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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 169 Comments · by

Thursday’s TPS Report: Diagonal Strip Bodice Dress

The Personal Shopper (TPS)

This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. LOFT has a ton of cute dresses right now — including a bunch on sale for 50% off, including this striped bodice dress in both beet (pictured) and oxidized gray. I like the tiered ruffles on the top — particularly because they run diagonal, and aren't totally frou frou. The dress was $89.50, but is now 50% off with code Shop50 at checkout. Diagonal Strip Bodice Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 9.10.24

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

Comments

  1. Monday

    Guest post by Ellen? Just kidding, but use of the term “bodice” plus the first word being all caps was a great teaser. Best thing that’s happened to me all morning… :/

  2. ADL

    I’m liking this dress on the screen, although I wonder what the fabric is, as it doesn’t say. And I personally think, as a bonus, this dress is lined. At $50, you really can’t beat that.

    Any seen this in the store? And/or tried it on?

    • GRA

      I was wondering what the fabric was, too … has anyone seen this dress? I can’t find that info. on the website …

      • Anon IB

        IMHO, even at the low sale prices you can grab, every work piece I’ve picked up from AT Loft in the last year has disappointed. After a couple of wears, the low quality is obvious via pilling, fallen hems, uneven seams, etc. I’ve sworn off the store entirely. Also, too short for my office, but it is a cute dress otherwise from a shape perspective.

        • K

          I have sworn them off as well. I had the VERY unfortunate situation where my new-ish pants from AT Loft split down the seam. Yikes! They did not seem particularly tight, just poor workmanship. After the same thing happened to a friend the very next week, I decided that Loft’s cheap prices were NOT worth it.

    • Midwest

      It’s cute, but way too short for 5’8″ me. I’ve had this problem with Loft quite a bit lately.

    • Diana Barry

      Ditto, too short.

      I am finding that my maternity dresses are not as long as I like my dresses. And they never, ever come in tall. Sigh.

      • Anonymous

        I’ve been getting one size bigger dresses in tall from Boden, with their usually high waists. The tall length gives the tummy rooom so the hem isnt funky and the tush isnt pulled too tight by the tum. It’s worked for 6 months and 20 pounds… know Ill need something different sometime, but haven’t yet and appreciate that I can wear what I’ve gotten on the ‘other side.’ The maternity stuff I’ve tried on or been gifted has not been me in any way. But the best sites I’ve seen, FYI, have been Belly Dance and Seraphine. A sophisticated Seraphine dress I got for a special occasion was actually too long… kind of loved that after so much skimpy crud offerings. They seem to have real clothes rather than the poly play clothes most specialty stores seem to throw at us. Good luck!

      • Tika55

        Ugh, yes. I have had decent luck finding long pants (Gap and Target), but not dresses.

    • mamabear

      I am wearing a skirt from Talbots today that is long enough(!) for once. It is the ultimate double weave belted skirt and is in the sale section now for around $50. Love it.

  5. Kanye East

    At least when I spill wine all over myself (as I am wont to do–mid-mornings in my office get a little out of control–don’t judge), it won’t show up.

      • Ses

        Wait- mid morning office wine… It that a thing? I feel like I’m missing out on some kind of awesome Mad Men lifestyle knowledge.

        • Amelia Bedelia

          I actually work with a partner who frequently spikes his morning coffee with Baileys . . . I have occasionally said “yes, please” when he offers the same to me . . . makes my WHOLE day better.

      • Herbie

        I highly recommend a globe bar. Classy, adds decor to your office, and highly functional. A win on all counts.

  6. Sadie

    Sorry to change topics so early, but I have been recruited to help a co-worker find a gift for his wife and I thought this was the best place to start.

    He’s looking for a “professional” gift (i.e., something appropriate for her office) and I was thinking an engraved pen/business card holder. I can’t seem to find one that both looks nice and isn’t terribly expensive. Any suggestions? Or alternate ideas? Thanks!!

    • AnonInfinity

      What is your budget?

      I got a lot of great stuff for my recent law school graduation and compiled my wish list with the help of you wonderful women. The thing I wish I’d put on my list that I need but haven’t gotten around to getting is stationery. My firm obviously provides letterhead, but I wish I had some nice, classic, plain notecards or half sheets (I’m sure there’s a real name for these). Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Crane-Co-Pearl-Finish-Envelopes/dp/B000E6QWR0/ref=pd_sbs_op_7

      We have a local stationery shop that will do a monogram on the front.

      For me — I would never use a pen holder, though my business card case has been quite useful. I have no idea where it came from or how much it cost, so I’m afraid I can’t be terribly helpful on that one.

      • AnonInfinity

        The thread where I posted, asking for help with my wishlist is here: https://corporette.com/2011/03/25/bargain-fridays-tps-report-madra-knit/

        I put a lot of the stuff that people mentioned on my wish list. This might be out of your price range, but one of the most mentioned and most appreciated things I got was that my in laws paid to get my diplomas and certificates framed. They look awesome and it was quite expensive, so I’m glad I did not have to come up with all that money right after graduation.

    • anon

      other ideas:
      – professional looking photo frame (with a photo in it)
      – small piece of framed artwork for the office
      – framing her diploma/degree etc.
      – a nice pen
      – a briefcase/laptop bag

      for the pen/card holder I don’t have any good sources, sorry.

    • Hike!

      Things Remembered has nice one and you can order online and get it engraved online and shipped. A name plate is always nice. And also…I hate those pens with the business card because when the pen runs out of ink, everyone keeps trying to use it! Mine was a gift so I dont’ know where to refill.

      There are a ton of options on Things remembered. Otherwise Tiffany’s is the next best thing. I never think Tiffany’s would be good because even if it is engraved, someone might steal it. We have a lot of different companies come through our office for cleaning etc. I never want to be nervous about what I have at work.

      • SF Bay Associate

        Red Envelope has a lot of monagrammable stuff too, and I think it’s better quality than Things Remembered.

    • MelD

      Is she new to this job? Does your coworker know what she has in her office already? I am thinking that would be a good place to start instead of going straight for the business card holder. I know my office is tiny and something stylish that is related to organization would be more helpful to me than a business card holder.

      Other good choices are individual coffee makers- be it a Keurig/Nespresso or a small french press, or a nice electric kettle if she prefers tea.

    • AIMS

      I would personally hate to get a pen, engraved or otherwise, from anyone, most of all my husband. But I am sure some people are into that.
      If you’re looking for inexpensive but nice card cases, the Met Museum gift shop has really pretty ones, reasonably priced (metmuseum dot org). So does the MOMA store (momastore dot com).
      Other ideas: a nice frame with a sentimental but office appropriate picture? a nice shawl to keep in the office? a pretty paperweight (check out acornonline dot com)? A plant could also do nicely. Or maybe some nice bookends (B&N has nice ones for around $50) or a pretty something to hold all the other pens the gift recipient has probably collected over the years?

      • Erin

        I second the rec for a pretty business card case that she can carry with her. I love mine, and it seems more personal to me than something that sits atop her desk.

      • Margaret

        I third the card case suggestion. Etsy has a bunch of options, actually. I got mine there, and it’s super cute and whimsical, but there are also simpler, more professional options, such as tooled leather, etc.

    • JAS1

      Sorry if this posts twice. The website is hokey but there are a lot of neat things on executivegiftshop dot com. I got my bf an engraved flask on there and the quality was good, shipping was prompt. I plan to buy myself a few bar pass presents on there, if I did in fact pass. (Fingers crossed…I didn’t get my letter yet, but rumor has it MA will be posting the results online today). Personally, I love office trinkets – I plan to get an engraved business card case I can carry around with me. I would probably lose a fance pen though.

    • Diana Barry

      Mont Blanc pen? I used to have one and it was like BUTTER to write with. They are really expensive, though (mine was given to me).

    • BigHTown

      Levenger (dot com) has lovely pens and pen stands. A variety of colors, barrel sizes, and yes, they have engraving. My favorite for years…used daily. Great refills too. Everything from old fashioned ink bottles to roller balls.

      • BigHTown

        If you are going for stationery, I love the variety and weights offered by American Stationery (dot com). They have a range from traditional to cutesy…fem to hard edged. Everything can be done plain, with names, with monograms and color/text selections. It is raised for the personalization and is a lovely touch. Highly recommended if written correspondence is a “do” for this gal. Those personalized notes Corporette suggests look great on their products. Fairly fast turn around and they arrive in lovely boxes for keeping clean/tidy/on display.

    • Always a NYer

      My recommendation is Levenger for a folio or a card case. They also have a great selection of pens to choose from and will add a monogram. I’ve ordered a lot from them and have loved everything.

      • Anonymous

        Simon Pearce has beautiful, handmade glass “corporate” items. I got an engraved business cardholder when I got my first job.

    • Sadie

      Wow, thank you all. These are fantastic suggestions. I really appreciate the help (and so does my colleague, as I have passed the suggestions on to him)!!

  8. MaggieLizer

    Does anyone else have trouble with the links on this site that route you through shopstyle? My work blocks them (no clue why), so I have to go to the website directly and try to find the item being reviewed. I was thinking of emailing Kat to ask her if it’s possible to either post the address in addition to the link or post links that are directly to the store’s site, but I won’t if no one else is having this issue.

    • MissJackson

      This happens to me, too, with some (but not all) of the links. Unfortunately, if Kat just links to the store’s site, she can’t get any credit for all of the ‘rettes clicking and buying (which I think she’s completely entitled to do). So, I think we probably just have to tolerate the slight inconvenience.

    • Ru

      The links get blocked at my work computer also – our firewalls block most ads. When we click on a link on this site, it gets routed through some ad network and then goes to the store’s website (which, I’m assuming, is how Kat earns revenue). I just copy the name of the item and google it.

      • MaggieLizer

        Glad to know I’m not the only one! Kat certainly deserves to get paid and I would never suggest she should undercut her bottom line. Some links work fine for me and others don’t; I’m just not tech savvy enough to know why or if there’s a reasonable solution.

      • amy

        I don’t think it has anything to do with this website specifically. I use shopstyle through other sources, and it’s always wonky. The shopstyle website will be okay, but then if I click on something on that site, it opens in a whole new window, which some systems must take for pop-up ads even though the new window will actually be some department store or whatever.

        • Ebro fin

          Check your browser, there may be an option that says “Open new windows in a tab” which will avoid it being mistaken for a pop-up. Is usually in the Tools sections.

  9. MissJackson

    Love the color. In addition to being curious about the fabric, I wonder how those ruffles would lay on those of us who are more well-endowed. I think I’d want to try this one on.

    • Anonymous

      I think you’d have to. I was very anti-ruffle, and then I tried on the classiques dress with sort of similar ruffles Kat featured from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and – lo and behold – it worked!

    • found a peanut

      I just read that article but I took it to mean that the RSS feed part of Reader will stay the same, you just might not be able to share blog posts with friends. So you’ll be able to get your subscribed blogs, but you won’t be able to “share” things or read your friends’ shared things.

      Am I not reading this correctly? If Reader goes away I will be very, very sad.

      • Erin

        I took it to mean that you won’t be able to use Reader without using Google Plus. I’ll try to be optimistic and hope I’m reading it wrong.

    • CB

      Weird! I used feedly for a long time but ended up reverting back to google reader- no reason, really but I think I changed computers and forgot to add the plugin. I use Reeder for my iphone and ipad which is really nice.

    • zelda

      i didn’t think google reader was getting killed, just that the social sharing functions were getting moved over to google+?

  11. Another Sarah

    Sorry for the early threadjack, but I wanted the opinion of the wise hivemind…

    Thoughts on golden handcuffs? Yesterday my boss (out of the blue) offered to help me get a loan through the company on some pretty awesome terms for a condo. I told him that I wouldn’t be ready for a place for at least the next couple years because I want to pay down my loans first before taking on a mortgage as well, but was also obviously grateful. Is this normal for a company/firm to offer this after someone has been working there for 6 weeks? If you’ve taken a deal like this how has it worked out? I figure if I take it I’ll be married to the company forever, which is awesome now, but who knows in 10 years? Anything else I should be thinking about? I’ve heard of companies and firms doing this before, but I just assumed it was only available to someone who has put in their time and who wasn’t going anywhere, not someone how essentially just started. Thoughts?

    Thanks in advance!

    • MissJackson

      I would be very, very cautious. It’s possible that this is an amazing deal, but it’s also possible that you could end up in a really bad possition. The fact that this offer was made after 6 weeks of employement definitely sounds unusual.

      In addition to making sure you are ready for the commitment of purchasing (it sounds like you are not), you want to find out what the terms of the loan are. Specifically, you need to know what happens if you leave the company for any reason. There could be some sort of “entire balance due at separation” clause. Worst case senerio is that this company fires you, leaving it nearly impossible for you to get a loan through another lender unless you find another job immediately, and the company immediately demands that you pay off the loan immediately. Slightly better senerio is that you leave on your own terms, but the entire loan is still due — which is still big disincentive to leaving because refinancing can be a big pain.

    • Diana Barry

      This is an odd thing for a junior person who has just started. I know friends who have loans through their work, but those loans are through big universities and they are professors.

    • Sutemi

      Not a lawyer, but my company has a deal with a local bank for better rates on mortgages which is open to all employees. I did not investigate it thoroughly since we had a great rate at our credit union.
      In my company, I think that the mortgage is completely between the individual and the bank. So if you stayed in the condo you would not have to worry about your mortgage being canceled if you changed jobs. However, you sound smart to wait to buy until your student loans are under control and you have a good downpayment and emergency fund and are sure you are committed to the area.

    • Anne-on

      Do you work for a financial services or accounting firm? Its pretty typical for financial services firms to offer their employees special terms/deals on mortgages that are secured by the firm you work for. The accounting firms also offer similar deals because employees are barred from working with many of the banks they audit…which at a big firm can literally be all but 3-5 banks. So the banks you are “allowed” to use typically offer pretty good deals on investments/mortgages/etc. especially as you get to certain levels.

    • Another Sarah

      “The Firm” was also playing through my head during this discussion! :-) The loan would be directly with the company, not with a bank, for an extremely low interest rate. I don’t work in financial services, but I do work for a very large and well-financed international corporation.

      I’m absolutely not ready to buy anything, so my current thinking is “Hm, it’s nice to know that this thing is out there when and if I’ll be ready for it.” It’s also nice to know that my boss sees me sticking around long enough to pay off a mortgage with my company. No details were discussed when he brought it up because I pretty much said, “Um, wow, thanks but no thanks right now.” But you all have given me good things to think about if and when the time comes to do this. As always, the hivemind gives excellent advice! Thanks! :-)

    • Michelle

      definitely unusual, but not unheard of (other than the timeframe). Maybe you’re in one of those areas where rents are still high but real estate is underpriced? I would certainly explore the terms of the offer and get familliar with whether it’s a good deal or not, and then it’s in your back pocket if/when you decide to buy – which you should do on your own timeframe.

    • Ru

      Quote: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann picked up on the poll results to try to re-energize her campaign. “I think it is important to remember that Jesus had long hair,” the lawmaker told voters at an Iowa town hall meeting. “I am the only candidate who can tie their hair in a ponytail.”

      I haven’t been following politics at all but that is a lot of quote right there.

      • blech

        That’s the blond haired, blue eye Jesus that had the long hair, right? Or the ethnically accurate one?

        • found a peanut

          yeah, the actual Jesus probably had curly dark hair. The original Jew fro.

      • NJEsq

        I’m watching a CLE video right now (you can tell how much attention I’m paying to it) and this made me laugh out loud.

      • Blonde Lawyer

        Sorry, I forgot you couldn’t all see my “air quotes” around “big expose.”

    • Kanye East

      Hey, let’s not forget the drubbing John “Silky Pony” Edwards got over his expensive haircuts.

      Obviously we’re living in a post-sexism world, you guise!

      :P

  14. PT lawyer

    Threadjack/random vent:
    Dear opposing corporate inhouse counsel, we have done three deals opposite each other in the past six months (for different clients of mine). I’m really surprised that you don’t remember me. I think I have memorized your phone number. Can we just get along? I know all of your positions and tactics already, and mine are probably pretty familiar to you too.
    Oh, and please remember how to use the “track changes” function in MS Word — you were so good at it this summer! — because the written-in-the-text comments and changes noted in three different fonts are wholly annoying. I’ll cut you some slack if you have a new assistant, but please. Writing “I can’t agree to the first part of this paragraph but the third sentence is ok” in the middle of a document is really not helpful.
    That’s all.

    • another anon

      Ugh, I hate it when people can’t figure out track changes. I have one client who will format the text to look like track changes (strikethrough and underline and change the font color), but it is not actually track changes. So then instead of just accepting or rejecting the change, I have to go through and change the formatting.

      • found a peanut

        When I was a first year, a fifth year at my firm HATED it when I used track changes. He was like, I can’t figure out all this newfangled technology. Dude. You’re four years older than I am. And it’s track changes, a useful, easy to learn skill, not advanced computer programming.

    • Batgirl

      When I was at my firm, I was taught not to use track changes because they get permanently embedded in the document.

      • Anonymous

        At least in some states it’s considered bad form from a legal ethics standpoint (for the reason stated above), and some attorneys have been disciplined for using track changes without appropriate scrubbing.

      • MeliaraofTlanth

        Yea, our IT person frowns on it because a lot of the attorneys don’t know how to use it properly and there is worry that they’ll just turn it off instead of accepting/rejecting and something will go to the client with track changes still available. But it is so much easier to use. I use it only if I know the person I’m sending changes to is completely competent with it.

        • Erin

          I think what Batgirl means is that the edits can still be found if you have some programming skillz, even if you accepted all the changes. I don’t understand how it works but it can be done. Which is why we never send anything in Word format, only as PDFs.

          • Batgirl

            That is what I meant. My firm had a scrubbing program that would scrub them when we sent them out of the office, but they still make me nervous when you’re dealing with legal documents.

          • MeliaraofTlanth

            Interesting… I now have a strong urge to figure out how this is done and try it…

          • Argie

            There is a way to scrub the meta data from a Word file – Document Inspector. I mostly send out PDFs when I don’t want someone else to be able to edit my document.

  15. Barrister in the Bayou

    I think this may be been discussed before, but what is the difference between a general practitioner and an internist? I don’t have a doctor that I regularly see, but I want to make an appointment with someone and get a complete physical (not ob/gyn) and develop a relationship with a physician I can trust.

    • Erin

      I think they’re different names for the same thing – general practitioner, family care physician, internist and primary care physician.

      • June

        They are different. I have been advised to see internists rather than GPs or family medicine doctors because internists have a narrower patient base (don’t see kids), and so they are able to have a deeper knowledge of what they do need to know (whereas family medicine docs need to know pediatrics as well, so they are less likely to have a deep knowledge of every single thing that passes by them, and they probably have less experience with adults than someone who sees adults only). It’s like seeing a peds-and-adults doctor when you are an adult; on average, adults-only doctor is likely to be more knowledgeable about your issues.

    • Anonnc

      A general practitioner only needs one year of post-graduate training, and an internist is someone who has done an internal medicine residency (usually 3-4 years). I don’t think there are very many general practioners around anymore, and people tend to use the term when they mean “primary care physician” (which is itself a term invented by HMOs). Another alternative to someone with internal medicine training is a family medicine practitioner who has done a residency in family medicine.

    • PE Esq

      I would suggest finding a DO rather than an MD. In my experience, they tend to see the whole body as a system and can for example relate a whole host of issues to a dietary problem or allergy, rather than just prescribing a drug for one ailment. Maybe some doctors on here can elaborate.

      I’m actually looking for a general physician too (I’m 26 and just go to my pediatrician when i’m sick!) But I had such a good experience with a DO orthopedic that I would want a DO general physician now too.

        • PE Esq

          I had to look it up! DO is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, and an MD is a Doctor of Medicine.

          • Bianca

            I have seen a DO specialist who came on a very strong recommendation, she was quite talented.

            Without a recommendation, I will only see internists who have gone to medical school and completed a residency and fellowship. With nothing else to go on, I at least know they have been vetted by several institutions and had sufficient formal training. That said, I recently had a terrible experience with a top medical school graduate/internist who did a horribly incorrect reading of a blood test and therefore am again in the market for an internist. I might change my approach and consider seeing a DO.

          • another anon

            What Bianca said. I am seeing a DO specialist that my primary care doc recommended, but normally I would only go to someone with an MD. I know that there are probably a lot of very good DOs out there, but the degree does tend to attract people who couldn’t get into a regular medical school. And I’m not really interested in trusting my health to such a person without a recommendation from an MD that I trust.

          • Amelia Bedelia

            Actually, that is not true about DOs. DOs schools generally attract an older population, but they attend medical school just like MDs and their MCAT scores are comparable to MD MCAT scores.

            And most DOs attend MD residencies (funded by the AMA instead of the AOA) because of the level of pathology you witness at those hospitals. These DOs receive the exact same training as MDs and are able to be licensed by the exact same MD board (the AMA). they all can sit for the same boards after the same training. So why would you want to get an MD recommendation before seeing a DO?

            My doctor is a DO and I adore him. He is not as quick to prescribe drugs until he really vets my problem. I did a ton of research before seeing him and found that a lot of the prejudice against DO stems from disagreements in the 70s and 80s. i.e. it is unfounded and has been debunked. In fact, most DOs have to take MORE classes to graduate their medical school because they take so many classes on the muscle-skeletal system. My doc helped me with a pinched nerve issue and completely resolved it after my old doc had said my only option was invasive surgery!

            That comparison seems to be like saying you would only go to a lawyer who graduated from state school after the recommendation from a lawyer who graduated from Harvard?

          • anon

            It is easier to get into DO school that medical school. It’s just a fact. Whether that matters to you or the level of care they give, that’s another thing.

      • Anon

        I had a DO misdiagnose a MRSA infection. She was utterly useless. Had it been caught earlier (like, when I first went in and not 48 hours later) I might have avoided a hospitalization and a *year* of battling (off and on) with an infection which was eventually vanquished by antibiotics that cost – no joking – $1000 a cycle.

        I was beyond lucky to have good health insurance and good prescription coverage, although they did initially deny the uber-expensive antibiotics. Had I not had insurance coverage, I’d have had to pay out of pocket for a CT scan, a hospital stay, and thousands of dollars of medication. Or maybe I’d just have died of a massive infection.

        I believe her training left her unable to treat me competently. I would proceed with caution.

    • Barrister in the Bayou

      Thanks for all the responses, I think I will start looking for an internist. I’ve heard of some pretty great DO’s but they cannot get licensed to practice in the state of Louisiana, so I’d be out of luck anyway.

      I guess I can just come out and say that I want to get a physical to rule out things like low thyroid and diabetes type ailments. I’m just always tired, I’m gaining a little bit of weight (my eating habits haven’t changed all that much), and I’m irritable more often than not. Also, God forbid I’m ever fully and truly hungry, that will cause me to go on a rampage… I want to see if something is actually wrong or if I’m just lazy and need to get off my butt.

      • ADL

        An internist is someone who has gone to 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, completed a 3 year internal medicine residency program. Be sure you are going to a licensed internal medicine physician, which means s/he passed the boards. Just because someone completes a residency, doesn’t necessarily mean they passed their board exam. Internal medicine physicians are doctors for adults (meaning no kids; teenagers, perhaps, but no kids). Their specialty is “internal medicine.” There are also subspecialists of internal medicine, i.e. cardiology, hemotology, geriatrics, etc, who go on to complete additional years in residency training.

        A family practice physician does 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, and then 3 years of family medicine residency. Again, a licensed family practice physician will have taken and passed their boards. Family practice physicians see everyone from infants to geriatric patients. Their specialty is “family practice.”

        A primary care physician is someone who prevents, diagnoses, and treats the whole patient. They may refer you to another specialist if you need care for a specific organ or system (i.e. a cardiologist, etc.).

        MDs and DOs are both physicians; it’s a different type of schooling they undertake in medical school and a different degree – degree of medicine and degree of osteopathy. They still all have to complete a residency and pass their boards. (Similar to a DDS and a DMD – both are dentists but go to different types of dental school.)

        (Had to clear up the misconceptions out there. I work for a physician specialty association.)

        • Amelia Bedelia

          but DOs and MDs do not always take different boards. My DO attended an MD residency instead of a DO residency. He then took and passed both the DO AND MD boards so he could be director of an MD residency practice.

        • EC MD

          Just a quick clarification: there is a difference between being licensed and being board certified.

          Licensed: state run, covers all physicians in the state; application process where you submit scores of various tests, prior jobs, schools, etc. Lots of paper work to prove that you havent been sued, etc.

          Board Certified: run by the specialty or sub-specialty. Almost always an exam of knowledge involved as well as lots of paperwork, proof of finishing residency, etc.

          Two separate issues (not like the bar). Lots of people who aren’t board certified are licensed to practice medicine. Board certification merely (but importantly) certifies that the specialty thinks you are adequately trained and appropriately knowledgable.

          • ADL

            Yes, sorry, board certified vs licensed. In my haste. Apologizes. Physicians have to be licensed by the state they are practicing in.

  16. Meeting Frenzy

    For all of you who work in government, how many meetings do people tend to have? It’s really gotten out of control here. Some people are in meetings almost all day and don’t get much accomplished. It’s frustrating for me since I do not go and tend to get slammed with the work they can’t do because of the meetings. I am to the point where I am saying no to some things because it’s been made clear to me there is no money for a promotion, and I’m not about to take on the work of two people at my level when people at higher levels are pawning off all their work.

    • Erin

      I work for a nonprofit, but it’s the same. Our director loooooves a good meeting and most of us have at least one meeting every day, if not 2 or 3.

    • PollyD

      Oh yes, the meeting-creep here can be vicious. I think many people could go to fewer meetings, but I think it makes them feel important to be over-scheduled and busy. I have no useful information for you, although in the past I’ve seen here some good advice for dealing with too much work (be specific about what you have on your plate, give a possible time table for dealing with new requests, etc.). Despite the lack of promotions/raises (as a fed, I hear you!) I’d hesitate to point-blank turn down work – at some point you’ll be rewarded, somehow, some day! Strike a balance between being accomodating and protecting your own time – no reason for you to be putting in a ton of extra hours because someone else can’t manage their schedule.

      Plus, I don’t know which branch of government you work in, but here I find that there is a lot of “Hurry up and wait” – in other words, I’ll work to get something done and then it will just sit and moulder for days or weeks until the next person up the chain can get to it. So I think that means there’s probably flexibility with deadlines.

      • Meeting Frenzy

        No- I won’t get rewarded. I’ve been told point blank there is no money for a raise and after this year I may not have a job at all. There is no room for any advancement here. Period. I am looking, as are most other people.

        • PollyD

          Hmm, only accept work that puts you in contact with people who could help you move on? I’m not kidding, some relationships I cultivated in my old job by volunteering to do the work helped me get my new job.

    • anon

      I really hate meetings. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a meeting (most of which last at least an hour, more likely 3) that couldn’t have been handled by a 5 – 10 minute email exchange. Biggest waste of time ever.

      • In-House Europe

        While excessive meetings *are* annoying, the Corporette bible (NGDGTCO) did teach me that career success is at least equally about forming relationships as it is about good work…right?

  17. Monday

    Has anyone else seen “Margin Call” yet? I just wanted to mention it here because Demi Moore’s character, CRO of the fictional investment bank, made me think of Corporette for many reasons. If anyone can comment on her workwear, negotiation of office politics, and work-life balance without giving anything away, I’d be interested to hear what you think!

    Overall, I felt that her skirt was too short and heels were a little impractical, but otherwise her character was a much more realistic portrayal of a professional woman in a male-dominated field (such as finance) than most movies even approach.

    • Kanye East

      I haven’t seen it, but the name cracks me up. Like, omg you guise, let’s put a financey term in the title and then people will think we’re all smartsy! I smell Oscar!</i?

      Have I mentioned I'm working on a screenplay called "EBITDA"?

        • Monday

          Fair enough, ‘Ye. The dialogue never does apply the term. They throw around “VaR” a lot, but seem to assume the audience either knows it or will just be impressed without caring. Here I am whispering to my poor fellow movie-goer, explaining all the background because I’m geeky like that…

      • Argie

        Went to a corporate law happy hour once where one of the special drinks was named EBITDA. I had one. It was pretty good.

      • found a peanut

        My screenplay is a post-apocalyptic thriller entitled ERISA v. COBRA: When Regulations Attack

        • Another Sarah

          I laughed at this, and then tried to explain it to my co-workers. I failed. :-D

        • Herbie

          Actually, my great American novel follows two seksi American coeds-now-first year associates at a white shoe NYC law firm on their document review adventure. Will they get their hands the files in native format, or will their dastardly opposing counsel produce everything in PDF? Will they be able to review all the documents in Summation in time to meet an arbitrary deadline that will probably be extended by agreement of the parties anyway? Finally, tensions become almost unbearable as one of our protagonists inadvertently produces a privileged attorney-client e-mail, the rather mundane content of which has no bearing on the substance of the case whatsoever. Will she ever work with the questionably attractive yet dastardly, screaming-prone partner, Erick Thunderstrong, again? Or will she spend the rest of her days, cast out from BigLaw society, working at mid-size firm that pays her two-thirds as much while permitting her reasonably predictable hours and a life outside work?

          2% discount off list price for fellow Corporettes.

          • Herbie

            Just realized I used “dastardly” twice. Obviously, there’s still some editing to be done.

      • Herbie

        Kanye East, I am writing a play called EBITDA. What are you trying to imply here?

    • Diana Barry

      In that same vein, if anyone has seen “Homeland” on Showtime, Claire Danes plays a CIA agent and is often wearing pantsuits. They are a little bit drab, but otherwise very correct. Her hair is a bit too blonde and flyaway for my taste, but does give her that ‘intense’ look that I think they’re going for.

        • CFM

          I hate hair down when its inappropriate. I always think that about the wife in Walking Dead. First thing I would do in a zombie apocalypse? Pony tail.

          • In-House Europe

            +5 LL points for correctly identifying the best hairstyle for zombie apocalypse!

      • Rawr

        We have a theory at the office that if you wear a pants suit, you look like an FBI Agent or lady detective. As much as I adore my pants suits, it’s pretty true (at least in criminal law).

  19. NY Dim Sum

    I will be in NY next week/weekend and would really appreciate recommendations for a mid-week dim sum. I’m looking for delicious and authentic, but I don’t require the presence of animal/bird heads, feet, or organs.

    Also, any breakfast/brunch recommendations in the Hell’s Kitchen area?

    TIA

      • MeliaraofTlanth

        Also Whym, which is by the same people as eatery and a few blocks north of it. They’re consisently amazing for brunch.

        For dim sum, i go to Oriental Garden on Elizabeth street, but I think they may only do it on the weekends, so double-check.

        • MeliaraofTlanth

          Oh, and Whym usually has a shorter wait than Eatery because it’s newer and fewer people know about it; the menus are quite similar, though.

      • Anon

        I’ve had dinner at Eatery and it was delicious. Just had brunch at 9 Restaurant last weekend and found it disappointing, but they do have a bottomless champagne co*ktail special.

    • NY Dim Sum

      Thanks for all of the suggestions! I really appreciate the helpful information provided in this forum.

    • BTL

      Kashkaval is one of the best places in the west 50s (56th and 9th) – it is an adorable cheese shop with seating for about 20 in the back. Brunch is like $13 including unlimited mimosas/bellinis! Super recommend!

  20. anon

    I am new to wearing suits and dressing for the coporate world…I have an important interview next week and was wondering what was an appropriate top to wear. (I really look terrible in button ups so I am steering clear of those).

    It’s been pretty cold here in the northeast, so I was thinking of wearing a grey cowl neck sweater from french connection with a dark blue suit.

    1. is it appropriate/professional to wear a sweater to an interview?

    2.I think the sweater might be a bit too thick to tuck in and didnt know if that would make it a no go?

      • Lyssa

        I’d say no to that sweater, and that sweaters would only be OK if they’re really fine knit. It’s a pretty sweater, but I think that the thickness of the cowl neck is too bulky and drapey to give the polished and professional look you want for an interview.

        My first choice is usually button down, but if that’s out, I would say go with a fine-knit or silk-ish (smooth fabric) top with a shell-like neckline (as in, rounded out more than a crew-neck, but not nearly as low as as scoop). Since your suit is dark blue, I would say the top should be neutral, maybe a nice medium gray.

        Good luck!

    • Houndstooth

      Is it a pants suit or skirt suit? (Just trying to picture it in my head.)

      I think your sweater could work as long as it’s not too bulky under the jacket and as long as the cowl neck “works” with the jacket lapel. How long is the sweater? If it is longer than the suit jacket, then you’d need to tuck, which doesn’t sound like it would work.

      I think this has potential (and could be really pretty), although a lighter and very simple shirt might be easier with fewer “what ifs” than the sweater. There are probably super conservative offices that might not find the sweater appropriate, too. Just something to consider. I think this would fly in lots of offices, but interviews are often where you should err on the side of caution and go with something safe instead of pushing the envelope. You can always go with the simple silk shell underneath if you don’t like button-downs.

        • PE Esq

          unless you’re terribly uncomfortable in skirts and they really don’t flatter you, wear the skirt suit.

    • Fiona

      I think sweaters are generally fine with suits, but I think that particular sweater looks a little too casual with the cowl neck. I’d look for a silk or cashmere sweater in a crew or v-neck (or scoop that is not too low).

      As for not tucking it in, I’ve heard the rule that as long as your jacket is longer than your sweater/shirt, it’s acceptable to not tuck in the shirt.

    • PE Esq

      I agree with Fiona. If it’s at a law firm I wouldn’t wear the cowl neck, but thin crew neck sweater/shell would work.

    • Bunkster

      As someone who lives in the Northeast and has been doing a lot of interviewing recently, I think you’re going to be too hot in that outfit. While I agree that it’s definitely colder out, it won’t be cold in the offices that you go to.

      I’d wear a winter coat over my suit. And I’d wear a short-sleeve crewneck top – silk, cashmere, whatever.

      Besides, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be nervous, which will make you warmer anyway.

      • Anne-on

        Agree – I vote for a short sleeve crewneck top in silk/cotton/cashmere/whatever. Though, for some reason these simple basic tops are increasingly hard to find in stores. I horde them from Nordstroms/Banana Republic/etc. when they do seem to be available or on sale.

        • PE Esq

          I know! I get August Silk shells at Macy’s or TJMaxx but I’m not crazy about them, and I can never find decent alternatives in other stores.

  21. Trick or treat

    I am late to yesterday’s thread started by Ru’s question about Halloween. Around here, leaving your light off has always been enough to send the message. Lots of people don’t participate either because they can’t be bothered, can’t come to the door (elderly), are out with their own kids trick or treating, are out of town or at work, etc. No one seems to mind. I’ve never heard a kid complain-why would they when they can just go on to the next house? Some of the comments yesterday implying that there’s an obligation to participate really seemed off base to me. When did Halloween candy become an entitlement?

    As for the remaining visitors, if it really bothers you, can you put up some “caution tape” or cones to make it look like there is work being done on your walkway? And no I don’t think that’s a “deception” akin to a lie. You don’t want to participate in Halloween, you’re not “tricking” anyone out of anything, just creating a deterrent.

    I’m Muslim as well and I know many Muslims who choose not to participate, as well as those of other faiths. Of course, the overwhelming majority of our neighborhood does participate. We recognize that the holiday has religious roots but don’t want our children to feel isolated or ostracized, so we do let them participate in school activities and we do give out candy. We discuss the history with them, we don’t decorate, we don’t purchase Halloween items, etc. It’s a compromise and one that we revisit every year. I don’t think that’s hypocritical (she says preemptively expecting a barrage of criticism).

    • Ru

      Thank you for your response. It is a tricky road we walk, balancing the secular practices with the religious beliefs and it’s hard to say that there’s an ANSWER.

  22. Aria

    Can someone help me figure out how to wear booties with pants? Do you wear socks with them? And if so, does it bother you if when you sit your pants ride up a bit and you can see your socks?

    • eh230

      I generally wear my booties with dresses/skirts, but if I wear them with pants, I wear trouser socks. I don’t think my booties would fit the same way if I tried to wear thicker socks. Hope this helps!

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