I still remember the first time I tried to “dress like the Grammys.” I copied a red carpet look from a magazine, wore a body-hugging satin dress to a winter event, and spent the entire night tugging at it because the fabric showed every line underneath. In photos, it looked sleek. Expensive, even. On me? … Read more
I learned this on a January morning in SoHo, when the wind had teeth, and every block smelled faintly of roasted nuts and diesel. My boots were loud on the pavement, my scarf swallowed half my face, and I was layered like I was enroute to base camp. Puffer, chunky knit, thermal layers — the … Read more
Beyond “Nothing to Wear”: The Architecture of the Perfect Top I used to blame my closet. Too small Too basic Too boring It took me years to admit the truth: I didn’t have a wardrobe problem. I had a top issue. Tops that looked charming on hangers and confusing on my body. Fabrics that felt … Read more
I used to think finding good style nearby just meant locating a store with mannequins in blazers. That was my first mistake. I’d walk into the nearest mall shop, grab whatever looked decent on a hanger, try it on under that tragic yellow lighting, and convince myself I looked sharp. Two weeks later — after … Read more
I still remember the day I walked into a client meeting wearing what I thought was an “excellent” business casual outfit: a stiff blazer, shiny trousers, and painfully pointy heels I’d convinced myself looked “professional.” I looked polished in theory. In reality, I looked like I was wearing a costume. I spent the entire meeting … Read more
I still remember my first time in the desert. I had mood boards and backup outfits, Boots that looked unreal in my bedroom mirror. By mid-afternoon on day one, I had blisters, heat rash, and a fringe jacket moulting onto strangers. That was the year I understood the difference between dressing for a photo and … Read more
I used to think a modest winter wardrobe meant bracing myself for six months of looking like a walking blanket. One icy morning, the wind cut straight through my coat, my thick sweater itched at my neck, and my long skirt clung to my tights in the most unflattering way. My toes were numb in … Read more
I still remember one fall—years ago—when I thought I’d absolutely nailed my wardrobe because everything in it was “in.” Oversized knits, rigid jeans, boots I’d saved for months to afford. By October, the illusion cracked. The sweater pilled after two washes. The jeans sagged at the knees like they’d given up. The boots somehow looked … Read more
During my first pregnancy, I was convinced I could outsmart the system. I bought my usual pieces one size bigger, added a few stretchy basics, and called it a plan. By month five, my jeans were sliding down in the back and slicing into my stomach in the front. Tees clung to all the wrong … Read more
Business Formal Dress Code: How to Get It Right Without Looking Overdone I learned this lesson the uncomfortable way. Early in my career, I walked into a high-stakes client meeting wearing what I thought was impeccably professional: slim black blazer, dark denim, polished leather sneakers. I felt modern and sharp—right up until I noticed every … Read more