Putting on the Ritz

 

Screen siren Marlene Dietrich wore it first, American expatriate actress Josephine Baker
followed, and Yves Saint Laurent coined it “le smoking.” Now the female tuxedo is providing a touch point for watchmakers. Pulling inspiration from the suit’s lapels, brands such as D&G, Gucci, and Dior are featuring straps in satin and grosgrain—perfect for a black-tie affair. Complete with delicate oval and square faces, the elegant black-and-white wristwear most definitely retains a certain touché de feminine. More at dolcegabbana.com, gucci.com, and dior.com.