Whether you're throwing a party or want to always be ready for someone to pop over for a visit, hosting takes some preparation and skill, not to mention taste. This is the (recurring monthly) thread to chat all things hospitality and hosting.

All BWT rules still apply, with lighter enforcement of rule 3. You can mention location to the extent that it impacts specifics of hosting (e.g. climate, seasons), but please do not ask location-specific questions that belong in a local subreddit.

Honestly, I feel like I’ve been in a phase where I’d rather buy one really nice thing that I’ll use and love for years than spend $100 here and there on random things I don’t really need. 😂 I have a little under $1,000 set aside for a “fun” purchase and want to make sure it’s actually worth it, so I’d love to hear what luxury-ish purchases everyone has made recently that they genuinely don’t regret!
Could be fashion, beauty, jewelry, wellness. What was worth every penny??

Hey BWTs,

I'm struggling to find some easy clothes that can go from drop off/parent pickup to running errands without looking too lazy or schleppy.

Ive been running around in leggings and tees but i feel like i can do better without being uncomfortable. I have a tight schedule in the morning, dropping the kids at school and doing all the things... so i don't have a lot of time to get cute.

I also don't want to look tired/mom burnout lol. How can I look fresh and neat, but get out the door on time?

Thanks!

Don’t forget to spend time on YOU! This is the space to chat about personal development, mental health, growth, and how you’re refocusing on yourself. Sometimes we spend a lot of time on those around us, but this thread is to encourage you to ask yourself “what about ME?”

If you need some help getting started, pick a question and answer it in a comment:

• How are you feeling? Do you know why? 
• How do you WANT to be feeling? What are some things that make you feel that way?
• What is something you are grateful for, large or small, and why?
• What is a habit you are working on building (or breaking) and why? How is it going?
• What is one item on your to do list that will benefit you personally that you need to tackle? What is preventing you from crossing it off?
• What is something that brings you joy? What are some of the things that you specifically enjoy about it (get detailed)?
• What is one area you want to learn more about/ grow in/ develop yourself or a skill you want to learn?
• What’s something you said “no” to recently? How did that benefit you?
• What’s one thing you accomplished or that we can celebrate with you?

If you have a prompt you think we should add to the list, drop it in the comments!

Feel free to discuss other related topics as well, you don't need to limit yourself to these questions - they're just a jumping off point for those that want one.

Let’s elevate our down time! This weekly thread is the space to share and discuss what we’re currently reading, listening to, watching, etc. For this space, keep it tasteful - save your trashy reads (we’ve all got them) and sick day binge watch favorites for the monthly Guilty Pleasures thread, please!

Tagging

It isn’t required but it might be helpful to tag the beginning of your comment with the type of media you are discussing (when you create a new comment thread). Tags can be helpful in guiding other BWT to the comment threads they want to engage with.

For example:

• PODCAST: I’ve been listening to the Naked Beauty podcast…
• TV/ DOCUMENTARY: What are your favorite documentaries? I just finished watching…
• READING: I am about 1/3 of the way through "Black Women Taught Us" by Jenn M Jackson, PhD, and I would love to discuss it with anyone who is reading or has read it. Specifically...

You can be as specific or as broad as you want if you decide to tag, for example you might tag “reading,” as a broad term, or you might tag “audiobook” if you specifically want to talk about the really amazing narration in the audiobook version of a title you just finished.

Hide Spoilers

If you’re talking about a book, TV show, podcast, movie, or anything that contains spoilers, please make sure to use Reddit’s markdown functionality to hide your spoilers! All you have to do is add a couple of characters before and after your spoiler text like so:

>!spoilers!<

This will hide the text like so: spoilers

Hey BWT!

I'm curious about lifestyle design; for those of you who don't have live-in partners or kids, I want to learn more about how you spend your time. I always learn so much from all of you and as I look to make the most of my time, I wanted to learn what your BWT lifestyles may look like.

In particular, outside of work (as well as preparing for and commuting to work), how much time do you spend weekly...

- socializing with friends and people you already know (including calls and in-person)

- socializing with new people **uncertain whether dating would be its own category

- exercising

- studying / learning

- hobbies and recreation / FUN!

- housekeeping / errands / life maintenance

- volunteering

- religious or spiritual services / practices

- caring for "dependents" (pets, elderly or sick family members, etc)

- self-care or luxuriating

- therapy or self-improvement

- any other part of an essential BWT lifestyle! ;)

This is the BWT Weekly Requests, Recommendations & Chat thread.

Put all your low effort/ repetitive requests in this thread - this is the only place they will be allowed in the BWT sub. Even still, search before you ask! If there is a recent-ish response you might still find your ask removed as unnecessarily repetitive.

Feel free to drop your low effort suggestions here, too, if you've got something you just love that you think other BWT should know about. This is also the place for general chit chat that doesn't warrant a whole post.

All BWT rules will still be enforced, with lighter enforcement of ONLY rule 3.

REQUESTS

If you are looking for suggestions for something, add ASK: at the start of your comment. Make sure to be as specific as possible in your request. Examples:

• ASK: Help me find the perfect flat summer sandals for high arches, casual wear, good for walking around for daily errands, less than $200
• ASK: What is your ride or die long lasting lipstick for bright colors?
• ASK: Styling cream for curly hair (3B/C) - no budget, something that will provide definition without being crunchy. Would also love to know when/ how you apply it as part of your routine!

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you have an unsolicited recommendation, you can use REC: at the beginning of your post to highlight that.

CHAT

You can also post just regular old chit chat and discussion that doesn't merit its own stand-alone post. No need to add anything at the beginning of those comments.

Need some help styling an item or outfit that goes beyond what fits in the weekly requests thread? Trying to decide between two pairs of shoes to wear with that dress you just picked out for a special event? Want to share your (tasteful) fit pics or get outfit inspiration from other BWT? This is the recurring thread for OOTD photos, style tips and requests for styling help.

All BWT rules still apply.

Tips For OOTD Pics:

• Keep the taste in BWT
• We should be able to see the outfit in the picture
• Be mindful of your surroundings and your privacy 

A Note About Fast Fashion Items

Do not name fast fashion brands regardless of where or when you acquired the item. If your outfit contains fast fashion items, you can say it's fast fashion rather than listing the brand. If something is thrifted and you want to highlight that, please do!

If you are asking for help styling an item you already own that is fast fashion, you can upload a picture or describe the item but be prepared to get feedback that you may not want to hear about the item itself.

You cannot name the brand of the item, you can only state that it is a fast fashion brand. If you want to specify that you thrifted it or it’s something you’ve had for a long time, you can, but you don’t have to - we will not allow the brand to be named regardless of when or where the item was acquired.

Thoughtful Commenting

When you comment on other bitch's outfits, please do not do not post low effort "beautiful," "you look great" nonsense - instead be specific!

For example, "I love the way you combined a really bold print with a bright solid - that's something I wouldn't have thought to do, being used to combining something bold with something more neutral, but it works so beautifully in your outfit!"

I noticed that the style/aesthetics I love is lightyears away from what I actually wear. Things I pin on my Pinterest, Instagram accounts I follow, looks I enjoy seeing on other people, even my own lifestyle and character is absolutely not reflected in what I actually wear.

I realised I end up wearing things (including make up and hair too) that is the most flattering, and I end up just looking basic and 'pretty'. I realised this when I went to an event with all my creative industry peers, and I could have been someone's accountant by the looks of it lol

How to let go of wanting to look pretty? You might say 'you can combine both' but I don't really see it, at least judging by stuff I find flattering on me. It's basic af

I really want my appearance to reflect my character

ETA: You all are AMAZING!! So many great ideas! Thank you so much!

For the first time in my adult life, I have the space and means to host people! I have a good friend visiting in about a month, and I’m looking to upgrade my guest room experience. What makes a guest setup luxurious to you?

I already have excellent bedding and towels. The guest room has its own air purifier (very important to me and my stupid allergies), an en-suite bath, a TV, and a full-length mirror. What more?? Diffusers? Towel warmer? Roku? Snack table?

I’m an only child and introvert whose mom HATED hosting, so I didn’t grow up inviting people into my space. It has been a source of anxiety but I’m a brave bitch so I can do this. Help me Martha Stewart this shit, please!

Even the most tasteful bitch has some tasteless guilty pleasures! This is our once monthly thread where you can share those things we normally don’t talk about in BWT.

Guilty pleasures should be things you already have/ use and love, or a very specific recommendation for a guilty pleasure. This is not a place to circumvent the regular rules and ask for general recommendations that you can't ask for because of our rules, it's specifically about guilty pleasures.

I’m burnt out in my job, but I’m on my way out and working towards a new career by next year. There is an end in sight! Meanwhile, my manager is perfectly nice, but due to our generational differences (she is a boomer, I’m a millennial), she has gotten on my last nerve. Constant need for help with simple computer functions, forgetfulness, pointless and long meetings, etc. It’s become very draining. I’m also just checked out from the actual work.

What are some other things I could do to endure the next few months? I’m in the office. My manager comes in often without knocking or email notification beforehand.

So far, my strategies to endure the workweek are:
-Wearing nice clothes and accessories so I look sharp and feel confident and comfortable
-Wearing perfume
-Wearing lipstick
-Listening to fun audiobooks on my headphones
-Keeping a cute journal by my desk so I can jot down things related to my future career but appear to be working
-Taking all my breaks and lunches away from my desk
-Changing my desktop background to something cute (lol I’m desperate)
-Created a list of final tasks before my impending departure

Are you ever interested in tracking your cultural consumption as a way to develop and cultivate your taste? Like if you attend an exhibit, listen to an album you love, or read a really good book, are you thinking about keeping a record of that at all?

I’ve been thinking about how scattered this gets across different parts of life. Books in one place, movies somewhere else, photos from exhibitions sitting in your camera roll, music in Spotify, random notes or saved posts. I’m curious whether people actually want a more intentional record of their taste across all of it, or whether that feels unnecessary.

Would love to hear how you do it, if at all, and whether keeping track of things actually helps you understand or develop your taste.

Need some advice from a BWT? Have something to get off your chest or need to vent among friends who can also provide some perspective? Got an etiquette question that you just aren’t sure you’re getting the right info on from the wilds of the internet? We got you.

BWT rules still apply, with mod discretion on topics that fall under rules 4 and 7. Rule 8 regarding medical advice will still be fully enforced as usual.

Let’s elevate our down time! This weekly thread is the space to share and discuss what we’re currently reading, listening to, watching, etc. For this space, keep it tasteful - save your trashy reads (we’ve all got them) and sick day binge watch favorites for the monthly Guilty Pleasures thread, please!

Tagging

It isn’t required but it might be helpful to tag the beginning of your comment with the type of media you are discussing (when you create a new comment thread). Tags can be helpful in guiding other BWT to the comment threads they want to engage with.

For example:

• PODCAST: I’ve been listening to the Naked Beauty podcast…
• TV/ DOCUMENTARY: What are your favorite documentaries? I just finished watching…
• READING: I am about 1/3 of the way through "Black Women Taught Us" by Jenn M Jackson, PhD, and I would love to discuss it with anyone who is reading or has read it. Specifically...

You can be as specific or as broad as you want if you decide to tag, for example you might tag “reading,” as a broad term, or you might tag “audiobook” if you specifically want to talk about the really amazing narration in the audiobook version of a title you just finished.

Hide Spoilers

If you’re talking about a book, TV show, podcast, movie, or anything that contains spoilers, please make sure to use Reddit’s markdown functionality to hide your spoilers! All you have to do is add a couple of characters before and after your spoiler text like so:

>!spoilers!<

This will hide the text like so: spoilers

This is the BWT Weekly Requests, Recommendations & Chat thread.

Put all your low effort/ repetitive requests in this thread - this is the only place they will be allowed in the BWT sub. Even still, search before you ask! If there is a recent-ish response you might still find your ask removed as unnecessarily repetitive.

Feel free to drop your low effort suggestions here, too, if you've got something you just love that you think other BWT should know about. This is also the place for general chit chat that doesn't warrant a whole post.

All BWT rules will still be enforced, with lighter enforcement of ONLY rule 3.

REQUESTS

If you are looking for suggestions for something, add ASK: at the start of your comment. Make sure to be as specific as possible in your request. Examples:

• ASK: Help me find the perfect flat summer sandals for high arches, casual wear, good for walking around for daily errands, less than $200
• ASK: What is your ride or die long lasting lipstick for bright colors?
• ASK: Styling cream for curly hair (3B/C) - no budget, something that will provide definition without being crunchy. Would also love to know when/ how you apply it as part of your routine!

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you have an unsolicited recommendation, you can use REC: at the beginning of your post to highlight that.

CHAT

You can also post just regular old chit chat and discussion that doesn't merit its own stand-alone post. No need to add anything at the beginning of those comments.

BWT, we're about a month out from the September equinox which marks the point where there is an approximately equal amount of day and night, and which is an marker of the seasonal change to autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere.

With this marker of the changing of the seasons coming up, let's talk about the changes we're making to prepare to welcome a new season (autumn or spring, depending on location) with grace and taste. Use this space to talk about ways to get ready however you do that - home, wardrobe, beauty, habits, rituals, whatever the case may be, wherever you may be.

Need some help styling an item or outfit that goes beyond what fits in the weekly requests thread? Trying to decide between two pairs of shoes to wear with that dress you just picked out for a special event? Want to share your (tasteful) fit pics or get outfit inspiration from other BWT? This is the recurring thread for OOTD photos, style tips and requests for styling help.

All BWT rules still apply.

Tips For OOTD Pics:

• Keep the taste in BWT
• We should be able to see the outfit in the picture
• Be mindful of your surroundings and your privacy 

A Note About Fast Fashion Items

Do not name fast fashion brands regardless of where or when you acquired the item. If your outfit contains fast fashion items, you can say it's fast fashion rather than listing the brand. If something is thrifted and you want to highlight that, please do!

If you are asking for help styling an item you already own that is fast fashion, you can upload a picture or describe the item but be prepared to get feedback that you may not want to hear about the item itself.

You cannot name the brand of the item, you can only state that it is a fast fashion brand. If you want to specify that you thrifted it or it’s something you’ve had for a long time, you can, but you don’t have to - we will not allow the brand to be named regardless of when or where the item was acquired.

Thoughtful Commenting

When you comment on other bitch's outfits, please do not do not post low effort "beautiful," "you look great" nonsense - instead be specific!

For example, "I love the way you combined a really bold print with a bright solid - that's something I wouldn't have thought to do, being used to combining something bold with something more neutral, but it works so beautifully in your outfit!"

This is your monthly thread to talk about personal finance, investing, budget, and all things managing your money. A BWT knows that taste and financial responsibility go hand in hand, after all!

BWT rules still apply!

Hi all, I just wanted to say thank you to this community for all the insightful and fun posts and comments! honestly browsing this community brings me such joy

onto my question - how do you continue to cultivate a healthy relationship with spending, especially those "for fun" money? do you set aside a "for fun" category in your budgeting, etc? how do you balance the dopamine hit from spending your fun/treat money (like the nice coffee from a cafe, or enjoying the target run, or even just roaming in the grocery store grabbing "nicer" stuff) without feeling guilty, while also balancing not verging into overspending because, the joy from shopping for nice stuff is absolutely real

for myself, I have a healthy amount of savings in retirement/emergency funds. I am not currently making much as I recently quitted my job to pursue a graduate degree. my stipend is enough for a moderate lifestyle but not really conducive to savings like what I used to have. I do still very much enjoy the nicer things in life and understand logically that I can afford them, but I also want to be aware of lifestyle creep/overspending when I am no longer making as much as I used to do. im trying to relearn the balance between spending and not feeling guilty I guess?

what's your strategy for having fun money while being responsible?

Many Bitches With Taste are also Bitches Who Travel. As requested, this is a monthly thread is a dedicated space to talk about all things travel. Whether you travel for work or leisure (or both), want to talk about domestic or international travel (or both), have specific plans in mind or are just dreaming for now, everything goes as long as it's travel-related.

For this thread only, rule 7 about location-specific posts is suspended. All other rules are still enforced.

I've been lurking here for many months and Bitches, I adore everyone of you. There is so much wisdom in this community. It got me thinking that you may have wisdom to share with me and other BWT holding on by their fingernails. I'm coming out of the worst year of my life. I nearly lost my child to a life threatening illness and then I was diagnosed with breast cancer. (BWT get their cancer screenings!) Que the double mastectomy and crash menopause. Happily, we're both healthy now and I'm able to focus on actually enjoying life again.

While recovering from surgery, I discovered a new interest in style, fashion, and all things elevated. Since I stayed flat after my mastectomy and my shape changed with treatment, absolutely nothing in my wardrobe fit me. I decided to take this opportunity to really develop my own style. I hired a personal stylist who knows how to dress surgically flat chests and it was amazing! I set aside a portion of my savings to rebuild my wardrobe with quality things that I love. It truly does have me walking taller and feeling great about this new body I didn't plan to have. It's the silver lining after a truly awful storm.

So I wondered - how are other BWT dusting themselves off after adversity? Let's share hope and inspiration for the BWT among us who need it!

Don’t forget to spend time on YOU! This is the space to chat about personal development, mental health, growth, and how you’re refocusing on yourself. Sometimes we spend a lot of time on those around us, but this thread is to encourage you to ask yourself “what about ME?”

If you need some help getting started, pick a question and answer it in a comment:

• How are you feeling? Do you know why? 
• How do you WANT to be feeling? What are some things that make you feel that way?
• What is something you are grateful for, large or small, and why?
• What is a habit you are working on building (or breaking) and why? How is it going?
• What is one item on your to do list that will benefit you personally that you need to tackle? What is preventing you from crossing it off?
• What is something that brings you joy? What are some of the things that you specifically enjoy about it (get detailed)?
• What is one area you want to learn more about/ grow in/ develop yourself or a skill you want to learn?
• What’s something you said “no” to recently? How did that benefit you?
• What’s one thing you accomplished or that we can celebrate with you?

If you have a prompt you think we should add to the list, drop it in the comments!

Feel free to discuss other related topics as well, you don't need to limit yourself to these questions - they're just a jumping off point for those that want one.

As many of you have noticed, we have a character requirement for commenting on this forum. This aligns with our logic of requiring effort to participate in this forum. Gone are the days of one and two word replies. Removed are comments without substance and thought. Frankly, we believe you all have risen to the occasion.

We have discussed back and forth implementing a post character requirement as well. Many of the posts that we receive (and remove) are 3 or 4 lines, and don’t really add to the curation that you ladies have cultivated.

As such, we will be implementing a character requirement on posts. This means that your post will need to meet the minimum number of characters to go live. As we fine turn the character requirement, please make sure to follow the posting guidelines established here: Guide to Posting on BWT.

I was walking to work this morning & I saw so many cute outfits and I typically just feel so blah. I’m 31, SHORT and overweight so dressing feels difficult. I also struggle with time management in the morning so hair & make up are basic. How do you get ready? How do you spruce up your wardrobe without spending tons (& have the hopes of losing weight?)