go away. Even my most on-trend friends choose practicality over trends for footwear in the depths of winter here in Boston.

      1. I have been kind of amused by the discussions of “tall boots are out” because they are a style that has been around and worn for centuries, by both men and women, especially in cold climates. Women in my city never stopped wearing them because they are hands-down the most practical footwear for negotiating through ice and snow in subzero temperatures.

    5. I really think they’re on the upswing again. I’ve seen them so much more from major brands this fall compared to last.

      That said, I think wearing them with jeans still looks dated. I’m seeing them much more with skirts, dresses, and maybe leggings and a tunic.

  4. I decided to hire a regular cleaning service to come clean our home maybe once or twice a month. For those of you who do this, do you write out a 1099-Misc to report taxes or use a service or ?? (I’m – transactional lawyer at a midsized firm). Also, what do I do with my dog, who is normally crated at home during the day, but is sensitive to loud (read: vacuum) noises?

    1. If it’s a service, they’re not your employees and you don’t need to withhold taxes or give them tax forms. It’s the big advantage to a cleaning service vs individual.

    2. Check your state to see what the threshold is for annual payment that you have to report. I think NY is $1800. Anything below that doesn’t need to be reported, so a once a month cleaning might not even hit the threshold. Honestly, our cleaners are over it, but not by a ton, and I pay them in cash and don’t even bother reporting. I am also an attorney and am usually a huge rule follower, but we had a nanny on the books for a short time (she quit and we switched the baby to daycare), and dealing with the state was a huge PITA for YEARS afterwards where we kept getting notices of our supposed failure to make certain contributions, which we weren’t making because we had no household employees, which we kept attesting to. Truly, it wasn’t resolved for about 3 years after she quit. So now I just skate on the bimonthly cleaners.

      1. If you pay your cleaneing lady cash, and if she comes early, just call 99.999% as a grutuity (i.e., a “TIP”), I learned that the IRA will not find there is anything reportable. I also give my cleaneing lady merchandise (clotheing and shoes) for her daughter, which I do not even count at all. Dad says TurboTax covers all of this somewhere. Others in the HIVE can give the cite.

    3. As someone else said, if you hire a service, it’s different than hiring an individual. Our housekeeper is an individual but she has an LLC through which she pays herself and her employees, so it’s like a service, with just herself and the people she hires to help her. She also brings her own supplies, sets her own schedule (I just verify that yes, that day of the week you’d like to clean works for us), has multiple other clients, and works unsupervised without guidance or direction from me. Our accountant said that if we ever get questioned about not paying household employee taxes, she’s willing to fight it out as she feels like it’s clear this person is not an employee, but she’s actually never had a problem with a situation like this, where the cleaning person has their own business structure registered with the state and the IRS and pays taxes through that. We also usually end up skipping the bimonthly cleanings often enough that we usually end up below the threshold, even if it did become an issue.

    4. I use a service so that I don’t have to deal with the tax issues. Worth it to me for the peace of mind and not having to deal with the logistics (i.e., if my regular cleaner can’t come, they find/arrange the substitute) and insurance issues.

    5. You generally wouldn’t fill out any form of the sort for hiring a service, they deal with their own tax filings.

      As far as the dog – can he go to doggy daycare on that day? It’s only once every couple of weeks. I mean, realistically, it’s a dog and unless it’s prone to hurting itself in the crate to vaccuum sounds, he’ll get over it – he’s already going to be in his safe space.

    6. I would be sure to hire a service/person who likes dogs, and who can let the dog out–if at all possible–so the dog can avoid the vacuum. My cleaners put my dog in our bedroom with a chewy thingy while they do the rest of the house, and then put the dog in the crate while they do the bedroom. Or, if your dog is old enough, and can move around the house to avoid the vacuum, going to different places, that can work too. and a treat to get back in the crate.

  5. Can anyone recommend brands or sources of herbal teas that either come loose (not in metal tins) or in tea bags that are not individually packaged? Celestial seasonings is the only one I know of but I’m looking for more variety of flavors. It’s for a gift for a very very environmentally conscious friend who specifically complains about this :)

    1. If it was looseleaf, it’s either metal or plastic (you have to put it in something) but you can often bring your own package to tea shops and they’ll fill them up. I use Bonne Maman jam jars as they hold about 80-90 grams. Also, most tea shops also sell the compostable tea bags so she could make her own.

    2. All the best loose leaf tea comes in tins or in plastic bags designed to refill your tins. Unclear what your friend wants.

    3. Harney & Sons. The bags come in tins, but they are not individually wrapped in foil packages.

      1. +1 I ask for this for Christmas every year (because it’s sold on amazon and that’s how we roll with wishlists in my extended family) and I have a lovely Earl Grey January.

    4. David’s Teas has loose tea that comes in a foil pouch. If there is a store local to you, they will also let you bring your own container.

    5. Pukka makes nice, unique blends of caffeine free teas, the bags are in individual paper envelopes, but recyclable and compostable. I get it at Safeway’s.

    6. What about some loose leaf tea and a tea ball, if this is a sticking point for your friend?

    10. Rare Tea Cellar in Chicago is my fiancee’s go-to for his own tea and for situations where he gives it as gifts (we also see it on restaurant menus all over Chicago).
      It is sent loose in a large plastic bag that seals tight.

      https://rareteacellar.com/

    13. Republic of Tea comes in metal tins that hold unpackaged tea bags. They say their bags are “eco-friendly” but I’m not sure if that means they’re recyclable or compostable.

    14. Probably too late here, but I love Rishi Tea! Sustainable, ethical sourcing. You can buy all their teas in bulk which means it comes in a heavy duty ziploc-like bag. I have a giant thing of herbal chai and another of chamomile from them right now.

    15. Republic of Tea packages its tea bags in metal canisters (bags are not individually wrapped.)

  6. Potential trigger warning here for s@xual assault. I recently left my 1 year old medium sized female puppy at a boarder I found through rover.com and recommended by a friend for a week for the first time. I trusted the woman and my dog came back looking healthy so I’m going to do that again.

    After she came back, I took her on a walk and also to the dog park, and I noticed that a couple of times, a larger, male dog would try to mount her from behind, only to be stopped by their owner. At least one of these dogs is one owned by a neighbor so I know he is neutered. My dog is spayed also. I did not witness actual penetration, but only because (I think) the owner pulled their dog off of mine.

    So I’m wondering if I left my dog in a group setting, whether she is s@xually assaulted by male dogs and if I can do anything to prevent that. Is this just something that happens in nature and I am treating my dog like a special snowflake? Am I projecting my own concerns? Again, I cannot tell whether my dog is bothered by this behavior but I certainly am. Tell me I am overthinking this.

    1. I’m so confused and I think you’re overthinking this. What is the relevance of the Rover stay? How your dog was treated during that week has nothing to do with male dogs trying to mount her at the dog park.

      1. +1. Unless you notice that your dog seems out of sorts, I would do your best to let it go.

      2. It made me wonder whether I should have her go to a home where she is with a smaller group or where there are only female dogs to play with. I know I’m crazy but this dog is my fur baby and I’m feeling very protective.

        1. The “fur baby” mentality and overprotective projection creates poorly behaved dogs. Your dog needs to be able to interact with other dogs. You will do her a disservice by acting like she is a baby who needs to be coddled.

        2. I would strongly suggest you do some reading about dog behavior and dog social interaction. It’s not good to project human norms of interaction onto animals – by doing that and intervening in situations that are normal, you prevent your dog from learning what social behavior is and is not appropriate. (For example, what constitutes normal doggie play vs. aggression at a dog park – that is super important to understand so you know when to step in and when to leave things be – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen dog owners scream and jump in when dogs were wrestling in a normal and appropriate way, even though the dogs’ body language was relaxed/happy and the behavior was utterly nonaggressive.)

          Basically, in the same way that helicopter parenting is bad for kids, it’s bad for dogs. They also need to learn independence, conflict resolution skills, etc.

    3. You are overthinking this and projecting. Dogs mount for a variety of reasons, not all of them have to do with mating. Perhaps read some training/behavior books or ask your vet for resources.
      Your dog is spayed- she can correct the offending dog if she is bothered by it.

      1. I think she can correct the behavior, but not if the dog is much larger and can overpower her. She is only 20 lbs – some of these dogs are larger and stronger than her. This is all playing into my fears. What reasons are there for mounting if not for mating? Control and domination, which evokes s@xual assault to me. Female dogs don’t do this.

        1. My spayed, female dog often mounted dogs smaller than her when I first adopted her. Trained her out of this, but alerting you that it’s not gender specific. Isn’t this just a comment I would have never typed out….

        2. The book recommended above on dog behavior is excellent and will help you educate yourself about this. You are projecting human behavior motivations and patterns onto dogs. Dogs are not people. They do things for totally different reasons than people do.

    5. What. On. Earth. Is. This. Nonsense.

      Honestly.

      This is not s*xual assault. It doesn’t need a trigger warning. If you see a dog mounting your dog, recall your dog and separate them. Of all the overblown nonsense I cannot.

      1. This is why I mentioned the Rover stay. If I am there, of course I will recall the dog or even pick her up. But that made me realize that when she is in a group setting, I cannot rescue her from another dog and I also have no idea how closely her and other dogs will be monitored during the day. Obviously she isn’t going to be watched every single minute of her stay.

        1. Can’t you send her to a dogsitter who doesn’t have other dogs? Most of the Rover sitters we find don’t have their own pets – in fact, they work as dog sitters because they love animals but their lives aren’t currently compatible with pet ownership (eg. college students, retired folks who travel a ton, etc.) I would expect a Rover sitter to be supervising your dog well if she takes her to a dog park.

      2. This is the nuttiest thing I’ve ever seen on this site. And that’s saying something.

    6. You’re projecting. It’s a completely normal, if obnoxious, play behavior among dogs and if she has a problem with it, she’ll clean the other dog’s clock.

      1. I sure hope so. She is only 20 lbs and is not aggressive toward other dogs. I would hope she would stand up for herself or at least run away.

        1. Head to your library and check out a copy of “The Other End of the Leash” by Patricia McConnell. It’s an excellent primer on why dogs do what they do and how they relate to humans/humans relate to dogs. I find observing dog interactions fascinating. Believe me, if she’s had enough, she will 100% let the other dog know. I have one dog that’s a bit of a knucklehead, and there are times I wish the other dogs weren’t as tolerant of her shenanigans as they are.

    8. Not at all akin to human assault. You are way overthinking this. Trust me, if your dog has a problem with another dog, she is fully capable of aggressing towards the other dog – which is, again, totally normal dog communication.

      1. This is helpful. This is what I needed to hear on this topic. Thank you for weighing in.

      1. Not a troll, a regular reader. Trust me, if you had a dog you adored, you would worry about her well being. Watching another dog try and do this to her has me a bit traumatized.

        1. If this has you traumatized, then you need to seek help. I’m not trying to be rude. This is absolutely normal dog behavior. Moreover, it is pretty common knowledge that this is normal, common behavior. Do you know anything about dogs? It’s just something that they do, even dogs that are neutered. That’s why people are reacting to your post like they are (and yes, many of us have or have had dogs we adore). You’re projecting. Dogs do not interpret this behavior like humans do. It’s not s*xual assault to them. The male dog was not try to harm her or do it with cruel intent.

        2. I have a dog I adore like you wouldn’t imagine. And I cannot believe you are likening human as s ault to dogs. Something is fundamentally off in how you perceive/internalize human as s ault if you’re making this comparison.

        3. Okay, I have been raped twice, and also otherwise sexually assaulted and I have seen plenty of dogs get humped without having any adverse reaction to it. One of my male dogs was neutered very late and he occasionally humps my other male dog. My non-humper gives him a little growl and it’s over with. I also adore my dogs, and am freaking vegan/CF for crying out loud, but you are way overreacting to this. Like in epic proportions.

        4. Maybe read up a bit on normal dog behavior and interaction? This shouldn’t be described as ‘traumatizing’.

        5. I definitely do have a dog I adore, and I think this is a wild overreaction. Have you been around dogs before? This is just a thing that dogs do. Either your dog will shut it down, or she will run away, or she doesn’t care that much. Those are all of the options.

        6. First of all, don’t just assume that because people are giving you advice you don’t like that they don’t have dogs they adore. Secondly, her well being is going to be damaged by your overprotective “fur baby” mentality. Invariably the dogs at the dog park who are snippy for no reason are the over coddled ones. Socialization is really important for dogs and yours needs the freedom to do that without you projecting like this.

          Sincerely,
          Someone who adores her dog

        7. I love my dog, but my husband is absolutely batty about her – he didn’t ever want to leave her alone, so we took her on tons of plane flights, on road trips, to restaurants that had outdoor seating and allowed dogs, etc. Even he knows that dogs hump other dogs and it’s normal and not something to freak out about. Don’t condescend to us by acting like we don’t get it because we aren’t loving dog parents.

    10. So, I agree it is normal dog behavior but I can also see why you don’t want your dog subjected to it if she doesn’t like it. While dogs can certainly tell other dogs to back off, more submissive dogs won’t. I have a male dog and a female dog. Both fixed. The male likes to hump the female and we just pull him off of her when we see it. She just stands there looking annoyed. Since we had the female dog first, my husband sometimes feels bad that the female dog has to deal with this in her home. In the animal world though, it is not about sex. It is about dominance and extra energy and all sorts of other stuff.

    11. Special snowflake. Dogs do not have a concept of s@xual assault like humans do – you are projecting. They’re mounted, they take it or bite. End. Also, humping is not always s@xual, it is also used as a sign of dominance, that’s why female dogs also do it.

      1. I’m not sure this is accurate (dogs can and have gotten serious PTSD from forced mating and from otherwise unharmful things humans have done to them). But I agree that nothing like this is happening here (this is all within the realm of normal dog behavior).

    12. This is insane, and this kind of “special sn0wflake” stuff makes it harder for actual, you know, human on human assault to be taken seriously.

    14. You’re not a freak to be concerned with this. No one wants to believe that animals are sensitive or that they have any concept of rights (especially female animals). What you’ve described doesn’t sound like concerning to me, but I get why you would think so and I’m glad that you are a very caring dog parent.

      2. Yeah, I don’t know why everyone is dogpiling on OP–sometimes dogs can be assaulted and are traumatized by it. Especially dogs that have already been traumatized, this behavior, in conjunction with it being a display of dominance, can be further damaging to the dog. I’ve seen it happen in other people’s dogs that were rescued from abusive homes. That said, I think for most dogs that aren’t already traumatized, there won’t be an issue with this behavior and it may be a little extra worrisome. Yes, our dogs might not enjoy/like it, but it’s not going to be as damaging as the same instance would be for a human, and sometimes we just have to let our dogs be dogs and leave it be if it’s just annoying/uncomfortable and not actually damaging. In general, dogs are pretty resilient creatures, unlikely to be too phased by this type of thing (unless they were, as stated before, previously traumatized).

  7. I’d like to throw together a quick Christmas card with photos from the year. Anyone have a favorite service where I can design the card and upload addresses for automatic mailing? Anything user-friendly and affordable would be great – probably looking at 30-50 cards.

    1. I used Simply to Impress this year. The photo cards I ordered look nice. The website was easy to use. I found them to be slightly cheaper than Shutterfly was last year (both with various coupon codes, so YMMV). I didn’t have the cards auto mailed, but it seemed like that service cost just the price of the stamp.

    2. I usually use Shutterfly, which tends to be cheaper than Minted and others (and always has a discount code, it seems). You can input addresses individually or they have a spreadsheet you can use and then upload that to import the addresses.

    3. I use VistaPrint and they do a good job and deliver really quickly.

      Also just a heads up but last year we did a photo collage and I was disappointed that the photos looked a lot smaller on the regular cards than they did on my screen when I was making it. This year we are going with one larger photo, which I like better. YMMV, of course.

      1. Oh, didn’t catch the thing about automatic mailing. Not sure whether they do that or not.

    4. paper culture — they use recycled paper, fwiw, and the cards have turned out nicely. It’s very easy. Or we’ve also done this with postable. both let you upload addresses and autosend the cards.

    5. Minted has gorgeous cards that I think are worth the money and you can upload a spreadsheet of addresses.

      2. We did birth announcements through Minted last month. With a coupon code, their flat cards are not that much pricier than Shutterfly or Tiny Prints. Also, it was free to print the envelopes with recipients’ addresses (you can upload spreadsheet). But it cost extra if you wanted print YOUR return address—luckily we have a self-inking address stamp so it was no big deal. Actually, this is a smart business move on their part—we’ll totally be using them next year since it was so easy/free and our contact list is already uploaded.

  8. Anyone have recommendations for specific fragrance free shampoo and conditioners? I’m pregnant (first trimester) and have become some sort of bloodhound, and my existing hair care routing (plus every other shampoo and conditioner I have tried) makes me super super nauseous. I can smell it all day, every time I move my head.

    1. Jason has an unscented shampoo and conditioner, I have not used the conditioner but I have used the shampoo, and it does not leave any scent.

    3. I don’t know of unscented ones, sorry, but have you tried tea tree scented products? That scent actually helps pregnancy nausea for me and I don’t think it stays on my hair once it’s dry as much as other scents do. WF used to have their own label for tea tree oil products, as does Trader Joe’s. Paul Mitchell stuff is more tingly. And congrats!

    4. Aveeno. And also some baby shampoos. Free & Clear brand at Target. The Honest Company has some, too.

    5. Vanicream – which is the free and clear brand at Target. They make unscented everything for medical conditions.

    6. Stony Brook Botanicals Unscented and Fragrance Free Shampoo and Conditioner. Both of them pass my husband’s Bloodhound Nose, Migraine-and-Allergy Sinuses tests.

  9. Husband is getting into baking, so I want to get him some baking-related stuff for Christmas. So far, I have piping bag on my list. He already has a mixer and a kitchen scale. Anything I can get that is more “substantial”? Also any brand rec? Thanks!!!

    1. What does he like to bake? Is he more into the baking part or decorating?
      What I would enjoy:
      A set of piping tips and gel food coloring
      Cake stand, cupcake liners, nice glass pie plate
      Nordic Ware baking tins

    2. Candy thermometer
      Fancy pans — decorative bundt pans, angel food cake pans, springform pans, tart pans, pie pans
      Silicon molds
      food coloring (I hear gel are best)
      cookie cutters/sprinkles
      rolling pins
      silicon baking mat (disclaimer: I’ve never used mine)
      a variety of extracts?

    3. What kinds of items is he enjoying baking? I’m a pretty serious hobby baker and can give lots of recs based on that.

      For a general baking inspiration/aspiration book, the Bouchon Bakery cookbook is classic. I’ve baked several recipes from it, and they’ve been challenging but doable. And the pictures are amazing.

      1. He had lots of fun making pies, cream puffs and cookies but is considering branching out to something more adventurous, like croissants, sponge cakes etc. Will check out the cook book!

        1. The cookbook above has a fun croissant recipe that takes a long time with resting the dough, etc., so highly recommend that.

          Someone mentioned some NordicWare cake pans– those are fantastic. You can get some really cool bundt pans from them that are very elaborate, but also just their standards are great.

          If he wants to get more into pie, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the “Art of the Pie” cookbook. I read the whole thing cover to cover because it’s well written, and it really helped me up my pie game. After reading it and working my way through it, I feel very confident basically making up recipes for fillings. If he wants to get into really decorating pies, you can get him some fondant tools to help cut the dough (cookie cutters can work, too). The fondant tools will help with cake decorating as well if he wants to get into that. My favorite is a set that looks like a paint roller, but it helps cut strips of whatever size you want.

          A nice french rolling pin is very versatile (those are the ones with the tapered ends, rather than a big roller with handles). I use mine constantly, especially for pie. If you get him one of those, make sure he reads about how to care for it because using soap on these can damage them.

          Someone below mentioned nice measuring cups and spoons. I got a very nice, heavy and durable set of measuring spoons for Christmas last year and really didn’t anticipate how much joy I get from using them. I believe the person got them from an online chef supply site.

    4. Sheet pans? (The King Arthur brand and the Chicago Metallic uncoated ones are both good). Good vanilla (if he is baking sweets), a pain de mie if he’s into baking bread.

    5. +1 on the thermometer. It seems like a little thing but it is the key to precision for candy, bread, and meat. (And probably other things; those are my three.)

    7. Cooling racks! I never seem to have enough when I make a big batch of cookies.
      If he’s doing pastry – maybe a marble rolling pin? You can stick them in the fridge so all your ingredients stay cold.
      If he’s doing bread – I’d give a bread cookbook and maybe some fancy dipping oils to enjoy his work with.

    8. Not substantial, but I live for parchment paper. It’s changed my baking (well, cleanup) a ton. It’s amazing and I love it. Signed, Cookies, bread, and cake-maker.

      I also like stackable cooling racks!

      1. Good half-sheet pans (look at Williams Sonoma or Lloyds Pans) with a box of the pre-cut parchment would be a lovely gift.
        Also, would he be interested in fancy ingredients? Different flours, fancy sprinkles (look at the site Fancy Sprinkles for ideas), a selection of flavored extracts, etc.

    10. Marble pastry board. It’s awesome for rolling out doughs – pastry, pie, bread and cookie.

    11. King Arthur Flour catalog – everything!

      If he doesn’t have them, Silpat silicone cookie sheet liners. They are amazing.

    12. Depends on what he likes to bake. I’ve found that most “fancy” utensils & baking gift-type items aren’t good for much. Good vanilla has gotten stupid expensive, so if he uses a lot, some vanilla beans and vodka is a great DIY gift. If he’s interested in pasta, the pasta attachments for a Kitchen Aid stand mixer are nice to have.

      1. Maybe not for gifting, but for anyone doing their own baking, Costco sells some large container (a pint?) of vanilla and I have been SUPER impressed with the flavor in my baked goods over my usual grocery store brands. It costs a small fortune, but I’ve loved it.

    14. Depending on where you live, a baking class! My local polytechnic has a whole series of baking night classes that are AMAZING

    15. Everyone has great suggestions, but I want to add good quality stainless steel measuring cups/spoons.

      1. Yes! Also measuring spoons with more rectangular/square shaped ends rather than round so they easily fit into spice containers.

      2. I do a lot — A LOT — of baking (it runs in the family, for my sister’s wedding, we had 40 kinds of cookies, for Christmas, there are usually about 15 kinds plus several kinds of candy. You get the picture.) I have two sets of measuring cups and spoons. Very handy when the kitchen is a flour-coated disaster and you can’t find the quarter-cup measure or the spoons are at the bottom of a sink full of dirty dishwater.

        Parchment paper is a must. Not only for easy clean-up, but it really does have an effect on how some cookies bake. I don’t own cooling racks. I don’t have the storage space for them, so I either cool cookies on tea towels or a sheet of freezer or parchment paper (I reuse the same sheet of paper all baking season, just shake the crumbs off and move on.) I swear by AirBake pans, but you need to learn to use them properly or you’ll burn whatever it is you’re baking. Cookie scoops are the best invention ever. The smallest size you can find is probably the one you’ll use most, unless you prefer giant cookies. Silicone spatulas and brushes — they’re heat resistant and dishwasher safe. Plus, the silicone brushes clean up so much better than natural bristle pastry brushes (they get really gross after a few uses.)

        I use the disposable plastic piping bags because I’ve found that the reusable bags never truly come clean. The butter/shortening leaves a film on the reusable bags no matter how you wash them and after awhile you end up needing to toss and replace them.

        PS — If there is a Kitchen Collection store near you, they are going out of business — you can take advantage of this to stock up on a lot of baking tools.
        If he has an interest, check your local craft stores (think Joann’s, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby) for Wilton’s cake decorating classes. They teach basic decorating skills, and sometimes there are advanced classes. I keep watching for the stores in my area to offer a class on fondant, but no luck yet. If you’re in a more metropolitan area, they may have more offerings there.

    17. A really nice instant-read thermometer is super useful for all over the kitchen, and miles better than the cheap ones. Thermapen seems to be the standard, but I haven’t looked int it recently.

    18. Oh my goodness! Thanks everyone! He like the baking aspect more than decorating, although it could be we don’t have anything he can use to decorate!! He also loves baking with our toddler if that changes your recommendations!!

      2. Yes, it does! One of my favorite things as a kid was making and eating cookie press cookies. I bet your DH and kiddo would have a blast. We had an electric cookie press, which made it possible for small hands with not a ton of grip strength to use it. Looks like Cuisinart makes one that reviews well.

      3. Matching aprons for him and the toddler would be sweet. My toddler used to call it his “muffin man” outfit (came with a baker’s hat).

      5. I have 3 sets of measuring spoons and asked for another set (different shape) over Black Friday. It’s a little overkill, but when my hands are deep in flour is not the best time to go and wash one of my measuring spoons. And sometimes you need multiples of one size, something dry, something oily, and then peanut butter whaaaa? I love having multiple sets of measuring spoons and cups. Makes me feel like a king.

    19. Restaurant supply half and quarter sheet pans, plus wire racks and silpats that fit exactly. I would be delighted with this.

    20. The most used items in my kitchen for baking cookies and piped pastries:
      4 sturdy half sheet pans (not the kind with the rims – the flat baking sheets with a rim on only one side. I got mine )
      4 stainless steel cooling racks roughly the same size as the pans
      Coated parchment paper, again, in the half sheet size, not the rolls
      Linden Sweden baker’s cooling rack – This is my favorite thing, because I have a small kitchen. It’s SO much sturdier than the stacking cooling racks I had before and way more versatile. He can stack the pans and cooling racks on it in any combination. So I use it to hold sheets of cookies ready for the oven, pans that just came out of the oven, the cooling racks while the cookies are cooling, and trays or pans with decorated cookies on it while the icing or glaze or whatever is setting. Seriously, this thing is genius. And it folds up relatively flat when you’re not using it! King Arthur Flour carries it and just calls it “Stacked Cooling Rack” but most places (Amazon, cooking stores) call it a Swedish Baking Rack – I don’t know if anyone other than Linden Sweden makes them; that’s just the brand I have.

  10. I was surprised at my annual physical this year to discover I’ve gained 10 lbs and 10% body fat. I have a pretty petite frame (5’3), and clothes have fit a bit differently, but I haven’t needed to purchase new clothes or go up a size. Before my physical next year, I’d like to start eating better (will be looking up historical posts on meal prepping for lawyers!) and working out more consistently. If anyone has success stories or commiseration, I’m all ears!

    1. 1. Restaurant food is THE DEVIL. Ditto: prepared food. If you must do seamless, order sushi b/c it’s calorie light and expensive, so easy to meet the minimum for delivery.
      2. Ditto alcohol. Soooo many calories. I have cut way back for vanity and just drink beer usually in a can so it’s not an obscene quantity (vs growler-sized pours at some breweries).
      3. Ditto snacking.

      Good:
      Keep cereal at your desk.
      Triscuits aren’t the worst thing to snack on; add cheese and it’s a good light meal.
      Chef-Boy-Ardee cans keep for a long time and are a good emergency meal.
      Otherwise: cook on weekends, don’t fear leftovers — use for lunch or dinner.

      1. Totally agree – eating out or eating many kinds of prepared foods makes people gain weight. I like to keep a stock of healthy soup (like lentil) and apples for easy and healthy lunches. When I used to do a lot of travel, I’d try to hit up a Snap Kitchen or Whole Foods if there were any in the area.

      2. These are great suggestions. I would add that eating a lot of raw salad with a lot of Balsamic Vinegrette and Olive Oil will help keep your intestine’s clear so that the food you eat won’t stay in there and get absorbed into calories. Good luck, as we have all been there, working long nites at our desks, and getting takeout food and prepared foods that are full of sugar and salt and fat. FOOEY!

    2. Sitting at a desk all day is a drag, makes you so hungry! My biggest tip for meal prepping (I do breakfast and lunch) is to not only think about your goals but think about what food will actually help you stay committed to those goals. For example, I’m a total carbs girl and can’t say no to bagels. Very often, they are at my office for free. So, rather than telling myself carbs are bad, I’ll bring in my own (healthier) Ezekiel bread and lots of fresh fruit so I get the satisfaction of something toasty with jam but I’m not eating a whole bagel. Also, I love making big batches of pasta for weekday lunches on Sundays. A box of Banza chickpea pasta (or similar) has 4 servings. I cook the whole box and make a simple grape seed oil/white wine sauce. But I pack in TON of kale, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, fresh cherry toms, and chicken so the 2 oz. serving of pasta seriously fills me up. Fiber is your friend! Just think about what you like to eat/what makes you happy and health-ify it. You’re more likely to stick to the meals you bring and less likely to give in when someone asks if you want to run out for lunch.

    3. 10 pounds in a year is like 100 calories per day more than you need. A bit less cheese, nuts, avocado slices, chocolate. Don’t eat that handful of Chex Mix or graze from the office candy bowl. Use less salad dressing. You can totally reverse this in a year with only tiny changes to cut 200 calories per day from your current diet, if you’re willing for the weight to go slowly.

      1. +1 I highly recommend the book Slim by Design. Very small changes add up over time (both positive and negative)

      2. This is why our bodies are designed to compensate for very small changes. It is possible to cut back significantly on calories and not lose an ounce of weight if your resting metabolism slows. It’s also possible to increase calories and
        not gain an ounce if metabolism ramps up correspondingly.

    4. Intermittent fasting has really worked for me. If you have’t tried it, you might think about it. What I like about it is that I’m not depriving myself of any food. I work a regular day/desk job, so my big meal of the day is lunch. I”ll have a pretty big lunch – burger & fries, something small for dinner (a bowl of cereal or a protein shake) and I’ve lost 16 lbs. For me, knowing that I can eat something that I love if it means not eating much for dinner is totally worth it.

  11. ISO cuticle oil pen with a brush on the end. I have one from Sephora from a couple of years ago but it is running out and I haven’t been able to find another one. Has anyone seen one anywhere?

      1. I’ve seen it at Target too – in the Sally Hansen section. It’s a blue tube.

    2. I buy them on Amazon and refill with my own cuticle oil (I like the essie apricot one) — just search “empty nail oil pen” or similar, though they sell the filled KISS one as well.

  12. Can I please get recommendations for where to buy armoire/wardrobe? I’ve been looking at IKEA, but we have a height restriction (the space ceiling is only 7’1″) and I prefer wood/fake wood look to white/black plastic-coated MDF. It would be a linen closet for now, and probably transition to a kid’s wardrobe in some number of years. Prefer drawer/shelves, but need a little capacity to hang. For reference, the IKEA one that I love but is too tall is Article No: 492.876.18.

    1. Check your local Facebook marketplace (aka, the new Craigslist) – I see tons of armoires for sale in my area.

  13. Is there a Nordstrom cashmere throw (or maybe wrap?) that everyone likes? Search is failing me here…thanks

    1. I don’t know about cashmere, but everyone loves the Barefoot Dreams brand that Nordstrom carries. I think they have throws.

    2. The Halogen cashmere wrap is well liked – I don’t see it now but they have similar big scarf options.

    3. There’s a Nordstrom tissue weight wrap that I bought a couple of colors in based on recs here. It’s more of a wide scarf. I use it on airplanes and it is absolutely clutch. They also offer a thick cashmere throw that is too bulky to take on planes but I use it as a shawl over my pajamas at home.

      If you’re more looking for a cashmere throw, like a blanket for your couch, I don’t know but I want your life!

      1. I looked on the N app, and the tissue weight wrap is called the Nordstrom brand dip dye cashmere scarf.

  14. DH is a gadget-y guy. He’d love a drone but I’m not about to drop $1,000 on the one I know he wants. We have a firm $500 budget for one another and I’ve already spent about $250-$300 of it on a few smaller things that, while I know will be a hit, are a little more practical than ‘fun’.

    Any ideas for fun ‘toys’ for guys this year? In the past I’ve bought him a weather station and remote control airplanes (a hobby of his), and they were a hit. Any recs before I continue on my path of practical over fun?

    1. Classes for a Commercial Drone Pilot Certification? Having taken the class, he’s less likely to run afoul of regulations and lose his $1000 toy!

      1. OMG is this a thing!? He has some serious RC airplanes that are all classified as drones. It’s a hobby he wants to get back in to so that just might do it!

  15. Looking for a reco for non-bulky house slippers to wear indoors. Preferably wool/felt material, but open to other suggestions. I typically wear wool socks at home so I’d like to try wearing slippers instead. Also, is this the type of thing I should try on at the store instead?

    3. Fur lined knockoff Birkenstock’s. Sometimes I wear them to the grocery store :))

      2. Love mine. Word of warning get ones with white shearling inside rather than black.

    4. I’m currently wearing Haflinger As slippers bought from Nordstrom. I am a size 7 generally and sized up to an 8 to accommodate socks. They are light and fairly flexible.

    5. I really like my haflinger boiled wool slipper clogs. they are warm but don’t make your feet sweaty. giesswein has some similar styles as well. I prefer wool over fur/fake fur/microfiber etc.

    6. I love my Haflinger wool mules. Cork footbed, great arch support, sturdy construction.

  16. I recently traveled for trial and found my coworkers to make many off-color jokes that veered into racist and prejudicial remarks about our opposing counsel and adversarial witnesses. I tried calling them out on it during the trip but I was really against the prevailing social grain. I thought I’d cool down about it after the trip and Thanksgiving holiday, but now that we’re back in the office, I am still peeved and respect a few of them much less. I don’t think I properly raised how uncomfortable I was with the comments during the trip so I don’t know going to HR is fair and the partner was in on the jokes (even if he made fewer of them). Would you just get over it? Chalk it up to trial stress? Be more clear with people if it continues now that we’re back in the office? This feels unprofessional and something in principle I should not accept but I also don’t know what my remedy is here as I have to continue to work with this team if I ever want trial experience.

    1. “This is not going to look good if it gets overheard and winds up on Above the Law.”

    2. I think it really depends on the severity of the comments. If your coworkers were spouting the n word and homophobic slurs, I’d absolutely go to HR – even if you specify you don’t want action on it now, request it in your file so you have a record in case you need to establish a pattern of behavior. If they were off color, but only mildly offensive, if you addressed it then, I’m not sure what more there is for you to do – it may not be worth spending social capital addressing this (which is awful but realistic).

      I’m not sure what you mean by “tried calling them out”. If you mean you used your words to say, that’s not right, that’s not professional, etc. you did what you should have done in the moment. If you just sat silently without joining in the laughter or conversation expecting them to sense your disapproval – you didn’t do anything.

    3. Is there someone from the group you can talk to and say “I’m curious if all the joking during the trial was normal? It felt really out of place based on what I’ve seen otherwise.” Bonus points if you can ask a couple people and compare answers.

      It gives you the chance to open the conversation without a big statement and you can see what response you get. Depending on the response you can decide if you are comfortable saying “I asked because I was really uncomfortable with the tone/content of the jokes. I don’t want to get labeled as the killjoy, but yikes – I just don’t know if I”m ready for that level of gallows humor.”

      1. I think BT’s reply is perfect but would change the wording at the end to say “I think this is gallows humor but it is offensive and I’m not good with it.”

  17. I was not optimistic about a celebrity clothing line run by a short high-waisted person. But it seems that they are at least having a lot of items with inclusive sizing and non-standard (small / white) models. I have yet to get any items (their sale items are in my budget and my sizes always seem to be sold out). But I am really pleased to see this brand develop and become something I’m not hating on (e.g., She by Sheree).

    1. I’m wearing She by Sheree head to toe today, and I am Gone With the Wind fabulous.

      Who gonna check me, boo?

    2. I went to the Draper James store in Nashville. I am only 5’6″ but nothing fit. I really think the clothes are cut for a shorter person, for Reese Witherspoon herself actualy.

  18. This dress, except with heels and my hair in a bun, was exactly how ten year old me thought grownup me would dress.

  19. I know this is vague, but I have a second interview tomorrow and I really want the job. Any tips on how to do a great job? Ask trying to negotiate $5k higher than what HR said so any negotiation tips are appreciated. TIA!

    1. Step one: never discuss salary during the job interview. Discuss it when they call/write you with an offer.

      Step two: be personable. Many job interviews are just about personality clicking, not technical expertise. They just want to know if you’re someone they want to work with.

      1. +1 here’s the thing….they read your resume and qualifications, and then called you. You presumably made it through the 1st round of interviews. Now personally shine in the 2nd. At the end of the day when I choose staff “fit” is what will make me hire someone…..much of that (for me) is pure instinct. I assess their energy; woo woo for sure, but it has never let me down.

    2. Do your homework and study the company. Read recent press releases. You’d be AMAZED how few people know that we just closed a big, huge round of funding, or that there was a recent acquisition (albeit not a headline maker, but a real change maker). That type of knowledge, beyond just being super qualified and all around wonderful, make people stand out.

    3. Have several questions prepared so if it’s a lazy interviewer who wants you to do all the work, you’re ready and not fumbling. If the answer to the question then presents an opportunity for you to sell yourself, so much the better.

      -why the role is open (person left for a competitor? was promoted? moved for a partner’s career?)
      -what are some of the biggest challenges the person in this role faces
      -what outcomes would you think meant a person was excelling in the role
      -probably no ‘typical’ day but a typical balance of responsibilities

  20. Looking for gift suggestions for my husband’s grandmother (family secret santa). Limit is $70. She’s less mobile these days than she used to be; she is religious, doesn’t drink, is relatively technology-savvy, loves to cook delicious albeit unhealthy food, enjoys spending time on her back patio. Loves family photos, but tends to get them for gifts all the time. Doesn’t read a ton from what I’ve gathered. Enjoys genealogy but has already done 23 and Me and not likely to do another similar thing. Any Hive thoughts?

    1. What about a digital picture frame loaded with family photos and sprinkle in some quotes from the Bible or other spiritual mantras?

      1. I’ve also seen digital photo frames where you can beam new photos to her from time to time.

      2. I don’t know, if she gets that kind of thing “all the time” I’d try to get something relevant to one of her other interests.

    3. I agree with the digital picture frame, pre-filled with family pictures, if she doesn’t have on already. I had no idea there were ones where you could beam in new pictures from time to time. That would be the best.

      And if she is electronics savvy, and doesn’t have one already, I would start her with an Amazon dot with a lightbulb and maybe the small Amazon show 5 – all on sale today. For my elderly disabled father, the voice activated systems are life changing. He loves them for setting timers/alarms, listening to music and radio programs from around the world, controlling the lights in his bedroom with his voice, checking the weather/traffic constantly. And when he had a fall at home and was alone lying on the phone, he could call me for help using the Dot. Amazing.

    5. Not sure if these are her style, but fancy expensive windchimes were a big hit with my own grandma who loves sitting outside.

      1. Similarly, I bought my grandfather the mother of all bird feeders a few years ago. It was large and had snazzy copper and green accents – it was a big hit.

  21. Recommendations for low-heeled booties to wear with orthotics?

    I have a high instep already and my orthotic just pushes my foot higher. I think my booties being tight across my instep further contributed to my foot issues last cold season, so I’m looking for a better pair this year.

    I’m looking for black, dark gray, or dark brown, but I’m really more interested in knowing what styles work for my fellow high instep / orthotic wearing worker bees!

    1. Sam Edelman Petty is great for me with orthotics! They stretch a tiny bit over time.

    2. Sounds like we have very similar feet. I have really liked wedges for this purpose. I currently wear Blondo boots with my orthotics. I also really like wedged sneakers (though that isn’t exactly what you asked!).

    3. Try wide width shoes – a lot of brands (annoyingly) make the upper bigger rather than making a wider sole in the shoe, which may help you out.

  22. any advice on what a scientist should wear when she’s interviewing for tenure-track positions in top science departments (including ivies and top west coast schools)? this is for a friend of mine who has been a postdoc forever and spends zero on clothes and is asking my advice, as most of her friends are male scientists. i have offered her free reign in my lawyer closet but i dont want to make her look like a lawyer if that’s not what she’s supposed to look like. i did send her to sephora for a makeup consult.

    1. A suit is way too formal for this sort of thing and would look out of place. What do the female doctoral students at her university wear when they defend their dissertations? I’d use that as my jumping-off point. At my uni, that’s either pants and a nice top w/a scarf or a sheath dress. Flats are fine. I’d head to Talbots, personally.

    2. Tenure-track STEM prof here. Wear a suit or a tailored blazer and slacks, with booties or flats — have her throw the usual fear of overdressing out the window (it’s a real concern in everyday work life, but on the job market your interviewers/potential future colleagues understand that you need to dress appropriately to impress the deans). The blog “The Professor is In” has good advice (I will link in a separate reply).

    4. I would wear a long sleeved dress with tights and a low heel or nice flat or dress with coordinating (but not matching) blazer. She’ll likely be giving talks and walking around/touring labs, so you don’t want bare legs or open toed shoes. I think academia is slightly less formal than other fields so a full suit may be overkill.

    5. Can she ask a female prof at her institution? They’re in the best position to give advice. At my school, candidates stand out in a negative way when they wear either jeans or a full suit. Anything in between is fine. No need to get anything fancy, unmemorable is better. I wore black dress pants and a brightly colored sweater.

    6. Hooray! It’s a Female Scientist Question.

      It depends on the university and which science she’s in (physics, chemistry, biology and any of its subfields, etc), but she’ll want to dress up for the interview even if she lives the rest of her academic life in jeans. Maybe not a full suit, but probably a nice dress or shirt/skit combo. Also, wear comfortable professional shoes — there’s typically lots of walking in on-campus interviews, plus standing to give a presentation and possibly mingling at a reception. Makeup and hair standards are a little more variable, but generally go for the more subtle side of professional. Sadly there’s still an idea that if a female scientist dresses too nicely or has too-obvious makeup, she’s not “serious” about her science.

      1. Agree with all of this. I would probably go with slacks or ankle pants over skirts or dresses, add a nice blouse and a blazer in a coordinating color. Walkable shoes, e.g. booties. Subtle jewelry and maybe a scarf would be appropriate.

        1. And with “slacks or ankle pants over skirts or dresses” I mean pants _rather than_ skirts dresses. Do not wear pants over a skirt. Lol.

    7. Tenured STEM professor. Absolutely a pantsuit in a dark colour, with a simple blouse/button-down shirt. Flat shoes or booties (because of the campus tour and walking between the locations). I assume she will need to carry a laptop for her presentations – a simple bag or backpack for the laptop. Very minimal makeup or bare face, simple hair (in a bun, ponytail, or down if reasonably short). Minimal jewellery. Basically, she needs to show that she respects the occasion (hence the suit), but that she doesn’t think about her appearance on a day-to-day basis (because yes, a scientist is only supposed to think about science). It is a tricky balance to achieve. A pantsuit, as opposed to a skirt suit or a dress, because of the “not thinking about her appearance” above and also not to appear too feminine. Also, a pantsuit is better for having a lapel mike when she is giving a presentation.

      1. I think that dressing either like RBG or Hillary Clinton does would be fine. Either a pants suit or an A-line dress that is NOT above the knee. You want to be known for your brains, not your legs. Dad tells me this ALL.THE.TIME!

  23. Where to find a camel-colored knee-length A-line skirt? I’ve googled and searched all of the usual places (Nordstrom, Talbots, JCrew, Bloomingdales)… there is one at JCrew Factory but not sure of the quality of the material. Has anyone seen anything nice out there in that color?

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