LE CATCH

The real MVP of traveling isn't actually my suitcase but the “personal item” bag that makes room for everything else. The assist. The enabler. The one that swallows the sweater, the water bottle, the souvenir shop haul, the new book snapped up at the airport, and all the smaller bags tucked inside for whatever adventure pops up. The best travel bag doesn't just carry my things. It creates options—and accommodates approximately 47 changes of plan, plus a handful of bikinis and flip flops. For my trip to NYC a few weeks ago, above, I brought the Lo & Sons weekender duffel which touts a separate shoe compartment, endless inside pockets and a laptop sleeve. For Corsica, I loaded up the canvas tote, below (it appears bigger than my suitcase in the picture, but it’s not, though it certainly doubles as a carry-on!). And now, on the flight home, I’ve already found what I will stuffed inside both of them for future adventures— more bags so good I am already mentally planning trips around them. My future travel companions below are from Evereve (also in red!), Cap d’Antibes and Cult Gaia.

A bucket-list box: checked. Yesterday was my first time at Wimbledon, and while I expected to be dazzled by the tennis, I wasn't prepared for quite how mesmerizing it would be in person. The speed of Djokovic’s balls whizzing over the net. The distinct bounce of the ball on grass. And the surprise that Centre Court feels so much smaller than it appears on television. But, naturally, I was also watching the spectators. Unlike fashion week, where outfits can sometimes feel more like performance art than actual clothing, the style at Wimbledon struck me as the quintessence of elegance. Polished. Special-occasion worthy, yet entirely capable of surviving a three-plus-hour match in a folding green plastic seat. No teetering heels. Nothing skin-tight. Just a sea of creams, whites, soft neutrals, whisper-thin fabrics, and women who looked chic enough to meet the Princess of Wales. I wore an infallible classic from my closet: Maison Mayle top, skirt, belt, a woven Bimba y Lola bag, plus sparkle from Adina Reyter. My fellow match-mates: Zoe wore a black tank top and a black linen Reformation skirt, while Anna, a London-based American Vogue editor wore an off the shoulder brown Rohe top with the best flowy white pants and this cool new raffia Burberry bag. Also noted/spotted: this Zimmermann knockout, this Tory Burch dress, this sheer pintuck top (perfect for sunny side of the stadium!), and this cotton eyelet lace top and skirt set in the royal box.

After days of relentless sun, the skies opened up and delivered a proper downpour. Torrential. Biblical. The kind of rain that turns scrolling, snacking, and sofa-sitting into legitimate vacation activities. Oddly, nobody seemed upset about it. After days of temperatures that could fry an egg on a beach chair, the rain felt like a public service. So we pivoted and over-foraged for food and scoped out a few Porto Vecchio shops (in Doen, pleated Anthropologie shorts and this sleeper hit of a beaded bag, above). And then Coco and I settled onto the sofa back at our rental (AKA best house ever), where we spent a good amount of time sharing shopping discoveries with each other. Which is funny because we're sitting on the same couch, yet still texting links back and forth like we're separated by continents. Our version of Corsican postcards! Here’s what we unearthed, below: these floral print Mango pants, the forever-chic khaki Polo Ralph Lauren shirt, these long satin Topshop shorts (also love the shape of these denim ones), this tres chic boat-neck t-shirt by Cos, this Missoni-spirited mini dress (for sunny days ahead) and this perfect pop of blue to tie around our collective croissant-filled waist.

I'm on exercise vacation too. Sort of. Seven weeks post-hip surgery, I still can't run or play tennis. But somehow I'm logging more movement than ever. Every morning begins with a "quick" baguette walk that involves winding roads and enough natural incline to qualify as a stairmaster. Plus: Tracy Anderson heat x 20. Then there's swimming—not laps—just me casually targeting the next prettiest yellow buoy and seeing what happens. Yesterday, I walked up to Bonifacio, which from below appears charmingly accessible. This is a lie. The medieval town sits dramatically atop limestone cliffs, and the journey up feels less like sightseeing and more like being enrolled in a 8K-step bootcamp program. The best part? I'm doing it all in cute shorts, dresses, and blouses. Looking absolutely uncommitted to exercise while sweating my baguettes off for hours. So far, my MVP is a pair of Varley shorts, below, that I actually own in other great colors, but regretfully left behind in LA, these Quince shorts (in the most spot on blue hue), these bed-to-beach club Rails, these Reformation lace shorts (last pic), and these crochet Asos cuties.

I've been operating on the outer edges of normal life lately, where it's so hot that fewer clothes, fewer plans, and fewer possessions make perfect sense. Between the sea, the sunshine, a versatile pair of sunglasses, and one good baguette a day, I haven't been needing much. But Reformation's new arrivals have me thinking about real life again. Actual work. Actual meetings. The everyday stuff. But not at all average. The opposite! My favorites, below. Which may be exactly the nudge back to orbit I needed. (Could use this and this here too!)

The Corsican forecast appears to be: hot, hotter, and are-you-kidding-me. Luckily, I am within splashing distance of the sea, buried in a good book (I’m reading it so fast I need another ASAP), and wearing feather-light blouses (Sold Out, Doen, Attersee) that all feel less like clothing and more like a very chic breeze. P.S. More outfits, links here and the full rundown on my holiday shenanigans coming soon via Substack. Happy Monday!

Touched down in London and barely had time to locate my adapter before I was on the High Street. Two hours in, I had already acquired (Celine-inspired) multi-colored stripes on sale, above, a market bag, all while wearing—though not pictured—some very sensible J.Crew flats, below, to befriend this heat wave. Priorities. Check back on IG and Substack for the adventures (and inevitable shopping-related developments).

Coco’s Paris Dispatch, 4PM CEST: 103 degrees. Zero breeze. Cute bikini top under a guipure cut-out dress. Barely-there sandals. Water break every 30 minutes. Walk only on the shady side of the street. Paris’ boulevards noticeably less crowded—but Le Voltaire's fries and tuna tartare remain fully booked and, she reports, happily consumed. (Some traditions clearly don’t wilt with the weather!) Which brings us to fashion’s hottest assignment: When Europe is essentially dressed for survival, what does looking chic actually mean? Scroll on. These snaps provide the definitive answer. I’d add to the stylish survival kit this open-backed chic GAP Studio (bound-to-sell-out) t-shirt, low-slung denim shorts by Madewell, above, lots of white linen with a pop of Gucci (and scarf, below), a bateau-neck Doen, below, plus these silky yellow shorts (use code MARLIEN20 to save 20% off Anthropologie through 6/28), these canvas (key!) sandals, this tank top-elevating skirt, and serious skin-quenching hydration!

Photos: The Sartorialist, Marta Oldrini, Smythesisters,

Everybody is talking about the heat—everywhere! Coco is on the ground in Paris, where even the chicest women seem to be dressing as though skin ventilation is the new luxury. She’s reportedly keeping cool in my Doen dress! (I’m planning to join her soon wearing this.) What about the others? Billowy cotton shirts, below (also this color and sheer ones too)), shorts and more shorts (I have in three colors no less!), lace camisoles (yes to this ruffled Sandro on sale), minimalist dresses, and blister-proof sandals and ballerinas (last pic).

Photos: The Sartorialist, Vogue

$49, h&m

The line between day dress and nightgown has never felt less important. P.S. These satin PJ’s also work around the clock.

1. H&M dress
2. GOOP Beauty Brighter Morning Kit
3. Electric Picks drop earrings
4. Gucci Giglio Flora tote bag
5. Clare V coin purse
6. Starling diamond friendship bracelet
7. Jimmy Choo kitten heels