Ilene Chaiken; As a writer and executive producer at Showtime, this 48-year-old casts a wardrobe of stars from Mouret to McQueen.(Interview)

Byline: Florence Kane

CONFIDENCE WOMAN I hope I speak for a lot of us in our 40s when I say that I dress pretty much exactly as I did when I was in my late teens and early 20s. But there's more confidence that comes with being this age. I worry less about pleasing anyone else.

GIVE HER THE BOOT Shoes for me are primarily all about boots. Cowboy boots, motorcycle boots, several pairs of Prada boots-anything with a heel, and only two and a half inches or higher. I have a pair of black Balenciaga six-inch platform ankle boots that I wear much more than my orthopedic doctor would like!

WORKING CLASS When I'm at home writing, I'm usually in a t-shirt and Rogans, which I buy in different sizes because sometimes I like them baggy and sometimes I should be visible in my jeans. For the other half of my work-meetings, events, speaking engagements-I like to dress up. I bought a pale-blue Narciso Rodriguez dress for the GLAAD Awards, where The L Word, the show I created, was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series.

CARRYING ON Lately I've been carrying a beautiful, simple black leather Dries Van Noten bag, but I also love my ...