Color Carries the Day

  A simple dress can be distinctive if the color stands out. In case you are interested in the necklace, here is a closer view. While I’ve had this for years, some variation of it (Figaro chain, Albion pendant) is still available from David Yurman. The stone in the pendant is smoky quartz, which I … Read more

Three Shades of Grey

  In the early days of fall, a lightweight sweater is just right for the addressing the temperature and the season. You have to hold something in reserve because this . . . Washington D.C. in October . . . is not cold. You may remember these printed tanks (I am wearing two, layered), last … Read more

Winter Coats: A Decision Tree

  A winter coat is a big investment and if you live in a climate where winter lasts a few months, ideally you will have more than one such coat. But everyone needs to start somewhere! So, if you (I) were going to buy one coat, what would it be?   Before we unpack this … Read more

Casual Saturday: To Market

  There were so many things I wanted to do last weekend that I tried to combine all of them in one epic excursion that went like this [in my mind]: Metro to Dupont Circle, walk to Georgetown, lunch at Bistro Francais, Coach, Lucky Brand Jeans, Blue Mercury, Baked & Wired, Everest in 3-D, walk … Read more

The Back-up Plan

  As part of an ongoing effort to demonstrate that I occasionally wear Business Attire (as opposed to Business Casual), I bring you another suit. Are you wondering where I wear this suit?   I’ve worn it for depositions and client meetings. I’ve also worn it to court to handle a hearing. But I offer … Read more

Auntie Mame Returns

  Lasers have brought extraordinary advances to the inhabitants of our little planet. Lasers have given us: But the most extraordinary application of laser technology, in the context of this blog, is laser-printing, which in turn has given us this: Don’t be afraid. Come a little closer to see. A blouse like this needs some … Read more

The Perfect Jacket

  We’re moving into cooler temperatures in Washington, D.C., which means it’s time to start thinking about woolens: sweaters, scarves and jackets. In the early fall, a blazer that you can wear outside (with a scarf and gloves) and then keep on all day (inside) is handy. I have a couple a few some a … Read more

The Directrice Turns 100!

  If that wasn’t the most misleading headline ever . . . A quick retrospective showing the many faces of The Directrice, which is really just an excuse to play with WordPress’s carousel feature. [su_carousel source=”media: 5545,4716,4584,4215,4105,3921,3730,3630,3994, 3811,5868,5860,5804,5798,5616,5613,5441,5430,4879,4381,4228,4122,3373,2790,5275,4692,4590,4218,4201,3774,3566,3103,3003″ limit=”30″ height=”350″ title=”no”] Now, a couple of housekeeping items. First, I wanted to let you know that … Read more

Durability

  Despite my willingness to embark on what might seem to be a gratuitous frolic-and-detour in the pursuit of a non-essential prize — see, e.g., Monday’s post — I am a fairly practical creature and have limited interest in taxing my ingenuity with the maintenance of clothes. In general, I prefer things that I can … Read more

In Which the Directrice Borrows Trouble

  Since I often show clothes that have been altered or re-purposed — sometimes, significantly — I thought it might be helpful, or at least interesting, to see what these treasures look like before those radical changes are implemented. Here goes! I like colorful tops to wear underneath jackets and sweaters. Even though they may … Read more