Forbes had a recent article on women's dress in the business world, and the wide range of fashion choices and the rightness or wrongness available therein. It even had a little Flash/Powerpointy type thing, that had a photos illustrating the variety of things women chose to wear to the office. Some things were so way out there (I think sleeveless combined with a skirt that is five inches above the knee and no stockings is too short unless you are in the field of "personal services"). Some women were way to out there (a face full of metal at a law office?). But by and large, the women over forty wore loose, boxy clothes and looked like crunchy lesbians (dressed like men) and the younger women were either way too trendy, or way too underdressed. A few women hit it just right - dark jeans, for example, with a nice sweater set (not your grandmom's Liz Claibourne but something splashier and fitted) and open toed high heel sandals or ballet flats, and a nice scarf or bag and a flashy belt to top it off. Or a flirty skirt paired with a complimentary military cut coat. A bit of style while being feminine, right? Nothing wrong with that - and it proves you do not necessarily have to dress like a man to be taken seriously.

Yet this causes me to bemoan the loss of what should be a staple of any woman's wardrobe: the tailored dress shirt. You know the one: the one with darts under the breasts, the back. The one that fits as it flares up your rib cage, and flares out where your breasts ride. No floppy collars, no sequins, no zippers, no fuzzy sewn on thingies. Simple, clean lines. Classic colors or prints. Elegant, tailored lines.

I've been searching and searching. Dress shirts exist in abundance. They are all boxy, square, lifeless pieces that hang from your shoulders. Nothing that fits. Everything is so big! I bought a shirt recently that looked adorable, a little faux Western shirt in a cute little plaid, and I truly thought I'd love it (heck it was only $16) and it was the boxiest thing I've ever seen. If I cut four to six inches of material out of it and give it a back dart and two bust darts, it might become something.

So to all you fashion designers: fall 08 leaves me cold. Again, too fussy and meant for children. My wallet will remain closed. How about something that appeals to me, that is affordable? Even my adored Banana Republic is becoming a bit too expensive.