Unsolicited Advice #10: A reminder.

As previously discussed on these pages, it is still totally tasteful to blame "the recession economy" where you might otherwise have blamed the vengeful fates.

Example: "I keep getting flats on my bike. It must be the recession economy."

Unsolicited Advice #9: Wear the same clothes again.

Take a page from the less-is-more playbook and choose a few fabulous outfits to wear again and again.  It will make your life simpler when you're busy.  It will make you look great more often (unless you have a unfailing preternatural knack for outfit composition).  It will make you more like my Norwegian grandmother.  It will make you memorable.  And it will give you permission to wear that amazing red velvet dress more often.

Edward Steichen: In High Fashion

See the New York Times' slide show of Edward Steichen's fashion photography at

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/15/fashion/20080115-Steichen-feature/index.html

Art Deco Architecture

Check out the collection of beautiful Art Deco architectural details at http://www.decopix.com (unfortunately, I couldn't upload any of them here; these are from other sources).

Architect Ray Kappe

Unsolicited Advice #8: How to Look Like a Small Child Playing Dress-Up

In college, I had a professor who dressed in drag every day.  One day, she would show up as a maid, the next day in a chinsy red Flamenco costume that clashed with her red hair.  In her honor, then, try to amuse yourself when you're getting dressed.

(1) There's absolutely nothing wrong with pairing a gold necklace with silver earrings.

(2) Wear all the jewelry you own at once.

(3) Strap up slightly oversized dresses with multiple belts or swaths of fabric wrapped around your torso.

(4) Excessive elegance of dress should be offset by humble footwear.