Red, White & Forever Blue

Wearing: Vintage Jean Paul Gaultier Set

Every few years, I bring out this vintage Jean Paul Gaultier set specifically on the Fourth of July, for obvious reasons. Any excuse to pull from my special reserve is a good one—and by now, I’m sure it’s no surprise that I’m keen on thematic dressing. Wearing this also feels particularly apropos under the States’ current regime. (Gaultier is a boundary-pushing designer and lifelong champion of LGBTQIA+ rights.) It’s a sartorial, semi-political statement: red, white, and forever blue.

“I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

—James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son (1955)

In the (Tiny) Bag: G.W.S. Ripe Berry Daily Lip Sun Gloss SPF 30 + MAC Half Red Lip Pencil (discontinued)

One of my favorite details is this tiny matching pouch that clips to the skirt on a chain—a darling example of how JPG has always considered the real people who want to live in his ready-to-wear and diffusion lines. For boat days or evenings out, all the essentials tuck in neatly: pepper spray, ID, health insurance card, lip liner, gloss (with SPF for daytime). A blessing! I’m a practical woman and can’t resist the dance floor; going hands-free is liberating.

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