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…
On My radar
While in Paris last week, the temperature swung from the low 50s to upper 80s — I wore sweaters and sandals. One of my best FW25 purchases is the Althena anorak by The Row. Lightweight yet warm, it is my inflight companion. Both the anorak and cashmere sweater are now on sale. If you love ‘Slow Horses’, you must watch ‘Dept. Q’ on Netflix. The Scottish crime thriller is based on a Danish book series and is seriously good. Libby Buck is a friend of a friend and I am about to start a galley copy of her debut novel Port Anna, out July 1. I’m a sucker for stories set in Maine.
On My Mind
So far, May has rivaled some of my busiest Decembers, and we are only halfway through the month. I want to apologize for the radio silence, I have been busy working on two committees that are dear to my heart. The first is the New York Committee of the CGA. I just did a bit of a rebrand, launched a new website, and added a very kic shop element. The second has to do with authors. It was a privilege to hear and have lunch with Claire Messud, a writer I admire tremendously.
We go back to Paris soon, so I want to see the Hilma af Klint show at MoMA before we leave. I don’t need anything new for summer, however, this Celine straw hat caught my eye — it has the perfect amount of floppiness. Earlier this spring, I picked up another Hermès Picotin in a lighter color so I could shelve the black one for a bit. Speaking of black- I was in Florida the end of April for the GCA Annual Meeting. At the dinner, I wore a very simple, black lace Valentino dress that I bought in 2012. In a room full of floral-prints and beautiful colors, I was one of very few wearing black. After a beat, I was happy with my choice and for staying true to my personal style.
In what I thought was a bold move, I dyed my eyebrows. When I told my friends, they were surprised that it’s taken me this long to do so. As a natural blonde with a smattering of grey, my brows disappear in photographs. However, now I need a darker eyebrow pencil and just ordered one of Chanel’s Stylo Sourcils. I’m sure I should go darker still — baby steps.
It Item
Snakeskin print is everywhere right now, and Khaite’s python-embossed pieces win the day. I shared my thoughts on snakeskin with The Wall Street Journal. Thank you, Antonina, for including me in your article!
On My Radar
I am looking forward to the current issue of FT’s weekend magazine, How to Spend It, guest edited by Phoebe Philo, the Bonjour Tristesse remake with Chloë Sevigny at IFC Center, and I’m on the hunt for large sunglasses — I’m tired of tiny sunglasses.
To Read
Two writers raved about Susie Boyt’s Loved and Missed, and they were right — it is one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. Packed for my next flight to Paris are The Float Test by Lynn Steger Strong, and Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country. Three stunning books that I will give to friends this summer — Flower Couture by Cordelia de Castellane, Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook, and Brittany Bromley’s Relaxed Elegance. Martha and Brittany are my neighbors so I feel like I’m supporting local talent. Actually, I popped into Brittany’s shop earlier today to ask if she is taking on new clients. Now, if I could only get Martha to give me gardening tips…
It Item
Yesterday, Chanel showed a stunning Cruise 2025/26 collection at the Villa d’Este on Lake Como. The totes are perfection.
On The Hunt For
At lunch last week with two of my dearest friends we raved about Sonia Purnell’s biography of Pamela Harriman, Kingmaker. This led to Pamela’s personal style and her love of silk dresses — I’ve been searching for a new silk dress like the one I bought at A.P.C. Surplus. Soon after, I spied Aerin Lauder in an Oscar de la Renta, and another very chic and dear friend in a stunning green LK Bennett dress. Gucci has a few nice silk dresses, too. Sabato De Sarno may have hit the right note after all…
The hunt is on.
Celine dress above from a number of years ago. Image courtesy of W.
On My Mind
Nothing makes me happier than seeing items that I wore and loved being worn and loved by my daughters and friends. Makes spring cleaning a bit sweeter.
It Items
It’s been a very cold spring; there was frost on the windshield yesterday morning. When I posted on the Hermès Jumping Boots last September I noted “(t)hey will be delivered mid-March, which will give me a month of wear before I store them for summer.” This is precisely what has happened, it’s been a month of unusually low temps — perfect boots-without-tights weather. It’s the same story with the Proenza Schouler leather skirt, the grey The Row skirt and brown booties — I am still wearing all of them well into April.
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