You know that expression, “the heart wants what it wants” — which people use to justify everything from the purchase of faux fur ear muffs to yachts? Perhaps you need to step back for perspective: It started with a fixation on the over-sized pockets, and grew to encompass the whole dress. You may justifiably … Read moreBrace Yourself
I am such a fan of sweater dressing. Beloved knits! When I started working at my firm (now 15 years ago), I invested in a few knit jackets and knee-length skirts from Eileen Fisher. I am still wearing them today. They aren’t on the cutting edge, but with a great pair of boots, … Read moreSweater Dressing
Since I often show clothes that have been altered or re-purposed — sometimes, significantly — I thought it might be helpful, or at least interesting, to see what these treasures look like before those radical changes are implemented. Here goes! I like colorful tops to wear underneath jackets and sweaters. Even though they may … Read moreIn Which the Directrice Borrows Trouble
Despite wide variations in the way Business Casual is interpreted across the city, I think we can all agree that strapless tops are verboten . . . . unless you wear something over them or under them. If you wear a jacket over your strapless top, it’s no longer a strapless top, is it? … Read moreA Navy Suit with a White Blouse
You may remember my enthusiasm for Marni? The volume, the pattern-mixing, the extraneous flaps? While this trick (belting to add definition) usually works best with fluid or light-weight fabric, I think this Marni jacket looks great belted, even though it’s made of a stiff cotton. Belting causes the jacket to bell out from the … Read moreFrankenstein’s 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
I often dress in one color, or shades of one color, from head to toe. I like to think this is slimming. But monochromatic dressing, if it doesn’t involve contrast in texture (combining, for instance, silk georgette and wool boucle or satin and linen), can present a somewhat lifeless effect. Witness: Perhaps you are … Read moreAdding Definition with Color
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
