Suit of the Week: Brooks Brothers Black Fleece

126 Comments

1. Yay! I love Brook’s Brother’s and I LOVE fleece (tho NOT fleece tight’s), but i simpley can NOT wear pant’s –even with a Brook’s brother suit label! FOOEY! b/c the manageing partner INSISTS I wear a skirt all the time (except when we were packing to come over here to 3rd Ave). FOOEY! Frank also like’s me in skirt’s b/c he can pinch my tuchus and get away with it and look into my office at my leg’s. I have to be very carful NOT to put my feet up b/c then Frank can see to much of me from his desk. He realy is a sleeze b/c he is married, but STILL crave’s at lookeing up women’s skirt’s — at his age (44).

   I hope the HIVE has a solution for me. I keep on meeting these looser’s who do NOT want to marry me. How does a profesional girl with a good job and good education find a good guy to marry them? Everyone of these guys will date, but will NOT consider me as their mate? Where are the guy’s who want to get married and why don’t they looke at me? HELP! I am getting VERY tired of the same schlub’s lining up for dates, mabye paying for my dinner, then expecting me to bow down to them (or worse) just b/c they paid for my dinner! FOOEY! HELP with any advise is much apreaciated! YAY!!!!

   1. Ive been a longtime lurker but very familiar with your posts. Here’s my 2 cents, though others are free to differ. You are a highly motivated young lady with a high powered job, well educated, very pretty anxious to marry. You are very stylish and dress to please your boss and an old judge with a dirty mind. Your sister, younger, has landed the type of guy you covet. So you always go out with guys who are well off young and rising in the business world. So far so good?

      Ok I agree you do not wand a guy who’s a loser. But your ideal is always a self absorbed guy with bucks who seems willing to spend it on dates with you–elaborate dinners, bottle service at swanky venues, etc. those guys, you should know expect a quid pro quo at the end of the night that does not involve a philosophical discussion of the poems of Robert Frost. After uncorking a magnum of Crystal, and spending mega bucks on you, they expect, rightly or wrongly, after enjoying conversation with you, some kind of sexual release. Marriage is not on their minds at this time. Instead, in your words, they want your boobies and tuchus, and more. It is up to you of course what you are game for, but they’ve become accustomed to being serviced by other ladies at the end of an evening. If you wind up bringing them home, and invite them in, their expectation is to have you sexually, so when you pull back, they will not be happy.

      The parodox is that if you do service or sleep with them, many will not return.

      As a result of all this, my recommendation is that you reassess and spread your wings to find other men with a different outlook. Resist the urge to pleasure these men until you have some objective showing that they view you as more than a sexual receptacle to be used and tossed aside like a condom. If you raise your own standards and outlook, you will find and give other men a chance–men who will view you for attributes above the belt–men who value you for what’s between your ears, not your legs. Think about it and act on it. You are still young enough. There should be no desperation to land a guy along any timeline. Relax and you will find your prince in shining armour. GOOD LUCK ELLEN!

2. So, lots of lawyers on this site… any LSAT tips? Still evaluating my options re: law school, but figured this is a good start.

   1. Just take it and see how it goes. I don’t really understand folks who spend tons of time and money on courses and practice books to take an aptitude test.

      1. Disagree. The better you do the more options of schools you will have and scholarships available to you. I couldn’t afford courses but I got the Logic Games Bible (or something like that – people I knew swore by it), and those 10 Real LSAT books and I was very regimented about taking practice tests. Your aptitude may not change but your performance can with familiarity of the tests and tips and tricks. I brought my score up about 10 points from my first time taking a practice test cold, to my ultimate test score (higher outside of test conditions). Those 10 points make a BIG difference when you’re talking about bands of schools.

         Upon reading all the advice below, I agree with all of it.

         But of course also gut-check on why you want to go to law school, whether you want to be a lawyer, what kind of financial situation you are in, etc. I know people who fall into both camps of went to law school because why not (bad idea), and maybe don’t score high on standardized tests but really wanted to be a lawyer, went to law school and killed it. So don’t let the LSAT be the deterrent if you really want to do this. Not all lawyers are miserable. I’m not :)

         1. +1
            “Winging it” is not the way to go with the LSAT if you actually want to go to a good law school, pass the bar, and practice.

            1. Meh, I went to a good law school, passed the bar and practice.

         2. Chiming to say it’s not an aptitude test.

            Practice really matters. Because it really tests your ability to stay awake doing boring analytic reading for hours on end.

            Practice entire tests, including the throwaway section, because that’s what did me in the first time (I was fatigued).

            Powerscore books and the real LSATs – there should be a ton of them out there. You don’t need a class unless you need someone to make you do the practices.

   2. Lots of practice tests, and if you don’t want to shell out for a whole course, you can buy books of these and I think purchase old tests from LSAC. I took a Kaplan course and it was moderately helpful, but doing tons of practice tests really brought up my score. Definitely don’t “just take it and see how it goes.” That’s poor advice, and you can learn strategies for doing better.

      1. Well, it’s not actually an aptitude test, but a test of how well you know how to solve certain types of problems. You can improve your score immensely by studying. I read through a book on strategies for some of the types of questions, took a bunch of practice tests, and in doing so raised my score by about 8 points.

         1. Yeah, I don’t think I would just take it cold… I think I’m smart, but it’s not going to hurt to learn how to solve the problems and train myself to take them in a timed environment? Mental endurance is definitely a thing!

      2. I agree with this advice. I’m generally on board with the idea that this is an aptitude test and studying can’t help that much. (The reference to 5 three-hour classes a week for four months puts me over the edge. That is excessive and expensive and I predict the result will be overall negative.) But my personal experience is this: Studied 2 weeks using a book. Took the test. Scored in top 5% but missed a lot in one section. Years later taught LSAT classes (because I needed money and can’t get hired to wait tables, but I like to teach and qualified for that). After preparing for some of the classes in the area in which I scored the lowest, I saw that I would have benefitted from studying more/differently. In particular, I quickly became convinced that taking tests (under time pressure) and then reviewing the prep company’s explanations for questions I got wrong and right in that section would have helped me get more right answers and move more quickly through the exam.

   3. Take a practice test and see how you do. Then buy a few books and study them and take another practice test and see how much you improve.

      If you are not getting a good score after that (I would say <165 but maybe that marker is no longer useful?) reconsider.

      FWIW I only used practice books over a summer and took the actual test once.

      1. Oh, definitely. Had a good convo with a friend who just took the July bar and went to a T14 school, and she said she had a 170, so I had that anchored as a number in my head. I know it’s aggressive (is that like 98th percentile?), but I wouldn’t want to go down this path if I didn’t at least show some predilection and talent for it!

   4. I self-studied for 6 weeks using the Powerscore Trilogy Bible books on Amazon and a study timeline/calendar I found on some message board full of overachievers lol. I did just fine for my desired school.

      A coworker is going five nights a week 7-10 pm for 4 months to a Kaplan course. That girl’d better get a 180 for all that craziness.

      1. I’ve had several friends who did intense Kaplan courses for mediocre scores. A friend who did well with Kaplan gave me her course books, and I’ve accumulated 20+ practice tests from helpful parties who never want to see their LSAT materials again…

      2. Definitely second the Powerscore Bible recommendation. I think there is one book for each section. I only ever used the one for the logic games section because that was my weakest area, and it was so, so helpful. Once I figured out how to approach those kinds of problems, you realize they are all pretty much the same and I could fly through them really easily. I would recommend (1) take some practice tests, (2) figure out which section is the hardest for you and then (3) do tons of problems in that section. It’s a waste of your time to keep doing problems in the sections you are naturally good at (except for the fun ego boost). As it gets closer to the test, take full practice tests under real testing conditions (timing, etc.).

         1. Just remembered one more thing — for practice tests, buy old tests from LSAC. I think you can buy them on Amazon? I actually don’t remember where I bought them, but just assume it was Amazon :) The practice tests in the Kaplan courses and books are not always real tests, and I think taking real tests is harder and better for studying. You really do not need to take a class — I think it’s more efficient not to, because then you can focus on your particular areas of weakness.

         2. Ah, I found Powerscore very intimidating, but I loved the Trainer.

   5. I agree with the other OP. You may want to see if you really want LAW. Take a interneship where you can realy see what goes on in a firm and if you can stomah real litigation. If asked, you can then say yes I’ve been interning! I asked the managing partner to hire someone to help me this summer but he said he could not afford to. I do not understand why because he would be billing at the same rate I would be getting. FOOEY!!

   6. Make sure you take it in a nice center. Sounds silly but at least for me, being in a pleasant environment makes a huge difference.

   7. Take a practice test – Kaplan, etc. have free ones you can go to. If you score above 155ish the first time, I’d say you probably can study on your own (second the rec for Powerscore bibles). If you’re well below that you should consider taking a course. Of course, if you have a lot of time, I don’t think there’s any harm in starting with self-study and then seeing how much you improve.

      I second 165 as a cutoff for reconsidering going to law school.

   8. I just want to throw another viewpoint out there – I totally get the idea of taking the test as a way to gather information on whether law school might be right for you, but I have to disagree with some of the comments above because I don’t think they’re taking proper account of the weight that law schools place on your LSAT score.

      It’s certainly not the only factor, and possibly less important than when I took it, I have no idea, but a stellar score can help you out significantly in terms of being noticed by a top school that might otherwise be just out of reach with just a “good” score. So, just another perspective – I wouldn’t recommend halfheartedly studying (or not studying?!?). I do second the recommendations for practice tests, and studying smart – figure out what you’re not good at, and learn how to do that well.

      1. Re: LSAT importance, I do know that GPA and LSAT are tied for significance in applications, and that the two combined are the best predictor of acceptance (see “my-law-school-numbers” or whatever that website is called). There’s also scholarship money. Law school is horribly expensive. Spending an extra few hundred on studying materials to increase your score by even just three or four points can potentially translate to thousands of dollars in scholarship offers.

   9. I’ve been a test prep teacher/tutor for about 6 years, with 3 different companies (and with friends who have taught at others).

      My general guide to anyone who asks me about this:
      1. Take a practice test cold, but fully timed/simulating real test conditions as best you can. If your score is above 160 (or above 155 with your having tanked one particular section instead of getting scattered questions wrong throughout), don’t even think about spending money on a test prep course – buy the Powerscore books and every real LSAT you can get your hands on, and self-study.

      2. If your score on your “cold” test is below 145, abandon ship unless you are absolutely dying to be a lawyer and also have a connection that will guarantee you post-law-school employment regardless of what school you attend/your grades/etc.

      3. If you’ve scored between 145 and 160, a good course will help. Companies I would recommend: Powerscore, Blueprint, Next Step (this one is 100% 1-on-1 tutoring, which can be better for a working adult from a scheduling perspective), and Manhattan Test Prep (they offer courses in a number of major metros, don’t let the name fool you). DO NOT, under any circumstances, go to Princeton Review or Kaplan – I wouldn’t recommend those courses if someone gave them to you for free, let alone if you had to pay. Also, don’t invest in any of the “upsell” options – go with the basic, least expensive package. If you’re doing the work outside of class, the basic package is more than enough. (Also, if you’re on the higher end of the 145-160 range, and/or you have a particular target school in mind where you don’t really need to score above a 160 to get in, you can definitely try self-study first to see if that improves your score before you invest in a course, it’s just that, in my experience, courses mostly “work” best for people in that score range.)

      1. This is good advice (especially the “abandon ship” part). But I just want to make sure it’s clear that you should be using REAL tests for practice tests. The fake ones in the books are awful. They try to make them “hard” so you’ll be happy with how well you do on the real test, but what they call “hard” is really just ambiguous. I spent many, many tears over fake questions because I really honestly could not see why A was right and C was wrong. When I used the real tests, however, it was always crystal clear. I scored 150 on the fake sample tests (which would have instantly disqualified me from any of the schools I was looking at) but scored 20+ pts higher on the real thing. If you rely on the fake tests to establish a list of schools you could be way off.

         1. Yes, of course, use only real tests! (The company I work for now, and the companies I listed, will pretty much only use questions from real administrations of the test, so I half-forgot that not all companies do this – it’s one of the reasons I recommend not touching Princeton or Kaplan with a 10 ft. pole, since they’re notorious for how terrible their fake questions are.)

   10. I really, really recommend a website abbreviated as “TLS” (just search “TLS LSAT” and you’re sure to find it) for studying purposes. There are endless resources, including LSAT tutors who are available to answer your questions on the forum. I scored very well, and it would have never happened if not for that site and the online study group that I joined.

       I recommend purchasing the Cambridge packets (sorted by question type), as well. Definitely do timed tests (exactly as you would day-of) with automated proctors via YouTube. I think I did upwards of 20 practice tests. If you are a nervous person, it helps to develop a rhythm.

       Finally, don’t discount logic games. It’s the easiest section to learn. Work on accuracy and from there you can increase your speed. I did a couple every single day. In my study group, it was everyone’s favorite section once we had learned how to approach each type of game.

   11. Aside from the testing tips (ALL good – take many practice tests!), I went straight through from undergrad to law school, so was a poor, poor student when studying for and signing up to take the LSAT and applying to schools — if something similar applies on your end, consider applying for an LSAC fee waiver, which entitles you to two free LSATs, I think 4 free law school reports (which cost a fee per school when you apply) and free application fees for most schools. I’ve heard that it’s harder now to get a waiver, but you can appeal a rejection in writing for better chances if you think you should’ve qualified.

   12. Also, don’t go to law school just because you got a good score. Make sure it’s what you want to do, ideally by working or volunteering in a legal setting for a few months or years first, or at least by having frank conversations with lawyers.

3. I need new jeans for the fall, preferably in a mid to high rise (thanks twin skin!) This will likely take some time given it is my first time jeans shopping post partum so I’d prefer to shop in person Vs online. So given this lengthy preamble, any favorite denim shopping spots in midtown Manhattan?

   1. I hate shopping for jeans. But I was pleasantly surprised by the “sweetheart” jeans from Old Navy – mid to high rise, stretchy and comfy and inexpensive.

      1. Ya know what? My favorite jeans are from Gap and ON. I’ve been wearing them for years. (And “chic” is a word people regularly apply to me.) I’ve had friends compliment my jeans and when I tell them where they’re from, they reply, “When did it stop being ok to wear jeans from the Gap? Why are we all running around in $150 jeans that aren’t really any better than the others?” So I’m keeping on with my Gap and ON jeans!

      2. I love my Old Navy sweetheart jeans. I’m tall and need a taller rise, and these are perfect for “jeans day at work” appropriate jeans. They’re not the nicest jeans I own, but they’re the ones I go to when I want comfortable and easy.

      3. A third supporter of Old Navy jeans, though I have the RockStar cut. I just bought three more pair for $19 each last weekend.

      4. Only caveat with old navy is that you have to physically try on the exact item you want to buy …which you want to do anyway, but thought I’d point it out… they seem extremely inconsistent between seasons and cuts and even the same exact items in different sizes or colors. That said, I’ve been able to gauge the fit successfully by online reviews some of the time, but it’s a lot of agonizing and research and then I still have to return 1/3 or more of the order.

         1. Heck, I’ve stood in the dressing room with 2 items that were supposed to be the exact same size, style and color (I just grabbed them from 2 different parts of the store not realizing they were the same) and one was loose and the other tight. The only difference was that they were made at 2 different factories in 2 different countries.

            Use their sizing as a very loose guideline, and plan to try everything on in a few sizes.

   2. No idea about postpartum, but I have some loose skin/weird body issues from weight loss. I like madewell. Try the high rise, which sounds weird….

   3. I really like Uniqlo’s jeans, and the low price point might be good if you’re still expecting some weight fluctuation or other changes to your size.

   4. I do really well with Loft Curvy fit.

   5. I had to order mine online, but for post partum jeans that will make you feel like your old self again, I highly recommend the DL1961 Emma fit. I LOVE mine.

   6. No suggestions, just twin skin commiseration. (My son’s favorite thing these days is to show me his tummy then try to lift up my shirt to look at mine. Thanks, kid. You wrecked my tummy now you want the whole world to see it.) Good thing twin babies are so darn adorable.

      1. Haha, not a twin mom, but have had 2, and my 3 year old loves to point out (literally point) how squishy my belly is. I just say “Yep, I made you and your little brother in there, so now it’s squishy”.

   7. Know you asked for in person vs online, but I gave up in person jeans shopping after a couple of bad runs and fell in love with James Jeans and JAG Jeans (which have pull on options – love!), which I ordered in a crazy variety of sizes from Amazon and sent back as needed. One order; one return; one hour of trying on.

   8. Paige denim high rise straight leg or skinny

   9. 2nd the recommendation for Paige denim (specifically the verdugo ankle style) — works well for my post partum pooch:)

4. It’s almost September! What do you think are the fashion trends this fall?

   I think burgundy is going to be a popular color, and I definitely think that bootcut jeans will be back.

   I can’t decide if riding boots/skinny jeans will still be in, or if it will be dated…

   1. Hope you’re right, my wardrobe has plenty of bootcut and burgundy already!

   2. I feel like all the new trends are old. Burgundy is in every Fall, except sometimes they call it “merlot” and sometimes it’s “oxblood.” I’m seeing a lot of flares in stores, more so than boot-cut, the 70s seem to be in generally (which I love), I’m loving all the deep forest greens everywhere and want to buy them all to hoard for the future, and I’m really excited for pleated button front skirts with silky blouses (I missed the late 70’s/ 80s adult clothes). Also, lots of denim everything – dresses, skirts, overalls. Not sure how I feel about the overalls.

      1. This year it’s “marsala”

   3. Ankle booties. I need a pair. And I drove by the Frye store in Georgetown yesterday….. ugh.

      1. I recently bought Frye over the knee boots I had been coveting for a few years. From a Nordys associate as she was about to ship them off them to Rack. Happened to be in my size. For $150. On my birthday! Best luck ever!

   4. You will take my tall boots and skinny pants from my cold dead limbs! It’s pretty much my fall uniform and I don’t care how outdated it is :)

      1. +1

5. Going to France in about two weeks… Spending most of our time on the Riviera but a few days in Paris as well. Weather is expected to be 60s-70s. Since its an “in-between” season, I’m having a tough time figuring out what to pack. Should I lean towards summer or fall clothes/shoes? Has anyone visited in mid-Sept?

   1. We did Paris and Provence in September and it was wonderful! The weather was fairly temperate. I’d bring stuff you can layer if necessary, but I think I regularly wore jeans/leggings and light t-shirts, with the occasional cardigan or light jacket. Pack a dress or pair of shorts in case it gets too warm. Have a great time…you can’t go wrong there this time of year!

      1. Thanks!

   2. Did Paris and Marseille in mid/late September and wore lots of layers. Skinny ankle pants (not as thick as jeans but not just knit leggings) and some combination of tshirt/button up oxford/cardigan and I brought a light rain jacket that got good use (my friend brought a Patagonia shell that packed down into her crossbody purse). Also had a 3/4 sleeve shift dress for a few fancy dinners we had planned. The material was a bit thicker and worked like a tunic over my pants as well. The weather is JUST lovely!

6. Any suggestions for a gift for a 4 year old boy? I’m going to a birthday party this weekend and I rarely interact with children, so I just don’t have a sense of what kids that age are into. I do know he likes planes, trains, and automobiles. Thanks in advance!

   1. all the 4 year old boys I know love these super detailed books with pictures of different trains/trucks/etc. Check on Amazon for titles like “The Ultimate Construction Site Book”, “The Ultimate Book of Vehicles”, and “My Big Train Book”. Less of a chance that he will already have these, compared to toy trains.

   2. At 4 my son loved all types of cars and did not mind having two of the same one. He also liked this really big puzzle (it was only about 10 pieces, but was a fire truck about 4 feet long. I think made by Melissa and Doug.) He also liked pop-up books, play doh, the big Legos, and art stuff.

      1. Automoblox are really cool gift we gave my nephew when he was 4. Wooden cars with interchangeable wheels and tops. Amazon Prime. Done.

   3. Thunder Tumbler Remote Control Car is fun (Target, Amazon)

   4. “Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site” and “Steam Train Dream Train” are some of our favorite books. We also like the Little Blue Truck books. Richard Scarrey’s “Cars & Trucks & Things That Go”

      I’m always a fan of giving (and receiving) either books or consumables for kid presents. Unless there is some sort of true toy dearth, there are always too many. So, books, coloring books, crayons, etc. You might want to try a different art or craft idea. We got watercolors for the boys recently, and they liked the change of pace. Super super cheap. I had no idea that all things Crayola were as cheap as they are. Find out how they feel about play-doh before giving (some parents offer free rein, while others keep it under lock & key)

   5. They make easy Lego sets for 4 and up out of the regular small Lego that are usually vehicles. My boys would have loved them at that age. Also, I’m not sure if they still make it, but Kid K’Nex was a big hit with my boys when they were younger. Also, Nerf dart guns are a huge hit in my house and have been for years (mom of 3 boys). But I know guns can be controversial.

   6. How much do you want to spend? If you’re feeling quite generous, MagnaTiles are amazing and a big hit with my four-year-old son. Less pricey and a different option from cars/trucks/etc. (which he also loves — those are great suggestions too) would be “explorer” stuff. Melissa & Doug makes a magnifying glass and binoculars, and he has that along with a zip “pouch” for treasures and a set of plastic archaeology tools on a carabiner, and he LOVES to just head into the back yard and “hunt” for things.

   7. My son just turned 4. 4 year old boys are little balls of energy and joy. I love 4! He loved these presents (varying price points):
      – StompRocket Jr
      – Rocket Balloons
      – Marble run
      – Lego Jr set
      – Magformers (similar to magnatiles, but easier to grip for younger kids, so better I think if there are younger sibs)
      – Books: Mo Willems are huge hits, as are the Jamaica series,
      – Magazine subscriptions (my kids LOVE LOVE LOVE getting a magazine every month): Highlights High 5, Ladybug

      I would also suggest looking at the lists on FatBrainToys (and buying from! we don’t have a local toy store so I like to support the online independents. I wish we had a local store). The lists are always spot on with hits for my sons and friends.

      1. forgot to add:

         – Kinetic sand
         – Any book by Richard Scarry

7. Has anyone every done a price adjustment at the Limited? Just bought some stuff there this weekend, and today they have a 50% sale on everything, but I don’t have the receipt on me! I paid with a credit card, so I’m wondering if I go in, will they just refund it back to my card. Or, do I have to go home and then go all the way back to the mall, which is right by my house?

   Normally, I’d say screw it, but I was planning to return one of the items because it’s too expensive, but at 50% off I would love to keep it!

   1. *The mall is right by my work, not my house, of course!

8. uhhhh – my company just announced a reorg. I’m brand new, and while it looks like my life/job won’t change much, the one friend I made here (who is also very new) is going to a different office and got pretty royally screwed. I’m thankful I didn’t, since I made a lot of sacrifices for this job…. But I feel horribly for her and I’m still nervous about the reorg and unforeseen impacts on me. I wish I could do something for my friend. Sympathy/advice?

   1. APC- Sorry about the re-org. True story – I’ve probably shared this here before. I hired a mid-level employee and on what was his first day on the job we had an 8:00am company-wide breakfast meeting scheduled – pretty routine NBD. We sit down and the CEO announces a merger, a 20% staff reduction and a whole new upper management structure. The new hire looked at me and said “Did you know about this?” I hadn’t but was embarrassed anyway, even though the new hire’s job/rank didn’t change. At this breakfast, several people found out that their jobs disappeared by looking at the org charts and noticing an absence of their names. No advice but you can be a sounding board for your friend as someone who is not an insider (yet) but not an outsider either.

9. Am I the only one that thinks that the ankle pants + oxfords just look like her pants are too short? Maybe I am scarred for life due to being teased for highwaters in middle school, but I can’t do ankle pants, especially not with chunky shoes. And oxfords without socks? Sounds like a recipe for blisters and cut up heels to me. But maybe I’m just too old for trends anymore. Or maybe I was just born an old lady.

   1. Anecdotally, I think this depends on whether you’re short or tall. I’m short and LOVE the ankle pant and flat shoes trend because I don’t have to follow the “wear heels and long pants to create the illusion of length” advice I’ve been given my whole life (and I don’t have to hem my pants to different lengths for different heel heights, which was irritating). Conversely, my MIL who is 5’11” hates the ankle pant trend because she’s worried her whole life about her pants being too short.

   2. I don’t universally hate ankle pants (I like the cigar-tt-e pants look or the jersey ones featured recently), but I agree that these look awful. High-water was my first reaction. And the shoes look dowdy as heck with them.

   3. And as another option – I hate ankle pants, but also love that they exist, because I buy them in Tall sizes. I’m 5-8 and don’t otherwise need Tall length pants, but Tall ankle pants hit me right at the top of my foot and are the perfect slim-but-not-skinny cut. I only wear flats, and find a lot of other business pants tend to look like sloppy flares if you wear them with flats – slim Tall ankle pants are perfect for me because they are just ever so slightly tapered :)

   4. As a petite woman, that’s the only look I can consider when suiting up.
      Otherwise I look like a girl playing grown up.

10. Going to Tokyo in a few weeks and interested in doing some shopping. Does anyone have recommendations for where to find some trendy/unique pieces in Tokyo? Not looking for anything super high fashion, mainly just street fashion.

    1. The major shopping areas here are Ginza, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. Ginza is very high-end, lots of brand flagship stores and fancy department stores. Shinjuku also has department stores and more mid-rank fashion. Shibuya has everything.

       The funkier neighbourhoods with boutiques, cafes, etc are Harajuku (particularly the area called Ura-Hara, north of the Omotesando Hills center); Daikanyama (near Ebisu); and Shimokitazawa.

       Ura-Hara has a lot of used clothing shops and small boutiques. Daikanyama has lots of small shops, but it’s more of a natural fibers/loose fit/solid color vibe. Shimokitazawa is an old bohemian area with lots of vintage shops and tiny stores selling unique clothes and accessories.

       I don’t know your style, but if you have a half-day I’d recommend walking around Omotesando/Ura-Hara. If you have a full day, go there in the morning, walk to Shibuya for lunch (20 min walk), then take the Keio Inokashira train line to Shimokitazawa and wander around there in the afternoon.

       I really like the brand Urban Research for unique casual/street wear.

       Also, if you see someone on the street wearing something you like, is totally OK in Tokyo to stop them and ask where they got it. That’s where half my wardrobe comes from ;)

       Happy shopping!

11. The changing thickness between the stripes on this suit jacket make it look…kinda drunk.

    1. Hahah, agree. Go home suit, you’re drunk

    2. …you say that like it’s a BAD thing!

12. Hi, does anyone have experience with MM LaFleur? Wondering if they ever do sales, the quality of he clothes, and stores that have a similar fit. Thanks!

    1. I just bought a beautiful cardigan from there and was really impressed with the packaging and the quality. That said, I will have to return it because it overwhelms my frame.

    2. I love MM.LaFleur – I work in a business casual environment that’s slightly on the more formal end and have found that I reach for an MM dress at least 2-3 days a week. I have 7 dresses from them in all (I think), would definitely recommend trying the Bento or better yet going in-store or to one of their pop-ups if you have the chance.

       To your questions:
       – No regular sales, I think I’ve seen one or two “sample sale” type events a year, sizing is correspondingly quite limited
       – Love the quality and handfeel of the clothes. Some people don’t like that they use synthetic materials in some of their designs, but it really is so much more preferable / convenient to me that they are wrinkle-free, machine-washable, hold their shape, etc.
       – Still looking for stores with a similar fit… Let us know if you find any!

    3. I’ve met the founders and they are really lovely so I feel good supporting them. I’ve bought at their sample sales but unless you happen to be local and catch it at a lucky time I wouldn’t count on getting a discount. Have two dresses – a basic one I loved pre pregnancy but haven’t yet put back in rotation because it’s a bit too body hugging to do without spanx tights and a more unusual one that I thought was cool but is no longer my favorite.

13. Anyone have suggestions for a good cleanser? I just realized that my boyfriend started using my cleanser in the shower and now it’s dwindling at a faster rate than normal. I have sensitive and dry skin so something that won’t irritate that. He apparently likes the smell of the Bliss cleanser (I forgot what it’s called but it’s the blue one) but I’m quite sure he’ll use whatever is in the shower.

    1. I don’t think you can go wrong with cetaphil.

    2. I’ve been using the Philosophy Purity cleanser for 4-5 years and will never use anything else for as long as they make it. It’s gentle, has a light scent, does an excellent job of removing make-up (including eye make-up) and doesn’t leave my skin dry.

       1. I agree. Every time I try a new cleanser sample, I end up going back to my Philosophy one. It’s perfect.

    3. Pond’s cold cream cleanser, in drugstores, comes in a tub with a green lid. It doubles as a makeup remover, so I use it both morning and night. I too have dry and sensitive skin, and it’s very mild. It also leaves behind a nice moisture. It’s also super cheap, so I never worry about using it generously.

    4. I have very sensitive but normal skin. I use Burt’s Bee’s sensitive face cleanser, which I’ve found to be very, very gentle. I tried Cetaphil for a while, but it actually dried out my skin a bit.

14. I’m coordinating a group birthday dinner out for a good friend. I emailed our usual brithday celebration group of about ten people to say I had made a reservation at a X restaurant (a very nice, super trendy, somewhat pricey, four star-ish restaurant) on a Saturday night for good friend’s bday, and I asked the group to let me know by a certain date if they could attend the dinner. We are all in our very late 20s or early 30s, so this is a typical arrangement for a birthday. Got a response back from the first in our group to have a baby (who is now three months old), asking if babies were invited. Honestly, I don’t mind myself, but this is a pretty nice restaurant (white tablecloths, $40+ entrees) and our reservation is pretty late. Yelp lists the restaurant as not child friendly, and I don’t think it’s realistic to expect a three month old to nap in a car seat throughout a fancy dinner in a nice but loud restaurant.

    The response I’m leaning towards is: “So glad to hear you might be able to make it! X restaurant is pretty loud that late at night, so I think Baby might be more comfortable at home. Hope it’s still possible for you and DH to join us, but if not, maybe we could all do brunch the next morning?” I don’t want to be rude, so any advice on making my response more respectful would be appreciated.

    1. Honestly, if that baby is 3 months old, you may not even notice they are at the table – a noisy restaurant is the perfect place for a baby to sleep (they love the white noise). I think I would say that you’d love to see her and that it’s completely up to her on bringing the baby. Saying that “baby might be more comfortable at home” is about the most passive aggressive way of saying it. If you don’t want the baby there, just straight up tell her that.

       1. +1

       2. Yes. It can get so awkward. Let them decide, unless you’d really rather it just be adults.

       3. Agreed. I’d just say no if you don’t want this to be a baby thing. Saying that baby might be more comfortable at home sounds sanctimonious and judgmental.

          “No” is not rude.

          1. +100 – just say it. Your reply is rude/passive aggressive. If you’re friends, stop trying to be PC and just say no.

       4. Agreed, and “baby might be more comfortable at home” is really passive aggressive.

          Practically, I’ve had several friends bring 3 month old babies to events, and it’s always been fine. Also, with a baby that little, if the mom is feeding, being close to baby is much easier, and if you say no, there’s a good chance the couple will opt out entirely.

    2. I know that people have a range of opinions on this, but my experience is that a 3 month old really can do great in a situation like that. They’re not old enough to want to get up and move around and can sleep anywhere, if it’s late, they’ll probably be tired anyway, and a constant stream of background noise doesn’t interrupt their sleep in the way that you would think. Granted, my kid was an awesome baby, but we took him out many times and he didn’t make a peep. But if you don’t want babies or think that it would interrupt the vibe of the group, I get that, too.

       1. Yeah I completely agree. The baby will likely be fine. It’s just a question of whether the group wants babies.

    3. I would totally bring a 3 month old to a restaurant, and would totally expect it to sleep the entire time. We brought our daughter to multiple Michelin star type restaurants when she was that age, and we never had an issue.

    4. I would let the parents be the judge. Many 3 month olds will just sleep through an event at that time of night. If not, the parents may be totally fine with taking the baby outside to walk around for a while, rather than miss out entirely on the fun evening. Give them a break already!

    5. It’s weird that she asked and put the decision on you. Also I think this will set a precedent for how these dinners go going forward. I would say no, but straight out. Not how you say it below

       1. This. I’d say no because although a 3-month-old may be fine, they will take you saying “yes” this time as carte blanche to bring the baby for the rest of its life so next thing you know you have a noisy 8-month-old and then a 2-year-old and next thing you know it’s bye-bye, adult birthday dinners.

          1. Yup. One 3 month old? Awesome. 5 18 month olds? Kill me now.

          2. I would have a similar thought, but 3 month olds are in that age category where parents don’t yet feel comfortable leaving them with a babysitter (perhaps due to BFing, or due to it being so young), unlike a toddler. So it might not open the door to them asking every time.

             1. I agree, it’s probably much more due to breastfeeding and logistics and comfort as a new parent than anything else. A 3 month old will likely sleep the entire time if it’s late at night. Saying an infant can attend is not the same as saying all children can attend forever. 99% of people with kids would realize the distinction.

    6. I think the child-friendliness of a restaurant is really geared toward older children who will be there eating food, etc, although I guess changing a diaper in a restaurant without a changing table in the bathroom would be a challenge. I would reply saying that since they know their baby the best, it is their call.

       1. I agree with this. We’ve changed diapers or feed baby in the car when there weren’t other good options. At 3 months, I could comfortably bring my child to loud, but nice, restaurants and have no issues. By 7-8 months (newly mobile), I wouldn’t have dreamed of it. I wouldn’t worry about precedent setting.
          Also, the baby may not be taking a bottle well which means food source mom can’t leave for long (if nursing) and/or sitters are expensive. These aren’t things you think about much if you haven’t navigated baby-world before.

       2. Yes, this is exactly the response I was really looking for. I don’t really care, I just want everyone to be comfortable.

    7. I’d just say it’s not a kids event & leave it at that. I don’t think you need to worry too much about offending someone. I think it’s normal for the friend to ask if it’s kid friendly, but they should expect that some events just simply aren’t. It’s not too young to get a sitter at 3 months.

       1. Yep. Or they can stay home this once.

    8. You were asked if babies are invited. Not if you think it’s a good idea, if the restaurant has a playpen, or if you can move it to a baby-friendly hour.

       Make it easy on yourself and answer the question that was asked. “Yes, you are welcome to bring your daughter. Yelp lists the restaurant as baby-unfriendly, but you’re the mom and if you think she’ll be fine, we’ll all coo over her.”

       1. +1

    9. I’m a mother and bring my kids with me as much as is practical but I wouldn’t be offended if I was told it was an adult only gathering in that situation. I would likely opt out unless it was a milestone celebration, just because it can be difficult to get away while breastfeeding, but not due to being offended. But agreed that at that age it is pretty easy to wear the baby and have them sleep (which I have also done). If they are planning on coming and bringing a stroller, you may wish to check with the restaurant in advance as not all have the space to accommodate. Which is why baby wearing is great for these situations, so long as you don’t drop food on the baby’s head ;)

    10. The one fancy restaurant I went to had no place to change my baby. I hated going out when my son was an infant.

    11. This must be a “know your baby” thing. For all the responses of sleeping cherubs at 3 months, mine cried loudly and nonstop at any restaurant at that age. By the time she was 12 months, we finally “worked up” to being able to quickly eat a dinner at Boston Market before the crying started. But she was not fun for us (or any other diner) for quite some time so it was no restaurants for us. (There is hope — she is now a well behaved tween who loves going out to restaurants). But not all babies are great at restaurants, and they can change the group focus and dynamic. As others, I’d tell her this is an adult only event if that is how you want it to be and is consistent with the group’s practice (which it sounds like it is).

    12. I’d say that this is adults-only. You’re setting a precedent by saying yes.
        And I have two kids!

15. DC ladies, a little advice please! What’s a casual, quiet-ish bar near the Dupont metro? I’m meeting a guy from my law school to discuss his clerkship interview on Friday, but he can’t meet until 9pm on Thursday night when he gets to town. I need somewhere we can actually talk (but no romantic vibes; this is totally professional and he’s married anyway!).

    TIA!

    1. Starbucks?

    2. The Dupont Circle Hotel also has a nice lobby and quiet restaurant.

    3. That’s a good idea, and there’s one right on the circle. If you want alcohol and actual food, not Starbucks snacks — and if the weather will be warm — maybe the rear/sidewalk cafe of Kramerbooks/Afterwords? IIRC the inside can be noisy esp if there’s live music but the outside should be okay. And it’s a bookstore, so doesn’t have the vibe of, say, a hotel bar.

       Or even Cosi at the north end of that block, which is fast-foodish but which has alcohol at night, I think, and also has sidewalk tables.

       1. I was referring to Starbucks when I said good idea. No opinion on the Dupont Circle Hotel.

    4. Dolcezza? Or maybeI’m just dying for some ice cream…

       1. I was going to say Dolcezza- it is def where you should go. Nicer than starbucks, not as risky as a bar.

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