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
As an alternative to jeans, consider a denim dress. It’s certainly cooler, and more professional . . . . on the Casual Friday continuum. I don’t know about you, but I am very afraid of white shoes — and hadn’t worn a pair in decades, until I bought these sandals last summer. They are … Read more
You may remember my enthusiasm for Marni? The volume, the pattern-mixing, the extraneous flaps? While this trick (belting to add definition) usually works best with fluid or light-weight fabric, I think this Marni jacket looks great belted, even though it’s made of a stiff cotton. Belting causes the jacket to bell out from the … Read more
I’ve asked friends for topics that might be of interest to all of you and someone sent me a doozy last week: What should one wear to a swank cookout/pool party hosted by the boss for the whole office? What. The. Beans. First things first, let’s assign blame. Is it fair to say that … Read more
It’s another casual Friday. In Washington D.C. during the summer, that means layering for extreme temperatures: 100 degrees outside, commercial freezer inside. Everyone loves this scarf. Jacket: United Colors of Benetton; Top: Blaque Label; Jeans: Lucky Brand; Scarf: Tory Burch: Bag: Tory Burch York Buckle Tote in Pale Oak; Shoes: French Sole New York; … Read more
Several weeks ago I posted some highly controversial musings on The Fatal Allure of Prints, in which I confessed a push-pull relationship with print dresses and suggested that the desire for prints might be sublimated more wisely in printed blouses. The print is very old-fashioned, which makes it interesting as a slinky camisole. Because … Read more
I generally dress in solid colors, but I like details in my clothes. My shoes . . . they may be a little too bare for business casual, but the dress code in my office is not very stringently enforced. I’ve worn this dress with these dressy suede sandals and with black ballet flats. … Read more
When the temperature rises, dress code standards tend to fall — but some days one still has to look like a lawyer to attend a mediation or hearing. Under those circumstances I put on the summer edition of The Black Suit. I like an ivory blouse under an ivory jacket. A navy blouse would … Read more
I have three closets for clothes storage — two in my bedroom and one in the guest room (which is actually a sitting room . . . where we watch TV). I use the TV room closet for off-season clothes, which means every May and October, there is a weekend of transitioning, where I … Read more