wave hi to fall

Now that we’ve successfully sidestepped a tsunami (phew!), it feels only right to focus on something far less stressful—like fashion. A quick trip to the Apple Store at the mall yesterday turned into a full-blown browse-a-thon. I found myself drifting in and out of shops, where knits were already making a strong appearance—and everywhere, autumn shades of brown and orange. Fall is clearly creeping in, and it’s not even August yet! So what does a summer-loving girl to do? This morning, I turned to Net-A-Porter’s Pre-Fall Edit—a stellar, makes-sense selection that's prepping me (stylishly, sensibly) for the chillier, shorter-day reality ahead. It’s full of pieces that don’t scream "summer's over" but whisper "it’s okay to layer again." Think soft tailoring, rich color palettes, and transitional staples that work just as well now as they will in October. There are major pieces like this Loewe peplum jacket, this brown suede Rohe skirt, and the tasseled Isabel Marant bag, above, that will temper the sting of a 50-degree day. But also everyday essentials that will keep one beach bum moving forward till spring: these Aeyde suede ballet flats, this Kallmeyer chiffon skirt, and these most excellent TWP wide-leg pants. Check it out for yourself here.

beach girl

 

At a baby shower the other day, a friend I hadn’t seen in ages paused mid-chat, took a sip of her wine, and said, “You do beach well.” I smiled and said what I always do when I hear that (because, yes, it’s not the first time): Who doesn’t? I mean, the beach requires very little clothing. Says the girl who owns more bikinis than underwear. (Guilty. Proud.) And because I can never have too many, I just added one more to my collection: the black Cynthia Rowley stunner below. Equal parts classic and statement-making—it’s poised for its Hamptons debut this coming weekend. Also making a comeback are my favorite styling extras: Chan Luu sarongs, and sheer lace (Doen below), this new lace cover-up and Dolce-looking mini, these Posse gingham shorts, this embellished see-through J.Crew top, the Le Bop top and skirt set, this Topshop open-stitch wrap dress, this cinched Asos t-shirt (in white and black!) and these new sunnies! 

cart full

 

I spent the majority of Sunday on the couch, with my youngest down and out with a summer cold—not exactly the exciting weekend agenda I had in mind, but so it goes. Being homebound, however, did not stop me from falling down an extremely active rabbit hole: the elusive hunt for Madeline Fass’ 2023 Proenza Schouler cut-out dress, above. No dice (yet), but the search led me to flirt with more recent Proenza—on major sale, no less—because if Jack & Lazaro are headed to Loewe, their final PS pieces feel suddenly extra collectable. (Eyeing this forever top and statement dress). Also justifying all of this dress-hunting with the fact that my niece is getting married in September, which clearly calls for a best-dressed guest moment. And so: more cart-filling with this, this, this, this, and this. 

beach bagger

 

$77, viola pisenti

My new favorite beach bag.

1. Toteme dress, $780, mytheresa.com

2. Ann Taylor fan drop earrings, $44, anntaylor.com

3. Mexican bag, $77, violapesenti.com

4. LQFQ sandals, $44, amazon.com

summer sparkle

 

For some, summer may be synonymous with minimal--all clean lines, airy fabrics, whisper-light everything--but I'm going full more is more. Like in Mallorca, where my sister and I layered our usual Adina Reyter gold and diamond baubles with bold colorful beads and sunshine-sparkly charms from Kate Collins. Fun, no? I intend to keep piling it on for the foreseeable future-- sparkle with my jellies (see below for under $200), color ($45 lace-up sandals), lace shorts and more sheer lace, cashmere stripes, statement denim, and non-stop fringe— the kind of playful excess that feels just right with sun-kissed skin and salty hair. Have fun this weekend! 

bits and bobs

I’ve made a few more recent style discoveries too good to keep to myself. So here's a quickfire round-up of what’s currently lighting me up. First up: Johnny Was. I’ll admit, I used to associate the brand with boho-heavy maxis—but their new summer pieces? A revelation. Think: intricate embroidery, vintage-looking fabrics, and silhouettes that flatter. I snapped up the blouse and cute square-neck (Pucci-looking) one-piece, above that my sister promptly stole from me in Mallorca. (See more pics from Mallorca here!) Meanwhile, Madewell is crushing it once again in the denim department. Their new jeans, below, are a dead ringer for that elusive pair of perfectly worn-in Levi's. I also snagged a pair of Madewell's boat shoes that feel Miu Miu-adjacent but blessedly under $200. Alohas' new sneaks have the same cool vibe, but more sporty. My Theresa's sales racks, as always, are pulling off major miracles right now. I unearthed the striking Victoria Beckham dress, below, along with this, this, and this. H&M's cute leopard print mini has earned me more than a few “where did you get that?”s. Other notables: a vintage-looking Zara mosaic lamp and the studded Stuart Weitzman pouch. Yes to all! 

snap to it

 

There are 22 Fridays left until Christmas. San Francisco hasn’t cracked 70 degrees all month. Summer? It looks like it's going to be a blip in time. Translation: there’s no time like the present to grab the jacket that’s about to carry me through cold snaps, early nights, and back-to-school parties. It’s the kind of jacket that makes up for grey skies. The kind that’ll still be turning heads by the time Mariah hits her first high note in November. It has a high snap-up collar (this is key, the red not so much!) and it's utterly unbothered by the thermostat. I'm getting one now and wearing it until the year turns. There are also these options from St. Agni, Gap, Massimo Dutti (above) and Zara (below).

beauty sleep

Let me start by admitting: I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in nearly 18 years—basically since I became a mom. During my eldest son’s baby and toddler years, he rarely slept through the night, and neither did I. When he was five, we finally got some clarity: he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. The sleeplessness made more sense after that. Once we adjusted his diet, he started sleeping better. But me? Not so much. Even with the constant middle-of-the-night wake-ups behind us, my own sleep never fully recovered. Something shifted when I became a parent—and uninterrupted rest has been elusive ever since. Until now. July 10 to be exact. Despite mom stress still very much being a (bigger-than-ever) thing, I finally found something that changed the game: The Nue Magnesium Ease Spray. A friend told me about it, and she was so right! It's no secret that up to 75% of adults are magnesium deficient--and one of the key symptoms? Waking up in the night. I’ve tried magnesium supplements for years as part of my wind-down routine, but this transdermal spray is hitting differently. I apply it to the bottoms of my feet right before bed—and I’m telling you, it truly works. Like, crazy good. I’ve been sleeping deeper and waking up feeling rested, which honestly feels revolutionary. It’s a small shift with a big impact—and one I wish I’d discovered a decade ago. Speaking of new discoveries and game-changing sprays, I recently started using Counter's Hyaluronic Moisture Mist, which cleverly doubles as a toner and daily hydrator. This fast-absorbing spray is instantly reviving my summer-dry skin and layers easily over skincare or makeup. It's ideal for mid-day boosts (hence in my bag at all times) and leaves my skin with a visibly fresh, dewy glow. Highly recommend! P.S. This isn’t a new discovery, but when I did find it, it completely transformed my hair like nothing else. Smoothing, strengthening, and instantly making everything look healthier—it’s been a staple ever since. And now? It’s on sale. Stock up.

glow up

My friend Kate splits her time between Hawaii, Sun Valley, and LA—a dream geography that certainly doesn’t hurt when it comes to maintaining that jet-set, sun-kissed glow. But lately, something’s different. Very different. Her skin has taken on a new kind of noticeable radiance—dewy, luminous, and impossible to ignore. While it would be easy to credit her lifestyle trifecta, those who know her know better. As a former beauty editor with a intrepid approach to product testing, Kate has long been the go-to for what actually works. And now? She’s clearly onto something. Is it a new serum? A skin tech breakthrough? A not-yet-launched facial protocol? After two days of living under the same roof (and okay a sneak peek into her dopp kit!), I finally cracked her code: a mix of Plated Science Intense Serum and Epicutis Lipid Serum, topped off with (and this may be the key to it all!) face-finishing Westman Atelier Complexion Drops and Sun Tone Bronzing Drops (no wonder this product keeps selling out!). Look out for my glow up, friends!

dress now, shirt later

 

$210, moda operandi

It's a dress now and a blouse later. 

1. Elce seersucker dress, $210, modaoperandi.com

2. Seree jade stone earrings, $78, nordstrom.com

3. Miu Miu raffia tote bag, $1890, mytheresa.com

4. Ancient Greek Sandals, $340, ancientgreeksandals.com