The Year’s Best

  As 2015 comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back.   The year’s posts — which number 137 — are sorted into pedagogical categories like Dressing and Planning, but I thought you might be interested in seeing which are my favorites and which appear to be your favorites.   Thank you … Read more

Advanced Topics in Pattern Mixing

  I generally favor clothes in solid colors and monochromatic palettes, which is a little odd because my house is filled with pattern and color. Perhaps it’s not so odd because . . . a person is not a sofa.   But let’s have a word about the sweater. This sweater features a little pattern-mixing … Read more

In Lieu Of

  Although this might seem odd, even implausible, to you . . . I don’t actually like having my picture taken. C’est vrai! I am also certain that you must want relief from pictures of me periodically. (The conceit of this conviction is comical because, um, if you need a break from seeing pictures of … Read more

Taking Care of Your Shoes

  Today, the most prosaic of topics: proper maintenance of shoes. I will pepper this post with pictures of exciting shoes to compensate.     There are, however, a few steps you can take to slow their degradation.   On a fairly regular basis, you should wipe the interior of your shoes with diluted isopropyl … Read more

Pink Loves Cranberry

  The Procurement Department of Directrice Global Industries Ltd. is working on acquiring a couple of pieces needed to execute your ideas — which coalesced around slim jersey tops and wide-legged cropped pants — but for now, let me show you the casual look I came up with.    

The Need for Sleeves

  I read on Already Pretty that sleeveless dresses became the norm a few years ago in part because designers find them easier to design. (Apparently, designers think it’s hard to design an attractive sleeve that is not overly constricting.) Be that as it may, working women need at least a few dresses with sleeves, … Read more

Party Dress

  Do you ever go to a party that warrants dressing up, but not too much? By that I mean festive and bright and not informal — but short of shine, sparkle and/or décolletage? Like a work party?     However, a little testing revealed a major design flaw.   A Confidence: I had originally … Read more

The Virtues of Ivory Cords

  My clothes veer toward a dark palette for the winter months, but I don’t like to wear dark things everyday. There is a reason why bright colors are used to paint exteriors in the far northern climates like Greenland and Newfoundland.   But what do you wear a bright colored sweater with on a … Read more