Thursday’s TPS Report: S/S Split Neck With Contrast Belt

75 Comments

1. This is such a good find. There is now one less available.

   1. 2 less. Also less a pair of red pumps that I think will look very nice with it

      1. I think you guys bought up all the dresses in my size! :(

   2. Another thread hijack: I recently purchased some new jeans that have a lower rise than I usually wear so I had to get some new…um…undergarments. ;) These are lower rise bikinis and they keep sliding down. Did I buy them too large or is this normal? I wear spanx frequently and, obviously, they are not going to slide off. Do I need a smaller size? another brand? or do I just get different jeans?

      1. I think you need a different size or brand.
         I haven’t had this happen and I wear low rise undies almost exclusively.
         I am a big fan of hanky panky underwear. They have great low rise options, include boy shorts. You can often mind them on sale at Nordstrom Rack, NM outlets, Lohmans, etc.

         1. Nordstrom Rack has a brand, St.Eve, that fits just like hanky panky at 10% of the cost. I fell in love w/hanky panky, then tried St.Eve and can’t tell the difference.

      2. This happens to me with lower rise underwear. I think the issue is your body shape, not the size of the panties. I have narrow hips and low-rise underwear just slides (or rolls) down. Underwear that comes up on my waist fits much better.

2. …and yet my Ports 1961 draped silk dress is not amongst the sales… Yes, ladies, I am still on the (slightly obsessive) hunt ;-) Let me know if you have a sighting of it in gray!

   1. I am suggesting this as you said you are getting a bit obsessive about hunting this dress down! : P I don’t know if you have sample sales where you live, but as that dress was listed as “straight off the runway” I am wondering if it might show up in one?

      Also, sometimes department stores will give you 25% your first purchase if you open one of their charge cards…this becomes quite a lot off a 600 dress.

      1. Thanks! I’m not crazy – really – just Type A ;-)

         Sadly I live out here in the ‘burbs, so the only sample sales available to me are the ones online – which I have been perusing, but no such luck. I am about an hour from NYC though, so if there was a sample sale I could probably swing going – I have always wanted to – but would have no idea how to find out about one.

         The credit card idea is interesting – I actually remember getting a Bloomingdale’s credit card several years ago to get the discount on a dress for another event… Hmmm … thanks for the ideas!

3. Love the dress. I wear this type of dresses in different colors from black, brown, gray to purple and green. Pair with jacket or cardigan and low rounded heels. I think that in dresses you can express your femininity and still look professional and sharp. And of course, the easiness of a dress when you ask yourself every day in the morning what are you going to wear. Dresses are the best investment for the whole year.

4. If only it were wool!

5. Sorry for the early thread-jack!

   Ok, ladies . . . I am FINALLY taking a vacation, and I have decided to board my dog rather than leave him with a friend. It is one of those fancy-schmancy places were everything is organic and they do fun things like give the dogs massages (Yes, I know he is a **very** spoiled dog, but he is also really cute!). Because of the late hour of my return flight, a friend is picking my dog up for me. I am trying to calculate the cost ahead of time so that I know how much cash to give her.

   Here’s my question: Am I expected to tip the boarding place in this situation?

   It seems like the kind of service where one would tip, but I’m not sure because I also use this place’s dog-walking service and I am not expected to tip with that service (I do intend on providing my walker with a monetary gift around the holidays, but I am not supposed to tip regularly).

   Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Thoughts?

   And, yes, I am aware that this whole thing is sort of absurd.

   Thanks!

   1. I board my dog at a cage-free place (no massages, but she’s got it pretty good given that she used to be a stray in North Philadelphia!). We do not tip although when we board over the holidays we bring in some sort of goodies for the staff.

   2. I rarely board my dog (my typical “vacations” are to visit my family and he’s small, so I take him on the plane with me). But, on the few occasions that I have boarded him (for business trips or actual vacations), I’ve never tipped. As far as I’m aware, it’s not standard to tip. FWIW, I grew up in suburban Ohio and now live in Washington, DC and I’m pretty sure it’s not standard in either of these places.

   3. Oh, and have fun on your vacation! I finally took a vacation (for the first time in a long time other than visits to family) in July and it was amazing! It was just to Vegas, so nothing big, but it was still such a fun time.

   4. No advice, but I don’t think this is absurd! Pets are cute and its nice to spoil them. My cats eat better than I do!

      1. On the subject – what about tipping the groomer? I haven’t been doing it but am starting to feel like I’m supposed to be.

         1. I’ve never tipped the groomer, but I bring goodies around the holidays (brownies, cookies, etc) for all the staff whenever I pick my dog up. Also never tipped for boarding, but do same thing (I board at the Petsmart Pet Hotel and have them groomed at Petsmart, so it’s pretty convenient).

      2. I completely agree. It’s fun to spoil your pets and it’s harmless because, unlike kids, they don’t have to grow up to be productive citizens. Their whole job in life is to be cute and loved. Yes, it’s a conceit of the privileged, but it’s harmless and it makes the animals happy.

   5. Thanks for the info everyone! I really appreciate it!

   6. I never tip for that service.

   7. I have a friend who is a vet and owns both a practice and a “pet resort” aka – boarding facility. They never get tips!

   8. My husband and I board our dog at a country camp for long stays and at a place here in NYC for shorter times. We always tip generously – $20 to $50 for the country camp (to the guy who is in charge of the dogs, not the owner) and $10 to $20 for the short one-or-two-night stays in the city. I thought this was de rigueur, especially here in NYC where one tips for everything, so I’m very interested to see how many people say they don’t tip for this! Live and learn!

   9. I don’t tip the kennel (aka “doggie spa”) people. I do tip groomers.

      But wouldn’t it be easier for you to just pick up your dog the next day instead of trying to calculate the final amount to leave cash for your friend? Or, if you’re insistent that the friend pick up Woman’s Best Friend, maybe arrange for the kennel to bill your credit card when you check out (much like you would at a hotel)?

      Not trying to be snarky (really) — just thought there might be easier ways of doing things — I know I don’t always see the easiest way when I’m focused on something else. Have a fun vacation!

      1. I bring in treats and Starbucks cards at Christmas for each of the groomers where the dog always gets his nails clipped and ears cleaned (PETCO, so not a fancy place or anything).

         I’ve had people come out to the house when traveling (although usually leave the dog w/my folks so don’t use them all that often). I haven’t tipped them except when one lady came during lunchtime for a week to check on my dog while he was very sick. I got a large goodie basket, wrote a nice note, and left an additional $20.. My dog was going through chemo and so precautions like wearing gloves were needed. OK–full disclosure–I came home early one day in tears because I was feeling so guilty for leaving him and she hugged me and told me about the end and losing some of hers. I owe her in ways I’ll never be able to repay.

         1. It is amazing how important pets and the people who help you take care of them become in your life. I hope your dog is better now!

      2. Good points, and I appreciate the advice, but I have thought through the situation pretty thoroughly:

         1) Honestly, I think I would be sad to be back in town and to not pick up my dog right away! Also, the hours when you can pick your dog up are kind of strange and, with my schedule, my dog would be there for another week! Meanwhile, my friend would like a “play date” for her dog, so it all seems to work out pretty well for everyone.

         2) I am going to try and pay in advance when I drop-off my dog or see if they can bill me on PayPal like they do for the dog walking service, but in the event that neither of these are possible, I would like to pay my friend in advance. Regardless of who pays when, my question remains the same: Do I tip? The general consensus seems to be no.

         1. Can you just give you friend a blank check, made out to the groomers, and signed by you? I would ask about this option — it’s usually not difficult, you may just need to write a quick letter to give your friend (“I, name, authorize Friend Name to give my check to pay for services at ….” ) & have your friend bring the letter w/her i.d.

            Or just give the friend extra money, e.g, an extra day’s cost, and she can just give it back to you if its unnec.

         2. Let me make a suggestion that most people don’t seem to think of: call them and ask. I’ve never found a company that won’t happily tell me either that tipping isn’t expected; or that it’s nice to do, and a few bucks will be greatly appreciated; or that 20% is the standard amount. Most places are happy to answer those questions, and they’re not embarassed by them either. How else are you supposed to know?

   10. We board ours in a similar place (Camp Happy Dog) in LA – and don’t tip – but since we do take her in for boarding or daycare multiple times a year we usually bring in an Xmas treat for staff (cookies, popcorn tin, etc.).

   11. I don’t tip the kennel, but do tip the groomer if they wash my dog before I pick her up. I second the give them your credit card or give your friend a check idea. Have a great trip!

6. I worked at a vet clinic in high school, and we never received any tips for boarding pets. I wouldn’t worry about it!

7. To the Corporette who will be staying at the Venetian in October:

   Rue La La currently has some package deals for the Venetian and Gilt will have some starting at noon today. Worth checking out!

   Not sure if you’ve already booked rooms or are sharing, etc., but here is an example ($400, value 900ish)

   Two nights in a Luxury Suite at The Venetian®, with luxurious amenities. Dates are available Fridays and Saturdays, October 1 through December 18, 2010.

   Maximum of two guests per package.

   $50 spa credit per person to use at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®.

   Two tickets to either Phantom or the Blue Man Group.

   One complimentary gondola ride for two.

   Line pass and admission for two for one night at LAVO Nightclub.

   One $25 Grazie Slot Credit per person to use at any slot machine at The Venetian or The Palazzo®. Enjoy a sneak peek into the Grazie loyalty club.

   Bypass the Las Vegas lines and get into the action quickly with Invited Check-In, the priority check-in service at The Venetian.

   1. Oh my goodness – thank you so much for thinking of me!

      That was my question yesterday, but dang if I didn’t book the trip a week ago! I booked through Travelocity, and seem to be getting some of those freebies, including free breakfast. I would have loved the Canyon Ranch credit though. That place is ridiculously expensive.

      1. Call the hotel and see what they can do for you in terms of credits or ask when you check-in. I’ve heard that if you join the casinos VIP clubs (which I believe is free) you can also get some perks.

8. It’s like Kat knows that my boss has deemed today to be “important work” day. Le sigh.

9. Curious if anyone has tried on this faux-wrap dress from banana: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=50133&vid=1&pid=632283&scid=632283022

   It is online only. I have their regular wrap dress – I have two actually, bought from different seasons – and have always been pleased with them – good fit, lasted well through several seasons etc. I am always suspicious of faux-wrap in terms of their fit etc, so would love to hear people’s opinions, particularly because the faux-wrap comes in dark gray, and I am hoping to find a dark gray wrap dress this year.

   Thanks in advance!

   1. PS – I should also add that I am looking at wrap dresses because I have lost some weight and am working on loosing more, so I need something transitional – does the faux-wrap have some room for tightening the belt etc the way a regular wrap dress would?

   2. I received this dress as a gift last year and returned it. Judging from the pictures and reviews, I think this year’s style is identical to last year’s.

      My issues with the dress:

      – The slit for the tie is much wider than necessary so you could see my skin at the side; however, this could easily be solved with a few more stitches.

      – Plunging v-neckline. Maybe someone with more than an A cup would have a different experience, but I was worried that a sneeze might be enough to shift the dress into bra-revealing territory. I don’t like to wear camis under my dresses – if that is an option for you, this won’t be as big of an issue.

      – Extra fabric at back of neck. No real way to describe this – you just have to see it.

      – It is BODY CONSCIOUS. I am5-8, 125lbs, very lean. I had a size Medium and you could see my hip bones, abs, BELLY BUTTON, etc. as though the fabric was only there to make a relief map of my body. I definitely would have needed to wear a slip. Sizing up probably would not have been an option as it would have made the neckline even lower.

      Hope this helps!

      1. Agree with this review entirely. I have this one (from this year). Took it on vacation and had to wear it (so no returning), but have no worn it since.

      2. I have this dress in Navy (tall size, but I’m six ft) and I seem to be one of the few people that kept it! It runs a little small and yes, its low-cut, but those are both easily solved — I wear it on Date Night (I work from home, so no office clothes for me) and usually wear Power Panties/Spanx with it.

         It is a fabulous dress and well worth trying it. Just size up and maybe even get a Tall size if you are over 5-7 or so.

         BTW I also have this same style Banana dress in a wool/rayon blend (2009) — also fabulous if they do it again this winter. Again, size up. The wool one is less low-cut.

         1. Thanks for the tip to look at it in tall.

   3. I just ordered this in the teal, and while I love the color, I think I am going to be returning it. It is VERY low cut. You could see my bra band in the front, if that makes sense. I tried it with a cami under, but because it is also rather clingy, I got an unsightly line where the bottom of the cami was. I then tried with a cami tucked into spanx-type shorts, which was definitely an improvement, but I still didn’t love it, and cami + spanx seemed like a lot of work to go through for a dress I don’t love.

      Also, I think you are better off with a real wrap dress in terms of being able to make it smaller as you lose weight. This dress has some leeway, in that you can tie the belt tighter, but not as much as a regular wrap dress would.

      1. I have this dress in grey and agree with everything. I wore it once (with Spanx!) and thought I liked it but it was very clingy. Then it accidentally went in the dryer. Unless I lose 10 lbs, find industrial-strength Spanx, and cut two inches off my knees, it’s not appropriate for work anymore.

         1. That’s such a shame — I thought it was a great dress, esp. in gray.

            It looks so perfect in the website pics — if BR (and other retailers) have the common sense to know what their clothes are *supposed* to look like, enough so as to style/photoshop the online pics properly, why can’t they just make clothes that look like they do in the pictures???

            1. Thanks for the info ladies. I am even more torn about ordering it than before.

   4. Hmm. I have this dress in the dark gray, but I disagree with anon below.

      – the slit – you just have to be careful how you tie it, so that the wrap tie is not folded on itself, OR put stitches in.

      – v-neck – I am a DD cup and have no issues, you just have to adjust it so that it’s not too low.

      – back of neck – doesn’t bother me, think it looks good.

      – size – I am 5.8 and probably 150, I wear an 8 in Banana. I got a L in this dress and it fits well. So you do have to size up so it is not too clingy.

      1. Thank you – I am a similar size so this is super helpful. Good to know to size up.

         1. I am the Anon from 10:50am – I would definitely size up, and probably order two sizes up to be safe (can always return one!) – the medium looked like body paint on me and I generally wear a 2/4.

            1. I have this from last year in both navy and the dark grey, and I love it. I tried the “real” wrap dresses and they were horrid on me, but this is very flattering. I’m 5’7″ and usually wear a M in Banana dresses provided they have an A-line or more flowy bottome (I’m pear shaped, and wear 12/14 in Banana pants), but sized up to a L in this. It is “figure-conscious” but not unflattering — I don’t wear spanx with it, but do wear slip-culottes (to avoid the thigh pudge rub), so it falls nicely. I luckily still have a fairly flat stomach, so I don’t have an issue with the fit there, but if the stomach is a problem area, you might find this to be too fitted. I don’t have a very large chest, and the neckline adjusts so that the V is not very deep or revealing at all, and I don’t need to wear a cami under it. I would definitely say try it — it’s not for everyone, but I get compliments whenever I wear it.

               For what it’s worth, they did have it in black and teal in the store a few weeks ago, so you might want to call your local BR and see.

            2. Thanks to both anons. I am going to call the store. I used to order a lot online and then return, but it went from being a convenience to a pain – especially when I realized that my tried and true approaches to picking clothes online have basically changed since losing weight. I like ordering and returning but not when I am returning 95% of what I order – I want to be a bit more strategic now.

            3. PS I need to look up slip-culottes. Those might be useful to have.

10. Has anyone had any problems with the 6pm website? I’m loving this dress and want to snatch one up, but when I click to add it to my shopping bag, it just takes me to a page that says that my shopping bag is empty. I’ve tried in Chrome and Firefox. Have I lost my ability to use a computer?

    1. It’s working ok for me. Perhaps clearing your cache and trying again?

11. Nice dress, Kat. Less go-out-to-dinner than a lot of the dresses that get featured on here.

12. Just an update on the advice I asked for recently about emailing HR as to the timeline of my offer. Well, I did a combination of the advice given to me. I waited initially a few more days and didn’t call/email/etc. Eventually, the HR recruiter called for an update (without my intervention), saying an offer was very close and she’d call by COB that day. Well, she didn’t. So, I waited three days and emailed at the end of the third day. She wrote back soon after (yesterday) she was waiting on one more signature. Today I got my offer letter in email and my packet is coming by FedEx.

    So, I think the advice to just hang tight for as long as possible and wait when possible was good, but at the same time, I think it was also good to be reasonably persistant. The HR recruiter I was working with was always open to my questions (she told me consistently that I should ask whatever questions I wanted), and I never called or emailed her without her having phoned/given me an update first. I think I struck a good balance between asking questions and waiting, and given the specific circumstance (ie, the nature of the company and their hiring practices, the HR recruiter’s demeanor with me, etc.), I think I made the right choices.

    1. Congrats! Very happy ending. :-)

    2. Congrats on the offer!!

    3. YAY! Congrats on the offer!

    4. Congratulations!!

    5. Awesome!

    6. Congratulations! I just love hearing about all of these job offers lately. May their good fortune rub off on all of you who are still looking!

       1. Oh – I remember your original post, glad you got your offer! Congratulations and good luck!

       2. No kidding. I am beyond thankful and so grateful and wish everybody else in the same predicament as much luck as I had with this one.

          1. :)!! That said, well, if you want to see the ‘dark side’ of being gainfully employed (I am and have been for recorded history, something that I am both grateful and prospectively freaked out about), check out my (annoyingly, I know) numerous posts on today’s Coffee Break – all of a sudden, workplace is Big Brother b/c they *today* firewalled Corporette. How bitter/furious am I? Well, go see. And the point is (I do have one, sort of positive), be careful in your new job re computer use…I always knew that, and have been, but I swear I think the reason this site got firewalled is that I (and several of my colleagues) hit it daily. In other words, beware of the IT snoops/office management ‘professionals’…..

             Sorry to sound negative, not meant to be a harbinger of bad things, just a ‘word from the wise.’ Ie, if you can do it from handheld, do so. Always.

             1. I hear you. Having been unemployed for a bit now and having had a lot of time to reflect on my previous work experiences/internships, I feel like I have a good idea of the things I want to do and not do in this job. I am REALLY going to try hard to have a good attitude/not procrastinate at work with personal activities/not push any boundries in terms of what may or may not be okay at work. So… I am really hoping for the best attitude possible to get through those ‘darker’ issues of employment.

13. I really like this dress, but I don’t how practical a white dress is for work or for the change of seasons now: http://www.6pm.com/tahari-by-asl-s-l-keyhole-neck-dress-w-self-belt-ivory-silver

    1. This dress doesn’t happen to be my style, but overall: I could do a white dress with a cardigan and cognac boots for work in the fall. I like white too much to follow the Labor Day rule, and my office is more lenient than some others.

    2. With ya, fresh jd! I can’t wear, and now don’t buy, ANYTHING white.

       Sentimentally remembering not one, but TWO, just lovely white suits that totally, respectively died upon (a) explosion of blue ink pen (during a TRIAL – had to stand up many times with big blue blob on skirt – kept stain from spreading with hairspray, but skirt did not *survive*) and (b )accidental collision @ crowded judicial reception (JUDGES – eek til I got out) with fellow attendee carrying full glass of red wine (why one should never drink anything but clear drinks at any professional reception, IMHO, but see postscript); again, club soda helps mitigate immediate problem, but no save.

       No white for me. Ever again.

       Hilarious postscript: As a one time exception to the above rule, I did wear ivory to my second wedding – a lovely knee length frock, inexpensive and apropos to the occasion (barefoot on the beach, very informal), and for the whole five hours of post ceremony beach pix and following dinner and ‘boogie down’ party, I got *not a drop* of anything on me (more than could be said of some of our fabulous fun-loving guests). Leaving the reception, beloved DH – who was trying to be chivalrous and ‘hand’ me into to the taxi, jostled my go-cup of – you guessed it, red wine – all over the front of the dress. So I left it in the hotel room the next day :).

       1. I hear ya Suze. Wearing white is just asking for trouble…Murphy’s Law kicks in when you’re wearing it. It’s too bad about the wedding dress, but it’s a good thing it happened at the end of the celebration. All you really need are the fabulous memories ;)

          1. Oh, no, nothing bad about the dress (it was never intended to be any kind of heirloom item) and so, very so yes, I got the memories (and my DH), and *bonus* I didn’t have to even think about ‘preserving’ the dress (which my daughters would in two million years not want and I don’t want taking up space in my closet)! I actually *liked* the outcome b/c I was totally relieved of decisionmaking/guilt…just leave the dang dress and look forward to the pix :). But it reinforced all my beliefs about the dangers of wearing white – even on your ‘magical’ day, and just when you think you are safe, you’re not…the white (or, more accurately, Murphy’s law re the stain on the white) will get you!!

    3. That is a beautiful dress.

14. Gorgeous dress. I love the belt to cinch in the waist.

15. I actually tried on this dress over the weekend at Macy’s before seeing it posted here. I *LOVE* Tahari but was disappointed with this dress. It looked amazing on the hanger, but just fit a little….odd. It was tight in the chest, the slit in the front by the neck looked strange to me, and it was all around uncomfortable so I passed on it. Regrettably too, because it was marked down to $45.00. That being said, it looks like an expensive dress in person. Just make sure you try it on before purchasing.

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