the directrice 
All good things must end. My vacation is over and I’m back in Business Casual. How does should one respond to ambiguity? With patent leather, bien sur. This dress has an easy fit; pleats on the front conceal bizarre, shallow pockets. Note that the pockets are placed as though they were a muff. … Read more
Our home base was Camden where there are numerous entertainments: a harbor with boats that will take you out for a sail; plentiful restaurants; some charming shops; an abundance of well-fed Golden Retrievers and Yellow Labs happy to be admired by strangers; a library, a new bookshop, and used bookshop, and; a large candy shop. … Read more
Perhaps it’s useful . . . instructive . . . to see my Casual Friday clothes re-purposed as vacation wear with a limited prop box of accessories? And to see the glories of Maine? The Photographer and I are trying to divide our time between three major activities: (1) lazing on our floating … Read more
I am on vacation and facing a quandary. I didn’t take photos for new posts before leaving Washington and I didn’t bring any business casual clothes on vacation with me, so I have nothing to post. Unless I post vacation pictures. I leave you to decide which is more unbearable: no post … Read more
I think I have a look — structured, fitted, figure-skimming but not tight silhouettes punctuated by periodic asymmetric and occasionally bizarre details. Does that seem right? Fair? Regardless, it’s important to not get stuck in a rut — even if it is a warm, cozy rut.* What, exactly, is it? Well . . … Read more
I am always scanning my environment, looking for well-dressed people whose ideas I can borrow. Several years ago, I was in LAX airport and saw a woman ahead of me while I waited to order a coffee frappaccino and her ensemble — and her individual chic — have stayed with me for years. Jacket: … Read more
Work is simplified when you know exactly what to wear. The question of what to wear is easy to answer when you have a few great pieces in your closet and some basic formulae for making them into outfits. Jacket: JCrew; T-shirt: JCrew; Pants: Ann Taylor Style Name Too Long to Reproduce Here; … Read more
I found a beautiful sky blue dress on sale. Not for me, sillies. For you. Good night! See you tomorrow morning!
Be Prepared! The post in which The Directrice gives you license to buy a party dress when you have no party invitations in hand and calls it “good planning.” A few words about the dress. As you can see, the skirt is full and stiff — so it’s not the most flattering shape. I … Read more
It’s Independence Day! I feel like the holiday weekend started Friday afternoon . . . even though I, personally, am not actually taking any vacation time. Nevertheless, it’s hard to feel industrious when everyone is in and out of the office, and wearing very casual clothes. My firm always closes at 1:00 p.m. the … Read more