Stories by

Phoebe Gates

700 stories

The Smart Casual Dress Code Edit: Five Lessons in Reading an Invitation That Says Nothing

The Smart Casual Dress Code Edit: Five Lessons in Reading an Invitation That Says Nothing

Our smart casual dress code edit covers blazers, dark denim, structured knits, loafers and dressing for the host. I have read a lot of vague invitations, and these are the five things I would reach for every time.

Read Editorial
The Semi-Formal Attire Edit: Five Lessons in Dressing Up Exactly Halfway

The Semi-Formal Attire Edit: Five Lessons in Dressing Up Exactly Halfway

A semi-formal attire guide in five lessons: the hem, the fabric, the suit, the dancing shoe and the evening accessories. I read the etiquette so you can stop opening three tabs the night before.

The Resort Casual Edit: Five Lessons for the Dinner Reservation by the Pool

The Resort Casual Edit: Five Lessons for the Dinner Reservation by the Pool

Resort casual comes down to five lessons: pressed linen, a maxi dress, polished flat sandals, a light knit and a straw bag with gold. I would pack all of it for the dinner reservation by the pool, with approximately one extra scarf.

The Preppy Style Edit: Five Lessons for Dressing Like You Summer Somewhere

The Preppy Style Edit: Five Lessons for Dressing Like You Summer Somewhere

A guide to preppy style in five lessons: navy and stripes, cable knits with collars, pleated skirts and trousers, loafers and boat shoes, and headbands with totes. I would take the whole lot to a lawn and pretend there is a boat.

The Old Money Style Edit: Five Lessons in Looking Like the House Has a Name

The Old Money Style Edit: Five Lessons in Looking Like the House Has a Name

An old money style guide in five lessons: navy and camel, cable knits, loafers and boots, pleated wool and a small kit of pearls, a signet ring and a watch. I read the history so you can stop pretending the logo is the point.

The Dressy Casual Edit: Five Lessons for the Dress Code Nobody Can Define

The Dressy Casual Edit: Five Lessons for the Dress Code Nobody Can Define

A dressy casual guide in five lessons: the silk blouse, good jeans, the midi skirt, loafers and kitten heels, and casual wedding dresses with no white. I have read the dress code on an invitation more times than I have read the menu.

The Dark Academia Edit: Five Lessons for Dressing Like You Own Too Many Books

The Dark Academia Edit: Five Lessons for Dressing Like You Own Too Many Books

A guide to dark academia in five lessons: tweed and corduroy, a brown, oxblood and green palette, the loafer, pleats and wide trousers, and one heirloom-looking finish. I would take the library over the party every time, and I have dressed for it accordingly.

The Coquette Style Edit: Five Lessons in Wearing Bows Like a Grown Up

The Coquette Style Edit: Five Lessons in Wearing Bows Like a Grown Up

Coquette style, explained in five lessons on bows, pale pink knits, lace trim, ballet flats and pearls. I would take the Marie Antoinette macaron palette over a bow bag any day.

rhode Eye Patches: The First Launch Since the e.l.f. Deal

rhode Eye Patches: The First Launch Since the e.l.f. Deal

rhode eye patches are the Peptide Eye Prep in the R icon print, cooling hydrogel depuffing patches packed in a pouch. I pair them with other hydrogel patches, then patches for depuffing, brightening, smoothing and reuse.

Lounge Sets and Soft Separates for Travel Days

Lounge Sets and Soft Separates for Travel Days

A matching knit set is the most comfortable way to travel while still looking put together. This edit includes a cashmere set, hoodies and sweatshirts, soft track pants and a few airport essentials. Each piece also works on its own, so everything earns its space in a suitcase.

How to Make Old Clothes Feel New

How to Make Old Clothes Feel New

Making old clothes feel new is mostly about how you pair them, not what you buy. These outfits mix crisp with worn-in, dressy with casual, and add a longer necklace or a classic staple to refresh the rest. Most of the ideas work with what is already in your closet.

Christopher Esber

Christopher Esber

Relaxed glamour, cut with tailoring and negative space

Picture Light vs Illuminated Frame: What to Choose

Picture Light vs Illuminated Frame: What to Choose

A picture frame light is the small change that makes the biggest difference after dark: one small lamp over a painting or print and the whole wall changes after dark. Here is how I would choose one, from battery lights to brass, plus a few frames and prints worth lighting.

Read Editorial
Baseball Tee: How the Raglan Sleeve Moves

Baseball Tee: How the Raglan Sleeve Moves

The baseball tee starts with a one-armed British officer and a tailor who cut the sleeve and shoulder as one piece. Here are 20 raglan and contrast-sleeve tees, from cream and brown ringers to washed burnout graphics, with a styling tip for each group.

Read Editorial
Swarovski Necklace: 3,800 Hand-Set Stones for One Met Gala Neck

Swarovski Necklace: 3,800 Hand-Set Stones for One Met Gala Neck

A Swarovski necklace can be a single pendant or a full collar of crystals. Here are 44 of them, from Millenia pendants and tennis strands to swans, collars and chokers, with a styling tip for each group.

Women New Balance Sneakers To Know

Women New Balance Sneakers To Know

New Balance went from a shoe your father wore to the default sneaker in about four years. Women New Balance sneakers are the sharp end of that, because the brand kept the dad-shoe proportions and the market changed around it. This edit takes the everyday classics first and then the running side.

The Best Toner for Oily Skin

The Best Toner for Oily Skin

A generation grew up stripping their faces with alcohol and wondering why the shine came back harder. The best toner for oily skin regulates rather than removes, usually with a mild acid and no drying agents. These are the modern version and my personal favs

The Cotton Shirt Does The Most Work

The Cotton Shirt Does The Most Work

A cotton shirt works over a swimsuit, under a knit, open as a layer and buttoned as a top. I pair eight cotton shirts and tops with eight pairs of shorts and the shoes that smarten them up.

The Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

The Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin

Newsflash the best have a short ingredient list

Poolside Dressing, Head To Toe

Poolside Dressing, Head To Toe

Poolside dressing comes down to a one-piece, a sarong, slides and sun care that work between the lounger and lunch. I go through one-pieces from Éterne, MARE PERPETUA and Left On Friday, then slides, sunglasses and sun care.

Shearling Boots With Straight Jeans: Snow, Ankle and Suede Pairs

Shearling Boots With Straight Jeans: Snow, Ankle and Suede Pairs

Shearling boots with straight jeans make a look that reads deliberate, not like a house shoe. I paired shearling and faux fur boots, from ankle to knee height, in leather and suede, with straight leg denim.

New York Jewelry: Heavy Chains, Cuffs and Sculptural Rings

New York Jewelry: Heavy Chains, Cuffs and Sculptural Rings

New York jewelry right now is not delicate: weight and shape do the talking. I go through chains, pendants and chokers, cuffs and bangles, and sculptural rings, worn together rather than separately.

The Pink Shirt Dress

The Pink Shirt Dress

A pink shirt dress keeps the formal-adjacent shape and lets the color do the work, in belted, floral jacquard and ruffled poplin styles. I sorted them by shape and added pink dresses to wear with flats.

Black Jeans, Dressed Up

Black Jeans, Dressed Up

Black jeans dress up with silk, cashmere or a blazer on top, then heels and a small bag for the evening. I start with the jeans in every shape and build the night out from there.

What to Pack for a Fall Weekend Away

What to Pack for a Fall Weekend Away

Packing for a fall weekend is easier when every piece works with at least two others. This edit covers a comfortable travel outfit, easy layers for dinner, cable knits and soft sleepwear. The aim is one bag and no second-guessing.

Orange Dress: What Charlize Theron's Oscars Gown Started

Orange Dress: What Charlize Theron's Oscars Gown Started

My favorites from midis, maxis, minis, satin slips and linen or printed styles in every shade from papaya to rust. I wanted something that looks good in daylight and still turns heads at night.

Bandana Scarf: How Snuff Users Gave a Kerchief Its Name

Bandana Scarf: How Snuff Users Gave a Kerchief Its Name

A bandana scarf started as a tie-dyed Indian kerchief and picked up its English name from snuff users. Here are the ones to try, from silk squares and cotton prints to beaded edges and cashmere triangles.

Silver Clutch: The Minaudière Story, From a Cigarette Case to Chain Mail

Silver Clutch: The Minaudière Story, From a Cigarette Case to Chain Mail

A divine selection of silver clutches acorss leather, crystal, box, pouch and chain mail styles for evening. I started with the minaudière story because every one of them traces back to it.