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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 77 Comments · by

Coffee Break: Cassina Pointy Toe Pump

Coffee Break |

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Vince Camuto Cassina Pointy Toe PumpYes, these iridescent pumps are a bit wild for work — but I would still wear them for casual days and have fun with them. THAT SAID: they also come in a fun beige texture (faux snakeskin?) and a black patent. I like the 3″ heel, the classic pointy toe, and the sale: the pump was $97, but is now on sale for $59. Vince Camuto Cassina Pointy Toe Pump

Sales of note for 9.30.24

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Comments

  1. YouSaucyMinx

    I’m usually uber conservative when it comes to work shoes, but I think these would be really great with a black dress or a very neutral outfit for just a little punch. They’re not too crazy, and the not-too-high keeps it from entering night out attire.

  3. Senior Attorney

    These are awesome. Just ordered them in the iridescent purple and the beige snakeskin, which I am hoping will be the same color in real life as it is in the photo, to match my pinky-beige skin.

  4. Anonymous

    Me first! ME FIRST :)

    I heart the shoes.

    And here’s a threadjack on which the search function is relatively silent. Does anyone have advice on handling a friend who is clearly a narcissist but going through a tough time? I don’t want to be so insensitive as to “unfriend” them during a crisis but I’m tired of the drama and public scenes. While I do want to support them, I always wind up feeling like I’m just being used.

    • Wildkitten

      You have to set your boundaries and hold them. Support them like you would any friend, but when they overstep the boundaries (drama in public) you draw a line. It’s the same as you’d do for any friend, your non-psychopath friends just already follow the boundary rules automatically.

    • Bee

      Schedule short outings with friend that are likely to avoid triggers. Does alcohol make it worse? Go out to lunch instead of happy hour. Is she not good with crowds? Pick up a movie and stay in. Also reach out to her other friends to support her during the crisis. You shouldn’t be her only shoulder to cry on, and there’s nothing wrong with calling in reinforcements.

  6. Singapore legal/compliance market

    Any thoughts on the legal and compliance market in Singapore? Currently in big law doing IP and litigation work as a mid level and am particularly interested in the in-house route as well as doing compliance work in the finance industry in Singapore.

    Any thoughts or recs would be greatly appreciated.

    • Singapore legal/compliance market

      Should add that I am currently in the US and looking to make a long term move to Singapore.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      Have you been to Singapore recently? Like really recently? My husband lived there for most of the nineties and loved it. We have been back twice in the last 7 years or so and both times the place was sooooo different. It is quickly becoming an insanely rich place to live/work. I have heard it referred to as the new Dubai. The population is expanding out of control. There are at least three times the people living there now that there were when he was there. The most recent visit I was so claustrophobic in the subways at rush hour.

      Also, I had an opportunity to socialize w/ some business folk. Maybe it was just the people I was with but it was just one-upping the guy entertaining at a nearby table. Our host wanted to buy us the best alcohol at the best table. It was all consumption and labels to show worth. Hard to describe without being there but it was very ostentatious “look how rich I am.” Maybe our host was just a jerk but I got the impression that it was fairly common.

      I have no insight into the markets over there but just thought you might want to spend some time there and check out the business environment before committing.

      • Singapore legal/compliance market

        Thanks, Blonde lawyer. Yes, am aware of and familiar with those aspects that you mentioned.

        • Blonde Lawyer

          Since you aren’t getting many replies, I figured I’d try to give you a little more of my limited knowledge. Singapore is a huge shipping port. I’d research US companies that ship through Singapore. Also, the entertainment industry has entire departments that work on making Singapore compliant product. You likely already know this but most movies/music/books/magazines have to be PG-13 essentially. Rather than just bleep out the bad words lots of shows/movies film separate bits to go into the Singapore compliant versions. My husband’s favorite thing to do when he first got back to the states was watch all the movies he saw released there to see how they differed from the U.S. release. I’m not sure how much that is legal/compliance but there is likely some kind of niche there. I’ve heard that Freemantle (producer of American Idol, etc) is expanding their Singapore office. I don’t know if that includes legal or not. If you find an opening there you are interested in, I have a connection in production (US based for now but potentially moving there in time). Hope that helps!

    • Anon for this

      Sorry accidentally hit report instead of reply!
      I don’t know if it’s too late for you to see this but I’m from Singapore and have a few friends in the legal industry. My impression is that in general, it’s hard for foreign lawyers to find jobs in Singapore right now. The market is tight enough for locally qualified lawyers. The country also anticipates an over supply of local lawyers in the near future. I do know a few foreign lawyers though and they’ve all ended up here by being transferred by their firm from abroad. Can’t speak to the specific sectors you’re interested in but as you know, Singapore is a finance hub so I think there’ll be a fair amount of compliance roles available. As the government is clamping down on hiring of foreigners and giving job priority to local citizens, the bigger issue is whether a firm would be willing to sponsor your work visa if you need one.

      My advice would be to ask the same question on the Singapore expat forum and try to speak to some local recruiters to get better insight. Good luck!

    • Anon

      I don’t mean to be a downer but the legal market in Singapore is saturated with both local and foreign lawyers flooding in from everywhere. You might also want to take note of the fact that there are plenty of local lawyers who are both qualified and willing to go in-house, and will likely accept salaries lower than yours. Right now, the foreign candidates that the firms are looking at, at least, might be qualified in and have experience in multiple jurisdictions. I think a recruiter is your best bet to see what kind of demand there is for your skillset.

      Lifestyle-wise – is it really the new Dubai? It depends. Yes, it is overcrowded and there are lots of foreigners and Singaporeans are not the most friendly of people (at least at the beginning), but I wouldn’t consider it insanely rich or expensive. All depends on where, and the people you choose to hang out with. Live like a local and it could be incredibly affordable.

  7. Working with a grump

    My office has a staff member that is always in an awful mood. She loudly sighs throughout the day. People in offices on the second floor can hear her moans and groans. She works in a first floor cube near the stairwell. If you call her with a question her response is an annoyed “yeah?” or “what?” Not “hey person who gives me work, what can I help you with?” We don’t expect everyone to be sunshine and rainbows all of the time but HR has received several complaints about her attitude. Other staff members are getting overworked because no one wants to deal with tudey-McFerguson.

    I’m in a position where HR welcomes my input into how it should handle things. It is a bit of a collaborative approach around these parts. Leaving aside any potential legal protections/accommodations if the employee in question has disabling depression, I’m not 100% sure how I feel about how we should respond. I try to ask myself, how would I react to a male employee acting the same way?

    I think the direction should be “look, you don’t have to be smiling all the time. You don’t have to be everyone’s friend and you don’t have to love your work. BUT, you have to stop acting put out and annoyed anytime someone asks you to do anything. If you can’t manage your work load, you need to ask for help. (My inside info says this is not the problem anyway).

    She is also in a position where clients can see her and the head boss really only wants warm and welcoming staff in those zones. Warm and welcoming, however, tends to translate to “smiling and friendly/chatty.” I guess I’m okay with them saying “you need a client game face” when clients are around.

    Anyone deal with this issue before? I hate the concept that one needs to appear “happy” to be successful at work but it is really difficult working with someone who always appears miserable and I can get why she is getting complaints. What is the fair way to approach this?

    • k-padi

      In this situation, it is better to be direct than polite. Tell her what you and others have observed and ask her to improve in small, actionable ways to start.

      A few impressions: first, she might not be aware that she is moaning or sighing. I am going me of those people and until someoneentions it, I don’t know that I am doing it. But once I know, I become more self aware and can silence myself. Second, she might need training on how to conduct professional small talk. Teach her to use formal greetings like “good morning” and “how can I help you?” It seems obvious but this isn’t taught in schools. Third, instead of outright threatening her job, ask if she is happy working there. Let her reflect on how her actions are being interpreted by others.

    • nutella

      Not sure you’ve investigated this, but is it possible that some people she works with are being mean girl/bully to her? Is this behavior new?

    • MJ

      This describes a fair portion of the support staff at the firms I have worked with. (That’s not a dig on support staff in general, but rather that some places will permit this sort of behavior.) One firm I worked at had all support staff go through Customer Service Orientation training, which was basically a euphemism for “Hot to be Polite and Act Like a Team Player in an Office Environment.” Having a good attitude is important in nearly every workplace. To that end, I would approach HR and frame it in the client-facing/customer-service orientation framework and say that her attitude is not working for internal or external constituencies, and that it’s having significant knock-on effects for the rest of the office [and describe].

      Unless you manage this woman, do not let it be known you had any part in reporting her. Then wait. Behavior either improves or doesn’t. Then you address where you are at that time.

  8. ultranon

    A few weeks ago, I complained here about my SO who took a similar job and title to mine, with significantly less experience, but was offered 50% more than I make.

    Yesterday I had lunch with a gossip-y coworker who, again, has a similar job and title to me. Again, he makes 50% more than me, despite working fewer hours and having less responsibility.

    I know it’s all just anecdotal, but I feel like screaming at men in my male-dominated industry. It seems like it’s time to ask for a raise. Do you guys have stories of when you’ve asked for more comp? Obviously “he makes more than me” is not the strategy here. And can I go about asking for a big pay jump? 10% seems normal, but I feel like I deserve 50% more. Sigh.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      You could go with the vague “I did some market research” but that will come back to bite you if they want to see it.

    • le sigh

      I’m underpaid by an average of 40% (and as much as 150%, from recent hiring ranges in job listings) in my field. Part of it is gender, the other part is, I don’t know. I asked for a raise and got a pittance–was hoping for maybe 20%, got 7%.

    • Ellen

      Hug’s b/c it is a male dominated industry still, and even tho we are VERY profesional, we still get underpaid. I for instance, am billeing out at $795 / hour and the manageing partner is hopeing I can get to average over 120 hour’s a week, meaning that if I work 50 week’s (not counteing PRO BONO), I will generate $4.77 million dollars of billeings over a year, and assuming all is paid, I make onley about 1/10 of that, with the rest goeing to the manageing partner and other’s in the firm who do alot less then me. How is that fair? Especialy Mason, who is not even admitted in NY and has sex with the secretary? FOOEY! But this is the price we pay for being in the workforce. DOUBEL FOOEY b/c I would perfer to be MARRIED and let my husband do all the work so I can sit home and watch TV and excercise so that I could have a TUCHUS just like Rosa! YAY!!!

    • Wildkitten

      I think you should get a new job. 50% is a big raise for your current office, but you have nothing to lose with a new job offer.

      • Yes

        At least put feelers out and find out if you, as a new hire, would make >= 50% more somewhere else.

  9. Ferragamo Vara

    While we’re on the subject of shoes…

    I posted about Varas a week or so ago and have since done some more research and purchased a pair. Part of what I learned was that there are many different options:

    – leather shoe or patent shoe
    – grosgrain fabric bow ($450) or patent bow ($475)
    – gold or silver buckle on pairs with patent bow/brass buckle on pairs with fabric bow
    – patent bow has patent heels/fabric bow has stacked heels

    And then there is the whole “customize your own” on the Ferragamo website.

    I ended up purchasing at the Ferragamo store near me because even though many websites (and brick & mortar stores) offer them, none of the websites seemed to have their act together on all the details of the shoes they were offering. Some called the patent bows “Vara 1” and the fabric bows “Vara.” (Although Harrods also has “Vara C,” which I don’t get but it doesn’t matter because I am in the US.), but then showed a photo of the wrong pair. Honestly, the idea of the back and forth with Amazon or NM or Saks or whoever over which exact combo I wanted seemed overwhelming, so I took the easy way out.

    Also, I tried on many different sizes and widths and learned that in the patent shoe/fabric bow, I take a 7B. But then I tried on a patent shoe/patent bow in a 7B and it was way too big. The sales associate gave me some song and dance about the last changing between seasons, but that seemed wrong for a shoe that has been made since 1978.

    Does anyone have any insight?

    I will say, I like them and am happy about my purchase (and about the prospect of not having to go shoe shopping for every day office shoes for several years — not my favorite activity).

    Thanks.

    • locomotive

      I think the patent is less flexible and doesn’t stretch out as much with time, so they make it bigger to begin with. I have the vara in both the fabric and patent and honestly I prefer the fabric (in terms of a classic style) but also because the patent is more difficult on my feet – I tend to feel squeezed in the toe areas by the end of the day no matter what. I love the varas with the fabric bow and wear them as my go-to pumps (I also just don’t put up with higher heels these days…)

      • anon prof

        My patent bow ones are definitely looser than my fabric bow ones, almost a half-size worth.

  10. workplace_rant

    I am feeling very depressed at work. I am looking for a different job and I have given/giving interviews. I just don’t fit into this team culture and I always feel I am walking on egg shells. I have interviewed for a job which I think I will like a lot and waiting for the result. The wait feels long and frustrating. I am convincing myself that I could be gone from this team in as less as three weeks and just take every day as it comes and not take anything seriously. I am almost in tears today.

    Also, I am trying to find a job in a different city which is around 3 hour drive from current work place. Hence I have to take a day off for the interview. I have taken weekly one day off from last two weeks and I will have to take a day off this week as well. How will you handle the questions that come your way when you take off during the middle of the week like every week for 4 – 5 weeks.

    • Senior Attorney

      “I have some personal stuff going on and I’d really rather not discuss it.”

    • Anonymous

      I usually just say I have an appointment out of the office. I don’t lie and say “doctor’s appointment” but “appointment” is vague enough to suggest it might be medical and people usually don’t pry about that stuff. If anyone inquires further, just say you’d prefer not to discuss it.

  11. Vicarious sweater shopping needed!

    I’m looking for a gray and a camel drapey, casual sweater (one of each). Ideally, warm but not itchy or ultra bulky, as I’m on the short side. Other requirements–not a true crew neck because I need a little neck lengthening, but preferably not a v-neck either. TIA!

  12. AIMS

    I posted this in the Profession Clothes section, but thought I’d repost here, too. For those on an ever-constant quest for the perfect work bag, I recently found this company and was very impressed by their idea, which is basically to make highly functional, organized bags that look professional at a relatively reasonable price. They even have zippers because, hey, bags should have zippers, y’know?

    http://www.dagnedover.com/products/tote

    PS: If anyone’s actually gotten one, please post a review. I am very tempted.

    • Sydney Bristow

      Oh my god that has everything I want in a bag. Seriously. I wish it was leather though. I can’t afford it right now but thank you for posting the link! Hopefully someone has a good experience with the brand!

    • Parfait

      Those look really well-designed. I’d love to hear a review from someone who’s had one for a while to see how well it holds up. If I’m paying that much I’d like it tho last a while.

      • AIMS

        It is a lot and initially I was very disappointed because I thought it was leather… But then I started thinking about those LV and Goyard coated canvas bags that seem indestructible and I think if these bags held up as well, I would be okay with paying that much for CC. I just wish I knew if they will actually do that!

        • anon

          Online reviews seem a little mixed so far… hope someone here can give a direct report!

        • S In Chicago

          That’s amazing! I have something similar from Tumi (coated canvas Turin shopper), but I really like this one. It’s more purse less brief looking. For what it’s worth, the Tumi cc is indestructible. Way more durable than leather, since it doesn’t scratch.

    • LilyStudent

      I really want that bag. I also have an Erasmus grant coming through soon. This is a bad combination!

      • Anonymous

        Whaaaaaa? Yes. Spending money intended to facilitate your studies on a fancy bag would be stupid.

        • Wildkitten

          Bags are a living expense: Students can also apply for an Erasmus grant to help cover the additional expense of living abroad.

  13. Passed Over

    Update from a few weeks ago- another position came up and this time, I am DEFINITELY applying for it. Thank you for all your wisdom.

    Now, the real question: Should I put something about being a marathoner in my resume or cover letter? As this is an internal position, they already know me pretty well. I have some stuff to write about the normal, but I was thinking of putting in a section on other interests which would include some serious music that I do outside of work as well as my recent marathon finish.

    Ask a Manager has mixed thoughts.

    ETA: I’m talking one line at the bottom of my resume saying ‘2014 City Marathon Finisher and Member of Fancy Pants Music Ensemble’, nothing more.

    • Anon

      I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting a few interests (I realize opinions on this may vary). Just be sure it is something you are comfortable talking about. I interviewed a candidate who put down a shared interest and the candidate IMMEDIATELY began stammering and backpedaling when I asked about it, b/c clearly it was more of a super-occasional thing that was probably listed in order to get a “wow!” reaction, and when it became clear that it is a serious interest/passion of mine, candidate sort of decomposed. Don’t be that candidate :)

      ETA: Now that I’ve seen your own ETA, I’m revising my answer slightly. I don’t mean to be rude or speak poorly of your accomplishment, but if you’ve only run one marathon, then I wouldn’t put it on your resume. I’d pick something that you have a longer history with.

      • Passed Over

        See, that’s what I’m struggling with! I’ve been doing halfs and distance relays/Tough Mudders for years but I just got around to actually running a marathon.

        • Anon

          Then I’d go with “Distance running/adventure races” or something similar.

        • Wannabe Runner

          I’d put on Tough Mudder rather than marathon. That’s more interesting.

    • Katie

      I don’t see how this could help you. I could see it being taken as a lack of understanding of the business world. At best, it’d be neutral.

      Congrats on the marathon!

      • Anonnn

        Disagree. I put it on my resume and it was a topic of conversation with a hiring manager during the in-person. Unbeknownst to me, he was trying to bait me to see if I could carry on a conversation… which would have translated into some ability to build relationships with clients, etc. Also, in my interview he asked how I trained. I described my 16 week schedule, the thought that went into my training, consequences of missing runs, etc. I’m in the job now and have asked why he asked about all of that… he said it gave him insight as to how I planned for things and how detailed oriented I was.

        Bottom line: Not only does it not hurt, but it can actually help (FWIW, I’m in investment banking).

        ETA: I put “running” not “marathoner” on my resume – but it was enough of a trigger word for hiring manager to ask about it.

      • Passed Over

        Thanks!

        I’ve always been told to leave hobbies off but have recently been reading more and more that serious hobbies are okay to be included. The music thing is a local group that does serious music and performs regularly. The running is something that I’ve been really involved with for a few years but a half marathon didn’t seem worthy of putting on a resume.

        • Senior Attorney

          I’d just say “interests include choral music and distance running.” Then if you’re asked about it you can modestly fess up to your one marathon.

    • cbackson

      I probably wouldn’t, but I’m a fan of leaving off personal interests and activities entirely for non-entry-level resumes (and even then, I generally dislike them unless they have a clear tie to why you’d be good at the job).

      (I’d also say, as someone who was, until the last couple of years, a fairly serious marathoner, I wouldn’t list “marathoner” on the resume if you’ve only run one, and I wouldn’t list an individual marathon finish (unless, like, you were a top-fifty finisher at Boston/Chicago/New York). There’s just too much potential for you to get someone who runs 2-3 marathons a year and who thinks of you as “person who did a marathon” not “marathoner” because you’ve only done one. I HATE that attitude, but it exists. In your situation, fi you do elect to include it, I think “distance runner” would be safer in that respect.)

      • Anon

        Co-sign cbackson. I have coworkers who are serious, competitive runners, and the first thing they do if they get a resume with running as an interest is to google that person to find out their finishing times. If you don’t want to risk that potential response, leave it off.

        • Anonnn

          That’s the dumbest thing ever. Not all runners race. And, my slow 26.2 miles was the same 26.2 as the winner. Your coworkers need to get a life.

          • Anonymous

            I would google times for sure. And no, your 26.2 is not the same as the winner. I wouldn’t hire a 2:41 marathoner over a 4:15 marathoner for that reason, but the 2:41 is a runner. The 4:15 is a hobby jogger. Sorry.

          • Wildkitten

            I’d totally google but not to judge slow times, just to be jealous of fast times.

            No 4:15 isn’t the same as the winner, but that’s probably good cuz Meb can’t bill as many hours as you.

          • TXLawyer

            Thank you for that, Wildkitten. Dyed laughing at “Meb can’t bill as many hours as you”

    • Wildkitten

      I think it’s great to add to a resume when meeting with strangers for common ground. For an internal position, they really want to know you bring your marathon attitude to work, and they’ll already know that through your …work.

    • Red Beagle

      Posting late, but I wouldn’t mention running marathons in your resume. It is a big accomplishment but I think discussing it is more appropriate in an interview setting than leading with it in your resume. YMMV, though.

  14. Anonymous

    I’ve had a series of tough losses and I really need a win. I’m super focused and working really hard to make it happen, but that aside, what do you do when your morale is waning? I’m more or less just not thinking about how I feel at all, but if I can feel less bad about everything, that would be nice.

    • Wildkitten

      Volunteer. Give cash to a homeless person. Pay for the person behind you at the drive through. Get a present for a kid. Get your nails done. Take a benadryl and start again tomorrow.

    • Blonde Lawyer

      I can’t tell if you are referring to life in general or legal cases. If you are a litigator, remember, you didn’t create the facts or the law. You are there to give each client the best chance he/she has of prevailing but to be totally cliche, at the end of the day, justice prevails. It SUCKS to lose. It sucks to try to explain to a client “how that happened” (tip, try to manage expectations from the start) but you really can’t analyze your professional worth based on whether you are winning or losing your cases. Unless you are majorly messing them up. If that’s the case, you will find clues in your orders if no one is directly telling you. The order will say something like “there could be relief under an unjust enrichment theory but since that wasn’t plead the court won’t be addressing it.” Just because your cases suck doesn’t mean you suck.

      If you are talking about life, is there one thing that you are really good at that you can go do on the weekend and just feel like “yeah, I still got it.” Take some pictures of something cool, go for a distance run, sing in the shower, volunteer to walk a shelter dog. Hang in there! (Insert cheesy 80’s picture of cat hanging by paws.)

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