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Coffee Break: Cotton Linen Ombre Stole

Cotton linen ombre stoleI've written before of my love for the office pashmina as a versatile layering piece, and if you're looking for a super lightweight option for summer nights where it may end up breezy or cold, this $9 option at Uniqlo looks great. It's a cotton/linen blend, which means it will be super lightweight, and I like the subtle ombre to the color — we're picturing the blue but it also comes in an orange version. Cotton linen ombre stole Looking for an upgrade? This silk/cashmere wrap has a lot of prints and colors on sale for $59-$99. This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 12.5

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

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87 Comments

    1. I’ve always just bought two sizes up and had the waist area tailored. I try to find things with some spandex/lyra for this reason. Very frustrating.

    2. What items are you after, in particular?

      You will often hear the advice to buy something that fits in the shoulders and then take it in at the waist. Here are some variations on this that I have done that have worked a bit better for me. For reference I am size 4 in the shoulders and size 2 in the waist.

      1. I buy size 4 shirts in styles that have darts/princess seams in the back (such as the J.Crew “perfect shirt”), and then have a tailor deepen those darts. For some reason this looks better on me than just taking in the waist — it follows the curves better.

      2. Tall sizes are often cut to give more room in the shoulders. Earlier this year I bought a J.Crew Regent blazer in size 2 tall and spent a fortune ($80) getting it “un-tall’d” by having the sleeves shortened at the shoulder and the body of the blazer shortened. I am super happy with the fit and wear it all the time. (It’s hard to take in the waist on a blazer, since the pockets get in the way.)

    3. It’s so frustrating! I wear a lot of shell + cardigan outfits, sleeveless dresses, etc. Button-up shirts so rarely work that I don’t really bother trying them on any more.

      For blazers – I only have one that really fits well, and it’s the 3/4-sleeve Kasper one from Macy’s that gets rec’d here a lot. The open silhouette and shawl collar make it fit a little better.

  2. We are headed to England in a few weeks. The itinerary includes a couple days in Windsor, a 4-day cruise on the Kennet & Avon Canal (with a stop in Bath), and a couple days in the Newbury area. Looking for any recommendations for off-the-beaten-path stuff. We already have a hack around Great Windsor Park and we are going to the horse races and Highclere Castle. Family of three with six-year-old kid. Thanks!

    1. Around the Windsor/Newbury area – Henley on Thames is a cute town to stroll around in. And Runnymede has magna carta monument and memorial if you’re in the area (I prefer Great Windsor Park though – love that place).

  3. Reposting because I posted late in the previous thread:

    Basically our travel plans have changed and we need to cancel our hotel reservation for Friday, but the hotel is refusing to cancel and issue a refund. After several hours of pleading with the GM and third party site through which I booked the reservation, I feel I have no other option than to launch a campaign of negative reviews of their hotel on all of the travel websites. This gives me no joy, but it is a last-ditch effort to get a refund, or at least warn other travelers. Any tips for doing this?

    1. I saw your other post.

      You booked a pre-paid room through, apparently, Trip Advisor. Pre-paid rooms are usually sold at a significant discount to the cancellable price.

      Now you want to cancel and smear the hotel on several travel websites?

      I have no sympathy for you. I think what you are planning to do is awful.

      Maybe read the fine print next time you reserve something, and consider this a lesson learned.

    2. If you booked a pre-paid, non-refundable reservation, this seems pretty standard.

      1. Yeah read the terms of the booking? Unless they say you are entitled to a refund this is a you problem. And if they do say that you are entitled to a refund just contest the charge with your credit card company.

        1. +1

          You might ask if you can change the dates, and they might let you if they want to be nice, but if it’s non-refundable they don’t have to do that and you don’t really have a right to complain. It sucks to be out the money but non-refundable means what it means.

    4. If it’s actually refundable, you should be able to contest the charge with your credit card company and it’ll get fixed. Some cards even have guarantees/policies where even if it’s not refundable, if your plans change for a, b or c reasons, they’ll refund it. A lot of traveler focused cards (think no international transaction fees, etc) have policies like this.

    5. You’re going to launch a campaign of negative reviews because they aren’t refunding a non-refundable reservation? That seems unwarranted. If it is actually a refundable reservation, then you should be able to resolve it. But if it’s not, then bashing them online is a little ridiculous.

      2. Yeah … I understand that you’re frustrated, but you booked at a lower, non-refundable rate. Bashing them online probably won’t get you what you want and it’s kind of a jerk move.

      3. +1 – this is so annoying. I hate trying to sort through reviews when booking places and there are negative reviews that have nothing to do with the hotel itself. I feel like it’s pretty common knowledge that booking through third party sites means the reservation is non-refundable.

        2. That said, I sometimes enjoy reading business owners’ polite–with just a hint of side-eye–responses to Angry Commenters pointing out obvious facts that show that Angry Commenters are being irrational.

          OP, you’ll just look like a fool if you do this and the reservation really was non-refundable. Here’s my tip for you: take the time you’d have spent typing out your hate rants and go to a yoga class instead.

    6. These are real people who are trying to run a business. Businesses really, truly rely on reviews and fear bad ones. I’m sorry but you are 100% in the wrong.

      1. You are right. I am frustrated, but it was my fault. It would not be fair to retaliate against the hotel.

        1. Nicely done.

          It does sting though.

          I agree with punting to husband (see good post below).

    7. Serious question: why are you the one doing the work to get a refund? From your earlier post, the need to change plans arose because your husband now has a work conflict. Maybe he can handle the refund request–or even ask his employer to reimburse the nonrefundable amount. Or maybe his newly arisen work conflict is so important that it justifies the cost of cancelling, even with no possibility for a refund, and the amount at stake is not worth the weirdness of asking his boss to pay. Let him own this, one way or another.

  4. I think it’s time to finally start coloring my hair to cover grays (which are here and there all over rather than in a patch). I have never even gotten highlights before. Can anyone share tips on how to start? I’m looking for something I can do at home moving forward since I think that’s most realistic for my lifestyle. I have a pixie cut and dark brown hair. Thanks in advance.

    1. Do NOT do it yourself if you are a complete newbie. You need the advice and expertise of a colourist.

      1. I don’t think it’s necessary if you are just trying to color grays and are not trying to drastically change your hair color. Go to the store, get the box with the color that most closely resembles yours, with the understanding the shading may turn out slightly differently. At home hair color is pretty idiot proof these days, unless you are trying to lighten your hair drastically.

        My recommendation is to also buy the applicator brushes from Sally’s or another beauty supply store so you can mix the color in a glass container and not use the bottle, have Vaseline and cotton balls handy to wipe your hairline and smudges, cover your countertop and floors with dark towels that you don’t mind getting stained and do it n a k e d. Short hair should be a breeze if you take your time.

      2. I went from blonde to red with the stuff from the box and everyone is shocked it’s not my natural colour.

    2. When you pick the shade, get something on the lighter side rather than the darker side. Dark browns can veer toward the black side and dying slightly lighter will look more natural. Box dye is pretty easy to use and I’ve had great results, though I’m not an expert on gray coverage.

    3. meh. I’ve been graying since 25. 25! worst genes EVER. and I have dark dark brown hair.

      I say absolutely do it yourself. I ain’t got the time or money for fancy hair appointments. I’ve been doing it for 6 years now and no one has ever said crappy things to me about my box-colored hair.

      color out of a box is great. pay attention to the hair colors to closely match your hair. I started out using good ole’ Garnier Nutrisse – it has oil in the kit so it smells fine and they give you solid coverage. carefully read the directions.
      PRO TIP: apply vaseline to your skin at the hairline all the way around and on your ears. it helps with the color not getting on your skin. and as soon as your done applying color to your hair and you’ve started your timer – take a paper towel to your skin and wipe off any dye that may have gotten to you. The sooner the better.

      Go for it!

      1. +1. I’ve been coloring my hair for more than half my life, off and on, and it’s not hard. Good luck and enjoy!

    4. You can do it yourself, especially if you just want to cover the grays! So much cheaper and less time-consuming than a salon trip. You can educate yourself ahead of time — lots of color review sites, product direction brochures and youtube tutorials.

      Don’t buy a box off the shelf at the drugstore. Go to a beauty supply store. Talk to the employees there about what you are looking for. I like the Wella Color Charm line but there are other options as well. Wella color comes as liquids that are shelf-stable — I mix three together to get my color, and three bottles at $6/bottle will last me four applications. You’ll need color and developer — make sure you follow the directions as to volume and type. You’ll also want little squeeze bottles and latex gloves.

      You got this!

    5. I’ve been using the Nice and Easy Root Touch Up. The applicator is a small brush, so it “paints” on easily with no mess. I bought two kits to cover my long hair the first time. Now I can get away with one and just do the roots. The color doesn’t last as long as the permanent colors, but it was an easy entry. Now I’ve moved to permanent and enjoy that it keeps the gray covered until new hair grows in.

      Also, I was really nervous the first time I colored my hair. I thought I’d end up with a horribly wrong-for-me color. I decided to do a small test section. I gathered a small section of hair into a very low hair band, followed the package directions and just colored the bottom 1/2 inch. I figured that if it was dramatically different than what I wanted, I’d just trim it off. It worked just fine and I proceeded with the rest of my head.

      One tip that has helped me is to start around my temples – where I’m most gray- and then work around my head. This gives my most gray area more time with the coloring solution. I tend to leave the solution on longer than recommended.

  5. Do any of you use the swarm app? Is it helpful for travel (tracking places you’ve been and places on your bucket list)?

    1. I’ve never used it for reviews. I pretty much only use it to see where my friends are. I have a dedicated group of friends in a city I used to live in that use it. When I visit that city it can be nice to see that certain people are at a bar down the street, or whatever.

  6. So, I just found my perfect work bag! Problem is, it’s a Vineyard Vines tote and is definitely no professional in my large city and formal industry. However, it’s light, has many pockets, can be worn over the shoulder, and can fit a ton (laptop, shoes, books, wallet, umbrella, etc.).

    Any suggestions for a bag that meets these requirements but is professional looking? I travel around a lot for work, so a good bag with lots of capacity is essential, but everything big and open lacks pockets or is weighed down by metal trim. Thanks in advance!

    2. I was looking for a bag like this for my mom and someone suggested the Baggalini tote.

      My mom got it, loves it, and it sounds like exactly what you’re looking for. Very lightweight. She has it in the moss color and it looks quite professional.

    3. Tumi has a nylon travel tote that is amazing that I used as a purse for years. Not sure of the name, but it’s super light weight and has an outside zippered section that opens at the bottom so you can slip it over your luggage. Looks formal enough for use at work and can definitely hold a laptop plus everything else.

  7. Has anyone used Thumbtack for posting handyman jobs? How was the experience? Any other suggestions for ways to find handy(wo)men / contractors for home projects?

    Separately, if you have a patio, what material is it, and do you like it? We’re considering patio-ing over part of our lawn, but I’m stumped on picking the right material.

    1. We had a brick paver patio at our old house. It was installed by the previous owner. It was nice, but sometimes weeds would come through between the bricks. Our neighbors have a regular concrete patio and it looks good.

      1. I have brick pavers in my small city backyard and the weeds drive me nuts. I’m considering pulling them out and laying sod FWIW.

    2. Our previous home had a stamped concrete patio that was fabulous. It is definitely my preference.

    3. Patio: depends on whether you’re in an area where the earth moves on a regular basis. I am in the Bay Area so I had pavers installed. They’re beautiful. Expensive though.

    4. We used Thumbtack. It seemed to draw a lot of people who were just starting out in their chosen field. We’ve had better luck with neighbors recommendations on Next Door.

      1. This was my experience with Thumbtack as well– I have had the best luck with Angie’s List.

  8. My new-ish boss has been with the company since December. She is still getting up on her feet in the company and schedules many many meetings. She will schedule an hour meeting that ends up being 2-3 hours long. She will not review a contract of any length (in house attorneys) until we meet with her to read it aloud and go over the contract, provision by provision. We will have 2-3 meetings to go over the same subject matter. Because she is still getting up on her feet, the workload of the other 3 attorneys in the office, including myself, is very high and we are working above and beyond to keep the department afloat. I’m getting frustrated that the number and length of the meetings are impacting the department’s productivity. Has anyone dealt with a meeting loving boss? I’m beginning to think that she needs to hear information to process the content. Ideas on how to push back that do not call attention to the fact that her work style is disruptive and overly time intensive?

    1. If a meeting goes over you don’t really need to stay, do you? Do a time check and communicate that you’re busy. She won’t know unless you tell her.

      1. I don’t know where you work that just walking out on a meeting with your boss would be acceptable, but in every office I have ever worked in it would be incredible harmful to your reputation. If you have a real conflict, you can ask whether the meeting can be reconvened later or break for a few minutes so that you can cancel the other meeting.

        1. I don’t just stand up and randomly walk out, of course, that would be weird. If I have something to do, my boss understands when I say I have a hard stop because he knows that we’re responsible people capable of doing our jobs and doesn’t micromanage us. Not getting your work done would also be pretty harmful to your reputation, right? It’s totally reasonable to say that you’re busy if you actually are.

      2. Schedule meetings that are hard to cancel (like with commercial team members), right behind the schedule ending of hers so you have a real hard stop. Maybe give 15 minute leeway if necessary. Advise of the hard stop at the beginning of the meeting.

  10. Hello NYC ladies:

    I’m planning a thrift shopping / museums trip to NYC with 14 y.o. daughter. We’re fans of the Buffalo Exchange chain.

    Does anyone have any recommendations on these or other similar shops?

    Thanks in advance for your advice!

    1. Check out Beacon’s Closet and Housing Works

      I think regular NYC thrift shops (like Goodwill) are disappointing compared to those outside the city.

      1. Beacon’s Closet is great! I go every time I’m in the city, usually to the one in Greenpoint/Williamsburg. And a 14 year old who likes thrift stores would probably love to walk around in Williamsburg, especially if you try to time it so that there’s a street market going on when you’re there.

    2. There’s Pippin Home and Pippin Jewelry. Not too many clothes, but definitely worth visiting. There are a couple other thrift stores on the same street and a wonderful museum called the Rubin.

    1. When I was an 18 year old Congressional intern and forwarded a phone call from Joe Constituent (aka, a stranger) to his personal voicemail – an incredible no-no. And then I lied about it when the chief of staff asked and said it wasn’t me. Yep, well done, teen self, well done.

    2. I had to sit in on meetings between two employees that both worked outside the department I was interning for. I assumed it was a learning about different aspects of the company type of thing, but I didn’t get a lot out of the meetings, so I asked my supervisor if there was some other way I could be useful during that time. Turns out the two employees had been caught having relations during a 1-on-1 meeting a month or so before I got there and the company’s solution was to have interns sit in on all their meetings so they wouldn’t do it again.

    3. Since I could never afford the luxury of working for free as an intern, I will give my first full time work gig during the summer before college.

      Data entry. Major international company. Downtown office. I was one of dozens, sitting in front of a computer, entering numbers from stacks of the same form all day. Every day. I wanted to shoot myself in the eyeball after one day at this job. And there were people working around me who had done it for 15 years.

      So it was so boring I started falling asleep in front of my computer. So I started drinking coffee, after never drinking caffeine in my life and developed agitation and tremor. And spilled a entire cup of coffee all over my computer. I quickly wiped it up and didn’t say anything.

      Then, the letter “K” stopped working on my computer keyboard. Then I lost the number “2”. And so on.

      Went to see my boss. “There’s something wrong with my computer…”. He called IT.

      IT came down, I told them the problem, and they opened up the computer in front of me. COFFEE EVERYWHERE. He turned and looked at me. Didn’t say a word. I think I might have shed a tear, and avoided his gaze….. He whipped out another keyboard, did a few things, put it back together. Didn’t say a word.

      I didn’t get fired.

    4. The nonprofit arts organization I worked for was held up at gunpoint. And the exec director volunteered the only man in the place – an intern – to go with the gunman to extract money from his bank account since there was no money in the place. Do I win?

    5. I was never an intern but my first job was for a weird quasi-governmental agency that had an actual bell that rang at quittin’ time. It rang at 4:15. By 4:00 everyone had stopped working. By 4:05 they were putting on their sneakers. By 4:10 they were standing next to their desks. When the bell rang at 4:15 they RAN to the elevator, jostling each other for position, because if you didn’t make into the first elevator carloads in the elevator bank, you had to wait 2-3 minutes for the next round of elevators. There were physical confrontations about perceived cutting in line. I swear I am not making this up. It was my first professional job and I thought I’d wildly misunderstood how the working world was different than, say, elementary school.

    6. Being a female (unpaid) intern in college and not being permitted to wear pants. Skirts only.

      1. When I read your post, I read the first sentence only. And broke out laughing, trying to imagine. Then I continue to read….

        1. I shot a little Red Bull through my nose thinking the same thing.

          Then went on to wonder how that would play out on Corporette:

          “I need help in finding underwear that isn’t see through, doesn’t ride up, is breathable, and doesn’t cost a fortune. See, in my internship at BigLaw Place, we are not allowed to wear pants. I’m not sure if this includes boyshorts, but I figured I’d play it safe and ask for bikini and hipster recs.”

    7. Falling down the stairs on my first day in the parking garage and having an ambulance ride to the hospital when I was supposed to be having my welcome breakfast. They still hired me full-time.

    8. Getting the flu on my third day interning at the district attorneys office summer after 1l. I’m standing in chambers with 2 defendanta, 2 defense attorneys, 2 dAs the judge and a court reporter with the defendants taking a plea deal while the jury was being questioned. I realized I was going to throw up so I handed my papers to my boss speed walked out the door past 75 jurors and proceeded to throw up in a garbage can in front of the judge’d minute clerks. Then I had to take the bus home because I didn’t have a car.

  12. UGH. Our back step seemed a little tilted. My husband is very handy, so he started looking at the problem more carefully and it’s not just a back step, it’s more like ‘oh no, do we need to replace half the subfloor in our kitchen?’

    Extra annoyed because the kitchen was reno’d a couple years before we bought the house and they very clearly didn’t fix the problem but did a couple clever superficial ‘fixes’ like putting a new board over the front of a rotted out board and using spray foam to cover a 6 inch gap, then carefully putting the siding back on and painting over the whole thing so it wasn’t picked up in our inspection.

    Very thankful we have the means to take care of it, but super annoyed that the $ I had earmarked to (hopefully) finish paying off our student loans will likely go to this mess instead.

    1. Ugh! That sucks. We own a 68 year old house and one day everything seems fine and the next we want to strangle the previous owners for how they defined “repairs”.

  13. I’ve just started swimming because it’s pretty much the only exercise I can do right now. It’s so boring. I’d like to find waterproof ear buds to listen to music/books on tape. Anyone have any suggestions of what works well?

    The amazon reviews are kind of mixed. Some reviews say that no waterproof ear buds work well because Bluetooth doesn’t travel well through water. Is this the case even if swimming and not diving? Or do I need wired headphones with some type of waterless mp3 player?

    Thanks in advance!

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