Transition to Spring

  The vernal equinox is upon us, which means it’s time to start transitioning to spring.   I find the winter-spring transition much harder than the transition from summer to fall. This may be because the rhythm of the school year is so deeply ingrained that muscle memory helps me get dressed in October. (I … Read more

Casual Friday: Professorial Tweed

But this tweed jacket is totally safe because I wore it a lot last winter. I often wear it with a white or cream colored blouse and jeans, but this crisply-patterned blouse is a fun alternative. A brown tweed jacket like this also looks good with pale pink or lavender (a blouse or sweater) and … Read more

The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit, Remixed

Let’s take a look at details.   A different sweater and accessories create a more relaxed, but still professional, look. The key to wearing a sweater over a dress is that the sweater must be cropped so that it hits at or above your natural waistline. A design that is cinched at the waist, like … Read more

Casual Friday: Smart Jacket

  Let’s see if a closer look shows what I am trying to convey.     I bought this a couple of years ago on Gilt and when I think back on it, the pictures on Gilt utterly failed to show how the jacket was fabricated and constructed. I was very surprised when it arrived. … Read more

Casual Friday: Pink-on-Pink

  I have two pink blouses — this one in crisp poplin and another in silk organza. I thought the poplin would work nicely with the lining of the sweater. This blouse has great details, too: a pleated bib, button loops and a squared-off, split hem. Sweater: HaniiY; Blouse: JCrew; Jeans: Lucky Jeans; Bag: Les … Read more

Perfect Dress

  Every once in awhile, you find something that fits perfectly — right off the rack. Behold the dress that fits perfectly everywhere — length, waist, bust, armholes. As you can see below, it fits perfectly even when I am doubled over laughing. How extraordinary.       This dress has some lovely details: self-fabric … Read more

Chameleon Jacket

    Can such a distinctively colored jacket adapt? Of course it can.     Jacket: Robert Rodriguez; White blouse: Banana Republic; Grey wool pants: JCrew; Black linen pants: JCrew: Striped tee-shirt: JCrew; Black blouse: Anthropologie; Black cotton pants: JCrew; Black patent flats: Geoxx; Black cap-toed flats: French Sole New York; Black brogues: Cole Haan (2014); … Read more

Cape Back Blouse

  It’s cold here in Washington, D.C. — but for those flying south and thinking about casual resort wear for work (as well as all of my readers in the Southern Hemisphere) . . . I am wearing silver sandals, but black sandals or flats would clearly coordinate. And I’ve tried it with two bags: … Read more