LE CATCH

Coco came to stay for a few days and somehow arrived with no luggage. Just her camera for shooting Dorsey, a toothbrush, and her favorite facial moisturizer. A woman operating on pure efficiency and slicked back-hair confidence. She left, meanwhile, with my new suitcase (as in: I hadn’t even used it yet) stuffed full of my clothes, which feels less like stealing and more like a twin tax at this point. As always, she also left inspiration in her wake. Not-yet-out Celine bags, above, with the kind of slightly preppy paisley energy that suddenly had us wondering if the original reference point might actually be vintage Vera Bradley (already found some here and here). My niece-inspired cotton henleys, which the teenagers are somehow making look cooler than anything remotely “fashion.” See Zara jumping on board, below. An ongoing debate over shield sunglasses, which still feel vaguely aggressive until the exact right person wears them. Plus books circulating between us(this and this), re-litigating The Crash, coveting Sarah Clary’s pearl chains, these ruched ballerinas, Monoprix’s beaded tote, and a fresh crop of stylish summer readers (foldable, too) that I will not lose. The best part of having Coco here is that nothing stays surface-level for long. One minute it’s hair-reset recommendations and whether an applique beaded dress feels too “done”; the next, a 20-minute discussion about why certain women make basics look cinematic. Somewhere in between all of it, my suitcase disappears, my bathroom counter gets overtaken, and I remember how lucky I am to have a twin sister who still feels like home no matter what city she arrives from or leaves for.

Oops. I’ve missed out on a few things that sold out before I could even properly process wanting them: a beaded (under $300) Melisse bag that somehow completely evaded my radar, these Donni shorts in my size (so I pivoted to these and these), Adidas x Asos (gah!), and one or two other internet near-misses I care not to mention. Officially buried in the past. On the flipside: Blanca Miró x Maje launched today. Courtney Grow’s upcoming Ref collaboration feels destined to disappear in approximately 11 seconds. Same with Natalie Martin x Monet Mazur (last pic!). Meanwhile, the J.Crew beaded top, above, I managed to snag before it sold out is now back in stock (you’re welcome; prepare for compliment flooding), my feather-trimmed Chan Luu is at last available for back order, and my Few Moda collab—particularly the brown skirt and belt, above—is hanging on by a fashionable thread.

Sequin’s new summer jewelry collection finally arrived and even though actual beach weather has not, I immediately started playing with the pieces anyway. Shell necklaces with crisp linen. Fish charms with jeans and a (vintage-looking) tee. Fresh water pearls to cinch easy-breezy. Tiny summer (fringed) dress rehearsals conducted mostly indoors while May Grey continues its psyop campaign outside. The collection has just the right amount of beach woven in: natural shells, little gemstone pops of color, vivid cording. Trust me, I’m ready to pack it all up and get going somewhere hot and sunny!

I published a slightly late-night (EST) Substack yesterday about the unexpected benefits of forced stillness, among them protein-maxxing and an influx of elusive style finds suddenly surfacing. Plus: slow but steady rehabilitation of both body and wardrobe. Translation: less “drawstring pant triage,” more easing back into actual outfits again. A proper linen shirt. A sandal with with places to go. Even nice lip balm and a sparkly dress. Progress! Today, more finds: lace-trimmed silk shorts from The Ref that perfectly nails my in-between dressed/not dressed stage, relaxed foldover pants and an effortlessly cool dress from H&M, a knit Cos column, butter yellow greatness, and Le Bop bubble shorts.

$69, h&m

We’re on the fringe of summer…

1. H&M dress
2. Warby Parker sunglasses
3. Sami Jewels emerald-cut tennis bracelet ($64!)
4. Blue Lagoon Lip Balm
5. Chanel terry tote bag
6. Christopher Esber sandals

There’s a lot to look forward to over the coming weeks: sunshine on our bare shoulders, late sunsets, netted sandals (above), crochet around the clock (below), the eventual ability to walk like a normal person again, actual summer. Which is perhaps why the universe decided to humble us with May Grey blanketing LA beaches and rainstorms back East, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Still, I’ve always maintained that weather-induced disappointment is best handled sartorially. If the sky insists on acting bleak, then the wardrobe may as well compensate accordingly: gemstone-bright jewelry, paint-splattered jeans, a chartreuse lime something (below, but I also LOVE the deep V Comme Si shirt), maybe even an unapologetically optimistic (Prada-coded) bikini worn purely on principle (love the latest from Perfect Moment). Also blue sky-adjacent: comfy stripes, La Veste-like pant lines (but for $58), colorful canvas pouches, and, of course, an opulent summer glow (and, yes, even Eyeposuction)! Because if summer won’t fully materialize yet, at least the look of it can get us there first. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Leandra’s new Zara edit is so spot-on styled it practically looks lifted from her actual closet. Throw-on-over-anything jackets, odd but good proportions, the kind of pieces (above and below) that make getting dressed feel less “summer basics” and more fashion-person-with-somewhere-to-be. Which is to say: not remotely helpful for my self-control, but excellent for my wardrobe. Also noteworthy: Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale, rife with pieces (i.e. Zimmermann, last pic, this, this, and this) that give the same fashion-insider energy without screaming “I bought this on sale.” The abundance right now is almost overstimulating in the best possible way.

Memorial Day weekend always hits differently for me in LA. Not the actual meaning of it, obviously—it’s first and foremost a time to honor and remember those who fought for our freedom—but the vibe of it In New York, Memorial Day arrives like the opening fireworks of summer. There’s a collective feeling of: ah, we made it! In L.A., meanwhile, it’s basically just Saturday with better traffic. If my surroundings refuses to provide the seasonal pageantry, I’ll do it myself via nautical stripes (Madewell sarong, tee), braided rope sandals (or the heeled Ref heeled sandal, below), chic al fresco lighting (or this for the beach—how cool?!) along with pretty paper plates (above), sporty shorts (or even more East Coast: boxers!) I can actually throw on with a linen bbq-ready blazer, plus slicked-back hair (that reads beach-fresh) and the kind of swingy-skirt behavior that suggests I am welcoming summer somewhere with blooming hydrangeas, instead of one mile from Erewhon.

There are various (and very justifiable) reasons for my restlessness right now, but today it’s fueled by the realization that it’s somehow very hot and sunny in both New York and Los Angeles! Nature’s version of a group text! Add to this the fact that pre-Memorial Day sales are already cooking up and suddenly everything feels charged with possibility. Be sure to check out Shopbop’s swim (below) and summer dress selections, Prada at Bergdorf for 60% off, and literally 30,000 designer discounts at My Theresa. Even my new favorite concealer is on sale. My en-route $73 wedges will require a pedicure appointment I have yet to make (and may cost just as much!). I’m also eyeing a striped knit bag ($75) to take to a beachside shack somewhere, zbreezy (detail-perfect) blouse that will make every packing list, plus another cute wicker clutch just because. My mood right now: not arrival, but anticipation.

Since my post-surgery swelling has made jeans feel less like a wardrobe choice and more like an act of psychological warfare, it’s (CUTE) drawstring pants central over here. Which is ironic because “comfortable” dressing has historically been something I admired on other people from a safe distance. But now? I get it. The soft waistband. The forgiving silhouette. The challenge, however, is avoiding the slippery slope into looking like I’ve given up and started ordering Erewhon bone broth exclusively by the gallon. So I’m currently vibing with pieces that whisper “fashion person recovering beautifully” rather than “outpatient procedure at 7, back home by 9.” Fortunately, the fashion world seems fully aligned with this M.O. already. Relaxed loose-fitting trousers (Kule, above, is 11/10), pajama stripes, elastic waists masquerading as sophistication. I now have this and this in the queue this week, but also leaning/looking into below from Modern Citizen (red slim hem tank, cowl neck wrap blouse, front-wrap jersey tee) La Ligne, and Kule (immediately below). White linen Zara top arrives tomorrow! P.S. All this comfy dressing makes me feel like I need to over-compensate with a major look-at-me bag, like the lace(!) Miu Miu, vintage raffia Goyard or waxed ready-to-go Mulberry.