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  • 3 of the Best Self-Tanners for 2024 – Corporette.com

    3 of the Best Self-Tanners for 2024 – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    If your pale, post-winter/spring skin needs a boost, or you naturally have a medium or darker skin tone and want some enhancement, a self-tanner may be just the thing. Today we’re rounding up three of the best self-tanners to easily and quickly give you that warmer glow without any harmful UV rays. (By the way, a “base tan” isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.)

    Readers, do you use self-tanner? What are your favorite brands and products?

    A quick note: As with a lot of beauty products, online reviews for self-tanners aren’t always super helpful, as there are often a wide variety of opinions, from “I love this self-tanner! It applies perfectly” to “This smells horrible, is patchy, and I hate it.” So, YMMV — that’s why travel sizes can be your friend here. Many brands offer travel/mini sizes, such as Bondi Sands, Beauty by Earth, and Isle of Paradise.

    {related: what is your favorite sunscreen? — and yes, we’re due for an update!}

    Here are some of the best self-tanners out there.

    Reader Favorite Self-Tanners

    Some of the self-tanning products readers mentioned in previous threads — and I’m excited to try these newer self-tanner drops that you add to your regular lotion. During the NAS, Nordstrom has some great deals on self-tanner drops and St. Tropez mousse, also…

    3 of the Best Self-Tanners for 2024

    Best General Self-Tanner: St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse

    A blue bottle of St. Tropez mousse tanner

    This limited edition, Sephora-exclusive self-tanner, St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse, is in mousse form and has an “island-inspired” fragrance. Specifically, St. Tropez notes, it smells like “tropical fruit blended with velvety coconut, vanilla, and Tahitian gardenia.” (That does sound nice.)

    Reviewers’ opinions of the scent include “pleasant,” “fresh,” “divine,” “really good” and also … “a problem for some people.”

    To use this tanner, you apply with a mitt and wait one to three hours before showering. Your tan will develop over the next eight hours.

    This mousse, which is vegan and cruelty-free, is $46 for 6.7 oz at Sephora.

    Best Face Self-Tanner: Tan-Luxe The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops

    A bottle of Tan-Luxe The Face self-tanning drops

    You have a choice for getting more color on your face, but if you’re seeking something that lasts longer than a bronzer or tinted moisturizer, these self-tanner face drops from UK company Tan-Luxe are a good bet. The Face is designed to be added to your moisturizer, serum, or face oil, and you can customize the shade, from 2 drops (“radiant”) to 12 drops (“bronzed”). (You might want to start small, to avoid a Ross “Mississippi” situation.)

    This product is cruelty-free, vegan, and also free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, petrochemicals, mineral oil, silicone, and talc. Reviewers say the scent is “great,” “way better than other self-tanners,” or alternately, “strongly like apple cider vinegar,” or non-existent. So, yeah.

    These face drops are $50 for 1 oz. at Nordstrom and are available in two shades: light/medium and medium/dark.

    Best Self-Tanner for Darker Skin Tones: Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self Tanning Mousse

    a bottle of Loving Tan Platinum Ultimate Self Tanning

    For a recommendation for a self-tanner that works on darker skin tones, we turned to the Instagram of Jackie Aina, popular Nigerian American content creator and lifestyle brand founder. (Check out her “Black Girls Tan” Insta story highlights!)

    Aina says she loves this Platinum Ultimate Self Tanning Mousse from Australian brand Loving Tan. It’s an Allure Best of Beauty award winner, too, and promises “The deepest, darkest tan possible.” (Especially if you have lighter skin, note the company’s caveat, “experienced tanners only.”)

    Loving Tan claims this self-tanner will dry in as little as 60 seconds and will develop your tan in two hours — a lot more quickly than some other tanners. Not only can it enhance your skin tone, but it can help with hyperpigmentation. Various reviewers say the scent is “minimal,” “pleasant,” “does not smell good,” or is nonexistent, so YMMV.

    This self-tanner mousse, is $27.96 (30% off, marked down from $39.95) at Nordstrom in the shade “Maximum.” The 6.7-oz. size is available at Ulta for $65.

    Readers, please share! What are your favorite self-tanners for face and body?

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    Kat G

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  • The Best Workwear in the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – Corporette.com

    The Best Workwear in the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I’ve been combing through the just-opened Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for all the best workwear… and here are our picks! What are your favorite things in the sale this year, readers? What are you eager to stock up on, or try out in the sale?

    Curious what the NAS is? It’s a once-yearly sale from Nordstrom where they mark down NEW fall merchandise for a limited time — after the sale is over the prices go back up. Cardholders get to shop before the general public — and good stuff does tend to go!

    The sale JUST opened for “Icons,” and tomorrow it will open for Ambassadors, and July 11 it will open for the final tier, Influencers. The sale will open for the public on July 15. (Which tier you’re in depends on how much you’ve spent at Nordstrom in the past year (NET); you can check your status here.)

    Reader Favorites from Previous Anniversary Sales (Back Again!)

    (Use the arrows above to see all of the pieces…)

    • best underwire with pretty straps – Natori
    • best plunge underwire – Natori
    • best contour underwire – Natori
    • best comfy bralette – True & Co (also)
    • best strapless bra – Wacoal
    • best cotton underwear – Natori
    • best lacy panty – Hanky Panky
    • best work pants – NYDJ (reg + plus)
    • best affordable winter coat – Edelman (also)
    • best affordable blouse – Vince Camuto (reg + plus)
    • best affordable bootcut jean – Wit & Wisdom (reg + plus)
    • best basic legging and joggers – Zella (reg + plus)
    • best basic PJs – Moonlight (reg + plus)

    Kat’s Picks from the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Best Lingerie to Stock Up On in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Best Work Tops in the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Best Office Shoes in the 2024 Anniversary Sale

    Best Blazers and Suits in the 2024 Anniversay Sale

    Best Weekend Looks in the 2024 NAS

    Best Winter Coats in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Best Pants in the 2024 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    Best Work Dresses in the 2024 NAS

    Accessories, Beauty and Jewelry in the NAS

    The Best Plus Sizes in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

    The Best Finds for Conservative Offices and Situations Like Court

    Gray suit (w/ pants & skirt) / Blue suit (w/ pants & dress) / Caramel sweater / pink tweed / red suit (pants)

    collage of 5 suits and 5 conservative shoes

    gray pump / tan Mary Jane pump / tan low pump / black ballet flat / gray pointy flats

    Best Blazers & Suits for Conservative Offices

    Best Shoes for Conservative Workplaces

    Best Dresses for Conservative Offices

    Best for Parents

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    Kat

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  • How to Fake Drinking at Work Events – Corporette.com

    How to Fake Drinking at Work Events – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    When you’re at a post-work happy hour with coworkers, or another office event that involves alcohol, and you choose not to drink, it can sometimes (sadly enough) get tricky. Readers once had a helpful discussion in the comments about how to fake drinking at work events, and we thought we’d round up their advice today.

    Readers, do tell: When you feel it’s necessary, how do you fake drinking at work events?

    While some readers said they didn’t really see the need to pretend to drink when coworkers are imbibing, others commented that they’ve had colleagues who continue to urge them to have a drink even after they’ve declined — or try to find out exactly WHY they’re they’re skipping alcohol (what a pain!).

    In fact, one commenter shared that some acquaintances closely monitored her after her wedding for signs she might be pregnant (far beyond just skipping alcohol), while another reader commented, “To those questioning whether this is still a thing for full-grown adults? Yes. Very much yes. Especially in the law firm world of Old Boys.” One reader shared, “I’ve personally been asked many times point blank if I’m pregnant because I wasn’t drinking.”

    The tips below can help in all sorts of situations — whether you want to avoid alcohol because you’re pregnant (or trying to conceive), or you’re cutting out alcohol to lose weight, or you’re sober / in recovery. Or maybe you simply don’t drink!

    {related: 10 great mocktail recipes for Dry January}

    How to Fake Drinking at Work Events

    Readers shared a ton of suggestions for mocktails and other options to fake drinking and thwart those curious (read: nosy) coworkers.

    As one reader noted. “It’s really all about the glassware. You could also do ginger ale in a champagne flute, cranberry juice in a martini glass with Cosmo garnish, etc.”

    Here are some drink possibilities from readers:

    • Club soda & lime
    • Club soda & cranberry
    • Cranberry & lime
    • Faux Jack & ginger: ginger ale & lime
    • Faux rum & coke: Coke & lime
    • Virgin mojito
    • Virgin Cosmo
    • Virgin Moscow Mule — no one will know what’s in that copper mug!
    • Virgin Bellini or virgin mimosa: “Have the bartender switch soft apple cider for the Prosecco, or lemon soda or something if they don’t have apple cider,” one reader suggested.
    • Virgin Sea Breeze: cranberry & grapefruit
    • Root beer or ginger beer that has a beer-style bottle/label

    {related: Dry January: why I’m doing it again — and what to drink instead}

    Readers, please share your favorite mocktails — or any other ways to get nosy coworkers off your back so you can enjoy your nonalcoholic drink in peace.

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • 6 Ways to Reduce Your Screen Time – Corporette.com

    6 Ways to Reduce Your Screen Time – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    It’s safe to say that most of us could stand to cut down on our screen time (no judgment here — damn you, infinite scroll!). While we’ve discussed reducing screen time before (including specifically for working moms), we decided it’s time for an update on ways to reduce your screen time — both on your phone and computer.

    Readers, what are the best ways you’ve found to limit screen time? Please share your favorite settings, apps, and plugins!

    Limiting screen time can be tricky because there are plenty of activities on your phone (or on other screens) that are generally beneficial, like listening to podcasts, reading e-books, using meditation apps, messaging with friends and family, and so on. That’s why tools that limit your access to certain sites and apps can be more helpful than those that treat all screen time equally.

    The following strategies include both options!

    6 Ways to Reduce Your Screen Time

    Built-In Screen Time Limits

    Starting with the basics, if you have an iPhone, Screen Time settings help you tackle your phone use. You can limit time spent per app or app category (such as games) and set certain apps to be accessible 24/7. Adjusting Downtime will block apps and notifications during the time periods you choose. And “turning off” an app removes it from your home screen but doesn’t delete it (is this news to anyone else?!).

    On an Android phone, use the Digital Wellbeing controls to monitor your habits, like how much time you spend using particular apps, how many times you unlock your phone, how many notifications you get, etc. You can also set app time limits and/or “pause” certain apps.

    Focus / Do Not Disturb mode on any type of phone is helpful — and remember, you can make exceptions for certain contacts to reach you no matter what. Also check your settings for individual app notifications — personally, I feel like I spend too much swiping unnecessary notifications throughout the day.

    You can limit your computer use by setting limits on your home WiFi — say, starting at your ideal bedtime. This CNET article explains how to do this through your router or using Circle for Netgear.

    Display Settings

    This tactic not only makes your phone screen look less appealing (and therefore tempting) but also can remind you that it’s time to go to bed, or just put down your phone. You can change your color scheme to grayscale to make it look boring, dim your wallpaper and lock screen (iPhone/Android), set to dark mode, and so on.

    Here’s a quick tip: Although it definitely has its issues (like telling you to add glue to pizza and, uh, threatening blogs like ours), Google’s AI Overview feature is a helpful for finding out how to adjust phone settings without having to sort through lots of search results.

    Forrest App & Plugin

    Forest is a gamification-based app for iPhone, Android, and Chrome that aims to help you “Stay focused, be present.” Forest kind of reminds me of a Tamagotchi — it lets you plant a virtual tree, and while you focus on what you’re supposed to, the tree grows. Leave the app before you’re done and the tree will die. (Aww, poor little tree.) Otherwise, you can grow your own forest.

    {related: how to take a partial social media break}

    Morphine Plugin

    Morphine is a Chrome plugin that lets you block certain websites, then draw from a balance when you visit them.

    Here’s an excerpt from Kat’s original review:

    The idea is that you only “earn” time with the URLs you put in Morphine after you’ve been using the computer for more productive purposes for a certain amount of time. Perfect.

    I used to have it set to 1 minute of play time for every 10 minutes of work time, but that left me with far too many minutes in my bank — so I switched it to 1 minute of play time for every 60 minutes of work time.

    That was a bit too little. I’ve decided I need at least 3 minutes to look at Facebook, even using the Social Fixer plugin, because when I try to sneak a peek for one minute, and inevitably try to refresh it for another minute more, it would take me at least 30 seconds to find my place scrolling down the page.

    {related: are you leaving social media this year (have you already left?)}

    Other Apps

    Other recommended phone apps to limit screen time are Minimalist for Android (changes your home screen interface to a limited text-only list), Stay Focused for iPhone and Android (blocks apps/websites and can stop you from changing settings / uninstalling), and one sec for iPhone and Android (allows you to “set an intention” before opening apps to halt mindless tapping).

    Your Own Rules

    If you’ve got a bit more willpower than me (and don’t want to spend time fooling around with settings), set your own screen time guidelines, like these:

    1. Don’t use your phone in bed, or perhaps while eating (for more mindful meals).

    2. If you always reach for your phone immediately after waking up, charge your phone elsewhere, or at least across the room.

    3. Delete social media apps from your phone — and keep them off.

    4. When you open a time-sucking app, set a timer on your phone for 15 or 30 mins. and then stop when your time’s up.

    You also might want to check out the reader-recommended How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life (Amazon/Bookshop).

    Readers, what are your favorite ways to reduce your screen time on your phone and computer? Have you tried any of the above?

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • What’s Your Favorite Summer Cocktail or Drink? – Corporette.com

    What’s Your Favorite Summer Cocktail or Drink? – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    What is your favorite summer cocktail, wine, beer, or other libation? Do you drink the same thing year-round, or do sunny, warm days make you think of different drinks?

    (Psst: In the past we’ve talked about keeping alcohol in the office, the best mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks, jobs that encourage drinking, “overachieving women” and drinking, and (way back when) what to drink at an office cocktail party. What is the drinking situation at your office this summer, readers — lots of cocktail parties for interns and summers, or do you feel like it’s been dialed back a bit?)

    My Favorite Summer Cocktails

    For my $.02… I’m not a huge wine person, but something about spring (and only spring) says rosé to me… but if I’m at a restaurant offering a frosé in the summer, I may indulge. When I’m drinking wine a nice white definitely feels more summery than red. Except for Beaujolais, which for some reason I always associate with “fancy picnic wine,” and maybe Lambrusco or sangria.

    In terms of cocktails, I love a dirty gin martini and will drink that year round; ditto for an old-fashioned. But if there’s a Bee’s Knees on the cocktail menu or another fun drink involving lemon, elderflower, or honey syrup, those will often get me also.

    My Favorite Low- and Non-Alcoholic Summer Drinks

    As far as other libations go, I’ve never been a huge fan of lemonade (despite my love for lemon, go figure). I’m more likely to grab a lemonade-flavored seltzer or a kombucha than a lemonade. I have been getting into mocktails in recent years, and I really like some of the lighter nonalcoholic beers from Athletic Brewing or BrewDog, and Clausthaler makes an amazing grapefruit-flavored mocktail if you can find it. (I also like Fever Tree’s grapefruit soda.)

    When I’m feeling extra fancy, I still love to make the grapefruit-elderflower mocktail I shared in our roundup of 10 great mocktails for Dry January… If I’m OK with having a low alcohol drink I’ll sometimes add just a splash of St. Germain to seltzer. We’re starting to get into a few of the lower-alcohol things like spiked seltzers, spiked kombucha, and ranch water, but we’re just starting because it took me a while to get over my Zima/”wine cooler” memories. I’d love to know if you have favorites.

    (I also still make “unicorn juice” — hat tip to the readers for that one!)

    Readers, how about you: What are your favorite summer drinks like cocktails, wine, beer, and other libations? (What are your favorite seltzers, readers? I’m pretty loyal to Spindrift, especially since you can often find it on sale in large quantities, but I know that brands like Poland Spring and La Croix have a bunch of fun seasonal flavors also…)

    Psst: looking to moderate your drinking?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kat

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  • What’s the Nicest Thing You’ve Bought for Your Office? – Corporette.com

    What’s the Nicest Thing You’ve Bought for Your Office? – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Here’s an easy question for today: what’s the nicest thing you’ve bought for your office, whether at home or at work? Did you splurge on a decorator or a fancy chair, or perhaps a great piece of art? Do share…

    In the past, we’ve talked about how to make your office more comfortable, essential items to keep at your work desk, how to decorate your workspace, where to get cute office decor, how to improve ergonomics at the office, and how to liven up your office walls… we’ve also rounded up the very best office chairs for women!

    We’ve also talked about some of our favorite weird products to keep at the office: pashminas, foldable flats, items to cool you down after a sweltering commute, and mini-fridges if your situation allows!

    The Nicest Thing I’ve Bought for My Office

    When I was at the law firm, I didn’t splurge very much on my office because it all felt really temporary, even though I was there for six years — but some of my colleagues definitely had couches, artwork, even (for the partners) wallpaper and drapes.

    For my current home office, I think the nicest thing I bought for my office was splurging on a decorator — I have a navy and hot pink theme (shocker) but it feels pulled together and happy — it’s also nice to have a somewhat girly space, complete with a hot pink armchair and a bookshelf displaying all my fashion-related books.

    My artwork purchases have been pretty thrifty — I have a painting that I absolutely adore but got at a local auction for $50, so it wasn’t terribly expensive. Based on reader recommendations, I also recently bought a Steelcase Leap chair on auction for about $150. (No complaints, although it’s so much lower than my former Ikea chair… I’m still kind of getting used to it!)

    Otherwise, my big office expenses have been tech things… two monitors, a nice computer that now needs to be upgraded, etc.

    How about you guys — what’s the nicest thing you’ve bought for your office, whether at home or at work? Did you splurge on a decorator or a fancy chair, or perhaps a great piece of art?

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    Kat

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  • How to Make Your Clothing Last Longer – Corporette.com

    How to Make Your Clothing Last Longer – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Wondering how to make your clothes last longer? This can be great from a budgetary perspective as well as an environmental perspective… so here are some tips on caring for your clothes to help them last longer, including laundry tips to make your clothes last longer!

    How to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

    1. Give your clothing a new life by upcycling things you no longer wear. Dye a dress, cut up an old shirt for rags (I’ve done this with old tees made from thicker 100% cotton) turn a too-small item into a tote bag, and so on. Check out YouTube, Pinterest, and Reddit for inspiration.

    2. Learn to mend your clothing. Again, YouTube tutorials are great for this if you don’t have someone to show you in person. While it may not fly in a lot of offices, visible mending is a fun technique — Better Homes & Gardens has tips, and r/visiblemending has 200,000+ members sharing ideas and advice.

    3. Use care techniques that are gentler on your clothes. This Cosmo article lists 25 tips on doing just that, from treating stains ASAP to washing jeans inside out to steaming clothes rather than ironing. (Here are our tips for ironing less!)

    4. Remove pilling from sweaters rather than ditching them. You don’t always have to get rid of clothes that are pilling — use a battery-operated fabric shaver, or a reusable or disposable razor. (Need tips to prevent pilling in the first place? Good Housekeeping has them.)

    {related: how often do you wash your workwear and other clothes?}

    Make Laundry Day Greener

    1. Wash clothes at home rather than taking them to the dry cleaner (even some “dry clean only” clothing!) — and in cases when it’s feasible and not, you know, gross, consider washing clothing less often in general. (Also a thing, apparently: “washless clothes.” Hmmm.)

    (The last time we discussed dry cleaning at home, readers really liked these products:)

    2. Don’t overuse detergent. This Real Simple article tells you how to know whether you’re using the correct amount.

    3. Reduce microplastics released from your laundry by adding a washing machine filter or special laundry bags/balls. Wirecutter delved into this a couple of years ago, and the National Park Service has tips for reducing laundry microfiber shedding.

    Readers, what are your favorite ways to make your clothing last longer? Do you regularly do any of the above?

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • What Meals Do You Have On Repeat Right Now? – Corporette.com

    What Meals Do You Have On Repeat Right Now? – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    I tend to be very much a creature of habit, and I’ve been leaning into that more to try to make meal planning/prep easier and decrease the amount of times we decide to DoorDash our dinner. Sometimes these aren’t even recipes, they’re just easy, tasty meals or food combinations that are in the mix all the time.

    I’ll give my own, but I’m curious to hear yours — what meals do you have on repeat right now? Are there some meals where it’s a bit more like the Girl Dinner trend, i.e. just a snack plate?

    What I Have on Repeat…

    I’ve written before about how right now I’m focusing on protein, fiber, and water, and also trying to be mindful of calories… so long as I’m meeting my goals for those I’ll eat anything else I have room in my stomach/caloric budget for the day.

    I should note that a lot of these meals are things that I’m making like 6 servings of once and then freezing — I like freezing them into big blocks via my Souper Cubes and then sticking them into a gallon-sized freezer Ziploc. For most of them I just take them directly from the freezer, put in a covered bowl, and microwave them at 50% power for about 4 minutes, stir, then 1 minute in the freezer.

    (I started doing this to try to make it easier to grab meals with 30g protein, since the prepackaged freezer meals I grab are usually only 15-18g. As a bonus there’s a lot less plastic and cardboard waste, and less preservatives also.)

    How do they taste? Um, I’d give most of them a 7/10 for taste — tasty but not the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. I’m still in the process of modifying different recipes to add more vegetables and beans (I generally think microwaved chicken is gross, plus meat free is always good and yay fiber), and playing around with different spices to add in after preparing them to give them a bit more oomph. As always, Trader Joe’s Umami seasoning is a godsend.

    Meal Prep Things I Freeze

    • Stealth Health Pepperoni Mac & Cheese — I keep making this with turkey pepperoni and Barilla protein pasta, and the last time I made a batch I threw in a bag of frozen broccoli and spinach as well.
    • Stealth Health Beefy Cheesy Burritos — I only freeze the filling part of this (into 1 cup cubes, not 2 cups), and then defrost them into a bowl, then plop it on a tortilla and add more cheese for the final microwave step. They’re not very visually appealing, but they’re really tasty. There isn’t a lot of room to add more vegetables to this one because they’re usually a tight fit for a lot of burritos we get. I got some random Carb Counter burrito wraps (18g of fiber!!!) and those guys are huge.
    • Sean Casey’s Taco Cheesy Rice — this one is greatly improved by adding fresh guacamole or avocado salsa before it’s served, but it’s tasty by itself also. The portions are absolutely huge, so the last time I made it I divided it into 8 servings instead. I also added black beans the last time, which was good — I think the next time I make it I’m going to do half cauliflower rice to get more veggies in. (Maybe adding tiny chopped carrots too? Hmmn.)

    Salmon Recipes

    We try to eat salmon once a week, so this is a special category for my family…

    • Ina Garten’s Panko-crusted salmon (h/t to the readers for introducing me to this one!) — we just bake it at 350 but doing it in the cast iron and broiling it is a bit tastier.
    • Skinnytaste’s Baked Pesto Chicken — we do this one with salmon almost more than we do it with chicken. I think Kalyn’s Kitchen had a very similar recipe involving foil packets, with the salmon laid on top of green beans… we don’t do the foil packets but we always serve this with green beans.
    • TikTok Salmon Bowl (Emily Mariko) — it really is tasty. This Popsugar article has a good link and description.
    • Baked Salmon with Wasabi Mayo – We could probably substitute a storebought sauce; we just mix our own with 1.5 limes, .25 cup mayo, .25 cup FFGY, .75T wasabi paste, 2t fresh ginger; we bake the salmon very simply with onion powder and garlic powder on top and serve this on the side. (You can do .5 cup mayo instead, and up the wasabi to 1.5T — but if you’re doing the mix of mayo/FFGY you really have to cut the wasabi down by about half.)
    • Baked salmon – I like to add garlic powder, onion powder, and then a BUNCH of Lemon Herb seasoning (harder to find than Lemon Pepper, but that would work too if you don’t hate pepper like I do), and then a BUNCH of dried dill. We cook at 350 for about 30 minutes.

    Game Time Decisions

    These tend to be the things we cook when it’s 5:30 and don’t have dinner planned…

    • Kalyn’s Kitchen Sesame Chicken and Broccoli — for some reason we always do this one with pork tenderloin instead of chicken, but whatever is defrosted at the time will be what we use. We all like it and it’s really easy; we serve it with plain white rice. Sometimes we do the full marinade, but Trader Joe’s Soyaki sauce or Coconut Secret Organic Teriyaki Sauce are both great cheats.
    • Kalyn Kitchen Cajun Shrimp — we all adore this one, but especially if we have fresh bread to dip in the amazing sauce. I happen to have fairly unusual baking dishes that are perfect – like ramekins but 3x the size of a ramekin, maybe intended for scalloped potatoes at first?
    • Frozen chicken breast in the air fryer – you can make a juicy chicken in 15-20 minutes.

    Not Really Recipes in the Crockpot

    • Frozen chicken breast + 1 jar of salsa. Heat on High for 1-4 hours if that’s when you want to eat, or high for 1 hour then Low for 6-8 hours. I’ve added this to tacos, burritos, and put it on top of nachos… not fancy but it is reliably tasty.
    • Chicken breast + Frank’s Hot Wing Sauce. My recipe includes added 2T white vinegar and “1/8 tsp celery seeds,” then at the end of its cooktime you add in 4 wedges of Laughing Cow cheese. I like to add cauliflower or broccoli to this one to add veggies; the next time I make it I might try to add some white beans also. You can serve it over pasta, or eat it as part of a wrap with lettuce and tomato.

    Other Miscellaneous Meal Prep

    • Protein yogurt – My current mix is 15g protein powder, 24g powdered peanut butter, 19g Fiber One. Why 19g? Who knows. I add 170g of FFGY when I’m ready to eat, if I’m eating this as more of a dessert I might add whipped cream and/or caramel sauce. I try to make 3 servings every time I make these, and then store the dried mix of ingredients in containers that I dump in when I’m ready to eat them.
    • Overnight oats – I will meal prep these ingredients: 15g CHOCOLATE protein powder, 24g powdered peanut butter, 30g oats. I have tiny glass yogurt containers that are perfect for this so I’ll do 6 dry containers at a time, but I can run hot and cold on these so when I think I might want to eat them within 2-48 hours I only make 2, adding about 10g of chia and 85g of milk. (Too much more and it gets soupy, plus it won’t fit in the container.) I keep my chia seeds refrigerated so I add them at the end, but if you think of those as shelf stable you could add them with the dry ingredients also.
    • DIY snack bags – I heard this on a podcast and thought it was clever: make your own snack bags to grab easily. I always used to eat a lot of beef jerky and string cheese through the years, but they’re less than 10g of protein each so they’re less of a good snack by themselves, plus I like to portion the beef jerky which takes additional time. So I’ve just starting putting a serving of beef jerky + a string cheese into a tiny snack bag, and doing 2-3 of them at a time, and I’m surprised how often I’m grabbing them. (They’re around 150 calories and 15g of protein each.)

    Sadly, I think that’s the entirety of things we have on repeat at the moment… how about you guys?

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    Kat

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  • Fertility and Birth Rates: Let’s Discuss – Corporette.com

    Fertility and Birth Rates: Let’s Discuss – Corporette.com

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    We’re discussing this article (and beyond) on CorporetteMoms today too, but the conversation has a different flavor over there!

    Did you catch the story in The Wall Street Journal [gift link] a couple of weeks ago that addressed falling birth rates? The WSJ reported that the birth rate among American women has fallen to 1.62 per woman — the lowest since the 1930s when the government began keeping track. (The article does note this: “The figures are provisional and likely to adjust slightly when final data are released later this year.”)

    One more striking stat: In 1950, in the midst of the baby boom, the crude birth rate was 24.1 per 1,000 people, and by 2018, it had dropped to 11.6, according to Pew Research. This is a major issue for other industrialized countries as well — today CNN reported that South Korea’s fertility rate (a bit different than birth rate) is so low at 0.72 in 2023 that the government may create a Ministry of Low Birth Rate Counter-planning. (Hmm, that feels a bit Handmaid’s Tale.)

    We thought we’d use the WSJ article as a jumping-off point for a discussion today. (Btw, it’s a coincidence that this post is in the same week as Mother’s Day! BUT if you need gift ideas, check out our recent gift ideas open thread, which ALSO coincidentally was published on the day the WSJ story came out.)

    Here are two key excerpts from the WSJ article:

    The decline reflects a continuing trend as American women navigate economic and social challenges that have prompted some to forgo or delay having children. A confluence of factors are at play. American women are having fewer children, later in life. Women are establishing fulfilling careers and have more access to contraception.

    At the same time, young people are also more uncertain about their futures and spending more of their income on homeownership, student debt and child care. Some women who wait to have children might have fewer than they would have otherwise for reasons including declining fertility.

    * * *

    The long-term effects of lowering rates could shape the economy, programs including Social Security and other facets of American life, said Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College. “It has the ability to have a significant impact on the way we live for a long time to come,” he said.

    * * *

    Is anyone really surprised by this news? Just thinking about the most likely factors becomes daunting: the the current and future impact of climate change, the crises and wars around the world, abortion bans and associated restrictions on maternal care, discrimination against pregnant employees and working mothers, inadequate government support for families, employers providing inadequate paid family leave, and so on.

    So, let’s discuss:

    Readers who are planning to have kids: Are you waiting longer to do so — longer than you expected? If you are waiting, how much are you worried about declining fertility? Have you thought about freezing your eggs?

    Alternately, if you’re not sure whether you want kids — or don’t ever want them — how much is your career a factor, and how much of your decision stems from one or more of the factors listed above — if at all?

    Stock photo via Pexels / cottonbro studio.

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • Open Thread: The Best Meal Kit Services – Corporette.com

    Open Thread: The Best Meal Kit Services – Corporette.com

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    Since the early days of Blue Apron, Hello Fresh, and Plated (it’s been a bit over a decade since then!), the number of meal kit services has skyrocketed. That’s great if you got bored with the companies you originally used, or if you have dietary restrictions that are now better accommodated, but how are you supposed to decide among so many options?!

    While we’ve talked about easy weeknight dinners, meal planning apps, and meal prepping, we haven’t focused on meal kit delivery services before — so let’s chat about it today! (Somehow it seems like a good topic for a Monday, doesn’t it?)

    If you’ve used meal kits to simplify and streamline your meal planning and cooking, did they work for you? (By the way, while meal kits got much more popular during the pandemic, they’re not doing as well now. Have you seen any better deals out there because of that?)

    What Are The Best Meal Kit Services?

    Here are a few questions to get the conversation started:

    1. What are your favorite meal kit services, and why? Any fails?

    2. Which companies do you think have the best options for special diets — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto, and so on?

    3. For readers with kids: Which meal kits have turned out to be child-friendly?

    4. Which companies’ kits seem to produce more or less waste?

    If you prefer meal delivery services — no assembly required! — let us know your recs for those, too! Readers have mentioned Factor, Thistle, and Spinly in the past.

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • 8 Cute Bookends For Your Work Space – Corporette.com

    8 Cute Bookends For Your Work Space – Corporette.com

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    Do you “style” your bookcases with objets d’art, bookends, and so forth, or do you just use bookends for functional purposes? We haven’t talked about this in a while, so I thought I’d round up some cute bookends for your work space.

    Related question: How do you like to organize your books — by color? By subject matter? By author last name?

    In the past, we’ve talked about how to make your office more comfortable, essential items to keep at your work desk, how to decorate your workspace, where to get cute office decor, how to improve ergonomics at the office, and how to liven up your office walls… we’ve also rounded up the very best office chairs for women!

    We’ve also talked about some of our favorite weird products to keep at the office: pashminas, foldable flats, items to cool you down after a sweltering commute, and mini-fridges if your situation allows!

    Cute Bookends For Your Work Space, Home Office, or Cubicle

    Amazon

    bookends with decorative design

    In the “affordable and mostly functional department,” we have these bookends, which are ranked #1 for decorative book ends at Amazon. In general, there a lot of decorative wire bookends and other functional pieces.

    The pictured bookends are under $20 for a 4-pack; you can see all of the Amazon bestsellers for decorative bookends here.

    Target

    wooden bookends

    If you have a sort of minimal design aesthetic (also maybe a bit of a Scandinavian style?), these wooden bookends might be right up your alley. They’re bestsellers at Target, for $24.99.

    Anthropologie

    bookends that look like a face split in half

    These gold bookends from Anthropologie might be great if you’ve got a more styled bookshelf — and I like that they come in gold, black, and white. They’re $58.

    Crate & Barrel

    bookends that look like birds

    I will admit it: I swing wildly between the “birds are bad luck inside the house” thing and “I love decorating with small birds.” (I guess I’m just going with no live birds inside the house? Hmmn.)

    In any event: I love these black and gold bird bookends from Crate & Barrel, where it’s $65 for a set of 2. They’re also available in a natural wood and a beigey-white.

    West Elm

    bookends with an art deco marble detail

    I love Art Deco office style in general, so these marble and gold bookends are totally calling my name. They’re $110 at West Elm for a set ($54 for just one).

    (These black marble ones at Bloomingdale’s have a similar appeal!)

    Etsy

    wooden bookend that looks like a signpost pointing to different custom fictional locations like Mordor

    You can get a bunch of custom options at Etsy, including engravings and bookends shaped like a pet… but I liked this handmade custom lamppost, with signs pointing towards fictional places of your choosing. (The example includes Atlantis, Treasure Island, Tatooine, Pandora, the Shire, and more.)

    This exact one is $110.83, from seller TinSharkLLC, which describes the shop as “nerd retail therapy.”

    Urban Outfitters

    cool bookends from urban outfitters

    We’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — you can get surprisingly cute office decor at Urban Outfitters.

    These bookends are some of my favorites of this roundup — UO designs the ceramic stoneware as thus:

    The Fettu’s design is inspired by the organic, ribbon-like forms of fettuccine. Wide enough to have a nice bite and substantial enough to maintain its form, the Fettu is equal parts playful and grounding. Rhythmic in form, its sculptural tendencies disguise its function, allowing it to serve as bookends or an art object.

    Nice! The bookends are $150, via UO MRKT.

    Perigold

    crystal bookend in shades of green, blue, and clear

    Another favorite from this roundup: this gorgeous hand-cut crystal bookend from Reflections Copenhagen, via Perigold. The brand recommends putting it near a window so you can catch the reflections… how gorgeous would this be sitting on an office window shelf instead of a wooden bookcase? The bookend is $495.

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    Kat

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  • The Hunt: Great Short-Sleeved Sweaters – Corporette.com

    The Hunt: Great Short-Sleeved Sweaters – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

    Short-sleeved sweater tees are trending a bit right now — and they’re great work basics, so I thought we’d round some up.

    I’ve always been a fan of sweater tees, particularly beneath blazers and suit jackets, for a number of reasons. They don’t gape like blouses! They’re thicker and often more opaque than simple t-shirts! And — and this has been a big one for me since I personally hate tucking: they generally still look polished even if they’re untucked.

    {related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}

    Our Latest Favorite Short-Sleeved Sweaters

    Stylish Short-Sleeved Sweater Tees of 2024

    The Best Budget Sweater Tee: Amazon/Foshow

    blue v-neck sweater tee with slightly puffed sleeves

    This Amazon sweater has been around for a few years now, and has been a reader favorite for many of them.

    I like the wide variety of colors and patterns offered (as well as the necklines, I feel like a sweater tee with a V-neck is hard to find!). The top is under $30 at Amazon.

    The Most Affordable Cashmere Tee: Quince

    Mongolian cashmere tee in white and black stripes

    Quince is one of the most affordable options for cashmere tees. Their Mongolian Cashmere Tee has been a bestseller at their site, and currently has 3200+ great reviews.

    It’s available in 12 different colors, in sizes XS-XL. (I’m not sure how often the colors and styles change — I feel like the two striped options they have right now are new, and other colors they had in the past, like light blue, are missing at the moment.)

    The Best Summer Sweater for Petites: Ann Taylor

    summer sweater with short-sleeves in a pretty fuchsia

    Ann Taylor has a bunch of summer sweaters and short-sleeved sweater tees at the moment, most available in regular and petite sizes. They offer a few basics all the time, with the rest being seasonal colors and patterns.

    This wide-ribbed sweater tee looks great (and has a 5-star rating) — I like the wide ribbed fabric and the slightly puffy elbow-length sleeves. I’ve pictured it in magenta shadow, but it comes in four other colors as well. It’s available in classic and petite sizes XXS-XXL for $60 today.

    (This bright floral one in the same color as the pictured one is gorgeous, and I also like elegant this cashmere puff sleeve.)

    The Best Silk Sweater Tee: Brooks Brothers

    light blue silk blend sweater t-shirt from Brooks Brothers

    I just found this one today and I’m really excited — this elegant “shawl collar” sweater has been a reader favorite and best-seller at Brooks Brothers for at least a decade, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in a short-sleeved iteration.

    It’s available in three colors, and is even on sale today: it was $148, then marked to $75, then take an extra 20% off at checkout.

    The Best Sweater Tee in Plus Sizes: J.Crew

    light blue shrunken sweater tee

    J.Crew doesn’t use plus size models, but they’ve done a great job expanding their offerings to almost always offer plus sizes, up to 3X. This “slightly shrunken sweater tee” comes in a bunch of fun, springy colors — and it’s only $98 at full price. Nice!

    They also offer a “relaxed cashmere sweater tee” for just a bit more, $118, with even more colors, including black and white.

    The Best Short-Sleeved Sweater with Patterns: Maeve

    plaid sweater tee in lime, lavender, and beige

    Anthropologie has had a great stock of sweater tees in recent months, with almost always something interesting from Maeve.

    We’ve seen a few iterations of their Harmon sweater, in particular, with this plaid number being one of their newest options — I love that it comes in regular, petite, and plus sizes, and all for $98.

    (I also really like this diagonally ribbed sweater tee in white, as well as this gorgeous floral short-sleeve sweater (down to lucky sizes in some colors).

    The Best Wool Sweater Tee: The Reset

    white sweater tee with tucked sleeves and a slightly wider neckline

    The Reset is a newer brand to me, but I really like the elevated basics they have. They have a number of sweater tees at the moment; I think this “essential pullover” is my favorite.

    It’s made from “100% Fine Merino Cashfeel Wool,” and the brand suggests you hand wash it cold and use a sweater brush or sweater shaver regularly to remove pilling.

    It’s available in sizes XS-XL, for $188.

    Another good option in this price range (but in cashmere): Kule.

    The Best Short-Sleeved Sweaters for a Splurge: Nordstrom

    collage of four short-sleeved sweater tees available at Nordstrom Spring 2024

    Nordstrom’s short-sleeve sweater game has also been on point lately, but with the inventory changing frequently. Some of my favorite options for today include:

    Short-Sleeved Sweaters with Matching Cardigans

    reddish paisley sweater set with beading details

    Sometimes, twinsets come with a matching short-sleeved sweater instead of a sweater tank (“shell”) — personally I’ve never liked to wear them as twinsets because the sleeves always look a bit funny under cardigans, but when I’ve found them I’ve often bought them together and worn them as separates or, when in need of layering for warmth, with the sweater tee beneath the blazer, and the cardigan slung around my shoulders. (I.e., classic preppy.)

    Twinsets aren’t hugely popular right now, of course — but you can still find them at classic spots like Brooks Brothers, and (no short-sleeved options in stock at the moment, but check back if you like this look): Talbots and J.Crew Factory. (This is the pictured paisley one… and, yowzers, there’s a matching dress and pants.)

    Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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    Kat

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  • Springtime Workouts: Are You Changing Your Workout Routine? – Corporette.com

    Springtime Workouts: Are You Changing Your Workout Routine? – Corporette.com

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    As the weather gets warmer, how are you changing your workouts? Are there things you only do inside, and things you only do outside? How do you deal with fickle weather (and allergies!), and what do you wear for springtime workouts?

    (As far as trends go — are you going for hot girl walks? Doing one of the many challenges that crop up around this time of the year?)

    Psst: in the past we’ve talked about the best strength training programs to do without a gym and the best streaming workouts to do at home. We’ve had an open thread on how to hire a personal trainer, shared tips on finding time to exercise, and how to get lunch workouts during workdays. We’ve also talked in general about how to build good habits, and discussed some niche topics like biking to work and the best hiking gear.

    My Springtime Workouts

    Every spring, without fail, I decide I want to start walking outside more often — which is great, until I remember that I also have spring allergies. This year, with the crazy weather, I started Claritin back in February, so hopefully I’m ahead of the game. I’m also pondering Couch to 5K / getting back into running outdoors.

    I’d also love to work in more exercise snacks like lunchtime walks.

    What I Wear for Spring Workouts

    I always wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen… and the rest of my outfit depends heavily on the weather, but I usually wear a sweatshirt over a t-shirt, along with leggings, and occasionally a coat… if I need to take off a layer I usually prefer to take the sweatshirt off rather than the coat for Pocket Reasons, if that makes sense.

    Readers, over to you — as the weather gets warmer, how are you changing your workouts? Are there things you only do inside, and things you only do outside? How do you deal with fickle weather (and allergies!), and what do you wear for springtime workouts?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kat

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  • Open Thread: Let’s Talk Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Corporette.com

    Open Thread: Let’s Talk Mother’s Day Gift Ideas – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Mother’s Day is May 12 — what are you getting your mom? What have you gotten her in previous years that has been a hit? (Alternately: have you read any amazing book, consumed any amazing foodstuff, or have any other great gift ideas that you’d love to recommend to others?)

    Some of Our Reviews on Classic Gift Ideas:

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    Kat

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  • The Best Budget-Friendly Interview Suits for Women – Corporette.com

    The Best Budget-Friendly Interview Suits for Women – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sure, we all know what work wardrobe essentials professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have. Today: we’re hunting for budget-friendly interview suits for women!

    Obviously, we cover a Suit of the Week every week, and we have our regularly updated Guide to Interview Suits as well as our recent overview of brands of suits for women for every budget— but we haven’t specifically looked for a budget-friendly interview suit for women in a few years, so let’s round them up!

    Readers, which are your favorite budget-friendly interview suits?

    If you’re on the hunt for basic suiting for women, in addition to our major roundup of the best suits for women in every budget, we’ve also done roundups for suits if you’re petite, tall, plus-sized, or pregnant — as well as how to wear a suit in general.

    Some of our main fashion articles that might be of interest include our Ultimate Guide to Business Casual, Wardrobe Essentials for Work, and The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels — all constantly updated! If you’re just starting out or on a budget, check out our Affordable Office Clothes roundup — and if you’re plus-sized, check out our Plus-Size Picks for Work.

    Here’s our latest discussion on the top brands for affordable women’s suits, as well as our previous discussion on cheap interview suits, as well as our discussion of whether you can mix black separates to make a suit (noooooooo!).

    What to Look For In an Interview Suit for Women

    In general, if you’re hunting for an interview suit, keep an eye out for options with a) suiting separates b) available in a solid, dark, neutral color, c) that fit your budget.

    By buying suiting separates you can get a better fit off the rack (such as by buying a size 10 pant and a size 12 blazer, and maybe even a petite skirt even if everything else is a regular size) — and you can make several outfits, particularly if there are two blazers, such as one that’s collarless and one that’s the traditional lapel+button.

    Our Guide to Basic Suiting has a lot more details on basic features to look for.

    Remember to dry clean all suit separates together! We’ve also done a guide to the best suiting alterations for women.

    The Best Budget-Friendly Interview Suits for Women

    The Best Brands for Affordable Women’s Business Suits

    Some of our favorite brands for affordable women’s suits include stores like Banana Republic Factory*, J.Crew Factory*, Mango*, and Express, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*, and Tahari ASL.

    In the past, readers have also mentioned Dress Barn, Kohls, and Target as good “first suit” stores.

    Marycrafts

    woman in black suit

    I would not recommend a Marycrafts suit for a BigLaw interview or the like — but if you’re seriously in need of a dirt cheap interview suit for women, you should check out Amazon seller Marycrafts.

    The clothes tend to have a bit of a vintage vibe, but you can usually get either a skirt suit or pant suit (both pieces!) for under $75.

    Express

    budget-friendly interview suit for women from Express with Editor pants

    I hesitate to recommend Express suiting, even for budget-friendly interview suits, because I tend to associate it with looks that are often too tight and too curve-hugging — but if you know that going in you can be wary when picking out a suit.

    A major con to budget-friendly suit separates is that the pants can often feel frumpy (one of the reasons skirt suits can be easier!) so it’s a major pro that Express blazers pair with their Editor and Columnist pants, loved by readers and on our list of great washable pants for work.

    If you’re a fan of their Editor/Columnist pants, do check out their matching blazers and other suiting options.

    Sale to watch for: 50% off — you can probably expect to pay less than $165 for both pieces. They also offer short and long lengths, which is great if you’re shorter or taller!

    Banana Republic Factory

    black pant interview suit for women

    BR’s outlet section has a lot of good finds for work, particularly on the more affordable, classic side of things (including a TON of washable suits!). Note that because these pieces may be produced just for the Factory Store it may mean that there are differences in fit and quality — so keep that in mind when ordering.

    We frequently feature them in our Suit of the Week posts because they often branch into fun colors and prints. Selections include regular, petite, and tall sizes up to 20, as well as (occasionally) “curvy” fit pants. Their Sculpted suiting line is their most basic sort of interview suits.

    Sale to watch for: 30% off. 

    Vince Camuto

    interview suit for women from Vince Camuto

    Vince Camuto, sold at Nordstrom, Macy’s, and other department stores, often makes really affordable, basic women’s suiting (sometimes in plus sizes, as well, although at the moment pickings look pretty scarce there).

    The notched blazer we’ve pictured here has been around for many years, in a lot of different fabrics and colors — it’s about as classic as you can get.

    Expect to pay around $200, unless you can find the brand on sale — that does happen but it seems to be at a time when they’re restocking so the sales are often down to lucky sizes.

    (Note that Nordstrom has an excellent return policy, though!)

    Calvin Klein

    Calvin Klein interview suit for women

    Calvin Klein is another great option sold at department stores like Macy’s, and they come in petites. Because the brand is sold as separates, you can get the size you need.

    The exact blazer we’ve pictured comes in black and charcoal (as well as an odd denim-like navy).

    Macy’s has a ton of similar options from similar brands that offer separates like Kasper, T Tahari, and Calvin Klein.

    J.Crew Factory

    J.Crew Factory budget-friendly interview suit for women

    J.Crew’s factory outlet is a great source for workwear, particularly affordable wool suiting separates — inventory comes and goes, but when it’s in stock it’s pretty great.

    They almost always have basic cotton suiting — this isn’t ideal for interviews because it can get wrinkly, but they can be great basics for other suit days (particularly in the heat of summer).

    Level Up: The Best Suits to Get For Slightly More Money

    Mid-Range Suits for Women

    Of course, we’d be remiss in this article without noting that Ann Taylor, J.Crew, and Banana Republic are options to consider if you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly interview suits for women — they can feel a bit pricier, but are great first suits if you like the fit.

    For Ann Taylor, look for the tropical wool suiting or the all-season stretch — both will be great basics to take you from interviews to the first days on the job. Prices range from $98-$140 at Ann Taylor (with lots of different options for the fit of pants, as well as petite and tall sizes up to size 18).

    Meanwhile, over at J.Crew, note that they have phased out their longstanding suiting collection of Super 120s wool in favor of “Italian stretch wool” and “bi-stretch cotton” — the wool will be better for interviews than cotton, which will wrinkle easier (but be better for hot summer workdays).

    Investment Women’s Suits for Interviews

    Some of our favorite “investment” suits for women include brands like Theory, Reiss, Hugo Boss, M.M.LaFleur, and Brooks Brothers — expect to pay north of $500 for both pieces.

    one of the best women's suits of 2024, from Theory
    Theory
    one of the best women's suits of 2024, from Reiss
    Reiss
    one of the best women's suits of 2024, from Hugo Boss
    Hugo Boss
    one of the best suits for women in 2024, a washable wool skirt suit from MMLF
    M.M.LaFleur
    Brooks Brothers Essential Stretch Wool Suiting
    Brooks Brothers

    Readers, what are your favorite styles and brands for the affordable interview suit for women? What stores am I missing — have you found great budget-friendly interview suits at ASOS, Zara, Amazon, or any other stores? What do you look for in a suit for interviews? 

    Stock photo via Deposit Photos / IgorVetushko.

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    Kat

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  • Open Thread: What Are Your Thoughts on Plastic Surgery? – Corporette.com

    Open Thread: What Are Your Thoughts on Plastic Surgery? – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    While we’ve published past posts sharing individual experiences with plastic surgery such as rhinoplasty and breast reductions, as well as non-invasive procedures like Botox, microblading (a guest poster), and laser hair removal (Kat and two friends, plus an open thread), we’ve never had a general open thread about plastic surgery. Let’s do one today! What are your thoughts about plastic surgery in general? Is a particular one popular among your friends? Have you had, or considered, plastic surgery? If you’ve had plastic surgery, how have you handled it at the office in terms of time away / changed appearance?

    The pandemic undoubtedly led to a huge uptick in plastic surgery procedures, in part because staring at ourselves on Zoom for hours typically didn’t spark an ego boost (even with the distractions of those fun Zoom backgrounds we were using). Working from home made recovery from plastic surgery easier and potentially more discreet, too.

    In 2022, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a report with these stats:

    Member surgeons nationwide and found more than three-quarters of cosmetic-focused plastic surgery practices are seeing more business than before the pandemic, with nearly 30 percent reporting their business has at least doubled.

    Doubled!

    Here’s one more excerpt:

    The survey also found that women between the ages of 31 and 45 were by far the most likely to request popular procedures such as breast augmentations, liposuction and tummy tucks. … [M]illennials are not only savvy about their options, but are also more open about their choice to seek plastic surgery than older generations.

    In the comments on last year’s “aging intentionally” post, which was more about “minor” procedures such as Dysport/Botox (young women getting “preventative Botox” is a whole other story!), and on other posts, readers have discussed their myriad thoughts on plastic surgery.

    Let’s consolidate that discussion today — and here are some questions to kick it off:

    1. What do you think about plastic surgery in general — for you, and for others? (That could be either for women / feminine-presenting people specifically, or for any gender.)

    2. Do you notice a specific age/generation of your friends (and others) deciding to get plastic surgery? Does a specific surgery seem particularly popular among them?

    3. Have you had, or considered, plastic surgery? What kind, how many procedures, and what were the results?

    4. If you’ve had plastic surgery, how have you handled it at the office in terms of time away / changed appearance?

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • Open Thread: What Are the Best Jeans Right Now? – Corporette.com

    Open Thread: What Are the Best Jeans Right Now? – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Let’s have an open thread: what are the best jeans right now? Which jeans are getting the most wear, and where are you wearing them (errands? WFH? general out-and-about)? Which cuts and washes are your favorite? Do you find yourself wearing denim less in favor of other options like comfy pull-on pants?

    Best-Selling Jean Styles to Know…

    Denim trends are all over the map, of course, but I thought I’d round up a few that I’ve seen repeatedly…

    Best Flare: Veronica Beard

    professional woman wears medium blue denim flares

    I’ve seen readers extolling their Veronica Beard jeans, and I think these are a classic, polished style as far as denim goes. These Beverly “skinny flares” are among their best-sellers at the moment, but so are these wide-leg jeans and these cuffed straight-leg jeans.

    The pictured jeans come in sizes 23-32, with smaller extended sizes 15-20.

    Best Denim Trouser: J.Crew

    woman wears denim trousers with tweed lady jacket

    These denim trousers are some of the highest rated, best-selling jeans at J.Crew right now, but this demi-boot crop and these wide legs are also amongst their best-sellers. (These sailor trousers are also best sellers!)

    The pictured trousers are available in regular sizes 23-37, as well as petite and tall sizes, in 6 different washes at the moment.

    Best Straight Cut: Madewell

    woman wears black straight-leg jeans with ballet flats and a t-shirt; she is holding either a striped shirt or blazer in her hand

    The Madewell 90s straight is one of their best-selling styles, and I feel like their “curve-enhancing fit” is one of the most flattering.

    Best Ankle Flare: Mother

    woman wears white jeans with flared ankles that are frayed

    I’ve heard a bunch of people sing the praises of Mother jeans, and these ankle fray flare jeans are best-sellers at ShopBop.

    Best Cropped Wide Leg: Maeve

    cropped wide-leg jeans; woman wears with a cropped bra top and ugly sandals

    Anthropologie has a number of these cropped wide legs from Maeve in their best-seller list… I especially like that they come in standard (23-34), tall, petite, and plus sizes.

    My $.02 on the Best Jeans Right Now

    I’m not a great gauge here because a) I need petites, which limits my selections, and b) I wear them frequently but not so much that it’s worth spending money on them, so I have a lot of affordable options. My current denim collection includes a bunch of different cuts and washes:

    • Wit & Wisdom – dark blue Itty Bitty bootcut
    • Wit & Wisdom – pale blue straight crop distressed pair
    • Vigoss – medium/pale blue flare jeans
    • Madewell – distressed gray/black straight crop
    • Kut from the Kloth – dark blue cropped wide legs
    • NYDJ – black straight jeans

    Over to you guys: What are the best jeans right now? Which jeans are getting the most wear, and where are you wearing them? Which cuts and washes are your favorite?

    Stock photo via Pexels / Andrea Piacquadio.

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    Kat

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  • The Best Cars for Petite Women – Corporette.com

    The Best Cars for Petite Women – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Readers had an interesting discussion a while ago about the best cars for petite women — I haven’t seen the topic in too many other places, so I thought I’d round up the comments for posterity… readers who are petite, what are your thoughts on the best cars for petite women? Do you have opinions on which cars are definitely NOT the best for petite women?

    In the past, we’ve talked about whether lawyers need a “nice” car, and shared tips for women on buying a car… but not this!

    Here’s the reader’s question:

    I’m short and now that I’m shopping for a car, realizing that not all cars or trim levels let you adjust the drivers seat up (so I can see above the dash). I also like a window to come down past my shoulder so I can see out easily on each side. Oddly, SUVs can be better or things like a Kia Soul. I didn’t plan on this being such a big deal but “vehicles for short people’ isn’t something that I am able to figure out on my own other than by losing weekend time to going into a dealership and sitting in a car at a time. If you are 5-4 or shorter and like how a cabin “fits” you, can you reply with exactly what you have? I have felt like bringing a booster seat with me (I’m 5-2).

    Why Petite Women Have Problem Finding Cars

    As the original commenter noted, petite women can have problems with sightlines. Another commenter agreed:

    As someone who is also 5’2″, I find the bigger problem is not seat height, but the fact that you have to sit so close to the wheel that the sightlines in the car are way off. The pillars have gotten so much thicker on cars now that it’s quite hard to see. When I sit where my 6′ husband sits, I can see reasonably well (though even he complains about it sometimes), but when I sit where I have to sit to comfortably reach the steering wheel and pedals, my vision is pretty obstructed. I had this issue on pretty much every car we tried last time we shopped for cars, so it wasn’t model specific.

    Commenters noted that some brands have steering wheels that telescope out towards the driver more than others, such as the Mazda 6 and the BMW __ . (But: note that according to an IIHS study, if this feature puts you closer to the airbag, you may be at a greater risk in crashes.)

    General Tips on How to Find Cars If You’re Petite

    Commenters generally extolled the value of going to CarMax, with one reader noting, “I find that visiting a CarMax is a great way to check out a bunch of cars at once without dealing with salesmen (it’s easy to just walk past the sign-in kiosk and out to the lot), even if you don’t intend to buy there.”

    The Best Cars for Petite Women

    The biggest points of agreement were that Subarus are great cars for petite women, and VWs are horrible for tall people, so must be good for short people. We’ll round up everything that was mentioned…

    Audi (A3, Q5 SUV) – “I’m your size and had the same issue. I’ve been happy with my Audis. I had an A3 that I loved, and now I’m driving a Q5 SUV and it fits me well, too.”

    BMW 3 series – “I’m 5’2” and my BMW 3 series is a great fit for me.”

    Buick Encore GX – “I like my Buick Encore GX. My parents have one too and my mother likes driving it. She’s 5’2, I am a bit taller. Also the only option to service locally in a small town…”

    Ford

    Ford Escape — “Can confirm that my 5’1″ mom really loves her Escape. She didn’t do well with the Subaru Outback because it sits much lower to the ground.”

    Ford Expedition — “I have a Ford Expedition and the major reason I chose that over a suburban was that I preferred the fit of the cabin, specifically including the visibility. I’m 5’3.”

    Ford Focus — “My 5’3” daughter loves the fit of her Ford Focus while I feel like my head is going to hit the roof even though I’m only a couple inches taller.”

    Honda Passport – I’m 5’2′ an love my Honda Passport. My BFF is 4’9″ and drove a CRV for a long time.”

    Subaru

    Readers noted that the Subaru line is marketed heavily towards women, and the average woman is 5’4.

    Subaru Outback — “My very petite friend drives a Subaru Outback and loves it. I had to move her car the other day, and I could barely squeeze my 5’7 self into the driver’s seat with her settings, so maybe give one of those a look if you haven’t already?” Another reader agreed: “5’3″ and very happy in an Outback.” (This gets another vote from me — I’m 5’4″ and have been comfortable in a Subaru Outback also!)

    Subaru Crosstrek – “One of my friends is 4’11 and drives a Subaru Crosstrek.” Another reader agreed: “I’m 5’1″ and drive a crosstrek. My 6′ husband also thinks it is comfortable. Seat and steering wheel are both adjustable.”

    Subaru Forester – “I am 5 feet even and drive a Subaru Forester and love it.” Another reader agreed: “Subaru Forester. I’m 5’2″ and drive a 2016 Forester. Not sure about newer models, but my 2016 has fantastic visibility.”

    Toyota

    Toyota Corolla – “5’2″ and love my Toyota Corolla. Mine is a 2011 but I don’t think the proportions have changed much in the model years since then. The seat adjusts forward and back and up and down. I don’t feel like I’m too close to the steering wheel when the seat is adjusted so I can reach the pedals.”

    Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – “I’m 5’3 and we have a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (one car shared with my 6′ husband). Lots of ways to adjust the seat, and my visibility is SO much better than in our previous Honda sedan.”

    Toyota Prius – “I’m 5’0″ and I like my small version Prius.”

    VWs in general – “We test drove the VW Passat station wagon and our heads touched the ceiling so maybe VW in general.” Another tall commenter agreed that she and her tall husband ruled out VWs. ” also agree. I’m 5’4″ with a short torso and love the visibility in my Tiguan. The loaner Jetta I used waiting for my car to arrive was too short for my 6′ son (hitting his head on the ceiling). The Tiguan has a little more head clearance for him, but not much.’

    Further reading:

    • The Best Cars for Short People [US News]
    • Differences in Vehicle Registrations [TrueCar]
    • New Data Expands on Why Women Have a Greater Risk of Injury in Car Crashes [Consumer Reports]
    • Fasten Your Seatbelts: A Female Car Crash Test Dummy Represents Average Women For The First Time In 60+ Years [Forbes]

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    Kat

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  • Open Thread: What Do You Do With Clothes That Are Worn But Not Dirty? – Corporette.com

    Open Thread: What Do You Do With Clothes That Are Worn But Not Dirty? – Corporette.com

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    If you want to cut down on laundry and dry cleaning — to save time or money, or reduce your everyday environmental impact — you’re not going to be tossing your entire outfit into the hamper every day. So what are your best tips on what to do with clothes that are worn but not dirty?

    We thought this would be an interesting topic for an open thread, so let’s chat about it today! What do you do with your semi-dirty/half-dirty clothes that still look and smell clean, readers? Are there certain items you always wash after every wear?

    {related: how often do you wash your workwear and other clothes?}

    When to Wash Your Clothes: Advice from the Experts

    Guidelines for how often to wash clothes are often surprising (and some seem silly), and the advice varies. Wash bras after three to four wears, says Real Simple (hahaha). Vogue UK instructs us to wash our sweaters once a season. Wash jeans after every three wears, Good Housekeeping advises, while the CEO of Levi’s famously said to solely spot-clean denim — no washing machine needed. Hmm. We’ve all got our own preferences!

    What to Do With Clothes That Are Worn But Not Dirty

    No matter what you think of rules like this, when you have an item of clothing that’s worn but not dirty, where do you put it? Here are some options:

    1. A clothes/blanket ladder: This wood-look ladder from Amazon has a handy basket at the bottom and is under $30, while this $66 one from West Elm is made from powder-coated steel.

    2. A chair — or, in my case, a blanket chest where cashmere sweaters worn once can “air out” for a bit

    {related: “dry clean only” clothes and how to wash them}

    3. A valet or rack: This stainless steel valet with a bamboo base is under $50 at Amazon, while Pottery Barn has a recycled-wood/recycled-metal rack with a shelf for $229.

    4. A spot with cedar or lavender sachets: Amazon has a pack containing 10 of each for under $20 total. You can hang them on hangers from the little ribbons on top or put them in a drawer to keep things fresh.

    5. A designated drawer or closet area

    {related: everything you need to know about dry cleaning women’s suits}

    Readers, do tell: What’s your routine for worn-but-not-dirty clothes?

    Stock photo via Stencil.

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    Kate Antoniades

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  • How to Stay Focused in Meetings – Corporette.com

    How to Stay Focused in Meetings – Corporette.com

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    This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    We’ve all had those meetings: Every attendee in an 8-person, 10-person, 15-person group goes around, one by one, and gives a general, rambling update. Today’s post on how to stay focused in meetings is designed for times like that and more, as well as for neurodiverse people who find meetings challenging.

    If you’re prone to a wandering mind, or your brain makes meetings challenging for you, what are your best tips for how to stay focused in meetings? In general, how do you pay attention when you’re tired, distracted, bored, not feeling well, or all of the above?

    {related: how to manage ADHD in the workplace}

    How to Stay Focused in Meetings

    Take Detailed Notes

    Engaging your brain by taking notes — even if someone else is the designed notetaker — keeps your brain active and provides an opportunity to move (a small part of) your body. If you’re a Hunt-and-Peck Typer or a Loud Typer in general, taking notes on paper or a digital notebook will be less distracting to coworkers, so keep that in mind. (I used to have a cubicle next to a man who typed like his laptop personally offended him.

    On the other hand, for some people taking notes prevents them from absorbing what’s being discussed in a meeting. One option is — if you can do it discreetly! — doodling. (Does anyone else doodle compulsively during phone calls to focus better?)

    Speaking of notes, if something unrelated pops into your mind in a meeting and you don’t want to forget it — “Oh right, I need to pick up my prescription after work!” just jot it down and put it out of your head.

    {related: munching during meetings}

    Make Your Phone Less Distracting

    Americans check their phones 144 times a day, according to a recent survey. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to know my magic number.

    So, during meetings, put your phone away, on Do Not Disturb — or at least place it face down. In case you don’t know, in Do Not Disturb mode — both on iPhone and Android — you can set exceptions for selected contacts to get through.

    Sometimes ADDING minor distractions actually helps you focus better during meetings. For example, setting periodic alerts on a smartwatch or fitness tracker can remind you to pay attention.

    Speaking of another distracting screen — the one on your computer — you can hide self-view in Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet. (I did not know this until writing this post, in fact, so I’m sure not everyone does!) As Scientific American noted early in the pandemic, staring at your on-screen reflection can be exhausting.

    {related: five ways to improve your focus}

    Bring a Drink or Chew Gum (When Possible)

    If you’re attending the sort of meeting where gum-chewing is acceptable, bring a super-minty flavor or some strong mints to wake up your mouth, and in turn, yourself. (Anyone else love Mentos?) If you have ADHD and/or are autistic, gum can be more acceptable than a fidget item. Just don’t be an open-mouth chewer or smack your gum, of course (but you know, I bet there are people out there who do that for ASMR videos.)

    Sipping water — or coffee or tea, for a caffeine boost — can make you more alert when you feel like you’re flagging. Put ice cubes in your water bottle to make it extra cold, or use a freezer stick. (Unfortunately, non-plastic ones don’t seem to be available.)

    {related: how to focus on work (when other things are going on)}

    Use a Fidget — Discreetly

    Maybe you don’t like gum, or it’s not acceptable at your office. If you’re neurodivergent, it can really help to do something with your hands while your brain needs to be occupied elsewhere. Obviously, I’m not suggesting you bring a collection of fidget spinners, or a big Pop-It, but something like this marble fidget can be pretty discreet.

    However, because not every workplace is inclusive of neurodiversity, to say the least, you might not want to risk using a fidget item at all.

    Try These Options for Video Calls

    Fortunately, you have a lot more leeway when you’re on a Zoom call! Use a squishy toy or a fidget cube, for example.

    Try some creative or unusual solutions, too. Some people knit or crochet during video calls to stay alert or to focus better. You can also color in a coloring book — perhaps Work Sucks!, if it’s apt? I’ve even seen out-of-the-box suggestions for doing Kegels or origami (perhaps not Kegel origami, but you do you).

    If you’re working from home and feeling like you’re going to nod off, turn off your camera to stretch and walk around for a minute or two. Get a drink of water from the i. A standing desk, walking pad, or DeskCycle can also help (and provide physical benefits, too).

    {related: executive functioning tips and tricks}

    Readers, let us know! What ways have you found to stay focused in meetings, both in the office at at home on video calls?

    Further Reading:

    Image via Stencil

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    Kate Antoniades

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