Stories by

Phoebe Gates

700 stories

What to Wear to a Museum Day This Fall

What to Wear to a Museum Day This Fall

A museum day means hours of walking, cold galleries and the occasional good photo. This is the long coat, turtleneck, wide leg pant and loafer combination I would wear.

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The Apres Ski Outfit Edit: Five Lessons for the Part of the Trip That Matters Most

The Apres Ski Outfit Edit: Five Lessons for the Part of the Trip That Matters Most

This apres ski outfit edit covers five lessons on Fair Isle knits, snow boots, stretch pants, shearling and down jackets, and knit hats and gloves. I am the person who plans the bar outfit before the first run, so these are the pieces I would pack.

Halloween Party Outfits That Are Not Costumes

Halloween Party Outfits That Are Not Costumes

Some years I want to go to the Halloween party without wearing a costume, and still look like I understood the theme. This is the dark, dramatic side of my closet.

Fall Travel Day Outfits: What to Wear to the Airport

Fall Travel Day Outfits: What to Wear to the Airport

I have made every airport outfit mistake there is, and this is what I wear now. It is all soft layers, shoes you can sprint in and a bag that keeps your hands free.

Fall Girls Trip Outfits That Pack Light

Fall Girls Trip Outfits That Pack Light

Packing for a girls trip is a lesson in editing, because everyone ends up wearing the same three things. This is the skirt, tee, boot and crossbody combination I would put in a carry-on.

Model Off-Duty Outfits to Copy This Fall

Model Off-Duty Outfits to Copy This Fall

Model off-duty style is all about simple pieces worn well, from low-rise jeans and a white tank to a slip dress with a silk scarf. These outfits cover denim with hoops, a light trench, the little black dress and satin with sandals. Each one is built from basics you can wear on repeat.

What to Wear to a Fall Wedding as a Guest

What to Wear to a Fall Wedding as a Guest

Fall weddings are my favorite kind, and getting dressed for one is half the fun. Here is how I would build a guest outfit from the dress down.

Loafer Outfits for Fall, Preppy to Polished

Loafer Outfits for Fall, Preppy to Polished

Loafers are the most versatile flat shoe of the season, and they look just as good with a midi skirt as with jeans. These outfits run from a glossy penny loafer with a printed dress to suede loafers with a plain tee and menswear loafers with cargo trousers. Leopard, burgundy and shearling-lined styles add some variety.

Wedding Guest Suits and Sets for Fall 2026

Wedding Guest Suits and Sets for Fall 2026

A suit or a matching set is one of the smartest things to wear to a fall wedding, and it can be as soft or as sharp as the invitation calls for. These outfits run from a cropped jacket with a mini to pastel tailoring, floral separates and black tailoring for evening. Each one can be split up and worn again long after the wedding.

The Holiday Party Outfit Edit: Five Lessons From Every Office Party I Have Survived

The Holiday Party Outfit Edit: Five Lessons From Every Office Party I Have Survived

A holiday party outfit guide in five lessons: office versus friends, sequins before six, party tops over trousers, one shiny accessory and flats in the bag. I have an opinion about every dress code and I am happy to share it.

Jane Birkin Style for Fall, Four Outfits

Jane Birkin Style for Fall, Four Outfits

Jane Birkin style comes down to jeans, a button-down and a basket bag, and these four fall outfits borrow her formulas. I start with the basics, then flared jeans, a simple knit and velvet slippers.

The Going Out Tops Edit: Five Lessons for Your 8 p.m. Plot Twist

The Going Out Tops Edit: Five Lessons for Your 8 p.m. Plot Twist

Going out tops make more sense when a corset, a glint, a sheer layer, a satin cami and an off-shoulder line each get their own little rule. I would rather have a tiny plan than negotiate with my closet at 7:58.

The Funeral Outfit Edit: Five Lessons in Dressing Quietly for Someone You Love

The Funeral Outfit Edit: Five Lessons in Dressing Quietly for Someone You Love

A funeral outfit, in five lessons: dark dresses, trousers and knits, shoes for grass, soft color for a celebration of life, and small bags and jewelry. I would treat it like a quiet hug, chosen with care and put on without fuss.

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The Formal Attire Edit: Five Lessons in Black Tie, White Tie and the Rooms Between

The Formal Attire Edit: Five Lessons in Black Tie, White Tie and the Rooms Between

A formal attire edit in five lessons: gowns, black tie optional cocktail dresses, tuxedo suiting, evening shoes and tiny bags with big earrings. I used to read the dress code before the date, and I still do.

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The Cocktail Attire Edit: Five Lessons for the Invitation That Says Six O'Clock

The Cocktail Attire Edit: Five Lessons for the Invitation That Says Six O'Clock

Cocktail attire comes down to the hour, the wedding upgrade, separates, shoes you can stand in and one statement accessory. I read every dress code guide so you do not have to, and I still overpack for two hours of standing.

The Christmas Outfits Edit: Five Lessons for Looking Festive Without Dressing as the Tree

The Christmas Outfits Edit: Five Lessons for Looking Festive Without Dressing as the Tree

Christmas outfits made easy: one deep red, a velvet skirt, a good knit, a tiny bow and dinner shoes you can stand in. I would rather dress like the person at the party than the one hanging off the tree.

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas for Every Kind of Table

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas for Every Kind of Table

Thanksgiving dressing is a puzzle, because you need to look nice and still have room for a second plate. These are the sweaters, skirts, loafers and earrings I would pick for every kind of table.

How to Wear Satin During the Day

How to Wear Satin During the Day

To wear satin during the day, pair satin skirts, pants and shirts with knits, denim and flat shoes. I add satin shoes and bags, and notes on what feels right on a weekday, not just at a party.

Summer Night Out Outfits: Dresses, Tops and Heels

Summer Night Out Outfits: Dresses, Tops and Heels

My guide to summer night out style - a curated edit of dresses, tops, shoes, and accessories to take you from golden hour to the after-party.

How to Wear Clogs This Fall

How to Wear Clogs This Fall

Clogs have become a fall staple, and they work with far more than jeans. These outfits pair them with wide-leg denim, a midi skirt, sharp tailoring and a suede mini dress. Choose a pair in brown or black leather or suede and it will go with almost everything here.

How to Wear Chocolate Brown: Deep Espresso Pieces From Jackets to Shoes

How to Wear Chocolate Brown: Deep Espresso Pieces From Jackets to Shoes

Chocolate brown dressing has replaced black as the default neutral, and the deep, almost espresso shade is the one worth buying. I go through it piece by piece, from jackets and blazers to trousers.

How to Wear a Nightie Dress Into Fall

How to Wear a Nightie Dress Into Fall

The nightie dress, a slip with lace trim or a lingerie feel, is one of the easiest summer dresses to keep wearing into fall. These outfits layer it with a suede jacket, a flash of red, a black knit with ballet flats and a crisp blue shirt. The trick is always to add something with a bit more structure.

How to Wear a Lace Camisole This Fall

How to Wear a Lace Camisole This Fall

The lace camisole is one of the easiest summer pieces to carry into fall. Layer it under a leather jacket, pair it with a leather skirt and knee boots, or tuck it under a cardigan. Butter yellow and caramel make it feel seasonal rather than like lingerie.

How to Wear a Barn Jacket This Fall

How to Wear a Barn Jacket This Fall

The barn jacket, with its corduroy collar and roomy shape, has moved from the countryside to city streets. These outfits pair it with pleated trousers, a slip dress, jeans and knee boots, and a checked skirt. It works as well over something dressy as it does with denim.

How to Style a Suede Jacket This Fall

How to Style a Suede Jacket This Fall

A suede jacket is one of the most versatile layers for fall, and it looks different depending on what you wear with it. These outfits pair suede with a red knit and printed trousers, a floral skirt, a crisp shirt and a long silk skirt. Brown and tan are the easiest shades, but blue and green are worth a look too.

Fall Wedding Guest Outfits, From Velvet to Plaid

Fall Wedding Guest Outfits, From Velvet to Plaid

Fall weddings call for richer fabrics and deeper colours than summer ones. These outfits include a printed velvet maxi, a jacquard jacket with a skirt, a long black dress and a checked midi. Each one comes with shoes, jewelry or a bag to match.

Fall Dinner Party Outfits for Guests Who Want to Look Great

Fall Dinner Party Outfits for Guests Who Want to Look Great

A fall dinner party is the best excuse to dress up a little. This is the skirt, top, pump and earring combination I would wear to someone else's table.

Fall Date Night Outfits That Look Like You Did Not Try

Fall Date Night Outfits That Look Like You Did Not Try

There are nights when I want to look like I threw something on, and I definitely did not. This is the black dress, boots, earrings and leather jacket combination I keep coming back to.