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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 222 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Pendleton

Suit of the Week

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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. Readers continually sing the praises of Pendleton suits — and there are a ton of new sale items at the site, including this nice worsted wool suit with leather piping. I like the slight tweeded texture, and the collarless style — it's that very small intersection of “structured” and “relaxed.” The jacket (WORSTED WOOL LEATHER PIPED JACKET) was $268-$278, but is now $187-$194 in misses, petites, and plus sizes;the true-fit trousers (WORSTED WOOL TRUE FIT TROUSERS) are $109-$116 (were $158-168).
Worsted Wool Leather Piped Jacket Worsted Wool True Fit Trousers
(L-5)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

    • elz

      I love that story. I love supporting small businesses and bought my first Lo & Sons last night. I hope it is as awesome as everybody says!

  2. Godzilla

    I like how happy these pictures are. Happy model, unawkward pose, almost fitting suit, all good things.

    Do you think President Obama could declare America to have Thanksgiving every week? Because 3-day work weeks are more than enough and I don’t know how else we could have that much awesome food without that much time to prepare and recover from it.

    • eek

      I thought yesterday was Wednesday and today I am on medication for my back so I don’t even know what month it is. :D

      • Godzilla

        I keep forgetting the days of the week, too. I hope you feel better soon!

        • eek

          Thanks! Got a diagnosis and management plan :D I also have an extra vertebrae (not related to diagnosis)!!

          • Susan (edna_mode_nyc)

            Feel better, dear!

            Speaking of extras – I have an extra molar (in addition to my wisdom teeth, all of which I’ve kept).

          • eek

            Aww thanks – you ladies are the best.

            Note to everyone: get chronic problems checked out! Don’t wait, when it comes to joints, bones, well, really anything!

            (not trying to be all neener! neener!, but I had 2 extra teeth in the slot for one of my front teeth that I had to get removed in 3rd grade).

          • Susan (edna_mode_nyc)

            All I can say is, EEK! ;-)

            That sounds painful. I just didn’t want any more orthodontist-induced pain, and just plain gave up when my wisdom teeth came in. My teeth are now very crowded and undid some of the work of the expensive braces and retainer my parents paid for.*

            *My mother kept reminding me of this for years– of the exact dollar amount they paid for my braces + retainer and how angry she was that I let my teeth drift a little bit away from the “perfect configuration” to what looks like very naturally straight teeth.

            This got to the point where I couldn’t talk to her or my Dad without her interrupting me with: “I notice your teeth aren’t perfect anymore.”
            Which led to my telling her that I would pay back the exact dollar amount with interest if only she’d STFU and get a life. (Which, to the surprise of my then 20-something self, she did!)

          • NOLA

            Susan, this cracked me up! My ex-husband had braces as an adult and I paid for the whole thing. He got them off a month before our divorce was final. If I could have figured out a way to charge him for them in the divorce I would have!

          • eek

            It got me $20 from the Tooth Fairy in the early 80s (big deal of money for my family), so yeah, totally worth it. Ha.

            Re: your mom; I think you might’ve done her a bigger favor by telling her that! NOLA, i would’ve been so burned by that…..ugh.

    • a.

      If I bought that suit, does it mean I’d be as happy to be at work as that model?

      Also, yes to Thanksgiving every week.

    • mamabear

      No, my aging brain can’t handle four days off. I got back Monday and could not remember things we had discussed Wednesday.

      • KC

        Ha. My coworkers and I keep emailing back and forth “Oh hey, I forgot about X we talked about last Wednesday. We still need to get started on that.” Thank goodness I kept detailed meeting notes or I would have forgotten everything. (As an aside though, who thought the day before Thanksgiving was a good time for a strategy meeting?!)

    • KC

      I think I could go for a once or twice a month Thanksgiving. I feel like I’m still recovering ;)

    • Senior Attorney

      I have had the perfect post-Thanksgiving work week. Monday off, work Tuesday and Wednesday, then take off until December 24! Woo-hoo!! Senior Attorney has left the building! Asia, here we come!!

  3. Land's End Swing Car Coat or J Crew Lady Day

    So I have decided I need to invest in a new winter coat this year. I live around DC and drive to work – so dont need anything super warm.Hopefully not something very heavy either. I have been eyeing both the Lady Day coat and the Land’s Ends car swing coat. The Lands End coat is at a lower price point but wonder if it will be bulky/heavy with all that swing. With the Lady Day,love the silhouette but cant find a good neutral everyday color that is not black. I am 5.1 – so looking for petite sizes and cuts that dont overwhelm my frame. Any thoughts?

    • Bonnie

      I ordered and returned the Lands End coat. I liked the fabric but there was too much volume in the back for me. It was fairly fitted otherwise.

    • Cb

      Did you see the Lands End engineer stripe coat? This is my dream coat and I may just pull the trigger.

      • Land's End Swing Car Coat or J Crew Lady Day

        Thanks for pointing this out, Cb. Like the color and the stripes but they dont have a petite size – I am afraid this will be too long for me.

        • Mpls

          Are you petite enough to look at the coat options in the Girls department of either place for color options that work?

          • Land's End Swing Car Coat or J Crew Lady Day

            mmm- dont think so, got a mommy butt:-)

  4. mascot

    Money question (apologies if this has been discussed earlier). We finally sold our house! Yay! But now we need to save for a down payment for our next house. Where is the smartest place to sock away money for the next 6-12 months? We will be contributing to the fund monthly and want something that gives better returns than our savings account.

    • CW

      I would turn to ING or Amex personal savings. The returns are not dramatically better (roughly .8%), but it is typically better than a run-of-the-mill savings account. You could also check out your bank’s money market accounts – they might have a better return (usually for some minimum amount held).

    • [insert clever name here]

      We asked the same question when we were saving for a house – and were told that the savings account was the best place for such a short time-frame. We were saving for two years.

  5. Blue

    Dentist/insurance question. I got a dental procedure a few weeks ago. The dentist quoted me (in writing) a price of $475, which I paid on the day of service. Then today they emailed me and said that my insurance actually had a copay of $575 and requested that I send them my credit card info for the extra $100. So…do I have to pay that? I haven’t changed insurance carriers or anything like that, so I don’t know what the original miscalculation was about, but it doesn’t seem right that I should have to pay if someone in their office made a mistake.

    • Godzilla

      Call your insurance company and have them explain to your what your benefits are. I’ve actually switched dentists because one office kept charging my insurance for work that was never performed and I got tired of their insurance fraud.

    • p

      You have to pay it, it was only a quote and also you could have just gotten the information from looking up the insurance info yourself.

      It wasn’t a mistake, it was a QUOTE.

    • [insert clever name here]

      I don’t understand how this works, but there are often different prices for someone who pays for their own expenses and what gets charged to an insurance company – with the latter often being higher. This doesn’t answer your question on if you owe that $100, but might explain the difference in prices.

    • Mpls

      Has your insurance company sent you an explanation of benefits yet? I would want an itemization of costs before I shelled out more money, and I’d want to hear it from the insurance company as well as the dental office.

      FWIW, I had some fillings down, and the dental office estimated that my share would be about $300, based on how past billing had been done with the same insurance company for the same type of procedure. They then submit the claim to insurance, the insurance does their thing about what they’ll pay and then I get balance billed for any remainder of my co-pay. But in addition to the that I get an EOB (explanation of benefits) from the insurance provider about what the dental office submitted, what amount the insurance company adjusted those expenses, the amount the insurance company paid, and any remainder that was my responsibility.

      So…I’d tell them to send me a bill, rather than just sending them my CC info.

    • Divaliscious11

      They probably quoted you what they thought your portion of the bill would be. However, if you have a co-pay, versus a portion of the cost, say 20%, then you need to pay the difference, but check your EOB.

      For example – my son has OT and its $165 an hour. We currently have a co-pay for therapies of $40 but out plan is changing and now I have to pay 20% so I’ll only pay $33 staring in January. Looks like a win, but its not, but I won’t go into a health insurance rant….

    • Ellen

      My dad says this could be because of something called COB (coordination of benefit’s). If you have two insurance carrier’s, they figure out who pay’s first and who pay’s next, so if your dentist knows you have coverage, all of a sudden you get charged more, b/c he will have to get his SECRETARY to do MORE to get paid, and mabye colect twice.

      My dad and Grandma Leyeh both have good dental insurance (Grandma Leyeh also has a medicare GAP program dad says), but they go to the same dentist that is a family freind. My dad says he is good on the billeing, so that’s good. I do NOT use him any more b/c his eye’s do not look at me, but they look down alot, so I am NOT sure if he is stareing at my teeth when he is suposed to be. Instead I have a girlfreind I first met at GW while we were in the same dorm. She is a dentist now and she needed cleint’s so I was her first. Yay!

    • eastbaybanker

      I would ask if there’s any way you could get a one time reduced rate for the service, and that you weren’t prepared for a higher cost due to their quote. Be friendly and cheery about it, but point out the error.

      I have definitely negotiated large dental bills, but always in advance of the service. It’s a little trickier after the fact.

  6. anon for this

    Just an update on my promised raise/jumping ship to another company/etc:

    Spoke to my boss. He reminded me that I should recognize that he is giving me a great opportunity (meh, it’s an okay opportunity but I wouldn’t call it great) and told me he had completely forgotten there was any agreement for a guaranteed raise (which I do believe him on, for what it’s worth). I told him that I understood that, but that I had delayed grad school based on a compensation structure he had promised me and while I was open to discussing it, I wanted to remind him of our original agreement. We left it there (he promised to review the original agreement). I am going to put together a plan for what I could do in this new role, and revisit it with him in a few weeks.

    With regards to moving back in with my parents, for goodness sakes, I didn’t say “I’m going to quit my job, move back in with my parents and twiddle my thumbs on the couch screaming ‘POOR ME!’ And I will tell all future employers that too!” Obviously if I quit my job over this, I’d move home (different state) and find an internship or something else productive to occupy my time in the 6-8 months before grad school started (though before this particular grad program, many students take off several months to travel [many of my friends in the program have done, or are planning this, because many leave very high paying jobs to attend this graduate program and take the opportunity after acceptance to “take a break”], so my guess is it wouldn’t raise red flags even if I didn’t end up finding anything). All I was saying was that my options are 1) Stay at current job at current salary; 2) Try to find new job in my city or 3) Move back home, and of course, try to find new job and something to do, and as a bonus, save extra for grad school because I do not have rent/utilities to contend with. That’s all. (3) is least preferable to me, for a multitude of reasons, but it does not make me spoiled, entitled or ridiculous for considering it as an option.

    • TO Lawyer

      FWIW – I don’t think moving back home, saving money and finding something else to do makes you spoiled or entitled.

      But anyways – good for you for bringing it up with your boss! I always hate those awkward conversations but they’re necessary!

      • moss

        I agree. And if you have time to do something fun then do it now while you can.

    • anon

      It doesn’t make you spoiled, it is a little ridiculous just because that is not an option most adults even consider. But I get the feeling you are young and I think that is an option recent grads consider.

      Money conversations are always akward to bring up, good for you for doing it and I hope it works out!

      • anon for this

        I am 2 yrs out of undergrad. I agree I wouldn’t be considering this option 10 years from now (unless it was really necessary and there was zero other choice). It is a pretty common option among people my age group, though, I would say.

      • Lalo

        One of the things I regret is that I didn’t travel more when I could. Does it matter if she is young or not?

        I wouldn’t jump ship just to travel, but I don’t think it is a bad thing at all. I would go for it!

        • anon

          I don’t think she mentioned travel? She is talking about moving back home with her parents and I think that matters if she is young. I am just saying number 3 is just not an option for a lot of adults (quitting because you didn’t get a raise and moving in with your parents to look for something else) I am not calling her spoiled I just think some people picked up on that its not the most mature option to quit if you don’t get a raise and move in with your parents. but it sounds like the OP has some other options in mind she’d explore if she went that route.

          • anon for this

            I want to be clear – I am not negotiating a new raise. I have a signed agreement promising me a certain compensation, effective 1/1/13. This to me is more like *quitting because the company is not paying me the compensation I was promised* not quitting because they won’t agree to my terms. My boss already agreed to my terms. He’s just not sure if he’s going to hold up his end of the bargain, because of how the company is doing.

            But yes, if I did move home with my parents, and had some extra money, I would probably travel/take a little time to myself, especially in the last few months before grad school starts. I have worked since I was sixteen, often with multiple jobs at a time, as well as school through undergrad, and the longest break I have ever taken since then without working or being in school is 10 days. I started my job (this job) literally 18 hrs after my undergrad graduation ceremony. The option of taking some more time before grad school sounds kind of nice on some level, whether I travel, learn to scuba dive, knit a blanket or sleep for a zillion years.

          • anon

            No I get that, but that is why I’m talking the difference between a 25 year old and 35 year old. I could never just quit and move in with my parents, even if they cut my salary in half. I’d just have to start looking for a new job because I have to support myself. You don’t have to keep defending it, it sounds like it would be great for you to do that before grad school, or at least have it as a good backup option.

        • Lalo

          I still don’t see it as ridiculous. Everyone has different responsibilities at each phase of their life. You would never consider taking that long off and quitting your job because you can’t. OP doesn’t sound like she has crazy amounts of loans to service, kids to take care of, ailing parents, or any of a multitude of other responsibilities that might make this impossible. While these might not be (any of) your exact responsibilities, there are things that you would do that she would never do. I think maybe CB is right and it is somewhat generational.

      • East Coaster

        I don’t think that an unsual option that most people would not consider = automatically ridiculous. I had to work until days before grad school to pay the bills. But, if living with my family for a few months were an option, and if I got along well with my family and enjoyed time with them, I would absolutely take some time off / internship / travel/ whatever before grad school. I know many people in my class did.

    • Cb

      Maybe a generational thing? I’ve always been pretty mature for my age and although I had the trappings of an only child life, I’ve handled my own appointments and school stuff early on.. I also worked from about 14 onwards.

      However, before heading back to grad school (age 27), I spent 4 months living with mom and dad despite having a job that would have let me stay until I moved for school. I definitely needed a break before embarking on a new project and really appreciated some quality time with my parents, particularly since I was heading into a degr abroad and the likelihood of me coming back to my home country permanently is looking increasingly unlikely. I picked up some side jobs but also spent lazy days reading in the garden.

    • eek

      “He reminded me that I should recognize that he is giving me a great opportunity.” Um, ok (which I think you understand), but this is business.

    • rosie

      Good for you for bringing it up. It sounds like you have a good relationship with your boss (based on your comment that you believe that he just forgot), so I hope you are able to work something out.

      I totally agree that you are not spoiled/etc. for having the option to move back with your parents, and I understand why it might end up being a good option for you. However, I would just be careful that you aren’t cutting off your nose to spite your face if you don’t get the raise you previously negotiated, and I’m saying that because it is how I would be thinking about it, not because I’m trying to criticize you. If the job with the new company would be overall good for you to have for the < 1 year before starting grad school, don't make yourself walk away if you aren't able to stick 100% to the compensation structure at the new company.

    • Elle

      Yeah, I think the “moving home” thing might have been phrased a bit weirdly. It seemed like you were saying that your parents said you could quit and live with them if he wouldn’t give you the raise. It seemed a bit childish. Like your parents were encouraging you to be petty and quit your job in a huff. Which would obviously be a bad idea.

      Weigh up all the pros and cons and make a decision. Taking a few months break is great. Working is great. But burning bridges and temper tantrums… not so great.

  7. NYC question

    For someone who has never done either, would you recommend going to the top of the empire state building or the top of the rock? Hubs and I will be in nyc next week for two days and want to do one or the other!

    • Almost There

      What is top of the rock?

      … asks she who will be visiting NY for the first time in 2 weeks and should also be asking for recos.

        • Gail the Goldfish

          yes. I haven’t done Top of the Rock, but I hear it’s far less crowded than Empire State and the views are just as impressive.

    • KC

      I’ve been to both (on two different trips to NY). I liked the Top of the Rock’s view slightly more, but I thought the history at the Empire State Building was pretty cool. If I were to go again, I’d probably pick the Rock.

    • AIMS

      Great question! I’ll give you my take as I am frequently forced to do both. Empire State is more iconic for some people, every time you watch Sleepless in Seattle or Affair to Remember (if that’s your thing), you will know that you were there. Also because of the way the building is positioned in the middle of the city on 5th avenue, you get a really incredible middle of it all view. BUT – there’s usually a much longer line, getting up there can be a pain, it’s super crowded so you end up elbowing people just to get to see anything and the observation deck has bars everywhere to prevent jumpers, which tends to ruin the view a bit, in my opinion. Top of the Rock, on the other hand, tends to have less people, a better ride up (one express elevator), hardly any lines, less people/more space, and no bars on the deck, just glass, so you get a really awesome view. Plus Rockefeller Center is in a better location for before/after (what with the skating ring and fifth avenue flagship shopping) so it’s just more fun to visit. Empire State, while nearby, is in a much more dreary area of midtown. For me, Top of the Rock wins, no contest. But for many people who have visited me, something about the Empire State Building always makes them choose it instead.

      • AIMS

        I should add that Empire State has longer hours (I think) and is open quite late into the night. If you’re not attached to seeing really far in daytime, it can be quite fun to go at night when the city is all lit up and no one is really there. Most people prefer the daytime view, but just throwing it out there. I think last car up goes at 11.

    • Tuesday

      Top of the Rock.

      I’ve taken visitors to both, and there’s no doubt that TotR is better-liked.

    • Senior Attorney

      I’d pick Top of the Rock, not least of all because it has an awesome, eye-to-eye view of the Empire State Building!

  8. Niktaw

    Outdoorsy *rettes – how does The North Face brand compare against Columbia? Does the higher price reflect a difference in quality?
    My daughter is asking for a Denali jacket (black, please) and I have trouble justifying $200 price tag. She does not hike or do outdoor sports – it will be for daily wear.

    • Maddie Ross

      In my opinion, North Face is better than Columbia, but that’s only because I find Columbia to be the least of the fleece options out there. Even Lands End fleeces are better quality in my experience. Other options that are stylish but often less expensive (i.e., more likely to be on sale) are Merrell or Mountain Hardware. My personal go-to is REI, which does super heavy duty testing on their product and has a lifetime replacement guarantee, but is usually 2/3 to 1/2 the price of the “name” brands.

      Also, if she’s open to a color other than black for a Denali and it’s jsut the Denali she really wants, 6pm often has really good deals on them (I’ve seen for $75 or less).

    • eaopm3

      A quick g00gle search showed black North Face Denali jackets for about 140 – 165, in case you are trying to shop around for a good price. I think North Face is better than Columbia, but I won’t buy another one after having the Mountain Hardware version of the Denali. It is so much softer, warmer and a much better cut for my shape. I have two of them now, actually and can’t recommend them enough.

    • KC

      In terms of the heavy duty stuff (ie. parkas, snow pants, etc.), I grew up skiing in Columbia apparel and it seemed to do the trick. For fleeces specifically, I agree with Maddie, there are much better alternatives to Columbia.

      North Face Denali jackets were the “popular” thing when I was in high school and college, and from what I can tell, that hasn’t changed much. Your daughter probably is attracted to the brand for this reason. If having a North Face jacket specifically is important to her, your best bet is to check discount sites (I recall Sierra Trading Post having them regularly on sale and sometimes Nordstrom too, for some odd reason) and to look into whether some of the colorful options (more likely to go on sale) would work.

      • Lalo

        I think they also go on sale on MooseJaw. (According to my daily sale emails. But it might only be select colors.)

      • anon2

        Agreed on the heavy-duty stuff. Cannot say enough good things about Columbia’s Omni-Heat apparel. I received a pair of their snow pants for Christmas 2 years ago (used for some snowshoeing, mainly for serious dog walking and trips to the dog park in MN winters) and they are heaven. Actually too warm for cross country skiing – can’t speak to downhill.

    • eastbaybanker

      She wants North Face because it’s a more urban versus outdoorsy brand. And still “cooler” somehow, though I feel ridiculous saying that as a grownup. Her preference has nothing to do with quality. I would avoid substitutions.

      • Anonymous

        I strongly feel that Patagonia is the best quality of these semi related brands.

    • SF Bay Associate

      I have a Denali. The wind goes right through the darn thing. It’s fine if you layer with a long sleeve item. Nordstrom always puts the black Denali on sale for $110 for ladies’ sizes during Anniversary if she’s willing to wait that long.

    • Niktaw

      Thanks all!
      Yes, of course she wants it for the brand but the model is negotiable, and she can wear Girls size L, which can be found at much lower price.
      SF Bay Associate, very useful info re. how it does in the wind. We’ll look for a wind-proof model and also check out Mountain Hardware.

    • anun

      She wants it because it’s the ‘cool’ thing to have – akin to uggs, longchamp bags (have them and love them but this is from high school/college experiences), marc jacobs (yea i grew up surrounded by rich kids) , TOMs.

    • Holly

      For Daily wear a Colombia is fine, but I find my North Face to be better for skiing.

  9. AEK

    Argh! I posted a little while ago when I was thinking of getting bangs, and after your input (thanks!) and some more thought, I decided to take the plunge. My appointment is coming up on Saturday. But now (and apparently this is a headline worthy of mainstream *news* coverage) it appears that Princess Kate just got bangs. I don’t think I can stomach the idea of people thinking that this inspired me to cut my hair. Is there anyway to go through with this without feeling like I am getting the Rachel?! I don’t think I’d mind in general, but doing it the very same week just seems so dorky.

    • Merabella

      I think you should just take the plunge and get the bangs. Hell, I just looked at those pics and have decided that I want that hair cut, so I’m the nerd that is specifically getting bangs because of her!

    • kiley

      I dont think anyone would think that. It certainly would never even cross my mind

    • MB

      If you’ve decided to do it and want to do it, then do it. FWIW, plenty of people have bangs / fringe, and to be completely honest, Princess Kate is a little on the late end of the trend. Bangs have been coming (and going) several times in the last few years. I’m sure nobody will think your haircut is about replicating the Princess. And if they do, who cares.

      Says the woman who rocked the Rachel hard in 1996.

    • CW

      FWIW, I would never think that you got bangs simply because Kate Middleton got bangs.

      • AIMS

        This. Half the women on my subway this morning had that hairstyle. I don’t think it was Kate-related. If you like it, go for it.

    • Cat

      I would think you got bangs in spite of Kate’s if I thought about it at all. They look like halfway-grown-out bangs to me, just sort of hanging there and not relating to the rest of her head.

      • Lyssa

        I agree – not a fan, they are not flattering. At least in the picture I saw, she looked like she had a very bad Farrah going on.

        • Anon

          The conspiracy theorist in me says she had them cut to disguise a slightly fuller face due to being in early pregnancy stages.

          • Lalo

            I definitely think it makes her face look different, but not in a flattering way. It definitely makes her face look fuller, but again, not in a good way.

        • darby

          totally agreed — they remind me of my current bangs, which are “growing out” real bangs & totally awkward. the worst part of bangs is when you decide you don’t want them anymore & I cannot imagine cutting them to that awkward stage.

    • AEK

      Well, thanks for the reassurance. I must be overreacting to the insistent stream of headlines.

      • January

        If it’s any consolation, one of the articles I read about Kate’s bangs pointed out that they’re a fairly low-commitment style because they’re so long, so you, too, won’t necessarily have to have bangs forever. :)

        (I’ve had bangs that have varied between side-swept and straight across since early 2011 and have never looked back. Have fun!)

    • mamabear

      I hear you. I had just started wearing my hair up to work on a regular basis in 2008ish and along comes Sarah Palin wearing essentially the same style. We have the same coloring too, and both wear glasses. I was horrified. But I was too paranoid. No one though I was copying Sarah. If anything, she was copying me. :)

      • Lyssa

        Heh, I actually did start wearing my hair up like that because of her. Not that I wanted to emulate her or anything, just because it actually had never really occurred to me for some reason that I could wear my hair in an updo with a clip like that and look really professional at it, but now it’s my go-to style for interviews and really important court appearances. (I don’t wear glasses or have her coloring, though, and I don’t think anyone ever put the two together.)

      • Round Two...

        I hate to say this, but one of the chief reasons I was happy the didn’t get elected was that dressing stylishly, as she did during the campaign, didn’t become some sort of pro-Republican statement. I like to look put together, but I sure don’t want everyone to take that to mean that I believe certain things politically.

  10. Cb

    Can I share good news? No one really knows about this so I feel the urge to tell someone. I have an autoimmune disease and went to the doctor this week. She thinks I am in remission. I’ve been feeling so much better, despite an overly scheduled life and damp climate, but it was great to have it confirmed. It may not be permanent but I’m appreciating a bit of reprieve from worrying about organ damage.

  11. Lizzie

    So relationship TJ: my SO has been stressed and distracted lately. I know it’s work-related – he has a ton on his plate. But I can’t help but feel selfish and bratty. I’ve been trying really hard to be supportive and not demanding but I’m getting frustrated. He’ll still call or answer when I call but I feel like our conversations are shallow and one-way, and he doesn’t really seem to actually be responding to anything I’m saying. I’m at a loss and I don’t particularly want to speak to him right now because I’d prefer not to speak than to speak and not feel validated (that’s the bratty part). I know (or hope) this will pass but what do I do in the meantime?

    • Godzilla

      Get a massage, eat fondue and read a trashy novel. Don’t add to your SO’s and your own stress levels.

    • Lizzie

      I’m doing both of these things so keeping myself busy is not really a problem. I guess I’m more concerned with the fact that we’re not really communicating right now. His work life isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, which I’m supportive of, but part of me feels that I still deserve his attention when we’re speaking, which I don’t really feel like I’m getting.

      • Godzilla

        Ah. Then schedule meetings with your SO. Say, Saturday 3-5pm is togetherness time (or whatever, it doesn’t have to be the same time every week). Or even 30 min. Or 5 min each day where he can “forget” about life and focus on you.

        Maybe changing modes of communication can be helpful. If you used to talk in person/phone, maybe texts or emails is the way to go.

      • e_pontellier

        My DH was acting a bit like this, so I suggested he should start therapy, because he didn’t seem to have any “brain space” for me, when he got home or on weekends, and there were things we needed to be able to discuss. It took him about a week but he has totally snapped out of it (guess he didn’t want to go to therapy). I think just telling him, “I know you’re very busy and stressed, but I need some attention too, so how can we work this out?” can help them realize what’s going on. He might not realize how much it is affecting (effecting? gah sorry) you.

        • e_pontellier

          OH something else that helped was really slimming down on “unnecessary” communication – so, no mid-day phone calls “just to chat” anymore, we’re down to a few texts per day, and minimal email, but I actually get responses to what I send now.

          • Anne Shirley

            Eww- epontelier- just eww. You solved the communication problem by bugging him less? Girl you deserve better!

          • anon

            +1 to anne shirley. Im actually even sadder that your like oh it is getting better

      • Patent Pending

        My SO is also constantly busy and always seems to be putting out fires at his job. This makes him cranky. Now, I tell him to vent for 5-10 min, and then tell him not to talk about it anymore. I also frequently remind him that (1) how he feels about work is not how he feels about me (2) he would never snap/be curt with his co-workers who interrupt him during work hours, so don’t be that way with me and (3) his happiness/self worth should not be 100% tied up in work. Usually, this breaks the cycle and makes him realize he should let work stay at work and out of our way.

    • mascot

      Institute a “be present when present” type rule? Schedule a time that the two of you can connect without other interferences (no phones, laptops, tv, etc). It doesn’t have to be a long dinner with a state of our union discussion, maybe just a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning or walking the dog for 20 minutes. I find those moments help us connect when we are swamped and stressed.

    • Phone Calls

      Oh dear, I can commiserate. My SO started acting really distracted on phone calls recently, which are our primary method of communication as it’s a long distance relationship. I started getting annoyed after his ratio of talking to listening dramatically fell, despite my attempts to ask questions and engage him. It’s difficult to carry a conversation with someone when you have to repeat questions twice, “How was project X? ___? Are you there? I just asked you how project X is coming along.” or you make a joke and there’s silence.

      I started calling him out on it once it became a noticeable trend. I also wrap up a phone conversation quickly if he seems distracted (he likes to call from the grocery store, the gas station, or while he’s cooking – but instead of making the most of that time as quality conversation time, just wants me to ramble while he’s doing something else). I just ask him to call back at a better time.

      Looking forward to other suggestions, as clearly communication issues like this are pretty important.

      • Lady Enginerd

        Video chat (Skype/FaceTime/google video chat). Keeps my long distance SO focused on me (or we can both see what’s so distracting), and requires WiFi (no more calls from the grocery store!) annnnd…. If he’s not paying close enough attention, I take my shirt off. Works like a charm to snap his focus back to me. I play dirty ;)

  12. Research, Not Law

    Cancelling order from Gap / Old Navy?

    Is it possible? I ordered online Monday and went cheap with the free shipping. Then I heard they are getting shipments out really slowly because of the amount of orders they received after Thanksgiving. I was okay waiting a week or two, but I don’t want to wait 3-4 when I can go to the store and buy what I want sooner (they were out of my size the day I ordered, but I’m sure they’ll be restocked by this weekend).

    I know I can wait for it to arrive and return it, but I’d rather cancel since it hasn’t even shipped and I’d get my money back now.

    Gah, next time I’m just buying the wrong size in store and exchanging later.

    • Mpls

      Sounds like a reason to call (or IM – if that’s an option) customer service and have your order number ready.

    • Maddie Ross

      I ordered some maternity stuff on Monday from both ON/Gap and it shipped today, so there is hope! (That said, it’s the free/SmartPost shipping so who knows how long it will be in trasit, but at least it shipped!)

  13. J.D. v. PhD

    I’m in law school and I have been wondering this. (Obviously I know the practical differences between a JD and a PhD.) But in what sense is a JD a doctorate compared to a PhD? I don’t know how to phrase the question but there must be some distinction in academia for the same term, doctor, used in both, but does not mean the same thing? This question may not even make sense.

    • anon

      well you can have a masters in business or a masters in art history. they don’t even touch the same subjects, but they are both advanced degrees. you dont become a “doctor” or a “master” but you have the advanced degree

      • JessC

        I think what the OP is getting at is that PhD and JD both have “doctor” in them, but have very different requirements in order to obtain them and is wondering whether a JD is a doctorate in the same/a similar to a PhD.
        Fo what it’s worth, I’m curious too because I’ve been asked about this several times by non-lawyer friends when they find out JD means Juris Doctor.

        • Anon

          FWIW, I think of a JD as equivalent to a Masters. I do not equate JD and PhD. I don’t think that LLM = PhD, despite a JD being a pre-req and an LLM being a terminal degree. The workload, focus, etc etc just don’t equate.

          – one JD’s opinion

          • LadyEnginerd

            I guess I think of it this way. A masters degree, to me, shows mastery of existing knowledge in the field. A PhD says you’ve done significant original work in the field.

            But then again, “doctor” for medicine means that you’re qualified for independent practice, which is what it means in law, and one could argue that it means something similar in the sciences for research.

        • Rabbit Hole

          I have now returned from the Wikipedia rabbit hole, and the use of doctor in both (according to wikipedia) goes back to the medieval ages. And how the first degrees were in one of 4 areas – Master of Arts, Doctor of Theology/Divinity, Doctor of Medicine, or Doctor of Law, where the term master and doctor were more or less interchangeable. It was the German universities in the…1800s (ish) that added on the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) to cover advanced degree in the sciences and humanities.

          So, it comes out of a tradition of “doctor” being a term for a learned individual who has made a great study of a certain area.

        • Wordy

          Not a lawyer here, but when my father graduated from law school in the mid 60s, he got an LLB. He has told me that was the commonly (maybe universally?) awarded degree from law school then. Being a “get off my lawn” type, I gather he believes the JD is a bit of putting on airs by the degree-granting institutions.

    • MB

      I don’ t know the answer, but having gone through law school and sat for two bar exams and having known people who completed a dissertation, getting a PhD seems a lot harder. Not to mention actually getting a job in academia, which also seems very hard.

      As far as teaching, my understanding is you can teach the degree equal to or below your degree. I don’t know if you could teach a PhD level course with a JD, but you can certainly teach in law school or undergrad and below.

      • Gail the Goldfish

        Someone once told me the similarity is they’re both considered terminal degrees in that there isn’t anything higher in the field, and you could therefore teach at a university with a JD. If that’s accurate, I don’t know. But as a JD is way easier to get than a PhD, seems a little bit like cheating if it is;-)

        • Mpls

          But what about an LLM – you can’t get that unless you have a JD, right? So, do that make the LLM the terminal degree?

          • Nonny

            But not even that, because some universities also offer an LLD, which is the Law equivalent of a Ph.D.

          • Former MidLevel

            An LLM is not really a terminal degree in the same sense that a PhD is.

        • Nonny

          This is one of the reasons why I refuse to trade my B.A. in Law for a JD, which is the qualification that my university has now switched to for law grads.

          That, and JD is basically a Bachelors degree so let’s call it like it is.

          • violet

            LL.M. is a masters of law because a regular law degree used to be an LL.B. – bachelor of law. Does your school use the term LL.B.?

          • violet

            So was your undergrad and law school just one program? Did you only go 4 years total?

          • Nonny

            Well, why not? Am curious as to your reasons….

            I know it is a professional degree, but it is an entry-level degree. In some schools you don’t even have to have a full undergraduate degree before going into Law. As well, if you can then go on and get a Masters and a Doctorate, then essentially a JD or LLB is equivalent to a Bachelor’s level.

          • Nonny

            To Violet: No, I did a full undergrad degree, and then a full Law degree.

            In Canada, until very recently all law schools awarded LLBs, not JDs. Some of them have recently started to change their terminology. But it is the same thing.

          • Mpls

            In the US, it’s not an entry level degree. You have to have a Bachelor’s degree to attend law school and earn a JD. And the only level beyond that for is an LLM in certain specialized areas, right?.

            Other countries have different systems, where there is a Bachelors of Law, so it is an entry level degree, and you don’t need anything further degree to practice law, correct?

          • J.D. v. PhD

            Because you have to have a Bachelor’s to go to law school. I have never heard of a law school you can start without having completed a Bachelor’s. But I am only familiar with American law schools.

            Also, I don’t see it as an entry level degree. Just because there are further advanced degrees out there doesn’t mean they are required to do advanced work.

          • Gail the Goldfish

            in the US it’s not the equivalent of a bachelor’s. You have to have an undergrad degree before you can get your JD.

            LLMs… I’m not sure as to whether or not it would be considered a terminal degree, but my sense is that, at least for the US, with the exception of LLMs in tax law or LLMs for foreign students who need it to practice in the US, they’re a fairly recent invention and (and with apologies to anyone that has an LLM), are considered fairly worthless and just moneymakers for the law schools.

          • Miss A

            Given that I consider a BA a basic requirement, a JD is hardly the same. BA means you can read and write. JD means you can read and write law and maybe learn to be a lawyer. :o)

      • SpaceMountain

        I was an adjunct prof at a major university in the USA that required a PhD for teachers, but they let me teach with just the JD. I believe there was a big meeting to decided if my JD was “good enough,” and I guess it was.

        • Lalo

          Now, to be a competitive candidate for a law position at a top school, a JD isn’t enough. You need a PhD too.

    • Lyssa

      My understanding is that the idea is that they should be somewhat similar, as lawyers wanted the same “prestige” level as doctors (probably more M.D.s than Ph.D.s, though). I’ve also heard that this is why the three year model of law school became the norm (since a masters is usually two). But, practically speaking, I agree with MB that they don’t really seem very similar as far as requirements go, but would point out that most people (probably somewhat ignorantly) do tend to consider lawyers to be somewhat the equivalent to doctors (both MD and PhDs), so I guess the end result is sort of the same, at least if prestige/how you are perceived by the public is the goal.

      • Nonny

        Only, my clients don’t know whether I have an LLB or a JD, and I’m sure they don’t care as long as I’m qualified. So I don’t get the prestige factor here.

        • Your client

          If I knew you didn’t have a JD and you were my lawyer (in the U.S.) I would absolutely care. And I wouldn’t think you were qualified.
          If you were doing something else, then no.

          • Anon

            I believe that, in Canada, an LLB and a JD are now equivalent degrees. So I think the point Nonny was trying to make was that, as far as a client goes, they probably don’t care if she has the one with “doctor” in the name so long as she has one of them. Yes?

        • Wordy

          Nonny, I replied above but my father practiced BigLaw for 40 years with an LLB (the degree commonly awarded back then) and he got plenty of respect from his clients. I’m not a lawyer but can’t see a JD and PhD being equivalent. For one thing, the PhD requires significant original scholarship.

    • CountC

      Barely related, but what is with 2012 grads putting “Doctor of Law” on their LinkedIn pages and resumes??? Your degree is not “Doctor of Law’, nor is that your title now! [/end rant]

    • Granola

      I think that the PhD equivalent in law is called a JSD, at least at some schools. It’s after a JD, and perhaps also after an LLM. I’m not sure.

      • Mpls

        JSD – Doctor of Judicial Sciences is a research doctorate, as opposed to a JD, which is a professional doctorate, at least in the US. The Amer. Bar Association likes to equate a JD with a Ph.D for educational purposes, for whatever that’s worth.

    • Turtle Wexler

      I mostly notice this when I have to fill out a form that asks for highest level of education achieved and the choices include Master’s and Doctorate but not one specific to JDs or “Other Professional Degree” or whatever. I don’t really feel like I did a doctoral-level degree, but it’s clearly not a master’s either. Granted, this doesn’t happen all that often, but it does sort of leave me wondering where it fits in.

      • J.D. v. PhD

        That’s exactly what prompted this question – I had to “check one” on a form, and choices were Masters or Doctorate. I justified that the degree has doctor in it and checked doctor- whatevs.

    • Miss A

      This question makes me chuckle because my dad has a PhD and my sister has an MD and she says she’s the real Dr. A even though his students call him Dr. A. My JD means nobody calls me “doctor’ but I’m okay with that.

      A JD means that parents might ask you when you’re going to go get that PhD, but really, I don’t think there is a hierarchy, it’s just different levels of education/credential-ing each career requires.

      I also don’t see LLM as a terminal degree in the way a DPhil or a PhD is.

    • Flying Squirrel

      Chiming in late here, but as a practical matter most PhD granting programs are built around the underlying assumption that you must contribute significant new knowledge to the field. In the sciences there is an expectation that this will be achieved through an original, independent (it’s a little fuzzy how this is defined in large scientific studies) research program.

      I think there is not similar requirement for professional doctorates such as a JD or MD.

      FWIW, when I got my PhD my grandfather who is a physician as are my parents joked that there was finally a “real doctor” in the family.

  14. CW

    Suggestions for a Christmas gift for a 1.5 year old girl? I’m tempted to get her a superhero cape and buy her some (age appropriate) books on superheros, but I’m concerned that a 1.5 year old should not wear a cape for safety reasons (yes/no?).

    • Anon

      My similarly-aged niece and nephew don’t get to wear capes, but they LOVE hats. Pirate hats, fireman hats, viking hats (How to Train Your Dragon-style!), chef’s hats – anything and everything! No tripping/choking hazards.

    • phillygirlruns

      just bought an ipad – i justified it based on my upcoming trip to buenos aires. i don’t want to take my phone or laptop but i don’t to be completely cut off from the rest of the world (also, being honest, really want the option to spend an entire vacation day in bed internetting if i feel like it).

      i am REALLY not much of a gadget or app person. other than nook, words with friends and basic social media stuff…any apps i should check out? i don’t even know where to begin.

      • AIMS

        Zite! It’s great. You tell it stuff you are interested in and it compiles articles and blogs about it, which you then thumbs up and thumbs down so it can make even better choices for you in the future. So for instance, if you choose food, you get cool recipe blogs.

        Also, the netflix/amazon prime apps are great for streaming movies – though neither will work outside the country. But you can download a movie from itunes (I think) and watch it wherever later.

        If you have an HBO subscription already, the HBO GO app is fantastic. You can watch pretty much any show they’ve ever made.

        If you have a New Yorker subscription (or just want to buy a few issues), their app is beautiful and you don’t have to keep all those old issues now.

        If you like to buy a lot of different magazines, The Next Issue app lets you read a bunch of different magazines for $10/month. I think they have a free month trial, so could be fun to download right before your trip.

        • mascot

          I really like Zite and NextIssue. You can download magazines with NextIssue for reading offline which is nice. Pinterest’s app is fun to waste time with. NPR also has a nice app if you need some brain stimulation. Pandora’s app is good for music.
          Games (I have these on my phone but they would be great on a bigger screen): Angry Birds, Rosecliff, Zombie Farm, Plants v. Zombies

        • CKB

          I should check out zite – it sounds cool.

          I bet Netflix would work if you visit Canada, although our selection in Netflix isn’t anywhere nearly as good as it is south of the border. Anyway, I was able to use my Canadian Netflix login to access US Netflix on a recent trip to Houston.

          The app I probably use the most is Overdrive – it allows me to sign out ebooks from my local library to read on my iphone.

          • KC

            Second Overdrive. That and Reeder (a RSS feed reader, like Google Reader for the iPad) are what I’m using 90% of the time.

    • Anon

      If you want to venture out of the dress up type gifts, a doll stroller is typically a big hit with both boys and girls that age and a bit older.

    • AMNY

      For my own kids and their peers, superhero capes have been a big hit (talking 4-year-old and 22 months for my own). I really love giving girls superhero capes to make clear that the boys don’t have that corner of the market locked down, and because I try to avoid/limit the princessification of girlhood that is so omnipotent these days. I’ve recommended it before but I’ve had great luck with giving personalized superhero capes and matching masks from Baby Pop, which you can find through Etsy or here: http://www.babypop.com/shop/

      Other options–just ordered my 22-month-old a Dora backpack plus Beenie Babies of her friends/frenemies (Boots and Swiper, natch). A big hit for her last year was a child purse (called Kidoozie My First Purse on Amazon). And you can’t go wrong with some Melissa & Doug wooden toys or art supplies (crayons plus coloring book).

  15. cbackson

    Anybody else here a Lois McMaster Bujold fan? I am reading A Civil Campaign right now and am sort of swooning over it. SO AWESOME.

    • Em

      She is my favorite! The entire sequence of books between Mirror Dance and A Civil Campaign is amazing, I think, and I love all of them for different reasons. She does such complex and interesting characters.

      Have you gotten to the dinner party scene yet?

      • cbackson

        No! I am only a few chapters in, just after Ekaterin first visits Miles’ house.

        I read Komarr and Cordelia’s Honor*, so I have some background, but now I want to read them all.

        *Which also made me swoony.

        • Em

          Cordelia’s Honor made me swoony too – oh, Aral.

          You have a treat ahead of you with the rest of the series! When you go back to the earlier Miles books, it puts the place he gets to in Komarr and A Civil Campaign into a really interesting light. Mark’s backstory is also pretty fantastic.

          • cbackson

            “She pours out honor like a fountain all around her.” SIGH. OH ARAL.

    • Mpls

      I’m trying to start! A friend recommended the Vokoseigan Saga (however you spell that), but the ebook pricing and lack of lending at the library is confounding my plan, so I started with a different series.

      • Niktaw

        I got a Vorkosigan paper book from the public library and it had an enclosed CD with a a bunch of other books from the same cycle, so I copied them to my eReader. I think it was one of the Baen initiatives.
        Baen also has a free online library and I expect there would be whole books by LMB, not just excerpts.
        Finally, I am a longtime patron of Half.com. The prices are just as low but shipping is cheaper than Amazon for used books.

  16. phillygirlruns

    reposting because i accidentally put this as a reply to CW’s post above…

    just bought an ipad – i justified it based on my upcoming trip to buenos aires. i don’t want to take my phone or laptop but i don’t to be completely cut off from the rest of the world (also, being honest, really want the option to spend an entire vacation day in bed internetting if i feel like it).

    i am REALLY not much of a gadget or app person. other than nook, words with friends and basic social media stuff…any apps i should check out? i don’t even know where to begin.

    • CW

      Following up on AIMS comment above, I recently discovered the Amazon prime app, and love it. You might be able to download the movies/tv rather than stream them (I’m not sure, you’ll have to check), but that could potentially get around the streaming issue.

    • mascot

      Oh, another nice app is the Ambiance app. It is a sound machine app and has more sounds than you could possibly want.

    • phillygirlruns

      thanks guys! will be messing around with this stuff tonight. love the zite concept.

  17. NYC meetup reminder tomorrow night

    Thursday night, 11/29
    Mamoun’s (MacDougal b/w W 3rd and Bleecker)-7:30 for a quick falafel, Vyne (W 3rd b/w Thompson and Sullivan)-8:00 or 8:15 (depending on how long falafel takes) for drinks. If people want to email Gail the Goldfish, her email: corpore t t eclothesswap at gmail dot com)

  18. e_pontellier

    PSA: I just downloaded a new weather app called Weather Pup for my iPhone and it makes me really happy. I know this is ridiculous, just thought some of you might enjoy it.

      • e_pontellier

        It’s free and called Weather Pup. It’s just a weather app that displays a picture of a puppy with the weather.

        • e_pontellier

          I just tried looking in the app store and now I can’t find it!!! So sorry :( but it appears to have disappeared. I downloaded it either yesterday or the day before so I didn’t think I needed to check before recommending it!

        • Susan (edna_mode_nyc)

          This is just too cute. I’d totally get this if I had an iphone, and yes, it would also make my day. :-)

  21. Esquared

    Has anyone gotten a bridesmaid gift they actually liked? I’m looking for ideas! I know it’s probably futile, but I do think there is a difference between some simple studs that can be worn for work again and a giant hot pink tote with my initials.
    ACK!

    • KC

      Kate Spade has a set of really sweet bridesmaid bangles. Definitely depends on the style of your bridesmaids though.

    • mintberrycrunch

      I actually just got a bridesmaid gift that I loved (the first one ever that I’ve actually liked). She did give us a small personalized tote (from etsy), which was nice because we had to cart around a bunch of stuff all over the place on the day of the wedding. But she also gave us really soft pashminas, a neutral makeup bag that is the *perfect* hard to find size between too-small and too-large (also etsy), and a bottle of wine. Nothing other than the bag was loud, personalized, in wedding colors, or meant to be worn in the wedding. It was just thoughtful and sweet.

      I also think wearable-to-work stud earrings would be a great gift.

    • O.

      I got customized stationary from Crane’s as a bridesmaid gift once. I loved it. Personally, I hate getting jewelry and I rarely wear it again.

    • petitesq

      A subscription to Birchbox is great, and customizable by the recipient (once they receive it). Downside is you end up giving them a print out or something, but it’s a gift they remember all year (or for 3 months or whatever subscription length you choose).

    • KinCA

      As part of a bridesmaid gift, the bride paid for all of us to get mani/pedis the day before the wedding. She brought champange and pastries, so it turned into a fun little brunch/beauty day. It was great to save some $30-40 on another what would have been another wedding related expense, it was fun to bond with the other bridesmaids, and it was nice not to have extra things to lug home in my suitcase.

    • Flying Squirrel

      My favorite gift idea (which I sort-of repeated myself) was a small gift bag of make up, etsy t-shirts (not personalized), and chocolate that were selected based on what the bride thought we would each like. Nothing was monogrammed etc, but it was all very thoughtful and sweet (with a lovely hand written card for each of us). I did something similar though I got actual reusable totes (that did not say my name/wedding date) that one of my bridesmaids helped me pick (actually I found them randomly when we were shopping together). I filled it with some MAC make up palates that I tried to make sure was something that fit each person’s skin tone/taste, jewelry I picked on etsy specifically for each person (with no obligation to wear on wedding day), a picture of me and BM, and a handwritten note. I think that most everyone used everything I gave them (some did wear the jewelry on my wedding day).

      FWIW, I’m very picky about jewelry and my least favorite gifts have been matching jewelry (sometimes not inexpensive) picked by the bride for wedding day. I just feel like it’s a waste because I’ve never reworn it.

    • mascot

      How about sonething for their house? My best friend gave me a monogrammed pewter platter that now sits on our bar and it was a cool gift. I gave my bridesmaids silver decorative bowls and added nail polish/drink coozies and some small things. I have also gotten some Vera Bradley pieces as gifts but that is a know your girls sort of gift.

    • bear

      I don’t know if this will be too late, but I got a crystal ring holder, and surprisingly it is quite handy for the nightstand – I throw my wedding ring, hair ties, watch, etc. in it.

      • Esquared

        Actually, I’ve been obsessed w/ ring holders lately. I think it would be good for the engaged/married girls, but a little weird for the others… maybe I’ll just get each girl something different. UrbanOutfitters has the cutest ones were you put the ring on an elephant truck or bunny ears or other really cute little statutes.

        Actually, I got way more responses then I expected for so late in the day! My budget ftr is about $100 a girl. My wedding is pretty low key, I am not making them do anything for me for the wedding except fly out (they get to pick their own dress, no required hair or makeup etc). But, I love them & flying out is vacation & money & I’d still like to get them something to show my appreciation…. and most of the girls are lawyers.

    • Gail the Goldfish

      A necklace I really like and wear all the time. The bride didn’t give us matching jewelry, though; she picked out a piece for each person that she thought they would like.

    • Anonymous

      Last summer, the bride gave each of us (3) bridesmaids earrings from Kanye East’s etsy shop. I can’t remember if she told us they were from KE’s shop or if it was on the box, but I felt like an extra-cool Corporette that day! She also paid for our manicures/pedicures if I remember correctly, and actually did all of our hair herself the morning of. What can I say, she was awesome!

      • Anonymous

        … not sure what I was thinking there, but I meant there were 3 bridesmaids, not that she gave us 3 earrings.

    • M-dash

      I got a Coach wallet as a bridesmaid gift — use it every day and love it. Just wish it weren’t white because it’s a pain to keep clean (but a good pain!)

    • TCFKAG

      In both weddings I was in, the bride gifted us the jewelry we wore in the wedding, which was very neutral and tasteful — so I’ve reworn the pieces frequently (I did the same with my bridal party). Then in the second wedding, she also got us little tote bags with designs on them (I think from Etsy) which represented us to her and then inside was like a candle from Anthropologie and I think some hand cream, which were both really nice too. Overall it was way more than I expected and super sweet (I especially liked the tote bag, customized in the sense that each was unique to us, but not in the sense that it had our names and “blah and blah and there wedding date” on it).

      For my wedding in addition to the jewelry I got them, I also got them a couple books I knew they’d like…but my bridesmaids are all big readers. (Yes yes, nerd alert).

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