Hot Town, Summer in the City

In a city during a heatwave? Go to a museum, a movie, and shop in a real store. Stay cool, everyone.

Sandals Search

After I posted the below picture of designer Kendall Conrad wearing Barbara Shaum slides in late March, I started searching for similar sandals. I found two Saint Laurent pairs in Rome early May, but the hunt is still on for variations on this style. I love the rustic, made-by-hand-in-Greece feel – perfect for the city and the beach. The two images above are from @streetstyleglobal_ and K. Jacques makes a nice version of the sandals on the left. K. Jacques will make a custom pair in black with a black sole — I’ve done this a number of times.

Kendall Conrad in Barbara Shaum sandals

My Saint Laurent sandals in brown and black

Barbara Shaum sandals that I snapped at Ann Mashburn’s Georgetown store in 2019.

Wearing Again

Yesterday I mentioned that I pulled out my Marni Trunk from 2018 to wear while my Gucci bags are being repaired. Then, this morning I read that it’s the 25th anniversary of the Fendi Baguette, so out came this one from, probably, 25 years ago. Fendi will hold a special fashion show here in NYC September 9 to celebrate the signature bag’s anniversary, and Linda Evangelista, photographed by Steven Meisel, is the face of the new campaign. Fashion is a circle and this time I’m game.

Funny, my Baguette came with silver hardware and Fendi kindly switched it out for me — always tinkering…

A Maintenance State of Mind

I’m rerunning this picture of my clothing rack because I just dropped off the black and brown bags at Gucci to have the straps updated and the clogs are being resoled at Leather Spa. Many folks are getting ready for a summer holiday, but it’s also a good time to get fall items shipshape. I try to do this in the spring when I shelve boots and store coats, but doing it in July still leaves enough time for any major maintenance needs. The Gucci straps will take 14 weeks once the bags arrive at the service center in Italy — I’ll be very happy to have them back in November. In the meantime, I’m carrying a beautiful black, polished calf Marni Trunk that often gets overlooked.

Buyer’s Relief

April’s comment on the previous post reminded me of this post from April 2017. 

Many of us have experienced buyer’s remorse — the sting felt after making a regrettable purchase. I try very hard to never feel that sting and sometimes deliberate on an item for so long that it sells out before I commit. But, what about the reverse? I’ll coin it buyer’s relief—the feeling I get when I’ve had my heart set on an expensive item that, in the end, doesn’t suit me. The relief is the $$$$ ‘saved’, $$$$ that could now be put toward something else.

This happened recently with the above Miu Miu coat. I was smitten the second it hit the runway last fall and immediately put it on my spring wish-list. As I added other items to said list, I was mindful that I already had the pricey coat on there. When I got the call that it was in, I raced over to Bergdorf Goodman to try it on. As the SA pulled it out my heart sank because, as gorgeous as it was, I knew the color would not be good on me. Disappointed? Yes. Relieved? Yes, also.

I Whiffed It

I love this SS22 Hermès dress so much that I posted on it twice. But, I never went in search of it and my heart sank when I saw it on Alexandra Golovanoff. She wears it well.

Want vs. Need

Years ago I did a series of posts on this topic and it’s a good time to revisit.

In a comment 9 years ago, a reader referred to “(her) imaginary life trap”, an issue I’ve wrestled with and somewhat curbed. I, too, have those moments of lusting after an item that would serve no purpose in my life, but have learned to take a pass — I don’t have to own everything I love.

The catalyst for this post is threefold — I just sent 6 dresses to be dyed charcoal and black (colors I actually wear), I returned the Gucci bag in cognac because the smooth calfskin gets scratched and stained so easily and I didn’t want it sitting on a shelf like a piece of art afraid to wear it, and I need a pair of shoes for my real life, which means I have to be able to walk around NYC in them. After all the years of doing kic, and having been an editor at both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, you’d think I’d know better. But, sometimes the siren song is just too tempting and I go astray. Yesterday, my guy in the Bergdorf Goodman shoe department tried to convince me that the 4″ wedge is comfortable, and it probably is. However, I’m not sure that walking in them from BG to the MET would be ideal. So, as much as I love and have posted on them, I’m going to pass — for now…

Shopping Rules

A reader asked about my shopping and wardrobe building strategies—instead of reinventing the wheel, I thought I’d rerun this post from June 2015 (with a few tweaks).

After I cleaned out my closet and made a short list of items that I need, I started to think about how I shop. More to the point, how is it that although I have a fashion site I don’t over-shop or have loads of things that I regret buying? Perhaps I can credit the few shopping rules that I’ve followed forever and swear by:

1. If I love something and KNOW that it’s a forever piece, I buy it immediately. Often, this is an item that I first saw on the runway, put on a list, and then asked for it’s delivery date.

2. Buy two identical items if I think I’ll be wearing them often (i.e. jeans, T-shirts, and cotton summer dresses).

3. Always buy one in black or grey.

4. On occasion, buy a fashion-forward item and wear it to death. Then give it away.

5. I don’t wait for the sales. I buy at the front end of the season, then I’m guaranteed to get the things I want. Sale is for those fun and unexpected items that make me feel like I’ve won the fashion lottery.

6. I shop heavily from resort and pre-fall, I find the best and most wearable pieces in these collections.

7. Shop online so things can be returned if I change my mind. I hate a “no return” or “store credit only” policy.

8. Buy basic evening and wear repeatedly by changing up the shoes and accessories. I wore a navy silk sheath to both of my daughters’ debutante balls with two different pairs of Valentino shoes and my good jewelry. No one noticed, wasn’t about me.

9. It’s all about the underpinnings — bras that fit and flatter, slips, camisoles, and tanks.

10. Tailoring and maintenance are key. Just about every piece of clothing I buy gets tweaked by my brilliant seamstress. I keep everything clean and maintained and ready to wear — no holes, stains, or loose buttons.

Thinking About Fall

A beautifully cut blazer like this one by Gabriela Hearst, walkable pumps, and small earrings are on my fall list. Can’t decide if the hardware on the Valentino slingbacks is too much, or retro in a good way. The shoe shape is perfection.

Chanel Couture: Effortless & Elegant

For me, this long and lean strapless look with a pale lip and ‘undone’ hair stole the Chanel haute couture show. I always love a T-strap and this one hopefully has a more walkable heel height than the ones from the Métiers d’Art collection.