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Dresses are my office go-to, and this easy-to-wear one from Of Mercer is on my shopping list.
This sleeveless dress is made from stretchy and soft lightweight jersey and has a flattering V-neck and comfortable elastic waistband. The shoulder pleats and slight standing collar are a nice extra touch. It comes in three perfect-for-fall colors — just add a jacket to dress it up or a cardigan to keep things more business casual.
The Park Place Dress is $145 and comes in peacock, black, and olive. It’s available in sizes XS–2X in most colors.
Looking for other washable workwear? See all of our recent recommendations for washable clothes for work, or check out our roundup of the best brands for washable workwear.
Sales of note for 5.5.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase (ends 5/12); $50 off your $200+ purchase (ends 5/5)
- Banana Republic Factory – Spend your StyleCash with 40-60% off everything, or take an extra 20% off purchase (ends 5/6)
- Eloquii – $19 & up 300+ styles and up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Shirts & tees starting at $24.50; extra 30% off sale styles
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – 40% off full-price styles & extra 15% off; extra 55% off sale styles
- Nordstrom: Nordy Club members earn 3X the points on beauty; 30% off selected shoes
- Talbots – 40% off one item & and 30% off everything else; $50 off $200 (all end 5/5)
- Zappos – 27,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – 40% off everything & extra 20% off select styles with code
- Hanna Andersson – Friends & Family Sale: 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Crewcuts – tk; extra 30% off sale styles; kids’ styles starting at $14.50
- Old Navy – Up to 75% off clearance
- Target – 20% off women’s clothing & shoes; up to 50% off kitchen & dining; 20% off jewelry & hair accessories; up to $100 off select Apple products; up to 40% off home & patio; BOGO 50% off adult & YA books
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- If you’re a working parent of an infant with low sleep needs, how do you function at work when you’re in the throes of baby’s sleep regression?
- Should I cut my childcare down to 12 hours a month if I work from home?
- Will my baby have speech delays if we raise her bilingual?
- Has anyone given birth in a teaching hospital?
- My child eats everything, and my friends’ kids do not – how should I handle? In general, what is the best way to handle when your child has some skill/ability and your friend’s child doesn’t have that skill/ability?
- ADHD moms, give me your tips to help with things like behavior in the classroom, attention to detail, etc?
- I think I suffer from mom rage…
- My husband and kids are gone this weekend – how should I enjoy my free time?
- I’m struggling to be compassionate with a SAHM friend who complains she doesn’t have enough hours of childcare.
- If you exclusively formula fed, what tips do you have for in the hospital and coming home?
- Could I take my 4-yo and 8-yo on a 7-8 day trip to Paris, Lyon, and Madrid?
Anon says
What leggings brands have a high rise? My 4T daughter is b*ttcrack city.
AwayEmily says
Hanna! Not slim fit, tho.
Anonymous says
If you can get her into Old Navy Active Girls XS or the Target girl’s active line (On Motion) ones, they’re designed like women’s with a high rise. They might be a little loose though. And they’ll be active material, so best for warmer times.
Anon says
Polarn O Pyret
Anonymous says
In our house, we go with Coin Slot. And tunics. Lots of tunics.
Anonymous says
Book recs for K boys? we have been invited to like 5 boy bdays over the next two months (I think everyone is trying to get them in before it’s cold!).
We have a couple toy ideas but I like to give books in K too. What did your sons love at that age? Guessing it’s not the unicorn and fairy books my girls loved ;).
Anon says
The book with No pictures. Over and over and over. Books about dinosaurs – especially the Dino encyclopedia books. It’s also a nice time to start getting some chapter books – a boxed set of Magic treehouse maybe?
Anonymous says
OP here- we read that one a lot in PK. I was imagining chapter books. But I also hate magic treehouse with a fiery passion so wasn’t sure where to go for boys :-).
AwayEmily says
The nice thing about chapter books is that they are so much cheaper than picture books…I think a little bundle of four or five chapter books (maybe a mix of classics and new ones) would be a great gift. Some favorites in our house: Nate the Great, Mia Mayhem, Dragon Masters, Zoey and Sassafrass, My Father’s Dragon.
AwayEmily says
And FWIW I think unicorns and fairies are absolutely fair game for gifts for boys! My K daughter’s best friend (who is a boy) is obsessed with unicorns.
GCA says
+1. Why should girls get all the unicorns and magic? Princess in Black. My kids looove Princess in Black.
Anonymous says
Fair, but these boys do NOT like unicorns and magic.
Anonymous says
Fly Guy! Fly Guy’s Big Book of Why was a hit. K-1 is also prime territory for Dog Man I think, although that may skew a little older. My 9 year old still likes to reread them.
Anonymous says
Rabbit and Bear and Magic Treehouse for longer books.
Tea/Coffee says
My 1st grader has recently stumbled onto a series of
Dino-(Sport) books by Lisa Wheeler and adores them. Think “Dino-Racing” and “Dino-Football” and such (these are picture books).
Beverly Cleary’s Ralph S Mouse series is fabulous as well (and you could rotate who was getting each book so that it’s not like you have 5 copies of the same book).
anon. says
Yep – Mouse and the Motorcycle is the biggest chapter book hit so far for us.
Cb says
Harry and the Dinosaurs. There are loads of picture books where Harry is 4 or 5 but some chapter books as well, Roar to the Rescue, Snow Smashers.
We’ve also liked the Kitty superhero books and Isadora Moon.
Spirograph says
I’ve only read one of these, but my K boy got a Danny Dragonbreath book out of the library recently and loved it. There are a ton of them! They are chapter books, but with large print and comic-like illustrations interspersed, so it only took a little more than a week to read the whole thing.
anon says
I know several 4 and 5 year olds who are obsessed with Dragon Masters. It’s a great series. The author also does trivia sessions on FB live, if your kid gets into it.
GCA says
Hmm. For a different tack, what about some of the illustrated kids’ reference books from Kane Miller/ Usborne/ Dorling Kindersley? I have a 1st grade boy who enjoys leafing through books of animal facts/ histories/ space facts and picking out pages for us to read together.
anon says
https://www.amazon.com/Armstrong-Adventurous-Journey-Mouse-Moon/dp/0735842620/ref=sr_1_3?crid=38H8E4PLDFGFM&dchild=1&keywords=mouse+astronaut+book&qid=1632319630&sprefix=mouse+astro%2Caps%2C363&sr=8-3
anon says
This hardcover book is absolutely beautiful and has a very clever story. It feels like a really special gift.
Anon says
My 4 year old DS loves (and I mean loooooooooves) the Kung Pow Chicken books.
katy says
My 4 year old boy LOVES Rabbit and Bear. (He specifically asked for another for his birthday. The language it great.)
We have been getting Kung Pow Chicken and “Captain Awesome” books from the library.
this is still a great age for picture books – including more complex ones: I was given “What do you do with an idea” as a baby gift. It is beautiful. The “If I built a car / house / school” is great too. (Chris Van Dusen i think.)
SC says
If you’re thinking chapter books, for K, I’d go with illustrated chapter books. My son loved Mercy Watson, and he likes the Bink and Gollie books. He also loves Nate the Great. There’s a new series called Magic on the Map that looks good.
For comic books in the same style as Dogman, my son has loved InvestiGators, Mellybean and the Giant Monster, and Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure.
My son was still enjoying picture books in K. I feel like we often rush kids out of picture books and toward chapter books when there are SO many good picture books. Some of the picture books that we enjoyed in K are Stone Soup, Strega Nona, Look Up With Me: Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Life Among Stars, Iggy Peck: Architect, Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Hole in the Dike (illustrated by Eric Carle), Dragons Love Tacos (and 2, which is better), The Caboose Who Got Loose, and The Adventures of Beakle.
Oh, and special mentions Graeme Base’s Animalia (search-and-find), What Should Danny Do? (choose-your-own-adventure), and All Aboard the Discovery Express (combination of mystery, history, science, and code-breaking, with beautiful illustrations).
Anon says
We love Dragons Love Tacos and I didn’t know there was a 2!!! Just ordered one for us and a second as a perfect gift for a birthday party this weekend.
BlueAlma says
Mercy Watson is so fun. My kinder boy loved all those books.
Anonymous says
My K boy loves Mia Mayhem and Inspector Flytrap (which is just a three book series, so perfect for gifts)!
Anonymous says
Homer Price was a big hit in kindergarten as a read aloud and we gave it as several birthday gifts. My Father’s Dragon too.
anon says
Weird but true and who would win is really popular in my house.
Anonymous says
Amelia Bedelia!!!!!!
Anonymous says
Humphrey the Hamster!
Pogo says
This skirt seems too short and flouncy for the office.
Anon says
On me, yes. On someone petite and pear shaped? This would work.
AwayEmily says
Agreed. I love the top but the bottom is more sundress than work dress.
NYCer says
I don’t particularly care for this dress, but I would feel totally comfortable wearing it to my office.
GCA says
Yes re length but otherwise it is quite cute! Website says the model is 5’11, so there’s hope for us shorties (I’m 5’4).
TheElms says
The model is 5’11” in the picture. There is another picture on the website of a 5’8″ model and the dress is knee length. I think the added length on the shorter model (who is not short) helps it be more work appropriate.
Pogo says
ooh I see that now yeah. I just envisioned an unexpected Marilyn Monroe situation going on.
AnonATL says
I’m 5’5″ and I once had a wrap dress with a flouncier skirt like this. I loved that thing until I realized one day walking up the modern internal staircase in my old office that people could quite possibly see my bum.
It was appropriate on flat ground, but I stopped wearing it to work. Those stairs ruined a lot of potential outfits.
Anon says
After 18 months in “soft” clothes and my pandemic weight gain which is likely a combination of pandemic and newly developed autoimmune disease, I have decided I am redefining what the fancy end of business casual (our office standard) looks like for me. I see nothing flouncy about this (although agree it is on the shorter side, but that seems due to the model’s height) and this is exactly the kind of dress I am wearing these days; fuller skirts that are kind to my stomach and do not restrict freedom of movement. I have also started wearing a lot of midi length dresses as well. I am senior enough to be able to set my own standards to some degree, and I am so over being dressed in sheaths that just do not flatter my body type no matter how many tailors I see and are just plain uncomfortable. Life is hard enough, our clothes shouldn’t make it harder.
IHeartBacon says
SAME.
I just checked out their website and I see they have a casual suit that has pants with a hidden elastic waist. Once my size is back in stock, I’m getting it!
Anon. says
Disagree re flouncy. My body shape is not flattered by a sheath dress. Even if tailored to an inch of its life, I do not feel confident or comfortable in a sheath. Give me all the A-lines, fit and flare, and full skirts.
Agreed that on this model it is too short for me to feel professional, but I have short legs.
AwayEmily says
I also rarely wear sheath dresses (fit and flare forever!) and I feel like there’s a sweet spot between sheath and flouncy. Perhaps this one reads flouncy to me because it’s got *so many* gathers, and that combined with the length…meh. My fave style of dress has gathers but fewer of them, if that makes sense. A lot of Boden dresses hit that sweet spot.
Anon says
I think I look great in dresses that don’t flare out, but I’ve not found a way to get around a “whole lot of booty” look even with straight skirts that fit well. It’s not the look I’m going for at work. I’m not crazy about fit and flare either since I think it makes me look younger, but at least I feel less va va voom.
AwayEmily says
I totally hear you. My favorite is belted shirt dresses — the non-va-va-voomness of a sheath dress, but more formality than a regular fit and flare.
Anonymous says
For me the elastic waist is the problem–too casual.
Help! says
Need advice from you fellow moms – I’m a litigator (12+ years), and I’m DESPARATE to get out (or at least get out of my current job situation). I left the government 3 years ago to go back to a firm to pay for IVF, and now I’m totally stuck (and have been told that it will be extremely difficult for me to get back into the government given that I left – especially because I live in a smaller legal community – hard feelings and whatnot. This has played out with not getting interviews for 3 positions, including one that was in the same department at a lower level than I left at).
Does anyone have a career coach that they would recommend? Resources? I’m working with three different recruiters and have been coming up empty, and cold-applying to remote positions has left me ghosted. I’ve been in the running for a couple of in-house positions, but none have panned out due to not having enough corporate transactional experience.
At this point I hate my job so much that I’m considering quitting without something lined up, changing careers (to what?), or… open to anything. I hate the way I’m treated, I hate my practice area, I hate how many hours I’m working, I hate that I have no control over my own schedule. I’m just so over it that I was looking at a plumber apprentice position (that pays more than a contract attorney, at least in my area) and thinking … I can learn that. Please help!
Anonymous says
I’m not sure whether you were joking, but … trade apprenticeships seem kind of awesome. One friend recently learned to hang windows as part of a program for people getting ready for military retirement and liked it so much that he seriously considered backing out of the post-retirement desk job he had lined up.
My company has some major reorgs and layoffs coming up and if I end up on the wrong end of that, apprenticeship is on my list of possible next steps.
Anonymous says
I’m in small government and I can confirm that leaving govt will usually mean people don’t think you’ll stick around if you come back so it will be very very hard to get another govt job. Have you networked and emphasized that you changed purely for health insurance reasons and that you loved the work? Have you tried a different level? Like city if you were state or vice versa? Or university? General counsel at the local large university has a fair degree of cross over with both city and state level govt. Are you open to part time? Definitely network if you are. I switched to part time and the person that was supposed to cover the other half of my work just gave 3 weeks notice so I’m actively looking for someone to cover that even though nothing has been posted. They are reluctant to post a part time job because they don’t want others asking for part time so I have free reign to hire without a posting. Maybe legal editing? Or start your own small solo practice? Our govt litigation section uses external counsel on the regular when there are conflicts.
Fingers crossed that something works out for you. If you do decide to change career paths, maybe an MLS over plumbing?
Help says
Thank you so much for the advice. I was in federal government (AUSA), but do not live anywhere near the state capitol (so difficult to get a state government position). Do you have any ideas where/how to network with small government?
Last question – what’s MLS (My googling is coming up with soccer).
Anonymous says
Have you looked at other law firms jobs? Still litigation but with better people?
Help! says
I’m not sure where I fit into other law firms without clients – this is why I am considering needing a career coach to help me navigate! Before this remote job, I was government (in another location than where I currently live), prior to that I was an on-track associate at a BigLaw firm in a completely different city than the other two.
Anonymous says
As an associate or counsel. What’s your class year?
Help says
Class year 2009
Anonymous says
Don’t rule out remote with state govt. We’re currently willing to do that for great candidates. Tougher in litigation. But as a departmental lawyer, half my clients are based on the other side of the state so location isn’t key. Do need to be barred in the state though.
It’s really hard to know, but in my market, even sending a cold email to mgr of state govt litigation division would at least get you on their radar as a person possibly interested in joining them. Govt open posting hiring processes are painful, so if we can get someone in on a short term contract and roll them over into permanent later, we often do.
MLS is master of library science. Law school libraries, general university libraries, and even large law firm libraries can be interesting. Regular hours and no clients.
EDAnon says
I think by MLS is a masters of library science (become a librarian? My lawyer husband jokes that he sometimes feels like a librarian). Maybe also some kind of masters in legal studies?
Anon says
For small government– depending on the size of the town, the town probably has a town or city attorney. Town/city attorneys typically advertise this fact a lot on their website. Try to figure out who this person/firm is and network with them through a coffee/Zoom call whatever. Town/city attorneys typically will know the hiring/staffing for the town/city attorneys and town/city legal departments in all of the surrounding towns and cities. It is a very niche area of law where everyone knows everyone else. Your experience with internal investigations would be relevant. A lot of what municipal attorneys do is internal investigations from employment complaints, responding to Open Records Requests, etc. The insurer for municipalities in your area may also employ attorneys. These jobs all typically have good hours– the worst thing you may have to do is attend city council meetings.
You may consider also trying to network through a women’s bar association if that exists where you are. I have found women tend to be a bit more understanding about relocating due to family circumstances and are very willing to help (at least in my city).
anon says
What kind of litigator are you? Could you transform yourself into local counsel for the closest state/federal courthouse? You probably have the Biglaw contacts already.
Help! says
After leaving the government, I practice remotely for a firm without a physical presence in my small city, which I moved to for family reasons and for those same family reasons I really can’t relocate (or it will be miserable for a host of other reasons, which are more important to me as a human than my job). I really have no contacts in the area – have never practiced here, and two of the 3 years I’ve lived here have been during a pandemic, and then one of those years was fertility treatment/baby. I may know one or two lawyers in the area from contacts through college, etc.
As for what type of litigation, predominately civil but I also do internal investigations/responses to government investigations, for the most part.
anonish says
Hi there, IANAL; however, I used to work on the litigation consulting side conducting internal investigations, pre-acquisition due diligence work, background investigations in support of litigation, asset searches, FCPA compliance, bank monitorships, etc. Many of our clients were companies (where we would be directly retained by the company but our work would be directed/managed by in-house attys) or where outside counsel was retained instead of our client directly. I almost always interfaced with in-house or outside counsel. You might already be looking there but seems like there were a fair amount of FCPA compliance, antitrust, and banking compliance roles filled by attorneys. Perhaps look into JD-preferred roles at large banks? I’ve seen many teams that handle internal investigations for the bank (thinking of Goldman Sachs’ Business Intelligence Group) or working in KYC compliance (don’t know if your focus overlaps there from the regulatory side). Also, you could consider litigation consulting firms–many director level+ positions are former attorneys who direct and manage investigations for external clients. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
Anon says
No good advice for you, OP, but I’m in similar shoes (except seeking to go in house after long govt stints). I would say really activate your network – lunches or coffees with folks on your LinkedIn, start attending bar events, see if you can join a board.
An.On. says
I can’t help with the legal side of things, but a lot of trades will pay for the cost of your schooling, if you go through the entire program. The downside is that a trade job is usually a lot harder on your body than a legal job.
EDAnon says
I value the trades a lot and they do pay well. But I will also say that they tend to lay people off a lot. A lot more than other industries in my experience. It’s a feast or famine kind of thing. Probably less for the plumbers (especially if your on the repair side rather than construction) than the pipe fitters and the like. I would be attentive to that if you decide to go that route.
Women also tend to face a lot of harassment (but are also more eligible for additional financial support since there are so few women in trades).
IHeartBacon says
You received a lot of good ideas and recommendations from others about how to find another legal job, and I don’t have anything to add.
I wanted to say though, not to rule out the idea of getting into a trade (like plumbing) if you truly cannot find another legal job that will make you happy. Working with your hands and learning new manual labor skills is very rewarding and valuable. If you truly are miserable at your current firm (which it sounds like you are since you are at the point where you are almost willing to quit without having something lined), then getting out of it should be your first priority. Putting a newly learned trade on your resume won’t be a bad thing, and will help explain a gap in your resume. Also, construction defect law is always going to exist so if you learn a trade and put it on your resume, those skills will be valuable to a firm that does construction defect, which tends to be lower stress than high stakes litigation. Also, the construction industry is still booming because of the pandemic so there is a lot of demand for new laborers.
I know you probably mentioned the plumber apprenticeship as a joke… but, also, maybe you didn’t? Maybe you mentioned it because you wanted to say it out loud — to the universe — to see what it sounded like or to see if it stuck. I say try it. Sometimes the unexpected and crazy things you do end up being the best decisions of your life. When you come to a fork in the road, sometimes it’s okay to just go straight.
Anon says
People on this board have no concept of what it means to be a plumber. Stick to what you know before telling her it’s great. As a woman, I would not want to be alone in someone’s house with my head under their sink, vulnerable to me-too cr$p.
Anonymous says
Have you been a plumber? I don’t think anyone is saying that being a plumber is great (it wouldn’t be on my list of trades because smells), just that there are skilled trades out there that pay well and might be rewarding. Electrical work, tile setting, carpentry/cabinet making, various types of building inspection, technical maintenance, etc all appeal to me, and as a veteran, I’m familiar with work environments that may not be the most woman-friendly. Am I going to quit my perfectly fine, well-compensated white collar job to go learn a trade? no. But if I were forced to leave or had a reason to get out quickly, a paid apprenticeship is as good a place as any to catch your breath and re-orient toward a new goal, whether that’s in your apprenticed field, adjacent, or back the direction you came from.
I’m with IHeartBacon. An apprenticeship is a non-traditional path for someone with a JD, but it’s worth rolling around in your brain. There are tons of really smart people in jobs where you work with your hands, and those are good, important jobs that many people find satisfying and earn a good living at… sometimes it seems like the professional class forgets that there’s more than one way to succeed.
Anonymous says
Ladies. ELEVATOR MECHANICS. They make 6 figures. As do master Electricians. Do not put down the trades.
Anon says
You can wax poetical about the trades all you want, but talk to women who have worked as plumbers first is all I’m saying.
IHeartBacon says
I didn’t say the OP should be a plumber. I said she should not rule out the idea of getting into a trade.
I’m also not waxing poetical about working in the trades. The trades are real, not theoretical. Working in the trades is good, honest work, and there will always be demand for it. I also know from personal experience that doing manual labor and working with your hands can be very rewarding and valuable. Why do you think people have hobbies where they garden, or work on cars, or do DIY projects? If there was even a hint that the OP was serious about looking into the trades, I’m not going to tell her to rule it out just because she’s a woman.
My advice to her was to show her how getting into a trade (even just temporarily while she regroups) can help her get back into the practice of law in the future. If the OP finds her way back to the legal field, she will be even more valuable if she goes into construction law. Not just from a substantive knowledge perspective, but also from a networking one. How many times have I met a lawyer at a lawyer networking event where the lawyer went from undergrad to law school to practice and stayed there? A billion. How many times have I met a woman lawyer who is also a plumber? Never. I’d rather talk to the plumber.
Anon says
Omg what are you even talking about..
Anonymous says
The trade ideas seem wild to me as a big law person- could you go to another firm as a stop gap? Lots are fine with hiring remotely. Can you go to 80%? I’d explore what you can do in the short term before quitting altogether.
Anon says
I think it’s ridiculous that people are acting like someone who has worked in big law is going to become a mechanic. Why not translate your existing skills into a related field first?
Anonymous says
Yeah what?! Totally agree. My relative was an elevator mechanic and it was LITERALLY back breaking work. Like his back is broken now.
I’d look for firms that are hiring, talk to recruiters there, see what they might be willing to do. We just hired someone as counsel with similar experience as you. I don’t know if they’re on partnership track.
Nanny appreciation week? says
It is apparently Nanny Appreciation Week. Is this a real thing? We have a nanny (for the first time, first child, under 1yr), and none of our friends have nannies so I don’t have anyone to ask IRL.
buffybot says
I have never heard of such a thing. But I also don’t even know when my nanny’s birthday is, so perhaps I’m a bad model.
(Lest that make me sound like a terrible employer, our nanny puts a strong premium on being treated as a “professional” and is not into sharing her personal life.)
Anonymous says
I mean you probably do know when her birthday is if you are paying her on the books (and paying on the books is a much bigger deal towards treating her as a professional than giving her a bday gift). But also yes, of course not everyone likes to have work or others make a big deal about their birthday, and that’s fine, doesn’t make you a terrible employer for honoring that.
buffybot says
Yes that’s totally fair – I have the info somewhere. And agreed about paying on the books!
Anonymous says
Did you learn this from SitteryCity or Care? B/c I’ve have heard of it but just from SitterCity. I would say no. Be nice to and appreciate your nanny all the time, and give them a cash gift at the end of the year and something at their birthday.
Pogo says
haha same, sittercity told me about it. My appreciation is the above average wage and benefits I provide.
Nanny appreciation week? says
Thanks for all the replies! We pay on the books and a premium wage, and we gave her a nice birthday gift (card, a box of delicious mini pastries from the local French bakery for her to take home and share with her daughter, facemasks b/c she’s into skincare, and a Lululemon gift card). We’re planning on doing similar for Christmas (except sub either a half week or full week’s pay for the Lululemon card – what is standard in your area?). We’ll skip this week, then.
Anonymous says
At least a full week for holiday bonus, IMO.
Anonymous says
Does anyone make leggings with a drawstring anymore? Anything that fits my rear is way too big for my waist. I am WFH indefinitely, and it’s time to revamp my casual wardrobe. I’m thinking of a fall/winter uniform of leggings and sweater dresses, but my leggings have all seen better days.
Anonymous says
No that’s not really what leggings are
Anonymous says
Um, I literally have 5 pairs from 2-3 years ago with drawstrings. I’m sorry I missed the memo when the Official Definition changed.
Anonymous says
I’d switch to ponte pants in a curvy fit, and then size down if you want them to fit like leggings.
or do the same with joggers.
AnonATL says
look up old Navys Jogger leggings. They have drawstrings
Anon says
I haven’t seen any but you may have more success with expensive super stretchy leggings, like the Lululemon align ones.
GCA says
I have two pairs of unbelievably comfortable black fleece-lined running leggings from Decathlon that have drawstrings (‘Kalenji Run Warm’). Purchase your usual mall-brand size if you want comfort for a WFH uniform; size down if you want a more compressive fit for actual running.
Anonymous says
These look perfect, thanks!
Looks like Target has some, too. Guess I should’ve been searching for “drawcord” or “adjustable waist,” not drawstring.
test run says
These are my favorite leggings – they have ankle zips and a drawstring at the waist. Under Armour only has them left in XS or XL: https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/bottoms/womens-ua-armour-fly-fast-tights/1320322.html, but if you search “Women’s UA Armour Fly-Fast Tights” it looks like several places sell them.
Anonymous says
I also have UA leggings with a drawstring. Not sure if they’re the same model or not, but I don’t think so because they don’t hae ankle zips.
Anonymous says
This Saturday is our 5th wedding anniversary, and my husband got us reservations at a very fancy tasting menu type restaurant (and a babysitter for 6 hours!). We haven’t been anywhere fancier than a casual patio brunch in almost two years. What should I wear??!
Anonymous says
A pretty dress
anon says
Where are you located? In NY I’d say a pretty dress. In the Bay Area, you could obviously wear a pretty dress, but also smart jeans.
Anon says
HELP! so apparently there is a 3 year old sleep regression?!?!? bedtime with my 3 year old twins has been a disaster some nights, like last night where they took 3+ hours to fall asleep, once they did, Twin A woke up 2 hours later and I basically ended up sleeping on the floor of their room. I don’t have an issue with CIO, except for the fact that since they share a room, I then end up with two hysterical sleep deprived 3 year olds instead of just one, which is hard given i do a lot of solo parenting, and Twin A will get so hysterical and end up vomiting, which again, I really do not feel like cleaning up by myself at night. we are currently in a 2 bedroom apartment so i can’t separate them, though we are moving to a house soon (which i’m sure will be another sleep transition). any tips that have helped you get through this period? my patience is running thin and i don’t want to create bad habits, but i’m exhausted.
Anonymous says
What’s the nap situation? May be time to reduce it.
As for taking a long time to fall asleep, what about offering some music or a podcast? My child likes the Little Stories for Tiny People podcast series.
I haven’t tried it, but I know some people give melatonin around this age, so something you could ask your pediatrician about.
OP says
they dropped their nap within the past month. so no nap. and initially the no nap meant they fell to sleep right away by 6:45pm. now with no nap they are just a hot mess behavior-wise
Anon says
I wouldn’t worry about creating bad habits in the short-term – sometimes you have to change your approach to get over the hump, then when the phase passes you can tweak the routine back to your ideal. Do they settle if you stay in the room, or get more keyed up? Could you rub their backs, sing a song, play calming music, etc? Extra books if they get sleepy while reading? Right now they are probably getting increasingly overtired, so I would do whatever they need for a few nights to get them to sleep, even if it’s not the normal routine. Also, have there been any big changes, like starting preschool? If so, they may need an extra helping of cuddles and connection right now.
Cold weather gear says
Where do you like to get outerwear for babies/toddlers?
Our first child is turning 1 in October. We live in the Northeast so I’m starting to think about things like winter coat, snowsuit/snowpants, snowboots. What are some good options? She’s tall for her age (100th percentile), around 80th percentile weight, in case that impacts your recs. I plan to order/return online.
Also – what do you do for stroller walks with older babies/toddlers? Last year she was obviously a newborn so we used the bassinet attachment for the Vista and bundled her in a warm sleepsack type thing, hat, gloves, blanket if needed. Now she’s in the toddler seat. Bundle in snowpants/coat? Get one of those zip-on bunting things? I’m a big fan of fresh air at least once a day, even if it’s frigid.
Anonymous says
Zip-on bunting for the win! Very cozy in there for stroller walks. That and the lightweight puffer from Primary got us through our son’s 1-year-old winter.
NYCer says
+1. The stroller bunting blankets are very warm. You can use a lightweight puffer jacket or even a fleece, except on the very coldest days.
Anonymous says
+1
I liked a warm winter coat (ours was from the Gap) on top. I also had a snowsuit for walking around outside. I easily got both used online on a neighborhood group — they don’t really wear them out at that age.
Anon says
When my kid was 1 we had an REI coat, snowpants (Carter’s or Target), and baby bogs. For stroller we wore our regular winter coat and brought a fleece baby blanket for the lap. Hat and gloves took a lot of convincing.
Mary Moo Cow says
Check the local consignment stores, eBay, and thread Up for jackets. New with tags as like new are usually readily available because you buy ahead of time and then discover baby has outgrown it by the actual season, or baby wears it 2 times. We usually layered bodysuit, long sleeve top and pants or onesie, socks, fleece booties, fleece jacket or down sweater jacket, blanket, and hat for stroller rides.
Anonymous says
Hands down – one piece snowsuit. You will also need a jacket for shorter excursions. I am Canadian and have praised the MEC toaster suit many times on here. You need waterproof for sure. There will be lots of lying in snowbanks if you are serious about being outside.
My DS is slightly different seasons than you, but if you want to walk every day get the bunting bag. I regret not purchasing (thinking it was too small for him but the time the second winter rolled around). For the first winter i actually mostly used the bucket car seat + blanket + snowsuit onesie + super warm car seat cover.
anonM says
Paging outdoorsy Canadian, signed your Mitten State Friend.
An outdoorsy teacher recommended a quality one-piece rainsuit with a fleece layer underneath. Thoughts? Warm enough for when it snows? Buying both sounds like a lot of stuff/cost when I already have some ok raincoats and ok backup/daycare snowcoats/pants.
Do the MEC toaster suits hold up well for hand-me-downs?
And, finally, fav boots for a 4 yo?
anonM says
MEC toaster won’t ship to the US. BOO.
Anon. says
I’m team coat + snow pants because my kids have short legs so need different sizes on top than bottom.
Skip Hop Toddler Stroller Bunting gets all my recs because my toddler refused to keep a blanket in his lap. It has two layers, the top one snaps on and off for super cold days.
Alanna of Trebond says
We had a Reima snowsuit that came with our Finnish baby box and it was AMAZING. We used it maybe 100 times and now it is with my sister in law.
Anon says
I live in the northeast with no attached garage. This means I schlep my 8 month baby out of our apartment to the car in the parking lot with no protection from the elements. Winter is coming soon and I have NO idea how to dress them so they are warm, but also will be car seat appropriate. I’ve read that puffy jackets are an ejection hazard in a car crash, so trying to be “safe” but also practical for our situation.
He is too heavy for me to carry the car seat, and he won’t tolerate me throwing a blanket over him. I can’t start the engine beforehand to warm up the car. Any tips?
Anonymous says
Sweatshirt and he’ll be fine
Anon says
there is someone called The Car Seat Lady or lists jackets that are considered car seat safe
Boston Legal Eagle says
The OneKid road coats are considered car seat safe and can be worn in sub zero temps. They’re pricy but worth it in my opinion, especially if you have multiple kids to pass down to. I would wait until the kids are older can get more use out of it though, not necessarily the baby as they outgrow things quickly! Agree with others on fleece + blanket in car.
Anonymous says
Carseat cover (eg Skip Hop Winter Car Seat Cover) that you can bring out to your car + lightweight, tight-fitting jacket (fleece or similar).
TheElms says
You are correct that a thick coat is not safe in a car seat. Instead you need to think layers. So I’d do a long sleeve onesie, with a fitted fleece jacket over the top. Hat and gloves or look for a fleece with the fold back mittens. Then you need to work on being able to wrap him in a blanket for the walk to the car (but even if you can’t it will likely be fine as the walk is probably short. Then buckle him in the car seat and put the blanket on top of the buckled straps.
anon says
A fleece one piece suit with a hood is warmer than just a fleece jacket. Fleece tends to be car seat safe. Then tuck in a blanket over the baby’s lap for extra warmth after they’re buckled.
Anonymous says
If it’s a long walk and you’re in like, Boston, do a fleece + jacket. In the car, buckle in with only the fleece.
Or get a Patagonia better sweater. They aren’t perfect but that’s what my lazy self used in car seats in Boston winters.
ElisaR says
i love our jeep for the remote start option. Warming up engine beforehand was my strategy (lock the doors and run the car, I realize not environmentally sound, but this is a season). Baby might not kick off blanket if it’s cold he’s comfortable in it. Maybe he just kicks off blanket when it’s warm and he doesn’t want anything touching him. Also, push it in on the sides and he can’t kick it off. Agree with the fleece. you’re right, no puffy coat.
Anonymous says
You’re saying he won’t tolerate the blanket, but wait until he’s cold. My kid would fight tooth and nail against hats until it was 40 degrees. At 20 degrees I can offer her a scarf!
She will happily go barefoot in 50 degree weather. (Now that she’s six and a bit more stretched out, she’s a little closer to adult typical, but the first couple years were all about calibrating to her temperature.)
Anonymous says
Thanks to everyone who offered advice way back in March/April on my long roadtrip (12 hours) with my two kids – about 7 and 3. I ended up breaking it up over the two days (5 hours / 7 hours) and we stopped at at least 2 playgrounds on the 7 hour trip each way — not huge ones, just small ones in small towns right off the road.
I’m glad I did it over two days (even on the way back) – I don’t think I could have done 12+stops.
Appreciated the advice to save the tablet for the last few hours — my kids were good without screentime for the entire way there (they got TV time at the hotel). That said, I bought a headphone splitter and downloaded a bunch of audiobooks from the library- so they used the tablet to listen to the books and I could listen to my own music. I also got some library books on CD for the car (some kids, some that we might both like – Harry Potter) which were also hit and miss (Princess in Black was a huge hit!)
Giving the oldest a grabber arm was A++. I picked up quite a few new toys (loved: those bubble-wrap type sensory toys, wooden mini dinosaurs, a magnadoodle, and stickers that ended up on them and not on the page — whatever). I also let them have total access to snacks, including a small cooler between the carseats. We did a LOT of stops along the road (thank goodness for boys) due to urgently unexpected potty breaks. I brought the travel potty for my youngest, but he preferred standing up. Youngest is daytime trained, but he fell asleep so often in the car that we had two accidents on the way there — he got pullups on the way back.
I picked up some dramamine (neither of the kids appeared to get carsick in the mini-trips we took this summer to check, but I didn’t want to be caught unaware ) and I’m glad I did — when we got to our destination, we carpooled with my friend who owns a minivan and being in the 3rd row was bad for one of my kids!
Thanks, everyone, for your advice!
FVNC says
Great update! We may be embarking on a long-for-us car ride in December (probably 6-7 hrs with stops) with kids around the same age and these are helpful tips. Glad it went well for you!
Anonymous says
What do you do for a carseat when traveling for a 2.5 year old? We used to take the Scenera Next, but our kid has outgrown it. Are there any other super lightweight travel carseats, or should we rent one at our destination?
anon says
I’m team check your regular carseat, so that you can do a safe install at your destination relatively quickly rather than trying to figure out how to install a new seat in an airport parking garage while trying to contain a toddler who has been flying.
TheElms says
For RFing the best light option is probably the Graco Contender or an Evenflo Sonus. For FFing I would get a Costco Finale or a Graco Transitions/Wayz.
anon says
Seconding the Finale if your kid if FF and above 30 lbs. We have both of these and either would be fine for travel, but the Finale is lighter and easier to install.
Anon says
RF? FF?
TheElms says
RF = rear facing
FF = Forward Facing
Anon says
We didn’t travel in that inbetween stage, but for our 99th percentile 4 YO we use the Ride Safer Travel Vest in one of the middle sizes, and I think it comes in a smaller size, probably for 3 year olds. It is forward facing, but it properly positions the belt, is crash test certified and has a top tether. It has been amazing for travel.
Anonymous says
We have one of these! Love it!
anon says
We always packed our Dionos, checked in a duffel bag.
Anonymous says
Ideas on how to get a very stubborn 3 year old to wear socks? Unlike my other child this one has no history of sensory issues, but hasn’t worn socks (and barely shoes) all summer and is refusing. He is large and strong so is fighting pretty hard, and also just takes them off in the car on the way to daycare if we do get them on. Rewards have not worked so far. His shoes are getting extremely stinky and I also worry about keeping healthy feet…
Anonymous says
When my daughter was 1, she liked to pull her shoes and socks off and put them in her mouth. I found that high-top shoes with no velcro, with the laces double-knotted, were impossible for her to pull off. I was able to find this type of shoe at Stride Rite. A 3-year-old could probably untie double-knotted laces, but it would take some persistence. I also left her socks and shoes off in the car, put them on right before going in to day care, and then let it be the teachers’ problem.
Anonymous says
Maybe we’ll try tie shoes. At 36 months he’s in size 11, so with feet growing this fast we’ve been trying to keep it to 1-2 pair of shoes per shoe size till he slows down a bit. But maybe worth it!
Anonymous says
They have to be high-tops that tie all the way up. Otherwise they can yank them off.
Anonymous says
Washable shoes?
Anonymous says
They’re in the wash right now! At daycare in too small sandals today.
Anonymous says
Let him pick out socks he likes online or in a store.
AwayEmily says
Especially given that it seems to be stubborness rather than a sensory thing, what about some consequences? One thing that works well for my kid is tying it to other “big kid” privileges, so I’d say something like “wearing socks is something big kids do. If you refuse to wear socks, you’re showing me you’re not ready for other big kid things, like movie night, so you’ll have to play in your room during movie night instead of watching Frozen.” Substitute whatever “big kid” privilege you can come up with, past ones for us have included climbing into your carseat yourself and making a gingerbread house. Of course you have to be ready to follow through, which can be difficult (eg hanging out with a screaming kid for a half hour while his sister made a gingerbread house…but on the up side, it worked — he always wore his winter hat after that!)
Anon Lawyer says
This feels kind of punitive for something that doesn’t really matter.
AwayEmily says
I think whether it matters depends on the family and circumstances. In many places in the US it’s regularly below zero in the winter — socks matter. In addition, some daycares (including ours) require shoes with socks. But if you live in Florida, then sure, probably NBD. I’m trusting the OP’s that it *does* matter to for her family as opposed to assuming that my situation is identical to hers.
NYCer says
Honestly, I would just let him keep going without socks now too. Send him to daycare with an extra pair of socks and let them try to put them on later. YMMV, but this is not a battle I would pick.
Anonymous says
Thanks. He’s just barely 3 and this sort of future consequence doesn’t quite seem to be clicking yet, but maybe worth it.
Anonymous says
I would not fight this. He’ll grow out of those shoes soon and it’ll get cold and he’ll wear socks.
I would buy cool socks I his size though, with his favorite characters on them. But I wouldn’t fight it.
Anon Lawyer says
I mean, I rarely wear socks. Really only if I’m working out. Why not just buy shoes that aren’t necessarily designed to need socks?
Anonymous says
If you have ideas for cold/rainy climate friendly sneakers that don’t require socks I’m all ears! This far he’s not getting blisters in his sneakers but they are extremely smelly (not solved by washing) and our family is prone to foot fungus.
Anonymous says
Try lysol or similar spray inside – the aerosol kind. The fleece-lined crocs might work for shoulder seasons.
Anon Lawyer says
Yeah, crocs is what I was thinking too – transitioning to the fleece lined ones if needed when it gets colder or not if he’s over the sock thing by then. I don’t know how cold it is now, but I’m in a rainy climate (PNW) and most kids I know wear crocs or similar in the fall and don’t mind getting a bit wet.