the directrice 
Very few people match the measurements of mass-produced clothing. You have undoubtedly observed that sizing varies wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer, but blamed yourself for not being able to find clothes that fit you perfectly. Read on, and you’ll realize that you’re lucky when anything comes close. Efforts to standardize sizing were undertaken at … Read moreAlterations Needed
The vernal equinox is upon us, which means it’s time to start transitioning to spring. I find the winter-spring transition much harder than the transition from summer to fall. This may be because the rhythm of the school year is so deeply ingrained that muscle memory helps me get dressed in October. (I … Read moreTransition to Spring
A friend told me that her sister — lucky enough to retire at a relatively young age — once said of our workplace, “I don’t know how you do it. Wearing those hard pants all day.” You might be thinking that “wearing hard pants” is a euphemism for unpleasant or difficult work, like acrimonious … Read moreSoft Pants v. Hard Pants
I am a huge fan of the First Lady, patron saint of sedentary children and fledgling fashion designers, and it was from her example that I learned how transformative a belt can be (for an outfit, not a person). Consider this charming blouse with many fine attributes: small Peter Pan collar, fabric covered … Read moreAdding Definition with Shape
But this tweed jacket is totally safe because I wore it a lot last winter. I often wear it with a white or cream colored blouse and jeans, but this crisply-patterned blouse is a fun alternative. A brown tweed jacket like this also looks good with pale pink or lavender (a blouse or sweater) and … Read moreCasual Friday: Professorial Tweed
A dear friend of mine recently read French Twist: An American Mom’s Experiment in Parisian Parenting and told me she was suprised to learn that French parents discuss clothing with their children – and even believe that teaching them style is part of raising them. Her surprise surprised me because I assumed that her … Read moreLike Mother, Like Daughter
Let’s take a look at details. A different sweater and accessories create a more relaxed, but still professional, look. The key to wearing a sweater over a dress is that the sweater must be cropped so that it hits at or above your natural waistline. A design that is cinched at the waist, like … Read moreThe Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, Remixed
The Dainty Sianos, too, were no longer available through the Doc Martens website, but on the off-chance that Doc Martens retail and website inventories were not integrated, I called the Doc Martens store in Georgetown. Bingo! They had the shoes and so I paid for them by phone and told the clerk I’d come … Read moreAm I Too Old to Shop in This Store?
And it reminded me of something. Something very pleasing. An abstract animal representation! But let’s leave the free association aside for now, and make sure you have a little leopard on hand. Trench coat: Tory Burch; Scarf: Ann Taylor; Shoes: Camper; Red blouse: Anthropologie; White pants: JCrew; Leopard-print … Read moreAbout Animal Prints
