Veteran Vogue: The origins of Deborah Katz Dorman’s signature style.
Winter Fashion
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With the right mindset, even the necessity for wearing glasses can be transformed into a personal statement. That’s how it is with Deborah Katz Dorman, a friend and colleague I admire not just for her distinctive style, but also for her enthusiasm for causes that matter.
Now in her seventh decade (I know…it’s not fair, is it?), Deborah supports a variety of local charities and non-profits—everything from Coburn Place, a safe home for families affected by domestic violence, to the Indianapolis Museum of Art Fashion Arts Society. An outspoken Democratic, human rights advocate and critic of the current administration, she does that thing Senator Cory Booker suggests as a response to the hateful rhetoric a new president has empowered, “…taking small increased steps of service that, along with others doing the same, could make a significant difference.” Case in point: she recently hosted an organizational meeting at her home to recruit volunteers for Indiana’s state and local elections and invited her considerable network of friends to attend.
I got to know Deborah when we worked together on a volunteer project—well enough that I knew she would have an opinion about Melania Trump’s recent fashion faux pas (or was it a political faux pas?) The one where the first lady visited an immigrant shelter for children at the U.S.-Mexico border, wearing a jacket with the words “I don’t care. Do you?” on the back.
Deliberate style
First ladies (Melania Trump included) are notoriously intentional about their wardrobes. In public life, clothes (and words) matter, but Melania’s publicity team responded by saying it was just a jacket…that there was no intention behind her choice. They later tried to recover by saying the message was directed at the media. (In other words, it was intentional—we just misunderstood the target.) Deborah’s response was succinct: “Well, if that was the case, I think I’d advise her not to wear something that can be so easily misinterpreted.”
If ever there were someone conscious of the potential for using style to send a message, it’s Deborah. “I never leave the house without a plan,” she says. “I really dress for myself. I’ll pick one thing I want to wear and build everything else around it. The final icing on the cake is my eyewear.”
She is known for her meticulous look, upbeat attitude and trademark eyewear—usually sunglasses. With a collection of over 60 eyeglasses, Deborah is deliberate about choosing designs that suit her wardrobe and her petite face—not so deliberate about the brand. She is just as likely to buy an inexpensive pair of glasses as a designer label. “Eyewear has become more popular, and so many companies are coming out with very stylish and fancy designs,” she says. “I always try them on, but I won’t buy unless they look good on my face. The glasses shouldn’t be wearing me. I should be wearing the glasses.”
Her passion for eyeglasses started as a girl, when she wore them to correct vision. One of her uncles owned an eyewear company, and that gave her easy access to the latest designs. When she saw a cool new style or color, she bought it. “I noticed that I felt good in glasses and, since it was a necessity, I just turned that into part of my image,” Deborah says.
Later on, she was also enamored with the protection sunglasses gave her blue eyes from sun and glaring indoor lights. After cataract surgery, her eyes became especially sensitive to bright light. Even at an inside event, it’s not uncommon to see her in sunglasses, a touch of glamour that stimulates conversation almost everywhere she goes. “Every day of my life, someone will stop me and say ‘Oh, I love your eyewear. Where did you get it?’” she says. “It’s just a pair of glasses, but it gives me the opportunity to offer a huge smile and thank them for making me feel so good.”
Do people ever ask why she’s wearing sunglasses indoors? Of course, they do. “I’m not hiding behind my glasses. I’m just comfortable in them,” she says. “When people ask a question like that, I never take it personally. I always have an answer.”
The mother of reinvention
At this stage of life, Deborah says she can handle whatever life throws her way. Her experience as a successful real estate agent and occasional model has conditioned her to climb most any mountain and to retain her confidence no matter what happens. “When I was younger, I spent a lot of time wondering why I didn’t get a modeling job or why someone wouldn’t use me as their agent,” she says. “Eventually, I learned that it wasn’t personal. Maybe they chose another realtor because they already had a relationship, or maybe another model got the job because they fit an image the creators had for an ad; it wasn’t because I wasn’t pretty enough or good enough.”
Deborah believes in hard work and preparation as a formula for success, but no matter how hard you work, everyone tastes failure at some point. Accepting this reality and moving forward is the only way to become a confident person. “I am always so grateful for a world of rejection,” she says. “No matter what happens to me, I always try to dust myself off and reinvent myself to be the person I feel I should be. I’m still searching. Reinvention keeps me feeling alive.”
I adore Deborah’s high personal standards and never-say-die attitude as much as her signature style. Wherever you are when you read this, I hope you have access to strong women who are part of your support system. A good role model is like a de facto life coach—only less expensive. What’s your latest step toward reinvention?
Life is short. Wear the good stuff.
4 comments
August 14, 2018 at 1:11 am
What an absolutely stunning,sophisticated, internally solid, externally style-savvy woman who really knows who she is.! And not everybody does, no matter what they are wearing.. And I know from what I speak: my late adored Mom Margie (her real name) Birnbaum had THE MOST OUTSTANDING STYLE OF ANYONE IVE EVER KNOWN. HANDS DOWN.PERIOD END OF STORY.She was my little rock starcwhether we were at home in NYC or anywhere else in the world on her travels and not a day went by when someone didn’t stop her to compliment something I SWEAR,not one time !! And it was my greatest joy to watch bc she was so worthy of the acknowledgement as is Deborah. Do we not comment on a great painting photo ? Momwould always be a
bit embarassed by the fuss but was so appreciative
and thankful. And I can’t tell u all the times people would ask if they could take her picture and she would say “are u sure- I might break your camera”” and then they would actually send her copies ! She, like Deborah, have extraordinary taste, innately know what works for them AND the confidence to wear the clothes not have the clothes wear them ! She, like Deborah,simply had a NATURAL,SELF-MADE gift ,and eye that no personal stylist, no personal shopper, and no amount of money can attain. Doris Apfel has it but very very few really do. Anna Wintour,while always looking nice doesn’t have it. Nor does Tina Brown. They have access and make good use of it but they also are required for their jobs to be dressed a certain way to represent their brands. But no way are they going thru the racks of stores not going to many stores,vthe way avwell dressedvusually must. It is all brought to them and curated and then they just make selections along with teams of stylists hair and makeup pros..Deborah or Margie shlep to stores all by their little selves ! And Both these ‘women would consistently look fabulous and still turn heads EVEN if they were LIMITED to TJ Maxx, Fox’s, Century 21,Ross etc?
And you don’t find their style and originality in Hollywood, ,the Hamptons,Madison Ave or the Champs Elysee ! And you don’t find it just because you buy in Bergdorfs,Barney’s or Bendels or have more money than Rockefeller. REAL,unforgettable style, comes FROM deep WITHIN and expresses itself in a unique way, WITHOUT. It comes from being authentic and having supreme confidence ( NOT arrogance or attitude,or snootiness) and trust in your self, not the salesperson or the syle pages..These women,Deborah and my Margie, are rare birds indeed ( tho Mom never gave herself enough credit for her accomplishment,which it absolutely is, and didn’t see it as such but I KNOW it is bc most women seek to have it. Mom would minimize this talent & legitimate skill by saying””big deal, they are just shmatahs'”But they are far more: They are their paints, their clay, their marble, that these artists place with care and thought on their canvas, the body. Suffice it to say that these rare creatures who walk amongst us, and enhance our environment , are nothing less than living breathing walking works of art and I thank G-d they exist because they make our world more beautiful,joyful and interesting. So carry on Deborah and RIP Margie ( and I know you are STILL turning heads up there”and helping other style-challenged angels).
**WOULD THE READER OF THIS PLEASE KINDLY SEND ME A COPY OF WHAT I WROTE.I only wish I could have shown it to Mom. One regret I will always carry is that that I never worked to get an article in Vogue, Harper’s or New York Magazine about this sensational,unforgettable, and admired’ one-of-a kind original insspiration or done a documentary because untilshe had a personae ). I can guarantee it would have been an INSPIRING smash- this “ordinary” unknown who grew up with pooir immigrant parents in NYC, had fashion in her blood since she was a kid, wearing cardboard in in her shoes and hand-me-downs, and was no celebrity,just a self created bundle of true , loveable FABULOSITY – the REAL, INSPIRING DEAL who lit up every space she entered and made the world a more colorful,joyous,beautiful and stylish place. Hey maybe we could do a posthumous feature. I have tons of fab fotos and video interview. Maybe Deb could critique,analyze and comment? ANYWAY PLS B SURE TO SEND ME THIS because I was finally able to articulate- something about my adored and MUCH-MISSED Mom for a very long time. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU STUNNER DEBORAH !!
THANKS.
August 14, 2018 at 4:07 pm
Deborah is my sister and ever since she was a child, she showed the qualities you see in her today. It was as if she built her life brick by brick, and organized all facets of it to work together. What you aren’t saying is how amazing a MATRIARCH she is.
TATI, as she is know to her grand kids, is the glue that keeps her family together. It’s wonderful how she hosts her grandkids for summers of tennis with her extraordinary Tennis Coach, Per Anders Nilhagen of Peterson Tennis center. She has always been my inspiration and I think in this day and age, it’s awesome to find someone who is genuine through and through. She is also the sweetest, most charming, generous woman I have known, and I am glad to call her sister.
August 15, 2018 at 11:29 am
Jill, How precious to hear this from her very own sister! I love her to pieces and I’m so glad that this account of her rang true with someone who knows her through and through. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
August 30, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Enjoyed my first peek at your blog. Politics aside, I don’t want to be easily misinterpreted…I look forward to future reads!