Even though I have methods for navigating large inventory sites like YOOX and The RealReal pretty efficiently, I do find the regular shopping lists — curated edits — published by Vogue and WhoWhatWear very helpful. Sometimes one simply wants to be told what to want. I am wearing the bralette over a simple silk blouse … Read more
I must admit, Directorate, that I have experienced, in the last two years, from time to time, a crisis of confidence. I wonder, “Do I have anything left to create? Or is my best work behind me?”
When I was in high school, in the 1980s, baggy clothes were in style. Oversized shirts + oversized pants were the thing. That look is coming back. Don’t fall for it! I previously showed this beautiful jacket with an untucked blouse underneath. To be fair, that outfit was a placeholder and I acknowledged at the … Read more
Holiday shopping often goes off the rails for me. It all starts very rationally with a plan and a list in November and then typically in mid-December (approximately 10 days before Christmas) something snaps and I start wildly buying gifts for myself along with “back-up gifts” (alternate sizes, selections) for others. And then when everything … Read more
Last week, I was looking for something cozy that would take me to work and an after-work concert at the Kennedy Center — with a walk in-between. I found this great boiled jacket in my very own closet. Last seen by you in 2017. Let me interrupt this post to tell you that when we … Read more
Happy New Year, Directorate! Although I feel ready to turn the page on 2023 — which I had marked down as a transitional year (2023: Return to Normalcy) many months ago — I am worried about 2024.
Directorate, do you remember previous discussions of The Third Piece? Not to be confused with The Third Man — which is a masterpiece and which you should make time to see over the holidays if you have not already seen it. I digress. The Third Piece is the thing (generally a garment) you add to … Read more
My career has spanned eras. When I started working, people wore suits every day. And then came Business Casual, which set off shockwaves in law firms. And then the pandemic, which normalized athleisure as workwear. As a result, the Business Casual of today is not the Business Casual of the aughts. It probably needs another … Read more
Directrice scholars will remember that some years ago, this blog published a series of posts titled Sweaters of Substance, explaining how a sweater of substantial weight and style could substitute for a jacket in a business casual environment. If you’ve forgotten, it’s here, here, here, here, and here.
