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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 141 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Victoria’s Secret

Suits |

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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

So: let's all try to ignore the come-hither look from the model, and the fact that the suit comes from Victoria's Secret — call me crazy, but I think this could be a cute suit, as well as two really nice separates, for even a conservative office. On the jacket, I like the obvious grosgrain seaming on the back, as well as the peplum details. The skirt looks like your basic ponte pencil skirt, but I like that instead of a slit there are closed kick pleats. The suit is available in both black and “plum velvet” (pictured). The jacket (Ponte Jacket) is $128, and the skirt (Pencil Skirt) is $49.50.

(L-5)

About Kat

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

Comments

  1. Lawra

    Gorgeous color! I also like that the skirt is long enough. Personally, I am unsure of peplum details like this on suits as I am endowed with a generous booty, but it can be an interesting and office-appropriate detail IMO for others.

  3. Anon

    I love the bustier-like top they show to go with the suit, so office appropriate. And then we wonder where women get the idea to wear these things to work.

    (That said, this particular suit, if appropriately sized, could work for a conservative office, and I do love the “plum” color.)

  4. Juicer

    Can someone recommend a moderately priced vegetable juicer that produces juice that is not too pulpy and doesn’t waste too many vegetables? I’m thinking of juicing cucumbers, carrots, and probably some greens. The reviews on Amazon are all over the place for every juicer. Thanks.

    • Frump

      Grump, it’s SHINY things like silk shells that are not appropriate office wear. Purple “velvet” suits from Victoria’s Secret obviously are (especially since they don’t fall into that shiny category).

      • Anonymous

        Embarrassing sense of superiority. Very unappealing. Could say the same thing without expressing surety of your being miles better than the rest of us.

  7. GRA

    I have a pair of pants from VS – part of their suit collection – and I have found the quality to be fine. When I originally ordered the pants, I ordered a size larger than normal because, since all the models wear their clothed skin-tight, I would want mine a little looser. However, I had to return them for my regualr size – they fit great! Not too tight or inappropriate. Plus, VS has many inseam options and inexpensive prices!

    • KD

      If you have the 100% cotton pants, I have those too! Their sizing chart is surprisingly spot-on for those pants. I took a leap of faith and ordered exactly the size my measurements fell under and they fit very well. My only complaint was that the one time the pants were accidentally put in the dryer (tag says line dry), the inseam shrunk so I now have to wear flats with them instead of heels.
      Since they are cotton and machine-washable, they do require ironing after being line dried.

  8. AIMS

    I am not sure about any suit from VS. From what Iknow, the quality is not up to snuff and the clothes tend to be way too body conscious (and it’s hard to size up in a suit made of rayon/nylon/spandex). I also think details like the ones on this suit will look cheap in this kind of fabric. To me VS is a step or two below appropriateness from Express suits, which often (though not always) aren’t, and above only, maybe, suits sold at Bebe (although at least those have some cotton in them).

    But the color is lovely. Kat, maybe your love of purple is swaying you on this one? ;)

    • anon

      It sounds like a scam to try to get more rent. My lease has an out clause for the landlord, that if the prior tenant holds over they are not held responsible. But in this situation, the landlord is allowing a tenant to stay longer after they have secured a new tenant.

    • R

      Seems like they should be able to rent the new place for a month and then move into the apartment they actually rented. I don’t do anything remotely landlord/tenant, but every lease I’ve ever had included clauses about failure to deliver the property, so she should see what hers says about that.

    • TCFKAG

      This will almost certainly be controlled by a clause in the lease — probably something about how holdovers will be treated. But I agree with first anon — its a little odd, since they are essentially purposefully breaching the contract with your friend. I’d say she should call a local landlord-tenant authority and get their take, they might be able to help her.

      At the very least, she should try to negotiate for (a) the second apartment at the same price for the period while the other tenant holdsovers and (b) the second apartment thereafter with (c) some cash to compensate for the second move. But, she has to assess how much she cares and how ready she is to fight for it…and how much she wants to be this landlord’s tenant now!

  10. KW

    I have to defend VS pants for a second. I have several pairs of the Christy and Kate fit pants in seasonless stretch and, while not the highest quality fabric, I have had them for several years and they have held up well and still look and fit great. They’re not lined, but I’m hot all the time and don’t like lined pants anyway. I stick with them because they are long enough (36″ inseam) and fit me well. They fit true to size and are not too tight or fitted in the rear or legs. Other than the fact that they’re from VS, there’s nothing inappropriate about them.

    • a

      I also own a pair of unlined VS pants — I think the Kate fit, too — and I wear them about once a week to my business casual office. They are definitely not the highest quality fabric, but they fit well and have held up for about a year so far for me. I normally wear a 6 in J. Crew and I bought these pants in a size 8 because that was the right one for my hip measurement. I like the low-rise waist and that they have a slim fit through the thighs but are not too tight around my bottom. Their customer service was also very helpful — I called to ask for the rise (in inches) on the size 8 pants (it said on the website that it varied by size) and they told me immediately.

      I recently ordered a dress from VS, though, and returned it because the fabric seemed really cheap and non-breathable and I was going to wear it to a bunch of summer weddings.

    • TK1

      I’m wearing VS pants today and the quality and fit are both fine. I have had them at least 3 years and they are one of the few pairs that the hem has not come apart in. My BR and CK pants both had hem problems in less than 3 months!

    • KD

      The pants I commented about above are the Kate fit! I keep them in regular rotation, and haven’t noticed any change in hand after all the washing, and one unfortunate dryer-ing, for the year I’ve had them.

  11. Anon

    Here’s how VS describes the suit: “Beautifully form-fitting from high waist to knee, thanks to a stretchy, sexy ponte knit fabric.”

    I question whether that would work in a conservative (or not-so-conservative) office.

  12. CaribbeanGirl

    I follow Allie’s Wardrobe Oxygen blog and she had a post today about women she recently saw walking around DC in too-short skirts and bustiers. It goes along with what’s brought up here often – clothing companies advertising work wear that could also be changed up to go out to a club after. Thought the DC would get a kick out of it.

    http://www.wardrobeoxygen.com/2011/06/just-call-me-grandma.html

    • R

      I saw a woman on my lunch break today who was wearing a very short animal print shift (like 4 inches above the knee at least), white hose, and nude-ish patent pumps with a 5 inch heel and 1 inch platform. She could not walk down the stairs in the shoes, so she walked down the zigzaggy wheelchair ramp while her friends waited for her. It was quite the outfit.

    • Anon!

      I saw a woman on lunch today whose skirt was so tight, the slit in the back was pulled apart by as much as six inches at the hem when she was standing still. Almost everything was exposed! Ugh.

  13. JenK

    I’ve found quality and sizing of VS clothes to really vary, even in a bunch of shelf-bra tanks I ordered earlier this year. I’m guessing it’s because they use lots of suppliers. I used to really like their “Moda International” things, but you never know what the maker is until the pkg arrives in the mail. I’ve never tried their suits, because I’ve never seen one in fabric I want to wear. But I love the look of this, and lots of their other suits!

  14. Formerly Preggo Angie

    Can we caption the photo? My entry:

    “Why does the bald manageing partner always stare at me?”

    • Caroline

      I believe you meant: “Why does the BALD manageing partner always STARE at me?”

      :-)

    • mamabear

      hee hee
      But Ellen NEEDS to wear things like this now that ALAN is out of the picture and cannot be trusted due to his ALCOHOL problem. Maybe she can find a manageing partner who is not BALD.

  15. psdisaster!

    My favorite part is the insane photoshopping on her lower back/booty. Bodies don’t work like that, ladies.

  16. H

    I would not recommend buying anything but bras from Victoria Secret. I once bought a coat that I had been lusting over from them and within two weeks, three buttons had fallen off (and subsequently been lost) from my coat. I wasn’t expecting such shoddy handiwork from a over $100 coat. Stick with bras and buy suits somewhere else.

    • bee

      I wouldn’t buy any bras from VS. I think they are the worst. You’re much better off getting a bra at a department store or from (my fave) Intimacy. And I’ve been “fitted” by VS bra “fitters” too many times to count and they n ever get it right. I hate VS bras.
      And their undewear always fall apart one me – way faster than my Target cheapies.

      I think some of their pants look cute but haven’t tried them.

      • SF Bay Associate

        Agreed, bee. I worked at VS in college, so I have some behind-the-scenes knowledge, as well as attempting to shop there over the years (the kool aid they have you drink during orientation has a very long half-life). VS bras are awful, poorly fitting and poorly made, and the staff is, in general, poorly trained. The only thing I buy from VS anymore is hosiery.

        • Em

          I haven’t bought a bra at Victoria’s Secret since I was told by a bra-fitter there that (1) most women are wearing too small a band size and too large a cup size because they want to pretend they’re thinner than they are; and (2) it’s mathematically impossible to be a 32 or 34DD. Talk about misinformed!

          • Oneanon

            I think Em’s point was that a bra-fitter told her that it was mathematically impossible to be a 34DD (when, in reality, it is quite possible to be pretty much any combination of letters and numbers).

          • anon-oh-no

            my favorite was when i was measured for a bra at VS in the middle of the store, over the top of my clothes. i guess the sad part was that i actually let the sales lady do it and bought a bra based on her recommendation. needless to say, it doesnt fit.

          • Anon

            They try to stuff everyone into the very limited sizes they carry, which probably motivated her “impossible” argument. What she meant was, it’s impossible to find anything at VS if you deviate from about 4 sizes they carry.

      • Non

        I haven’t had problems with their bras – and I don’t treat them special. I do, however, fall within the somewhat limited range of sizes they sell, so I haven’t had someone put me into a size I shouldn’t be in.

      • MaggieLizer

        I can’t shop at VS anymore. The last time I went, there were all these little girls in the store and I was like, “goodness, I was so not allowed in a store like this when I was their age,” and then one of them came up to me and said, “excuse me, ma’am, do you need to be fitted for a bra?” It was a sad day for Maggie….

      • A

        I just had the opposite experience – I got fitted at bloomingdales and it was clearly wrong and not really supportive, the fitter at VS got it right and found bras that really worked.

        • Anonymous

          Oh, I can remember when VS was beautiful and they played classical music! I won’t buy their bras even though I like them because they market their sexy clothes to 12-year-old girls. It is disgusting to pair the “come hither” look on a girl holding a stuffed animal. And, do.not.get.me.started on the work PINK scrawled across the ass.

          • KOB

            OMG the PINK is the WORST! I really do not like VS. They’re bras are sh*t. Every fitting experience I’ve had there has been sh*t. They’re underwear are okay, but I personally think even Gap Body has better undergarments than VS.

    • Bonnie

      I’m so glad I got fitted at Norrie’s. The bras VS put me in never fit quite right. My current bra size is not carried by VS so I guess they put me in their closest size.

  17. D

    Corporette-rs, please help! I am a recent law school grad and I’ll be starting at the firm where I summered this fall. I didn’t really have a strong practice group preference, so I did not request a specific group when the firm polled us to get our preferences. A week later, a partner I respect very much called me and persuaded me to join his group, which is outside of my core area of interest , but tangentially related. Why I said yes without asking for 24 hours to think about it, etc., is totally beyond me, and I’ve spent the past few days just kicking myself because I don’t think I want to join this group. What do I do?? There’s been quite a bit of turnover since I summered, so I don’t have close connections at the firm whom I could ask for advice.

    Bottom line, I guess I’m asking how bad would it be for me to call this partner and explain that I no longer want to join his group? There’s a chance I will leave him in quite a bad position if they’ve finished making practice group assignments and all the new associates are “spoken for.” And I want to preserve this connection and not burn any bridges before I even arrive. Any and all advice would be appreciated — thank you in advance!!

    • DammitJanet

      Just curious why, if you have a core area of interest, you didn’t request that?

      Anyway, I think you may have to suck it up and start out in the practice group you agreed to. It’s tangentially related and even more important, a partner there wants to work with you. I think it would be far worse to burn a bridge with an enthusiastic partner. Perhaps reevaluate the practice group preference/experience after six months, if possible.

      • D

        Thanks for the response (and advice). That’s a good question, I should have elaborated a bit more, but I was wary of giving too many identifying details. Essentially, I want to do litigation, but the group I said I would join is not classified by the firm as litigation, but does a lot of litigation type work anyways, if that makes sense. So it sounded like I could get litigation experience, albeit in a niche area of the law.

        But this new pang of regret is prompted in large part by the fact that I just realized this week (as a result of a case I’m working on as a law clerk) that I think I would be happiest doing a totally different kind of litigation than the work this group does; this group’s work is fairly specialized around a particular statute.

        Given that information, would you still advise starting out in this group and then reevaluating after a few months or a year? I don’t think it would be impossible to move groups, but I’m sure it would be a bit annoying to have an associate leave, given the learning curve involved in working with this statute. And of course I don’t rule out that I would end up liking this work and sticking with the group, especially given the relationship with this partner.

        Thank you again for your advice!

        • DammitJanet

          I would still advise starting out in the group and then reevaluating. The firm’s needs may change, your interests may change, but the best thing you can do going forward is building up credibility and a good work with partners. If you do good work for him and in six months (or two years or whatever) your heart pines for the other practice group, he may help you get there.

          Also, gsdflkgdfl below has excellent points as well.

    • Hollis

      So, you “don’t have a strong practice group preference,” but you have an opportunity to work with a partner whom you “respect very much” at a firm that has had “quite a bit of turnover” and where you “don’t have close connections.” If I were you, I would jump at the opportunity to work for this partner, especially since you told him you would, but also because you’ll need all the help and work that you can get in order to succeed at this firm. I would say that a lot of biglaw associates leave because they can’t stand the partner they are working for or they don’t have a partner who has their back. It’s not like you have a firm idea of what you want anyway, and it’s also very common for junior associates to change practice areas once you start. fyi, I’ve changed practice areas twice before I found my niche.

      • D

        Sigh, yes, very good points. Maybe I just need some sense smacked into me. And it’s reassuring to hear that you’ve changed practice areas as a young associate. I’m sure every firm’s a little different in terms of how much leeway associates have to bounce around, but hopefully I’ll have the same flexibility if I need it. I think I might just be panicking at the thought of being locked into something I’m not sure I want to do. But I hear what you’re saying about working with this partner — I guess I should give that a lot more weight than I’ve been giving it.

        • Alex

          Generally speaking, litigation is litigation. You can learn the substantive law for just about anything, so starting out in one area is not a killer (and, who knows, you may end up liking it. One case may not be reflective of what you’ll be doing). I was able to move practice areas specifically because my new firm wanted a “litigator” not necessarily someone that knew the law – they knew they could teach that part.

    • gsdflkgdfl

      LOL if this is a question in biglaw. If so, let me put it to you straight, you didnt request a practice group so you’d get stuck where they needed people. It’s not a democracy in biglaw, you do what youre told. Some guy called you to join, meaning there’s a chance even if you turned him down since his group needs work you’d be assigned there and do the work anyways. So you said yes. You cannot back out now for looking like someone who is “high maintenence.” Also, you’d potentially be stuck working with him knowing you said no.

      Plain and simple, if you were a summer only I doubt the decision makers in the firm were fighting over you joining their group. They probably had a meeting about where to assign incoming associates and this guy got the names of a few kids to join his group and the task to call them and tell them about it in a way that sounds like he’s asking.

      I’m not trying to mean, I’m just trying to be realistic.

        • MJ

          cosign on the “This time one million.”

          There is no choice in biglaw. Only the illusion of choice.

          Make the best of it and keep your head down. You can find out about getting work outside of your group or lateralling once you’ve stepped foot in the door and figured out the politics.

          Good luck!

      • Nonny

        This times one trillion.

        But one more thing – in all law firms, but in Biglaw in particular, practically the most important way of getting ahead is to have a partner (or two, or ten) who is in your corner. You won’t get anywhere without that. Yes, good work is vital too, but you could be the best worker in the bunch and if you don’t have partner buddies, you will get nowhere. So if this guy *could* be persuaded to be in your corner, it’s best just to suck it up, learn the job, make a good reputation for yourself, get some partners on your side, and transfer to another department later if necessary.

        • TCFKAG

          This times a million batrillion kagillion. A partner or two as allies is more valuable then 20 partners who think you do good work. Because at the end of the day (especially in litigation) you can probably learn to be interested in most things, once you get heads deep into it, but if you don’t have enough hours, you won’t be around long enough to get there. Plus, you need a couple of senior lawyers who you can ask stupid questions to and make mistakes in front of who will just tell you and let it go. If this guys is that guy, that is way more valuable then a particular specialty in litigation.

    • Fiona

      I agree with the previous commenters who have all given great advice. Another thing to consider is that coming out of law school, you probably don’t have a good sense of what you will actually like or not like about practicing law. I’m guessing that the group is something like Bankruptcy or ERISA. If so, you might be spending more time dealing with government officials than super-aggressive opposing counsel. You might also be doing more cooperative, advising work with your clients, which can be more rewarding than “fire drill” litigation. Give it a chance and see how you like it before deciding it’s not for you.

      Plus, if you decide to change to another practice group later on, you will have a much more professional, coherent explanation for why you want to change. And don’t minimize the importance of getting into the firm and seeing which partners are good to work for before deciding where you want to be!

    • D

      Thanks, everyone — I appreciate the advice and perspective. This has put my mind much more at ease. Thanks again!

      • Anon

        for the most part litigation stinks as a lifestyle anyway, except for the rare people who like the crap that comes with it… dig in, get some experience, see what you actually enjoy or hate by doing, you’ll be reevaluating it all regardless soon… not that you might not like it, but starting to practice is a whole new thing, you have no idea while in school what you’ll think in a few months, years.

  18. Ruby

    I’ve been having a lot of skin problems lately and kind of want to overhaul my entire cleanser and makeup regime. Have people had luck with just walking into Sephora and asking them to help you pick out new products? Do they generally stick to your price range and provide good advice?

    Also was thinking about the Paula’s Choice line for acne, and of trying Smashbox Photo Finish under my makeup to keep it from sweating off. any thoughts on those two products?

    • AIMS

      I have not had positive experiences with the folks at Sephora. I am sure some are better than others, but I honesty feel that anyone truly helpful is the exception, not the rule. They’ll stick to your price range but I don’t think they always know what they’re talking about.

      Can’t speak to Paula’s choice personally, but I have heard good things. My favorite primer is Laura Mercier.

        • Makeup Junkie

          Monistat Anti-Chafing Powder Gel is the same formula as Smashbox Photo Finish, in case you want to save a few bucks. The Snashbox bottle does look a bit more elegant on the vanity though.

          I’ve never had good luck with Sephora with anything; I generally research online. Makeupalley.com is a good place to start

          • mbs

            I love makupalley.com, they generally have a lot of reviews, and you can separate the reviews by the age of the reviewer. I don’t want an eye cream that gets 5 stars from a 25 y/o, I want an eye cream that gets 5 stars from a 50 y/o. I check out their reviews on pretty much every makeup or skin care product before I buy.

            On primers, I like Bare Escentual’s Prime Time primer, it seems to not clog up my pores.

    • SF Bay Associate

      I use the Paula’s Choice combination skin system and like it a lot. I also think it’s a good value, and appreciate their good customer service. Everything is 100% guaranteed forever, so give it a try and then ship it back if you end up not liking it.

    • eb

      Yes, I find that approach really helpful. You have to keep in mind that products sold at Sephora are typically a higher price range than drugstore makeup (e.g. you might get a $24-30 concealer rather than an $8 CoverGirl one) but I find they’re good about listening to you when you give them a price range and also honest about the value for money. You can also pick up samples and test out the products for a few days or weeks (depends on the sample – they’re usually pretty generous and I don’t use a ton of product) so they last me a while.

    • E

      I’ve actually found the people who work at Sephora to be… not so good at their jobs. They can probably handle finding something within your budget but I haven’t had good experiences with their “recommendations.” I’ve taken to researching specific products I’d like to try online, going to a store to sample them, and then buying as appropriate.

      They might be willing to take back used product you don’t like – look into this – in which case it would be relatively low risk for you to give it a shot anyway.

    • Ruby

      Thanks all. I bought the clarisonic and thought my pimples had gone away… but a month and a half later, they’re returned, and don’t seem to be related to hormones at all.

      • Oneanon

        Try changing up your diet a bit. I’ve learned through trial and error that, while dairy has no effect on my skin (hooray for cheese and milk and ice cream!), eggs and soy give me breakouts. So I limit eggs to once, maybe twice a week, and no soy at all. My skin has never been better.

        But everyone is different so try your own eliminate-and-see experiments.

        • kz

          Second this. For me, it’s very sugary things, sadly. If I avoid all desserty deliciousness, my skin is fine, but if I eat a cupcake or a piece of cake, the next day my skin will inevitably break out. “Naturally” sweet things, like sweeter fruits, seem to be ok, but evidently my skin wants me to stay away from the baked goods.

          As for primers, I’ve used Laura Mercier and Smashbox. They both seemed helpful, and I’m not sure I noticed a strong difference between the two.

          Also, maybe try switching the clarisonic head? They say they have antibacterial properties and only need to be changed every 3-4 months, but maybe for some people it’s less? (and don’t forget to clean makeup brushes!)

      • Anon

        Have you talked to your dermatologist? If the only problem is acne, he/she can discuss your skincare routine and lifestyle with you to determine what the possible causes might be. They may suggest that you adjust your skincare with products that are more compatible for your skin and/or give you a prescription to treat the acne. They’ll also be able to discuss the makeup products you use and inform you on whether they are contributing to the acne or not.

    • JJ

      I’ve used Laura Mercier, Smashbox, Bare Esscentuals, and Philosophy primers (yeah, I’m a bit obsessed). Smashbox is *by far* my favorite. I have combo skin (oily T–zone and normal to dry elsewhere) and I use the oil-free Smashbox product every morning. It really does make a huge difference.

      PS – Where I live, it’s been over 100 almost every day for a month. This stuff works.

      • Alex

        I am in the same boat as you, Ruby (I even bought the clarisonic and don’t really see the difference at all). Mine might be hormonal, but I have had no luck getting it under control. I am on daily antibiotics (which I would rather not be!), and I’ve been jumping around different products and can’t find anything that helps. (BTW, I have never had luck with primers. All of them cause me to break out.)

        What about seeking out a good aesthetician for some facials, etc? Although, finding a good one…ugh.

        • Ruby

          Facials are out of my price range, sadly (or at least, having more than one facial would be). I wish I could go that route!

          • Bonnie

            Have you signed up for groupon, livingsocial etc? They often offer cheap facials.

        • ElevenElle

          mine are hormonal as well (my pore over produce that sebum stuff) but Mario Badescu really helps.

          • Em

            Anyone with serious acne could consider Levulan. It’s like a harsh chemical peel followed by blue light treatment. It WORKS. (the worse your skin, the better it works). I did it once and was absolutely floored by the difference it made. However, major disadvantage: a few days of downtime afterwards. You inevitably have to take a day or two off work and I haven’t been able to organize my life in a way that would enable me to take the time off for another treatment. Another idea (one I’ve just recently been reading about): cutting ALL grains and dairy and other stuff from one’s diet, on the theory that (and I’m simplifying) insulin spikes trigger androgen releases, which triggers acne. I haven’t embarked on this diet yet but I’m intrigued… The research I’ve read is by Loren Cordain, an advocate of the paleo diet.

          • Mary

            As the child of a dermatologist who has had plenty of experience with acne (everything from creams to several rounds of Accutane), there are a few things that have greatly improved my skin in the last year: (1) I use the Clarisonic in the morning; (2) skip the make-up when you can to allow for some skin breathing; (3) yes, my dad has seen some anecdotal evidence that certain foods tend to make people break out (most frequent perpetrator is lots of peanut butter); (4) pay attention to the cleanser you use with the Clarisonic – you might need a different one. I forget the name of mine; my dermatologist gave it to me. :)

    • JMC

      Agree about the people at Sephora not being great for recommendations. I’ve gotten some pretty funky color picks from them on lip and eye colors. Have you thought about finding a cosmetic dermatologist? They are faster to recommend products that will help over antibiotics/medicines. Also, if you go to a pretty good spa they are helpful with product recommendations after a facial.

      I have pretty bad acne, and I use the entire line of Dermalogica acne products, a glycolic acid toner, and bare escentuals foundation. Nothing will stop hormonal break outs (except bc which I can’t take).

      • Dr. Cox

        I’ve got honestly terrible skin, and have since my early teens. I tried pretty much everything over the counter, along with a number of prescriptions, before seeing a dermatologist during med school who got me on a regimen that works. It doesn’t have to be a cosmetic dermatologist – mine was a resident at the university hospital’s derm clinic. My skin looks great now, and I honestly never thought I’d be able to say that. And the good thing about going the prescription route is that because acne is a medical condition, everything I use is covered by insurance. Might be worth checking out, if you’ve got adult acne that hasn’t been well-controlled by multiple OTC treatments.

      • Ruby

        I am looking for a dermatologist, but there seems to be a long wait for an appt.

        • A. L.

          Have you considered seeing a physician’s assistant? My acne flared up again a few months ago and I finally made the decision that I needed to see a derm. I was able to get into the PA in two days and she was able to write up all of the prescriptions for me. The doctor in the office was booking at over a month out. I think that she, and a lot of derms, prefer to see the more profitable cosmetic patients, so it’s harder to see the doctor if you aren’t cosmetic or a high-risk patient (e.g. skin cancer).

    • Portia

      I love (and I really mean it) Paula’s Choice products. I have dry skin and I live in a very dry climate, so I cannot speak to the acne line which I assume is for skin with more moisture than mine. But, the products are great and the customer service is top notch. It takes a little getting used to ordering products unseen before purchase, but you get used it. Since you are having problems with your skin, I would start out with some very basic stuff and then build on it one product at a time. Call the customer service and speak with them about the issues you are having and the products you are considering using.

      • Charlotte

        Please tell me more about the Mario Badescu route…. how many products do you use, etc.? I have mild-to-moderate acne and am mid-thirties. My skin is oily but also combination (i.e., it easily flakes while being oily — the best kind! :-( ). What is/your experience with them?

        • ElevenElle

          I’ve bought at least 20 different products. I love them all and want to try them all, lol. I started with the seaweed night cream. Completely counter-intuitive, but I had extremely oily skin with scaly/peeling dry patches in my T-zone. The night cream balanced my skin out. The SPF-17 oil free moisturizer is amazing (no sun burn even though I am burn in less than 10 minutes with out sunscreen.) The various masks are incredible (currently using the whitening mask to get rid of freckles/sun spots.) And the toners are a must (Cucumber didn’t work for me but glycolic acid does.) OH! Almost forgot the best product: cellufirm drops fix texture issues and work better than any primer out there. Basically once you find out what skin type you fall under, any product approved for that skin type works great. Their customer service will guide you or you can do the guided form (http://www.mariobadescu.com/questionnaire.aspx) which didn’t work for me (somehow I got it wrong.)

  19. gref

    Quick threadjack, just wanted to get one or two opinions on a situation:

    I’m prepping for the Bar right now and searching for jobs (to the extend possible until after the Bar). I just had kind of an informational interview with an alumni of my graduate program. at a consulting firm in the field I’m looking to go into. The person I spoke with set up an “informal business lunch” with me after seeing my resume. I just got back and basically, they’re not hiring right now but they may be in the future, and he would pass my resume around people he knows in the area who might be looking for someone like me.

    My question is this: I managed to get my seminar paper published, and it’s directly on point with the kind of work we do, and we talked in the interview about how it was kind of cool that this happened. Would it be weird if I attached the pdf of the paper with the follow-up thank-you email? I think it’s relevant, but I don’t want to be too pushy.

    Thanks!

  20. JuliaBee

    Anyone been to Berlin recently? I am thinking about going in the fall for my birthday. Anything in particular you enjoyed?

    TIA.

    • V

      I was in Berlin in May of last year and had a blast. I took a free walking tour, which was a great thing to do on the first day. Then I went and saw certain things more in depth later in the trip.

      Definitely go to the museums on Museum Island. You can get a day pass that gets you into all 4 museums.

      • springtime

        Berlin is amazing! It’s very quirky and weird. Definitely not a typical European destination. People don’t go out to party until 1 or 2 am and stay out until the sun rises. It’s also very cheap and full of history (obviously). I would definitely recommend it.

        If you’re going all the way out to Europe (I’m assuming your from North America), I would hit up a few other cities, too. Make the long flight worth while.

      • TCFKAG

        I went to Berlin a few years ago now, but most of my recommendations probably still apply…

        The free walking tours are pretty great (you do tip the guide at the end so bring cash). Berlin is a big city so its nice to have someone show you the big sights. I also really, really enjoyed Pottsdam outside the city, its really beautiful.

        Also, when I went there, I ate at a restaurant where you eat in the pitch dark (to simulate the experience of being blind) and it was really super cool and the food was really good. THey have them in a few other cities too (like NYC for example) but if you’re looking for a unique and fun experience, I’d recommend it. :-)

        • L from Oz

          Potsdam is lovely – San Souci is a particularly nice palace/garden complex.

          Berlin is massive in terms of surface area, so if you want to see everything put aside a bit of time for t0-ing and fro-ing (eg the remaining bit of the Berlin Wall is in a very slightly dodgy part of town a long way from, say, the Brandenburg Gate.) The 100 bus will give you a good overview of the city.

          Are you interested in anything in particular? There’s everything from great classical music and opera to fantastic museums of ancient Egypt and Greece to high-end shopping (KaDeWe, which also has the most fantastic food hall ever), to edgy new designers, to riverside dining, to WW2 monuments and memorials, to great curry sausages and much more.

          Museum Island and a walking tour are both great recommendations. I think you can only get into the Reichstag dome via a booking now, but it’s worth it. The autumn weather won’t be anything special, but there’s a lot to do inside as well, so as long as you bring a decent jacket you’ll be fine. (One tip: try to get a central hotel – if you’re out and about as most Berlin party-goers are at 3am, you don’t want to have to schlep back to somewhere near an airport or something.)

    • Another Sarah

      LOVE Berlin! It’s one of those places where, after spending just a day or so walking around (out of the 4 or so I was there) I thought, “I could totally live here and be perfectly happy.” I second the walking tours and go to as many museums as you can while you’re there. I actually really enjoyed going back and forth between East and West Berlin; if anything, the juxtaposition of architecture is awesome. If you’re up to it, there’s a bunch of WWII- and Cold War-themed museums. I went by myself and never felt unsafe walking by myself at night.

  21. ATC

    Thought I would share what happened to me at a site inspection today for everyone’s amusement. The site inspection was taking place in the middle of a day on a roadway that needed to be surveyed (the accident scene). It was hot, but I was nervous about wearing shorts since I was meeting all of the experts for the first time, so I wore jeans. I arrive at the site inspection, and plaintiff’s expert is wearing shorts. Plaintiff’s expert is about 60, has puffy legs with sores on them, and flies are buzzing around his sores. Completely disgusting. He introduces himself to me, and then says, with a sleazy smile, “I know I’m wearing these revealing shorts, but try not to get too excited.” That was followed by a heh, heh, heh kind of laugh. Gag! He was so pathetic that it was just sad, but wow, some guys just never quit.

    • Anonymous

      Suggested response: “I wouldn’t worry.”

      I used to work with such experts. I am AMAZED at how incompetent and inexperienced many of them are! Really simple research can absolutely blow their “knowledge” apart.

      • Britt

        Maybe he was trying to make light of the situation because he was embarrassed about his legs but it was too hot for him to wear pants?

        • ATC

          I wish. But he made it clear that he was a “ladies man” by making more comments and trying to be touchy (trying to place a hand on my arm and shoulder, etc.) I ducked and just gave him annoyed looks.

      • ATC

        Seriously! But this guy has been making major bucks for decades – he’s the go-to guy for plaintiffs. Can’t see how juries would like him, but maybe he’s good at keeping the sleaze in check when he wants to.

  22. D

    Threadjack: Not sure if I’ll get any responses this late in the day but here I go!

    I’ve interned at biotech company X 2 previous summers and was offered a full time rotational job where I try out 4 different jobs 6 months each for a total for 2 years.
    I’m pretty sure I don’t want to go into the two departments that I’ve interned previously for the rest of my life so I sent an e-mail to the manager of my class of rotational analysts saying “I was just wondering whether there would be a way to ensure that I was assigned to a project that is not in previous department A or department B as I would like to try something new.” when he was asking for resumes to place us in our new assignments.

    Now I’m beginning to wonder whether I worded this request too strongly or if I came off too high maintenance. Any thoughts or suggestions how to remedy this?

    • TCFKAG

      Wait and see what he says, I think. I’m sort of a firm believer that once an e-mail or mistake is out there, there are very few graceful ways to take something back or soften it without just bringing attention to it.

      Also, I think what you asked is totally fine…though be prepared that the answer may be no depending on how many employees they are trying to place in how many departments. If you don’t ask for what you want (or don’t want as the case may be) you won’t get it! This is quite possibly going to dictate the future of your career (many people end up in their career somewhat by default) so its good to try to direct it in a direction you want it to go in. Who knows, maybe after trying four more rotations, you’ll decide you liked one of the first two best!

      Good luck…I’m sure it’ll turn out fine!

    • Eponine

      If anything, I think you sounded too weak, not too strong. This kind of wishy-washy language is addressed in NGDGTCO – “I was just wondering if there’s any way that maybe…”. It’s fine to ask for what you want, and it’s best to ask directly so you’re sure your point got across. Just be mature and calm if you don’t get what you asked for.

  23. Anonymous

    Just ranting to the universe: why do bra and underwear manufacturers have to discontinue styles, well, at all, really, but especially after only a couple of years? Admittedly, I haven’t updated my undies lately, but I had a baby and was wearing maternity styles. Now I find that my bras and underwear have been discontinued! It drives me crazy. I buy a bra/underwear, have a probationary period where I determine whether I can get through the day without becoming so uncomfortable that I have to rush home and strip, and once I know something will work for me, I buy a ton. But apparently that’s not enough, now I need to constantly monitor to be sure said product is still available and stock up even when I don’t need it just in case it disappears. Ugh!

    • Eponine

      I’d suggest that you go to Nordstrom, tell them what your favorite discontinued style is, and try on what they suggest to replace it. If you don’t like the replacement, you can return it even after wearing. I know Nordstrom is expensive, but I always buy bras there specifically because I know I can return easily if they don’t work out.

  24. corso como

    I’ll ask again tomorrow but has anyone ever bought corso como shoes? were they comfortable? also has anyone noticed a difference between their flats and heels for comfort?

    • Anonymous

      yes– padded and perforated. lovely, supportive and chic. go-to. also, cheaper sister line: ciao bella. ciao is not *always* as well-made and comfy (soles can be less flexible, heels on patent leather can rub) but both brands are always worth trying. akin to gentle souls in comfort but (tho i love gentle souls), i think cuter, less obviously a comfy brand. go for it.

      • Anonymous

        Corso como are my favorite go-to heels. They’ve replaced Cole Haan Airs, and I find them extremely comfortable and well-made. both the heels and flats are awesome. I own three pairs of the Corso Como Delicious heels, and I wear them at least 3x per week.

    • BT

      Bought corso como boots for fall/winter and absolutely LIVED in them. They were so comfortable and I received numerous compliments. Haven’t tried their heels (yet) so I cannot comment on those.

    • EN

      Yes, I have the Delicious in black and absolutely love them. They are the most comfortable heels I’ve ever owned (and I’m a big heel wearer). I plan to get them in many other colors (and you can often find them on sale – try Shopstyle and search for Corso Como pumps). I find them much more comfortable than Cole Haan.

      That being said, I ordered the nude Palomar pump in an 8.5 after trying my normal size 9 at Nordie’s and found that while the 9 was quite a bit too long, the 8.5 was much too narrow in the toe box for my slightly wide feet. Sad, because (while very high) they were gorgeous…

  25. anony

    Thread jack…
    Need some advice and appreciate being anonymous here.
    I just finished grading college level exams for a disability and the law class I (this is the third 3rd year I’ve been teaching it). Only 5 out of 14 students passed (Cs at most) 10 more students intended take the mid-July exam (and the others might do it again too). It never happened in past years although I changed the format for this year due to both administrative and sudents pressure. The exam is really easy from a law student perspective and in my probably wrong opinion from a lay person perspective… (but these are not law students; they come from medical administration or human resources programs). A few compained already before they saw their grades. They were nasty all along the semester, did not read anything for class and then complained they do not understand. Any ideas and advice will be greatly appreciated…):

    • cbackson

      I just had an awful meeting on Monday with a student who was complaining about her grade. But last year, I had FOUR of those. My strategy this year was, essentially, to be much, much tougher during the class. I definitely resorted to outright shaming at points when it was clear that students hadn’t read. I think that made the work harder.

    • Anon

      Was it a law school format exam (the hypo and then the student spots the issues, etc.)? Because that can be difficult to do if you are not used to it. When I was in college and the entire class did poorly on an exam the teacher usually just graded it on a curve and added so many points to each persons exam (however many brought the highest score up to an A). But I can see why you would be hesitant to do that if the students were not preparing for class.

    • Eponine

      I have adjunct taught before and I usually don’t have trouble failing people if I am confident they deserve to fail. Is this the same exam you’ve used in prior years with no problems? If it’s a new exam format, perhaps it’s too difficult and you should grade on a curve. However, if it’s the same exam, sounds like you just have a bunch of slackers. I’d go ahead and fail them, and let them have the choice to retake in July if you want. Also, I think it’s important that you offer detailed feedback; if they’re working in medical admin and HR, they need to understand the topic of disability and the law!

      • anony

        You nailed it! And thanks each and every one of you… This is the first year the whole exam is multiple choice, true/false and identifying the right principle for the case. In all other years it was a spot the issue type questions which gave me more freedom to create a curve. With your responses I feel more confident checking the college policy on grading on a curve or having them take the exam in July.
        Its definitely a learning experience for me for next year…

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  27. Calypso

    Vs pays a maximum of $2.75 for their bras. Owner of a factory overseas told me this. That’s why if they seem cheap, they are.

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