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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 302 Comments · by

Weekend Open Thread

Fashion

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It's the last few days of Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale — and they've been restocking items that sold out earlier. For this weekend, we're ogling this amazing Cole Haan boot — perfect for pariring with skinny jeans or leggings on the weekend. Love! It's currently marked to $349 at Nordstrom — the price goes up to $548 after the sale ends. Cole Haan ‘Air Georgina' Boot

N.B.:  At some offices, knee-high boots are appropriate for a weekday look, also — at others they aren't. Know your office!

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

Comments

    • s in Chicago

      I haven’t tried them yet, but one of my friends with muscular calves swears by JCrew’s “extra-wide calf” version of its boots.

      Sadly, requires online purchase. I HATE not being able to try shoes on in person, especially boots.

      • Anonymous Today

        I have heard the same thing about the J. Crew wide calf boots. I have the same reservations about ordering them online. (I know returns are easy, but I never seem to get them done quickly.) I might eventually try them, though.

        I did find a pair of Jessica Simpson ones last year and wound up getting them in tan and black, but I’m hoping to find a flat pair and maybe a brown pair.

      • UnSub

        Really? I love the ease and convenience of Zappos. I just ordered 7 pairs of blue mid-heel pumps, kept the one pair I wanted and sent the others back by dropping the box off at the UPS store down the street from my house. It was so easy and I got exactly what I wanted with no hassles. Give them a try.

          • JAS

            Yes, Zappos was one of the first companies to pioneer free shipping BOTH ways…it’s how they got a lot of loyal customers early on. Also, the fact that at least half the time I buy from them they upgrade me to overnight shipping for free, just because they can. You also have a year for returns. I know I sound like I work for them but I don’t, I just really admire their business model and marvel at how they’ve seemed to somehow profit from it.

          • Erin

            @JAS – They profit from it because the markup on shoes is ridiculous. Try not to think too hard about it :).

          • cda

            endless and piperlime also do free shipping/returns. endless is sometimes a bit more expensive than just finding the shoes on amazon but it is easier to navigate. if you are really bothered by the markup, then order, try them on, find your size, return, and order the right size from amazon (over $25 is free shipping) or 6pm. yes, I know, it sounds like a hassle, but my time is cheap compared to the money I’ve saved on the occasions when the markup was out of control.

          • FEF

            I normally find that Zappos actually has the best prices most of the time, and even though they no longer officially have the price matching guarantee, they have some of the very best customer service in my experience, and will often match prices if you call. I’m not shilling for Zappos by any means. Often I find their selection lacking, at least in the things I am looking for, but I think their service and prices are usually hard to beat.

        • Anonymous Today

          See, I just don’t like returning because I don’t have a car, so dropping something off at the UPS store would require lugging it on the metro or bus, then to the UPS store (and I’m not even sure where the nearest one is). So, even “easy returns” aren’t really all that easy for me.

    • TK1

      Love these boots, but I love all boots. I have the same calf issue. I had pair of Anne Klein knee high boots that fit great, but sadly after 4 years they need retiring.

    • divaliscious11

      duoboots.com

      If they don’t have it in stock, they customize, and the shipping from the UK is quite reasonable…. great for large or muscular calves

  2. EM

    Friendly reminder:

    1. If you are take off your suit jacket in public, please make sure to have removed the dry cleaning tag.
    2. Please remember that most suits have pleats and/or vent sewn shut to prevent tears during transport. You want to carefully snip the stitches and remove the thread before wearing the garment.

    • M

      I see #2 all the time in NYC! Subway stairs offer an excellent view of sewn together skirt/jacket vents.

      • HotInTheCity

        I can’t tell you how many of my classmates fail to do this. My undergrad institution had a class where they went over everything we needed to know for our first internship (everything from always have a notebook/pen handy to how to dress.) Is this not done everywhere? That’s where I learned about cutting the threads.

        • anon23

          I know someone who leaves them shut on purpose because she likes it better that way. To each their own I guess.

          • Cat

            I can understand the preference, but instead of just leaving the little “x” I would suggest stitching the length of the vent shut. There are usually enough layers of fabric involved to hide the stitches, and no one would think you were clueless about the “x”.

        • Clerky

          I’ve been wearing a suit jacket all year and my husband had to point out the X to me yesterday! Who knew. Most of us don’t do this on purpose. :)

    • Cat

      I’m more sympathetic to the dry cleaning tag, having worn a pair of pants all day before discovering the tag (especially laughing at myself because I’d been annoyed with how unusually itchy the tag was… sigh.)

      but YES please snip your threads!

      • AIMS

        I know it shouldn’t, but the sewn together thing drives me nuts! Huge pet peeve. And I don’t buy the argument about “some people like it better” — if you like it better, sew it permanently shut. Also, these people have never seen themselves walking with that X gapping up the stairs.
        The only thing that drives me even more nuts is the folks who leave the labels on the sleeve of their coats that say wool or cashmere or the manufacturer. That’s not just a mistake, but it’s so tacky!

        • Chicago K

          I don’t prefer to leave the little X in, but I do prefer to leave the back pockets of pants sewn shut. It seems once you pull the basting thread out they never lay right again. I’ve had a few pairs with oddly placed side pockets that I cut, and the they poofed out all weird too. I don’t ever cut pants pockets anymore!

          • AIMS

            I also do this & I think it’s totally different. One is visible to the world & was never intended to be that way & gaps awkwardly when you lean, bend, or walk up stairs. The other is visible & known only to you (and maybe those who would put their hands in your pockets :)) . . . I actually think side pockets on pants (esp. w/different colored fabric) always look awkward so I usually cut the out & have them sewn shut 9 times out of 10.

          • MelD

            I always wonder why they put pockets in light pants at all. They always look lumpy and horrible even if the fit is otherwise good! It’s something that’s almost always an automatic trip to the tailor because I’m not going to stop buying light colored items due to pesky pockets.

          • Cat

            Totally agree. No one should ever have invented pants with side seam pockets — even with a looser fit, the pockets bubble themselves open upon seating (not to mention the sudden outline of the pocket on your thigh when the pants are thin). I always have those cut out and sewn shut!

        • Anonymous

          Similar is the people who leave all the hang tags on their bags. I don’t need your bag telling me 5 times that it’s Coach, thanks.

    • anon.

      I once accidentally went to court with a price tag on the back of my dress. Another lawyer pointed it out to me . I was worth $99.00 and was “on sale”.

    • Suze

      Yes, waayy to hot for this kind of stuff! I am still thinking of sleeveless shirts, sandals and sundressy stuff.

  4. HotInTheCity

    Is a handwritten thank you note/card enough gratitude for clerkship application recommendation letters? Or should I do more for the professors/attorney who wrote my recommendation letters? What about for the assistants who had to print/fold/etc the letters?

    • K

      Yes, more than enough. Please tell me you were kidding about the assistants….However, if a certain assistant was super helpful to you (found the missing letters, held a gun to professor’s head to write the letter timely, etc.), then a $5 starbucks card should be adequate. :)

      • cbackson

        Depending on the set-up at the OP’s school, the assistants may have had to prepare 45 or 50 letters for each student. At my school, this was handled by career services, but if the assistants have to do it, it can actually be a pretty substantial task and is worthy of thanks(although I’d probably send an email note).

        • v

          Agreed – if the assistants have to do all the mail merge and the like they probably did more work than the professors.

        • Anony

          Yeah, it was a very substantial task, to say the least. And there was a miscommunication, so one of them had to do it in the 3 hours before her 10 day vacation started.

    • 1L (Summer) NYC

      For professors in the past who wrote recommendations for me, I usually gave them small gifts.

    • mk

      As a professor, I can tell you that a hand written note is much appreciated. An email thank you is NOT enough. Letters of recommendation, especially good ones, take a lot of time and effort and we are not paid to do this work. It is essentially “service” for the prof. So if this professor writes you letters, or more importantly tailors letters to particular employers, you should definitely send a thank you note. In some cases, students have given me coffee or a small gift – not necessary, but appreciated and noticed.

  5. Keri

    I bought these boots from Nordstrom and received them yesterday, but unfortunately wasn’t too crazy about them. They are actually quite wide at the top, which looks ridiculous on me, but may be a good thing for others. Aside from that though, there was a lot of extra room (which caused weird creasing/wrinkling) in the area of the boot where the front of your ankle/foot is. Not attractive. I so wanted to love these boots, though.

    • Anonymous Today

      I looked at the measurements…the one pair of leather boots I’ve ever found that fits (and they are still somewhat snug) has a 2″ larger shaft. I swear, my calves don’t look large, but when I first started shopping for this kind of boots, I realized that apparently they are!

  6. NClawstudent

    Vacation question! My husband and I (both 2Ls) have decided to spend Christmas in Hawaii, and are booking in a few more weeks. We’ve never been, and if everything we’ve heard about the second year is true, we’ll need the break! Any suggestions on great places to go/things to do/experiences to have? We’re planning on going to Oahu. Thanks!

    • A.M.

      I went to Maui as a kid, and I loved it!
      It is touristy, but not as bad as the Big Island. At least it wasn’t when I was little.
      I’d definitely recommend going there, it has everything!

    • dr

      If you are going to the “Big Island,” we have stayed in both Hilo and Kona. The hotels in Hilo are run down. For us, it was eventually better to stay in Kona, rent a car, and do the long drive to the other side of the island for some things.

      From Kona, you can take the helicopter trip to/over Kiluahea (?sp) is fabulous…we always use “Blue Hawaii” as they are all Vets from ‘Nam. For the drive to the other side, we love a drive to Volcano National Park is a must…the lodge there is quaint and books up quickly, but dining there is good and walking the trails or driving the loop road stunning. If you are adventuresome, bring flashlights along and go into the Lava Tube past the point of the main gate…see darkness at it’s fullest.

      Depending on timing, you can go to the Mauna Loa macadamia nut plantation. Sadly, the sugar cane and pineapple places have long fallen to the developers.

      Also on Hawaii are several lovely orchid plantations…which will ship plants or blooms to you fedex. We use Akatuska (?sp) and they welcome visitors. If you live in humid, warm climes, orchids are no-care really. These are near the town of Volcano.

      Do you like stars? The Observatories up on Mauna Kea on the Big Island are stunning…we use the main tour group and have not been disappointed. If you have altitude problems, you ought to pass. Some folks get downright giddy up that high. So many stars, you can see the other islands above the clouds, and watch the telescopes open up at sundown. The guides show you so much about the stars and they bring good telescopes along. http://maunakea.com/?gclid=CInmkNWIlKMCFRRsswodqxjRrg

      Be sure to take the trolley to/from Hilo Hattie on Hilo – best traditional, kitchy Hawaiian things and clothing.

      Oahu:
      If you stay in Oahu and like military/history, I’d recommend the “Home of the Brave Tour.” It takes you to more of the behind-the-scenes things of Pearl Harbor…to Hickham Field, for example. Great guides as well. Even if you don’t splurge for that event, go to Pearl Harbor and the monument. There is also a submarine docked there (The Bowfin) – so small, not like the movies. The “Mighty Mo” is docked there and has the location of where the final surrender treaty was signed.

      It really depends on your interests. Have played golf on several islands. There is one place on Oahu which really is like going back into Jurassic Park. Ko’olau … worth the green fees and cart just for the views. The heck with your score.

      Other than that, Honolulu and the rest of Oahu don’t give me much else to do. We usually allot one day after flying in to do this and then puddle jump onwards.

      Maui:
      If you are on Maui, there’s alot of resorts. Again, a drive to the volcano is great – extinct there – Haleakela (?sp). On the way, you will pass a little town of Hana which is great and there are several spots for black sand beaches and waterfalls as well.

      I know there is a lot to do. These are things we’ve done repeatedly over the years and not been disappointed. Enjoy!

    • Emily

      I’ve been to Kauai and the Big Island. Make sure you look at the tour book before you go; we would’ve rented a 4-wheel drive vehicle for the Big Island if we had done our homework.

      Kauai was the ideal tropical destination; lots of flowers, tons of beautiful beaches, lots of open park land and winding roads, beautiful sunshine, etc.

      The Big Island was fun, but not at all what I had in mind for an “island vacation.” The volcano was erupting, so the sky was always gray. There weren’t many beaches and the ones that we could find were packed with people. Things are really far apart, so unless you’re happy staying in a relatively small area, or picking up and moving to a new hotel mid-trip, you’ll be doing a lot of driving (think 4 hours in the car at a time). Also, the Big Island was really mountainous and our tiny rental car could not handle most of the terrain, so we were a bit limited in our explorations. On the other hand, things were a bit cheaper on the Big Island because working people live there, so you could find shopping centers and grocery stores.

      I’m not sure what Oahu is like; I was surprised at how different two islands in the same state could be. Do some homework before you book!

      • dr

        Yes – if you want to drive “across” the Big Island, you MUST have a 4wd vehicle. Rental car agencies have appropriate clauses about that in their contracts. That’s why we use a tour co. (see post above) for going up to the Observatories at Mauna Kea. Other than that, we have not had trouble driving the coast to and from Kona-to-Hilo and up and down for the volcano et al. If you are willing to drive, you can stay in Kona and do it all in day trips…it can be complicated if you’ve not been there…so yes, read the books.

        The main island, Oahu, is just tourist central…diamond head, shopping, eating, Pearl Harbor. Some folks are confused that the “Big island” is called “Hawaii.” Many people think of Oahu and Honolulu as “Hawaii.” So be careful where you’re booking hotels and check addresses/island names. Ditto for remembering the change in time zones.

        You’ll have fun! Oh yes, Many folks from China go to Oahu for their weddings. Family save up for years. Somehow I think there are certain timeframes more popular than others – you might want to check that out if you are planning on spending any substantial time on Oahu/Honolulu … and Maui is always the wedding/honeymoon destination – year round.

        • AH

          I was just on the Big Island in March and you no longer need 4WD to go across the island. A beautifully paved road now!

          BUT… you do need it to go to the amazing green sand beach.

    • lawDJ

      Get the “blue book” — meaning the Wizard Publications guides to whatever Hawaiian island you decide on — http://www.wizardpub.com. Oahu did not sound like our thing (too busy) but it’s still Hawaii and I’m sure you’ll have a blast. We’re going in a month for our honeymoon in Kauai/Big Island.

      • Makeup Junkie

        I was going to post this – the Hawaii Revealed series of guidebooks are incredible!

    • Carrie

      We just spent a week in Maui, with brief day trip to Oahu.

      I highly recommend Maui. It was exactly the laid-back environment we were looking for. The resorts are nice, but there is open space between them. Oahu was too developed for our tastes.

      We ate at wonderful restaurants, did some fantastic drives, took surfing lessons, went to spas, saw coffee fields, snorkled, swam, sat on the beach, did the Luau thing . . . Our favorite experiences were:
      1) ocean view hotel room. We spent a lot of time on our balcony enjoying the view. This was great for two busy lawyers celebrating our anniversary and spending time away from our two small children. We bought some Hawaiian beer at the grocery store and spent a lot of time just chilling out
      2) Ecoadventures zipline tours. This was so much fun. There are two lines in Maui, not sure about the other islands.

      We can’t wait to go back. Because of the distance/expense, it will be another at least five years before we go back. There is no doubt we’ll visit Maui again, but we may split time with the Big Island next time.

    • Amy

      We went to the Big Island last year and I loved it. I hate crowds, anything touristy, and getting sunburned, so the Big Island was perfect for us. It is more like a real place than a vacation/resort spot. It is absolutely beautiful and has many more areas of unspoiled wilderness if you like getting outdoors, which we do. We hiked, rode down from the top of the volcano on a bike tour, went snorkeling (LOTS of great snorkeling in very accessible pools for those who have not had a lot of experience), and mostly just hung out. We stayed near Kona/Kailua – there are some fairly nice restaurants and a little “boardwalk” type area, etc. But I live in a city, so we tried to stay out of the city as much as possible.

      The Big Island does have “vog” (a combination of fog from the ocean and volcanic ash/smoke that can make it somewhat overcast) and a lot of the beaches are very rocky – we went to one that we had to leave because the beach was basically big round volcanic rocks all the way out into the water, which was not fun or easy to walk on. But there are nice black-sand beaches and even a green-sand beach accessible only by hiking. We did not have a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and relied on tour companies to get us up the mountain when it was necessary, but we’ll rent one on our next trip. We loved, loved, loved it and as someone mentioned, it’s less expensive because it isn’t as traditionally “resort” and more working-class people live there. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it or go back, with the caveat that if you are more into the “poolside scene,” sunny beach, or nightlife scene part of vacationing, you’ll probably be disappointed with the Big Island. But we like nature, outdoor sports, and peace and quiet and the Big Island has lots of all that. Have fun on your trip!

      • Makeup Junkie

        I loved the Big Island too. It was almost desolate in places, it was perfect vacation. I went there on my summer 2L break too!

    • North Shore

      Oahu is lovely. My in-laws live there, so we visit when we can. There are out-of-the way places, if that’s what you want, like the North Shore. When I go for work, I stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu, and I absolutely love it. I think Waikiki is great fun, although my husband (the “local”) much prefers his side of the island, by Kailua. President Obama usually stays near Kailua when he visits, also. If Waikiki isn’t your style, you could rent a condo in Kailua and spend time on the less crowded beaches there. If I were you, though, I’d book a room at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (which really is a village — it’s huge) and have the hotel set you up with tours, surf lessons, trip to the aquarium, whatever you want. Gotta say I’d be nervous about helicopter tours because I do aviation law, and I’ve seen the safety records of those companies, but you might want to take your chances anyway.

    • mille

      I have spent lots of time on Maui and just got back from Lanai’i. Lahaina, on Maui, always seems to have a spring-break type vibe. Hana, on the other side of the island, is quiet and there isn’t a lot to do but relax. Lanai’i, a ferry trip from Maui, was relaxed and laid back but we had the option of taking the ferry to Maui and enjoying that as well.

      It’s hard to screw up Hawaii. Almost everywhere you go will be relaxing and fun.

    • Anonymous

      I live in Honolulu. Each island is very different, and where you go depends on what you’re looking for in your vacation experience. The neighbor islands are all a lot less commercially developed than Oahu (and therefore quite lush and more “tropical”), but Oahu is more than just Waikiki–there is so much great nature and exploration to be had here.

      Since you stated that you’re planning to go to Oahu, I’ll skip my thoughts on other islands and give you my two cents on what to do on Oahu, for what it’s worth. In no particular order:

      1. Stay in Waikiki. Since you’ve never been, I would recommend staying in Waikiki. It’s very touristy, yes, but it’s partly because the area is built around the needs of a tourist (i.e., beautiful (though usually crowded) beach, restaurants galore, street performers–all within walking distance). I would recommend renting a car for at least a few days while you’re here, but you could also use the bus system quite aptly named “The Bus,” depending on what you want to do.

      2. View Honolulu City Lights. Since you’ll be here during Christmas, make your way to Honolulu Hale (city hall) to view the Christmas/Holiday lights display. It is super-festive and a very fun experience, with lots of fun displays both inside and outside the city hall building.

      3. Walk through ‘Iolani Palace. Hawaii was a kingdom before becoming a U.S. territory and then a state. This is the only palace in the U.S.–it is beautiful and full of history I think many folks from “the mainland”–like myself, orginally–would benefit to experience. ‘Iolani Palace will be all dressed up for the City Lights show, so maybe make a mid-afternoon jaunt downtown, and stay until evening to get the full effect of the holiday lights.

      4. Visit the Lyon Arboretum. Run and maintained by the University of Hawaii. Easy hiking, *incredible* plants and foliage. Probably a 10-15 min drive from Waikiki (w/o traffic).

      5. Climb Diamond Head. If you want to work (moderately hard, depending on how in shape you are) for a great view of the south shore, downtown, Manoa, etc. Otherwise…

      6. Drive Tantalus/Round Top. This will give you a panoramic view of Honolulu.

      7. Visit the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. And maybe the USS Missouri too. The AZ Memorial is a beautiful tribute to those military members who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Missouri is a ship you can take a tour on (or wander around unguided)–friends I’ve taken to these places have really enjoyed it. One tip is to get to the AZ Memorial *really* early to get your tickets, otherwise it’s a long wait.

      8. Happy Hour in Chinatown. Check out the happy hour scene in Chinatown, if you’re into that. The area is most lively on First Fridays, but there are lots of art gallerys and great bars that are fun to relax in.

      9. Visit Lanikai Beach in Kailua. Take H3 from Honolulu to Kailua–the view going into and out of the tunnel is incredible. Make your way to Lanikai Beach, one of the most beautiful and picturesque places to take beach pics on the island!

      10. Go to the North Shore. This should be my first recommendation, not my last, because I suggest this to all my friends and family who visit. Drive up to Haleiwa, duck into the small shops (if you know anyone with kids, be sure to check out “the growing keiki” for fantastic children’s toys and clothes), get some shave ice at Matsumotos, and if you’re an aquaphile, rent a stand-up paddle board from Surf & Sea and coast under Rainbow Bridge (you will probably see many turtles swimming underneath you!). Drive over to Waimea Bay, play in the awesome, consistent waves, and jump off the rocks with the local kids if you like. Also, there is an Audubon reserve (Waimea Valley Audubon, I think) across the street. (If you couldn’t tell, I love the North Shore. When tourists say there’s nothing to do/see on Oahu, I know they haven’t driven over to the North Shore–it is amazing.)

      • PJB

        I live on O’ahu as well, and these recommendations are wonderful. There are some extraordinary hotels in Waikiki, and it is worth it to get an ocean view room. I especially recommend the Royal Hawaiian, also known as the Pink Lady. Simply sitting on your lanai and sipping champagne and watching the sunset is the most relaxing thing you can imagine. If you are interested, Waikiki has a great night club life. And downtown China town is awesome.

        I also recommend hiking off Tantalus and/or in the back of Manoa, where I live. There is a simple streamside Manoa hike that takes you thru a bamboo forest and ends (for the casual hiker) at a waterfall. Wild birds and fruit everywhere.

        North Shore is awesome, and there is a big hotel there called Turtle Bay. You can horseback ride on the beach, rent stand-up paddle boards and take romantic walks.

        One warning: the ride from the airport to Waikiki or anywhere on O’ahu takes you thru a depressing gray industrial area and you wonder if you’ve made a dreadful mistake. Hang on. O’ahu is so beautiful. The air actually smells sweet. (Not so for the Big Island.)

        And one more thing, the food here is awesome. Prepare to eat!

    • KelliJ

      My hubby and I went to Hawaii on our honeymoon. A few days in Oahu and 12 days in Maui. If you are only going to Oahu, stay on Waikiki. We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It’s pricey, but really nice. Get a rental car to get out of Honolulu to see the North Shore, Diamond Head, and Pearl Harbor (which is really not to be missed).

      I LOVE MAUI! My husband and I will retire there. It’s the only place where I cried when I left. We stayed at Sheraton Maui on Kanapali (sp?)Beach, which was absolutely perfect. When we go back, we will stay there again. It was close to Lahaina and the luaus and nightlife. They have some of the best snorkling on the island right at their beach. We did the road to Hana, a helicopter tour of the western part of Maui and Molokai, went snorkling, went to a luau, and hit practically every beach on the island. The one thing we did not do was Haleakala, but now we have a reason to go back. ;-)

    • InkdAtty

      That dress is not for busty gals, though. I tried it on in the store recently and it made me look like a mere life support system for an enormous pair of boobs. Too bad, too, because it’s a cute dress.

      • Legally Brunette

        That’s probably why it worked on me, I’m very small busted. ;) It’s a good dress for people who wan to embellish/enlarge their bust, not so much for the naturally busty.

      • KelliJ

        Yeah. I took one look at that dress and said cute, but not for me. We big gals need a v-neck or a scoop neck. Can I just say that every dress in my size at the Nordstrom sale was crew neck! Very disappointing.

  9. Cat

    Tech question here – I am in the market for a new home laptop. Normally I would have just gone to the Dell website and played around (I have been happy with my “current” 5yo model… until I spilled on it. Good thing I backed up not too long ago.).

    But, having heard about Dell’s misfortunes with quality recently, I’m not sure where else to start. I don’t do anything terribly fancy with it (no heavy video/photo editing or games) — just web surfing / itunes / connecting to Citrix as necessary when I haven’t brought my work monster “laptop” home.

    I realize pricing varies immensely as you play with different options, but are there any general lines anyone can recommend? Portability isn’t a big factor as if I’m traveling, I’m usually hauling around the work one, so I’d say probably a 12-14″ screen.

    • Cat

      I should mention – is there a realistic budget out there for a decently up-to-date system? $1000?

    • Anonymous Today

      I love HP computers. They’re all I’ve ever used (except for an unfortunate time in college when I had to buy one from my school and it was a Tangent). For what you need, I’d say $1,000 is more than realistic. You could probably get one for less.

    • RR

      I recently bought my first Mac (the lowest level MacBook), and I’ve been really impressed – particularly at how seamlessly it runs all my “Windows” applications.

      • RR

        I paid just over $1000 for my MacBook – they start at $1000, but I upgraded some on memory.

        • ES

          mac also does “refurbished” models. usually a step behind, but i got a much better price

      • K

        I think I may be the only person in the world who hates Macs. I have had problem after problem with the ones I’ve gotten and have found the customer support people to be so unhelpful.

        • KZ

          nope, I hate them, too. Actually, it’s more of a dislike of Apple than their computers specifically, and I’ve never quite been able to articulate why…

        • zee

          For me, it’s because you can only have the apps they say and only use the programs they let you. That’s been my issue with apple as a company. I like to mess around in my computer and customize it for me, not just change the desktop background.

        • mille

          I have one and I hate it. You can do so much more on a windows based computer. The Microsoft Office products for mac are a scaled-down version and it is frustrating. I’m stuck with mine for awhile because they are so expensive, I can’t justify buying a new laptop after only a few years.

        • LawyrChk

          Cosigning. I hate them too. And sorry, I hate that all of the Mac users I know seem to think I hate Macs because I’m unsophisticated or haven’t yet tried a Mac. Grr!

      • MelD

        I got the first model MacBook and while I love the OS X, the machine has been a complete lemon. You pretty much have to get the $249 3-year warranty, which brings the price up quite a bit. In my 3 years of law school, I had the power cord replaced twice (it burnt up the first time), the hard drive replaced one, a flickering monitor they could never fix, a new keyboard twice, and a wireless connection problem that no one could ever fix either.

        I think right now I prefer HP. I’ve had very little problems using them compared with the MacBook.

    • lawDJ

      I love my Lenovo and the quality is awesome. Definitely get their protection plan, they have been fantastic in their support. It came in handy when I spilled an entire bottle of water inside my purse with my laptop in it and it “swooshed” around for about 4 hrs before I realized.

    • KZ

      I would avoid Dell.

      I like thinkpads, but I’ve noticed on my newest one the quality isn’t quite as good as it used to be, I guess because they got bought by Lenovo a few years ago (I still think they’re better than Dell’s…). Also, they’re pricey, and you can probably get something just as good for cheaper.

      I got my parents a Sony a couple of months ago that I liked. Also, you might check out Asus–I thought I was going to have to replace my laptop last month and that’s what I was looking at. They are new at building complete laptops, but they’ve been manufacturing the components for years–I think they make the motherboards for one of Apple’s laptops, as well as a few other brands. So that might be worth looking into.

    • Shayna

      $1,000 should be more than enough! I have a 3 year old Gateway that’s still chugging along happily… generally though I stay away from Dell b/c my sister had major issues w/ one a couple years ago.

      I have an HP netbook that I’m loving as well. Mostly I would recommend that whatever you buy, you go to Best Buy and get their service plan which is awesome.

      • Chicago K

        Shayna, which of the HP netbooks do you have? I am looking at buying one in the next month and am a little unclear about the differences.

        I’ve had good luck with HP and have heard good things about Toshiba. I wouldn’t buy a Dell. I had one for work once and it was clunky and slow and then just blew up causing me to lose anything I saved there. Plus, with their known quality problems, service problems, etc I would stay away.

        • Shayna

          I have the smaller one – a 110. It came for free when I got my phone service last year (the only nice thing I have to say about Verizon), and it’s awesome. I take it with me when I travel. It has a quick start option that gives you internet, webcam and a couple other basic functions without starting windows, or you can press a button for windows to load. The only software I added is a basic microsoft office package.

      • MelD

        Have to agree about Dell. I have a friend who is a former employee and he said that the quality really started dropping about 4-5 years ago and laptops are now designed to last ~2 years.

    • Cat

      thanks all so far — two questions:

      (1) for those of you that have HP, which line did you pick? From a glance at the website it looks like Pavilion would be the obvious choice?

      (2) for Macs — being (very) used to Windows, is anyone else bothered by the change in mindset (e.g., having those icons along the bottom of the screen)? I would like to play for myself, but don’t really have the time at present to go play around in the apple store :)

      • Anon

        I have a few year old Pavillion for home and an Elitebook 8730w for work. The Elitebook is fantastic, but extremely heavy (10 lbs with the case, 8.5 without).

        The 3 year old Pavillion is great (and going strong), my only compliant is it runs a HOT plus the fans are located on the bottom of the device. You really need a cooler under it if you want it to be on your lap (both for the sake of the PC and your legs being burned off). I used to put it on a hardcover book and it melted the jacket off.

        Hopefully this was corrected in newer models.

        • CJ in CA

          I have a 1 year old HP G60 and it gets VERY hot as well.
          It can really damage the computer, and once it shut down because it overheated. I would not recommend an HP for this reason. I did have a Toshiba before that I loved.

      • KZ

        keep in mind that if you really want a Mac because of durability or something, but love Windows, you can run Windows on a Mac now.

      • Anonymous

        We just replaced our HP desktop with a Mac, and I haven’t been a bit bothered by the icons on the bottom row. I’m too busy exulting with the virus-freedom of the Mac (as opposed to our HP, which was so susceptible to viruses — despite our dutiful McAfee etc. loading — that it just got eaten alive).

        • Suze

          This! My HP Pavilion is just consumed with virus issues. I liked my Dell better, but am put off by some of the comments above re recent developments in their service. Not ready for a new one yet anyway…so will just have to deal for a while

      • BBR

        You get used to the Mac really quickly. for a few days its weird, but soon your used to it in no time. I really like the Mac for organization. I would never argue its the strongest machine out there, but it is so easy to organize on it, I love the spaces feature and hot corners

      • A.M.

        I switched to Mac after my refurbished Dell got viral and deleted my senior thesis before I handed it in… Twice.
        It took a bit of getting used to, adjusting to everything. But now it feels so much more organic to me.
        I got the Apple Care warranty which is 100% replacement for 3 years, and it definitely pays for itself. I dropped my laptop and broke the ethernet port, so I got it replaced for free. The Genius bar is excellent.
        My laptop has lasted 3 years with serious wear and tear, and probably in another year or so I will upgrade to a new one, but that is only because I need speed!

      • Erin

        I love my Mac. It took about 2 weeks to get used to it and I will never go back to a PC again. It’s so intuitive and user-friendly compared to a PC. The three-year AppleCare plan is a great warranty and the service has always been great. I’ve had mine for over 4 years now and it’s in great condition.

        Also, you can move the icons if you don’t like them on the bottom of the screen :).

      • mk

        My HP Pavilion had major virus issues – regularly. I now use a MAC and a Lenovo / IBM thinkpad. Both are great. Once you learn how to use the MAC, it is super easy. I find it faster and easier than the IBM, but the thinkpad is still a good PC. If you do have a virus or crash issue with the Lenovo, it is easily fixed. Fixing or cleaning the HP was a nightmare for me.

      • RR

        I use a Dell at work and a MacBook at home. I really don’t find the Mac OS that distracting. It took me a week or so to get where everything was (that’s with using it for an hour or so in the evenings), and now I don’t even think about it. It’s no more annoying than switching from a desktop keyboard to a laptop keyboard. I don’t find myself always wanting to click in the wrong place, and I do find it fairly intuitive where everything is (it’s not just the icons at the bottom, but things like the close program function is in the upper left instead of upper right, and the desktop functions differently). I also use my MacBook a lot to remote into my work system, so I’m really looking at my work desktop, which is windows.

    • tech addict

      please, please, please, PLEASE avoid best buy like the plague. just 15 minutes browsing articles about them on any tech website will show you exactly how much of a ripp-off they are.

      i do admin/IT support and am a ridiculous technophile. you can get decent quality laptops for under $1000, yes. just know that that might mean you sacrifice some software; windows is EXPENSIVE. MS office is EXPENSIVE. if you have a little tech know-how, you can figure out freeware/opensource alternatives that can drastically reduce your cost. instead of purchasing windows 7 (or, shudder, vista), try to get familiar with linux. if you don’t have the time to master a new OS, then at least save money (and cut out the MS BLOAT!) and don’t purchase office, but instead download open office (openoffice.org).

      i avoid dell like the plague. your money will go much further with lenovo. for shopping and comparison, i use newegg.com. for reviews, i usually check out cnet.com. and do a lot of forum searching.

      but please, just avoid best buy. seriously, it’s the biggest scam going on.

      • Cat

        thanks for the ideas – I will check out those sites.

        definitely a “no best buy” zone at our house — after some serious comparison shopping for flat screen tvs awhile back, I don’t trust their pricing on anything!

      • Miriam

        I agree to avoid Best Buy and Dell. Dell just seems like a cheap computer. When I was looking for a new computer at Best Buy,the “Salesman” really knew nothing! He seemed like he knew nothing! I also had to wait about 10 minutes before someone asked if I needed help. I just don’t trust Best Buy for anything important. Try researching some reviews, etc. Cnet.com is good.

    • AS

      I bought a Dell about a year ago and am pretty unhappy with it. For one thing, I bought the extended life battery (supposedly with 7 hours of run time) and it barely holds a charge for three hours. Very disappointing.

      My husband does the computer buying for his company and they’re getting HPs lately. He thinks they’re pretty good, and the keyboards are really nice. You should check out cnet.com for reviews on specific laptops; I used their reviews when I was buying my netbook and found them invaluable.

    • Experienced

      We’ve gone all Mac at our house -2 laptops and desktop. I have a Dell laptop for work, which is fine. The Mac software is just so elegant. While you might not use a computer for media now, you will if you get a Mac. Apple just makes it all so easy.

      • tech addict

        haha i feel like such a loser now… 3 apple laptops and a desktop running linux (plus a few android phones lying around) in my apartment… for just me. plus my dell laptop for work (i hate so much that i have to use it, but policy is policy).

        although my boyfriend has two desktops and two laptops, plus his two iphones…and he works in the music industry… basically no need for all those computers (and this isn’t counting his studio, which understandably has some major hardware).

    • Emilie

      I have a Sony Vaio laptop and love it. I gave up on Dell after a lemon. I can’t remember how much the Sony was – a little more than some of the other brands I looked at, but had great reviews so I figured it was worth it.

  10. Anonymous wedding guest

    Is a 5pm wedding an evening wedding or an afternoon wedding?

    Trying to figure out how formal to go (invitation didn’t help, s.o. has no idea, ceremony is outdoors in Colorodo).

    • Anonymous Today

      Is there a reception after the ceremony? If so, I’d definitely say evening.

    • K

      Do they have a wedding website? If so, check and see if attire is mentioned there. In general, I find Colorado to not be very formal. Perhaps different if it’s in Denver or a military wedding in Colorado Springs but if you’re in a ski town other than Aspen/Beaver Creek, it’s likely to be more afternoon than evening.

      • Anonymous wedding guest

        Yes to site but no attire mentioned. It is in a ski/resort town. I’ve never been to Colorado before and I’m generally a very casual dresser so I never know what to wear for weddings…

        • K

          I’d love to hear what others say but if I were in your position, I would wear a nice sundress and glam up the accessories (shoes/jewelry/purse). You can always ditch the jewelry in your purse if it turns out to be Colorado casual. Not sure what part of the state you’ll be in but I would definitely bring a wrap and possibly a jacket at well. Even if you’re not at altitude it tends to get pretty darn cool in the evenings.

          • AIMS

            Related question.
            Evening wedding reception. Invite says cocktail attire. Setting is metropolitan city. How much is too much? I don’t want to overdress but don’t want to under sparkle either. Not planning to wear an evening gown but is a sparkly dress & shoes ok?

          • Cat

            AIMS – from an east coast perspective, I think you’re fine. Depending on the style of the invitation/website, people may go slightly more casual than if the invitation had been silent (e.g., j.crew-esque structured cotton sundress if it’s an outdoor wedding), but if you’re thinking of, say, a silk patterned dress with stones sewn around the neckline (or a lightweight dress that has sequins scattered about) and metallic shoes, good to go.

          • Cat

            realized that sounded kind of narrow – not that it has to be patterned or lightweight, just anything in that mood range would be lovely :)

          • AIMS

            Cat– thanks! I was debating btwn 2 dresses & I think I will go w/the less formal one so as to play it safe (dark blue silk sheath, as opp. to the black sparkly halter).

    • Anonymous

      I’m from Colorado and I can all but guarantee you there will be at least a few people there wearing jeans :). A sundress is fine but bring a cover up; it gets cold in the evening.

    • AEK

      My wedding was at 5pm. We comparison shopped for our invitations and were consistently told that for purposes of invitations, the time should be written “x o’clock in the afternoon” for any time before 6pm, which is when you would say “in the evening.”
      So that’s what we did. Still, with a dinner reception afterward, many people dressed for an evening wedding, as did my husband and I. But on a hot June day, no one looked out of place in a sundress. So I would think that for an outdoor ceremony in Colorado, you don’t have to be too formal, and some kind of versatile cocktail/sun dress would be fine. I’d just go with something comfortable, including shoes that won’t get you stuck in a lawn!

    • mk

      Unless they are New Yorkers getting married in Colorado (with all the guests from NYC), a 5pm wedding in Colorado is an afternoon wedding and will be super casual. Heck, business wear in Colorado is casual!

      I would wear a sundress and sandals or a nicer dress and sandals. Not a black dress, unless you dress it down. And not heels (or nothing over 2 inches).

  11. fresh jd

    Has anyone bought from the JC Penney’s American Living line? Please let me know how the sizing runs!

  13. Canadian

    I just needed to share an awesome sale purchase !!!
    I went to a Brooks Brothers outlet yesterday, and all of their clearance is an additional 60% off.
    I walked away with a grey pinstripe wool (“346”) skirtsuit for $140. Very happy day – since I needed a new suit before I start as a new law grad on Tuesday!

    Happy weekend everybody!

    • Suze

      Wow. I am going to be near an outlet this weekend – may have to drop in to that sale. Thanks for the tip. And congrats on graduating and starting your new job :)!

    • FEF

      I found that same suit (I think–if the pinstripe is pink) for a slightly higher price (just under $200 for all 3 pieces), and am still elated by this find!!!

      • canadian

        Yes, pale pale pink pinstripe!! Brooks Brothers pants never fit me right so I only got the skirt… I’m jealous that you could get all 3 pieces!

  14. Erin

    From the department of random…

    “Dogs like smell p*ssy, ah?”
    – Random swarthy Hispanic man walking down the street with his wife and baby, to me, after watching a couple of dogs check each other out.

      • Erin

        Sorry, but sometimes random things happen that are amusing and I want to share them w/ others. How about you don’t comment next time?

        • BBR

          I also think thats something you don’t share. And the word “swarthy” can have very negative connotations

    • KK

      Erin I agree, because if I had read this at work I would have felt really awkward with that on the screen.

    • Latina

      why is the man’s ethnicity relevant? can’t he just be a rude man, or a tacky man, or a man with no class? If he were Black or Asian or Indian, would you have mentioned it then?

      • Latina#2

        Exactly what I was going to say! Just when I thought I had finally found a blog that I could follow without having to be reminded of the ignorance that exists in this country today, I see this comment.

    • anon23

      There is a funny website called “overheard in NY” and “Overheardintheoffice” and “overheard at the beach” which is the same thing – funny things you hear people say throughout the day.

  15. Another Sarah

    I need a bit of advice about foreign languages. I just finished taking the Bar, and will continue to look for jobs. In the meantime, I want to start learning a new language. I figure it’ll keep my brain functioning, and look good on the resume. Not to mention, when people ask me “what are you doing now that you are unemployed,” it looks a LOT better than “watching as much NCIS and Criminal Minds as I possibly can.” I’m not doing Rosetta Stone, I’ll take classes at a language school in the big city near me. BUT I can’t decide which language. I am currently torn between Portuguese, German, and Arabic. I’m already fluent in French and can hold a decent conversation regarding relatively current topics in Spanish, so I figure I can brush up on those with the conversation clubs run by the respective culture attaches in the city.

    I’m not worried about which I can learn the fastest, but rather which would give me the most mileage. Right now, I’m leaning towards Portuguese, considering how Brazil is such a huge emerging market (and that, combined with French, would help me with Africa too). But then Arabic would be the same thing with the Middle East/North Africa. And I think I will learn German at some point in my life anyway.

    Thoughts?

    • anon

      I’d vote for Mandarin, which I realize isn’t an option you’ve presented. That would absolutely give you the most mileage, regardless of what field you go into. China is on the forefront of everyone’s minds and is widely believed to match and/or overtake the US in our lifetimes.

      Consider what you’re trying to practice. If you’re in IP, Brazil is not where the action is – Mandarin or Japanese are good choices. Oil/gas/minerals – Arabic or Mandarin. Maybe if you’re going into governmental affairs, Arabic is a good idea. I can’t think of any compelling legal reason to learn Portuguese, and many Germans speak English. Arabic is an interesting idea, but I wonder if you will get many opportunities to use it given sexism issues.

      • Another Sarah

        In terms of practicing, I’d really like to go into International Arbitration. While it exists in China, it has the reputation of being very heavily biased, which is v. bad in arbitration. I get the idea from attorneys that I’ve spoken with and my professors that “Chinese Arbitration” is considered a joke to the rest of the world, which makes me think that Mandarin really wouldn’t do me much good in this case. Especially when the centers of arbitration are in Europe and the Americas. And Arbitration is slowly catching on in the Middle East, which brings in Arabic.

        • Anon

          From my experience, being conversational or proficient in a language won’t help you to gain employment where speaking that language is a requirement or significant asset. You need to be fluent (and that includes the relevant jargon for your field). I am in-house counsel and I work in English as well as X Foreign Language. One of the things they verified when they hired me was that I was comfortable drafting/negotiating legal documents in X. So, if you’ve never specifically studied legal French/Spanish, it might be a good thing to do now.

          • AnotherAnon

            I agree. There is no reason to study a third language without having a way to show that you’re proficient enough in the first two. Take the proficiency tests, work on legal Spanish/French, and then if you still don’t have a job, you might want to consider learning a third language. Full legal fluency in one or two foreign languages is much better than some ability in three, but not enough to do legal work in any of them.

          • Another Sarah

            That makes sense. There is another set of proficiency exams I could take that deal with business/legal French, so I could study for those as well. But I would disagree with the reasoning that I should focus on one before moving on to the second. For me, learning languages in the same family at the same time was always good, as it reinforced rules and vocab. So I would continue to learn a third language while I bulked up my other two, no question.

          • Anon

            Also – while studying for the proficiency exams may be a good opportunity for you to make sure you have a mastery of the relevant legal/business vocabulary, I wouldn’t worry so much about taking the actual exam. When I interviewed and was hired, there was no exam and no demand for any credentials. I indicated on my resume that I was fluent in X, they interviewed me based on this, and I had a phone interview with the relevant Director who spoke X so that he could verify that I wasn’t overstating my abilities.

          • C

            I agree with this. I am fluent in Spanish, and have a lot of experience drafting & negotiating documents in Spanish, thanks to having worked abroad for years.

            I also speak great Portuguese, and can make my way through a newspaper in Portuguese, but couldn’t draft or negotiate in it. For work purposes, it is irrelevant.

    • KZ

      I don’t know if Arabic would actually give you the most mileage, but I took it in college and it’s a lot of fun to learn. That being said, it is a pretty difficult language. There are sounds I never could make properly. that, and what they teach you in college isn’t what anyone actually speaks (it’s the “modern standard”–basically for newspapers and newscast). If you’re going to learn Arabic, make sure you learn a dialect–it would probably be more useful than modern standard. German or Portuguese would probably be a lot easier to learn.

      • cbackson

        Seconding this. I studied Arabic in college, and the take-away for me is that you need to choose where you’d want to use it (the Gulf, North Africa, the Levant, etc.) and learn that dialect. And having studied a number of languages , I think that Arabic is the hardest to make headway on in the classroom.

        I’m fluent in Spanish and have found that to be incredibly useful.

    • MelD

      Have you taken any proficiency tests for Spanish/French yet? I think that’s a good thing to aim to do first and then you can start taking other language classes if you haven’t found a job. My sister took the Japanese proficiency test for business-level fluency and even though she was fairly good at Japanese before, it took her quite a bit of studying to be able to pass.

      • Another Sarah

        I’ve looked around for a standardized proficiency exam, and I haven’t really found one. There are a bunch of “proficiency exams” online, and then I print out my certificate, but to me that seems a bit sketch. Do you know if there are specific companies that offer them that I could take one? Or are the online-print certificate ones legit?

    • Anonymous

      Going anon for this one – I speak Spanish and French fluently (and use them in my job) and have been studying Portuguese. Already it’s proven an asset and I’m not fluent yet. The problem with Arabic is that there are so many native and near-native speakers who’ll be competing with you for Arabic-required jobs, and it’ll take years to reach a level of professional proficiency. Portuguese will go much faster so you’ll get greater return on your investment.

      I can’t see any professional benefit to learning German, really, but if you want to do it for fun it can’t hurt.

      • cbackson

        I’m learning Portuguese as well! I would say that if the OP is in the US, fluency in Spanish is probably the most useful of the languages she’s mentioned, and I’d peg Portuguese as second.

    • CSF

      PLEASE take Arabic. I absolutely LOVE the language. I studied for three years in undergrad, and try and keep up with it as much as I can. It’s impressive on your resume, and it’s very enjoyable, and it will open quite a few doors for you if you can master it. Hands down best decision I ever made in undergrad was to sign up for beginners Arabic on a whim.

      • Latina

        I’ve studied Arabic too, and to be perfectly honest, it hasn’t done me any good at all because I’m a woman. It helps when I order mezza at the local Lebanese restaurant (they appreciate my effort and bring me extras!), but as far as career opportunities, well, those have all seemed to be closed off to me.

    • Shayna

      I would increase the Spanish to fluency, but if you’ve already nixed that then I would go for Arabic – the Middle East is a huge economic force. Also – Chinese (Mandarin) would be very useful in a business context.

    • Another Sarah

      I would also be working on increasing my Spanish fluency, since it’s muy importante. And studying for the DELFs. (Wow, I really hope I passed the bar so I won’t have to study for that too). I had considered Mandarin, but I have zero desire to learn it. I don’t know why; I have lots of Chinese friends, love Chinese food, etc. I think all the characters seem daunting. Whereas I already know the alphabet for Portuguese and German, and, from what I understand, Arabic uses combinations of letters anyway. And when it comes to something like learning a foreign language (including another alphabet) that includes a heavy time commitment, I’d want to learn it.

    • Amy

      I know they aren’t as much of a powerhouse as they used to be, but the U.S. still does a lot of business with Japan. I speak Japanese and it has really come in handy when consulting with some of the auto companies we work with. There is, of course, a lot of gender bias in Japan but you are going to run into that in most places – very few places in the world afford women as much professional respect as Americans do. Although a lot of manufacturing has shifted to China, there are always people doing business with Japan in some way. It’s also just a fun language to learn, although definitely not easy. Barring that, I agree with the Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic decisions. I am going to start Mandarin lessons fairly soon, as we’ve had some opportunities lately that called for it.

    • LInLondon

      I’m gonna have to flat-out disagree with the people who think learning Arabic is fun :) I took it as an undergrad and grad student and absolutely loathed it, haha. I’ve studied five foreign languages and it’s, by farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, the most difficult. I don’t think it’s a language you can learn casually. That being said, it’s an interesting and useful language for sure.

      Like others said, I’d focus on getting your skill level up in the languages you already know, because getting up to business proficiency in a new language will be a LOT harder. If you really want to choose a new one, I’d go for Portuguese; since it’s a Romance language it’ll be easier for you to pick up on and it’s actually a lot more widely spoken than people think.

      Good luck!

  16. SaDeLe

    Longtime lurker, first time commenter…
    I’m not an attorney, just an HR professional. After being laid off from my first corporate position (previously 10 years in small business environment,) I am VERY excited to have a final interview scheduled for the week of August 16 in Miami, FL for a bigger and better corporate position. I am actually a little nervous, because this is a stretch job for me: I know I can do it, and the recruiter and hiring manager seem to think so, too– but this is a new job that is a big move up. This interview is new to me too– a panel featuring 5 people including 2 VPs. I’ve been working hard to prepare but I am actually pretty concerned about the image thing. The company is known for a “fun” culture, and the photos of everyone on the websites are in business casual or casual clothes. Plus the whole Miami culture thing, Usually, I can get a read on the image culture of a workplace I am applying to pretty easily, but this place is way out of my network. I’m in Virginia, so my default work attire is fairly formal and conservative– but I certainly don’t want to appear tone deaf. Anyone with insight into Miami workplaces? Am I overthinking– should I just dress up and be done with it? I have a lovely navy blue skirt suit I usually wear with a pale pink cotton broadcloth blouse (pink flatter me more than white,) nude pumps, and pearls. I was thinking to mix that up with a nude or other non-white neutral shell and a statement necklace (probably oversized pearls closed with a funky brooch, or layered chain link necklaces with a brooch closure.) Thoughts?

    • Suze

      Miami=almost anything goes. A little conservative can’t go wrong..nice fitted suit with light/bright color shell or cami, and BIG
      high heels, no prob with peep toes, is the norm. Somewhat conservative (ie, no animal prints) is better, but a little flair (bag and shoes) will help ‘fit in’..don’t overthink too much.

      Buenas!

      • Latina

        If you’ve got a suit in a lighter color – tan, ivory, anything pale or pastel-ish that would probably be better than a navy suit. A pink blouse sounds perfect, except for the broadcloth part. You can work the navy suit if you have a brighter pink or maybe a yellow blouse. Miami is all about color, color, and more color. And for jewelry, I’d wear the biggest hoop earrings you have.

        • Amy

          So this is a dorky question. But we just finished watching the first two seasons of Dexter and I was struck by the female lieutenant’s work wardrobe, in that I thought the bright colors she wore were really fun, but not something I could probably pull off, and I live in a pretty informal area of the country. I realize Dexter’s a TV show, but is that how professional women dress in Miami in real life? If so, I think that’s awesome although I am sure it’s much tougher to coordinate outfits.

          • Latina

            I don’t have a TV so I don’t really know. In Miami professional women there is a lot of color, flesh, bold accessories. It’s not necessarily casual, but it’s not laced up like women would dress in NYC, for example.

        • AnneCatherine

          I have to jump in. I would disagree with this. As a professional woman in Miami (and Miami native), who works with other professional women in Miami, no, no hoop earrings, certainly not “the biggest,” and no, there is not “a lot of flesh.” Flesh at the beach (by the way, LeBron James’ recent comments notwithstanding, Miami does not equal South Beach; they are two different places/cities . . . . ), flesh out “at ‘da club,” maybe, but no, not at work. Just no. And if grey and navy and khaki are colors, then yes, there’s a lot of color on professional women, but we do not walk around in fuschia linen suits with no tops on underneath, with big hoops in our ears, that’s for sure. And no pastel suits, either. We do read the same fashion magazines down here.

          SaDaLe, your navy suit and pink blouse combo will be fine. I don’t undersand the fastening necklace with brooch thing (by which, I mean I cannot picture it). Wear a plain gold chain or silver chain, with a CZ or diamond solitaire if you have one, or wear a plain one-strand pearl necklace.

          Miami is a real town where real people live year-round and slog to work, not just a tourist destination (and Dexter is more L.A. than Miami, though it’s allegedly set in Miami . . . ) There are real people down here wearing real, normal clothes. They will think you are taking the piss out of them at your interview if you show up in a pastel suit with “the biggest hoop earrings you have” and showing lots of flesh. Or they will think you are a hopeless bumpkin trying to dress like Miami Vice. Either way, no. We dress like everyone else down here at work; we just do it in 100% humidity and 95-degree heat for 7 months of the year.

      • Anonymous

        I would not wear “big” shoes or peep toes to any job interview, no matter where it is.

    • SaDeLe

      Thanks to everyone for the insight!!! Now I have to solve the problem of carrying on and keeping my suit jacket presentable… Thanks!

  17. N.F.M.

    I am working for the fed. gov. this summer, and think I have a good chance of being here next year after graduation. I am very happy about the work, love the personal responsibility, and many other good things. However, I’m at a t15 school and this week it seems like every facebook friend has something along the lines of “got an offer!!!” ” “160k should help with those loans :)” although I’m very aware how lucky I am in many aspects. . .ugh. And I’ve been reading to much above the law stories about champagne offers and fancy dinners. So feeling a little jealous.

    • Shayna

      Just remember that what happened a couple years ago – all those new associates getting furloughed before they even stepped in the door – can happen again (and if the economy doesn’t turn around, is likely to)…

    • Another Sarah

      ^^ I agree. I have friends who got jobs at top firms (graduated this past May) that haven’t gotten start dates yet. Your friends may be hanging on for quite some time, whereas if you start for the feds, you’ll be pulling a paycheck much longer than they will.

      Also, generally, how rude! Don’t they know how difficult the economy is? I’m sure you’re happy for them, but really? If you’re really fabulous, you wouldn’t need to toot your own horn on your facebook status. This kind of stuff makes me so angry. >:-o!

      • LawyrChk

        I think this really depends on who your facebook friends are. FWIW, anyone who can’t be happy for me if I get a new job offer really isn’t my “friend” at all. For people I care about, I WANT them to do well, and I want to know what they’re up to. If it’s a job offer, so be it.
        Just because the economy is difficult doesn’t mean you should hide the fact that good things are happening for you. Just my .02.

        • v

          I agree generally, but specifically bragging about the salary on facebook seems to be pushing it a bit far.

          • N.F.M.

            My good friend got an offer, I am over the moon happy for her. It’s the facebook bragging of law school classmates that gets to me, although I admit its part jealously. But these lovely comments have been an excellent pep talk, just what I needed.

        • JessC

          I don’t see anything wrong with announcing that you got an offer – in this economy, I’m sure I’d be excited too. And I’d hope my friends would be happy for me too.
          But the comment about salary is just tacky.

          • Lantis

            It’s very tacky to announce your salary on Facebook, and it shows a serious lack of judgment. I am a BigLaw senior associate, and I would raise an eyebrow if one of our new associates put that on her page.

            Why be jealous? If you want the big salary, it’s not too late to change your mind and go into private practive. If you don’t want the hours and the pressure, then enjoy where you are. Over half of them won’t make it past a few years anyway, and the rest will quit or get fired soon after that. Focus on yourself, not on other people.

    • AE

      I graduated from a t15 lawschool in 2005 (fellow GULC grad, Kat!) and came to the federal government as a trial lawyer through an Honor’s Program after clerking for 2 years. In my first two and a half years of practice I tried cases and served as lead counsel in multi-million dollar cases. Now I’m 30 and I represent the government in national security matters, work that is very meaningful to me. I won’t give myself away, but these cases are in the press a lot, and I’ll tell my grandkids one day that I worked on them. Working for the government can have some non-monetary advantages.

      Over the last five years since I graduated I’ve watched a lot of friends and colleagues get burned out in Biglaw and get laid off. Those champagne offers and fancy dinners can lead to 70 hour weeks of doc review. Yuck. Even if you don’t go to private practice right away, you can go later if that is what you want to do. I might do that in a year or so for the right opporunity. Good luck!

      • K

        100% agreed. I’m in a similar honors-type program through my state’s government, and have been practicing just under 2 years now (no clerkship, I came to this straight out of school). My Biglaw friends (those who haven’t been laid off, that is) are still stuck in doc review hell while I’ve already argued before the state’s court of appeals. Be happy for your friends with the Biglaw offers, but keep in mind that you’re going to be getting a LOT of things that make up for the lack of money.

      • N.F.M.

        AE, you’ve described my ideal life/job. (I will be a 2011 GULC grad) Thank you for your comment, it means a lot to me! The thing is, nothing about private practice is why I went to law school, I just had a moment of weakness seeing the messages when I am in an uncertain place in my career.

        • AE

          No problem. Enjoy that student center with the awesome gym at GULC. They teased us with it until finally opening it when I was a 3L. Now I work a block away from GULC and wish I could use that gym without paying a fee.

          One more thing- I did my federal judicial clerking in a tropical locale. We got a lot of clerkship applications from Biglaw associates. The cover letters said between the lines, “GET ME OUT OF MY LAW FIRM!!!!”

        • Cindy

          NFM, the govt. job posters are right! I’ve seen many attorneys leave big law firms for more experience or happier experiences elsewhere. Federal jobs present excellent opportunities for advancement, career development, not to mention retirement, holiday, and other perks that Big Law does not care to compete with. I would almost guarantee that in no time, you will be both much happier and more experienced that attorneys taking private Big Law jobs.

      • North Shore

        Same career path, but I’m 16 years out, and still feel I landed my dream job with my federal agency. Very few of my classmates stuck with their firms, but I’ve remained at my agency and been very happy. They stuck with me and accommodated me through some major life changes (disability, maternity leave, and my husband’s military deployments, to name a few). Of interest to your situation, about 7 years out of law school a number of classmates and friends at firms discovered that they were not going to make partner, and began exploring how to get into the government, as they suddenly realized what a good deal I have. Same for a few years ago, when the economy tanked, and colleagues who had been laid off from their firms were calling, looking for jobs.

    • mille

      My school has a program that will help you pay for your student loans if you are in certain jobs, like government or legal aid. That might be something that helps.

      I do public defense and don’t make tons of money, but I have other motivations. I find criminal law to be fun and interesting, and the opportunity to get into court every week has helped polish my skills. I also find that I can get much more creative in my defenses as compared with a retained client. My retained clients generally don’t want to pay my hourly fee for me to write and argue motions that may not win. My appointed clients don’t have to worry about billable hours, so they are more open to taking the cases all the way to trial. I’ve been able to help a few clients with major life changes– finding inpatient drug or mental health treatment, for example. I would have to be paid a lot of money to work in biglaw– I can’t get excited about business law like I do criminal.

      You can always change jobs at some point in the future. Put in a few years wherever you can, and then try for another job if you aren’t happy where you are.

    • Anon

      Just keep in mind that all those offers probably won’t result in jobs. I graduated in 2009 and some people had their offers rescinded even after graduation, while others are still deferred. If you work with the feds, you can do the 10-year IBR to help out with the loans if you don’t want to sign up for your school’s program.

    • Different Anon Today

      I think that is so distasteful of them. I graduated in ’09 and was the only one of my friends to get an offer from OCI. I had some issues w/ wondering whether to accept (it involved moving, leaving a job I was interning at, etc.) and confided in a couple people about it. But, I never mentioned it on my facebook and I generally didn’t brag at all about it or ask any of my friends if they had found jobs. We generally all had a don’t ask don’t tell policy given the economy.

    • Eponine

      While it’s encouraging to hear that the market seems to be picking up again, the proverbial ‘golden handcuffs’ are very real. Speaking as someone who’s been a lawyer awhile now, the happy lawyers I know are the ones who pursued their career without regard to pay. Some of them make a lot of money, yes, but they didn’t choose their jobs based on starting salary but rather because the jobs were interesting to them. The unhappy lawyers I know are the ones who just ‘had to’ make six figures and then adopted a lifestyle that could only be sustained on that kind of salary.

    • anonymous

      Many of those “lucky” ones are going to be looking for an exit strategy not long after they start their supposed dream jobs. Some people certainly make a success of it, but BigLaw is not for everyone. Figure out what’s right for you and do it — you’ll get where you want to be faster than the folks who are trying out BigLaw just because or doing it for a while to get some training or doing it to pay off their loans.

      • Super Anonymous Today

        I work as a federal government litigator. It’s the only job I ever wanted. As other posters have noted, it is really satisfying to do something meaningful and important.

        I posted anon. because I do want to talk about salary. I make around $165,ooo per year as a government litigator. We also get bonuses, days off after trial, etc. I have 26 paid vacation days per year, 12 sick days, and around 15 government holidays. (Each federal location has a diff. number of “official” holidays depending on where they are. For eg., those in Louisiana and Alabama get Mardi Gras off.)

        My point is that you can do important work, satisfying work, and get paid enough to own your own home, put your child thru school, and, my guilty pleasure, drive a Jaguar S type. I’ve never understood the desire to join biglaw . . . but then again, I’m sure the biglaw folks don’t understand those of us who want their work to be meaningful.

        Good luck to you OP.

        • AEK

          I was all about this comment until I got to the smear that biglaw attorneys don’t understand the desire for meaningful work. What a way to wreck an otherwise thoughtful and positive comment.
          People who are secure in their own choices tend not to trash the decisions of others.

        • Anon Today

          Congrats on you for doing well. In fairness to BigLaw, I DO find my work to be meaningful. Not everyone in BigLaw hates working in BigLaw.

    • C

      You’ll be snickering up your sleeve when those same classmates are working late nights and weekends, meaning their big paycheck translates to $3/hour, or when they’ve been laid off.

      In the meantime, I must ask: *Who* puts their annual salary on Facebook? WTH?

  18. Anonymous for this Q only

    I have a personal hygiene question and for some reason it really embarrasses me. Nose hair. I have very fine blonde hair on top of my head, my eyebrows, eyelashes, and now, for some reason, in my nose. The hair is so, so fine that nothing cuts it. Sharp little scissors just don’t cut it. Literally. The little hairs just slip away and laugh.

    I got a battery-thing that has a whirling sharp cutter, and again, the nose hair just bends.

    Any suggestions? Thanks!

    • Makeup Junkie

      Are your nostrils wide enough to accommodate an eyebrow razor? I’ve used mine in all sort of ahem, places, but never up my nose. I think that might do the trick if you can get it to fit.

    • mille

      Waxing. Go to a salon and they can wax the hairs. They basically put a plug of wax in your nostril and pull it out all at once. It stings but not nearly as bad as you think.

    • anon23

      If it is fine and blonde do you think anyone else sees it – or are they long and hanging out? I have tons of hair on the tops of my feet but since it is fine and blonde I ignore it b/c I realized no one else sees it really.

      • Anonymous for this Q only

        Thanks for the tips! I don’t know if anyone sees it, but I do. I will say that tweezers don’t work because they can’t grab the hair. Arrrrrgh.

  19. Lawgirl

    Barrie Pace flash update: Backorder actually came through, surprisingly! Got the 2 button wool jacket & matching pants. Nice, very nice indeed. And for what, $27?! Pants are lined and don’t look as high-waisted and “mom-ish” as they do on the site. Jacket is well made but a little too big (especially in the waist) and will need alterations. I probably would’ve done better to have gone down a size, but given the final sale, I thought it would be easier to fix something that’s too big than something that’s too tight. So yeah, I’m stoked! I’ll be taking back a silk suit I bought at NM for $150 on clearance… :-)

    • Different Anon Today

      I also wanted to update on my Barrie Pace faux wrap dress. It said “snug fit” or something on the ad so I wasn’t sure if I would be able to wear it to work. I do w/ a blazer. But, what shocked me is I have a large chest and somehow that dress is minimizing. It doesn’t look like it would be. But I wear an unlined no underwire bra underneath and it just lays very flat. Something about the criss/cross cut. I never thought it would look like that on me and I love it. There is my PSA for the larger chested – don’t be afraid of all criss cross wraps. I do wear a cami under it too just to be safe.

      • Lawgirl

        Yay @A Different Anon!! – Glad the wrap dress worked for you. For my frame, my breasts are “above average” in size, and this dress minimized me too! Great find. Barrie Pace’s site is now completely down and has a page that urges readers to check out its sister company.. Glad we made the mad dash in time. I read a few days ago about a Corporette whose BP suit had the arms sewn on backwards and such. How odd! Maybe the shift worker just threw it together before clocking out for the day? :-) Glad our colleague got a tailor to fix it. Anyway, I’m glad most of us were happy with the BP purchases. It seems like the Marilyn Monroe-shaped women among us made out best. FOR ONCE! Hahaha. Take care!

    • Eponine

      I got the blue Tadashi dress as well as a couple of blazers and they are all perfect. What a great deal!

      • Suze

        I hit that sale/liquidation just a little too late and got…exactly zip. Sadness :(. Glad you all did well!

  20. AH

    For any petite looking for conservative fully lined suits (all three pieces), check out the new arrivals at Ann Taylor. They are very simple but cut well (and did I mention that they are actually lined???)

    I haven’t bought a suit from them in a couple years because I thought the quality had gone down, but the two suits I just bought are surprisingly nice.

  21. Coupon Codes

    I have two Ann Taylor coupon codes. I believe they are multiple use. They expire August 22. Enjoy!

    20% off your purchase of $100 or more online – code AUGUST20

    30% off any single full-price item – code AUGUST30

      • Lawgirl

        I buzzed into AT today. Got some lovely shoes (gray snakeskin open-toes) for ~$75 (regular $198). Loves! Didn’t feel like rifling (is that a word?) through sales rack though.. a little hectic in there. For some reason, it seems like all their merch “reads” better online than in the store. Wonder if it’s their in-store layout, mannequins, overall store merchandising could use some help or they just have great models and photogs.. Dunno. Anywa, always big letdown when I go in there, for some reason. Whole store 25% off but they won’t stack with online & print coupons but will let you use them in lieu of the 25% storewide if you have a better deal.

  22. Anon

    Any suggestions for a cute flat or low chunky heel that is professional and $100 or less? Thanks!

  23. Suze

    Ok, seeking support/humor all over the map here:

    1. just learned of potentially job-altering control/management change – ANXIETY! Oh, and am going out of country next week so it will be *hard* to monitor work situation or enjoy vacation.

    2. have been insanely shopping the various on-line sales, and nothing (well, almost nothing – I did like the Marilyn Monroe dress that we weren’t sure about, and I got a cool new Monserat de Luca bag) fits or looks right. Now have acres of returns to do. Largely (pun intended) because I went from a big 8/small 10 to kind of a tight 10 and have been ordering 12’s, which are too big (thankfully I suppose). Need motivation to adhere to workout plan and stop eating kids’ mac n cheese!

    These issues probably belong on the ‘revamp your life’ posts from earlier this week…but that was then and this is now! Thanks in advance for all encouragement, humor, critique, etc :)!

    • Shayna

      My mantra when I’m stressed is “this too shall pass” … as in yes, this may suck (I hate changes at work, and I’m horrible at returns), but the single certainty in life is that time moves forward, and as it does, your work situation will even out, the returns will be done, and you will find time/inspiration/willpower to nosh on an apple instead of Easy Mac… but in the meantime, mental hug!

      • Suze

        Thanks Shayna! I needed that :). The change at work thing is just my hottest.button.ever (I swear my hair is already falling out in clumps and I just found this out last night), but you are right, time marches on and this too shall pass. I’ve certainly weathered enough job changes to get through this one…but it does s*ck [resisting the urge to incorporate profane additions a la ATL]. And eating the kids’ food really only makes it worse sizewise, stresswise and feelgoodwise. That said, I just inhaled a slice of Papa Johns I ordered for them to eat in front of TV cuz I’m too distracted to prepare some Kool Aid mom appropriate meal with a variety of healthful veggies and fruits, then sit down and trade thoughts on our summer reading over homemade organic oatmeal cookies. Eeep! But – I know it and it was good to hear it from someone else – this too SHALL pass!

        Thanks again.

        • Shayna

          No problem ;-) Work changes are my biggest button too… which is ok, because we spend so much of our waking hours there! If you need to vent feel free to contact me — if you click on my name here you’ll go to my blog, and there’s a ‘contact me’ form for e-mail :-)

          Chin up!

    • KelliJ

      Suze, I worked for a company that went through 5 presidents and 5 corporate HQ relocations in the 5 years I worked for them. Luckily, I was allowed to work in a remote location. Our parent company’s CEO changed 3 times. At one point my business was up for sale and I was going to get let go after the sale. What did I do? I went to London with my mom and sister for a week of fun with the girls.

      Just keep doing what you always do, a.k.a., the best job you know how! My career exploded over those years. I went from a “contract” attorney to Chief IP Counsel for a $1.5 billion company only 5 years out of law school. I left on my own terms (wanted me to move to the midwest and I said “No thank you.”)

      You can’t control it and it will all unfold with or without you going crazy thinking about it, so don’t worry about it. Look for the opportunities that can come out of it.

      Have fun on vacation!

      • Suze

        KelliJ, thanks so much for the wisdom/inspiration/encouragement. I AM gonna go on vacay – with wonderhubby who is being a fabulous sport about this little stressor – and look for silver lining, wherever it is here. Your comments reinforce my optimism that the silver lining will materialize, one way or the other, and if I just keep doing what I am supposed to, it will all work out. Thanks for the comment!

    • RR

      Ugh. I could have written your post (with the exception of leaving the country).

      D!mn the goodness of mac n cheese!

  24. KA

    Does anyone else think Fresh Air is getting seriously lazy in its programming? It seems like they used to have book authors, or features on museum exhibits, pretty regularly. But I swear every single time I’ve listened the last few months it’s always been a TV or movie star/writer — and not very interesting ones. And enough with the Mad Men fixation — that’s been all week!

  25. ST

    @ Mille – I have the same problem. I retain all sorts of useless information. My brain is full of garbage!!!

  26. ST

    @ Cat – All of the tech gurus that I know suggest Linux Ubuntu. These are network experts, software developers, IT managers, etc. They just google ubuntu. I have not yet used it personally, but looks like a nice OS. I have an old laptop (8 – 9 years) that is just a bogged down dinosaur. I have been advised to load Ubuntu and that it will be almost as good as new. I also heard that most software will run just fine on it. You can apparently do a test run to see what all of the software loaded on the computer will look like once it is loaded. Also, all of those same tech gurus love open office.

  27. MelD

    Maybe I am slow, but when did the Jackson Fit get retired at BR? I went in yesterday and all they had was the Martin Fit and 2 low-rise fits. I guess I won’t be able to buy pants there anymore. So sad.

    • SD

      If you know your size and all that, you might want to try eBay. I’ve never done it, but I know some other Corporettes have had luck with that route.

    • K

      This has been annoying me too – the Jacksons are the only pants I’ve ever found anywhere that I could buy off the rack. I’m really disappointed that they’ve apparently retired them and have already written to the company about it.

      • MelD

        Please keep us updated as to whether you get any sort of response. When I saw that the replacements were two low-rise styles, I was so annoyed. I have a long torso and there is no way I can wear anything that is low rise! I can see low-rise styles for jeans/casual pants, but two styles for dress pants? Really?

          • K

            Only the unlined stretch cotton ones, though, last I looked. My work staples are the fully-lined lightweight wool ones, which they don’t appear to have anymore.

    • Another Sarah

      The last time I went to BR specifically looking for the Jackson pants, the saleslady said that they are super popular and they are always the first ones to leave the racks, which is why they didn’t have any in stock. She actually told me to go online for them. And actually, they sell out really quickly online too.

    • Suze

      Eeep. The Jackson fit is the only one I have EVER been able to wear, and I only discovered it (on-line) a few months ago…was looking forward to maybe another pair soon. Maybe what Another Sarah said is true – you just have to hit on-line at the right time. It did take me a couple tries to get them in my size and tall….

    • Tk1

      There are always Jackson fits at the BR outlet by me, but I don’t think I’ve seen them in the regular store. Give the outlet a try if you haven’t already.

    • MelD

      Thanks all for the info! I will keep an eye out online and in the outlet. I just noticed that it was missing when I checked the newest poster of the fits, which were Martin, Logan, and some other new, low-rise fit. The Jackson was not featured on the display as an option for pants fit anymore. Hopefully they’ll continue to carry them at the outlet, which is where I’ve gotten all my Jackson fit pants/shorts in the past.

      • Nicki

        I was just in BR last week and they told me they retired the Jackson. :( I also cannot wear any of their other fits.

    • Amy H.

      I found out late last week that the Jackson has been discontinued at BR and I just lost it, mentally. All three of their “new fits” are slim, slimmer, skinny, trim, fitted around the hips and thighs, etc., etc., etc. Someone high up in the company actually made the decision that they are not going to sell to any woman that actually has hips????!!!! The only Jacksons left on the website are the cotton/poly blend; there is nothing in wool to match any of the suit jackets. I’m truly livid. These were the only professional pants that actually fit me, without my having to take them to a tailor and pay $20+ to have the waist taken in. Gah.

      K, where did you write to the company? I want to write as well. I will just have to cool down first, because if I write in the mood I’m in now, they will probably throw out my letter as hate mail (which it probably will be).

  28. A Nonnie

    Career advice needed, ladies. (And apologies for the length!)

    I’m currently interning with a company that I’d be happy working for after I finish school, and that has a decent track record for hiring former interns. However, I recently discovered that my job description has altered significantly from what I started with. The new description focuses on a skill set other than my primary skill set. This is a problem because, while I do possess these skills, I see them as supplementary. I know that I cannot compete professionally using these skills as my primary skill set. I’m now concerned that I’m being evaluated for a position where I’d be pretty much doomed to fail, nor do I have any idea what prompted the change.

    I know I need to talk to my boss, but I feel sick to my stomach every time I think about it. Any suggestions for what to say? I don’t want to sound like an ingrate, but I think it’s important that I know why it’s changed, and what the change means. Many thanks!

    • Eponine

      The job description of your internship changed, or the job description of the position you hope to be hired for after your internship changed? If the latter, it’s unlikely it really affects your chances of being hired. It would affect an outside applicant, but as an inside applicant, if they’re happy with you currently they’re unlikely to zero in on the position description as a reason not to hire you. If the former, so long as they’re happy with your work so far, I doubt it will affect your chances for eventually being hired.

      • Suze

        Eponine, I remember from an earlier post that you are happily in academia and if I remember correctly, you transitioned out of biglaw or some similar situation. Would you share a little of your experience? TIA :).

    • Another Sarah

      I’ve never ordered anything from Athleta, but if you are both an attorney AND a professional (food) chef, you are my hero. :-D

      • legalchef

        Sigh, I wish I was both. I am the former, but dream of being the latter.

    • K

      I have one of their underwire suits from last summer and LOVE it. I can’t recommend it highly enough for the big-boobed among us (34DD here).

      • legalchef

        How did you find the sizing? I can be a 34DD, 36DD or sometimes a DDD, depending on the bra, and am debating on size.

        • K

          I found it to be accurate – it’s the only swimsuit I have that I don’t feel like I’m falling out of!

      • legalchef

        Thanks. I bit the bullet and ordered both sizes, and will return one of them. I like the Wasabi pattern a lot but they don’t have my size (and it’s not on sale).

        I’ve had great luck with Coco Reef before for bra sized tops – in fact, all of my bikinis are from them. However, I’ve come to the realization that I HATE halter tops, because they pull on my neck too much, so I am always on the lookout for suits that have shoulder straps instead.

        • AnotherAnon

          I’m a huge Coco Reef fan too and also got a cute one-piece from Coco Rave even though it’s technically the junior brand. It has adjustable shoulder straps instead of the halter, which is great!

        • AnotherAnon

          I’m a huge Coco Reef fan too and also got a cute one-piece from Coco Rave even though it’s technically the junior brand. It has adjustable shoulder straps instead of the halter, which is great!

          Note to Kat- the first time I tried to post this I got a File Not Found after hitting submit.

          • AnotherAnon

            Ugh- sorry for the multiple posts- keep getting a 404 error when I try to post!

        • L

          I have 2 suits from athleta – they are great!!! I got a M tall bold paisley one – I am a 34f – and it fits well, although not quite enough support for high impact activities. For swimming w/ my toddler, it is great!

    • mk

      I have a couple of suits from Athleta. In the summer, I wear a suit at least three days a week since I am serious beach vball player. I am not super busty, but they do make the best swim suit that I own…and like I said, I wear them a lot and play in them a lot. I probably go through three a year. The one I have from Athleta has lasted me through two vball seasons and 10-12 surfing trips.

  30. Suze

    I ordered two one pieces from Athleta earlier this summer – primary use to be for home backyard pool/hot tubbing w/kids, etc (ie, not glam poolside with Ritz Carlton pool boy spritzing me w/cool water while making sure my bellini stays full). They are good, durable and fit true to the size charts. I don’t know about the bra-size issue (I’m more or less a standard 36/38 B or C, which makes bra-buying kind of nuts, but bathing suits are easier). I would definitely go back to Athleta, but I would say the look, fabric and feel are more LL Bean/Land’s End (read: a little ‘mom-jeansy’/utilitarian) than, say, some glitzier bikini focused line apropos to the bellini scene I fantasize about…hope that helps. The top you marked is cute! In a two piece, it might not be as ‘mom-jeansy’ as the one pieces I got. Please report back – maybe I will take the plunge on a two piece.

    Oh, and second Another Sarah – I love to cook! Are you really a professional chef? Any recommendations for a ‘leisure’ cooking school in Italy/France/Greece (my oh I so hope I get to do this next summer vacation)?

    • legalchef

      Nope, not professional :( No recommendations, either. I can’t even find one here in NYC that I can afford!

      I think I might order it, but am debating between sizes. I think it would be better to go for the bigger, and make adjustments to the straps, etc as needed (which I usually need to do anyway, since I’m 5’3″) then smaller. I will definitely report back.

  31. dc lady

    hi ladies! i am planning my wedding and need some help. is it too much to ask people to fly in to attend a thursday night event if the wedding is on a saturday? the wedding is in LA and about half of the guests will be flying in from out of state. i just dont want to seem like i am demanding that people take an extra day off for ‘my special day.’

    • legalchef

      What’s the event?

      I also agree that it might depend on the age/relationship of the people who would need to fly in

    • Eponine

      So long it’s totally optional and not something people will feel guilty about missing, I think it’s fine. Probably a lot of people will want to take an extra day off and have a long weekend in California. Make sure you have some suggested activities for them to do during the day Friday, though.

    • Anonymous

      Like the others, I think the decision depends on the age of your friends. Younger friends may not be able to swing air fare + hotel cost of the extra two or three nights.

      • legalchef

        That’s what I was thinking. Plus, younger guests, who have presumably spent less time in the workforce and therefore might not have the same vacation availability from work, might have a problem taking the vacation time.

    • AnotherAnon

      I think it’s probably too much to ask, especially if you have people flying in from the east coast. They’ll probably have to take a whole day off work to make it there on time, and they’ll be jetlagged to boot. Certain times of year are popular for weddings, so you might get people who have to attend multiple weddings within a season. It gets hard to take that much time off in such a short period of time.

    • JessC

      Can you word it more like, “We’ve got X going on Thursday night and would love for you all to be there if you can. Please let us know if you can”?
      That way they know about the event and no one feels guilty.

      • Shayna

        Yes – clearly optional is fine because you’re likely to have people who plan to spend an extra day or two anyway to justify the time in an airplane/jetlag

    • Another Sarah

      I agree with everyone above – as long as it’s optional. My friend is currently a bridesmaid (here in Chicago) in a wedding on Long Island and all the bridesmaids are trying to plan something for the Friday night before the wedding. Too bad she gets in Friday night and if everyone is at the event, she would have no way of getting from the airport to the hotel to the event. She can’t take off another day of work, and she’s had her plane tickets bought for months, so it’s not easy. Seeing the stress that this is putting her through, as long as you make the event optional, I think it’s ok.

      • dc lday

        thank you to everyone for your input. i am indian and the event would be a henna party. with a saturday wedding, i was hoping to get away with a thursday night henna party so that people can get a night off before the wedding/work off hangovers. my guestlist is mostly full of mid-to-late 20’s guests without kids and the party would definitely not be mandatory. i just dont want to come across as a demanding bride, and i like some of the wording you all have suggested. thanks!

  32. Housecounsel

    Depends. Are you thinking of young, single friends or older relatives with families? As a mom of three, I’d stress out big time if I were expected to be out of town on a weekend (prime family time) that spanned both Thursday and Saturday night.

  33. Housecounsel

    Meant to add that if this invitation had come when I was in my twenties, I’d be thinking that it was a great excuse to extend my California weekend. Please just keep your guests’ needs in mind. I know it is supposed to be your weekend, and when I was young and single I would have thought, “What is one weekend away from your kids?” Now that I am a working mom, the thought of being away from my kids for a weekend, any weekend, fills me with guilt and dread.

    • Suze

      Dilemma – details as specified by housecounsel and Anonymous. If your guests are mostly single/kidless in their twenties, affording it might be an issue; if they are in their thirties w/kids, time/guilt/babysitting issues. I think you should plan your event w/the Thursday piece, knowing that some just may not be able to attend but will be there Fri eve/Sat. And set up something for the Fri eve people, even if it’s very casual and you only make a cameo….my $.02

  34. Anon

    After having my carry-on rolling bag (rudely) declared too large by the Delta gate-agent on Thursday night, I’ve decided I need to invest in a new rolling bag. Mine definitely fits in overhead compartments (and always did without issue pre-the extra charges for checked luggage), but I really want one that “looks” smaller so I stop giving the gate-agents the wrong impression (esp. since I always carry-on now). Any suggestions for good carryon size rolling bags that take the most advantage of the space they have? I’d prefer one not in black, but also no weird patterns or designs.

    • Anonymous

      Delta has been terrible to me repeatedly. I avoid whenever possible. The most outrageous example is when my sister was forced to stand in a 45 minute line to check her bag and when she got up to the front was informed that she’d sadly missed her window for checking her bag by 1 minute. Even though it was clear she had been there all along, in line, he refused to let her check her bag or board the plane and would not even help her rebook her tickets. Terrible, terrible customer service.

    • Anonymous

      Try Swiss Army–they have a couple of great 20″ and 24″ bags out there (available in grey, etc) . I have one that fits into all of the overhead bins, even on a few puddle-jumpers I’ve been on recently.

      As for Delta … I’m avoiding whenever possible. A few weeks ago they served peanuts to the child next to me, even after I explained about my (severe) peanut allergy, and even though they had also had free, peanut-less snacks available. The kid threw up during some turbulence, which triggered an allergic reaction. Awesome.

    • Shayna

      I like this Calvin Klein carry-on http://amzn.to/buxglN It comes in a few colors (I think I would actually consider the green b/c it’s luggage, not a purse, so it’s good for it to stand out if you do have to check it…and even just to get the right bag out of the overhead bin)

    • A.M.

      Last time I travelled with US Airways they destroyed my checked bag (broke off the leg stands, ripped it even more, bent the telescope handle so I couldn’t even open it. I angrily stormed over to their baggage services desk and told them they broke my bag, and they popped into the back, grabbed a brand new (!) Samsonite carry-on and said ‘Is this too small as a replacement?’ Considering I had been wanting a new carry-on I took it, and I love it. It is like their silhouette 11 spinner, but isn’t a spinner. It looks dumpy, but it has one of those expanding zippers so you can make it larger if you want, but I think even opened it would still be carry-on sized.

  35. angryperson

    I’m super grumpy at the moment. I wore a pleated wool skirt to the office today and it is already crumpled round the back from sitting (I’ve only been in for about 2 hours). Is there anything I can do to avoid my skirts crumpling? I expect linen etc to crumple but not nice wool things.

    • A.M.

      Do you ‘sweep’ your skirt flat as you sit? I can’t think of a better way to describe it. Double-handed smooth your skirt over your rear as you sit down to make sure it lies flat as you sit on it. Of course the more you shift/adjust while seated the less effective it is. I have this problem with vented skirts often.
      I tend to avoid pleated skirts because I find by the end of the day the pleat doesn’t lay right anymore, but they can be so perfect for work.

    • Louise

      I’ve never had quality wool pleats crumple like this. Is it 100% wool? Not that it helps you today, but perhaps you can share what brand the skirt is so the rest of us can learn not to buy that particular style.

      Where I am, the heat index is supposed to reach 110 degrees today. The thought of wearing a wool skirt makes ME crumple.

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