LE CATCH

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!

No time to dawdle in the closet this week. It’s one of those stretches—early mornings, back-to-back commitments, calendar breathing down my neck. So I’m leaning hard into the pieces that never flinch. The white tee that holds its shape. The perfectly broken-in jeans (right length, right stretch, right everything). The button-down, above, that always behaves. The loafers that can outwalk my schedule (they’re beyond comfortable). It’s muscle memory dressing. No overthinking-the-new season allowed. But here’s the thing: when the foundation is solid, I only need one intentional move to shift the energy. A chain-link belt ($45!), a pop of (right-now) green, a studded trench coat ($248!), fringe ($44) that moves with me (and peeks out from under something like this), a high neck denim anorak (instead of basic jean jacket), even a utlitarian statement bag, last pic, (to hold my potentially peeled-off spring layers!) Gotta go!!

I was invited to a dinner party last night at a dear friend’s home—just a handful of us—gathered for friends in from the Bahamas and New York City. It was the kind of Monday night gathering that felt almost conspiratorial but also mellow and fun. Our host, a style maven and entrepreneurial baller in every sense, confessed (in a voice I can only describe as mock-serious but slightly earnest) that she had been nervous about what to wear because I was coming. I found this absurd. This is a woman who can raise capital before breakfast and source vintage Dries by lunch. If anything, I should have been texting her for guidance. And yet when her door opened and jackets were shrugged off, we all sort of laughed. Because without planning it, we had landed on the same uniform. The unspoken code of women who get dressed a lot: safe but chic. Jeans anchored by a top that does the talking. Which brings me to this morning, scrolling through the just-unveiled collection from Dior in Paris. What stopped me cold was the look, above, built on humble, unfussy jeans and topped with a crazy cool tulle-layered peplum jacket. Drama up top. Ease below. It struck me as the exact same dressing ethos from our Monday night tableau. It’s practical, yes—one less step in the getting-dressed calculus. But it’s also a kind of hall pass. Permission to anchor fantasy with familiarity. I’m all in, especially with options like the below: Apiece Apart scarf cardigan, Modern Citizen balloon-sleeve blouse ($148!), the Hermes-spirited linen blouse, the ruffled Pixie Market, the under $200 scarf jersey t-shirt from The Garment and the on-sale Ulla Johnson cropped camisole (fun styled over a white t-shirt or under an oversized cardigan).

$129, and other stories

Think of it as summer’s blank canvas to dress up or down.

1. And Other Stories cotton dress, $129, stories.com
2. Quince sunglasses, $50, quince.com
3. Sahira enamel malachite ring, $52, sahirajewelry.com
4. Counter Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream, $98, counter.com
5. Lizzie Fortunato bag, $495, modaoperandi.com
6. Chloe jelly sandals, $750, modaoperandi.com

How is it March already? Meanwhile it’s 80 degrees outside and feels like late August. And then the weekend flashed by in a millisecond: Friday night high school volleyball game (my favorite spectator sport), Frieze-ing, a Sunday drive up the coast for a long Malibu beach walk to recalibrate my brain, and a published Substack on Australia—the best coffee spots, bakeries, beaches, what to pack and how to squeeze it all in, the whole jet-lagged travel diary. Throughout it all, I toggled, as usual, between what I want to wear and what I’m actually wearing, which in this weather are two very different wardrobes: a blue Mersea tunic and pleated skirt, above, my beloved Rixo silk coat, below, Jenny Bird and Jenni Kayne on the bleachers, along with this new suede bag to further blend in to the sidelines, a Simkhai maxi try-on, blue ballet flats just because and a cute sequin clutch ($118!), all day, every day! Happy Monday!

$310, netaporter

A paisley sweater that I’d wear more like jacket.

1. Farm Rio jacquard knit sweater, $300, netaporter.com
2. Toteme jeans, $420, mytheresa.com
3. Electric Picks earring set, $135, electricpicks.com
4. Sahira studded cuff, $65, sahirajewelrydesign.com
5. Blue Lagoon Lip Balm, $25, bluelagoon.com
6. Reformation pleated pouch, $228, reformation.com
7. Alex Mill ballet flats, $228, alexmill.com

Yesterday’s Prada parade outside the show was—as usual—a masterclass in styling and nerve. There were nylon rain jackets (above) that look like they were borrowed from someone far more interesting than you. The shackets, too: oversized, slightly rumpled, very Polo Ralph Lauren from the 80s. Naturally, I’ve been thinking: how do I do this within the limits of my own wallet? The answer may be less runway and more rummage—and call it a day. Those Polo Ralph Lauren shirts in large (or even extra large) make for a good stand-in, especially in saturated colors like brown (love), purple (on sale), or green corduroy. Some are even on sale in red and this gorgeous blue. Also Prada pretty (and refreshingly affordable): this low-waist jewel-red mini from Reformation, this workwear jacket from Source Unknown, this pre-layered polo sweater, this high-collared denim jacket (OK, maybe more Isabel Marant-ish!), and this spot on pleated midi skirt (I subbed in this belt in the last picture). Consider it Prada energy—amplified by an unmistakably sleek pair of kitten heels, currently en route!