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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 65 Comments · by

Thursday’s TPS Report: Fitted Jacket

Fashion· The Personal Shopper (TPS)· Wear to Work

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. MaxStudio.com. FITTED JACKETMax Studio has some great sales going on for blazers, sweaters, dresses, coats, and more. (Tip: If you're hunting by size, be sure to do the general S/M/L/XL sizes, as that's where you'll find the most stuff.)  I'm liking this simple twill, satin-lined jacket. I don't quite like the way it's styled, though — I would either wear it with wide trousers or jeans, perhaps with a brooch near those structured shoulders, or perhaps even a long, opera-length necklace wrapped once around the neck and then left to hang down the front of the jacket. However you wear it, it's a great, classic blazer — was $298, now $98 at MaxStudio.com. FITTED JACKET Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail [email protected] with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 8.30.24

  • Nordstrom – Summer Sale, save up to 60%
  • Ann Taylor – 30% off full-price purchase; $99 jackets, dresses & shoes; extra 50% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50-70% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Bergdorf Goodman – Final Days Designer Sale, up to 75% off; extra 20% off sale
  • Boden – 20% off
  • Brooks Brothers – Extra 25% off clearance
  • Eloquii – Up to 60% off everything; extra 60% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 40% off sitewide; extra 60% off sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Extra 20% off orders $125+; extra 60% off clearance; 60%-70% off 100s of styles
  • Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off (ends 9/2)
  • Madewell – Extra 40% off sale; extra 50% off select denim; 25% off fall essentials
  • M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
  • Rothy's – End of season sale, up to 50% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear in the big sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 25% off regular-price purchase; 70% off clearance
  • White House Black Market – Up to 70% off sale

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Comments

  3. Lyssa

    I agree that the styling is awful here. But I think that I can imagine it differently.

    Anyway, speaking of unusual blazers, my husband got me this one in black for my b-day: http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=30087&N=1200011&pCategoryId=3939&categoryId=187&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_187&loc=TN&defaultColor=Black&defaultSizeType=Regular

    It’s not that I don’t like it, but I’m having trouble figuring out what to do with it. I see how the model has it open in the picture, but on my tiny frame, it feels too big, and with the sides too wide, to just wear it like that. (I may need to go down a size, though.) But closed up, it seems too big and bulky to wear all day.

    It feels like it toes the line between outerwear and part of the outfit. (i.e., it doesn’t work as something that I could wear under a coat if I want to wear it now, but I’m not sure that I see wearing it as part of an outfit, rather than just as a light jacket, in the spring.)

    (Also, we have a very shed-y dog, and it looks like it is a hair magnet, which means that I cannot have it out for more than a minute around the house.)

    Anyway, since I think it’s a little too big anyway, I think I can get away with taking it back. But he’s usually really good at picking out clothing for me, and he’s always so proud of what he picks out (it’s adorable!) that I’d feel bad if he thought that I don’t want to wear it, but I’m just not sure whether to try to swap it for something else or not.

    • anonymous

      If you don’t love it, take it back! He’ll feel worse if you aren’t honest or if you don’t wear it. Just emphasize how much you generally love his choices.

    • EC

      I love it, but I can see how it would be hard to style. I think I’d style it like the model in the brown version – with trouser jeans, buttoned shut (otherwise it just looks like a blazer…). Actually, I’d probably wear this out for dates/parties on weekends with a slouchy hat with a bill (what are these called? newsboys? conductor hats?) and possibly a long, skinny lightweight knit scarf, and probably trouser jeans with pumas but maybe skinny jeans and tall boots.

      Did he get you a black or brown version? I could see the black being cute with a poofy colorful skirt underneath and a patterned scarf that picked up the color of the skirt.

      But I second anonymous – if you don’t love it, you should take it back. He won’t remember in a year that you returned it and bought something you did love, but he will see it hanging unworn in the closet if you keep it.

    • Merry R.

      It is adorable – in the picture. But if it is not working for you, that happens some times. I’m sure if you explain it kindly to your hubby, he will understand. He can’t be spot on 100% of the time, right?

      • coco

        Exactly – it is an adorable jacket, you like it, but it just doesn’t fit / work in your wardrobe. That is not your fault or his – blame the designer!

  4. Preggo Angie

    Super cute! I would probably wear it with dark jeans for going out, when it’s too warm for a jacket but you need something to cover up. But please keep in mind I’ve been wearing elastic and rayon for the past 7-ish months and may need fashion bootcamp after baby girl is born.

    P.S. Doctor says less than a week!

  5. EC MD

    I love this — especially with the wide leg trouser idea Kat suggested.

    Threadjack —

    My husband and I are in the midst of a major change in employment. Both physicians, we are relocating to a new state, starting new jobs. We are both going from large group practices to essentially solo practices. We are moving to California, where the rules in regards to employment models are very different than the rest of the country. We have lots of questions about how to structure our new jobs so that we maximize our tax advantages while minimizing the exposure of our (at this point, very limited) personal assets if we were ever to be sued for malpractice. We’ve tried to talk to both a JD supposedly familiar in setting up medical practices, and a CPA. It feels as though neither of them has a strong sense of ownership of helping us through these issues. Those of you in the legal/accounting world — should we look for a different lawyer or accountant? Do we need a tax lawyer? Would a financial planner be the one to talk to? The kind of stuff I’m talking about is building the best retirement account possible, attempting to pay for health insurance with pre-tax dollars, etc. Any advice about who to get good advice from would be great. Thanks in advance.

    • L

      I would talk to a small business or tax lawyer, who has experience with medical practices, and who also either (1) knows about or (2) has colleagues who know about estate planning for asset protection. That way you can talk about setting up the practice to minimize personal liability and maximize tax savings, and the estate planning person can also give you advice on how to set up documents so as best to protect your assets.

    • Anonymous

      For your last few questions, you need a financial planner. Several people have mentioned here before that you should look for one that works on a fee basis, not one who receives commissions for selling you products.

      As for minimizing exposure of your assets in case of a malpractice suit, you need a lawyer. Your financial planner may be able to recommend one, but you should seek out one who specializes in defending doctors in malpractice suits, not just a general business lawyer. If you’re moving to a small town, you may have to look for a lawyer based in a larger city in the same state.

      • anon

        You also need to speak to a good insurance agent, one who specializes in commercial policies for small businesses.

    • rg

      Though California is a bit unique, typically solo practitioners set up something like an LLC to limit their exposure in the event of a malpractice case. That said, I believe that depending on what the finding is, the LLC might not protect all of your assets. In addition, my parents at least, separate some of their assets (both docs, dad’s in private practice, and they put some things in my mom’s name only) to protect them. The benefit of this, of course, varies by marriage and property laws in each state.

      You might look into whether you can find a lawyer who specializes in medical practice. You are essentially running a small business with potentially high liabilities, so you need specialized legal advice in a few areas. California poses the problem that it has a very low fraction of doctors in solo practice (I think less than 40%, though I could be misremembering), so it’ll be more challenging to find resources. Maybe you could try to talk to some other docs and see how they’ve handled things.

      My other general warning, since you seem to be unfamiliar with some of the particularities of private practice and of California, is that if you’re in a higher population density area, the medical care is dominated by large “total care” providers (like Kaiser). Even for people with top-notch PPO insurance, out-of-pocket expenditures are enormous (I once paid several thousand dollars out-of-pocket with what most would consider an excellent Anthem BC PPO for a medical problem that would have cost me $300 total at Kaiser which also had more experts and better facilities for what I needed…needless to say I switched insurance after that). Solo practice in California is a tough road to travel. I apologize if I’m telling you something you already know, but if this is new to you I’d encourage you to spend some time learning about some of the state’s unique challenges.

      • EC MD

        Thanks for your specific advice, and to everyone else as well. In reference to the issue of solo practice, we are moving to a rural area not served by Kaiser that has a critical access hospital, meaning that though physicians cannot be employed by hospitals in CA, this hospital can pay us fair market value for the work we do, regardless of the reimbursement from insurers. The entire medical staff of the hospital is essentially either in small group practices or is contracting directly with the hospital. So I am not fighting Kaiser — not the kind of fool who thinks I could win that war!

    • EC

      I second the people who say you need to find a lawyer who specializes in setting up small businesses and does some estate planning, and maybe also knows something (or someone) who can help with the medical aspect. For instance, my firm “sets up medical practices” but we work with large groups of physicians, and I wouldn’t know how to start advising someone asking your very individual questions.

      Another thought is that some credit cards and banks offer small business advising services. I’m not sure exactly what those include, but you might look into it.

    • Merry R.

      If at all possible I would suggest you also hunt down associations, etc. with people who are doing what you want to do and pick their brains. Try to find out what they went through and what they would do differently. Do have anyone in your network in CA who can give you some pearls of wisdom and/or referrals to the folks the other comments have suggested?

      Just my $0.02.

    • Louise

      I can highly recommend a financial planner in San Jose, CA, if that is anywhere near you.

      Cam Neri
      Retirement Capital Strategies
      1190 Saratoga Ave.
      Suite 140
      San Jose, CA 95129
      408-551-6100

  6. surrounded by lawyers

    Reporting back for those who were interested in finding a good lip primer: I ended up getting the one from Bare Escentuals, and I think it was about $14. So far I’d give it a B/B+, though my expectations may be unreasonable. (I wanted my lipstick to still look new at 9 pm!) It goes on waxy and continues to feel that way through the day, but that’s a good thing compared to the usual dryness I got with lipstick. It definitely makes the color appear more even, and I find when I reapply (which I still had to), it still helps the even-ness. It also minimizes lines. So, I will continue using it but would also be interested in hearing of something better. It lacks SPF, which I wanted.

    Hope I am not wearing out my welcome with all my posts lately!

    • Merry R.

      Thanks for the tip. My lips are starting to do the dry thing and it is getting annoying. And I am a big fan of anything that helps keep my makeup on. I don’t have time to touch it up during the work day even if I were to remember.

  7. VA

    Apologies for threadjack:

    My bf signed us up for a long weekend in Cancun next week, and I’m thinking about getting a Brazilian for the trip. Has anyone done this before? Is it unbearably painful?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Lawgirl

      Interested to hear back. I personally fathom such a thing going on down there. EVER :-/

        • Jade Moon

          Yep. I’m with you 100%. W-a-a-a-a-y too personal. Don’t want a stranger down there. But that’s just me, and based on the comments below, you and I are the outliers.

    • Emma

      It is pretty painful, at least the first time you do it.

      Tips: spray your skin with an anaesthetic spray because it slightly numbs your skin, and take some pain meds before you go!

      • Emma

        And I will add a bit of elaboration. I used to do it regularly, but hated it so much that I stopped. It’s expensive and painful. It does get better if you keep it up every month or so, because the hair follicles grow in longer cycles so that not all of them grow back each month. I think women experience different levels of pain, though, so I can’t speak for everyone.

    • Arachna

      Do not forget the advil! Two half an hour before and two more right before. Go somewhere very good – makes a huge difference, the difference between “I am never doing it again” and “hey, that wasn’t so bad”.

    • Kady

      Only did it once, found it not nearly as painful as I’d feared (and I have a very low pain tolerance). I’ve heard (repeatedly) that it totally depends on who you go to. I would go through Yelp (or any other ranking site) and find a person who has dozens (if not hundreds) of 5 star ratings. You’ll usually find the comments saying things like, “I didn’t feel a thing”, etc, etc… Also, the typical suggestion of not going right before your period, because, apparently, the vajayjay area is particularly sensitive then (who knew?).

    • Anonymous

      I do it regularly. It’s not that much more painful then a regular bikini wax. If you don’t normally get your bikini line waxed though, I’d start with that. I still find it painful, but if you breathe right (or bite on a towel if you’re really in pain!), it’s totally bearable. You may be puffy/sore for a day or two, especially if you normally bruise with a regular waxing. Also, make sure you go to someone who knows what she’s doing. My waxer can get the brazilian done in 15 minutes and she’s never left a bruise (she’s in San Francisco, btw). There’s no need to spend 45 minutes in pain.

      • Fiona

        Oh yes, it might take a couple of days for the redness to go away. So if your vacation is next weekend, go today or this weekend.

    • Fiona

      If your city has a Bliss Spa, I highly recommend them. They use a different kind of wax, and it’s much less painful than anything I’ve found anywhere else. Plus the women working there are generally very good and very fast. It’s expensive though ($75 I believe).

      • Eek!

        +1 Every Bliss I’ve been to has done an excellent job. If you’re not near a Bliss, I recommend at least going somewhere that uses hard wax. It really does make a difference.

        • I

          Hard wax makes a HUGE difference – it is much less painful and makes the process go much faster. If you’re in NYC, Spa Ja also uses hard wax. They have changed my life (in regards to waxing anyway). Good luck!

          • soulfusion

            I LOVE Spa Ja!! Although I’m only brave enough for regular waxing and can’t speak for the Brazilian. Their wax is more like silly putty rather than a hot wax that is spread on and then yanked off with cotton strips. Also love their facials.

    • cardiganista

      Totally not unbearably painful. I echo the suggestion of advil before and also if you can swing the scheduling (i.e. you’re not going right after work) – take a bath and exfoliate the whole area about 3-4 hours before. I find this helps immensely with the ease that the hairs come out. Might be TMI, but I like to trim it myself quite short if it isn’t already (although they may trim it for you).

      You will likely be sore but definitely a little red/blotchy for the next day and maybe since its your first, the day after. So don’t do it the night before you leave for Cancun.

      Look up recommendations, even ask your friends – anyone who’s had it done quite a few times can tell a great waxer from a horrible one. Some are VERY quick…some not so much, and cleanliness standards vary from salons, so don’t be afraid to spend a little extra to have it in a nice day spa or something where they know what they’re doing.

    • L

      Def. start with the regular wax if you haven’t had one before, and go to someone with good reviews.

      I have been getting brazilians for 9 years now. The first few years were pretty painful but it is really not bad not at all, AND my hair has gotten much more sparse, so I don’t really go more than every 3 months now unless I have swim class with the babies or something.

      • Anon in Ny

        If this is your first time getting a brazilian I second the recommendation for Bliss. They’re generally pretty experienced, the wax they use is gentle, and they are very used to dealing with women who are “new” to waxing.
        If you’re in a city with lots of waxers, definitely try to find someone who uses just wax, not strips. Personally, I find that method much much less painful. Also – you may be more comfortable with a “french wax” or an “in-betweeny” to use the Bliss term. Basically, they take off more hair than just a bikini wax, but not so much that you’re having someone wax your behind (which can be a bit off-putting for first timers).

    • eaopm3

      I used to go all the time and my esthetician (sp ?) used sugar wax, which was much less painful than hot wax strips. The first time it hurts like the dickens, but it gets better with multiple visits. Here in the Midwest, one session was about $80.
      A word of caution – I am very prone to ingrown hairs. I thought that waxing would be better than shaving. The irritation that comes with shaving was gone when I waxed, but the ingrown hairs got substantially worse.
      Someday, when I can afford it, I’m just getting laser hair removal. My sister did it and she loves it. Sigh. Someday…

    • Another Sarah

      It’s not unbearably painful. Mine are painful, yes, but it’s not like I’m in pain after the appointment. It’s kind of like a really sensitive band-aid being ripped off. I use the rather dubious method of 3 advil + glass of wine to lessen the pain. If you’re not up to the pills + booze method (which would make you totally normal), then the advil should be fine. If you can, try and trim yourself a bit before you go, and gently exfoliate with a scrub the night before, and then moisturize. This clears away the dead skin cells, making the hairs come out easier (read: less painful).

      Also, I don’t know why it works, but taking a deep breath in as the waxer rips off the strip make a difference with the pain. One of my friends (no joke) brings a leather belt in to chomp on. She swears by it. :-)

      Everyone is different for which area is more painful than others. If you decide halfway through that your waxer is taking off too much, or that it’s too painful, feel free to tell them and they will stop or move on. Please Tell your waxer that this is your first time, and they will make sure to do everything they can to lessen the pain and uncomfortableness; but they don’t know unless you tell them.

      Oh, and you might feel a bit cool afterwards. For the rest of the day, for me, it usually feels like a wind is trying to blow up my skirt, even though I could be wearing super-insulated snow pants. Totally normal. :-)

    • Anon for this

      HIGHLY recommend doing it, it’s wonderful and you feel great! I didn’t have any major issues with the pain, and I don’t normally take any Advil, etc. I decided to go big or go home on my first session, and had them take everything off the first time. Just make sure your hair is long enough, otherwise they’ll be getting your skin vs. your hair, and it won’t be nearly as effective. I had it done at a MedSpa vs. a salon, and I think that helped with the quality of the aesthetician.

      • also anon

        It seems like some people are saying to make sure hair is long enough (which is what I thought) and others are saying they trim beforehand. How much do you trim?

        • Anon in Ny

          Generally you want to make sure the hair is at least 1/4 inch long (about the length of your eyebrows). Otherwise, there isn’t anything to grab onto. If the hair is very long, most waxers will just trim it before trying to wax you.

          • anon

            hey OP – i think it’s worth mentioning that bliss spa technicians do NOT trim prior to waxing.

    • Chris in LA

      Have never done it but a local spa offers and recommends a follow up treatment after a week or so for the inevitable ingrown hairs.

      • VA

        Thanks so much for all the tips! I made an appointment for this weekend, and I’m definitely going to use all of the advice. Unfortunately I don’t have a Bliss in my city, but I researched for about 2 hours and found one with great reviews specifically on Brazilians.

        I will let everyone know how it goes!

      • Anon in Ny

        Just an FYI – ingrown hairs can be treated cheaply at home with tend skin, exfoliating, and believe it or not, benzoyl peroxide (also an exfoliator). The “follow-up” treatment sounds like a cash grab to me!

    • Two cents

      Can I ask why people get this done? Not to be snarky, just genuinely curious. I certainly see the value of getting the traditional bikini wax, but going completely bare sounds too pre-pubescent for me.

      • anon

        i think appearance-wise no one is going to mistake an adult woman’s vulva for a child’s, hair or no hair! some women think it feels cleaner, and some think it increases sensation when with a partner – i think it’s probably different for every woman.

    • anon

      i have only gotten brazilians at bliss spa in chicago, but they have many locations and i’m sure the service is comparable at each: http://www.blissworld.com/spa/spa-411/locations.aspx

      it is uncomfortable for sure, and expensive – but after hearing horror stories from girlfriends that sprang for $35 deals that left them bruised and sore, i think it’s well worth it. for me, it doesn’t hurt that much – i have a little tenderness day of that is gone by the next day.

  8. Ru

    I think this is a great jacket. I love how structured the shoulders are without being too footballerish.

  9. Merry R.

    My shoulders are the widest part of my body so this jacket would be a bad call for my figure.

    And I second the 80’s comments.

  10. CJ

    I’m suprised by this pick, I think it’s the first thing I ever thought was truly hideous! Guess that’s not bad since I’ve been on this site for about two and a half years!

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