Is Reformation Worth the Hype?

A few weeks ago, I read a New York Times article about Reformation, a so-called shopping sojourn for “cool girls.” That’s the kind of descriptor I typically scoff at — are “cool girls” just code for “women with credit cards?” But I hate to ridicule something until I’ve had a chance to see it myself. The […]

How to Organize Your Cosmetics, Shoes and Everything Else

The past few weekends have been frigid, gray and short. It’s been the worst possible weather for outfit photos. Instead, these types of weekends seem built for doing chores. (Riveting, I know.) The bright side? I’ve discovered the single greatest organizational secret for cosmetics. Don’t laugh. But do you ever have problems identifying which eyeshadow palette is which […]

What’s Up With J.Crew Lately?

Uh, oh. J. Crew is back in the hot seat — and not just here at Catalog Police. The fashion world was abuzz with the news that J. Crew is actually recommending $450 “wedding shorts.” Normally, I’d fear that such a desperately out-of-touch design meant that J. Crew was on the fast-track to the land of Cache. But […]

The Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift

When it comes to gifts, I don’t like to be surprised. It may seem tacky, but whenever a holiday rolls around, I take the guesswork out of the equation and send my husband a couple potential gift ideas. He knows not to stray from the list. (PS: I always ask him for a list, too. […]

The Best Fashion Book, Period

A person’s bookshelf is like the Myers-Briggs — it’s a reasonably accurate prediction into the subject’s passions and tics. There’s a reason why so many bankers love Liar’s Poker or why urban planning junkies adore The Power Broker. Fashion lovers are no different. If a woman loves her clothes, there’s a strong likelihood that she’s got a […]

The Things We Wore

Every time I visit my childhood home, it’s like walking into a mini-museum devoted to me and my sister. Every available surface, from the bookshelves to the piano, is crowded with photos of us clad in clothes that document various milestones, from Halloween costumes to bridesmaids dresses. Since I’m in my 30s, the photos are […]

Why are Superbowl Halftime Costumes SO Bad?

Even as a child, I never wanted to be a pop star. For one, I had terrible stage fright. (And I couldn’t actually sing.) But mostly, I never connected with the rockstar “look.” Like it or not, the overwhelming majority of pop stars are incredibly unsophisticated when it comes to their clothes. There’s no cleverness in the […]