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Thursday’s TPS Report: Molten Blouse

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. If you're in the mood for prints, this silk/cotton top from Anthropologie is a fun way to liven up your workday. I'd pick one of the teeniest splashes of color to accent an otherwise neutral outfit — the periwinkle, or perhaps the orange — with another accessory such as a belt, a necklace, or even a pair of shoes. It's $98 at Anthropologie. Molten Blouse 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 3/26/25:

  • Nordstrom – 15% off beauty (ends 3/30) + Nordy Club members earn 3X the points!
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale + additional 20% off + 30% off your purchase
  • Banana Republic Factory – Friends & Family Event: 50% off purchase + extra 20% off
  • Eloquii – 50% off select styles + extra 50% off all sale
  • J.Crew – 30% off tops, tees, dresses, accessories, sale styles + warm-weather styles
  • J.Crew Factory – Shorts under $30 + extra 60% off clearance + up to 60% off everything
  • M.M.LaFleur – 25% off travel favorites + use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – $64.50 spring cardigans + BOGO 50% off everything else

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

144 Comments

  1. Threadjack (thread link-back?) – the Talbots skirt featured on Tuesday is now on sale for $90.30 (orig. $129).

    1. I just bought the sailor trouser jeans for $46.19 (orig. $89). Warning, though… the site is super slow!

    2. Just checked the size chart because I’m considering ordering… an /extra small/ is 36-37″ hips?? that will fit me, but it’s crazy that that’s the smallest size! (I am 5’6″, 133 lbs… so smallish, but certainly not “bottom of the chart” small.)

      1. Yea, talbot’s sizing runs big. I sometimes go for the petites, and I in no way qualify as petite.

  2. Threadjack!

    I am attending a Gala in November of this year which is a pretty big deal for the place I work. (Non-profit school for people with special needs) Dress code is black tie with the usual things that accompany it. The people who attend are loaded so it’s always pretty high quality and price tag for women.
    Here’s the catch- I am in undergrad and work here as part of my workstudy- I can’t afford to buy a ridiculously expensive gown for this and really don’t want to. Any suggestions for ways I could dress so that I still look nice and put together without buying a 500 dollar dress? I don’t mind spending 150 or so if I can find something in that range. I am about a 16 and 5’4” if you have any suggestions. The other fashion downside is that I’m losing weight and don’t even know if I’ll still be a 16 by then…. Ugh.. such a spectacular opportunity for networking and meeting people and I’m worried about fashion.

    TIA

      1. I feel like you might have some luck checking out thrift stores. Fancy gowns are exactly the kind of thing people give away because they don’t wear them often.

        I don’t know what area you are in, but I’d check out thrift store in nice neighborhoods/suburbs. Plus, as a bonus, you could find a somewhat ill-fitting dress and take it to a tailor and have it “custom-made.” A tailor could change a neckline, remove sleeves and/or make it fir perfectly.

        1. ITA! I’m also really surprised that no one has mentioned ebay. yeah, no returns there, but someone’s once-worn bridesmaid/prom dress + tailoring would be great. I just did a search and there are TONS of dresses for $45 and under.

    2. I haven’t tried it myself, but I know others have had luck with renttherunway dot com.

      1. $100 will get you a floor length gown. Sizes might be an issue, but I believe they have a consultant you can chat with about what might be available.

      2. Yep, I was going to suggest rent the runway! I’ve never tried it, but I would love to if I had an occasion to wear a fancy gown.

        1. rent the runway is amazing. seriously. best new business. i wish this was around when i was in college.

        2. it is a serious life saver, and you can rent a second dress (in case you don’t love the fist) for $25

    4. Have you considered one of those rent a dress websites? One is renttherunway dot com, there are others, too, I think. Starting at $50, you could get a dress that will fit the bill, and you won’t be stuck with it if a) you won’t have occasion to wear it in the future, or b) you end up loosing more weight.

      Another idea is to maybe borrow something from a friend? I have a gf about my size and we are constantly raiding each others’ closets for the barrage of weddings that have filled our lives for the last couple of years.

      Finally, check out some stores like Lohmanns, Filene’s Basement, or whatever the equivalent is in your area. You’d be surprised what you can find (though it is very random). Not sure where you are, but the Filene’s Basement in NYC often has the brand Marina Rinaldi, which makes lovely, dressy clothes in the size you’re looking for, at a very steep discount. It’s in the “vault” section, not the regular evening dress section, fyi.

      Whatever you end up doing, don’t stress too much about it & just try enjoy this very elegant and fun-sounding party. Other people never pay as much attention to our clothes as we do, and no one will expect an undergrad student to dress the same as some grande dame who bought a whole table at one of these events.

      1. Agree that other people never pay much attention as we think they will! Only if it is COMPLETELY inappropriate for the setting will anyone really remember.

        Other ideas–if you have decent department stores near you, check those out, especially the juniors section. They may be a little too fussy, but high schools just had homecoming so it might be worth a look if you have department stores nearby (and I say that because I have had the experience with less than stellar shopping where I went to school!)

        Good luck. You’re doing a great thing with your workstudy so enjoy the gala!

        1. This is not meant to sound witchy, but Fitz is a size 16. Even by November, she will probably only be a 12 or a 14. Rent the Runway doesn’t really go much higher than a 12, and she is not going to fit into juniors sizing. I am a 8-10 at AT, J. Crew, most Nordstrom brands, and I sometimes struggle to fit into a RTR dress. There’s no way I could get into a juniors cut.

          1. Good point anon and I don’t think your commetns were witchy. It’s been a long time since I shopped in juniors but my undergrad used to have lots of formals and I would buy dresses on clearance after prom season. I actually bought a few dresses around 14 or 16 because they were left on the rack and were simple enough to be tailored to fit me (I was about a 10 back in those days). True, sizing has certainly changed since dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was an undergrad, but that’s where I was coming from.

        2. I second the homecoming/prom leftovers. I wandered into Deb (would never otherwise shop there) and got a classic black ballgown that fit perfectly for $10. I wore it to my 3L Barrister’s Ball and some black-tie business events since (thought it’s a little snugger now). I dressed for the last few weddings I attended at Ross for less than $50 each. JC Penney online ocassionally has something at $30-$50 in their clearance section, including that more average sizes that OP is looking for.

      2. If you want to try to borrow something, I’ve found it helpful to just send out an ABP on Facebook: hey friends, does anyone have a fancy dress that they could lend out for this event? I’d really appreciate it and promise to (buy you lunch, clean your house, do something really nice for you in return)

        1. This is a great suggestion. I’ve lent a dress to a friend of a friend through one of these APBs. Someone in your network has a formal dress that they wear once a year that they would be happy to lend to you!

    5. As a student, a $150 budget is definitely enough to work with ;-)
      I would definitely second the thrift-store/rent the runway option. I would also look at Nordstrom Rack/TJ Maxx/etc. If you have Neiman Marcus Last Call, it usually has a big section for these types of dresses.

      Also, you said you see this as a networking opportunity, so this is what I would do with your budget to try and put my best foot forward.
      – Find a dress for around $75 (++ if it can be worn again, LBD, etc.)
      – Spend the rest of my budget on having your hair or nails done for the event
      I think this way you’ll feel confident while networking without shelling out major bucks for a really expensive dress.

      1. Agree with the advice not to put all $150 on the dress. I would, however, make sure that the dress fits very well. If this means spending $75 on a dress and $25 at a tailor it would be worth it. Ill-fitting clothing are more noticble to me than inexpensive fabric or finishings (although I’m not sure if the hive will agree).

    6. Sign up for emails at all of the major department stores. Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and especially Lord and Taylor. They typically have some %off coupons. Spend a day going through all of the stores, noting what styles and sizes they have, try them on, etc and then purchase when they have a promotion.

      1. I think you’d be fine finding a nice little black dress (that you could get some more wear out of later) and adding some bling earrings or something. Totally agree on getting hair/nails done. I’ve had good luck getting blowouts, etc. at beauty schools (just takes a little longer). Have a great time!!

    7. Ralph Lauren (the cheaper, green label kind–is that Lauren by Ralph Lauren?) makes a bunch of seasonless stretchy jersey dresses with super flattering ruching. I see them at Marshall’s/TJ Maxx all the time. I’ve also seen them at Macy’s. Price ranges from $40ish at TJ Maxx to $125 at Macy’s (full price–I’m sure you can get it cheaper with a coupon or during one of the many sales).

      I have one in black, and it has become my go-to dress because it looks like a million bucks, even through recent weight fluctuations (both up and down). Pair with some festive accessories, and call it a day.

      1. A jersey dress with ruching is not going to work for a black tie gala. You can probably get away with a shorter length, but it has to be a dressier fabric than jersey.

        1. It absolutely is for a student who is essentially working the event. Especially with proper accessories.

        2. The dresses BAB mentioned would be fine – notwithstanding the jersey-ness of them. I’ve seen them in person (and own a couple, and love them), and the fabric has a nice weight and fluidity to them. There are also a few floor length options too. They would be fine for black tie on a budget.

        3. I wore something similar to a gala when I was a law student intern in DC. It was simple, and I had my hair done and dressed it up with accessories. No one batted an eye. I believe mine was Calvin Klein, and it was around $100.

        4. I think it’s fine for people working the event. I have a friend who worked for a non-profit that hosted these types of events regularly and she never spent more than $100 on any one dress. I am guessing that this type of dress is something she would wear regularly since it’s so easy to dress up!

      2. This is a great suggestion. I have a RL jersey dress from TJMaxx, and it is very flattering. In a solid color and appropriate style, especially if you can find a long one, it would look stunning at a black tie event with the right accessories.

    8. Check out stores like Filene’s, Ross, TJ Maxx, etc if you want a gown. You may be able to find one for a low price, especially if you’re in a city like DC or NYC – it’s “gala season” right now and I’ve seen lots of gowns in stores. Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and J Crew also often have special occasion dresses on sale. I saw some nice tea-length silk dresses at AT that are intended to be bridesmaids dresses, but don’t look particularly bridesmaid-y and would work nicely for a gala if worn with heels and a pashmina. Thrift stores are also a great selection.

      If you don’t want to buy a whole new dress, an LBD worn with a high-quality wrap, shiny heels, and one or two sparkly pieces of jewelry would also be appropriate.

      2. David’s Bridal also might have bridesmaid dresses that don’t look too bridesmaid-y. If you have a location near you, it is worth a shot, but I’d recommend NOT going on a Saturday. Trust me on that one!

        1. This is a good suggestion, just make sure you have enough time in case the dress has to be ordered. My friend is getting married and they had tons of dresses that did not look too bridesmaid-like, including lots of floor length satin gowns for around $100. We also went to higher-end bridal shops (where my friend got her wedding dress), but I liked the bridesmaid dresses at David’s the best.

          1. I second the idea for a bridal place, if they carry items in stock in sizes.

            Perhaps the dept. stores have a long black skirt and then you can glam up a jacket/top you have or can find or borrow? The long black skirt could be taken in and up later on as you need to do that. Usually the poly/rayon ones are within your imagined price point.

            If you have friends who are performers (music, singing, instrumentalists) they likely have a big performance gear section of their closets and perhaps they can help you as well.

            Love your internship! People won’t be examining you that closely, they will be having fun, donating, and socializing. You do need the floor length piece of clothing though. In my opinion, of course :)

    9. Maybe try one of the online services like Rent the Runway. Either that or just look for a LBD in your price range and amp it up with some great costume jewelry. You don’t need to compete with incredibly expensive designer gowns. You might also want to schedule a blowout before the event – I’ve never done it (because I always forget), but I know I always feel the most fabulous when I’ve just had my hair professionally styled.

    10. thank you all so much for these ideas- they are awesome and are giving me so much to work with!!!
      I do agree with the anon who pointed out that RTR dresses probably won’t work. I looked at the site and there isn’t really anything that would be formal enough that would fit me :(
      I like the idea of getting hair and nails done with part of the budget and I will have to check out the stores you all mentioned. A lot were things I hadn’t thought of, I’ve never looked at the formal section of Marshalls etc.

      Thank you so much!! Keep the ideas coming!

    11. I just tried on a bunch of gowns at nordstrom for a similar event. They were in a wide range of prices, but some were for sure in the 150-200 range. Adrianna Papell has some great dresses that are not too expensive. So i would go look for dresses as the big dept stores (macys, bloomingdales, nordstrom etc), as they often have appropriate dresses from less expensive designers.

        2. That is one of the prettiest dresses I have ever seen. And it’s PURPLE. Now off to mine google to see if I can justify getting one for absolutely no reason… but it’s SO pretty.

      3. Classof2011 – how lovely of you! I love that you offered your dress, and I love the pay it forward idea, and I love the dress! Thank you for making me smile!

      4. This is an amazing dress!! And Classof2011, that was such an awesome gesture… big time kudos to you! :)

      5. Just want to join all the others in saying how sweet it is of you to offer this. Corporette really brings together some great people!

    13. Yes, I have totally been in this situation. Check out Tadashi on ebay. I used to have two formal events every year and have two black Tadashi formal skirts – one full and one straight – that I wore with different dressy tops or jackets. I also think a beautiful cashmere pullover or classic cardigan is a great look with a formal skirt. If you get the skirt nailed down now, you will be able to find a top half closer to the event. My events were always in the first week of December, and I found that dressy items often went on sale right after Thanksgiving.

    14. Ugh. My comment has been in moderation for hours. There are a couple very pretty Adrienne Pappell dresses below your budget on Nordie Rack’s site.

    15. Another rec for Filene’s & Nordie’s Rack. I’ve found absolutely fabulous fancy dress appropriate attire at both places (I’m a 14-16).

    16. These are pretty. I really like the third one. All under $150, sizes 14-16.

      http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=476231&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=#fn=DRESS_LENGTH%3DLong%26SIZE%3D16%26SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DEvening/Formal%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D23

      http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=520746&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=#fn=DRESS_LENGTH%3DLong%26SIZE%3D16%26SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DEvening/Formal%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D23

      http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=575610&CategoryID=5449&LinkType=#fn=DRESS_LENGTH%3DLong%26SIZE%3D16%26SPECIAL_OCCASIONS%3DEvening/Formal%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D23

    17. Tadashi Shoji has amazing things for the plus sizes (well, all size, but they’re at the top of the plus size gown market). Try to get one on sale at Saks, Bloomie’s, Nordstrom Rack, etc.

    18. Rather than a thrift store, I’d actually recommend consignment–most shops have quality standards that their garments have to meet before they’ll take them.

      I have also found good deals at department stores, but according to my mother and my partner (both of whom have shopped with me), I have some kind of bargain dowsing ability. Not sure what sort of luck you’ll have; couldn’t hurt to try, though.

      Best of luck from the girl who never spent more than $250 on prom. :)

  3. Yesterday I asked the question about downpayment savings and the current state of the market. I didn’t get to read the responses until late last night, and I was afraid if I posted a thank-you there, no one would see it. So THANK YOU so much for all of the suggestions and advice! I am definitely bookmarking yesterday’s financial discussion for future reference…very helpful!

  4. Early threadjack: another LinkedIn question.

    I’m very passive about my LinkedIn account. I tend to use it as a virtual rolodex to look up contact information for people I’ve worked with. However, I’ve noticed that others in my network tend to post what they’re up to and are much more active. I’m a finalist in a national awareness campaign for a medical condition (set up like a contest with voting, but it is all free to the voters) and I’m wondering whether sharing this info on LinkedIn would be inappropriate. It is the sort of thing that I wouldn’t be suprised to see someone else sharing. This is a non-controversial cause–advocacy and research for a specific non-controversial disease–and there are many people in my network who already know about my involvement, but honestly I’d be doing it to get more votes which translate to money for research (and I’m too competitive for my own good and want to win!)

    Thoughts?

    1. I think it’s fine. I use LinkedIn updates to advertise my work events and ask others to attend. I think your contest is analogous, and if it’s only one message it won’t annoy anyone.

    2. I think it’s fine, too. I tend to use LinkedIn as you described, but using your contacts to raise awareness for something like this seems completely appropriate to me.

    3. Thanks ladies. This was my gut reaction as well, but I was trying to avoid being That Girl.

  5. Real-live “manageing partner” question!

    I’m a brand new associate in a pretty big class. Realized recently that a couple of senior partners attend my church. I saw one after services and he invited me to have lunch next week (this weekend) with him and a couple of other partners and their families. Yes, including the managing partner.

    Sooo…any advice? This seems like a great opp to get to know some senior colleagues casually. But I’m feeling pretty shy and nervous about it. TIA!

    1. I say go for it! I would be terrified and nervous, too, but nobody on the outside has a way of finding out. If appropriate, bring your SO or another family member and get to know meet people.

    2. This is a great opportunity to see the “other side” of people you work with/for. You can see a more “human” side to people you otherwise just see the business side of. Although it may not lead directly to more work on your desk or opportunities right off the bat, you will probably get a better sense of the upper echelon of your office and can nurture these relationships along for the longer term. It’s a great opportunity and one that shouldn’t be missed!

      On the same token… be yourself and just enjoy the experience. You want people to get to know the real you–not someone that you pretend to be. You will relax more and be more apt to be able to control the situation and yourself if you just act like yourself.

      I had one of these experiences when I was asked to “fill in” at an event for someone. It was nerve wracking for about 1/2 the event, but then I was finally able to relax and enjoy the experience.

    3. I’m all over corporette today. This is why I don’t normally comment, once it starts I don’t turn off.

      BUT, I think this is fine and a great opportunity. I actually picked a church based on a recommendation from a partner at a former firm and would regularly see partners at church. Once I moved on to a different job, it became a nice way to catch up with those partners so when I needed references it wasn’t out of the blue to contact them. At least in my area, those kinds of casual, church connections can be pretty helpful. All that said–I definitely understand being shy and nervous about this!

        1. I love both, but especially the star one. I would wear that to work, for sure. I actually like it a lot more than the featured blouse, which is the kind of splotchy pattern that some people really like, but I find to be a bit grating.

      5. Constellations! What an amazing idea for a fabric! Would even work for men, e.g. on a tie…

    2. I LOVE the print, but can’t wear that style. It makes me look pregnant (and I’m not).

    3. I wish you would not have linked to that because now I am totally going to own a $150 penguin top. From the reviews it sounds like it will fit my quirky (large bust, super short-waisted, hourglass) self perfectly.

      1. MissJackson, as someone who owns a giraffe skirt, let me just say you’d be surpised how often it may come in handy.

      2. Darn it, you described my body as well and I really like that top. Must.Stay.Strong.

    4. I don’t even have to click on the link. That top is in my shopping cart on the anthro site. Haven’t pulled the trigger only bc I’m not sure I can carry it off …

    5. Done! I’ll let you know how it turns out. You can return Anthro in-store if it doesn’t fit. Based on the reviews it sounds like it might be tough on my long-waisted, hourglass figure but I thought it was worth a try!

  7. I’ve been lusting after an iPhone for a while now and have finally decided to trade in my five-year-old flip-phone tomorrow for the iPhone 4S. I found the open thread back in July about people’s favorite iPhone apps in general (really helpful!), but was curious about a few other things —

    – Any favorite apps that are tailored to specific cities? I spend a fair amount of time in Boston/Cambridge, New York, and DC, so would love apps that people have found to be useful there. Subway/bus navigation, restaurant-finding, etc.
    – I’ll have the lowest minutes/month option and Verizon’s data plan, which isn’t unlimited. Is there a way to set up the phone such that if you have free wifi available (e.g., at school and at home), it’ll use that instead of the data plan whenever possible for 1) anything internet/data-related or 2) phone calls?
    – What kind of case should I get? Hard or rubbery? Any particular types of material to look for or avoid?

    Thanks!

    1. Re free wifi, this is how I turn off my “data/internt using the costly phone lines” default on my iPhone 3GS:

      settings
      general
      network
      data roaming OFF

      Once you do this, you can use the internet only with wifi, not with phone lines. (I know, I know, they’re not actually lines in the 21st century.) Every time you try to use the internet, your phone will tell you which networks are available and you can choose which one to use. So long as you use free ones, you have incurred no charges for using the internet. This is what I do when I travel abroad.

      1. Trying again after posting too quickly:

        Please be careful using free wifi. It is INCREDIBLY easy for anyone on the same wifi network to snoop on your web session (look up droidsheep and firesheep if you’re interested); keep that in mind as you choose which websites to visit, especially if you’re using a hotspot in the city.

        Second DC Metro 2.0 app. It’s free, don’t bother with any of the pay ones.

    2. I find the Yelp app really great (and I think it automatically senses where you are if you let it so it’ll find the right restaurants in the right cities). HopStop is also good. I got a hard case because I was worried the rubber would make it harder to slip in my purse — no complaints so far.

    3. DC Metro is a great app that tracks Metro and buses. I have it for my Droid but am guessing that there’s an iPhone version as well. I also recently found out about the HBO Go app. If you have HBO at home, you can watch every single HBO series and a bunch of movies for free.

      1. Well, you can watch HBO Go if you have HBO on certain cable providers. It’s not available with my provider, which annoys me to no end (Time Warner is generally terrible, and this just added to the annoyance. As soon as I move, I’m switching cable companies if at all possible).

        1. Same here- stupid RCN. The HBO Go ads certainly didn’t mention that at first (though now they provide some fine print) – HBO Go was part of the reason I got the ipad!!

    4. Congrats!

      For specific apps —
      NYC Way is a truly awesome free NYC app. It has everything from subway maps to train timetables to parking regs to nearest starbucks to why the empire state building is blue today. It literally has a million apps in one so you can see movie showtimes or a crime alert or whatever else your heart desires.
      Yelp is also great.
      Urbanspoon and Urbandaddy are also good for where to eat ideas (though somewhat limited, esp. urbandaddy).
      Hopstop is good (for specific train/bus/etc. directions).
      Menupages has an app so you can order food.
      Seamless web probably has one, too, but I don’t use it.
      If you’re in NY, time warner cable and fios both have apps so you can program your dvr on the go.
      Another awesome free app if you like theater is TKTS — it basically tells you what discounted tickets for Broadway & Off Bdway are available at their booth that day, plus next day matinees, and you can choose the booth (Times Sq, Seaport, or Brooklyn – I avoid Times Sq. because it always has lines, the others usually don’t).

      As for your last question — you can turn on your wi-fi (in settings) so that your phone will alert you when wi-fi is available; your phone will also auto switch to the ones you add in and use regularly (such as at home). It can become annoying because networks will pop up all the time when you use your internet in this setting, even if they are locked, but that’s an option. Whenever I am at home or work, my phone uses my wi-fi. You can also do this manually so that you only turn on wi-fi when you know you’re going to be somewhere it is available and you are using the net. Oh, and there are a ton of free wi-fi finder apps.

    5. Within months you’ll wonder how you lived without your phone. I heartily recommend the Yelp and OpenTable apps for dining/reservations. Also – I have an OtterBox case that I LOVE. Got it on Amazon for cheaper than the Mac store price. It’s a combination of rubber and hard plastic, so it easily slips into the phone holder in my purse. I’ve also dropped this phone a few times – and while my heart stopped while I watched it fall, there has yet to be any damage. It’s also pretty slim, so it won’t bulk up the look/feel of your phone.

      1. I second the recommendation for an OtterBox. I have a one year old and she and I have both dropped the OtterBoxed phone with no ill effects.

      2. I want to add another recommendation for OtterBox. I’ve had my 3GS since December ’09 and my phone still looks and functions like new. I’ve dropped it down stairs and on the street and who knows what else, and the otterbox has taken all of those hits and kept on going!

      3. 4th’ed! I’m a dropper. Of everything, especially expensive things, and this Otterbox cover plus screen film has saved my phone sooo many times. I have the midrange one – not the waterproof or the slick metro one. The corners are super well padded.

    6. Check out Lifehacker. They did a post around X-mas for ipads, iphones and Androids that told you the best apps, the best way to download them (which market to use, which for Apple is itunes) etc. Super-helpful!

    7. Get a soft squishy case because a hard case will probably crack if you drop the phone. Also, get a color other than black because you can’t see a black case in your purse. I had to switch to hot pink so that I can quickly find my phone.

    8. – Hopstop, Subway Map, NYC Subway, and NYC 311
      – Paypal is great (if you use PayPal)
      – Keeper (keeps track of passwords)
      – Steep & Cheap (fun roll-the-dice kind of discounts for outdoor gear)
      – Air Sharing
      – Light (lets you use the LED flash as a light)
      – aSleep, Ambiance, and Naturespace for white noise and meditation timers
      – Hipstamatic, Camerabag, ColorSplash, and LEGO Photo are fun for playing with photography

      1. Great — thanks, all! I’m pretty excited about this.

    9. NextBus isn’t an app, but rather a website with a great mobile version, but I was addicted to it living in Cambridge last year. It will tell you when the next bus on a particular route is arriving at a selected stop using GPS data (vs. Google Maps, which will only tell you when the next bus *should* be there based on the schedule–which doesn’t work so well in heavy or light traffic when the bus is either late or early).

      The only caveat is that you have to know the bus route and stop name, so if you’re not familiar enough with where you’re going to know your route options, I would recommend using Google Maps transit tab to plot your route, and then use NextBus to tell you when you actually need to go out to the bus stop (this is particularly handy in rainy or cold weather when you would prefer to stay inside nearby and walk out at the last minute).

      There are paid apps that will combine these functions, but I refuse to pay for apps. I’ve had iPhones for 3 years and never found it necessary. YMMV, in which case you could check out the MBTA’s website for the list of apps that utilize their GPS data. I remember searching last year because this was something I was actually considering bending my no-pay rule for, but it seemed like the reviews slanted toward the cost not being worth it when you could use Next Bus for free.

      1. Perfect. Yes, I’ve used NextBus on my computer, which works when I’m leaving home… not so much when I’m already out and my plans change.

  8. I loved yesterday’s suit so much that I started looking on LK Bennett’s site to see what might be on sale… I put a few things in the cart and then at checkout realized that shipping would cost 45 pounds to the US. I just couldn’t do it.

    Someone yesterday mentioned that they have outlets, and I’m curious where those are… Any in the US, by chance?

    Anyone know of a good spot to get this brand without paying full price?

    Thanks for any feedback you have!

    1. I believe Bloomingdales now carries the brand in a few major cities (NY and Chicago for sure). I think one of the few stand-alone sites for LK Bennett in the US is in Chicago. Which makes me very sad as an east-coaster.

    2. Outlets are in Europe, I believe. They have their first store in Chicago. They are also starting to pop up in the US via Bloomies or Nordstrom. You can avoid paying full price by flying to London or Paris and buying on sale. But that’s not really a perfect solution, so I would just wait till this brand gets a bit more established here and its items start getting marked down.

        1. I did not know there was one in Atlanta. I know what I’m doing over christmas when I’m home.

          (speaking of “home,” when does where you grow up stop being referred to as home? I haven’t lived in Georgia in 8 years, but it’s still what I refer to as “home” or what I say if someone asks where I’m from)

    4. Sorry – that mention of outlets was me and was in the UK context; I apologise for getting your hopes up!

      For anyone in or visiting the UK, the best LKB outlet stores are (IMO) at Bicester Village and Swindon. Bicester in particular is retail Nirvana and is an easy trip from both London and Oxford.

      LKB dresses normally retail for c. £200 each full price and I bought FOUR on my last Bicester visit for £150 total.

      1. Thank you everyone. And Cleocatra, that’s no problem. I’m just super jealous of your LKB-buying abilities! :) Thank you for the outlet tips… I’d love to make a trip to the UK!

  9. Re-posting from yesterday –

    Anyone use acupuncture to treat hair loss? Did it work and how long did it take to see results? In my case, I have overall thinning, not alopecia. I didn’t realize that people used acupuncture in this way until recently. I did a bunch of blood work and I don’t have any sort of thyroid/PCOS issue, just my dad’s bald genes. :)

  10. I just had to share, since it is partly due to the financial discussion yesterday.

    Background: In Norway, the state runs a national student loan provider. At certain points during the year, it offers a fixed rate for the repayments instead of the standard flexible one, for 3, 5 or 10 years.

    Last night, I turned my national student loans which were at a flexible rate into fixed rate loans for the next five years, at 2,869%…

    Since graduating, I have been fairly agressive about paying the loans down, since they were the only loans I had – and definitely wouldn’t commit to a fixed rate. (When I graduated the fixed rate was 7% and the flexible 2.6%) I am now at about $30400 in student loans, down from $47000 when I graduated two years ago.

    When the offer of a fixed rate (that is lower than the flexible rate at the moment) came, I felt that I couldn’t afford not to sign up for it. Now, the repayment will be about $743 per quarter for the next five years.

    Instead, I’ll be putting the $900 a month I had budgeted towards paying off the loans into a higher interest savings account.

    If the discussion hadn’t been going on here yesterday about financial issues, I most likely would have just overlooked the announcement from the national student loan provider, because of my earlier decision. So, thanks to the guest poster, Kat, and all of you who contribute in the comments.

      1. Me too! Thank you law school for my $190,000ish in loans with rates between 5.05% and 7.75%. I can’t complain though because it was my choice to take on the loans. And I feel very fortunate to be employed.

        I’ve made good progress paying them back — the balance is now around $150,000ish after plowing every extra penny I had into my loans last year. I just started clerking so I won’t be able to make as much headway this year, but I keep telling myself I’ll get there eventually! Sometimes though I feel incredibly disheartened when I think about how much I’ve already paid and how much I still have left to pay.

  11. I want to thank mamabear for the recommendation that I check out barkingdogshoes.com to find a pair of flats for my buniony feet. I did and she had a recent post on the most comfortable flats for problem feet. Number one was the Ros Hommerson Miracle Flat, which I ordered on Amazon. It came today and it’s a real miracle. Fit perfectly and feels like a dream. I have never before been able to find a ballet flat that I can wear. Thank you!

    2. I love that you checked out barkingdogshoes! That is my go-to website for my achy breaky feet. :)

  12. I need to rant for a second. Today is my first day wearing a new skirt from the Gap. I didn’t notice the little x holding the slit together until I was in the bathroom. I decided to undo it and release the slit before looking to see how high the slit went. Much to my dismay, the slit goes way higher than I would ever want for either professional or personal clothes! Guess I’ll be trying to walk around the office as little as possible today and then sewing it shut when I get home. It’s days like this when I’m glad for the anonymity of life in NYC.

    1. Don’t sew it all the way shut. I’d suggest taking it to the tailor and seeing if she can put in a kick pleat. If you sew it shut you may not be able to move easily in teh skirt and could suffer an embarrassing rip.

      1. She could also just sew it partially closed herself by closing up the part that is too high and then putting in new stitching at the new top of the slit.

  13. I was wondering if anyone knows where to buy some good trousers for work that have a lower rise and maybe a longer inseam? I tried on the BR Martin yesterday and I looked like Urkel. I’ve seen the J Crew City fit online, but they don’t carry them in the store near me. Do those have a lower rise than BR pants? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

    1. If you like the Martins aside from length, some styles are available online in long lengths.

    2. The J Crew Pants are a lower rise than the BR Martin, in my experience. I wear a Long in JCrew and I have a short rise, so I have to get lower rise pants, or the crotch hangs ridiculously low. I have had the best luck with J Crew, in almost all the fits, in this respect.

      1. agreed. I think the JCrew City Fit (same as 1035 trouser I think?) is the lowest rise suit pant; JCrew Durham trouser is mid-rise and seems similar to Martin; JCrew Hutton trouser is highest rise. I don’t know how other BR fits compare to JCrew as Martin is the only BR fit I have (2 pairs).

    3. Doesn’t BR have other fits with a lower rise- like the Jackson? They have an explanation of all their different pant fits online.

      I don’t know re: length though.

    4. Gap Perfect Trouser. Verging on too low rise for me, but nice leg, cheap, and comes in lengths.

      1. Thank you for your suggestions – I’ll order the Jcrew City one and will check out Gap at my lunch break.
        Equity’s Darling, I tried the Jackson as well. It’s also a weirdly high rise on my body (think Jessica Simpson in those mom-jeans). My body is not really proportionate between my legs and the rest of my body, so trousers tend to fit strangely.
        Thanks again!

    5. J Crew City Fit are my favorite pants in the universe. I’m short waisted, so low rise is a must for me. I also love the Gap Perfect Fits. I have them in every color and buy them up every time that Gap does a good % off promo.

    6. I’ve had good luck lately with Loft’s trousers. I’ve been getting the modern fit and it regularly comes in a 33 inseam. I want to say the tall size is a 36 inseam.

  14. Threadjack: Any advice on how to approach my boss about working from home one day a week?

    Longer story/background: My department is divided geographically – half of us are on the West Coast, half of us on the East. Everyone in my department (except for me) works from home at least two days a week – most people are at home all 5. My job is 100% doable from home, the only thing I absolutely need to be in the office for is to mail certain things out, which happens once a week or so. I’m one of the most junior members of the team, and I’m the only one who is in the office all 5 days a week.

    It used to only bother me a little bit that I had to come into the office everyday, but since I lived 5 minutes from the office, it wasn’t a huge deal. Recently my rent increased significantly and I had to move 25-30 minutes farther away from the office. Now it’s takes a lot more time and effort to get in the office daily, and when I get in there, there’s no one in my department around to interact with, as everyone else is at home. It’s become rather frustrating for me, as I feel like I spend an hour a day driving in for no reason, and sometimes I feel pretty isolated.

    I know my department wants a presence in the office, which is why I’m there. However, my East Coast counterpart, who’s the exact same level and title as I am, gets to work from home 5 days a week, since she doesn’t live near an office, so I don’t feel completely unjustified in asking for one day a week from home.

    Since I travel for work already, I already have a laptop/call forwarding/everything else I need technologically to work from home without extra expense to the company.

    1. How long have you been there? Some places expect you to be working there a year or two before you can ask for flex time. I think if you’ve been there long enough, there is no harm in asking if you can stay home on days others come in.

      1. I’ve been with the company for 3 years, and in this position with this department for 6 months.

    2. It sounds like your office is already familiar with working from home, so I doubt you’ll get resistance. I would just say that you would like to begin doing it and that you can perform your current functions with four days in the office and one at home.

      I’ve telecommuted in my last two positions. In my current job, nearly everyone does to some extent. It was a non-issue. Your employer sounds similar.

      In my last job, there was a policy, but rarely used. Essentially, I said that while I loved my job, I would need to start looking elsewhere because my commute was terrible. (It was the truth). I concisely said my work could easily be done from home and my performance reviews were excellent so I could be trusted. I got approval for two days a week. My supervisor felt more comfortable doing it temporarily at first with the possibility of revising/rescinding, but all worked fine.

    3. I did it; it was so hard to work up the nerve, plan the convo, ohmigosh, close the door and sit down to begin the meeting, trying to breathe….

      but she was so gracious and accomodating.

      I brought calendars with projects marked, plans, hopes, framed it right, never about me but about the company…

      1. Just curious, how did you frame it to be about the company? How would the company benefit from allowing you to stay home?

        1. Yes, I’m curious about this too!

          I’m in the “working up the nerve” phase, clearly. My boss works on the East Coast, so this convo would have to be over the phone, which would be even more uncomfortable (at least for me).

    4. Since they want a presence in the office, I would frame it so that you can coordinate with the others regarding their days working from home – so that the office will have a presence regardless.

  15. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice on the on campus accounting firm recruitment process!

    Very exciting news– I got a letter yesterday inviting me in for a second interview with one of the firms! The night before the interview, I’ll be having dinner with several members of the firm, and then the day of the interview is apparently quite involved, including hours of interviews, a tour of the building, presentations, lunch, etc.

    Does anyone have any advice for this part of the process? Should I expect to have to talk about salary/benefits? Am I going to be there with a bunch of other people who are also interviewing? Any thoughts on how to keep my energy level up for a day long interview?

    TIA

    1. Congrats on your second interview! I would not expect to talk about salary – usually staff incoming from college all start at the same salary that’s predetermined. Someone will probably mention the basic benefits to you (mainly PTO), but those will also be the same for everyone starting. I would imagine that there will be at least a few other recruits there interviewing at the same time, but you will speak to people at different times. You will probably be shuffled from office to office and offered a drink by each new interviewer, so if caffeine is your thing you should be fine. Personally, when I interview, my nervous energy keeps me awake!

      My biggest advice is to just be yourself. The firms only invite people who they think are smart/ambitious enough to do the job and by second round interviewers mainly want to find out who they can stand to work with. Be friendly at the dinner and take that as a chance to get to know as many people as possible. Don’t drink too much! You want to be memorable the next day, not as a story for years to come.

      Finally: don’t ask questions about IFRS, the latest FAS, etc. You just sound like you’re sucking up and whoever you’re asking probably doesn’t care about the issue anyway.

    2. Congrats!
      Totally agreed with Cali CPA’s comments, especially the part about them wanting to know who they can work well with.
      When I went through the day long interview process, there was always a group doing it. The day normally consisted of a combination of: icebreaker/group presentation activities (discuss and then present on a topic), aptitude and writing tests, one-on-one interviews with a manager and a partner, and general ‘networking’ activities where you will get to talk to the candidates and probably other people from the firm. You’ll be kept busy.
      Good luck!

  16. Can I vent about Talbots for a moment? I used to love that store. Love. Everything I wore to work (and still do) came from Talbots. Now, everything falls apart, is poor quality fabric, doesn’t fit right (seriously, how is it that the Heritage Fit Lindsay Wide-Leg Black pants from two years ago are the best fitting pants I have and the Heritage Fit Lindsay Wide-Leg Black pants from this year are clingy, bootcut, weird rise pants that fall apart?) I don’t know why I still bother. But I got a promo card in the mail yesterday giving me an additional 25% off sale prices for the fall sale starting today. Go to site, choose a suit, go to check out, and the code doesn’t work. Customer service tells me they changed their mind and increased the discount on full price merchandise. Somehow the card I have with an “offer code” isn’t an offer like it says. I’m done.

    1. What? That is terrible customer service!

      I have not had an issue with quality lately, for what it’s worth, but that bad attitude with the promo card is really disheartening.

      I selfishly want the brand to survive. They sell tall length pants!

    2. And not to sound like an ad for ebay today, but you might search for your perfect fitting pants there, if you can tell from the photograph that they are the older model you have. I limit my searches to “NWT” (new with tags) and they are usually sold by people who have the time and energy to scour outlet stores, which I will be honest and say I do not.

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