Standing Up

Hillary Clinton gave remarks to the Global Diaspora Forum this week. She wore black and white:


We have seen some great examples in the past of stand up collars, like Eleanor Holmes Norton last month. And we've seen great examples of bold, multi-layered necklaces, as on Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in January.

Mary Queen of Scots

Unfortunately, this look isn't doing the Secretary any favors. It's a shame because I think the spirit of this look was right - achromatic, dimensional and a bit feminine. 

But it fell down on the proportions. The collar is so large, I hope I was the only one who thought of Mary Queen of Scots when I saw this blouse, but I suspect I wasn't. A collar just half an inch narrower would have had a completely different effect, allowing for the softness of a ruffle instead of emphasizing the stiffness of the material standing away from her body.

I hope this helps you understand why it's important to try things on, not just for fit but also for proportion!

Pop the collar

Here's Eleanor Holmes Norton in her office, discussing DC home rule:

Raising (or "popping") the collar of a blouse when it's paired with a structured jacket can look a bit aggressive.  But here she pairs it with a two-tone sweater, which looks much more dressed up with the crisp white blouse underneath. An excellent, elegant outfit.

The suspense is over

Speculation began weeks ago about what Justice Elena Kagan would wear with her robes for the Supreme Court "class photo" last week. Specifically, would she opt for a collar or jabot the way Justices O'Connor and Ginsburg have done? Or would she go without, as Justice Sotomayor has done more often than not? On Friday, the day arrived, and there was no jabot in sight for Justice Kagan:

The Washington Post's Robin Givhan has already deconstructed this choice far beyond anything I could do, but I will say this: I wish that she had chosen perhaps a subtle light blue for her blouse instead of white. Justice Kagan's skin is so fair that from a distance (like when the photo is small) her collar blends in to her skin, and she looks a little like she's wearing a neck brace. Maybe something like this:

Melanne Verveer reports on the potential of Afghan women and girls

Ambassador-at-Large Melanne Verveer presented remarks on the diplomatic potential of Afghan women and girls before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week. She wore an evergreen jacket with the collar turned up:

If you ever wondered how to make the "popped collar" work for you in a professional environment, this is how. The turtleneck under the jacket is the same color and she accented with jewelry under the jacket, not outside or anywhere near the lapel. This can be a great look for women who have concerns about the neck and chin, provided your hair is no longer than chin-length.