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Tuesday’s TPS Report: Sleeved Colorblock Dress

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Sleeved Colorblock DressHappy Tuesday! I think this is a really pretty, classy dress from Muse — and it looks comfortable, too. I particularly like the gathered ruching at the waist (flattering!), and call me crazy, but I think the polyester/spandex fabric has a great drape to it. It was $184, but is now $119. Sleeved Colorblock Dress Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com. (L-2)

Sales of note for 1/16/25:

  • M.M.LaFleur – Tag sale for a limited time — jardigans and dresses $200, pants $150, tops $95, T-shirts $50
  • Nordstrom – Cashmere on sale; AllSaints, Free People, Nike, Tory Burch, and Vince up to 60%; beauty deals up to 25% off
  • AllSaints – Clearance event, now up to 70% off (some of the best leather jackets!)
  • Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your full-price purchase; extra 50% off sale
  • Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
  • Boden – 15% off new styles with code — readers love this blazer, these dresses, and their double-layer line of tees
  • DeMellier – Final reductions now on, free shipping and returns — includes select options like Montreal, Vancouver, and Venice
  • Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; extra 50% off all clearance, plus ELOQUII X kate spade new york collab just dropped
  • Everlane – Sale of the year, up to 70% off; new markdowns just added
  • J.Crew – Up to 40% off select styles; up to 50% off cashmere
  • J.Crew Factory – 40-70% off everything
  • L.K. Bennett – Archive sale, almost everything 70% off
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Sephora – 50% off top skincare through 1/17
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Summersalt – BOGO sweaters, including this reader-favorite sweater blazer; 50% off winter sale; extra 15% off clearance
  • Talbots – Semi-Annual Red Door Sale – 50% off + extra 20% off, sale on sale, plus free shipping on $150+

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

203 Comments

  1. And apparently an extra %40 off today and tomorrow. But beware! Dress’s cutout looks red in this photo, but is actually hot pink.

  3. I think I like this, but I’d like to see/feel the fabric. I like sleeved dresses, and the colorblocking adds some visual interest to an otherwise plain dress, kind of like a built-in accessory.

    Apropos of my beginning the day with Corporette instead of answering a (totally BS) complaint, did you see this NYT piece about overcoming distraction at work? Link to follow.

      1. Thanks for sharing! I love the NY Times!

        However, I find it somewhat ironic that I’m distracted at work by an article about overcoming distraction at work….

  4. I have finally completed my haul from the Anniversary sale, and let me just say, it was good! $1000 for 3 pair of boots, a 3 piece suit, a skirt, 2 work-appropriate blouses, and 2 dress appropriate for c**ktails.

    Report over the knee flat black boots ($150)
    Via Spiga black healed “piper” boot ($250)
    Enzo brown leather riding boots ($150)
    Halogen seamed pencil skirt in “storm” ($68)
    ” seamed skirt in charcoal ($34)
    ” ” blazer ” ” ($64)
    ” taylor trousers ” ” ($39) (these three items work as a suit)
    Classiques silk pleat neck blouse in natural and in dark purple ($49 each)
    Maggie London jeweled neck chiffon dress in navy ($89)
    ” ” draped jersey sheath dress in black ($64)

  5. Oh wow, really like this! Does anyone know anything about how sizing runs with this brand? I’ve never heard of them before.

    1. Nordstrom carries some Muse dresses, so I checked the sizing chart there. Looks like sizing runs similar to Halogen and Donna Morgan. The dress is marked down to $71 with the discount!

      1. When you combine black with a bright color, the bright color will look even brighter. This is important in clothing and in decorating. For this reason, I am very cautious about combining a bright color (fuschia) with black, although I do have a fuschia silk jacket that I sometimes wear with black. Ditto fuschia scarf with balck coat – occasionally. The colorblocks I think are classy are black with beige or brown and brown with a sort of brownish maroon. In nature fuschia (the flower) occurs with deep green and pink.

    2. Yeah, black with hot pink seems kind of 80s to me. I wish this dress came in another color scheme. The cut looks great.

  6. I just want to second (third?) the recommendation for the Vornado space heaters. I wanted a space heater for my office, and got a small Vornado one after someone on here said they were good. This one is very short and is wider on the bottom than the top, so it’s difficult to tip over, but it also shuts off automatically if it tips more than 10 degrees or the airflow gets blocked. At least, according to the package it does these things. All I know is it cost about $30 at Target and I am toasty warm.

    1. That sounds like the one I got, too. It definitely does turn off if it’s tipped a tiny bit, which I guess is good for safety. Mamabear, I’m still loving it!

      1. Good to know! Thanks, both of you. It may find its way into my Amazon cart today. :)

  8. Minor rant…I am sick of buying clothes that get holes or unravel or pill after less than five wearings!

    My long cardigan, now with extra holes in the front, I’m looking at you.

    1. Are you sure you don’t have moths/carpet beetles? That wouldn’t cause pilling, necessarily, but it could cause holes if your clothes are animal fiber.

      1. I did think about that — but I don’t wear wool — it’s all been cotton or cotton-poly blend clothes that have had this problem.

        I’m partly annoyed at the cost, but mostly just the waste. Hopefully I can fix this, I think I have the yarn that came with the sweater, since I never throw those away!

    2. Also if you’re machine washing, make sure you use the “slower” spin cycle. Turned out this was causing holes/snags in my cotton blend clothes.

      1. I usually wash all my work tops and fine gauge sweaters on delicate cycle, none of them are particularly expensive and I don’t have a problem.

  9. I am so-so on this dress.

    Threadjack: I think my house generally looks pretty cute, but I need more stuff on the walls and just generally more decorations. The problem is that my style is a little different – sort of mid-century modern in cool colors. I am having trouble finding inspiration. I really just want to look through thousands of pictures to find things I really like that I can copy. Does anyone have any blog or magazine recommendations for this type of thing?

    2. are you on pinterest? there are always a ton of interesting decorating ideas on there. You might find something you wouldn’t normally think of!

    3. go to polyvore or .. is it pinboard? one of those two (or maybe both) have great collections of images and collages for visual inspiration on just about anything.

      one of our more tech savvy readers can supplement here …

    4. My sister has a mid-century modern house and she likes a magazine called “Atomic Ranch.” I think it only comes out a few times a year, but maybe you could find it or subscribe.

      1. I second Atomic Ranch. Great book, lovely magazine – every other month. Helped us correctly style and verify our choices when bringing back a 1960 mcm house to its true bones.

        Also look at Western Architecture magazine…they have many mcm stylings in there.

        Have found some inspiration in catalogues as well –

        chiasso
        cb2 (although I’d get better quality things in the same styles)
        those dealing with danish/scandinavian style products
        lamps plus (has some items and styling photos)
        gumps (seriously, mcm and asian are/were a great match)

        I think it’s all about being period without looking like The Jetsons!

    5. Have you seen apartmenttherapy dot com? It’s a home design blog that focuses on smaller spaces, with a lot of mid-century modern inspiration.

      1. Agreed, apartmenttherapy is a good blog. They have a small design space contest every year and have some amazing ideas to decorate small spaces (less than 400 sf, 400-600, and so on), got lots of inspiration for my studio apartment from there.

        1. I LOVE apartmenttherapy. It has completely transformed my apartment into a place I love to come home to, sit in, invite people over, it’s just a fantastic inspiration

          1. I love this site as well! And it leans heavily towards MCM, so if that’s your style, you will likely find a lot of stuff to love on this site.

    6. Not a blog or anything — but if you’re not a member you should join “myhabit” from Amazon. They have daily homegoods deals in addition to clothes, and they have some pretty cool mid-century modern stuff with fair regularity.

    7. Check out ApartmentTherapy.com — lots of design inspiration there, and they’ve been on a mid-century modern kick for a while, now.

    8. making it lovely [dot] com. She doesn’t use cool colors but I find her approach really accessible and appealing.

    9. Design Sponge can also be inspiring. Also adding to the chorus of people in love with Pinterest.

    10. I like a website called Inspiration for Decoration. It’s hard to filter, but there are so many nice things, I literally spent an afternoon just clicking through all of the pictures.

    12. LivingEtc, a British magazine, is awesome. It’s available through Zinio dot com so you can read it on your computer or through an app on your tablet or smartphone instead of having to get paper copies.

    13. It hasn’t launched yet, but art.sy is trying to be the ‘Pandora of the fine arts world’. Supposedly you will be able to tell art.sy something you like and it will pick other art you might be interested in. I really hope that when it launches you can tell it “like picasso, in a color to match my blue wall, less than $800” and art.sy will help find the perfect thing.

    14. plastolux.com is a blog with a good eye for modern design and interiors, and plenty of inspirational pics.

  10. In case y’all didn’t see it yesterday, I finally ended my quest for red skinny jeans with a victory! I know some of you were interested in finding a pair too, so I thought I’d share. I accosted a woman last weekend who had on really cute ones and asked where she got them. I couldn’t believe the answer was Target. So I immediately skedaddled over there and bought a pair for – get this – $22. Thanks for your help, everyone!

    1. By the way, in case you are ordering on line, size way, way up, especially if you are curvaceous. I am a size 6 and bought a size 13! I could have bought an 11 but thought I could use a little extra room in case they shrink.

    2. I bought them on your recommendation! I’ve been searching for a red pair, but not willing to buy premium denim for such a limited piece. Thank you also for the size info. I ordered two sizes a little larger than I normally would… but juniors sizing is so tough! I can’t wait till they get here!

    3. I got some this past weekend from the BR outlet for $13. Theyre bright red, and corduroy.

  11. Holy 80s, Batman! I just can’t get into the black-with-bright-color thing, it reminds me too much of when I was 11 and had a pair of black and fuchsia houndstooth (!) stirrup pants (!!). :)

    I have to try to get out of work early so I can pack all our stuff for Thanksgiving. Why is it that I have to pack all my stuff, my husband’s stuff, and the kids’ stuff?

    2. Well at least you Do NOT have to cook, like me! I thank you for pointeing me to BUTTERBALL tureky site, I am going to make a great bird they said!

      Now I am geting calls from Alan’s mother! She wants me to call Alan b/c he is evedently NOT planing on coming home and she wants ME to invite Him to my families’ thanksgiving? Can you imagine after he getting drunk on ME?

      The next thing you know, I will have to go to the manageing partner’s house to help him with his kid’s and that would be awful, especially with the manageing partner’s bad tureky breathe! FOOEY!

      1. Ellen, having at least one overley-drunk guest is part of the TRADITION!

        If ALAN has no place to go for Thanksgiving, I think you should take him IN.

        Good luck with your tureky.

      2. Before you make your DECISHON, consider whether you would HAVE to take Alan to the manageing parnter’s house to WATCH his kids. That could be VERYE awkward.

        Regardless of whether you CHOSE to invite Alan, please report BAKC to us.

    3. Oh man… 80s grade-school fashion is always a fun topic. Gotta love those stirrup pants.

    4. I think we had the same pants! Of course, I also wore them with a long white tee that was scrunched through one of those t-shirt clips off to the side of my hip. And giant curly bangs, clearly.

      1. I had the same pants too! I believe my top of choice was an oversized black sweater with magenta bears on it. And my bangs were more vertical than curly.

        1. Did you double up on black and magenta socks? I don’t know how my mom kept up with all the laundy from the layered looks!

          2. I definitely doubled or tripled the slouch socks. I’m still upset that my mother forbid me to wear slap bracelets because they would kill me. I had to get them through the elementary school underground.

      2. I had four of those t-shirt clips, in neon lime, orange, pink, and yellow. I hope that fashion disaster doesn’t come back.

        1. Did you puffy paint them? I’m fairly certain that some of my t-shirt clips were victims of overzealous puffy painting.

          2. I remember puffy paint. I wanted a puffy painted sweatshirt but my mother wouldn’t let me wear anything like that. Clearly she knew what she was doing but at the time I thought I was scarred for life.

          3. One year, we made puffy paint sweatshirts for everyone in the family for Christmas.

      4. For a real horrible mental picture, imagine this: I wore those pants TO WORK.

        Yeah, it was bad.

      5. I had the same pants too. With a matching top! almost as good at my neon yellow Gap leggings with oversized simpson’s tee outfit.

    5. You guys are making me sincerely regret missing out on grade school in the 80s. I shall live out my inner Claudia Kishi through you…

      1. Have you seen this blog?

        www dot whatclaudiawore dot com

        I went to grade school in the early 90s, but I think my town was not so fashion forward, so I still got to wear all the great 80s clothes until about 3rd or 4th grade.

      3. I was obsessed with what Stacey wore. There was some outfit she had that was, like, grey sweatsuit fabric yellow clocks printed on it, and I wanted it DESPERATELY.

        1. There has to be some sort of personality analysis based on which member of the Babysitter’s Club (or Saved by the Bell ) you wanted to be.

          If there’s not something relatively scholarly already written about this, then someone should definitely undertake that project.

          2. There is one! I can’t go track it down right now, but I think I saw it on www dot thehairpin dot com. Good luck!

    6. Have any of you seen this blog?

      things90skidsrealize (dot) com

      I found it over the summer and find myself agreeing with almost every post. It also makes me long for the days when kids programming was actually good.

      Does anyone remember the Disney movie Suzy Q (1995 or so)? It had the girl who was the pink Power Ranger, can’t remember her name now. I loved that movie (and still do) but I can’t imagine seeing anything like that now on the Disney Channel.

      1. OMG – GREAT website, thank you for contributing to more procrastination at work =).

      4. Suzy Q (with the guy who was Jimmy Olsen on “Lois & Clark”) was amaaaazing!

        1. Lois & Clark! I loved that show!

          That was the first show where I really got the meaning of “jump the shark.” It was all downhill after he came out to her about being Superman.

        2. I’m so happy other people remember that movie! I’ve been looking for it on DVD for years and can’t find it anywhere. I actually recorded it on VHS. Sadly, the tape is lost. I have found it on youtube though ;)

    7. You know, I couldn’t figure out what it was that didn’t grab me about this dress but you hit the nail on the head! It looks like dresses I had in college (in the 80s).

    8. I thought I saw a pair of stirrup pants in Wal-Mart the other day. I did a double take, but they were just regular leggings with weird pickups on the seams (thank goodness?)!

  12. I know the legal market in Canada is better than in the US (all but one person in my graduating class of 100 is employed…and the one has no filter, so he interviews poorly), but I still think this is an interesting idea:

    http://www.freakonomics.com/2011/11/21/paying-people-to-quit-what-law-schools-can-learn-from-zappos/

    http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2011/11/law_schools_should_pay_students_to_quit_.html

    What does everyone else think?

    1. Most people wouldn’t take it. The people who came in to law school because they didn’t know what else to do will have no better ideas after a year in, so they’ll “delay the decision” for another two years by staying in. Bad idea, but no one asked for my opinion :)

    2. The slate article linked me to this interesting/entertaining one:

      http://tinyurl.com/cyymygb

      It’s an article about personal wipes being marketed to females. For the last few years I have always kept a few in my purse for 18 hour days/always being on the go. They also come in handy when when you’re stuck with no toilet paper!

      As far as the gender bias, I have known men who keep them at the house, don’t think they’d really carry them around though.

    3. I am sick of all these “recent law grads are so screwed/unemployable” articles. There was one in NYT over the weekend.

      I’m waiting for someone to write a “law students who worked hard and networked and met professional during law school and found jobs without relying on OCI” article.

  13. Not sure why I got stuck in moderation but I’m going to try this one more time.

    I’m having a hard time justifying the cost of a diamond engagement ring when both the BF and I have law school debt. Even if we’ll both be in big law. Recently came across moissanite on the internet and it seems to be a good alternative. Clean, sparkly, and without unethical mining practices.

    Do any of you have a moissanite ring? If so, ever have an awkward “its not a diamond” moment?

    1. FWIW, I’m not trying to fake having a diamond — just looking for a white/clear stone. I wouldn’t mind a gemstone with color, but I can’t decide what color to commit to. Moreover, if I were to splurge on the diamond, I’d like it to be of good quality (i.e., going to cost us a pretty penny).

      1. A friend of mine got a moissanite ring as a substitute for her engagement ring, which she did not choose and never liked. The moissanite ring is pretty, but every time someone comments on it she says, “Oh, it’s just moissanite!”

        I think she is embarassed to have a large-ish ring and doesn’t want people, particularly at work, to think she and her husband are rolling in dough, but the instant disclaimer seems a little weird to me.

        1. I think it’s different if the bride actually chose moissanite. Then, every time someone commented, she would say, “Yeah, it’s moissanite! Isn’t it amazing??” with a big smile. Or just say “I love my ring!” and leave it at that. It’s no one’s damn business what your ring is or isn’t. You’re only trying to “pass” it as a diamond if you actually say or imply it’s a diamond. It’s not your job to dispel someone else’s assumption about your ring.

          I also wanted a white/clear stone, and was open to moissanite. I looked at white sapphires and cz, but they lacked the sparkle I was looking for. Figure out what’s important to you, CuriousGeorgia. Is it size? Is it sparkle? Something else? After trying a lot on, I realized what I cared about was sparkle, not size, so I got the very highest quality of diamond, but a “small” one by biglaw standards. I love it. There are moissanite fan blogs online, and if I had ended up realizing that I cared most about size, I definitely would have ordered one to try. I am thinking about ordering a moissanite necklace for my wedding. If you want a moissanite ring, go for it and rock it!

        2. Yeah, I think that would be a problem. I believe that you aren’t trying to fake having a diamond, but everyone is going to think it is one since they look so much alike. And then you’ll feel awkward. I say go with a sapphire or emerald or even a big pearl instead. A friend of mine did a big pearl with little diamonds around the base, and I thought it was just beautiful.

          1. Pearl caveat – pearls do not have the hardness that gems do and can react badly over time to alot of the stuff you subject your hands to (lotion, perfume, soap, cleaning detergents, tomato based products, probably citrus based products).

      2. I am in the same boat and also interested in hearing the responses! I’m just not into the cookie cutter solitare diamond engagement ring. It just doesn’t do it for me, but I don’t know what color I would committ to otherwise. Also, my birthday is in April, so that doesn’t help.

        1. Vintage rings, especially art deco styles, tend to be more visually interesting than the solitaire and frequently include colored gemstones (mine, for example, has two saphires, though I’ve seen rubies and emeralds in art deco rings, too). They also tend to be less expensive, if that matters to you.

        2. Mine’s not the “traditional” solitaire either. Get Pinterest, and browse Etsy and vendors on A Practical Wedding for ideas of nontraditional diamond rings. There are lots of great options from talented artists, but they aren’t available at the mall.

          I said it above and I’ll shout it again: GET WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT YOU ARE “SUPPOSED TO” WANT. Listen to yourself and your fiance-to-be, and tune out what society is telling you to get. You’re the one who will be wearing it every day for the rest of your life.

          1. Thanks for the support! I have never been the traditional ring type until my best friend, who is a year into her marriage, said to me that she thinks its cheezy when women get non-solatire-diamond engagement rings. That it makes the engagement mean less somehow. The fact that it came from my best friend is what got to me. Thankfully, I have this community of women to turn to!

          2. i echo this sentiment, not only for the engagement ring, but for the wedding itself and all the planning that goes with it. (and for your marriage in general.)
            congratulations!

          3. Eyeroll… my mom’s engagement ring was a sapphire (her birthstone) and was mined in the state that my dad’s from. Get what you want – you’re the one that has to live with it.

          4. This! I have a raw diamond solitaire and I just love it. Most people think it looks like a weird little grey rock, and I couldn’t care less. It’s me.

          5. “my best friend, who is a year into her marriage, said to me that she thinks its cheezy when women get non-solatire-diamond engagement rings. That it makes the engagement mean less somehow.”

            Yikes. This screams *marriage hangups* to me. As SF Bay Assoc said above, do what you want. You know what? I don’t wear my engagement ring anymore. I wear a 2mm gold band. Flashy, huh? It’s practical and simple and I like it.

          6. Amen to getting what you want. Don’t let a friend’s potential issues change what you’ve always wanted in a ring. My husband got me a beautiful engagement ring 8 (!!) years ago and it’s relatively small by Big Law standards. But I wouldn’t change it for the world because I love what it represents: my then-boyfriend working overtime and two jobs to save enough to buy the ring that he wanted to buy. You have to wear this ring every day – wear what makes you happy!

          7. Agreed, SF Bay Associate! If I could have responded directly to L if I would have, but…
            I don’t even *have* an engagement ring. Didn’t want one.
            Some folks have weird ideas about what “should” be and what will make something “real”, when it comes to wedding-related stuff. Do what y’all want :-)

        3. My birthday is also in April. People ask me if I was born in February, since the stone in my wedding ring (which started out as an engagement ring since we couldn’t afford two) is an amethyst. My easy explanation is that I love amethysts, so when the time came, that’s what we got.

          1. I also love amethysts! This is actually what I was considering. Good to know I’m not alone.

        4. haha I happen to like solitaire because it’s simple and elegant. I like simple classic everyday jewelry, and then will go crazy with statement pieces. That being said, I rarely see solitaires on young girls anymore so to me I don’t think they’re cookie cutter (maybe it’s a regional thing). But I would say there are cheesy non solitaires, but there’s also gorgeous elegant ones.

          I know someone who in her late 20s who picked a beautiful yellow sapphire engagement ring. It’s obviously not a birthstone, and but she loves the color yellow. It had some diamond accent stones, and at first glance I thought it was a yellow diamond (which is actually my dream engagement ring).

          1. I have nothing against solitares. I just don’t think that an engagement ring should *have* to be a solitare to make an engagement meaninful. That mindset is what makes it a cookie cutter ring. I can definitely see how if you wear a lot of statement jewelry already, a solitare would be very elegant. I realized after re-reading my post that it sounded like I was bashing solitares. That was not my intention.

          2. Oh yeah I def don’t think it HAS to be solitaire, or diamond. I consider any ring worn on the 4th finger on the left hand to be an engagement ring. I absolutely hate when unmarried/unengaged women wear rings on that finger!

          3. I’m sure it’s gorgeous, Kelly. Traditional solitaires are great, too. Any style whatsoever is great, as long as the style is what you want, not what the magazines/blogs/friends/society/jewelers say you’re supposed to want. It’s all about personal taste, and each personal preference is just as valid as the next :).

          4. that’s interesting. why does it bother you so much? (the non-marriage-related ring on the LH 4th finger, that is) … i guess i’m not as much of a traditionalist. do a lot of women do that?

          5. Agree on this. I’m very recently engaged, and I originally didn’t want a diamond solitaire. But that’s what my fiance got, and you know what? I LOVE it. I think it at the moment it doesn’t look cookie cutter; as someone with lots of friends in the 25-30 age group, they’re all going for the halo settings.
            But seriously, get what you want. You’re the one has to (gets to!) “rock” it for the next 80+ years!!

          6. to anon: I’m pretty traditional about a lot of things (but very anti traditional in other regards). I think wedding rings are an important symbol and that finger should be reserved for them. I usually see 2 schools of unmarried women wearing rings on that finger, 1) is the totally ignorant teeney boppers or people just wearing their class ring on that finger bc it fits; or 2) girls wearing big fake CZ cocktail rings or bands on that finger to pretend they’re married or something. I understand maybe doing that if you’re going out to a club and don’t want guys coming up to you, but not in everyday life.

            On that note, I have my great grandmother’s engagement ring that I usually wear on my right middle finger (don’t wear it very often though.) I was getting my college portrait done and the photographer goes “congratulations I see you’re engaged.” wth!

          7. I wear a 2mm gold band and 2mm band set with Tanzanite on my LH 4th finger but it’s not because I’m a teeny bopper or pretending to be married. I wear a claddagh ring on my RH 4th finger with the heart pointing in to signify my relationship with my boyfriend. Because it’s important to me, I rarely take it off but still like to wear other rings. I don’t like the looks of rings on fingers other than the 4th, which is why I wear non-engagement rings on my engagement ring finger.

          8. i have a smallish yellow diamond engagement ring which i absolutely adore. i was looking for something that spoke to me that was not a solitare, and this one just took my breath away at first sight – i never planned on getting a colored ring, but i adore it. it is flanked by two smaller white diamonds, the entire ring reads pretty tiny but it works on my itty bitty hands. of course most people i encounter have never seen yellow diamonds before and assume its a citrine stone (but aren’t those supposed to be orange?)

      3. I’ve heard that the company that “owns” the process for moissanite is going to have their patent expire in a year or two so that the prices are expected to drop significantly. You might want to research that just to be sure before you purchase.
        Also – have you checked out antique or vintage stores? I was shocked at how cheaply you can find beautiful vintage or pre-owned engagement rings. I’m a bit biased as I love my art deco ring to death, but its pretty easy to find a 1 carat or so ring for much less than you’d pay buying new retail.

        1. oh that’s good to know! And if you hate the setting you can always use the pre-owned stone and get it made into something else. IME most of the older stones were good quality too, as back then people would buy smaller better quality stones and the bad quality ones weren’t being mined with reckless abandon.

    2. I had a boyfriend in college that was a chemical engineer and he talked about lab created diamonds, that are molecularly the same as diamonds. I don’t think that’s what moissanite is, so it’s worth checking out, maybe someone on here that’s a chemist/geologist knows more about it. I think these lab created stones were cheaper than high quality mined diamonds, but not super cheap.

      If I were in your shoes I’d go with a reasonably sized/priced stone of good quality, def not 3 months salary range, but an amount your boyfriend is comfortable spending.

      1. Moissanite is not an artificial diamond. Moissanite is silicon carbide, whereas a diamond (natural or artificial) is pure carbon. I do believe you can get better quality with artificial, since they can control the growth of the crystal and avoid inclusions and other imperfections that might show up in natural occurring diamonds. I have no idea how pricing works out though. My artificial diamond studs were a Christmas present from my parents, who don’t really drop big money on gifts (usually), so I’m guessing they’re not pricier than natural diamonds?

        1. The artificial diamonds that I have seen are usually cheaper (not by a ton) than natural diamonds, and are made without the imperfections you would find in a natural diamond.

    3. I have a high quality CZ set in white gold as my engagement ring, and I love it. I didn’t want a diamond, both because of cost and ethical concerns. I thought about getting a different stone like a sapphire or something, but I wanted something that would clearly look like an engagement ring. I’m considering getting a different stone put in the setting sometime in the future when we have more money and when people will be presumably less interested in trying to suss out my marital status.

      In my experience, people only really look at/comment in the ring for the first year or so that you’re wearing it, after that it seems to become a non-issue. I tell people who ask that it’s a CZ, and the only person who’s had a strong negative reaction to it is my mother (who somehow still believes that if a man didn’t spend a load of cash on a ring then he must not be committed). Most people who know me know that I’m an imminently practical person, and are not at all surprised that I didn’t want a diamond.

      1. My mom (the least materialistic person who ever roamed the earth) had a CZ ring for over 25 years because my parents had no money when they got married. I remember throughout my childhood after my dad established his practice he kept asking my mom if she wanted to upgrade her ring and she always said no, but he went and bought her a gorgeous diamond and had it set in her original ring.

    4. FWIW, I have an estate ring c. 1910 and I love it. It’s not a traditional solitaire but rather a band style with lots of diamonds set down into the band – kind of like this but not nearly as large, I assure you!
      http://www.ross-simons.com/products/672817.html

      Anyway, if anyone had told me I was “cheesy” for having a non solitaire engagement ring, I don’t think I would ever take that person seriously again.

          2. LMo, if I had an extra six grand lying around, you’d have to fight me for it. :)

          3. How do you wear a wedding band with a setting like that? My ring is kinda similar (though much smaller!) and I don’t think a wedding band can fit where the two ring bands would be together.

          4. @Anon, I wore my ring as my combo engagement and wedding ring for 10 years. For our 10th anniversary I had my jewler make a “guard” which is two bands of little diamonds (prong-set in my case) that fit exactly on either side of the ring – kind of like a wedding band and anniversary band in one. My ring is more band-shaped than the one in that link, so it works.

      2. Now that I’m looking at estate rings online, trying to find a ring that looks like mine,
        1) I’ m kind of pleased that my ring is so unique I can’t find anything similar
        2) I want more rings!

        1. I have a vintage diamond ring (floral filigree with the diamond set down in a hexagonal setting) that I inherited from my mother, passed down through her family and from the 19-teens. I wear it every day on my left middle finger but chose not to use it as my engagement ring (I guess since it was mine already). I had a sapphire flanked by two diamonds and a matching channel set band with diamonds and sapphires and now don’t know what to do with it.

    5. I skipped the engagement ring but opted for moissanite for my wedding band. It’s a channel band with 5 stones in it. I love it. I did use the savings on the stones to opt for a higher quality metal (platinum), so definitely keep the setting and its cost in mind too .

      1. Kelly – I’ve a (genuine) question for you. Why does it drive you nuts when non-married women wear a ring on their left-hand ring finger? I’m just curious :) I wear rings on that finger, but am not married. I’m also not American, but European, so maybe that is why it never occurred to me that this is a faux-pas :(

        1. I think my comment was stuck in moderation for awhile, but I personally think that finger should be reserved for engagement/wedding rings. Culturally, thats what wearing a ring on that finger means (and then there’s the purity/promise rings, I don’t want one of those either but to each his own.)

          Also, when I see someone with a ring on that finger (a legit ring that’s not costume jewelry, though legit ring could be plain gold band, pearl ring, gemstone whatever) I assume they’re married.

          1. Thanks for your reply. I saw your reply above as well. I think it’s just me being from a different culture that I never though about it before. My dad actually wears his wedding ring in his right hand. My mum doesn’t wear one at all, but it’s good to know it’s different in the US :) I’m not changing my ways, but thanks again for the explanation!

          2. You do realize that much of this “culture” comes from DeBeers, right? Engagement rings weren’t even all that common until the beginning of the 20th century, and when they became the norm, DeBeers pushed diamonds as the engagement ring material and it happened to stick. I’m just not fond of letting one company rule where I do and do not feel like wearing a ring.

        2. I don’t think it’s a faux-pas. I wore a diamond and sapphire ring on that finger all through high school and college until I was engaged. It was a gift from my Dad on my 15th birthday. I definitely wasn’t an “uninformed teeny bopper” trying to convince people I was engaged. Wedding and engagement rings were traditionally worn on that finger (or so I’ve heard), because it was believed that the blood ran from that finger straight to the heart. I chose to wear the ring on that finger because my Dad is close to my heart. But even so, it’s called a ring finger for a reason, and I see no problem with non-engagement/wedding bands being worn there.

          1. your reason is a good one, but just realize people who do not know you are going to assume that it’s either a promise/purity ring (if you look young e.g. when you were in high school) or that it’s an engagement ring when you’re older.

          2. I’m single and have a vintage diamond and sapphire ring that’s very thin and delicate. I wear it on my LH ring finger because that’s the only place it fits. The ring has great sentimental value to me, as my dad gave it to my mom on her first Mother’s Day with me, and she gave it to me before I left to go to college.

            People mistake it for an engagement or wedding band all the time, even though it really looks nothing like either one (the ring has a very unique design). I’ve considered getting it resized to fit on another finger, but to me it’s not worth the hassle. However, I will likely be getting engaged within the next year or two and I’ll need to find another way to wear it, since I do love it.

        3. I wouldn’t worry about it. The left hand ring finger is not a worldwide custom. At least a few European countries actually wear wedding rings on the right ring finger. I also think this is a personal position that Kelly has taken that definitely does not extend to everyone or even a majority. I know several women who are neither clueless nor pretending to be married that wear a ring on the left ring finger — it’s their hand, they can do whatever they want with it. Yay societal norms/pressures/hangups.

        4. I’ve always worn rings on my left hand ring finger, whether married or not. Even now, as a married woman, I wear rings other than my wedding rings on that finger quite frequently. I guess I don’t care whether anyone knows my marital status.

          1. it’s not the ring (whether wedding ring or other ring), but the placement that signifies the marital status. I would actually wear aforementioned great grandmother’s ring on my LH ring finger to get served at bars underage. it worked (don’t tell your daughter that), and i’m short, petite and have freckles and dimples, so I look young.

            Everyone can feel free to wear what they want, but just be aware people are making assumptions. A few years ago a collegue who I knew was in a long term relationship came into a meeting with what was a CZ ring on that finger, but obviously I couldn’t tell across the room, and I went to say congratulations. She was not engaged, they actually broke up a few months later. Why would invite that attention? just wear it on another finger!

            FWIW I also HATE when people wear watches on the wrong hand. I can’t wait to see what y’all hafta say about that. I guess I’m just very traditional with jewelry.

          2. Honestly, I didn’t know there was a wrong hand to wear a watch. I wear it on the left so it doesn’t drag when I’m writing.

          3. if you’re right handed you’re suppossed to wear it on the l eft, and vise versa. Thats why the crown is usually on the right side, so you can adjust it with your right hand while you’re wearing it. some companies do make lefty watches though.

            I honestly don’t know how right handed people write while wearing their watch on their right hand, but I see them do it!

          4. That makes sense! Glad to know I’m following the rules! Thanks for the information!

    6. A little late on this, but — I got engaged about a month ago, and my engagement ring is a ruby with a small diamond halo. I LOVE IT. And while I’ve been prepared to field a lot of comments about “why not a diamond,” I’ve actually only had one person cause me any trouble about it and it was, unsurprisingly, my mother. I knew I wanted a ruby, and one of my favorite things about it is how striking it is in photos — we were lucky to have someone actually take photographs while my fiance was proposing, and even though it is far away, you can see the ruby very clearly in the picture.

      Definitely get what you want, not what people expect you to want!

    7. This has come up a couple of times before; if you search the comments using google, you may be able to find more responses. I think a couple of people had mossanite rings and liked them–apparently they can be even sparklier than diamonds?

      I saw get whatever you want. I have a good friend who got married recently who’s engagement ring is a band set with alternating sapphires and diamonds all the way around. It’s not something that looks like a “traditional” wedding ring, but it’s what she wanted and it’s gorgeous.

  14. my first kat-recommended purchase! to order this dress, use FSANN3 for free shipping.

  15. I’m a law clerk, and the secretary is out today, so I’m answering the phones. A few minutes ago, I answered the phone and the person on the other end says, “Let me talk to X.” I asked for the caller’s name. She (opposing counsel, I later find out) said, “You’ve got to be kidding me” and refused to give me her name.

    Seriously?! Are you really that self important? We have a ton of cases, and I do not instinctively recognize opposing counsel’s voices, particularly when I’ve never spoken to them before in my life, and the caller ID only shows the firm name.

    Here’s to civility…

    1. I called another lawyer a couple of weeks ago, and asked if he had filed X person’s will and if so, what county and who the executor was. (This is all public information if the will has been filed!) The first thing out of his mouth was “Well, I’m sure you’re familiar with the attorney-client privilege.” Seriously not helpful, dude.

    2. When and how did rudeness become so common? Worse yet is rude people who have children and are perpetuating this trend by teaching their children that it’s ok to be rude.

  16. Can anyone recommend a really warm, stylish wool (or similar fabric) blazer? My office is absolutely freezing, but I’m pretty new so I don’t feel comfortable getting a space heater, and I’m starting to get to the point where I’m so cold I want to put on my winter coat while I work.

    1. for that i go to cashmere/wool scarves and shawls, and what people used to call pashminas.

      1. Ooh, I love this jacket, thanks! Would you recommend sizing up? I saw a lot of the reviews say it runs small.

    3. Just got a black wool blazer from LOFT on sale. They also have a tan version but it’s too light to be practical in most situations. It’s slightly cropped, so I would order a size up. Not posting the link so I don’t get stuck in moderation. I’ve worn it several times now and I’m very happy with it.

  17. I know I’ve mentioned this before on here, but I’m really interested in buying clothing made in the United States. So, I’m trying to make a list of brands that make at least some of their clothes here. I’m going to share it with friends and family and anyone else who wants it.

    Anyway, there are lists online, but most of them just have really random brands that you’ve never heard of. I want my list to be actual brands that people would buy. That’s where y’all come in. Any brands you know of off the top of your head that make at least some of their clothes here? I’ll post my current list under this to avoid moderation.

    I would super duper appreciate your help!

    1. By the way, I’m not just looking for clothing necessarily. I welcome all suggestions!

      TWC (at Beall’s)
      Notations (at Beall’s)
      Karen Kane (at Dillard’s)
      New Balance
      • New Balance makes 25% of their shoes in the United States and is the only major athletic shoe manufacturer still doing so. To find the styles made in the United States, visit: http://tinyurl.com/7ocenpn
      Lucky Brand jeans
      Milly – women’s clothes
      Nanette Lepore – women’s clothes
      Billy Reid – men’s clothes
      Textile – men’s clothes
      Etsy (items handmade by people living in the USA)
      http://www.ToysMadeinAmerica.com
      some clothes at Orvis
      • website has a “Made in America” section
      some Brooks Brothers men’s clothing (but no women’s clothing)
      • website has a “Made in America” section

      2. American Apparel. They have a lot of weird stuff but also a lot of great basics. I am currently wearing a pair of their leggings.

        (Yes. I am wearing leggings at work. Under a dress, with ballet flats. Oh noes!)

    2. I would love to see your list when it’s done! One thing you should do is go to Anthropologie’s site and do a search for “USA” – lots of clothes will come up that are made in the US, and then you can note the designers/brands.

    4. I believe all new balance is as well, if you’re at all interested in workout clothing.

  18. I’ve been trying to quell the fangirl in me but failed. Did anyone else find themselves squealing at last night’s Gossip Girl when Chuck covered Dan with the blanket? And then Blair coming in at that exact moment and finally seeing that he’s turning into a good person. Don’t even get me started on the promo for next week =*)

    Please share your comments with me so I know I’m not alone (which I know I’m not). Show yourselves, Chair fans.

    1. I only watch this show ironically (that’s what I tell myself. Do people take it seriously?), but this whole Charlie/Max storyline is starting to make last season’s Raina/Spin City look good.

      1. I watch for the pure fantasy aspect of it. Do people actually put up with this kind of behavior in real life? For that matter, do people actually act like this in real life? While I think Chuck Bass is awesome and overall perfection to look at, I’d never go near him in my real life (can someone say STD screen and massive therapy?). That being said, his realationship with Blair intrigues me and I watch in the hopes that they reunite. See, total fangirl.

        What can I say? My real life is boring and I despise scheming and dishonesty so this show is fun at times. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to trade places with Blair for one day just to kick Louis to the curb and have my way with Chuck in the back of the limo. I’m just saying.

    2. Oops. I meant to post this morning, but I had a 90 minute meeting.

      Again, the Chuck/Blair interaction was the best part of the episode. Although I did like the Serena/Blair stuff and finding out that Nate has never posted to GG.

    3. OK, this Blair pregnancy thing has got to end. How are they going to resolve this? They clearly cannot have Blair carrying a royal baby and not be with the royal father (completely unbelievable – no royal family would allow that). Is it supposed to be Chuck’s baby? Dan’s baby? WHOSE BABY IS IT?

      Seriously, this storyline is so ridiculous I am at my wit’s end.

      1. I still believe the baby is Chuck’s, I refuse to believe anything else. What I find so weird is that other than mentioning she’s pregnant, how else would we know it? She’s not showing, she’s not experiencing morning sickness, the only thing she’s got are those crazy moods, which are normal for her. There have been pictures of her running in a wedding dress so my guess is that she skipped out on Louis for Chuck and get’s hit by a car. A miscarriage storyline would be easier for them to work with than a baby daddy love triangle.

        1. So glad I’m not alone! I was at lunch with my grad school friends and someone was talking about how they hate when people sign their emails with their first initials. My response? “It is kind of Gossip Girl!” The guys laughed at us but seriously, I’m really good at what I do. I’m sure they waste time on things that are just as bad as Downton and Gossip Girl.

        2. She had morning sickness at the beginning, earlier in the season.

          I think a miscarriage is the bets option to end it, too.

          Also, for those who say it’s not realistic… I watch tv to escape from my own reality. Of course no one in their right mind would act like that. That’s why I like it. :)

    4. I used to watch Gossip Girl before my classes schedule interfered so I only catch it once in awhile. Can someone please give me a recap? I know that Blair is pregnant and somewhat engaged to some prince, but that seems to be ending. What is with this new girl, Charlie? Anything going on with Serena? Chuck is becoming a nice guy now?

    1. lovely. can i ask you if you would wear black tights with that, a la the model, or if grey tights wouldn’t look better? i have a tough time seeing black tights with pale dresses.

      1. I would probably wear anything *but* gray with this dress- black, navy, plum, or even a bright color if I were in a less formal working environment. I don’t think there is anything wrong with wearing darker tights with a light gray.

        2. Much as I hate to disagree with you ladies (and anointed fashion expert Ru), I’m not a fan of colored tights. What about a dark/charcoal gray, or a patterned gray (or patterned black, for that matter)? Just trying to see how I could make this work, and my mind is not getting past the solid black legs. Maybe black hosiery.

      2. Yes, black tights work this dress, especially since it’s so simple. I think that the dress is a great foundation for colored tights as well – brown, maroon, navy, hunter/emerald green, etc. Round it out with suede booties.

        Mamabear (I think) – re: discussing puberty with your daughter, I don’t know if other people do this but Muslims have this concept of taking a special shower after the period is over to be ritualistically clean. Translation: maybe get her a nice wash and/or wash cloths for herself. I really like sliquid (from drugstoredotcom), but ymmv, of course.

        Lady who posted the two Boden skirts – for the red one, I’d go with charcoal, chocolate or navy tops, in knits, to soften the effect of how bright the skirt is. Or, for a holiday party, a satiny green blouse. The light blue skirt – for the summer, I’d definitely say camel or other yellow hues, maybe even magenta but I’m stumped for a fall/winter application. Brown and navy would definitely work.

        1. Oh RU! You’re back! Thanks so much for responding to my dilemmas.

          Seems I have had to relegate the blue one to the summer closet … you’re right.

          And for the re/purple one, I’d never think of NAVY. Thank you. If i wore a navy or charcoal sweater (v neck or turtle), what would you think about a color for a jacket (unembellished of course)????

          Welcome home, as well. As you can tell, you’ve been sorely missed, even though we’re all excited that you went away for something so special.

          1. Thank you =). Because you’re a cool chick, you’d feel perfectly comfortable wearing a denim, corduroy or even a leather jacket. Velvet. Suede.

            For an indoor jacket/vest, I’m still thinking brown, navy or charcoal. Or purple. Tan would be good, too.

        2. Thank you, Ru. That seems like a really beautiful tradition, and I’ll keep it in mind for my daughter.

          1. Jews visit the mikvah (sp?) after their period (and on other occasions).

            http://www.mayyimhayyim.org/

            I would guess that primarily Orthodox women visit every single month, and thet reform and conservative women do it more to celebrate something.

          2. Anon, that was very interesting, thank you for sharing. Similar concept, except in the privacy of our own homes.

  20. any recs for favourite iPad apps? I only have a couple of games (any other words with friends addicts?), NPR and The Economist so far, but I’m not sure what’s worth paying for!

    1. I’m a news junkie and downloaded all of those apps I could get my hands on — local news, WSJ, Slate, CNN, CNBC, and Huff Post. I also love Zite, which is a news app, but it’s customizable for what interests you particularly. There are general categories (world news, finance, fashion, etc.) but you can get really specific too (biking, horses, etc.).

    2. Plants vs. Zombies is a great game and probably worth the $10 or whatever it costs.

    3. I use Dropbox, Wunderlist, and Readdle Docs for work. (Readdle Docs is a cheaper version of Good Reader.)

      Also second Plants v. Zombies.

      Does anyone have a good rec for a crossword puzzle app? I want to do crosswords (like NY Times one) while I’m sitting around waiting, but I haven’t found an app I like yet.

      1. If you already subscribe to the NYT online, you should get the crosswords included. You just need to download AcrossLite to your iPad.

    4. Flipboard! It turns your social media feeds (and other mainstream media that you select) into a magazine-style format. It’s a free app, too!

  21. Ladies, the seamed skirt is available at The Rack online. For petites, there is the turquoise in 6P. And for regulars, the amethyst and the pink are available in sizes 2, 6, and 8. All are $24.97. This link is to Halogen skirts at the Rack: http://tinyurl.com/6nhohub

    1. Thank you, Bunkster! Just got the magenta, which I’ve been lusting for awhile.

  22. Maybe too far along in this thread for a thread-jack, but here goes :
    Have you ever considered making the move in-house? What entered into your decision making either way? Particularly interested in hearing from lawyers who transitioned over to in-house at a senior associate or above level, and what their experiences have been, whether they’d make the move again, etc. Assume firm was willing to place you with a financial institution client on good terms. Thanks in advance.

    1. I went in house when I was 7 months pregnant and it has been amazing. I don’t know how moms at Big Law do it. They were one of my clients so I familiar with their business. At first I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to come back to a law firm after I left but I soon realized I didn’t want to ever go back. I was also concerned that I was taking a “non lawyer” job since I’m in government relations. The partner I was working forntold me to jump on and not give my life to a firm. It has been great and I think you should seriously consider it.

      I have a life now and it makes having kids so much easier. The pay is better, the health insurance is cheaper ( although the firm had a better maternity leave), the hours are better, I rarely work on the weekends and I have yet to get an important email on the weekend, and on your days don’t have to worry about how you are going to make up those missed hours. Good luck and sorry for the rant.

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