My friends and daughters often ask for my fashion advice.  Whether it is where to get the best white t-shirt in Chicago (Feel Good at http://www.estreetdenim.com/email/default.asp) or can I wear white to a wedding (officially no), I am their go to resource for clothing questions.  I am always flattered to be asked but I have to admit, since high school when I was nominated “Best Dressed,” it has always stymied me a little that I get this recognition.  My high school nod was based on a wardrobe that I either made on my own Singer or purchased at Montgomery Ward in my hometown of Charleston WV. Since then, I have certainly upped the ante on price tags as my circumstances have allowed but my fashion mojo has always been based on the same philosophy:  Like the Marines, depend on “a few good men.” Buy well-made pieces (whether they come from Bergdorf Goodman, T.J. Maxx or a local consignment shop) you can wear over and over, mix and match, and dress up or dress down.

In addition to my basic soldiers (maintaining the Marine motif) I always throw in a few unique, one of a kind pieces like the skirt pictured above.  I have worn this to several events, with boots, high pumps, low pumps, sandals, sleeveless top, long sleeves and even a surgical bootie after some foot repair.  My favorite comment I have received on this skirt was, “Only you could pull that off.” Rather than take that as, “Who do you think you are, the Pink Swan?” I saw it as my style isn’t completely predictable. My approach is, keep the outfit simple and add a funky necklace or bracelet or do the opposite, wear the funky skirt but everything else should blend into the woodwork.

Basically, my fashion philosophy is:

— Choose timeless pieces and build your wardrobe around them.

— Essential of any wardrobe:  crisp all cotton white blouse, white t-shirt, classic black blazer, good fitting pair of jeans.

— Wow them with your accessories or wow them with one piece of clothing.  Never both.

— The right shoes make or break the outfit.

— Put everything on and take one thing off, except like your blouse, obviously, but sometimes your underwear is optional.

— Buy fancy dresses when you aren’t desperate for one. You will never find one when you are.

— Although Paul McCartney’s new wife broke this cardinal rule last week in People Magazine–no stockings and sandals. Never. Not even nude colored. Not seamless toes. Never. End of subject.

— Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, even if your fitness or body type allows you to go younger, stay age appropriate.

Now you might think after all this advice that  I am a great packer.  Not so. Just because I shop abiding the “few good men” mantra, doesn’t mean that I know which one I will want to go out with when I am staring into an empty suitcase.

Next post I will reveal my tell-all secrets to packing I learned from an English butler I watched on a twenty minute Internet video.  Seriously.  I did that. And I am still late for planes.