Earlier this month I was getting ready for a gig and agonizing over what to wear. Long dress? Short dress? Pants? All black? Color? As usual, I had a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. I settled on a nondescript, semi-formal, all-black outfit and hoped I would not appear on camera.

When I arrived on site and met my collaborator, I thought, “He’s so lucky. All he has to do is throw on a black suit, and he’s perfectly dressed for any occasion.” And then it hit me. I, too, can throw on a black suit, and who’s going to stop me?

The more I thought about it, the more appealing wearing a suit became. If I’m required to wear all black, I can wear a black blouse under the jacket. If I’m feeling bold, I can swap in a colorful blouse or statement jewelry. If it’s cold, I can easily layer both tops and bottoms. (I swear by Uniqlo Heattech.)

A suit may not be the right attire for every occasion, but it’s an easy, safe default for a collaborative pianist. A girly-girl at heart, I’ll keep wearing dresses in warm weather, but for the other 9 months of the year (thanks, Boston), don’t be surprised to see me in a suit!