There are a lot of things that remind me of my abuela, Luz. When it comes to fashion, no one wore a daytime house dress better than her. It was her uniform—whether a paisley turquoise number or an explosive print of oversized mod daisies—and she always had one on when I visited. So when I picked up The House Dress: A story of Erocticism and Fashion ($13.57, amazon.com), I couldn't help but think of her...well, minus the erotic part. The book reflects on how this lil' dress we’ve all taken for granted has evolved throughout the decades, and on how the house dress has moved from the kitchen to the workplace. Don't believe that last part? Read it, and you'll see.

It's a great read and a good gift for any fashionista in your life, especially those with fabulous abuelas like mine.

'Till the next session...