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Updated: Apr 15, 2021 101 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Hobbs

Suit of the Week

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For 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.

OOOOOH. I love this structured, feminine suit from Hobbs — and it's on sale. The cropped sleeves, the peplum, the almost architectural detailing on the dress — it's all so, so lovely. I spied it first in chartreuse (not my favorite color, but hey) and was excited to see this dusky gray/blue. It is described as “pale blue” on the site, though, so don't be surprised if it's got a bit more personality in person than it does on screen.

There are a bunch of sizes left at Bloomingdale's and Hobbs.com, with prices ranging from $175 to $245. Hobbs is one of our top brands for washable workwear; this suit is listed as “dry clean” which means in theory that you can wash it (but for best results dry clean). 

Looking for something on the more affordable side? Banana Republic Factory has a bunch of washable chambray suiting up to size 20.

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Sales of note for 9.10.24

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Comments

  1. Anon Lawyer

    I rarely say this but I hate this suit. It has a creepy sci-fi dystopia vibe to me.

    • kk

      I hate it too. The shape, color and polyester all scream old church lady at a morning wedding to me.

      • Anonymous

        Agreed, even though this shape is probably very flattering to my particular figure.

        • LaurenB

          I think it could be really pretty with great accessories, though. I just bought a dove gray scarf shot through with sort of a robin’s egg blue that would look nice here. I think it was styled “blah.”

          • Anonymous

            How would you wear that scarf with this? How else would you accessorize it?

          • LaurenB

            Just looped around my neck, I suppose! A million ways to wear scarves! Separate from the scarf, it could use a long necklace with a bit of oomph. The model is just so plain – there’s no bracelet, no earrings, no nothing.

          • Ellen

            Kat, unlike the other OP’s, I think I could look very cute in it, even tho the manageing partner likes me in more vibrant colors;(i.e., red and navy blue). It reminds me of the Jackie O’ collection that I recall Oleg Cassini featured when I was in college. That is what makes the world go round; What is good for the goose is not always good for the gender, and visa versa, Dad says. YAY!!!

    • Anonymous

      The angled seams at the hips are what push it over into sci-fi territory.

    • Never too many shoes...

      I think it is the colour – I would love it in charcoal or black or even a navy pinstripe.

      • Katie

        I think it’s gorgeous! On a woman with a dark skin tone, I think the color would be stunning. Regardless, I think it does call for some bold accessories and a bright or red lip.

  2. Nude fishnets

    Do people currently wear them? I’m so sick of black tights but I don’t think that people (in my city) really wear these (but I’m also not wanting to closely inspect the legs of others).

    • Anon

      Do you mean nude tights or nude fishnets? Why would you wear fishnets outside of a club? Nude sheer tights are a thing, just make sure they don’t have a sheen. But fishnets only belong to the going out territory.
      Nude fishnets will make you look like you had huge skin grafts from afar.

      • Never too many shoes...

        Hold up there with the judgey pronouncements. Small fishnets, or fishnet pattern on sheer are worn by lots of people outside of the club. Hell, I wore fishnets to my Call. Nude fishnets are a perfectly reasonable choice for some – I personally refuse to wear sheers or nude tights ever, so nude fishnets can be a substitute if it is too cold for bare legs and opaque black tights do not work.

          • Anon

            I guess I don’t know why they are warm, but they are definitely warmer than bare legs. I think some of us may be picturing different things, since the nude fishnets I’ve seen are really understated and to my eye look fine with work clothing.

      • LaurenB

        The nude fishnets I’ve seen (and worn) are very understated. They don’t look like fishnet until or unless you are up close and personal, and they don’t have the heavy, sheeny look of regular pantyhose. They aren’t remotely club wear. You’re thinking of the ones with large holes in them.

    • Anon

      I haven’t really seen anyone wearing them lately. But nude fishnets were definitely a thing!

      • Senior Attorney

        I feel like nude fishnets were the choice of last resort a few years ago when nude sheer pantyhose were NOT DONE AT ALL but some of us didn’t want to go bare-legged or wear actual tights. I haven’t worn mine for maybe five years or so but I rocked them back in the day.

        • LaurenB

          I agree. I think the last time I wore them was 5 years ago! Not really sure what to do when I have a dressy event but it’s cold out … and black tights don’t work …

          • Anon

            I wore the hell out of nude fishnets 15 or so years ago, then retired them for a bit.

            I more recently pulled them out for a conference where I felt like I needed nude hose and I could not believe how many women came up to me asking where I got the tights. Maybe they’re staging a comeback.

            All of mine are from Spanx brand. I like the original and the micro fishnets. With the micro fishnet you couldn’t really tell they were fishnets unless you were sitting right next to me.

    • Anon now

      I spiced up Valentine’s Day with an outfit that included fishnet thigh-highs with a lace band at the top. They were surprisingly warm. And hot. ;)

    • Anonymous

      I wore a pair a couple days ago, when I was in a state with 80 degree weather for a meeting. I am from the Frozen Tundra and my pasty white legs have been in black tights for several months. Rather than break out pantyhose, I wore nude fishnets (very small pattern – like this, link to follow). I admittedly don’t follow trends but regularly get compliments on my style, so I’m going to keep at it :)

    • The Beagle Has Landed

      I wear nude fishnets from time to time with leopard shoes as a change from black tights. Very fine mesh, not clubby at all. They look perfectly work appropriate.
      That said, I don’t see a lot of people wearing them so I don’t know if they’re “in” or not.

  3. Anonymous

    I’m feeling really defeated about finding a life partner and could use some encouragement/commiseration. I’ve been single for almost two years now and that’s how long it’s been since I’ve had a good date in my city. I’m at a place where I am really ready to build a life with someone, but the prospects on the dating apps are so poor that I rarely even swipe ‘yes’ on someone or match with someone who has liked me. When I do and we match, the conversation usually sucks and dies quickly. It has been since the summer that I chatted on an app with someone that I actually wanted to meet up with, and then in those (very few – literally 2) cases there was no second date because we didn’t click in person. I’ve tried deleting and re-downloading the apps so that they reset, and to no avail. It’s disheartening because I’m 29 and really never though I would be entering my 30s alone, and meanwhile I am watching all of my friends and acquaintances find love while I can’t even find a date for this weekend. Anyone else feeling like their person is taking too long to show up/starting to doubt that they exist?

    • Anon

      What city are you in? Is there a clear mismatch between your interests and values and those of the majority of people in your city?

      Hugs. Dating is hard.

      • Anonymous

        I’m in Toronto and it’s funny you mention that because I recently discovered that YES very much so, and that’s why I specified “in my city” in my post. I went on vacation to the mountains recently and it was like being a kid in the candy shop on the apps while I was there, and I met a really great guy that I clicked with immediately and would definitely pursue a relationship with if either of us could move! Moving is not a possibility for me – I’ve tried to move a few times and it didn’t happen, and now I’ve set up a nice little life for myself here and have my job, family, friends and a new puppy – so I’m basically hoping that my person is on a mountain somewhere right now and will eventually move to Toronto (though I don’t know why you would do such a thing!)

        • Anon

          What is it about the guys in the mountains that was appealing vs. the guys in Toronto? Is it that they were more into hiking, outdoor living etc. More down to earth? And in Toronto you’re matching with all finance guys or lawyers who don’t want to step foot outside? Just trying to see what it is in terms of qualities that appealed to you there — because then maybe there’s a way to narrow it down in Toronto though maybe not just by app.

          • Anonymous

            Op here – your guesses are 100% spot on. All of the above especially the down to earth aspect. The guys in Toronto (this is a sweeping generalization but it’s my experience), even the ones who aren’t finance guys or lawyers, are so self-absorbed and entitled and unwilling to put any effort into dating because there are a million amazing women at their fingertips at any time. I feel this is the case in a lot of major cities. So the conversations I have with them on the apps are so aloof on their end and I can immediately tell that they are more interested in me getting to know them than in getting to know me. Vs. when I was in the mountains for all of 24 hours and had some great engaging conversations with some guys who actually seemed interested in me, and my “vacationship” with the one guy felt genuine and connected in a way that I haven’t experienced in Toronto since I met my ex.

        • Anon

          This internet stranger is rooting for you! My Adirondacks guy uprooted his life and moved to Philly for me…it can happen.

    • NOLA

      I’m so sorry. This sounds like a version of what I went through. I stepped back for a little while, after being on from February to November and, when I got back on, things suddenly heated up. I met my current guy in the group of guys I met right around Thanksgiving and he’s the only one who stuck. It’s awful, though. For the longest time, I thought I would never meet anyone who was remotely right for me. I’m 55 so obviously my point of view is different, but I hope it sorts out for you!

      • Ellen

        Nola, and OP — hugs to both of you. I too am in the single camp, but I read an article last week in the NY Times that said that we are empowered women and should NOT need a man to feel complete. I fully agree, and we can overcome the “s-xueal” part by just getting non-whining s-x toys at Babeland or on the web. If I can turn that article up, I will write back, but it was in last Sunday’s NYT Style section. Look it up, read it, and live it, and we will never moan over the fact that we do not have some guy to dirty up our toilets and soil our satin sheets again! Myrna is already shareing it with her female co-workers and Goldman Sacks. YAY!!

    • Anon

      This isn’t a “lower your standards” advice but more of a suggestion to have an open mind. You aren’t saying that you don’t get matches you’re expressing that you don’t seem interested in the guys on there. Which is fine. But LOADS of people don’t present all that well online. They have chosen a terrible picture or put too little information about themselves, or lean too far into discussing an uncommon hobby in their profile, etc. When I was online dating, I remained open-minded swiping wise. If a guy wasn’t my “typical type” (it took me until mid-20s to realize I shouldn’t restrict myself to guys of a certain ethnicity, body type, or too small of an age range), but looked like he could look decent/attractive in person, presented no red flags, and seemed somewhat interesting after exchanging messages for a little bit, I’d agree to a coffee or drink date if I had the time. Dating apps provide very little information about potential suitors . Think it more as filtering out the bad rather than finding a diamond in a pile of dirt. And statistically the wider you cast your net, the more fish you may catch.

    • Monday

      Speaking as someone else with a long stint of being single in her 30s: I think you’re on the right track screening hard on the apps. I personally much preferred not having many matches/messages/dates, over having lots going nowhere. There’s no hack for the fact that very few people on there will be interesting to you, so you’re not doing anything wrong. And quitting, temporarily or permanently, is always a great option if they’re bringing you down.

      The most helpful thing for me was to find other single women. I really didn’t have any local single friends, so I found community and writings online. Feeling alone at a certain phase of life, when everyone seems to be pairing off, is a huge part of the difficulty.

    • DCR

      Dating is so hard!!! I’m 35 and haven’t had a serious relationship in almost 10 years. And the number of guys I’ve really been interested in during that time is in the single digits. I recently met a friend of friends, who I am falling for hard and really hoping is my person. Because if he isn’t, I think I might embrace spinsterhood, give up on dating, and adopt all the cats.

      No good advice on how to make dating successful. But, as I keep telling myself, it only takes one right person and it’s just a matter of finding him.

    • Anon

      Dating is really hard.

      FWIW, many of my friends got married in their 20s… and then a whole slew of us met our spouses after the age of 30.

      • January

        Same – many of my friends met their spouses in their 30s. (I met my SO at 34 after many, many single years). For what it’s worth, I felt much worse as a single 29-year-old than a single 30-year-old. Hitting that big dreaded birthday and getting past it was a relief for a while. I also set some big personal goals for the year I turned 30, like running my first (and to date only) half marathon, which helped me feel like the new decade was going to be a big new adventure.

    • Anonymous

      Also from Toronto. When your new puppy is old enough and the parks are nice again, find your favourite dog park or trail and see who you meet there. I’ve meet some of the nicest people since I adopted my puppy. It’s so easy to strike up a conversation with someone because of the dogs, and you tend to meet people who love animals and being outside.

  4. Horse Crazy

    I’m throwing my friend a bachelorette party weekend – we’re renting a house and there will be 9 of us total. What would you have in the house for breakfasts and lunches? We’re doing tacos for dinner one night and going out to dinner the other night. Trying to think of breakfasts and lunches that are cheap and don’t require a ton of prep time.

    • Anonymous

      Coffee tea bagels lox cream cheese yogurt fruit eggs

      I’d eat out for lunches

    • Anon

      How cheap? Like cheap enough that you want to cook and do dishes on a vacation? Because TBH lunches for me would be picking up sandwich trays and salads at a local place and splitting the cost. That will be pricey though relative to what that stuff costs if you make it, so you could also pick up a thousand kinds of breads, cheeses, meats, veggies and condiments and let people make their own; at least do paper plates though unless you really want to be washing dishes/loading the dishwasher.

      Breakfast — same thing — muffin trays/fruit salads/yogurts from someplace. If not — go pick up those 6 packs of grocery store muffins, bread, butter, jam, cereal, milk. Unless someone really feels like cooking and wants to be whipping up omelets for the group or something like a French toast casserole which they put together and throw in the oven.

    • Anon

      Breakfast – scrambled eggs (including breakfast tacos/burritos if you want to use up the filing), juice/mimosa bar, french toast, cinnamon rolls (from the can).

      Lunch – bagged salad stuff, sandwiches, snackables (i.e. hummus, chips, dip, pretzels, pre-cut veggies). Boring, but cheap and customizable.

    • AttiredAttorney

      For the last bachelorette I hosted, breakfasts were Greek yogurt + berries + granola + milk =parfaits/cereal bowls/muesli (depending on preferences) on day one, and a big vegetarian gluten free breakfast casserole with a side of bacon (baked in oven) on day two. Lunches both days were two loaves of sliced bread +jar of peanut butter + Jar of nutella + variety of cold cuts and sliced cheese = sandwiches or sandwich bowls of peoples choosing, with apples and chips on the side.

    • Rainbow Hair

      I think that if you are planning on hanging around the house, and if you have good breakfast stuff (like bagels and eggs and yogurt) and then good snacks around (veggies and fruits and popcorn and hummus and granola) you can sorta not have a Lunch Plan and just let it be munching on stuff while you hang… maybe get two frozen pizzas as a back up plan / for late night munchies.

    • Anon

      Can you outsource this to some of the other attendees? When I last planned one people were always asking me “how can I help/what can I bring/do you need help with planning, etc.” and people paired up to make meals. So maybe you give the breakfast/lunch planning to some helpful volunteers? Just a thought.

  5. BigLaw minirant

    In BigLaw, at what level would you expect not to be demanded to do nonbillable work?

    • Anonymous

      Never? I mean – I guess it depends what you mean by “demanded” — but partners do nonbillable work all the time.

    • anon

      Uh….never? Business development is not billable at my firm, and I thought that was standard.

    • Anonymous

      Like if you are a 5th year associate, I don’t think you can demand it of a 5th year associate. Or one income partner demanding it of another.

      But some people at my firm are notorious for asking you to help on something “and will send you the # later” and then the # turns out to be non-billable. Like I have clients who send me billable work that keeps a roof over my head and I’m not making them wait to do your vanity project. And it case it matters, I am an equity partner and still get this sh*t. Must be b/c I wear a skirt. There are some people that I won’t pick up the phone for. That is a privilege they no longer get. If they can’t state their case on voicemail, they go to the bottom of the queue.

      • Ellen

        We do not have that issue, as everything is now billable. Even the pro bono stuff gets spread across our cleint billing b/c we MUST do it in NY State or else we have to explain it to the bar association. So just tell your manageing partner to bill everything out proportionately to your firm’s cleints. They will see a charge, and we just list it as “mandatory public service allocation”. One or 2 cleints asked about it, and I told them it was required, so that was the end of it.

    • Anon

      My firm solved this and gave us a billable and non-billable requirement (pro bono, client development, firm research and presentations counted) – it was awful

      • anon

        did your billable go down or is it still the 1900 or whatever and you just have the non-billable on top? My firm allows pro bono to count for unlimited billable hours (most people top out around 100 max) and we get to count some BD and KM as “billable” too

        • Anon

          Nope there was a billable minimum and bonus goal and a non-billable minimum and bonus goal. But, if the billables could take the place of the non-billable requirements once those went above the minimum – they didn’t want to penalize anyone for billing a lot. So for example if bonus eligibility is 2100 total hours, you could have 1900 billed hours and 200 non-billable or 2100 billed hours.

    • Anonymous

      I have a team of people that works on issue A for paying clients. What makes me stabby is that partner in another group demanding that one of my team take time off of our work to do nonbillable work on that partner’s article or whatever (that will never lead to billable work for us or even an acknowledgement that help was provided, either publicly or on a review). And those partners never give us billable work of any sort anyway, so it’s not like it’s the hand that feeds us.

      It’s like a bad relationship. People who value you pay you in billable hours, acknowledge your contribuiton if nonbillable, and generally treat it as a relationship they value and want to build. And then there are others who just use you (and you need to shut that down (or always be on deadline for a big partner or big client, which is cover)).

    • Anonymous

      Depends what it is. The non-billable stuff should evolve with your practice. As a junior litigation associate, I’d expect to write summaries of recent cases or important articles, and to help partners prepare to speak at conferences – putting together PPTs, speaking notes, etc. As a mid-level, I’d want to write articles with a partner (under both our names), attend a conference or two, get involved with a bar association, maybe do some pro bono or other community outreach, start getting involved with pitches. As a senior associate, I’d want to speak at conferences, get a leadership position in a bar association, get a leadership position on a nonprofit board or some other charitable work, write my own articles, do my own pitches or be a bigger part of a pitch team.

      If you’re not voluntarily doing things that are appropriate for your level, I would expect someone to “demand” you do their stuff – if I need someone to draft my PPT then I’m going to tap the person who has almost 0 nonbillable hours not the person who has 300. If you are doing your own nonbillable stuff and you’re still getting tapped to do behind-the-scenes type nonbillable work (so, you don’t get your name out there or any client exposure), then I’d push back/delegate to someone more junior.

  6. Watch allergy issues

    I posted maybe a month ago about becoming allergic to the back of my watch that I’ve had for a decade. Well, I fixed it in a super low-budget way and thought I’d share in case anyone else has this issue. For some reason, I was only getting reactions to the back of the watch, not the band, probably because that isn’t always in contact with my skin. I cut out a piece of thick felt fabric I had lying around in the shape of my watch back and taped it onto there with some double-sided tape. Worked like a charm. I’ve had it for over a month and no further reactions. I just changed out the felt with a new one last week.

    • Anon

      I’ve also known someone who painted the back of their watch of clear nail polish — obviously you can only do this if it isn’t an expensive watch that you care about preserving + you are not allergic to nail polish on your skin.

    • waffles

      I have heard that painting metal surfaces with clear nailpolish works too, but I have never tried it. And would depend on your risk tolerance level for the watch.

    • Anonymous

      Could you cut a moleskin patch to cover it? It’s adhesive, like a fuzzy bandaid.

    • Watch allergy

      So for further context, I didn’t go the nail polish route because it’s an expensive Swiss watch. I wanted something totally removable. I’m not sure about the moleskin – I might try it but suspect it might be too thin? The felt I have is probably 1/8″ thick but kind of flattens a bit with pressure over time.

      • anon

        CVS has a moleskin with padding – two sheets in a pack instead of three sheets of the thinner stuff. I’d guess it’s about 1/8″ thick!

      • Anonymous

        Does it have a leather strap? You may be able to replace the strap with a strap that has leather running behind the face of the watch.

  7. Anon

    Best area to visit in Wisconsin if you just want to look around, walk around, stay in a really nice hotel, get a feel for the place (not the whole state – just the area you’re in)? Obviously looking for cities where women would feel ok traveling, walking around (if possible – if not driving) at night. Madison? Door County? Milwaukee? I’m on a quest to visit the 50 states and wondering what areas of Wisconsin you’d recommend vs. which ones look just like the suburbs of NJ and thus aren’t worth the trouble.

    • Anonymous

      Do you follow Drink Wisconsinably? They make the whole state look great. It may be the beer goggles, but I’d check that out.

        • cbara

          Yes Madison is great! I lived there for 9 years and was sad to move away. Definitely summer is best. Check out State street, the Memorial Union Terrace, the fantastic farmer’s market on Saturday am downtown, Concerts on the Square on Wednesdays. Fun to walk or bike (can rent) around the lakes. Lots of great restaurants.

    • January

      I loved Door County years ago. So quaint! I doubt it’s really representative of the state as a whole (haven’t otherwise spent time in WI), but it’s a great place to vacation in the summer.

    • Anonymous

      What time of year are you looking to go, and what do you want to do? There are a billion articles and blog posts out there about how to spend a weekend/long weekend in Madison.

      Door County has very small but walkable towns, but you’d have to drive between them. If you’re into cross country skiing or snowshoeing, it’s great to go in the winter, but be aware that a lot of restaurants and shops are closed then. During the summer, DC turns into a crowded tourist trap. It can also get pretty crowded in the fall when the trees change.

      I have not spent enough time in Milwaukee to make recommendations, but, like any other city, there are places where it’s fine to walk around at night, and places to avoid. The Milwaukee suburbs look just like suburbs anywhere, so I wouldn’t bother.

    • Anonymous

      Throwing another option out there – do a summer or fall trip to the Driftless Area. Not really convenient to an airport, though.

    • Anon

      Madison is fantastic. The farmers market is great, excellent and inexpensive food and drink, lots of bike paths out of town if you want to see the country, too. And it’s not a long drive to the wonderful Frank Lloyd Wright homes in southwest Wisconsin if you want to do a slightly longer trip.

    • AttiredAttorney

      We love Milwaukee! Great food, interesting breweries, very walkable. We take the train from Chicago for day trips frequently.

    • MKEgirl

      Milwaukeean here! The best time of year to visit is the summer, when there are lots of festivals, including Summerfest (the world’s largest music festival). Otherwise, the Third Ward, Walker’s Point and East Side are great neighborhoods with excellent restaurants, microbreweries, etc. Visit Milwaukee is our tourism bureau and has more information.

      I do love Madison, too. If you’re willing to drive a bit further, the Northwoods are unlike anywhere else. Check out Eagle River or Minocqua.

    • Anon

      Milwaukee native here – Milwaukee is a great place to visit in the summer or fall. Stay in the Kimpton Journeyman in the Third Ward (sort of our Soho), or the Pfister downtown. Both are near the lakefront and walkable to museums (catch the art museum’s Calatrava-designed addition) and really good restaurants. The NYT did a 36 hours in Milwaukee article a couple of months ago – you might want to check that out. There’s Summerfest – a big lakefront music festival – in late June to early July, and then weekend ethinc festivals throughout the summer after that. Look for those – you may want to either catch them or avoid them, depending on your preferences. Irish Fest in mid-August is particularly fun and draws world-class Irish musicians. (But reserve a hotel early if you come during festival time.)

      • Anon

        Oh yes, and the Democratic National Convention is here in mid-July this year, so you’ll definitely want to avoid that time frame if you’re not in town for the convention!

  8. ITC Fashion (lol)

    Long shot, but has anyone done a trial at the ITC? How conservatively do people dress? More specifically wondering if it is OK to wear things like pants, black tights with skirts, Varas vs plain black pumps, suit made up of a dress/jacket, and anything but solid white/cream/pastel shirts under my suit (i.e., like a tasteful stripe, black, or solid colored jewel tone blouse or whatever). I’ll be handling a lot of the pre-trial conference and taking at least one witness. No other women on my trial team.

    • Anon

      I have, although I didn’t get to take any witnesses. Pants, colored or striped blouses and the Vara shoes (I had to google them but they’re pretty conservative)are all fine. I think suits with a dress would be fine too but I admit I dress less conservatively than some. In general it seemed more formal than SF, where I practice, but not any more formal than district courts in NY or Chicago. Good luck! Way to represent us women.

    • Beth

      I’ve been to a fair number of trials/hearings at the ITC. I (and others on my trial team) have worn dress suits (no hose), pants suits, and jewel-tone blouses without issue. You don’t need to worry about shocking an ALJ with pants or anything like that. Like a lot of courts where the government is a frequent party (i.e, OUII staff), the ITC tends to be formal but workaday/conservative rather than super elegant or stylish–you don’t see thousand dollar suits or fancy bags–so I would shy away from things that are trendy or label-y. For that reason, I’d elect plain pumps over Vara, but that is a preference, not anything you’d be penalized for. Re skirts–a lot of the counsel tables don’t have fronts, so make sure you can sit comfortably in them, and in some courtrooms, cords are all over the ground or haphazardly tucked under uneven carpet squares, so shoes you can navigate that in are important. Also–the war rooms-for-rent are typically two blocks away, so shoes you can walk easily in are (again) important.

  9. Anonymous

    I got myself a pair of houndstooth kitten heels from Ann Taylor when they were on sale earlier this year, and I am in love with them, but I’m also very aware that they make noise when I walk on the wood floors in the office, and I had been wondering if it was too much noise. I don’t think I’m “clomping” per se, but I do tend to walk with purpose.

    Today I was walking to the kitchen, and a woman a fair distance ahead of me turned around and said “I can hear you” before continuing on and turning the corner. I slowed myself down and practically tiptoed the rest of the way to the kitchen and back to my desk, trying to make as little noise as possible, but I may have looked a little silly doing so. Do I need to work on minimizing noise when I walk?

    • Jess

      You can have a cobbler put heel caps on your shoes for $15. I’m a noisy walker so I’m still noisy, but its much better.

      • Jules

        This is probably not a bad idea. But fooey on your coworker – the floors are wood, of course she can hear you. Presumably she can hear women in block heels and men in wingtips and anyone else who isn’t wearing sneakers or slippers. You are allowed to exist in the world, which might mean making noise when you walk on wood floors.

    • Senior Attorney

      I click-click-click down the linoleum hallway in my government office every morning. I consider it a feature, not bug.

    • M

      I mean don’t all heels make noise on hard floors? I think the other woman was odd to comment. Don’t stomp around, but if people are taking issue with hearing other people walk, that’s on them.

    • Vicky Austin

      Was she expecting you to be levitating? Seriously, shoe meets floor, it happens.

    • Anonymous

      I have an incredibly loud step regardless of shoes, but it’s noticeable with heels or hard-soled loafers – and I’m 110 lbs and 4’11. I have thought about going to a cobbler but haven’t made the investment yet. Part of wearing shoes!

    • Anon Probate Atty

      Are they click/clacking or squeaking? I have kitten heels that sometimes squeak and someone commented on it before.

    • anne-on

      Ha, I think I wore those exact heels yesterday. They didn’t squeak (at least on me) but I would think putting a cap on them would help protect the shoe and make your steps slightly quieter.
      But seriously, you did nothing wrong. I used to work in an investment bank with marble floors and EVERYONE sounded like a 2-ton elephant on that surface, men (way more men) and women alike. Heel meeting floor=sound.

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