Ask the Edit: Vol. V, No. Thirty-Fourth

Holiday gifts for assistants and Secret Santas, plus bridesmaids dresses you might wear again, and “nude lipsticks.”  You asked, I answered.  It’s time for Ask the Edit.

Hi Abra-

I’m getting married in April and still haven’t picked out bridesmaid dresses for my outdoor desert wedding.  I want to make sure the dress is something the bridesmaids will wear again and would like to keep it in the $200 or under range.

I’m flexible on the dress color and am leaning toward navy/dark blue. This is the dress I like best so far. Ideally I’d like to buy a dress that’s not a “bridesmaid” dress since I think the dress will look better and be better quality. I love your style and am hoping you can help… Any ideas for me? Thank you so much!

SM

As a former bridesmaid, while you can try to buy a dress that your attendants will wear again, they probably won’t. Even dresses that I could have worn again, I didn’t.  So focus on the look you want for your wedding and finding something that will be comfortable to wear all day.  (Also, God bless you for keeping it under-$200.  I once had to decline bridesmaid duties in a wedding where the dress was almost $1,000.

Likely is a company that makes a number of dresses in simple, modern cuts.  I like the one shoulder dress and the layered strapless dress.  Both are under-$200 and, if you hunt around, available at enough stores that you can usually find them on discount.

Other options?  If you’re looking for lace, this Bardot dress is cool.  I like this Ralph Lauren sheath dress with an illusion yoke and beaded trim for something fancier.

Hello:

Can you help me find a good nude lipstick?  Color’s not my thing, but my lips are so pale I need something.  No gloss please.

Been reading since 2009!  Love the blog.  Kathy

My favorite slightly pink “nude” is Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk.  For a cheaper dupe, Maybelline makes a line of “buff” lipsticks that suit many skin tones.

For my darker-skinned readers, Refinery29 has some suggestions.  One of my girlfriends swears by Rimmel Coffee Shimmer.

Abra,

I’m lawyer in a cold climate metro area. I desperately need a shoe that will keep my feet warm, while still being sleek and stylish with my suit in a courtroom. I prefer flats because commuting with files on a train is no fun in heels. Help please!

– Amanda 

This is tough.  My first question is: pant suit or skirt suit?

If it’s a pant suit, I would try something in the style of these Row Ambra Boots.  A flat pointed ankle boot would allow you to wear thick socks and keep your toes warm.  These Matt & Nat boots give you a similar look for MUCH less.

A skirt is more of a challenge.  I sometimes wear tall boots with my skirt suits, but I wouldn’t wear them to court.  For court, I would commute in a pair of Aquatalias and change into heels later.  With the right pair of booties, you could put in a foot warmer.

Abra:

I need a last minute gift for a book club Secret Santa on Saturday.  What have you got?

LF

The Sipski Wine Glass Holder for your shower is a popular gift.  It’s useful, but it’s a gag gift.  Which I think is the best Secret Santa gift to give.

Amazon also has a list of “last minute” gifts with free one-day shipping.  A single Tile is a great gift for people who lose their keys or want to keep an eye on a pet who runs away.  My neighbor gives dashboard cell-phone mounts, which is a good idea for people who don’t have GPS or listen to podcasts while they drive.

Hi Abra:

I have a wonderful legal assistant and would love any suggestions on a holiday gift for her. I don’t know her extremely well since I haven’t been at my firm for too long, but she has been extremely helpful and patient with me as I transition to the new firm.

– Emily 

Back when I had assistants, my preferred gift was a holiday trinket and some cash.  What do I mean by a holiday trinket?

This locket frame ornament from Mark & Graham is a lovely gift for anyone who is hard to buy for.  I also like this rustic wood Christmas sign and these Santa’s Reindeer mugs from Pottery Barn.  Holiday gifts like this are appropriate for someone who you don’t know very well and who might be hard to shop for.

To a gift like that, I add some cash.  Not a gift card, cash.  Why cash?  When I was younger, I thought cash was tacky.  But when someone assists you at your job, a cash gift becomes like a bonus.  And who doesn’t want their boss to show their appreciation with a year-end bonus?

Not into cash?  You probably know this person well enough to choose a gift that will be useful to her.  Perhaps something she wears regularly (I had an assistant who loved big necklaces) or a hobby she is involved in (one of the court reporters likes rock climbing, so we bought her a gift card to her gym).  Any gift that shows you take an interest in her as a person is a good gift.

Hi Abra,

How is your nephew doing?

Isla 

Thank you for asking!  Baby G is doing very well.  He’s putting on weight and making sure his parents get no sleep.  We’re still waiting on the hospital bill to see if he’s a half-million-dollar baby, but focusing on how grateful we are to Seattle Children’s Hospital for getting him well and how much he looks like his Auntie Abs.  (Seriously, the boy has my nose.)

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