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Weekend Open Thread

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Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

Pictured:  Goto Glass, available at Vivre for $85.

Deal of the weekend: Take an extra 40% off sale items at Bloomingdales.com.

112 Comments

  1. If you loved those green Pour La Victoire Mary Janes (called “Valda”) on this site a month or two ago as much as I did, you should know that they are on sale, down from 189 to 138 at endless.com and they qualify for an additional $25 off. So I bought a pair for $113 and the overnight shipping was free. They are just as fabulous in person as they looked when they were the TPS of the day.

    1. Have to say, I am not a fan. I think it would be really easy to stray into houserobe territory. Maybe a simpler long sweater cardigan that you could belt would work better?

      1. I think it’s way too busy. The ruffles on the inside, the ruffles on the sleeves, the tie thing, the shoulder things… Maybe one of the extras, but not all.

        I agree with jcb — long sweater cardigan with a belt would look much more polished, but still casual.

    4. Maybe if you are extremely tall and thin – otherwise I agree that it might start to look like a house-robe.

    5. I like it and would wear it, but I am in a less restrictive environment than a lot of posters here appear to be

    6. Its too much. Might be nice for weekend wear but I would have to say the ruffles do not help.

    7. I look at this and the words to “I’m Mr. Heat Meister” pop into my head “I’m too much”

  3. Jcrew promotional code: Extra20 for 20% off additional sale + free shipping over $150.

    I am thinking of ordering a suit but not sure what size will fit best — how are the returns at the store (if I order 2 different sizes)? Any experience will help, never did this before with them.

  4. SPS – as long as its not “Final Sale Only” they are fantastic about taking stuff back in the store. I order a lot of stuff online and they are easy to work with.

    1. Ditto. Once you get through the line (there is always a line at the NYC stores), they process the return in 2 minutes flat.

  5. Question about the “nothing lace in the office” posts I have seen here. I work in a business casual law firm and have several formal suits for court days. One is an old fashion Calvin Klein dark navy wool skirt suit. I paired it w/ a dark purple cami that had lace on the top and adjusted the straps way up so not even a hint of cleavage showed. I think it looked great and I got a lot of compliments on my outfit that day. I think a hint of lace is nice to add a feminine touch to an otherwise manly outfit or to make something that is too fancy a little more casual. Other’s thoughts? I think the dark color helped make it subtle. I did see a law school peer w/ a lace cami under a suit but she had a very light color cami like pink or ivory and I thought that looked too “bed-room-esque.” Is lace always a no go?

    1. I have a few tops from AT that sound very similar to what you’re describing — dark colors with a wide lace band at the top that I adjust so that no hint of cleavage is showing. I wear them under low v-necks sometimes and have never felt inappropriate. I think they’re feminine. But, now that I think of it, I’ve never really seen other women in the places I’ve worked wearing lace.

    2. I think a touch of it, as under a v-neck shirt or sweater, or in a dark color under a conservative suit, is fine. I agree it’s important not to come across like you’re wearing lingerie, but it sounds like you avoided that.

  6. Just to add, I wore my outfit to the office, not to court. I had no meetings that day either.

    1. I was going to say probably no lace, although what you described sounded nice and reasonable, esp with the dark purple color…. but then I realized I used to wear a lace cami under sweaters all the time! And it was ivory. Now I wonder if that looked bad…

    1. I really like the dress, but would not wear it to the office. Would wear it out though, it’s really attractive.

    2. I think it’s okay with tights and a cardigan (if you’re not really tall, anyway), but I’m always scared of those waists with the extra fabric right in the tummy area. Can they be flattering on someone who’s not model-thin, especially on someone who already has a I’ve-had-three-kids-and-never-got-my-body-back tummy pooch?

      1. To Emily, this dress looks iffy in the tummy area, but in general I think dresses like this actually camoflauge (sp) my post-baby tummy (and when I say “baby”, I mean 3 year old). I have a dress from AT last year that is similar to this one, and is *so* flattering.

        1. Thanks for the replies! I’m 5’7 and fairly busty, so I’m definitely worried about the length. Maybe I’ll just order it and see how it works out.
          I agree with Emilie about the disguising a tummy; I actually think the more structured a dress is the better it is at hiding it. Sheaths seem to do nothing but emphasize my middle (fathered by my chubby hubby(s), Ben & Jerry), but I have a dress similar to this from Target and I think it draws attention away from my stomach.

          1. if the dress itself looks good on you, I think with darker tights and a structured cardigan (or one of those sweater/blazer combos) would look nice! And I think it’d be great in an office.

    3. Love it, so long as you add the cardigan and it isn’t too short when you actually wear it!

  8. ** re: lace. I think it depends on the lace. If it the kind that lets a lot of skin show through, it might be a little too much for the office, but if it’s more opaque, it’s probably okay. I would factor color into the equation as well. I wouldn’t do a red or a black, but I probably wouldn’t automatically reject a pink or ivory.

  9. Can anyone comment on the BB non-iron shirts? I was thinking of picking up one or more from their clearance, but I wasn’t totally convinced when I tried them on in the store. I know there was a post about this a few months ago but I was hoping for some fresh thoughts, esp on whether they’re really no-iron, how to care for them (dryer ok?), which of those 3 styles do most people like best, etc..
    Thanks in advance!

    1. I love them. I travel a lot and have pulled them out of a suitcase on the 5th day of a trip and they’ve been perfectly crisp. I have them professionally laundered, but not dry cleaned. In a pinch I launder them myself and pull them out of the dryer and put them on.
      You really have to try on the different cuts, though, to know what works for your body type. I wear the tailored and semi-tailored mostly, but have all 3 types. Just never pay full price for them — there’s a good sale about 2 times a year and the outlets often have them too. (I know the BB suits at the outlets aren’t always the same as the store — though sometimes they are — but the non-iron shirts I’ve gotten at the outlets have been the same as the ones at the store.)

      1. Banana is having a sale where you get 20$ off a 75$ purchase. The code is on the site when you open the page. (on a side note, I just signed up for Bing.com and apparently Banana gives you 5% back on all purchases).

    2. They are TRULY no-iron – GREAT for traveling! Another plus is that they look fresh no matter how many times you wash them (mine have not faded or become worn looking).

      I love the fitted ones as I feel that they don’t bunch up when tucked into my pants/skirt, but might depend on your body type. But yes, you truly can just toss them in the wash, hang them up and wear them to court! I always stuff one or two extras in my suitcase when traveling – worst case scenario you could probably wash them in the bathtub at night and hang them out to dry if you got stuck there longer than you planned.

      Be sure NOT to use an iron on them. I heard that can ruin the no-wrinkle-ness of the shirt.

      In full disclosure, I do find that they are not quite as soft as my (much more expensive and dry-clean-only/wrinkly) Theory blouses and they are a TAD less breathable in very hot weather. But not to the point that it is a problem (and I’m a person who HATES the heat and gets sweaty rather easily).

    3. I bought three for myself and three for my husband a couple of months ago. We wash them at home, dry them, and hang them on a hanger while still warm from the dryer. I try to button the highest button so the collar retains its shape. I have never had to iron one. Only complaint is that they are not as breathable as other shirts, so at times I feel a little sweaty in them.

      1. Thanks, good to know that they’re really non-iron, and that the washer/dryer is ok. I noticed the non-breathable thing too when I tried them on in the store, so maybe I’ll just get one and see whether it’s too warm for me (I tend to get hot easily).

  10. So, maybe slightly off topic, but has anyone else bumped up against really low offers on new jobs in this “new economy”?

    I have been offered what would normally be a great opportunity for an in-house counsel position, but the base salary is $1000 less than what I am making now at a firm (after I got my pay cut this year). So, in the end, I’m making about $3000 less than what I was making 2 years ago when I made the move to the firm. It’s been heavily negotiated and this is the best they are able to offer me (to provide equity with the other counsel who is in the same job but different business unit). I want to be excited about the position but it is really bumming me out about the base salary (for the record, the bonus and stock options are good, but we all know what those have been in this economy!).

    I think it’s the right move for me long term (career-wise), but it is leaving a bad taste in my mouth to be taking (yet another) step backward in terms of base comp. Have any of you encountered a similar situation? What did you do? Pass on the offer or accept it with a (forced) smile?

    1. Are you saying 3k *per year*? Or are you saying you’re back 36k annually? Or….worse??

      I am unable to answer from personal experience, but you’re certainly asking a question that’s on lots of minds right now. I’m a law student – just got my first Summer Associate offer via OCI – and the general consensus is that Summer Associate positions, if they exist at all, are paying between 100 and 500 (per week) less than they were two years ago, and recent graduates say their firm job offers reflect a similar decline. One career counselor I spoke with said he’s seeing offers to new attorneys that are generally between 5-10k less than they were this time last year.

    2. Years ago, I moved from a mostly insurance defense firm to a small plaintiff’s firm. I took a pay cut, but it was because I wanted to do plaintiff’s work. In terms of income, it was by far the best move I could have ever made. I also love doing plaintiff’s work, on a case by case basis, no mass tort work. I really wanted the move and, for the most part, have been happy.
      You may be in a little different situation: Try to evaluate if you are being offered what you think is a reasonable offer in today’s economy. If the company is in a game of trying to keep your salary as low as possible to save their bottom line, that is an attitude that will probably continue, and you may not be happy there in the long run.
      All of that said, private practice is tough in many respects, and most corporate counsel I know are much less stressed on the job. I would not let a $3000 difference in pay stop me from taking a job I really want.

    3. A $3000 difference is no difference at all in this economy. Take it and love it. You’re very lucky to have it.

    4. I’m still in school, so the legal pay field is still somewhat a mystery to me, but a professor of mine who left BigLaw for in house and then to be a prof said she dropped 15-20% per move in pay, and that she’d do it all again in a heartbeat. And this was all in the roaring 90s. So for me, I’d take it with a grin and an eye to how much better my future would be.

    5. I’m looking for an entry level job right now and what’s available in the private sector in my area is paying so low that I would be making more if I had stayed in teaching. I’m looking mostly trying almost exclusively for government positions now because I feel like the experience would be better.

      As for your position, if the growth/bonus opportunities are better I’d say go for it. it doesn’t sound like a significant cut, especially if you think your current firm won’t be giving out any bonuses or raises for some time.

    6. Taking a pay cut of $1000 in this economy, for what is otherwise a good opportunity, sounds like a no-brainer to me. A job in which you are happy and have opportunities for growth could lead to promotions or additional opportunities in the upcoming years that will be worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The most important factor in your long-term career success is the level of responsibility you receive and whether you have opportunities to expand your skill set. If you think you’ll be getting that, and not having to work harder than you want, then you’ve hit the jackpot and you should definitely take it.

      Also, keep in mind that while the market has not done well recently, an economic downturn is actually a great time to be receiving stock options, which typically have an exercise price of today’s market value, vest over 3-5 years and are exercisable for 10. You’ll be getting them at nice, low prices, and if the economy rebounds at any time in the next 10 years you could end up doing incredibly well from the stock options that seem worthless now.

    7. I agree that $ 3,000 is really amazing in this economy and the legal field right now. I have a friend who was recently interviewing and one firm actually told her “we would pay you more but with the economy so bad, there are so many people applying here, that we don’t have to pay you what you’re worth” (she didn’t take that job, not b/c of the money but b/c of their attitude).

      It might feel like you’re making a step backward, but given the context and the alternatives out there right now, it might be a giant leap forward…

    8. I think it’s a small cut and if the bonus/equity is good, but more importantly if the growth opportunity and long term prospects are good, I would try to get past the ego sting (which is understandable but in the current climate not really warranted) – the step to rise up from is the key, and it sounds like it has that.

    9. I think you must mean $1K/mo, not annually. So $12K/yr or, assuming you’re around a fifth-year associate, maybe 5-6% of your annual compenstation.

      If you think it’s the right move career-wise, take it. A 5% or so pay cut is nothing if it advances your career in the direction you want to go. Plenty of people leave firms to work in the public sector, taking 50% or more pay cuts. Financial compensation is not the only indicator of career success.

      I think a senior associate who is not on track to be a partner would be very foolish to turn down a desired job offer in this market, especially over such a minor reduction in pay. Besides, in the business world, base salary is often a relatively small portion of compensation.

      1. Good point – the original poster probably did mean $1000/month, which is more significant. But still I think it could easily be the right move.

        Even associates who are “on track” may not want to be partners, and if so getting out while you’re most marketable is a good idea. A pay cut when leaving a big firm is normal; the flip side is you start to have more autonomy and fewer needs to jump just because someone says so, which means much greater job satisfaction.

    10. That’s not new economy, that is moving in-house. You didn’t say what your class year was, or I didn’t notice it, but in the typical transition years (3-6 years) you can expect to make about 65% of what BigLaw is paying for the same year, (with the usually adjustments for locations etc…). In this market, there is definitely some headwind on compensation, but for most companies its just the reality of the business model. Lawyers in-house are a cost center and its important to understand that you are viewed as an expense. That said, I love being in-house, and it would be an exceptional set of circumstances that would get me back into private practice.

      More importantly than compensation, what are your growth and professional development opportunities? Is the organization flat? Will you be able to develop a brad enough skill set so that you increase your marketability when you are ready to move on? what is the industry? Is it stable? What is the growth plan etc…? Those are as important, and in some cases more important, than compensation.

    11. Also, don’t think about what you used to make etc… its a sunk cost. Can you meet your financial needs on the income being offered?

      1. I moved from a big firm to a small firm and now make less than 1/2 of what I used to make, but I love my work now and the hours are fantastic (as opposed to biglaw where they were terrible). Definitely worth it if you can swing it financially.

    12. Thanks everyone for your great comments! What a great community.

      I decided to take the offer, and make the budget work. No new clothes for a while, but in the long run I think this is the right move for me.

      Thanks again!

      3. Congratulations… jump in and get ready for a ride! If I was still billing the number of hours I work in-house – partnership would be a breeze….lol!

  11. I bought this dress recently:

    http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/womensapparel-Dresses-Floral_Print_3_4_Sleeved_Jersey_Dress-lordandtaylor/56124

    My in-house work environment is business casual.

    Is this dress work-appropriate? Would you pair a cardigan with it? What color/type of hose would you wear?

    And one more question – what about this one? I wore it last week with a cami under it. What legwear would you wear with it?

    http://travelsmith.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10425&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C250%2C282&iProductID=10425&sortBy=0

    Thanks in advance!

    1. I worked in a business casual firm once, and would have worn this with a cardigan buttoned up over it and some conservative (but not boring) shoes. Black cardigan, or maybe some sort of gray? I don’t usually like to wear hose with stuff like this that’s fun. Sometimes will do tights, but tights with this at the office might be too much going on, in my opinion.

    2. My concern is that the sleeves on the top dress you linked to are a bit dolman-y and that you wouldn’t be able to get a cardigan or jacket over it. I almost wish it were sleeveless so that you could do so, because you could have a lot of nice, bright looks depending on the color of cardigan you chose to wear with it. Of course, that may just be the picture and you may be fine.

    3. I would also say that that particular style of dress can be difficult with a cardigan or jacket, because you don’t want the cardigan or jacket (which creates interest where it is buttoned / fastened) on top of an area that already has something else going on with the gathering.

    4. I’ve got dresses like both of these that I wear to work (biz casual) with a black mid height heel. I have lots of jersey type dresses, and am experimenting with wearing them with tights (and a slip so they don’t cling) as I have moved to a colder climate. I find the tights look too heavy unless its really chilly, but hose would look awful (and I don’t wear hose unless absolutely necessary and pants are not an option….)

  12. To clarify – I got the Lord & Taylor one in the purple print (it has that underlayer, so no cami needed) and the Travelsmith one in the black & white donut print.

    1. I like the black/white one. The purple L&T one is better than the blue version, but I don’t love it, esp for the office, and honestly neither dress looks very good on the models — they kind of make them look heavy. But anyway, wear with no hose (these seem more spring/summery anyway), and some kind of cardigan or jacket on top.

  13. I think I need to break down and get a SmartPhone or Blackberry. What phones besides BlackBerry sync well with Outlook? Does anyone find it really worthwhile to buy one of the higher end phones with windows? Anyone do the iphone w/ outlook? Any feedback on phones would be great. Buying this weekend.

    1. Faith,

      I am in school right now, however this summer when I worked at a firm, outlook worked wonderfully on my iphone. I really have enjoyed the iphone, however many see the blackberry as more professional.

      1. In what ways do you perceive (or think that others perceive) a Blackberry as being more professional than an iPhone? Just curious!

        1. I’m not the one who made that comment, but I perceive Blackberries as more professional simply b/c I see white-collar professionally-dressed people using Blackberries, and younger teenager-types or blue-collar people using iPhones. Maybe that’s just NYC or maybe I’m perceiving this wrong due to some sort of bias, but that’s always been my impression.

        2. iPhone users tend to be trendy. Blackberries are very corporate-looking. You almost never see anyone with a BB who isn’t required to have it for work.

          Having said that, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using an iPhone instead of a BB if that’s what you prefer and it syncs fine with your work email. iPhones and BBs have different features and the iPhone may have what you want. I know several corporate attorneys who use iPhones. But if you do get one, resist the temptation to walk around listening to music on it.

          1. I’m a law student and know PLENTY of people who have blackberries and aren’t using them for work purposes. Personally, I didn’t want to have a touch screen smart phone when I decided to get one so I went with the Bberry. I have no regrets, I love the phone and love having a QWERTY keyboard again. I had touchscreen phones for about a year and just got annoyed with them.

            I also don’t think there is a perception that iPhones are less appropriate for work, I saw them all the time when I was interviewing this fall.

      2. Really> That sounds kind of silly. I an see if if it wear all jazzed up, but this strikes me as the tendency to go to far ofyen on this board. I personally have both, and much prefer my iPhone. I only use both in order to keep my personal calls separate from business – who wants to be stessed everytime the phone rings on Saturday morning…..

        1. That seems silly to me too. The iPhone is all over the work world. I just attended a professional conference and I would estimate 75% of the people there had an iPhone (my industry is in no way linked to the electronics industry). In fact, the conference organizers developed an app for the iPhone so that attendees could keep track of the meetings they selected, etc. It seems like an intelligent all-around smartphone with a sleek and appealing interface. I don’t get the “trendy” at all with an iPhone. It’s the new Blackberry.

          1. My sister works at a Japanese company where her main goal is to make iPhone apps for the North American/European markets, so I think the iPhone has a lot more going for it than just being trendy. I’ve seen plenty of professionals both young and old walking around with iPhones. These days I probably see more people with the iPhone than a Blackberry.

  14. KK,

    Do you have to do anything special to work outlook on your iphone? I didn’t think microsoft would be compatible with it.

  15. I’m a new attorney – graduated in May, working pro bono for a year then back to the law firm I got deferred from. I’m looking to make contacts in Boston. Already a member of the WBA but wondering what other groups I should join or where I should look to do some good networking. I’ve heard that the BBA is good but I don’t know if its worth the membership fee considering I’m no longer a student.

    Any networking advice would be much appreciated!

    1. I was an Asst DA in big city, left for more money to a big regional firm. I am now agency counsel for a federal agency. To all those who would like challenging work and still have a life, consider the federal govt. They hired me when I was 5 months pregnant with twins and I now work from home 2 days a week and in the office the other three. The work is interesting and sometimes you can actually make a difference!! The pay is respectable and the benefits are great. Best career decision I have ver made.

      1. I would love to move to the fed gov’t, from my current law firm. Any advice on how to get hired in this economy? I heard that even getting a gov’t job is hard these days. How many years experience do you need to have, what are they looking for, etc.? Thanks!

        1. As a government attorney, the perspective that “even a government job” is hard to get is offensive to me. It implies that the job is “less than” the private bar. I’ve heard too many stories from hiring committee members about people who interviewed because they thought the job would be easier to get than other jobs because you don’t need talent or drive to work for the government and it is simply not true. Recent federal postings in Chicago attracted 1200 applicants, including long-term biglaw folk. That said, federal jobs are posted on usajobs.gov if you’re interested.

          1. Twinmom – I’m very amenable to a government job. I’m trying to keep my options open so I can eventually land in work that really interests me. I applied for some government jobs but did not get them. I would love to counsel for a federal agency – I applied for the CIA b/c I thought it would be fun. Hope that doesn’t sound odd. I’m particularly interested in international work.

          2. Didn’t mean to offend – and I wasn’t implying that it was ‘less than’, just that I’ve heard that it is (or used to be) generally easier to get a gov’t position than get hired by a Biglaw firm. But that’s just what I’ve heard or somehow picked up along the way, and I realize there are differences between the agencies, for example, I know the DOJ positions are very hard to get. My question was just that, now that there is more competition for these jobs, since as you said more long-term Biglaw attorneys are applying for them, what are the hiring committees looking for and how could one improve their chances of getting hired.

          3. I’ve been applying to fed jobs for about a year and the typical rejection letter I’ve been getting in recent months indicates that 1000+ applications per position is not uncommon at all. Even state government jobs are now getting hundreds of applications for an open position.

        2. At the DOJ Civil Division, there were over 3,000 applicants for 36 positions this fall through the entry-level Honors Program. It’s extremely competitive. Your best bet is to get some experience in a specific area, and target federal law offices that do your specialty. You’ll need at least one year of experience. Good luck.

      2. I’m now with the fed gov’t after many years at a BigLaw firm, and help with recruiting for my office (general counsel). We are swamped with applicants. We are being super-picky because, well, we can. If you are looking to get into an agency as a lateral, look to where you can capitalize on your experience. This isn’t a time for a career change. As a summer or first year, take a good look at what the agency does and what they’re looking for in a candidate, then show how you match that. This is obvious advice … but you’d be shocked at how many people don’t bother.

        On the pay cut issue: I took a 50% cut coming here from my firm. But it’s been worth every penny. Better hours, more respect, more responsibility — and job stability to boot. As a note to Deborah, almost every in-house job I looked at would have also involved a pay cut. With one smaller company, the offered salary was less than what the feds pay me. And this was 2 years ago.

    2. Have you tried groups that focus on your practice area? Alumni groups from your law school and even undergrad school are good options also. You don’t really want just lawyers in your network, not if your interested in partner track…. You need to develop relationships with professionals in your practice area. Will you have a corporate practice? Join and work in business related groups/orgs. Now is also a good time to do also do some volunteer work. Great way to meet people and build business relationships when you aren’t in a position to ask for something etc…

      1. Divaliscious11 – you make a great point on not wanting only lawyers in my network – but my basic problem now is that I don’t KNOW exactly what my practice will be. I’m keeping my options open and will be doing “general corporate” work when I start at my firm after my deferral ends so joining business related groups sounds like a good idea. I want to get involved but with SOME sort of direction. I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but as much as I’ve always wanted to be an attorney, its really hard to know what area I want to be in what makes me happy because I haven’t TRIED anything yet.

        Thanks for the advice though!!

        1. Arabella,

          A lot of bar associations waive the first year’s fees for newly admitted attorneys (1 year or less). Also, since you have been deferred and work in gov’t/sector, you can usually get reduced fees if a waiver is not automatic.

          Just write a letter explaining your situation, and include a check for what you can reasonably afford to pay.

          Good luck!

        2. I would go the interest group route. Political? Mass Women’s Political Caucus, your party of choice (esp. the Young Dems/Reps groups), or an issue group. Boston Young Professionals’ Assn is sort of for the party hoppers, but its events are pretty widely attended, so there are a variety of professions represented. I’d also hit up your alumni associations (major schools not located in Boston will have a local chapter) for both your undergrad and law school. There are also young professional societies for the MFA and other cultural organizations. I’d start putting out feelers to groups. I’m already getting the holiday party invites and I find those to be some of the best networking events. Also, the election for Kennedy’s seat goes for another month or so and campaigns are a great way to make a connection if any of the candidates are interesting to you.

          1. Great advice! I graduated from a local Boston school so being involved with the school is easy! As for political…not something I had thought of but definitely something I will look into. Thank you.

        3. Do you yet know if you want to do the firm thing long term (you may not, but I knew from the discussions I’d had with younger attorneys that it wasn’t going to be for me long term)? If you already know your dream is not to be a partner, then you are going to want to cultivate a broad transactional skill set so that you are most marketable when you leave the firm. In that case, I’d focus on the civil and affinity groups for relationship building. So much of hiring is network based. For example, we recently hired several attorneys and nearly everyone knew someone at the company. That didn’t get them hired, it got their resume some attention. When you are receiving thousands of applications for each available position, its can be very difficult to get noticed, even if you are a stellar candidate because unfortunately, HR is skimming the resumes and they may not see or understand how a particular skill set translate into a value add in the legal department.

          1. My dream ultimately is to work with the UNDP or a similar organization. Making partner has never been on my list of things to accomplish but I think the experience will be good and I will hopefully stay there for a few years to pay off my loans quickly before going to what really interests me (although the firm does international work and that’s what I’m hoping to be doing, so I’m hoping I will find it interesting work). Thanks for the advice. I definitely see your point about on networking and I’ve started to notice that Boston itself is not as “big” as you’d think. Thanks!

          2. Arabella — I’ve found that paying off my loans quickly by working a few years in Biglaw is not as easy as it sounds — hopefully you’ll be more disciplined than me, but take this as a word of warning, it takes serious attention and discipline to get large loans paid off quickly, even on a high salary, esp. if you’re living in a high cost-of-living city. Best of luck to you!

  16. My practice is just getting started so I can only afford to buy ONE pair of boots this year. Therefore, the pair will have to go with everything in my closet.

    I found this adorable pair in my local DSW: http://www.dsw.com/dsw_shoes/catalog/product.jsp?index=65&sort=price&category=dsw12cat550005&prodId=193443&brand=

    in WINE. I fell in love. They did not have black. They had black online but not in my size (I wear a 6 – 6.5). They were oh so comfortable. They are right on the high end end of my price range.

    Here is what I need to know:

    1. Will wine go with black, blue and gray suits? I don’t have a lot of dark red/wine colored tops. Okay, I don’t think I have any. I have black, blue and white tops.

    2. Is the low top going to be warm enough when I wear skirts? I live in Maryland. I suppose tights will be help with that. If so, color suggestions?

    Thanks all.

    1. If you’re really only going to get one pair of boots, and don’t already have some good black boots (or other type of shoes) for the winter, I would not get wine. I would just find some other boots in black. Wine *could* go with other colored suits, but it seems like you’d have to try harder to make it work, like wear something else that’s wine-colored. Honestly this would just be too much work for me.

      In the middle of winter I would not wear a skirt and tights with boots this low, it would just be too cold for my legs. I usually wear pants all winter anyways. But it depends on how your commute is, how much you’ll be outside, how well you tolerate the cold… I also still don’t much like the look of low boots with skirts, but maybe that’s just me.

    2. Sorry… but if you don’t have black boots, get black ones. Wine is a versatile color, but it’s not formal. I wouldn’t wear wine-colored boots to court. Also, ankle-high boots don’t work with a skirt suit IMO. Even if they don’t make you look stumpy, they look too trendy. I’d recommend getting a pair of sleek knee-high black leather boots that can be worn with skirt suits and under slacks.

      1. If you can only have one pair of boots, and need them to go with everything in your closet including skirts, then ankle length wine is not the way to go, even if they are cute and comfortable.

  17. I have my first dress-up job and had been doing fine until it suddenly got cold. What do you do for a coat if you’re allergic to wool? Not in a wool-is-itchy sense, but in a “Dear god make the burning and blistering stop NOW” way. If I never touch it, I’ll be fine but I’ve found that cuffs and collars are really hard to keep from ever touching your skin.

    Are there dressy non-wool options that can deal with a wet slushy climate? I live in Boston and it’s a pretty harsh climate and a generally formal surrounding.

    1. I wear a non-wool, super-soft scarf under the collar of my coat. Wool gives me a rash if it touches my skin. The scarf works fine.

      I have seen 3/4 length or long down coats that are sleek enough to work in a professional environment, but you’d have to really hunt (something like this would work, but it’s not great: http://www.landsend.com/pp/LongDownCommuterCoat~112985_59.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::LSN&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000141&origin=index). Or if you have $$$ to spend, go for shearling – that’s totally classic, and might be worth the investment as it will last for years.

    2. Maybe you could try to get a wool coat and have the cuffs and collars lined with silk or satin? Otherwise, I would just wear a sleek puffer. Get a down coat without quilting and a sophisticated cut and it would work fine. Or maybe you could get a classic Burberry trench and have it lined?

    3. I have a really warm Michael Kors down jacket that looks pretty stylish considering. You do need to be careful with the interior because mine has a wool lining for extra warmth, but many don’t.

      1. If you truly are allergic, and you live in Boston, then I don’t see what’s so wrong with getting a nice quilted down coat, perhaps with some fur trim. Really, anyone who is going to “judge” an allergic person for wearing a nice quilted down coat in a cold climate isn’t worth the time of day. And this is where this site seems to step back in time for me. This isn’t the 1980’s Dress for Success era in which everyone had to look cookie-cutter.

    4. Just get a full length dressier down coat, for pete’s sake. If anyone asks, explain the allergy and let it drop. You need proper warmth, without blisters et al… The Burberry style coats won’t be warm enough, they line with wool anyway.

      Something like this without the patch pockets is fine for Boston:

      http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446236568&afsrc=1&site_refer=GGLBASE001&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=ParentItem0482618846247

    5. I have to walk to and wait at a train station outdoors every morning before sunrise. Wool jackets simply to NOT cut it for me in the winter! I found the most tailored and fitted black down jacket with a hood that I could find. I’m sure wool is a more professional, but frostbite is not so attractive either, lol.

      Also note that you can actually bring a down jacket to a good tailor too. It wasn’t cheap, but I found a floor-length one that I loved because it was so nice and fitted (yet warm) and had a tailor shorten it to mid-thigh. I think you could also use a tailor to make sure the torso section is nice and fitted.

  18. Husband ordered the droid and I went w/ the blackberry curve. I think I will really like it. We decided Verizon was better for us — it had nothing to do w/ the iphone being ‘unprofessional.”

    1. I think you made a good decision going with Verizon. I know so many people with Iphones who have had lots of trouble with them-never getting texts or phone messages for days at a time, the phone going straight to voicemail without ever ringing, etc.

      1. I just got the Droid and it’s great – if you want to stay with Verizon but want the versatility of the iPhone it’s a great compromise. Plus if you are uncertain about typing on a touch screen it has a handy real keyboard, which I find very easy to use. Love it, bet your husband will too.

        1. To Anon:

          When applying for federal government and trying to get your foot in the door, don’t think strictly of attorney positions. My agency has been hiring many attys into HR positions because of expertise needed in reading/interpreting regulations etc. Once in, it is a easier to access other positions because many positions are posted internally (ie federal employees only). It is not frowned upon and somewhat expected that high achievers will jump around within the government and you do not lose seniority or vacation time as it transfers from agency to agency. Good Luck.

          1. Thank you, this is very helpful. I had assumed that I would be considered “over-qualified” for non-attorney positions and wouldn’t get considered, but I guess I had it wrong!

          2. Thanks for the tip. I’ve been applying nonstop various non-attorney federal positions but hadn’t even considered that HR would be a good fit!

  19. Andd because employment cases are part of the typical caseload for attorneys, knowledge of hr policies and procedures are helpful when applying for the agency counsel positions.

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