Ask the Editor: Vol. V, No. Four

I wish I was bouncing back from a tough July, but I am still trying to figure out how to live life without Avery. Sometimes it feels foolish to be so torn up over a dog, but she was my most consistent, least complicated source of emotional support for a decade. I feel a bit unmoored without her.

So let’s do something easy and pull a few reader questions.

Hi! An “ask the editor” question for you.

I saw a woman in Manhattan this week in a pleated accordion skirt that was knee length/just above the knee and I loved the look. I own a few that are mid calf but I love the idea of a shorter skirt. I couldn’t find any online – they’re either tennis mini skirts or longer mid length. Any leads?

Megan

Skirts that hit just perfectly at or above-the-knee on everyone do not exist.  My recommendation would be to take a mid-length skirt you currently own to the tailor.  I’ve shortened skirts up to 6″ with no loss in shape.

If you don’t want to go that route, Tuckernuck has a tennis-style skirt that would be above the knee on anyone under 5’8″ and a mid-thigh skirt on anyone taller.  This navy box pleat skirt from DL1961 is knee length.  But the place to look for a knee-length pleat skirt is Amazon.

From the DMs: Are we actually old enough to be shopping at Talbots?

Yeah, we are.  I can’t believe it either.  But how cute are these shoes?

Dear Abra:

I’m coming out of my third post-baby experience and I want to buy some cute active wear to get through being a Mom of three.  Is Varley really worth it?  What else is there?  I just need cute and washable.

Tired and Covered in Spit Up

Yes. Unequivocally, yes, Varley is worth it.  The pieces are so soft and comfortable.  Grab a bottle of stain remover and the spots come out easily.  I dry my pieces in the dryer on low (it says to lay flat dry), and they have held up really well.  In the colder months, it’s all I wear around the house.

My favorite piece is this zip up that I wear in my freezing cold office.  The boucle makes it a little bit fancy, and the open work means you can wear it in any season.  I also love these Davidson sweatshirts.  If you are long torso’ed, they might be a little short on you (I can only wear with high-waist jeans.), so try the Hawley half-zip instead.

If I were having a baby, I would want this Roxbury Zip Sweatshirt.  It is my most-worn piece.  The pockets are huge, so you can shove a pacifier and burp cloth in there.  Also, when I was still healing, I wore it all the time so I could keep a pad and a Ziploc with wipes on my person at all times.  So no matter what bathroom I was closest to, I had what I needed.

I am a Varley partner, but I was wearing the brand for three years before we worked together.  My one caution about the brand is that the sizing, in my opinion, runs big in almost every piece.  I should be in a Medium, I wear a Small in everything but the dresses.  I just don’t love the oversized look that Gen-Z is so into.  If you do like things to run bigger, keep to the size guide.

From the DMs: Where do I go for resume help?

Julia at Smarter in a Sec does resume and career coaching.  I also know from corporate friends that using ChatGPT (as much as I hate AI) to tailor your resume to the job requirements is essential.  This YouTube video shows you how.

Abra, Can you help me find a splurge-y wallet for my birthday?  I need a new one and I want to buy a designer one as a gift for surviving the hardest year of my life.  I want a long one not a small one and it needs a real clasp or a zip.  Bonus points for an inner pocket.

Thank you! KJ

My first pick is from Mulberry.  It’s a classic wallet that will never go out of style and it’s under-$600, so you get that designer bang for less than $1,000.  Their Darley wallet comes in medium and large sizes.  You can also get a Continental wallet without the hardware, but for me, the hardware is where it’s at.

Other designer wallets that I’ve seen friends carry and have loved include: 1) a matelasse Miu Miu wallet; 2) a Dior Caro Orchid wallet, and 3) a Ferragamo Hug wallet.

If you are in the market for a chic wallet under-$500, I recommend this Sezane and this Strathberry.  Both are chic and classic and look expensive in person.

From the DMs: What headphones do you wear again?

Every moment of my work day, I wear these Bose over ear headphones.  They have Quiet Comfort technology to keep the sounds of my toddler to a minimum while working from home.  My husband has this in-ear pair, which allow him to listen to calls at work while still hearing the conversations around him.  So whether you need silence or some ambient noise, you have some choices.  

Hello, Can you remind me which lotion you are using again?  The one you said fixed the crepe skin on your legs?  Sara

This Smoothing Milk from Korres.  Comes in 16 fragrances and multiple sizes.

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