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At long last, it's here: the weekend! Something on your mind? Chat about it here.
Our casual recommendation for this weekend: we lurve this shirt from Splendid almost as much as we love the price. While the untucked shirt look can sometimes work for the office, this particular look — with the mixture of jersey and woven fabric — seems made for the weekend with jeans. Was $85, now $33.90 at Nordstrom (sizes S and L only). Splendid Woven Front Knit Pullover Shirt
new years
Love the color of that shirt!
So as my new year’s resolution, I’m trying to be more conscious of what I am putting into my body. To that end, I’m using one of those free online calorie counters. Based on my height and weight, I was told that I need to eat 1200 calories a day. Does anyone really eat this little every day?? I upped the amount to 1500 after failing miserably at eating only 1200, but even that seems like a stretch. I am a slender person by the way and don’t think I stuff myself, so I was curious what others thought. How many calories do you aim to consume on a daily basis?
lulu
I don’t know how many calories I eat but I know it is way more than 1200 a day. But if you aren’t trying to lose weight and just want to be more aware and (presumably) healthy, focus on what you are eating, not the quantity or calorie counts. I try to bring fruit and nuts to work so that I can have a healthy snack during the late afternoon slump rather than making a Starbucks run and I’ve sought out healthy places to eat near my office for those days when I can’t bring my lunch.
LA
1200 sounds low for anybody, especially for longer than a week. I used one of those sites off and on the last two years and thought it was really helpful, though I believe that the calculations for suggested daily calories vary pretty widely among the sites. For me, a food log is the best way to be more conscious of what I’m eating. I also thought that the South Beach diet based on foods’ glycemic value was very helpful. Those are the only two diet experiences I’d have, so I’m by no means a source of advice. My sister-in-law and many others I know have had great results with Weight Watchers.
My girlfriends and I have a motto for this year: “Be more stunning in 2010!”
DLS
I think 1200 is too low if you are trying to maintain your weight. I also agree with lulu — in a lot of ways what you are eating than the calories that you are eating are more important. After all, you could eat 3 candy bars and be under the 1200 limit! One thing that I find that helps me is that my husband packs me a healthy lunch almost every day during the week. On days that I know I am going to be eating out, I look at the menu ahead of time, and if available, the calorie information (I use the website fatsecret.com) to figure out, in advance, what I am going to eat. I lost about 40 pounds several years ago and one thing that I learned was never to deprive myself of anything. If I want dessert after a meal, I have it, just in a reasonably sized portion. Once a week or so, I eat exactly what I am craving, whether it be deep dish Chicago pizza, a burger and fries, or a big piece of chocolate cake. If I start seeing the scale creep up a bit, I pull out my food log and start recording what I eat and my weight goes back down. This method, combined with regular cardio and pilates, plus all of the walking that I do in the City, has helped me keep the weight off for several years.
KLo
When I’m trying to lose weight, 2 lbs. a week is 1200. I have recently upped mine to 1-1.5 lbs per week and I eat 1380 calories a day. That (when I’m eating right and skimping on meats) is actually a hard number to meet. But that’s for weight loss. Maintenance for my body would be 1700 calories. It might be that your settings are wrong … I use myfitnesspal and I’m really happy with it.
A
I use that amount of calories when I am trying to cut weight, but I am 5′ tall and small build. I also add calories for any amount of exercise or general activity level over the norm. And, I allow myself a certain amount of “cheat” calories for the week (say, 7o0) to be dispersed thoughout the week or splurged as I see fit. It does seem like a really low amount for an everyday thing.
I
I have used the food tracker/calorie counter at theDailyPlate, which is now on livestrong.com. I am 5’5.5″ and it said i should be eating around 1900 calories. I had a friend ask a nutritionist friend about the calorie target and the nutritionist said it seemed right, and because I workout I could even consume more calories than that. So perhaps try finding your target calories there. That calorie target allows you to enter whether you are trying to lose weight or to maintain, and what level of physical activity you typically engage in.
North Shore
If you just want to be more conscious about what you eat, but not count calories, you could join the “21 Day Kickstart” by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. It started Jan. 1. http://kickstartdev.pcrm.org/mealplan/index.cfm. It’s a meat-free, dairy-free diet high in whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. I lost weight without even meaning to when I switched to a vegetarian, dairy-free diet about a year ago. I switched to this diet for health reasons (it prevents diabetes), and it’s worked out great for me.
Anonymous
I lost five pounds over the last month using the LoseIt app on my iPhone. I am 5’5″ and went from 135 to 130 pounds with a calorie max of 1,600. I found that just tracking my food throughout the day really helped because I thought about “do I really want to spend 160 calories on that honey skim latte or will a coffee be good enough.”
Anyway, 1,200 seems low to me. I found 1,600 workable, and apparently effective. Now I need to maintain…
ClerkChic
I love, love, LOVE the LoseIt App. I’ve lost 30 lbs with it since October and I cannot believe how easy it was to lose the weight once I used the app to make me conscious of what was going into my body. I’m still looking to lose about 1.5 more lbs, and it has me down to a little over 1,100 calories per day. I’m ok with that on a short-term basis, but pretty soon I’ll be moving up to maintenance (which will be about 1,700 calories given my height and weight).
For help with staying under 1,200, I would refer you to the Cooking Light website, Clean Eating Magazine and Eating Well Magazine. I am amazed at how many healthy, flavorful, easy to prepare meals I have found that are less than 400 calories and that really fill me up!
FlaAsh
I totally agree. I’m actually surprised that many of you have trouble staying under 1500 calories a day. I am 5’2″, 115 and I am careful about what I eat, but not so much that I don’t eat things I want to eat. I very rarely hit the 1500 mark (the only time is at “that time of month” ha!) but that is just because that’s the way I eat – not because it’s a goal. I also like the myfitnesspal.com program and have found it helpful… Here are some hits to keep your calories under 1500.
1. Breakfast should always include some form of fresh fruit. By doing this, you will keep your calories low and your stomach full. Breakfast under 400 calories: 1 banana or 3/4 cup of other fruit, half a bagel with cream cheese or a regular bowl of oatmeal with milk and sugar, two cups of coffee with sugar and creamer. Sub tea for coffee and you cut the calories even more.
2. Lunch should always include fresh fruits and/or veggies in some format. For a solid lunch under 500 calories make a veggie (or chicken, turkey, fish, egg salad, etc. & veggie) pita or wrap. A half a cup of sliced strawberries. A small container of cottage cheese or yogurt. Plus a hard boiled egg.
3. Dinner should always include fresh veggies (not fruit – fruit is high in natural sugars and can be hard on the digestive system while sleeping). A full dinner under 500 calories: 1 chicken breast, 1 cup of white or brown rice, green beens, carrots, and a croissant or other bread/roll. Or, veggie stir fry with rice. Or Naked taco salad (without the shell, either sour cream OR cheese – not both). You could even have a grilled cheese and 1/2 can of tomato soup and you’d stay under 500 calories!
So, if your goal is to lose weight, I would definitely recommend trying to find recipes and other foods that will help you stay under the 1500 mark… It’s totally doable without starving yourself!
Erin M.
Try http://www.fitday.com. You can keep a record of what you eat and your activities, and it estimates your calorie consumption and calories burned. I’ve been on a diet and have lost over 30lbs and Fitday has helped me greatly.
(Incidentally, unless you are an absolute waif who is sedentary, 1200 is probably way lower than necessary and is possibly unhealthy. By way of comparison, a 5’2″, 120lb woman who is seated all day at work and doesn’t exercise burns around 1700 calories a day. It’s possible that you entered too ambitious a weight loss goal in the online calculator – you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you consume to lose a pound, so if you’re trying to knock off 10lbs in a month, depending on your starting weight you may have to eat very, very little to reach that goal (which isn’t healthy). If that’s the case, try a less ambitious goal. Cutting 250 calories per day will mean losing about 2lbs per month.)
Erin M.
Oh, and I exercise almost daily, and I eat anywhere from 1700-2300 calories per day. My daily average is probably about 2000. If I intentionally try to eat less than 1800 I end up hungry and sad.
JJ
There’s lots of nutrition/exercise advice that gets published with no actual basis in science (even in mainstream journals). Some good resources I’ve found are a book called “The New Rules of Lifting for Women” (which focuses on strength/resistence training, but also has a big section on nutrition). There’s also an online forum called the JP Fitness Forum, which has a lot of good discussion and advice (and lots of recommendation for other sources of information).
new years
Thank you everyone for the very helpful comments! I looked around online and saw something about multiplying my weight x 11. That ends up being around 1400 calories for me, but I see that another person here recommended multiplying my weight by 15.
I agree with the comments about cooking at home, eating whole foods and being vegetarian. My husband and I ended up losing about 5-10 pounds after we started to take food from home because when we went out, we invariably ended up eating chips, cookies and other junk we really did not need. We’ve also been vegetarians for our entire lives and that helps too.
Good luck everyone!
Clerky
Over the last few years, I have managed to maintain my weight, even in months when I rarely work out. I drastically changed my diet after reading a diet book where the author professed that the key to long term weight loss/weight maintenance was about the food that you put into your body, NOT the amount that you exercise. That was a revelation for me and made me a lot more hopeful because even in the weeks when I was too busy to work out, I knew that I had still control over my weight.
Here’s what I have learned over the last few years and have incorporated into my diet:
— I almost never get any calories from liquid (no soda, no juice). On occassion, I have a glass or two of red wine
— I eat the same breakfast almost every single day — steel cut oats, flaxseed, blueberries, unsweetened soy milk, and a cup of tea. I like the fact that I don’t have to think about what to make in the morning.
— I eat snacks throughout the day, like a stick of skim mozarella cheese, low fat yogurt, and raw walnuts.
— I almost always bring lunch from home. I cook a bunch of dishes on Sundays and that keeps for at least a few days, and I cook again sometime mid-week. At first it was work, but now I really enjoy cooking and like the fact that I know exactly what I am putting into my body.
— If I don’t have time to cook, I like to eat Amy’s bean burritos or the soups (they are low calorie, mostly low sodium and pretty healthy)
— I don’t buy anything that has high fructose corn syrup. It’s disgusting and it is in almost everything (ie: yogurt, cheese, ketchup) so you have to be careful.
— I plant a small herb and veggie garden on my balcony every summer. This doesn’t necessarily help with weight loss per se, but I like being able to pick some herbs and add them to my food. I also like the fact that there are no pesticides or other gunk in my veggies.
Under this “plan”, I have lost about 5 pounds and my husband has lost 15! This is without any sort of committed exercise plan. Of course, I always strive to work out three times a week but it doesn’t always happen. Also, I’m a busy associate in big law so I don’t have a ton of time on my hands, but I realized that I simply need to make time for my health.
I hope my ideas are helpful. Good luck ladies!
J
God no. Unless you are really trying to lose weight, 1200 sounds way too low (at least it would be for me – I’m 5’5″ and slender).
I’ve seen those online calorie counters and have the following to say:
(1) they often give you the bare minimum to be “healthy” (as opposed to “unhealthy”), so if you were to eat, say, 1100 calories that might actually be a health problem.
(2) they are often focused on weight loss advice. If they give you advice that pushes you a lot, a person aiming to lose weight might drop the pounds fast, but then not be able to continue and “fail” their diet – the website can then blame the person’s lack of willpower instead of their poor advice.
(3) they don’t take your own body’s metabolism into account. Everyone is different and really rely on such numeric advice. I got tested by an endocrinologist and it turns out the body I live in absorbs some types of nutrients really efficiently (meaning I actually end up deriving MORE calories from them than another person might) and metabolize/digest other types of nutrients pretty inefficiently (meaning they sort of pass through faster without going to my thighs). Everyone has their own body quirks.
That online advice looks like it might be okay if you are trying to jumpstart a diet or have a really slow metabolism, but I think it would leave the average woman starving and then binging on a giant loaf of bread or something.
DJ
That free calorie counter must think that you want to lose weight, but it sounds like you’re trying to maintain? I’m 5’3″ 139 pounds and if I wanted to maintain my weight I should be eating just over 1,900 calories, and adding more food for any exercise I do (I have a very sedentary job, as I’m sure most of us do).
L
A good rule of thumb for maintenance calories is your body weight x 15 = number of calories. (This is in pounds) Unless you are very light already, that will be a lot more than 1200.
Focus more on eating whole foods, less processed foods, etc., and I bet you will feel and look great! :)
MamaJD
One of my New Year’s resolutions (as is most of America’s) is to get more fit this year. I am focusing on Pilates and some cardio. Unfortunately, I had not been in the gym in months before 2010 and put on pounds from sitting on my bum at my desk most of the day. As a result of the extra pounds, I cannot fit a number of my sports tops/bras.
Does anyone know a good place to find quality yet affordable workout clothing? Thank you in advance. Hopefully, I’ll be able to fit back into my old pieces in due time, but until then…
jcb
I like TitleNine a lot. I always end up liking the pieces I buy there more than the ones I pick up randomly here and there. I think they are pretty good at making sure they sell quality items, and they aren’t pricey.
MelD
I get most of my workout clothes at Target. I’ve gotten more than one top there for $4-5 because I’m not too picky about the color. The clothes are surprisingly durable, but at that price even if they fall apart after a few months it is not a big deal. Unfortunately the sports bra selection is terrible. I find that JC Penney has a decent selection and reasonable prices.
FlaAsh
Target!! The seamless sports bras by Champion are great. I have an intense workout group that I attend three or four times a week for an hour or more. I have five of the champion sports bras and they have held up great through the last year of workouts… No rips, tears, stains, and they are super comfy.
http://www.target.com/b/ref=nav_t_spc_1_inv_1_21/185-7841797-0958406?ie=UTF8&node=2172906011
anon - chi
Just a suggestion, but if you are going to spend more on any single item, I would vote for the sports bra. Even two really good ones will probably be worth more to you in the long run than a closet full of cheaper ones, at least if you are a D cup or bigger. You may have to wash them more frequently but you will be more comfortable and they will hold up better than if you cut corners. I’ve searched high and low and have never found an inexpensive alternative that worked nearly as well as the more expensive variety (like lululemon).
Associate
I agree with splurging on a quality sports bra. For everything else, I also love Target! Also, I try to avoid putting anything with elastic in the dryer. It will seriously degrade the elastic and shorten its lifespan.
Associate
I forgot to add – discount places like Ross, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, or Nordstrom Rack often have quality sports bras for a fraction of the price, although they can really crazy colors!
DLS
I love lululemon — especially the sales! I also found that the Champion website is a great place to look. They have great sports bras for those of us who are a little bigger on top and their workout clothes are cute without breaking the bank. I have tried TJMaxx and Marshalls but I think I need more patience to sift through the racks to find what I am looking for.
Lobbyist
Lucy is almost as cute as Lululemon and not nearly as pricey. Also my Nike stuff lasts forever, I have Nike workout stuff thats a decade old and still in really good shape. If you are trying to lose weight and dont think you will need the sizes for long, go for Target. I have some really cute Champion stuff from Target, the quality is good and the price great.
Anonymous
I agree w/ the below about Sports Authority — really any big-box sports store will work fine, they have discounted brand-name lines and good store-brand stuff too.
Yasmin
Target really does have great workout stuff in a variety of sizes – the Champion brand sports bras I get there are my favorite. And if this is a temporary weight increase, just get the bare minimum so you don’t waste your money! Work out clothes really don’t need to be stylish IMHO.
MelD
It’s great to know that Target has good sports bras. My branch just has the ones with the very tiny straps that would not be suitable for anyone with larger than an A cup. It’s amazing how the merchandise can vary so dramatically from one store to another.
frustrated academic
Try Marshall’s and Sports Authority–although you have to be willing to comb the racks at Marshall’s to find hidden gems. The house brand at Sports Authority is of pretty good quality, and when the pieces are marked down, they are quite reasonable.
I would also suggest keeping an eye out at Lululemon, as the sale prices are quite good, and tailoring is free. The bonus is that they stand up really well, in my case being washed three times a week . If you only want to buy one “new” piece, you can wear and wash constantly without having to worry that you look like you are ;-)
frustrated academic
Sorry, I mean to post this as a rely to Mama JD above!
Lobbyist
As per the calories, it depends on your size and activity level. I did Lose it (a great free calorie counter app for the iphone) and when I ate what they said I should to maintain my weight, I lost weight. But I really liked seeing the percentage of calories each day that were carbs, protein and fat. (I rarely eat enough protein). Anyway, I am 5’9 and I work out almost 6 days a week and to maintin my 150 lb weight I need almost 2000 calories and I lose on anything less than that.
Anonymous
Agree with everything above about 1200 being too low. I think it’s also very, very dependent on your metabolism and, to a lesser degree, how much you exercise.
Also, wanted to share this with other Corporettes — because learning about this made me feel much better about my diet decisions – http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2009/01/quiz-are-you-a-moderator-or-an-abstainer.html
She discusses “moderators” versus “abstainers” for dieting. If you’re a moderator, then you can eat just one piece of something tasty, but if you’re an abstainer, that one piece will trigger too much indulging. This really helped me to brush off comments from people that “just one piece won’t kill you” or “you’re over doing the diet thing” — because I know now that this is just how my body / taste buds work, and this is what works for me.
Also, in general that blog is pretty good for helpful tips. I like the “Wednesday tip” thing.
Erin M.
That’s a great link. I used to be an over-indulger because I felt like I couldn’t resist and then once I’d started, why not have more because I’ve already ruined my diet plan for the day. Now that I keep track of what I eat – both calories and nutrient balance – I don’t have as much guilt or hangups about eating treats and junk food. I can just check and see how many calories I’ve had so far, whether I’ve already had too many carbs or too much fat, etc, and if there’s room in my daily eating for a slice of cake, I go for it. And then I stop, because I don’t feel like I already ruined my diet. It’s been a surprise because I never thought I was the kind of person who could eat just a handful of chips.
em
love that site!
hh
My quest earlier this week was to look for a new “professional hairstyle.” I’m 43 and wanted something totally different for the new decade. Yikes.. finding a hair style on line was a nightmare. I had shoulder length straight hair – flipped out at the ends with bangs… so blah for me. When I googled professional hair styles… I got the likes of Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton. If that’s professional.. YIKES. Not really something that flies at the midwestern CPA firm where I work. I then when to several online catalogs.. .Talbots, J Crew, Jones Store… to see if their models had something shorter but less trendy… to no avail.. it was all long straight hair. My hairdresser is great but she loved my longer hair even though I did not. I finally found a style I liked but what a nightmare… so ladies of Corporette… how do you recommend finding a hairstyle that is not long and straight? Although I am caucasin – I went with this look – http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/07/25/amd_sade.jpg – and it turned out great
Anonymous
That’s a great cut. Congratulations! Unfortunately, I have no advice for finding a good non-long-and-straight cut. I’ve got very fine, very thin, very straight hair, and my hair-stylist always has good suggestions, so I go with her recommendation.
Nita
Try Google Images for pictures of hair cuts. For example, here is an image search for “short hair cuts” – http://snipr.com/u11wr [images_google_com]
You can really waste a lot of time and drive yourself crazy looking for a picture of the exact style you want. Instead, I recommend spending a limited amount of time to collect pictures of styles that appeal to you, then devoting more time to find a good stylist. Ask around, check your city magazine, look on Yelp, etc. A good stylist will appreciate seeing pictures of what you like, but also will be able to interpret your preferences into a look that works for you.
Anonymous
Someone above mentioned Pilates…. I’ve honestly never tried it. Does it actually work? (for burning calories)
LYA
A traditional Pilates workout is a fantastic strengthening workout (particularly for your core), but I find that I still need a good cardio session to sweat and really burn some calories (Spinning is fantastic for this)
MelD
Pilates is focused mostly on flexibility and toning, so it’s not really the best approach if you want to lose weight or burn a lot of calories. I really like Pilates because you don’t need a lot of room or any equipment other than a yoga mat. I find that it’s a great alternative to more traditional strength training activities because I absolutely hate doing lunges, pushups, and squats for any period of time. Usually you do just a few reps of each exercise and move onto the next move.
Emily
I started doing mat/floor Pilates (not the “reformer” kind) about 10 months after I had my second baby and needed to get back into my old clothes. Doing two one-hour classes a week – and pretty much nothing else, no dieting or aerobics – I was back in my old clothes in a couple of months. (Dropped two sizes!) It really worked for me.
jcb
I just started doing pilates reformer classes twice a week in April, and I can see a big difference in my body. Way more toned, much stronger and more flexible. Much better posture. Haven’t lost a pound, though. I need to get in some cardio, but find it hard to get to the gym when there isn’t a trainer waiting for me!
Claire
I lost 30 lbs almost three years ago and the 1200 calorie a day thing can be doable IF you’re really careful about what you eat. As someone mentioned above, you could eat 1200 calories a day by eating 3 candy bars–but you’ll be miserable and hungry and make yourself sick. If you eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and poultry then you should be able to eat about 1200 a day with no problem. Personally, I had a calorie range from between 1200-1800 that I would try to stick to depending on how active I was and also gave me the freedom to eat more if I was still hungry. Just remember that everyone needs to treat themselves once in awhile! My rule for treats was that it had to be worth the experience (greasy fast food=not worth it, but a night out with friends/hubby/whoever at a favorite restaurant=totally worth it).
Erin M.
Haha, we are polar opposites. My rule for indulgences is that it has to be something that I crave and drool over – something just like a big fat honkin’ bacon cheeseburger with fries. Favorite restaurant? I’ll have salad and fish, no drink, please.
v
Wait, wouldn’t the thing that you crave and drool over be what they serve at your favorite restaurant? No shame in loving burgers and fries. :-)
Erin M.
Hmmm. Eating at a restaurant is more about the whole experience for me – ambience, type of cuisine, having a drink, etc. If I’m craving something it’s usually something I either make myself or can purchase for under $5. Probably that’s just me.
Rachel
Well, if you are bigger chested, then you really want to invest in a sports bra. I love the ones from Moving Comfort. No matter how much bouncing around I’m doing, the girls stay put.
Kim
Okay, exercise fan here. The way to eat 1200 calories and not feel miserly is to eat healthier food – you’ll eat greater quantities to fill up. Spreading yogurt, 1 large fruit (banana is filling), 1 cup of tea (sugar no cream), a can of tomato juice, 100 calorie pack of goldfish and a soda over the day will sustain you – but you can’t eat them together. And you must eat breakfast – cereal at 120 or less calories per serving.
Anonymous
Agree, but I don’t think the key is just eating “healthier,” I think it’s more about eating foods w/ high density, i.e. more weight relative to calories. This allows you to fill up without consuming too many calories. Salad is healthy but I’d feel like I’m starving if I had to have just lettuce for a meal. Some good high-density foods are carrots (really any vegetable that’s heavy); any fruit but especially apples, pears, and bananas; soup; and probably a zillion other things.
v
People are different. When I eat that over the course of the day (and yes, I have eaten in ways equivalent to that for long periods of time, so I’m not just guessing), I turn into a total and utter mess. It’s important not just to eat the amount or types of food that other people tell you you “should” be able to survive on, but instead to find something that works for your body.
Anonymous
Agree. I’ve found that it’s better to find a sustainable diet that you can keep at over the long run, even if that doesn’t quite get you to your “ideal weight,” than to do any sort of yo-yo dieting or starve yourself.
Liz
That is a great color on that blouse.
K
I’m at 1L and I have a summer associate interview next week with a large firm in a Midwest city. I’m pretty nervous since these interviews are hard to come by in this economy! I’m planning on wearing a black suit with a button-down shirt. Our career services office recommends being as conservative as possible for these interviews, so should I stick to a white button-down or is it better to add some color? Also, is it more appropriate for an interview in the winter to wear black or nude/flesh-colored hosiery with a black suit? I don’t have prior experience working at a law firm, so I’m not sure what is most common or appropriate. Thanks for the help ladies!
Lawgirl
Hi K, I think the key is to be conservative YET comfortable in your own skin. I’m personally more of a silk blouse-in-jewel-color and dark suit type of person. That’s my “game day” look, and it gives me confidence. I haven’t worn a button down since I worked part-time at Blockbuster video after college, so if I put myself in a cotton button-down for an interview, I’d feel “off.” I’ve read a few articles that echo this sentiment: Find your personal style and learn to work it. Hillary Clinton chose her infamous pant-suits; Michelle Obama chose cardigans & skirts, Nancy Pelosi (whom I ADORE fashion-wise) wears her understated Armani suits and pearls. Firms are tough, but there is a range of “acceptable” that’s pretty broad. Look over the Corporette-type recommendations for blouses/tops and find something that you feel good in. GOOD LUCK!! You will do well :-D
Lawgirl
Oh, I’d wear hose. They’re a PITA, but in winter, they polish your look. I prefer darker hose with dark pump (it’s essential with suede pumps, IMHO). I think nude hose with dark pumps looks hella dated. I know others may disagree there….
anon - chi
I remember interviewing as a 1L and feeling like what I wore was very important, but now when I conduct interviews for my firm, I never really notice what the person is wearing unless it is somehow inappropriate or odd. Stay away from distracting jewelry and the obvious no-nos (anything too short/tight/otherwise revealing) and you will be fine. I would also recommend avoiding really soft “girly” pastel colors and super-high heels. The idea is to wear nothing that will take the focus off of you and what you bring to the table.
Anonymous
I’ve worked at a large law firm in a Midwest city. I wonder if it’s the same one? Anyway, I agree with the other poster who said your outfit is unlikely to be noticed so long as you don’t wear something outrageous.
I would NOT wear a white button-down shirt because I think the black suit/white shirt thing only works if one wears a tie (to add color), which I assume you are not doing. Wear something with a some color. Also, it doesn’t have to be a button-down–a shell would be fine. I’ve had good success with a rust-colored silk shell.
As for hose, my personal opinion (and I know others feel differently), is that black hose look strange with a suit. To me, black hose are for evening wear. This entire issue is one reason why I wear pantsuits to interviews, although I realize that’s a hotly-debated issue…
Good luck!
MelD
I’m with you on the black hose. If I decide to wear black with a suit (although not for interviews) I typically wear tights because I feel like it gives me a more uniform leg coverage.
That said, I typically wear pantsuits to interviews. I just feel more comfortable and confident in them because I’m not worrying about having to go to the bathroom to adjust my hose or replace them if they run. Having worked in places about a decade ago where sexual harassment was rampant, I also don’t care to work for a place where someone is going to decide not to hire me because I’m wearing pants. I’m in my early 30s and just entering into the law field and most of my female friends doing the same in my age group seem to feel the same way.
DLS
I am a senior associate at a mid-sized firm in the Midwest and I would recommend some color in your blouse, black hosiery and black shoes. Keep the shirt a relatively conservative color (blues and pinks tend to work well but I think any silky jewel toned blouse would work well) and keep the jewelry classic. Don’t wear really high heels and make sure you are comfortable with the way you look sitting and standing. I also think it depends a bit on your age — I have seen women come in for summer associate interviews at my firm who worked for a few years before law school, and they seem to get away with clothes that are a bit less conservative than those women who are younger. I agree with anon – chi — when I was interviewing, I was very concerned about my clothes, but during my tenure at my firm, I have realized that as long as your clothes aren’t “out there” how you present yourself and what you say are more important.
Erin M.
I remember worrying about the same things when I was interviewing. I worried way too much.
It’s totally fine to wear a colorful shirt and a pretty accessory or two (I like silk scarves and pearl earrings myself). Just don’t wear anything distracting that will take the focus off what you’re saying (e.g. a red suit, chandelier earrings, purple pumps). Either black or nude hose is fine. I suggest you bring an extra pair and some clear nail polish in your bag so in case you get a run you can fix it or, if it’s bad, change them in the bathroom. Also, if it’s an all-day interview, keep in mind that you may have to walk a few blocks to lunch and wear appropriate shoes.
North Shore
I think that once you’re on the interviewing side, you’re used to seeing people dressed professionally every day. If the interviewee comes in looking like everybody else in the office, that person is going to look like someone who will fit in, which will help that person’s chances of landing a job. The interviewee, however, who usually wears jeans and a sweater every day to school, probably feels strange in these clothes. So, to K, wear your suit with confidence — pretend you wear one every day, and try to look comfortable! I’d wear off-black hose, and a shirt with some color, because the black-suit, white-shirt thing looks so severe, and you want to look comfortable and confident. Good luck! Hope you get the job!
Ms B
I do a half day of interviewing each year at my midwestern alma mater for summer associates. A few tips for women candidates:
1. Hose are a must for interviewing! However, black hose are inappropriate for day. Instead, try the Hanes “off black” color, which works well with a black suit and shoes. When a candiate wears tights to an interview, be it with pants or a skirt, I assume that the candidate has an obvious tattoo that needs covering. Think about whether that is the message that you want to send before you choose tights. Also, also bring an extra pair of hose in your purse, just in case.
2. Interview shoes should be leather. Not suede, not patent, but leather. With closed toes and closed heels and no platforms. I have no problem with slingbacks or peep toes in the office, but in the interview context, I do not want to see your feet. Also, no boots. If the weather is bad, change out of the boots in the cloakroom and pop them into a tote. Make sure your shoes are polished and do not have salt stains, worn sheets, or noticeable scuffs.
3. I would avoid wearing a button down with an interview suit as it can be too preppy and can make you look really young. I recommend a polished cotton blouse with a spread or shawl collar or a matte silk or poly-crepe blouse, either collared or collarless, with long sleeves in white, cream or ivory. Please notice that I said long sleeves — I expect to see a flash of cuff under the suit jacket. Check the blouse before you decide to wear it to make sure that it is not too sheer. Do not wear knit shells to an interview as they are too informal for that context.
4. If you want to perk up the look a little, you can add a gold necklace, pearls, or a simple drop necklace and/or a nice scarf tucked under the collar of the suit. Earrings should be simple as well. You might be able to add a simple brooch to the lapel of your jacket. But leave the chunky necklaces, rhinestones, and bangles at home and avoid any jewelry that makes noise. Also sports watches. If you do not have a simple dress watch, better to go without than to show up with the rubber Timex on at an interview.
5. If you are going to carry a purse (I actually would avoid it if possible), make sure it is clean and does not have papers poking out of it. If you are going to have to open the purse (to give the interviewer a business card or get a tissue), then make sure that the purse is organized and not full of junk that falls out.
Good luck! Let us know how it goes!
Erin M.
Wow. Just, wow.
How do you find time to listen to the candidates’ responses to your questions while you’re so busy examining and judging every shallow little detail of their outfits?
Then again, the candidates you ding because of their shoes or button-front (which is not the same as button-down) shirt are probably fortunate not to end up working for you.
AN
Tights automatically says ” tattoo” to you?? Wow!
J
I know, right? And here I always thought tights just said “it’s cold outside.”
Then again, years ago when I was a law student and bought my first suit, I was really pleased with how nice I looked wearing them with my new sleeveless silk knit shells, which I thought were the most grown-up thing I’d ever owned. So obviously I don’t meet Ms B’s standards.
Nita
Thumbs up from me! Thanks for taking the time to provide valuable information and advice.
Clerky
Wow, I have never heard of the long sleeve blouse recommendation as opposed to just a nice sleeveless or short sleeved silk shell underneath the suit. Interesting.
Lynette
I find it hard to believe that a woman who has chosen a career in a conservative field would even consider getting a tattoo on her lower legs. I think that you should seriously consider nixing the “opaque hose = tattoo” mindset.
Anonymous
I actually know of several female attorneys with lower leg/ankle tattoos (myself not included), all of which were acquired prior to law school. It’s very easy to believe that women in law, banking, and any other number of conservative fields have tattoos, and equally easy to believe that you’ve worked alongside them without realizing it.
Lynette
I have no difficulty believing that there are those in conservative career fields who have tattoos that are covered up by their business attire (some of my co-workers would be surprised to find out that I have a couple).
I’m with anon-chi, I think the numbers of people in (or seeking) conventional corporate positions who have *prominent* tattoos are probably pretty small. As unfair as it is…I hear too many stories from recruiters and hiring managers who frown upon visible tattoos on men and women- as evidenced by Ms B’s post, although her using tights as evidence is pretty crazy (which was really my whole point).
Erin M.
I find it hard to believe anyone would care if a woman in a conservative field has a tattoo, so long as she has the sense to cover it in formal settings.
Seems like yet another double standard. I’ve never heard anyone question a man’s judgment or fitness for a job because he has a tattoo.
Anonymous
I’ve got a tattoo on the inside of my ankle, and I’ve worked at a big law firm in the Midwest and clerked for a federal judge. I acquired the tattoo five years before starting law school. My friend, who got a tattoo with me, is now a PhD and professor in chemistry. In this day and age, I’m not buying into the idea that women in conservative fields don’t have tattoos concept.
Mel
I wouldn’t be surprised to see many women in conservative fields who have tattoos on their ankles, but a woman wearing tights is just as likely be wearing them because it’s cold out or because she has bruises or other leg blemishes that show through a more translucent pair of hose. I tend to bruise easily and live in a bug-infested area, so being in a situation where my legs are not suitable for a sheer look is pretty much par for the course.
anon - chi
Huh?? Tights = tattoo??? The number of lawyers, male or female, who are interviewing in conventional law firms and have a prominent tattoo anywhere typical business wear would not cover has got to be TINY. Dinging a woman for wearing tights is insane, particularly in the midwest in the middle of winter. Ditto for the knit shell being too informal. I know I wore a knit AND black leather boots with a pant suit for my callbacks, and I got offers at all the typical biglaw places in Chicago (Kirkland, Latham, Sidley, Mayer Brown, etc).
Law firms are trying to make an investment in their summer hires that will last for years, potentially even decades. They want to know that you have the good sense to wear appropriate clothes for an interview, but in my experience almost no one is scrutinizing clothing choices to this degree, nor does it make good business sense to do so.
Gail
I am a 55 year old shareholder who does the interviewing and hiring for my department in a small firm. You would do well to consider the age of the interviewer and dress accordingly. Its easy to say that the only requirement should be to look neat and professional, but what looks “professional” varies by the age and locale of the interviewer. I agree with most of what Ms B says (except the tights = tattoo). However, when I was growing up and beginning practice, children wore tights, adult women wore sheer hose. Also, female attorneys did not wear pants to court. Think of dressing for an interview as putting on a costume. Its more important to express your individuality by what you say than how you dress.
Sharon
Gail, it’s not 1985 John Molloy Dress for Success any more. This whole post gives me flashbacks to when suede pumps were *outrageous* and we all wore floppy bow ties around our necks and didn’t dare wear any jewelry other than pearl studs and plain pearl necklaces. Ugh.
Louise
While many have found Ms B’s answer surprising, I think it is really important to realize that you don’t know in advance who is judging you by your clothes. Good or bad, we make an impression by what we wear.
Knowing that some interviewers may think tights=tattoo should make you think twice about wearing tights. At least acknowledge that the bias exists for some people, and then decide how important it is to YOU to wear tights.
While some of us may think that B’s attitude is extreme, I’m grateful that she shared it. And perhaps the reactions to B’s post will be instructive to other people. This is a great dialogue, and a safe place to have it!
J
Other than the interviewee’s substantive answers to my questions, there are 3 things I look for when I do interviews:
1. Is the interviewee’s appearance professional? (I.e., he or she is wearing a suit; is not wearing anything sloppy, flashy or overtly sexy; and does not smell of BO, smoke or strong perfume/cologne. Beyond that, nothing else about appearance or outfit details really matters.)
2. Does the interviewee demonstrate an understanding of basic manners and social graces? (I.e., he or she is not going to make an ass of himself with clients. Mild social awkwardness or nervousness is fine, but actual rudeness – to waiters or to the person walking through a door behind him, for instance – will be noted and means the interviewee is unlikely to get the job.)
3. Does the interviewee seem like someone I would enjoy, or at least be able to tolerate, spending 8+ hours a day working with, day in and day out for a few years? (This is the one you have the least control over, unfortunately – the intangible “click” with the interviewer. So don’t freak out about it, and just let your personality show in your answers and appearance.)
Anonymous
The blouse looks a little see-through to me. You can see the line of her pants.
ATLDA
I agree with Lawgirl’s comment. I graduated law school 10 years ago and really what i notice in interviews is whether the overall look is neat and tidy. I think darker suits, gray, blacks, and blues look best but the buttom down shirt is not required. In fact, they can be boring. If that is your style–then go for it–but if not, pick a cute top to wear underneath to show a little personality and style. Good luck!
Anonymous
Anyone have recommendations for sports bras that don’t cause “headlights” when you sweat? When mine get wet this problem emerges and I’ve become somewhat self-conscious about it at the gym. I’ve tried Champion and Moving Comfort, and I like those bras for their other aspects, but they’re not good about addressing this problem.
Cait
There is a company from Oregon called Handful (http://www.handfulinc.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=HOME), I bought mine at Aries Apparel (http://www.ariesapparel.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=HANDFULADULT!HANDF).
They have removable molded cups so the “headlights” can’t show through if you have them in. However, they are designed for smaller chested woman (A-C cup only). My first one was so comfortable I just bought a second! I think Aries Apparel had some other bras with molded cups last time I was there, but I wasn’t looking specifically for something like that. Good luck!
Anonymous
Thanks for the rec! I think I’m going to try one of those.
Marla
Any recommendations for boots and dress shoes that work well on cobblestones? I live in a city without cobblestones, but will be spending several weeks over the next 3 months in cities with cobblestones and will be walking a lot. It’ll be very cold (snow and ice) so I need some shoes that are very comfortable, not stilettos, and durable. Because of packing restrictions for the trips, I’d like to take one pair of black dress shoes and 1 pair of knee-high black dress boots. Any thoughts?
Anonymous
I love these boots:
http://www.zappos.com/ak-anne-klein-aloe-black-leather
I live in Boston and these have held up well in the winter weather.
Woman of Color
Whatever you do, don’t purchase any boots from ALDO. I bought a pair of low heeled, black knee high boots last winter. One rainy weekend in cobble stoned Boston, and they literally disintegrated. In my opinion, ALDO is unnecessarily overpriced for a poor quality shoe.
Louise
As another data point, I had a pair of Aldo boots that were so sturdy that I used them as motorcycle boots for three years. This was about 7 years ago, though, and the quality may have declined since then.
Sigh. I loved those boots, too.
MelD
I got a pair of Clarks Indigo heels about 18 months ago that held up really well in inclement weather. They have nice rubber soles and I wore them in rain, sleet, snow, heavily salted areas, and other unpleasant weather conditions and they still look almost as good as new. I assume with the rubber soles you’ll do well on cobblestones. Indigo tends to be the trendier Clarks styles so they do not look orthopedic at all.
I got a great pair of Born boots last year that I really liked as well. Again, they have sturdy rubber soles and are great for walking good distances.
I think you want to avoid having a stiletto/pointier heel since they won’t hold up as well on cobblestones. I second WoC’s Aldo comment. I have a pair of boots I just wore on salted sidewalks from time to time and they had to be re-heeled almost immediately. I paid $40 for them so it’s not like it was a huge loss.
Marla
Thanks, ladies!
Erin M.
Go for wedges or flats, not split high heels. There are lots of cobblestone streets where I live and high heels are deadly. And in a cold, snowy, icy place people will not be expecting you to be wearing polished heels all the time. I, and all the attorneys I work with, either wear flat-ish leather boots all day, or commute in snow boots and change at the office.
I have good, supportive wedges from Aerosoles and Rockport and a good pair of black almost-flat boots from Naturalizer. Try something like these: http://www.aerosoles.com/product1.asp?P=BAREFOOT .
Erin M.
Oh, and salt will ruin leather. Make sure you invest in good leather cleaning and conditioning products and waterproof your shoes/boots before wearing them.
ae
Just received my loan consolidation summary statement in the mail yesterday. It’s rather depressing, especially considering my salary of 35K. Any advice or hope out there?
Anonymous
Does your law school have a loan repayment assistance program?
divaliscious11
That sounds like some sort of public interest work. Check with your school to see if there is loan forgiveness, and also do some searches on-line. I thought there was a new forgiveness program after a certain amount of time for those in public interest employment.
ae
No sadly it’s not public interest, which would have a 10 year forgiveness period. I work for a small general practice firm in Buffalo, NY.
I would be eligible for the new IBR program. Your monthly payment is limited to 15% of your discretionary income (gross – 150% of the poverty level), and the balance is forgiven after 25 years. But as soon as your IBR monthly payment hits what your standard payment would be, you get switched back into the standard repayment schedule.
I’m all for committing to make those payments for 25 years, but I would hate become ineligible and have to deal with all that interest. Should I suck it up and pay my loans down as much as possible under a standard repayment schedule?
MelD
If there is a large difference between what you’re paying now and the IBR, I think the IBR may be worth it. You don’t want to force yourself to stay on a standard repayment schedule if it means you’re racking up high-interest credit card debt or have no cushion in case of an emergency. If and when you become ineligible, you’re probably going to be more able to deal with the extra interest than you are now with your current salary.
Erin M.
If the loan is federal, you probably qualify for an economic hardship deferral, during which interest will not accumulate.
I am on the IBR plan and make significantly more than you. You’d really have to increase your salary exponentially to get switched to the standard plan. Unless you think that seems likely, IBR is probably a good choice.
ae
thanks for the advice!
Emily
Just got the coat I ordered from overstock and I’m so excited. It’s a long, wool-cashmere blend, black Ellen Tracy. So soft. In addition to looking great on, the sleeves are actually long enough for my monkey arms! Bonus: the pockets are nice and deep. Including tax and shipping, I think I paid something like $110.
Erin
I LOVE Overstock! Congrats!
mkm
Depends on what the “standard” schedule involves. Originally, before I consolidated, my “standard” schedule was considered by Citi to be $160,000 in NINE YEARS. This exceeded $2,000 per month, and let’s just say, I don’t HAVE $2,000/mo to send to loan creditors. I went with a graduated repayment schedule that was almost as do-able as the IBR but isn’t based on your income. Definitely give that a close look. Good luck!!
I also highly recommend looking back at Corporette’s open threads on saving money, investing, and dealing with debt. Those have upwards of 100 posts, nearly all of which someone in your situation can take to heart even at this early time.
ae
very helpful thank you! It’s so overwhelming to think about paying back all this debt when I’ve never had any before. I was very blessed to have my parents help me throughout school and because of that I now have no credit card debt and no car payment.
I think it’s the uncertainty of my income in the future that’s worrying me about choosing standard vs. IBR. I will always have my base salary, but depending on how much business I bring in, my salary could increase substantially. Any client that I bring in is my own don’t have to split my fee with anyone. But of course clients aren’t guaranteed so I have that uncertainty.
Anonymous
Just stick the income in an offshore bank account, isn’t that what everyone else is doing?