The Well Dressed Wife

image via The Tailor's Art

and the patient husband who pays the bills.
Anne Fogarty's 1959 'How To' has been reissued - and just in time for New Year's Resolutions.

Get it here:
Wife Dressing: The Fine Art of Being a Well-Dressed Wife

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Functional Warm and Classic

Wigwam Worsted Wool Watch Cap $8.99 here

The watch cap - so named for sailors standing watch.

Quote of the Week - Marcel Proust

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

The Driving Shoe

With their soft leather uppers and studded soles dare I say driving shoes are both, fashionable and functionable. Why the the studded leather soles? They allow you to catch the edges of the pedals easily without slippage.

Shown:
Ralph Lauren/Tod's
Prada/Cole Haan
Gucci/Salvatore Ferragamo

Pretend you're not on transit

A rare late Autumn night of no rain and little traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge. Bad first 30 seconds of music courtesy of Sirius satellite radio.

Happy Birthday

Boris Karloff

One on, One off - My Dress of Choice

I'm addicted to these 'one ons' as of late.
Why?

1. There's no messing around with zips, buttons or other fasteners
   
2. they're great all season
3. I can dress them up or down
   
4. they're easy to accessorize
   
5. they're easy to care for - cold wash, hang to dry
   
6. they don't wrinkle ridiculously when I'm sitting in meetings all day
   
7. they layer easily
8. and I don't need to wear Spanx
   

Isabel Marant, The Row, Acne and Filippa K do some great ones.

Dress shown is James Perse

Men's Fashion Inspiration

Hong Kong '62 vs Filippa K '10

Mantis religiosa Runway Collection SS 2011

via

Quote of the Week - Madeleine Vionnet

When a woman smiles, her dress should also smile.

Google Ventures into Fashion and Boutiques.com

As you know November 17th was the launch of Google's venture into the world of fashion. A very smart venture - think it'll turn over more revenue than Ad Sense ;-)

I've set up my page so let's 'follow' each other.

My feedback so far:

1. I don't like the terms 'Love' and 'Hate' to choose my preferences, or the word 'Silhouette' to describe style/design.
2. I'd like to be able to rearrange the 'cover' photos on my home page by dragging and dropping.
3. I don't like that I can't control comments.
4. I don't like being slotted into a defined 'style'. Users should be able to create their own - that's why mine is empty.
5. Why no menswear?
6. Jewelry please
7. I can only email or share on Twitter. Does this forecast the same thing to you as it does to me?

If you're a merchant - Google wants you, and so do I so I can have more variety on my page!
Merchant Help Center - List Your Products on Boutiques.com

Vintage Emanuel Ungaro

1980

Tip of the Week - How to Leave a Party

Being an introvert, I used to be a pro at this - now I save myself the hassle and just don't go - it's so much easier. The technique outlined below should be saved for larger parties or those with extremely inebriated guests.

1. Party is set to start at 9:00. Arrive at 9:30
2. Spot your hosts and give the 'nod and smile'.
3. Chat with one, then the other. No longer than ten minutes in total.
4. Accept a drink - if offered, but leave it untouched. Beware of 'liquid courage'.
5. Work the edges of the room giving the 'nod and smile' to those you recognize. Remember, you're there to be seen not heard.
6. Keep your back to the wall so people can recognize you. You never know, you may need an alibi one day.
7. Within another ten minutes you should be out the door as quickly, but less painfully, as you entered.
8. Total commitment 20-30 minutes max.

Tip - think of yourself as the second hand on a clock skimming the edges until you're back where you started.

Channeling Camel Hair Coats

Stacy Reynaud

I was downloading some photos from last weekend, and - trust me - the above shot was totally unplanned. James Dean came to mind when I was looking for photos of Marilyn Monroe in her camel hair coat - I remembered he had one too. Voila. He's a lot cooler than me.

Quote of the Week - Winston Churchill

However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.