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Weekend Open Thread

Loeffler Randall - Kat (Black) - FootwearSomething on your mind? Chat about it here.

6pm.com is having some crazy sales on pretty much everything today — designer clothes, shoes, bags, sunglasses — and there are some great items in there, for work and play. This weekend I'm wishing I had a pair of these Loeffler Randall boots — the super small wedge heel is exactly what I want this season. They were $580, now marked 50% off to $362.50 at 6pm.com. Loeffler Randall – Kat (Black) – Footwear

168 Comments

  1. Follow-Up – In-house ‘Rette’s and compensation discussion a few days ago..

    The sight that was accumulating in house compensation information was Law Shucks

    hth

  2. Does anyone have any coupon codes for Banana Republic? The only one I can find is free shipping for orders over $100. I’ve had a pair of pants in my cart for a couple days, and they’re on sale for $79.99 but just checking if I can save any more before ordering. Thanks!

    1. This one is for 20% off $75 or more. I used one of these (I think the second), but the other one should still be good.

      BZBWN3VJH3Z8
      D64K2HMHWXRJ

      1. You can try and see if the promotion code from Wednesday is still good BROCT30 – good for 30% off and free shipping. May have been a 1-day thing though.

  4. The FDIC’s New York field office has a satellite office in Baltimore, which in reality is located in Columbia, MD. A suite in an office building, rather than a stand alone structure with other government offices. I applied for a job there but think this set-up is a bit peculiar. Am I overthinking this?

      1. There was a fake SEC busted in Boston a few months ago. But I would have been psyched to interview there!

        1. Really? That’s crazy. What does a fake SEC do?

          I would assume that even if there are fake SECs/FDICs/etc., they probably don’t hire real attorneys (at least not under the guise of being real agencies). I guess you could always call the main office to double check.

    2. I work in state government, and my office (one of the regional offices scattered around the state) is a suite in a regular office building. I don’t think this is uncommon for satellite/regional offices – I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

    3. Not peculiar. I once appeared in bankruptcy court in Pittsburgh, which is a floor in a huge commercial office building.

    4. Yes you are overthinking this. My attorney general’s offices (main branch) were across the street from the state capitol, in a mall. Still an attorney general’s office.

      It’s probably cheaper for a smaller office to be a suite in an office building rather than the gov. build, light, heat and water a whole building for a relatively smaller number of people

    5. The SEC’s New York office is just a floor or two in the World Financial Center.

      On the other hand, it is a little strange that the New York field office has a satellite office in Maryland.

      1. 5 floors actually, but yes – we’re the second class citizens after the AmEx employees.

    6. The job I applied for is one of their major functions. I totally understand that these functions take place in all of their field offices. Also, many DC-based gov’t agencies have offices in the DC metro area. I just thought the notion of of the NY field office’s Baltimore branch in Columbia was a bit out there. You know what I couldn’t help but think, that a long-time, high ranking employee finagled the office for him or her. I’ve heard this happening in the military.

      Just wondering. I was more concerned about the type of culture this office would have, if indeed it was for the convenience of a specific person.

      1. It’s very possible that it was located at some point for the convenience of someone and equally possible that that person is no longer there. IMHO, it is rare, except maybe in the military, that the fed agencies go to the effort of leasing buildings for just one person’s convenience. Too much paperwork. If you’re concerned that it is legit, call the FDIC, they can confirm that or ask how long/why they’ve been there in your interview.

        Per a Balti branch of the NY field office being in Columbia, MD, doesn’t really strike me as odd. The FDIC divides the country into regions for things like bank examination functions. MD/Baltimore is apparently in the same “region” as NY — not really surprising (not like MD/Baltimore being in the same region as Seattle). I’m guessing that MD location pay differentials are less than the NYC ones. Why have all your staff live in NY when they’re looking at little banks in MD? They have to locate the MD/Balti field office somewhere. Columbia is not far at all from Balti. RE may have been more affordable in Columbia.

        A whole bunch of fed agencies have office not located in DC.

        Just my $0.02 as a non FDIC fed.

  5. 50% off $580 is not $362.50…..site says MSRP was $725. And they do look really chic.

  6. What do you all think of schools like National, U of Phoenix? I might have the opportunity to teach a class (something I’ve always wanted to do) but I don’t want to drag down my reputation at a “diploma mill.” I’ve had family members with great experiences at these types of schools, although I’m typically wary of them. But is that just me being a snob?

    What say you, Corporettes?

    1. It depends (I’m a lawyer, sorry, it’s how I start every answer). I have both an academic (non-law) background and now practice law. If you are trying to be a “serious academic” — ie, getting a tenure-track position at a 4-year school, this may not be the right approach to get to yr goal. But, if you are looking as teaching as a fun side gig (lawyer teaching business law to undergrads), then I don’t see that where you teach would harm your reputation.

    2. I’m a snob then too, because my answer is no. There’s no way that it can be good for a teaching career. U of Phoenix is the butt of too many jokes. I didn’t even go to a fancy school, just a solid state school, and I still think that. Sorry.

      1. Well…

        I’ve been “facilitating” (we don’t call it “teaching”) at the University of Phoenix for five years. Admittedly, I only do doctoral courses (I’m a former FT professor at a “real” school; I now work for the Federal Government), so I can’t speak to the quality of students or the experience of working there at any level other than with the doctoral students.

        I started doing it for extra $ and to keep my hand in at teaching. My current job doesn’t let me commit to an in-person adjunct schedule at a local university. The “learners” (we aren’t allowed to call them “students” *rme*) cover a wider range than you’d find at in a more traditional one.

        That is — the good ones are great. They are bright, motivated, focused, and attending an online university for the same reasons I am teaching at one, including not wanting to quit their jobs to go to school full-time.

        The bad ones, are, in a word, BAD. In two words, REALLY BAD. In three words, THINK THEY’RE ENTITLED. And there is rampant plagiarism. I’ve stuck with it not only for the money but also because I do enjoy my work with the good students.

        So – for what it’s worth, and your mileage may vary – (1) to get teaching experience, if you don’t have any, try to start with a local in-person program; (2) to get online teaching experience, a school like Phoenix or Strayer or Capella or one of the others might be a good idea.

        However, be prepared for annoyance, frustration, and a lot of head-banging. On the bad days / in the bad classes, you’ll face students like “Learner X,” who was sure s/he hadn’t be promoted due to all sorts of biases, but the firm would have to promote him/her from administrative assistant, where s/he had been stuck for 15 years, once s/he had a doctorate from the University of Phoenix.

        1. I agree with ADB_BWG on most points. I teach online for UoP and a small college. I also have a “day job” and just use the extra income to help put my kids through college. I’ve been teaching since I finished my masters in 2005.

          The good students are what keep me coming back. The UoP meets a need and if I was a student, I think I could find a better and more cost-effective degree, but it works for many.

          Some students are very good and some are horrible. The entitled ones think that they are “paying customers” and deserve good service and a good grade for their tuition payments. I’ve heard more than once: “I pay your salary!”

          I don’t think teaching at UoP will “taint” your resume/vita unless you want to teach at Harvard or Stanford in the future. It is a good stepping stone to better and more lucrative schools.

        2. @adb and @anon UoP — what are you teaching/facilitating? (I am the K from above)…and how did you initially get hired? I am teaching at a local CC in my old academic discipline, but wouldn’t mind going to something more law-oriented at a UofP type school…

    3. I was considering teaching at the college level when I was in teaching and was told to be careful with those types of schools. Teaching at the wrong one can really hurt your reputation if you’re interested in teaching at the college level elsewhere. I have one friend who taught ESL at one of those types of schools and said the rest of the school was so bad that she warned her students against associating with anyone who worked or even attended that other half because no one reputable worked or went there.

      1. I think the decision should be based on what you want. If you are just entering teaching and think you might want to do it full-time and as a career, then … no. An online, for-profit school is not your best choice. If you want to make extra money, particularly if you have experience at a traditional school, it can be a good option.

        In my case, I do not want to go back to full-time teaching but I do want to keep a second / supplemental / alternative career option open. So, this works for me and, to be blunt, I am good at it. The good students who take advantage of my feedback finish the course with definite advantages.

        It can be a win-win situation. But, again, I’ve only worked with doctoral students.

  7. Does anyone have any feed back about custom made suits from places like Tom James?

    I have a really hard time finding suits that fit me right, or that I can get altered to fit correctly. (I am short and a double A cup.) As an attorney I need suits for work, and I’m already young looking so having a ill fitting suit doesn’t help. So I’m considering using one of the custom made suit places but would appreciate tips and feedback before I order a suit I cannot touch or try on before I buy . . . .

    1. I had a really bad experience with Tom James. I had them make me a pair of pants and a suit. The pants were hideous — they re-did them 3 times and they were still hideous – they had pleats in the front (not my idea) and added at least 10 pounds to my waist. I paid a little over $200 for them — which would have been fine if I’d loved them, but they were truly the most hideous pants I had ever seen. The suit was so bad even the salesperson, when she saw it, sent it back and said they just couldn’t make a suit for me. It looked like a man’s suit – just smaller. I had brought in a suit I wanted to copy (or wanted as close as they could get to my suit), and what they produced looked nothing like what I wanted. That was about 5 years ago, but the entire experience was so bad, I haven’t given them another try.

      I’m tall, and have the same problem you do on the opposite end.

    2. I had some things made by Tom James a few years ago and they were… just okay. I was all excited about having clothes that actually FIT, but they didn’t really fit better than my other clothes and I think the styles were a little old fashioned. Maybe it’s changed in the intervening years – I had them made in 2006, I think. I’m also short with a small chest, and in the past couple of years I have had great luck with the Brooks Brothers no iron shirts (fitted style) and Theory pants and jackets. They look fabulous and Theory is not too much more expensive than Tom James. And Brooks Bros. is significantly cheaper.

    3. I’m super petite too, so I understand your dilemma! I went the online route and bought a 3 piece suit from MyCustomTailor.com. When the suit arrived it was huge in the hips and all three pieces needed alterations… just like every other suit I buy! That said, after alterations I’m happy with the results, but I wouldn’t do it again.

    4. I have a few suits from Tom James. It really just…depends. They do tailor nice (ie, the end product is not “ill fitting” – in manner of dept store Kaiser box suits) but they basically are a man’s suit being ‘fitted’ to a woman and they fit the suit to your measurements. Not sure of the Brooks Bros comparison – every time I’ve gone in a BB store, the sales staff ignored me (probly cuz I go in cargo shorts, tshirt and flip flops….and often have 2 or 3 kids in tow) so I haven’t ever bought anything there – but I suspect that the end product and price are similar. Nothing too exciting, a few good staples and the Tom James bonus is that they sew your name into the inner breast pocket (a nice touch and all other things equal, nicer than BB off the rack) . Hope this helps.

    5. My friend had a great experience w/ Tom James. She needed to upgrade her wardrobe and replace warn-out pieces, so she tried them when they were having a big sale last December. She invited me to join her because she knows I’m interested in this sort of thing, and we both loved her sales rep, Victoria Bate. If you’re in NY, definitely contact Victoria and schedule an appointment during their sale. Victoria stayed within the budget my friend set, really listened, and made practical suggestions. My friend liked her first suit so much that she’s gone back for another one since then.

      I also always like to give a plug for Moi-Meme. They only sew for women, so there’s no danger of looking like a man. And bluesuitsonline.com has wonderful suits. Jamak, the owner, knows all about fit.

      1. Wow, I just checked out the Moi-Meme site…and now I’m trying to figure out when I can schedule my next trip to NYC!

      2. I have had custom suits made at two places in NYC that primarily do men’s, at Dara Lamb (very expensive women’s custom suits) and Moi-meme.

        The only one I would recommend is Moi-meme. Their styles are lovely and designed for women, and I found the service very good – suit ready earlier than promised, etc. The suit needed slight alterations after I tried it on, but in my experience that is normal – it’s not possible to custom-make anything based solely on measurements, no matter how good the tailor.

        For that reason, it seems unlikely that a mail-order custom suit could be a good idea.

    6. The last time I had a custom jacket made it was for my private high school, but I can totally relate to being short, small-breasted, and extremely young-looking. I also pretty much have to have everything tailored, and I tend to have a pretty good sense of what can/can’t be done.

      And I would say that generally you are always better off starting with a store-bought item with styling, fabric, and a cut that you like and then having it tailored. Unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money (well over $1000), I think it’s unlikely that custom-made clothing will be a better route. I tend to stick to suits with pencil skirts because they are easier to tailor. If you’re willing to drop some cash and invest some time in finding a good tailor, you’d be surpised at how much a jacket can be tailored. Sleeves can be narrowed, all seams can be taken in, and the shoulder-to-shoulder measurement can usually also be taken in without looking odd. I’ve even had a slightly out of date suit jacket shortened. I have been known to spend more on tailoring then on the jacket itself, but it can be totally worth it. I would highly recommend continuing to explore your tailoring options. It can easily cost $100-200 extra, but it’s probably more economical overall.

    7. My husband spent a ton of money on two suits from Tom James, and less than two years later, both suits have fallen apart (fabric in the butt fell apart and the lining all ripped out of the jacket). The rep said she’d check it out and see what she could do, but then went AWOL.

      I checked out their women’s stuff, which looked very old-fashioned and dowdy. I’m really short (26″ inseam!) and small-busted, and I’ve found J. Crew suits and other suits meant for younger bodies require little tailoring and look very professional. I at least don’t look like I stole my mom’s suit!

    8. I am currently working on a suit with mixed results. First I had pants made, and they were great. Love them. Wear them often. Then I had a jacket made to match and have had nothing but problems. They had a 6 month dye lot guarantee but the jacket did not match. And the tailor had gotten my measurements wrong and it took us forever to figure out why the jacket just would not fit.

      In the interim, I had a skirt made, which I LOVE.

      So, mixed results is all I can say.

      1. Has anyone seen the movie “Up in the Air”? Recently saw it and LOVED the suits Natalie, the character, wore. She seems small and petite too. I tried looking up where her suits were from (they said George Clooney’s character wore Brooks Brothers) but all I could find was info that hers were custom made and she didn’t keep them. Maybe someone else might have an idea where she got them from or where they were custom made?

  8. I could really use some advice!! I just recently started my first job out of law school as a fellow at a nonprofit. (which basically means that my salary is paid by my law school to fund a project that I created at this nonprofit firm). The job is short term, 1-1.5 years at most (they have pretty much made it clear that they cannot afford to hire me on after my funding is gone). My issue is that I am really struggling to balance my family and work life. I live pretty far away from my office (around 1.5 hours each way) and I get home so late that I barely can throw together a quick dinner and eat with my daughter and husband before I have to put her to bed. This really long commute and difficult schedule has left me very depressed about missing out so much on her life. I no longer help her with her homework, take her to sports, walk her home from school, or spend time cooking dinner while she tells me about her day at school. The other day I took half a day off because I couldn’t stand my depression anymore. That one afternoon with my daughter made the whole week feel so much more manageable. I feel like if I just had one or two more evenings a week home at a decent hour I could manage much better.

    My question is this, would it be unwise or unreasonable for me to ask my boss if I could come in an hour earlier M-Th and use those extra 4 hours to leave 2 hours earlier on wed and Friday so that I can get home at a regular hour? I work with 5 female attorneys, most of whom are mothers with grown kids so I am not worried about seeming too “feminine” and they all seem sympathetic about my long commute. I am not technically an “hourly” employee so I don’t know if I can switch around hours but then again, I am also not a regular salaried employee because I am only here on a temporary project. If this seems like a bad idea does anyone else have any ideas on how to handle this? (besides “suck it up?” :))

    Read more: https://corporette.com/2010/10/29/bargain-fridays-tps-report-seamless-sweater/comment-page-1/#comment-204524#ixzz13nCgfKty

    1. I think this is perfectly reasonable to ask, especially since you have an unusually long commute. He may also be willing to let you telecommute one day per week, if you’d prefer that. Most employers are willing to accomodate the needs of working parents, so long as the employee still is able to get all her work done.

    2. I know the job market for recent law grads is terrible, but either ask the question or start looking for a job with a shorter commute. If you don’t, you’ll probably start resenting the job, and possibly your family as well. My first year out of law school was MISERABLE. I worked from the time I got up until I went to bed, with time out only for hygiene, commuting, and food. It got to the point where I was weeping Sunday nights because I dreaded the week so much. I took a 50% pay cut and went somewhere with much more reasonable hours, and I’ve never looked back. And I didn’t even have kids at the time.

      Take the chance.

    3. I’d also have a serious chat w/ your husband about taking over cooking dinner. You shouldn’t get home that late and have to cook. He should have that ready so you can roll in and eat w/ the family.

      2. OMG. have you ever arrived home to hot meal? It is PARADISE!

        I actually had a friend who would do this for me (at her house) when I worked crazy hours. She’d grab a snack at meal time, then eat the big meal with me when I arrived.

        To this day I’d take a bullet for her.

        1. You remind me to be grateful for my fiance. He does 99% of the cooking, because he actually enjoys it, and his workday is a regular 9-5 whereas mine is not (he’s a financial analyst and I am a lawyer). He has dinner waiting for me when I get home (usually home cooked and sometimes takeout).

    4. I don’t think it’s a problem at all to make this request. I would second the telecommuting request if possible one day a week (if that would work better for you). I also think you might want to chat with your husband about making dinner if he’s home before you are. Another suggestion for the nights neither of you are home first: crockpot meals. It’s like having the friend “Another Anon” wrote about before except it’s exactly what you want to eat :)

      1. +1 to the crockpot recommendation. I love my crockpot. A roast, some veggies, potatoes, a little broth/water and seasoning. Viola! Hot cooked meal waiting for you when you get home.

      2. I use a cooking service. It’s cheaper than take out and almost every major city has them. They deliver hot, fresh meals. Paradise.

        1. Which service? Which city? My husband and I are both BigLaw and are seriously considering this. We’ve tried Let’s Dish, and the quality of the food isn’t quite what we’re looking for.

      3. There’s a blog, I forget the exact title but it’s by a woman who cooked something in a crockpot every day for 365 days.

        An example of one of the recipes:

        frozen chicken pieces
        jar of salsa
        some frozen corn
        can of black beans

        throw in crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours.

        I made it with some tomatillo salsa and it was incredibly tasty – and it takes literally ten minutes – just open up the packages and throw it in the pot! A good crockpot will keep it warm when it’s done so you don’t have to worry if your workday plus commute is more like 11 or 12 hours.

        And if your husband’s objection to making dinner is he doesn’t know how, he can’t say he can’t make this one.

          1. So it’s fine to leave a crockpot on during the day while you’re away at work? I totally want to do this crockpot idea but I am afraid of leaving something on while I’m away. I don’t even leave my toaster oven or coffee pot plugged in while I’m away.

          2. @Anonymous – yep, the Crockpot is designed to be left on unattended for hours and is fire-safe. I wouldn’t leave it, say, where your hungry golden retriever can get at it, but otherwise it’s totally safe.

    5. Yes, you absolutely should ask for that schedule or to telecommute one day per week or whatever you think would make this more manageable. What are the risks? This non-profit is getting your work at no cost to them, and they have made it clear that once that funding is up they cannot keep you on. This is not a long term job where you need to pay dues in the early years for a big payoff later on.

      1. It is almost impossible for two parents to go full-tilt boogie at a career and take care of a child. I have the full-time job with insurance and other benefits and my husband works at home. When I get home, dinner is made, my son has done his homework, and most nights, has taken he has taken a bath. One of you must sacrifice work time for home care so you and your husband need to work that out.

  9. To be clear- this place isn’t paying you, your law school is? Then yeah, I think it’s completely reasonable. From their point of view, you work for free. Go for it!

    1. Think your request is certainly reasonable. And I’d second the one day a week work from home. Then you would only miss out on 2 evenings a week. I am a working mom and that’s my goal, to only miss out on 2 of the Monday-Thursday dinners.

  10. Does anyone have ideas for healthy-ish tailgating type food? I am going to a party tomorrow before an SEC football game and want to take something that isn’t full of cheese/sausage/fried. I want it to be at least kind of substantial (that’s mostly what I’ll be eating, with a few bites of other stuff), so I don’t want to bring just a veggie or fruit tray.

    2. Does it have to be something you eat with your fingers? I always bring a bean or edamame salad to potlucks–healthy and filling. Otherwise, devilled eggs (depending on how you make them) really aren’t that bad for you or bring hummus/white bean dip, which is healthy and has filling protein, and use it top whole-wheat bread or crisps with some veggies.

    3. Also, do you have something akin to a whole foods near you? They have all kinds of delicious turkey and chicken sausages, which are much better for your and still tasty. The one near me in San Francisco makes some great rosemary chicken sausages, and probably a dozen other varieties.

  11. Does anyone know whatever happened to the DABA website (dating a banker anonymous?) I loved reading about things there but all of a sudden, no more. The ladies were lovely, and had great banker boyfriends. I would like a banker boyfriend, and now have no outlet or idea how to get one.

    Is there anyone here that can provide advice on how to attract a banker as a boyfriend? I do not want to be just another girl to party with; I am looking to get MARRIED to a banker, and am already 27 years old.

      1. Golddiggers are returning! Maybe that’s a sign the economy’s picking up!

        1. First time I laughed all day!!!

          All the guys I knew at uni who ended up working at the likes of Goldmans etc were NOT the kind of men I would ever date very much in love with themselves and their wads of cash. Admittedly, I didn’t know dozens, but you get the picture…

    2. Do bankers go out? All the bankers I know (quite a few) change into pajamas as soon as they get home and are in bed by 9, and no one bankrolls anyone but themselves…

      1. I read this article, but do not understand. There were real women with real issues with their boyfriends and the two DABA women always had comments for them. If this DABITS were not real, where can I get information that is real about bankers and traders. I know they make alot of money and believe that I would be able to be a good spouse for one of them. I have a BA degree and graduated cum laude so I am not a gold digger.

        1. **Checking for Troll hair… **

          Words escape me. That doesn’t happen often. Nice work.

        2. This is actually so funny I am not even mad. You came to the right site though! Corporette is full of women looking for their money soulmate, and its all about dressing right to attract a banker mate.

        3. Oh and to answer your question (if its real) the women did not have Banker boyfriends, and people were not writing in. They and their friends were writing the websites and the questions.

        4. You know… if that website has gone missing, there’s always the one that’s specifically for finding a Harvard man. And judging from the “featured bachelors,” most of them are in the MBA program, so you might be able to find yourself a nice, shallow banker there.

          http://abovethelaw.com/2010/08/harvard-square-dating/
          http://www.dateharvardsq.com/

          But I have to note… I didn’t know that education was the eliminating criteria for golddiggers… I remember an entire university sorority inviting my boyfriend over for a “special event” after he started receiving acceptance letters from top-5 law schools.

        5. Here’s a thought: Since you are educated and bright, why don’t you become a banker yourself? That way, your future in the banking industry is assured.

          2. i am a female banker and dude, we only make 120K starting (that’s not a lot of money). chill out and go look for a ceo. real traders..the ones running millions ….are going to date models..not summa cum load

        6. I am just out of a school and a female banker. dude we start at 120K (that’s not a lot of money). you’re better off looking for a ceo or a trader who running millions on his books..but you better look like the kim kardashian of BA degrees. btw, DABA represents everything wrong in this world. try working for something.

    4. This reminds me of a conversation I had with my mother when I was about three or four years old. She asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I replied that I wanted to be a farmer’s wife. My mother looked at me very sternly and said, “CBC, why don’t you just be a farmer yourself instead?” Even at the age of three or four, I thought she had a good point.

  13. Oh Corporettes, I failed my first big test at standing up/advocating for myself at a new job today. The issue was fairly minor, but I was caught totally off guard and didn’t say anything to defend myself or explain why I did what I did. :(

    I think it’s too late now to go back and explain (and will just draw attention to the issue that’s not that big of a deal), so I’m planning to just get over it and move on. But I’m still very disappointed in myself. :(

    1. Sorry to hear that. Don’t beat yourself up. And if it continues to plague you over the weekend, do consider scheduling a brief meeting with the appropriate person, where you can say that you want to briefly follow up on or clarify the discussion you just had. Have a very succinct explanation prepared and deliver it in a straightforward way (in keeping with the “not a big deal” vibe). Then move on.
      You never know what people will remember, so it doesn’t hurt to try to exert a little control over the situation. But if it is truly a minor issue without the potential to hurt you going forward, please give yourself a break. We all have good days and bad, and beating yourself up over shortfalls not only makes you feel bad, but it can impact your performance going forward. Good luck!

    2. Don’t beat yourself up. It’s always harder in the moment, when you’re flooded with adrenaline. Just briefly decide what you’d like to have said, and hopefully the next time something similar happens it will come to you more easily.

      It’s really on the major issues, where it’s worth scheduling a meeting, that it matters anyway. The minor issues are mostly just practice!

  14. Free shipping code for Lands End Canvas – they’re having a great sale but I am on a buying freeze. Code: MODERN Pin: 3627

  15. Any suggestions for a nice cotton tees to layer (long sleeve)? I have Gap, LLBean, Lands End and a few more but would like something a bit more dressy. I would especially like the neckline hem not to scream t-shirt.

    1. Try Michael Stars supima tees, or Velvet brand. Both are pricey, but nice enough to wear to work with a jacket or cardigan.

    2. LOFT has some good ones right now – scoop neck, slight folded detail on the neckline, soft, comfy. They fit a bit tightly, but that might be good for layers! Also, in a gazillion colors.

  16. Everone should be avoiding long commutes, for all sorts of reasons, many are environmental reasons. If husband and wife have jobs that are 1-2 hours drive from each other, wouldn’t it make more sense for the couple to live somewhaer in between? or maybe for someone to change jobs? Where I live, a half hour commute is rearded as long and unusual, and I would like to see that become more the norm for the U.S. – I am an environmentalist.

    1. I don’t think anyone LIKES long commutes, or would not rather avoid them. The problem is that oftentimes it’s the only option. I agree that it’d be better if everyone had a shorter commute (heck, could WALK to work), but it’s simply not possible for some people. When only the man in the family worked, things were much simpler: you just moved near work. But now you generally have both people in a family working and well, many people aren’t willing to seek a dead-end job or lose an opportunity for a better one just because it’s closer. Add to that the fact that living in big cities is expensive and even two-income households can’t always afford it, and you’ve got a commuting household. And then you have people who bought a house because they were close to work and then they got laid off/etc. and now their new job is further.

      I don’t think that’s going to change unfortunately. Instead I think we should increase options for public transportation and telecommuting to decrease the stress on the environment.

    2. I don’t understand the “living in the middle” comment in the environmental context.

      Situation 1- husband and wife live in the middle. Husband travels 50 miles, wife travels 50 miles. Total household miles traveled= 100.

      Situation 2: husband lives next to work, wife travels 100 miles. Total household miles traveled=100.

      Situation 1 may make sense for fairness, etc, but from an environmental standpoint, there is no benefit.

      1. This was my situation (which some of you may remember me posting about at the time). I was offered a job a considerable distance from where I was living at the time, and if I hadn’t taken the job I would very likely have become unemployed. If I’d taken the job and stayed where I was living, I’d have been driving almost four hours round-trip every day. My wonderful BF was willing to give up his 10-minute commute to spare me that hell, so we decided to move and we were able to find a great place in a town exactly halfway between his job and mine. Our commutes are now both about an hour one-way, but we love everything about where we live now and it was definitely the right choice for both of us.

    3. Easy for you to say “move” or “change jobs” when both options are pretty much impossible in this economy and job market.

      To each their own, I say–some people love living in the city, and others can’t stand it. I can’t stand when the hoity-toity city-dwellers in my decent-sized midwestern city when they get all high-and-mighty about their environmental commute. People shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for living a lifestyle that they enjoy.

      I wouldn’t trade my hour-long commute to my peaceful country home where I can actually enjoy the environment for some concrete box in the city where I’d never see the grass and trees.

      1. This. Not to mention that if you have kids and live in many major cities, you had also better be prepared to commit to private school tuition. Living in the suburbs with a longer commute is sometimes the only option if you want to send your kids to a good school but can’t afford private.

        And, of course, plenty of us live in the same city where we work and still have a 30+ minute commute!

    4. American cities aren’t structured like European cities. American cities don’t typically have a large stock of dense, multifamily buildings–instead, our business and retail cores have a thin surrounding ring of apartment buildings. Then the suburbs start–single-family homes on (by European standards) large lots. Our cities just aren’t as dense, and thus people live further away. Then, because our cities aren’t as dense, public bus and rail transit isn’t as good an option for many Americans as it is for Europeans.

      I live in one of the closest neighborhoods to the business core in my city, and I’m six miles (a 30-minute bus ride) from my office. I grew up in a city that literally had no residential development downtown at all. The American landscape is dramatically different than that in Europe, and so it’s only about choice to a limited degree. Plus, fifty years of infrastructure investment reinforced the car- and suburb-centric version of American life.

    5. I don’t know where Parisienne lives (although I do have an idea), but living within a 30-minute commute is prohibitively expensive in most US cities.

      1. Yes, and the schools are almost always terrible. We picked our home by the school district, not the commute.

    6. Do you move every time you change jobs? I live where its the best environment for my kids and family, and for us that means in the city. We need to be in a diverse community where my children are not the only children of color, nor one of two etc… So its easy to say live within 10 minutes of work, but there are other factors involved. I drive to the suburbs (although I am able to the train for part of my commute) now, but my next job could be in the city? Who knows?

    7. I think 30-minute+ commutes are typical in many places outside of the US too. Additionally, a 30-minute commute may not be that long in terms of miles. When I lived in Japan, you might go as little as 2 miles in 30 minutes during rush hour because there were so few roads in an extremely hilly area.

    8. Even in a city that has good public trans, living within a 1/2 hour commute of where you work is much, much more expensive. When I was working downtown Chicago and living in the city, I spent 32 mins on the train – not counting the time it took to walk to the train, wait for the train, and then walk to work. I could have cut that time in half, but easily tripled my rent, a feat of accounting while going to school and working a part-time retail job. I have friends who live in New York, and they all say that if you live in one of the boroughs and work in another, an hour commute is pretty typical, and that’s all on public trans.

      I agree with everyone saying that American cities are built and planned differently than European cities as well. For example, Paris’ area is about 34 square miles (1/2 the size of the District of Columbia, for reference). Chicago’s is about 234. The Island of Manhattan’s area is about 23 square miles. So yeah, it’s conceivable that in a city that is a bit bigger than Manhattan (JUST Manhattan), you could get from one end to the other in 30 mins. Otherwise, no dice. :-)

  17. Agreed-just picking the place in between where folks work is often too simplistic to reflect the realities of people’s lives. It’s not just about work-people often want to live where there are good schools, services, etc. Not to say that we shouldn’t make cities better places to live in, but making good public transportation a viable option is likely going to reduce environmental problems more than just having people live closer to work.

  18. I need some advice from the Corporettes out there:

    I’m a may law school grad. I’ve passed the bar and been sworn in. And I’m still unemployed. I got yet another rejection letter this morning (great way to start your saturday, btw). This last job I interviewed for I let myself get excited about and thought I had a really good chance with this one. Needless to say, combined with the fact that the market is abismal out there, I was pretty devastated reading that letter.
    I know I need to start expanding my search parameters, etc., but I would really love to know some more concrete reasons for why I’m not getting the jobs I interview for. I was talking with my dad and he suggested emailing the hiring person I interviewed with (and perhaps one or two others I previously interviewed with) to thank him for the opportunity to interview for the position and to keep me in mind for any future positions become available.
    I had already planned on doing this, but he then suggested suggested that I ask, in general terms, if there is any advice or tips that this person would be willing to give me to help me better my chances of getting a job. His idea being (1) that I might get some tips that I had not thought of, (2) it might give me some insight as to the reason I’m not being selected, and (3) it would possibly cast me in an overall positive light as someone who wants to better herself in the case that one of these offices does have another position come available.
    Anyway, I was curious what the ladies out there thought, particularly anyone involved in hiring, of this idea.

    1. There’s no harm in asking for feedback — you have nothing to lose.

      (I’m really sorry you didn;t get the job.)

    2. Seems reasonable, as long as you are very polite and take any and all criticism with grace.

      My SO graduated from law school in May _2009_ and is STILL looking for a job. We went to the same school. I graduated in 2008 and am in biglaw… he graduated a year behind me (admittedly with a less shiny GPA than I) and can’t find anything. It’s hell out there, so be kind to yourself. The rejections probably aren’t rejections of YOU, there’s just so very many applicants for everything that the employers can be incredibly choosy. I am virtually certain it all comes down to networking – the candidate who is an employee’s cousin’s friend’s college roommate’s daughter will get the tip of the hat over similarly or even slightly better qualified candidates.

      Here’s hoping the market turns around. Chin up.

    3. I know my law school’s career center called hiring coordinators on behalf of candidates and asked for feedback. They often found out really helpful things – someone’s past employment created conflicts with a major client, they came off as flirtatious or air-headed or desperate or boring, or they didn’t have competitive grades for the position. This could be really helpful for you, and I say go for it.

      Another thing you might do is an informational interview with someone in the field and geographic area where you want to work. Bring your resume, transcript, and cover letter and ask for feedback. In this economy, it might just be that you don’t really know the position you’re interiewing for, but your competitors have recently left similar jobs. All the information you can gather is helpful.

    4. I just feel that I have to mention this, and apologies in advance, but are you 100% sure all your materials are proofread and perfect? I noticed above that “abysmal” wasn’t spelled correctly. I know that this is the internet and not your cover letter but sometimes things slip through the cracks even on job materials.

    5. I work in the public sector at a competitive, but not uber-competitive, entity. We got about 475 applications for our last opening. We interviewed about 25 people, called back four and hired one. For the last opening before that, it was 200 – 8 – four – one. I frankly wouldn’t be able to give feedback to most of those interviewees; the only advice I could have given is to go back in time and make yourself a perfect fit for the job, because in this economy we can be extremely picky and find someone who is an absolute perfect fit. In other words, it’s not you, it’s us.

      I know this isn’t helpful in the slightest because it doesn’t give you constructive advice, but it’s probably not your fault that you’re not getting the jobs. It can’t hurt to ask for feedback (I certainly wouldn’t mind if someone asked me), but be prepared not to get any useful advice.

    6. Be careful about e-mail. Most lawyers will not put in an email why they did or did not hire you. I work at BigLaw, we get these questions all the time from candidates who did not get an offer, and we are instructed not to answer in writing. If you have to email, ask if you could call and chat for 10 minutes. But you are unlikely to hear the honest truth.

      1. Yes, I’d recommend an email to a person you thought you connected with in the interview, asking if you could chat, rather than a letter to the HR person or whoever coordinated the whole day. It can’t hurt to ask, but the people most likely to take the time are those who liked you and were outvoted.

        Please, please do not take it personally if they don’t respond. Unless someone really connected with you, there’s a good chance they won’t be willing to take the time as there’s nothing in it for them and they’re probably all very busy. Don’t let that discourage you from asking – I really can’t see any way it could hurt – but just don’t get upset if you don’t hear back.

        I also highly recommend informational interviewing. Go through your college and law school alumni offices to find people from your schools – alums typically like to help other alums, and the more you come across as knowing what a particular job entails, the more likely the interviewer is to be convinced that you are right for it. Plus informational interviews can lead to real interviews, in which *you* are the person with the networking edge. (But be careful not to push for that – you really should be focusing on the job and whether the interviewer knows of other openings, so they don’t feel pressured. Let them say “you sound like a great fit for our firm; do you want me to pass your resume on?” – they will say that if they think there are openings and they think you sound nice.)

      2. Agree. My practice group recently interviewed 8 people for one position. One of those who did not get the offer emailed one of the partners with this type of question. I happened to be in a meeting with the partner when the email arrived, which he showed to me with kind of an “oof” noise (b/c the email sounded so painfully earnest, mostly). He screened his response through me and bcc’d HR.

        The response was pleasant and as far as I knew, accurate (I did not meet with that particular candidate, but the message was pretty much, you didn’t do anything WRONG, we just had lots of choices), but not very helpful from a guidance perspective.

    7. As strange as it sounds, in this economy, you really can’t take it personally. My firm is interviewing lots of folks, many of whom are extremely impressive, but in the end, the decision that’s made is that we don’t really need the person right now, or they don’t have the experience we want. We have oodles of great interviewees, and lately, I’ve liked all of them. You probably haven’t done anything wrong, and I don’t think I would try to elicit a critique from your interviewers — it might force them to have to identify some flaw that they hadn’t really thought of before. I think it would make you look a little desperate and lacking in confidence, whereas at this point, you might be next in line if they have an opening down the road. Defintely keep in touch with the interviewers, but do not display anything but absolute confidence in your abilities.

    8. Without knowing anything about you or your situation, my guess is,that the people who ARE getting these jobs have some sort of connection to the firm. They’re someone’s cousin or neighbor or fellow alum. The only reason I have my current job (and have kept it) is because one of the partners on my case is a fellow alum.

    9. The reality is that the market is very competitive right now. I know plenty of people from the class of 2009 who are in paralegal positions, temporary positions, or don’t have anything at all. The reality is that many people going into entry level positions already have some post-bar experience and you can’t beat yourself up over the fact that a firm/agency would prefer to hire someone who needs less training. I got hired at my state agency with no connections, but 4/7 of the attorneys hired there in the past year worked for the same government agency in either a legal or non-legal capacity at some point prior to coming on with my agency.

  19. I was laid off yesterday. At one point I really loved my job, but after a succession of mergers the company was not the same. I know that I needed to move on, but I was hoping to do it on my schedule not theirs. Now I just feel beat up and after 10 years I need a new resume and a new plan. Sigh….

    2. Ouch. As personal as this is to you, really try to remember that it wasn’t a judgement of you as a person, even though it can feel that way.

      Take a defined amount of time to feel bad and really allow yourself to mourn what you are losing, then pick yourself up and move on to the next thing

      But seriously, big hugs

    3. That’s tough, and I really sympathize. If your job provides a good outplacement counselor, really take advantage of that service. My outplacement counselor provided me with some much-needed structure when I was laid off.

      1. So sorry. Chin up. You’re talented, smart, and successful. Someone would love to hire you. Hugs xxox

  20. Hi Corporettes! Does anyone have a recommendation for a black clothing dye? I have some black jeans that I love that are a little faded. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

    1. My mom would always buy the Rit dye stuff at the grocery store. It worked great. (Think Target sells it as well?) The only reason I don’t use it now is that it can stain the inside of your washing machine (doesn’t hurt anything but just looks awful). My husband is a huge neat freak and know I’d never hear the end of it…:)

  22. Corporettes, need some attire advice. I’m starting a new job in a week [thanks C’ettes for giving me the extra encouragement to accept it]. I’ve only been to my new workplace on a Friday, which my new boss told me is “very casual”. Given the organization and the location (Northern California), this office could be anywhere on the spectrum from “west coast” business formal to business casual, but I really have no idea. I’m trying to decide whether to call my HR contact and ask (is this weird?) or to try to put together a flexible outfit? I’m thinking a Theory 2-in-1 dress (black boatneck with an attached textured wool skirt) paired with a light brown blazer…something that I’ve worn to interview at a business casual job b/c I feel like it’s stepped up a notch from casual and looks suitlike.

    Thoughts on whether it’s weird to call or if this or some other outfit can do double duty?

    1. I don’t think it’s weird to call but if you’re going to be given information like “very casual” then you might as well just show up with a flexible outfit like the one you described. On the first day (or perhaps more) you should be overdressed anyway, then maybe conform more to the office culture. Congrats on the new job!

    2. Oh, I should clarify that she meant Friday’s are “very casual”, and most women were in jeans with blazers or sweaters and ballet flats or heels.

    3. i wouldn’t call. go with the flexible outfit. sometimes there is a disconnect between how certain people describe their office’s attire and what that attire actually is. i would go with your outfit – which sounds perfect – and maybe ask a co-worker in person or just observe what the other co-workers are wearing. good luck!

    4. Do not call. Be as formal as you can the first day, then adjust after. I would wear a suit on the ifrst day, but that’s just me.

    5. If women are wearing blazers and heels with jeans on Fri. and the boss is describing that as “very casual,” then I would definitely wear a suit on your first day. I think that’s what is usually expected anyway.

    6. I’d call and ask – either the HR contact or someone you clicked with in an interview. It’s not weird at all. However, I also think you can’t go wrong with a sheath dress and a cardigan.

  23. I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to seek out perspective employers/network. I’m a 2L and the panic is setting in for jobs, finals, etc. I spoke with an adviser at my school’s career services who told me to just go into law offices to drop off my resume. I’m concerned that I would pretty much be shown the door or the attorneys will not even give me the time of day. Also, I am in a position where I do not NEED to get paid this summer, but of course it would be nice! I know the economy is horrendous and I figure it is better to have something for experience and to build my resume to give me an edge later on. I’m not sure if I should let them know right off the bat that I can take an unpaid position or if they will mention it if they are willing to go that route.

    I also went to an organization, not legally related, and an attorney gave me his business card . He graduated from my school in 2008. I’m thinking about using him as a resource even though he is in a field that I’m not interested in pursuing. I also know of a small practice where one attorney went to my current school and the other went to the school I transferred from.

    So it seems like I have a few possibilities. Any advice? Sorry for the long post.

    1. FWIW, a girl who went to my school and graduated a year ahead of me (2009) got her job by going in and dropping off her resume at law offices in the area. So I wouldn’t say that this is bad advice. Others may disagree with me, but I would counsel against saying right away that you’ll work for free. For some places it wouldn’t matter if you could work for free – they don’t even have enough work for the people they pay. I would say definitely call up the attorney that you met and ask if you could meet with him for a coffee or lunch and get his advice – he may have additional ideas or know of someone who needs a 2L for the summer. I would also apply to the small firm – you never know.

      Just a side note: Hate to break it to you, but you don’t actually have “a few possibilities.” You have avenues that you can pursue, but you would do yourself a disservice if you think, “I can work at that small practice with those two alumni attorneys,” or “This one attorney will get me a job.” You may not actually be thinking this way, but from your post it seemed like you thought these avenues were done deals when they weren’t. :-)

      Another side note: It’s almost-not-yet November. It’s still way early to find a job. You have all of the rest of the school year to do it, so stop freaking out about it. Most of the people in my class, including myself, didn’t get a 2L summer job (the summer before last) until February at the earliest. For the people who were close to finishing the year without anything, professors took on extra research assistants and the clinics took on extra summer student attorneys. I know it’s nerve-wracking, so hang in there! :-)

      1. I disagree. OCI is over and most firms are done hiring their summer classes. This means that a lot of people around her probably have jobs, and I do think it is time to put the pedal to the metal and get serious. Do not sit back thinking “it’s ok if I wait until February” because getting a job in this economy requires hustling as hard as you can.

        1. Yea that is what I was originally thinking. I will probably just do my best to get a job ASAP without allowing it to affect studying for finals. Over winter break I will really buckle down.

        2. At my school, because of the economy, spring OCI was much bigger than fall OCI, so that could have been another reason why most of us didn’t have jobs in the fall.

    2. I don’t know about walking into large law firms and handing out your resume, but this might work with the smaller (<20 or so attorney) firms. I second the previous poster that you have time to worry about this, but I think you're taking the right approach by doing some legwork now (as long as this is not affecting your grades, which will continue to be really important).

      The key is to network: use those alums you already know and meet with them for informational interviews over coffee or just at their office. Ask them for guidance, ideas, suggestions, etc. Also go to bar association events: Women's bar, your local bar, the bar in the area you want to practice, ALL of them that you can. They're so cheap to join when you're a student and attorneys do attend these events and you can meet them and network and have someone else you can call up for an informational interview to give you some guidance as a young attorney. Also consider joining an Inn of Court near you. This is more for long-term networking as they only meet once a month but you can really develop some great friendships and meet some great mentors from those groups. Networking is how people really get jobs (with the exception of starting-out jobs if you get one through a process like OCI) so this kind of networking will serve you well throughout your career. Good luck!

    3. You’ve got plenty of time, you really don’t need to worry about it until the spring semester starts (translation: focus on your finals!).
      Do some research and find offices in your city (or city you want to practice in) that do your area of law and contact them. I would say you don’t necessarily have to physically go to these law offices. But write up a cover letter explaining that your interested in a summer position with them and why they should want to hire you (you got a fantastic grade in a relevant class, you have experience with this practice area, etc.) and send it with your resume. Your career resources office should be able to offer some help with making your cover letter and resume perfect. And don’t say off the bat that you don’t mind working for free, let them bring that up.
      Good luck.

      1. Thank you all for the advice. I’m glad I can wait until after finals to really focus on my job search. I will probably use my current contacts to start off and of course pursue other avenues; I’m not going to put all my eggs in one basket. I certainly will not walk into a large law firm, but I will focus on the smaller ones and check out my school’s job listing. I already joined the state and county bar associations as well as a woman’s law association.

        Also, what about trying to set up a coffee-type meeting with the attorney from the small law office rather than just asking for a job? I figure this way it will open a door for me and he will obviously know I am looking for a job rather than him simply saying no and that be the end of it.

        1. Absolutely set up a coffee type meeting. Google “informational interview” or check out the book “What Color Is Your Parachute.” Ask him how he got where he is, what he thinks about your chosen area of law, what he thinks you should be doing right not, any advice he might give someone in your shoes, things like that.

        2. Do you go to school near where you want to work? If not, you probably want to try to see if you can get interviews scheduled over your holiday break- be it informational or for actual jobs. I think kicking back because it’s finals time is probably ill advised.

  24. Have any of you ever tried Shakeology (the nutrition shake)? If so – did it give you good health and weight loss results, and was it worth the price? I’m starting a new workout regimen and I’ve read amazing reviews about Shakeology, but they all seem to be by persons affiliated with the company that makes the product (Beachbody).

    Thanks!!

    1. I’m a big fan of Beachbody, and more specifically, the Insanity workouts. I’ve gone through several bags of Shakeology. I’m not exactly sure what the results are supposed to be, but I know that people have experienced weight loss just by replacing one or two meals a day with a shake. I’m not really trying to lose any weight and I can’t say that I’ve experienced any noticeable results, but I do think it’s a great meal replacement, and there are so many different options. My favorite is mixing the chocolate with almond milk, peanut butter, and a banana. But I have tons of recipes if you do decide to try it. One huge drawback for me is the cost. But I just try to think of it in terms of the cost per serving versus the cost of the meal I would eat if I weren’t having a Shakeology. And it’s very filling and very healthy, so it seems like it’s worth it to me.

      Oh, there’s also a three day Shakeology cleanse that I’ve done before where you have four Shakeology shakes per day plus some fruit and then a salad for dinner, and I did notice my stomach was a lot flatter and I felt less bloated at the end of the three days.

      Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!

  25. I can’t speak to the shakeology shakes but I love the insanity workouts. The variety has kept me interested and I’ve already lost a clothing size.

  26. Hey ladies, I need some advice on skinny/straight jeans. Is there an ideal length where the hem should hit? At the ankle, above, below?

    1. I’d say right at the anklebone or just below. Any longer and they bunch up, which is a look some people like, but it creates a cankle effect and rubs causing blisters when you wear them tucked into boots (speaking from personal experience).

    2. Below ankle. I had the same quesiton myself and looked at some of the full photo displays on Zappos (looked at some of the premium denism brands such as Paige, True Religion, etc.) It seems like most run just below the ball of the ankle.

      I’ve tried on longer and the result is the extra fabric starts to bunch up just below the knee (on me at least). It was pretty clear when it started to get too long.

  27. Help! I am an attorney and have an interview coming up. My prospective employer has asked for a writing sample. Is it OK for me to provide them with a copy of a motion I wrote for my current employer? Should I change the parties’ names? It has been filed with the Court and decided (in our favor), so there are no privilege issues. I am just not sure of the etiquette in this type of situation.

      1. How do I do that without revealing that I am looking for another job? What do lawyers do in this situation? Do you write something on your own time to use as a sample?

        1. I disagree–if it is your work, you do not need your employer’s permission to provide it as a writing sample. If you feel awkward using it with clients’ names, change the names very obviously to Jane Doe, etc. If it is on file with a court as public record, I do not see a problem using it as is.

          1. This. If you are truly nervous about using it, get a copy of what you filed directly from the court or the court’s website. The file-stamp will indicate it’s public record and that you are not taking it from your employer.

          2. Agreed. I always redacted client names and firm letterhead (if any), but there is no problem with using it.

          3. You know what, it was really late and I think I spoke too soon. For some reason I wasn’t putting together that it was a document that was filed I was thinking it was internal. I defer to wiser women!

    2. Is the motion a matter of public record? If so, provide them with the motion exactly as it’s available in the public record (including a citation). If not, then you need to anonymize it to the point that it’s unrecognizable – change the names of people, places, dates, everything except the legal analysis. Indicate at the top of the writing sample that it is your original work based upon a motion you filed in a real case, but with all possibly identifying information changed.

    3. Thank you to all the kind and lovely women who responded! And yes – it is a document filed with the court and available to anyone with a Pacer account.

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