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Updated: Dec 5, 2018 81 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: Boden

Suit of the Week

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velvet suit for work For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. Hooray for velvet suits — and for sitewide 30% off sales! The longline blazer looks like a fantastic option if you're on the hunt for a festive topper for work-related events, but I also like the whole set together as a suit. (Just keep your lint roller handy!) Both pieces are available in five colors, including a kind of crazy but cool navy/gold print. The blazer is available in petite and regular sizes 2-16 for $190-$198 (depending on color). The pants are also available in long sizes, as well as petite and regular, and go up to size 18; those are $120-$130. Note that the entire suit comes down an additional 30% off today with the sitewide sale Boden is having! Woo! 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!

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Comments

  1. emeralds

    What are your best Outlook tips and hacks? I just started with a new organization that uses Outlook. All of my other jobs have used Gmail, and I’m really struggling with the transition. I’ve been fine-tuning my Gmail organizational scheme my whole professional life, and I know exactly how to use it to stay organized and productive (extensive folders, searching by tags, color-coding everything, using my inbox as a to-do list…) and am not having the easiest time getting my head wrapped around how to set myself up for success in Outlook.

    Most of my org’s training materials are very 101-level, like “here’s how to send an email” and “here’s how to set up your signature.” Any tips or useful resources?

    • cat socks

      You can still do extensive folders in Outlook. I like to move emails that require my action to a “Follow Up” folder. I also have a “Waiting for Response” folder so I don’t forget to check back with someone where I need a response.

      I will have a single folder for a specific project and then multiple sub-folders to keep track of specific items.

      In my version of Outlook you can right-click on a message and pick color coded categories. You can also right-click and flag emails for follow up.

      I use the “Find Related” option a lot to search for all emails with the same subject line.

      • Anonymous

        I also have been loving the function “Click the Flag to Create a To Do” because it lets you give timelines on follow up. So if I receive an email — more so if I send an email to a client — then I can mark it as a to do. Then I’ll look through the “Tasks” and see what’s outstanding.

        Also the satisfaction of them turning into checked-off done items :)

      • Anon

        Similar to this I have “to do” and “done” folders (specifically, aato do and adone so they are my top folders) so I can keep track of requests and have a record of completed work.

        I also have a travel folder that I specifically tell my smart phone to keep updated because it has all my reservations and my receipts for doing my expense report.

        I like the calendar functions where I can see my own calendar, my direct reports’ calendars, and a department calendar that consolidates our calendars.

        I don’t use the reminders and the built in to do lists.

        I do use auto sig, auto forward, and out of office.

    • JTM

      You can do conversational threaded emails, to keep all related replies together – for me that’s a lifesaver with so much information going back & forth.

    • Anon

      The FindTime add-in is awesome! It makes setting up meetings so much easier.

  2. Winter Jacket/Coat Thoughts?

    After 10 years of wear, my favorite LL bean primaloft coat needs to be retired. I’m on the hunt for a replacement. Questions for the hive: 1) do you find with down coats that the down ends up poking through sooner or later? Is it as easy to care for a down coat as for primaloft? 2) current favorites for winter coats? I’m not concerned with formality, more warmth/functionality/price.

    • Betsy

      My Lands End down jacket hasn’t had any significant problems with feathers sticking through, no. I see a few after I wash it sometimes, but that’s it. It’s easy to wash, I just throw it in the wash on cool and dry on medium with dryer balls.

      • Anon

        Ha, I was going to say basically the same thing. It’s so clearly a typo and you can so clearly understand what was meant. If that’s the only thing driving you crazy in your life, you must be really lucky!

        • Anonymama

          Hah, I always feel like the crazier that other things are in my life, the more little, easily fixable things like this bother me… like, North Korea has nuclear weapons, a friend has cancer, and the washing machine is hopelessly broken, but the least you could do is proofread the darn post! Completely irrational, yes, but understandable.

  4. In-House in Houston

    If anyone is looking to buy fine jewelry for themselves or as a gift this holiday season, I would recommend Blue Nile and they have really nice pieces. I just ordered my sister some diamond earrings for $250, free FedEx shipping and their returns have been extended for the holidays. They have something in every price range. I had my eye on the same pair of earrings last week that were listed for $295, but today they have $50 off, and the discount only goes as the price of the item goes up. I’m even thinking about getting myself these Petite Diamond Floral Stud Earring for $375.

    https://www.bluenile.com/flower-diamond-earrings-14k-white-gold_69024?elem=title&track=product

    • pugsnbourbon

      My engagement ring is from Blue Nile. Nine years of daily wear later and I’ve never had a problem with it (and I am hard on my stuff). We liked their policies around sustainability and ethically-sourced stones (as ethical as you can get, I guess).

  5. anonimi

    Reposting from the morning thread since I got to it late – I’m looking for a real estate attorney to take care of a simple matter – setting up a broker of record for a company. I would appreciate any recommendations or ideas on how to search! I’ve looked at the Chicago Bar Association search function but not sure where else to search (looking from out of state). TIA!

  6. Anon

    In need of winter moisturizers! What are your recs for:

    – daytime moisturizer with SPF (normal skin that gets a bit dry in the winter)

    – nighttime eye cream (horrified to look in the mirror after rubbing my eyes this weekend and see that the skin had NOT moved back to where it belonged and was all bunched up – ack!!)

    Thanks!

    • Equestrian Attorney

      So this may be too expensive and more than you need, but last year my skin was literally peeling off my face no matter what I did. My skin was so dry makeup wouldn’t stay on, it was a disaster. A salesperson recommended Lierac Hydragenist – I had never heard of it, but that stuff was awesome and completely saved the day within two weeks of daily usage. I didn’t buy it this summer because my skin was fine and it’s honestly more than I care to spend on moisturizer but I might buy it again this winter. It also smells really good.

    • Never too many shoes...

      It is insanely expensive but lasts a long time – Darphin Stimulskin Plis Divine Eye Cream. And it does the business.

    • Vicky Austin

      Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue in the daytime (with a nice hydrating moisturizer at night) and Olay eye cream anytime have always been winners for me (and I have abused my undereye skin pretty thoroughly and the Olay really has made a difference).

    • K

      I use the CeraVe AM moisturizer. Can get it most everywhere for like $12.
      Last winter I used Drunk Elephant LaLa Retro Cream and really liked it – its like $60 but my skin didn’t get as dry as it usually does in the winter. It doesn’t have SPF but you could layer it with one.

      • Owl Lover

        Cereve is fantastic. Highly recommend. I also have been using It Cosmetics Confidence in a cream. I really like it. But, i pull out my overnight cereve when i get a crusty patchy.

    • NOLA

      It’s not exactly what you’re looking for, but I got a bottle of Silk Therapeutics, I think the daily hydration, for free in a gift bag, and it’s amazing. Really light and not oily at all. I don’t think I would ever spend that much on moisturizer, but it’s great stuff and it doesn’t bother my skin or my eyes (both very sensitive). I just might be tempted to buy more when this runs out.

    • Anonymous

      iS Clinical eye cream. or D.E.J. Revision eye cream. You can get both on Amazon.

    • My dad

      FWIW, my facialist says moisturizer and SPF should be separate products (and I don’t buy either from her, so she doesn’t have any skin in the game – NPI). I use First Aid Beauty Intense Repair Cream as my moisturizer and Clinique Pep Start tinted SPF (universal tint – they say better than bare on all skin tones but YMMV) or Drunk Elephant as my SPF.

      If your skin is sticking where you rubbed your eyes, you may be dehydrated.

  7. Hong Kong help

    Reposting from yesterday – traveling to Hong Kong for business in January and seeking advice on level of formality in dress. I’m in biglaw, but my office is business casual. Trying to figure out if this is a suits-type situation or if smart business casual will get the job done.

    I’m a partner, and I’ll be doing a combination of in-office work and client development, although lunches/dinners are more likely than formal pitches. We don’t have an office in HK (I’ll be borrowing space from a partner firm), so I don’t have anyone to ask.

    • BB

      Hong Kong is usually pretty formal, especially in banking and law. I would probably take a full suit and a set of suiting separates with you.

    • Rainbow Hair

      I agree with BB. In my experience, it’s not the type of place where someone would balk at you being in a suit (unlike, for example, how I imagine a hip startup in Seattle would respond…)

  8. Everlane for Everyone?

    My coworker always looks clean, crisp, and put together. Nearly everything she wears is from Everlane- she said she just buys 1 or 2 new pieces each year and has a very small wardrobe overall but everything goes coordinates. I’d love to emulate this, but Everlane never seems to work for my body type. I’m a pear and she’s fairly straight and narrow, so things that look neat and fitted or intentionally drapey on her look va-va-voom or messily slouchy on me. Are there great Everlane pieces for pears that I’m just missing, or is there a store with a similar vibe that would have more flattering cuts?

    • Anon

      I don’t think you’re going to find anything at Everlane. Their clothes are all cut a certain way, and it’s a way that’s not flattering on most people. It’s a real bummer.

      • HighLite

        Agree. I love their fabrics, quality, and aesthetic and have a few pieces from there, but nothing fits me especially well. Semi- Athletic hourglass figure with not-slim arms. Their sleeves run too short, and something about the body is off, so I am limited to sleeveless shells from there as far as I can tell.

        Maybe Tahari?

    • Fadedsunrise

      I’d consider myself a ruler that leans pear when you account for my thighs. I have Everlane’s trench coat, which I wear at least twice a week ever since it hit late October. I find the belt works pretty well to cinch things and the shape is not too oversized. I haven’t tried cleaning it yet, but I have high hopes.

      Otherwise, I have 3 tshirts, which are kind of thin but a flattering cut. Also have two silk shirts, which lean oversized. I think I got an 8 for one and a 10 for the other, and I like how both of them fall. I’m just possibly too tall for them to look intentionally drapey, since the shirts probably need more fabric on the bottom to look flowy. They do work for regular office wear IMO.

      I’ve been freezing my butt off more easily since losing weight and am debating one of their cashmere sweaters to add to my winter wardrobe. Overall, everything has been good quality, but maybe pricier than what you can find for similar if you hunt sales.

    • SillyValley

      Off the top of my head: Madewell, Cuyana, Tradlands? Or instead of trying to get it all from one brand, use the Everlane items as a starting point, and look for a similar item in the brands you’ve had success with in the past.

      As a fellow curvy pear, it’s hard to make items give the same vibe as they can on the type of figure that Everlane works best for – plain can look dowdy and ironically unfitted just looks ill fitting.

  9. anon

    I feel like last year, people were posting about weather stations their husbands loved for Xmas. I’d like to buy one for my DH – ideally around $100 or less, and vintage-y/cabin-y looking (we own a mountain house). I’ve looked on Etsy but they’re either kinda small/weird looking or really involved (think carved into a tree trunk) and really expensive. Any recs???

  10. Under Eyes

    I need a new and amazing under-eye concealer. Since middle school, because one of my circles is way darker than the other, I’ve been using concealer to even out the coloring — mainly using powder, to avoid buildup of a creamier concealer in the creases. However, I’m now in my mid-30s, and my skin is gaining wrinkles/losing elasticity. As a result, the powder is caking and making me look even older and wrinklier than I am. I think I am long overdue for a change. What do you recommend? (If it matters, I am pale with very yellow undertones.) Thanks!

    • Greensleeves

      I like Clinique Airbrush concealer. I have not had any trouble with it looking obvious under my eyes or collecting in creases. I am also pale and they have both a “fair” and a “neutral fair” color, both of which are pretty light.

    • NOLA

      I’m also very pale and recently discovered Tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer. I know that someone else here said that it settled into fine lines, but I have not had that problem. My skin is fairly normal (not oily or dry) but very sensitive and sensitive eyes. I felt like I was looking SO TIRED and now I look a lot less so.

    • Fadedsunrise

      I used the Mac Longwear concealer in a more orange-ish shade compared to my skintone (I forget which I am as I have no other MAC products) for concealing dark under eye circles. I bruised my forehead pretty badly while working out one year and it was draining into my sinuses as horrendous circles, so I went into a MAC and asked if they had anything to conceal it during the day time to detract from crazy concerned comments.

      Whatever color it is they gave me looked so natural I wore it on the weekends alone with setting powder, as well as on the weekdays with other makeup. One bottle also lasts forever.

    • Miss

      I’ve had dark under eye circles my entire life and am very fair. The best concealer is Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin. It’s expensive but extremely pigmented so a tiny tiny bit covers everything. It looks very natural and, as long as you don’t layer too much, doesn’t get in wrinkles. It comes in a wide variety of colors with different undertones.

    • Betsy

      I really like The Ordinary’s caffeine eye serum. You have to use it consistently, but it really makes a difference with my under eye circles. Might be worth a try to take some of the heavy lifting off the concealer!

      • Owl Lover

        +1 I set my byebye undereye with a translucent powder. I use maybelines, but you could use anything. This stops the settling into the lines.

  11. need practical advice

    I just learned that the worst person I have ever worked with at my old company has just been hired at my new company. I have been here less than two weeks. Obviously, once it becomes public (I just learned through someone at my old office texting me, so it’s not wide knowledge yet) people here will be asking me about her. What are some things I can say that don’t make it completely obvious I cannot stand her? I already tried and failed to sound noncommittal when my new boss asked me point blank, because I was completely in shock (he pressed me and I tried to say that she’s been doing what she does for a long time but it was obvious I was being cagey).

    Also I just cried at work because part of why I left was how awful she was to work with (obviously not the only factor, but I was so joyous about not having to be around her anymore). This just feels so hard for me right now.

    • Vicky Austin

      Oh my goodness, hugs. I’m sorry. I too have a couple former coworkers I am nervous about cropping up again. Take good care of yourself and stay hopeful. Maybe a new culture will mean she subsides into (grudging?) agreeableness.

    • Anonymous

      How was she awful? There are lots of ways to “compliment” that will let folks know…for example: extremely detail oriented = pettifogger

      • anon

        (1) I am so sorry! I cannot imagine having to work with a certain handful of people again. Hopefully the culture will help you win out. Hugs in the meantime.
        (2) Yes, this–tell us how she was terrible and we can help you come up with phrases that “sugar coat” in a “subtle” way.

    • Ellen

      Hugs. Why is it that loosers tend to follow us, like albatrosses, wherever we go. It is bad enough when we cannot shake a bad boyfriend, who insists on clinging to us, just b/c we made the mistake of letting them do s-xueal stuff a few times, but the work looser is the WURST! I know a woman who worked with a looser in the Federal Trade Office in DC, and then that looser seemingly followed her to a law firm, also in DC, and she could NOT shake him as both of them wound up working for a large company (Fortune 500) based in Bethesda. She is still there, but he got fired. He was NOT purusing her s-xueally either. That would be a complete FOOEY!

    • Anonymous

      I think you just say something vague and generic that could be perceived as complimentary … such as what you did say about how she’s being doing what she does for a long time. You sound gracious/professional AND people reading between the lines that she’s problematic is actually a feature not a bug :). Unless they won’t leave you alone about it, in which case you just HAVE to keep dodging the question/change the subject. (They will know soon enough but don’t be the messenger.)

      Can you think of one nice thing to say about her? Does she have any good quality you can comment on and not mention her drawbacks — such as she’s an expert in a software program (but terrible with people), she’s really great with clients (but not colleagues), she always has something interesting to say in meetings (though unactionable), etc. Just put that one nice thing out there, and decline to say anything else beside the kind of vague/generic things you’ve already said. Definitely decline to say anything that’s actually critical (leave out the information in the parenthesis above, for example). But you shouldn’t give much praise either as it could look like you endorsed her/have questionable judgement yourself when she inevitably does a poor job. Is this “damning with faint praise,” IDK? You can identify a strength, and let your current colleagues figure out that everything else is a weakness … truthfully, they may read through the lines here (especially your boss who is already suspicious), but since you don’t actually say anything bad about her, you are professional/diplomatic and they get the hint (or don’t, or maybe figure it out later).

      Maybe others will think there’s some value in being more honest? I don’t know but not saying much seems to be the safest strategy.

    • anon associate

      Ugh, I’m so sorry. I once had a terrible supervisor who made my life absolute h3ll… I’m in law, and apparently in our community it is a big no-no to ever criticize another person no matter how awful they are until they are very comfortable with you and trust you. (Working on a case that used to be handled by another attorney.. apparently “he’s disorganized and not trained in this area” actually means “unmitigated disaster bordering on malpractice.” Other partners in my firm have used phrases like “it’s not where it needs to be” to describe briefs written by other associates that are utterly unusable, or “it’s just not getting done, can you help?” to mean “this should have been done 2 months ago and I’m livid.”) What’s been most telling for me is the absence of praise. People are quick to heap praise on, so when they don’t something is up.

      “She has very high standards” = nothing will ever be good enough and uses all subordinates as scapegoats
      “She’s intense” = flies into rages and has no emotional regulation
      “Her management style can be a challenge” or “takes some getting used to” = has remarkably poor people skills and is downright malicious, gave me chronic migraines and drove me to therapy, and didn’t even get good results for the client
      “She’s an expert at [niche area]” = and that’s why he’s allowed to behave like an absolute jerk
      “Likes a fast turn around time” = completely unrealistic expectations and unable to manage deadlines
      “She’s incredibly productive and devotes a lot of time to her work, and expects the same” = we work all the time and I haven’t seen my family or friends or the inside of a gym in months
      “She asks a lot from her employees” = completely unrealistic expectations and will dominate all of your time
      “She’s strict” = step a toe out of line and it’s over
      “She doesn’t mince words” = cruel and takes pleasure in berating other people.

      I think these are pretty generous. How far you want to take it depends on how much you trust your boss.

    • OP

      Thanks so much for the responses. I was just in such shock. The email from our big boss announcing her hire came about 20 minutes after I found out and I had to field from two people on the way out which I tried to handle as graciously as I could.

      She was widely disliked in our company for being disagreeable and a bit mean, working very limited hours, turning down work she just didn’t want to do, and somehow “falling up” – losing multiple positions at our company but always finding another one. Part of it was a higher up at our company had her back and always found her a place to land. That person retired (which is why Bad Employee was looking to leave, I am sure). So at least I’m relieved the dynamics will be different here.

      Our big boss texted me and my boss called me because they could tell I was shocked by the news, but they didn’t press and I tried to be diplomatic. If they really wanted my opinion they probably would have asked it while deciding whether to hire her. I wish that this had happened even a month or two later. Pretty hard when I’ve worked here for seven days. Not a lot of social capital.

  12. Anonymous

    I’m in my mid-30s and am seriously considering whether I have undiagnosed ADHD. I fidget constantly with my hands, thrive in jobs and environments of chaos/adrenaline/tight deadlines, get extremely bored (and distracted) at my lawyer desk job, am calmed by endurance exercise, struggle with long-term projects, finances are a mess, I focus best when I have lots of stimuli around me (I do my best work at Starbucks), and could be described as an “underperformer”. Is any of this familiar to those of you with ADHD? How do you go about getting a diagnosis? Is it as simple as going to a GP? I’m concerned that I’ll be blown off and my instincts dismissed. I am going to call my insurance company after work today, but I’d appreciate hearing how others went about the process. I live in a big city in the Midwest with several medical centers.

    • K

      Yeah, you can just talk about it with your GP or therapist. If they think you probably have it, they can test you. I discussed it with my therapist but she said the test is really long, and I manage well enough that I probably wouldn’t need medication anyway.

    • Moi Aussi

      Hello, are you me?

      I had trouble getting any kind of a response from my GP about it. I was referred to neurologists/behavioral therapist centers that do the tests. Not all of them are covered by insurance so it’s good that you are calling the insurance to ask about this.

    • Anon

      My husband was diagnosed in his 40s. Recommend finding a psychiatrist who specializes in adult ADHD. Psychology today has helpful directories.

      • Anon

        FWIW, he has been helped tremendously by the diagnosis and meds – I think it’s 100% worth paying out of pocket if you need to should you suspect you have it.

    • LAnon

      Yes, this is all very familiar, with the only exception being that I cannot concentrate in places like Starbucks because I get distracted by every noise and person.

      Start with your PCP, and explain not only that you suspect you might have ADHD but also how it’s affecting you and what you’re hoping to accomplish by getting a diagnosis – that could range from “it would just help me mentally to know this affects me so I can implement coping mechanisms” to “I’m really struggling to hold my life together and would like to consider medication if appropriate.”

      I was diagnosed at 31 and it has been close to life-changing, mostly in that I was previously caught in a cycle of inwardly focused anger, leading to depression – I spent a lot of time being incredibly, viciously angry with myself for what felt like lazy self-sabotage. Getting a diagnosis and recognizing that I need to be gentler with myself has helped tremendously, as has medication. Good luck!

  13. Coat Drive

    My office is doing a coat drive, and I have a bit of money set aside for just this sort of thing, so I’d like to get several. Can anyone suggest where I’d order them online? My ranked criteria are:
    A) look like a “normal” coat, so the kids aren’t embarrassed to wear something from charity to school every day.
    B) reasonable durabilty, since I know they’ll become hand-me-downs if they last long enough.
    C) low-ish cost, so the money I put in goes further.
    I don’t have kids, so I don’t know a thing about this. Help me out?

    • Senior Attorney

      I would consider going to Target or similar and asking the manager what they can do to help you buy some coats for kids. I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave you a nice discount.

      • OP

        All we have within 50 miles is Walmart :(. I’ve broken before my boycott when I’m trying to make donation money go as far as possible, but I have serious doubts about the quality of their coats.

        • SW

          Are there any local sporting goods stores or kids’ clothing stores? I’m in a small-ish town with similarly limited options, and my local places would be more inclined than Walmart to throw in a couple of coats for free.

    • Anonymous

      Children’s Place has a big sale right now. I liked 3in1 Coats when my kid was younger (it doesn’t get very cold where I live). Also Lands End runs regular sales. Columbia stuff is great but may be more than you want per coat.

    • Ms B

      Many good kids’ options are on the s*te of the river today for $30 or less. Search “boys winter coats” or “girls winter coats” and sort by price. Plus 4% cash back through eBates!

      The Kid’s last two coats came from there (Rothschild brand) for $10 each, including hats. No complaints for styling or performance!

    • NOLA

      Old Navy has some that don’t look bad and they’re on sale. Obviously not great quality, but probably good enough to get a child through a season before they grown out of it. They have puffer jackets and 3-in-1 snow jackets and hooded parkas.

    • Anom

      Your money will go farthest if you donate to the organization organizing the drive.

  14. Rainbow Hair

    Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I want to get something nice for my kid’s daycare teachers. They’ve been having to hustle extra hard lately, and I’d love to just communicate my/our appreciation. For silly reasons, giving money doesn’t make sense right now (though fear not, they’ll get money for xmas in a few weeks!) … Bring in breakfast? A stack of $5 sbux cards?

    • anon

      I’d bring breakfast if the same shift works all day (my niece goes to a daycare with a morning and an afternoon shift). If it’s two shifts bring sbux cards for all. Also, how nice of you to do right before you turn around and do end of year gifts.

      • Rainbow Hair

        Yeah, it’s the same staff all day, which is part of why I want to do something nice… they are stretched thin.

    • Owl Lover

      I like the breakfast idea. I would hope you could do something besides donuts. Maybe bagels with cream cheese. Also, if I was the staff, I would really appropriate it if you told me the night before, that way I didn’t eat a big breakfast or bring stuff in.

      My old boss used to bring me treats ALL the time. And I would be sitting at my desk eating a healthy breakfast I brought in, and SURPRISE giant donut, or cinnamon roll, or pumpkin roll. I loved the treats, but….. I didn’t need two breakfasts, let alone one covered in sugar.

      Hashtag ungrateful secretary.

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