LE CATCH

There’s a lot of fashion devoted to the fantasy of getting dressed, but right now I’m more interested in the reality of it. Maybe because we’re barreling toward back-to-business/everyday life again, but suddenly the question is less What’s the big fall look? and more: What am I actually going to put on at 8:15 on a Thursday? Zara seems to be aptly addressing this very specific problem, designating the basic fitted crewneck sweater, above, as “The Must” this week. Emphasis on fitted. After seasons of oversized everything, its close-to-the-body proportions are what make it look fresh—and infinitely more useful. Wear it under a blazer. Layer it over a cropped t-shirt. The interest is moving back toward how ordinary clothes fit, layer and work together. Which brings me to Jamie Haller, who has somehow built an entire universe around this idea without making anything feel remotely basic. Her clothes are essentially the building blocks of everyday dressing, only each one has been nudged a few degrees away from expected: a jean that’s flared just enough and sharply creased down the front; a sweatshirt in the exact right washed-out shade (think tumeric); a kitten heel that changes the posture of everything above it; a loafer with slightly unexpected proportions. Nothing screams for attention. Nothing looks anonymous, either. That tension may be her secret power: she understands that the difference between commonplace and really good often lives in sacred millimeters. P.S. More exceptional everyday styling—and accessible pieces—below from Reformation (also this), Hill House Home, Attersee (on sale) and H&M.

I’m into the smallest possible fall interventions right now—the fashion equivalent of turning the calendar page without turning down the thermometer. And I love how little it takes: one slightly weightier, textural detail can pull a very August outfit forward without clobbering it with, heaven forbid, a chunky knit. Examples: a beaded tie-neck blouse (for under $150), above, a leather H&M neckace to layer over a t-shirt, below, an apron belt over a skirt (or this game-changing wide one), satin flats, an equestrian-print scarf (with Celine vibes), a pre-layered sweater (can also be tied around your shoulders, below), an embroidered pouch ($127!)—the clothes can stay exactly where they are for now. It’s the punctuation that’s changing. Speaking of exclamation points, Shopbop is offering an extra 25% off sale today! And today only, which feels like excellent timing to make a move. Also, truth be told, despite the full price, I’m contemplating the dramatic Kallmeyer ruffles, the antiqued-leather lace-up Prada pumps, and, these wide-leg Loewe trousers (would wear with a basic white tee!).

$352, roucha

Loving this new take on the workwear jacket—and its knot buttons.

1. H&M ruched peplum top

2. High Sport flared pants

3. Roucha jacket

4. Necessaire Body Serum

5. Monica Vinader diamond cord bracelet

6. Vince sandals

I’m taking a masterclass in how to start dressing for fall without actually dressing for fall, courtesy of London-based Jia Ying Goh—who, in case you missed it, is my current style inspo. Her approach is less about changing seasons than changing the weight of one thing. Keep the bare legs, but swap cotton Bermudas for suede (above and below, more sizes here). Keep the pull-on shorts, but throw on a high-neck anorak or a long trench. Take an oversized, cotton button-down (pictured) and give it a little heft with a skinny leather cord tied (also in black) at the waist. Add the knit, but make sure the V is deep enough that it still feels like August. And I especially like that Jia isn’t trying to make everything “go.” The white linen drawstring shorts under a navy trench, brown suede with powder blue, white mesh flats with a black blazer—it’s the slight seasonal mismatch that makes it all look right now. Consider me enrolled. And shopping for suede shorts.

There’s layering, and then there’s The Row’s more August-appropriate version: stacking. The distinction? Think thin, peel-able pieces: a Henley under a T-shirt under a V-neck sweater—three completely ordinary things that somehow look exponentially better piled together. See above. It’s layering without the usual fall heaviness, conveniently engineered for transitional weather: peel one off, pull one back on, repeat. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that exact stack. The trick seems to be keeping everything relatively fine-gauge and letting each layer show just enough to register. Thankfully, Mint Velvet, J.Crew, Cos, Zara, Staud, Aritzia, and H&M are offering up pieces that do the stacking for us, although I’d love to give it a whirl on my own starting with these base layers from Cos (also this), Modern Citizen, and AG.

Massimo Dutti’s new pre-fall lookbook has dozens and dozens of outfits in it, and I swear I’ve seen most of them before—specifically, in the elevators at Condé Nast circa the late ’90s. I was an editorial assistant then, largely dressed in Gap, J.Crew and whatever I’d managed to procure at the Barneys Warehouse sale, riding upstairs alongside Vogue editors in immaculate little knits, tailored trousers, cat-eye shades and Manolo pumps, discreetly taking mental notes. The whole thing was very Carolyn Bessette before “Carolyn Bessette-coded” was something anyone could say. What I like most about Massimo Dutti’s version is how little fashion it seems to require. The styling is almost aggressively simple: a high-neck blazer (it’s so good!) over a perfect t-shirt, a long lean skirt with a tucked-out shirt, dark-wash jeans with pointy-toe low-heeled mules (I recently got the flat iteration). Mostly things we already own, rearranged into proportions that suddenly look fresh again. There are, however, a few new-ish pieces doing some heavy lifting: the high-neck blazer (also this, this, this and this), the round-neck jacket (super inexpensive option), the return of skinny/cigarette jeans, plus collared knits, that make the old basics feel very fall 2026. I’m taking the new lineup less as a shopping list than a cheat sheet. In fact, I’ve already started reverse-engineering some of my favorite outfits—with Frame’s cigarette jeans (also “slim skinny!”), this mock-neck Cos cardigan (to wear with jeans, skirt, etc), this single-breasted Toteme blazer (on sale), this H&M buttoned top (I used to wear some version of this everyday in my 20s!), this perfectly-proportioned Tibi pencil skirt, and this collared cardi in every color!

Being in the South of France has me dusting off my high-school French—and I’m très pleased with myself. But apparently fluency isn’t the only thing coming back: I’ve also coaxed out my inner Française, who would like to spend next season in little cotton tops, checks, scarves, ballet flats, and anything that looks vaguely like it could have been picked up in Provence rather than packed in Los Angeles. So, in the interest of full immersion, below: the clothes about to play the part. Because if I’m going to attempt the accent, I might as well dress for it too with the red H&M tie-neck shirt and fringe jacket, the padded-shoulder wool polo top, the Reformation citrine jacquard jacket, a seductive cropped fitted shirt, the vintage Hermes jacket (around $200!), a striped long-sleeve, purple ballerinas, a Provencal bandana, and the Alex Mill barn jacket. A bien tot!

South of France, day 2, and apparently I packed with one eye on September. Checks (above), chocolate brown, high-neck tops (below), a little more shirt than necessary over a bikini—plus enough hot pink to keep things firmly in August. My pre-trip research, by the way, was considerably more focused on what to wear (thank you, Ciao Lucia/those cute shorts and that Rixo lace dress!) than where to eat and shop. Because here, the latter tends to work itself out. Which leaves me free to focus on the important stuff: figuring out exactly how much fall I can sneak into summer without ruining either one. Starting with this plaid Rails blouse, the Eddy wood-beaded skirt (below), the TWP button down, this private-sale floral Tory Burch (sandals now, sleek boots and chunky turtleneck later), and this beaded Asos (debuting tonight).

Touching down (again) after a 15+ hour journey, throwing on a dress (and a up-to-the-minute cummerbund) and suddenly feeling like a functioning human being (again). Maybe even a slightly chicer one. Proof that sometimes the fastest way out of travel limbo is one piece, zero styling decisions, done. More proof points: this Asos, this linen LBD, and this under $100 cutie.

$155, tony bianco

Blazy ballet, budget edition.

1. Modern Citizen wrap blouse
2. Pistola studded jeans
3. Warby Parker sunglasses
4. Monica Vinader initial bracelet
5. Jimmy Choo gingham pouch
6. Tony Bianco ballet flats