ByKat Hours Updated
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Kat’s Favorite Suits of 2014

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Corporette-2014-review2014 was a great year for women's suits — these are some of my favorites from our weekly roundup. (Each picture links back to the original post… and of course, don’t forget to check out The Corporette Guide to Basic Women’s Suiting.) Here are links to our favorite women's suits from 2013, 2012 and 2010. Pssst: Happy early New Year's Eve to everyone — everyone be safe tonight, and have fun!

Sales of note for 3/10/25:

  • Nordstrom – Spring sale, up to 50% off
  • Ann Taylor – 40% off everything + free shipping
  • Banana Republic Factory – 40% off everything + 20% off
  • Eloquii – Extra 50% off all sale and select styles with code
  • J.Crew – 40% off everything + extra 20% off when you buy 3+ styles
  • J.Crew Factory – 50% off all pants & sweaters; extra 50% off clearance
  • M.M.LaFleur – Friends and family sale, 20% off with code; use code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off
  • Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
  • Talbots – Flash sale until midday 3/14: $50 off every $200 – combineable with other offers, including 40% off one item and 30% off everything else

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

142 Comments

  1. Ooh, I have one of those! I bought both pieces of the green suit at the top. I’m happy with the quality & fit of both pieces, but tend to wear separately with a neutral piece as the two non-neutral suiting pieces don’t look great together (to me). The color is beautiful.

  2. Yay! Kat! Happy new year in advance. I do like the Escada suit, and mabye this year I will be abel to afford buying one if my dad does NOT see the price. I do NOT know how I can avoid that b/c he get’s copie’s of all of my VISA bill’s and he does NOT let me open any other credit card’s, even store card’s! He put a lock on my CREDIT b/c there are to many theive’s goieng around stealeing peeople’s identity, he say’s.

    Myrna want’s me to go out tonite to meet men but I said I will stay in. Last year when I was at the Matzo Ball, this guy with bad breathe wanted to date me, but even tho he made alot of money, I could NOT fathom the concept of him huffeing and puffeing on top of me for the rest of my life with those filthy teeth and bad breathe. FOOEY!

  3. I’ve been working for a very hard to work for boss for the past 3 years. I should note that it’s not just me who feels like this and unfortunately, our upper management is completely incapable when it comes to interpersonal/management issues.

    A coworker recently brought up the theory that Difficult Boss has narcissistic personality disorder; and while I don’t feel qualified to make a diagnosis like that, we’re definitely working for a total narcissist.

    Any tips on how to succeed when working for a person like this? Is it better to challenge them or go with what they want? Is there any effective way to provide feedback that doesn’t result in blowback?? Fwiw, I bent over backwards for 2.5 years to cater to this person and it wasn’t terribly successful.

    1. I have nothing for you. I’ve been in your situation for ten years, and nothing I have tried has worked. At one point, I read “Working for You isn’t Working for Me,” but nothing they suggested worked in my particular situation. Maybe it will for you.

      http://www.workingforyouisntworkingforme.com

    2. Have you read “The No-A–hole Rule”? It’s all about coping with difficult personalities in the workplace. I’d definitely recommend reading it.

      1. I agree with January, here. I think I will have the same issue with my boss, who I made the mistake of mixing pleasure with business. Too many women on this site have elected to bash me for my own indiscretions here, so rather than fight them, I just will say to them happy new year and I hope they are a bit smarter than the woman in the Boro v. Superior case linked below, although I kind of doubt it, as they are just jealous of me and a bit dumb.

        http://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/3d/163/1224.html

        For those of you too queazy to link to it, I present the legal brief facts for you:

        In Boro v. Superior Court, 163 Cal. App. 3d 1224 (1985), the defendant called up the victim saying he was “Dr. Stevens” from the hospital and that the victim had a life-threatening disease. He further presented 2 options for treatment: option one was to have a painful surgery costing the victim $9,000; option 2 was to have sex with an anonymous donor costing the victim only $1,000. The victim had intercourse with the defendant believing at the time that her life was threatened and that was the only choice she had to cure the disease. The victim later, upon learning the truth, brought the charges against the defendant for rape. The court held this was fraud in the inducement and therefore there was no rape. It was fraud in the inducement because the deception related not to the thing done – the sexual intercourse – but merely to some collateral matter (cure from a life-threatening disease).

        1. “as they are just jealous of me and a bit dumb.”

          Why would anyone be jealous of you and your self-described pathetic heartache? Obvious troll is obvious.

    3. I am going to tell you what my therapist told me when I was working for a narcissist: (1) Try to suck up to him/her as much as possible because confronting them never works. They are fundamentally incapable of acknowledging that they are at fault in any way (without massive therapy and a real willingness on their part to change) and (2) Find another job.

    4. Find a new job.

      Life is too short to work for a-holes.

      (ETA: I say this as someone who recently left a position with a boss like the one you describe – life is SO. MUCH. BETTER. on the other side.)

      1. Agree, unless every other aspect of the job makes it worth it…

        I left someone just like that 2 years ago in February. It was absolutely toxic, and I’m glad I left.

        1. Thank you all for your responses.

          Yeah, that’s the kicker. Every other aspect of the job is great. I enjoy my coworkers, the work I do, the commute is good, the exposure/networking aspect is great. I also know that ‘hanging in there’ is really what I need to do for my career right now.

          1. Same here — every other aspect far outweighs this one.

            One thing I am considering is the danger of telling too many other people in the organization the truth about this person. Kill the messenger and all.

            Has anyone read Dale Carnegie’s book? I am considering whether that is the correct approach (always being Susie Cheerful) and would welcome comments.

        2. Then…I feel your pain! I have a little bit of that going on at my new place, but otherwise it is absolutely my dream job. For now, I’m taking the “give them enough rope to hang themselves” road, and it seems to be working. I find that “hanging in there” works better when you have a strategy in mind…

  4. I got Hunter boots for Christmas this year. It’s supposed to be cold and rainy tomorrow, and we are going over to a friend’s house for a casual get together. Is it appropriate to wear rain boots into someone’s house? I’m still not quite sure of the etiquette of them.

    1. I’d wear them to the house, and then take them off in the entryway. But I also live in a part of the country where you normally take off your shoes when visiting someone’s house. Especially if it’s wet/snowy out.

    2. I don’t know about etiquette, but I would not be pleased if someone tromped through my house in wet rain boots (or any other wet or dirty shoes). You don’t need to take them off before crossing the threshold, but definitely leave them near the door.

      1. This. And have presentable socks with you in case it’s a shoe-free house. The cool 20-something in me would cringe at this advice, but the 30-something mom of small kids who keeps a shoe-free house would tell you to take off your boots.

        1. Yup. I don’t have a strict no-shoes rule, but it’s definitely a preference now that anything that gets tracked into my house has a strong liklihood of ending up in my child’s mouth.

          I love my friend whose party invitations always include, “Please note, I follow Asian custom and keep a shoe-free home” and has a basket of house slippers in her entryway. Zero ambiguity there, which makes everyone’s decisions easier.

          1. How should one politely enforce a no-shoes rule? I’m not totally inflexible but I’d like “no shoes” as much as possible in our new house. I get that some guests hate it. I do provide guest slippers that are regularly washed.
            For context, I’m Asian American so no shoes in the house is my norm – shoes in the house personally grosses me out though I realize that people have an equally strong reaction when they are asked to remove their shoes. I’ll probably put a “no shoes” disclaimer on some party invites as mentioned above (probably not for a really big housewarming/ open house type party). But I get tired of asking frequent visitors, who are friends, to remove their shoes every time they come over. Especially when they gripe about it. I’m considering putting a “please remove your shoes, there are slippers here” sign on our entryway door. Too much?
            Or how about a more formal dinner party where some guests are more acquaintances rather than friends? I’d feel weird telling them to take off their shoes… but it’s my house.

          2. You feel weird because you’re being rude. In America, people are allowed to wear their shoes inside. Having made your preference known you should now let it go. Or, if you’re that uptight about it, don’t entertain acquaintances. At a formal dinner party there’s no way in hell I’m going to be comfortable in mucky house slippers. As a hostess you are supposed to make your guests comfort your priority.

          3. One doesn’t. Because it isn’t a polite thing to enforce. Having made your preference know you need to let it go or not entertain. I’d be extraordinarily embarrassed to attend a formal dinner party in mucky house slippers. As a hostess you should be trying to make your guests comfortable and they clearly aren’t without their shoes.

          4. We have a family friend (not Asian American but self proclaimed anal cleaner) who has a no shoes policy in her house. It obviously depends on your friends, but I wouldn’t be offended if someone told me in advance that they have a no-shoes policy. We’ve started bringing our own slippers to the family friend’s house when we go for holidays or other gatherings because it’s just part of the norm at her house. Then again, this is a know your friends situation.

          5. Anonymous, I agree that there’s a point at which my asking others to conform to my non-normative custom is rude, especially if I don’t request in advance and am not close enough with them to gauge their response. Which is why I posed the dinner-party scenario and would be fine with people keeping their shoes on if they are uncomfortable at said dinner party and we’re not close. I’d ask but not insist.
            I question whether enforcing a no-shoes rule is categorically rude in all circumstances, though. With repeat visitors (think SO’s friends, in-laws, the like) who know me well enough to know my very strong preference (due to my background) and continue to gripe about it or not take off their shoes unless I ask, I feel that they’re being rude, not me. In your view, are my only options to a) stop having them over, ever, b) be rude (i.e. ask them to remove their shoes every time I see them or insist that they remove their shoes), or c) suck it up and realize that, since the American norm = shoes in the house, that should be my norm as well? If this sounds snarky, it’s not. I’m genuinely curious. And also fine with having certain visitors think I’m rude.

          6. I didn’t grow up in a no-shoes home, and don’t have a no-shoes policy in my own house. A no-shoes policy doesn’t irritate me at someone else’s home if there is some kind of advance warning or clean slippers are offered to guests. It’s mostly over shame – I don’t usually get pedicures, don’t have pretty feet and don’t often wear socks.

            Also, and I don’t know if this is a Southern California thing or what, but I really loathe being asked to take off my shoes, then being expected to go outside for drinks or to see the yard or whatever. The floors might be clean, but the lawn is still full of grass.

          7. Anonymous, I agree that there is a point at which it is rude for me to insist that others to conform to my non-normative custom. My questions weren’t entirely clear. In the dinner-party scenario, I would by no means insist that people remove their shoes if they were uncomfortable. I’m wondering if you’d think it rude for me to make my preference known at all – by asking or by putting it on the invite in the first place.

            I question whether it is categorically rude in all circumstances to insist, though. With repeat visitors who know me well enough to know my very strong preference due to my background (think SO’s friends, in-laws, the like), I think it’s rude of them (not me) to continue to gripe or not take off their shoes unless I ask. In your view (or someone who feels as Anonymous does) are my only options really a) stop having them over, b) be rude (i.e.insist that they remove their shoes or ask them every time I see them), or c) suck it up and realize that I must adopt the American norm of no shoes? If this sounds snarky, it’s not. I’m genuinely curious if that’s what people think. And am fine with having certain visitors think I”m rude.

          8. I don’t actually tell people “please take your shoes off” — but most observant people will walk into the house, see that all of us are barefoot/in socks, notice the tray or basket of shoes near the door, and say, “should I take my shoes off?” and I say “yes.”

            Since the OP asked about Hunter boots (which are DEFINITELY designed for outdoor use, not indoor), I think the answer is “Heck yes” you remove your shoes, versus the answer is a bit more qualified for normal shoes that aren’t particularly dirty. I also find that my rubber boots aren’t particularly comfortable to wear inside, anyway!

          9. For the record, a) I have never insisted that anyone remove their shoes but occasionally requested that friends or family members do so, always in very casual settings; b) was born and raised in an area of the United States where removing one’s shoes, even in non-Asian households, was quite common; c) there are several “American” countries (i.e. not the United States) where people customarily do not wear shoes indoors. Your tone is a bit rude, but I appreciate hearing your viewpoint.

          10. Curious, I’m with you. Yes, some of been rude here.

            I grew up in the Midwest with lots of kids and dirt, snow etc.. was the norm. I’m not Asian. And we all took off our shoes in the house. This was normal among many families we knew and not with others. The floors would be covered with muck if people didn’t take off their shoes. Our house was also very small and the floor was actually where we kids did a lot of our play and homework and it would have been not so nice to have them be really dirty. We also grew up in a financially strapped family with two working parents…. who the hell is gonna clean those floors if you cover them with dirt every day?!?!? At some point, it’s practical.

            And I have to say… the 100 year old hard wood floors in my parents house are absolutely perfect and gorgeous after 40 years of buffing by our stocking feet…

            My mother instituted this policy and she was from the East coast.

            As an adult, I also prefer it if people take off their shoes. I don’t make it uncomfortable for them by demanding it, but I make it clear that this is what I prefer by having an entry way with a chair, rug and place for shoes. And I ABSOLUTELY would ask people to remove their shoes if it has been raining/snowing and if they are dirty etc… I agree that it is rude for people who are guests in your home not to be ok with this. In fact, I am really surprised how many people are not polite when they are guests and leave water marks on antiques, put feet with shoes up on couches, spill things and “pretend” that they didn’t etc.. It happens all the time. Maybe my friends are slobs, who knows…

            HOWEVER, I do agree that if you are having a dinner party etc.. and especially if you invite people over who are not close friends, it is very nice to warn them ahead of time if your policy is strict.. My Japanese boss used to have us over every year for a formal Christmas party, and I learned my lesson the hard way to make sure my feet are presentable. It’s quite a scene seeing a bunch of men in suits with stocking feet, and women with full length gowns and unpainted raggedy toenails ….!

            But if you invite over friends to hang out…. damn it take off your shoes!

          11. I’d put a cute sign and a cute tray for shoes at the entry-way, and then leave it at that (no enforcement).

    4. Take them off at the door, and depending on the comfort level with the person, either put on a pair of flats in the house or walk around in socks while you’re there. I do the latter at my good friends’ and parents’ homes.

    5. Just be like Canada and the rest of the civilized world and learn to always take your shoes off when you get in the door, America!

      1. I hate it when people ask me to take off my shoes at a party! My shoes are usually the best part of my outfit. And the other day I went to a party where I wasn’t expecting to be asked to take off my shoes, and my toenails looked terrible!!!

        1. So it definitely sounds like bringing a cute pair of jeweled flats or something to slip on would be a good solution for you :) I don’t require that guests take off their shoes, but it’s just sort of the norm here. And if it’s winter, rain/winter boots should definitely come off at the door.

          1. Yes, I think that must be the best solution. It isn’t snowy here, and I would be walking just from my car to the door, so my boots shouldn’t even be all that wet. I think that’s why it’s less common to take off your shoes here (in Houston) than other places: It never snows, and we drive everywhere.

            Thanks everybody for the help!

          2. Also, hunters get uncomfortable after a while. Slipping into flats will make your host and your feet happy.

          3. Pedicures are the same as brushing your teeth – you definitely don’t have to do it but then you are just gross.

          4. I hope you also foist your pedicure evangelism onto the men in your life (and random men on the internet), but some how I doubt you do.

          5. @Anonymous, that’s only true if you have truly nasty feet. My feet look totally normal and human without a pedicure.

          6. @Anonymous Um…no. Cut my toenails and wash my feet sure, but unless that’s what you mean by a pedicure, just no.

            Plus, people don’t see my toes for at least 6 months of the year anyway.

          7. No, pedicures are not the same as brushing your teeth. Washing your feet (ie, showering) is the same as brushing your teeth. Maybe you’re doing it wrong, hmm?

          9. Seconded. When I’m wearing boots and doing various sports every weekend, it is a huge waste of money. If I know I’m going to be wearing nice strappy heels, sure, but other than that? No.

          10. If you mean nail polish, no way. In the winter, i.e., closed-shoe season, toenail polish lasts maybe two days on me. I tend to my feet in the winter, sure, but barring special occasions, the toenail polish waits until May.

        3. I agree with this generally, but rain boots aren’t party shoes and neither are snow boots.

        4. I agree. I have kids, carpets and hardwoods and we wear shoes. Shoes protect against injuries. What if there’s a fire? Floors are meant to be walked on. No shoes, no service.

          1. Wait, does this mean you all put onshoes in the morning even if you’re staying home? Even kids? I can’t get mine to keep shoes on even when it’s chilly.

        5. My shoes usually make my outfit too! But as the second story neighbor of some awesomely lovely people, I always ask guests to remove their shoes. For those of us living in multistory condos, there’s really no alternative unless you’re willing to be a horrible neighbor.

      2. OK, I have a genuine question…how many people in shoe free homes have dogs? And if you do, doesn’t having a dog track in dirt/germs/whatever defeat the purpose of having humans take off shoes? Or do people clean dogs’ feet when they come in?

        1. A lot of people I know (myself included) clean their dogs feet if they are wet or dirty. We just keep a towel by the door for this purpose. That being said, I do not delude myself that my dogs are not still tracking stuff in. I just don’t want mud and water everywhere. FWIW I don’t ask guests to remove their shoes. All my guests have had the decency to do so, though. if their shoes are wet/muddy.

        2. I’m in Canada so pretty much all homes here are shoes-free.

          A potential exception is the very formal affair- ie a formal dinner party or event, a formal wedding at the parental home, etc. In these cases shoes are often left on BUT people aren’t trooping around the house- the guests are pretty much limited to the entry, a formal dining room and a conservatory or ballroom, they aren’t trooping around kitchens, playrooms, living rooms, etc, where children are playing and and where normal family living goes on. Moreover, these are rare events and cleaning staff would be involved, so its not the same as having your neighbours stop by once a week and walk through your home in their shoes (I know this is normal in America, but it truly makes me cringe!)

          Our dog enters through the mudroom and her paws are wiped with damp and then dry cloth before she enters the main house. She expects it and is fine about waiting for us to do it before she takes off. Just the same as I would wipe my dogs feet at the park before she gets in car.

  5. What’s your favorite, easy-to-mix-at-home, served in a champagne glass NYE cocktail???

    1. Champagne. Real champagne with nothing else. Or prosecco with creme de cassis.

    2. Veuve Clicquot.

      I kid, I kid. 1/3 glass St. Germain, fill the glass with dry sparking wine, garnish with pomegranate seeds, a fresh berry, or an edible blossom.

    4. While I’m also a big fan of delicious, regular champagne- a champagne cocktail can be lovely and is a way to salvage less than fantastic bottles of bubbly. Just put a sugar cube and a few drops of orange bitters in the bottom of a Champagne flute and top with sparkling something.

      (Note: this is what I do when someone gives me a bottle that is either absurdly sweet or has that weird funk that just isn’t right, or just isn’t good)

    5. There was a beautiful cocktail in this month’s issue of either Bon Appetit or MS Living which was champagne, cranberry syrup (based on pureed frozen cranberries), and vodka, poured into the glass in a way that created an ombre effect – it looked really easy to do and fairly simple ingredients but looked absolutely beautiful. I definitely plan on giving it a try.

    6. Cheap bubbly with a scoop of raspberry or peach sorbet. Or with a touch of peach nectar and a few raspberries floating in it.

      But with real decent champagne – just as is.

    7. Kir or Kir Royale–two ingredients (crème de cassis + white wine or champagne), festive color, fun name, many variations (if you like more obscure liqueurs). Sugar the rim of your glasses if you’re feeling fancy. Another bonus for the more budget conscious or those serving large groups is that you don’t have to get the most amazing champagne for it to be a hit.

      The Kitchn has a good explanatory article/recipe: http://www.thekitchn.com/kir-and-kir-royale-a-guide-to-124781

    8. Poinsettia – 4 parts champagne to 1 part cranberry juice. It’s a gorgeous rose gold color, and would also be appropriate for brunch the next morning!

  6. I’m going to bite the bullet and buy the Michael Kors Bedford crossbody. It’s retailing at $178 which is a bit steep for me for a tiny going-out bag. Am I dumb to not wait for a sale? Do things go down after New Years?

    Link to follow!

    2. If you’re really wedded to a particular color, I’d say go for it. Otherwise, some of the less basic colors will almost certainly go on sale later. Not sure if it will be right after New Year’s, but “end of the season” will happen in the next 1-2 months.

    3. You will be able to find it on sale if you purchase from one of the larger stores like Lord and Taylor, Macy’s or Bloomingdales during their friends and family sales.

      1. You can also try to sign up for the email list at the Michael Kors site and see if they send you a coupon.

        1. In my experience, Macys coupons exclude most/all name brand bags. Is that not true at other stores?

      1. Ha, this is in reference to my earlier comment about women not needing to have pedicures at all times to be presentable? Wow, I can only imagine what a treat you must be in person. No wonder you have to go to such great lengths to doll up your feet–anything to distract from your personality.

  7. does talbots audrey cashmere go on any deeper sale than right now? they’re about $78

    1. not with reliable sizes or colors left – I’ve seen it dip into the $60 range but by that point it’s lucky sizes only.

    2. You roll the dice if you wait for a particular size or color to be on deep discount at Talbots.

        1. do you mean XS, or the pet!te sizes? Can’t speak to pet!te but XS tend to sell out as Talbots runs a little big.

    3. Last fall, Talbots held a one day 50% off absolutely everything. It was in early September, so there was plenty of time to buy fall pieces before it got too late to wear them. I am expecting that they will do the one day half off again in early spring. You might want to take a gamble and wait for that.

  8. What’s everyone doing tonight? Any suggestions for a not loud or cold night (i.e. no huge crowds or hanging around outside for hours) but not boring either?

    1. Having a get together at our place with about 8 couples. Lots of food, drinks and good company.

    2. Going out to dinner at a great restaurant with good friends. Prob be asleep before 12. Wishing that I were ending the year with a man in my bed. Hoping that next year will bring less heartache.

    3. c!cktail hour while cooking a fancy dinner for an at-home dinner date w/ hubs, probably watching an old movie, and definitely asleep before 12 – if that’s boring, I don’t care!

    4. Have a family with teenagers staying with us (of the 13 and 14 yo variety) so probably staying in and playing board games or watching movies.

    5. My SO’s friend invited us to a Japanese-style New Year Party. They’ll be a few other people, but it will be mostly board games and good food.

      I remember my mom doing a Fondue pot on New Years one year. That could be fun!

      1. What’s a Japanese-style party? I know I could google but wanted to hear your interpretation of it. We always do fondue parties too for NYs.

    6. I showed my kid a list of NYE & New Year’s Day good luck traditions – like eating black eyed peas. He saw “midnight kiss” on the list so I’m heading out to the store now to buy black-eyed peas and Hershey’s Kisses.

      2. Black eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day are one of my favorite traditions. (Plus every time I make them, I think “this is so good, I should make it all the time!”)

    7. Painting the bathroom and kitchen at the Rocket Scientist’s place, in preparation for my impending moving-in.

      1. As a fourth year lit associate who’s desperate to have a trial, and does not have one in sight, I actually am jealous.

        1. I know how you feel. I didn’t have a trial until I was a sixth year and felt lousy about it every time I had an evaluation. They’ll come!

    11. I hate going out for New Years Eve so for the 3rd year in a row my fiancé and I will be staying home, cooking a fancy dinner, and watching the ball drop. In theory at least. We usually get dressed up for dinner but I have the flu so I’m eating in sweatpants this year and might not make it to midnight. We usually have a lot of fun doing this because there is no pressure and we can just crawl into bed whenever we want instead of trying to get home from somewhere or wait for guests to leave.

      I’m really not feeling well so tonight definitely won’t be as great as last year’s. I’m looking forward to the college football playoffs tomorrow though!

  9. DH and I usually cook a nicer meal after kids go to bed & watch a movie/binge on a favorite show. We’re doing that tonight, plus going over to a friend’s house with kids in the early evening.

  10. Is anyone familiar with the quality of their bags? They are having a decent sale and I am eyeing a small crossbody but am unfamiliar with the brand. Is it worth buying?

    1. Definitely worth it in my opinion, although I haven’t looked at their more recent stuff (lots of cool new colors!). They’re very well-respected in leather goods.

  11. I hope everyone has a NYE that is exactly what they want! I’m hoping to find a cute boy to kiss at midnight and a cab home…

  13. I got a nice pair of Cole Haan boots for Christmas, but alas, they don’t fit my wide-calf lifestyle so now I am in possession of a $200 gift card to Macy’s. If you were me, what would you get? The store I returned the boots at didn’t have anything I wanted (clothes or boots-everything was really picked over). I’m thinking of getting some nice makeup but thought I’d see if anyone had suggestions.

    ETA: I’m mainly in the market for work clothes/accessories or makeup, and don’t need a new bag. Recommendations on makeup brands for combination dry/oily skin particularly welcome!

    1. -Save it for applying to wedding/shower gifts (love not having to go out of pocket for that stuff!)
      -Makeup is a good idea – I like Clinique for my combo skin
      -Do you need any housewares? Replacement pillows or bathroom towels?
      -Nice sunglasses (I know they carry Ray Ban as an example)
      -Simple “real” jewelry – not as fun as going to Tiffany but in many cases a gemstone is a gemstone, and the non-precious stones could fit in your price range (I’m thinking about rose quartz or similar “level” stones)
      -Clutch for fitting in your work bag

    2. If I were you I would go with something basic: wool scarf, sterling silver/gold ball earrings, matte red lipstick, possibly some nice tights, a cosmetic bag, pearls ect. If you are looking for specific cosmetic recommendations: Chanel tan do soleil (cream bronzer), Dior Amber Diamond (highlighter), Giorgio Armani luminous silk foundation, Lancôme Hypnose mascara, Marc Jacobs highliner gel eye crayon, Urban Decay Setting Spray. Those are my recs from the brands Macys lists online.

    3. If I were you, I might go hang out at the makeup counters, do some research on skin care, and buy some good moisturizer and nice makeup. Use it as a “makeover” gift certificate, maybe? $200 can go a long ways at Clinique or even some of the other places, like Bobbi Brown or Laura Mercier.

      What about a new nice wallet or a watch?

      I think this is a tough time to buy work clothes – the fall stuff is picked over, I don’t want the infinite number of sweater sets they carry, and the January new stuff never seems right to me. You could also just hang on to the gift card and wait until March when they might have better options.

    4. Oh, if you’re in a cold climate, this might be a good time to buy luxe new leather gloves and a cashmere scarf, or something like that – I had always done the cheap versions of those and when I eventually upgraded, it was amazing how much I loved those new leather gloves.

    5. I like clinique skincare stuff (dramatically something gel moisturizer- the yellow stuff, the eye cream) and the black honey lipstick, and macys also carries philosophy (hope in a jar moisturizer, hope in a jar eye cream, tons of their bubble bath/bath gel, benefit blushes, benefit brow zing

    6. You ladies really know how to live :) Thanks for the suggestions! I think I’ll go to my local Macy’s and check out the Clinique counter. As Ellen would say, Yay!!

    7. For clothes, do you need any new bras or tights? Or consider applying it to some of their home goods — sheets, new pillows, KitchenAid mixer, etc

  14. Speaking of suits, my son is in law school and we want to buy him one or two good suits (navy and gray) for interviewing and a summer job. He is in Los Angeles, so will need a good sharp suit that he can wear year round. He is tall, athletically built with very broad shoulders, so fitting him will be a challenge. Where should he be looking? My list so far is Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss but we need more ideas. We did look at Jos. A Banks but they had nothing and we were not impressed by the quality of their suits. What brands of suits do do young male attorneys wear these days?

    1. Brooks Brothers is the easiest answer to this. I’m not sure what their stores are like in LA, but try to find a large one that will carry more of their lines up to their higher-end ones. Those will be much nicer than Hugo Boss IMO and with a large enough store, should come in all sorts of colors/fabrics/sizes.

      You could also try a J Crew Men’s Shop. Their suits are more “hipster” looking (tighter cuts), so might not be appropriate depending on the type of job he’s looking to get. On the other hand, all the guys on Million Dollar Listing LA seem to have this style of suit, so YMMV :)

      1. I recently read that J Crew brought out an athletic fit (slim look but not skinny.)

    2. My brother (not a lawyer, but mid-20s and currently interviewing at medical schools) doesn’t like Brooks Brothers because he says the cut is too “boxy” and old-fashioned. That said, it is a classic look and I don’t think you can go wrong–no one will judge your son for being too classic if the suit is tailored right. You may want to check out Men’s Wearhouse – I was really impressed by the diversity and quality of their suits when I went with my boyfriend, and because they sell different brands, you can find a brand that is high quality and works well for your son’s body type (plus they will tailor on site).

    3. I would also try Nordstrom and Saks. For Nordstrom, I would check online about the selection at different stores–guys I know tend to avoid store at the Grove in LA because of the poor selection; Santa Monica tends to be better. Highly recommend Saks in Beverly Hills.

    4. Brands for broader guys: Hickey Freeman, Hart Schaffner Marx, maybe Canali. I’m in the SE so I see a lot of traditionally cut, conservative suits, lots of BB.

    5. Banana Republic actually has some sleek and more modern cut suits for men. I know several late-20s/early-30s men who wear these.

      1. My H wears BR suits – he swears they’re the best option at that price point.

        Alternatively, a department store might be a good idea – son could compare lots of different brands to see what fits that way, and stores like Nordstrom/Saks/etc. typically offer on-site tailoring, which is helpful.

      1. If you’re getting your son 2 suits, consider having one be a modern cut and the other more traditional. I’d stick with BB and Nordstrom and have their tailors make sure they fit correctly. While he’s young, he shouldn’t be too “mod,” you don’t know what type of firm he’s going to wind up at. It’s always a good idea to have one “sober” suit in the closet, especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have a huge wardrobe. You never know when it’s going to come in handy— make it navy or charcoal and he can wear it for as long as it fits.

    7. My husband was/is this build (was in his 20s and has softened a bit in his 30s); I think at 24 he had a 32″ waist and a 17.5″ neck and the shoulders/chest (42″) to match. He also had soccer player quads, so “slim fit” anything didn’t it his butt/thighs. BB did not fit him. The only store bought suit he has that it with only minor alterations was Ralph Lauren and I forget what line but it was $$$$$. It was a graduation gift from his parents. For our wedding, we got his tux custom made. For his few other suits, he has some BB ones that needed major alterations and one other custom suit, which is his favorite. He also has a secondhand suit from some Italian designer whose name escapes me- in general the Italian cut for better than the English cut for him.

    8. Indochino will make a custom suit to measure for about $500 according to my stylish H who is sitting here with me while I read this :)

  15. I see a lot of young associates in J. Crew-type hipster suits, but could never get my almost-50 husband/hiring partner into one. I’d go with Brooks Brothers for the interview, but for everyday, wear the skinny suit!

  16. I had posted the other day for recommendations on dress pants with a lower rise, other than Theory. I ordered a pair of wool blend pants from Vince, and I am pretty happy with them. So, if anyone else is looking for lower rise dress pants, give Vince a shot.

  17. Has anyone gone to or know of a trial school or institute? I’ve heard of one in Georgia that has a week long program but I can’t find it online. I see a criminal one but I’m interested in a civil litigation program.

    1. I don’t have a suggestion but I’m super jealous – I really wish I had trial skills.

    3. I went to one run by ABOTA in 2014 at Harvard and can’t recommend it highly enough. It was really amazing. They only offer that one every 2 years, so the next one won’t be until 2016.

      It was a week long. There was a ton of interaction between students and faculty. We had one problem that we used for all of the exercises and the mock trial at the end, and we had mock jurors and got to hear their deliberations.

      I have heard really good things about the NITA one, too. I think you use several fact patterns throughout the week for that one, and I’ve heard there is less off-time interaction between the faculty and students. I think they do that one every year or possibly more than once per year.

    5. Thank you all so much for the replies! I’d love to try to go to one of these.

  18. I need helping finding a gift for my sister to wear in warm weather for casual, everyday non-events. She is size large, like me, but the similarities end there. I don’t know what would be most flattering to her body type. Last year I got her a faux-wrap top with color-blocked black on the sides. I don’t want to repeat the same thing.

    She is about 5’6″ and her bust is probably 40″, DD cups and small shoulders. I’m not sure what her waist is, but I’d guess 32″. She’s in her early 40s & has teen age kids.

    Style-wise, she loves the look of shirt dresses, either the ones that look like long Oxfords or T-shirt dresses. They really don’t work with her bust. I’d like to get her something that will make her “feel” like she did in those dresses when she was a skinny 20 yr old, if that makes sense. Maybe that means a placket and collar, or maybe something else would let her feel that way.

    My budget is small–around $25, so we’re limited to 6 pm, Nordstrom’s Rack, and similar sites.

  19. Macy’s cashmere, what is the consensus? On deep discount – vnecks $50 plus 15 percent off.

    1. I look at them all each winter: Macy’s, L&T, last call, Nordstrom…. This season, Bloomies had the best “feel.” They’re all a bit longer than last season and, to me, the V’s a bit deeper. Bloomingdales “C” (the house label) is a few bucks more, but they look a bit better in the crew & V … They were as low as 59 last week, back up to 75 today, but should drop again this week.

  20. Happy new year, guys! May 2015 be happy, joyous, prosperous and fun for everyone (and all the other good stuff too)…

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