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Wednesday’s TPS Report: Perla Blazer

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Tart Perla BlazerAggressively striped blazers have been around for a few years now, but I really like this one — the gray on gray, double button, slightly fitted silhouette… lovely. It's modal/cotton/spandex, which promises to be comfy (but note that it will be very lightweight). It's $128 at Zappos. Tart Perla Blazer Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-3)

Sales of note for 12.5

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

189 Comments

  1. This seems to be made out of sweatshirt material if you zoom in. Very casual even if you don’t.
    But so glad this site is back up!

    1. Personally, I’m tired of stripes unless they are done in the very classic bretton stripe tee shirt under a navy blazer or pea coat. I’m also tired of unstructured, slouchy material blazers. I’ve succumbed and purchased a few and they never get worn.

        1. I think the wide stripes and the dark/light tones here read old-school felon (or white collar criminal).

          2. I have a similar blazer from the GAP. I don’t think I will ever be able to unsee it from being my “Hamburglar” outfit now. Maybe that’s not a bad thing though? :)

          3. I actually saw a woman on CapHill wearing a camel/black version of this wide stripe blazer, and realized it looked amazing! It was awesome in person. Although, I think the greys here do make it a bit more casual. But she totally made me want one, and I am normally not a blazer person.

    2. I know, there is something I don’t like about the combination of fabric and the bold stripes.

  3. I just can’t get into the stripe craze. I’m not sure why but I’ve never met a stripe I liked.

  4. Monochromatic black / gray sweater with pants day here. A scarf would have been perfect and I am now kicking myself for having left the house in my Corporate Blah-Casual outfit.

    Don’t like this jacket — is too Executive Sweatjacket. Like the concept (soft blazer) in theory though.

    1. I’ve been meaning to pull out my scarves for about a week now and never remember until I’m almost at my office and I pass someone wearing one. I must remember to get them out tonight!

      1. I wore an outfit yesterday that was crying out for a scarf (to break up the black) but it’s just still too darn hot for scarves. Slowly getting cooler…

        1. It became fall here pretty much overnight. I’m so excited about it! It always puts me in the best mood.

          1. It’s getting darker here already. Not looking forward to leaving and coming home in the dark.

          2. Yep. Same here. Fall fell in a spectacular way. And it is already dark when I get up :-(

    2. I’m wearing a pumpkin colored sweater with a white lace cami peeking up and a black pleated skirt with cognac wedges. I almost always wear pencil skirts so this feels fun and fresh.

  5. I wanted to thank everyone who recommended the babyliss hair dryers at TJ Maxx! I picked one up last week and have been using it for a few days. I’ve only ever owned dryers from Target/CVS, so I’m really impressed with how fast and smoothly it dries my hair. And of course, I was pleased to get it for half the Amazon price.

    {This site}’s commenters rock.

    1. You’re welcome. After buying one for myself, I got one for my sister-in-law and one for my mother.

    2. What would you say is the general lifespan of a babyliss dryer? I got one about three years ago, and it for the past couple of days, it keeps shorting out when I am using it. I am guessing it is time for a replacement?

      1. I think mine is a bit older than 3 years. 3-4 years of daily use sounds about right for a hairdryer lifespan.

  6. Career TJ: do you ladies send thank you notes when you receive a rejection letter for a position you applied to but did not get interviewed for? Please say no…

    2. No, with the exception of a role you asked someone to recommend you for/ throw your resume into the pile. Eg. if you asked your friend Sally to pass your resume along for a position at her company and you got rejected w/out an interview, I’d shoot Sally a quick thanks, let her know it didn’t work out, and close the loop.

  7. Stuck in moderation…
    (Accidentally posted at the bottom of yesterday’s thread, whoops). Hi, hive! I’m starting my first Biglaw job in a few days and was wondering whether people had any insight on things that a baby hark should be watching out for at this point, or things they wish they had done differently. From college and law school and other jobs, I can definitely think of times when a lack of knowledge or awareness has led to being pigeonholed or committed to a path that’s not right or just behind everyone else in terms of developing relationships (didn’t know people actually went to office hours in undergrad…I regretted it when it came to getting grad school letters of recommendation!). I’d love to start my big girl career on the right foot and see what advice anyone has.

    1. Grrr, what’d I do to get moderated?! More precisely, what’s a girl got to do to get moderated?!

      1. IME, you can get moderated for:
        – using the name of this site or another word that includes e-t-t-e (bachelore-t-t-e party, cigare-t-t-e pants)
        – using words that might be used in, um, non-fashion contexts, e.g., c*cktail dress. Most commenters abbreviate or alter words like s3xy, just in case.
        – including multiple links, especially in comments that also contain text

        Better luck with the next post.

        1. Also, I always get stuck for using the word h@sh, as in “we just need to h@sh that out.” Gets me every time.

        3. Blast, I didn’t do anything. Guess C——–t-e isn’t ready for this je11y. (I’m practicing).

          1. I think it was the past tense of regret that did you in, actually. Maybe that’s an omen? Carpe diem!

    2. If you are JUST starteing out, you must be cheerful and accept all ASSIGNEMENTS, tho some will clearly be secretarial in nature. After all, you are the newbey and must take it all from every partner who wants to dump thing’s on you. They say they are testing your metal, so just be kind and accept the work.

      But do NOT let this extend to personal thing’s. I used to take the manageing partner’s laundry out, but now Lynn does this. I do bring back cookie’s from Crumb’s, but that also benefit’s me (tho not my tuchus), so I do not mind that.

      Also, do NOT date peeople at work. You are there to work, not socialize. There will be men who will want to date you and sleep with you. Do NOT do it. There are plenty of fish outside your little pond that are equal or better then the guys who want to date you in the firm. This is important b/c if you should break up (which usueally happens), the guy will tell about EVERYTHING you did with him. I had this probelem with Alan, and he did not even work for my firm! FOOEY on him!!!

      So seperate work from play; work hard and if your lucky, like me, you can become a partner!!! YAY!!!

  8. How does the sizing at Eddie Bauer run, compared to, say Banana Republic/Gap? I’ve never ordered from the site before, but after seeing it on the petite recs post the other day, I wandered over to the website and found myself tempted by some of their blazers.

    Also, does anyone have any experience with their “washable” suiting line? I just started a new job and have to wear suits daily for the first time ever, and my skirt suits aren’t cutting it in the warmth department, so I’m looking to pick up a few more pant suits to round out my collection. I have a couple of great pant suits from Banana/Macy’s, but I’m looking to round out the collection with a couple of inexpensive options so I don’t have to wear the same 4 suits M-Th all winter long. (I want to keep them inexpensive because the goal is to replace them with Brooks Brothers/Theory/etc. in 6-8 months after I’ve met a few debt-reduction goals).

    1. I only have one EB item, a cardigan, that was large. I’m a busty 12-14, almost always an XL in tops and sweaters; the petite XL my husband got me from EB had to go back for a petite L. I think the sizes are more comparable to Lands End. Don’t know how their sizing is on more tailored items – but I’m interested in the suiting also so I hope you get some replies.

    2. I buy from Eddie Bauer all.the.time. The pants from EB seem to have a different cut than BR and so I tend to size down. I will buy curvy cuts if they are available and buy one size smaller in EB than I do in BR. I find the trouser fit in EB to be a much more flattering fit and the fit/cut/sizing across their various pants/jeans seems to be consistent so once you find your size and fit its easy to order.

      I like the washable suiting line. I tend to wear cardigans more than jackets so I can’t speak to how the jackets wash but the pants are wonderful.

      Also, EB has a no questions asked return policy. They market the washable suiting line as washable. If you would wash it and be unhappy with how it laundered they would take it back. I had a sweater that did not wash well a year or so ago and when I called to ask about it they took back the sweater even after it had been washed and worn a few times. I would recommend their return policy without hesitation.

      1. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for – thanks! Given the return policy, I’m definitely going to pull the trigger on the suit I was stalking.

  10. I don’t know if I want matching bridesmaid dresses. But I do kind of want them to coordinate. Any suggestions for non traditional bridesmaid dresses? I don’t want anything shiny. Thank you

    1. What about picking a designer and a color (and a fabric or two, maybe) and then telling everyone to get whatever dress they want as long as it’s that designer/color/fabric (i.e. – any apple red dress from David’s Bridal in chiffon). That way they’re not “matching,” but they still go together.

      Alternatively, I’ve been to “any black dress at all” weddings that have looked gorgeous. Also, black’s more forgiving on the matching front, so you wouldn’t need to worry about specifying designer/color/fabric.

      1. Yes, I did this and it looked great (dresses were knee length) and everyone got a dress they have worn many times since.

      2. Alfred Angelo is also good for this. They’ve expanded their fabrics beyond the satin and chiffon, have variety of styles and wide range of sizes. I used them for my wedding exactly as Killer Kitten Heels described and all parties involved loved it. Good luck!

      3. My sister-in-law did that – any yellow dress from David’s (it didn’t explicitly have to be from there, but that’s how it worked out). They have dresses in the same colors across most styles, so there’s no problem with different shades of the color. Everyone could get something that suited her style, and it still looked really pulled together. Also, half did long and half did short dresses, which balanced nicely.

        I generally hate David’s Bridal, but this is something that they are pretty good for in a way that no one else really is.

    2. I had a pregnant lady, a very tall busty lady, and a teeny little petite lady built like a boy. There was no dress on earth that would work for all three. So I picked a color and a length and let them wear any dress they wanted. Alternatively, I’ve seen weddings where the bridesmaids all wore different dresses (but same length — either knee-length or floor-length) in different related colors (e.g., blues and purples, or red, orange, and yellow) or in different shades of the same color (e.g., light blue, indigo, and violet). Another option along the lines of what Killer Kitten Heels suggests, if you don’t see anything at David’s you like, is to go with J Crew, which often has a bunch of dresses all in the same fabric — you pick color and fabric and let the bridesmaids pick the cut.

      1. Yes I love the Jcrew- but too expensive for me! Davids Bridal seems like everything is just so shiny, but I will keep looking. And it is a good problem to have! Thanks all

        1. I did J Crew dresses for my wedding and just told my bridesmaids to look for them on Ebay. You can usually get them for $150 or less there.

          1. +1 Happened upon this because the dress I needed sold out. So cheap, and was perfect.

        3. I did a DB dress for my bridesmaids that was definitely non-shiny (the fabric was actually a linen-ish cotton). Their chiffon is also non-shiny, as is their organza.

      2. I love the look of dresses that are the same length but in different shades of the same color. If I was planning a wedding right now, this is the route I’d take.

      3. Google Jenna Bush’s wedding. Her bridesmaids all did the different color thing and it was so pretty. Supposedly the hues were the same as prairie grass flowers. (And why does my mind hang on to weirdo info like this yet I can’t remember where my keys are half the time??)

    3. I was just in an “any black dress” wedding this past weekend and no one self-selected a shiny dress. The bride requested dresses that were knee-length…and that was it.

      When I got married, I selected the fabric/color for the dress and told my b-maids to select the style they’d like (they ended up all choosing the same one, but that’s a different story). And I was in another wedding that was the same way — navy blue by such-and-such designer but any style.

      I think it works by looking coordinated but lets your maids pick out the style they’re most comfy in. I really detest strapless, so being able to have something that looks flattering on me ensures I’m happy and comfortable for your big day (and not fighting with my dress top!)

    4. A less formal option: For our late May, mid-day ceremony many years ago, two attendants hit a department store sale and selected mid-calf cream linen skirts which they wore with pastel linen blouses, cream shoes (each chose a different shirt color and shoe style), and wrist gloves. They then wore the same outfits or variations (sans gloves) to work all summer. MOH got a pretty dress in pale pink. I wore my mom’s dress (mid-calf, mid 50s, white w/ pink sash). Menfolk wore suits.
      Good luck! Mazel tov! This is a nice problem.

    5. I really liked the Aria dress that I wore in a wedding (bride said to pick any dress in a particular color from this designer). The price point was reasonable, they had lots of styles to accomodate varying shapes, and there are several fabric options.

      1. +1, I had my bridesmaids wear Aria dresses. The fabric quality is really good and they have maternity – I wore a maternity Aria dress in 2 other friends’ weddings.

      2. I used Aria too, it was more reasonably priced than J Crew, and they have a bazillion options.

      3. And everyone had a good experience with Aria? Aria looks to be exactly what I am looking for. How did you all go about the try on process?

        1. I am in Boston so had my sister come and try on there. For the other people, we just did measurements – they ran pretty TTS and I don’t think any of them needed alterations except hemming (note – I had people all in straight sizes with fairly hourglass shapes).

        2. I think I just ordered based on measurements and had it altered a bit (I’m short and busty so most dresses need a little work). They have a try-on program too I believe. I think that wedding related dresses usually have a bit more seam allowance in them because so many people need alterations.

    6. Check out Watters. They have a wide variety of bridesmaid dresses that you can get in a lot of different shades/fabrics. J. Crew might be good for this too. Also, Style Me Pretty is a good wedding resource for style. It can definitely take you down the rabbit hole of wedding stuff, but the pictures are so pretty!

      1. Also, relatedly, I just had a “purple” requirement for my wedding. I told my sister and friend to just buy a purple dress. They each chose a style that flattered them and spent what they want (as opposed to a $300 dress that they would never wear again. Ahem, friend, looking at you).

    7. Nordstrom has some nice options. They have a “wedding” section of the website where they cull out some dresses for bridesmaids, but I actually think sorting through the c*cktail dresses (or the gowns, if you are doing formal-formal) is better, especially if you don’t want shiny / satiny.
      The Donna Morgan ones are nice, and they all come in petites & plus sizes too:
      goo.gl/MepIyt
      goo.gl/at3HBs
      Or these could be cute: goo.gl/1Dg3hz

    8. An acquaintance from college did bridesmaid dresses that were all the same cut, but different bright colors, which made a really neat rainbow effect (pink, green, yellow, blue, &c.) It wasn’t the most subtle look, but it was beautiful and they’re still probably the best coordinating bridesmaid dresses I’ve seen. Another acquaintance did something similar, but with pastels. I think it’s trickier to find a dress that suits everyone than a color that does, but if it works it can look great.

    9. Ann Taylor also has nice bridesmaid dresses in different styles, many of which could actually be worn again. You can pick a color and hem length and let them pick the most flattering style.

  11. One last shot at escaping moderation…

    Hi, hive! Starting my first Biglaw job in a few days and was wondering if anyone had any advice on stuff they wish they would have done differently at the beginning of their career or would advise baby sharks to keep in mind. From college and law school and earlier jobs, I can definitely think of instances where lack of research/consideration led to me being pigeonholed/committed to something that wasn’t a great fit, and I’d love to avoid that here in my big girl job.

    1. Good question! We’ve all been there. I cringe when I think of some of my early career missteps. There probably aren’t entirely universal pitfalls, though–different personalities, tendencies, weak spots, etc. Definitely read NGDGCO, know your strengths and weaknesses, and, especially early on, spend a little time reflecting on things when they don’t go perfectly and when they do. Personally, my first year at BigLaw went much better when I realized how much more confident and grounded I sounded when I deliberately collected my thoughts–I actually jotted down in advance the three points before I went in to a partner’s office; also, forcing myself to speak at meetings was awful at first, but became second nature. But those stem from my own tendencies and weaknesses.

      Also, it’s been a huge help to me to take the time to read outside of work. Back a million years ago, when I knew nothing about securities but had a bit part in a securities case, I read Liar’s Poker and a bunch of other books relating to various securities crises over the years just to get a clue, and it was incredibly helpful in big and small ways. When I had a small part in an energy trading case, I picked up a book about how the oil industry works (something I had no idea about before), and again, it paid off in spades professionally. It’s not easy to make time for “recreational” reading while you’re at BigLaw, but it is possible and can be more useful than you’d expect. I wish I’d caught on to that earlier on in my early years of practice.

      Anyway, best of luck! You’ll do great!

      1. Thanks! This is very helpful-definitely going to pick up Liar’s Poker, since I’ll be doing securities stuff and know just about diddly.

        1. I love Liar’s Poker and it’s a great read but you should know that it focuses in detail on mortgage-backed securities, rather than broad information about securities transactions. You might be better off picking up a general guide to the securities industry and make sure you understand the major statutes/regulations that affect securities offerings, e.g., ’33 and ’34 Acts. If you think you’ll be doing any investment management work, you should understand the ’40 Act, etc. There are many plain-English articles on the Internet that are geared towards non-lawyers so that might be a good place to start.

        2. Oh, that was just the best available back then. So much has happened since then–you’re better off reading “All the Devils Are Here” (Bethany McLean), “Fool’s Gold” (Gillian Tett), or Lewis’ more recent one, “The Big Short.”

          Back then, the extent of (readable, recreational) books on the industry was “Liar’s Poker” and “When Genius Failed.” They are both engaging, good reads, and I don’t want to keep you from reading them, but for efficiency’s sake you may want to pick up a more recent one for context / overview reading.

          You’re going to be fine.

      2. I highly recommend Liar’s poker. I started my career on a mortgage desk before the sub-prime crisis, that book was still very relevant 2 decades after it was written. Very useful relevant information about fundamentals of bond trading and a fun read about wall st culture, especially among new college grads joining a firm wide training program. I was surprised how little changed over decades.

        Few others that I enjoyed were
        When Genius Failed
        Big Short
        All the devils Are Here
        Dark Pools by scott Peterson – historical stuff on how electronic trading took off in 80-90s is fascinating.

        1. Hello reading buddy! That’s funny that our lists are so similar. I haven’t read Dark Pools, but it is on my list.

          I didn’t mean any disrespect to Liar’s Poker. It is helpful in understanding the basics of CDOs and MBSs. And the somewhat gross phrasing of the swaggering egos (“big swinging d—“) on Wall Street is something that I found resonated awfully well in the firm context.

          “Wizard of Lies” is next up for me. Have you read it?

    2. If your firm has a free market system, make sure to set yourself up for getting new work well in advance of completing the project you’re currently working on.

      1. Great, this is something that I never would have thought of (though in retrospect, I remember a lot of twiddling my thumbs last summer as I waited for a new project; I should have picked it up before). Thank you!

    3. Take the temperature of the pool before you dive in. What does the body language of those around you suggest? Any non verbal cues you can pick up on are helpful.

    4. I heartily second the recommendation that you “collect your thoughts” before going into someone’s office to discuss an assignment. If a partner calls you and asks you to come down, ask for 10 minutes so you can organize what you want to say.

      When you get a new assignment, thank the assigner for the opportunity. Be clear up front on what the expectation is (do you want a written memo, an email, or should I just report to you what my results are) and what the time frame is for getting the work product done.

      This should go without saying, but don’t miss deadlines. If you get swamped, warn the person in advance that you’re going to need more time as opposed to just letting the deadline go past.

      This may sound contradictory to the advice I just gave…but try not to say “no” to new assignments, particularly for “good” partners. I had no bigger pet peeve than young associates who wanted me to try to figure out their work/life balance. E.g., I’d ask “can you work on a project” and instead of hearing, “Yes, I’d love to” I’d hear about the 15 other things they had going on and questions about whether I thought they could manage one more thing. That’s your job to figure out.

      Finally, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that young women lawyers “aren’t aggressive enough.” I think this has a lot to do with body language and the way we communicate (e.g., wanting to *gasp* talk through a problem instead of just asserting an opinion as fact). I’m not saying you should try to be something you’re not, but give strong consideration to whether you’re projecting the image you want. The book “Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office” has a lot in it about stereotypical women’s body language and how it may be perceived (I”m guilty of backing away from the table). The stereotypes may or may not apply to you but it’s worth thinking about. If you’re going to do litigation and want a partner to trust you in court or in a dep (or if you’re doing corporate work and you want a partner to trust you with a client or opposing counsel) you should project the same demeanor in the office in front of that partner that would enable that partner to believe you’re up to such a task.

    5. I highly recommend the first chapter of Kimm Walton’s “America’s Greatest Places to Work with a Law Degree.” The rest of the book is extremely out of date (pub. date 1998), but the first chapter is stuffed with *excellent* and industry-specific advice about how to start off on the right foot in a law firm job.

  12. Bleach isn’t getting my whites white. I’m following the directions on bottle and my washing machine… what am I doing wrong? The white towels at my gym stay white and everyone seems to abuse those; what’s the secret?

    1. Maybe that’s because bright, white cloth is actually obtained with optical brigtheners, which are a tiny bit blue. Like the the blue eyedrops that make your eyes look whiter and brighter.
      Maybe use products designed for white garments which may have some brighteners in it, in addition to bleach (However, I think they’re already included in regular washing powders).

      1. Thanks! Even if it’s not whitening, shouldn’t bleach be getting out stains from things like makeup, etc?

        1. I don’t know but my mother used some very strong-scented chemical (turpentine?) on greasy stains, never bleach.

    4. It depends on the stains. If the stains are yellowish (often underarms, socks, pillowcases, the tops of sheets, towels), the stains are actually body oils and sweat, and are best cleaned with baking soda or oxyclean (main ingredient is baking soda). I find most whites benefit from oxyclean in the wash almost every time, and for actual stains, make a paste of oxyclean/baking soda and water, cover the stain, and scrub with a clean scrub brush or just gather two parts of the fabric and rub them together between your knuckles. This is not good for your manicure, btw, and does dry out your hands. If the stains are food oil or makeup oil based, try a kitchen cleaner, like simple green or pine sol. Yeah, it’s a little wierd, and smells strongly of that hospital antiseptic pine, but it dissolves the oil. Of course, with all cleaners, test a patch of the fabric first to make sure it doesn’t weaken, dissolve, or discolor.

      If your whites are absolutely clean, no oil stains, just not as bright as you’d like, use bluing. It’s largely gone out of fashion in home use, but when you get a new white shirt, it’s probably gone through a process of commercial bluing, since “blue whites” look brighter and whiter than more natural pink and yellow whites. The bluing is pretty intimidating – a dark, dark blue liquid that does NOT look like it should go into your washer, but it gives the white laundry a faint blue tone that reads in our cerebral cortexes as pure, bright white.

      Bleach breaks up the bonds of chemicals that attach color to a fabric. It doesn’t actually clean, so if a stain is oil-based, the bleach could theoretically bleach the oil and the fabric, but not remove the oil.

      2. @Baconpancakes, do you put the kitchen cleaner in the washing machine? Or pre-treat the items and then throw them in the machine?

        1. Putting it directly on the stain is best, but you don’t need much. The websites of those two long-suffering cleaners (I remember my grandma using pine-sol!) have instructions for using them for laundry. I forgot to mention – don’t use the scented versions – the traditional ones are the only ones to use for laundry.

          Everything I know comes from my mom! She can get any stain out of laundry, and she made sure to teach me. Until I started sharing laundry duties with roommates after college, I didn’t realize this stuff wasn’t common knowledge!

      3. I know that you cannot use bleach with a septic system, but what about baking soda? Is baking soda safe?

  13. Would something like the Lilly Murfette or Murfee be a good starter scarf? I was thinking I could try them with a white shirt / jeans on weekends and graduate that into denim Fridays.

    I am thinking that I will do better with a long rectangle, but my goal is to be good enough to get a Hermes one some day.

    1. Why does a starter scarf have to be a brand name? I would choose by color and fabric, not brand.

    2. Love love love! the Murfee scarves! I have a few in different prints to go with different colored outfits. They are very lightweight and incredibly soft. I definitely recommend picking one up. And the outfit you described is just right. I also like to wear them with a plain blouse tucked into a patterned/colored pencil skirt that plays off the colors in the scarf.

    3. What the H is a “starter scarf”?

      My in-laws got us a starter home in suburban Tempe and I’m wondering if one has anything to do with the other.

    4. Thanks! The starter scarf is just b/c I like the idea of scarves, but want to expand into something wearable. The Lilly scarf seems knowable (rectangle, prints, the sort of thing you could put on a wish list for presents), sort of the way that a Hermes scarf is knowable (large, square, slippery — so tricky for a novice like me, and too expensive to put on a wish list). Also, I don’t want to waste money on something (so if a Lilly clone shows up, easily grabbable at a thirft store since it seems like the concept might work).

      Where do I sign up for the in-laws who’ll get me a starter home? That I could definitely do!

  14. Question for ladies with broad/square shoulders and blazers. I have square shoulders (not overly broad) and my body is pretty hourglass balanced between my hips and chest (so its not like I have tiny hips). I always feel like a linebacker in blazers! What do other women with square or broad shoulders do? Do I just not wear blazers at all? This wouldn’t be too much of an issue as my office is business-casual most of the time, but I like the look of a blazer (especially in the fall).

    1. Have you tried more fitted blazers? I’m a busty hourglass shape so I look better in jackets that nip in at the waist to balance my shape.

    2. Can you have a tailor remove the inevitable shoulder pads?

      Then also emphasize the hourglass by wearing the blazer open and putting on a belt?

      Single button, low stance blazers would also help, especially when worn open, but would probably minimize the shoulders if you have to wear them closed/buttoned.

      1. I think this may be what I have to do….Say I have to get a size 6 because of my bust but then I feel like the shoulders are 1/4 inch too wide. That or go with ponte knit blazers or ones made of jersey. I just love how blazers look on my friends who are more pear-shaped. It seems to balance them out perfectly.

      2. I’d try buying without the shoulder pads rather than having them removed. There is usually some shaping/padding in the shoulder (even minimal ones) to keep the shape of the armhole/shoulder – so removing it is going to make the shoulder look weird.

    3. I have the same problem, so I tend to wear unstructured blazers like ponte, soft tweed, and knit. They look less formal than a structured blazer but more formal than a cardigan to me. But my office is pretty casual, so this might not work for everyone.

    4. Being broad of shoulder/large of bust and narrow of waist, I either try and find more fitted blazers that have a bit of stretch in them (so the shoulders aren’t tight). Otherwise, the tailor is your best friend. I basically bring every single blazer in and have it altered in some way. Also, although you want some padding in the shoulders to give it shape, they can reduce how much is in there. Don’t give up on blazers yet!

    5. I’m broad shouldered and have an hourglass/pear shape. I’ve found that I have to be careful about the fit of blazers and jackets so I don’t look boxy. Some things I look for:

      – Shoulder fit – are the shoulder seams placed correctly at the edge of my shoulder? Is the shaping/padding flattering, or bulky?
      – Waist shaping – are there seams or darts to define the waist? If so, does it nip in at the same place I do? Do the buttons enhance the waist shaping?
      – Drape – is the fabric drapey enough to move with me? (On me, stiff = boxy)
      – Length – this varies a lot, but is the length flattering and proportionate?

      I’ll have the tailor shorten sleeves and take in the back or sides along the seams, but the things mentioned are hard or impossible to change.

    6. I buy jackets with shoulder pads so that I can cut them out (more room in the shoulders), but the curve-hugging “look at me!” jackets from Express in large sizes so they look like normal jackets, or buy a size that will fit your shoulders and get it altered. I have broad shoulders and I’m pretty skinny, so I can’t really buy jackets most places and wear them. I think it’s worth going to a store that does tailoring, buying one black jacket, and getting it cut to fit.

    7. Definitely avoid anything with extended shoulders. Look for jackets that the sleeve starts right at the shoulder joint.

      Most jackets have a 1/2″ shoulder pad. Some jackets you can take them out and not affect the fit of the jacket (depending on your shoulder structure and the style of the jacket). For others, swapping the shoulder pad for a narrower one (1/4″) does the trick.

      Also, jackets with long front openings and narrow lapels (single button/low stance) are far better than anything boxy or shirt-like. Those just emphasize the broadness near your face. Not good. Also longer jackets (lower hip area as opposed to cropped up near the waist) are better. The jacket should be noticeably longer than it is wide. Some waist shaping is preferable to a straight line. I look like I am wearing a little refrigerator in long boxy jackets.

      Double breast styles, pockets, contrasting piping are all going to draw the eye to were the jacket is widest. Skip them in favor on a sleek, solid color with minimal contrast (no brass buttons).

      And peplums are not going to balance a thing out, they will just make you look a little shorter along with wider.

    8. I got pretty broad/square shoulders, to the point where I couldn’t fit my blazers in the shoulders when I weightlifted + The waist and hips part of the hourglass, not so much the bust part.
      I love blazers, but then I only buy extremely tailored jackets, so my waist is emphazised. It can be a challenge to find something that is fitted enough in the waist and roomy enough in the shoulders. But if it is, length and single/double breastedness is less important.

      The worst for me is getting sleeves that are long enough.

  15. Skin care TJ: I am almost 28, just started my first law job after law school, and have decided it’s time to overhaul my facial skin care regimen. I currently use neutrogena grapefruit scrub once a day, followed by neutrogena moisturizer and drugstore brand retinol cream under the eyes. I don’t use foundation, just tinted moisturizer and a bit of powder. I wash my face at night with a makeup remover towelette and a splash of water. Overall, I’m just not happy with the way my skin looks – reddish, huge pores, still get the occasional zit, and fairly prominent dark circles. Any suggestions on what I should be doing instead, or resources where I can learn, without getting the hard sell to buy a whole line of one brand’s products? TIA.

    1. I would speak with a dermatologist — they can give you an rx for face wash (which for me ends up costing the same as neutrogena), and can help you address problem areas. I find spas push a whole line of products that aren’t necessarily suited to my skin.

    2. I honestly find Sephora to be really helpful for this. They have skincare specialists and since they carry a huge range of brands, they can give you really good recommendations.

    3. It sounds like you need a BHA exfoliant to help with pores and breakouts. Nothing can really cure dark circles, but wearing sunscreen every day keeps them from getting darker. Check out the Paula’s Choice website for lots of great info and product reviews.

    4. Good question. I have not used Paula’s Choice, but everyone of this site seems to recommend her products. I would check out her website – everything has high ratings, and is reasonably affordable. Best part? She has several pages on her website about how to address common skin concerns, redness etc. I would read the info and then decide if you want to buy Paula stuff or other stuff. She also wrote a book (Don’t go to the Cosmetic’s Counter without Me) that I’ve just checked out from the library. Seems like a good place to start. Also please report back if you find something that works!

      1. Paula’s Choice products contain parabens, which not everyone is sensitive to, but they are deal-breakers for me. They tend to make enlarged, visible pores even worse, and are an A+ way to develop milia.

    5. Clarisonic!! Clarisonic has worked wonders for me, and you can keep your facewash (although I would choose something that is not an exfoliant already because that could be harsh on your skin). I just use Cetaphil with my Clarisonic every other day before bed.

      Also, +1 to either Sephora or a dermatologist for the best moisturizers/cleansers.

    6. I have similar skin and I would definitely recommend that you stop using the grapefruit exfoliant. A number of aestheticians had told me this before, but I didn’t believe them because my skin didn’t feel clean unless I scrubbed. The problem is that the grit in scrubs like that actually create tiny cuts on your face, those cuts get filled with oil and other crud, and then you get a pimple. About a year ago, I finally gave in and got a foaming cleanser with salicylic acid, no grit. My skin is a lot better and any breakouts I have are so much smaller than before.

      1. Yes! Sounds like you need a chemical exfoliant rather than a physical exfoliant.

        I love Caroline Hirons (who has a blog for skincare) for beauty advice. and make sure you are getting fish oil supplements!

      2. +1 Even if you still want to use an exfoliant, try using it once a week instead of every day. That is a lot of abuse for your skin!

    7. I had some of the same issues and after trying Paula’s Choice, Clinique, and lots of others, I finally gave up and started using the Aveeno Ultra-Calming cleanser and moisturizer, and that cleared up all of the issues–including the acne. Incorporating a mild exfoliant really helped, but going to a more abrasive one didn’t–it sounds counterintuitive to use less harsh products to solve acne and pore issues, but it isn’t. Also, FYI, I have many friends whose redness cleared up after they stopped using the Neutrogena grapefruit products, so I think there’s something in those that really irritates skin.

  16. shopping help – i am in search of tunic/long tops to wear with leggings. im not sure why, but i always have a hard time pairing tops with leggings.

    1. Boden!

      I also had one of their modal sale dresses (that they called a tunic – too long for tunic, tooooo short for a dress) shortened further for a great tunic look.

      Love their patterns and colors.

      1. this doesn’t seem long enough to wear with leggings. Maybe it depends on where the shirt falls exactly…but I’d want an extra 2″ before wearing with non-jeans.

        1. this doesn’t seem long enough to wear with leggings. Maybe it depends on where the shirt falls exactly…but I’d want an extra 2″ before wearing with non-jeans.

          1. this doesn’t seem long enough to wear with leggings. Maybe it depends on where the shirt falls exactly…but I’d want an extra 2″ before wearing with non-jeans.

          2. @Anon 1:36 pm: I think for me it really depends on the amount of jiggle in the b**ty. I don’t have a perfectly firm behind, so skinny jeans do a much better job keeping things contained. Some leggings do that also (Lysse, for example), but they need to be made out of a pretty sturdy material for me to not feel self-conscious about my jiggle. Because I’m self-conscious about that area, I also notice when the jiggle on other women when the material of their pants is too thin. Maybe it’s size-ist to think that a jiggle is inappropriate, so sorry for that, but I have to admit that I find it distracting and generally not very classy when the b**ty isn’t contained.

        2. To each their own, but for me, that is plenty long enough for leggings. I’m short and anything longer is going to throw my proportions off and look like I’m wearing a dress with pants.

          1. Ah– if you’re short, i’m sure it’s a totally reasonable length. I’m the height of that model, if not taller.

        3. Not everyone is on Team Leggings-Aren’t-Pants. If you’re wearing *tights* people will think you forgot your pants. If you’re wearing leggings, they might judge so for your choice, but you will not have “forgotten” your pants.

          1. Yes, but some people are on team can’t-tell-the-difference-between-tights-and-leggings.

  17. I’ve read the posts in the archives on this, but I’m interested in any new anecdotes or advice the hive has to offer:

    I am 20 weeks. I am starting to more noticeably show, though it is not totally obvious that I have a bump – I just look thicker. I work in big law with a team of all male litigators – I am the only female attorney that works with this team. We don’t have any trials currently scheduled for next year. I would like to try to put off announcing for a few more weeks because (1) I’m concerned I won’t be given any new cases to work on, (2) I am on track to meet my hours but still need to bill about 150 each month to do so, and (3) I don’t want to be treated differently in a way that lightens my work load (even if well intentioned). I guess those aren’t really three separate issues – the bottom line is I’m concerned I won’t be given work.

    Any advice on waiting to inform your workplace? On the one hand, I don’t think I’m hurting my team by not disclosing it and I am hopefully helping myself continue to get good work. On the other hand, will it reflect badly on my if I wait longer to tell them? I’m not due until the end of February. If I can get through October, I’d still be giving them 4 months notice. Thoughts?

    1. I was on the same schedule as you (was due in February) and my work didn’t start to drop off until January, which was logical. (Also biglaw litigation) I don’t think it will reflect badly on you to wait a bit longer, but some people might already have their suspicions if you are 20 weeks.

      Don’t stress. No need to have a big announcement. If for some reason your availability post-Feb is an issue, mention it then. But if not, mention it whenever you feel like it. I think if you genuinely convey that you plan to work hard through the end of the year, the work will be there for you.

    2. FWIW, I announced @ 20 weeks the first time. 4.5 months gives people and you plenty of time to plan. And if you’ve been getting work, you’ll continue to get work I’d think. I’ve never had work go away b/c I was pregnant or about to go out on leave (and people who were slow weren’t bearing the brunt of their group’s slowness b/c of being pregnant). But any later might be springing your maternity leave on people (which I have never seen done).

      Waiting usually means waiting until the 2nd trimester starts.

    3. Wow, congrats on making it that long! I have no advice, I had to tell at 12-13 weeks because I was giant at that point.

      1. I was able to hide until over 4 months with my first, but with No. 2 I didn’t even try and now (10 weeks in with No. 3), I’m thinking it’s pretty obvious. It is at least obvious to me that I’ve been packing on the weight and don’t fit into my normal clothes. And just yesterday I saw on a trip to the bathroom that my belly button is already starting to poke out! So I’m with you on not even trying to squeak by.

        Mostly this is a long-winded way of saying after the first pregnancy I think your ab panel is never gonna be the the same (barring some crazy Gwyneth Paltrow diet/exercise regime).

        1. haha this reminds me that my boyfriend sister said she feels as if “all of my organs just fell down”. Funny, but sad.

        2. I have so many belly-button questions. So the innie-to-outie transition happens gradually, right? Or do you wake up one day and it’s just there, all e-r-e-c-t? Does it hurt? Is it sensitive? Is there chafing?

          1. I can only speak from my own experience, but my belly button popped midway through my first pregnancy. Didn’t hurt, didn’t chafe, wasn’t sensitive, just went from innie to outie. Post-pregnancy, it went down as my midsection deflated, but never went back to being a true innie. Second pregnancy (and apparently now third), it popped back out as soon as my tummy started bulging slightly. I find it a bit amusing, and compared to the other changes my body experienced, it was pretty minor. FWIW, I wore bikinis post-pregnancies. Only time you can really see it is when I’m wearing a looser, lighter colored shirt.

            I’m impressed with ladies for whom this doesn’t happen, but maybe I had a weak innie to begin with? Also, my kids were solid 8-lbers, and I gained ~45-50 lbs with both pregnancies, so perhaps it’s some combo of middling innie and big babies?

          3. I am 38 weeks and 4 days and it has not popped. It is certainly, ah, protruding? as in, you can see my belly button shape when I have a shirt on. But it is very much still indented. Maybe it was just very deep to begin with.

          4. Mine never popped. It just got perfectly flat, then went back to being an innie afterwards.

          1. Ha! I’ve invested in some long scarves and busted out some old, larger clothes that were en route to the donation box. I think everyone thinks I’m interviewing because my stash of bigger clothes is mostly suits. (Which apparently were more generously cut 7-10 years ago…)

    4. I just told my work yesterday, but I am in a small office with many women who have taken leave. The attorney I work almost exclusively with is a male, though. I am on the exact time line that you are on — 20 weeks, due in Feb, obvious to me that I’ve gained weight, but not really showing in a hugely pregnant way. FWIW, when I told my boss, he said he didn’t notice anything about my weight gain and would have had no idea if I had not told him. He was very nice about it — I was extremely nervous, and I think he thought I was quitting so he was kind of relieved to hear it wasn’t that. The managing partner was also very nice. Everyone seemed genuinely excited for me and said in some shape or form, “we’ll make it work.”

      Ultimately, however, I don’t think it will reflect badly on you if you wait to tell them. Its a personal choice, and pregnancy is a very personal thing. I find it very odd to discuss with other people. So much focus on my body and what is happening to it feels weird to discuss with non-family members. If you think it will impact the amount of work you will receive, I would absolutely wait. Of course, I would not take on projects that will have significant deadlines while you are planning to be out, but for now, I would focus on doing all your work and meeting your hours and tell them in a few weeks or so.

      1. When I told my boss (around 16 weeks or so), her first and continued reaction was, “but you’re coming back, right?!” We work in different offices, so she didn’t really see me often enough to guess on her own.

        I am going out on leave starting the 4th and it was not until probably last week that I’ve started to get passed over on new projects (which is 100% reasonable- my transition plan was in place 9/15 and I’m essentially hands off as of 10/1). I am not in biglaw, however.

    5. I waited forever to tell people in my office. There were people who did not know until I was 6.5 months along, and even then there were some people who didn’t know in other offices until after that. Honestly, like you, I wanted to keep my work and pace. I don’t think it really phased people — most people were just shocked I was able to keep it quiet for so long. I reasoned that if I was leaving, I only had to give 2 weeks notice. And if it was any other health issue, people wouldn’t know in advance. So why did I need to give 20+ weeks notice for pregnancy if I was still able to take and complete work? I’ve been back for awhile, and can honestly say that it worked out fine for me.

    6. Consider that everyone probably already suspects. Every time I run into a friend who has told me over the phone “I’m not showing, just a little heavier!” she has clearly looked pregnant.

      1. Guys are so clueless about this stuff though – if she works with all men I think its very likely nobody suspects anything.

      2. Freals. There was a partner at my former BigLaw firm who didn’t tell until she was well past month 5 and it was pretty obvious, even though she did a good job of hiding it with cardigans, blazers, and scarves. She was pretty petite and anyone who’d spent some time around a pregnant lady could tell what was up, though she was one of those lucky ladies who apparently only gained in her midsection.

    7. Agree with everyone who said it’s ok to wait. No need to make a big announcement, except in private to your boss and the people directly impacted – and then in a matter of fact, work-focused way. People don’t notice other people too much, and going into colder weather and layered clothing it will be even harder to tell. And nobody is likely to say “you told us too late!” if you still have months to go. People quit all the time with 2 weeks notice and the team adjusts.

      And Diana Barry, I’m totally with you on the “having to tell” because I just looked pregnant part. My theory is that it’s all to do with the size of your b**bs as compared to your belly (so its the profile view that matters). As an A-cup, it took very little for my belly to start protruding ahead of where other things were, ha! If you are more gifted on top then you can potentially be more pregnant before it’s obvious.

      1. Yes I think most people won’t notice, or won’t say anything. A woman I see around the floor told me she was pregnant a month ago. She was at like 7 months. First of all, I didn’t notice until very recently, and second of all I didn’t say anything until she said “I’m pregnant!”

  18. Hope everything went well yesterday and that you are off bedrest/not in hospital.

    1. Aw, thank you! I’m still on bedrest today and will have to call my doc tonight. Last night we decided to give it another day… so hopefully I won’t be in the hospital tonight!

  20. I am getting married in a few months in Washington DC, and my fiancé and I are struggling to find an officiant. We don’t belong to a church, have no family members or friends who are pastors, and generally find the Professional Officiants to be kind of a strange idea. Any ideas on finding a great officiant? Or perhaps someone can explain the law or process for having a friend officiate the ceremony? Thanks!

    1. You have to look at the local DC requirements for whether a friend can officiate. My husband and I had our friend officiate, but NYS has requirements that the person must be (in essence), a judge, from city hall, or a priest or the like. We had to get our friend registered as a pastor through some online church.

    2. The DC regs make it pretty tough to get a random friend registered to officiate, but if you google DC wedding officiant there are tons of non-denominational people who do it.

      My husband and I got married at the marriage bureau at Superior Court. It was really lovely, but the room only holds 15 people, so if you are having a small wedding, I highly recommend it.

      1. Sorry, I just realized that you said you aren’t into the professional officiant idea. That’s going to be tough. I believe the regs require a person who wants to become an officiant to get an endorsement from someone in their “religion” who is already a registered officiant to vouch that they are a “pastor” or the equivalent with that religion. Here is the application. http://www.dccourts.gov/internet/documents/marriage.pdf

    3. What one of our friends did was get married at City Hall a few days before the wedding and then have a friend officiate the “real wedding”. For a variety of reasons it wouldn’t work out any other way. I understand that there has been some controversy on this topic recently, here, but I think it’s a viable option. I don’t think most people at the wedding realized that they were already legally married- I did because I was in law school and I was worried that they wouldn’t realize the wedding was going to meet the legal requirements, so they had to tell me.

      1. I was just going to suggest that. Despite the disagreements on this site recently, I think it’s a terrific idea to go get the legal part done and then have someone who really knows and cares about you serve as “officiant” at your family and friends ceremony. (My understanding is that this is 100% how it’s done in some countries. You do the legal ceremony then the religious/cultural ceremony, and no one thinks it’s weird.) I’d just be up front with people about it in case they decide they want to be snitty.

    4. I feel you on the Professional Officiants (and the majority of their websites are truly terrible, which doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, wrong as that may be). However, if you’re not getting married in a church/don’t know a judge and the legal requirements of your jurisdiction are fairly strict, they can be your best option.

      You can find religiously affiliated people that are willing to do wedding ceremonies outside of their houses of worship, which is one way to go (you can try asking if that is a possibility at various houses of worship that you find ideologically appealing). Or, you can try to find a Professional Officiant who doesn’t set your teeth on edge with their new-agey nonsense and insistence on “sand ceremonies” or whatnot.

      When I got married earlier this year, we were getting married in a county that requires some kind of “ordained” official, and that ALSO doesn’t recognize the online certification. So, we were stuck with finding a judge or a professional. I went through a BUNCH of terrible websites, spoke to recently married friends in the area, and used weddingwire for reviews. Once I found a few people I could tolerate, I initiated contact, did interviews, and then picked someone I liked and that wanted to engage us in the ceremony writing process.

      I think the biggest takeaway from the experience is that the “Professional Officiant” can be just fine if you 1) find someone with a presence that you like (make sure they can project their voice!) and 2) lets you write the ceremony. Honestly, I think the fact that we basically wrote the entirety of our ceremony ourselves made it a lot more meaningful, and took away the stress of “oh god, what is she going to say.” Which is not to say that we crafted it “from scratch” — A Practical Wedding has AMAZING resources for vows, non-cheesy readings and how to “structure” the ceremony.

      1. Thanks for all the comments. I had told my fiancé that the friend thing probably wasn’t a great option, but just wanted some confirmation that my hunch was correct. Anyone have a professional officiant they could recommend, by chance? It sounds like that will be the route we take.

          1. A friend of mine used an officiant affiliated with the Washington Ethical Society around 5 years ago, and her ceremony was beautiful. I’d heartily recommend them.

  21. Hey guys, I have a question about unemployment. I asked a few days ago about filing for unemployment when the job you’re losing was a time-limited position (in my case, a two-year fellowship). Some people said they’d success getting benefits for a position like this, which was encouraging, and I do plan to apply and see what happens.

    So yesterday I met with HR, and they asked me and the other attorney losing his fellowship position to send an email to our supervisor stating that funding is ending and our last day will be Sept. 30. We’re supposed to CC this to HR as well. I didn’t think much of it, and I haven’t done it yet.

    Today the other attorney brought it up, and said he was reluctant to do it because he’s concerned the company will somehow try to use this email to contest our unemployment claims. I don’t know about that, but it IS odd: I only know funding is ending because they’ve told me, that’s not something I can determine on my own. Why am I the one giving them notice of the funding situation and my last day? Why aren’t they notifying me of that (which they did, informally and orally, about a month ago)?

    What do you all think? I’m not trying to be paranoid, but at the same time I really do need unemployment and I’m afraid to do anything that will give the company ammunition. I would just blow it off and not send the email at all, but the company is paying for my health insurance through the end of October and I suppose they could cancel that if I refused to send this email as requested. I’m considering sending it and wording it like “at the request of HR I am sending this email, I have been notified funding is ending and my last day will be X day.” And then maybe including some of the unemployment language, like stating that the job loss is through no fault of my own. ??

    I’d appreciate any input, this is all really stressful. I’ve never applied for unemployment before and I don’t feel like I can trust my company to do the right thing.

    1. Since you don’t know how this will effect your bid to collect unemployment one word – DONT!! I mean, what’s in if for you? It’s not like you are getting any severance in exchange for this email. Traditionally its the boss’s responsibility, not the employees to tell HR that they are being fired or laid off. If I werer you, just “forget” your promise to send this email. One’s months insurance does not make up for the unemployement assistance that you could be signing away. ff

      1. not sure what state you are in, but I am familiar with my state’s rules for UI and I agree that you should hesitate to put in writing anything that can be construed as a resignation letter. In my state, it is much harder to get UI if the state later decides you quit rather than being laid off. Your clarifying language would probably cover you, but the same issue remains which is why are you being asked to do this? Can you go back to HR and ask for clarification?

    2. I don’t know the answer about unemployment but agree with your plan to use wording showing that you were notified of this information, not that you determined this yourself. “This email serves to confirm our conversation today in which I was informed the funding for my position is ending and that my last day will be September 30th.” I honestly think you’ll be okay with unemployment. My general understanding was that as long as you don’t leave of your own volition, you’re probably entitled. My state’s unemployment website has pretty useful information about this. Were there any FAQs on your state’s website?

      1. This realllllly depends on the state. I’d encourage OP to forget this email for now. Tell the person verbally, if you feel like they need to be kept abreast of things. If HR asks, tell them you spoke to your supervisor and s/he is aware.

    3. Thanks everyone. I think I’m going to just ‘forget’ to send the email. If someone from HR asks me about it, I’ll ask why I’m being asked to do it. My state’s unemployment website is pretty sparse, unfortunately, but I’ll spend more time tonight reviewing all the FAQs again, etc.

      Thanks again!

  22. Can anyone comment on the quality and sizing of Tory Burch clothes (i.e. not shoes/handbags)? Are they cut slim like Helmut Lang and Theory?

    Thanks in advance,
    RED

  23. I work in a business casual corporate office and have a lot of these cotton blazers because they’re comfy and can still dress up pants and a shirt. However, my new boss starts soon and she has a reputation of wearing only high-end couture clothing (and apparently with matching designer purses and shoes). Do I need to step up my wardrobe and, if so, how much? Would you change your wardrobe to impress a new boss (who I might not interact with much), or, since I can’t afford designer clothing anyway, should I continue to dress as I have been and make more of an effort going forward to buy nicer pieces?

    1. Dude, take a deep breath. Buy clothes you like, can afford and are office appropriate. Your boss lady is doing her thing and you do yours.

  24. Can anyone comment on how helpful the CFA distinction is and what the process is like? I don’t want to give too much information and out myself, but I’m a young lawyer transitioning to a totally new position in a large financial institution. I’m going to be in a business development/client facing role dealing with a hybrid of estate planning and investing. I’m really excited about the role, but am less experienced with the finance/investing portion of the job. A few people have mentioned studying for the CFA might help fill that gap in my resume and make me more confident with the material. I’m not sure how seriously I should consider this or if it is seen as something that’s worth the time.

    1. It sounds like having the charter would be useful in your new role, but be aware that it is a long process (2.5 years at minimum, add a year for each level you don’t pass the first time). Level 1 is offered in June and December each year, but you can only sit for level 2 and 3 in June. After passing all three exams, you still don’t technically have your charter until you obtain 4 years of related work experience (I don’t think your previous law experience would count here) and pass an ethics/conduct requirement to be admitted to your local chapter.

      1. Is it hard to learn the material or is it something where if you put the time in, you pass?

        1. I think it depends on your educational background and how easily you pick up financial concepts. Most of my colleagues (finance, with a BA in a related field) needed to retake at least one level, despite having studied diligently for basically half a year prior to each exam.

    2. sitting for the CFA is a lot of work. But if you’re thinking one day you may want to transition from law to finance, I’d jump at the chance–esp. if your company will sponsor you. These things (like standardized tests, graduate school, etc) are all a big PITA but best done while you’re young and spry :)

    3. Agree with Brant, it is a LOT of work. When I took it (several years ago) the reading list and study guide for Levels 2 and 3 were released in Dec or Jan, which basically gives you 5 months to study. I (and most of my colleagues who have taken it) studied about 15 or 20 hours a week. It is kind of like having a part time job for 5 months.

    4. I hold the CFA charter and while I am a nerd and love to learn, it was a long, tough process. My educational background was an AB in Art History and an MBA from a top ten school focusing in finance. I had to re-sit one of the levels. Pretty much for 6 months of the year my life was on hold outside of work and studying. That being said, I’m glad I got it.

      For your new role, you mentioned estate planning. It may also be worth you looking into the CFP designation. More financial planning/ all around vs. pretty in-depth investment for the CFA.

      Regardless, good luck!

  25. Can anyone give me ideas on how to find a coupon code for Lo & Sons? After reading all the glowing reviews of the OG and the OMG bags on this site, I’ve decided I’d like one for my birthday, but you’ve all also convinced me that I’d be crazy to buy one of these without at least a 30% off coupon. Any ideas where to look or when Lo & Sons typically has sales? Thanks for any suggestions…

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