on the run

 

I ran away. Fled from the stubborn stench of smoke, the tangled logistics of temporary housing, the relentless churn of grief, stress and problem solving. I needed to come up for air--space to breathe (without hearing about debris or the DWP), even if just for 36 hours. So I boarded a 90-minute United flight to Costa Palmas, where my twin sister is shooting. At the hotel, I recognized a couple from my flight. We exchanged glances, polite nods. "Escaping the cold in LA," they said. They must be from another part of LA, because I wasn't running from 55-degree weather. Now I'm here, sharing a king sized bed with my sis, stretching out on a chaise lounge, waiting for her to wrap up a work, trying to feel normal. Which will mean taking a long bike ride, reading my book, shopping in the hotel's gift shop (I already spied the made-in-Mexico CUCA shell-trimmed bags below), and, yes, scrolling for sun-kissed styles that whisper of brighter days ahead. Because even in the midst of uncertainty, some things remain constant: the pursuit of comfort, a sense of ease, and of course, the perfect dress(es) that make me feel a little lighter. Soon, I hope to slip into these by Diotima, Soeur, Staud, Free People, Wayf, Ulla Johnson, and Tory Burch. P.S. I'm wearing a new heart pendant from Thatch and never-take-off Adina Reyter beads, this Hunza G suit, and a beloved Zara. 

IRL

 

My friend and fellow Palisadian Noora Raj Brown captured the current ground-zero zeitgeist in her latest Substack, writing, "There's buying for a fantasy life, buying for the life you have, and buying for the life you are trying on." Remarkably, the clothes, all new from Banana Republic (!) pictured here tick all three lives! There's the under $100 striped and belted blouse, above, along with the puff-sleeve top, the camel wool shirt jacket (on sale), and the poplin tie dress, Plus, they're pretty affordable. 

indigo girls

 

Once considered too casual for Paris Couture Week, denim has not only become acceptable but preferable for show-goers and runway models. This season, however, there's a twist: the denim du jour is crisp, dark indigo--sleek, polished and decidedly elevated. Like the key looks parading down the runways--puffed sleeves, pastels, above-the-knee skirts--dark denim is poised to become a staple of our everyday wardrobes. I want to slip into these perfectly-cut styles from Citizens of Humanity, Toteme (the soon-to-be cult pair), Levi's, AGOLDE, J.Crew, and Slvrlake.

Photos: Sandra Semburg

spin cycle

 

I'll tell you what will make the days ahead a little bit easier to get through: effortlessly stylish clothes! I don't have many places to wear the above $49(!) clasp-adorned one-and-done Zara right now, but the $49 basic chunky v-neck definitely works for the current spin cycle! So do these updates from Bally, Ganni, 3.1 Phillip Lim, H&M, and Veronica Beard. P.S: Planning for warm and sunny and zero stress in this new J.Crew! 

in the bag

 

$86, marks and spencer

Poised for carefree days ahead...

1. Zimmermann dress, $1100, netaporter.com

2. Maison Mayle twin set of hoops*, $415, netaporter.com

3. Marks and Spencer straw tote bag, $86, marksandspencer.com

4. Aldo sandals, $80, nordstrom. com

 

As I scour West Los Angeles for the perfect storage unit, I'm balancing out the mundane with a bit of whimsy--eyeing some delightfully frivolous things I don't need right now but can't resist, including the And Other Stories fringe, above, the trench, below, and these most excellent Dries Van Noten dupes from Jeffrey Campbell. May this weekend be mellow!

cafe chic

 

Now that I am officially that person camped out at a coffee shop with a laptop every day, I might as well embrace the vibe and dress the (effortlessly cool girl) part. I'd start with the pinstriped Zara blazer (no need to wear anything underneath), the throw-it-on-top-of-everything cape, cuffs and a camel crewneck from Cos, satin slippers by Loulou de Saison, the perfectly cut suede Soeur jacket, comfy slip on boat shoes by Vince and some fringe from Tuckernuck. 

essential edit

 

As I've been replacing clothes for my kids--heaps and heaps of t-shirts, sweatpants and sweatshirts swallowed up in the fire--I've been thinking about what wardrobe staples really mean. For my boys, it's simple: comfy, practical, no-brainer styles that they'll tire of before they wear out! For us grown-ups, it's a tad more complicated. We want the building blocks of a functional, versatile wardrobe, but with a touch of refinement that makes them feel purposeful and effortlessly stylish. It would be a luxury to have a clear and current edit of these elevated essentials, especially right now! Net-a-Porter's Wardrobe Edit comes in with the win, featuring pieces that work every day (NOT clothes you may wear some day). It ranges from Nili Lotan cotton twill barrel leg pants (in six must-have colors!) to the one and only AGOLDE ($300) leather jeans, along with a not-too-pricey but perfectly-cut Theory cashmere sweater, the everyday elegant Maria McManus button-down shirt, a boxy Staud t-shirt (yes, in outfit-updating chocolate brown), Bally boat shoes, and Adidas Sambas (also on my kids' restock list). In other words, it's got us covered from every angle. Replenish here. 

cotton classic

 

$59, h&m

Looking forward to brighter days in this cotton classic. 

1. Jacquemus sweater, $750, mytheresa.com

2. AGOLDE jeans, $220, netaporter.com

3. H&M twill jacket, $59, hm.com

4. Altuzarra bag, $895, shopbop.com

5. Aeyde leather boat shoes, $435, netaporter.com

monday mood

 

Allow me to indulge myself this Monday and pretend I am anywhere but here. Square Diner in Tribeca would be a good place to land, especially in a cozy faux fur jacket by Malene Birger.  I hear it's super cold in NYC today, but I would weather the chill just fine, like Michal Kurtis, pictured here. I love her shearling trimmed TWP jacket, below, the Banana Republic fringed oversized scarf, the Prada barn jacket (sigh, love the idea of this $180 long version and this leather trimmed Isabel Marant and this denim Madewell), this Monse carwash dress, a faux leather Frankie Shop trench coat, a chic pillbox hat, plus this hybrid denim 3.1 Phillip Lim trench, this Mango wrap jacket, and these Dries Van Noten sneakers. Add to the fantasy some Miu Miu boat shoes (or these dupes). If you haven't read my latest post-fire Substack, published yesterday, please do here. Okay, that's all I got today. 

distractions

 

After the fire, the irony of needing a new water bottle isn't lost on me. My Hydroflasks—those indestructible symbols of preparedness—are now ash, and I find myself searching for one so perfect it would justify grabbing it on my way out of another burning house. The thought is absurd, but maybe a bottle by Georg Jensen that gleams like redemption can quench more than thirst. (P.S. If your house didn't burn down, this would make for a good Valentine's Day gift.) Of course, I’m also eyeing other distractions to gloss over the charred edges of my reality: a $170 Target bench (lots of Target shopping right now), a denim trimmed Sandro cardigan, the studded suede Jeffrey Campbell flats, the leopard print And Other Stories jacket and fringed dress, and the Anthropologie scarf-handle bag (take me away!). It’s retail therapy laced with hope, small totems of a future where things will feel whole again.

the jacket

 

Last week, I volunteered as a cashier in my children’s school cafeteria, something I’ve done countless times. But this time, it was anything but ordinary. Outside, thick smoke clouded the sky. It was surreal, standing in a space filled with laughter, chattering children and bustling feet, not really knowing what was happening outside and the magnitude of what was about to unfold. The other volunteers and I were united in this routine of performing the mundane, appearing calm and focused. Then, something unexpected caught my eye. Another mom at a nearby cash register was wearing a beautiful jacket—an olive wool and cashmere cardigan (or was it a jacket?) with a ribbed collar and cuffs. It wasn’t flashy, but something about it stood out. The jacket radiated a quiet resilience... comfort. At the moment though, it wasn’t just a jacket; it felt more like a metaphor: a coat of armor. I ended up cutting out of my shift early to return to the Palisades, to the heart of the fire. But that jacket stayed with me. It now reminds me that even when life feels overwhelming, I can find comfort in small and simple things—a jacket, a smile, the rhythm of everyday tasks. The jacket is by La Ligne.

jeans, anyone?

 

Jeans, anyone? I definitely know some people who could use a pair (or five). I love these barrel-leg Mother jeans, trimmed with navy piping. They're not just your normal everyday jeans--and yet they can be. (Mother was set to open a store in the heart of Pacific Palisades a week from now, but sadly, it too burned down!) I could also use these new styles from TWP (nice side slits), Slvrlake (wide leg but not too wide), Re/Done (because crisp dark denim is coming back), Paige (giving Celine), and Baum and Pfergardgarten (YOLO leopard print). 

get down to business

 

I came across these cool limited edition t-shirts created by Female Founder Collective that will assist LA-based women-owned businesses in urgent need of recovery. Not only do they represent the inextricable bond between LA and NY, but my split personality (native New Yorker, long-time LA resident)! For every donation of $100 or more, you’ll receive a tee, with 100% of the profits providing critical grants to female business owners. Women-owned businesses are 1.5x more likely to close after a natural disaster, and now more than ever, those based in LA urgently need our support! This mission is deeply personal for my friend Ali Wyatt, Co-Founder and CEO of the Female Founder Collective, who lost her Pacific Palisades home. She shares: “When I personally experienced the devastation of losing everything in the fire and seeing my vibrant community be decimated, it became clear what we all needed, and that is hope. Hope is the fabric that weaves us together in tragedy. And by taking action and moving forward, maybe we can be the hope by ensuring women have the resources to survive and rebuild—because when they thrive, our communities thrive.” You can contribute here. 

P.S. If anyone in my neighborhood is looking for quick, affordable and spot-on wardrobe replenishments, I know someone who can offer up some great recommendations ;), starting with the $54 denim jacket, below, this cinched quilted jacket, this twill (Chanel-y) blazer, and this cute pinstriped blouse. 

palisades fire

 

Last Tuesday feels like a blur, a day I’d give anything to forget. I still see it vividly though: the dark plume of smoke rising in the rearview mirror as I left Pacific Palisades to volunteer at my children's school. Just an hour later, I was racing back, frantic, my heart pounding as a volcanic cascade of ash and brown haze swallowed P.C.H., blotting out the sun. Now, five days have passed, and I still struggle to grasp the enormity of what's happened. The world we and so many of us once called home has been reduced to nothing but rubble and dust.

Yet, amid this devastation, my wanting to shut my eyes and turn away, I've also come to understand: this isn’t a time to forget--it’s time to remember. To remember the hearty life held within those walls—the forts sturdily built with sofa cushions, the first cannonballs in the pool, endless ping pong round robins, the lived-in kitchen banquette with its frayed cushions, and one last Christmas with the tree still standing tall in the corner. The spirit of that home--the love, the laughter, the tears, the heartbreak, all the memories--lives on in every corner of my mind, forms the foundation of my being, and threads through the fabric of who we are as a family. 

For now, my heart is set on helping those in my community, supporting those who have lost even more than I have. If you'd like to join me in this effort, please reach out to me at marlien@lecatch.com