LE CATCH

New York has nearly 8.6 million residents, yet somehow I always run into someone I know—usually when I’m dressed for absolutely no one. Last week, it was an old friend in a random Little Italy shop where I’d stopped to buy fresh pasta for dinner. My hands were full of groceries. My jewelry, thank goodness, was handling appearances, above. Sequin NYC continues to carry me in this department. I wore its pieces around town all week, adding enough glimmer to make even my running-around outfits look like I’d given them some thought (see my grey Doen sweater with my $128 mini “J” initial necklace, in honor of my eldest son, which my childhood friend promptly complimented). The new “Glimmers” collection gives me plenty more to work with: genuine semi-precious gemstones and charms to clip on and swap out. And this ring! It’s jewelry I can keep rearranging, even employing as a belt, below—and count on when New York inevitably turns into a reunion.

polo ralph lauren

Crochet meets fair isle—peak fall prep!

1. Polo Ralph Lauren sweater
2. Eterne straight high-rise jeans
3. Mango faux fur biker jacket
4. Banana Republic triangular hoop earrings
5. Jimmy Choo tortoise shell print clutch
6. Olaplex Smooth and Shine Set
7. Schutz boots

In New York, I can feel perfectly well dressed for as long as I don’t leave the apartment. Someone, it seems, is inevitably better outfitted than I am. At all hours. At 8:30AM this morning, for example, while sitting outside Gotan with my almond flat white, wearing a sweatshirt, exercise leggings, and a suede barn jacket (albeit all cute!), J.Crew’s Olympia Gayot walked by in a belted army jacket, Botticelli hair flowing. Suddenly, I wanted to go home and change. Or at least find a belt. Then last night, Clare Vivier arrived fresh off the plane from LA in a wrinkle-free Maria McManus shirt and old Rachel Comey shoes that look like current Celine. I can’t keep a shirt wrinkle-free walking to dinner. Meanwhile, Coco somehow acquired the cutest pointy-toe ballet flats when I wasn’t looking, and now I want those, too. But this is also why I love being here. I get dressed, go outside, reconsider everything, and try again. Plus, I shop. Yesterday, that meant these (birthday) bow flats at Celine, below, (Coco promptly bought these loafers on sale) and trying on Alexa Chung’s entire collection at Reformation, which made me feel approximately half as cool as Alexa Chung (this specifically). Let’s see how long this lasts once I head out today.

A quick Zara detour this morning turned into a longer look. Blame the latest blazers and knits—and my ability to justify another of either. My picks here: the lace-trimmed blazer and double-lapel jacket above, the reversible plaid trench, the striped sash shirt, and the faux fur peplum jacket.

I’ve worn my new Dorsey earrings out every night in New York, partly because I love them and partly because they let me spend less time figuring out what else to wear! They truly require very little from the rest of me: jeans, a sweater, sparkle—dressed! Dorsey makes two versions, one with moissanite and gold vermeil and the other with 14K gold and lab diamonds (pictured on model below). Dior just showed its own extra long version in Paris last week, and next up is wearing mine with a tuxedo shirt today!

New York and I picked up right where we left off: a morning run up the West Side Highway, followed by walking all over with Coco, doing the things that plug me straight back into my native city. Chicken salad from Meadow Lane (stupidly expensive, but worth trying), chocolate and T-shirts for my boys at Happier Grocery, a perfect flat white at Manjul, and a restock at TWP for blazers (chino, grey and cropped navy, all below). Apparently, my idea of reconnecting involves a lot of eating, walking and buying. It also involves a new glorious coat (I also love this velvet Reformation)—a pleasure I’d almost forgotten—and dark-wash jeans, which Coco was wearing, too. P.S. We don’t coordinate; this just happens. Also pictured: this oversized white t-shirt, these block-heeled ballerinas, and this Clare V clutch. For dinner with friends uptown at Maxime’s, I switched into Kallmeyer trousers and added long Dorsey earrings for extra sparkle. So wonderful to be here, to feel fall—and to have occasion(s) to wear layers!

When I landed in Newark last night, I felt something I barely recognized: cold. Actual, need-another-layer cold. I promptly put on whatever was at the top of my carry-on to fend off the chill—a Varley button-up sweatshirt, a Ciao Lucia cropped jacket, above—and it felt oddly reassuring to have the weather finally agree with the calendar. Of course, the shopping possibilities have multiplied with every degree dropped from LA (which is a lot!). A few things inspiring me, below: the ponyhair Tuckernuck, the beaded Asos (already en route to LA!), the belted Topshop (Coco is eyeing), a faux-trimmed coat (I have this one with me), the ruffle trimmed Ganni, and a red Polo Ralph Lauren hoodie.

banana republic

Reminds me of all the cool modern tweed coming down the Parisian runways.

1. Polo Ralph Lauren sweatshirt
2. Kallmeyer jeans
3. Banana Republic tux jacket
4. Jimmy Choo clutch
5. No Makeup Makeup mascara
6. Electric Picks ring
7. Rag & Bone kitten heels

Celine showed Spring ’27 over the weekend in Paris, but I’m taking my marching orders right this very minute. First order of business: pull out the grey t-shirt. Yes, grey instead of white, especially with tan trousers. Such a small switch, and suddenly two things I already own look shockingly new and fresh. I’m also recalibrating my color ratios. Less of the high-voltage Yves Klein blue, more sky blue (here, here), with a generous helping of khaki (these are perfect, plus this). Then there were the belts: thin leather ones that neatly punctuated an outfit (same deal at Hermes, BTW), delicate gold chains that looked like necklaces reassigned to waist duty, and round sunglasses (or these). Thankfully, my closet has most of the ingredients, but a little market research never hurts.

Vogue’s Fashion Director Madeline Fass snapped this pic of her shoes and colleagues’ in Paris over the weekend, and apparently the Fashion Week group consensus was unanimous: black pointy-toe pumps. I’m taking this as a cue to sharpen up my fall shoe rotation. Starting with this no-fail, forever-chic Prada pair, then branching out into the other excellent less expensive alts (they look like Jamie Haller kitties!, these best-selling wedges, and these in suede). Plus other fall options I’ve been bookmarking: Alex Mill’s velvet ballerinas, Reformation’s mules and boots, these Madewell pumps in the best brown and The Row-like slip-ons, these blue ballets by Doen, and these holiday-ready embellished satin slingbacks.