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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Call me crazy, but I think flats are going to be BIG next year. So you may as well invest in some classic “investment ballet flats” like these scalloped ones from Chloé, many of which (huzzah!) are included in the just-started Designer Clearance sale at Nordstrom.

My favorite is the “python embossed” beigey one (all sizes left, 5-11.5, with a note from Nordstrom that they run small and you should order a size up) — but the rust colored suede ones are also nice, as are some of the studded options (not pictured).

Some of the other major “investment ballet flats” that I would consider Hall of Famers include AGL, Ferragamo, Chanel and Valentino — I put together a quick little graphic if you're curious. (I actually didn't know Chanel is now available online!) What else would you guys consider in this list of investment ballet flats?

The Best Investment Flats

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

{related: what to look for in interview flats}

Some of the most comfortable flats we've written about in the past include these Hall of Famers (#2, #4, #5, and #6 are all under $150).

Some of our favorite comfortable flats for work as of 2024 include M.M.LaFleur, AGL, and French Sole. On the more affordable side, check out Rothy's, Sam Edelman, and Rockport. We've also rounded up the best loafers for work, and our favorite sneakers for work outfits!

{related: how to look professional in flats—all the time}

Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

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

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

• Is there a mantra or slogan that will help me combat imposter syndrome?
• AITA for not moving to the middle seat to be closer to my husband on a recent flight?
• What are your latest favorite nonfiction books for fans of Mary Beard?
• I'm so annoyed by people who look at their smart watches instead of paying attention to our conversation…
• Let's have a secrets thread…
• I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
• I'm thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?

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I'm in the midst of updating our Guide to Comfortable Heels, and here's a question we haven't discussed in far too long: Which are your favorite comfortable designer heels in 2020? Which ones are best for all-day comfort — and which ones do you love the most in general for styles and sizing? 

Pictured: one / two / three / four

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

In the past readers have always been huge fans of Ferragamo and Stuart Weitzman in the $300+ shoe category, and we've rounded up independent designer shoe brands and not-widely-carried shoe brands such as Tamara Mellon, Sarah Flint, and Thesis Couture — but it's been too long!

Hunting for investment heels? Some of the bestselling, highest-rated designer heels for work in 2024 include:

Pictured above are some of the bestsellers at Saks, but I'd love to hear from you guys! Which comfortable designer heels are worth the splurge (or make a great, say, gift to yourself to celebrate a win)? 

If you're on the hunt for splurge-worthy flats, these are some of our favorites…

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

The post Which Are Your Favorites for Comfortable Designer Heels? appeared first on Corporette.com.

When you make partner, get a big raise, earn much-deserved promotion, or reach some other big goal, you deserve some recognition (if at least from yourself!), so today let's talk about the best ways to celebrate professional wins. The last time we focused on how to celebrate wins was in response to a reader question about “work successes bigger than ‘I finished the report' but smaller than ‘I finished my PhD,'” but today we can talk about achievements of all sizes. With work-related accomplishments, do you typically do anything special to celebrate? What are your favorite ways to pat yourself on the back — or do you prefer to silently congratulate yourself and move on?

In addition to some recent reader questions, this post was partially inspired by this recent comment thread about throwing parties for advanced degrees, which was in reference to conversations like this one and this one comparing milestones in life (engagement, pregnancy) to milestones at work (making partner, getting your PhD). (Mentioned in the conversation is a story from Slate's Dear Prudence, in which a guest proposed to his girlfriend at another person's dinner to celebrate getting her PhD. Wow…) 

{related: how have you celebrated milestone birthdays?}

How to Celebrate Work Wins

Besides throwing yourself a party, which is always an option if you're comfortable with it, here are several suggestions from readers for good ways to celebrate a professional win: 

1. Stick to something low-key: Ask a friend out for drinks or dinner, for example.

2. Treat yourself: Find a nice piece of jewelry (or shoes … or a bag) to commemorate your achievement — our Next Step series has some ideas, as does our post on the best splurges.

3. Give credit where credit's due: Get your team together to celebrate and thank the people who contributed to your success. (Here are some reader suggestions for showing your appreciation to your assistant/secretary.)

{related: rewarding yourself for a job well done}

4. Speaking of thanking… Do something nice to express your gratitude a partner/spouse who has supported you along the way.

5. Have a low-key night to yourself: Get takeout from your favorite restaurant and/or relax with wine and Netflix. (Check out some binge-worthy shows recommended by readers.)

6. Toast yourself for a job well done: If this gives you pause, check out our recent post on alcohol in the office.

What do you think are the best ways to celebrate a professional win? Have you ever seen a colleague celebrate an accomplishment in a way you wouldn't choose?

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If you read our post earlier this week about brain candy books and other fun summer reads, you probably had one of three responses: (1) “Hmm, I should check out some of these,” or (2) “Eh, not my type of book,” … OR (3) “Ugh, why does anyone read those kinds of books, anyway?” Some of us are just book snobs — and all of us are snobs about something or other, right? We thought general snobbery would be a fun topic for a open thread on the day after a disorienting middle-of-the-week holiday, so here's the question:

What ARE you a snob about — and what are you decidedly NOT snobby about? Did you used to have things in the first category that, over time, moved into the second category? How about vice versa — have you gotten more snobby about anything as you've gotten older and wiser? 

Earlier this year, we got almost 100 comments on our “What are you drinking in 2018?” open thread, so clearly many readers are very discerning about wine, cocktails, and so on — and Kat readily admits that she's a gin snob. (She wrote that book post, so she's obviously an equal-opportunity reader; she also notes that she generally prefers simple Folgers coffee rather than fancy stuff.)

So let's hear it, ladies: What are YOU a snob about? Clothes, bags, jewelry, or shoes? Makeup and skincare? Food, restaurants, cookware? Wine, tea, coffee? Music, books, TV, movies? Home decor? (Just in case it needs to be said, there are no right answers here! We just thought it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on what purchases are worth the splurge and what aren't…)

To me, the most interesting aspect of this is what you once were snobby about but eventually became more open-minded about. I used to be a book snob (hey, I was an English major, so it came easily), but not anymore — today I read everything from literary nonfiction about little-known historical events to “contemporary romance.” I also used to be a music snob — and the same thing happened for me with movies. I used to see most of my movies at an independent theater, and those films were definitely not going to become blockbusters. In 2015, in a “regular” theater, I saw the trailer for Captain America: Civil War, and my reaction was, “Another superhero movie?! There are SO many superhero movies!” Well, since then, I have become something of a Marvel geek and so far have 13 movies and 6 TV series under my belt (ha, not a superhero belt, just a regular one). I have to say, I kinda get chills when I'm sitting in the movie theater and hear the Avengers theme. (Grammar, though? I think I'll always be a grammar snob.)

What about you? What have you always been a snob about, either outwardly or secretly? What did you USED to be a snob about but no longer are — and what made you change your thinking? What are your guilty pleasures regarding food, Netflix binges, and so on? 

Picture via Stencil.

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I was looking around the designer dresses and clothes at Nordstrom recently and found myself thinking, man, if I ever win the lottery I am immediately going to the closest Max Mara store. (Then I started debating myself — Akris Punto? Armani? Hmmn.) So I thought this might be a fun fantasy open thread today — what would YOU do if you won the lottery? I'm assuming many of you would pay off student loans or credit card debt — maybe even family members' student loans. (I seriously know someone this happened to!) After that, where would you turn? Just for kicks let's say you've won $50 million dollars.

For some reason here's what comes to my mind (after mortgage, college for the kids, and checking with close family and friends to see about helping with debts, and doing some serious thinking about charitable donations/setting up our own foundation):

Travel

A really, really nice trip to Bali. We wanted to go for our honeymoon but couldn't quite swing the number of days needed for wedding/travel/vacation — so going to Bali is still on my bucket list. There are so many cities still on my bucket list I'm not sure what would be next; probably Tokyo or Buenos Aires. Pictured.

Luxury Home Purchases

A pied à terre big enough for my family in Paris. I love Paris, have been four times over the years for vacations, and could go a million more. It feels strangely familiar and comfortable to me — maybe I lived there in a past life. (Ok, a sick apartment in New York would also be on the list!) Pictured below and at top: from my personal archives.

Personal Trainer/Chef/Assistant

Daily personal trainer, personal chef, and personal assistant. I know, I know, getting in shape and eating well can be very affordable things — but I'd still love to have someone come to the house and kick my arse on a regular schedule… serve us/clean up healthy versions of our favorite foods… and take care of all the other little details in life.

Those are the first three things that come to MY mind for total splurges — ladies, what would yours be?

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