High Priestess of Weirdy Green

Oyez, oyez! Summer is over. It’s fall. I’ll be clearing out my summer back-catalog and moving on to fall photos soon. I am reminded: Time to ransom all the winter coats that I stored at the cleaner’s. What a dull task for this weekend . . .

Before we turn to my favorite autumnal shades — and all things pumpkin spice — let’s have one last jolt of electrifying weirdy green in a summer weight poplin, shall we?

We shall indeed.

It is I! Your High Priestess of Weirdy Green

Is The Directorate a theocracy? Can I be the Directrice and a High Priestess at the same time?

I bought this dress during the summer of 2020 — I know, shockingly optimistic — because I could not resist the color.

It is supposed to be worn off-the-shoulder (actually, off one shoulder) with a flounce (bordering on valance) around the shoulders. I have styled it differently so as to be able to wear it to work . . . in my dining room. I’ve also worn it in my office downtown.


It’s kind of bizarre, but I sort of love it? The fit is very loose and the dress slides around the body, arranging its volume into continuously shifting shapes. It’s almost alive — the dress is doing tai chi while the body is walking or standing or typing — and there’s something entertaining in that.

In these photos, however, I am manipulating the dress
Manipulating sounds sinister; I am posing the dress

It’s been so long since I bought this dress that I’ve forgotten what alterations it required. It needed to be shortened by a few inches and I think the armscyes needed to be tightened?

The changes may be lost to the sands of time

I may continue to tinker with the sleeves. The right armscye cuts into the chest so sharply that, depending on how the dress is moving, a bit of my bra strap shows. If anyone were to notice, I would say it’s my slip. But I would be lying.

After all we’ve been through in recent years, does anyone really care about a little lingerie showing?
I didn’t think so

Since I gathered up the off-the-shoulder ruffle/valance and turned it into a shirred, round neckline, excess fabric drapes in the back, in the manner of a cowl.

The Photographer and Fatima were not on-board with this lazy finish. I think Fatima would have preferred to tighten and straighten out the back. The Photographer — in a rare intervention — attempted to flatten these folds.

Me? I like this unstudied, haphazard excess of fabric. But, as always, You the Jury.

I see wrinkles after a long day of sedentary tai chi; if only The Photographer had had a portable steamer

Just a reminder that Fatima is working from home, but is delighted to make house calls and office visits. When she visits my office, I put out the call to my co-workers in advance and invite them to bring in any of their clothes requiring alteration. You should do the same! You’d be surprised how many people have at least a couple of things that need fixing or adjustments. You can reach Fatima at fati.design_77@yahoo.com.

Dress: 3.1 Phillip Lim (this will almost certainly appear on The RealReal); Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff; Bag: Sophie Hume Bolt Bag; Bracelets: John Hardy

Real dress, real model

7 thoughts on “High Priestess of Weirdy Green”

  1. Thanks to the Directrice, I have become a big fan of weirdy greens — and now spot them everywhere, with a little “I spy” voice in the back my head! I like the waist-cinching feature here. Very practical. The tai chi feature makes me wish for directrice gifs!

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  2. I would love to see a t-shirt under this to balance the sleeves, in a contrasty color or pattern. That could also bring the dress into early Fall.

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  3. I’m usually onboard with unusually structured clothing, but on this I’m with Fatima and the Photographer. On the other hand, the weirdy green is fresh and fun and perfect for fall.

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