LE CATCH

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.

For the first time in four weeks, I am not measuring my life in TSA bins, delayed departures, or the existential theater of Gate C23. No tiny shampoos, no laptop acrobatics, no phantom panic that my phone has slipped into some alternate dimension between the metal detector and my jacket pocket. Just me, unscanned, gloriously grounded. And yet I have every intention of reaching cruising altitude anyway. In Santa Monica. This weekend. The agenda is simple. Finish this book, then begin another: Famesick has been whispering to me from my nightstand in that very specific tone reserved for books that are about to rearrange my brain chemistry. Cherry is stacked beneath it. I want to be the kind of person who reads all of them in a single weekend. I also want to check out Pantry in Malibu—because a good weekend needs at least one moment of standing in line, pretending not to notice what everyone else ordered while absolutely noticing—and then Mustard’s Bagels in Culver City, for my kind of carb loading. And then, as all planned weekends inevitably do, I pivot. Not to suitcases (perish the thought), but to bags of the summer-is-coming-and-off-we-go-again persuasion: the new mesh Longchamp, bamboo-handled and monogrammed Mark and Graham, snake-print and super versatile (on-sale) Stuart Weitzman, floral canvas Loewe ($390!), and beaded Prada (use the code MARLIEN to borrow it and get your first month of Vivrelle membership on me).

Which leads, somehow, to jewelry! Not precious in the traditional sense, but personal. A flash of color, something that doesn’t quite match but insists on belonging anyway. On repeat lately: Shylee Rose, Adina Reyter, Maison Mayle, and Thatch. I want to add more vibrant (and refreshingly affordable) pendants from Rosie Assoulin, particularly the Stone Pebble, Jade Lentil and hearts (always!), plus the cubic charms. Of course, a cute reversible suit and sarong from The Great will be part of the warm and sunny plan! I hope you have a great weekend, too! P.S. I’m aiming to write another Substack because I have so much more to share from last weekend in Palm Beach (some pics below)! Will keep you posted.

Thursday is the new day of the week. Not quite the fever pitch of a Monday reset, nor the languid drift of a Friday escape. It’s when the racks, both real and digital, are replenished. This morning’s scroll was particularly compelling, if not paralyzing—due to choice overload. Dorsey just deepened its love affair with heirloom sparkle, offering even more chic glint to catch the light, with the Ines Collection. I jumped in early with the asher-cut moissanite drop earrings, below, in Palm Beach. Dôen just released pieces that seem destined for Corsica (i.e., where I’m heading early this summer!), with intricate hand-crocheted dresses, including the long stunner, below and this applique lace pull-on (um, also mine, pic to come!). Meanwhile, Club Moda La Isla has arrived like a well-timed postcard. Think exclusives from Chan Luu (amongst them re-issued sold-out pieces in new colors); Staud (beaded bucket bag, above and striped tote, last pic); and Siedrés—all that feel collected rather than acquired. And then, of course, the weekly H&M and Zara drops: the shaggy spaghetti strap dress, below (and en route), the linen-blend tie-neck jacket, the striped shopper (I monogrammed mine with yellow embroidery) and the billowy red halter top. Also: new $20 Asos’s sunglasses case (which I wear like a necklace so I don’t lose mine again), plus leather macrame from The Frankie Shop. Then there is The RealReal—the ever-reliable treasure hunt. A place where past lives meet present cravings, and where the thrill is as much in the discovery as it is in the piece itself: I just used up my credit and bought this Diotima and this Dries. All good decisions, I think!

If you could peek inside everyone’s spring shopping carts right now, it would look uniformly relaxed: six of ShopMy’s top ten most-purchased styles in March were easy drawstring pants. Think adjustable waists that forgive, taffeta that swishes just enough to feel intentional, and carpenter cuts that suggest Saturday, every day. Specifically, these by Chan Luu, Leset and Donni. J.Crew, FYI, just came out with a solid pair. The throughline: effortlessness with a point of view. Naturally, this all segues—inevitably, predictably—into easy summer shorts. Same DNA, just abbreviated. Leset and Pixie Market’s versions are already sold out, though you can still hop on the waitlist for the next drop. Topshop selling fast, immediately below. More polished taffeta iterations, above Reformation with an elastic waist and below pleated Chan Luu (black), are still up for grabs—but, I bet, for not too much longer. Speaking of betting, here’s what I forecast will fly off the shelves this month (now that it’s half way over!): Prada’s forever-chic square-neckline swimsuits—black and striped—that easily double for tops with shorts, skirts, jeans, you name it; the Beaufille lace-trimmed wrap, Marina Moscone’s off-the-shoulder dress (the long version is stunning too), these scalloped-hem terry cloth Laveste shorts (Euro girls are obsessed!), this Celine leather cross-body bag ($1K), the pearl-embellished Mango blouse and enamel lariat ($32!), this sleek Modern Citizen tank top (for $62 in every color), this Miu Miu-ish embellished pajama top for on and off duty and this scarf top that’s already teetering on extinction!

I’m back in LA, technically—but my wardrobe is still lingering somewhere in Palm Beach, mid-preen, in pastels and the sheerest of things. Out of curiosity: Why—why—is it only after the trip that more of the right pieces reveal themselves? Herewith: the grosgrain-ribbon TKEES x J.Crew collab, which launched today, exactly 24 hours after I landed back in reality! And cute (and spot on) is Eliou’s newest drop: a sheer and sparkly mini dress, a sequin pink maxi, black lace slip dress, and embroidered skirt. Then there’s the Ref’s lace-trimmed silk Bermuda shorts (bound to sell out), J.Crew’s poplin drawstring pants (I will be living in these all summer long) and Polo Ralph Lauren’s terry shorts set. If the timing is off, so be it. The feeling, at least, is exactly right!

$148, dolce vita

It’s sold out on Shopbop because it’s the kind of bag people stop you for. I can vouch for this! More stock here!

1. Bondi Born tunic dress
2. Sarah Creal Mineral 50 SPF Sunscreen
3. Olaplex No. 3 Plus Complete Repair Treatment (3-minute pre-shampoo treatment that immediately softens hair!)
4. Luv Lou sunglasses
5. Dolce Vita wood beaded bag
6. Bottega Veneta rubber sandals

If you’ve been following on Instagram, then you know I was living it up in Palm Beach this past weekend, mostly dressed in pink, skin plump and glowing, courtesy of YSE Beauty and Molly Sims. I shared a little bit about my fun, action-packed, beauty tip-filled trip in my latest Substack, which I just wrote on the plane ride back home (and made free so everyone can read it!), but expect more details soon! So much to share, but for now, you’ll definitely want to jump on this to get caught up. Happy Monday!