LE CATCH

It's always nice to get a compliment, but one of the coolest I've ever received was from a stylish French woman, who came up to me at a party in Paris last fall, praised my dress (by G. Label!) and then described me as "super classe" which, she explained, means more than chic in French. Merci beaucoup, I replied! She then went on to tell me that's it's important for women to tell other women they are beautiful, to raise them up and support them. I could not agree more! And so, today, I want to give kudos to a female-founded clothing line based in Paris called Mister K, above, comprised of mostly made-to-order (read: sustainably-made) pieces, from double-breasted blazers to denim shirts, all with inimitable French flair! I'd also like to generate more compliments with some of these finds from J.Crew and Asos (so Prada!).

Mary Jane shoes never seem to go out of style, but they happen to be especially cool at the moment. I've (over)worked my Sam Edelman pair for the last few months, and now that they're beaten and battered, I've decided to invest in a more elevated, forever-chic Valentino, above. The patent leather, pointy toe and signature studs will add polish and panache to any outfit, no doubt.

$99, ll bean

I love LL Bean's latest update--the striped cuffs, the toggle buttons--on my go-to high school sweater! Size up for a boyfriend sweater-like fit! P.S. I also snapped up this most excellent vintage-looking knit!

1. James Perse t-shirt, $80, netaporter.com

2. Unravel leather jeans, $709, mytheresa.com

3. LL Bean cardigan, $99, llbean.com

4. Gucci bag, $3700, gucci.com

5. New Balance 550 sneakers, $109, newbalance.com

Never mind the rain and snow: Paris' fashion show goers have winter dressing down cold, looking unerringly cool in statement coats and loads and loads of cozy-chic layers. Some of their successful strategies: a stalwart throw-it-on-over-everything trench coat (I love these spot-on inexpensive ones from H&M and Asos), zip-up knits (this and this) and an oversized Khaite leather jacket (pictured below) and an extra big blazer.

A new winter coat is not a priority purchase at the end of January, but this one--actually three-jackets-in-one--makes for a compelling investment. From And Other Stories, this Italian wool convertible trench coat consists of a (spring-perfect!) cropped jacket with dolman sleeves plus a long sleeveless belted vest that's designed for layering. It's an outerwear grand slam!

Two days into Paris' Couture Week, the biggest takeaway trend is the mid-calf boot. Spotted on the catwalks of Chanel, above, and Dior, below, this fresh new style boasts an easy-to-walk-in block heel, positioning it to be an uptown-to-downtown go-to. They were teamed mostly with mini dresses and skirts (another strong runway theme!), but would work with everything from casual jeans to elegant maxis. Its debut is timely, with all of us in the throes of winter-boot fatigue. Thankfully, there are some current options from Franco Sarto, Rag & Bone, and Tamara Mellon to add spring to our steps!

If you're a fan of Toteme (hello, who isn't?), then I recommend you check out the fresh assortment of discounted offerings at The Outnet. I found scores like the blazer, above, and the bralette, below. Also noteworthy: this linen boucle jacket, this fluted crepe skirt and this double-breasted blazer.

As winter nights are already shortening, so is the hemline on my coat. Spring's must-have cropped jacket is already in full-tilt rotation. Not to mention it’s a terrific way to show off an outfit that may have otherwise been covered up by a full-length coat. I love these iterations from Sacai, And Other Stories, Loewe, Theory and Prada (pretty please?!) I also just snapped up this H&M leather gem (that has an unmistakable Khaite-like aura).

Post-pandemic Zara's more mature and sophisticated sister brand Massimo Dutti launched a runway-inspired line to further elevate and refine its signature elegant look. This season it seems to be hitting its stride, with sleek, timeless sweaters, crisp denim, tailored jackets, all styled with (The Row-like) sandals and classic (and also this very minute) penny loafers. IMHO, it's uncontrived everyday-dressing perfection. My faves include the below styles: the cool high- V-neck sweater, the textured cardigan-meets-jacket, this leather blazer, and the straight mid-waist jeans.

Lunch with my Australian girl friends always get me into a happy groove, and yesterday was no different at Neuehouse in Venice Beach. We talked about everything from wellness hacks to new must-listen podcasts. They also turned me on to Ephemera, an irresistibly cute Australian resort line that belongs in my warm-weather wardrobe stat! I am confident that some of these pieces--such as the print midi, the mix-and-match bikinis and suits and cover-ups--would also put you into a happy groove! See more here!