ByElizabeth Hours Updated
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Tuesday’s Workwear Report: Kaya Washable Silk Blouse

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A woman wearing a white blouse with a navy geometric print and white pants

Our daily workwear reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.

Amour Vert is one of my favorite sustainable brands. It’s such a joy to find options that are both responsibly-created and stylish. This long-sleeve washable silk blouse has a fun, geometric print that would pair nicely with a number of professional-looking outfits.

I would wear this with trousers and loafers for an easy, comfy business casual look, or underneath a suit for a pop of pattern.

The top is $178 at Amour Vert and comes in sizes XS–XL.

Hunting for more silk blouses for work? We just did a big roundup:

collage of 5 different kinds of silk blouses: 1) short-sleeved silk blouse, 2) silk t-shirt blouse, 3) sleeveless silk blouse, 4) silk popover blouse, 5) silk button-front blouse
Some of the best silk blouses for work in 2025: green / pink / navy / royal / black

Sales of note for 3/26/25:

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

183 Comments

    3. Agreed! I was not familiar with this brand and I think I’m going to go order this and the short sleeve version. Washable silk? Yes, please!

      1. I’ve been shopping this brand for years – they had a store in my city pre-COVID. Their clothes wear like iron and are actually machine washable in most cases. Highly recommend!

        2. I have one of their short sleeves and it says “dry clean”, but I wonder if I can machine wash on delicate. Hmm.

        3. Do they restock and/or add new patterns frequently? The patterns I like are all sold out in my size in the short sleeve version:-(

          1. No to restocking (usually) but yes to new patterns in their standard styles like this one.

        4. I’m so confused by this, as that’s not my experience at all. I have a couple of items from them, including the short-sleeve version of this shirt in a different color, and have found their quality to be middling. Poor stitching, not long-lasting (I bought AV jeans during the pandemic, and then blew out a knee just a couple years in–never happens with other brands!), super simple patterns so they don’t quite fit anyone but they don’t quite not-fit anyone (reminds me of the Editor pant from Express, which used a low-slung waist and different inseam lengths to not deal with actual waist-to-hip ratios). I think they’re fine, but if AV really cared about sustainability they would make quality clothes that last instead of just posturing with their compostable bags and such. I would say their quality is closer to H&M than to even Uniqlo or the Gap. Nowhere near The Fold or other high-end brands.

    5. I have three pieces from Amour Vert (which I heard about first from this s*te last year) and they are amazing and I get a ton of compliments. They also, if you email, can put you with a stylist. She put together 3 great outfit options for me with outfit boards and organized the order from their SF store. Love them (haha no name pun intended)

    6. Do these run more true to size? Most silk blouses I have in other brands – Joie, Nordstrom Signature – I wear an XS. But in jackets I wear a 4P usually, sometimes a 6P if it runs really small. Would you go with an XS or S in that case?

  2. Going to our first Communion over the weekend! NYC Suburbs. What is a standard gift amount (if any)?

    1. I have the same question! I was actually in Rome recently and bought a rosary at the vatican for the child, but I think I should do an additional gift as well, right?

      1. my daughter is going to do her First Communion this summer, and I would say this is a perfect gift, and nothing else is required

        2. Thank you! I’m very proud of myself for having the foresight when walking past that gift shop :)

    3. I’d go easy on the rosaries as that’s what lots of people gift. A cross necklance or earrings, simple “church” jewelry and/or cash. Not more than $50.

      I’m 40 and got like $10-25 back in 1992 from close relatives.

  3. Just wanted to give a brief update – mine was the spouse who was seeing gardening professionals. It took me a while to get myself sorted and to come to the decision, but I found a lawyer, a therapist, an apartment, and I filed for divorce yesterday. Thank you all for your support and truth, I kept on coming back to your comments when I wavered and when everyone else in my life is trying so hard to be polite and non judgmental. Also thank you in particular to the people who suggested an STI test – it came back clean, but in my shock it hadn’t occurred to me.

    I’m sad and scared. But it’s still the right thing to do. Onwards.

    1. This internet stranger is proud of you for doing what’s right for you even though it’s hard! Sending all the virtual hugs.

        1. I left 12 years ago with an infant and a toddler after . . . similar circumstances. Life goes on. There will come a time when it feels like something that happened to someone else…. you are doing the right thing.

          2. This is a good way to describe the feeling of these kind of events. I haven’t had this event happen, but I’ve had something else in. It does feel like it happened to another person in another life.

    4. OP, so sorry this is happening to you and very proud of you. You deserve better and good for you that you’re seeking it out.

    5. Hug and high five.

      It was probably me who suggested the STI test. I’m glad it came back clean.

    8. Congratulations!! This is the beginning of a new and better phase of your life. Believe it or not, but you are through the hard part, which is deciding to leave. Good luck and keep us updated.

      I left my alcoholic husband a bit over 5 years ago and my life is infinitely better today (and I am now very happily married to an amazing man). My only regret is not leaving him sooner.

      1. Similar – 17 years ago, I left an alcoholic husband who (secretly) spent a sizeable chunk of my law school loan money on booze. Married today to an amazing partner, raising two great kids. Former husband eventually got his s*it together and is living a healthy, sober life with a new partner. Both our lives are better.

        There are good things in your future, OP. You’ve done the hardest part – now you get to build the life you want.

    11. Good job and congratulations. Your future self is going to be so, so grateful to your current self for doing this for her.

    12. Hugs, OP. I left my first husband after finding out that he was cheating on me and had also stolen money from our joint savings. It was so hard at the time but I’m happily remarried and in a much better place now. Wishing you all the best.

    15. Thank you for updating us. Wishing you all the best and here’s to brighter days ahead!

    16. You’re doing all the things. Take it one day at a time. It gets easier, especially with support. Glad you’re in therapy. I divorced due to infidelity, and today I’m remarried to an amazing partner.

    18. I’m so sorry you’re going through this, but this internet stranger is really proud of you for taking charge and forging a new path for yourself.

    19. Congratulations! Onward and upwards from here. You deserve so much more, and this is an amazing step forward. Leaving is a tremendous act of love for yourself, love you deserve to receive from yourself and from anyone lucky enough to be in your life. Keep going, it’s going to get so much better!

    20. ONWARDS!! This time next year everything will be so much better. Big hugs to you.

    22. You should be really proud of yourself for having the strength to do the right thing. I admire you. Hugs.

  4. I am wearing compression hose after a procedure. They are individual thigh-high legs (vs panty-hose style). Remind me why in the 90s, thigh-highs were edgy and maybe even s*xy? It is IRL just magnifying the chub rub.

  5. Has anyone used “K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask Treatment to Repair Damaged Hair” or “Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 Repairing Treatment?” Interested in your experience, particularly for those with curly/frizzy hair (some of my hair makes Shirley Temple corkscrews; some of my hair is just plain frizz). Also interested in what effect, if any, it had on color. TIA.

    1. yes – have used both, my colorist mixes olaplex in when she gives me highlights also. the at home version of k18 does not impact color and it helped me retain a couple of inches of burnt color treated hair so i didn’t have a mullet. i use it regularly (once a week) to stave off further damage. olaplex allegedly works, i think its toxic and left my hair looking greasy (though less damaged) so ymmv.

    2. I’m curly/wavy (somewhere between 2B and 3A depending on the day; white lady hair) and have Olaplex #3 – i watched a YouTube video before using it that said to twist your hair into coils while applying it and then do a heatcap for 30 minutes. i thought it was very effective at making my hair less frizzy, at least for a few washes. i probably wouldn’t use more than once a month max just because of the rigamarole to get it in. my hair isn’t colored so can’t say.
      this was the video; i like this creator a lot.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KLgfiNZGLA

    3. I get the equivalent Aveda treatment, called Aveda Botanical Repair, done when i get my hair done, whether it is just a cut or color, and my hair health has vastly improved. I have fine, wavy and frizzy hair prone to breakage and it is the healthiest it’s been since I was under 25 years old. I use the at home versions, like the hair mask and the leave in as well, but it’s the in salon version that really makes the biggest difference.

      I’ve tried both Olaplex and k18 at home treatments and they had a negligible difference, if any, and I think the k18 made my hair more straw-like.

  6. What’s your favorite commuter backpack? Also, is there one that’s designed to hold more than one laptop? I’m working on site for a client, and they gave me a whole laptop to transport around, in addition to my work laptop. I’m not able to leave it at the client site: I work a hybrid schedule and do not have a dedicated office at their site.

    2. I can fit both my personal and work laptops in my Tumi Carson backpack, which I do carry occassionally when I travel. I also sometimes do laptop + external monitor. It would depend on the sizes of both.

    3. I use a company branded North Face backpack. I would think it’s entirely too casual for my workplace, but I figured it’s okay since it’s branded and was given to my team by our VP.

      It only has one laptop sleeve but could easily fit another laptop + whatever else you’d need.

      I also use it all the time for weekend trips. I can fit either both work + personal laptops (I’m in grad school too) or 1 laptop + iPad + textbook and my clothes for the weekend in it.

    4. I recommend this all the time but the Nordace Sienna backpack. Plenty of room for two laptops (either both in the sleeve or one in the sleeve & one in the main compartment) and associated chargers + water bottle/coffee mug/etc

    5. not designer, but I got the Bange business smart backpack off of Amazon and it can hold two laptops + much more stuff. it’s more of a unisex style.

    6. I have the Fjallraven Raven 28 laptop backpack and can easily get two laptops in the padded pocket, plus a tablet and a healthy stack of paper in the non-padded pockets in the laptop compartment.

    7. Lo and sons rowledge. I fit two laptops in it easily (but not extra wide ones, those prob wouldn’t fit). Super sleek and the various pockets are super useful.

  7. What snacks/treats/desserts do you keep in your pantry at home? I’ve always kept portion-controlled snacks (I load up at Halloween time) but now that I have kids my collection is too big and we’re all overweight. Need to figure out a healthy way to phase back, preferably other than cutting entirely. Tia!!

    1. On Sundays, I shop and chop, and cut loads of veggies into bite size for the week. And use peanut butter, hummus as a dip. I’d use salsa if I didn’t live in the land of bad salsa.

      1. Bad salsa? Basic salsa is healthy. You mean….. that it makes you want to eat chips ;) ?

        1. I think she means that it doesn’t taste good.

          FYI, the Pioneer Woman has a recipe for “restaurant style salsa” that is delicious and easy.

          1. I didn’t think it was possible to screw up a basic quesadilla. Then I had one in London that was basically a (not great) grilled cheese with what tasted like a ketchup based salsa. I can understand how she may not be good salsa in the UK!

    2. I tend to keep more ‘whole grain’ options – yes to tortilla chips, popcorn, and dark pretzels, no to flavored potato chips/fritos/cheese doodles. I do buy candy on a fairly regular basis (1-2x month) for movie nights but try not to keep fruit roll ups/gushers/etc. on hand as they’re somehow easier for us to eat more of (and frankly they get expensive). The easiest way I find regulate is to shop mostly at Trader Joes/Whole Foods or to shop the ‘edges’ of the grocery store where the fresh and less processed stuff is. Whole foods doesn’t have the junkiest options and at Trader Joes the snacks are yummy but also not quite as highly processed so I seem satisfied with less.

      1. Snacks that are almost entire sugar (Fruit Roll Ups, jelly beans) are not satisfying. Anything that has chocolate or fat tends to be a better bet.

    3. For us, the only thing that works is buying a small amount of treats to last the week and when it’s gone, it’s gone. That way everyone either paces themselves or is treat-less the rest of the week. Everyone in my family likes different things so no on goes into other people’s snacks, but having a separate container/bin for each person would also work. My
      mom used to do this when I was a kid because we had a very limited food budget, and this was everyone got something each week (though not a lot). We always have fruit and veggies available.

    4. Assuming you’re asking about shelf stable stuff: My kids will eat any kind of sweet thing, but here’s what’s worked for us as shelf stable, somewhat healthy alternatives. Individual bags of cashews or omega 3 mix, small (the tiny ones) boxes of raisins, individual bags of veggie straws, Bear fruit rolls, fruit buttons from Trader Joe’s, the very small Clif or Luna bars… all of these are good grab and go weekend snacks for my elementary aged kids.

    5. My go-tos that are reasonably healthy are: Guacamole in the little pre-portioned cups and pita chips; hummus and carrots sticks; the mini nut & chocolate kind bars (90 calories each); peanut butter and apples

    6. I think loading up is what’s contributing to the problem here. They may be portion controlled but if the cabinet is full of them, there’s nothing stopping you from having several each day. Our snacks are pretzels, crackers, chips and salsa, and veggie straws. We always have hummus around for dipping crackers and veggies, and we often have guac too. We don’t have dessert- that’s for a special occasion like a birthday, not to have at home. If you limit the amount available in the cabinet, snacks might simply run out until the next time you go grocery shopping. Then you’re not totally depriving yourself but it forces you to limit the amount you eat if don’t want to be snack-less for several days.

    7. Yogurt, boiled eggs, fruit, veggies and dressing. Occasionally I will make a fish dip or hummus (I hate the commercial stuff but it is probably fine) .I don’t keep desserts around and my home growing up didn’t have them either. It isn’t a “must” just because you have kids. That also doesn’t mean no one ever got them, we did, and that is better than a ban, but they just weren’t routinely stocked like in my friends’ homes.

    8. I make a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and keep it in the fridge. Every night, we each get 1 warm, perfect cookie. I weigh the dough to make sure the portion is correct.

        1. I only bake 1 for each person. It’s a lot easier to refrain from eating another one, if I have to turn the oven back on, weigh the dough, etc.

        2. Actually, it’s amazing how you can get yourself into a habit, and you can get used to it/accept it.

          I had a relative that loved a specific type of chocolate chip cookie. She bought a bunch and then frozen them. Then each night after dinner, she took one out of the freezer to thaw. And ate one every night. Keeping them frozen helped cut down on the binging. And having it wait for it to thaw, also helped her control urges.

          I don’t have the self control to do this long term, but during low stress times of my life, it was amazing how much easier it was to get into a habit like this and cut down on binging.

      3. Same but I keep them in the freezer — portion out the balls, freeze on a cookie sheet, then dump in a bag. I haven’t done this in a while and I think I will tonight! It’s much easier to restrain when you know that you will have more tomorrow and the first one takes so good.

    9. YMMV, since I live alone so I don’t have to keep snacks on hand for anyone but myself. I’m losing my pandemic weight, so I have both cut back on my snacking and only keep healthy snacks on hand. I have learned, through trial and error, that I am an abstainer. If I have fun snacks in the house, I will eat them all in one sitting. Here’s what I generally have:
      – Single portion size nuts or trail mix
      – I keep fruit snacks on hand (Welch’s), but that’s only for fuel during long workouts (I don’t like gels, so I use this instead).
      – Fresh and dried fruit.
      – Easy snacking veggies (baby carrots, mini cucumbers, mini peppers). I usually eat these plain, but sometimes have hummus or another dip (my favorite is to make French onion dip with the dried soup packets + plain greek yogurt).
      – Cheese. If I have Laughing Cow, I also have crackers, but if I have string cheese or Babybel I eat it plain. Laughing Cow is my favorite, but it’s pricey (and I also have to buy crackers), so I that’s more of a treat.
      – If I’m home, I love a spoonful of peanut butter as a snack!
      – I also always keep the squeezable applesauce pouches for a quick snack. I usually have one in the AM on my way to the gym.
      – I love beef jerky, and it’s a great way to get more protein.
      – I sometimes have one “treat” on hand. Right now it’s Pirate’s Booty. I have to empty a portion out into a bowl before I start, otherwise I will eat half of the bag.
      – Lest I sound like a health freak, I always have ice cream in my freezer. Currently, I have Klondike bars. I have ice cream probably 4-5 nights a week. Other dessert options I like are Oreos (I am obsessed), Gushers (only 100 calories in a pack), chocolate milk, and single serve pudding cups.

      I try to eat substantial, well-balanced meals that negate the need for snacks. So, when I find myself hungry I take a pause and ask myself will a snack suffice or do I need something more substantial? For when I need heartier snacks, I always have Greek or Icelandic yogurt on hand. I also keep the Nature Valley peanut butter granola bars on hand, and usually have a few Cliff bars if I’m really in a jam. I have a smoothie probably 4-5 days a week, so I always have those supplies on hand too (frozen fruit, frozen spinach, Greek yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds, protein powder). I also always have whole wheat English muffins in my fridge, so I can easily make PB toast with fruit or something that’s almost a meal if I need to. Ditto oatmeal, cold cereal, eggs if I need something hearty but quick.

      I very, very, very loosely count calories, but I do focus on my protein consumption. If I am hungry, I will always eat something. But, working with a dietician has changed my mindset on snacking. If I’m hungry between a meal, I’m much more likely to have a “mini meal” as described above than a snack. When I do snack, my snacks during the day serve a purpose in my diet (I’m usually looking for more protein or an additional serving of fruit/veg); I don’t want to eat empty calories so I’ve cut back on pretzels, crackers, tortilla chips (I get plenty of carbs through my meals). My nightly ice cream or glass of wine is just for fun, so I don’t feel deprived because I’m still getting things I love in my daily diet.

    10. We’re not huge snackers, but usually have nuts, peanut butter pretzels, tortilla chips, and triscuits in the pantry. Otherwise, I like to bake and have always have muffins and some kind of fruit/nut/seed bar in the freezer and sometimes cookies. Since I’m baking, I can use whole grains, control the sugar, and add fruit, nuts, etc. that you wouldn’t get in store bought versions.

    11. I tend not to keep packaged foods that I’ll reach for because they’re faster than a more nutritious/satisfying snack.

      So, I don’t usually keep cookies on hand, because I’ll reach for a bunch of them when toast and jam is what would actually satisfy me. I do keep dark chocolate, because I’m only going to reach for that when I really want a sweet treat.

      I also try to make healthier snacks easier by keeping cut up fruit and veg in containers in my fridge ready to eat.

    12. I really prioritize the nutritional balance of our meals (high fat, high protein, high fiber) and we don’t snack consequently. So maybe that approach would decrease the overall amount of snacking? I have older kids who sometimes eat out of our meal sequence due to sports and for them they grab fruit out of the fruit bowl, almonds or if they get lucky a homemade muffin. I don’t buy packaged snacks.

      1. I eat similar meals but still need snacks or I will crash and burn. Fruit won’t cut it. It has to be nuts, cheese, a muffin, or something else with some substance.

    13. I have an entire shelf of treats, so maybe take my advice with a grain of salt….

      First life hack: always serve ice cream or gelato in a normal-sized coffee mug.

      Second life hack: don’t trigger feelings of deprivation *if you’re a moderator.*

      Third life hack: eat filling meals. Unless you have a medical condition, you’re better off eating as much healthy food as you want during normal meal times. Some of what makes people feel satisfied is to have gotten all the nutrients they need. That’s why chips and jelly beans never fill you up. Eat the guacamole on your taco – you’ll feel better.

    14. Dried cranberries and wasabi peas. Both tough to scarf down because the strong taste slows you down, tart or spicy.

    15. You don’t need candy in your house. I say this as another overweight person so I’m not trying to be a sk1nny bitch who doesn’t understand. I do. But candy needs to be an occasional treat that isn’t just sitting in your pantry.

      I’ve been counting calories since August (under doctor supervision) and that has gotten me out of the habit to some degree because I don’t want to have to reduce my calories available for dinner with an afternoon snack.

      When my kids were little their always-available snacks were yogurt, string cheese, peanut butter, whole wheat crackers, fruit (grapes and mandarin oranges were popular), applesauce cups, baby carrots, and hummus.

    16. We eat a lot of fruit and crackers. I love wasa crackers with guacamole on top. Also cheese, yogurt, applesauce, cheerios. we also bake healthy muffins and oatmeal bars.

    17. We don’t keep sweets in the house. It’s a license to eat. And we are not skinny people who have supreme self-control, or anything. We just can’t have that stuff around because it’s too much temptation. The max I will keep around:
      – Trail mix with chocolate chips in it (not ever the kind with M&Ms)
      – Whole-grain pretzels we get at the natural foods market
      – Dark chocolate almonds from the bulk bin at the market
      – Whole grain crackers
      That’s it. It’s much better for us, if we are having sweets cravings, to either buy or make the dessert we’re craving on a Sunday night, have some of it, and take the rest in to work the next day.

      The most I’ve ever done in terms of keeping sweets in the house is keeping those Trader Joe’s chocolate croissants (which you have to proof overnight before baking) in the freezer, and also keeping a Marie Callender’s frozen pie (which takes an hour to bake and a half hour to cool before you can eat it). We don’t keep anything we can eat on impulse. I could never, ever keep frozen cookie dough in the freezer; that would lead to us eating an entire batch of cookies as frozen dough within a day (I LOVE frozen cookie dough; that’s like my number-one treat. That and doughnuts).

      We try to operate off the idea that healthy snacks are yogurt (we try to buy the lowest sugar version we can find), fresh fruits/vegetables, and small amounts of cheese, like a Babybel or two. Maybe a spoonful of chunky peanut butter. For me, eating carbs does not satisfy hunger; I have to eat protein and fat to feel like I’ve eaten. Once you train yourself to eat protein instead of carbs for snacks, eventually the carb cravings go away, or at least they did for me.

    18. After school snack is usually cereal or fruit or veggies or nuts.

      After dinner – dessert is fruit (throw frozen mango in the blender for mango ‘ice cream’. If kids are hungry they can also have toast and glass of milk before bed.

      Popcorn for Friday family movie nights and Saturday game nights our snack is chips- Chips are bought in a size that one bag gives each of us a bowl (5 people). Not Costco bags.

      Lunch cupboard has peach cups, fruit roll ups, cookies etc but they are not allowed to take those for after school/evening snacks or we’d run out of stuff for lunches.

      We buy chips/cookies/ice cream in container sizes that mean everyone gets one or two servings. A treat not a constant pantry staple.

      Eating is only allowed seated at kitchen table. No food in bedrooms or eating in front of devices except popcorn on family movie night or like freezies in the backyard in the summer. Mindfulness around food helps satiety cues and devices like iPads just distract. Also with 3 kids there is a keeping the house reasonably clean component.

  8. The description says to hand wash it so…that was not what I expected and doesn’t make it as practical.

    3. I machine wash my AV silk, air dry, then toss in the dryer with my bedsheets for about 15 minutes to get the wrinkles out. It launders really well.

    4. I am so confused by this comment. It specifically says it is machine washable. And I can attest that I have washed numerous AV shirts in a machine.

    5. Ah ha – a different pattern is hand wash, but the featured one is machine washable.

  9. Recs for wireless ear buds for running? I have small ears so I need silicone and would like something that isn’t totally noise canceling. Preferably under $100. Thanks!

    2. power beats pro! All other earbuds fall out of my ears, and they are not noise cancelling so safer for running with. Unfortunately above your budget.

      1. Second these. Worth the price. They stay in your ears, work for taking calls, play well with Apple, and have a long battery life before recharging.

        1. +3, I love them. I got a pair on Black Friday if you don’t mind waiting – brought the price to $150. Worth every penny.

    3. I have the hardest time with ear buds that actually stay in my ear, so I got the Beats Powerbeats, which have hooks that go over the ear.

    4. I have the Jabra earbuds – they’re the only ones that stay put in my weird small ear holes. They take a little fussing … you have to kind of pull your ear and then twist them in, but they’re very comfortable, great sound and adjustable noise canceling.

    5. I use Aftershokz bone conduction open-ear headphones. Nothing to stick in my ear (and later, inevitably fall out). Good sound and very comfortable. Doesn’t get as gross as in-ear buds.

  10. is there an easy way to do a HIIT timer on iphone or apple watch? i cannot for the life of me figure it out beyond downloading a separate app.

    1. On Apple Watch, open your workouts, go to HIIT, click the three dots in the top right corner, scroll down to “custom.”

  11. Any opinions on the Met Gala looks? I’m befuddled that they chose to honor such a crummy person, but I’m shallow enough to want to check out the clothes.
    My votes for best dressed:
    Kylie Jenner (I know!)
    Anne Hathaway
    Pedro Pascal
    Ke Huy Quan
    Brian Tyree Henry

    And I thought Lizzo, Quinta Brunson, and Janelle Monae missed the mark, which I’m only remarking on because it’s so rare for them!

    1. Huh? Kylie Jenner missed the mark, that look was not at all Karl. It was a nice dress but she did not understand the assignment.

    2. Karl. Karl. Karl. I feel that the Met Gala and Vogue / Anna Wintour are just so tone deaf here . . . maybe celebrate the fashion house but not the man? Especially in 2023. FWIW, I feel that older Chanel was better Chanel and KL Chanel was celebrity-chasing garbage. [Yes, with my Target budget.]

      1. I could have written every word of this, but I’m a curvy woman no one wants to look at.

        1. I would throw an Andre Leon Talley gala AT Anna Wintour and revel in the joy of it. His writing was a delight and the only reason I ever read Vogue. We are from a family of fiscal southern republicans but my dad, my DAD, loved Andre Leon Talley because they were both from NC. RIP ALT. And the ALT Gala clothes would just be fabulous capes.

      2. I think they’re really leaning into the tone-deafness as a way of showing off that they don’t care. I notice the same thing going on with openly celebrating thinness again (after 15 minutes of “body positivity”). It’s edgy to be regressive and non-inclusive.

        1. This is an interesting point. Food for thought. I think there is a ‘loss of social capital’ dynamic happening here. To not care is to regain some power.

    3. Agree with your best-dressed (esp. Pedro even though I’m usually *not* a “shorts on guys” person). I really liked Lizzo, but it was more Chanel than Karl. Thought Bella Ramsey looked wonderful – they are the last person I thought would be bringing back skirt suits (sort of) but 2023 is full of surprises! Also thought Taika Waititi looked fabulous.

    4. Umm…JARED LETO?! I feel like my new life goal is going to a black tie event dressed as a giant cat!

    5. I loved all the people wearing old Chanel designs, especially (1) Naomi Campbell and (2) Nicole Kidman rewearing her dress from 2004

    6. I agree that the theme was ick. Would have LOVED an ALT gala- what an amazing idea.

      My best dressed:
      Ashley Park
      Keke Palmer
      Michelle Yeoh
      Ke Huy Quan
      Brian Tyree Henry

    7. yara shahidi. The detailing of that dress. So amazing. Maybe not on theme but so lovely……

  12. Is there anywhere to buy Bensimon shoes in the US besides @mazon? Nearly a decade ago JCrew used to carry them, as well as a few other places. Now it seems like I can only find it on @mazon

  13. I will be celebrating my 60th birthday in Paris next month. It will be me, spouse and 21yo daughter (taking summer classes in Paris). I’d like a “special” dinner and even I’m not sure what that means. I’d like a Parisian experience, but I’m not a huge foodie so I feel like some restaurant experiences might be lost on me. Part of me would love to have dinner on a sunset cruise on the Seine. But I live in Chicago and my experience with tourist cruises here is that the food is not worth it. But maybe Paris is different?

    I’d love to hear experiences about Seine cruises and other ideas for a dinner in Paris that would be good for a milestone birthday.

    1. You could separate the two things. Do a sunset cruise (totally worth it imo) and go to a fancy restaurant. (Maybe not the same say, I’m thinking sunset is probably kind of late by May?) Pick one that looks good from the Michelin website. You will have a lot of options in Paris.

      1. I did exactly what you recommended and picked something that looked good from the Michelin website. I ended up picking 114 Faubourg which was a wonderful meal and felt special but not TOO over the top. I really liked that they had an a la carte menu (rather than just getting a fixed menu of X-number of courses) because I have some food restrictions and liked being able to choose what I ate.

    2. I wouldn’t recommend the food on the river cruises, but there are a number of restaurants with views over the seine, or even on the river boats, stationed, which are lovely. such as https://www.bateaudaphne.com/
      one of my favourite restaurants in Paris is Le Procope, especially the 1st floor, full of history.

    3. I don’t have any suggestions but I do follow a well known Instagram blogger who routinely provides Paris suggestions on her page and in her stories and she even has a Paris guide you can purchase. Her name is Habitually Chic.

    5. We did a dinner cruise on the Seine. It was special. But it not as awesome as our random dinner at this restaurant: https://lepoulbot.com/. It’s a small, more casual spot but we ate the best food on our trip to Paris here. Highly recommend!

    6. Just do an evening river cruise without the dinner. Ved-tt-s du Pont Neuf is great. We BYO’d Champagne and brought our own plastic flutes. How can you really soak up the views if you’re eating?

      Tbh my happiest memories of Paris dinners are where you find a cafe around the corner from your apartment and it could be just like one of 100 other similar cafes but you go there 4 times because it’s so good and it’s so convenient. But I’m not one for a bunch of pomp and circumstance and ‘foam’ or drinks served with a smoke bubble or whatever. I will say we had absolutely divine, inventive-but-not-odd food at Frenchie and Septime, but that’s been since a fall 2019 trip so not sure what’s popped up in the last 3.5 years.

      2. Loved Frenchie on a trip with my husband in November, although getting reservations was tough (they opened at an odd time of day)

    7. We did a dinner cruise on the Caliphe and it was a lot of fun. The food was better than I expected, not transcendent but definitely in the same ballpark as plenty of “bistro around the corner” places we went to in Paris.

    8. The food on the river cruises is not great. Do them separately. And happy 6-0!! What a fab way to celebrate.

    9. We did the restaurant inside the Eiffel tower and the food was good and it was a special experience! Went with my 7 year old daughter who LOVED it.

    10. Agree with all of the above — do the cruise but not for the special dinner!

      I agree that you almost can’t go wrong with a cafe around the corner. Last time we were there we had a great dinner at Les Antiquaires. Also Cafe de Flore is great for sitting and people watching on the corner. And I just got an email from Paris By Mouth recommending Le Mazenay.

      1. I signed up for one of their walking tours based on your earlier suggestion. I will keep you posted.

    11. I can’t give you a specific recommendation, but lots of good advice on this thread. Just wanted to reiterate that I would NOT splurge on some classic old famous French restaurant. I absolutely love food and have always been disappointed when I went to those restaurants in Paris. You wont be satisfying to you, your family will be uncomfortable, and the prices are so outrageous it makes it even harder to enjoy.

      By far my best Paris food experiences are the small cafes/bistros which are comfortable, delicious and more quintessentially French. And they are so different from the Chicago restaurant scene that it will feel unique/special.

    12. What about a progressive day-of-birthday-meals, to include walking between:
      – morning croissant and coffee in nearby cafe
      – falafel in the Marais for lunch
      – gelato (Berthillon on the island, conveniently near falafel)
      – Moroccan restaurant for dinner
      – wine bar for night cap
      –

    13. Check out David Leibovitz’s Paris restaurant recs on his website! He’s never led me astray.

    14. Maybe a bit cheesy, but I remember loving Le Train Bleu inside the train station for a special occasion meal.

  14. I’m struggling. nothing in my life is objectively bad, but…… there’s just a lot going on and I’m frustrated with my own inadequacies and need to suck less and also take better care of myself. Not sure what I’m looking for here.

    1. Right there with you. I have been rewatching a show where I strongly identify with a particular character and crying. It helps some. Also long walks with the dog and prioritizing healthy eating.

    2. I feel like heavy metal could be the answer. Loud music and a bit of jumping around in my room somehow is a mood lifter (like I am going to stick it to The Man). Rap? The YouTube mashup of Staying Alive / In the Club?

      The abstract stuff — I got nothing. Endorphins to the rescue.

    3. Can you take a day off from both work and life stuff and just – be? Maybe spend a day by the pool, or bingeing your favorite show, reading a good book, window shopping, going on a walk, whatever sounds good to you. You might just be burnt out .

      1. +1

        And if not a whole day, an hour or two? Maybe take a walk outside, treat yourself to something like a pedicure or coffee/tea, or do a meditation (I really like Calm)?

        Also, sometimes when I’m overwhelmed I make a list of everything I NEED to do that day, and another list of things that can be done later. One step at a time.

      2. Yes this. My therapist kept telling me that I needed to just rest and I finally listened and took 3 days off (before a weekend) and just lay on my couch, read books, listened to music, ate bad takeout, and stared into space. No laundry/chores/work or guilt. It really really helped. My brain just needed to reset. I really didn’t believe that I could do this because I had “too much work” but I made up an excuse for the time off from work and when I came back I as able to tackle everything that I was stuck on much better.

      3. Counterpoint, I find that the couch day when I’m already feeling down is really ineffective. I suggest an adventure day instead – something that is truly fun and interesting and different from the norm. I find that so much more refreshing. Examples include driving to that museum you’ve been wanting to go to, taking a surfing lesson, taking a cold swim in a river, or doing a six hour hike.

    5. Please be kind and gentle to yourself, and give yourself a break. Life sometimes isn’t fabulous, but we all do the best we can under the circumstances and muddle through. You are forgiven for feeling inadequate, we all do from time to time. If there is some errand that has been nagging at you that you can just go ahead and take a few minutes to take care of it, that could go a long way toward feeling like you are starting to get on top of things.

  15. I’m in the market for a new work bag. I prefer a tote style with a zip close and some internal pockets. While this doesn’t seem like it should be that difficult, I’m having trouble identifying many acceptable candidates. Here are the bags I’m considering – please let me know if you purchased any of them, and if so, if you love it, hate it, or are “meh” about it. I’ll reply to my own comment with links to avoid mod. Thanks!

    The Parker Thatch – either the Medium Mimi or the Parker Mimi
    Bric’s X-BAG WOMEN’S BUSINESS TOTE BAG
    Shinola – the large satchel
    Kaai – Pyramid

    2. I’m also looking for a new work bag with the same criteria (+ not being too heavy) and not having much luck either… I’m honestly considering just getting a good interior organizer and pairing it with a longchamp le pliage in a new color – maybe one from the city line. But I’m intrigued by the Kaai bag you shared!

      1. +1 on the Tumi tote. I just changed my handbag system for work, switching from an enormous all-in-one “mom purse” to a Tumi cross-body bag that can hold my essentials: enormous wallet, keys, sunglasses, reading glasses, face masks, a pen, and hair scrunchies (plus a lipstick, Metro card, parking garage card, work security badge) plus a Tumi tote (Voyageur Sheryl, which might be discontinued but still available from boutiques, or in the all-leather version, called Sidney), for carrying work papers, laptop, charger, cardigan, beverage bottle, and even extra shoes (as well as the cross-body bag when commuting).

        1. I’ve been lusting after the Kaai pyramid, but can’t justify its cost, especially with my new Tumi cross-body bag and tote system. And I LOVE my new Tumi bags, super functional and professional looking.

    4. I have several of the Bric’s bags and they are very very durable. They can take a lot of weight and hold up visually very well. There is not a lot of internal organization but I added a few pouches and carried those to address that.

    5. I just received the Kaai Midi Pyramid bag in the dark turquoise color (can’t remember the exact name of it) as a milestone birthday gift. I haven’t worn it yet, but it looks and feels very sophisticated; the leather is soft and the inside is suede or a suede material; lots of great pockets/compartments and it zips on top; fits nicely on my shoulder. I’m excited to wear it!

    6. I love my Kaai pyramid bag in forest green. I recommend the large size even if your laptop is small. Fantastic quality and amazing customer service.

    7. I purchased the Shinola large satchel for work and ended up returning it. I loved the way it looked and the quality was fantastic. But, I didn’t like the strap – it never sat comfortably on my shoulder – and I prefer a tote style to the one shoulder strap as the bag sort of bounced around by my hip as I walked. Also, it was a bit stiff so it couldn’t expand like a softer bag would. At the end of the day, it was a top choice of mine but missed the mark just a bit. I ended up going with a Tumi Sidney Leather Business Tote.
      Good luck!

  16. Would anyone be interested in a list of videos I’m finding helpful for learning about generative AI? Here are two, one that tackles whether it’s a true intelligence, and one that addresses the moral quandary of bringing a new intelligence into being:

    (1 hour, I found easy to watch at 1.25x) An evaluation by a Microsoft AI researcher and mathematician on whether this is a true intelligence, with examples involving unicorns:
    https://youtu.be/qbIk7-JPB2c

    (Almost 3 hours, been listening as I wash dishes and clean kitchen, deliberately slow so I wouldn’t accelerate) Max Tegmark, the case for halting AI development (for 6 months) — long form, beautiful interview with an AI researcher at MIT. https://youtu.be/VcVfceTsD0A

    2. Max Tegmark was my professor! He was an astrophysicist back then, didn’t realize he studied AI.

      1. Yeah, I think he got into it because he was interested in the question of finding other intelligences/ alien species. And that’s so cool! Is he as stand-up a guy as he seems on this podcast?

        1. (And it may still be a side interest — I haven’t actually deep dived his credentials)

  17. I’m going on a work trip this summer consisting of all in-person internal meetings, and I’m trying to plan my wardrobe ahead of time in case I need to do some shopping. We are normally fully remote in a casual/creative type company. I’m mid-thirties and will possibly (probably) be the youngest there, and one of the only women. I don’t want to be super casual, but also anything too “businessy” would look and feel out of place. Any suggestions?

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