Perhaps her story begins in a cold, seaside town, with a wardrobe that includes a cashmere cable-knit turtleneck with a flared leather miniskirt or balloon-leg pants tucked into her boots.

WSJ: NY Fashion Week: tough, tailored, lots of black

There's no going cold turkey with black either, unless you want to give away your entire wardrobe.

WSJ: Tina Gaudoin on Style: Back to Black