In our CLE/CME series “Advanced Alterations: Case Studies” I give you: Hand-blocked Dress Over Pants (HBDOP) — a better-fitting dress over all-season white denim. I added this dress to my list of “things requiring alteration” and waited to be reunited with Fatima. Et voila! * Provided for the CDE participants.+ … Read moreNip/Tuck
Like many of you, I vowed at the start of the pandemic to ruthlessly clean my closets, cabinets, and drawers, top-to-bottom, and rid myself of the greater of (25% of possessions OR anything that I have not been loving or using in recent years). Fourteen months later, I got down to business. This … Read moreA Win-Win Proposition
Fatima came to visit a few weeks ago and for once, we took photos of a few garments before they were altered so that you could see how they were altered and what a difference alterations make. What follows is a true story. * I had two denim tops: this one from 2016 … Read moreAn Expert at Work
I had a second meeting with Fatima earlier this month and therefore have many things to show you this summer. They aren’t new things exactly, but they are things you haven’t seen because I bought them in 2019 (for summer 2020) or in 2020 (assuming 2021 would come eventually) and needed to adjust them … Read moreA Touch of Blue
Here is one last set of photos from the shoulder weeks between winter and summer, also known as “Spring.” * I think that this is the advice I’ve offered previously. + These white denim pants are my new favorites. I think I wore them more days than not during the months of … Read moreEverything Up My Sleeves
Do you remember that I told you, long ago, that a Substantial Top could stand in for a Smart Jacket under certain circumstances? It’s true. True that I said it, and true as a statement of fact. Here, I will show you casual tops of substance standing in for casual smart jackets. … Read moreWhite Rook/Black Rook
Realizing, as I did last week, that some of the things that I consider staples have not been commonly accepted as wardrobe basics (“Ten Things Every Woman Must Have in Her Closet!”), I thought I would start building the case for them. If I do my job well — and I am a … Read moreSong of Staples, Part I
I’ve published a few posts devoted to “the little things” — the small details that complete — nay, elevate — an outfit from good to great. Or perhaps even from great to sublime. Do you see the sub-atomic detail in this outfit? * The prize is the satisfaction of being correct.
My pre-pandemic fall/winter wardrobe consisted of many black and grey jackets. Not so much vibrant color. But I do have two (two? two!) gold jackets. I check YOOX several times a year for yellow belts — which yields a very a manageable number of choices to sift through. This one cost $6. And … Read moreRay of Sunshine
A robust cohort of The Directorate — representing two continents and four countries — met on Zoom last Saturday. It was an event. Life-changing advice was dispensed (and not just by me)+ and many appreciations were offered (from me to readers, from readers to The Photographer and me, from readers to one another), so … Read moreTechnical Climbing