Weekend Open Thread

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bright red linen pants with green tropical foliage and pink heliconia flowers

Something on your mind? Chat about it here.

Happy weekend! I love these colorful wide-leg pants from Farm Rio — they're such a happy, bright statement for summer. You can mute them with a solid on top (white, black), or go maximalist with the matching top. Another option is to pick another bright color for the top — particularly if you're going to a Pride-friendly event — for example, a bright blue cobalt top would make up some of the missing colors in the rainbow.

The pants are $200 at Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Saks.

(Another really fun rainbow-themed option: this straw sun hat, for $68.)

Sales of note for 2/7/25:

  • Nordstrom – Winter Sale, up to 60% off! 7850 new markdowns for women
  • Ann Taylor – Extra 25% off your $175+ purchase — and $30 of full-price pants and denim
  • Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 15% off
  • Boden – 15% off new season styles
  • Eloquii – 60% off 100s of styles
  • J.Crew – Extra 50% off all sale styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 40% off everything including new arrivals + extra 20% off $125+
  • Rothy's – Final Few: Up to 40% off last-chance styles
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – 40% off one item + free shipping on $150+

149 Comments

  1. Reposting since I hit the morning thread late – thanks for the suggestion over there.

    Rome lodging advice? Planning our first trip for early October and trying to narrow down which neighborhood would be best for us. From other travels we know we like to be well-connected (like near a good subway or rail station), not super hip (bc we’re not), not necessarily right in the thick of the most popular tourist neighborhoods. We’ve found it can be nice to stay adjacent to one or two major tourist things so that we can enjoy them when the tour groups have departed for the day. Like in Paris we were much happier staying on Place Dauphine (tip of Cite) than we’d been staying in the heart of the 6th, and in Barcelona we stayed just across the plaza from Sagrada Familia. Equivalent for Rome?

    1. This was right before the pandemic so I don’t know how things have changed, but we stayed in Hotel Damaso and it was close to things but not crazy crowded around it.

      1. We stayed there too, in 2018, and really liked it. (I think I may have gotten the idea here.)

    2. We stayed in monti over spring break at Rick Steve’s’ advice and it was good. A block to the colloseum, lots of restaurants, longer walks to pantheon and heart of Rome stuff but doable. Have fun!

    3. I love the Ponte neighborhood – its central to a lot of places but feels really intimate and quiet. I loved walking around there in the evenings.

  2. My husband thinks he wants a very brightly colored sneaker – like tie dye or ombre or something. Has anyone seen something similar under $200?

    1. If he likes rainbow colours, Pride ombre and rainbow coloured sneakers is a thing, and in season.

  3. Does anyone know how to search Excel docs internally? I recently upgraded and lost all of my pinned docs, and now can’t figure out where I have them filed on my PC. Thank you!

    1. In Windows Explorer, go to the top level of your documents and you can search for keywords.

    2. In case you just save without ever worrying where the documents go: make a new Excel doc, and choose “save as” (F12 in windows, shift+control+s in ios). Look at where the program suggests that you file this doc.

      Windows:
      Click on the windows symbol left down corner, choose the find function. Look at your filter options, and choose the ones that you remember: Excel file, doc contains XYZ, file name contains XYZ, doc created after XYZ etc.

      Mac:
      Go to Finder – left down corner. Ctr+F will give you the search with filtering. Your filtering options will show clicking the + symbol right side. You want Kinds = document and Contents contains= XYX search word.
      If you find your doc, click once to mark and look at the folder file tree that shows at the bottom, there you have your folder.

  4. How long should a middle school graduation that starts at 11:00 am take? 2.5 hours?

    1. Should? zero minutes

      Likely to? you’re prob about right, but it depends on the size of the class… can you ask other parents who have older teens?

      1. I agree with both points of this answer.

        However I just have to add – the longest graduation I ever went to was for a class of <10 at a tiny high school. Since the class was SO small, it was very very personalized and highlighted each student, which made it longer.

    2. 11am? Bring some snacks so you don’t get too hangry. No one holds applause until the end and it seriously gums up the works. And parents: it is MIDDLE SCHOOL. Nobody is winning a Nobel Prize. Don’t carry on. That should result in a delay of game penalty.

    3. 2.5 hours seems really long, I don’t think my high school graduation was that long and I went to a good-sized school (~400 per grade). I would guess more like an hour? But it probably depends the size of the class and how they do it.

    4. 2.5 hours sounds about right. It does seem to take forever. While I know people dislike middle school graduation, I think it’s nice in that because it doesn’t “matter,” all of the kids are going on to the same thing (high school) so there isn’t that bittersweet aspect about high school where some kids are going off to college and some are not leaving home. It was just a nice celebration of a bunch of young teenagers (the awards for grades and sports were at prior ceremonies earlier in the spring).

      1. At the one I went to, it was for 200ish kids, who had to sit through maybe half of the kids getting awards, so I guess the other half of the kids weren’t special to anyone? IMO the awards at a graduation should be for at most 5 kids. Anything beyond that should be some sort of separate awards assembly and not taking away from the graduation aspect common to all. Mine wasn’t 3 hours but was more than 2 hours, complete with some of the kids doing performances. I was glad I didn’t have a toddler who was potty training but at some point hadn’t planned on being there so long and wish I had sent the dog to day care so I didn’t need to run home to let him out.

        1. This is what I was going to say. Many, many of the students will likely get awards, which will make a ceremony that should take 0 minutes take 2.5 hours.

    5. Yes, ours was an hour on the dot, 121 students. There was a reception after. The timing was deliberate because they use the space for recess (K-8).

  5. For the person seeking escapism this morning through interior design – check out Ashley Stark’s IG page, it’s not typically photos of her home, but of other beautiful homes and will lead you down a rabbit hole of other accounts to follow. Also check out Bailey Quin’s many homes. She is restoring a modern 50s style home in Houston and will be doing another one in I think Martha’s Vineyard? She has had some incredible homes in the past too, has a farm, and also a gorgeous Chicago pied a Terre. Her style is expensive but above all fun. She recently started working with Summer Thornton (designer), so she’d also be a good one to check out!

    1. Also following up on the thread from this morning. I like the renovation husbands on Instagram.

  6. Is anyone else watching the latest season of The Great? I don’t want to give any spoilers but it’s been such an unusual season — so much more drama. Literally sobbed through one of the episodes. (IYKYK.)

    1. I liked previous seasons, but just wasn’t into it this season and had to force myself to get through it, not quite sure why. Maybe the tone was just wearing thin after three seasons?

    2. Thanks for mentioning this. I don’t know it, and it sounds like one of those great period dramas. I’ll add it to my “list of things to watch”, once I drop my current station and sign up for Hulu.

      1. It’s a comedy, not a drama. I posted above about how I found it funny at first, but it sort of felt like the joke wore thin by the third season, when it was just more and more of the same thing. It’s worth checking out, but don’t go in expecting it to be serious!

        1. It is also very, very, very loosely based on historical events. By which I mean 90% is complete invention. Which is fine but I’m amazed at how many people apparently don’t know that.

    3. Yes! I went through some tough personal stuff recently, so watching someone straight-up ugly crying while being a complete mess in grief was honestly kind of helpful in a weird way. And, as always, the fabrics and costuming remain completely stunning.

  7. I’m waiting for test results to figure out if I’m miscarrying or not. What are your favorite bingeable but light tv shows (preferably not pregnancy or MC related). I might need something to just binge on this weekend while I wallow.

    1. Solidarity. I am in a similar position but because I’m leaving on vacation imminently, can’t go to the doctor for a blood draw for 10 days. I had a missed miscarriage last year so I’m well aware that things can seem fine and not be and that I may just be in limbo until I get back and actually get test results. The uncertainty is awful.

      I feel like everyone knows about The Great British Baking Show, but if you’ve never watched it, it’s absolutely lovely and very bingeable. Sherlock (with Benedict Cumberbatch) is a lot of fun if you never watched that.

      1. in a similar vein to bakeoff, especially earlier seasons, Great Pottery Throwdown. on HBO.

      2. And another baking rec: I’ve found a surprising amount of enjoyment in Crime Scene Kitchen (first season is on Hulu), when bakers have to figure out the recipe from the “clues” in the kitchen.

    2. I’m so sorry, I hope you get good results on your tests. As far as bingeable TV, have you checked out What We Do in the Shadows?

      1. Until my dying day, I will be mad at Fox for canceling Firefly after one season.

    3. The Good Place or Schitts Creek. Santa Clarita Diet is a bit older, but a fun take on the zombie theme. So sorry you’re dealing with this.

    4. “The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House” on Netflix. Japanese with English subtitles. Lovely, woman-centric story, peek into another culture (not sure how accurate), pretty clothes and people.

    5. I hope the results will be good. In a family medical crisis recently we binged Never Have I Ever, and in a subsequent medical crisis binged Superstore. I am not sure that Superstore is something I would have watched under other circumstances (the humor relied a lot on cringe), but the sweet parts and the fast pace were just right at the time to distract, distract, distract and make the time pass at the hospital and at home afterward.

      1. Yeah, the new season on Never Have I Ever just came out. I’ve only seen a few of the episodes so far, but highly recommend. I liked Superstore too.

      2. I love Superstore and Never Have I Ever, but just a warning that a parent dropping dead is kind of a key plotline in Never Have I Ever, and that aspect may be very upsetting when you’re going through a family medical thing. Just a warning, not saying it’s like that for everyone!

    6. *hugs* If you haven’t seen it already, “Ted Lasso” Season 1 is amazing. I also thought “Emily in Paris” was ridiculously silly — but basically watched an entire season in one night.

      1. I second these two recs. More recently, Jury Duty on Amazon Prime is pretty funny.

    7. Selling Sunset – has some pregnant characters but they’re so insane it’s still in the fluffy escape category.

    8. Oh hugs!
      It’s not new, but I love Miss. Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Also have been enjoying Acapulco and The Gilded Age recently.

  8. Thank you for all the suggestions and support – I posted a few days ago about quitting from a toxic workplace.

    Update: Since seemingly my boss wants me gone anyway and things don’t seem to be improving (e.g. PIP) – I went ahead and shared with the other leader involved my experience with boss’ behavior/the environment she’s created for me and others, examples of what’s been said, etc. I did this because I figured I don’t have a lot to lose at this point, and at least this may help improve the environment for others when I leave. And also…it should be something boss has to work on and think about for her own journey.

    Lesson learned: Don’t wait until things are bad to stand up for yourself.

    HR will be now be involved. I’m guessing I probably have a few weeks and I’m hoping I can negotiate a decent severance. Still trying to deal with the guilt/did-I-fail thing.

    1. I’m so sorry. . . I have my fingers crossed for you. Terrible workplaces are hard on your health, and dealing with the constant stress is exhausting.

  9. Happy Friday! I am curious about the norms of giftgiving for the overachieving set. For some personal reasons, I have gotten way out of the practice of giftgiving recently except for Christmas with my closest family members, but want to get back to marking peoples life occasions. What are the giftgiving occasions you celebrate, which gifts do you give proactively versus waiting on a notice or party invitation, and how far out into your social circle do you go? Like my best friend’s kids eighth grade graduation. That feels like a place for at least a card. My cousin in high school – a gift, a friends kid who I don’t know well graduated from college – that’s a smaller gift than a family member. (and these are mostly gift cards or cash for a variety of good personal reasons). How do you all think about this?

    1. None of these.
      Why go from none…. to what could become exponential?
      Are all of these people giving gifts back to you for all these reasons? Not in my circles.

      Weddings
      Showers/friends having first children
      Major birthdays if parties are thrown that I attend – usually something consumable. Or a small token gift.
      My niece – birthdays/graduations. Our extended family is very small.

      If I get invited to a graduation party of a good friend’s child (!), then I often give a small amount of money. Honestly, I see that as a shameless gift grab, in my circles. It is only my friends with $ who seem to expect others to give their kids more $ when they don’t need it.

      More importantly, I give gifts of food/time/money when people are suffering from health crises, deaths etc..

      I sometimes send cards, with handwritten personal messages, for milestones. And then I send random cookie cards when people need a pick-me-up.

      1. When you start buying gifts for people you haven’t gifted before, it creates and expectation that they’ll gift you back. I’d leave well enough alone, because most people don’t want that obligation.

      1. Honestly, this feedback is helpful! Because I haven’t been in the habit of giving gifts really at all for a while I don’t have a good sense for what’s normal

    2. I’m from a very gift-y group of friends, and what you describe is definitely more than I’d do! My family is not into gifts, so these are things I’ve thought about and learned as an adult.

      I have about 5 friends with whom I swap birthday presents every year. Our budgets typically run around $30-50. Think a book and a small candle or something similar plus a nice card. Plus shipping if the person doesn’t live in my city. If I’m invited to a birthday party, I will get a small gift in the $30 range and write a nice card. This group also exchanges holiday gifts in the same price range. None of us have a ton of people we’re buying for, so it doesn’t seem like an imposition. I will shop throughout the year if I see something that I think would be good for a specific person, I’ll get it and store it in “the gift box” in my closet.

      Another way to help with this is to pick up cards as you see them throughout the year. I’ll do that if a card immediately reminds me of someone or every now and then, I’ll stock up at Trader Joe’s on blank cards, sympathy, generic birthday, etc.

      The next big gift occasion is illnesses, emergencies, etc. So if someone is very sick or their partner is very sick, I will get meals or sometimes send a Door Dash type card. Same if they face a big emergency, like a tornado hit their house (real example) or a parent dies or a big event like they just had a baby. TYPICALLY this is done in conjunction with others. For example, if a member of the book club’s mom is in the hospital, then we will all chip in about $30 and take her some meals.

      I never give gifts to my friends’ kids unless I’m invited to a birthday or other party (like a graduation party). The only exception is a baby shower. If it’s one of my best friends, I’d give her a small gift for a baby if she didn’t have a shower as well.

      Then there are little one-off gifts that usually range $15 or below. This would be if I saw something that just reminded me of a friend (usually something like a sticker that costs $2) or if they just got a new dog or something like that. We all like celebrating small things about each other. None of this is mandatory and it’s very random/sporadic.

      As for major life events, I’ve gifted people for — Paying off their house, getting a PhD, getting engaged, getting married, all babies, all pets, finally getting that nose ring, coming out of the closet at an older age, retiring, getting an important certification, getting an organ transplant, etc. You get the picture! Now each of these aren’t like $200 gifts. Sometimes it’s just a meal at their favorite restaurant, sometimes it’s a nice scarf, sometimes it’s a plant–just something to recognize a special event.

      My boyfriend’s family is also very into gifts. They give gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, and Mother’s and Father’s Day. Everyone gets into all of these occasions, and the gifts are generally very thoughtful (no one is just passing Amazon gift cards back and forth). It’s all adults, though– his parents and his brother and brother’s wife.

      1. I forgot to say that the biggest gift can be time! When my friend’s house was hit by the tornado, I showed up as often as I could to help clean up the debris and pack and was a general nice and calming presence for someone going through a hard time. Another friend needed to go to the emergency room, so I took her there. Or another friend needed someone to let his dogs out when he had to unexpectedly work really really late one day.

        We don’t ever feel taken advantage of because all of us do these things for each other.

      2. Really agree about the smaller gifts! Its very nice to recognize all of those events, but it doesn’t have to be something big. A scarf or a plant is perfect.I really appreciated it when a friend had a box of donuts delivered when I got fired from a job – in the $30 range max and something I think of fondly.

    3. I would send cards. People will be delighted you thought of them without the awkwardness and obligation of a gift.

  10. Thank you to commenters here who encouraged me to try out Chinese drama! I finished Forbidden Flower in time to start Till The End of the Moon and really enjoyed both. It has me daydreaming about travel — is Hengdian Studios as amazing as it looks?

  11. I would love a recommendation of a packable wide brimmed sun hat that will not make me look extremely dowdy. Ideally straw or linen. I have two older options that … just look hopelessly dorky no matter what I do. One is a floppy straw hat and one is more of a wide brimmed straw visor so my ponytail can go through. Is there any hat that will it look like I’m an elderly gardener, if a regular floppy straw hat gives that impression? Sometimes that’s what I’m going for but sometimes I’m looking for something more elegant…

    1. I think the rest of what you wear is going to make a much bigger difference than the hat.

      1. Maybe it’s just attitude. I’m currently feeling like even with a LBD and chic sandals either hat puts me in mind of my 99 year old grandma.

    2. I’d look at Eric Javits hats. Quite packable, well made, and I don’t think they’re dorky.

      1. +1 Eric Javits hats. Designs are very stylish; though not all designs are packable.

      1. +1

        I bought something very similar from the same shop for beach trips and my summer walks (very hot city).

      1. I have a packable walaroo hat that is a similar shape I bought a couple, years ago. The hat is also spf 50, and I wear it in the summer often.

    3. I don’t have any brand recommendation, but in terms of shape, look at your overall face proportions. Some hat brims will look dowdy whatever the brand because of the angle of the brim. Some ideas for choosing proportions could be:

      Do you have a strong or wide jaw? you can probably take a wide brim that is straight out level with the ground. If you have a heart shape face that might overwhelm you. If you have a diamond shape you’ll make the widest point even wider.

      If you have a stronger jaw and narrow forehead, don’t do a floppy wide brim. If you have a heart shape or narrow face that will be lovely

      Slightly upturned will work for diamond, wider jaw and rounder, you are breaking the wide points and creating a new one.

    4. I have a favorite Columbia straw hat that is NOT packable, and I just wear it en route and it works out fine. I’ve never found a packable hat that suits me well enough.

    5. I just bought a Solbari Reversible Wide Brim Printed Hat, and I’m loving it! I has a clever thin wire at th edge of the brim which allows shaping, but also allows the hat to be crushed/folded for packing in a bag. It is lined in a flora print, is adjustable for size, and has a small opening at the back for a ponytail. Perfect!

  12. What do you do when you’re spinning your wheels, repeatedly? Professionally, personally – it’s like I can’t stay focused on one thing long enough to complete anything. I don’t *feel*stressed…

    1. Vacation, if you can.

      I was like that 3 weeks ago. I took a vacation (3 days of work in the middle) and though I would love even more vacation I am ready to go back to work on Monday.

      I swore to myself I wouldn’t do any work on this vacation but I caved and did a bit to get a big thing off my desk because it was only a few hours of work. Don’t be me?

    2. Set small concrete goals. I find that sometimes accomplishing something has a snowball effect and I end up having a productive day because the accomplishments stack, even if I’ve just done a series of small things. Make it a non negotiable number of things and plan to have them done by a certain time. If I’m just struggling to get anything done, it might be as simple as – before lunch, I will do these 3 straightforward work tasks and make that personal phone call I have been putting off (in my case this week that meant calling the phone number of the handyman who was recommended to me months ago but that I somehow was never getting around to booking).

  13. What’s your favorite waterproof mascara? I used to use Tarte Lights Camera Splashes but I’m open to trying something new. Alternatively, is there a way to keep regular mascara from smearing on my lower lid? I use Benefit They’re Real and it gives me raccoon eyes by the end of the day.

    1. I like a tubing mascara because it does not smudge and you can remove with hot water. My favorites includeThrive Causmetics , L’Oreal Age Perfect Waterproof (it is tubing), and Heimish Smudge Stop Mascara.

      1. The L’Oreal Age Perfect Waterproof is getting harder to find. To replace it, I’ve started using the Milani Anti-Gravity mascara and like it a lot. I have oily skin and most mascaras smudge on me, but the Milani does not even though it’s not waterproof.

    2. I sometimes try high-end mascara but always come back to Maybelline Full N’ Soft waterproof. I use WP mainly to keep my eyelashes curled.

    3. The Tower 28 mascara is $20 and is not waterproof but is tubing which keeps it from smearing and is much easier to take off. Two thumbs up from me.

      You may have too many creamy products around your eyes if you’re constantly getting smearing.

    1. I would appreciate any input from the lawyers here on the charges/judge and Florida location/likely outcomes etc… I honestly wonder what is the typical course for people who are hit with these sorts of charges.

      Of

    2. I would appreciate any input from the lawyers here on the charges/judge and Florida location/likely outcomes etc… I honestly wonder what is the typical course for people who are hit with these sorts of charges.

      1. Well, Reality Winner released one document, did not get pretrial release, and served 3 years per a plea deal. it sickens me that Trump will likely be treated as less of a threat.

  14. Minor rant . . . my lease ends at the end of July, and I was notified by my landlord that the rent would be increasing $200 per month if I stayed on for another year, or $300 per month if I went month to month. And I really can’t find anything reasonable to rent in my area. I went to another place today, and it wasn’t nice. I’m just really frustrated right now that my cost of living has jumped, and my wages have not. End rant. Thanks for reading.

    1. thats lousy!

      if you are anywhere in NY have a look at the rent laws enacted during the pandemic:
      time in the apt for timing of nonrenewal notices
      max increases per renewal

      not sure if other state enacted laws too

      1. This! A town right outside of Manhattan is now known for tenants not being aware that the apartments are subject to rent control while the landlords offered renewals in violation. It was a huge headache for some tenants. I also get much more bang for my buck being slightly out of the more desirable location. Between me and my boyfriend we are probably saving $500-$1,000 every month.

      2. Thanks! I’m in Canada though, and our province has no rent control. They can increase as much as they want and it’s legal.

    2. Yeah, I hear you. It is very painful. When I was still a grad student, but living in subsidized student apartments, the University still raised my rent by $100-$150/month every year. More than 50% of my stipend went to rent. And that was many years ago…. Every year was a frustrating calculation ….. cost to move, likelihood of finding another place, cost (time/money) for moving far away and adding a longer commute, moving back with roommates, what is truly important in life…. It is very depressing.

    3. I feel you. What I pay in rent in my MCOL city has gone up $700 / no in the 5 years I’ve lived here (different apartments, but still).

      I had a friend whose landlord tried to DOUBLE his rent when he renewed his lease.

    4. Any room to negotiate? Our landlord also recently proposed a $200 month increase. I pointed out that we’re good tenants (alway pay on time, respect the property, etc), and asked to limit the increase to $100 per month. They accepted. Can’t hurt to ask, I say.

  15. This is going to be a late post so hopefully people see it.

    How do you all deal with an older senior citizen parent who is extremely critical but instead of just saying his judgment, he asks never ending questions – which get more and more judgmental. Yet if you call him out on it, he plays the – what no I didn’t mean anything. Or my mom on his behalf plays the – oh he’s a naïve immigrant he doesn’t get it. Both my parents have lived here for five decades, are somewhat assimilated, and came from an English speaking country so there isn’t a language barrier. FWIW my mom is very critical too but very direct and also seems to understand that the 40 plus year old kids are not asking her permission, of course they’ll live differently than you, so she knows what to back off. Dad plays the – gee my kid ignores me – card.

    I know the usual answer is talk to the person less. I already only talk to him maybe 2x month and even then it’s high level stuff like news, not my life.

    FWIW it has always been this way. As a kid it was about school and grades, in college it was majors and internships. Basically anything positive I shared HAD to be met with negativity. By age 20 I stopped sharing anything.

    This week he gets on my case about HEPA filters!? In question format goes on and on about how I shouldn’t have one in the office because what will others think. And yet he believes in the pandemic and that it isn’t over. He was always a zero self esteem type of guy who believes you should live for your job, my sister is exactly the same so he LOVES her. He thinks I have an attitude problem because I dare do what’s right for me – say a HEPA filter in a pandemic – and don’t obsess about job or my employer’s interests or what my coworkers think 24-7. IDK why this hurt my feelings so much but it did.

    1. It sounds like you’re right that he has a self esteem issue and maybe some associated anxiety that he’s projecting. I’m sorry it’s leading him to talk to you this way!

    2. Not an immigrant situation but a judgy parent one, and tbh I am selective and tell them about things that I know they’ll agree with, and leave out the rest. you know your dad is all about The Company, then just talk about the day you worked late or whatever. Spare yourself.

    3. I’m sorry. My aunt is sometimes like this and I just say whatever I want to make the conversation over. HEPA Filters would go something like, “oh actually everyone has them in my office. It’s weird if you don’t.” It’s unfortunate that it sometimes requires this but I don’t really want to feel bad about it.

    4. It’s good that you are talking to them less, I have to fight the urge to call my mom as she grows increasingly critical and fearful of everything. My calls to mom are mostly draining, and it’s better when I have stuff saved up to tell her.

      Honestly, I’m not much of an “everyone should go to therapy” type but therapy really helped me understand that she wants to create an interfamily conflict out of thin air, just for the sake of connection. So now I have strategies to deal with it, but just knowing helps me feel better.

  16. Fashion question! I’m getting a manicure this weekend. I’m attending a pride event immediately after my mani. Next week, I am attending a conference with a business professional dress code. I’m a partner at a law firm, not worried about losing business if I wear nail polish, but I typically would wear beige or nude. I’m wondering if there is a way to get a pride themed manicure – but subtle enough it won’t catch attention in the formal setting/group photos next week. Any suggestions welcome!

    1. I’m not a manicure person but I’ve been noticing what I think are “reverse French” – just the nail tips are painted a vibrant color. Or maybe ask if one nail could have rainbow art?

      1. I wrote below about the full nail polish but now that you mention it, I saw rainbow French tips too! Really cute.

    2. I just attended a conference where one of my fellow presenters had nails done in the colors of the rainbow – each finger a different color. It was gorgeous, and no one lifted an eyebrow. Happy Pride!

      1. Along those lines, what about a French manicure with rainbow tips? Feels like the kind of thing that only a woman who cares about nails will notice at the conference, will be too small to stand out in photos, but will be pride-y for this weekend.

  17. What stylish summer dresses would you add to your rotation? The last few summers have had longer heatwaves on the West coast , and I’d like to add some more items to my rotation, especially since I’m slowly rebuilding my wardrobe after weight loss.
    Currently, I’m a size 8 – 10 hourglass, in my early 50s, and wear dresses and skirts in my large city where on weekends, I walk everywhere, visit parks, cafes, shops, etc…I usually wear sneakers (I have an impressive new balance and ecco collection in many colour ways:) or sandals with all my skirts and dresses. Looking to spend 150 or under. Also, I want to be a bit fashionable, but fun too! Thank you in advance!

    1. For a very casual dress at a low price point check out the Reverie dress by Z Supply. It runs large so you may need to size down. For something a little dressier look at Rails. More expensive but you can wait for a promo code or deal at Saks or Bloomies. Gap and Gap Factory are also places to look if you can get them to fit you. And of course Anthro.

    2. I’m loving cool linen dresses for every day running around. You can dress up or down. https://www.jcrew.com/us/p/womens/categories/clothing/dresses-and-jumpsuits/relaxed-fit-short-sleeve-baird-mcnutt-irish-linen-shirtdress/AY623?srcCode=affiliate||Skimlinks|AFFI0001&siteId=CJ_100081326_Skimlinks&utm_source=Skimlinks&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content=&utm_campaign=AFFI0001&cjevent=1793049b07ad11ee820406c80a82b838&cjdata=MXxOfDB8WXww

      You can find similar at all price points as well.

    3. My comment is in moderation, due to the link. But linen shirtdresses are cool and easy to dress up and down. Everyone has one this year, so they are easy to find in various price points. J Crew, Garnet Hill, BR, etc.

    4. Thank you for the great suggestions! I’m in Canada, where brokerage and shipping fees can be excessive, so I may try and find similar silhouettes. I will check out anthro and all saints as I have in person options there:)
      I can also sew and have linen and silk, but will not have time to make anything until late July or August so the silhouettes and links are helpful for this too! Thank you again.

      1. I’ve bookmarked the cashmerette page as an interesting place to find sewing patterns for an hourglass shape, they have sewing patterns with different cup sizes (up to H, and sizing help to modify for bigger). All of the patterns are 12-32, but some are 0-16 as well, and I want to make the Upton dress for my self.

        I also think the Holyoke dress would be lovely with sneakers, and maybe an open linen shirt as a second layer for evening.

        1. Thank you for the suggestion. I do need to refresh my patterns, since I have to redraft some as well. The dress looks like it will be lovely in linen.

      1. Wow lots of great inspiration here. I like Zara, although I find I have to try on in store. Alas, j crew factory is available only online here, but at least I have an inkling of my size from when there were stores in my city.

  18. Looking for some basic blouses to wear for work with trousers/pants for business casual attire. Please share any links to your favorites! Thanks in advance!

  19. Looking for non-obvious ideas on how to spend about $250 in FSA money. I’m fully stocked up on first aid, feminine hygiene, and sunscreen.

    1. browse the FSA Store (literally its name)
      Glasses, contacts, prescription sunglasses?

    2. Prescription sunglasses, cough and cold medicine, DNA testing kit. Check out the FSA Store.

    3. Ice packs, hot water bottles, heating pads
      Bandages and Ace wraps
      Sunscreen

      You said you have first aid covered but just in case this is not on your radar and might be relevant: dedicated first aid kits for your vehicles, bikes, hiking bags, etc.

  20. I do not like pants and never wear them. I dislike wide pants, like the one showed on top, even more.

    But I do enjoy the incorporation of a tropical, botanical print in workwear and casual wear. For more formal occasions, I’d opt for a botanical swing dress (these have nice hemlines) on a dark background.

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