What we wear matters. For some reason, this statement has become a controversial topic of late. Many of us believe that what we wear is important— that dressing is a form of both self-respect and respect for others. But there is an opposing argument to everything. Those who disagree state that what we wear does not matter. That it is none of our business how other people dress and there should not be a dress code for anything. We are living in a world of "anything goes" anyway so why fight it?

Standards of dress have slipped rather dramatically over the past few decades. It didn't happen suddenly, it happened gradually, so much so that we didn't notice it, until now. We are starting to see a backlash in the news, like with the British headmistress who sent a letter home to parents asking them to not wear their pajamas to school. Or the San Diego judge who posted a notice on his courtroom wall stating that pajamas are not appropriate attire for district court. This is how bad it's become: adults need to be told to not wear their pajamas in public.

In my life I have been on both sides of the dressing experience. As a college student, I would have thought nothing of wearing sweatpants and dressing sloppily in public. Hey, we all did it! (Or, at least that was my excuse.) But after living in Paris with Madame Chic and her family, I was awakened to the power and dignity of dress. Now, I do my best to look presentable and dress appropriately on a daily basis, and it's safe to say you won't see me in my nightgown on the street, unless there is a fire or earthquake. (That's my goal, anyway.)

Many of the people opposed to the idea that what we we wear matters claim that it is an elitist thing. That we are saying you need to be dressed in the latest brand name or the most expensive items. This could not be further from the truth. People can dress with dignity at any price point, from the smallest to the largest budget.

What we wear matters. I firmly believe this and in this week's video I state my case for why. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur (and be sure to subscribe!)

Here are some articles of interest that are mentioned in the video:

Business Insider article on what to wear to work.

Wall Street Journal article on badly dressed museum visitors

Judge asks people to stop wearing pajamas in court.

Headmistress in the United Kingdom sends a letter home to parents urging them to not wear pajamas to school.

News
Check out my interview with Germany's Alyona Klameth, from What's Up online magazine, about Paris, Madame Chic and the ten-item wardrobe.

Tala Ocampo gets inspiration from At Home With Madame Chic when upping her everyday game.

7 Mouths 2 Feed ponders the ten-item wardrobe in her post called, Brave New Wardrobe.

Comments of the Week
Alison T. writes:

Oh my goodness, I came across this at the right time. I'm a teacher and had parent-teacher conferences last week. Many mothers came to our conference in workout clothes. I make an effort to look professional every day, and it made me feel disrespected that they did not care enough to change before these meetings. Unless you are a personal trainer, make an effort when meeting with your child's teacher!

Hi Alison, thank you for giving us one teacher's perspective. We so often only think of ourselves, it's good to wonder how the other party feels. I'm sure you are an excellent example for your students.

Lynne writes:

Hi Jennifer,
I just wanted to let you know how much I have appreciated your blog and books. Like many people I have been captivated by the 10 item wardrobe and I'm finally implementing it. I was thrilled to discover how much money I can save when I stay true to my style, and don't feel pulled (too much :) ) by trends. Now I can take advantage of the end of season sales and buy quality pieces for very little. I bought a beautiful winter dress and blouse yesterday for 50% off and will get a bit of wear out of them this season and for many years to come. Thank you and congratulations on your pregnancy!


Hi Lynne, thank you for your comment. I loved hearing how the ten-item wardrobe has worked wonders for you. Many people tell me they have read my blog for years and are just now implementing the ten-item wardrobe in their lives. It's never too late!

This week I would love to know what you think. Does what we wear matter? If so, why? If not, why not? Please leave your comments in the comment section below and you could be chosen as comment of the week!


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I hope you are having a lovely week! I am still on holiday in England but have another video for you that I shot back in California.

This week we are talking about wearing bold prints. If you are somewhat of a fashion wallflower, you might feel intimidated by wearing bold prints. I'm pretty shy with prints, believe it or not, but I do inject them into my ten-item wardrobe each season because I think they look good and I like to challenge myself.

Here are some examples of bold prints in my ten-item wardrobe for Spring/Summer:







My best tip for wearing bold prints is to pair them with neutral accessories such as a neutral cardigan or blazer and neutral shoes. This allows the bold print to be the star of the show. Make your jewelry subtle as well. As you get more confident with your style statements, you can begin to experiment with mixing prints and accessorizing them creatively, but for beginners, I recommend going neutral.

Check out this week's video to hear more on this topic. If you are unable to see the video above**, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
If you feel shy with your fashion choices and constantly find yourself wearing black or neutrals consider adding a bold print to your ten-item wardrobe. Have fun challenging your fashion sense and enjoy wearing bold prints.

Comments of the Week
On last week's post, How to Preserve Your Clothes Between Washes, Margaret P. says:

Being a good bit older than yourself, Jennifer, and I guess older than most of your readers, I would like to say that dress shields were commonplace to my mother's generation if not to mine. Most dresses she had in the 1940s and 1950s came with dress shields sewn into them and they could be snipped out, washed and then replaced with a few stitches (no stick-on ones in those days, of course.)

Patricia W. writes:

I loved this post, in particular, nostalgic to me, because it reminded me of my sister and I being with my paternal grandparents on most Saturday nights while my parents went out to dinner and dancing...my grandma in her apron, her dress shields in her good dresses,and spying through the crack in their not quite closed bedroom door as my grandfather laced her into her corset on Sunday mornings before she donned her dress for church. Our Mother and Father, uncles, aunts, and cousins would always be in attendance for Sunday afternoon dinner.

On the subject of dress shields, TL writes:

Just like a previous reader commented I was also concerned about the amount of waste created by disposable garment guards so after some more online research I found there are washable ones (in cotton). These were actually what people used in the old days, before deodorants :) They are still being manufactured in small amounts, so just do a search on washable dress shields/ garment guards and you will find several different models. Some are strapped on to your underarms, others to your clothing (pinned with safety pins or adhered with adhesive strips).

Thank you, ladies for your reminisces and tips. I read every comment and appreciate them all!

This week I would love to know... what are your thoughts on wearing bold prints? Are you comfortable wearing them? Do you have a special way you style them? Let us know in the comment section below and you could be picked as the comment of the week!

**I realize that some email subscribers are not able to see the embedded video via their email. I am not sure what the cause is of this technical difficulty. Until the problem is resolved, please click on the "click here" video link mentioned above to be taken directly to my YouTube channel. Thank you for your understanding!

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This week I share my favorite tips on how to prolong the wear of your clothes between washes. This is crucial when you have a ten-item wardrobe and are wearing the same clothes over and over. Washing your clothes less will prolong their wear over time. It also inspires gratitude for the clothes that we do have as we take care of them and treat them well.

1. Wear an apron. I know I mention this all the time, but I cannot stress this enough. In this week's video I share a recent experience when I forgot to wear my apron (woe is me!)

2. Wear slips and camisoles. When you put a layer between your skin and your clothes, your clothes will last longer between washes. You will need to wash your slip every time, but your clothes will be preserved.

3. Use garment guards or dress shields. I called them "armpit pads" in Japan but my lovely readers educated me on their true title :) These fashion first-aids are brilliant! Place them in the underarm area of your garment to prevent your clothes from being saturated with perspiration.

4. Hang up your clothes and let them air. When you are ready to change your clothes, don't throw them on the back of your chair or in a heap somewhere, hang them up and let them air out if possible to preserve their shape.

5. Use a steamer or iron. Don't forget to erase the wrinkles with a steamer or iron. This will refresh your clothes and make them look presentable between washes.

Check out this week's video for more elaboration on each tip as well as demonstrations. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Treat every garment you have like a valuable piece from a high-end boutique. Treat your clothes with respect and take pride in how you dress. This attention to detail will be cultivated beautifully as you cultivate your ten-item wardrobe.

News
I am on holiday in England right now visiting family so I am going light on the blogging! Hope you are enjoying your week and see you soon.

This week I would love to know... how do you preserve your clothes between washes?



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This week I show you how a small alteration can completely transform a garment, in this case, my Boden "Cate" dress. When it arrived in the mail, I loved the fit and the length, but did not love the floucy bat sleeves. I felt they weren't flattering. So I had the tailor pin back the flounce to create the perfect cap sleeve dress and now I love it!

Check out the before and after in this week's video. **My apologies for the echoey nature of this video.If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



I hope this video inspires you to take your "off the rack" purchase and tailor it to make it one-of-a kind and perfect for you.

Madame Chic Inspiring Thought
Go through your lingerie drawer this week and get organized. Discard any old or over-worn items and arrange your nice undergarments beautifully. Make a note of where you need to make purchases (new slips, stockings, shapewear, etc.) and keep this list in mind the next time you are able to buy.

Question of the Week
Amy G. from Texas asks if shorts can ever be chic and classy. I say, yes! Certainly not the ripped, cut-off variety, but tailored shorts can look very chic. If you are not comfortable in short shorts (and I don't know many people who are) consider a longer short. Tuck in your blouse and wear them with a belt and a nice sandal for a presentable look. If you feel self-conscious about your bare legs consider wearing them with stockings.

Artistic Recommendation

On My Japan Diary, Amy B. writes:

You may enjoy reading the book by Japanese skin care guru Chizu Saeki called The Japanese Skincare Revolution: How to Have the Most Beautiful Skin of Your Life--At Any Age. That was where I first was introduced to those thin cloths as well. She says applying toner ("lotion" in Japan) with those cloths helps it sink in more and plumps up/nourishes the skin more than a quick swipe with a cotton round. I think she says in Japan their toners are more nourishing/moisturizing than the standard stripping American type toner.

I love that she talks about not needing to buy the most expensive skin care products, because she says you can often make a $10 skin cream act like a $100 skin cream if you use it carefully (warming the cream between your fingers before application, pressing the product into skin, etc.) It's a quick but great read.

Thank you for this recommendation Amy. It sounds like a great read!

News

Japan viewers: I will appear on Nippon television's The Most Useful School in the World, Saturday May 23rd, 7pm.

**This is the last video you will ever see shot in our town home as we recently sold it! Yes, the Connoisseur family is looking for a new home in Santa Monica.

Ruby's Musings concludes her thoughts on Lessons from Madame Chic.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the tailored dress featured in this week's video. Have you tailored any of your clothes recently? How is your ten-item wardrobe coming along? Let me know and you could be featured as the comment or question of the week!

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Last week I attended the Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Sleeping Beauty at Royce Hall. Before attending the ballet I had a rather full day and in this week's video I show you how to go from day to evening makeup. Come get ready with me as I refresh my day makeup and choose a dress from my extras. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel (and subscribe!): www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



Makeup used in the video:

CHANEL Perfection Lumiere Velvet foundation

Benefit Fake Up under eye concealer

Benefit Boi-ing concealer

Laura Mercier loose setting powder

Urban Decay Primer Potion

YSL faux cils mascara in burgundy


MAC eyebrow powder

Tarte BeMATTEnificent palette (I thought this palette was discontinued but I see it is available on Amazon but for a much higher price. Please let us know if you find it elsewhere for less) shades used: sand out from the crowd across entire lid, rose to the occasion in the crease and two plums up in the outer crease and blush in elevated.

Bobbi Brown longwear gel eyeliner in caviar ink

MAC bronzer along the hollows of the cheeks

Hourglass femme nude lip stilo no. 6

Urban Decay lip gloss Naked in deep pink/ mauve



Outfit in the video:
The DVF cocktail dress from my extras. You will recognize this as I wore it to many speaking engagements last spring. You will see this in my extras again this year for the ten-item wardrobe. The shoes are nude patent Ferragamo heels and the trench coat is from A.P.C., another mainstay in my extras.

The ballet was wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I especially loved principal dancer Allyssa Bross in the role of the Lilac Fairy.

I hope this video inspires you to have a fun evening out by seeking out the arts in your neighborhood. Supporting the arts is one of the most important things we can do to salvage the dignity of our culture.

Click here for more on the Los Angeles Ballet

News

The Glamorous Housewife took my 5-Minute Makeup Challenge! Check out her fun video here.

The Spirited Thrifter creates a sustainable ten-item wardrobe.

I'm coming to Japan the week of April 20th! Stay tuned for more details.

Artistic Recommendation
Marija writes:

Since you so kindly share your videos with us, I would like to share with you a book series which I believe you will enjoy. The series is by Kerry Greenwood, an Australian author. The books are based around an ultra-glamorous, yet very down-to-earth female sleuth, the beautifully named Phryne (Fry-nee) Fisher during 1920's Melbourne. The books have also been recently televised, fairly successfully, though not with the full supporting cast of characters.
A delightful read with a cup of tea, and a slice of blueberry cake! :-)
Warm regards, Marija

Thank you Marija! I have enjoyed watching Mrs. Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Netflix but will also check out the books!


This week I would love to know... what arts will you seek out this season?


*Music in video: Tchaikovsky The New Doll

Music from Audio Micro


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