LE CATCH

H&M dropped spring and, naturally, I was horizontal for it—because today is shoot day with my sister, which means wardrobe triage had to happen before sunrise. The trick with H&M, as always, is speed and restraint: move quickly, ignore the noise, and identify the pieces that look wildly more expensive than they have any right to. A sharp knit button down, an indispensable layer in spring’s spot-on color, the kind of jacket that makes everything underneath look intentional. There was also immediate bi-coastal strategy involved: what stays here, what needs duplicating, what absolutely has to exist on both coasts because someone will inevitably text, wait, I want it back. Here’s what we snapped up: the red polo and striped shorts, above, the yellow jacket, below, the beaded and straw bags, the linen-blend lace tank top and this twill khaki skirt. Now we’re on to new Ref: see last two pics and more here!

As we sprint closer to summer, WIP shopping bags in hand, l thought I’d share a lineup of pieces that have that sell-out energy, but haven’t yet crossed into impossible-to-find territory. Today’s edit is a small salve for the all-gone, you’re-too-late sting. Because, as we all know, the sweet spot is catching something just before everyone else does! Tory Burch’s just-launched large crochet tote with a flashy metal handle, above, is already half way out the door! (Love that it’s functional too.) Meanwhile, Chan Luu’s wrap skirt, below, which I bought back in February, has yet to make it to my doorstep. (It is available on back order and estimated to ship next week—yay!) The Ref’s slinky grey shorts I posted a few weeks ago triggered a deluge of DM’s. Also on the here-but-not-for-long list: Frankie Shop’s polo knit (with iconic Prada vibes), and speaking of Prada, the just-out and already everywhere canvas Route bag, Donni’s cult-caliber taffeta pants (more colors here), the poised-to-go-viral t-shirt dress from Modern Citizen (understandably for $154), Doen’s (annual here today, gone tomorrow) occasion wear capsule (my long and short faves); plus Moda Operandi did us all a favor by staging a Source Unknown pre-order trunk show, so we can actually get our hands on sellouts ahead of time, including the zip-neck turtleneck for $250, below and the red (Chanel-y) jacket. Lastly, a little birdie told me my Few Moda dress is on the brink of a re-stock. YESSSS!

The big little things in life are doing an impressive amount of work lately: SpaceX’s beautifully swirly contrail outside my living room window last night, which genuinely looked like it had taken the time to spell Oz (see for yourself on my IG Stories!); discovering that La La Land Kind Cafe’s Banana Cream Iced Coffee—against all instinct—is actually worth ordering again; being absorbed by prom styling decisions as though pant length might alter world events; and the quiet relief of the first episode back of Your Friends & Neighbors not collapsing under expectation. At the moment I’ll take any detail that feels uplifting, or at minimum refreshingly distracting, including the bow-trimmed Banana Republic top, above, a bushy Janessa Leone mini bag and the coming-soon H&M bag, below, perforated walking-friendly heels for a steal, lace at an English supermarket, a cute raffia Celine bag hidden in the men’s department, polka dots and peplums, and a big night out dress for $100! And the week is only getting started!

$39, h&m

Spring Break fringe forever.

1. Same shell bikini top
2. H&M fringed sarong
3. Varley sunglasses
4. Electric Picks bracelet
5. Dries Van Noten Soie and Amber Hand Cream
6. Prada crochet tote bag to BORROW it, use the code MARLIEN for the first month free
7. Madewell leather flip flops

One minute it was 74 degrees and everyone in Dimes Square looked as if they had collectively agreed to dress for an Aperol spritz; twenty minutes later, the temperature dropped to 55 and suddenly the only people who seemed emotionally prepared were the women who never stopped carrying cashmere. That was me, fortunately (see below)! I also wore a just-purchased pleated Mango skirt and a button-down borrowed from my brother-in-law (this is similar—and cuter!). Still, none of it was as difficult as getting back to Los Angeles (my return flight was delayed 11 hours!) Thankfully, I had a carry-on full of trusty pieces including these Joe’s Jeans (pictured below that are delayed American Airlines- comfortable), these Lola Cruz toe-ring sandals (set to be on repeat this summer), high-waist Paige, these jeans in the most excellent ecru (my sis tried to steal them!), a leopard-print Apparis windbreaker (so great for layering), my Few Moda pinstriped blazer, this Aligne denim dickie (also spring-ready!), and my new diamond Eriness pinkie ring (clearly, I need to add this to my everyday routine). I wanted to buy the Mango trench (that reads Celine below) when the temperature plummeted but I didn’t have the room to haul back.

$195, net-a-porter

Pretty Prada vibes but at a prettier price.

1. Dorothee Schumacher layered top, $340, mytheresa.com
2. Veronica Beard jeans, $298, saksfifthavenue.com
3. Florence by Mills sunglasses, $43, nordstromrack.com
4. Baume & Mercier diamond and leather watch
5. Sarah Creal High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss, $50, sarahcrealbeauty.com
6. Valesque leather-trimmed satin bag, $175, netaporter.com
7. Quince leather slingback flats, $84, quince.com

There is a very specific kind of confidence required to leave the apartment knowing your day holds 10,000-plus steps in New York City and still choose your shoes based on silhouette first, orthopedic integrity second. Fortunately, I am blessed with what I can only describe as highly evolved fashion feet. Somehow I’ve inherited the calf muscles of a Capri fisherwoman, with soles seemingly immune to blisters, capable of trekking downtown to uptown in a pair of flip-flops, no Band-Aids required. Which is convenient, because they’re on trend again (I love the Reformation’s new, below) along with other shoes that have a certain pedestrian intelligence: Prada’s emerging canvas sneakers (that look a lot like old-school Keds; Polo Ralph Lauren now has one too), lace-up jazz shoes (which I’ve been wearing since fall, another option here), cap-toe ballet flats (a la Chanel but for $82!) with enough sole to survive a full avenue, or white ballet flats or kitten heels (clearly, it’s all about white!), surfer-y rope sandals, an Alaia-inspired wedge, a CBK-minimalist ankle strap sandal and Fendi’s color-blocked mesh heels.

Shorts look poised to be bigger than ever this summer, if only because they’re already impossible to ignore, currently dominating the spring racks, from crisp little tailored pairs to longer, loose-fitting styles. Both feel like no-brainer easy, though each can still read surprisingly dressed. Even Reformation, reliable barometer of what people will soon be wearing everywhere, seems to have committed fully, with “micro” shorts, above, bubble shorts, and Bermudas, both below. Quince makes a linen pair in myriad shades for $32—hard to beat! News Flash: NYC-based fashion bellwether Leandra Cohen going short-short with a floral Chloe mini—another fun option.

$99, steve madden

Let them think they’re Gucci.

1. Alemais dress
2. Quince sunglasses
3. Prada enamel bracelet
4. RMS Beauty Lip Lights Cream Lip Gloss
5. Loewe raffia striped bag (borrow it with my code MARLIEN to get your first month of membership on me at vivrelle.com)
6. Steve Madden bamboo sandals

The drive to Beverly Hills last night took no time at all, which in Los Angeles is its own kind of announcement: spring break, a quasi-exodus, the roads briefly behaving like a place with less Teslas. By the time I arrived, that same feeling had carried into the room—a little less urgency, a little more ease. Spring fever in the air. This morning I opened my laptop and still felt the lingering effects of it all: 28 tabs, almost all skirts, dresses, all angled toward a getaway. My favorites here: the Tory Burch bodysuit (can I please have all three colors??) and low-waist skirt, the drop-waist J.Crew (clearly next season’s silhouette!) and white fluttery skirt, Pepa Pombo polka dot peplum top (say that three times!), the strapless Acler bombshell (on sale for $250!), Tory Burch sandals, Cos satin skirt, the side cut-out dress (use the code SPRING20 for 20% off at Shopbop—last day!) and the asymmetrical Asos mini skirt.