On My Radar
And just like that, we are in the final throes of August, that liminal time between the height of summer and September. Labor Day is maddeningly early, which adds to the feeling of a foreshortened summer. You can still catch Diane Arbus: Constellation at The Armory through Sunday. I ran into Brooke Garber Neidich at the show in July. I keep waiting for Brooke to weigh in on my last post about mixing gold and silver — she is, after all, the expert on all-things jewelry, and has flawless personal style to boot. The Thursday Murder Club (I am stupidly excited for this!) debuts on Netflix August 28. My daughter and I are flying to London that day for one of Coldplay’s final concerts at Wembley Stadium and hope I can see the first episode while there. I am looking forward to hearing photographer Sally Mann talk about her new book, Art Work, at The New School on September 10. Above is the handbag from my previous post, and Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Shampoo has saved my hair this summer.
I hope everyone is relaxing before the September madness. xp
On My Mind
A few days ago I found my elusive dream handbag but, alas, it has silver, aka palladium, hardware. This has thrown me into an existential style crisis. All of my everyday jewelry is yellow gold, likewise, the hardware on my bags and shoes is golden. I even removed the white gold bands from two Cartier Trinity rings, and had Fendi swap the silver hardware for gold on a handbag. In my 20s I wore a steel watch paired with yellow gold, but somewhere along the way my steel and platinum pieces fell to the wayside — probably when I reset my engagement ring in yellow gold. I pride myself on staying true to my personal style, but these days it feels too rigid and, frankly, old-fashioned. Younger women are mixing and matching and I am still just matching.
The real question is why do I care so much that things match. I fear I have become persnickety and have challenged myself to loosen the reins on my style choices.
On My Inspiration Board
A roomy cotton dress paired with a raffia hobo has been my go-to outfit this summer — super easy. I usually wear my Gucci 1955 Horsebit bags in the fall and winter, but it looks so good on the two women above that I pulled them out. As a kerchief or belt, the silk scarf is having a major moment this summer. And, I love a pendant on a cord — simply chic.
It Item
When I spied the T-shirt right in a Sidney Garber email, I reached out to Brooke who shared that it is Toteme. When a Maria McManus email with the one left popped up in my inbox yesterday, I couldn’t order fast enough.
On my Radary r
It’s been a hot and humid July — Alex Mill linen shirts and shorts, plus this linen florawear.co slip dress have been a godsend. I’ve gotten over my aversion to linen, always thinking it makes me look like an unmade bed was silly. It’s the ideal fabric for these scorching temps.
Brooke Garber Neidich sends the best emails for her jewelry line, Sidney Garber. The length of the cord necklace above is perfect for yours truly. A long necklace with a pendant on a significant bust is not a good look. I have my eye on the Mariner bracelet, it’s perfection.
In a Bits & Bobs from August 31, 2023 I posted on Kristin Scott Thomas’s directorial debut titled North Star. The film, which is about three sisters who return home for their mother’s third wedding, debuted at TIFF, but was not released in the United States. It’s been renamed My Mother’s Wedding and will be in theaters August 8.
Yes, I picked up Michael M. Grynbaum’s Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America. And, yes, I would have landed a job at Vogue in the ’90’s according to Michael M. Grynbaum’s quiz in The New York Times. Before I delve into my ancient history, I want to read Perspective(s): A Novel by Laurent Binet. A well read friend recommended it. I loved Michelle Huneven’s Bug Hollow, but I’m struggling to get into Among Friends, Hal Ebbott’s new novel. Let me know if you read and liked it.
Hope everyone is having a splendid summer!
Collections
From a show attendee wearing the scarf that wrapped the Celine Spring 2026 show invitation as a belt, to the bag, rings, and socks in look 56 and the styling of updated classic pieces in look 12 — I love the vibe of Michael Rider’s debut collection for Celine. Rider respectfully mined the house’s codes without veering into redux land. I’m excited to see where he goes next.
Books
Full disclosure: I read James Frey’s new novel, Next to Heaven — truly a beach book of the lowest form. The setting, a fictional town inspired by New Canaan, Connecticut, the town next door to Bedford, NY where we have a house, was my excuse for picking it up. Let’s move on.
I love nothing more than novellas, short stories, and essays, and I wholeheartedly agree with Heather Clawson, the first novella in André Aciman’s Room on the Sea is excellent. Next in the queue is Life and Art, Richard Russo’s new collection of essays, and Helen Schulman’s stories, Fools For Love. Last up, Among Friends, Hal Ebbott’s debut novel, which has received terrific reviews.
Happy reading!
No links, please shop your local bookstore if possible.
Vogue's Resort 2026 Trend Report
Summer is not my shopping season — new sandals, skirts, shirts, maybe a swimsuit — nothing earth-shattering. Fall shopping is the best, and the Resort collections are even better. Vogue’s roundup of trends from the recent Resort collections spotlights a few of my personal favorites — capes, cargo pockets, and skinny pants.
Nili Lotan cape, Louis Vuitton jacket and skirt, Alberta Ferretti skinny pants.
On my mind
We have to be mindful of the number of days we are in Paris per year, so late spring and summer we stay stateside and bounce between Bedford, NY and Martha’s Vineyard. I have not been shopping much, but when I do, I go to small, local shops. Luckily, there are a number of great ones on my flight path. At Our North in Katonah, NY I found Demylee tops, my favorite Alex Mill white denim skirt, and the lace Lack of Color bucket hat. Right here in Bedford I can buy my beloved Perfumer H Bergamot perfume at OHHO. On Martha’s Vineyard I picked up amazing sweaters by Stone and Guest in Residence at Magnetic North. En route, I often stop in Boston to see my daughter and pop into Dress Boston where I bought this Vanessa Bruno raffia bag, and Covet, which has the best resale. I have found Dior trousers and these fabulous Sézane sandals at Covet’s Charles Street shop. I cannot go to Locust Valley, NY — where we had a house before Bedford — without stopping into the Locust Valley Bookstore. Lisa’s newsletter is a must-follow. While in LV, I’ll grab a Devoción coffee next door at Karmic grind.
Happy summer (tomorrow)!
On My Mind
My favorite Hermès Orans are beige. Beware, there are two slightly different shades. I prefer the Beige Natura left to the Beige Lin right.
Holy moly, the tariffs! An order from Ssense in Canada was held hostage until I paid an eye-watering customs duty. The item, which was on sale, cost the same as full price in the end. And, I have been waiting for a bag to be released from customs at JFK, however, I am losing hope of ever seeing it.
On Monday, we followed a woman carrying a large Celine shopping bag through Global Entry. When she responded that she had nothing to declare, the agent asked what was in the bag. “A new handbag” she replied, and looked surprised when she was sent to have her luggage inspected…
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