Collections
Marc Jacobs planted his flag last night with a collection of gorgeous, wearable clothes—his superpower. By opening New York Fashion Week with an off-schedule show, Jacobs didn’t just kick things off; he reestablished his intent after sale talks with Authentic Brands Group collapsed. And thank goodness they did. Marc belongs in the LVMH stable, and it’s heartening to see them rally around one of their most brilliant designers.
This collection, with its ’90s nods to Mrs. Prada, Helmut, and Marc himself, is packed with pieces we’ll wear forever.
It Items
It started with winter boots—more specifically, trying to find a replacement for my beloved Penelope Chilvers Incredible Boots. Some years ago, a British friend told me my boots were uncool and that I could not wear them in London. As a result, for the past four years I have been searching for an alternative. However, most of the cold-weather boots I’ve been drawn to—and tried—have a combat vibe, which is a firm no-go in my book. So, fourteen years on, I am still wearing and loving my Penelope Chilvers boots.
Frustrated by my failure to find new winter boots, I more or less stopped shopping altogether. But the cold snap snapped me out of my shopping doldrums—February and –17° will do that. Not needing winter boots turned out to be oddly freeing and allowed me to look at other shoes instead.
First, I picked up a new pair of Dries Van Noten sneakers. I’ve been wearing the tan pair for a year and felt it was time for a new color. Next, inspired by the Prada SS26 runway images, I went in search of new white pumps. I already own a few pairs and find them incredibly versatile. The Gabriela Hearst Agathe pumps in ivory are perfect—and very comfortable. A heads-up: they run very small. Finally, I wanted something fun and completely impractical. These Loewe boots are just the ticket, and they’re surprisingly comfortable too.
On My Radar
We are back in New York (actually, I am in Boston for 2 days) waiting for a monster snowstorm. Snowed in Paris first week of January and it was a VERY BIG DEAL. Half an inch of snow — and they cancelled my flight to Vienna. So, I will see the Helmut Lang exhibition early March right before it closes. Until then, here are a few random bits on my radar.
The February issue of Vogue France has a lot to love, starting with Doutzen Kroes on the cover. She was a favorite way back when — I cast her in many editorials and shows. The styling in the ‘Paris’ story is terrific. Speaking of February issues, the pictures of Kaia Gerber in Harper’s Bazaar are beautiful. Editor-in-chief Samira Nasr has done a great job. I worked with Samira at HB in the early 2000s. The magazine was mediocre from 2001 – 2020 — nice to see it chic again.
I am obsessed with Alison Loehnis‘s swing-out bathroom mirror, which allows her to apply makeup in natural light. I will DM her for details
Helen Macdonald’s memoir, H Is for Hawk had been on my bookshelf unread since it was published in 2014. Early last year, I grabbed it for a long flight. It’s a wonderful story, and I’m eager to see the film version starring Claire Foy. Friends who recommend great books are the best friends in the world. November 2024 I went to the Charleston Literary Festival with two amazing women — both writers — who share excellent reads. Carlene Bauer’s Girls They Write Songs About was one of those recommendations. Thank you, Dorothy and Kate!
On My Mind
2025 was a pretty good year. I spent a ton of time with family and friends, read (on average) a book a week, and came to consider my adorable Pilates instructor to be a third daughter, given how often I saw her. Most of the spring we were in Paris and most of the fall in New York, which was ideal.
As I look back, here are a few of the highlights from the past year.
The Tina Barney retrospective, Family Ties, at the Jeu de Paume was by far my favorite exhibition. Turnstile’s Seein’ Stars with its Police vibe was my #1 song. There were too many great books in 2025 to pick just one, however, André Aciman’s novellas The Room on the Sea and The Gentleman From Peru deserve pride of place. I was very fortunate to meet Mr. Aciman and hear him speak about his incredible book.
Olverum bath oil was a hostess gift, and the scent is so gorgeous that I ordered other products from the line. And finally, an anorak from The Row, Dries Van Noten sneakers, and Hermès Picotins were my wardrobe heroes this year. I carry the Picotins in all three sizes — they are, hands down, my favorite 2025 purchases.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for another year of thoughtful comments, advice, and fabulous recommendations! xPreston
On My Radar
The HG X CHANEL mini magazine devoted to Chanel watches and fine jewelry is a very cool collaboration. The multiple rings and earrings on Gracie Abrams are fun, not fussy. My bags are being enjoyed by my daughters — I love that the younger one carries it as a clutch. And, the slingbacks are on my Christmas list. Chanel black and gold is always chic, especially at the holidays.
It Item
While picking up my watch from being serviced, a woman looked at my handbag and said “I would never spend that much money on something that sits on the floor.” Point taken. In my lap while dining is a terrible option as well. The solution? A Carrie Atelier bag hook, it works like a charm. Sometimes Instagram knows exactly what I need (truly terrifying).
Collections
I love Pre-Fall collections — the clothes are predominantly everyday wear and I look for styling tips to use now. These Max Mara looks are good inspiration. The short jacket, midi skirt, and loafers together is very chic. Below is giving me serious Michael Kors FW10 vibes.
On My Radar
It’s the final two weeks of 2025 and I am racing to finish a number of books and listen to the most recent interviews on Bella Freud’s Fashion Neurosis podcast. Ms. Freud penned a terrific piece on the meaning of clothes for FT. The documentary on the 100th anniversary issue of The New Yorker is a must-watch if you are a fellow fan of the magazine. I am putting a projector in the guest bedroom in lieu of a television. There is one in our favorite apartment in Paris and it works like a charm. My favorite gift to receive is a book, preferably one I would not have chosen myself. Seascraper by Benjamin Wood is one of those gifts — it is beautifully written and I am so happy I read it. Before 2026 I hope to finish Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional, The Safekeep, Yael Van Der Wouden’s debut novel, and My Friends by Frederik Backman. And, this Leset top and shorts set is my current reading-by-the-fire outfit.
To See
We go back to Paris right after New Year’s. The next day I fly to Vienna to see Helmut Lang Séance De Travail 1986–2005, a retrospective of Helmut’s career in fashion at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK). Vogue posted an excellent piece on the exhibition week before last. Of all the shows, magazine editorials, and advertising campaigns I cast, casting for Helmut was the highlight of my career. I worked with Helmut and Melanie Ward from the late ’90s until Helmut left in 2005 following the sale to Prada. During that time, Melanie and I were, also, editors at Harper’s Bazaar. Mel was amazing and her recent death was a shock. Today, Helmut is a celebrated artist and I own one of his sculptures. I cast the model who wore the shearling that is part of the sculpture that hangs on my wall. This thought brings me great joy.
Casting Polaroids I kept from the final two HL shows, and my beloved sculpture.
To Give
Every December I take a table at a Christmas Luncheon. This year I decided to shake things up and host the lunch for my dear friend Amanda Ross Bacon and asked her to do the guest list. Amanda is a phenomenal designer and a passionate board member of Teaching Matters, so I was excited to meet a few of her friends. Not only was it an incredible group of women, they brought 5-star hostess gifts.
Remembering that I have a knack for finding four-leaf clovers, Amanda gave me the D. Porthault trays. Our mutual friend, the writer Kate Betts who just launched Editors@Large on Substack, gave me a Dagne Dover travel toiletry organizer — it’s next-level and I will take it to Paris in January. Knowing that I chair the New York Committee of the GCA and my commitment to NYC parks, Kate, also, brought Trent Preszler’s new book, Evergreen. Cathryn Collins, the brilliant designer and founder of I Pezzi Dipinti, rivaled Amanda for the chicest-woman-in-the-room award. Thank you, Cathryn, for the gorgeous scarf. Other fab presents I received — Olverum Bath Oil, Torta di Torrone, and Carlos Mota’s most recent book, Purple Fever — make for excellent hostess gifts as well. Thank you all!
P.S. I decided to skip red and green and, instead, broke out the Commission skirt from a few years ago. Pairing it with a grey crewneck sweater and brown The Row pumps helped tone-down the sequins for a luncheon.
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