Refreshing, Restyling and Remaking

For those of you seeking signs that we are returning to life as we knew it, look no further. Dress Over Pants is back. Some in the fashion industry are, however, predicting, a swing back to more structured, formal clothes. That sounds right to me. The last 100 years of fashion have swung between structure … Read more

  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 more

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 more

  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 more

  Has there ever been a time in my life when I didn’t have a polka dot dress in my closet?   I don’t think so. Maybe college.   Dress: Sir the Label; Belt: Pinko Uniqueness from YOOX; Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff   * I had an image in my head of Princess Diana in an … Read more

  Egad! Summer is over. So soon? I just brought my sandals up from the storage bin. I don’t know how The Directorate feels about Strapless Utility Dress, but the Directrice herself loves it. This dress has so many faces.* Something happened to the buckle on the self-belt — the buckle prong is, somehow, missing … Read more

  The most devoted Directrice scholars may recognize this outfit from its original post date (August 2015) or from its inclusion in the Key Set (October 2017), but it will surely be new to some of you? And welcomed by all of you?   Top: Anthropologie; Pants: JCrew Point Sur Washed Wide-Leg Crop Pants; Shoes: … Read more

  While noodling around the Nordstrom Annual Sale* — which seems to have taken on the prominence of the World Series and the gravitas of the Nobel Prize announcements — I came across this.   This bold pairing of a bustier-over-belted-dress (there are two belts there) did give me an idea of how to use … Read more

  Despite the heat, sometimes one still wants to cover up. The sun, you know, is both our friend and our foe. It was very hot when we took these photos and The Photographer caught me clowning around while he was adjusting his settings.   * In case you are wondering, I am the fretter.+ … Read more

  It’s summer 2019 and The Directrice is up to her old tricks: sundresses, disturbing necklaces, NSFW sandals.   Have a fantastic weekend!   Dress: JCrew; Black belt: DSquared2; Yellow belt: Off-White; Sandals: Skechers; Sneakers: Superga; Hideo-marvelous necklace: Maria Calderara