That November Dressing

I'M NOT THE MOST CONSERVATIVE DRESSER and boy do I have my share of skimp and slink. But despite Manila being tropical all year round, the months leading up to, and follow after Christmas, being slightly cooler and significantly grayer than the rest of the year, seem to call for more proper clothing. I.e., clothes with seams, seamed hems, some sense of structure and a touch of -yes- modesty.

I like to believe I'm not alone in my bafflement over the hoochie-hoe slutfest that launches on Halloween night and carries on through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. True, we have no Fall or Winter in the Philippines but it's not exactly the height of summer either and am I wrong for abhorring poolside garb worn elsewhere from the poolside? Or nightclub numbers worn in broad daylight?

In the same way you wouldn't wear a leather jacket to the beach, why wear board shorts and flip flops to a restaurant in the city?

So if I may, present alternatives to season-inappropriate dressing with items that can go from office party to family reunion to drinks with friends visiting for the holidays.

You may look a bit like the first lady, true. But four years after graduation, you learn that you're better off lady than tramp.

Lela Rose lace and cotton blend dress, Temperley London silk-jersey intarsia dress, Oscar de la Renta wool-crepe dress, Antonio Berardi paneled crepe pencil dress, 3.1 Phillip Lim embellished lace overlay dress, Alexander McQueen draped crepe dress and Jason Wu silk-crepe sheath dress, all from Net-A-Porter, www.net-a-porter.com