A breakfast event pops up for tomorrow. What’s a failsafe outfit you might turn to for an early morning occasion when you want to feel polished?
Probably a beautifully cut trouser, some kind of masculine shirting situation, and a long coat draped over my shoulders. I love monochromatic dressing because it feels calm, chic, and it’s not trying too hard. I’m usually in a block heel, and my hair is almost always exactly the same: straight, down, middle part. I don’t even own a curling iron; that feels too overdone on me.
Photo: Huy Luong
What type of dress code fills you with dread? And what’s your workaround for that?
Unpopular opinion: but rigid, no-stretch jeans fill me with dread. Any dress code that somehow requires suffering through a tight waistband for six straight hours feels deeply unreasonable to me. I own them, and I’ll wear them reluctantly, but only if the event really calls for it.
A luncheon is on the calendar. How might you approach putting together a look for that?
Lunch-time dressing is really about polish in daylight, so I think about absolute quality first and foremost. A beautiful skirt with a knit, or a sculptural dress. I also sometimes think about how something will look after being seated at a table for an hour or two. Anything that wrinkles badly should be saved for a cocktail party where you’ll mostly be standing.
What are your thoughts on costume parties? All in with the DIY, or politely decline?
I always admire people who fully commit, as it takes a lot of effort to do that well. I’m usually panic-ordering something from Amazon the day before. I wish I were a crafty DIY person, but sadly I’m not. That said, I would never decline an invite just because I didn’t have a something to wear—that’s not my style. In fact, it feels a bit lame to me! If I’m in a bind, I’ll usually lean into something chic and slightly abstract instead of showing up in a full, literal costume. Think: vaguely thematic woman in a good outfit…
