the directrice 
I think the Groundhog didn’t see his shadow on February 2nd. And that means an early spring? Or does it mean 6 more weeks of winter? I grew up in New Hampshire and have always found this very confusing. In New Hampshire, if spring starts in mid-March, that is an early spring. Regardless, the … Read more
Last fall, I showed you — in all seriousness — how to wear a bustier to work as part of a Business Casual outfit. I also promised to show you how I have worn it on Casual Friday and on the weekends. Let it never be said that The Directrice doesn’t honor her promises, … Read more
I admit that any sentence that begins “The Directrice needs . . .” needs to be examined carefully from all angles. Here is the complete sentence: The Directrice needs a black handbag. It’s true. (C’est vrai.) You may be thinking, Directrice, you have a million handbags and we’ve all seen them. That also … Read more
A few weeks ago, I cracked a question that has occupied philosophers for centuries: Can an outfit be cooler than its wearer? This layered skirt has two distinct elements: a column-style underskirt made of a crisp, striped silk that is covered by a wool gabardine wrap skirt. The underskirt is effectively an insurance policy … Read more
I am not thrilled to be falling in with the magazine and catalog editors who are now referring to every striking or unusual garment as a “statement” piece — e.g., statement blouse, statement skirt, etc. Had I started this trend, I would have gone with arresting or singular. But that ship has sailed, so … Read more
The Photographer and I visited Paris a few years ago. We spent most of our time walking, visiting museums, and eating, but I did a little shopping too. The most famous shopping streets are dominated by global brands that you can find in London and New York and even Washington D.C. But if you … Read more
Last summer I posited that a crop top could be worn to work professionally — i.e., to a workplace like a P.L.L.C. or similar association by a woman who is dressing to meet with colleagues or clients — when paired with a skirt and blouse or jersey. Bear in mind, I did not … Read more
Thanks to sunblock and exercise, our forties are not our grandmothers’ forties. But there is one part of the body that has continued to age as it did, unswayed by lifestyle choices: the eyeballs. In Q3 2015 I went from being a person who wore reading glasses for ease to being a person … Read more
When I was in law school, I interviewed at a number of firms for work as a summer associate. Like my peers, I bought a suit for this purpose. I found a beautiful wool crepe suit: very classic, with a pencil skirt and a bias-cut, funnel-neck jacket trimmed with elegant, slightly oversized, dark horn … Read more
This post is for anybody who works at home and finds that the boundary between dressing for work and dressing for bed has become very blurry. You can return to an office. Read on! Let’s look at the details. Above I am wearing the knits with a red silk blouse, which you may … Read more