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I am not a huge fan of the sleeveless vest for work — I think it's way too hard to make one look good with a sleeved layer beneath it, and sleeveless isn't acceptable for many conservative workplaces (know your office!). So I chose to feature this suit with a caveat: it also comes with a regular jacket. Having said that, I do think for the right woman, at the right office, this fluid, high-collared look is lovely; it's professional and buttoned-up without being stuffy. The vest (Karmine Gilet) is $370, the pants (Karmine Trouser) are $240, and the regular blazer (Karmine Fluid Blazer) is $445.
A few lower-priced options are here (windowpane), here (cream/beige), and here (four color choices). Here's a plus-size option.
(L-all)
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Wildkitten
What are you favorite suiting shells that don’t have to be tucked in?I ordered some Boden Ravello tops and they just didn’t do it for me so I am on the quest again.
AEK
I like the silk tanks and tees from Pure Collection. They have some on sale now:
https://www.us.purecollection.com/clearance-sale/shirts-tops
I also collect cashmere short-sleeve or sleeveless sweaters from the post-holiday sales to wear under suits.
Bonnie
The Ravello tops did not work for me either. I like ones from Classiques Entier. The suiting department at Macy’s always has good options from Tahari and Calvin Klein.
Nina
I recently moved into corporate after a stint in a very structured environment (think consulting / banking / BigLaw), where the path to promotion is very set, you know if you hang in there you’ll move up, and it’s really clear what you have to do / whom you have to impress to make it happen.
So now I’m at a company. Its much better for my life, I got a positive first review, and I’m having these development conversations with my manager.
The thing is, I feel a little… Uncertain? In my previous job it was really clear how to “lean in”, and in corporate it’s not so much.
Looking for advice / perspective from ladies who have made the same switch.
Anokha
Can you talk to your manager about it? After I switched in-house — and after my first positive review — I asked him how I could take my career to the next level. And we made a roadmap of different skill sets that I would need to demonstrate before I could get promoted. I found it super helpful, plus it signaled to him that I wanted to lean in and was willing to do what it took!
NH Anon
Sigh. I just can’t believe Trump won my state’s primary by such a huge landslide. It upsets me to look around at my coworkers, my friends, and know that some of them must have voted for him. We have a mix here (the state, not my office). A group of loud and vocal Trump supporters and another group of secret racists that would never tell anyone they voted for him but 100% agree with his stance on immigration. I get that this is how democracy works. But it is so disheartening to know people really feel this way. I for one, do not want to return to 1950. I’m not looking for advice. Just a quick vent.
Oh, and his victory speech. Yes, we all want to bring down ISIS, improve the economy, have zero unemployment, have the best health care in the world but HOW do you expect to do that????
I just want to apologize to the world on behalf of my state. The worst – no one even seems surprised and hardly anyone is talking about it today.
lsw
I hear you. Coverage of this election has just depressed me – knowing that in 2016 people still hold these ridiculous racist views or just plain wrong assumptions/understanding (e.g. “Keep your government hands off my Medicare”). I had to turn off the radio this morning listening to coverage of my own state’s ridiculous, RIDICULOUS budget impasse. Depressing.
Sydney Bristow
I’m a little comforted by the fact that Kasich came in second. From this liberal’s viewpoint, he seems to be one of the most rational on the republican side.
Opal
+1 I want to learn a lot more about him.
padi
Kasich is okay, I guess. What really makes me worried about him is his record in Ohio of closing down PP clinics and enacting restrictions on women’s healthcare choices. I think if that issue weren’t important to me, I would seriously consider voting for him in the general (if he makes it).
Sydney Bristow
That’s why I couldn’t vote for him myself. But I think that all of the Republican candidates have the same goals this cycle.
Anonymous
Kasich is definitely the best of this terrible Republican field, but he’s not really a “moderate.” He is pretty conservative on most issues (and I say that as someone who describes myself as a moderate liberal and finds Bernie Sanders way too liberal for me, electability issues aside).
Anon
I’m a moderate Dem and my hopes are on Kasich. I genuinely believe we need less ideology, not more, in American politics. Kasich’s cooperative platform gives me the most hope.
I think Obama went wrong because he was a child who hadn’t yet learned the importance of playing well with others. If he had worked with the Rs on healthcare instead of trampling them, I truly believe the current political climate would be much different. We need someone who’s willing to work with others to find middle ground. If not, we’re going to keep swinging every election between the far left and the far right and “you did me wrong, now it’s payback!” UGH. Can we be grown-ups, please?
Um
It is incredibly condescending to refer to the president as a “child.” Particularly this president (not so far from the extremely ugly, loaded, “boy”). I’d watch your rhetoric; it really detracts from what would otherwise have sounded like a reasonable criticism.
Wildkitten
Agreed.
TBK
Wait, what? I don’t think that calling the president a “child” is like addressing him as “boy.” I also think it’s totally fine to be condescending to a president. She’s saying that he was bull-headed and uncooperative. Like a little kid. You might disagree, and you might think that he wasn’t childlike at all, but I don’t think the president’s race has anything to do with this comment.
Senior Attorney
You might not think that but I guarantee you there are many people who think that, including me. It’s incredibly tone-deaf, at best.
Anonymous
TBK, a lot of white people don’t think things are racist when they are. If we let white people be the arbitrator of what does and doesn’t have to do with race, they would never find it relevant to anything
Erin
Was W a child???
Just asking.
Anonymous
Hahahaha. Yup. A child who just couldn’t work with a virulently racist opposition. Tell me more about how Obama should have just tried harder.
anon
Ha! Please. This:”I think Obama went wrong because he was a child who hadn’t yet learned the importance of playing well with others.” is incredibly condescending. Agree with his politics or not, but the man who managed to maneuver and succeed in our society to become the first Black president is certainly not a “child” who can’t “play well with others.”
How many times did the republicans try to destroy the ACA?
Do you think Cruz plays well with others? Do you think shutting down the government and reading green eggs and ham constitutes playing well with others?
Do you think the numerous investigations into Planned Parenthood, and Benghazi!!1 constitute playing well with others?
Anonymous
Preach, sister.
Anonymous
This comment makes me rage. When Obama first took office, he bent over backwards trying to work with the GOP. But after years and year of attacks and mudslinging and just plain nastiness, he decided to get things done with them. Who can blame him?
Anonymous
He decided to get things done without them.
politics
I think you should listen to Obama’s speech today that he gave in Illinois. It was excellent.
But it wont change your mind about him.
But you need to hear it, and think about it.
Anonymama
What?!!! 90% of obamacare reforms are based on ideas that were originally part of the Republican platform. They are really quite conservative on the spectrum of the last 20-30 years of party policy positions. The Republican Party since his election had been firmly opposed to everything he has supported in large part just because he supported it. In an atmosphere like that, Obama really didn’t have the choice to work with the opposition, when the Cruz/Palin tea party outrage would absolutely hammer any R’s that even thought about a compromise with him.
Emmer
I’m from Ohio. Kasich is only a moderate if you compare him to the current crop of ridiculous candidates. Here’s just a sampling of what he’s done:
Required public schools to partner with a religious institution to get money for mentorships: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2014/12/17/aclu-education-mentoring-program.html
Led the fight to enact a multitude of restrictions on a woman’s right to obtain an abortion: http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/john-kasichs-quiet-campaign-to-cut-abortion-access/
Defunded Planned Parenthood in Ohio: http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2016-02-10/bill-to-strip-planned-parenthood-funds-nears-kasichs-desk
Cut public school funding by more than $84 million: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/06/30/Kasich_budget_vetoes.html
Proposed sharply cutting income tax while raising sales tax (a tactic known to hit poor families the hardest): http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/02/02/gov-john-kasich-budget-proposal.html
Anon
Transvaginal probes, people. THAT WAS KASICH.
He’s not moderate. He just looks moderate next to the current motley crew.
Carrots
(re. moderate next to the current motley crew) Which is really scary to think about…
Anonymous
Yes, this.
Also Ohioan
Don’t forget how he tried to completely take away unions for teachers police and fire and the state had to reverse it on a referendum. No conservative Teachers, Police or Fire will vote for him ever again. There’s a bill he should be vetoing right now that completely defunds PP and he’s not even in town.
There’s a small part of me that’s proud he’s at least the most reasonable but jeeeez.
Jules
Late to the discussion, but another Ohioan here and I agree 100%. Sometimes I hear Kasich saying something that I think sounds reasonable (like calling out some BS from Trump) and then I remember the anti-collective bargaining statute he pushed through, and the defunding of PP, and the anti-choice laws and I start to choke. I still have on my desk a bumper sticker from the collective bargaining fight — it’s picture of Kasich and says, “Does this a** make my bumper look fat?” Sums up my feeling about him.
Sydney Bristow
I didn’t say that he was moderate! Just that he seemed like the most rational person on the Republican side. I’m still not voting for him for all the reasons people have listed but I think we might be better off if he is the one who gets the nomination over someone like Trump or Cruz.
Emmer
My remarks were mostly directed to the “moderate Dem” Anon above – don’t worry!
Anonymous
He hates teachers.
Anonymous
Yeah, and the dems aren’t doing much better. He was polling WAY behind her in NH not six months ago, and he beat her by a lot. It’s crazy that a self-proclaimed socialist who refuses to call himself a democrat and hasn’t ruled out a 90% tax rate is beating former first lady, senator, secretary of state, etc. If these are our two choices, I have no idea what I will do (but I don’t think that will happen).
NH Anon
Agreed.
Anonymous
The thought of a Sanders vs. Trump or Cruz general election makes me want to kill myself. I find all those options absolutely horrifying.
Runner 5
It’s a 90% marginal tax rate for the very highest earners. Not nearly as scary as his opponents’ rhetoric makes it sound
Anonymous
Yeah, and there’s no way that would pay for all of the new programs he wants to implement. Literally, you could tax the top 1% at 100% and it wouldn’t make much difference.
Anonymous
And, 90% is not unprecedented. We’ve had it before.
And really – who expects all of his proposals to come to light? I don’t. But at least he has ideas and is thinking about solving problems. Don’t like his proposal, fine – work with him to figure out something else.
Anonymous
I absolutely do not understand this line of reasoning AT ALL. Does it occur to you that other candidates might also like to change things if we were starting from scratch, but choose not to promise to do things that will NEVER HAPPEN?
Anonymous
Why would I want to vote for someone that won’t even talk about how they might change things, if there are things they think need fixing? Shoot for the moon, talk about what you’d do in an ideal world, and then figure out the practical version of that thing. You get the incremental change by starting for a push for big change (that seems like a basic negotiation strategy).
And the things that never happen are things that are never discussed. You have to start talking about a problem and it’s possible solutions before you do anything about it. So, why don’t the other candidates have ideas on how to address the problems Sanders is talking? Because they don’t think they are problems, or because they have no desire to fix them?
Anonymous
They do have plans to address the problems. They just aren’t as buzzfeed worthy.
Erin
Why is 90% so “radical” when it was fine under Eisenhower?
Anonymous
I’m now wondering how much of that 90% was to help pay for the war that got us out of that major depression…don’t have any numbers, but it would be interesting to know.
Anonymous
The tax base that 90% applied to was vastly different than it is now. This is such a bad comparison and it makes me cringe every time it’s thrown out by people with no understanding of tax law.
Anonymous
How was it different (genuine curiosity)? It was still income tax, right? Would that mean we could get rid of the AMT?
Anonymous
The “tax base” refers to what is captured as taxable income, which is what you multiply the tax rates by to get the tax.
To give an overly simplified example, if the tax base only included income paid in months ending in “y” but the rate was 90% (assumed flat for simplicity), Person A who earns $100,000 year would only have $40,000 of income taxed at 90%, so $36,000 tax. Now let’s suppose the tax base includes income paid in all months, and the rate is 36%–Person A still has a tax of $36,000 even though the rates are drastically different, because what she’s being taxed on is different.
Tax reforms that “broaden the base” eliminate certain deductions (often ones considered loopholes or tax shelters) and include more income as taxable. For example, you may be aware that if you are collecting social security but also have other income over a certain threshold, you will pay tax on your SS benefits–if you didn’t have that other income, your SS would be tax-free. Prior to the 1980s, all of the SS income would have been tax-free regardless of your other income. This broadened the base by including in income the benefits paid to higher-income recipients. Other changes eliminated benefits of loss-generating passive real estate investments and other tax shelter-like investments, slowed down hyper-accelerated depreciation deductions (though depreciation deductions are still very generous with Sec. 179 and bonus depreciation in some years), eliminated the deferral or exclusion gain on sales of certain assets, and repealed a significant corporate tax case such that corporate distributions subsequently faced additional layers of tax.
Now, the above is just to say that a straight comparison of historical rates is misleading because what those rates are multiplied by changes significantly over time. It’s not meant to be an argument that taxes are actually higher now than they used to be because more stuff is taxed / less is deductible (a better measure of “are taxes higher now” is total tax revenue as a % of GDP, which you can look at via this link: http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=205)
anonymous
Thanks, that’s helpful!
Anonymous
For all of us who complain about the lack of child care options in the US, student loan burdens, health care expenses, etc…”socialism” might not be the worst thing in the world…
LC
Co-sign
Anonymous
Yes yes yes. Only in the US would we deem paid parental leave, a decent minimum wage, universal healthcare and free college as “incredibly radical.” This is the given in most of Europe and Canada.
Boom.
BOOM.
Anonymous
Well, college isn’t free in Canada, but it’s more reasonably priced than the US. Think $10-12k/year tuition for undergrad, and around $20k/year for law school. This doesn’t include living expenses
But yes, I am a big fan of our parental leave, minimum wage, universal healthcare, reproductive rights, and same-sex marriage, etc.
Canadian
Anonymous 4:34, Undergrad is 7-9K (BA versus BSc)/year and Law School is 12-15k/year. Signed someone who had to very sadly pay tuition a few weeks ago
emeralds
Yup. We’re the only developed country without solutions to these issues, even imperfect as they may be in other countries. And we’re the farthest away from socialism. I’m undecided between Hillary and Bernie for a lot of reasons (and would take either of them over any of the Republicans in a heartbeat), but Bernie identifying with socialism is not a problem for me. Problems that I have? All of the right-wing, fascist, anti-choice, and anti-woman rhetoric spewing from the Republican primary field* like filth from a gutter.
*I can politely disagree with moderate Republicans.
Anonymous
+10000
Also, it’s getting harder and harder for me to politely disagree with moderate republicans given that all the current candidates from their party are actively seeking curtail the basic human rights of women. You’re 100% pro-life? Fine, we disagree. You’re pro-choice but vote for pro-lifers because you think your tax bill is more important than women’s rights? That’s a tough conversation.
Anonymous
Agreed.
Blonde Lawyer
Anonymous at 4:11, you just put into words what I’ve been thinking but couldn’t articulate for a long time.
Anonymous
You’ll vote for Bloomberg when he jumps in if it’s trump vs. sanders
Alanna of Trebond
I really believe that Sanders would not be winning if he weren’t a man. I know that everyone points to Elizabeth Warren (and I love Elizabeth Warren) as the female president they really want, but Hillary Clinton would win by a landslide if she were a man. I find it very disheartening.
bridget
” secret racists that would never tell anyone they voted for him but 100% agree with his stance on immigration.”
People of all races and backgrounds have views on securing the border and changing immigration laws for logical, thoughtful reasons that have nothing to do with racism. I am sorry FOR YOU that you are so stupid and emotional that you cannot bother your little head enough to THINK your way through issues, and just assume that anyone who disagrees with your is your moral inferior.
emeralds
My dad fits that description to a T. So. This is a real thing, that is happening! And if you think Trump’s proposed immigration policies involve logic or thoughtfulness (build a wall…that Mexico will pay for…and keep all the Muslims out…and make the ones currently in the U.S. wear identification…yeah…), please consume some media from other perspectives.
Anonymous
Ummm, or that she knows these people and knows that they are secretly racist?
Also, nope. Trump’s immigration plan is, at its core, racist. If you believe in it, you too Bridget are racist.
Anonymous
If she knows they’re secretly racists, then it’s not much of a secret…
Anonymous
Yeah, the exit polls show that the people who voted from Trump are men and women, all races, all incomes, etc.
Anonymous
All of them racist.
Anonymous
I’m the Anonymous above, and I am a republican but IN NO WAY a Trump supporter. So yes, I agree, he’s horrible and racist. I’m just saying it’s really kind of worse that he cut across all groups.
Anonymous
Please explain how “keep out all Muslims” is a logical or thoughtful approach to immigration reform.
Anonymous
Bridget- you are always the worst person on this site. give it a rest. OF COURSE you’re a trump supporter.
Anonymous
What’s really upsetting for me, as a non-American, is that if Trump becomes President, his policies will impact not just the USA but the rest of us (the world beyond the US, if Trump is aware of it) who don’t obviously have any say in this election.
Sydney Bristow
Just need to vent that taxes are so complicated this year! I got married in 2015 so we are doing taxes together for the first time. My situation has always been straightforward but this year we have to run them jointly and separately to see which is better for my IBR situation. I anticipated that. What I didn’t anticipate is how complicated my husband’s situation is. He works for the government and has all these random benefits that have to be declared. He said it took him hours last year to figure it out because some of the codes weren’t easy to find in turbotax.
I’m going to try and finish it up this weekend. It’s less exciting though because I used to get $3000 refunds but this year it looks like I’ll net $300 back and he’ll have to pay (which he had to do last year. It’s just a matter of how much we’ll owe and whether that amount is less than the yearly difference in my IBR payments. Complicated! Maybe we’ll give up and hire someone.
Anonymous
I got married in 2014 and paid someone to do my taxes that year. We’ll tackle them ourselves this year, but it gave us peace of mind to have someone else do the first year of us filing jointly.
2 Cents
+1 did the same for the tax year when I got married. Best $300 I ever spent.
Yup
Preach. I’m an attorney. My husband worked for the IRS in a prior career. Between the two of us and after a lot of research we still can’t figure out a tax issue we have. Consulted an accountant friend and the answer was hmmm…. that could go either way. So we will just have to guess how the IRS wants it treated and cross our fingers we don’t get audited.
For those interested, the issue is referral money received, not in connection with our work. Refer a friend and get $200 kind of thing. We made over $600 doing this so we got a 1099 but it was classified as self-employed income (box 7) instead of miscellaneous income (box 3). The former pays the self employment tax and the latter doesn’t. You aren’t bound by how someone allocates it on the 1099 but if they won’t fix it, you have to explain it to the IRS. Reading the opinions on similar situations the IRS has gone both ways. We’d rather avoid a penalty for not paying the self employment tax on the money earlier in the year but we also don’t want to classify it as misc, get an audit and find out we did other things wrong in prior years and owe even more.
The average Joe should be able to do their own taxes. An attorney and an IRS former employee should absolutely be able to do their own taxes. An accountant should be able to answer a tax question. Our system is whack.
Sydney Bristow
So much yes to your last paragraph!
Bonnie
That’s why I gave up a few years ago and now just pay someone to do it. So much easier to just email someone all our documents and have them figure it out.
Ellen
Yay Kat! This outfit is VERY cute, tho sleeveles won’t work with Frank, b/c he is ALWAYS looking to see what color bra I am wearing and I do NOT like to encourage him. FOOEY on Frank!
Sidney, I agree that taxes are complicated, but you at least NOW have a husband to handel that for you. I rely on my dad and my acountant to do all of this and that is how I PERSONALY handel it. I think that taxes are takeing alot of my takehome pay away from me, and if Bernie Sander’s is elected, Dad says I will REALY need a husband to make money for BOTH of us. Dad says Bernie Sander’s is worse then Bernie Madeoff, tho I have NO idea why he think’s that. Madeoff literaly made off with alot of peeople’s money, and Sander’s is lookeing to tax us through the Infernal Revenue Office. Big difference in MY book.
Myrna’s Freind’s Freind keep’s texteing me and is askeing if he can come over and watch the NBA (Basketball) on my new HTDV. I realy do NOT watch NBA, but I don’t mind seeing him. Does the HIVE think I should watch the NBA, or ask that he watch what I want to watch on the E! Chanel, or mabye Animal Planet or the History Chanel, b/c I am more educated then he is.
I told him I will get back to him after I consult with Dad and the HIVE. YAY!!!!!
padi
After years of not being able to find shoes that fit, I just learned that I have narrow feet. Two new pairs of shoes in a narrow width confirm this. Shoes are comfortable again!
Does anyone else have narrow feet? Which brands you do like? Where do you find new shoes (Zappos had a more limited selection than I am used to)? Do you know of any good inserts for my normal-width shoes?
Thanks!
Sydney Bristow
I have bunions so I look for wides, but based on how narrow Cole Haan’s wides are if guess they are fairly narrow. There have been so many cute ones that fit like regular width to me even though they are sold as wides.
padi
Agreed, Cole Haans run narrow. My favorite shoes are the Air Tali Wedges but they get so stretched out after a year that I am considering buying a replacement pair for my replacement pair.
New Anon
Narrow-footed person here who’s found Cole Haan regular width shoes to be quite narrow. Plus, they do (or at least used to) make most/all of their shoes in a narrow width if the regular still won’t cut it.
Anonymous
Munro has narrow sizes. They’re not the world’s most fashionable, but they have been trying to update their styles…
Anonymous
Asics for running shoes.
padi
Thanks! I am not able to run right now due to some health issues but I hope to again. I will also check them out for street sneakers.
Runner 5
I also have narrow feet and have found some Skechers great as street sneakers, Adidas too.
MJ
Nordstrom is your friend. Also, Marmi carries a lot of narrow widths as well. Their website is not great, but the catalog is great.
padi
Thank you! I hadn’t heard of Marmi’s. I will check them out.
MJ
New Balance also carries narrows in running shoes.
Anonymous
Mizuno too. Road Runner Sports is a great resource for running shoes.
Anonymous
Arthur beren shoes has lots of sizes, widths, too. Nice brands and selection, pricey but worth it.
Anonymous
I rely on Nordstrom and Cole Haan for narrow sizes. I find that the availability of certain items in narrow widths on the Cole Haan page fluctuates over time, so it helps to check often. I recently discovered that SoftWalk makes a lot of ankle booties in narrow sizes. Vince Camuto offered narrow sizes a couple of seasons ago but seems to have discontinued them–I keep hoping they’ll be back.
For items such as snowboots and sandals that just aren’t sold in narrow sizes, I look at the customer comments and ratings at Zappos and Nordstrom to identify styles that run narrow.
Marie
Munro, Sesto Meucci, Cole Haan, and Stuart Weitzman are my go-to brands for my size 10AA feet. I stalk the sales since all of these are expensive brands. Brooks for running shoes, New Balance for gym shoes. A friend just recommended Aravon (Rockport’s dressy line) for comfortable shoes for the office; some of their styles come in narrow widths.
NYC tech
I love VanEli (for a brand). Great quality and some good styles. Marmi for a physical store (and good website). Zappos has some decent options sometimes (as well as 6PM). You’ll find that “narrow” means different things for different brands, so spend some time working out which brand fits your feet best and stick with them.
super narrow here
for casual summer shoes, jack rogers come in narrow and are just about the only sandals that are properly fit to my feet – all other sandals (even with lots of straps) are unattractively loose
RE associate
Any accountant recommendations in Philadelphia/South Jersey?
anonymous law student
I’m not a lawyer (yet) but I love this site and have learned so much from it and everyone here.
Just wanted to share…I recently gave a speech to a group of newcomers/people returning to school/people thinking they want to go to law school at a networking event. This may not seem like a big deal but I was raised in an abusive home with a father who beat me and hated women and a family who thought women were lesser and belonged in the kitchen, barefoot, pregnant and silent.
I talked in front of over a hundred strangers for 10 minutes and then answered questions for another 10. I am so happy I went through with it and didn’t chicken out.
Anonymous
Congratulations, that’s an amazing accomplishment. And it will serve you well for many years to come!
Anonymous
That’s wonderful! You give me chills. May your hard work always bring happiness to you and justice to yourself and others.
Anonymous
Agreed, I teared up, in a good way. Congratulations!!
Anonymous
you are awesome. that is a huge accomplishment. kudos, and self care my friend. sometime s it’s hard to relive all those thoughts/feelings in light of your success.
Sydney Bristow
That’s fantastic! Congratulations!
Wildkitten
CONGRATULATIONS!
Anonymous
That’s amazing! Great, great work. Congratulations!
Anonymous
Way to go, sister!
If it gives you further hope, I came from a comparable environment, and now I am a law firm partner running meetings that are often rooms full of men. You will be there too one day!
KLR
Way to go!
Coach Laura
That’s fantastic!
Anonymous
Well done. Well, well done.
NYer
Does anyone know of any suit jackets (preferably black) that aren’t . . as . . .stiff?
I saw a woman wearing a black jacket that looked professional, but was made of a softer, more flowy material than traditional jackets. I think this would work better with my shape, so any suggestions would be great.
Anon
Jersey or ponte. Check Loft.
Anonymous
I have a Jones New York jacket that would qualify. I think it is really a ponte, but I’m not sure how it was described when I bought it. I’m always told I look professional when wearing it.
profmama
Eileen Fisher? More like a swacket or a jardigan, but give that third piece finishing polish.
Anonymous
Misook.
SC
Does anyone have any recipe suggestions for a Valentine’s Day dinner at home? Any other suggestions (besides LGPs) for how to make an evening at home romantic? DH and I just spent the day together yesterday bickering over stupid stuff, and I’d like to use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to do something to reconnect a bit. For various reasons, we don’t really enjoy going out on Valentine’s Day, and we can’t really afford a babysitter + restaurant this weekend.
emeralds
Fancy pasta from the fresh pasta bar at Whole Foods, plus a fancy dessert from the fancy dessert case. Wine or a nice cocktail. Candlelight. Cell phones put away. Child occupied elsewhere (I assume, based on my child-free life). Favorite movie from when you were dating? Listening to songs that are memorable from various points of your relationship? Mindfully appreciating each other’s’ good qualities? Bubble bath, if you’re into that?
This isn’t at home, but my SO and I couldn’t get a reservation for Saturday night anywhere (since apparently a week in advance was not enough…). We’re going to have classy cocktails at a museum bar in the afternoon instead, and cook something delicious for dinner.
Anonymous
We do anti-valentines day–order takeout, open a bottle of wine, and watch movies on the couch. Cooking a fancy dinner is too stressful to be romantic, and then you have to wash the dishes.
Wildkitten
We are getting the Papa Johns heart shaped pizza and I am already excited.
Sydney Bristow
We order takeout and watch bad action movies. It is perfect for us but not necessarily romantic. There is comfort in our tradition though.
JJ
We’ve always done cheese fondue, a nice bottle of wine, and a movie. It’s a dinner that’s indulgent but not ridiculous, and the sides (broccoli, fresh bread, apples, pears, etc.) are cheap and easy enough. It’s something we look forward to every year.
Sydney Bristow
Oh I totally forgot that we also order the chocolate fondue kit from Fresh Direct. Clearly my husband is the one in charge of Valentine’s Day logistics.
kc esq
I like a pot of mussels cooked according to Ina Garten’s recipe, a big loaf of bread, and a lot of wine.
Anon
We usually do an at-home Valentine’s Day (we’re not this year, which is somewhat unusual for us!). Our go-to is usually a generous charcuterie spread (hodpodged together from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and our local gourmet grocery store) and a nice bottle of wine. Our Whole Foods also sells smaller versions of cakes/pies/tarts, so I normally pick up one or two for us to share. We usually put some music, put away our phones, and talk.
LAnon
Being relaxed and focusing on him will be the most romantic part, so choose a recipe that won’t make you flustered or running around the kitchen at the last minute trying to get everything perfect.
Since Valentine’s Day is a Sunday, can you kick him out of the house for the afternoon? Then get everything prepped and in the oven (or to the point where you can just toss it in the oven), clean up the kitchen, set the table (with nice china, candles, etc), change into something pretty and pour yourself a glass of wine. I also like to buy a fancy dessert from a bakery.
My go-to for this is roasted chicken with veggies / potatoes cooked in the same pan, and a salad from a bag. When my SO gets home, this means the house smells delicious and all I have to do is take the chicken out of the oven, and pour the dressing on the salad. (Usually I will even go so far as to mostly assemble the salad and stick it in the fridge so he doesn’t actually witness it getting dumped out of a bag.)
Anonymous
Ugh I’m sorry but why does she have to do the cooking by herself?
Killer Kitten Heels
Last year I did spaghetti carbonara, garlic cheese bread from the supermarket, and steamed mussels. It was delicious, felt fancy, and was super-easy to make.
For dessert my husband made sea salt dark chocolate chip cookies – they’re basically the only thing he makes and they are amazing, although they’re kind of labor-intensive.
As for what we do, we are boring and tend to play board games and/or watch movies.
PEN
As it is 3 pm and I can barely keep my eyes open: any suggestions for easy, filling lunches that are energizing—or at least don’t cause food coma/crash?
Anon
A salad with lean protein. Broth-based soup. No or minimal carbs.
lawsuited
+1 Seriously, I recently stopped eating carbs and although I am (almost always) hungry, I’m never tired.
Anon
I like to do something with a good amount of protein and fat and no heavy carbs, but carbs with fiber instead (so no bread, but an apple or brown rice.)
politics
I have to have enough fat in my lunch to be filling or I get hungry later. But remember…. the old adage that all fat is bad has been debunked. My lunch is very healthy, low carb. Protein, veg, fruit.
Grab a container and throw in a hard boiled egg (prep a bunch on the weekend), a hunk of good cheese, edemame, almonds, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, blueberries. Sometimes I might throw in a couple of Kasi crackers with the cheese.
I often graze over several hours, as I don’t have time off for lunch. Drinking a good amount of water. Sometimes another coffee in the afternoon.
Never hungry. I need that fat from the cheese/nuts though.
Rant
Someone with diplomatic plates just cut across 3 lanes of traffic. Just because you *can* get away with doing that doesn’t mean you should.
Anonymous
Yup – you still can’t break the laws of physics, after all.
Start date
What do you understand or assume when someone writes “available immediately” on a job application? I am currently unemployed and in the process of applying for something I think would be a great fit. I spoke to the hiring person/supervisor today and they indicated that they would like someone to start as soon as possible i.e. in March or April. The position is in another country so really the most realistic timeframe for me is April 2016 since relocation plans would have to be made. In this case is it better to use “immediately” or “available in April”
NYC tech
I think you can say “available immediately” in your situation, assuming that you don’t have any other obligations that would delay the start of the relocation process.
Lynnet
I am meeting my brother’s new girlfriend for the first time this weekend and I need a (belated Christmas, long story) present. She just moved to New York City from DC, and my brother has informed me that she doesn’t want things because her apartment is small, but that she’d probably like an experiential gift. I haven’t been to NYC since I was 12, and there are so many experiences available that I have no idea what to get, or even where things are in relation to each other. She lives in the Kips Bay neighborhood, and the only things I know that she likes are wine and classical music (and that was pulling teeth to get out of my brother). I’d like to get something that she and my brother can do together, and my Dad is going in with me, so our budget is around $400-500, although we can go over that if we need to.
Any suggestions? I have no idea where to start looking…
NYC tech
Pick a high-rated luxury spa and get a gift certificate for a day package in your price range. Easy, classy, enjoyed by most people.
Lynnet
My problem is that there are dozens of high rated luxury spas in NYC, and I don’t know where they’re located in relation to her, or how to pick between them…
Anonymous
Just pick any one of them. It will be fine.
NYC tech
Anywhere in Manhattan south of Central Park should be super easy to get to from Kips Bay. And honestly, with Uber, anywhere in Manhattan is easy.
But I also love the idea from below of opera or symphony tickets, with a gift certificate to Bar Boulud if money permits. Only tricky thing there is hoping that she’s free the night of the tickets.
Anonymous
Easy. Tickets to the orchestra.
blue
Gift card to Met Opera (and one for Bar Boulud if budget permits — not sure how pricey opera tickets are). Or stick with Bar Boulud and NYC Ballet tickets, which I think are more affordable.
Lynnet
This is perfect, thank you!
Godzilla
I was going to say something at Lincoln Center. Or the BAM.
Ems
a gift certificate to spa castle 57! it’s in midtown and couples can enjoy together (there are communal areas) and an experience they may not have paid for themselves.
politics
What kind of classical music does she link?
If she is a musician herself, especially if she enjoys chamber music…. tickets to Bargemusic in Brooklyn. A famous long-standing concert series… on a barge, docked in Brooklyn with a beautiful view of Manhattan and that famous pizza place to grab a slice when you walk along the water after the concert.
politics
What kind of classical music does she link?
If she is a musician herself, especially if she enjoys chamber music…. tickets to Bargemusic in Brooklyn. A famous long-standing concert series… on a barge, docked in Brooklyn with a beautiful view of Manhattan and that famous pizza place to grab a slice when you walk along the water after the concert.
Sydney Bristow
That sounds fun! Might make the perfect gift for my husband’s birthday or Christmas.
Oral Care Q
Random question: would you use an electric toothbrush at work?
I just got my teeth bleached and am very pleased with the result, but due to sensitivity I had to use a manual brush for a week and noticed a difference vs when I use my electric toothbrush.
Now I am thinking that I want to keep one at the office for that post lunch break and after the occasional snacks.
Do you think that buzzing sound would be noticeable in an office restroom?
Anonymous
Yes – save the electric for home and use the manual at work.
Anonymous
That is, yes it would be noticable and probably commented on. So, no I would not use an electric toothbrush at work.
Wildkitten
Yes. I would make sure people see that you are bringing a toothbrush in.
Houda
haha it took me few seconds to get it :)
I can imagine the looks especially if you emerge smiling from that restroom
Susie
Personally I think it’s odd enough brushing your teeth at work with a manual brush. I would say absolutely not to an electric. Sorry.
rosie
It would be noticeable, but I assume you’d be out at the sinks using the toothbrush, so anyone could see what you were doing (rather than in a stall where someone would hear but not see, and might think it was something else)? I think it’s fine and don’t see why anyone would care. Or are you thinking people would hear from outside the bathroom? I see how that could be weird, but if you make a point of walking to/from the bathroom with a visible tube of toothpaste, you could probably address whatever rumors would start.
Godzilla
It’s fine. I actually am really impressed with people who brush their teeth midday. We have people in our office who do it, nbd. Definitely not the grossest thing that takes place in the bathroom.
Another anonymous judge
Who on earth would comment on if and how your clean your teeth? I mean, really. Isn’t proper dental hygiene better than none? I have always brushed my teeth after lunch and I personally wouldn’t care one bit whether someone else used an electric or a manual toothbrush to brush theirs.
As long as you’re not spitting toothpaste at someone while speaking to them and leave a tidy sink behind you, I say brush away with whatever instrument you choose and enjoy the results.
Another anonymous judge
Sorry, meant to reply to Oral Care Q above, obviously.
Wildkitten
My concern would be that she is in the bathroom operating a buzzing machine that nobody can see and everyone can hear, for two minutes, several times a day.
Anonymous
lolol
Anonymous
People always judge. Just one of those things. And considering that both dentists I’ve had an an adult told me not to brush more than twice daily I would certainly wonder why this was so necessary to do at work that you take up a sink in our busy bathroom.
Godzilla
Because they want to. Or maybe they have different instructions from their dentist.
LAnon
I don’t brush every day after lunch, but I will if I have any external meetings after lunch and ate anything for lunch that is even a little bit questionable in terms of breath. Hopefully my using the sink for 2 min in order to make a good impression on potential customers and investors is worth it to you.
meme
What’s your favorite shopping list app? I’m looking for a user-friendly one that lets you create separate lists for separate stores, syncs across devices, and “remembers” the items you enter so next time all you have to do is tap on the item.