The Closet Coach

This weekend I’ll be presenting at a conference in New York.

In addition to practicing my presentation, one of my most important preparatory tasks has been to consider what to wear. I thought about separates. I thought about pants. I thought about a belted sweater.

But then I decided there was no greater epitome of professional than wearing a suit. Having very little occasion otherwise to wear one, I retrieved my two-piece Christian Dior suit from the closet.

I’ve had this suit for over 15 years now, having originally purchased it in a major Saks Off Fifth outlet coup for a mere $200.

It’s made of a fine wool and silk blend, in a very small houndstooth tweed. The jacket is collarless and the straight placket down the front overlaps from right to left. It fastens in five places with narrow black patent belts. The skirt is a simple A-line.

As I hung it up in my room again, I stopped to consider why, out of the few suits I own, this one is the least dated.

And it’s because the details are all so classic: the fabric, the pattern, and the cut. Although the jacket fastenings are unusual, they still look fashion-forward.

Think about the clothes you have owned for many years:

• Which ones do you regularly pull out of your closet, year after year?
• Which ones cause you to cringe when you see them?
• Why?

Trendy has its place, but when you make a substantial investment in a garment you hope to wear repeatedly over a long period of time–such as a suit or coat–you will always be better served by choosing a classic style. This holds true of accessories, as well.

Because classic means timeless.

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1. Outerwear is the layer that makes the outfit