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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 131 Comments · by

Wednesday’s TPS Report: Luxe Flannel Pencil Skirt

The Personal Shopper (TPS) | · ·

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Luxe Flannel Pencil SkirtOooh: Classic. Great ladylike length, nice discreet side slit, and made of a comfy wool/spandex flannel? Sign me up. The skirt is $129 at Talbots, available in Baccara Rose (pictured), sand, brown, black, and gray. Luxe flannel pencil skirt Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. (L-0)

Sales of note for 9.16.24

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Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Always a NYer

    This is gorgeous! I was actually looking at this yesterday on the Talbot’s website and I think I’ll lose the battle with my willpower and order it. This burgundy color has me drooling, that and I like the length.

  2. BrooklynBabe

    Love, love, love! Especially that you went for a pop of colour instead of basic black, which we all have. Looks yummy, and warm. Plus if you spill a little bit of red wine on it – who will know??

    • Amelia Bedelia

      LOVE your comment — looks great: check. ladylike slit: check. ability to hid wine spills: CHECK!
      I’m in.

    • Bonnie

      I love this skirt and that it’s wine proof. ;-) I’m not sure if I can pull off this length but glad to see something for the tall ladies.

    • Bursting out

      YES! This is a skirt I can get behind. And wine-proof to boot!
      Hoping the trend lasts until next year…

  4. Maharani

    Nice skirt, but if you don’t hem it at exactly the right point it will look dowdy-knee length is much more flattering-no more midis for me.

      • Nevadan

        I think a shorter mength wold be more in style, but I must say I really hate the side slits concept. Don’t usually mind back slits.

        But…. if you buy a skirt with slits at the bottom it is very hard to shorten it if you decide to do so – such as if styles change!

  5. Two cents

    What colored hose/tights to wear with an off white/brown colored wrap dress? The dress is mostly off white, so I thought that dark hose would look odd. I usually only wear the dress in the spring and summer because I can’t figure what hose to wear in the winter (besides nude for me, that is). Thanks.

    • Always a NYer

      I’d go with dark brown tights and matching heels. I personally like the contrast of dark and light but YMMV.

    • Ru

      Olive, hunter/forest green, aubergine. Sheer or opaque (depending on your skin tone).

    • SF Bay Associate

      While I haven’t done this yet, what about a very densely woven nude fishnet? It’s not really the fishnet of yore if it’s super tightly woven, more like a slight pattern with no bare skin peeking through whatsoever. I have a pair of superdense fishnet in black and it seems to walk the line nicely between stockings and solid opaque tights, without veering into “pattern” territory, that I wear all the time. I love subtle pattern tights too – Spanx makes my favorites actually because they are warm, but it’s nice to have another option like the superdense fishnet. I keep meaning to look for a nude-for-me version for dresses where black is just too dark.

      • eaopm3

        I bought something similar last year from either BR or JCrew. Not quite tights, not quite fishnets. I love them and plan to get a few more pair for this year. I haven’t seen any nude-for-me options, though. I will keep an eye out!

      • MelD

        I’ve worn those before and like them a lot. I can’t remember where I got my pair or whether I still have them. I do wear a lot of patterned tights.

      • Anonymous

        I wear nude fishnets every warm weather day and agree they layer nicely in autumn, too– great with a brown boot.

    • Erin

      Fuchsia, turquoise, or green tights would look great.

      If you need a neutral, I’d do dark brown tights or sheer hose.

  7. AnonInfinity

    Has anyone tried this on? It looks like it has the potential to highlight my booty (especially considering it has spandex in it).

    I love it, otherwise!

  9. Formal Wear Threadjack

    This is a gorgeous skirt — love your comment, BrooklynBabe.

    I found out yesterday that I will be attending a black tie optional dinner in DC tomorrow evening. The event is for an organization that I do a lot of work with, so I will be seeing work contacts there. I don’t have time to shop for anything new, so as I see it I have two clothing options:

    1) Knee-length black lace c*cktail dress with a big peach silk rose on it. The dress is somewhat bare on top (it’s like a strapless dress but the lace overlay has straps, if that makes sense), but I could wear a black blazer over it.

    2) Black suiting dress with cap sleeves. I could dress this up somewhat with jewelry and shoes. I’m thinking of wearing it with a long faux pearl necklace that Anthropologie had a couple of years ago with large silk flowers on it and a fancy c*cktail ring.

    I am in my mid-twenties, if that matters. Thoughts on which of these options is better? I have a similar event in November that I have time to shop for, so if neither of these is ideal, I would appreciate advice on what would be. Thanks for your advice, ladies!

    • LawyrChk

      I would probably go with the dress — do you have anyone else you could check with who went to last year’s event?

      • Formal Wear Threadjack

        No, it’s actually the first time this event has been held. I spoke to someone else who is wearing a floor length dress, so I’m thinking my lace dress is the way to go. Thanks for your input!

    • Diana Barry

      I would go for the first dress, but with a dressier ‘evening’ jacket (in a jacquard, or with beading, or some dressy fabric) or a wrap instead of a plain blazer. If you do a wrap, you can put a brooch or something on the shoulder to hold it so you are more covered up.

    • Ru

      Option 1 – knee length black c*cktail dress with silk rose. Go with fabulous hair, earrings, shoes and clutch. You’re done.

      A suiting dress is formal but inappropriate in this setting, imo.

    • just Karen

      The lace dress sounds great – I second the rec that you wear either a jacket made of a more formal fabric (not a normal suit jacket) or use a wrap instead – it sounds beautiful!

    • Erin

      What time is the event? My organization has a similar dinner. Most people come in dressy business attire, as though they came straight from the office but glammed it up a bit. I think option 2 sounds right.

    • Formal Wear Threadjack

      Thanks for all of the suggestions! I think I’m going to go with the lace dress and a jacket with a velvet shawl collar, but I’ll see how they look together tonight.

    • Anonymous

      Most people will wear what they wore to work, lovely suits, silk separates, well-fitting dresses. I’d add fab earrings and clutch. The women most dressed up will be the professional wives. Not that there’s anything wrong with that– those are just the demographic breakdowns and their aesthetic choices. All of your options sounds great.

  10. Amelia Bedelia

    I adore this skirt. Now to find a coupon for 30% off so I can justify the purchase . . .

    • Mpls

      Talbots fall sale starts tomorrow – I don’t know what it will include but I’m going to check back on this item tomorrow.

      • Amelia Bedelia

        YEA!!!!!!!!!!
        I will hope . . . cannot find any coupons online, so that is my only shot.

  11. MissJackson

    Love this. I have a similar colored flannel skirt from Talbots last season with a lovely ruffle in the back that I just love. It’s really comfortable and looks fantastic on. I’d wait for a sale though – they always have great sales, so I try not to purchase anything at full price at Talbots.

    If you’re average height, consider ordering the petite. I’m 5’4″ and usually don’t need a petite at other retailers, but regular sizes look dowdy on my at Talbots. (I seriously think that you could be 5’7″ and still order the petite — the petite is more like “regular” and the regular is more like a tall). IMO, the petite sizes seem to be more “true to size” than the regular sizes (where I often size down).

    • SCS

      I agree, MissJackson. I’m 5’9″ and often buy petite at Talbots (except in pants). I don’t know why they make their clothes so big! It’s frustrating.

    • Kandi

      You’re very right…I’m 6’3″ and this skirt hits me dead center of my knee cap. You shorter gals may want to consider going with the petite.

      • lalala

        Isn’t it lovely!!! LOL!
        I’m 6’1 and I recently discovered Talbots skirts. Definitely buying this one on the 20th or 22nd (they have a coupon for 30% on the 20th and 40% off on the 22nd).

        So nice to have skirts that don’t make me look like a streetwalker :-P

  12. anon

    Question, and apologize for the morbidity:
    In the past when some black dresses have popped up here, people have mentioned that it would be something they would wear once, to a funeral, and never wear again. I haven’t been to a funeral in a long time, and I’m not planning on going to a funeral any time soon, knock on wood, but I was curious about this, and figured when I would need to know this I might not have time to ask. Do people really feel this way? Can you never put on the same outfit because it always reminds you of that day?

    • Ses

      I may have been to too many funerals but… I have a designated black dress for these events. It’s simple, modest, and unremarkable. I know it’s always appropriate, it doesn’t get a lot of wear, and it draws no attention to me. It’s also the type of dress I wouldn’t be tempted to wear anywhere else because it’s so plain.

      • Anne-on

        Personally, yes. The dress I wore to my grandmother’s funeral was a gorgeous knee-length bracelet sleeved wool dress. As hard as it is to find a similar black dress with long sleeves, I’ve never been able to make myself wear that dress again.

    • black dresses

      I think it totally depends on the person attending the funeral and the other people involved. Personally, I’ve been to several funerals in the past few years and have worn outfits/dresses/suits that I’ve worn before and have continued to wear after. I think some people are more emotionally attached to the day and all the details than other people are, so to each their own. For me, funerals are usually a celebration of life lived fully and the fact that the loved one is now in heaven, so while it’s sad to lose the loved one, it’s great to know they’ve moved up in the world! So I don’t have any reason to write off the clothes I wore.

      • Nancy P

        Have you worn suits to a funeral? I wore one to the funeral of my boyfriend-at-the-time’s mother, and his family all thought it was weird. It was black, pinstripe, suit, very sedate.

        • black dresses

          Yes, several times. I guess it just depends on the family and what they are used to. The suit you describe sounds appropriate to me!

        • Sharon

          A black suit sounds perfectly appropriate.

          I had a beautiful St. John knit suit that I had worn to several nice events, and then wound up wearing to my husband’s grandmother’s funeral and my grandfather’s funeral within the space of a few months. I never felt good about that suit again, and did wind up giving it away (or selling it, I don’t remember it). I like the other poster’s idea about a simple black dress reserved for funerals, but I like the idea of never having to attend funerals even better.

      • CSF

        This is how I feel. When my Great-Grandmother died, my sisters and I decided we would wear purple, in honor of her favorite color. We each went out and bought beautiful purple dresses to celebrate her life. We were her pall-bearers, and I’m sure we stood out to all of the non-family that attended. But now, everytime I wear that dress, I think of her memory, and it is a sad and sweet thing at the same time. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

    • Always a NYer

      I’m not going to lie, I haven’t been able to wear any of the tops I wore to my grandfather’s wake and funeral (which was two years ago). No matter what I do, seeing them brings me right back to the funeral parlor, church, cemetery. As it is, the scarf I used to cover my hair in church hasn’t been touched since either and it’s one of my favorites. It really all depends on how emotional you were when you wore the outfit and how vivid your memories are. I still have them and hope to be able to wear them in the future but for now, they will be staying where they are in my closet.

        • Always a NYer

          It does depend on the person. My grandfather took care of me when my mom went back to work and we were very close so seeing the clothes I wore to his wake/funeral impact me more. The other funerals I’ve gone to I can’t even remember what I wore.

      • P

        I’m with you – I’ve tried to make myself wear the black designer dress I wore to my grandmother’s funeral, but it just turns my stomach. I finally gave it away to a friend who appreciates it much more than I do.

    • 1L-1

      I wore a new top to my grandmother’s funeral. I have worn it since, and funnily enough I feel closer to her when I wear it. It was her favorite color, blue, which also helps.

    • Ms. No Name.

      When my grandmother, who was a fashionista in her own right, passed away each of her 20 granddaughters wore something from her closet (some just a scarf or purse and some whole outfits). I wore the gold suit that she wore to my parent’s wedding 40 years earlier. I still have the suit and break it out as seperates when ever I can.

      That was a rare occasion though. My father followed me around during the entire funeral explaining to everyone why I wasn’t wearing black. Because my grandmother was so into fashion, it made me feel closer to her to wear something from her closet, and it makes me happy ever single time I wear a part of that suit.

      • ceb

        What a sweet sentiment. Very, very thoughtful! I sounds like you and the other granddaughters truly celebrated her life.

    • cbackson

      In the religious tradition in which I was raised, you wear white to funerals. A solid white church-appropriate multi-season dress is actually kind of hard to find, so I just have a “funeral dress” that I’ve worn for those occasions for years. Yes, it has some sad memories, but I’ve worn it for so many funerals that I think the effect is sort of muted.

    • Jas

      The only funeral I’ve been to that was emotionally hard for me was my grandmother’s, and the black skirt and green top I wore to that are both in my regular work rotation. Maybe I’m cold-hearted, but it never occurred to me to never wear them again.

      • A Regular Lurker

        Well, I must be cold-hearted, too. I think it might have something to do with whether you wore it for the first time to that funeral or if you wore it specifically for that occasion. In the past six months, I’ve worn dresses that I normally wear to work to my grandfather’s funeral and a good friend’s memorial service. I don’t have any problems wearing the dresses now and don’t particularly associate them with death/funerals. But I wore a black onyx necklace for the first time to my friend’s service, and I do find that wearing it now brings back memories of her, which is both sweet and sad, as another commenter wrote.

        • A Regular Lurker

          Edit: whether you wore it specifically for the funeral or whether it’s something in your regular rotation.

          *sigh*

    • Bee

      When my MIL was dying, I bought a dark grey dress with black details, and black patent shoes. I wore that to her funeral, and also to FIL’s a few months later, and again to a friend’s funeral last week. I expected my husband would associate the dress with funerals and with lossing his parents, but he likes the outfit. I have worn it for other occasions and probably will again.

    • Kanye East

      It may be morose, but I think it helps to have a go-to funeral picked out in advance.

      I lost a very dear friend very unexpectedly not so long ago. Packing for the trip to his funeral was bad enough; picking out an outfit (frivolous as it might be) to wear to a best friend’s funeral is something I don’t wish anyone to endure.

    • Erin

      It depends on whose funeral. Certain outfits make me recall when I wore them to a big event, and if that event was very sad, wearing the outfit will remind me and bring me down.

      One grandmother’s funeral was very happy – it was like a giant family and friends reunion and a big celebration of her life. Whenever I wear the dress I wore to her funeral, it makes me smile and remember her. I honestly can’t remember what I wore to the other grandmother’s funeral, because she died unexpectedly and I was an emotional wreck when I packed to go home. I didn’t pack well and I had to wear my bright orange puffer coat to the burial – oops. I’m glad I don’t remember what else I wore because thinking about her still makes me cry.

    • Bursting out

      It never occurred to me not to re-wear the clothes that I wore to my grandmother’s funeral and my best friend’s father’s funeral. I don’t have a ‘funeral dress’ per se, I just wore something dark (not even black, actually). Though both were terribly sad, it may have been somewhat emotionally easier in that they both had very long, full, rich lives (90+ and 85+, respectively).

      I do remember the top I wore to the memorial service of a friend who died way, way before his time with somewhat more mixed feelings – but even that was supposed to be a celebration of his life, so I’m sure he’d want people to keep calm and carry on.

  13. Diana Barry

    I love this skirt. Finally, an appropriate length for long-legged gals! :)

    Someone asked whether I wore the ASOS maternity flower print dress with leggings. YES, it is pretty mini (particularly if your belly is big) and I did wear it with leggings. :)

    • Bursting out

      Thanks for following up. That’s a really cute dress – I may have to pull the trigger!

      If you’re in the mat. shopping mood, check out Belly Dance Maternity – I’ve gotten a ton of cute work stuff from them. Not cheap, but I think it will last for the whole year.

  14. Ses

    Hey ‘rettes. I just wanted to poke my head in the door and tell everyone I hope you’re having a good week. My world has been really busy, so I’ve missed at least a week of comments. We need to have a “highlights” newsletter for the comments. It would have a weekly quote from Ellen, a tally of Little Lurker points, updates on the regulars’ ongoing work problems, relationship and pregnancy updates and Best of sales.
    Just sayin’, Kat – get an intern to do that and you’d get like…100 LL points.. :-D

  15. anone

    Question: Anyone have any good excuses for why you are leaving the office in the middle of the day (beyond lunch hour) when the real reason you are leaving is for an interview? I’d prefer not to use the doctors/dentist bit, as I’ve used it already! I am very junior so I don’t have the luxury of stepping out without explanation. Help please!

      • found a peanut

        I like this. Everyone can relate and you can all roll your eyes at cable guys who only work between the hours of 11am and 4pm.

        • anone

          I live far from work and everyone knows that, so I definitely can’t use the pets/cable guy excuse. But I think I’ll stick to general appt./errand. Thanks all!

      • JAS1

        If you are going to go that route, I would say it is a plumbing issue at your apartment instead – I mean, you can live without internet but you *really* need your toilet and hot water.

    • Ru

      We covered this so much in yesterday’s thread, so I’d suggest you look there. Give advance notice, say you have an appointment and you’ve adjusted your workload to handle the time out.

      As an aside, am I the only one who finds it skeezy to go interviewing on company time? Take a vacation or personal day or whatever. You shouldn’t need “excuses” to leave the office, barring some urgent life/death scenario. /end rant

      • AnonInfinity

        I don’t know what industry anone is in, but for me (law), I am salaried and am required to bill a certain number of hours rather than to put a certain number of hours in at the office every day. So, any time I’m billing is “company” time (even if I’m sitting on the beach on “vacation”) and any time I’m not is “personal” time (even if I’m just sitting in my office looking at Corporette). We don’t have a certain number of days we can take off, we just have to get our work done somehow.

        So I don’t really see leaving in the afternoon as wasting my firm’s time, as long as I’m able to get my work done at other times. I do understand what you’re saying, though, for people who must be in a certain place at a certain time every day.

        • anone

          I am not in a law firm and my workload is not heavy at all (which is part of my desire to move, I am seeking a greater challenge), so it wouldn’t prevent me from getting my work done. I just need a reason to leave for 2 hours and return.

          • AnonInfinity

            I think you’re good. No judgment from me. When I said “people who must be in a certain place at a certain time every day,” I was thinking more about people who are paid by the hour, taking a break but still getting paid during that time. I think if you’re salaried, everyone knows that you’re going to be gone from time to time during business hours and it’s really not a big deal.

            Good luck with your interview!

      • Kady

        I generally agree w/ yesterday’s suggestions which tended towards taking a vague but honest tactic. However, I also know there are companies that are – nosier – about it’s employee’s business and want to know where an employee is at all times. A vague answer won’t work in those situations. There are also companies that have very bad vacation/personal day policies (e.g., no vacation days until you’ve been at the company for 1 year). The OP asked a specific question, and I didn’t feel the need to judge her. Not knowing her exact situation, I figure she has the good sense to know when a fudge would work and when she might need more than.

      • anone

        I’m not sure I understand, but I’d really appreciate if you can elaborate since I am only on my first full-time job looking to move. I’ve found that looking for a new job takes a reallllly long time and many interviews with various companies before something works out. It would look really strange if I was to take official leave time off every time for a meeting that takes max 2 hours.

      • MissJackson

        Depends on the industry. If you’re an attorney, it’s not “company time” unless you’re billing it to a client. I don’t get “personal days” so to speak. I also don’t get a set number of “vacation days”. Either I bill 8+ hours in a day, or I do not. Either I bill enough time over the course of the year to hit my bonus threshold, or I do not. No one really gives a lick what I was doing to prevent me from billing 8+ hours a day or hitting that threshold, they just care that I bill.

      • Inva

        I am with you, Ru. I always take a vacation day for an interview. Doing otherwise seems wrong to me.

        • In-House

          Inva and Ru, given that my employer expects me to be checking e-mail and responding to calls late into the night and first thing in the morning, I don’t feel that it is wrong AT ALL to take an hour or two for an interview! I think the OP is fine taking some time out of the office, as long as, as others have said, she gets her work done!

      • Ru

        I understand that billing time is different for various industries and companies. Yes, everyone’s scenario is different.

        However, if I were embarking on a long term personal project, such as looking for a new job, which is admittedly difficult in this economy for all industries, perhaps it just may be easier for the OP to schedule her meetings early in the morning or in the late afternoon. It is much easier and less awkward to say that you’re coming in late or leaving early then to disappear in the middle of the day. I feel the same way about recurring doctor’s/therapist’s appointments, too.

        This is a “know your office” scenario, so you know best what would work for you.

    • MelD

      In my office “lunch + errands” is popular. I’m guessing some of those errands are interviews, but not one really seems to ask.

      • AnonInfinity

        I like errand, too. It’s not a lie, but it’s not descriptive at all.

      • CSF

        I agree. Vagueness is fine, but I am surprised at all the advocates for straight up lying.

    • Anon

      I see a therapist, so frequently have to use the “I have an appt”. No one asks. I figure some people probably can figure it out. Others won’t. Just say you have an appt.

    • anon

      Although I don’t think there is anything wrong with scheduling an interview in the afternoon, I’ve always tried to do them at lunch if at all possible. Any firm I’ve worked at, no one notices if you’re gone 2 hours at lunch, and most interviewing firms seem to be understanding about scheduling interviews around the interviewee’s work schedule. I just always feel like I have a big red sign on my forehead blinking, I’m Looking For A Job if I leave in the middle of the morning or afternoon in a nice suit, and if anyone asks where I’m going, I stutter and stammer and look guilty. I suck at minor social deceptions. But, I certainly see nothing wrong with making a vague excuse as you head out the door at 2 for an interview, just be better at it than I am. Law firms care how much time you bill, they don’t care if you have a 2 hour appointment in the middle of the day.

    • Lady bug

      This is why I recommend that anyone at a new job start setting the precedent that whenever they are not there they are just “out of the office” or “have an appointment.” Once you start using that phrase for all legit time out of work it is much easier to use it when you are going to the therapist or an interview.

      I used to say “I’m meeting my husband for lunch, be back in an hour.” Or “Going to let my dog out, be back soon.” (I worked in a close, everyone in your business office where this was normal.) No one said “running errands.” They said “going to the pharmacy and the dry cleaners blah blah blah.” When I did need therapy, it felt so obvious to say “I have an appointment, be back at x time.” Most associates have to tell their assistant or reception when they leave the building.

      At my new job, I started being vague from the get go and it has made everything so much easier. I just say “I’ll be back in two hours.” And leave. But I’m also a little more senior now. I do think, if I had said that at the old job from the get go I would have gotten some funny looks but I don’t think anyone would have said “why.”

  16. anon

    Has anyone been to the Fed Soc lawyers’ convention black tie optional dinner? I’m wondering what people usually wear.

    • Erin

      Yes. People go all out. Almost all the men will be wearing tuxedos. I wore a colorful, silk tea-length dress the last time I went, but I’d say the majority of women were wearing long gowns. It’s a rare opportunity to get all dressed up so if you want to get dressed up, go for it.

      • Erin

        ps – be advised that the Omni Shoreham charges for coat check, so bring some cash! I was surprised by this as most hotels don’t, and I didn’t have any cash in my teeny wristlet purse.

    • Can't resist

      Haven’t been, but I picture them in coats made from the fur of 101 dalmatians.

  17. Tipster

    FYI sale alert – 6pm dot com has a ton of cute Cole Haan shoes at 60-80% off, plus free shipping, incl. the air carma open toe pump for $55-$59 in brown, bronze and navy, formerly $278, most sizes still left. I own these in another color, and they are very comfortable, imho, ladies. There are other bargains from CH, too, so look around.

    • In-House

      OMG, this looks like a FANTASTIC shoe for the price-a little too high for me but ladies, be sure to check it out!

      • JJ

        I have three pairs of the Air Carma’s (black, patent, and tortoiseshell) and they have a *heavy* rotation in my shoe wardrobe. I’ve also had them for 4+ years now and have only have to replace the heel caps once. I highly recommend them at this price.

    • Corporate Tool

      Oh those beautiful red Air Violet pumps. $100 is just a little to high for that type of splurge, but I am coveting them pretty hard right now.

    • jcb

      Well, now my heart is broken. I’d convinced myself that there is a perfectly good reason to buy the air talias in sunflower patent, only to discover that they aren’t available in my size.

      • Anne-on

        I have the air talias in sunflower patent – they really are a perfect summer/spring shoe to wear for weddings/showers/evenings out. I’d highly recommend splurging if you can find them, I was truly surprised at how much I wore a yellow shoe!

  18. Amy H.

    Beautiful skirt, and in particular — gorgeous color!

    Threadjack —
    Has anyone successfully found a way to dye (or have someone else dye) a black coat that has faded over time? I have a Ban. Rep. trench from a couple years ago that is 100% cotton, and it’s starting to look dark grey instead of black. I like the cut and details much more than their current version (and would also prefer not to spend the money to buy another one I don’t like as much). However, I’m hesitant just to whip out the RIT because I’ve never done it — and because I’m concerned that will eliminate the slight (very slight) sheen the coat’s exterior has. But I haven’t found any professional who will do this, either. (I’ve asked my regular dry cleaner and tailor and neither could recommend anyone, either.)

    • AIMS

      I would be hesitant to go this route because a trenchcoat is something you wear in the rain and I would be concerned that even if it worked out, it might blead a bit on your other items if it got very wet. Esp. since as outerwear, it may have been treated with some kind of coating. Dyeing much easier with cotton or other basic, natural fabrics.
      I would just wear it as is. I think a charcoal trench sounds rather lovely.

      • EM

        What are the stakes? I mean, if you don’t dye it, will you stop wearing it? If that’s the case, then I’d figure it’s pretty low risk to dye it yourself. If you end up ruining it, you haven’t lost anything, but if it works, then you’ve gained a few more years of wear with little effort and money.

        If you have a washing machine, it’s fairly simple. Just make sure to run a load of bleach with some towels afterwards to clean your machine. Maybe then spray some waterproofing spray on the coat to restore the waterproofing quality?

        I’ve dyed several faded items over the years, and the only time dying didn’t work was when I was dying a shirt in an effort to save it because it had been accidentally bleached in one spot.

        • Amy H.

          I’ve basically already stopped wearing it, because the faded black doesn’t really look like charcoal, it looks like faded, tired black. AIMS, that’s a good point about the potential for bleeding onto other clothes in wet weather. Though I used to wear the coat in all seasons here in SF (not just when it was pouring), it’s often misty or foggy enough here that I would worry about that. I don’t think the coat has any waterproof coating right now, but I could try a spray afterward. That might restore some sheen as well as protect against running/bleeding. I do think I’m at that point where I don’t have much to lose, sadly. But if I do go through with trying to dye it myself, I’ll make sure to wear it only over black clothes to start with!

          • NYC

            I would search for the younghouselove tutorial on dyeing her wedding dress. Very helpful.

      • AT

        Re: the rainproofedness (I know, not a word… it’s been a long day), you might also consider getting one of the technical washes/rinses that they sell at REI and the like to restore the water repellancy of fabrics. I’m totally guessing, but I think if you used RIT to get the depth of color back, and then treated it to be water repellant, that might work.

    • Research, Not Law

      I agree with EM about the stakes.

      With a trench, I’d be concerned about a coating on the cotton that would prevent the dye from adhering to the fibers. The worst case scenario is that only some areas have had the coating wear off, so the dye job will be splotchy. You may be able to remove the coating by machine washing it… although that could also cause shrinkage…

      I’ve been considering dying some perfect cropped pants that have faded over the years.

  19. Tired Squared

    Blonde Lawyer–thinking of you this morning. How are you and your kitty doing?

    • Blonde Lawyer

      Wow, guess I picked the right time to take my first Corporette break today. Thanks for thinking of us. I am doing much better today. I am generally not big on organized religion but I do believe strongly in the power of prayer. I posted on some prayers for pets blogs and had a lot of friends and family members praying and I swear it has helped.

      Personally, I woke up feeling so much better today. I felt strong and ready to conquer this head on no matter what. My cat slept on my bed all night which was a special treat for me. When he became diabetic we had to keep him out of the room all night (and barricade it) because he was always hungry and begging for food. Since we now have the opposite problem and wanted to hear if he was in pain or anything we left our door open. At some point he made his bed by my feet and stayed there most of the night.

      This morning he made a serious dent in some wet Frisky’s cat food. The vet said this kind is like “crack for cats” and should get him started eating even though it is not good for his diabetes. He licked up all the gravy and ate some of the small flakes of food, spitting out all the big ones. None the less, his interest in the food was a big improvement.

      I also saw the greatest thing! Three small poops in his litter box. That by no way means he is totally out of the woods but it shows that his guts are moving. It also shows my vet may be right that this is pancreatitis/gastritis and not a blockage from the missing thread.

      Giving him his pills was still a big challenge but I am trying to see the positive. Instead of viewing it as torturing him I see it as a good sign that he is still strong enough to fight me!

      He is home for the day today. I checked on him at noon and he was sleeping on the back of the couch. My husband will be working from home later this afternoon to keep offering wet food. Thanks to the readers that were reminding me of the complications of not eating. My vet did tell me about that but as of yesterday his liver numbers were still looking good.

      We are waiting for his GI blood tests to come back in a day or two to confirm the pancreatitis. I’m also happy to hear from the other reader whose cat tolerated a feeding tube well. I was much less concerned about the cost of that procedure than I was with putting his through so much if he wouldn’t end up making it either way.

      Hopefully he keeps improving.

      • Tired Squared

        Happy to hear about the improvements! Every little step makes a big difference… and at least he’s enjoying the wet Frisky’s. There are also bags of “cat gravy” available at the pet store that my vet recommended for my own cat… if yours is eating the Frisky’s gravy then perhaps he might like some of that as well.

        Please keep us posted!

      • zelda

        two methods i have found to be helpful when giving a cat pills:
        1. hide it in a soft cat treat! i do this by putting a drop of water on one of those chewy (not crunchy) cat treats and pressing the pill in, then giving it to my cat pill side down
        2. put the pill in his mouth then use a syringe w/ a little bit of water in it to sort of squirt in and wash it down

        • zelda

          and of course, i will be thinking of you and your cat and sending get well wishes. it’s great to hear that his condition is improving!

          oh, and if you’re concerned at all about his caloric intake they do make high-calorie wet cat foods for sick cats/kittens – i believe there is also a nutritional supplement made for dogs and cats called “nutri-cal”. not sure how these work for diabetic kitties though.

        • Erin

          If you need to give a cat pills, try Pill Pockets by Feline Greenies. My cats go nuts for them. They gobble them so quickly they never notice the pill.

        • gov anon

          It pays to learn to pill a cat even though it’s not pleasant for you , and the cat generally thinks it’s dying from the treatment. The syringe with water is key so that you don’t end up with the pill flying across the room and a cat on the ceiling.

          If you think your cat will take the treat, you can try Greenies Pill Pockets. In my experience, some cats will take the treats and swallow it down, and others won’t. This is “know your cat” territory.

        • Blonde Lawyer

          Thanks. I can’t use the treat tricks until he is eating well though. Right now it is hard enough to get him to eat some yummy wet food! I’ll keep it in mind for when he is eating though.

          • AIMS

            If he is spitting out the larger pieces of Friskies, try to the pate kind (where it’s all one mushy consistency). My cat won’t do the bite size pieces but gobbles this up. Also the whiskes pate ones in the plastic peel back containers are her absolute favorite – maybe try those?

      • Anon in NC

        I do believe in the power of prayer and am very happy he is improving!!

      • Amy H.

        I’m so thankful to hear this, and I’m sending lots of positive thoughts and prayers that he continues to improve swiftly!

      • BB

        Try pill poppers – they are amazing! I either hand feed them to my cat or toss them if he’s feeling like pouncing.

  20. Wondering

    Hey all, has anyone treated hair loss with acupuncture? I never even realized this was a possibility until recently. If so, did it work? How long did it take to notice an improvement? I’ve been experiencing overall thinning in the last few years (not related to hormones – already checked everything out, but sadly due to my dad’s genes!). Thanks.

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