‘Inheritance’

My friend Lisa Scully, owner of the Locust Valley Bookstore, does spot-on reviews and this is her take on Dani Shapiro’s recently released memoir, ‘Inheritance’ — “I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. It reads like a novel and yet every word is true. Sometimes we make seemingly blasé decisions that end up affecting everything that we do. Well, that’s what happened to Dani when she spit into a glass vial and sent away for her DNA results. Assuming she would learn that her family was indeed (ho hum) her family, she was sent reeling when the test indicated that her father was not really her biological father. Yes, this stuff happens all the time, but we read the sensationalized versions while standing at the supermarket check-out counter. This is a real book with cliffhangers, suspense and mystery. It is about secrets and identity. Two thumbs up for Inheritance!”

Sounds perfect for this wintry long weekend.

Homework

I love this image in February Vogue of Givenchy’s creative director Clare Waight Keller working in a “handsome” Georgian house in London’s Kensington “where she has transformed a former pied-à-terre into her research and-and-design laboratory, lined with books and her archive.”  Having serious office envy…

Photography by Paul Wetherell for February Vogue.

Long or Short?

Snaps on handbag straps are my bugaboo. I broke so many on my Céline hobos that I bought pre-owned bags just for the straps. One of the biggest selling points when I bought this Marni Trunk was that it could be worn under the arm or messenger style. But deep down, I knew it was too good to be true. Sure enough, last week one of the snaps broke while I was adjusting the strap. I’m hopeful that the store where I bought the handbag or Marni can help, but if not, I’m going to take it to the Leather Spa and have the strap sewn down. Since the strap will no longer be adjustable, I need to decide if I will wear the bag more often over the shoulder or cross body. Hmm…

A “Monster” of a Dress

For the combined Menswear and Pre-Fall show, Miuccia Prada was inspired by “trashy horror films” and Frankenstein. This strapless dress, in what looks like a wool felt, is perfection.

On My Bedside Table

Usually I have a number of books that I want to read queued up, however, post-holidays my list had surprising few titles on it. After attempting to reread “Middlemarch” (not sure what possessed me), I took an old fav, Marina Rust’s “Gatherings”, off the shelf.  Today, there is a wonderful interview with Linn Ullmann on her new book “Unquiet” in The New York Times magazine — I couldn’t hit preorder fast enough. “Where the Crawdads Sing” and “The Burglar” will have to wait.

Roast Chicken 101

One of my goals for 2019 is to learn to roast a chicken that’s as yummy as the ones in the Parisian markets (not an easy feat). We are having a cold snap, which is the ideal time to perfect my roasting skills. The New York Times has fantastic cooking tutorials and this one, How to Roast Chicken, is no exception. Roast chicken with maple butter and rosemary above is on the docket for supper today.

Image © The New York Times

Spring Wish List Toppers

When I spied these two coats and jacket on the Prada SS19 runway, my heart skipped a beat. I have a lot on my spring wish list, but these pieces are at the tippy top.

Image on right by Craig McDean for Vogue Italia

A White Turtleneck

Sounds easy to find, but after asking friends where they get theirs I’ve realized that a white cotton turtleneck can be elusive. Everyone responded to my query with “when you find it, let me know.”  I grew up in Boston and all the WASPy toggery shops carried this preppy staple in every color imaginable. But today, not so much. The Hermès above is beautiful and could be worn alone. Others just need to peek out of the neck of a sweater, or even under a button-down. The search is on for this versatile layering piece.

Image by Michael Borremans for the FW17 Le Monde d’Hermès.

Pin-Up

A ponytail is my default hair style, but it’s annoying when driving and can put a lot of stress on my hairline. Barrettes solve these problems and I have a sizable collection. One of my favs is this tortoise circle by La-ta-da, which is sold at Target (J. Crew has a larger version), and Amazon has a terrific selection of bar barrettes in all sizes. Years ago I had a brass circle by Céline, but it was so heavy it just slipped out of my hair. I’ve just ordered this clip by Charlotte Chesnais and hopefully it will stay put.

Simply Sacai

When I pulled out this picture of Caroline de Maigret at the Men’s SS19 shows in Paris, I knew exactly why I’d stuck it in a folder. I have a beloved Sacai dress and have been on the hunt for a top. Last summer I tried two, but neither was quite right. After revisiting this image, I’m determined to find the perfect one. I may need to update my black Chanel bag, too — it now looks vintage.

Unfortunately it’s pretty slim pickings at this point, there are only a few sweaters left — here, here, and here. Hopefully there will be some good ones in the FW19 collection.

Image © Vogue