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Coffee Break: Alias Heels

Coffee Break· Recent

black strappy work pumps with T-strap-like detail

I was looking through Tamara Mellon’s website recently and so many of her heels (and shoes in general!) look great — I particularly love the “Cloud Cushion,” i.e., 6mm of extra padding “where you need it the most.”

If you’re not familiar with Tamara Mellon, she was a cofounder of the brand Jimmy Choo — from the “our story” page she notes:

“I co-founded Jimmy Choo in 1996. Today, I’m still obsessed with shoes, but not the traditional way of doing things. So I’m starting over. This is my reboot (pun intended). I’m redefining luxury and doing what I do best: designing shoes and breaking rules.”

Nice! T-straps are particularly hard to find right now, and these look absolutely gorgeous and sophisticated. The shoe is $795 at TamaraMellon.com.

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Hunting for other strappy heels? These are some of our latest favorites:

collage of 4 strappy heels for work
As of April 2023, these are our latest favorite strappy heels for work: 1) Anne Klein, 2) CK Calvin Klein, 3) M.Gemi, 4) Manolo Blahnik (not pictured: Valentino, Tamara Mellon, and Jennifer Chamandii) — if you’re looking for strappy commuting shoes with heels to maintain a hem length, we recommend Dansko or Fly London

Workwear sales of note for 6.02.23:

  • Nordstrom – The Half-Yearly Sale has started! See our thoughts here.
  • Ann Taylor – $50 off $150; $100 off $250+; extra 30% off all sale styles
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 25% off purchase
  • Boden – Sale, up to 50% off
  • Cole Haan – Up to 50% off select styles; extra 20% off sandals & sneakers
  • Eloquii – 60% off all tops
  • Express – 30% off all dresses, tops, shorts & more; extra 50% off clearance
  • H&M – Up to 60% off online and in-store.
  • J.Crew – Up to 50% off “dressed up” styles (lots of cute dresses!); extra 50% off select sale
  • J.Crew Factory – Up to 60% off everything; 60% off 100s of summer faves; extra 60% off clearance
  • J.McLaughlin – The Sale Event: extra 30% off
  • Loft – 40% off tops; 30% off full-price styles
  • Sephora – Up to 50% off select beauty.
  • Shopbop – Up to 60% off sale
  • Sue Sartor – Lots of cute dresses on sale!
  • Talbots – 25-40% off select styles

Other noteworthy sales:

  • CB2.com – Up to 40% off; pop-up sale up to 30% off
  • Joss & Main – Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off with code
  • Tuft & Needle – Save up to $775 on mattresses (Reader-favorite brand; Kat really likes hers!)
  • West Elm – Up to 25% off in-stock furniture; up to 60% off clearance

About Kat

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

Comments

  1. Anon

    I officially will be put on a PIP. This has been building up – it’s a toxic work environment and my boss is never satisfied and often goes for the jugular (personal attacks) when mistakes are made. Hell, maybe I suck, too – who knows.

    I plan to do the PIP in good faith, while also looking for a new job. I’m also someone who tends to raise their hand at work – won’t be doing that right now and plan to fiercely protect my time to work ~40 hour weeks only.

    Please share stories of happy endings (new jobs? New bosses? whatever!) folks have had in similar situations!

    • Anonymous

      My story is slightly different- went for an internal promotion and didn’t get it, faced the reality that my career at that job had officially hit a brick wall, and started job searching. Job searching is not fun but after a few months I got a great new job with a better title, salary, boss, and work life balance. I’m really enjoying learning the new role and it’s hopefully going to give me a lot of flexibility in future career paths. Good luck!!!

    • pugsnbourbon

      I’m positive that you don’t suck :)

      Keep your head up and reach out to your network. I was in a role that I truly struggled in and my boss wasn’t the best. I got out of there and landed in a job where I thrived. I know good things are coming your way!

    • Anonymous

      I wasn’t put on a PIP, probably because it was a law firm and they don’t really do formal training or even believe much in HR and all that for attorneys. I had been laid off from a in-house job that I loved due to a merger where things went south at the last minute. I needed a new job, networked my behind off and interviewed a ton, and finally accepted a job at a big, prestigious and reputable firm in my city. However, I did not mesh with the partner I worked with at all… we were like oil and water from the get go. It was a new practice area for me, and I just fundamentally did not get the work we were doing. I tried and tried and he wasn’t willing to explain anything and you couldn’t leave the office until he left, and he had no family and was estranged from his kids and he would leave at like 1 am and be back at 9 am. He was also the only attorney that did this work, so I couldn’t ask anyone else. I was highly discouraged from asking questions about anything, including “how are you?” If I happened to see him and he was in a practice area where we didn’t work with any other attorneys at the firm. He was also one of the three biggest rainmakers at this firm, so he could do what he wanted, and it was either work for him or leave the firm. There was once instance where he wanted me to say something in an email in response to what the other side said, and I didn’t understand the concept behind what we were talking about and he wouldn’t explain. I guessed and ultimately my response in the email was the and he told me two minutes after sending the email to look for another job, and I could stay for three more weeks getting paid as a courtesy. I’d already been interviewing and I found another job back in my old practice area, in a very collaborative group and it was a lot more money. I love my current job and have been there 6 years. It’s hard to think like things will be okay but I’m so much happier.

      • Ellen

        Kudo’s to you for moving on. It is bad when you have a partner who won’t teach you a thing and no one else can either. I pride myself in spending alot of time with my new associates and most have worked out before they decided to work elsewhere b/c they did not care for worker’s compensation defense work, and other then a little med/mal defense and tax work, that is all we specialize in, so we can remain a boutique firm and get the special tax breaks still available to us.

    • Anon

      Definitely assume you will need to find a new job. I’ve not experienced many managers actually using a PIP as an actual performance improvement tool.

      I’m sorry you’re going through this, and I hope your next job is wonderful. Hugs.

    • Anonymous

      Not the same situation, but I thought I would share. A year ago there was a political situation in my organization that blew up and I was forced to step down in a humiliating way. It was demoralizing. But the job was also crushing my soul so it turned out to be an enormous favor. I’m now in a job that is better for me. I don’t make as much money but I have much better work-life balance and job satisfaction. To this day when I run into people I’m told I look so much happier and it’s true. You can use this to rebuild your worklife and get out of a toxic situation. The skills I learned in therapy before my situation blew up helped me weather the storm. It helped me manage my stress and depersonalize the situation. Do what you can to make your life outside of work the best it can be and jump ship when you find a better opportunity. I’m rooting for you!

      • Anonymous

        Same, except I make 80% my old pay for 30% my time. Not only am I much more happy, but it was the entire reason we ended up with 3 kids instead of two. Our kids are all in elem now and we often comment how much better life is as it played out than before, with two parents working 60+ hour weeks.

    • Donnyandbuster

      I went up for an internal promotion, didn’t even get an interview, and a couple of weeks after I found out who got it (which upset me greatly at the time), I was told my contract wouldn’t be renewed. I had already started looking for jobs, but this gave me the permission to fully get into it. I finally got one at Place B in a role which was two levels above where I was, right as my contract ended at Place A. My boss liked me, and there was minimal politicking, which was a huge improvement! Not only that, I stayed on as a part-time consultant (at Place A), so I got some extra cash to boot.

      A year ago, I made a lateral move (back into the industry at Place A where I had left), and things are looking even more up than before! You can do it.

  2. Josie P

    These look incredibly uncomfortable regardless!

    Fairly low-stakes question re: shoes – I am going to a “gala” for my practice area group later this month. I am wearing a dress from Zara, l*nk to follow, since I want to stick out a bit among the sea of black dresses/suits, and I am being named to a position in the org. Can I get away with wearing glitter platform sneakers, or do I need to wear heels? If I need to wear heels, I will probably go with either gold wedges or heeled mary janes, if I can find some (Naturalizer? I need a wide) that are tolerable. Note that the photos from past years 99% of the time cut off people’s feet. ;)

  3. Anonymous

    How much weight would you expect a 12 year old to gain with each inch he gains in height?

    (My 12-year-old son has been trying to lose or maintain weight since January, trying to make better food choices and joining a rowing club for 2 hours, 3x a week. He’s grown maybe 2″ in height… but has gained 12 lbs. (174 to 186.) I’m not surprised he’s not losing weight, but I’m shocked at the big weight gain. Trying to figure out next steps – thyroid check? nutritionist? He’s always been big (tall, broad, heavy) for his age; the endocrinologist we saw when he was 5 or so didn’t find anything.)

    • Anon

      This is 100% normal and I beg you not to make this an issue for a teen who is already active and working on nutrition. Teenagers bodies are designed to change. That is what they do.

    • Anonymous

      How tall is he? If he is 6′ tall that sounds ok. If 5′ tall not so much. Does he seem to be gaining muscle? What’s his BMI? Need more info.

      • Anonymous

        he’s just over 5′ – he is massively massively overweight.

        I’ve tried to be very chill about his weight (I’m overweight too) and much to my dismay his paternal grandmother (who he adores and is generally a great grandma) has been getting on his case about his weight and his “Buddha belly.” (Cue stabbing motion…) It wasn’t a huge surprise that he announced he wanted to lose weight after their holiday visit this year.

        But next year they’re going to have to change clothes before gym so we’re trying to encourage anything we can. (He’s already being bullied; I posted about it a few days ago.) I was hoping a growth spurt in height would help a lot.

        • Anon

          Grandma needs to back off NOW.

          I am not trying to be mean: my overweight mother put a LOT of her crap on me. She always feared that I would be fat like her. I am in my 40s, a mother of a toddler, a size 4/6, and very fit – and she needed the fear of God put into her before she would STFU about my “fat.”

          Please either work with a professional (dietician, coach) for your son or lay off.

          • Anon

            It makes me so sad that the sudden interest in getting “healthier” started after comments from Grandma that the parents didn’t shut down immediately. It reminds me of when my brother called me fat and my parents looked the other way as my disordered patterns increased because they thought I was fat too.

        • Anon

          I think it can be really helpful to work with a doctor and dietician. A good dietician these days will not push calorie counting, but they will look at diet to see if there are opportunities to increase satiety and achieve nutritional adequacy with less hunger.

          And I think it’s pretty reasonable to do an endocrine work up after seven years. I also had nothing wrong with me when I was five, but by high school I had developed an endocrine disorder personally!

        • A

          5” and 186 pounds is a LOT. I have a 15yo with the opposite issue – 5”10 and just 110lbs.

          But Grandma nagging about his belly isn’t the way to go. Speak to her offline. And get him on healthy habits now because as you well know, his choices now will also lay the foundation for his health in his late teens and early 20s.

          The sugary stuff needs to go or at least be managed. More vegetables and fruits, whole grains etc. You know what to do!

    • Anon

      Why is a 12 year old trying to lose weight?!? Was that a recommendation from a medical professional or not?

      • Anon

        I mean if a 12 year old is overweight why wouldn’t they be trying to lose weight? It’s best to lose the weight and adopt good habits now.

    • Anon

      I am a dévote of seeing a dietician. It did so much for me, first for weight loss and then for fitness / athletics. I would definitely give that a shot (and they’re usually covered by insurance which I didn’t know). I already had a good baseline knowledge of how to eat but the fine tuning the dietician did was amazingly helpful.

      I’m also a former lightweight rower and coxswain. In my area, crew doesn’t start til 8th or 9th grade so idk what 12 year old crew practices look like. So, what are they doing for practices? Depending on how the program is run, he might not be getting as much exercise as you’d think. For example, they’re in an 8+ but only rowing by 4s so he’s rowing less than expected.

      • Anon

        And to add, make sure it’s a Registered Dietitian (RD). Anyone can be a “nutritionist”

    • Anon

      5-7 pounds per inch is standard.

      I have used this formula to great success when I look at clothes online, where people in the reviews leave height/weight/size that fits. She’s 4” shorter and 20 pounds lighter – okay that’s right about my size.

      • Anon

        I should have added:

        You can always figure this out yourself by calculating BMI. This is not an endorsement of BMI, just that if you’re trying to figure out how weight and height interact, this is it. (It ceases to work for very tall people, because volume is a cubic measure and BMI is a squared measure.)

        Furthermore, muscle weighs more than fat. Since I’ve given birth, I have lost 2-3 dress sizes but only about 10 pounds. Just one data point of how much muscle matters.

    • Nesprin

      You should 100% be talking to medical folks for this. Start with his pediatrician then depending what the DR says, your options include a registered dietician (not a nutritionist- there’s no licensing requirements for nutritionists), therapist (because body issues are a thing that boys experience as well), and possibly a fitness activity of his choice.

    • Anon

      I would expect a 12 year old boy who took up rowing to put on some muscle weight. This seems pretty reasonable, especially since he’s also gotten taller. I wouldn’t completely ignore weight, as I think that all the evidence suggests that it’s easier to avoid gaining weight than it is to lose it, but he’s a growing kid and I absolutely would not focus on it. It’s very normal to put on weight first and then gain height later. The important things are that he’s active and eating well and knows you love him no matter what. I would have been absolutely mortified if I knew my mom had been obsessing over my weight when I was 12 and I’m pretty sure it would have permanently changed my relationship with my mother if she’d focused on something that was already a sensitive topic for me (and I wasn’t actually overweight by BMI, just compared to my friends).

      • pugsnbourbon

        +1. Growth in height and weight doesn’t always fall neatly within those charts at the Dr.’s office.

    • Anon

      I gained about 20 pounds in a year once I started puberty, which was completely normal and expected, but because my parents FREAKED OUT, I became convinced there was something wrong with me and developed disordered eating that lasted for about 15 years. I had been active and happy (played four sports a year, biked and skied on the side) and I stayed active (and at a “healthy weight,” FWIW), but was miserable. It took me a long time to learn that girls (and boys) gain weight when they go through puberty and that my parents had pathologized a very natural process because of their intense fatphobia. I think that if they had backed the f off, I would have likely picked up some negative patterns from friends, but I’m convinced that I would’ve been about 95% less disordered.

      Provide your son with fun opportunities to exercise (and not in the “we’re going to spin class as a family!” way) and then relax. If he is going to be fat, then no amount of commentary or shaming from you will change that.

    • AnonSatOfc

      def talk to a doctor if you haven’t. I have seen a lot of 12 year boys group out then up, so that could be the case, but if it’s to the point that you’re concerned then medical advice is needed.

    • Anonymous

      In the last 4 months, he has been rowing 6 hours a week. I would imagine that could easily result in 12 pounds of muscle, especially if he wasn’t doing a lot of strength work before that.
      If he (not you) wants to track any stats, I highly recommend measurements like bicep circumference, thighs, waist etc, rather than weight. It is a lot more informative I find when I am increasing exercise.
      Also, 12 is right about the age where a lot of boys grow wider then suddenly stretch upwards. My neighbor went from short and chubby to tall and slim in the blink of an eye.

      • Anon

        I guess the question is if his pants size has changed; it’d be really weird to put on 12 pounds of muscle and not lose any fat. Often when you start working out is when weight falls off fastest, and slows as you continue to get fit. I get that he’s still very much a growing boy but 186 lbs is a lot for 5’.

        I’m not saying the boy or OP are doing anything wrong — I think it’s commendable that OP is trying to help him with better habits now (in a non-shaming way), and am surprised so many people are saying to ignore it.

        • Anon

          That is a lot of weight on a small frame. Is that typical for you or his dad or either family? Genes are tough to overcome and then you have any habits I. The ho
          E over 12 years to deal with. Over time, my concerns would be health, bullying, the care of his feelings, and joint stress and limiting opportunities. Baby steps and self care can help, but nothing will change things quickly. Adding things like scouts, that will let any kid get outdoors and start moving, might be good to explore as a family. Good luck!

    • Anonymous

      This is puberty. If you want, double check with the ped but like 99% of boys chunk out then sprout up.

    • Anon

      My son gained a lot of weight at that age. We tried not to make too big of a deal about it but we did stop buying a lot of food that was easy to mindlessly snack on. If he wanted to eat between meals (especially late at night), he was free to but it wasn’t going to be as easy as opening a box of Triscuits. As a result, he’s now an excellent cook. Haha

  4. Anonymous

    I have a milestone anniversary coming up (15th) — I’d been thinking we’d do a beach resort, but we’re doing that for a family vacation around then. What should we do instead? We like drinking/eating/learning, husband doesn’t travel on planes well. Coming from Midwest. Anniversary is in June but we could postpone it to whenever. We’ve barely been anywhere. TIA!

    • Jules

      Montreal or Quebec CIty? Lots of good food, European-feeling cities (probably more so in Quebec City although I haven’t been there myself), museums and history.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t know how to interpret “husband doesn’t travel on planes well.” Does this mean no flights? Or does it mean “no flights more than X hours long”?

      Do you like oceans, mountains, cities, wilderness? Hot or cold climates? in the US or international? What do you like to learn – history? skills? ideas?

      • Anonymous

        I’m not into hiking or oceans – by learning I mean like museums or historical-themed tours. Hate extreme cold and hot, ha. I’d love to do international.

        By “doesn’t travel on planes well” – 2-3 hour flight is hard for him, 6+ hour flight would probably be Xanax territory. We’d have to go as direct as possible.

        • Anon

          New Orleans would be so good for y’all! Please get a Pimm’s Cup at the Napoleon House (where the cocktail was invented) and the chicken andouille gumbo at The Gumbo Shop. Please. I haven’t been in a couple years and I’m over here drooling.

        • Anne-on

          The midwest is a big place but I’ll assume you’re traveling from O’Hare. If you haven’t gone to NY yet that would be my vote. Don’t go in the summer, aim for late September/October.
          If you’ve done NY already and prefer cooler weather I agree with Quebec being a good choice that feels very international. If you want warmer weather I think New Mexico and Arizona have some of the most stunning landscapes that are just SO different from anywhere else in the US.

          • Anon

            If you go to NY take the train! Get a sleeper car and make it part of the trip. Trains are so romantic.

    • Anon

      Take the Chicago to New Orleans train in the winter? Spring for a sleeper car. New Orleans is almost as good as going abroad because the culture and climate are so different from most other places in the States.

    • anon

      Maybe New Orleans? The World War 2 museum is supposed to be pretty good. I plan to visit next time we’re there. You might find some direct flights depending on where you’re located. Chicago is another option.

    • Anon

      Napa is great for eating and drinking, if you want to keep it domestic. Italy is also great for eating and drinking, plus has a lot of interesting history and museums. Not sure where in the Midwest you are, but from Chicago you can fly non-stop at least to Rome which is the part of Italy I’d recommend anyway for a history buff.

      June is a great time for most of the US and Europe, and it’s ok for the Caribbean (it’s technically hurricane season but things don’t usually get underway until July-August) so I don’t think that limits you much.

    • A.

      It’s a 5.5 hour flight but husband and I just went to Iceland for our 15 year anniversary and it was amazing!

      • Anonymous

        Omg Iceland is unreal! So amazing. It’s a shorter flight than you think and then it’s like you landed on another planet

  5. Long Haul Flight Tips?

    I am traveling to Asia for work next week and the first leg of the flight is 14 hours, then a 2-hr layover, then another 2.5 hour flight. When I get there, I will need to work within a couple of hours of landing. My longest flights at this point have been more in the 7-8 hour range so hit me with your tips to make it bearable! The long flight leaves mid-morning my local time and it will only be 2am when I touch down for the first layover so thinking it makes sense to try to treat it like a regular work day and then sleep the last 5-6 hours. I will be working nights (US day) the majority of the time that I’m over there. I’m in business class and will make sure my iPad and kindle have some stuff to watch/read. Do compression socks really help? I am not a night owl so my big worry is being exhausted when I land and still needing to power through a full workday even though it’s pitch dark outside.

    • Anonymous

      To be honest, I travel to Asia for business and I don’t think I could successfully pull off what you’re describing. By the time it’s evening when I arrive, I get to the hotel and get settled, I pass out HARD.

    • Lydia

      compression socks do help! Also, bring a face mask and ear plugs. I like to slather my face in lotion and aquaphor to help with the ridiculous dryness of planes.

    • Anonymous

      I do this every other month, though (thankfully) not always with a layover.

      My #1 recommendation is to get on whatever time zone you need to be ASAP, however works best for you (stay up late or sleep extra). What I’m confused by is why you will be working nights Asia-time while on a work trip? In any case, before you start your workday, I recommend a brisk walk or workout to wake you up, then more exercise and/or a hearty meal to close out the day. Jet lag screws with sense of time, so it’s helpful to structure your day with little routines. I also find that eating when I’m truly hungry vs “meal times” helps fend off sleepiness. If you’re in an Asian metropolis, you can probably find food any any hour of the day.

      On the plane, hydrate and walk around every hour or so you are awake. I don’t find that compression socks make any difference but YMMV.

      Finally, adrenaline helps! Drum up excitement about the trip. Set up little rewards (local snack? light reading?) or goals for yourself.

    • Anon

      Being in business class makes a HUGE difference. You’ll actually sleep on the plane. If you’ve previously mostly traveled in economy, you’ll be shocked by how manageable long-haul travel is when you have a lieflat seat.

    • Cat

      What company sends someone on a business trip to Asia only to expect them to work US hours??

      FWIW, I think compression socks help a ton. My feet would get so puffy on flights to Europe that I wouldn’t be able to wear pretty flats to dinner the night we arrived. With compression socks they stay normal size, which I assume is better for my circulation as well as my vanity.

    • Runcible Spoon

      Compression socks work — bring two pairs, one for the flight out and one for the return journey, because they will get icky after 16+ hours of flying each way (airplane bathroom floors become soaking wet during these flights). Bring a neck pillow, noise cancelling earphones, a cozy wrap-like cashmere blend cardigan or hoody, and an extra top for when you spill down the front of your shirt during mealtime. In business class, the entertainment will be provided, no need to stock your iPad with films or videos. If you binge watch a TV series during the flight, the hours will fly by. Pack casual clothes to hang around in the hotel room. Pack extra clothing in your carryon, in case your checked baggage is delayed. Bring rain gear — umbrella, scarf for hair, flip flops in a plastic bag to whip out of your tote if you are on the streets when a tropical downpour happens. Many Southeast Asian streets will flood like a river, so you will want to save your work shoes. When you land, if time permits, try to take a nap in 45-minute increments (e.g., 45 minutes long or 90 minutes long, etc.) Hydrate, and if you can get to a hotel gym, do some aerobic exercise before you have to start working, or walk around, maybe at a shopping mall attached to your hotel with AC, to get the blood flowing to your extremities. Try to get a massage soon after landing, if there is a therapeutic massage culture where you are traveling (avoid the massage joints that have ladies in lingerie hanging around at the entrance). Bon voyage!

  6. Anonymous

    does anyone have any good cinco-de-mayo themed recipes? hosting dinner tomorrow, had planned to have salmon…

    • Anon

      Steep a healthy amount of ground cayenne pepper in about a cup of vodka overnight. Just before serving, strain through a coffee filter. This makes cayenne bitters.

      Make margaritas with a blend of Blanco tequila (tres agaves and casa noble are both excellent), Cointreau, and fresh lime. Add several dashes of cayenne bitters. Serve on the rocks in glasses rimmed with a mixture of coarse salt and tajin. (to rim the glass, wipe the spent lime carcass around the rim of the glass, then invert the glass onto a shallow saucer of the salt/tajin mixture. Be careful adding the ice cubes after this step.)

      My preferred ratio of booze to lime for each drink is 2 oz Blanco tequila, 1 oz Cointreau, 1 lime (which would be about an ounce), dash cayenne bitters. I would make two drinks at a time and shake with ice in a cocktail shaker, then pour into the glasses.

      Enjoy!

  8. Anon

    I’m heading to the Amalfi Coast with my family next week and the weather is looking unseasonably cold and rainy. We weren’t expecting to be swimming in the ocean in early May but we were counting on some pool lounging and lots of exploring the villages on foot. Anyone been to this region in bad weather? Is there anything indoors to do?

    • anon_needs_a_break

      just get some ponchos, waterproof shoes, and an umbrella and have a blast. i walked pompeii in the rain last summer and it was still great.

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