the directrice Dear Readers — Perhaps this is of interest to you . . . I was interviewed by 40+ Style this week. You may want to check it out. If nothing else, you will learn my first name. And the website is a terrific (comprehensive, really) resource filled with all sorts of interesting and useful … Read moreMicro-Bonus: A Little Weekend Reading
My husband bought this little jacket for me a few years ago as a birthday present. I was very impressed with his choice, which was the product of deductive reasoning and limited sampling rather than an aesthetic vision. He’s not terribly interested in clothes, but he knows that I get some of my casual … Read moreCasual Friday: Layered Jacket
When you consider your wardrobe on the macro-level, you think in terms of goals and limits. Goals probably vary significantly among us — e.g., building a minimal professional wardrobe from scratch, building a comprehensive wardrobe over time, keeping a wardrobe current with select seasonal acquisitions, or revamping one’s style completely. But our limits generally … Read moreSplurge, Spend, Save
As we move into the summer, you will be seeing more color and more dresses in my posts. A cotton or linen dress (or cotton or linen mixed with a little silk, which creates a beautiful blend) is just the thing to wear in the heat. This dress is a lightweight but stiff cotton … Read moreSorbet Shade for Summer
First things first: A heartfelt thank you to those who responded to Tuesday’s micro-poll by posting a comment or sending me an email. Your responses were so intelligent and thoughtful; to the extent that you have been charmed by this blog, know that I am charmed by you. And for those who haven’t responded … Read moreIn Which The Directrice Wears Khakis
Several weeks ago, I posted a tribute to white blouses. Today, I’d like to give black blouses their due. So why do I love black blouses? How do I count the ways? First, black blouses look extremely chic with a black suit — far more stylish than a white blouse. Same thing is true … Read moreThe Virtues of Black Blouses
Dear Readers, I am so delighted that you are here. I launched this blog in late February and am surprised to find, 14 weeks later, that persons who are not related to me by blood or school ties are reading it. I know a little about you in the aggregate. There are a few … Read moreA Micro-Poll to Celebrate the 50th Post
Many style bloggers function sort of like personal shoppers, showcasing clothes that are in stores now. Not me; I am wearing a lot of my old clothes in these posts. Even when I have something new to show, it may no longer be in stores by the time that the season for wearing it … Read moreThe Woman in White
I bought this jacket years ago, at a time when appliqués and ruffles were on everything: blouses, sweaters, trench coats, oven mitts. Would that be c. 2010? So, I envisioned an afterlife for the jacket: I could remove the origami-ruffle-appliqué trim and still have a useful little jacket. Sheila Bridges, the interior designer, urges … Read moreOrigami Jacket
In some of my favorite comfort reading (books by Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Georgette Heyer) the female characters extend the lives of their clothes (and hats) by remaking them periodically. I’ve always found this concept charming (although for most of these fictitous practitioners, it was a measure of harsh economy) and at the … Read moreSmall Changes, Big Difference
