Appreciating

The Virtues of A Fisherman’s Knit

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  Who doesn’t love a fisherman’s knit sweater? So distinctive and cozy. I was given one when I was 11 or 12 — the first of several over the course of my life (so far). The only downside to the fisherman’s knit is bulk. They are not svelte. Sweater: Veronica Beard Rhea Sweater (still available … Read more

‘Tis the Season?

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  The title of this post may color the way you see what I am about to show you. Try to imagine this outfit in November or February. The most important lesson here, however, is at the bottom of the frame. What shoes do you wear when you’ve combined red, green, and ivory? And a … Read more

Shogun

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  Have you ever been fascinated by something because it was foreign, perplexing, and a little unknowable? The Photographer says that he finds this jacket a little scary, but I’ve told him that he needs to walk toward his fear, not away. This false visual memory, however, prompted me to look up James Clavell’s Shogun … Read more

Poof!

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  Peplums were huge in the 40s and then disappeared for approximately forty years–the Wilderness Years. They briefly reemerged in the 1980s, only to disappear quickly. But the style reappeared in the ‘teens and in 2017, peplums still seem to be going strong. I hope they are here to stay, forever and ever. I was … Read more

The Third and Final Part of The Utility Dress: Is This Is It?*

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  Unlike previous summer series — The Woman in White (2015) and Navy Blue Is The Warmest Color (2016) — I am bringing the Utility Dress series of 2017 to a quick close. No need to string this out indefinitely and perhaps the lessons are more meaningful when delivered in rapid succession. We’ll see. There … Read more

Home on the Range

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  This summer is all about personal growth! Risk-taking! Floaty tiers in a small, flocked pattern that suggests calico.   R: If you are reading this post and thinking “I can’t believe she kept that dress from me” — I am sorry! We can share it. Dress: Max Mara; Shoes: Donald J. Pliner; Bag: Coach … Read more

Naive Kangaroo

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  Surely the title of this post caught your interest!   Desiree Klein is a German expatriate living in Los Angeles, where she has a small workroom-atelier and boutique. This dress has the irresistible feel of something handmade — though it is machine-sewn and completely polished. Her clothes are both avant-garde and naive such that … Read more