LE CATCH

My 16-year-old niece stayed with me before she left for boarding school back east, and let’s just say my closet became her summer playground. The same wardrobe she once dismissed as “too preppy” was suddenly a treasure chest: she swiped jeans, ballet flats, oh, and this new blouse and even my pajamaswith zero hesitation. Honestly, I loved it. We ran a full-scale soundcheck for each other’s outfits: she got a second opinion on what to wear to babysit, I got a nod for my Zoom meetings. It was dress-up, but for real life (see above in Cos and Madewell with a Parker Thatch bag strap styled as a bolero!). And the best part? The shared wishlist we’re currently building together, including the brown nylon parka (or the silk taffeta Kallmeyer windbreaker with charm/keyring, below), lace-trimmed shorts (in a zillion colors for less at Intimissimi), the Pixie Market funnel collar leather jacket, the off-the-shoulder EB Denim t-shirt, the sleek black Reformation dress and yellow blouse, and the plaid Zara balloon pants. Happy Weekend!

$24, h&m

Not your average t-shirt!

1. H&M t-shirt, $24, hm.com

2. Paige Jeans, $259, paigedenim.com

3. Massimo Dutti jacket, $420, massimodutti.com

4. Dorsey 14-K gold, emerald and diamond huggie, $520, dorsey.com

5. Mulberry bag, $1595, mulberry.com

6. Alaia fishnet ballet flats, $950, mytheresa.com

I tagged along to my sister’s Parker Thatch shoot in downtown LA, and it left me brimming with inspiration. Watching creative director Sarah Clary work her magic was like a live masterclass in everyday style cues that feel anything but everyday. A few things I pocketed: The power of a white blouse.Not just any button-down, but one with that subtle unbasic twist, like Sarah's (DIY) asymmetric buttons. I'd work these ready-made options from TWP, Cissa and Madewell. It’s the kind of piece that instantly upgrades denim, sweatpants, anything. Meanwhile, my sister demonstrated how to turn a simple bag strap into a belt—a styling sleight of hand that transforms the expected (her head-to-toe whites!) into something fresh and personal. Me? I took my stripes (Frank & Eileen and Kule) and sequins out to play!

Khaite’s Resort 2026, above, is already prowling into the season, specifically its zebra stripes, snake-skin prints, pops of pink and turquoise. I want to layer all of these textures, starting now with these Simon Miller trousers (similar to above), this By Malene Birger coat, this Damson Madder pants, this outfit-making scarf by The Great, this Pistola jacket, these H&M sneakers, and perfectly lived-in denim.

We’ve arrived at that pivotal week—the liminal stretch where late-summer haze still clings to the day, yet there’s no denying fall is at our doorstep. And already, next season's must-haves are moving fast. Case in point: the Khaite boot—perched right on the precipice of selling out, despite temps still hovering in the high 70s. (Prada is also doing a western boot, but less expensive versions by The Reformation and Jeffrey Campbell work too.) Also emerging: bags built for 24/7 office hours that actually carry it all while still looking polished, like Sienna Miller's Gucci get, below, and this sleek Mulberry. Think totes that transition from morning meetings to late dinners without breaking stride. Other next-big-things I want to invest in before they're gone: This, this, and this. All future classics!

$139, and other stories

Spoiler alert: there's a new twist to fall's stripes.

1. And Other Stories striped scarf blouse, $139, stories.com

2. Khaite jeans, $640, khaite.com

3. Matthew Bruch cargo jacket, $595, modaoperandi.com

4. Annika Inez gold-plated earrings, $225, atpresent.com

5. Jalil Johnson Bold ring, $295, atpresent.com

6. U Beauty Proem Eau de Parfum, $68, nordstrom.com

7. Quince leather braided belt, $49, quince.com

8. Khaite boots, $1380, netaporter.com

I’m delightfully stunned: the Tory Burch skirt I wore (and linked to) a few weeks ago turned out to be a runaway hit, clocking in at a 229% conversion rate (!). Clearly, it struck a chord. Which is why I’m extra excited to share that Tory Burch has just rolled out a private sale. On my shortlist: the faux croc body suit (masterfully modeled by Leandra Cohen, below) , the flared yellow skirt (similar in spirit to mine, above), and this slim tweed jacket—each one chic, versatile, and primed for heavy rotation. Given the numbers we saw with that skirt, I’d say the odds of these selling out are… well, statistically significant.

My new Madewell jeans are the rare kind that make me stand taller and feel slimmer. The fit is so precise, so right--but also one size up from my normal! So, they've prompted me to ask: what changed? Turns out, the answer comes in the form of one man—Benjamin Talley Smith. Known as the “denim whisperer,” Smith has worked behind the scenes for nearly two decades, quietly shaping the jeans industry from luxury labels to mass-market retailers. He’s the fit-first architect behind those original Khaite jeans—the ones that had editors in a chokehold and inspired countless knockoffs. He’s also worked his magic for brands like Reformation and Ulla Johnson. And now? He’s turned his attention to Madewell, consulting on their fall denim assortment to make the fits sharper, the proportions more flattering, and the wearability effortless. You feel it the second you zip them up—no gaping waist, no awkward bunching, no mysterious extra fabric in the wrong places. Just clean, modern lines that hug exactly where they should. It’s the kind of fit you expect from a $400 designer jean, smuggled into an under-$150 price tag.

Every look in Celine’s Resort 2026 collection feels effortless, but is built on a small styling twist that makes it sing. Same-colored knit layered over knit. A cardigan buttoned only at the neck, shifted slightly so it falls like a cape. Sleek tailoring accented by a silk scarf or an extra large brooch. They’re easy-to-execute details—but they change everything. Zara’s newest drop already has the pieces to make it happen, shown here. Staud and Quince also has knits to effect layering cool. 

Maybe it’s the back-to-school air, maybe it’s the thrill of a fresh season, but this year feels different. The racks are offering an unusually abundant buffet of options—textures, silhouettes, and moods I didn’t think were “me,” but am suddenly curious to try. (I wrote a whole Substack about this last week.) The little risks, the small jolts of surprise, the moments when you catch a glimpse of yourself in something unexpected and think… wait, is that me? Here are a few of those “not-me-but-maybe-me” finds I’m eyeing this week: Pixie Market's "Long Top," above, that I'd wear right now with white jeans and black trousers later. I also want to go all out in shoulder-baring ruffles, patent leather, major sequins, and Mulberry green leather, below.