Have a lovely weekend!

Hello my dears.  Tall and Salty is heading out on a little vacation this week, which means I'll be off-air until next Monday, October 1.  While I'm away, enjoy these links, and if you really need your Tall and Salty fix, feel free to peruse the archives, check out my Pinterest, or follow me on Instagram (where I'm TallandSalty).  Have a great week and I'll catch up with you when I'm back!

A work-around for the loss of Google Maps when you update your iPhone software.

A song I've (pleasantly) had in my head all week.

Like all good stories, the tale of how two of the the famous men-eating-lunch-on-a-beam-over-Rockefeller-Center were identified involves an Irish bartender (via @brainpicker).

Beautiful lacy unmentionables (and by the way, if the word "unmentionables" didn't tip you off, I'd advise against clicking on this at work if people can see your screen).

A hilarious and incredibly well-taken rant about Blake Lively's Allure cover (she really does have million-dollar hair though, doesn't she?).

Prepare to have serious dorm room envy.

This cake recipe sounds delicious; the part of the post about having kids will make you sniffle.  

While dog outfits are (almost) always funny, these are just on a whole different level.

A site dedicated to delightful but woefully underused words (via Sho and Tell).

Part of me thinks I need to learn how to be a good sport like Brooke here.  A bigger part of me thinks "why?"

(Images: Studio Cabrelli via Note to Self; via Note to Self.)

Softest outfit ever (that is not actually PJs)

There are days in life when you just need to be comfortable, but your elastic-waist college sweatpants (sadly) just won't do: long flights, running errands during daylight hours, or watching college football in public.  This tee and jeans are so soft but polished enough that you won't be embarrassed to be seen by others.  Bonus points for a pretty cross-body (code for hands-free) bag, comfortable rubber-soled flats, a sturdy watch, and a cozy scarf.

  

Anthropologie Bourdeaux Duo Coloblocked Top, $48;

Joe's Jeans The Skinny in Yasmin, $169.  

J. Crew Cece leather flats, $138.

Anthropologie Viscid watch, $58.

Coach Legacy Colorblock Leather Patricia, $398 (a splurge -- but hey, if you take care of it, perhaps it'll end up your granddaughter's one day!  I have a Coach bag of my grandma's that makes me happy every time I use it).

Madewell Hill-side plaid flannel scarf, $89.

Bespoke Barbour

Yesterday was the first day I felt a real chill in the air.  Fall is here, ready or not.  My thoughts, in order:

1.  Yay sweaters!

2.  Ugh, it's going to get really cold soon (this is the curse of being married to someone who hates cold weather: the joy of fall is subsumed by the dread of impending winter).

3.  I get to wear my new Barbour jacket THAT FITS.  Huzzah!

A little-known but amazing tip: Barbour, the British barn jacket maker, will add extra length to the sleeves of any of its waxed cotton jackets, a perfect fall jacket.  (They can't add length to the quilted jackets, but hey, let's be happy for what we're getting, right?)  I got measured in-store when I was visiting New York City, but I'm sure you could measure yourself and order over the phone.  I got mine at the Soho store and the folks there couldn't have been nicer or more helpful.  Tall ladies (and men!), your chilly wrists are welcome.  And regular-sized people, enjoy not paying extra for custom length.

Puppy and prince sold separately.

PS: Chicagoans, we're getting a Barbour store here soon!

PPS: an interesting article about Barbour's growth and a cool video. 

(Images via here, here and here.)

Hello there.

Hello there everyone.  Apologies for my absence: things went a bit haywire last week and I was spending some time with Tall and Salty's biggest fan (my mom), who unexpectedly went on the DL and has had a brief sojourn in the hospital.  I love writing Tall and Salty, but I love her more.  And I don't think I could have strung together many coherent sentences, so let's just consider my radio silence a blessing for you all, shall we?  She's doing better now, and hopefully that means my head is on a bit straighter.

Tall and Salty isn't a particularly personal blog, and that's by design -- my day job (and hope of getting other day jobs in the future) requires that I maintain a certain level of anonymity here, so I haven't done a lot of sharing of personal details.  However, I'd like to take a quick time out from our regular diet of style, design, pop culture, and other random interestingness to note something I've observed in the last few weeks.  As we were heading to her surgery, I told my mom that one of my friends was sending her good thoughts, and my mom said that what she's taken from this experience is that people are so nice.  And I agreed: we are so fortunate to have surrounded ourselves with incredibly thoughtful, nice, people who have gone out of their collective way to step up and do good when things have been down.  Thank you so much to all of you.  I am grateful.

And with that: onward to the interestingness!  Since I went AWOL last Thursday, I figured that I'd jump back into things with the weekend links I owe you (I trust you still had a lovely weekend, even without your usual post).  

The first ads for famous books.

All of Jenna Lyons' outfits, all in one place.  

Salty chocolate chip cookies!  

With all the huff and puff going on about the Kate Middleton photos right now, this post about Princess Diana is so interesting

In the spirit of Work Week, this advice on managing Fashion Week seems to be good advice for managing any busy work project.

This picture cracks me up.

Oldie but goodie beauty products and the newbies that might take their place. 

Love medals.

Bonnie and Clyde?  Maybe they will end up on Mugshot Doppelganger, which is seriously awesome.

Pretty tray.

James Cameron tells you why Jack and Rose couldn't really both fit on the piece of wood.

(Image: Dream Fall by Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison.)

Is your skirt smiling?

Good tip: if your pencil skirt is "smiling" at you, it means it's too tight across your hips.  If not, you're good to go!

(Via Corporette.  Images: by Youngium Koo/I'm KOO via The Cut; model Irina Denisova plays Faye Dunaway from Bonnie & Clyde for fashion editorial called "Segnali d'Autumno," by Paolo Leone for Glamour Italy, via This is Glamorous.)

Things every (office) working girl needs

For today's installment of Work Week, I'm rounding up the ten most essential things a working lady needs in her arsenal to weather long days, late nights, demanding bosses, random nighttime events, meetings (of both the pointless and important varieties), and ridiculously freezing office a/c.  One caveat: for nurses, teachers, freelancers, and other non-desk-job ladies, your list might be different -- but I'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments.  

Cole Haan Nike Air pumps.  These don't come cheap, but they're so worth it: these are the most comfortable heels.  (The good news: they go on sale often, can frequently be found at discount places like Nordstrom Rack, and the Cole Haan outlets carry them at reasonable prices.)  These are what people should give college graduates in lieu of fancy pens.

A classic trench coat.  Fabulous for those days where you oversleep, wear something boring, and get asked to do something fun later.  J. Crew Collection's Icon Trench is gorgeous.  Dear J. Crew: PLEASE make this in tall.  Love, Me.

A good work bag that fits a laptop, but isn't embarrassing to take out for a dinner or a drink after work.  As an aside, I'm a huge fan of Cole Haan's bags (and no, I don't work for them, I swear).  They're not inexpensive, but the quality is unbeatable: I had one in law school that I used to lug around my ridiculously heavy textbooks and laptop.  The strap frayed (the weight I was carrying was ridiculous -- I blame you, Business Organizations casebook), and they replaced it twice, happily.  The third time, I realized I was the problem, and they gave me back all of my money.  I was so impressed -- and the bag was so beautiful -- that I got it again after I graduated.  And it still looks perfect, four years later.  For deal hunters, the outlets typically have a good selection at great prices, and they're the same bags that they sell in the regular stores.  And for more more beautiful work bags, check out See Jane's suggestions today.

A pouch -- separate from your wallet -- that you can keep in your work bag for receipts and other random scraps of paper (you never know when your Miranda Priestly will be demanding "that piece of paper I had in my hand yesterday").

An umbrella you can jam in your work bag.  You and your hair will be thankful.

A nice-looking watch.  This Timex is timeless and perfectly priced.

A cheery calendar for brightening up predictably dreary offices and cubicles.  I love Snow & Graham's.

A picture frame for a photo of the people you love.

If you drink coffee or tea, an excellent leakproof mug for when you're in transit, and a pretty mug for when you're in the office.

And a kit of totally unglamorous things that someday, you'll be grateful you stashed in a drawer somewhere: a lint roller, breath mints, under eye concealer, a spare umbrella, a hairbrush, bobby pins and a rubber band, deodorant, a nail file, safety pins, and Band-Aids (regular and the special kind for blisters), and an extra phone charger.

PS: bonus suggestion for lawyers or those in similar suit-requiring professions: take the the ugliest suit in your closet (you know there's one lurking back there that you will never wear unless 100% of your clothes are at the dry cleaners) and keep it in your office.  On the day you get caught in a downpour or you show up wearing jeans and a tee shirt and get a random phone call to go to court or an important meeting, you'll appreciate it.

What are your working-lady essentials?

(Top image of Peggy Olson via here, originally by AMC.)

The best work advice I've ever gotten

For Day 2 of Work Week, I'd like to share the best piece of work advice I've ever gotten.  I used to work at a big law firm.  When I was a first year associate, one of my assignments was calling a particular government employee to ask a question.  I called and called, but got no response.  So I emailed the team, laid out what I had done, and said that I hadn't gotten the person on the phone.  I apologized and said that I would try again the next day.  A moment after I hit, "send," I got a phone call from a fourth-year associate who was on the same case.

"Don't ever say you're sorry for something that isn't your fault," she said.  "You called the guy a bunch of times, and he didn't answer and he didn't return your calls.  You did your job, and you don't have anything to be sorry for.  If you apologize, it makes it look like you messed up, and you didn't."  She explained -- and she was right -- that especially as a woman, the tendency is to be humble and to be polite, which translates into apologizing when things don't go the way that someone else wants them to go, even if it's because of something you couldn't control.  But at work, while it doesn't hurt to be nice, it's important not to take the fall for things that aren't your fault. 

The takeaway: when you screw up, take responsibility.  People will respect you for it.  But when things don't go according to plan and it's not because you did something wrong, don't apologize.  It puts the blame on you when you don't deserve it.  It's hard at first -- the urge to apologize feels so natural -- but it's worth it in the end.

And in case you're curious, the second best piece of advice I got, but which sounds absolutely terrible: "If a partner calls you and you don't know why they're calling, don't answer.  And don't call back until you know what they want and what you're going to say."  As a first year I was aghast at how bad this sounded, but as the years went on, I learned that more often than not, it's a smart move.

I'm curious: what's the best work advice you've gotten?

Image: Mary Tyler Moore image via Pinterest, original credit unknown.

Should you check your email?

In the back-to-school spirit,  this week's posts are going to be looking at the grown-up's version of school: work.  To start off the week: a handy infographic for figuring out whether you should check your email.  For those of you are like me and all too frequently answer "yes," this is a helpful reminder for us all (click to enlarge):

PS: an interesting article from the New York Times about the meaning of work, written by my college philosophy professor.  I am apparently no more intelligent at 30 than I was at 19, because I still find him extremely confusing (and wonder why "because you have to eat" isn't mentioned anywhere), but regardless, an interesting read.  And: Go Irish! (That's me on the right. :)) 

Images:  Hot air balloon desk designed by Boys and Girls and Twisted Image via Design*Sponge; chart via Explore, originally by Wendy McNaughton for Forbes; bottom image via someecards.com.

Have a lovely weekend!

Hello there!  What are you up to this weekend?  We have a birthday at our house, which means Funfetti cake is the order of the day.  (And yes, for the record, this is for an adult man, not a small child.  It was even the groom's cake at our wedding.)  We watched football yesterday and slept an embarrassing amount, and today's agenda is catching up on Project Runway, riding bikes, and getting my nails done (there is an untenable situation happening there).  Hope you're having a nice relaxing weekend.  Catch you tomorrow!

PLEASE watch this video of the cast of Mad Men performing Never Gonna Give You Up. 

Do celebrity divorces irrationally upset you too?  (Thanks Jeanne!)

Good, cheap wine.

When my invitation for the Oscars arrives, I'm wearing this.

Loving Rihanna's pixie.

A lawyer with a five-page limit submitted a brief in the form of a comic strip.  Awesome.

Made me laugh.

Hilarious plush toys in the shape of organs.

How cute are these girls?

What would be your Secret Service code name?  (I love the episode of The West Wing where C.J. finds out hers is "Flamingo."  I feel for her!)

A gorgeous fall wardrobe.

This girl sounds pretty amazing, and her teammates seem like extremely stand-up guys.

Images: top photo via J. Crew 770/Behind the Line; bottom photo by Faith Durand via The Kitchn.

Stay sharp

As a kid, I had pencils with my name on them.  I found one in a drawer at my parents' house last week and it made me laugh.  And think to myself, "why don't I have pencils with my name on them now?  Because these are rad."  Should you feel the same, you can order them here, here, and here.  What better time than fall to stock up on your school office supplies?

And if you're into hilarious and/or more, um, adult options:

Wouldn't these be funny birthday or hostess gifts?  

(Top image via I Love Your Crazy by Cox & Cox.)

National Redhead Day

I interrupt our scheduled fall programming to bring you the following in honor of Redhead Day.  I had red hair once.  I looked pretty terrible and my mother almost murdered me, but it was so much fun.  I felt like I could do anything and be wild, because I had red hair.  Also funny: both of my grandfathers loved it.  Perhaps it's a generational thing?

And lest we forget everyone's favorite redheaded royal rapscallion . . . Hi Harry!  Glad they let you out of the Tower after your Vegas shenanigans.  

Happy Redhead Day, everyone.  Harness your inner redhead spirit and do something wild. :)  Like going out on a school night to the book signing for Blog, Inc., by Joy Cho (of Oh Joy!).  If you're there, say hi! (I'll be the really tall lady girl.)

Images: by Elisabeth Toll for Martha Stewart Weddings; Christina Hendricks via Tom and Lorenzo; by Gararance Dore via Cup of Jo; Emma Stone by Craig Barritt/Getty Images North America; Prince Harry via Go Fug Yourself.

Fall Uniform

Fall is upon us, and even though cooler temperatures haven't hit yet, now that the calendar says September, I get to look forward to wearing my favorite outfit.  It's a little bit shameful how often I'm wearing a variation of this, but I like it so much I don't care.  Should you see a very tall girl running around Chicago this fall sporting this, feel free to say hi, because it's probably me.  

Banana Republic classic belted trench ($198), available in tall, regular, and petite.
J. Crew cashmere turtleneck ($198); or this cowl neck option from Vince that looks really cozy.
Topshop Moto Baxter jeans ($80), available in regular and maternity, although they presently appear to be sold out in petite and tall -- check back, because they're a staple.
J. Crew Collection Nora calf hair ballet flats ($258).  These aren't cheap, but the world of leopard shoes is difficult to navigate: trashy options abound, but these radiate class.  I love them.  For a lower-priced but tasteful option, try these Nine West pointy-toed flats.
Hive & Honey gold studs ($14).
Michael Kors Tortoiseshell watch ($195).
Foley & Corinna Suede City Tote ($425).

Or to mix it up a little bit, try a trench capelet, trouser jeans, a black clutch, and leopard heels.  The beauty of this uniform is that you can make it work for anything.  And while many of the above suggestions are on the pricey side, chances are good that you already have lots of these classic pieces in your closet.  And if you don't, invest in what you can afford, because these are things you'll have and wear forever.

PS: don't forget your little ones! :)

(Images: top photo by Garance Dore; bottom photos by Stockholm Street Style and The Rover Boutique.)

Things Organized Neatly

I think my superpower is the ability to mess up a room just by being physically present in it.  (My superpower used to be the ability to chop onions without tearing up, but somewhere in the last year, I've lost it.)  I don't know how, but my very presence upends all organizational measures.  Perhaps this is why I find the Things Organized Neatly tumblr so amazing.

Spring takes all the credit for cleaning, but there's something about fall and the back-to-school feeling that always makes me want to get organized.  (And buy new pencils, obviously.)  What about you?

(All images via Things Organized Neatly.)