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Updated: Oct 30, 2018 75 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Ellen Tracy

Suit of the Week

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cobalt-suitFor 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. I spied this fun cobalt suiting a few weeks ago at Zappos, and I really like it, albeit possibly as separates more than a suit. (Readers agree with me — colorful blue suiting separates are often best as separates.) Still, it’s great to have the option to wear it together or apart, and having multiple pieces in the same color scheme helps you build a capsule wardrobe. It doesn’t hurt that all of these pieces are very affordable: the jacket (Ellen Tracy Single Button Jacket) is $139, the dress (Ellen Tracy Color Block Wrap Sheath) is $129, and the pants (Ellen Tracy Signature Trousers) are $89. (Amazon has many of the pieces, as well, so if your size is sold out at Zappos, do check it out.) Here’s a similar cobalt blazer in plus sizes – this dress may or may not match. cobalt-suit-ellen-tracy (L-all)

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Comments

  1. Sketti-Os

    I got some ravioli filled with brie, apple, and caramelized onion. What kind of sauce would you cook these in?

    • jwalk

      Agree with anonymous @ 4:17 but have to ask where did you get these?! They sound heavenly!

      • Sketti-Os

        I got them from the Granville market in Vancouver on vacation! They’ve been sitting in the freezer waiting for the perfect time to come out. If they’re as good as I’m hoping they’ll be, I’ll definitely try to find a recipe and post it!

    • lawsuited

      I’d cook them and then drizzle with olive oil. (Because it’s easier than a brown butter sauce :P)

    • Ellen

      I cook all Ziti and Ravioli with either MARINERA sauce or Alfredo Sauce. Dad get’s mad b/c of the calories but I MUST eat or I will get to hungry to be effective at work. FOOEY on dad for wanting to starve me!

  2. Anonymous

    There were recs on here not long ago for websites where you could make a book to printed with wedding photos. Can someone remind me where that discussion was or possibly repeat the recommendations? Looking for something a step up from Shutterfly. Thanks!

    • Scarlett

      Artifact Uprising – go w/ the lay flat books, they look like pro wedding albums when they’re done (and no, I don’t work for them)

    • Anokha

      I used Blurb and liked the quality — but if I had to do it again, I’d want a lay-flat option

      • Sydney Bristow

        I like Blurb as well. So easy to customize your layouts and pick as many pages as you want.

    • Anon

      We did My Publisher and upgraded everything – lay flat, highest quality paper and printing, etc. It looks incredible and no one can believe we did it ourselves. I really think any service is fine – just figure out what you like the interface for and then upgrade all the options.

  3. Estate Planning?

    Wise lawyers,
    My husband and I need to tackle estate planning. I think our situation is pretty straightforward – we have bank accounts, modest investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, a mortgage, and a baby; and need to name a guardian and provide for our child(ren) in the event of our untimely demise. Maybe advance directives or powers of attorney as well.

    I’m wondering how much I should “shop” for this service. Should I get lots of estimates, or just work with the first person who seems competent and pleasant to deal with as long as the price seems reasonable? What IS a reasonable cost for basic estate-planning services? Anything I should be sure to ask about or be wary of (ie upselling)? If you have any recommendations in the DC area, feel free to chime in with those, too!

    • ER

      In my area (bay area) I found this package of services cost about $3000 on a flat fee basis. After some research, I decided that the benefits of a trust for my situation only kicked in if both my husband and I passed away. I decided to take the risk of that event and spend the money elsewhere. We instead did will maker pro for about $100 IIRC. It helps that both my husband and I have parents who are comfortable enough financially that they could float the cost of putting our estate through probate and taking care of our child until our estate could be liquidated.

      • Anonymous

        In Houston this package has been quoted to me for prices ranging from $500 – $2500. Most of the quotes were right around $1500.

        FWIW, we have friends who did their estate planning through legal zoom for $69 and had it reviewed and revised by an attorney for $450. I don’t know many attorneys who would agree to do that, but they managed to find one and keep their costs really low (comparatively).

        • Anonymous

          I just got quoted $3,000 in Houston for setting up trusts, doing a will, POA, etc. We did it because it’s taken us way too long to get a will (our oldest is almost 4) so I didn’t want to shop around. She also did the whole shebang so that it is ready for us to grow our estate.

    • Anon in NYC

      Are you tapped into any local parents network? I found a T&E attorney through recommendations from people in my area. He is a solo practitioner and charged us $700 for pretty much what you described (sans mortgage). He didn’t try to sell us on services we don’t need.

    • Anonymous

      I’m not! I love it and always will. But the cobalt and black combo is starting to feel kind of dated to me, and I’m very over this style of dress with the hourglass colorblocking on the sides.

      • anon

        Agreed. Cobalt is classic and will never go away. But black + bright color reads as dated.

      • pugsnbourbon

        Love cobalt too – I am wearing it with black today, but I usually pair it with gray.

        • pugsnbourbon

          Ooooh but now I see the black side panels on the dress – to me, THAT look is dated. Trends are funny indeed.

    • Anonymous

      Agree. I feel like it was everywhere in 2014 when I was pregnant and couldn’t rock great pieces like this suit.

      Mustard or pinks are feeling much fresher for me right now.

    • Go blue devils

      As a recent Duke alum, I find myself accidentally gravitating toward cobalt (ahem, Duke Blue). A good portion of my work wardrobe are around this shade, despite buying them all after graduating.

  5. Regular Poster but Anon for This

    Reposting this to get more responses because this was not fitting into the theme of “Hobby Wednesday”: I’m thinking about doing a Brazilian bikini wax for the first time – what can I expect? is the regrowth itchy or uncomfortable at all? Are there any issues with doing it at lunch and going right back to work? I’d like to do it once just to try it, but I’m not sure if I would want to maintain it (I go for pedicures maybe a few times a year max). Also, how do you position yourself in front of the aesthetician – is it like a gyn exam? What are the options you can ask for? I’m also intrigued by the reader who said she took her bra off for this – why? Thanks.

    • Anonymous

      Go somewhere reputable for your first time, like a European Wax Center, or a medi-spa. Try to avoid getting it done at like, a nail salon. Tell them it’s your first time. They’ll tell you what to take off, how to lay down, etc.

      It’ll be painful but take two tylenol about 45 minutes before to help minimize that, you’ll be fine going back to work. Regrowth is itchy. If you’re susceptible to in-grown hairs spring for the serum all those places try to sell you. In-grown pub3 hairs are the WORST.

      I can think of… no reason you would take your bra off for this.

    • Jane

      Apparently I need to do work today instead of just posting here. Anyway, I’m the one who takes off her bra. But it’s part of the sweating issue I have. If I leave my bra on, it too will be soaked (as I said, I’m a heavy sweater generally and waxing, due to the discomfort, makes me sweat a lot). So I take off my bra and put on a t-shirt. Afterward, I can put my dry bra and my regular clothes back on.

    • Anonymous

      It’s pretty quick though painful, you can go back to work (don’t wear tight clothing), and the regrowth is a little itchy. You usually lay on your back with your legs in a butterfly position. Unless you have very fine hair, you’ll probably have bright red bumps/dots that will take a couple days to go away.

    • anon

      I have very sensitive skin so ymmv, but I could not wear underwear for several hours after waxing. It irritates my skin too much. Until you know how it affects you, I’d recommend doing it on a weekend when you can lounge around and not have much of anything touching the waxed area.

    • Tinderella

      My first time was far less painful then I expected. My waxer usually chats with me to take my mind off of it. I usually lie with one leg straight and the other in butterfly, then switch. Then for the back (in case you didn’t know, a true brazilian is front and back) I lie on my side with my bottom leg bent lying down, and the top leg bent with feet flat in front of the bottom knee, and use my top hand to kind of spread. Sorry if that’s TMI. Some salons have you do a “happy baby” pose for the back. Yes it’s a bit awkward – but your waxer has seen it all.
      For me the bumps/ingrowns was less with waxing compared to shaving. I go every 4 weeks – you can go less frequently and shave in between, but you need to have 1/4-1/2 inch to be able to wax so for me that’s 4 weeks.
      I’ve been going to the same independent salon for about 2 years, it is near my work and I checked out the yelp reviews before going. I have never had an experience where I couldn’t go back to work afterwards.

    • Anonymous

      My first Brazilian wax was the most pain I’ve ever been in. It was worse than my tattoo. When they wax your labia…oh my god.

      Just trying to keep it real. It hurts. But it gets better each subsequent time.

      Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate to prevent ingrown hairs. And unscented solid deodorant (not gel) will help with chafing afterwards. Rub it all over before you put on your underwear.

    • Anonymous

      I forgot to add, in terms of positions, first you lie on your back with your feet together and knees bent (like butterfly pose) so they can do the main parts. Then you lie on each side so they can do each bum cheek. At least that’s how my girl does it.

    • Regular Poster but Anon for This

      Thanks for all of your candid and detailed responses. I’m just going to say that I’m rethinking this idea altogether, as I’m not great with pain and even worse with itchiness (I scratch every mosquito bite until it weeps). Can anyone share whether doing this on a regular basis has been a positive thing for you that has been well worth the pain?

      • Anonymous

        TBH, I did it for yeeeeears before realizing no one cares. It was painful and itchy and expensive and added more maintenance to my schedule. When I realized the guys I was dating could not have cared less whether I did that, *and* I decided I wasn’t doing it for me either, I stopped. Now I just use a trimmer regularly to keep things short and neat.

      • Tinderella

        Like I said I don’t think it’s that painful, but yes worth it for me. I like the way it feels afterwards, and I like not having to shave every few days. Also, with shaving it wasn’t near as smooth and I got worst bumps and ingrowns so I think it is pretty much better in every way.
        I started when I was going through my divorce, it gave me a mental boost to help me feel sexy again.
        My boyfriend probably wouldn’t care if I stopped, but he certainly doesn’t mind if I keep it up! I could not imagine engaging in a certain gardening activity that requires his face in that area without waxing.

      • Also anon for this

        It’s worth the pain for me because my husband very much enjoys it. His enthusiasm makes s3x, especially of the 0r@l variety, more pleasurable for me. To be clear, I don’t do it because he likes it, but because his liking it so much makes things better for me. If he simply preferred it but his preference did not pay appreciable dividends for me, I wouldn’t bother.

      • Anonymous

        I really only do it when I’m on some beach vacation where I’m in a swimsuit all the time. I mean it hurts, but it doesn’t really hurt that badly. It’s like getting your ears pierced or similar – not really a huge deal. I’d rather get a million waxes than have an IUD inserted again.

    • Anonymous

      I cannot fathom why people would subject themselves to this for p0rn-inspired down-there fashion. I thought I had been through it all after having babies. I am clearly sheltered/old.

      • anon for this

        All I can say is THANK GOD I grew up just before internet p0rn blew up. I will never, ever wax. Thanks to all of you for your candid responses. They are really appreciated.

        It is so funny how trends change.

        I just hope that for all this pain and trouble that the young men in your lives are giving you the rewards you deserve!

      • Anonymous

        So, I used to work in the tropics and wore bikinis all day. I’m terrible at shaving evenly, so after a while trimming my bikini line became trimming everything (each time more was trimmed as i tried to even out). It was pretty practical and I continue today. Insisting it must be p0rn inspired makes me bristle, because that’s making some heavy assumptions.

        • Anonymous

          You realize, of course, that most women do not work in the tropics and wear a bikini every day, right? So of course you are in an outlier group. Th exception.

          I haven’t worn a bikini in a couple decades.

          Unfortunately, it is a trend forced on us by our environment, as most things are. We want what we see. Today, guys have a lifetime of porn viewing before having s3x the first time. They want what they see. Young girls do what they think is expected of them. Some things haven’t changed…. Enough.

          To them, it looks “normal”, but to many of us a little older, it Is disturbing.

          To pretend it isn’t another time/money requirement for women now imposed on to us by men and society is naive.

  6. Fewer Euros and Brits?

    Is it just me or are there fewer Brit/Euro based ‘rettes posting lately? Ever since the first post moved later from like 8am to 9am est (approx) and the coffee break post at like 4pm EST – it seems like it’s been almost exclusively Americans + Canadians? Miss the different perspectives. Also seems like all the talk is in the morning thread (which is starting to get huge) and not so much in coffee break thread.

    • Anon

      I think my fellow Brits are all just lurking!

      I have to catch up the next day, which usually means it’s too late to post.

  7. Anonymous

    Hive career advice, please! I interviewed for a job in profession A some time ago and didn’t hear back for a long time.

    So in the meantime, I continued networking, etc., not just in Profession A but also in related lines of work and exploring options (for example, law and politics, or something). A mentor in profession B just recently stuck his neck out for me and was making inquiries for me in Profession B, which is where I’d like to be in say, 5-10 years.

    But just today, I found out that the Profession A job I applied for is a real possibility (but no offer yet). It would a very good opportunity, has the potential for upward growth, leadership training, and promotion, and it’s not unheard of to transition from Profession A to Profession B. I also believe it’s possible to stay connected to profession B through extracurricular and community involvement. The question is, when/how do I tell mentor in profession B about the job in profession A, without burning bridges, and perhaps keeping the possibility open down the line?

    • Hollis

      I would say not until you have started working in Profession A for awhile and you know you still have your eye on Profession B. Who is to say that you won’t absolutely love Profession A and your career will take another direction altogether? 5-10 years is a long time to be striving to be doing something else, so if for sure you want to do Profession B, hold out for Profession B instead of accepting Profession A.

  8. Dyson hairdryer

    Has anyone purchased one? If so, would be interested to hear feedback. I haven’t found online reviews helpful. My $30 Conair just died after 12 years, so I’m shopping for a new one and am intrigued by the Dyson. I have long, straight, fine but thick hair and do a full blowout, so it takes a long time for me to dry my hair and I spend a lot of time pulling my hair above my head. I like the idea of the Dyson’s placement of the motor in the handle and love my Dyson vacuum.

    • buffybot

      I just got one!

      I am a fan, although I don’t know that it is necessarily 3X better than my previous hairdryer, which was a T3 and cost about a third of the price. It is quieter, though, which makes my husband very happy.

      I have pretty thick, slightly wavy hair that I typically style on a daily basis with a large round brush. I have read that the high heat setting is hard on fine hair. I have found that the highest fan setting is almost TOO much — hair gets too tangled when I hit it with that much air. The heat settings seem to be really effective — I’ve found that my hair “sets” better in the shape that I want than with the previous dryer so no need for a curling iron.

      Finally it is smaller but not necessarily light, and it takes a bit of relearning muscle memory since it is set up a bit differently from your usual hairdryer.

    • APL

      If you want the same motor/power at a lower price, try the Conair 3Q dryer. Same brushless motor technology (super powerful & fast, less heat & damage, much longer life than a regular dryer) at <$100. Dyson definitely has the cool techy design if that's important to you, but people who have a lot of hair love the 3Q because it dries so much faster that your regular dryer. Honestly biased perspective here but I know a lot about hair dryers!

  9. DC chapati aunty

    Such a shot in the dark but who knows! I live in DC and am looking for a desi aunty who will make fresh chapatis for pick up. In every city I have lived in I have always managed to find someone through word of mouth but not in DC.

    Alternatively, anyone know of a place outside of DC that will ship fresh chapatis to me (I’m skeptical they would stay fresh but I’m honestly desperate at this point). Thanks!

    • Anonymous

      I don’t know her name, but I have a friend in Arlington who has a desi aunty ship him food every week, including chapatis! I’ll try to find out the details.

    • Anon

      I’m Indian and can’t imagine doing this — are chapatis really THAT good!? Always had to choke them down and much prefer store bought naan.

      • Anonymous

        I’m not Indian but this is really interesting to me. Grew up in Kenya where chapatis are popular and yes, they are that good! I’ve met Kenyan and Tanzanian ladies who make them for sale in other states, but I didn’t know people had chapatis shipped to them, wow! I like the Stone Fire brand Naan but given the option I would take chapati since they are not as thick. If you can’t find someone check for frozen options in an Indian grocery store.

    • Anonymous

      Hive, whatever you do, do not google “desi aunty” like I just did. Especially on your work computer.

  10. Anonymous

    What a nice looking jacket and pants! I love that color and will never get tired of it. Cobalt compliments a wide variety of skin tones. I think it looks good on just about everyone. Now personal preference is another matter, I k now.

  11. attorney

    Anyone have tips on how to prevent wrinkling pencil skirts? Or a wrinkle-resistant skirt suit that comes in Size 0? My J. Crew Super 120’s suits are the only suits that fit me, but the skirt wrinkles by the time I get to work.

  12. AFT

    I have decided to stop being totally bare down there, but I’d like to stay a bit landscaped and trimmed. What do you guys use for this? Scissors?

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