LE CATCH

My sister just touched down again—126 miles away in Palm Springs. The driving distance didn’t stop us from some arm-in-arm online shopping. I pointed out Zara’s new collection (hello, tie-neck trench!), which includes the teardrop necklace set, above, for $40, The Reformation’s satin-y (Prada-ish) mini skirts, and Chanel-like flats, below, Boden’s beaded cardigan and soft suede lace-up shoes, and H&M’s (Chloe-esque) lace statements (shorts too). I have yet to tell her about this tempting under-$200 edit!

Just bought myself an early Valentine’s Day gift—for under $200. It will live on my wrist!

Watching all the strategic piling on at Copenhagen’s Fashion Week right now makes me think about the forever layers—the pieces that dutifully earn their keep no matter the sub-zero temps or the trend cycle. The base layers that do the most (sometimes invisible) labor, creating ease, outfit magic, and, yes, warmth, long before anything statement-making enters the picture. All of which dredges up a memory from the late ’90s, when I was interviewing for a job at Vogue and understood, perhaps for the first time, how much those foundational pieces matter. I had planned to wear a black sleeveless knit tank—the most flattering, sharply-cut, and assured item I owned at the time. A “friend” borrowed it shortly before the interview and then refused to return it in time, explaining that my “clothes won’t make or break the interview.” Turns out she had already decided my top would be perfect for her college reunion weekend. I did eventually get it back. After the interview. Let’s just say the experience served as a lesson in more ways than one. The one that’s stayed with me is this: when these pieces are designed well, they anchor you. And that’s why I find myself so focused right now on rebuilding those foundations—more button-downs, better T-shirts, sheer turtlenecks meant to support rather than perform on their own. Flore Flore’s new ’90s-inspired tanks and fitted t-shirts, below, bring all of this into sharp focus—at a refreshingly unoffensive price point. They’re covetable in the way true essentials always are with their exacting proportions and longevity. The kind of pieces you reach for instinctively—and the kind that, once borrowed, are suspiciously hard to get back! Rue Sophie is another solid source, with its satin trench (or tissue-thin, layering-perfection turtlenecks) that do all the heavy lifting. Today I just want to pile on a bunch of button-downs a la Loewe (Spring 26) with J.Crew’s new pleated jeans, last pic. Layering may be having a moment, but the most important layers are eternal. They simply make everything else work. And, oh, let me assure you, they can land the interview, too. P.S. My red necklace, above, a new forever staple, is by Sherman Field.

Chanel’s 2026 couture presentation, unveiled earlier today in Paris, was a reminder that true fashion lives in the realm of meticulous craft and whisper-soft details—the kind you notice when you look closely. The house opened with its iconic skirt suit, reimagined as something almost weightless. Rendered in sheer blush organza, it felt less constructed than suspended, fastened with pale pink quartz stones in place of buttons. Delicate embroidered birds traced the jacket and skirt where seams would normally sit, as if the tailoring itself had taken flight. Word is, clients will be able to commission bespoke embroideries—an initial, a zodiac symbol, even a simple heart—stitched discreetly into their garments. There’s something deeply personal—and everyday wearable—about this kind of detailing, far from the world of couture salons. We too can integrating subtle, intentional accents into our daily rotation: a monogram hidden inside a blazer, a charm tucked onto a chain, a favorite pop of color. These small gestures don’t shout for attention, but they change how we feel in our clothes—more ourselves. Here are some Inspo pics and a few actionable ideas: double-layering meaningful charm necklaces (Chloe, immediately below, Adina Reyter, and Bracha), cuffs peeking out under outwear (try this or this), a knit tied off-kilter just to be different, white footwear from Chloe Pre-Fall 2026 and Chanel couture, below, to convey your up-to-the-minute/ahead-of-the-curve style (J.Crew, Tony Bianco, and Staud.) More to come, you can be sure…

$69, mango

Sunshine in a blouse.

1. Mango blouse, $69, mango.com
2. Upside Down cropped flared leggings, $110, mytheresa.com
3. The Row trench coat, $3500, netaporter.com
4. Prada leather bag, $2050, prada.com
5. Shashi earrings, $88, shopbop.com
6. Khaite kitten heels, $890, khaite.com

My latest Substack, published yesterday, is a deep dive into the most-clicked Le Catch links of 2025—and what they signal for 2026. It’s teeming with surprises, newfound staples and soon-to-be-in-rotation statements. Images from this weekend’s couture shows in Paris reinforce some of my must-have predictions including Prada’s nylon pouch bag, rendered in various colors (comes in black too) and already in the coolest clutches, above and below. Green is the new pop of red—via layering knits, cardigans, punctuating tops (Loewe, below, on sale), socks, etc. Preppy vibes from ladylike quilted jackets, below, and plaid coats (Zara, Sezane) and button down shirts (love this style and the price!) are solidly on the scene. Also new: safety pin brooches (Sherman Field, below, Chan Luu, and Zara, below) are fresh sparkly accents (on a blouse, scarf, cardigan or lapel), plus Prada-inspired ballet sneakers (minimalist and lightweight derivatives here and here) are edging out Mary-Jane flats. Lastly, leopard print is making a comeback—again. Click in!

I am not one of the 230 million Americans bracing for severe winter weather this weekend, but I am thinking of everyone who is—stay safe, stay warm! Good luck to my sister flying to New York from Miami on Saturday night—and to American Airlines’s customer service team. I’ll be at a high school volleyball tournament, hunkering down, keeping things easy and light—to the best of my ability! (Volunteering at school yesterday, above, helped tamp down my end-of-world anxiety and re-frame my perspective!) I’ll be wearing my new wool oversized tee, below, at some point, plus this Miu Miu-ish striped top, layering Cos button-downs for kicks (see inspo below), all while debating a new yet nostalgic do-it-all bag that manages life logistics, a really good (inexpensive) Celine-spirited scarf that solves most outfit problems, a well-fitting swimsuit that cuts my age in half, a look-carrying belted jacket for under $100, the H&M leopard-print twill coat and super cute beaded boat shoes, and this fluffy And Other Stories sweater. My hope: nothing will require customer support!

Getting dressed in minutes—truly minutes—for a full day of work has become its own kind of discipline lately. The goal: clothes that can handle one (okay, two) bags spilling over with devices, indefatigable gloss, look-awake moisturizer, and assorted on-the-go whatnot, coffee permanently in hand, and a schedule that doesn’t clock out at 5. I wrote earlier today about my sister’s well-oiled morning routine, but I am also inspired by women like Alyssa Wasko of Donni—running a brand, raising young kids, and somehow making it all look effortless (i.e., drawstring pants and chic comfy loafers). It’s not about perfection, it’s about reliability. Pieces that move 24/7 without needing a second thought. Here’s what I’ve been relying on lately: the ruffled Doen, the Madewell top with red piping, the blue Zara barn jacket, this clever all-in-one t-shirt-v-neck by Tibi and this collared Polo Ralph Lauren sweatshirt (such a hack—looks like a sweater and shifts seamlessly from the gym to Zooms!) Perhaps TMI, but FYI: my everyday, super comfy undies are on sale for $1!!! Same with the no-fail boy shorts, which I like to wear under more sheer pieces. Almost too good to be true!

My twin sister lives her mornings like a competitive sport. The starting line changes daily—entirely dependent on her shoot schedule—but the intensity never does. She wakes up at whatever hour the job requires and immediately goes into motion, determined to squeeze in her time before work: tea with honey, vanilla yogurt, an intense workout, and a little dillydallying that somehow feels essential. Then suddenly, chaos. She disappears into the shower with exactly 7 minutes and 30 seconds before she has to run out the door to a photo shoot. When she leaves, her hair is still dripping, shoes half-tied, and the door slams shut behind her with authority. What lingers is the evidence of a well-oiled routine: she smells impossibly fresh and clean, like warm skin just out of steam and someone nearby tearing open a ripe, juicy orange. That bright, unmistakable hit of neroli hangs in the air. It’s Counter Body Butter. It doesn’t announce itself; it travels. Confident, crisp, ready to go. Which feels fitting, because Counter is back (nee Beauty Counter). The resurrection of Counter feels less like a relaunch and more like a reclaiming: products that stand for transparency, safety without compromise, natural beauty without the fine print. Using it feels intentional. Naturally, I slather myself in it now (along with the tinted moisturizer, and pretty much everyone I know swears by the mascara, a longtime-in-the-making lash lengthener). The messaging alone emboldens me—care for yourself, ask better questions, demand more from what you put on your body. I like that it leaves a trace. I like that people ask me what I am wearing. And I like that it smells like clarity, conviction, and a woman who is on a mission—even when she’s a smidge late, running out the door with wet hair.

Yesterday I brought a plus-one to a surprise birthday lunch. She’s new. She’s Céline. We arrived early to a long, festive table already perfectly set, place cards lined up just so. Perched on each chair: a statement bag—a pert Gucci here, a lush suede Prada there. It was like everyone’s avatar was saving our seats while we stood around mingling, waiting for our still-oblivious friend to walk in and be surprised. (She was—yay!) So what did my bag say about me? She’s a deep merlot on the outside, a resplendent poppy red on the inside—slightly serious until—surprise!—you open her up. Three compartments (a detail I find endlessly helpful), compact but deeply functional, organized without being uptight. Easy to sling over the shoulder, equally happy being carried like a clutch. Multi-faceted. Versatile. Very much how I hope I come across, though that may be wishful thinking! Though I love Céline, it’s not an everyday, head-to-toe brand for me. Too expensive, for starters! Still, I’m always leaning into the polished but laid back aesthetic. Which is why I’ll happily reach for something like the gold-buttoned L’Agence shirt, below, the $62 chain link lariat, and this Celine-green polo sweater. At lunch I learned about my friend’s newish Substack, The Answer Is Love (truly and always); I read every feel-good post last night. Highly recommend! Also: everyone was talking about (apart from the tenuous state of the world!) the un-put-down-able Strangers, this utterly divine yet hard-to-place fragrance (think caraway, limbwood branches, tart black currant, vanilla, and summertime lily that smells like, say, stepping into a Reykjavík backyard at 4 a.m), my fake-out diamond studs (yes!), how Zara (below), Margaux, Everlane, Boden, and others are already—successfully—on Chanel’s Spring 2026 collection, Nicole Chavez’s made-for-layering faux fur turtleneck (below), and my table-mate’s chic new health-monitoring watch (which I mistook for a big investment/heirloom piece!). Oh, wait, one more thing: my green ruffled Chloe dress, above, is on sale!