LE CATCH

The other morning Coco called me from a shoot and immediately lowered her voice to a whisper. “The stylist here has the coolest pants on,” she said, clearly trying not to be overheard. Cropped, fitted through the leg, with the tiniest kick flare at the bottom—the exact pants we wore, and were obsessed with, in the ’90s. About five minutes later, the universe supplied supporting evidence: Zoë Kravitz walking around New York in essentially the denim version: a faded, low-slung cropped kick flare with a white baby tee, heeled ballet flats and a Saint Laurent bag. The internet promptly lost it over the jeans. Turns out they’re vintage-ish Alexander Wang Trap jeans from nearly a decade ago. (I like Khaite’s version of them on sale here.) Of course, now my algorithm agrees; Cropped kick flares have been stalking me across the internet. Denim, black, tailored, slightly stretchy, a little higher-waisted, a little lower-slung—I have now been presented with approximately five pairs I’m convinced could completely change my life. Or at least my September outfits. I bought these from Frame Denim in black (LOVE!) and now on to these from High Sport, cropped faux suede Zara (below), the navy blue H&M and Jamie Haller’s denim perfection (above).

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, a clarification: it’s actually less about back-to-business dressing and more back to having places to go and people to actually see. Same difference perhaps, but the bottom line is actual outfits are required again. Which, naturally, has me pulling out more polished pieces from my closet (Dries skirt, above, Mother jeans, top, Prada heels, red leather belt, below, all this past week), wearing ones that straddle the August/September divide (think sweats with a blazer, track shorts with ballet flats and a great button-down), capri pants, a crisp white tee, and a blazer, inspo below) and looking for more freshness. What I’m loving so far: Tory Burch’s swingy striped skirt, green perfection from J.Crew, a luscious suede halter dress, this Celine Trio bag (trialing it in right-now blue—you can rent it too from Vivrelle by using my code MARLIEN), along with a no-fail $99 red clutch, but I really want to bust a new move with the major Bottega (last pic), plus almost head-to-toe black, a Loewe parka (to blow their minds), and so many skirts, culottes, pictured below, for so little at GAP.

Last night’s Highbrow Hippie dinner in Venice, catered by the ever-talented Olivia Muniak, had me vibing on the good kind of back-to-school feeling (see pics here). We sat around the table catching up on summer adventures, where everyone went, what we read on planes (this and this), what we watched, what was good (The Invite), what wasn’t (The Shards). Across from me sat the mesmerizingly beautiful Aurora James, and next to me, the equally stunning Michele Ouellet—model and co-founder of Lorenza Rosé—both making a pretty convincing case for getting back-to-business dressed again. Aurora in this, Michele in these. And really, that’s all the seasonal shift requires: one or two things that simply change the tone. A striking clutch, above, to add major pop to any outfit, or below (for half the price) the two-tone flat that suddenly makes jeans look new, a proper belt that finishes things off, the throw-it-over-everything suede trench you’ll wear approximately 400 times, and perhaps one slightly romantic dress to keep all that back-to-business seriousness in check. P.S. Shopbop has loads of new winners on sale.

$99, steve madden

Wily, sparkly $100 shoes, masquerading as four figures.

1. Rohe turtleneck
2. Frame Denim low-rise jeans
3. Rohe fringed coat
4. Steve Madden flats

Like seemingly everyone I know, I started watching Sterling Point this weekend and am now fully invested. It’s exactly the kind of end-of-summer viewing I want: beautiful people, beautiful lake, family secrets, and romance. There’s a moment when Annie—played by the gorgeous Ella Rubin—is trying to process the emotional avalanche that has just landed on her. She says she wishes she had a “ThunderShirt” and goes on to explain that it’s basically a little compression vest people put on dogs during thunderstorms, fireworks, etc. The gentle pressure is meant to make them feel calmer and safer. Essentially: a wearable hug. And then Ellis—her adorable love interest—pulls her into his arms. Swoon! Feels like I could use a few ThunderShirts of my own right about now. My youngest starts his senior year of high school this week, which I’m sorry, HOW? Don’t mind me while I sob all year long. Perhaps one recourse is to dress accordingly: clothes that feel reassuring. Protective, even. A little fashion armor for the emotional weather ahead. Conveniently, Sézane just dropped its new fall collection, along with a new logo, visual identity, a little more sophistication, while still hanging onto the very French, vintage-inflected DNA that made us love it in the first place. (I love how London-based Laura Vidrequin is doubling down on fall’s layering trend with two trenches.) I snapped up this $100 canvas tote (that’s already sold out in other colors!). And Dôen is doing that other thing I need from clothes right now: refusing to acknowledge that summer is actually over. Its newest pieces make the transition feel almost ridiculously easy—romantic blouses and dresses alongside knits and more substantial layers. (P.S. What’s already sold out can be found here.) Rachel Comey’s grommet skirt also steps up to the plate, ever so bravely, and shout out to Le Bop for all the transitional staples our closet needs at refreshingly affordable prices (just act fast because they always disappear so fast!). And then there’s my own just-purchased armor. This morning I finally pulled the trigger on the Prada Re-Nylon tank I’ve been circling forever. It’s not particularly seasonal, which is exactly the point. Black, streamlined, utilitarian, and one of those evergreen pieces that somehow sits outside the churn of trends and makes whatever I put around it look more intentional. A Thundershirt against fashion’s constantly changing weather, if you will!

Back in December of 2025, Matthieu Blazy opened his first Chanel pre-fall collection with faded, baggy jeans, a T-shirt and a quarter zip-up knit, above. Which, for Chanel, felt almost radical precisely because it wasn’t. No boucle. No elaborate beading. Just the kind of clothes women actually throw on. I kept thinking about that first look yesterday while making the back-to-school rounds at the Century City mall, because I saw iterations of the zip-up everywhere (namely here, here and here). Other prevalent throw-on-and-go highlights: a billowy lightweight trench at Cos—i.e., substantial enough to pass as a dress or, really, to be the entire outfit. A long-sleeve T-shirt—or five (here and here); A high-neck cardigan; A single breasted blazer (I’m not sure one is enough here—as in the cropped Chanel-inspired one, last pic); A Western belt. And high-vamp ballet flats—the kind Jamie Haller and Schutz are doing that cover more of the foot and suddenly make the skimpier ballet flats in my closet look a little last season.

$54, h&m

Acts like a sleek skirt, functions like an easy pair of shorts.

1. Vuori cotton stretch tank
2. H&M culottes
3. Bottega Veneta oval sunglasses
4. Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Sheer Balm
5. Goldsangsa Exfoliating Washcloth
6. Gucci tote (To borrow this bag, use the code MARLIEN for half off your first two months of membership at Vivrelle)
7. Tory Burch rubber sandals

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