In the late nineties, law firm dress norms went through a bunch of rapid changes, causing all kinds of confusion. Until that point, it was all pretty straightforward: Guys wore suits (preferably charcoal or navy blue; pinstripes optional) and white shirts with red or blue ties (the crazy ones could get away with yellow). Some of the older partners wore bow ties, primarily because society frowned upon the wearing of signs that said “douchebag.” (Same difference.) Women wore… well, they basically also wore men’s suits. At least, that’s what they looked like. They might have been cut a little differently, and they may have had long skirts instead of pants, but they basically looked indistinguishable from their male peers.

“Black Tie” events are so passe. Now it’s time to put on your “Blue Tie” baby, and be ready to dance the night away this fall. Dior creates a palette and nail lacquers that give you both the playful mixture of masculine and feminine sides.

It’s Celine Dion and Madonna. It’s a woman dressed in a tuxedo. It’s stilettos paired with a tie. Honestly, we can’t think of a single woman who wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing navy blue. It works for the color spectrum, babes.

The compact will let you create a deep navy and smoky eye, touched with bits of white and silver. Nails gleam with dark blue and beige hues. Lips blush with a hint of pink or rosy beige. It’s modern and edgy....

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President Barack Obama understands, perhaps better than any man, that color connotes much more for politicians than it does for the populace. The night he was elected? Red-striped power tie ("Yes, we did "). That memorable purple tie from the State of the Union ("Let's all get along.") And, last night, as he announced he'd be pulling 33,000 troops from Afghanistan, he did something he rarely does: An understated blue tie. Solid, slightly textured. The right choice.

Serious message, serious outfit. And seriously slick when paired with his standard navy suit and flag lapel pin. The knot's always perfect, the collar's always strong. And the blue tie, in this instance, adds something extra: Partisanship? Panache? Or both.