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Suit of the Week: Boden

Boden suitingFor busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. Happy Wednesday! This week I'm swooning over this jacquard suiting from Boden, available in a polka dot pink as well as navy (and a solid, non jacquard black). I like the A-line cut to the skirt, the three buttons on the jacket, and — on the most sedate of the 3 colors — the fun lining on the black jacket. Of course after doing the graphic I found two dresses in the same fabrics, so those are options too. The jacket (Lombard Jacket) is $228, and the skirt (Aldwych Skirt) is $108; both available in sizes 2R-18L. Psst: I have a call in to customer service to see if the skirt is a solid black or a polka dotted jacquard. They're going to call me back and let me know… Also: Here's a similar plus-size option.

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

103 Comments

    1. Interesting! I like that is is based around questions, especially if they have an awesome search function (after they have been up & running for a while.) Has anyone been invited to join? Can anyone invite me?

  3. Oh, I REALLY like this. Could anyone in academia (humanities) comment whether the navy print would be OK for a job interview?

    1. I’m in finance (super formal environment) and navy is perfectly acceptable, and not any less professional than blacks/greys. Even the print, so long as the rest of the outfit is coordinated an crisp, would be fine.

    2. I wouldn’t bat an eye. I’ve only ever worn black, but that’s just because I have a decent black suit and don’t want to buy another.

    3. I will actually be the voice of dissension here. I think a full polka dot suit might be too much of a look for an interview. Sorry.

      1. I agree. I am generally up for almost anything, but I don’t think I’d want to be The Applicant In The Polka-Dot Suit for an interview.

      2. I agree that this is not appropriate for an interview. I’m a philosophy professor. A patterned suit could work but not a spotted suit. But it’d be fine for some conferences, if you don’t need to worry about looking too young.

      3. I take many fashion risks but would not wear a polka dotted suit to an interview.

      4. I agree, too, actually. And I love polka dots. I’d maybe consider it for part of the longer second interview rounds of meetings/lectures depending on the vibe of the department, but not for the initial interview.

      5. As a social sciences prof, this is no go for an interview. Too memorable and too cutesy. sorry!

    4. In academia, social sciences – you’d look terrific for the interview and you could wear it to conferences or to teach no problem.

  4. Has anybody else suffered second trimester depression? Any tips? I’ve never had any struggle with depression at all; I’m generally a happy go lucky kind of person who doesn’t worry a lot. But I’m in kind of a rut at work and combined with what I think is mostly my hormones, I’m barely functioning. I can’t manage to bill more than 6.5 hours per day, and it’s catching up with me. The work is there, I’m just finding it really boring and hard to get motivated.

    Also, I’m going to the doctor on Tuesday, so I’ll talk to her about this, but I doubt I will want to get on any antidepressants, even if they’re okay. I’m interested in tips for how to be more productive and not cry at work.

    1. First of all, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Second, keep in mind that pregnancy is really tough on your body. You are growing a person. That is hard physical work.

      Are you taking good care of yourself and practicing self-care? This is a good time to make sure you’re getting enough sleep, that you’re going for walks outside and soaking in fresh air and sunshine, that you’re eating foods that are delicious and nourishing, that you’re getting prenatal massages or pedicures or haircuts or whatever makes you feel good. See a funny movie, take a prenatal yoga class, read a good book. Exercise, sunshine, and a little luxury may help with that feeling of being in a rut.

      As for the work, don’t try to be motivated. Just try to break everything down into small pieces and then check those pieces off the list. When you can’t count on motivation to push you through a big project, rely on checklists and discrete action items.

      Good luck and hang in there!

      1. I think getting outside would be really helpful but it is still.so.hot.here. Upper 90s and humid. Ugh. I haven’t seen the sun in quite some time, now that I think about it.

        1. Does it get any better at night? I’m SO not a hot-out-and-humid person either, but can stand it more after the sun goes down. Any form of activity — walking, wading in a pool, easy recumbent bike — might be helpful for your mood (speaking as someone who’s never been pregnant, but who has had depression for 9 years).

          1. It gets a little better at night, but it’s still miserable (deep south), and my son goes to bed at 7:00, so it’s tough to get home from work and get out before he goes to bed. I’m going to make a point of it this weekend, though.

      2. +100000 to prenatal massage and prenatal yoga. I didn’t take it with the first but did with the second. It was my wonderful hour and a half to myself.

    2. FYI, there are psychologists (I mean MDs) who specialize in treating women who are having reproductive issues, and issues related to pre-partum, pregnancy, post-partum. I definitely recommend talk therapy with at least a counselor who specializes in women’s issues, perhaps cognitive behavioral therapy, and don’t be afraid to consider medication. Obviously, do what’s best for you. I’ll try to think of more advice later.

    3. I’ve had bouts of depression off and on throughout my pregnancy, although mine is mainly rooted in some things from my past and then made worse by hormones. Have you found anything that triggers these feelings? Sometimes for me just accepting them has helped a bit. Somehow acknowledging the sadness/despair/depression, instead of trying to ignore it or make it go away, was very therapeutic and calmed the worst of it.

      I was really helped by getting a little exercise every day with a friend who would walk at my pace and let me ramble about the things that were bothering me. Additionally I went from 1,000 mg of fish oil to 3,000 mg of fish oil and it not only helped my depression but also those feelings of being in a rut, disoriented, distracted, etc… I went from crying every day at work to being able to accomplish things. Also, if getting some extra sunshine isn’t an option, try a Vitamin D supplement.

      And I agree with Lorelai, work of a to-do list that is really broken down. It helped me to have very simple tasks to accomplish, which seemed to inspire a bit of confidence that I could, in fact, manage to do something. This generally allowed me to complete what I needed to do. It’s been a real battle for me to accept that when I’m pregnant, giving the 110% I’m used to just isn’t going to happen. I’m emotional and distracted and exhausted by growing a person. So give yourself some grace to accomplish only what you’re able to accomplish. There will be time in the future to get back on track, when you’re feeling more like yourself.

      Wishing you all the best! Remember this won’t last forever.

    4. No great advice, but just wanted to chime in that 6.5 billed hours a day while pregnant isn’t anything to shake a stick at. I get it, it’s not enough most places in the grand scheme of things, but that’s a serious accomplishment (even in the less exhausted 2nd tri).

    5. FWIW I went on antidepressants because of excessive crying and it went away immediately at a very low dose. My psychiatrist knew exactly which med would be best for my symptoms and I felt 100% better very quickly. So if you doctor suggests them, meds might help you a lot.

      1. How did you then know when to get off of them? If it’s just because of the pregnancy, which I think it is, would I just stop after giving birth?

        1. Talk to your doctor. That’s always the answer for going off anti-depressants but given the high rates of post partum depression you definitely want to make sure you know what to be watching out for when you go off them.

    6. I felt really bad throughout my second trimester and it turned out I have gestational diabetes. Once I started following the diet I felt much, much better. Did you take the glucose test yet?

    1. With me at all times. A photocopy elsewhere in my luggage and a scanned copy to my gmail.

    2. In third world country, on my person. In first world country (and in reputable hotel), in hotel in-room safe.

      At all times, color Xerox in my suitcase, color scan available electronically and extra passport photos in my suitcase just in case.

    3. I would never leave my passport in a hotel in any foreign country. It will be with me all the time. As Anon above said, I have a scanned copy of the entire passport in my gmail.

    4. On my person at all times, photocopy in my hotel room, scan in my gmail. Hadn’t thought of extra photos. That’s a good precaution too.

    5. Depends on the hotel and the country. Usually in a safe because I think I am more likely to lose it/have it be stolen than to have it stolen from a good hotel safe but really depends on where I am.
      Agree on copy. I have a photocopy with me and one I left with my mom so she can fax it to me if need be (I don’t like emailing it to myself needlessly because of hacking concerns).

    6. on me wherever I go, and I keep copies in my suitcase and one in my personal item

    7. I had always thought you should leave it in the safe because if out and about it could get stolen. Interesting about the photocopy – assume this is because if stolen you could take the photocopy to the embassy and they could reissue it from that?

      I only travel regularly to Western Europe, where I admit I’m not terribly afraid of theft from my hotel room. My only passport scare came at the airport, where a ticket agent took it in a dispute over the ticket. I was 99% sure she was coming right back with it, but after 15 min and no passport, I started to freak out. I don’t speak enough French to know what the problem was, and they did eventually return my passport and issue the ticket, but I will never let me passport leave my sight at the airport again!

      The only time I traveled to a developing nation we stayed at a gated resort, so again, maybe super trusting but I left it in my room locked in the safe.

        1. I always leave it at the hotel safe. I was saying at the airport I wouldn’t let a ticket agent run off with it again. For all I knew, I had the same name as a Ukrainian separatist on the no-fly list and I was about to be whisked into custody or something. They wouldn’t explain why I couldn’t be issued a ticket, grabbed my passport, and left.

  6. I am a young attorney who has been avoiding LinkedIn because it seems… complicated and unnecessary. It hasn’t held me back so far — no one’s ever mentioned it in an interview and I’ve had good success in the legal market. But I don’t think I can avoid it forever.

    I’m coming off a clerkship and getting ready to start at a firm this fall. Should I set up a profile before starting? Wait for guidelines from the firm? Does anyone have a reputable source for LinkedIn best practices?

    I feel like, as a Millenial, this ought to be pretty straightforward… but something about it seems intimidating and I’d like any input I can get. TIA!

    1. Most firms have marketing folks (sometimes, if the firm is big enough, they even have marketing people specifically assigned to social media) who will give you guidance about how to set up a LinkedIn profile. The BigLaw firm I used to work for had a few staffers whose entire job it was to help attorneys develop a social media presence that was consistent with their professional identity and with the firm image. Don’t feel weird about asking for help on this – it’s better to have it done right by someone who knows what they’re doing, than to try it yourself and potentially botch something.

    2. If you don’t want to be on LinkedIn, I don’t think you need to be… in fact the firm I worked at this summer really discouraged attorneys from having much information at all on LinkedIn. If you’re working on high-profile cases it can be a security risk not to have your online presence locked down. I don’t really think you need it for client development either. What you do need is a way to keep track of all your professional contacts, where they’re working, etc. A lot of people use LinkedIn for that but you don’t have to.

    3. I literally JUST got a pretty big client off of a random linkedin referral. Trust me, I always thought “this is dumb. No one cares about this. It’s useless.” But it’s good for keeping yourself informed of where your contacts are, and for helping you notify people of where you are if/when you may leave a job/city. It’s also good for locating references in other cities (a la the random client I just got–we are alums of the same school but practice in different markets, and voila).

      Don’t knock it . Seriously.

  7. I took your shopping challenge, and there are some super cute sale items at Yoox that you might like if the size fits. I’ll put in a second post to avoid moderation.

  8. Any recommended reading for not taking things personally and/or fear of failure? I think the root of the issue is anxiety, and I’ve been to therapy, but I think I just need some rationalization at this point.

    1. I liked “This is How” but I forget the author’s name. Also, I like 2 glasses of chardonnay at networking events to overcome those thoughts :-D

    2. You might be interested in Anne Lamott or in Brene Brown. Different writers, different books (some fiction, some self help) but I think they both have powerful things to say about being okay with our vulnerable, broken, not always perfect selves.

  9. Anyone want to help me find tortoise print flats with an almond or pointy toe, under $100? Or anyone have a pair they recommend?

  10. A friend of mine forwarded a job listing that is very appealing to me. It’s much closer to my family (same state), good city, and a level up from what I’m doing now. While I am very happy in my current job, this would be a great opportunity. I am worried that it’s a bit on the early side, and my boss is very signs that I might leave — he’s told me repeatedly that I would be difficult to replace. A search firm has been hired to find candidates. It would seem problematic not to list him as a reference. Is it reasonable to ask the search firm how far along in the process my references would be contacted? While I have most of the qualifications, I am still worried it’s a bit early so I have a bit of a confidence issue too. Thoughts?

    Thoughts from the hive?

    1. I’m slightly lost trying to follow what you posted above, but I never list my current direct manager as a reference. I usually use a trusted more senior colleague (like a mentor who is on my team).

    2. You can ask the search firm to not contact your references at your current company at this time – that is a fairly common request and one that most companies understand. It doesn’t matter that your boss says you’re indispensable – you have to do what works for you. Contact the search firm.

      As for working on your confidence, I tell myself something that my mother used to say to me when I didn’t want to ask for something: the worst they can do is say no. Not a confidence boost per se, but it helps me get over that hurdle of not taking any action because I’m afraid some organization is going to reject me.

    3. I never put a current boss on a resume. Maybe I’m paranoid, but if the job doesn’t pan out, you really don’t want your boss knowing you’ve been looking around. I would use other appropriate references, and list “additional references available upon request.” Most employers will understand why you wouldn’t list a current supervisor.

      I’m not sure what you mean by “a bit early” – is it that you haven’t been at your current job very long? If you’re well qualified for the position, have an interest in the company and compelling reasons for a move, again, I doubt that would be of concern to a potential employer.

    4. Thanks to those who replied. Exactly what I needed to read. I’ve been at my current job for 3 years but I’m young (in age) to be moving on to the next level.

      I’m reminded of that phrase — you miss 100% of the shots you never take (or something like that). I’m going to go for it.

    5. As a fellow HIVER, I think you should NOT leave your job unless the new job give’s you a clotheing allowance. My dad did NOt even beleive I got a clotheing allowance, but that was b/c the manageing partner wanted to show me off as HIS, before the judge, who he has been competeing for many year’s. When I found that out, I imedieately found out what the judge like’s (color’s lipstick shade’s, pump’s with open/closed toe) height of heel’s (3-4″), and dresses vs slack’s (dresses). So once I knew, I told the manageing partner and he makes me wear white blouse’s red or black pencil skirts and closed to pumps with red lipstick EVERY time I go to court, even tho it is NOT 100% ME, but he pay’s me to do it! YAY! and I win my case’s! DOUBEL YAY!!!!

      So look into getting a 50% clotheing allowance, and make sure you get coat’s covered for the winter b/c those are expensive. FOOEY!

  11. This suit is adorable.

    Re-posted from the morning thread:

    My non-suit-wearing guy is looking to invest in a nice suit, preferably for less than $1000. What are good stores or brands to try? He’s fairly slight but has very muscular thighs.

    1. I would suggest going to a tailor and having one custom made if that is an option in your city. This is what my SO does for all his suits and they come out fantastic

      1. Oh, interesting. Any idea of the price range for your SO’s suits?

        1. If you’re in NYC, I recommend Alton Lane. My husband has had several custom suits made, all comparably priced to off-the-rack suits. We’ve referred several people there for suits, tuxes, and custom shirts (some of whom were very hard to fit), and everybody loves the quality. Their customer service is really fantastic as well. I believe they have locations in DC and Boston too.

          ETA – when I say off-the-rack, I mean Banana Republic or J Crew prices.

          2. @ Branching Out – yes, the quality of the suits my husband has gotten from Alton Lane have been really fantastic. After the initial garment is shipped to you, they want you to schedule a fitting where they inspect the fit and make any necessary adjustments. My husband has had several custom dress shirts made as well, and the service has been fantastic – they’ll repair buttons and the like. After he got his first shirt from them he was complaining that one of his sleeves was getting caught on the wrist where he wears his watch. Alton Lane suggested that they slightly alter the measurements to widen the sleeve on that arm and it’s been a perfect fit ever since. My husband doesn’t need to wear suits most days so they’ve held up, and his dress shirts (which he wears more frequently) are still going strong 2+ years later.

            We sent one friend there who is short, really muscular and has a tiny waist (basically a body builder), and was having a hard time finding a tux for his wedding – Alton Lane warned him that it wouldn’t be as perfect as they would ordinarily like, but he (and the tux) still looked fantastic.

            Plus, the atmosphere is fun – I think during evening appointments they’ll give you a glass of scotch as you’re looking at fabrics and all of the options.

          3. Gah!! He will be so excited by this. His next b-day marks a new decade. Present? CHECK!

            Do they run sales? Any insider tips? Gift certificate is the best way to go, I imagine, then allowing him to schedule an appointment…?

          4. I think they do have promotions occasionally, but I don’t think they’re very frequent. You can order gift cards online, and he can book all of his appointments online as well. The prices of the suits can vary depending on the fabric chosen so it’s a little tricky to figure out how much to put on a gift card, unless you are just going to put a nominal amount. We found them when they were just starting out (I think they only had the NYC location at the time), and the people who founded the company are really nice.

        2. They come in around $800 a piece. Not great, but by the time you get alterations on off the rack items it could be a more economical option for a hard to fit size. Plus they fit great. The price depends on what material you choose. I’m sure there is a significant amont of pricier options out there and probably some cheaper materials too. If you are open to sharing your city maybe people will have tailor suggestions.

          1. Actually, that sounds totally reasonable. We’re in Philly, so I’m all ears for tailoring suggestions!

          2. Boston: Beague’s (pronounced Bo-jay) on Court Street – find him on yelp. The man is an artist.

    2. Brooks Brothers has great suits and sales a few times a year. Their in-house tailors are amazing and very cheap.

    3. I see you’re in Philly. Check out Boyds. Might be too expensive, but the service is awesome. They really know how to pick the best suit for a guy’s build.

      1. My experience at Boyd’s men’s suiting department was terrible. They were very snotty and pushy about trying to convince is that the more expensive items “fit better” and would last longer when they clearly did not fit better. I felt like they thought we were inferior newbies who a) would be intimidated and/or b) were too dumb to know better. Definitely not the case in the women’s department.

  12. Seeking any and all recommendations for Victoria or Vancouver in mid-September, especially for:

    – art
    – culture (including First Nations and totem poles)
    – history (including Jewish history)
    – majestic views/nature/hiking
    – high tea (especially where we can park and read for a few hours)
    – shopping (especially tailored women’s clothing and shoes – think lawyers/banking and anything local)

    TIA!

    1. If you like boats & animals I suggest whale watching with Wild Whales Vancouver. I just went on a trip with them & it was fantastic. They have a very high success rate for seeing killer whales and we were lucky enough to see a bunch. The Pacific NW is one of the best places in the world to see them. You also get nice views of the BC Gulf Islands and of the Vancouver skyline on the return. I think Victoria has whale watching operations too. I didn’t get to do it, but I’d love to kayak in that area; it looks like a beautiful place to paddle.

      1. Better than tea at the Magnolia? Never been to either — just asking.

      2. I had tea at the Empress earlier this year with my husband and it lived up to my expectations. It was lovely.

      3. I third this. (Although, I think tea at the Plaza is a little bit better.) I also agree with the suggestion for Butchart gardens. We went to Lynn Canyon instead of the Capilano suspension bridge and we were not disappointed, it was beautiful and an easy hike.

        We also went jet-skiing and that was very fun, even though the waves are very choppy.

    3. Museum of Anthropology at UBC in Vancouver is world class.
      Totem Poles in Stanley park.

      Shopping is better in Vancouver than Victoria (unless you want antiques). Lots of areas downtown, depending what you’re into & stores for all the big brands. Gastown has lots of independent boutiques. But Vancouver’s not a place that you’ll find a lot of highly tailored clothes.

      For views, check out the Capilano suspension bridge or Grouse mountain.
      Lots of great hiking on the North shore in general, depends how strenuous you want.

    4. Welcome to my ‘hood!

      Victoria:
      – Royal BC Museum is really great for both local history and totem poles. I have been many times and never tire of it.
      – Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has a wonderful collection of Emily Carr paintings and is in a lovely part of Victoria – a nice way to spend a morning or afternoon. For the full Emily Carr experience you could then go to Carr House downtown. Or you could walk from the Art Gallery to Victoria’s local castle, Craigdarroch Castle.
      – The classic high tea experience can be had at the gorgeous Fairmont Empress Hotel, but it is very pricey and some would argue, not worth it. Try the White Heather Tea Room for a good high tea at better prices if you are OK with a less atmospheric experience.
      – Lovely walks in Victoria in Beacon Hill Park and along the Dallas Road waterfront from there.
      – Victoria has an interesting Chinatown and I believe you can go on a walking tour, which would be well worth it. But if you want good dim sum, save yourself for Vancouver.
      – Don’t bother shopping for clothes in Victoria, but Victoria has really great shoe shopping. Try Heart and Sole, She She Shoes and Footloose, all in downtown.
      – if you are renting a car, you could spend a nice day driving from Victoria to Sooke, stopping at Point No Point for tea or lunch, walking around the very scenic and lovely trails at Point No Point, perhaps stopping to walk along French Beach, and then driving back. Or stay overnight in one of the cabins at Point No Point.
      – I said not to bother shopping for clothing in Victoria, but if you ever wanted a Cowichan sweater, Victoria is the place to buy one. Of course it is always best to buy them straight from the maker, but barring that there are a few shops downtown where you can find them.
      – all the tourists go to Butchart Gardens but at that time of year, meh. Instead, go for one of the walks above or visit Abkhazi Garden, which is very small but lovely (and, come to think of it, has an on-site tearoom so you could have your tea there). Or, again if you are renting a car, visit Glendale Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific – one of my favourite places.
      – since you sound like readers, go to the best bookstore ever (well, maybe other than Powell’s in Portland), Munro’s Books, in downtown Victoria. Leave yourself an hour or two.

      Vancouver:
      – it is worth going to Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, for the scenery. Pricey but I would go anyway.
      – for really good views, though, go to Grouse Mountain (you could do that on the same day as Capilano. It would be an expensive day, but a good one).
      – for views at sea level, the classic Vancouver experience is to walk around the seawall at Stanley Park. Start at English Bay and marvel at all the people lounging on the beach during the day (who are those people? don’t they have to work?), then walk from there, or rent bikes.
      – again, Art Gallery of Greater Vancouver is good, but I am personally biased towards the Victoria one.
      – Vancouver is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant place. We have the most awesome cheap Asian food ever. Have dim sum, Hong Kong Chinese food, Vietnamese banh mi and Japanese izakaya. The Richmond Public Market is fun for cheap Asian food, and accessible by Skytrain.
      – see if Bard on the Beach is still on when you are going to be in Vancouver. It might be over but if it is still on, try to get tickets. The productions are typically excellent and in a great setting.
      – there are several good museums in Vancouver, but for interesting history that you might not see elsewhere, go to Steveston and visit the cannery. Steveston is very picturesque anyway.
      – I recommend the Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Chinatown.
      – if you have the time, and have a car, you can drive up to Whistler for the day. It is about a 2-hour drive from downtown Vancouver.
      – Vancouver women’s shopping isn’t particularly exciting for office wear, but the best options are at Pacific Centre downtown, including the Holt Renfrew department store and a branch of the Canadian chain Judith & Charles. If you want local designers, there are swathes of them in Gastown and on Main Street between about 17th and 25th, but they aren’t particularly good for tailored clothing. John Fluevog is based in Vancouver if you are looking for fun shoes, and there is also a great shoe store called Gravity Pope (but personally I would spend my shoe money in Victoria).

      Of course there is lots I am sure I missed but this should give you somewhere to start. I am on here regularly so page me again if you want more details on anything.

    5. The Butchart Gardens! I’m usually not much of a garden person, but it was amazing. I recommend going in the afternoon so that you can walk through once in the daylight and once after dark.

  13. Reposting to get some more thoughts from the group: I know we’ve probably discussed this here, but does anyone have a nylon or fabric work bag that carries a lot and is not a Longchamp LePliage? I would like to be able to hold a redweld in it, but not have it be ridiculously heavy (hence, nylon or fabric rather than leather). I’m considering a tumi bag or even a nylon suitcase because I’m not having any luck. I have a LePliage but I need at least 1 decently-sized pocket inside to hold my phone, keys, and wallet.

    1. My OM just arrived and works well for me! I could have been happy with the OMG (larger one) also, so depending on your use, I’m sure either would be great. I think they have a Labor Day sale that I saw on twitter – 20% off with a code? I got the army green nylon: pockets. for. days.

      1. Just FYI I think you may have gotten this switched around, OG = big version OMG = smaller version. Both great bags!

    2. Let me sing the praises of my Tumi Quintessential tote. I used it for my work/laptop bag for 5 years, every single day. I still use it when I travel for personal reasons. The only reason that I don’t use it anymore is because I bought a larger Tumi bag for my work stuff.

      They’re often on RueLaLa or HauteLook at pretty good discounts, as well.

    4. I was gifted a nylon Tumi tote with leather straps when I started law school. I used it every day in law school (big, heavy text books + laptop), and it became my work bag after I graduated (redwelds, laptop). It is now 10 years old, and just started looking a little shabby last year. So, I’d highly recommend Tumi.

  14. Has anyone been to a Weight Watchers meeting in person? What can I expect? I’ve done WW Online before but never been to a meeting — but thinking about trying it. Thanks in advance!

    1. There’s a leader that will usually start the meeting with any major accomplishments of the group (these people lost 5 pounds this week, this person is at their one year anniversary, etc.) and then there’s usually some type of motivational talk about issues everyone is facing. It depends on the leader of each group and how the office is set up, but I’ve attended at two different locations and that was fairly consistent across the board.

    2. There is a vast variety of leader styles out there from absolutely no deviation from the WW weekly topic to nearly total ad-lib (our leader, whom I love, is on the latter end of the scale). If you don’t click with one leader, shop around for another meeting with a different leader until you find a fit. The best leaders are very human and approachable and the meeting becomes one of the best/cheapest group therapy sessions you can get. For me, love the meeting because I love the interaction with other people (women and men though mostly women) who are facing the same challenges I am.

  15. I love Boden’s latest offerings but sadly the featured jacket is way too short for my long torso (22 inches). I love that Boden posts the garment’s measurements. Boden dresses are killing it this season. So far I bought the Audrey Ponte sheath, the Milano sweater dress and the Broderie Ponte dress (snug fit — needed to size up). Has anyone else found dresses they love at Boden this season?

    1. Also loving the Audrey pointe, which I bought following Diana Barry’s sage advice. I feel like a bargain basement Claire Underwood.

  16. This suit. Love the print and jacket; don’t love the A-line skirt. That cut of skirt for some reason really frumpifies me.

    1. Agreed — the A line makes it a lot less appealing. But the pattern would be cute to own!

  17. I have never wanted a suit. I want this suit. It is gorgeous. Great pick, Kat!!

  18. Would you hold off on telling a close friend about a new relationship if their life was in a rough place?

    Nothing terrible, just work is really hard/she is really stressed, and I haven’t been able to figure out how to share “hey, you know, I’m seeing someone seriously now and would love you to meet him when things get a little calmer!” without seeming incredibly insensitive to the fact that she is running on empty right now.

    At the same time, I’d be super bummed if a friend held off on telling me about a new boy just because I happened to be down on life. So I’m not sure what to do.

    1. I would probably tell her I was seeing someone new but leave it at that. I wouldn’t express much happiness, wouldn’t bring it up again unless she asked- basically nothing that could feel like you’re rubbing salt in an open wound. But if she’s a good friend, I’d say something.

    2. Oh absolutely tell her. Nothing feels worse than having people stop treating you normally.

      1. +1. Yes, please do tell her. How would she feel if she found out a while from now, from someone else?

    3. If she’s bummed about her own romantic life, maybe hold off on telling her. But if her stress is work related, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t tell her. She might appreciate the brief mental break to be excited for you.

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