When deciding whether to buy something new, I always think about utility: How often I am likely to wear this? Utility is often connected to versatility: a jacket that goes with more things, will be worn more. And a jacket that can be worn through more than one season is bound to get more … Read more
Being well-dressed does not require innate genius. It is true that there are people who seem instinctively to know how to put things together or wear their clothes with originality. But there are two ways to get to a well-dressed state: indulging innate ability OR employing a combination of critical thinking, discipline and a … Read more
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
When I was a little girl, about 8, I had a friend who had been taught the rudiments of pattern-making and sewing by her mother. She was precocious, intense, and creative — and sent a fan letter to Priscilla of Boston, which at the time was among the country’s premier couture bridal boutiques. The … 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 we caucused to discuss stripes and their virtues. The topic was so vast and complex that I could only cover horizontal stripes in that initial post. Now we praise vertical stripes. They say that vertical stripes are thinning, or lengthening, or elongating, but I don’t really think that’s true. They are, … Read more