Occasionally you buy something and realize that it’s perfect, a paragon of fit and utility, and you wish you had it in every color. This is a wish that the Directrice can grant. Well, not me personally, but I can set you on the path: If you find yourself a good seamstress, your paragon … Read more
Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Blue is really not my color, but I find this particular shade of blue (which falls between sky blue and robin’s egg blue) irresistible. Thusly, I buy a light blue sweater every few years, conclude that it … Read more
A couple of months ago, we discussed wardrobe priorities and I posited a theory that jackets are the foundation of a professional wardrobe. But if you were paying close attention, you may remember that I said a great blouse could fill the same function at a fraction of the cost. If any of you … Read more
A lot of people avoid black in the summer. Scientifically speaking, it is true that black absorbs light, but whether that absorption turns into heat depends on the fabric and the cut of your clothes. Personally, I think of black as an ally in the summer because it hides perspiration better than any color. … Read more
In searching for white dresses for you, I found a new white dress for myself and therefore decided to do one last Woman in White post as summer winds down. For those of you who are leery of white dresses, I hear your concerns: sunscreen, coffee, tiny jam and ketchup handprints. This dress comes … Read more
As everyone scrambles for that last bit of summer fun, days of the week become a little arbitrary. Therefore, I feel that I am acting not unreasonably in presenting today the outfit I wore last Friday. My true motivation is to share something new while it’s still fresh and available. Come a little closer … Read more
Washington D.C. is hot during the summer and the heat does things to people, if you know what I mean.[1] If you can imagine, some people become very crabby when they are being photographed outside in the heat . . . and therefore are well-advised to retreat indoors. Far better to lose … Read more
When deciding whether to buy something new, I always think about utility: How often I am likely to wear this? Utility is often connected to versatility: a jacket that goes with more things, will be worn more. And a jacket that can be worn through more than one season is bound to get more … Read more
Several weeks ago, I declared white dresses to be the essence of summer. No one expressly contradicted me (your silence, as always, was taken as tacit agreement), so here I am, back with another white dress. Perhaps you’re thinking, “Directrice, have you lost your mind? You can’t wear that strappy dress to work!” If … Read more
During the cold weather months, I rely heavily on black and charcoal grey pants, which I wear with a variety of jackets and sweaters. In the summer, black and charcoal can look heavy, so I switch to taupe. Taupe — a word that sounds so awful — is actually a beautiful, complex color: an … Read more