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Suit of the Week: Boss Black

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BOSS Black Jasluna BlazerFor 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. I'll be honest: slim pickings this week for a suit that I really liked. I like the color of this one, and I think the darts and seaming on the jacket would be really flattering. That said, I'd probably wear this suit primarily as separates. One thing that's worth discussing, though: the buttons. I have always been taught that if you leave a button undone on a blazer, it's the bottom button — never the top button. Here, with a fitted blazer like this, I would think it would look best either a) open and unbuttoned, b) all 3 buttons buttoned, or c) just the middle button buttoned. I think the way it's styled here — top button undone, as if it were a low-cut blouse — just looks sloppy and as if there's a fit issue. Am I crazy? Let's discuss. The jacket (BOSS Black Jasluna Blazer) is $595, and the skirt (BOSS Black Venovi Pencil Skirt) is $325, both at Bloomingdale's.
BOSS Black Jasluna Blazer BOSS Black Venovi Pencil Skirt
(L-5)

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

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122 Comments

      1. I love it! Especially this line: “Like those of their albertosaur “cousins,” the small T. rex arms were often broken during life. This fact suggests that they were poorly suited for whatever the dinosaurs were trying to use them for” Poor T. Rex!

  2. Yes Kat, I think you’re crazy. ;)
    I think where the top button hits is rather awkward as it appears that it would be cutting right across her b*st.
    I had a conversation with some male classmates in law school about buttoning 3-button jackets and I swear I could remember the rule being top-sometimes, middle-always, bottom-never.

    1. I think you have the rule flip-flopped. It’s top – always, middle -sometimes and bottom – never. Since, when you sit down, you need to unbutton the middle button, but when you stand up, you need to button it again.

  3. TJ

    Are most of you a stable weight/shape? If not, how do you manage with pants/sizes?

    Currently I have pants in my closet from size 4-10. When I gain/lose weight it all goes to my butt/upper thighs. I think this may be why I feel that none of my pants or underclothes ever feel like they really fit. When I fluctuate even just 5-10 lbs (which unfortunately can easily happen within months, especially if stressed) I easily change pants size.

    So I have been wanting to for the first time start tailoring my pants…. Do I just move up to a larger size and accept that all pants should be tailored to a very lose drape so that I can fit two butt sizes in one pair of pants? My waist doesn’t change much.

    What do you do?

    1. I hate to say it but this is why I only wear skirts. Skirts are much easier to fit correctly and more forgiving of weight gain / loss.

      1. +1. I tried on some pants last night and went ugh. Skirts are way more forgiving (especially a line with an pull on waistband).

      4. +1 again. Like TBK, I only have one pair of work pants. Can’t remember the last time I wore them.

    2. +1 to CB. I’m wearing a lot more skirts and dresses now because of this. I swing 20 lbs and from 10/12 to 16 (current). Making it worse, I’m an hourglass and gain mostly in my T&A, if you will.

    3. I agree with Cb and Banker. Wear skirts! I’m an 8-10 on bottom and skirts will fit a 2-size range. They just sit higher or lower on your waist. Dresses are also more forgiving of weight changes, especially wrap dresses.

      Pants can really only be tailored to 1 size. The point of tailoring is a precise fit to the shape you are now. If you really want to stick to pants get a couple pairs tailored to your weight now so you look fabulous today. And if you gain weight, move up to a lerger size and have those tailored as well.

    4. I have the same problem- I was travelling non-stop and went from a 4/6 to a 10 in pants within a couple of months (due to similiar changes in the thigh/butt area). I’m in between now, and most all pairs in my closet are too small or too big. Rather than buy a third set in an in between size, I’ve just been wearing skirts and dresses, which I’ve found to be a lot more forgiving.

      I’m not sure tailoring will help much, a lose drape on a size 6/8 pant will likely still swim on a size 4 and still look tight on a size 10…

    5. I have basic pants in two sizes to accommodate weight fluctuations.

      I’m stuck at the courthouse because I know that the second that I head back to my office, the jury will return a verdict. Ugh.

    6. I tend to bloat/gain weight in my waist so I tend not to have the waist of my pants tailored. I think it’s easier to leave them a little loose and belt them or have them be forgiving when I’m feeling blaoaty. I tend to wear skirts more than pants unless I’m feeling puffy because who wants to wear tights while puffy? Not me.

      1. Me too. I love this color, but it is a little to pricey for me. And it is mabye a little to tight in the seat. Pencil dresses are great so long as you have a FLAT tuchus. Mine is anything but flat (even tho David says it is very nice).

        Also, I do NOT want the manageing partner and Frank stareing at my tuchus, thank you very MUCH.

        I could NOT get downtown today b/c some construction guy’s were blockeing 3rd Avenue and I did NOT want to have to go around them or take a smelly cab in bumber to bumber traffic. FOOEY on that. Sitteing in a cab with a guy who does NOT know what SOAP is with the heat on? No thanks. I would rather take the subway, but those are CLOSED down b/c of Huricane Sandy. FOOEY on Sandy. I have a great aunt named Sandy and she has false teeth and very Bad Breathe. I do not like to visit her b/c she alway’s squeezes me.
        FOOEY!

        My calendar calls are all CONTINUED b/c the judge (who work’s for the State) is NOT abel to make it down town. Yay! Roberta says that she will come with me again to hear me argue my 4 cases she has. I hope she is able to make Brian settel again. It was CLASICAL! Yay Roberta! I am goieing out to eat with Myrna tonite. She want’s deli so we are going to the Second Avenue Deli. I prefer Pastrami Queen, but there are NEVER any seat’s and we want to sit DOWN and relax b/c we work VERY hard in our job’s. Yay!!!!!

    7. Yep. I wear skirts almost exclusively. However, the pants I do have are 100% wide-legged models with high (at the waist) waistbands. I can fit a pretty major weight fluctuation into most of them.

      I consider wide-legged pants classic. Don’t try to tell me otherwise.

      2. here’s the style of pants I usually buy

        http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi29242&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80010&sortKey=Default&section=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008

        (Talbots because they carry Tall)

        I buy them a size bigger than I buy my skirts, then I have the waistband taken in at the back. A good tailor will leave a little room at the waistband and not tailor it to be tight.

        But to be honest, I only wear pants to work a few times a year. I like them with something very long and drapey, but that may be because those proportions work with my height.

        1. I LOVE LOVE LOVE those pants. I feel very old lady every time I buy “Heritage Fit,” but they fit me beautifully. I’ve gotten to the point where I only buy pants from Talbots. Ladies, if you can’t ever find pants that fit, Talbots is amazing.

      3. Agreed! I love the JCrew Hutton trousers, which are also wide leg and come in tall sizes.

    8. Related TJ/tutorial/help?

      In ten+ yrs in IB I next to never wore skirts because of how I felt they looked on me. After losing a fair amount of weight I now wear skirts or dresses more often than pants and am a convert, but – I am completely inexperienced in how to wear them. It was easy in the summer – bare legs and nice shoes. Now that it’s cold, I get that I should wear tights, but other than black tights with a black skirt I really don’t know how to put them together. For example – navy skirt w/eggplant top – what color tights/shoes? Boots or shoes? If boots, heel or no? Cream skirt with brownish/reddish snakeskin print (recent JCrew line)- same q? Teal above the knee skirt? Merlot-ish dress?

      I was just having this conversation recently with someone in the office, so I must not be the only one with these Qs. Is there a tutorial out there for a novice skirt wearer? Or at least some rules of thumb someone can provide? Thanks!!!

  4. Question about “desired salary” at job application stage. The online application for a job requires me to input my desired salary. It also asks for my current salary. I believe that the position would be a pay cut–I’m currently a mid-level in big-law, the job is for an “associate counsel” (3-5 years legal experience) at a large health insurance company. I’ve tried googling to find an average salary for this type of position, but no luck so far.

    Tips on either 1) the average salary for this type of in house position (I’m in the DC area); or 2) whether I should enter a) my current salary knowing it is likely too high; or b) try to imput “0” or an obviously number just to get through the form?

    Thanks in advance!

    Also, PSA, in case it hasn’t been mentioned yet, NM Last Call has a crazy sale happening right now.

    1. Ask a Manager has some great entries about this. She says never lie – put your current salary on the online application b/c what if they fact check you and ask for a pay stub?

      1. Oops- I was unclear. The application asks for both my current (which I will definitely be truthful about) and desired salaries. Of course I would like to keep making my current salary, but I have a feeling this type of in house job will pay significantly less. For the right job, I’m fine taking a big pay cut, but I’m trying to settle on a number that isn’t undercutting myself either.

    2. I’m not sure how current it is, but lawshucks dot com has an inhouse salary tracker that might be worth browsing.

  5. I just need to let this out… we took in some people who were without power from the storm and they are driving me bonkers!!!!!!!!!!! They have been such inconsiderate houseguests that I’m pretty sure I can’t be friends with them anymore after this.

    1. Oh no! Can you chalk it up to the stress of having their lives disrupted and the stress of the storm? People often behave differently during events like that.

    2. That happened to my brother and his wife last year. Friends lost power after Irene and asked to come stay, even though they had family in the area. My brother and his wife have a gorgeous new home, but they also had a brand new one-week-old baby!

    3. I could use a horrible houseguest story if you feel like sharing.

      I hope it won’t beat the tale of the ONS who brought her kid and wouldn’t leave.

      2. I already told my story of the foreign exchange student who wouldn’t leave and just sat on the floor in our living room, eating raw bacon, clutching his teddy bear, and looking at photo albums….

        But – we also had a long lost uncle from Australia come stay for 2 and a half months who was writing an epic novel called something along the lines of Crime & Punishment in War and Peace — and he would alternate between making me read it and accusing me of stealing it to sell to publishers on my own. He would also routinely get lost and then have police drive him home.

    4. You’re making me feel so lucky! My friends who stayed after Isaac were such great guests.

  6. Anyone else notice that the suits today seem to have the buttons higher and higher? It drives me nuts as I hate seeing so much fabric left under the buttons that never seems to fall right…

  7. Dear World, but more specifically facebook friends:
    When your basement floods or you lose power or there is a tree in your yard, you have been AFFECTED by the hurricane. Not EFFECTED. /RANT

    1. maybe in 40 weeks, there will be a mini baby boom of children who have actually been effected by the hurricane :)

    4. Yeah, but I can hardly blame someone who’s basement is flooded for not proofreading their Facebook posts.

  8. I was on a jury this week, which I thought would never happen because I’m an attorney. It was an interesting experience, but I was pretty surprised at the opinions of my co-jurors, especially those quick to discount the evidence in favor of their own personal feelings or experiences. It took us a long time to reach what I thought was an easy decision. Has anyone else had experience on a jury?

    1. I have not but my coworker did (also an attorney) and she was totally disheartened with the profession when she realized all the things we as attorneys argue about just don’t matter. The jury 100% relied on things they shouldn’t and disregarded what they should consider. As you said, they did what they want.

    2. Never been on a jury, but I have tried civil cases. On 3 occasions the judge allowed the lawyers to chat with the jury after the verdict, and it was mind-blowing to hear what they decided was important. It was not the evidence that they actually heard but the story they created. The other thing that was fascinating was that the jurors clearly developed cliques (and “enemies”) that could easily have impacted their votes. No matter how good the case, it’s always such a risk to roll the dice with a jury.

      1. Do you all learn about the psychology research on legal findings as part of your law school training? This made me think of the “story model” research — how jurors construct stories to help them remember vs. collecting facts and considering them in the end.

    3. I have, but as a law student. It was very much the worst experience of my life. I’m not sure why it got to a jury trial, let alone a 2 week onel. It was clear that the contract was breached from the very first day. Plus both the plaintiff and defendant were horrible people and the judge wouldn’t let a girl with pink eye get excused and replace her with an alternate. Then she screamed at us when she got pink eye. The whole situation made me lose a lot of faith and honestly made me consider dropping out of school.

      1. horrible people=leer at the women on the jury, made comments after the verdict was delivered.

    4. Not an attorney, but I had a similar experience about a year and a half ago. I thought the judge did a phenomenal job saying “This is the applicable law, these are the criteria that must be met to reach a guilty verdict”, etc. (Probably helps I’m a checklist/linear organization sort of person.)

      As soon as the door closed, a few members started chatting and had immediate decisions based on personal experiences/a story they’d heard from a neighbor/what they saw on CSI once.

      I’m still torn about my feelings. On the one hand, it scares me that perception/personal experiences play such a large role (and in turn, legal strategies have to cater to them). But on the other hand, I can’t think of a better system and in some cases the jury thinking through “what would a reasonable person have done?” is a helpful opinion.

    5. Apropos of nothing, wow, am I ever grateful that in my jurisdiction, I can’t be called to be on a jury.

    6. I am an engineer, and was on a jury for a civil case last year. It was INFURIATING to me to see my fellow jurors relying totally on their feelings and making up back stories for what might have happened. I know I fit the stereotype of a super logical (maybe even annoyingly so…) engineer, but man oh man, I could not believe how ILLOGICAL the rest of the group was.

    7. Was on a jury as one of TWO lawyers (and I thought it never happened!) and it was utterly fascinating. The rage the jury showed toward the lawyers for wasting their time was something that will stick with me forever and impact how I operate as a lawyer, as was the fact that some jurors just went with their feelings on how much they liked the defendant rather than any evidence or testimony. And the other jurors wanted the lawyers on the jury to break the rules and offer legal opinion, so I’m not sure I’d ever agree to a lawyer on my jury going forward. All in all, I thought it was a brilliant experience and something that every litigator could probably benefit from.

  9. TJ: I’m hoping the ‘rettes in Houston can help me out. Any recommendations for a therapist or psychologist in the city? Thanks in advance!

    1. Absolutely. H-town is huge and you would need also to specify topic. First off, look at the Houston Psychological Association’s website. You can easily search by topic and area. All the best.

      1. Which color do you have? Is it true to the color online? I hate it when websites photoshop the different colors onto the same model…

        1. I have the blue/gray, but I tried on the orange/black in store. I just reopened the link to check – the navy is perhaps a bit darker (but not much) and the orange I remember as being somewhat warmer toned. But both pictures are pretty close, IMO.

          1. Should add – it falls on me exactly where it does on the model, and fits a bit slimmer on me than it does on her (in a more flattering way, too). I’m wearing it with a patent black skinny belt and boots.

    2. So, I looked at the boots on my assistant’s computer (yes we share sales) and she got a different code! Hers includes free shipping. I bought them. Here is the better code – Splash 1030

  11. Threadjack — I’m looking for a trench coat with a zip-out liner, any recommendations for stores/brands? Petite sizes would be great. So far I’ve looked online at Macy’s, Nordstrom and LL Bean (the one I’m interested in seems to be sold out in black for the petite sizes). Also, how warm are these trench coats?

    I also thought the top button was always supposed to be buttoned, agree that it seems to be a fit issue for the suit jacket.

    Thanks!

    2. I’m pretty sure that Lands End has one. I have an LE trench; very good quality.

  12. wow this is gorgeous, I have been wanting for a while a blue suit that is a rich blue, not navy. BR had one for like 5 seconds, but when i wanted to check it out it was already sold out. ;oP

    1. If you use MyPoints, they’re doing 16 points per dollar which could probably snag you a gift card if you’re planning a larger purchase.

  14. Does anyone here use both My Fitness Pal and Weight Watchers? Is it easy to do?

  15. How do you make yourself type quieter? Is it even possible? I don’t have nails or type with the tops of my fingers, but I have always been a really loud typist. I find that it is quieter when I am typing slowly, but I think generally type fast and spend a lot of time typing every day and typing really slowly might make me crazy. It happens on every keyboard, so its not limited to my work laptop or anything. I got a keyboard cover, but I just find it cumbersome.

    1. I’m a loud typist too! In general, if I’m frustrated or annoyed I just end up pounding harder on the keyboard. Of course, I’ve been told this is bad because all that banging increases my risk for RSI (already been treated for it once), so I’ll be listening in for suggestions :)

      You might also try talking to a good piano teacher or physical therapist who specializes in RSI about good vs. bad habits for hand position to minimize injury.

    3. I think the you can be a quieter typer if you don’t pick up your fingers much. Try sliding them accross the keyboard or just picking them up slightly. I think the impact of finger to key is where the loudness comes in. The actual depression of the keys is not so loud.

  16. I have a weird problem with my Hunter rainboots…they seem to have a chalky residue. Does anyone else have this problem? I tried washing them with dish soap and water, but yet the chalky look remains. Any ideas? They are the matte version, not patent, if that matters.

    1. Yup. Polishing with a bit of olive oil helped a bit but then I broke down and bought the Hunter spray and buffing sponge from Nordstrom and those helped a lot.

      2. A friend who works in the Nordstrom shoe dept recommends applying lotion to Hunter boots to get rid of that chalky build-up. I’ve tried it and it works like a charm.

  17. I LOVE the bright pink dress that was posted yesterday. Do you guys think it would be ok for a relatively conservative investment bank? I love the color and am dying to add more of it to my wardrobe!

    1. I work in a conservative finance office and personally, I wouldn’t wear an entire dress worth of bright pink. I stick to just a pink blouse or sweater paired with more muted tones.

    2. I would and I’m a banker but I’m no longer young enough that it would scare anyone around me.

  18. Hey dumba55, when you post “Woo hoo! New York’s flooded! No work for me!” on your facebook, don’t forget you’re friends with me, your boss.

    (and then your friend posts, “yeah, but you can work remotely, right” and you answer “don’t have remote access, not asking for it!!!!!”…. that doesn’t help either)

    1. Post a deadpan comment saying that particular status updates can be customized so that certain friends can’t see them.

    2. And this is why I have a rule against being Facebook friends with anyone from work. ;) It amazes me what some people would post on FB!

    3. But who isn’t happy about an unplanned day off work? I love my job but I also enjoy fortuitous days off. (I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with keeping a work-at-work-only rule, unless your job requires otherwise.)

    4. Rather glad I work for someone who would feel the same way about a day off (happy). This hardly strikes me as a terrible thing to say.

      1. it’s not terrible because the person is glad for the day off, it’s terrible because, in the midst of billions of dollars of damage, where many have lost everything, where some lost lives, this person is cheering because s/he got the day off.

        I’m all for having the day off for a holiday or so the interior of a building can be painted or for something silly and harmless, but I just can’t bring myself to cheer when I know I’m getting time off because others are suffering so much.

        1. Agreed. I am psyched when I get a random holiday off like, say, Election Day… When you consider what people are going through, this is ill considered at best. Also, while your boss can say to you, “yay, we don’t have work,” you should probably avoid saying same back. It’s just common sense.

      2. Agree with K and AIMS. It is one thing to be excited about a snow day, but the level of damage ($20billion and counting) and the overwhelming destruction of people’s lives outweighs one’s excitement about being home for a day or two.

        It is just poor judgment to write such a thing, especially where a supervisor (who now knows you have no intention of fulfilling your job duties, even if you have the ability to work remotely) can see it.

      3. Day off? At my place it’s more like week(s) off and we’re not even sure where everyone is.

  20. Hey everyone,

    I’m looking for a spectacular travel bag for DH as an anniversary/congratulations-on-your-promotion. He travels a fair amount for work, but it’s usually overnight trips and by car. He does not need another roller bag, but he has a beat up old junky duffel that I’d love to replace with something nice. I am hoping for leather but am wondering if that would be too heavy. For those up to the challenge, any advice on a bag for:

    -a 30-something man who is NOT a flashy dresser
    -leather preferably
    -has a wide opening so that when you go to pack/unpack, it stays nice and open so you can see what you have in there
    -can fit 2 days clothes
    -Costs less than $500

    Any takers??

    2. Leather bags tend to get heavy. I like Bric’s bags and saw some marked down recently here: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Bric-s-Pronto-Luggage-Travel/prod150870017_cat980731__/?icid=&searchType=SALE&rte=%252Fetemplate%252Fet1.jsp%253FitemId%253Dcat980731%2526N%253D4294914407%2526siloId%253Dcat980731&eItemId=prod150870017
      http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Bric-s-Olive-Pronto-Luggage-Travel/prod147150085_cat980731__/?icid=&searchType=SALE&rte=%252Fetemplate%252Fet1.jsp%253FitemId%253Dcat980731%2526N%253D4294914407%2526siloId%253Dcat980731&eItemId=prod147150085

    3. The Tumi duffles with leather straps are very, very nice. Around $350 for the larger one, which can easily fit two days’ worth.

      1. I saw this too, which is what started my quest!! Then I went to their website the other day and it was down. I’ll try again.

    6. I think I’m stuck in moderation because of my link, but check out the Floto Imports Venezia Duffle. I’ve had one for several years and can’t say enough to praise it, and my non-flashy thirty-something boyfriend has been coveting it for a while. (I’d get him one of his own, but matching leather duffles just seems like a Doublemint commercial.)

      1. Try J.Crew or Need Supply. They both have some really nice options right now! Barbour also makes a great leather duffle that is around $400 if you want all leather.

  21. So I’ve been living under a rock for a few days now and just start reading about the devastation left behind Hurricane Sandy. I started to cry about the woman whose two children (4 and 2) were swept from her arms and are still missing. My gosh, I could just not imagine anything so terrible. What a tragedy all around.

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