LE CATCH

All signs are pointing to a long beaded necklace summer. Not subtle. Not short. Slightly in the way? Even better. Love this one especially. Add a ($150) beaded bag while you’re at it—fits nothing, completes everything. Now you could pretend you’re going to style this responsibly. Or—you could lean in. A cool t-shirt, below. Maybe two chic t-shirts?? Layered for absolutely no reason except it feels right. Then a printastic Stella Jean skirt that refuses to match anything politely. More color (hello, turquoise mesh Madewell Mary Janes). Then more. Crochet enters the chat, obviously. Wait, this is actually a “just one more thing” summer. One more strand, one more texture, one more questionable but correct decision. Which brings me to the enabling portion of this message: Everyone is, in fact, shopping for summer—and if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it strategically. Remember when I told you about CAKE?? It’s a members-only shopping club with a $100 entry fee that pays for itself almost immediately with exclusive and very steep discounts on current pieces by brands like Staud, Sea, Ciao Lucia, Kirna Zabete, Sold Out NYC, Hill House Home, Adina Reyter (Mother’s Day 20% off sale ends tomorrow!), etc. Use my link to access! Anyway. The beads are getting longer. Your cart might as well follow.

banana republic

My beach bag is already packed with colorful summer plans.

• Le Bop dress
• Amazon nylon pouches (very Prada-esque for $9!)
• Good Weather Skin The One Daily Sun Cream (SPF30)
• Entrudo embroidered basket bag
• Clare V lips bag charm
• TKEES ankle strap sandals

Chanel went back to Biarritz this morning, and naturally there were Btasque stripes, but loud, and logos, oh so obvious. The Resort 2027 show also featured bags literally big enough to carry your actual life. Plus: skinny scarves, fringe, vibrant colors (green pumps, red lace, pink denim, the works), newspaper prints, tweed, poofy camellia-adjacent brooches, raffia, and that very Chanel trick of making “a lot” feel uncontrived and effortless. Like you just threw on a striped skirt, a sweater, six accessories, and a tote the size of a weekend trip—and didn’t think twice. Which brings us to stripes, currently the easiest way to cash in without buying a new personality. Stripe on stripe if you’re feeling bold, or one very aggressive stripe doing all the talking (already in my rotation!). Spot-on options from La Veste (I love so much!), this striped quarter-zip knit (similar to above, another option here), these cute checked bubble shorts to mix with stripes, Simon Miller’s fringe and stripes, this Proenza Schouler dress, this striped Kule tote bag, this ruffled Congolio Palm Beach mini skirt, and this zip-up and go Amazon find.

It was a spectator sport of a weekend, which I’m choosing to frame as productive. While everyone else seemed to be out doing (i.e., beach walks in my charm dress, above, for example!), I held things down on the home front: ate an aggressive amount of my friend’s homemade cinnamon bundt cake, steamed my son’s prom suit like it was a part-time job, and initiated my trusty ritual of supplement-loading to fight off whatever flu-meets-bad-cold situation is currently making the rounds. Also: moodboarding my sister’s Tribeca apartment, which is coming together in that very specific downtown way. We’re talking new custom pillows (the kind that imply you have your life together), and a cold brew machine because apparently that’s just baseline now? Every new apartment has one. I don’t make the rules. All of which is to say: a lot of observing, and somehow I came out of it with a running list of things I want this very minute—objects, yes, but also entire aesthetics. See below: Prada sandals (such a big yes!), the suede Gucci getaway tote, Polo Ralph Lauren oversized bomber jacket (it’s it!—more sizes here and here), a Miu Miu mini bag, La Veste striped troursers, and the chicest ankle-flared black pants from Vince.

There’s something to be said for a necklace stack that never clocks out. Mine, as you know by now, is always on—sleep, sweat, volleyball game sidelines—and somehow, always evolving. Proof in the pics from just this week alone! Different day, same story: compliments, non-stop. On Tuesday afternoon, I found myself in a huddle of women, all leaning in, asking, touching, plotting. “Where is that from?” “I need this.” “Mother’s Day?” It turned into a full-on moment. Turns out the moment is now to pounce. Because most of my Adina Reyter jewelry is 20% off. My edit of stack staples here!

Salone Milan is currently underway in a far-flung and fashionable time zone away—and yet it’s also staging its own exhibitions across 26 open browser tabs on my laptop. Everything I’m clicking on—fashion, interiors, even the occasional tablescape—is speaking the same love language. Textures, colors, prints—tutto, per favore! Today. Naturally, I’m influenced. And eyeing: this gorgeous vintage woven rattan furniture set from the ‘50s (crazy that it’s less expensive than a designer bag!), Hereu’s under-$500 knit tote, West Elm’s mushroom table lamp, Ruggable’s washable striped (Miu Miu-ish) tufted rug (so many good options right now, including this and this, all at 20% off), plus Zara’s (Prada-spirited) pouch, Kaymen’s white gold, diamond and enamel ring, Polo Ralph Lauren beaded kitten heels, a $54 Macy’s tote(!), enamel (Chanel-like) earrings, a checked Damson Madder jacket and Vrayo “Courage and Creativity” Body Cream.

Photos: The Sartorialist, Marta Oldrini, Despi Naka

Across the canyon from me lives Tessa Tran, the designer behind Chan Luu, though from this vantage point she is more daydream than neighbor—a mirage framed by palm trees and one enormous pane of glass (or is it a door?) that she throws wide open when the sea breeze decides to make its afternoon call. It’s a bit too far to know for sure, but I can always tell when it’s open and I find myself, more often than I’d like to admit, wondering what exactly is happening inside. From her Instagram, it appears she cooks—constantly, beautifully—like the kind of person who doesn’t just “make dinner” but composes it, pulling herbs and vegetables from her garden as if the whole thing were an extension of her studio practice. But, she’s also working, steadily cranking things out in that disciplined way creative women do when no one is watching (except, perhaps, the girl across the canyon). And today, the evidence arrived: her new spring collection, which makes it all suddenly make sense. The feather-trimmed tunics, the shell-trimmed tunics, those sleek dupioni tanks and embellished bags—it’s all there, the breeze, the ease, the life I’ve been glimpsing from afar. Meanwhile, without realizing it, I’ve apparently been preparing. Collecting the counterparts: the chic Schutz sandals (for $59!) Glossier’s After Baume (plus this and this to match shiny dupioni), and a cute sardine ring, to match the seaside mood. As if, somehow, we’ve been in conversation this whole time—she, designing in that glass-walled room; me, assembling the punctuation marks. The canyon between us suddenly feels very small.

Yesterday at noon, my phone lit up with a text from one of the most stylish women I know—New York–based, naturally—asking if I could please pack her suitcase for Italy. Capri and Florence, to be exact. Partying on the itinerary. By the way, when I say “pack,” I mean: shop, edit, and virtually stuff her Rimowa as if I were standing in her closet, straw hat in one hand, lace-up sandal in the other. While this proposition didn’t sound nearly as delightful as diving into a bowl of linguini vongole at La Fontelina, I was, of course, game. The only small hurdle: a ticking clock—she leaves Friday! So, I got to work yesterday afternoon, curating pieces that allow for a spontaneous aperitivo, a long lunch, and an unplanned detour into a tiny shop she’ll think about forever. Consider this my long-distance packing list for her—and perhaps for you, too. Because if there’s ever a moment to dress like your best self, it’s Italy in early summer. Links after the pics! P.S. I’m still waiting on confirmation that I’ll be repaid in pasta.

Alemais scarf dress, immediately above, mixed print midi (under blazer), this mixed print midi, and this daytime mini.

Zimmermann 16kt gold plated earrings to light things up a little (or a lot).

This Simon Miller crochet tunic says ciao in the most lyrical Italian accent.

A Bahia Maria suit for lounging by Hotel Scalinatella’s pool. Wear with jeans and an unbuttoned button down in Florence. Toss on a cute mini below for boutique hopping.

Sheer style success in a vintage 80s caftan (over a swim suit, bodysuit, a slip, boy shorts, etc).

Vintage Roberto Cavalli (from the early 2000’s) to dance the night away at Taverna Anema e Core.

Or crank up the volume even more in a vintage Alexandre Vaulthier

This vintage Prada wrap dress books a dinner in Florence with a blazer and a lunch in Capri—perhaps even in the same day.

Quisisana’s terrace will love this embellished Prada pouch.

Also this Racil bow-tie dress!

These H&M shorts make cappuccino runs, boat off-shore, and trek the steps down to the beach.

Natalie Martin’s stripes go with the flow, always.

Pistola Jeans are fantastically comfy, travel-ready and super flattering. Love the cropped red pair, above plus these cargoes. And they’re all 20% off through 4/26.

Team this scalloped mini with a bikini and black ballet flats or tuck it into a pair of white jeans and wear as a top. P.S. J.Crew is staging a 30% off Friends & Family Sale; Makes sense to get/pack the low-waist dress, below, too. A low-slung belt will crank it up even more.

This drop-waist dress is 30% off!

Go big, or go home. These Stuart Weitzman sandals will dress up everything.

Put this one-piece to work by the pool or with this midi skirt.

Last but not least, La Double J fringe employed as a cover-up, skirt or scarf! Buon Viaggio!

It’s definitely not Monday morning—at least not according to my Instagram feed. Over there, it’s all shorts, slinky skirts, and barely-there sandals, sun-warmed, unbothered, existing in some parallel dimension where emails don’t exist and iced coffees never melt. Honestly, I’d like directions. But until I figure out inter-dimensional travel, I’m pretty sure the closest portal is just… shopping for it. I’ll take the embellished TWP shorts, the best oversized (but not too oversized) t-shirts, the red terry Polo Ralph Lauren, both below, these easy La Ligne trousers (pictured), these Frankie Shop shorts (poised to sell out, I promise you), the bejeweled Dries Van Noten sandals, the pictured Cordera beaded bag, floral H&M, these ankle-strap Sam Edelman sandals and things floaty and ready to go at Zara!

Photos: Sara Ramenur, Aimee Song, Valerie MacCauley, Mimi Nguyen

Alongside a weekend of bagel binges (shoutout to Mustard’s miso scallion schmear) and getting three episodes deep into Beef, I put together a new Substack this weekend. It’s about what I picked up from some time at the kids’ table—lessons learned, as it turns out. Read it here.