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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 125 Comments · by

Tuesday’s TPS Report: Printed Mesh Dress

The Personal Shopper (TPS) | · ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Kay Unger Printed Mesh Dress iconIn my opinion, it's the rare floral print that successfully walks the line between looking “not too young” and “not too old,” but I think this print from Kay Unger accomplishes that. There are fun colors in a fun design, but the overall effect is one that's still professional. Love the square neckline, the ladylike length, the ruched cap sleeves, and the mix of colors, which seem neither springy nor autumnal to me. Lovely. It's $250 at Saks. Kay Unger Printed Mesh Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-2)

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

About Kat

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

Comments

  1. Sara

    Although I love the look and cut of this dress, it’s way too pricey for me @ $250. Maybe if it comes on sale for $125, with a 20% coupon I can afford it at their Labor Day sale. I have to admit I would look pretty with these earthtones, but my family would scream if they found that I had spent this kind of money on a dress that I could not wear to work. I could still wear it from Labor day through maybe Thanksgiving, so it would not be a waste @ $95.

  2. Cat

    I *love* Kay Unger dresses — I am 5’4 and a pearish hourglass, and her dresses, even the sheath styles, are a perfect match and my go-to for fitted but not revealing/sexy c_cktail dresses. If you’re usually between sizes in J.Crew dresses b/c of your hips, you could probably go with your lower size in Kay Unger.

    That said, I wouldn’t wear this one to work — zooming in and looking at the bottom hem, it’s obvious that the dress is made of sheer mesh layers. Pretty, though.

    • Anon

      It’s very pretty. I’m not sure the mesh layers automatically disqualify it – the zoomed in version seemed to indicate you can only tell at the bottom hem, anyway.

    • Amelia Bedelia

      thank you SO much for the evaluation of Kay Unger. I am 5’5 and pear shaped and have the HARDEST time finding sheath dresses, which I love.
      Headed online to shop for Kay Unger now!

  3. Bunkster

    I love this dress. I like both the style (knee-length, square neckline) and the print. It’s far more subtle than some of the other prints you’ve featured (I’m picturing the long-sleeved monet-ish white dress with green and blue leafy pattern).

    And I could totally wear this to work with a cardigan and then out for drinks.

    But $250 is a little bit steep for me, especially when I have a closet-full of cute dresses. Maybe I’ll just stalk this one and see if it drops under $100 at some point.

    • 2L NYC

      If you are interested — or if anyone else is, the Ruelala final sale today has a lot of nice Kay Unger dresses still available. Not this one, but similar ones and they are around $70-$80.

      Here’s an invite link if you don’t have one (I added a space to avoid being stuck in moderation): http://www. ruelala.com/invite/hfa01

      • Cat

        thanks for the heads up! Although I was late to the party, I found a gorgeous winter cocktail dress — only my size was left so I had to order, right??

  4. shrink

    Early morning threadjack here.

    I just ordered a jacket and lovely “lace” skirt from Talbot’s sale in the peach madeline color.

    http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi26255&rootCategory=cat90030&catId=cat80008&sortKey=Default&section=Sale&conceptIdUnderSale=cat90030

    Here’s my question. I have olive skin so I rarely wear pastels and cannot wear any greens or yellows. I’ve never tried this sherbet sort of shade. What color top and shoes could I pair with this? Other than the obligatory/boring white, grey/silver, or black? I don’t want to look like a creamsicle so I think a pop of color as we Corporettes say, is in order. Your thoughts appreciated. Here’s to summer!

    • T

      As a set, I personally would wear it with an ivory/cream blouse and a pair of pumps/sandals that match closely to the blouse.

      If you are open to wearing the skirt and jacket separately, here are some suggestions:

      Try the jacket over a navy, beige or grey sheath, or the skirt with a white cardigan/blouse.

    • AIMS

      I think this color would look great with navy.

      I don’t see the skirt, but if you are into brights and feeling daring, it might work with certain shades of pink. I have been seeing a lot of pink and orange shades paired together lately, and it looks very fresh and modern if done right.

    • Anonymous

      I think this color looks great with blues – teal, navy, or baby blue are all good choices.

    • LG

      If it is the lace skirt where the lace is made up of flowers, I have it and love it. It looks great with navy. They also have a ruffle front cardigan in a slightly darker coral color that looks good with it too.

  5. AIMS

    I’m not really feeling this dress. It’s a pretty print but I don’t think I like it on a dress. Something about this just seems vaguely off — like it’s just a tad too c*cktail dress for work, and a tad too work for an actual c*cktail dress.

    Also, you can see the model’s leg through the fabric, I think. Just FYI.

    • Allison

      Did AIMS censor herself, or is there a script running that inserted the asterisk? Hilarious either way.

      • Ru

        I think she sensored herself. A while back, a lot of comments were being held back for moderation, including cocktail and petite.

      • Ru

        Ha, I just posted about comment moderation and my comment is stuck in moderation. A lot of comments were held back in moderation due to certain words, including c*cktail and pet!te. Apparently, those words are still triggers for moderation =).

  7. Fiona

    Ooh I like this! I agree with the previous posters that I probably wouldn’t wear this to work, but I do have some dressy-but-conservative occassions coming up (other people’s rehearsal dinners come to mind) where this could be great.

  8. b23

    I love this dress. Like the reviewer above, Kay Unger makes clothes that fit me perfectly.

  9. Lydia

    I think it is a very pretty dress. Wish it were in silk or some other fabric. Need to think about whether I would wear mesh to work.

  10. T

    Threadjack: I just accepted a job in Richmond, VA. I currently live in the San Fernando Valley. I would really appreciate any help in determining what clothes I need to pack! I am not sure what the weather is like in June – are knee length skirts, sandals & light weight cardigans sufficient? Or will I need boots/trench coat?

    I move there in the first week of June, and will live in temporary housing for a month while I look for an apartment and my stuff is slowly trucked over from California – so I can’t take my whole closet, much as I want to.

    I will check in only 1 or 2 bags (the third bag onwards cost $100 to check in on American airlines), so I would really like to optimize the clothing I carry – I will also have to carry all jewelry and important paperwork (the movers won’t transport that), so space is limited.

    Thanks in advance!

    • K

      Congrats on the job! Richmond is warm, no need for boots. A lightweight trench might be nice on rainy days but right now it is in the low to mid 70’s during the day and 50’s at night and it is only getting warmer. Expect it to be getting warm and humid by June (80’s during the day, 90’s by the end of the month) with the potential for lots of summer thunderstorms.

      I’m waiting to hear back about a job in Richmond myself. Fingers crossed!

    • AL

      Agree with K; it’s going to be summer in June. No need for boots but perhaps rain boots.

      I’m in DC and we’re hitting the 80s already and it’s not even summer yet.

    • Anonymous

      Agree with both of the above posters. And Congrats on the job! I love it here in Richmond.

    • GovtMom

      Another voice for light-weight clothing — it will be hot and HUMID.

      Could you ship some stuff to yourself to avoid carrying it on the plane? Am thinking a UPS package or two would help a lot in terms of giving you more options without an extra suitcase.

    • kz

      You can definitely leave the boots/trench coat. Also, if you need an extra box of stuff, I recommend fed-exing a box to yourself. I’ve done it before for temporary moves, and with the bag fees as high as they are right now, it’s usually cheaper than checking an extra bag. (it may even be cheaper to ship a box and just check one bag)

    • T

      Thanks for the great advice! Where I live now, it is very dry and the heat peaks in September – so I’m grateful for the advance heat/humidity warning.

  11. Anonymous

    Sorry for the early threadjack!

    I realize similar questions have been asked before, but not necessarily in this context. Last Wednesday, I applied for a job (as a junior associate) at a mid-sized law firm. The listing included the firm’s information, but requested that resumes be sent to a resume-specific email at the firm instead of a specific person. This job is exactly what I want to do and I actually meet every requirement they included in the listing. Its been 6 days since I sent in my resume and I haven’t heard anything yet. I’d like to follow up, but I’m wondering when the appropriate time and procedure to do that would be. Should I call today or tomorrow and just speak with whoever answers the phone, send an email, or wait a little longer?

    • Miriam

      I have a related question. When there is no specific contact listed, how do you address the cover letter? I hate using to whom it may concern.

      • Livia

        Anonymous — I would call, on the basis that your submission may have been lost in the pile. Online submissions can be pretty hit or miss. Call on the pretext of checking it was received, or asking what the time frame is before you could expect to be interviewed, if they agree that you are a great fit.

        Miriam — I have called the company and asked the receptionist who the hiring contact is. Make sure you spell the name right, obviously. If it’s a huge company without a single person, and you can’t find a likely name, then just use a generic salutation. I tend to do “Dear Sir/Madam” instead of “To Whom It May Concern” because I hate the latter as well, but neither is ideal. If they didn’t provide a name, chances are they will be understanding, though.

      • Anonymous

        Miriam – Dear Sir or Madam is standard.

        Anonymous – 6 days isn’t very much time. I’d wait at least 2-3 weeks before contacting the firm. Then call the main number and ask to be connected to HR or recruiting.

      • AL

        I was taught in college to use the top executive’s name if there is no specific contact listed. I’ve sometimes thought this was too formal, but generally I prefer it to the more anonymous options.

    • Esquirette

      I’d follow up soon – maybe the week and a half mark or by Monday. If the firm has a recruiting coordinator listed on the website, that’s who I’d call. Most firms have some kind of contact like this so I hope this one does too. If not, you could try calling the office where the position was posted for and asking to speak to their recruiting coordinator. That’s a bit more of gamble as they may not have one in that office — though, if it’s the main/largest office, then odds are it would. The third option is a bit more daring — cold call/email an attorney. It’s likely that this position is for a particular practice area/team, so search the website for partners who practice in the area and review their bios. Sometimes bios will include if someone is the head of a team/practice group. Determine who in that office seems to have the type of practice this associate position would likely be under, and then make contact. Another option might be looking for the “managing partner” for that office — if that person is the relevant practice group, then he/she should be a good contact person. You could google the person you choose a bit too to see if you can dig up anything that might be helpful in making contact. If you choose to email, you can attach your resume and your email should almost be like a cover letter but short and direct — catching the attorney’s attention on why you are a candidate of interest and conveying your strong interest in the firm/practice area. You could ask if he/she had time to discuss the position with you too. Calling is a bolder move, harder to ignore but easier to screw up – and it could almost be a mini-interview in and of itself. You’d need to convey the same information in a direct but friendly manner (goal = click with the attorney on the phone). I will say from experience that if my team was looking to hire someone and a candidate reached out to someone on the team, pretty much everyone would give the email/resume a look over (eventually) to see if the candidate was worth following up on, and then forward the email to the appropriate person(s) internally (e.g., team leader/other partners, recruiting coordinator). I hope this helps, and good luck!

    • Anonymous

      Thanks for the advice everyone. There is only one office and I have thoroughly searched the website and cannot find the name of someone in HR or recruiting and it is not clear who the managing partner is. I did find the bio for the chair of the group the job posting was for. I think I’ll email him on Thursday or Friday saying that I am following up on the materials I submitted last week and attaching my resume again. The original materials I sent were the cover letter, resume, and my transcripts. Should I include all of those again if I email the group’s chair or just my resume?

      I think I’d be better emailing this than calling in case I get flustered. Unless you all think a phone call would be better, I think that is what I’ll do.

      (Also, Miriam, I used “Dear Sir or Madam” on my cover letter)

  12. houda

    Hi corporettes!
    You may recall last week I was swamped with various requests from panicking colleagues and managers at work.
    Well, I dodged a few bullets. I still expect to have to do few reviews and why-why meetings but I have a cold head and am keeping my positive attitude.
    I am reading NGDGTCO and been applying several coaching tips.
    I requested a 1 to 1 with my manager where I clearly identified one of my development opportunities ( I don’t like calling them weaknesses). She was very impressed that I sensed it myself and did mention she was planning on enabling me to progress on that area. But since I brought the subject, that she will assign me a little project where I can practice more on this area that I felt was holding me back.
    Now, I have a dilemma. I just received an invitation in LinkedIn. The person said she needed my phone number to make an offer (she’s a head hunter). I accepted the invitation, she immediately sent me an email stating she wanted my mobile phone number.
    I am happy at work, but this is my first job out of college. This was the only company I ever interviewed with. When I was hired, I never ever discussed salary (shame on me) and do not feel comfortable having such a discussion after 18 months at this company.
    I have never considered looking elsewhere. I was beyond grateful to have my current job for personal reasons: I still didn’t get my diploma because my thesis committee didn’t meet yet. This has always been scary for me (what if you lose your job, etc.). Now that I am weeks away from getting my diploma, I am just curious to know what other companies are willing to offer me…

    Do you think, I should give the person my mobile phone anyway or just forget about it?
    I would feel selfish letting the person explain the offer details and then say no (and end my chances of having that head-hunting firm consider me for future offers). But at the same, I am eager to know what I am missing out on. What would you do?

    • Jas

      I think I would hear them out. I wouldn’t think turning an offer down once would disqualify you from all future opportunities, especially if you don’t let them know you weren’t ever seriously considering it. If you listen to the offer andtell them the position isn’t what you’re looking for at the moment, it’s not like they’ll take it personally.

      • A phone call is not a committment

        I am guilty of this myself, and after watching a male colleague get offers from other potential employers left and right (and use them to increase his salary here), I have vowed to change my ways.

        Give the head hunter your phone number! Talk to him/her! See what the discussion is about — who the other company is, what the job is, what they are looking for in a candidate. Then decide how far to take it. Maybe you aren’t interested, but now you have a connection to a headhunter. Maybe you are interested, but now you know more about the market for your talents in your field. Maybe you’re not interested and now you feel more content staying where you are. Whatever happens, more data is always better.

        I promise you that neither the headhunter nor the potential other employer will care one whit if you ask as many questions as you need to ask to understand the potential opportunity and then say “no, thank you” so long as you do it in good faith.

        And I promise you that the schmuk who does this in my office and then stays and makes my professional life miserable doesn’t care even if the headhunters and potential other employers do care. He does it anyway. And so should we.

    • Eponine

      I’d take the phone call and find out what she’s considering you for. The headhunter probably doesn’t have a job offer, but rather, an opportunity to interview with a company that’s hiring someone with your qualifications. Talk to her, find out the details, and then decide if you want to consider interviewing. If you don’t, you can always ask the headhunter to keep you in mind in the future.

      Just make sure no one at work knows you’ve talked to a headhunter – some companies take that very badly.

    • zelda

      if you feel uncomfortable giving out your personal cell phone number, have you considered setting up a google voice number? i have one (same area code as my personal cell) that redirects all calls to my cell phone. i use my google voice number on my resume and all work-related stuff so that if i say, get a headhunter call on my personal phone at work, i can easily screen the call and call back later.

  13. S

    Yeah, wouldn’t work in my office. These last two posts seem like great wear to work clothes for SoHo but not things you could wear to most offices in Midtown or the Wall Street area etc.

  14. JessT

    Threadjack PSA: In follow-up to the discussion the other day about being the only young female associate in a small firm with older partners and how to avoid being treated like the partners’ kids, please learn from my mistakes.

    I was carrying a Netflix envelope to the mail slot yesterday, and one of the partners asks what I watched. Not wanting to admit to watching something so girly (and absolutely awful) as “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past”, I blurted out the name of the other movie I had out from Netflix instead — Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. That’s when the partner (who I luckily have a great relationship and joke around with regularly) says, “Wow, you’d admit to watching that?” I’m definitely thinking up a better cover story next time I have to return a movie.

    • Em

      He sounds like a jerk! (Fortunately, everyone in my office is addicted to Harry Potter. I was a summer associate when the seventh book came out, and even our 70-year-old founding partner rushed home to get his book as soon as it was delivered by Amazon.)

    • Livia

      It’s probably too late for witty comebacks now (because of course you can never think of them when you’re on the spot!) but I might have said something about how you learned a great spell for vanishing all the papers on your desk, and perhaps the partner ought to look into the movies. Alternatively, you could come up with a quip equating someone at work/opposing counsel/whomever with Voldemort, and say you were looking for tips on defeating him. Obviously this depends on his sense of humor, but HP is so mainstream that I don’t think you should be embarrassed!

    • Honey Bear

      Ha JessT that is funny! Hopefully the partner was joking around and not really criticizing you though.

      • JessT

        He definitely wasn’t criticizing. We have a good relationship with some give and take. Plus, when he said that our paralegal, intern, and the other partner all jumped on him and said he shouldn’t knock it until he saw it himself. My response was that there’s a new one coming out soon and he knows I like to be fully prepared before going into any situation, so of course I had to catch up :-)

    • Ru

      Lol, that’s a great story. I’d have no problem saying it was the Little Mermaid or something, and I’d join in on the ensuing laughter. If my boss asked me if I’d admit to watching that, I’d say, “Yes, absolutely,” in my most serious voice ever. Don’t worry about it, JessT.

  15. visitor

    Very pretty print. It looks a bit clingy. I would wear it outside my office only with a longish cardigan sweater or a jacket.

  16. Bk foette

    My threadjack: Is this an interview or what? I sent my resume to a partner at a smallish firm (17 attorneys) for consideration after my clerkship. The response was a request if I was free for lunch for tomorrow — which I accepted.
    I spoke with the Judge here who used to work there before submitting my resume and he said they don’t have an actual hiring committee but suggested I contact the partner that was just appointed a ch 7 trustee and that partner wanted me to send my resume directly to him. Which in turn got me a request for lunch.
    So, is this the “interview” or is it just a seeing if we mesh well kind of thing? I am trying to prepare for either scenario.
    Oh, and of course, he selected sushi, really — is this a test or something?

      • Bk foette

        Nothing wrong with sushi, except I am not that skilled at eating it. So using my hands and big bites to get entire roll in mouth — not my best eating performance.

        • Honey Bear

          oh my goodness, please use a fork over using your hands!! And you you could just get soup or some other non sushi dish that the restaurant probably offers. Most sushi places have seaweed salads (delish). Or you could go with sashimi which I think is easier to put in your mouth than a big roll.

          • Em

            I’ve heard that eating sushi with your hands is perfectly acceptable in Japan (but since it doesn’t seem to be here I use chopsticks, poorly). I’ve always wondered if that’s true since it would be so much easier!

          • SF Bay Associate

            Em, yes, it is perfectly acceptable in Japan, but from what I saw, not mandatory. However, I didn’t go to the super high end places, which are the most traditional and would very much expect hand use. I think you are welcome to eat with your hands at sushi restaurants in the US, especially if you sit at the bar and your itame is Japanese or Japanese-trained, so they would not be surprised in the least if you used your hands. Do be sure that your hands are clean, and use that hot towel first, of course!

            As for faux pas, I think it’s much more of a fail to dump soy sauce all over your sushi than hands vs. chopsticks – the whole point of sushi is to appreciate the subtleties of beautiful fish, which is completely destroyed when doused in shoyu. More than a light use soy sauce use also implies that you think the sushi doesn’t taste good or is imbalanced on its own, which is not a compliment to the itame.

          • Bk foette

            This conjured up images of Seinfeld when they were eating a candy bar with fork and knife. I think I may struggle with the chopsticks or see if eating companions are using hands.

        • SF Bay Associate

          At only the most traditional sushi places do people eat with their hands. I am an avid sushi consumer and never do, even when I was in Japan (where even among the local Japanese, very few people ate with their hands at the places I went). Chopsticks are always acceptable, though I would encourage you to not use a fork if you can because it is less sophisticated.

          If you are worried about getting big rolls in your mouth, then stick with maki or nigiri, which will be much smaller – you don’t need to order a massive roll with six kinds of fish in it and three kinds of stuff on top. IMO, that’s americanized sushi anyway – sometimes delicious, but not really sushi. Or get a chirashi bowl, which is never eaten with your hands, and enables you to control your bite size.

        • JM

          If this restaurant has other Japanese food, you can order a Bento Box meal, which would have some combination of rice and fish/meat and would be easier to eat with a fork. Also, if you are worried about large rolls, order rolls with one type of fish or veggie in it (spicy tuna instead of the California Roll, for example).

    • Honey Bear

      It’s definitely an interview. No matter how relaxed an environment might seem (going to lunch, or doing something more social) you will always be judged so keep that in mind! Mmm sushi, delicious!

    • Ruby

      Yes, it’s an interview, but an informal one. If he likes you you’ll probably be invited for an in-firm interview with other partners. Congrats!

      As for the sushi – I doubt it’s a test; the partner probably just likes sushi. Order something you’re sure you can eat neatly. If you tend to make a mess while using chopsticks, order something that can be eaten with a fork and don’t be shy about asking for one. You don’t have to eat raw fish, either, but don’t make comments about certain foods being gross or anything. It’s far better to be known as a non-adventurous eater than as a messy one or a particularly picky one.

    • Lydia

      Not a test. I agree he probably just likes sushi. Most sushi restaurants have other items on the menu. Just because he orders sushi, don’t feel you have to do so. Order something else that you can eat with a fork. If he mentioned which restaurant, look at the menu in advnance on line.

      • Bk foette

        I have looked at the menu, it is not from the restaurants website (that keeps giving me an error) but off of urban spoon — it appears to be sushi only, unless who ever took the pics failed to take pics of non-sushi section — but there is pics of the sakis and drinks section.

        • Anonymous

          Perhaps you could call the restaurant and ask them what else, if anything, they have on their menu besides sushi? That way you can figure out in advance what to order. I always do this for a non-social meal — I still look at the menu at the table but this allows me to look confident and decisive about ordering. And FWIW, I’m Asian and I never mastered chopsticks and I don’t worry a bit about not using them, so don’t let anyone make you feel uncomfortable about not using them! I second what “Also Interviewing” said below. This is a great opportunity for you — best of luck and let us know how it goes!

          • Bk foette

            Thanks for the luck — I did some sleuthing on review sites, it does appear there is something other than sushi available.

    • Miriam

      I love sushi, but I eat it with my hands and sometimes make a mess! I only eat it with people who wouldn’t mind. I can use chopstick, but it takes forever and I’m already the slowest eater! I would just order something else! Maybe not soup though. Hearing slurp slurp might not be much better!

    • anon

      You need to learn to use chopsticks. Seriously. Sushi is a staple of client/firm dinners in my experience and it isn’t a test. Just what people like to eat (its healthy and yummy). Its really not “out there” in terms of cuisine. Practice using choptsticks. Its really not that hard. Sorry if I sound harsh, but you really should not be fretting over eating sushi. If you are, you need to practice so you don’t fret.

      • Bk foette

        To be fair, I added the “is this a test” to be funny, but I know humor may not come off well on the internet. I am not really fretting, just wishing it was a different cuisine for an interview.
        I always start with chopsticks, then get frustrated and move on to eating the rolls with my hands. It is not my preferred cuisine so I don’t get that many opportunities to hone my chopsticks skills.

        • anon

          I practiced with just a pair of chopsticks and picking up random things — paper, pens…anything around me. You don’t even need chopsticks to practice (though it makes it easier) — a couple of pens do the trick. If you can pick up a third pen chopstick style with two other pens, you’re a pro.

      • Janie

        I don’t want to be harsh either, but I agree with anon – you need to learn to use chopsticks. It’s not that hard, it just takes practice. I know the lunch is tomorrow, but can you go home and practice enough tonight to be able to do it decently, just in case the restaurant doesn’t have anything else for you to order?

      • Legally Brunette

        I agree that it’s important to know how to use chopsticks. I refused to use them for many years because I was so terrible at using them. However, after a few social gatherings (luckily, not professional) where I was the only one using a fork, I started feeling embarrassed. I now use them. I can’t say that I’m comfortable with them, but it does get easier with time.

        Now obviously, for this lunch interview, don’t use chopsticks if you have no idea what you’re doing. But after the interview is over, I would just practice a bit at home so that you can use chopsticks the next time around.

        Good luck with the interview.

      • Jay

        I agree. You need to learn to use them. I’m left handed and it took me forever because I had no one left handed who could show me, and right handed people’s advice was useless. After a couple sessions with Chinese take out and no one watching me, I finally mastered it. You can too, and then you never have to worry about this again.

        • Bk foette

          Hm, I am left handed as well, maybe that explains *part* of my troubles.

    • Also interviewing

      Bk foette — just wanted to wish you luck. Seems like most of this post would make me more anxiety filled if I were you and I just wanted to give you a good ending note. Hope it goes well! Enjoy the sushi and the conversation!

    • Allergic

      I’d have a problem with sushi, seeing as how I’m allergic to seafood. How on earth would you handle something like that?

  17. Esquirette

    Quick question: Shopping for a gift. If a person is a size 10/10P/M in tops and 10P in bottoms at Talbots, what size would they be at Ann Taylor or the Loft? The person is an adorable apple.

    • AL

      Agree; same size in Talbots and Ann Taylor. I actually wear those same sizes. If she prefers petite, get her the petite sizes as we petites usually go swimming in regular sizes.

  18. s

    Ann Taylor does run smaller than Talbots, but only very slightly. So either a 10p or a 12p in AT would be my guess.

  19. XOXO

    I’m looking for a watch for my husband for his birthday. It will be his first “grown man” watch. I have some Macy’s gift cards that I want to use for it, so I’m thinking of this Movado with a blue face: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=475026&CategoryID=24042&LinkType=PDPZ1

    When all is said and done it will cost me $400. Is that worth it? I know NOTHING of watches and I want to get him something classic that he can wear forever (because I doubt he’ll buy another).

    • Honey Bear

      That’s a gorgeous watch. Does he currently have a watch? I’m wondering if he prefers a leather band (my boyfriend does – I bought him a watch last year for his birthday) and some guys might also prefer actual numbers on the face of the watch. However this is a stunning watch for sure and it is very classic. I would just maybe try to find out what your hubby’s personal preferences are re watches…

    • Bk foette

      That is really nice. But I agree with Honey Bear, he may have particular preferences for watches. Can you slyly ask preferences, slip in to conversations are random times?

    • XOXO

      Hey ladies, thanks for the responses. I already know from him that he doesn’t like leather bands or large faces on watches. In general he’s a bit of a no-frills guy, which is why I think a very simplistic style may work. Of course, if he hates it we can always return it, but I’m hoping for a “wow this is perfect!” response, and I don’t want to overpay for a brand name unless the quality and reputation makes it worth it.

      • Anne-on

        If it helps, Movado is a very respected watch brand that should suit him well for years to come. They’re a standard graduation gift to both the men and women in my family, which I think is a lovely tradition :)

  20. JuliaBee

    Threadhijack – I am going to NYC next week for fun and am dismayed to learn that it might be slightly chilly and rainy. Any advice re cute day-time outfits that will withstand a bit of rain? I dont own any boots . . . .

    • Monday

      Until I read your last sentence, I was just going to say “boots can work with almost anything!” Any chance for boot shopping before your trip? Truly, I think if you got a good leather pair in black, brown or cognac, you wouldn’t need anything else in particular to adapt an outfit to rain.

    • Janie

      It depends on the rain. If it’s going to be pouring buckets, you’ll need rain boots or other boots, which you could probably pick up here. If it’s a light drizzle, then any shoes that are largely waterproof will be fine. I used to wear Converse all the time on days like that, they were largely waterproof and dried fairly quickly. Flats work too, but they might get ruined. In either case, avoid pants that are long-ish – this is the time for skinny jeans you can tuck into boots, or ankle pants, or skirts. Try to bring a light, waterproof jacket, but FYI no one here really wears athletic-type rain jackets that are (I think) common in the northwest – but trenches are very common.

      Keep in mind that the weather forecast might change 3 more times between now and then, and there isn’t anything you can’t buy here.

    • JessT

      Definitely rain boots if you can get them — everybody wears them, so you won’t look out of place. If you don’t have boots you can tuck your pants into, then I’d suggest a skirt or dress since once your pants get wet you’ll just be flat out uncomfortable, and it’s not like you can just dash inside from a car and stay relatively dry like elsewhere in the country (it’s also less likely you can run back to the hotel to change repeatedly without wasting a ton of time). Also know that it can be downright impossible to get a cab if the weather is bad since everybody else is trying to do that too.

      Regardless of the weather, have a great time!

    • academicsocialite

      I’m not from that area, but my husband is. My impression was always that Northern California in the summer can be a bit cool/foggy. Is it an outdoor wedding? You might want something with sleeves, both for warmth in case you are exposed to the elements, and as an officiant, to be more, well, official? Just a thought.

    • Bk foette

      It is beautiful. Have you asked the bride/groom — they may have opinions. I would have no problem with that being worn by my officiant, but others may.

      I would bring a shawl or something to put over my shoulders in case it gets chilly.

    • Cat

      I think the dress looks great – agree with the above responses that you may want to cover your shoulders for warmth and/or authority and being conservative.

      Even though it’s boring, I would stick with black for the blazer/wrap — a color may contrast with the wedding colors, and white or cream would take the focus off the bride in pictures.

    • Eponine

      I would wear a jacket with it to officiate. Then take the jacket off for the reception.

      In general, I think of the officiant as an authority-type who should be dressed conservatively or formally. Most judges I’ve seen officiate either wear their robes or a suit. So, I’d make the dress look as suit-like as possible for the ceremony.

    • SF Bay Associate

      That dress is gorgeous.

      FYI, July in Northern California has a 20-30 degree difference depending on where you are. At the extremes, golf courses in Half Moon Bay/Santa Cruz – 65 or less, overcast, minus a few more degrees due to a breeze, and even cooler once the sun is down. Golf courses in Livermore/San Ramon/Napa/Sonoma – 85+, easily, in a sunny cloudless sky.

    • 2L NYC

      Have never officiated — but (1) I agree with other commenters that I would probably wear a jacket; (2) weather-wise, I went to a wedding recently (well, last year) in Palo Alto in July and it was pretty hot around 4:30, so I wouldn’t worry so much about fog/being chilly. If you are closer into the bay or further north, it might be different.

    • Wondering

      More than the dress itself, which is pretty, I would be concerned about wearing black to a wedding. Definitely check with the bride and groom.

    • Anon

      Thanks for the advice! The wedding is in Vallejo, which will likely be very very hot!

  22. Candy

    I have a performance review coming up, not looking forward to it (who does). I have no deficiencies in my work or anything, I just hate this kind of thing. Can you ladies recommend any resources for how to manage this effectively and with the least amount of stress/upset?

    • T

      Be your own advocate. Have a clearly outlined list of your strengths and accomplishments.

      The unfortunate reality is that performance reviews in most companies are either a way to force a distribution of strong to weak performers, and allocate bonuses accordingly, or even worse, CYA in case they want to build up evidence to get rid of someone.

      My strategy is to make sure that I have thoroughly documented my contributions, accomplishments, and how much $ I saved the company in my performance review. I don’t admit to any weaknesses unless it is couched as a “developmental/growth opportunity” – and that too only when my manager forces me to.

  23. Anon

    I need a new pair of black work pumps, again. And I am tired of having to seek out simple pumps every few months bc I go through the ones I buy so quickly. I am debating buying a nice pair of Louboutins in the hope that they will last much longer. Thoughts? Has anyone splurged on them and had a bad experience with them not lasting or getting ruined quickly?

    TIA!

    • Seattleite

      Never splurged on the Loubies, but I have been known to buy two identical (color and all) pairs of shoes when I knew I’d be wearing them to death.

    • NYC

      Do you have a good cobbler? They can make a world of difference in how long your shoes last. I even take in semi-new shoes and have them replace the heel tips or soles to elongate their life. I don’t own any Loubs but think that most shoes made in Italy ior Spain (or even Brazil) hold up better than China-made shoes, especially when you spend a little money on maintenance.

        • found a peanut

          angelo’s, in the 53rd & 5th station on the E/M. It is underneath the 5th Avenue entrance. They will work magic on your shoes.

    • jcb

      I have a couple of pairs of the Simple 70s Loubies and a summery kitten heel style. One nude-for-me, one black, and the summery one is straw with a ballet-slipperish design and black band around the top (prettier than they sound). The Simple 70s are my everyday go-tos – I wear the heck out of them and they are as comfortable and pretty as the day I bought them (I’ve had them for 3 or 4 years now). Actually more comfortable than the day I bought them, I find they are a little tight at first and then mold to your feet. The summery ones I just bought a couple of months ago, so I can’t really speak to how that style holds up yet, but so far, so good. Shoes always kill my feet, but I don’t hesitate to put these on in the morning. I even commute in them sometimes, though I try to keep that to a minimum. Highly recommended – they are pricey as all get-out, but have been worth it to me in the long run. Key to find a great, trusted cobbler, though, particularly to make sure that the heel caps don’t wear through (that would be my one complaint – maybe it’s just me, but they seem to be a little softer than regular heel caps?). I found one in Chicago by calling the Saks and Neiman’s shoe departments and asking who they recommend – both gave me the same name.

    • Sally

      I echo the advice to get a good cobbler. Even non-expensive pumps should last more than a few months. I get the heel tip relaced as soon as I begin to see the nail (or it gets too uneven) and part of the sole replaced when it gets worn through. I can usually do these replacements four times or so before I need to give up on the shoes.

    • mille

      I had a pair of Jimmy Choo flats that didn’t last very long. Also, they shredded my heel and were just all around not my favorite pair of shoes.

      Like Seattleite, I buy several identical pairs of shoes when I find one right for my feet. I do better with several identical pairs of $100 shoes than I do with one pair of $500 shoes.

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