Dress Code: Naked

Please come! That is not a dirty joke or a pun. It's referencing a live event at my place this Tuesday night at 8 that definitely would not be the same without you there.

If this dress could talk! My wonderful friend Genevieve sent me this shot she took of me getting settled in to get my picture taken for a NYT profile not long ago. The talking dress comment came from my friend Michael when he saw the story in the paper. I hadn't even realized that I had worn that same dress so many times and been photographed in it a ton too. Michael probably noticed because he was with me when I got the amazing life-saving item of clothing.

We were with Thomas (my other great friend) at Dover Street Market the day before I was going on a trip to LA. I was feeling insecure about the idea that I was going to be judged on my appearance. This goes back a long way – and I have a draft in Substack about the whole issue if I ever get it finished enough to share it with you. I will sum it up here by saying that I have had a decades-long insecurity over my skinny arms. There's one step-and-repeat series of me going in to host a panel at a big digital ad conference, wearing a cardigan over my dress because I just couldn't get past the fear that time. (Now, looking at the photo, I wonder why I wasn't more worried about those shoes. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees?)

So that day at Dover Street Market, my friends and I found this dress that was a splurge for me (though if you count an item of clothing in terms of cost per wearing, this one would now be very cheap) that I love and that covers everything. It has become a go-to for just about any occasion since—a wedding, a surprise birthday party for my best friend, the Jane magazine 20th reunion party, a couple of TV appearances, and some photo shoots to promote this new publication you are (thank you!) currently reading.

I don’t know if you have items of clothing that make you feel good and secure every time you wear them. If you do, I’m curious what they are. If you don't ever need clothing to make you feel good and secure, DEFINITELY tell me about how you do that.

All of that preamble is to say that I'm having another gathering with all of you paid subscribers from 8-9 ET this Tuesday night! (I have been switching up the day to see what works best for you and the last one was on a Friday where I was told that a number of you are regularly scheduled partiers and had to postpone your going-out plans just to join. Which I obviously don't want for you.) The last two live chats we did were so much fun, with all of your candor and wicked curiosity exceeding my wildest expectations. The dress code for this is to come as open and uncovered as you want, because this is a place and time with absolutely zero judgment, so you really can be that vulnerable and no armor is needed.

But I do need to settle on a topic. Gossip again? Thoughts? I will come up with something. And I can't wait!