ByKat Hours Updated
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Suit of the Week: Reiss

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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. You can't tell from the picture here, but this suiting collection from Reiss has this teeny tiny nubbly textured fabric that looks lovely, and I think it's going to be one of those classic suits that's got a little something different to it. It has a stunning British tailored look, and the dress that goes with it is so awesome we'll have to give it its own post soon — the seams and darts are to die for. This suiting collection has a jacket, skirt, pants, and that ah-ma-zing dress, all for $220-$435. (L-all)

Sales of note for 3/26/25:

  • Nordstrom – 15% off beauty (ends 3/30) + Nordy Club members earn 3X the points!
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale + additional 20% off + 30% off your purchase
  • Banana Republic Factory – Friends & Family Event: 50% off purchase + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 30% off tops, tees, dresses, accessories, sale styles + warm-weather styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Shorts under $30 + extra 60% off clearance + up to 60% off everything
  • M.M.LaFleur – 25% off travel favorites + use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – $64.50 spring cardigans + BOGO 50% off everything else

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

190 Comments

  1. Ooooh, Kat! I Soooo Love Reiss’s suits! After I lose 5 pounds in the tuchus, I can start wearing pants suits, Dad says, so I will then go RIGHT OUT and buy this REISS suit! I could be so fashionable with this suit. I am walking over 13,000 steps a day now to make sure I can get there. YAY!!!!!

  2. This suit is beautiful.

    Has anyone had experience getting a young girl’s ears pierced at a piercing studio? We went to Claire’s 18 months ago, the experience was positive, the ears healed, but about 7 months later both ears developed chronic irritation around the earrings. We took out the studs and let the holes close up.

    The problem may have been that we chose gold plated rather than solid gold earrings, and the plating had rubbed off. We will go with solid gold next time. But I’ve also been advised that hoops are preferable because then there is no earring back to clean making for fewer problems with swelling, infection, etc. At Claire’s, I don’t think they can put in hoops with their ear piercing guns. So I wonder if we should go elsewhere. Any advice?

    1. Piercing guns are terrible. The gun is shooting a somewhat blunt object through the skin using force. Take her to a place that pierces using a piercing needle (like they do belly buttons, etc.). It’s sharp and quick and will heal up better. Use solid gold studs – consider purchasing online rather than at the studio to get the best quality.

      1. yes, no piercing gun and use needles. go to a tattoo and piercing parlor. i have double piercings in each ear with the first done at claires and the second done with a needle. the first ones have lots of scar tissue inside and the needle ones dont.

        1. Second, go to a tattoo and piercing place. They do this all day every day and they know what the heck they’re doing, vs some shaky teenager with a piercing gun at Claire’s.

          Buy surgical steel posts. Don’t go with hoops unless you only ever want a hoop in the piercing. Hoop piercings are not large enough to accommodate post earrings.

          Maybe the best reason to go to a tattoo and piercing place is that your daughter will feel like a total badass.

          1. Hoops also create curved holes, so it may be difficult to stick a straight post through them in the future. Ask me how I know….

      2. My ears were done by Claire’s as a teenager. They’re terrible. My kid will be taken to a proper, legit piercing shop where the work is done by an experienced professional using a needle. I would never recommend anyone go to the mall for piercings. You have this the rest of your life. Get it done right.

        1. My Claire’s piercings are uneven and they’ve never closed up. Thanks a lot, Grandma! (She took me there when I was 5 without even getting my mother’s OK on the matter.)

        2. +1 I can’t wear certain kinds of earring styles because they emphasize the uneven piercings by Claire’s

        3. I had no idea I was in such good company! My original ear piercings were done at – you guessed it – Claire’s, and they are lopsided. Not only that, but one hole is slanted through my earlobe (instead of going straight back) and I can’t wear some hoop earrings without it looking ridiculous.

          I have a tragus piercing that was done at a piercing studio and it’s fine. Go to a piercing place, your daughter will thank you for it later.

        4. My ears were pierced crooked at Claire’s. So when I got home, I took out the pointy earring on one side and re-pierced it – with the earring in the correct spot. I was 14 and it took me that long to get my parents to agree to it so I wasn’t about to complain they are crooked and start from scratch. It was so painful I could only do the one side (and the other one is low and crooked to this day). My kids will NEVER go through that. You want pierced? We go to a piercing place. I remember girls who pierced their own belly buttons too and have disgusting scars now that we’ve all had babies. Had their parents just taken them to a piercing studio, they wouldn’t have that.

          Also my friends bought a piercing gun from wal-mart and would use it on each other which wasn’t much better.

    2. Does your pediatrician do it? I had my ears done at Claire’s only because my pediatrician wouldn’t do it until you were a certain age, and I wanted to do it before then… most of my friends got it done at the doctor’s. But if you’ve ruled that out a real piercing place would be great, even if some can be a bit eccentric. I’ve been with friends and the staff are usually pretty great, professional people.

      1. I would only have the pediatrician’s office so it if they use a needle. I have two piercings in each lobe, both done when I was a child at the doctor’s. First was with a needle, second they had switched to the gun, and they did not do a good job making sure the second holes were even. I think needle is generally less traumatic to the area as well.

        1. My pediatrician does it but uses a gun, which she told me when I asked her about it. I said, no I think we’re going to go with a needle at Zebra (I’m in Berkeley) and she said, yeah, that’s better.

    3. I’m not sure about earring type, but I would find a reputable tattoo/piercing parlor. Claire’s is convenient, but the previous posters are right — the gun can cause a lot of issues with tissue damage. I had that problem as a kid and still have an enlarged earring hole to show for it. As a result, I basically can’t wear dangly earrings because even the lightest ones tug too much and drop down (or out).

    4. +1 to everyone recommending a needle and a tattoo artist/piercing artist or MD.

      My dad is a doctor, and he pierced my ears (multiple holes) and my brother’s ear, too.

      2. Ha, my grandfather was a surgeon but it didn’t stop my mom and her sister from piercing their ears themselves :)

    5. I recommend using earrings without backs. I have multiple piercings in each ear, all of which were done with guns. The backs got irritated off and on all the time for many years (like 10) until I put in earrings like these:

      https://www.amazon.com/Earrings-Hoop-Ball-Sterling-Silver/dp/B000LH6RCC

      After a few months the irritation went away and it hasn’t come back even though I now wear studs with backs. The ball pops out of the center of the hoop to put it in, and then pops back into place after you put it on your ear. The back of any earring, no matter what the metal is, can cause irritation if you have sensitive ears. Any piercing parlor that uses a needle can pierce ears with this type of earring.

    6. I had my ears done at Claire’s as an adult. I was religious about keeping the piercing studs in (they are sharp at the back) and I followed all directions. I was initially upset that I couldn’t use the real earrings I had bought already. They definitely weren’t real gold but some sort of cheap goldtone, so I don’t think it would have mattered. I was very religious with using alcohol and keeping the whole thing sterile and keeping the metal of the earrings cleaned once I could take out the cheap piercing studs.

    7. The problem with hoops is that you need to keep earrings in newly pierced ears at all times (except for cleaning) for a couple of months- the hoops may tug at night, or depending on what she wears.

      Definitely go for solid gold studs, if she’s having issues. In my experience, frequent irritation/infections are common for the first couple of years after getting a piercing, until the hole is fully healed and strong. Having a foreign object in your body isn’t normal.

      As for a good tattoo/piercing shop- try yelp. Or just look around your city. Tattoo shops are subject to some pretty strict health codes, so I haven’t been skeeved out by one yet (yes, I’m a high-earning woman in finance with multiple tattoos). More often, it’s the attitude of the artist (in this case that piercing professional) that makes the difference.

    8. I used to work at a kids/tween clothing shop. One morning we all had to come in early and learn how to pierce ears, by practicing with the gun on a piece of cardboard. Some girls volunteered to get their ears pierced by other girls (“it’s free!”) and just the memory of the whole process still makes me want to faint.

      On the other hand, a close relative is in the tattoo business, and I have always been impressed with the professionalism and cleanliness of the places he has worked. Piercers included.

      TL;DR, get thee to a professional.

      2. I had mine done at the pediatrician’s, but as a Gen Xer and kinda punk rocker back in high school, I pierced a boy’s ear with a safety pin. I’m sure it got horribly infected – probably didn’t even wash my hands before doing it – but it was super romantic at the time.

        1. Hahaha, in college I tried to pierce the ear of one of my male friends with one of the “at home piercing” mini-gun kits they used to sell at Claire’s. I started laughing so hard I couldn’t do it, and he eventually had to go to a piercing studio, which was a MUCH better idea than having me do it anyway!

      3. Was this at Limited Too? I still have an errant piercing on one of my ears as I volunteered in hopes of making the “training” end. I would 1000% go to a professional tattoo/piercing salon, they’re the pros.

          1. Ha! I kind of loved that job though. There was lots of fen-phen pushing by my manager and great shopping everywhere.

    9. I had my ears pierced at my pediatricians office, around age 4 or so. Definitely recommend doing this, if your office does it. (Mine didn’t, but another in our town did, so my parents took me there). I was much younger than your daughter, so my mother managed all cleaning, rotating the earrings, etc during those critical first few months. Given that it doesn’t sound like that was a problem, I think you’re right to suspect the quality of the metal – that does matter a lot!

    10. I had mine pierced as a preteen in a local, privately owned jewelry shop, with a needle. Is this still a thing, or was this just a small town mid-west thing?

    11. I seriously can’t believe everyone (including me) got their ears pierced by teenagers at Claire’s when we were young. One ear has now completely closed up and I’d go to a reputable tattoo/piercing parlor if I ever want it fixed, but one piercing was always a bit crooked. This is permanent; get an actual professional to do the piercing.

  3. Does anyone have recommendations for a relaxing weekend trip that’s within 2-3 hours’ driving distance of NYC? We’d like to go to a small town to do some lazy shopping and maybe sightseeing if we feel like it. Somewhere with good restaurant options would be ideal. Thanks in advance!

    1. I suggest Newport, RI. Might be closer to 4 hours by car.
      I also really liked Williamstown, MA. MassMoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is a great stop. This is also about 3.5 hours away.

    2. Hudson NY is a cute upstate town. About the distance you’re looking for, good antiquing, fantastic restaurants. Not a ton in the way of sightseeing though.

      1. New Hope/Lambertville is fantastic. Shopping, antiques, tons of amazing restaurants, beautiful waterfront scenery, quaint B&Bs, a towpath for a little walking or biking.

    5. Jim Thorpe, PA. Very different feel than the typical NY/Hudson Valley small towns.

    6. Rhinebeck is cute, has good food, etc. There are historic buildings and estates close by.

      2. I like Beacon NY. Dia Beacon is great, and there are interesting shops and restaurants.

    7. Litchfield/Kent CT if you’re more into antiques/hiking, Old Saybrook or Essex CT if you’re more into lazy relaxing/eating.

  4. Update on yesterday’s post about my fiancé’s post-fight garbage throwing episode – he came back last night. We are going to therapy on Friday and I will be staying in the guest room at least until then. I let him know that although we both were upset, the trash throwing situation was absolutely unacceptable and made me feel unsafe, and I think he got it. To be honest, I still am not sure what this means for our engagement, relationship, etc. He is such a great person and I am absolutely devastated by the thought of not spending the rest . At the same time, his depression has really affected our relationship, and this last episode suggests he may have anger management issues as well.
    Thank you all for your support! This is a great community.

    3. I was thinking of you this morning as well. I hope you get some more clarity through therapy.

    4. My husband had rages when we first moved in and then we had a baby. Counseling helped. We have been married 18 years now.

      1. Correction: I know things will work out for you because you have a good head on your shoulders! Sending support and best wishes!

  5. Hi all, looking for recommendations for a day spa in the inner loop. Many thanks!

    1. The Peninsula is the quintessential answer here for a downtown spa, or the Dana, or the Bliss at the W Lakeshore, but none is “inner loop” though downtown. (Usual suspects also—Ritz, Four Seasons, Waldorf).

      But in the loop the spa at the J.W. Marriott on Adams is supposed to be fab.

  6. I get to pick my own bridesmaid dress (yay), but have had trouble finding the right one (b00). The only requirements are that the dress must be navy and knee-length, and I would prefer to spend less than $200. Anyone want to do some vicarious shopping for me?

    1. Sounds like a perfect chance to RTR. I did this for a bridesmaids dress once and got a blush, floor length, sequined gown for a steal.

    3. These are all Nordstrom’s picks. I’ve included the item #s rather than links for mod.

      Adrianna Papell Scallop Sheath Dress (very simple and conservative, but not sure what kind of style you’re going for): item # 1093977

      Eliza J. Dot Mesh Fit and Flare. Item # 587763

      Alfred Sung Dupioni Fit and Flare (very classic wedding look). Item # 832534

      Eliza J. Ella Cascade Crepe Sheath Dress. Item # 5183836

      1. Have you worn the first ML one you linked? I’ve been wavering on it. I love how her clothes fit me, but I’m torn about whether that neckline will look stylish or just weird.

      1. Ugh, stuck in moderation, but the WHBM convertible chiffon dress comes in navy and is on sale.

    7. I bought the Weddington Way Veronica for a bridesmaid’s dress last summer. It was high-quality and fit me very well:
      https://www.weddingtonway.com/products/weddington-way-veronica-bridesmaiddress
      They have a number of styles on sale and/or discontinued. Here’s another navy dress that’s strapless: https://www.weddingtonway.com/products/dove-dahlia-birdie-bridesmaiddress?sku=dd-birdie-something-navy.
      If you’re into lace, I really like this Adrianna Papell dress with Illusion neckline: http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/adrianna-papell-illusion-bodice-lace-sheath-dress/3230880?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=NAVY.
      If you know your size in J. Crew dresses, you may be able to find a good deal on a NWT dress on eBay.

  7. I am annoyed that the sleeves are clearly not long enough on the model. Reiss is great about cutting its legs long, but not the arms. That inch makes all the difference from looking super on-point to not quite right.

    2. Nope, a tailor would tell you wristbones should not show. It’s that last inch that’s not quite right!

      1. It depends on what style the designer is going for. Just like there is no *right* length for a skirt.

        1. The designer isn’t doing a good job communicating their intentions, though. These don’t look purposefully short (like bracelet length). If you are within an inch or two of the wrist like this, it just looks like a miss on the tailoring.

      2. Agree. It doesn’t look like an intentional bracelet sleeve, it just looks too short.

    3. Yes. At least they aren’t rolled up I guess — that is a huge pet peeve on clothing websites.

  8. So I know no one has a crystal ball — but to what extent (if any) are you holding off making any career moves bc of the new administration? i.e. if you have a steady job with some seniority and want to move on, are you hesitating from doing that bc of how the economy may play out? I know recessions never happen at predictable times, but last thing I want is to leave relative security to go to a new place, arrive at the new place as a massive downturn hits (like 08-09) and be subject to “last in, first out,” when I could have just stayed at my old place. I know none of this is predictable, but things do seem like they’re on an edge — a few wrong moves by this administration and we could plunge into recession. (I’m in law if it matters.)

    1. I’m up for a second interview for an in-house position I’m really interested in. I intend to ask if they have ever done budget related lay offs in their legal department. They are a long standing corporation if they have never laid off an attorney for money reasons (as opposed to performance) I’m going to feel confident going forward. If they have, I’m not sure what I will do.

      On the flip side, Murphy’s law has struck (this time in a good way) and I’m set up to make a lot more money this year in my current job. I’m paid a base salary plus a percent of my receivables once I exceed three times my salary in receivables. I’ve been here over five years and the only time I’ve met this goal was last year and it was based on a case my boss settled, not me. I’ve been waiting a really long time for the bonus from a big jury verdict but that one has been on appeal for years now and we’ve been waiting a year for a decision. Meanwhile, I settled a bunch of big cases this month and will be at my goal so early in the year. That means I could get a lot of bonuses through the rest of the year and make a fair amount of money. I’d be giving that all up if I take the in-house job.

      On the flip side, I know in house is better for me long term and this year is an anomaly. If I don’t hit my goal in future years, I’ll be made I didn’t take the job. Assuming I get it. I’m putting the cart before the horse here. It’s the devil you know versus the devil you don’t. So hard.

    2. Yeah, I’d be a little hesitant to change jobs right now, absent a compelling reason. I do think another recession is very likely.

    3. I got a (non-law) job offer to work for the federal government. Everything is up in the air right now and I’m super hesitant to relocate to “the swamp” (eye-roll) and leave a good paying private sector job for the unknown cluster-eff that is this current administration.

    4. If you are seeing job openings you are not taking, feel free to send them my way :-)

    5. My husband has the opportunity to make a move to a new position in his company in a different office and a huge aspect of the discussion we had about whether he should take it is whether his current position or the new position was more likely to me impacted/eliminated if there was a recession.

  9. Kid-related question to skip if desired:

    If you had an incredibly active 2.25 year-old boy and needed to take a 9- hour flight that is NOT overnight (outbound), would you take a direct flight or would you break it up sort of half-way with a layover of 1-2 hours?
    “Don’t go” is not on the table.

    Already sweating through my clothes here…

      1. +1

        I had two under 3 (one of whom was potty training) with me for an unplanned 8-hour layover. Do not recommend.

    2. I don’t have kids so YMMV but I would think a layover would just prolong the misery.

    4. non-stop for sure. I’ve done 24 flights with my 2-year old, about half were about 10 hours or more, half of those daytime. The one thing I will say is that each flight is different, so prepare for the worst for sure – lots of food, tons of toys, books, many changes of clothes. My carry-on is usually devoted to my toddler for that purpose, to which I had a change of clothes to me, because you never know. I’ve had to use every . single . thing on my last flight. But really, most of the time, it’s ok. She naps, she plays, she eats, one of the flights we essentially walked the entire way there but that’s ok.
      another thing to keep in mind – unless your child is having a particularly bad day, planes are noisy places, so people rarely hear beyond your own row if your child is being noisy / whiny.
      good luck

      1. Yes, I’ve been surprised by how much the noise of a plane really does drown out normal kid noises. Although, changing her diaper on the plane was the worst. She was screaming bloody murder and physically resisting. I was sweating by the time I was done!

        I’ve only done 6 hour flights with my toddler (most recently at ~16 months) and she was active / we definitely walked the aisles a bunch, but she was also surprisingly content with screen time, snacks, and sitting/standing on our laps.

    5. Nonstop 100%. I’ve done a similar length flight with my kids the last four years. We overpay a lot for nonstop – it is buying my sanity.

      – getting the kid on the second flight after they just got free of being trapped on an airplane will be a nightmare.
      – the hardest parts of flights are the take off and landing because you can’t get up and walk kid around if they are bored. You can get stuck circling over an airport for ages. Two flights double the number of take offs/landings
      – check previous posts on the moms site for travel tips – lots of good advice.

    6. Non-stop. A layover will just prolong the misery and increase the risk you get stuck in the airport of some unfamiliar city with a small child.

    7. Non stop. Book him his own seat (required for over 2 right) and book seats in advance- even if it means paying for economy plus. If you’re right by the galley or the bulkhead depending on configuration there’s room for him to sit on the floor playing and move around a bit. Bring every distraction you can, arrive early to the airport, plan ruthlessly. You’ve got this!

    8. You’ve already got plenty of “non stop!” advice, but I’ll just add that I think it’s ok to bend all the rules in these situations: screentime galore, unhealthy food (as long as it won’t make kiddo miserable), etc. Good luck!

      1. +1 to this. I would buy 5 or 6 small/new toys and hide them in my carry-on. Every Time I thought he was going to loose it…bamn, something new. You’d be amazed at how many hours, yes hours, a toddler can get out of a mini flashlight!

        1. I like to raid the Target Dollar Spot and stock up on cheap-o toys. The sticker book was a huge hit as were holiday themed window gel sticky things. Not that any of these helped when it was bedtime and kiddo just couldn’t get comfortable enough to fall asleep.

        2. I’ve seen people do this with kitchen utensils that are new to the kid. About to have a meltdown? Look! A fish spatula!

    9. 100% non-stop.
      Get his own seat; bring a car seat to snap in so that he will be safe and comfy.
      New Kindle or iPad, fully loaded with all the videos.
      New toys, new toys, new toys.
      All the snacks in individually wrapped portions/containers.
      Doctor’s note that child needs beverages, plus a six pack of aseptic milk (Trader Joe’s carries it) and juice boxes for when bev service does not come fast enough.
      All the pullups or diapers (daytime and nighttime).
      Three changes of clothes.
      YMMV, but I have friends who recommend a children’s Benadryl right after you board.

      You have all my sympathy.

      1. My pediatrician recommended Benadryl too. If kiddo hasn’t taken it before, do a trial run beforehand. Apparently it makes some kids hyper!

    10. Dissenting voice if your child is still napping and is particular about it. On a recent 6 hour flight with super active 21 month old, we had to wake up very early for the outbound flight and he wouldn’t nap on the plane. Not a disaster but not enjoyable. On the way back we had a stop long enough to doze off in the stroller and it was much better. Then again 9 hours is long enough that it might be diffetrnt.

  10. Do any of you who travel regularly have a sense of whether something like the Capital One card is better for earning mileage rewards or something like an airline’s card (American for me)?

    I am about to do a done of work travel / heavy spending and want to use the card that will pay off more in the end.

    We are an American hub and east coast, so often on just one airline.

    2. The consensus among my friends who have researched this extensively is that Chase Sapphire is the best. I think you just missed the deadline to sign up for Reserve but I use plain old Chase Sapphire and it’s great. Unbeatable customer service (you can always talk to a human immediately), and 2x points on dining and some other things (I think travel?), points can be used on any airline and I don’t think they expire which makes international travel so much easier. I think you might also be able to book hotels with your points but don’t quote me on it.

      If they still have a promotion going on where if you spend x within the first y months you get a ton of bonus points, it’s definitely worth it!

      The downside is that with an airline specific card you would probably be able to get all sorts of perks like upgrades and access to business class lounges but for me the points I accumulate on Chase Sapphire are worth it.

      1. This is what we have & I love it – we charge everything to this card and usually end up having enough points to take a decent vacation every year. My only caution is to transfer points you want to use to book flights to your mileage account with the airline rather than booking through Chase. If you book through Chase, you don’t get the upgrade opportunity that often opens in the 24-hour period before flying because they’re seen as a travel agent.

      2. My brother is insane with calculating these deals and has told me that Chase Sapphire is the best for versatility and the rewards. The customer service is great. It is really easy to book flights through the web app, and when we were recently booking a flight for a trip to Mexico and couldn’t find good flights on their web app, I called customer service and they found me some amazing flights. I use it for all personal and work-related travel and highly recommend it! (Especially the bonus point tip goatsx3 suggested!)

      3. Yes, obsessed with my chase card. I signed up for the reserve during the 100,000 points bonus and also have a chase sapphire.

        The benefits are awesome, particularly with the reserve. It gives you fancy airport lounge access, $300 of travel reimbursements, free global entry, great insurance protection, etc.

        The points can transfer to a ton of different rewards programs for airfare and hotels. It also has a portal to book travel that is worth searching. I’ve found both hotel and airfare deals through it that i could not match on the airline website, kayak, etc.

        We just booked a week long, super fancy caribbean vacation this summer paid for entirely with points!

        I would also encourage you to sign up for all the various airline, hotel and rental car reward programs and be diligent about entering in your numbers when you travel. It can really add up.

    3. You just missed the 100k points bonus on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it may still be worth it for the current bonus. Earn 3x points on travel, dining, hotels. It’s a $450 annual fee but that gets you $300 in travel credit, lounge entry (Priority Pass – look up on their website where their lounges are, but any card with lounge access is going to have a $350+ annual fee), etc. Chase Ultimate Rewards, which are what you partner with on this card, has a bunch of transfer partners including Southwest, United, Hyatt, etc. or the points are worth 1.5 cents as cash through their travel portal (not as good of a value as transferring, but an option.) Chase sapphire preferred is their $99 card, only 2x points and none of the other perks. Both cards have primary rental car insurance, travel protection (my flight got delayed overnight for weather in Tokyo and they picked up the hotel + reimbursed my cancelled flight home, etc.), delayed baggage compensation, etc.

      My dad just switched to a high-travel job and this was the one card I recommended he get. I got myself to Thailand and back in business class last year playing the churning game. You can also check out onemileatatime (blog), the points guy (has mostly sold out to sponsors but has some good info) and the r/churning reddit, especially their “moronic monday” post for people new to credit card rewards!

      1. I had to google churning — would you mind elaborating on how you did this? Did you just open a card, spend the money to get the bonus, transfer the miles to an airline, and cancel to move on to the next card?

        1. Some people do – generally you keep a card open until the next annual fee is about to hit, then close it or downgrade it. I’m a little more judicious – I have more cards than I would have otherwise, but I don’t open/close/open/close like mad.

      2. Shoot — is this something that they might do again (or annually)?

      3. I’m pretty sure you can still get the 100K bonus if you go in person to a branch to sign up. It’s a fabulous card.

  11. Any United Airlines experts on here?

    I need to fly from SFO to NYC (prefer EWR) roundtrip in May. I can expense Business class. I prefer United because that’s where all my miles are and I’d like to get status this year.

    When I look to reserve this on United’s website it says Business/First is not available for purchase on the nonstop flights. I called United last night and she quoted me $3000 and said no Business class discounted seats are available (though every business class seat shows as open right now on the seat maps)

    A one stop flight through Denver or Chicago costs around $1000 for business class. I booked this but am still in the cancellation period.

    Are no business class discounts available on the SFO-EWR non stops because they are those fancy planes with the fully reclining seats?

    Should I cancel and wait for a period of time to see if the non stop business seats get discounted?

    Should I buy an economy fare and take a chance on $$ upgrades becoming available?

    1. What do you mean by “discounted”? They may only have full-rate fully changeable business class fares available, especially because it is the “P.S.” product. Do you have a travel budget you’re limited by?

      Those are both hubs for United so you mayyyyyyyyy be able to purchase an upgrade but I wouldn’t count on it. I have a friend who is 1K who couldn’t get an RPU to clear on that route.

      1. Yeah I used to be a 1K and my RPUs never cleared on SFO-EWR either. Lots of GS.
        That’s why I want to buy business class rather than hope for an upgrade

        1. Don’t count on an upgrade! We recently had an SFO to NYC leg ( I think JFK but might have been LGA) and what Delta didn’t tell us anywhere is that they will do NO status/complimentary upgrades specifically for that route. We were pretty pissed! So be careful…..

          1. Right, no complimentary upgrades – that’s not what an RPU is; it’s an upgrade certificate. And now that United sends those emails at check-in — “$99 to upgrade! $249 to upgrade!” even RPUs rarely clear on routes like that.

    2. Sometimes that happens when a partner flies it, like it’s part of a partner flight that goes on to Europe or somewhere. If that is the case, you might have luck booking through the partner instead. Otherwise, I’d try calling back to see if someone else can explain.

    3. Don’t count on SFO-EWR nonstop getting a discounted rate in business class. My boss with 1K almost never gets upgraded, even with coupons. Neither does my boss with Global Services. They pay full fare business class or sit in Economy.

      Check out JetBlue mint. It’s into JFK, but they have the fully reclining seats and are about 1/2 the cost of United.

      – Executive Assistant based in SF

    4. Do you have enough miles to upgrade? Or is that something you don’t want to do because you won’t get reimbursed for the miles?

      1. I ask because I have never not gotten upgraded on the SFO-EWR and LAX-EWR routes using miles. (Same when it was JFK instead of EWR.)

      2. Yes I can do paid business so I’d rather use my miles for family travel. I used to fly that route in coach all the time in my prior job and there were lots of times when I couldn’t get upgraded even with miles.

        I can do paid business over 4 hours now, but I don’t want to abuse it, and $3000 seems obnoxious.

  12. DeVos might be voted down – two Republicans (Collins – ME and Murkowski – AK) just announced they’re voting against her. We just need one more. If you live in one of these states call your senators!!!

    URGENT: 1 more vote needed to stop DeVos

    ☎️ CALL Senators:

    Flake (R-AZ) 202-224-4521
    Heller (R-NV) 202-224-6244
    Toomey (R-PA) 202-224-4254

    1. Jesus Christ we would have avoided this whole debacle if Collins and Murkowski had the spine to vote her down in the committee. With that said, I know lots of people in PA and I will be texting them personally to tell them to call Toomey.

      1. Toomey has basically said outright he’s not going to listen to constituents. It is outrageous. He is reportedly getting the most calls of any Senator about DeVos. Google “Tuesdays with Toomey” and you’ll see the extremes we’re going to trying to get face time. His voicemails are all full. People have been faxing him nonstop. It is so frustrating because it feels like a losing battle when he is not listening to us.

          2. I’ve called, faxed, and snail mailed Toomey in the past week. So disappointed that he is avoiding his constituents.

        2. That’s sad. I have family in PA and not in the other states so was hoping that was a route I could go

          1. You could encourage them to send a fax via FreeFaxes (dot) com. Calling is better but the article above says Toomey is getting lots of faxes via this route compared to other senators (probably because he won’t answer his phone)

          2. People should still call – just venting my frustration with this turd who we were thisclose to defeating with a female democrat in November. Ugh.

    2. Thank you for the PSA. It’s so helpful when we can’t spend all day on all the news sites to get the highlights here.

  13. A little over a year ago, I was still in biglaw and got pushed out. I interviewed like mad and got a job inhouse. I really like my coworkers, we are a very small team, so I have a lot of autonomy.

    The problems are:
    – My pay is low – coming from biglaw, I knew it would be a paycut, but it is lower than other inhouse gigs were, but it was the first to give me an offer
    – We are a really tiny team – so I worry there is not much room for growth either in title, responsibility, or pay.
    – The industry is extremely male dominant, so there is absolutely no paid maternity leave (of course) and the benefits are just ok otherwise. We would like to try for a child in the next year or two, in which case I am honestly not sure what will happen with my tiny, all male department. I won’t be paid, but I will take off as much time as I can.

    The pros are:
    – I really do like my coworkers. I invited them to my wedding and enjoy getting coffee or lunch with them. My last work environment was truly toxic, and life is so much better when you aren’t miserable 5 days a week
    – The hours are true 9-5. I don’t work weekends or evenings. When the time comes for kids, it will be nice to have a true 9-5
    – The job is pretty much “get the work done,” so if I have to make an appointment or leave early one day, it’s not counted.
    – I report directly to the GC and do a little of everything, so I am getting good experience

    My mom has pointed out to me that as the only woman in legal, and in fact one of the handful of women in corporate that is not in admin, I may have some better bargaining power to negotiate better leave and better pay down the road. I think that’s possible but certainly not in time for my first child, and there is a feeling of why do I have to be the pioneer?

    You probably know where this is going: I have seen a job listing at a very well established company. I fit the criteria and one of the lawyers (who has been a mentor for me and has children of her own) recently got promoted again within the company and now heads up two divisions within the legal department. I know she is busy, but she makes it home every night around 5:30/6 to be with her kids and has been promoted numerous times within the company. (She obviously still made time to mentor me over the years.) This company is also in a male dominated business, but has enough visibility that it wants to be more women-friendly and has a bigger push towards diversity and inclusion – much bigger compared to my current company. Obviously, the legal department is far larger and more robust. I am not sure what maternity leave looks like, but overall the benefits are better. I believe the pay would be more, though I am unclear. (As for money, I want to keep working, but we make enough to live off of my husband’s salary, even with kids. I know however that (1) jobs and health are never guaranteed and (2) I sort of miss being high achieving, even though I recognize there are a lot of ways to measure that.) If I got this job and took it, it would be a huge blow to my current company, and they would be scrambling to find a replacement — when one of us goes on vacation, we are really slammed. I think the world of them and wouldn’t want to burn bridges, but I know you have to do what is best for you because a company doesn’t think that way. Plus, all in-house departments are not created equal, and I could be making less money than I was in biglaw working the same hours. At least now I am paid less but work and stress less.

    I’m not sure what I’m asking. I would not have even thought about applying elsewhere were it not for the fact that my mentor shared the listing with me. Otherwise, I would have continued on at my current place until I felt a need to move on. On the one hand, I think there’s no harm in applying but on the other hand, I think I could get it and then face a difficult decision. I have only been here for a year and could look like a job jumper.

    1. Apply. Ask us again when and if you get the job. And what kind of company has no paid maternity leave- ask them to implement a policy.

      1. I also posted above about applying for an in-house position. It’s at a major company, household name. As far as I know, no paid maternity leave per Glass Door. They have offices in different states so I’m waiting to see if I get the job and an offer to see if that’s true or not. Unfortunately, it’s pretty common. I’m on the board of a MEDICAL FACILITY (they really should know better) and they have no paid maternity leave either. You can use your PTO and then unpaid leave.

        1. Yep, you don’t have to bet– it’s a fact that most US companies don’t have it. The answer to “what kind of company has no paid maternity leave” is “most American ones.” That said, this poster should ask for it at her current job and see what happens. Maybe they don’t have it because no one has ever asked.

        2. I considered myself to be incredibly lucky when, 10 years ago, I was able to go on “short-term disability” and get paid for 8 weeks of my maternity leave at 80% pay, and then take vacation to cover the remaining 3 weeks I was off. Among many of my friends, not only were their leaves not paid, they weren’t covered by FMLA and had to worry constantly that they wouldn’t have a job to go back to after their 4-week (!) leave was over. That’s still the reality for most women, unfortunately.

    2. I think it’s worth investigating further. I wouldn’t worry about it being a huge blow to your company — the company will find a way to replace you. It doesn’t sound like you have enough information to decide whether it’d be a better fit for you or not, so I vote for applying, learning more, and then making the decision.

    3. Apply. If you get an interview, interview. Then you can find out about benefits and make a truly informed decision about whether to quit your job. Right now you don’t have enough information.

    4. Under the circumstances, I would ask about maternity leave at your current company.

      As for “there is a feeling of why do I have to be the pioneer?” > because YOU want to be the first beneficiary of a new, more family friendly policy.

      1. I already know the maternity policy at my current place. It is 12 weeks unpaid under FMLA, though you can do short-term disability, vacation, etc.

        I have to be the pioneer because this is a male-dominated industry (think video games, beer, motorcycles, etc.) and the company is young. I am literally the only woman that has ever been in the legal department and one of a handful of women in corporate and even a smaller handful that are not admins. Only one woman in corporate has had a baby (just did). There are other women “out in the field,” but they are few, and I don’t know if they have had children or had them while in the company, but regardless, they have the same maternity policy as we do.

    5. Go for it. Do not let you talk yourself out of it before you even apply! These are considering an offer questions. Not whether to apply questions.

    6. I would apply. I was leaning toward “don’t leave a job that’s comfortable and friendly!” but it sounds like there’s a good chance that the new job would be all that too.

      I talk about this with my friends a lot — I want there to be more women in [whatever] but being the trailblazing woman is the pits. Though I’ve been trying to do my part in little ways. Most recently, after the last scramble to find a legally sufficient place for a pumping mom, I pointed out that we really, really need a dedicated room for that. Last weekend the facilities guys fixed up an unused space with shelves, a sink, a fridge, sweet decorations, and a comfy chair. It’s the talk of the building. Makes me proud.

  14. I’ve seen Canyon Ranch recommended here a few times. I would love to hear more of your experiences with this place. It looks beautiful from the website. I’m tired and run down and want to go somewhere sunny and relaxing and healthy for a few days. Is this a place where I wouldn’t feel too awkward being solo?

    1. This doesn’t exactly answer your question, BUT Rancho la Puerta (a Travel & Leisure World’s Best Destination Spa) costs WAY less than Canyon Ranch and is paradise on earth. There are always solo travelers at RLP, and I’d go there solo in a second.

      1. Oooh, thanks. I will have to look into this. The cost of Canyon Ranch is definitely a concern.

      2. +1. I’ve been to Rancho La Puerta both solo and with my mom and it’s outstanding either way!

  15. How long is your hair and how often do you get it cut?

    I’m moving from pretty long to just below shoulder length and it seems like every other month I’m thinking “I gotta get my hair cut,” even with a very low maintenance style. But maybe I should just get used to it!

    2. I get mine cut every 8 months or so, and it grows a lot in the meanwhile. But it’s curly and the style isn’t at all fussy so it still looks fine despite the infrequency of cuts. If you’re trying to maintain a specific cut I think you have to go like every six weeks or something, but that’s never been me so I’m not sure. I don’t understand straight hair problems ;-)

    3. One of the many reasons I ditched the bob/lob was because I was sick of feeling like I needed a haircut constantly. Now that I’m back on Team Long (bottom of bra strap), I get it cut twice a year.

      1. Yeah, I’m a new pixie, and I’m at about 5 weeks and honestly…. it started needing work 2 weeks ago.

        Why did I get a pixie!!!!

        Short hair is so much work and $$$.

        I hate having to wash my hair every day.

    6. Shoulder length with some face framing in the front. I get it cut every 6-8 weeks. It looks SO much better after a cut!

    7. Mid-back/high waist length (I swear it doesn’t look that long!) and I get it cut about once a year, 8 months if I’m on top of my game. I’m gentle with it so it doesn’t really ‘need’ a cut until ~8 months-ish.

    8. I think every other month is about normal. That’s about what I do and my hair is about chin length. (At least it is when the cut is fresh!)

  16. You know how when you’ve had a few drinks, the people around you seem funnier, more interesting and more attractive? AKA beer goggles? Well I’ve been off birth control a few months and holy crap, I have ovulation goggles! During those magic days, I find myself flattered by the mildest compliment, blushing when someone sits near me or talks to me, finding all sorts of strangers far more attractive than normal, thinking everyone is flirting with me, considering how random men would be in bed … This is dangerous! Lock up your sons and husbands!

    1. I remember exactly the same from when I went off the pill, except it wasn’t really limited to ovulation time. Go you!!!

  17. My husband has been looking for a job for 6 months and is not having much luck. When he first started looking, I was a little overbearing with advice about resumes, interviews, etc. We talked about it and he asked me to stop – he has old bosses / coworkers for advice and I guess just wants me to be a cheerleader / distraction / supporter. Fine. Honestly, I was being a nag and would have been annoyed if the tables were turned. I’ve held my tongue on some stuff and have since learned how to be a supportive partner for him during this time.

    I was cleaning just now and his resume was on the table. I’ve read it before but just gave it a closer look. It has quite a few errors. Not outright typos or misspellings, but issues with tense etc. Obviously I need to tell him. What’s the most sensitive way to handle this? I had some instinct to mark up the resume and leave it out for him but realized yikes, that’s passive aggressive. How’s this?

    “Honey, I know you asked me not to weigh in on your job search, and I’ve been trying hard to respect that. I saw your resume out on the table and noticed a couple of minor issues. Happy to show you them if you want.”

    I don’t usually agonize over talking to him, but this has become soo sensitive. I don’t think I will mention it tonight – he had two interviews today (!) and will be exhausted – maybe in the morning when he’s getting ready for his daily job applying routine? I know this is going to discourage him and I hate that.

    1. When my husband was looking for work, I would say/ask things like, “Honey, I’m so proud of how hard you’re working on your job search. Is there anything I can do to help?” For you, maybe start by asking/congratulating on the interviews and then say something like “I noticed a couple of mechanical errors in the resume you left on the table. Would it be OK if I cleaned up the file for you?” (Then he never has to see what the errors were, which is probably the most embarrassing part for him.)

    2. Maybe … don’t. He’s getting interviews, and he explicitly doesn’t want your advice.

      1. Yeah, this. You aren’t his mother. If you don’t respect him enough to leave him alone when he asks to be left alone, you have other problems. My DH and his first wife would get in fights all the time when either of them was job-searching…. and basically it came down to them not feeling like they were a team, but rather in competition with each other, and they didn’t turn to each other for help — they turned away. Not to pile on, but your H asked not to be bothered about this; don’t bother him about this. Ask him how it’s going, talk to him, support him. Without proofreading his resume.

    3. Yeah I don’t think you should mention it. Absent his previous request that you stop helping, it would be fine. But since he did request it, why did you give his resume a “closer look”? You were looking for errors, and I don’t think you ought to have, given he explicitly asked you not to.

  18. It may be too late in the day, but how do you know if you’re being a high-maintenance mentee?

    I started at my current company ~6 months ago and have 2 mentors assigned by the company, 1 who is much higher (think partner level or equivalent) and one who is 5 years ahead of me (a Manager). I check in with the more senior mentor ~1 month, and that frequency was set by him. I figure a similar timeline is appropriate for my other mentor. I don’t interact with either mentor that often, as neither are directly involved with my day to day work, but when I have questions about decisions that may affect my overall development at the company that my direct team can’t answer, is it appropriate to email the more junior mentor even if it’s not time for our monthly check in? I’m fortunate to have 2 mentors that genuinely want to see me do well, so I want to make sure I keep them abreast of my professional development and I value their guidance, but I know they also have work of their own, so I don’t want to be high-maintenance, especially compared to other mentees they may have.

    1. Yes email, but also, seek out mentor relationships that aren’t imposed by your formal corporate structure. I’ve never found those especially helpful because they’re not organic.

  19. Betsy DeVos is one GOP vote away from being voted down. If you live in Pennsylvania, call Senator Toomey’s office IMMEDIATELY and tell him to vote no: (202) 224-4254.
    If you know anybody in in Pennsylvania, tell them to do the same. Betsy DeVos is simply unqualified to be Education Secretary. Our children deserve better.

    2. For anyone in PA – I’m curious if there’s been anything in the news there. The PA teachers union is one of the strongest in the country (my mother was a member but I no longer live there). Have they been exerting any pressure on Toomey?

    3. If it’s down to Toomey, we’re screwed. Phones have been in gridlock for weeks, and he’s been an ardent supporter of this administration. He could care less what his constituents think (trust me, I know, I am one). I called anyway.

    4. Or email his office.
      Go to h t t p s (colon, slash slash) w w w (dot)toomey(dot)senate(dot) gov(slash)?p=contact

    1. I think they’d be great. You don’t want to be too match anyway.

      To be honest, I mostly wouldn’t wear these with green. I think they’d be great with a gray or navy suit.

  21. Are Heller or Flake actually likely to block the DeVos nomination? I shouldn’t get too excited yet right?

    1. Probably not, but I think it’s at least embarrassing for the GOP that Mike Pence will have to break the tie.

  22. I strongly oppose Trump but I have to give him credit for visiting the family of the Navy Seal KIA. He did not announce it publicly before hand so I do not think it was a publicity stunt. That’s a hard visit that is entirely optional. Good on him for doing it.

    1. Are we at the point where we’re giving him kudos for acting like a decent person once in 2 weeks? He gets no credit from me for anything.

    3. Spicer announced the wife of the SEAL’s name in a press conference. That is….not supposed to happen. To put it lightly. She is now at risk. Operational Security 101. The military and veterans community is losing its mind.

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