LE CATCH

My last Substack of the year just went out—and, no, it’s not about my resolutions. But if I had to single out an intention here, it’s this: to share more. Substack feels different. Less polished, more process. A place for the behind-the-scenes moments that don’t quite belong on the grid—the trips that never made it to Instagram (hint: the latest post), the inspo, the half-formed thoughts, the things that inform what you read here five days a week without announcing themselves. If you’ve been curious about Le Catch beyond what shows up here, this is where I’ll be leaning in even more. Less broadcast, more conversation. Please join me!

After weeks of holiday parties and big dinners, restraint sounds downright appealing to me right now. Not in a big, life-changing way—just in a “maybe I don’t need another basket of bread” way. I’ve already indulged. This in-between week calls for a lighter touch. A reset, not a resolution. Enter these pieces pictured here: practical, unfussy, and mercifully low-stakes: The lace-trimmed Reformation pants (in these colors too!), the H&M cardigan (size up and wear like a jacket!), the peplum knit (belt it to crank things up a notch) and the coated skirt, above. No fantasy dressing, no post-holiday splurging—just clothes that feel like a palate cleanser before January starts asking questions and demanding accountability!

$790, moda operandi

Manifesting a year as glamorous as this dress.

1. Lela Rose palliette slip dress, $790, modaoperandi.com
2. H&M mohair sweater, $84, hm.com
3. Liffner clutch, $675, shopbop.com
4. Pat McGrath Satin Lipstick in Elson, $30, nordstrom.com
5. Khaite leather sandals, $990, mytheresa.com

At least we know one thing for certain about 2026: color is coming for us—joyfully, unapologetically, and from the ground up. Let’s start with shoes, because they’re always the tell. The runways have been whispering (more like shouting) that the era of sensible black boots and greige suede is officially behind us. Now it’s all about eye-popping reds, acid brights, saturated jewel tones—the kind of shoes that don’t blend in but boast out loud. What makes this shift feel real—and not just trend-cycle noise—is who’s participating. For Resort 2026, Khaite, long the patron saint of head-to-toe black and studied restraint, is flirting with pastels. Read: bright turquoise is not a whim—it’s a signal! Meanwhile, Valentino continues its exuberant Rockstudded march, treating color as punctuation marks, while Chanel is injecting unexpected primary color pops into its otherwise tweed-coded universe. I want to dip my toes in now with these butter-yellow Khaite pumps, these white Everlane ballet flats, these pink ponyhair Jamie Haller kitten heels, these Target (!) Mary Janes, these Le Monde Beryl satin flats, these Jacquemus sneakers, these Emme Parsons pointy-toes, and these green Favorite Daughter pumps. You can also get your pops in with this Cos, these Stems tights, and this Alex Mill cashmere.

When I’m not representing the high-fashion elf union and wrapping presents on the floor or panic-buying “one last thing,” here’s I’m doing this week: watching the last few episodes of Severance, reading this, wearing sweaters that say I’ve rested even if I haven’t and relearning how to put together an outfit that isn’t “festive-adjacent.” It’s that pre-everything time—where the calendar is blurry, the vibes are soft, the look less try-hard. Fitting the bill: my faux fur blazer/jacket, below, (on sale for $124!), the Simon Miller faux shearling (and the less expensive faux fur-trimmed leather), lots of red pops (Cos coat, above, Sezane jacket, below), cozy plaid, fringe, a statement waist cincher to instantly elevate an outfit, suede, and a monogramed La Ligne cardigan.

$98, melie bianco

Proof that good things come in small (sparkly) packages.

1. Karen Millen embellished sweater, $168, nordstrom.com
2. The Frankie Shop trousers, $157, mytheresa.com
3. Gucci tweed jacket, $3980, netaporter.com
4. Miele Bianco bag, $98, meliebianco.com
5. Farah Homidi Lip Compact in Red 1, $88, violetgrey.com
6. Vince Camuto ballet flat, $110, nordstrom.com

And we’re back to the Coco Chronicles. While my sister is staying with me this week, shooting a Brooks Brothers campaign in Hollywood, her off-duty hours are spent rummaging through my ski storage, assessing jackets, layers, and everything that might survive New Hampshire in December--i.e., where she's headed next through Christmas. She is assembling a polar vortex version of herself that will survive snow, wind, long dog walks, and holiday logistics. I want to pack her suitcase with these fun base layers (and solids, above, too), this quilted dickie, this fun Farm Rio floral puffer or this down Varley jacket, this chic wide-leg cashmere pants, this extra warm (and cute) fleece jacket, and this Tibi statement knit.

I’m making the case for colored pants—not as a novelty, not as a holiday gimmick, but as a style choice that feels deliberate and surprisingly modern. A saturated trouser does something neutrals can’t: it telegraphs intention. Even with a white tee, a navy blazer, or a simple knit, color on the bottom half reads dressed, not accidental. The trick is to let the pants do the talking. Keep the rest classic. I'm trying these options from J.Crew, Madewell (cute cut, cute corduroy, future cult item), High Sport, Sezane, and Banana Republic. P.S. If color isn't your thing, check out the universally flattering faux leather black pants for under $50, last pic!

Photos: Kalmanovic, Laura Vidrequin

There is a subtle but very real chain of command at work in our family, and it reveals itself most clearly through denim. My twin sister’s sixteen-year-old daughter has just discovered Coco’s jeans, a stash she once dismissed entirely, deemed "mid," insufficiently fitting, insufficiently cool. Now, suddenly, they are perfect. Curated. Worth claiming as her own. She has taken them most of them to boarding school, leaving Coco high and dry. This, in turn, means Coco is now actively pilfering my supply. My role, apparently, is to replenish—or better yet, to redirect them both toward whatever feels latest and greatest now, so the ecosystem can reset itself. Of course, I consulted denim guru Jane Herman on the silhouettes set to reign in 2026. Here's a smattering of what's next (think colored denim, distressed jeans, bootcut, embellished and fitted), specifically Jamie Haller's relaxed flare, Rails studded jeans, Mother's pinstripes, Madewell's corduroy-trimmed barrel cut, Loulou de Saison's tapered leg, the low-waisted (cult item) AGOLDE, and Alex Mill's straight-leg jeans, above.

$200, moda operandi

Escaping reality with something that evokes warm and sunny--and not a care in the world.

1. Orange Culture fringed dress, $200, modaoperandi.com
2. Oseree bikini, $265, modaoperandi.com
3. Chantecaille Sun Protection, $105, violetgrey.com
4. Alemais pineapple beaded bag, $355, mytheresa.com
5. Ancient Greek Sandals in gold, $295, ancientgreeksandals.com