My illness is improving. My brain is still foggy. Let’s dive into the mailbag.
Dear Abra:
A professional organization that i am member of is going to the hill to lobby in june, and i am going for the first time. Any tips on what to wear? I’m not sure if a dress would cut it without a blazer?
Thank you, KR
For a lobby day, you don’t need to be the best dressed — your outfit needs to be professional, comfortable, able to withstand outdoor and indoor time, and lots of walking and standing. I would recommend wearing a dress that you can add a blazer to, but doesn’t need a blazer. This is because sometimes you might be outside where it’s hot, and other times, you will be inside with the AC blasting. It also needs to look cute with flats.
If I was headed to a Hill day in June, I would choose a mostly cotton dress. I like this floral one from Elie Tahari and this boatneck dress from Modern Citizen. I would grab a white blazer or a collarless blazer.
For shoes, this Naturalizer flat is a professional woman’s dream — comfortable and work-appropriate. Rockport also makes a very comfortable flat. Do not underestimate how much pain walking on hard, marble floors can cause, so you need all the cushion you can get.
Hi abra,
You mentioned in a post that you’re taking a glp1. Would you be willing to share more about your experience? I’m starting my first dose on monday and would love to hear any advice you have.
Best, Mary
I’m not a doctor or a healthcare provider, so I don’t like to give anything that looks like medical advice. As for my experience, I’m taking a very low does (2.5ml) of Zepbound to curb hunger. It works. Over the course of 6 weeks, I lost 10lbs. I’ve lost a bit more since, but I haven’t been taking it consistently because I’ve been so sick for the last few weeks.
As for challenges, eating enough protein is something I had to learn. I started to lose my hair during the first month, which my doctor said was a tell-tale sign that I wasn’t getting enough calories and needed better nutrition. So I changed multi-vitamins and started planning my meals, so that they are more balanced and I don’t skip eating. It’s not easy to force feed yourself, but I did it my whole pregnancy, so I’m used to that feeling.
I would like to use 10 more pounds and then switch to a maintenance dose. I have no desire to return to the weight I was in my 20s and early 30s because it isn’t sustainable. Overall, I’m happy with the experience, but I would hardly say that I’m in a position to give advice. My only recommendation would be to stay in contact with your doctor because while the television ads may sell this experience as one of ease, it is still a powerful drug with side effects.
By far the best impact on my life has been that I no longer impulse shop, which has healed my finances in ways I didn’t imagine were possible. I know the dose is wearing off, because I will usually find myself filling an Amazon or Target cart with things that I really don’t need.
Abra,
Hello! I’m in the DC area and going to a wedding in May of a very hip couple. Attire is cocktail but long, colorful dresses are encouraged. I’d love to do it up with bright colors and maybe even sequins. I anticipate a big dance party so I definitely need to be wearing a proper bra (strapless is not an option). What do you recommend in the $300ish range?
Sincerely, Allison
If you can wear canary yellow, I like both this Badgley Mischka dress and this Isola dress. For something on the affordable side, I would try this dress from Lulu’s. As for other bright colors, I found this punch-colored dress from Reiss and this cobalt gown at Bloomingdale’s.
If you want sequins, this Saylor dress in deep green is fun. This floral sequin dress in pale pink is also lovely. And I know you said no strapless, but I had to share this sequin chartreuse dress from Anthro because it was just too good.
Dear Abra,
I’m in a makeup rut. I feel like nothing in my makeup bag has changed since I had kids 12 years ago. Is there anything you do differently with your makeup routine now? Is it normal to just choose a blush and stick with it for decades?
Love the blog. Feel better. S.R.
You would hardly be the first woman to “choose a blush” and never change it. If you chose a classic that worked for you, why change? But it’s a fine line between being on a path and being in a rut — we all know women who wore ice blue eye shadow long after its time had passed.
As for myself, I have stopped wearing black eyeliner. I switched to brown for a softer look. I decided the black was aging me a bit. I like this Sarah Creal liner (gifted to me, but purchased in another color also) because the built in brush makes smudging a breeze.
I have also stopped applying pink blush to the apples of my cheeks. I need more face sculpting than that look allows. So I use a contour stick on my cheek bones and add a bit of mauve blush. This video convinced me to make the switch.
Those are the biggest changes. Oh, I’ve also started applying makeup to my neck. I’m over 40, it was inevitable.
Hi, Abra!
Question: When you do a closet cleanout/seasonal closet swap, what do you do with the clothes you don’t wear anymore? Poshmark? Vinted? Local consignMent? I’m on Poshmark but its so much work for INCONSISTENT return.
Thank you! Samantha
Anything designer (Veronica Beard or better), I send to The Real Real. Anything else, I send to Thredup. The payouts are not great, but the effort I have to put in is basically zero. I box them up, and send them off.
For TRR, I’m just looking for credit to offset future shopping. On Thredup, I earn about $150 per bag (about 20 pieces), which is not a lot. I should put my Ann Taylor pieces on Poshmark, because I get less than $5 per top and less than $10 per dress, but the time to take photos and police listings is not there. Many times, instead of selling something that I know I won’t get the money out of, I gift it to my Mom or a friend. Everything else gets donated to a local group that collects clothing for women entering the workforce.
Hello gorgeous!
I’ve been invited to a Favorite things party where everyone brings a gift of no more than $75 to exchange. The party is a group of fab women in their mid-30s to early 40s. Any recommendations you have would be greatly appreciated.
with gratitude, Carissa
What a fun question. But this is supposed to be your favorite thing! So think about the product, item or thing you’re an evangelist for, that you tell every body about. I once attended a party where the hottest gift was a portable, mushroom shaped tap light — but it was because the person who brought it sold it as the cure for all of your woes.
For me, I’m taking Soft Services hand cream. I’m taking a Dior Cuticle Cream. If I know these women well, I’m taking a pair of Sticky Cakes nipple covers. I also love the utility of these Quince leather pouches. And when I’m really stuck on a gift, no one has ever balked at a Jonathan Adler tray — they add the perfect pop of color and zazz, and are just a great catch-all.
{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}
COMMENTS