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Sure, these shoes are a little bit boring… but sometimes you want a simple beige or black pump. The price is pretty good: they're $70 at DSW. Tahari Majorie Pump
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Kathryn
I actually like those shoes a lot– they’re just the type of thing I would wear to the office.
Sorry for the immediate threadjack, but I have a question for New Yorkers on thissite. Any recommendations for pre-marital counselors in Manhattan? It’s hard to find reviews of clinicians, and I would love to find someone that actually specializes in premarital, or at least couples, counseling rather than general counseling. All of the clinicians I found through my insurance’s website seem to do general counseling.
If it helps, we’re having a Catholic ceremony, but I have no preference between religious or non-religious counseling.
Blonde Lawyer
I’m not in NY but I got married in the Catholic church years ago and it required some joint counseling beforehand through the church. Before you pay someone else, make sure it isn’t included.
Kathryn
Thank you. From the research I’ve done, I know we have to do the pre cana classes but I’d like to do counseling on top of that. I’ve heard of certain jurisdictions requiring the pre-marital counseling, but haven’t seen anything yet in NY that looks like it’s included or reduced-price. Was it with the same priest/church that did your other marriage preparation?
Blonde Lawyer
I had a weird situation because I lived in one state and was getting married at my hometown church in another state. I also wasn’t part of a regular parish because I worked in a jail at the time so my weekly service was taking my inmates to mass. My husband was excused from regular services b/c he was a cop working Saturday night and Sunday morning at the time. So, we did our pre-cana through the state capital Saturday afternoon classes and we did a separate counseling session or two with my hometown priest that was marrying us. The hometown priest one involved us each filling out questionnaires and comparing our answers and talking about discrepancies.
I am not very religious and in fact am no longer Catholic but I really enjoyed our pre-cana and counseling sessions. Neither was particularly religious based surprisingly.
Kathryn
We are also living in a different state than the one we’ll be getting married in, so your advice is actually very helpful. Thanks again!
Blonde Lawyer
Good! I think normally per Cana is through your current parish. To do the general state capital one we just needed to be sponsored by a priest that excused our lack of parish. The jail priest did it for us. His assertion also satisfied the home town priest that we were “catholic enough.” I hear the requirement varies by priest. Hometown priest also had a reputation for telling people when he was concerned they weren’t good matches so I trusted that he was providing some real counseling and not just checking the box.
We didn’t get any birth control speech. We were just told we were “expected to be open to the possibility of children.” Nice and vague. I took that to mean if the stork dropped one on my porch I’d keep it lol.
Alice
Immediate threadjack about…I don’t even know what they’re called. Bra strap holders? You know, the things with the snaps that are in some sleeveless dresses and tops to keep your bra straps in place?
Does anyone know where you can buy these, pre-made, to sew into your own dresses? Or has anyone had them added at the tailor–and if so, at what cost? I’ve found tutorials on how to make them by crocheting thread and adding snaps or by sewing snaps to ribbon, but honestly, I’m horrible at sewing and impatient and it would be a bit too much for me. I’d love to find pre-made ones to just sew in.
But considering how I’ve been annoyed by bra straps slipping for years, I’m amazed this just occured to me today!
af
I don’t have an answer to your actual question, but you may want to get sized for new bras if your straps are actually slipping. If they are just visible when they are in place, ignore my advice, but straps shouldn’t be slipping.
BB
If the straps keep slipping, what’s the issue: too big of a size or too small? Mine slip sometimes, but the rest of the bra feels fine, so not sure if I need to go get resized?
Jen
I find this is an issue of bra manufacturers making straps too long and not having fully adjustable straps rather than only half-adjustable straps. This has nothing to do with band or cup size.
ManagementConsultant
Agree with this – the half adjustable are the worst!
Alice
I guess I was imprecise. I didn’t mean slipping off of my shoulder, I meant slipping out from under my dress. Usually because the dress straps fall closer to my neck than my bra strap, if that makes sense.
Orangerie
The only bra keeps I’ve seen in garments are basically just two snaps connected by a thread, with one snap fastened to the inside of the dress/top. If you managed to find those pre-made, the only step that would be done for you is connecting the two snaps. You’d still have to fasten the snap to your clothing, so I don’t really think that saves much time or effort. Just ask a tailor how much they’d charge for something like this.
Alice
Maybe I will just ask a tailor. For some reason, attaching two snaps to ribbon or thread (from what I understand from googling, it would have to be thread crocheted for strength), and then attaching the ribbon or thread to my clothing, sounds WAY more difficult and time consuming than just attaching the snaps to clothing. But that may be in my head!
Orangerie
Yeah, it does not sound like an enjoyable task to me, either!
BB
If you are okay handsewing, it’s not that bad. I did the thread version for a dress, and I would recommend going the ribbon route. Something like the following should work fine:
1) Cut length of ribbon you want. Burn/melt ends (or use fray stop) to stop them from fraying.
2) Sew one side of the snap onto the end of the ribbon.
3) Sew other side of the snap onto your dress.
4) Sew non-snap end of ribbon to dress.
If you have all the parts and are familiar with needle and thread, I’d say it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes per dress.
C
I’ve doe this with ribbon and it’s not hard but it does require patience. In my case, I didn’t want to wait on the two weeks it would take my tailor to do it because of backlog.
anon in tejas
check sewing supply stores like michaels, joannes, etc. I bet you can find them (or something that would work similar with ribbon or something. I would be cautious about unintentionally damaging the fabric of your top/dress that you are trying to do this for.
Bonne
You can get snap tape that has the snaps already sewn in. http://www.joann.com/snap-tape/1923036.html#q=snaps&start=1
Anonymous
I’ve seen this on some tailors’ price lists and it runs about $10 per dress.
Samantha
+1 I’ve had this done and it cost about $10.
Anonymous
I should add though that about half of my dresses came with snaps. The string that connects the snaps breaks pretty easily and I have not bothered to get it repaired because the snaps only keep my strap in place at the top of my shoulder–it will still show on my shoulder blade if the dress comes in there too.
Portia
OMG, until this very moment I never understood what those snaps were. Makes perfect sense now!
MJ
I don’t think they’re boring at all! LOVE!
anon
I have them in this color and they’re not boring. I tried them on in DSW in the black and had to order the tan. The only problem was that the ones I received were a bit stiff. I haven’t worn them a lot yet but I really like them with pants.
applesandcheddar
I know this has been discussed before, but I’d list to bring it up and ask for more ideas again. Where/how can women meet new female friends? It seems really easy for men to make friends anywhere – just grab some beers and talk about sports. Many of my female friends are off having children, and my partner and I just aren’t there yet. Great for my friends, but they don’t have the time or interest to do the things we used to do. I’ve tried meeting folks at yoga, but that’s about the only thing I do these days. Any other ideas? I’m also not opposed to meeting other couples that are around our age (late 20s/early 30s), but without children.
And I don’t have a problem with kids, it’s just that my friends with kids don’t want to leave their houses!
SAlit-a-gator
Try meetup’s based on your interests. There’s meetups for book lovers, runners, to speak Spanish, for Dr. Who fans, etc. http://www.meetup.com/
Kathryn
I agree, and think there’s something to be said for both activities for which the purpose is to meet friends, and alternatively activities that you are interested in doing and just happen to become friends with the other participants.
Examples I’m thinking of are adult choirs (my thing), group dance classes, exercise (you’re doing yoga, but since you’re not supposed to interact/talk much during classes, that can be difficult), social sports. I honestly think you could find a club for any hobby out there. You could even take a Continuing Education class on something you’re interested in.
roses
There are a number of studios in my city that have “Happy Hour Yoga” where you have drinks at the studio or go to a bar after – that might be of interest.
Coach Laura
You could start your own book club, knitting group, hiking club, progressive dinner or wine tasting club. Send e-vites to all your friends and ask them to forward to like-minded friends.
ContractsinTX
I guess I am out of the meetup.com loop, but I had a ridiculous amount of fun looking at the groups in my area. Thanks for the tip!
Anon
I second the meetup.com thing. the only caveat is that some of the subject specific groups (as opposed to age-categorized groups) tend to draw an older crowd.
Baconpancakes
Agreed. I went to a few Dr. Who meetups, but I felt pretty out of place being a 20-something among 40-60 year olds.
HSAL
I’m 33 and I would love a Doctor Who meetup. Off to check if they’re in my area…
Anon
I met all my friends on Meet-up.com through a 20-something women’s group.
Scout
Try the junior league if they have one in your city
Lila fowler
+1
Nylongirl
+1 on junior league. I’ve met my best friends there and through my sorority’s alumnae group.
Celia
+1000 for Junior League. And once you’re a member, you can transfer your membership to other cities’ leagues if you move around the country. Nearly every city in the country has a chapter –built-in social outlet!
Annon2
I would highly recommend meetups as well. I met a fabulous group of girlfriends in my age group (early-mid 30s), single and working demanding professional jobs. I virtually had zero female friends nearby before this. Now I have a set group of 3-4 friends with whom I can hang out on weekends for brunch, beaches, movies etc. I joined a specific female only group, I found groups with common activities (dining, drinking, hiking, biking) often had much older folks or new set of people every time. Also, look for meetups which actually have regular events with smaller number of attendees (i.e less than 30). For large groups, people often don’t show up or the crowd can be a mixed bag.
LA Lit
Junior League is full of professional women in their 20s and 30s and exists in almost every city.
Anonymous
It exists in almost every city, but it doesn’t meet your description in all of those cities. In my city, its trophy wives and those aspiring to be, because none of the professional women can swing the time commitment that the non-working women have imposed on the group. It can also be very difficult to make friendship connections with this type of group as they frequently want to schedule social time when others are at work.
Charlotte York
Interesting. I’ve been in Junior League in three large cities and did not find it to be trophy wives or those aspiring to be. I’d say it was just the opposite — young, professional women looking for like minded women, and the opportunity to both socialize and do community service. I am still friends with women from all three 3 JLs and 90% of us are still in the working world.
cbackson
This varies so much by city – young professional women definitely dominate my league, although the trophy wife set exists and is somewhat overrepresented in the leadership given the small percentage of the league they comprise. Most of the nonworking women I meet in my league are actually using their league volunteer work to try to maintain skills and professional connections during an intentionally time-limited period out of the workforce.
anon
What about work? That’s where I’ve made the vast majority of my adult friends. Not everyone is “off limits” (e.g. a superior, and lot of people eventually work elsewhere. I’m a fan of doing what’s easy and it’s pretty easy to meet people at the office. I’ve never had a job where I haven’t made a number of friends.
Ciao, pues
Interview TJ: How do you respond to a question about why you’re interested in leaving your current position when the real answer is that your supervisor is a whack job?
Orangerie
“The culture of the company & team isn’t a right fit for me.”
You could soften it by adding “I also want to take on X & Y responsibilities that are not options at Old Company, but are available at New Company” (provided you would actually be doing something different enough that is worth mentioning).
NYC
I think the standard answers still apply here: looking for new challenges, interested in advancing your career and that’s not possible in your current place, etc. You shouldn’t mention your supervisor specifically (lord knows I wanted to shout that mine was a micromanaging a$$hat at my last interview), but you can ask about what type of management / team the new company employs, what kind of atmosphere, etc.
Hildegarde
Is there anything at all about the job for which you’re interviewing that is different from your current job? If so, I’d say you want more of that thing than you can get in your current job. Or you want to be more challenged in X area, when the new job deals more with X than your current job.
Or if it’s the same type of job, I’d say something about differences between your current company/firm and the new company. You want to work for a bigger/smaller company because Y. You’d like more room for advancement. Your current job is fine but you’re so impressed with the new company’s work in Z area and you want to be a part of it. You admire the new company’s culture and think it would be a great fit for you. Basically, I would use the question to talk about how you really want this particular job and would be a good fit for the new company. Saying anything about your boss risks making you sound difficult, or at least risky.
Philanthropy Girl
This is maybe a bit industry/office specific, but when I left a position with a “whack job” boss, I posed it as my own personal need for stability. I was being destroyed by unnecessary after-hours phone calls, the need to create drama because he thrived in drama, his utter refusal to allow personal boundaries. I’d been through a major tragedy, was having marriage issues and was barely holding on and his “whack job” ways were just too much. Of course, I didn’t say all that, I simply stated I was looking for a more stable position that would be of greater benefit to my family.
I also talked about developing some unused skill sets (which happened because my boss was a whack job), and looking for more growth in my career (which also happened because my boss was a whack job). I tried to frame my reasons for leaving by looking at how my crazy boss was affecting my personal and professional life – that gave me legitimate answers without outing my boss.
Ellen
Yay! Kat, I love the name and will show the manageing partner, b/c his wife is named Margie! Also, these are nice pump’s, but I prefer 4″ heel’s b/c they make me look a littel taller!
As for the OP, I agree you can alway’s tell them your old boss was a whack-a-doodel, but you must be carful in a small industry b/c peeople know each other, and it could come back to bite you in the tuchus! When I was in college, the English professor wanted me to come to his office, so I did, and when I got there, he said we should date. I think he was about 55 then, and I was about 19, so I said he was to mature for me. When I told my TA, he said I was right, but then he asked if I would date him. He had a beard with food in it so I said no, and then he gave me a bad grade. I found out those 2 talked about me and that is why I got a bad grade. FOOEY on them. It goe’s to show you should never tell your TA anything BAD about the PROF, b/c you are sure to get a bad grade unless you date BOTH! DOUBEL FOOEY on that especialy b/c one was old and the other had a filthy beard with food in it! I would NOT want that kissing me. TRIPEL FOOEY!
Ciao, pues
These are great suggestions, thanks! My trouble is that I want to speak highly of my position and the work that I do, but it always begs the question, “why leave?”
Lynnet
“I love my position, but when I saw this job posting/heard you were hiring it was just too great of an opportunity to pass up!”
STFU
“Whack job”?!
Casual ableism! Casual ableism!
Anon
Some of us have, in fact, worked for the proverbial “whack job.” Call a spade a spade.
Anon
Some of us have, in fact, worked for the proverbial “whack job.” Call a spade a spade.
C
I’ve interviewed people who made it really obvious they are jumping ship. Those people generally don’t get hired. It’s far better if the candidate communicates that the job/organization provides a compelling opportunity. I’d rather hire people that are being pulled by interest in a new position rather than pushed to leave the current position.
LH
Can anyone recommend a comfortable pointy toe pump that comes in wide sizes and has a moderate heel height (2-3″), preferably under $100? I have and love the Calvin Klein Dolly pumps but I’ve only been able to find them in wide sizes in a couple of colors, all of which I have. I’ve had good luck with Payless’ comfort plus line but only for the round toe pumps; their pointy toe pumps aren’t comfortable for me.
Pink
Not under $100, but I tried on a super comfortable pointy toe with wide toebox at ferragamo last week! suede with cut outs in the front.
LH
Sounds gorgeous, but way, way out of my budget :(
anon
These are the most comfortable shoes I own: http://www.dsw.com/shoe/nine+west+elise+leather+pump?prodId=dsw12prod3840064&brand=dsw11brand2800016&activeCats=women,dsw11brand2800016&isBrand=y&categoryName=women
I normally wear an 8 1/2 in heels but I have these in a 7 1/2 wide and they’re perfect.
Scully
Cole Haan Chelsea Pointy Low Pump in wide a half size larger than you usually wear. Normally $300, but I get them around $120-150 by watching sales and using price matching. Worth it.
Ms. Basil E. Frankweiler
I have wide feet and love the Nine West Flax shoe (look on Z a p p o s) in normal widths. Plus they wear well straight out of the box, I have a sparkly pair that I got and wore to a formal event the same day and didnt have to take them off until I was driving home.
Frumpishly frumpy
I was surprised to find that an Anne Klein medium width kitten toe with a buckle very similar to the shoe shown today fit my wide funny feet quite well and is very comfortable – in fact, more so than my Sofft comfort shoes.
Not frumpishly frumpy really
And the comfort brands like Sofft and Softsoles were in wide widths to boot!
Ann Klein shoes
*kitten heel, pointy toe – I know there’s no such thing as a kitten toe
Niktaw
I second Nine West suggestions: their regular fits my wide feet, and they are comfortable.
I have their pointy-toe wedges that are 2-3 years old but look similar to current Nine West model Lupetto. One day I wore them to a bar mitzvah reception (a lot of standing around and dancing), then walked around town sightseeing for about 2 hours and it did not kill my feet at all.
I looked on 6pm.com and there are a few heel and wedge styles from this brand that meet your requirements.
West Coast
Rockports are my go to comfy back-up shoe. They really don’t look too bad, and some fit the bill with pointed toe and moderate heel.
Anon
Thoughts on being pregnant while interviewing for a job? When in the hiring process do you let them know? How to balance being up front with your needs/expectation with not wanting to turn a potential employer off? I wouldn’t want to take an employer by surprise, but on the other hand, I don’t want them counting me out b/c I might be out for a certain time period. If its relevant the job is an in-house legal job at a larger company.
Anon
Question: When in the hiring process do you let them know?
Answer: After you’ve started working there.
Anonymous
After you’ve received an offer.
Anon
Important point — assume that I am visibly pregnant, so if I interview in person, it will be obvious.
Has anyone had success negotiating a more favorable maternity leave as part of a job offer?
anon
Hmm – disagree. While I understand the concern about possibly not being hired, I think you cause more long-term damage by being less than forthcoming about your need for time off, which even with a short leave, you will need. A good employer will hire you anyway. And would you really want to work somewhere that wouldn’t hire you because you were pregnant? Probably not.
Philanthropy Girl
Assuming you’re very early in your pregnancy, and it isn’t to the point you would share with your current HR/boss, don’t bring it up in an interview.
Be aware that many companies will not give you FMLA leave if you have been with them less than 12 months, and they are not legally required to do so. Don’t count your job being available if you choose/need leave time.
workingmomz
I have interviewed while visibly pregnant and I just said it when meeting with the big boss. I didn’t mention it during the peer interviews but with the big boss I’d say something like “well as you can see (gestures to stomach) I’ll need some leave in (insert month here)” I plan on working until I have the baby and coming back y. I know you can’t ask me but it seems silly not to mention it” or something like that. I was interviewing at the time and received several offers, even from the place that I thought wouldn’t be supportive. So you never know.
Anona
I interviewed for a federal govnt attorney job in a busy office when it was starting to become obvious that I was pregnant. I went into the interview undecided about discussing it, but ultimately decided to say something. I brought it up at the end of the interview, saying that I was pregnant, due X date, and planned on taking 10-12 weeks of leave. Then I awkwardly said something about how I looked at this position as an opportunity for the long-term and that my leave would be relatively short compared with the amount of time I would expect to stay in the position. I got a second round interview, which I did with the GC when I was hugely pregnant, got the job and worked for three weeks before going on leave. Everyone was very supportive.