twin talk
Thursday, March 9
It's not atypical for my sister to call me first thing in the morning with a pressing fashion question. Today she rang me from New York, asking whether she should buy the Zara blazer, above. While she expressed her hesitation, I went online, found it and clicked Add to Cart! Then I clicked on the basket bag, below. Of course, I don't need another woven tote, but the chic orange nylon handle gives it a chic Hermes flair. It also comes with a shoulder strap I you can sling it over my shoulder, too! By the time we wrapped up our call, we both had identical items on their way to opposite coasts!
the grey hoodie
Wednesday, March 8
Acccording to Miuccia Prada, pants are not necessary next fall. However, what is non-negotiable is a grey zip-up hoodie. At the Miu Miu show, the humble wardrobe staple took center stage, layered over and under jackets. The relaxed silhouette--oversized and unzipped--is key! Since I can't not wear pants, I'll go for the hoodie look and get a head-start with these iterations from The Gap and Richer, Poorer.
pop of purple
Tuesday, March 7
This purple pouch has a fun spring in store!
1. La Ligne dress, $425, netaporter.com
2. Adina Reyter beaded initial charm necklace, $7098, adinareyter.com
3. H&M pouch, $34, hm.com
4. Vince sandals, $295, shopbop.com
mayle it in
Tuesday, March 7
Maison Mayle has long maintained a monopoly of my closet racks. And it's no wonder: the New York-based line is the essence of effortless chic, possessing longevity and versatility. So, of course, I took advantage of the (rare!) sale happening now through March 10, featuring so many of my wardrobe pretties and more at 30 to 70 percent off. I highly suggest you pounce!
for the save
Monday, March 6
It's not just another Monday, thanks to Net-A-Porter's unprecedented Spend to Save sale, which is intriguing me with wear-forever pieces at up to 25% off! Because there's a staggering amount of items on offer (182 pages, in fact!), I will share the highlights: AGOLDE's leather pants (regularly priced at $350), below, The Frankie Shop blazer, above, Perfect Moment denim down jacket, this Proenza Schouler statement dress, this Loulou Studio suede midi skirt, and these Manolo Blahnik mules.
the sequin skirt
Monday, March 6
The City of Light is twinkling with sequin skirts! Parisians are busting them out during the day, wearing them with more casual styles, such as oversized knit turtlenecks and leather jackets. The look is easy but glitzy and fabulously unexpected. I'd be ready to sparkle in any of these options by English Factory, Mango, Khaite, ALC, and Dries Van Noten (on sale!).
Photos: Vogue
everyday leather
Monday, March 6
On and off the Paris runways, leather is looking everyday easy, subbing in where casual denim would otherwise be, and the effect is both polished yet practical. (I'm talking faux leather, too!)
punta parajos
Monday, March 6
Like the best secret destinations, Punta Pajaros is off the beaten path and, for the most part, off the grid. It's nestled like an oasis in the wild mangroves of Oaxaca, Mexico, 40 minutes northeast of Puerto Escondido, off a winding road that if you don't miss it exits to an unmarked, single-lane dirt road. Drive several miles down this remote strip and you'll discover not only a vast desolate beach and its thunderous waves but also a blossoming vanguard art hub, featuring a sprawling multi-disciplinary cultural center called Casa Wabi, two raw but refined boutique hotels, designed by Mexico City architect Alberto Kalach, and several sustainably designed-homes for rent, including Casa Malandra, where I was lucky enough to stay with friends for three nights. Also in the under-the-radar midst: a hopping mezcal bar, a high-cuisine omakase restaurant, a glow-inducing sweat house, and the best-ever Caesar salad. Here are the highlights from my trip!
HOW TO GET THERE: I flew from LA via Mexico City and spent the night at Ignacia Guest House in one of the newly-renovated upstairs rooms, with its own hot tub and terrace. After landing, I tore into a late lunch at Botanico, which, IMHO, is the best introduction to CDMX. The outdoor garden setting, with a 50-year-old cactus holding court in the middle, is lively and cosmopolitan, and the food is phenomenal. One bite of the tuna tostada will have you immediately understand why Mexico City is famous for its out-of-this-world cuisine. After a brief siesta, I met friends for drinks (and tapas) at Cafe Nadie, buzzing with a DJ spinning at the bar, followed by delectable mushroom tacos at Paramo. (Other must-eats: Maximo, Contremar, Rosetta, and Meroma.) The next morning I woke up, ran the 3.1-mile Amsterdam Circuit in Colonia Hipodromo, grabbed a cappuccino at Quentin, then hopped on an early morning 50-minute flight to Puerto Escondido's tiny airport.
STAY IN PUNTA PAJAROS: Puerto Escondido is known for its epic surf (think 8 to 10-foot swells with 90-95% consistency!) and nomad/hipster-filled beach clubs, but we opted for the much quieter and less populated region of Punta Pajaros. In short, it feels like Tulum 30 years ago: undiscovered, serene and beautifully raw. We rented Casa Malandra, a four-bedroom beachfront retreat designed by award-winning Mexican architect Alberto Calleja. Open-air spaces, slatted wood walkways, a pool-enhanced great room, all surrounded by tangled vegetation and the sand-pounding ocean made for a perfect perch in paradise. The in-house chef whipped up yummy Mexican breakfasts that had me licking my plate every morning. Other stellar accomodations: Sister properties Hotel Terrestre (inland) and Hotel Escondido (seaside).
PRIME SUNSET SPOT: Head to the beach club at Hotel Terrestre for mezcal-based sundowners and blazing, etched-in-your-mind-forever sunsets! There's also a glittery disco ball on the deck for impromptu dance parties. A dress over damp bathing suit is pretty much the dress code; Mine is by Julie Harrah.
DETOX: Sweat out excess tequila at El Papelillo, a traditional Mexican sweat lodge (A.K.A. sauna and bath house) built by Tezontle, the Mexico City-based art and architecture studio, smack dab in the middle of a jungle. The heavy iron content of the water left my skin feeling velvet soft and super glowy.
SOAK IT UP: The hammam at La Terrestre Hotel is housed in a brutalist-looking brick tower, and features four chambers: a hot jacuzzi, steam room, rain shower, and cold plunge. Reserve an hour-long private session to soak them all in.
MUST-EAT TACOS: A simple wood sign points the way to Punta Pajaros, a restaurant with a short but succulent menu that changes daily depending on the freshly-caught fish. I indulged in tacos de pulpo (octopus) and dorado a la talla! The signature cocktails, such as the maracuya mezcalita, are buzzy and crazy delicious.
LATE LUNCH: My favorite lunch spot is the open air restaurant at La Terrestre, because the guacamole is mucho delicioso and the Caesar salad is OG, one of the best I've ever had in my life. Post-meal, we walked the hotel's sandy paths, steering clear of cacti, and checked out the dramatically designed pools and showers.
SUPPER AND SIP: Enter through a door-sized gap in the shrubbery then walk down a footpath lined with guayacan and areca trees to find Kakurege Omakase, a 12-seat omakase restaurant, housed in thatched-roof palapa designed by Alberto Kalach and the artist Bosco Sodi. Book the 10-course 6PM seating (highlights include duck gyozas and a refreshing cold soba noodle soup) then head over to Cobarde, a sand-floor mezcal bar to sip small-batch, locally-made varieties.
PICTURE CAPTIONS:
Punta Parajos' Main Street is a single lane dirt road, flanked by the jungle and the sea. Along the remote pothole-pitted stretch you can find everything from an outdoor yoga studio to a cute caftan boutique to a ready-to-roll rickshaw.
The sunrise in Punta Pajaros is worth waking up for, because an iPhone camera fails to capture the resplendent golden hues and soft pastels. Make sure to keep a lookout for breaching whales on the horizon.
I tend to make several outfit changes a day--and justify all the clothing options I packed! Typically, there's a high concentration of swimsuits and dresses in my vacation suitcase. On this trip, I packed day to night dresses by La Ligne, Julie Harrah, and, of course, the latest and greatest G.Label. I love this feather-light body-suit which can double as a swimsuit!
Just touched down in Mexico City and already on my way to eat my heart out at Paramo (hola, mushroom tacos!). I'm wearing a G.Label shirt backwards to be worn again on the beach untied over a bikini!
TK OPTIONS BASED ON PICS SELECTED!
the cropped trench
Friday, March 3
Clearly, there's a consensus among fashion insiders outside Paris's shows that the cropped trench is spring's go-to jacket. This fresh-looking cut is a reinvention of a timeless style, and the cropped silhouette is ideal for layering over looks when the weather starts getting warmer. I am hankering to splurge on one of the trailblazing versions from Loewe, above and below, but then this version by Massimo Dutti makes a lot of sense, given its $260 price tag and high-end likeness. Also top-notch are these from Veronica Beard, All Saints, Uniqlo and Acne Studios.
