LE CATCH

My niece arrived for spring break in a gust of East Coast velocity: dropped her suitcase in the foyer, clicked it open, pulled out her vintage-looking jeans, and before I could ask whether she wanted something to eat, she was already halfway out the door to see an underground band somewhere downtown. Seventeen, apparently, is knowing exactly where the night is before the adults have found the dinner forks. This morning, the boarding-school layers began to peel away and out emerged a fully different girl: beach hair, rad flip flops (above), borrowed sunglasses, earrings, below, that look like mine, and a running dispatch on Silver Lake beauty anthropology. “All the eastside girls have micro bangs,” she reported, with the authority of a visiting correspondent, already deciding whether she is brave enough. Now she’s off again, this time to a film festival at her former high school, which apparently requires a red-carpet moment. Somehow this has spiraled into me standing in front of my own closet wondering whether I too need a warm-weather dress with a point of view along with this fringed mini on sale, below, this and this!). Ah, the life stage where your niece’s plans send you shopping for yourself feels unexpectedly correct! Happy Friday!

1. Mango top, $99, mango.com
2. Mango trousers, $139, mango.com
3. Bauble Bar 18K sterling silver earring set, $168, baublebar.com
4. Celine bag, TO BORROW (use the code MARLIEN)
5. Naimah Lip Ring
6. Vyrao Wonder Candle
7. Ancient Greek Sandals

Funny how the smallest additions can shift the rhythm of a day. A personalized piece of jewelry, a miracle-working concealer (the best new discovery!), a refreshing moisturizer. Tiny things doing big work. Another unassailable example, my phone case wristlet (with this leather charm), which is so random, really, and yet… somehow truly life-enhancing. It loops over my wrist like a bracelet when I’m doing the glamorous work of, let’s say, supermarket shopping. Suddenly I’m not digging through my beloved bottomless-pit bag while holding three lemons and a carton of eggs. My phone is just… there. Waiting. Civilized. And I swear I lose it less. Not gone-gone, but that familiar where did I put it down two seconds ago panic. The cord solves it. The best part? It’s 100% chic. One of those practical things that doesn’t look practical. Now I am eyeing these outfit-boosting options from Ossa—the tassel crossbody, the freshwater pearl drop chain and crossbody—which are almost over the top. But so good! These small extras that are pulling their weight make me want to go big and bigger. Yesterday I went with a Chan Luu pearl brooch (love the vintage options here) to a volleyball game (yep!) and my Hart locket, both below, which—no exaggeration—got me stop-me-in-the-street compliments. Before you go, say hello to my new Madewell patchwork jeans that are absurdly comfortable and 25% off!

As I may have mentioned here once (or five times) before, spring has skipped LA and sent summer ahead as her slightly over-eager intern. High 70s through the foreseeable future (who needs Spring Break when I can sunbathe in my driveway/!) and I, naturally, have been running around in what can only be described as my blossoming warm weather rotation. So far, lots of fresh whites: mesh Chanels, above, lace-up Larroude leather (just as good as the Celine, IMHO) and pointy-toe Jamie Haller kitten heels (wonderfully walking-friendly!). But here’s the thing about weather like this—it invites a little wandering. A little straying. A little “maybe I just need one more pair of flats.” Which is how I’ve found myself eyeing J.Crew’s chic new ballet situation (very persuasive), the nostalgic squish of Heaven Jelly (obsessed with the embellishment), H&M’s fringed moccasins, Bernardo’s kelly green flip flops (I mean…) and a few other contenders lining up for their moment. P.S. Jeans in current rotation include Madewell (blue) and Paige (leg-lengthening black), plus, pictured below, this tie-waist button down (love this new one from Pixie Market!), this new pendant necklace raking in the compliments, Splendid’s zip-up knit and this braided leather $58 belt with everything!

The question is who isn’t watching Ryan Murphy’s Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette? The Disney limited series has become the platform’s most-watched—while its ‘90s style is also streaming into our wardrobes. C.O. Bigelow, the historic apothecary that still carries Bessette’s tortoise-shell headband, has reportedly logged its biggest sales in 188 years. Evidently, J.Crew’s Olympia Gayot is also taking cues from CBK’s style playbook, resurrecting the classic khaki pant. She goes for suede, but I like these modern iterations from Slvrlake, Frame and Pistola.

Mathieu Blazy’s first Chanel collection hit stores this week and has ignited a for-real shopping frenzy, along with the frantic rustle of people suddenly rethinking their wardrobes. Hi, that would be me! So the question is: how to participate in this bouclé-is-back moment without triggering a full-on fiscal crisis? Let’s get creative, shall we? How about finessing Chanel show-bound Laurel Pantin’s look yesterday, above, with this Asos fringe? Works for me! Becky Malinksy’s vintage cropped jacket and faded high-waist jeans? Add this and this. As for all the sublime boucle, two-toned ballerinas, plaids, embellishments, fringe, fluffy feathers, long-waisted layering, lace, etc? Here are some ideas: Source Unknown’s very similar rounded cap-toe flats ($96), below, or these pony-hair color-block ones, Cinq a Sept’s feather trimmed jacket or this tweedy/fringey one ($110), this boucle shacket or this oversized Asos (bound to be a Fall 2026 essential), this clever Quince pre-layered knit with extended cuffs (two for one at $110), plaid and fringe (also more for less), Pixie Market’s long sequin and lace tunic (to wear over a midi skirt), feather cuffs, and this shirt tied around another shirt look! P.S. If you can’t buy a Chanel bag, you can always borrow one. Use the code MARLIEN to get the first month free!

Paris, as ever, knows how to set the table for spring. This weekend it offered up a veritable buffet (but make it Left Bank) of finishing touches—those small, fresh things that radically change everything. Scarves, for one, everywhere and in every mood: tied loose at the neck (H&M top, pictured below, plus this Zara so deliciously dramatic), knotted just so on a bag, or wrapped with that studied nonchalance the Parisians have perfected (excellent and well priced vintage Celine options here, here and here). Then belts—plural, please. One is polite; two feels intentional. Cinched, stacked, slung low. Loads of excellent options on sale here. And hats! Actual hats. The kind that require a bit of posture and a bit of nerve: this and this. The payoff, of course, is instant. Meanwhile the classic single-breasted trench coat is back in full command at Celine Fall ’26, pictured below, practically demanding immediate real-world performances. Not hanging in wait for autumn, but out now—collar popped, sleeves pushed, city-bound. Love this Mango ($147!), Jenni Kayne, but then, OMG, wow, this! And, again, if you are not convinced yet, here’s more proof of those extra-long cuffs, peeking out with theatrical generosity from beneath sleeves—my faves here on sale/similar to pic, below, and here in every single color). Take what you like, wear it now!

If your closet could use a little more blue-sky energy, then use my code MARLIEN20 to save 20% off at Anthropologie today through March 6. Think spring freshness (my red linen dress, above) and lean into the sunshine into with this, this, this and this.

Of all the fashion shows that unfolded yesterday in Paris, Polo Ralph Lauren’s presentation especially resonated. The clothes were pure, distilled Americana—Ralph’s forever specialty. And 100% everyday wearable. Western-tinged tailoring, handsome tweeds, rugged leather, plaid shirting, and the sort of masterful layering that Ralph Lauren has been perfecting for decades. I will be dipping in right away with this vintage rugby, this western-style belt worn low-slung, this cotton bomber jacket (similar to red one pictured below, but this color maybe even better!), this H&M tie-neck blouse, this spot-on zip-up polo, plus a glimmer of southwest turquoise. Also notable: the pops of yellow! Work gloves, of all things—utilitarian, slightly symbolic, and unexpectedly chic. Coincidentally, yellow seemed to ripple across the Parisian runways today as well, with bold swaths appearing at Loewe, for example. (Get this to get on board!) Meanwhile, outside the shows, the streets of Paris continued to remind everyone that classics always work (proof in street style snaps below), that the best jeans are essential, and it all must be worn with ease.

Some days the only reasonable response to the noise is… to opt out. The headlines, the gossip, the group chats dissecting the headlines and the gossip. Today feels like a very good day to simply mute it all. Instead, I’m mentally teleporting to Lucy Williams’ current situation: a very far-flung, very turquoise-watered holiday in the Maldives. The kind of place where the biggest decision of the day is reef swim or nap, and where “breaking news” means someone cracked open another coconut. Let’s all disappear happily for a while and contemplate: a crochet bikini (also in cream) or an under-$30 bikini? Yes and yes. Also: this Farm Rio one-shouldered dress, these rope sandals (the lace-up, below), and the Modern Citizen tank ($39!). Throw in Lucy’s Tory Burch beaded bag, Khaite flats, yellow trousers, and her red fringe dress for kicks! Call it escapism, call it self-preservation, call it Thursday!