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Thursday’s TPS Report: American Living Gathered Dress-Black Multi Dot

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

American Living Gathered Dress-Black Multi Dot

Today, we're liking this lovely printed dress from American Living by JCPenney. I got to wear it a few weeks ago for a fun thing I did: take part in a video blog series with ten other bloggers, all sponsored by American Living by JCPenney! My video will be coming soon — you can check out the “behind the scenes” preview below.

The dress itself is lovely — the pattern is a mix of multi-colored dots in black, brown, purple, light blue, and white. For the shoot I accessorized with a black blazer and pumps, my favorite pearls, and a bright green Dooney & Bourke bag from a few seasons ago — I liked the way the green made the purple pop.

The dress is $66 (was $90) at JCPenney.com. American Living Gathered Dress-Black Multi Dot

The video series are sponsored by JCPenney and produced by Style Coalition.

Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line.

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:

132 Comments

  1. It’s nice to see something from JC Penney. I’ve heard good things about their clothes, but the store near me is awful and disorganized, and I find myself trying to get out of there as soon as possible.

    I was browsing their site and think this jacket is pretty cute, and it’s on sale to boot:

    http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=STY&ItemID=18b422f&DeptID=70656&CatID=71639&SO=0&x5view=1&Ne=29+3+23+8+1031+18+904+949+833&shopperType=G&N=4294953668&Nao=0&PSO=0&cmAMS_T=XGN5&cmAMS_C=MERCH&cmAMS_Z=XGN5TOPOFRESULTS&CmCatId=50434|71639

    1. That jacket – I don’t know if it’s the styling or the jacket itself, but the prints on both sides look so mis-matched it almost looks like two different prints. The left side seems like it’s white with a black design, and the right side seems black with a white design. Anyone else getting what I’m saying?

      2. Yes–the print is definitely off. Even if it was made to look like that, it would look horribly off as part of an outfit!

    2. I like JCPenney for more casual work attire, although I have come across some nicer clothing as well. I’ve found that even the neater stores are still kind of disorganized and you really have to hunt. I enjoy the hunting aspect of shopping when I’m in no rush so it doesn’t bother me as much (although if I’m looking for something specific, it drives me crazy).

  2. Thread hijack firght off the bat …

    Does anyone have experience with putting one’s purse or briefcase onto granite countertops? Specifically, do the little metal, pointed “feet” of the bags scratch or mar the granite? After personally installing our own granite tile countertops in our MCM kitchen redo (no manicures for this Corporette – sandpaper and grout do the trick ), I don’t want to risk the daily up/down and on/off of the bags on the counter if they are going to leave scratches. Do tell…Thanks.

    1. I’d be more worried about germs than scratching the granite. Do you put your bag on the floor of your office or on the train? I always notice one of my coworkers puts her lunch bag on the counter at the office kitchen, and I know she puts the same bag on the floor of the train, and it grosses me out.

      Sorry for the nonresponsive answer. :)

      1. This drives me crazy, too. Glad to know I’m not the only one out there who thinks this way =).

      2. I think this every time I see a purse on the washroom floor. I wonder where else that person puts it.

    2. One of my “usual” purses has metal feet. I sling it on my granite countertop without thinking twice about it. I have never noticed any scratches as a result, but the metal feet are a bit rounded rather than pointed. The whole point of having a granite countertop is to be durable, so I can’t imagine it would be a problem.

      1. Although I would buy a granite “polish” . . . I use this pretty frequently and it keeps the counters shiny and slick. Maybe this acts a buffer that prevents scratches.

    3. Granite is incredibly tough – I would not be concerned. Granite is second in hardness to diamonds – and can only be cut using a diamond blade (it’s a blade that has diamond chips affixed to it to cut through especially hard surfaces… like granite).

      1. I well know how hard grainte is – we did the cutting, laying, grouting etc. all ourselves. Was just worried about continuous “use” in the same place.

        I am also grossed out by bags on floors and then counters. This is a little counter we put in the utility room as a landing spot for keys, phones, chargers, mail, and all those little papers that are thrown in the yard by area publishers…who knows where they’ve been, what’s in the lawn, and who’s peed on the grass right there. This way they are all not in the kitchen at all.

        This means I don’t have to buy a new purse or briefcase without feet!

        We’re using Hope’s Perfect Kitchen spray on a regular basis and find it does well with the granite and the stainless steel backsplash tile we installed (That was a bear to install but great looking and cleans well.) I know it’s not organic but makes for a fast clean up everywhere…hard to find in stores.
        Thanks gals.

        1. Ew, I never thought about all the junk mail and leaflets being germy. I have a shelf near my door for that very purpose, though. Ew.

        2. Side note – totally wowed by your home improvement skills/accomplishment! Congratulations! I have a granite topped table in my hallway that I use for the same purpose — I love that I never worry about water stains, scratches, etc.

          1. Granite survives anything. We installed granite countertops and a full size island – the island is subject to all day every day kid abuse, cat walks on it (yuck, I know), many keys, briefcases, bags with feet, computers, art projects, you name it, and some inhabitants of household who will remain unnamed even slice veg, fruit, meat on it AND (horrors) place HOT pots of food from rangetop on it. I have never polished it and it has been ‘cleaned’ with everything from nail polish remover to clorox. Like the old timex riff, it keeps on shining – looks great, love it.

            And yeah, WOW on installing it yourself. For personal safety reasons (mine and everyone involved), I had to be out of the jurisdiction when mine was done.

          2. THANKS for ALL the kudos! We have learned how to do everything and spent the last 5 years redoing the MCM home back to it’s original state…7 coats of industrial enamel were on all of the woodwork – mahogany – and all the original ceiling beams! So it’s all back or replaced with new that we stained/poly ourselves, including new paneling, updating all the lighting, plumbing fixtures, flooring (real slate and porcelain put in as they used nailed-on tack strips to install wall to wall over original terazzo floors), refacing brick fireplace and entry walls (they had stuccoed over in a faux Italian style with bricks showing through) … oh my.

            That’s what happens when folks stay in a house for 40+ years and change it repeatedly. We even had to make new mahogany cabinet doors for the kitchen and bath – at some time they had tossed them out and replaced with mdr slab doors. It’s been a journey. Hope we stay here a long time – or at least some time to truly live in the house, not a construction zone!

            We saved bundles by doing it ourselves, upgraded materials as a result, but it has been a chaotic mess for some time which is also the price we paid, being slowed down by working on it only on weekends and when other folks would normally have a “holiday” or “vacation.” Happy it’s nearly done…kitchen was the last frontier. I’ve been happy every day to go to the calm, neat office AND to “dress up” … probably why the ruffle trends have appealed to me as the rest of the time I’m in construction worker gear :)

            Thanks again.

        3. have been tossing purse, briefcase, laptop, ipad, chargers, etc etc etc on my granite counters since they were installed 3 years ago (not to mention the cats who refuse to accept that countertops are not cat turf), and no scratches visible at all. And I wash my colors with my whites too :-)

  3. That’s “Right off the bat” – wearing a brace due to the tendonitis caused by the reno. Ah well.

  4. I grew up in a different income bracket than I inhabit now and JC Penney’s (or any department store) was so fancy for me. Now of course I normally consider it too low quality for work clothes (fine for casual though) although they don’t even have one anywhere near where I live. But last winter I needed to get a couple of suits for a business trip, didn’t want to shell out a lot of money because, without going into too much detail on my career, I tend to get dirty, and I found a couple of great suits on sale at JCP marked down from $225 to $50. They came in petites and plus sizes, had a skirt and pants, came in a bunch of colors, and are polyester, but were perfect for traveling because they are washable, have a stain-repellent fabric and are wrinkle-free. They don’t look cheap – they look like they were worth the original $225 price. I was very happy with them and I’d recommend JCP to law students and others on a budget who need a decent suit.

    1. I think we have similar backgrounds. I have often thought about how when I was growing up getting something from Penny’s was a really big deal, and now I rarely find anything worthwhile there. I am very thankful to now be in the position I am in, but also thankful for my childhood that taught me not to take it for granted that I can regularly shop at Nordstrom and Brooks Brothers.

      1. Right there with both of you.

        I have to admit I haven’t been in a Penney’s for years – they aren’t very commnon in the city where I live – but I’ve ordered several housewares off their website recently and have been very pleased with quality, speed, etc.

        1. I second this about their housewares. A good friend of mine recently bought a house and has purchased several rugs, tables, etc. from Penney’s and I’ve been really impressed both with their quality and price point. My fiance assembled a couple of the bigger furniture pieces for her and said that they were much higher quality than those from Target or other similar places one might look for relatively inexpensive furniture.

          1. I got some area rugs from Penneys and have been happy with them too – specifically wanted large rugs that were washable (pets) and they were perfect adn affordable and are holding up well under all the wear and tear…

      2. I grew up so far from a city that we bought clothes from a catalog up through the early 90s, when WalMart came to a nearby town. Now, Nordie’s still makes my heart flutter every time I walk in.

      3. I work as a lawyer for a non-profit. My starting salary is under $40K, so I have to rely on getting pieces from JCPenney or I would be naked! They can have some nice things, but don’t count on keeping them for 15 years. So, I tend to get things there that are a little bit “trendier” than I might be otherwise. It works for me.

    2. Agreed – I grew up on JC Penneys, which was the “nicer” alternative to shopping at Kohl’s. I still think of it as good place to pick up an emergency suit or dress when I’m on a budget, and the sales are fantastic.

    4. I just stocked up on a bunch of their house brand t-shirts, St. Johns Bay. I was looking for simple, crew-neck long sleeve tees in solid colors, and theirs are nicely made of that thick, durable cotton knit that doesn’t wrinkle easily and washes like a dream.

      I try not to write off any particular store forever, because you never know when they will bring out an inexpensive yet well-made version of some basic staple like underwear or camisoles. And of course, no company seems to stick with the same design for long, so once Old Navy’s t-shirts stop being just right, along comes a Target version that fits the bill.

    1. Try calling a Macy’s and seeing if they have it. They should be able to search all the Macy’s nationwide and ship it to you.

    2. Call stores! They should be able to find it if it’s in any store in the country and ship it to your local store.

    4. I have this suit as well and adore it. I always receive compliments when I wear it.

  6. Nearly on topic — Nearly all of the window coverings in our home came from JCP. The quality is amazing. I bought “designer” silk drapes for the living room and the JCP 100% silk drapes in the dining room actually look more expensive.

    1. I bought all of my drapes from JC Penny. I constantly get compliments on them . . . I just smile.

      1. me too on the drapes; love them
        but I’m not ready to starting buying work clothes there

        1. Yes! JC Penney has great drapes. I bought really lovely ones for my daughter’s room around the Jan/Feb when they have their white sale. Ridiculous discounts!

        2. Reminds me of the old Carol Burnett routine where she played Scarlett O’Hara and made her dress from the green velvet curtains. Just like the movie, except she left the giant curtain rod in the shoulders…

    2. Our bedding came from JCP and is beautiful. I did not have luck with drapes there (our silk drapes came from PB), but I did buy the beautiful rods they hang on from JCP. They look much more expensive than they were.

  7. I peruse JC Penney on a semi-regular basis… for one thing it’s often the easiest place to find parking at the local mall, and for another, that’s where Liz Claiborne is now sold exclusively, so I wanted to see how it looked. I have been consistently disappointed though – not so much by the fabrics, but by the styles. I’m okay with synthetics – being allergic to wool, means that synthetics are my friend – but the styles I have seen (and this could just be the local one), have been horrifically outdated and tacky… with an excess of loud patterns and rhinestones.

    1. When I go in person to JC Penney I have the same experience, but when I look online I find nice things.

      1. I’m a total online shopping wuss… mostly b/c I’m horrible about remembering to return things, so I really only buy things online that I’ve seen/touched/tried on in person.

        1. Try Nordstrom! Their online shopping is so easy and shipping over $200 is free. They also have a really really generous return policy and will accept returns months after you have bought something. Just something to consider.

    2. This has been my experience for the most part as well but I enjoy cruising the store nonetheless – the wacky styles never fail to make me smile, lol.

  8. Cute dress. Penney’s has cute stuff! I have some dark wash trouser jeans that I can’t imagine living without. Has sewn in crease, wide legs, and look great with heels. Oh, $19 too! I also love their costume jewelry…

  9. My mom loves JCP and I’ve found myself shopping with her and have had some luck with basic polyester shirts (scoop neck, a little drapey around the collar) that work well under suits. That said, many of them lately have just seemed too embellished!

  10. I’m sorry — maybe they changed, but JCP will always make me think bodysuits, arizona jeans & jr. high school… I don’t think I could ever force myself in there!

    1. OMG bodysuits!!! I had a yellow one that I wore with black Arizona jeans and thought I was SO HOT.

    2. Arizona jeans – they were my “designer” in high school and I was so happy to own a few pairs!!

      1. I remember those… and Jordache jeans, anyone? Stirrup pants?? Which, btw, I couldn’t stand! That strap under my foot…ick!

  11. Thread hijack: I may need to revamp my work wardrobe very quickly, going from a more business casual environment to a much more formal one, working for a political appointee (same agency, it’s a promotion). Two complicating factors:
    (1) there’s no raise involved and our budget is already stretched so I really, really can’t spend a lot; and
    (2) I lost 30 lbs last year then regained 25 lbs when my thyroid went out of control. Am now getting back under control through med increase and more exercise (I always watch what I eat, that never changed), so weight will hopefully start dropping. So I hopefully will be back down a size sometime soon.

    I’ve got 3 good suits, a few dresses, a few skirts, a few tops. No jackets. The rest is too casual. Any advice? I’m going to do a Syms/TJ Maxx run as soon as this is official, but am hoping to pick up some online stuff in the meantime.

    1. Look at JCPenney online actually. I just saw a 4-piece suit there in various colors. Yes it’s polyester but the reviews are pretty good. Jacket, skirt, pants and scarf, $45 for the sale colors and $99 for the non-sale. Also look at ebay.

      http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=SIZ&ItemID=165c606&RefPage=X6&deptID=70656&catID=71648&cmOrigID=1727a13&cmPosID=1&CmCatId=external|71648

      http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=SIZ&ItemID=178f099&Ntt=4-piece+solid&hdnOnGo=true&Ne=4+877+878+5+961+6+29+3+598+11+15+12+506+10+23+585+596+1031+8+18+904+903+840+969+949+833&submit%20search.y=0&SearchString=4-piece+solid&submit%20search.x=0&N=4294959029&Nao=0&SO=0&PSO=0&CmCatId=searchresults

      1. Oh the East 5th suit is the suit I mentioned above! I couldn’t remember the brand name! It is a great suit. My only complaint – buy a size up. The jacket and pants both run small in the waist and are not flexible at all, and if I lean over while wearing the pants I feel like I’m being squeezed.

        Also, if you’re in DC, I always find good deals on suits at the Filene’s on Connecticut Ave near the Mayflower Hotel. $70 Tahari suits, Calvin Klein, etc.

    2. Right now Talbots has a great sale going on online. I picked up two wonderful, fully-lined, wool-blend pencil skirts for 30ish dollars each and a coordinating suit jacket for 60ish dollars. It’s getting to be lucky sizes only, but there are still some good options.

      1. RKS (funny how close the initials are!) I sympathize because I am in the same spot — including weight gain that means some possibilities don’t fit!

        I definitely would say look into jackets. That’s what everyone has been telling me — get some good quality, basic color jackets that you can combine with the pants/skirts/tops you already own. I realize this may out of your budget range at the moment, but the Nordstrom anniversary sale is coming up, and they have some terrific looking jackets from Halogen (their “young woman” line that’s less expensive than Classiques Entier) that look like they would go well with several colors.

        I have also had good luck, on line, with Smartbargains.com — for suits, jackets, and skirts. Especially if they run a “suit special.” And you should always be able to find online coupons for them.

        In a pinch, I too have also found great sales at JCP and Macys.

    3. I would actually scope out your local TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Syms, etc. now — that way you have an idea what they have, prices, etc. – and you can scope out items you like but are too expensive – TJ Maxx, etc. tend to mark down items that stay on the rack more than a week or two (ask a salesperson when they do markdowns in your store), so you can make a note to come back to grab it from clearance.

      1. They also have a pretty good return policy, too, so if you see something now that is great and at a good price, buy it and leave the tags on. You can always return it later. I think they give you at least 30 days, but it may be 60 days.

        I hope you get your promotion!

      2. i filled in most of the pieces of my recent suit at tj maxx. if you can’t find an entire suit set, try to get as many pieces there as possible (and keep looking back, they don’t always appear at the same time) and then add on one piece from a department store (using one of their numerous coupon options). it’s much easier to spend $75 on pants when you bought the skirt and jacket for $40 each.

    4. Also look at the softer side of Sears. Some of my great wardrobe pieces are of their Apostrophe line.

      1. oh boy, you just got the jingle stuck in my head — and it’s been gone for what, 15 years at this point?

  12. I quite like JCP – I love their accessories and they are great for summer clothes. I have a couple of corduroy blazers I bought there maybe 4 years ago that I wear to work on a regular basis. You can’t beat their Jones New York suits off the clearance rack either.

  13. Relevant: I was just talking today about how I got an $18 skirt at JCP when I was a summer associate (glen plaid, very simple), thinking it would last a summer MAYBE, and not only is it going strong, doesn’t wrinkle or stain, but opposing counsel complimented me on it (deal negotiations, months in the same room, so she wasn’t being fake-o).

    Threadjack: I am interviewing people for the first time tomorrow (one of multiple interviewers — big firm). I have their resumes and can tell they are obviously smart/qualified. Any suggestions for good questions to best evaluate whether they will fit culture-wise? (Dear interviewee: if you are a fellow Corporette, feel free to call me on this tomorrow if you recognize a question!)

    1. Go with open ended questions instead of yes/no — Not sure what your firm culture is, but I like to ask questions about how they approach team work, or laying out a hypothetical ‘fire drill’ (you know, one of those panicked, oh-my-god-we’re-opening-an-office-in-XYZ-country-and-need-to-know-the-following-100-items-ASAP experiences) — If your office prizes professionalism, punctuality, etc., take careful note of their grooming – nails, clothing, whether shoes are scuffed, etc., and ask questions about their communication style. I always like to ask what the candidate thinks the most challenging aspect of the job will be — sometimes you get answers about the work but often it’s communicating w/ people outside the department or explaining complicated financial matters to non-finance people which is concerning.

      1. “What do you expect to get out of this position.” You may be surprised with the answer. I was once asked for four worst/best personality traits. I had three ready since it’s a common question, but coming up with the fourth on the spot meant they got a genuine answer.

        P.S. Be sure to have hand sanitizer ready. People will show up to an interview on the verge of death. Case in point, I showed up to three last summer when I had the swine flu. I refused to shake hands, but still…The job market is so tough that I wouldn’t dare miss an interview and I hadn’t had a fever in about 36 hours, but I still blew the interviews since I was so clearly sick. I coughed for at least 5 minutes straight during one 20 minute interview. I learned my lesson.

        1. I never cease to be amazed with some interview answers. When I was conducting on campus interviews, I asked the interviewees “Why are you interviewing with us?” One girl actually replied “I figured why not?” She did not make the cut.

          1. My personal fav – the interviewee who rescheduled a morning interview to the afternoon (on day of interview) because of a personal emergency. Turned out the personal emergency was that interviewee decided they needed a haircut that morning and wouldn’t have enough time for one before morning interview. Interviewee volunteered this information in response to a generic “Hope everything is okay” comment (which was meant only to convey said wishes, not pry for information).

            Needless to say, DING.

          2. Here’s one: a female 2L told us she was interviewing with us (and generally looking for a job) to get her mother off her back. Awesome.

          3. The hubs is an engineer. He was interviewing some guy for quite a senior position, the guy volunteers this: “I don’t work for women.” His supervisor would’ve been a woman. Lucky for this schmuck, hubs quickly bid him adieu, and did not let Deborah in the same room with him.

    2. I am unemployed attorney who’s been looking and interviewing a lot recently. If you’re interviewing grads (rather than law students [or 3Ls, or, really even 2Ls…]), and you want to be kind, you might want to make some reference to the fact that on paper the interviewee looks quite impressive/experienced/qualified/whatever. I have been feeling like a total loser in recent months, and I had an interview last week where the interviewer made some such comment, and it really meant a lot to me. Even if I don’t get an offer (or even a callback), I think the interview was worth it because it made me realize that I am not wholly unmarketable.

      In terms of questions —
      -Tell me something about your experience that doesn’t quite fit on a resume
      -What do you do for fun?
      -What are you looking for in terms of work-life balance/what kind of social environment are you looking for in a workplace?
      -Have you had mentor/mentee relationships before?
      -There are a lot of big firms in the area; what made you apply specifically to this one?

    3. One of the most interesting questions I ever got – the interviewer looked at my resume, pulled out the name of my most recent superviser and asked “If Mr. X had to offer one piece of criticism about your performance, what would it be?”
      Another way to ask the same question might to the interviewee what a piece of criticism they’ve received was or something they feel they need to work on to improve their performance is and what they’ve done/are doing to remedy it.
      Anyone who says nothing is probably full of it (c’mon, most of us can think of one or two faults of our own) and it will help you identify people that can accept criticism and be flexible and work to better themselves.

    5. I always ask why they went into the field (accounting, law, etc) and what they like best about it.

    6. You should post a code word here. If the interviewee says it, you know she’s a Corporette and you guys will get along.

      Other culture type questions – things like favorite ice cream flavor, what they order at Starbucks, favorite movie, etc. The response is less important than how they handle the question. If your office goes to Starbucks together every day for a break, and the interviewee says “Oh, I just drink coffee at my desk, I don’t like to take the time to go to Starbucks” she might not be a good fit. If she says that she hates Twilight and all Twilight fans, and you know two partners love Twilight, she might not be a good fit. Etc.

      1. Good call on the Twilight thing. When the 2nd movie came out, a bunch of our staff disappeared, and then reappeared later wearing “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” tshirts.

        1. Haha. This sounds like my office during the World Cup. My boss, who is not a soccer fan, has had to concede to just not schedule meetings during games at all.

      2. Oh funny idea abt the code word — I’m afraid that I’d set other Corporettes off to a bad start! If, interviewee, you’re seeing these posts, I will have a CoverGirl Lipslicks – raspberry colored tube – standing up next to my pen holder thing (at a loss for what the official name is). My personal favorite (family inside joke) word is “stymied” — which I feel could be worked into an interview fairly easily. (To narrow the field — it’s a morning interview, mid-Atlantic, downtown)

  14. Complete threadjack: I’m looking for some opinions on eating lunch at one’s desk.

    I’m a legal intern in a government office, and my desk is in the director’s suite. I don’t enjoy eating alone at restaurants, so I usually bring something from home for lunch (today it’s hummus and pita bread, mmmm) and I usually eat it at my desk while working.

    Do you think it’s unprofessional or something I should not be doing? No one has said anything to me about it or anything. There are others here who eat in their offices–in fact, the guy next door is currently eating popcorn, which makes me want popcorn too–but I’m not sure if it’s different because I’m an intern, and not really in my own office.

    Thanks!!

    1. I think you’re completely fine, lots of people (sadly, including myself most days) eat lunch at their desk. I definitely don’t see it as being unprofessionals UNLESS you’re eating something really smelly (ie: fish or fries or something else that lingers in the hallway).

      With that said, because you are an intern and trying to meet people in the office, I would encourage you to reach out to your colleagues/fellow interns and have lunch with them as well. And definitely get out of the office once in a while, it breaks up the day and always lifts my mood when I’m in the sun (although now that it’s 100 degrees in DC, the last thing I want to do is to go outside!).

      1. Thanks! I did go out much more when it wasn’t quite so hot–I’m in Virginia at the moment, going through that same heat wave!!

        1. I would second everything that Clerky said, but just really stress the no fragrant lunch rule! We often get used to our food choices & don’t realize how bothersome out lunch choices may be to someone else. By the same token, if you’re in open view, bring in food that’s easy to eat at your desk & won’t get too messy.

          I think there was a lengthy post on this a while back, but I think you’ll be fine w/o reading it ;)

    2. I was in a similar position to you during a law school internship. I was at a cubicle/desk right outside of the bureau chief’s office. I only occassionally at lunch at my desk (we had a breakroom where most people at), but I frequently kept snacks at my desk and once a week would bring in breakfast from a small cuban restaurant near our office (mmmmm, cuban cheese toast and cafe con leche). No one ever said anything about it.
      Just try to avoid anything (a) smelly or (b) noisy.

    3. I think it’s fine… I eat lunch at my desk as well (sometimes it comes from the cafeteria, but it’s ususally eaten over the course of a few hours during the day… I’m a nibbler!)

      But, hummus is usually pretty garlicky, and that’s a smell that lingers when you throw the container in the trash next to your desk and on your breath so you may want to stick to more neutral lunches (salad, non-offensive sandwiches, etc.)

    4. Are others eating alone, or together? If many people eat together, you should not eat at your desk on a regular basis, because you don’t want to be seen as a loner or anti-social. However, if everyone just does their own thing for lunch, it’s fine to eat at your desk so long as you don’t make a mess.

  15. Dumb question: What is MCM? (I did my googling, couldn’t find anything that made sense to me, even at acronymfinder.)

    1. My search turned up “mid-century modern” which makes sense in context, though my favorite was “mini cupcake maker.”

        1. Thanks, all; meant to post this above but was told I was posting too fast, and then I guess I reposted as an independent comment instead of a response. Also, glad to see I am not the only person who was not in the know.

      1. Bingo! Sorry – those of us doing the renovation dance in our own homes have a lingo just like Corporettes. Ooops.

        Thanks again; I just put my briefcase AND purse on the granite shelf and just smiled. Now into construction clothes I go….

  16. Minor threadjack – I was in court today (state) for the first time in a while, and was struck by how few of the lawyers were dressed how *we* (all of the corporette commenters) think that lawyers should be dressed in court. One woman had open toe thong sandals, black jacket and grey pants; another had a double breasted (!!) seersucker suit that looked like a man’s suit (she was plus size and it was v. baggy on her), another had a white jacket and black pants. I saw very few complete suits and LOTS of open toe shoes (including 3.5″ leopard peeptoes on a court clerk!). I guess it’s just a reminder that the corporette dress code doesn’t apply everywhere. :)

    1. I went to DC Superior Court a few weeks ago and was APALLED by what people were wearing. Not lawyers, but people going to court either as a witness or just sitting in the pews to listen. It was really, really awful — short shorts, skimpy tank tops with NO bra, thong sandals. Wow. I realize that not everyone has the money to wear a suit, but I simply couldn’t believe that people thought it was appropriate to wear these things to court. Show some respect for our court system. Cover yourself up, people!!

      1. Same!
        I will say this though — you’re never going to go wrong in life by dressing “appropriately.”

        Some judges don’t care, but some do — I have been in the courtroom (state court) when a judge asked a female attorney “why she was not dressed as a lawyer.” I would not want to ever have the experience.

        And, juries do care. I saw a woman go to pick a jury in a pink sweater set today. I would imagine she may be at disdvantage against her suited male counterpart. I’d like to think that the jury would overlook their preconceived notions of what a “lawyer” should look like if her client has a good case but I would not stake my own client’s case on such faith in the jury.

      2. Family court. Fishnet stockings, mini skirt, 4 inch heels. Not on a lawyer, thank god.

        1. I do family law. I have discovered I need to create an information sheet for clients that covers things like how to dress for court and to be on time. You know, you are only trying to convince a judge you should have custody of your kid(s), so dress however you want. Oy.

          I usually wear a suit. Although for scheduling hearings which are just setting dates and you appear before a master, I might go a little less formal. On Friday July 2, I wore a blue skirt, white button down shirt and red jacket. Minimal jewelry. I think the Master appreciated the patriotic touch.

      3. I spend a lot of time in DC Superior Court and the fashion choices of many attorneys are appalling. I’ll admit that I don’t always wear a full suit if I just have a brief or unexpected matter but I always wear a jacket and heels. To make sure that I’m properly dressed, I keep an extra black suit in my office. I have seen many attorneys recently who think it is appropriate to show up in a sundress, cardigan and flip flops!

      4. Any other celebrity gossip junkies out there who saw Lindsay Lohan’s “F*** U” fingernail she wore to court a few days ago? uh, probably not a good call…

      5. I worked for a criminal court judge for a summer, and you would be amazed at how most of the defendants dressed. A lot of the men would come in for their hearings in undershirts (the better to show off their tattoos) and torn jeans. As a general rule, I thought the women dressed better because, while not modest by any means, their clothing was generally clean and not torn. It always baffled me that people were so unconcerned with how they looked in front of a judge that could easily send them to jail.

        1. My favorite is when men facing domestic violence charges wear the tank-top-style undershirt to court. Nice.

    2. I am frequently in state circuit court in the South. Sometimes it really is surprising what people (attorneys and clients alike) think is appropriate in court. That being said, were you there for docket call? My experience is that most attorneys bust out the good suits for trials, but may be slightly casual (less than business formal, more than business casual) for daily dockets – nonmatching suit pieces, more color, and the much-beloved seersucker (did I mention this is the South?).

      1. This was mainly pretrial conferences, etc. I would think that lawyers want to look good so that the judge won’t punish their clients for the lawyers’ appearances, though! People who were there representing themselves had truly horrifying outfits though – flip flops, sky-high shoes, tank tops, rhinestones on the butt, etc.

        1. I remember observing a DUI case for a class once in high school. The guy stood there holding a beer company key chain w/a bottle opener on it. I still can’t believe he (or his attorney) didn’t have enough sense to think of keeping it out of view.

    3. my first week clerking for a judge I was horrified by what some lawyers wore to court (federal court even). Especially women. Men seemed to realize they always had to wear a suit – even if it was ill-fitting, rumpled, stained and paired with a cartoon character tie. But women don’t always get it. But this varies by jurisdiction. In my current jurisdiction, I’m usually in federal court where I rarely see a woman not in a dark (navy, black or gray) suit with appropriate footwear. But I have a case across the country in a comparable federal court and I’ve seen some fascinating ensembles (some more evening wear than business wear). But I think the rule for court (as has been previously stated here I’m sure) is to not be remembered for what you wear but for what you say. Therefore – dark suit and heels is the best uniform to follow. Although in the summer lighter suits aren’t too unusual.

      1. Practicing in state court in a rural county in the South takes the cake. The judge was fond of telling teenage girls, young lady, either pull your pants up or pull your shirt down, this court’s not interested in your midriff! Then there was the gal who came to court in a t-shirt that said “I need it bad,” and the cat with a marijuana belt buckle.

    4. In every hot climate I’ve ever worked in open-toed shoes have been fine in the summer. A thong sandal seems overly casual, though. Also, just because people are wearing something doesn’t mean the judge is happy with it. I think it’s better to err on the side of conservative dress.

  17. I would worry about a fabric that is polyseter/elastane. I also think this dress looks like a long bathing suit.

    1. At $66, it’s cheaper than many bathing suits. In this heat, the possibility that I could wear this dress and run through an open fire hydrant on the way home from work is rather appealing.

    2. For some reason I’ve got it in my head that a synthetic knit is worth considering, but a woven, never.

  18. Another threadjack:

    I am doing a lot of traveling to depos and I need a new bag that fits under-the-seat-in-front-of-you on the plane, but pretty much takes up most of that space. I want a zipper top so that things can’t fall out, and space to throw in a redwell and/or the ziploc liquids bag and/or whatever else. For my two carry-on items, I currently have my carry-on (Briggs and Riley lightweight, I love that thing so, so much), and the firm-issue standard laptop bag, which is too small to maximize the space under the seat, wasting my “second item.” It basically fits my laptop and maybe a file folder and that’s it.

    Recommendations? Suggestions? Please help!

      1. I have an older model of the Countour Roller and love it. I’ve banged it up quite a bit and it’s a big frayed around the edges but still going. I like this other model better though, as it sort of passes for a purse:

        http://www.ebags.com/product/kensington/contour-balance-series-notebook-case/146351?productid=10007648

        Either of those two are great suggestions (though they won’t fit under the seat of smaller planes, and I would even check under regular planes), but my favorite carry on is usually a big semi-unstructured tote bag because I can put so much there and it is easily accessible.

    2. I just ordered the LeSportsac travel tote in black (but haven’t received it yet). Lightweight, zips closed, fits stuff and a redwell. I bought mine to schlep stuff back and forth to work and baby stuff around on the weekend…

      http://preview.tinyurl.com/2akxnx5

    3. Lands End tote, size L. The XL is huge and the medium is the size of a large purse. I can pack for a 3-day weekend in my size L tote, or I can hold my laptop, a file and all my on-the-plane supplies. It is the perfect bag.

      1. Thanks Eponine. I actually have a Lands’ End ballistic nylon tote, size L, that I use at least once a week for lugging redwells home. It’s totally fantastic, but mine is an open top so that’s not ideal for carry on. It seems kind of silly to already have an open top, and also get a zip-top in the same size. The L is also too big for the under-the-seat spot, which is what I’m searching for at the moment.

        I ordered the Victorinox Mobilizer Eurotote, the Samsonite xSpace Boarding Bag, and the Timbuk2 Agent from Zappos, all on sale. They should all arrive tomorrow, so I will report back.

        1. My L fits under the seat! Maybe it depends on how full it is. I have also heard great things about LeSportsac, which someone recommended above.

      2. I love my Lands End large tote. Lands End used to make a different shaped tote in ballistic nylon that zipped…I have one and keep hoping that they’ll bring it back…wonderful for carry-on! Lands End, are you listening?

    4. I just pick up a rolling bag set for $30 or so at walmart. The “carry-on” bag in those sets is zip top, big enough to hold a (letter-sized) redwell, and just big enough to fit under the seat in front of you on the plane.

      I can’t bear to spend much $$ on luggage b/c it all just gets beat up and goes to s**t so fast if you do any regular traveling at all. I had one “nice” set of luggage given to me as a wedding present, and it was pretty much shot after the honeymoon. Ever since, it’s been the wal-mart (or Target or whatever) sets for me.

  19. JC Penney is not so overwhelming if you stick to certain sections, like the American Living dresses (p.s. – I am originally from Iowa and shopping at J.C. Penney was a big deal back in the day). I have a couple of Worthington camis I like, too.

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