LE CATCH

If you needed any confirmation that drawstring pants aren't just a summer fling, J.Crew has gone long on the silhouette for fall, introducing them in a cool lightweight corduroy, above, alongside other up-to-the-minute shades, teaming with them with slinky summer-to-fall shirts too. (Donni and Leset still on board, too!) P.S. I love the new ballet flats, lace-up flats, and the lipstick charm necklace, last pic!

$178, j.crew

A little sparkle never hurt a button-down.

1. J.Crew embellished poplin top
2. Slvrlake jeans
3. Tory Burch handwoven chain mesh tote
4. SEEN Restore Scalp Serum
5. AZLEE ruby and diamond ring
6. U Beauty Plasma Lip Compound
7. The Row leather pumps

There comes a point every summer when the heat wins. It's too humid to think, too sticky to layer, and somehow even the idea of "getting dressed" feels ambitious. It's the almost-August slump (read: the Sunday of Summer). Which is why Zara's latest arrivals feel spot-on. Everything has that thrown-on, can't-be-bothered energy: breezy polos, above, pajama-adjacent separates, below—pieces that look best with a sun-kissed glow and absolutely minimal effort. Below, additional pieces I'd happily wear while doing as little as possible: Cos’s sleek satin wrap skirt (on sale!), denim Topshop barrel-cut shorts, Frankie Shop’s leather macrame skirt (I LOVE mine!) and drop-waist dress, Reformation’s pink suede (OMG), and Rohe’s silk cream top and organza lined shorts.

$270, Maria La Rosa

A small crochet bag with the biggest chic summer energy.

1. Gucci silk twill mini dress
2. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Orchid Eau de Parfum Set*
3. Hourglass Instant Extensions Mascara and Eyeliner Set*
4. Maria La Rosa crochet pouch
5. Tony Bianco thong sandal

• Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is stocked with exclusive beauty sets up to 33% off!

This pic landed in my DM’s this morning. Just Coco's necklace stack, anchored by a Loren Stewart safety pin we both have—a little symbol of friendship, togetherness, and, in our case, twinship. Funny how we've spent decades swapping jewelry (and Adina Reyter charms, above), stealing each other's ideas, and sending each other outfit snaps from opposite sides of the world. Her photos (including the Dorsey summer campaign she photographed, below, in Corsica) have become some of my favorite style inspiration (and so have the 3.5MM floating diamonds!). Sharing a few of her pics below, including my latest one (nowhere near as artistic as hers!) with a new lariat and Eliou bikini charm—and a little of our ongoing conversation, one bauble at a time!

There are certain pieces that lodge themselves in my fashion brain and simply refuse to leave. The lace Christian Dior blouse, above, is one of them. Jeanne Damas wore it to Dior’s Spring 2023 show in Paris, and I haven't stopped longing for it since. Earlier this year, a friend appeared in a sold-out $110 interpretation, and I spent weeks trying to track one down, convinced one had to be hiding somewhere on the internet. Then the original Dior version resurfaced during one of my vintage trawls, taunting me from behind an equally eye-watering price tag. I briefly entertained the idea before reminding myself that fashion sometimes rewards patience as much as impulse. Today, patience won. Shopbop quietly restocked the $110 version (see it below on Coco Schiffer, below), and naturally I pounced before history could repeat itself. Which got me thinking about everything else that's only just coming into the picture but already feels destined for cult status. Prada is making a compelling case for precious-stone cufflinks to be worn whether or not your shirt actually requires them. More accessible must-haves trickling down elsewhere: Zara's slouchy-chic jacquard linen trousers and lace-trimmed skirt (last pic); Reformation's relaxed but polished shorts, H&M’s dramatic ruffles, Cos’s sleek (on sale) chic, Topshop’s t-shirt fringe—all prime candidates for the buy now or regret later file!

A late-night bout of "market research" (read: staying up past my bedtime to redeem a The RealReal credit) turned into a successful and surprisingly nostalgic exercise (see Prada skirt, above, and this Celine-ish jacket!). Up popped bags, like this $230 Prada tote and the Longchamp carryall I hadn't thought about in years, below—the one I carried religiously in the early 2000s and loved enough to gift to my Condé Nast editor-in-chief. Turns out this bag is one of ShopMy’s top sellers of the summer—in other words, completely current again! Below, a few more after-hours discoveries: the Celine clutch ($328), the vintage-looking Juliska plates and Zara placemats to go with! Proof that good design has an awfully long shelf life!

$169, nordstrom

The color palette says Chanel. The price says otherwise. (These Blazy-coded ankle strap pumps are spot on too.)

1. Kule shirt
2. Marks and Spencer open weave skirt
3. Fallon beaded burst earrings
4. Chanel clutch (Borrow it and use the code MARLIEN to save 50% off first two months of membership at Vivrelle)
5. Heretic Dirty Violet Fragrance
6. Jeffrey Campbell slingbacks

Back from a few days of living out of a suitcase and the suitcase is still very much living on my bedroom floor. I haven't unpacked mostly because I'm back on the road for work in less than a week. It hardly seems worth disturbing the ecosystem. So I'm in that funny in-between state where I'm technically back to business, but everything is still being viewed through a summer-travel filter. Maybe that's why a whimsical block print blouse, below, with short shorts (you can’t even see them!) feels like perfectly reasonable workwear. Or why I'm less interested in operating by the normal rules. Travel has a funny way of doing that. You spend a few weeks breaking routine, wandering instead of scheduling, trying things because they're there and some of that mindset sneaks home with you. I'm beginning to wonder if the best souvenir isn't something I pack in my suitcase but coming home ever so slightly rearranged. A few things I brought back from Long Island, courtesy of my in-the-know friends: the new leather butter yellow pouch from The Horse, above, which I personalized yesterday with a Tory Burch fish bag charm and an old pom pom whose long origins I’ve long since forgotten; Needed Hydration Support’s travel-friendly electrolyte and trace mineral sachets for my water bottle—the grapefruit flavor is my fave!), the Dibs Highlights Stick and brush to amplify my Hamptons-made bronze-y glow; and the Pistola denim shorts (below) that hit the exact right slouchy sweet spot. Below are a few more pieces that feel like they're operating in summertime limbo: my new Rowie silk shirt, pictured below, this leather-trimmed(!) Frame tank top, this tasseled Zara tote bag, the $65 Cos dress (with Prada vibes), and this boxy lace mini dress. All poised to go back into the suitcase!

$250, nordstrom

A backless ballerina to swan through summer.

1. Modern Citizen scoop back tank top
2. Cos sheer pintucked skirt
3. Vintage Dior sunglasses
4. Chanel triple leather strap watch (To borrow, use the code MARLIEN for half off your first two months of membership at Vivrelle)
5. Ole Henriksen Peach Skincare Starter Pack
6. Prada leather clutch
7. Bobbies ballet flats