So Who Tells You
What To Wear?

We all have one, right? That person who gets the frantic photo-encrusted text messages from the dressing room, or an incessant barrage of link-laden e-mails with the subject line “What think?” In my relatively new married life, this person is increasingly Rob, because, quite frankly, if he doesn’t like something, I find myself sneaking out of the house with it on my back. It’s my version of hiding the shopping bags. And granted, the things he tends to raise an eyebrow at tend to straddle the line: The Man Repeller could invariably say it better, but they’re the pieces that many women love, that men, well, “don’t get.” There’s the vintage, hot-pink, sequined cardigan/jacket that might make me look like Michael Jackson. There’s the teal J.Crew blazer trimmed with pom poms that could moonlight in the closet of some whacked-out auntie. And there’s the insanely awesome exotically-patterned, black and white wrap Mara Hoffman coat that Rob has affectionately nicknamed “the tribal bathrobe.”

So I would say that half the time I listen to Rob (because he admittedly does have great taste), and the other half of the time I just go with my gut. They say it’s better to do what you want and apologize after, right? Case in point, I sent Rob a link to this L.L. Bean Signature camp dress (being from Maine, he loves all things L.L. Bean so I thought it was a sure win) and he wrote back “Ummmm.” I’m going to take that as a yes (clearly he was going to finish the sentence as Ummmm, I love it!). And even though it carries a heavy price tag, I’m going to get this camel blazer too, because it’s really well-cut, which means I will wear it all the time. And if I wear it all the time, the cost per wear becomes, well, significantly more affordable. Fashion math!

So who tells you guys what to wear?

l-r: CAMP SHIRT DRESS, $189.00, L.L. Bean Signature; BRITISH FLANNEL BLAZER, $350.00, L.L. Bean Signature.