Bag Tip

When I was considering this Saint Laurent hobo I noticed that women, like Anya Rubik above, were not wearing it on their shoulder. Undaunted, I ordered it anyway. When it slid off my shoulder and I was about to send it back, I popped on a Purse Gummy — problem solved. I just wore this bag in Paris for 3 days straight. It held a small umbrella, hat, plus all the essentials. I use the silicone strips on my Gucci Horsebit 1955 bags, too, they would never stay put otherwise.

This bag reminds me of my beloved Gucci hobos I wore in the ’90s.

Belted

In a post last November I mentioned that I’d finally found a new belt. I bought a Miu Miu belt in black and brown and it was the best purchase of 2022. As in the photo above — from a summer edition of Vogue japan — the belt makes the look.

W.ICONS: How To Care For Your Winter Woolens

I love a list of tips and this one on maintaining woolens by W.ICONS is pretty good. Depilling is my specialty.

Random Bits

This image from @vieffestyle reminds me of the rule of three as I pack for Paris. I keep looking at the Altuzarra self-tie sweater in black — it’s such an easy piece and I should’ve bought it for this trip. This small Saint Laurent hobo is coming with me, it’s more spacious than it looks. In Paris I’m going to pick up the new Perfumer H room spray at Le Bon Marché and Virginie Mouzat‘s Le denier mot to help me brush up on my French.

Une fille, un style: chez Monica Ainley de la Villardière à Paris

I’m a longtime fan of Monica Ainley de la Villardière‘s personal style and was happy to see her profiled again on Vogue France. She makes even the most classic of classics look cool.

The Prettiest Gift

The prettiest gift I received over the holidays was this set of  scalloped paper trays by Willow Crossley, a floral designer based in the Cotswolds. I have them on the coffee table as catchalls. Thank you , SK, you know me well.

Christian Dior Pre-Fall 2023

My three takeaways from the Dior PF23 collection are: an ankle-grazing, sleeveless tunic is a trend (see Attersee post), belting a parka is always chic, and that Maria Grazia Chiuri, without question, designs the best dresses.

Bits & Bobs

Now that the holidays are in the rearview, I’m trying to do a bit of catch up. I finally read Marcia DeSanctis’s A Hard Place To Leave — it’s superb. And I’m trying to see Living before I leave for Paris next week. The Anri Sala exhibition at Bourse de Commerce Pinault Collection tops my Paris to-do list. And, I live in these hiking boots in black and just bought a pair in beige. Speaking of beige, I’m struggling to find a beige polish that suits me, so in the meantime, I’m going dark brown.

New Year’s Eve At Home

A cozy New Year’s Eve à deux sounds like the perfect ending to a good and busy 2022. Even though it’s just the two of us at home, I’ll add a little sparkle. I snapped up the Commission skirt when it went on sale and the Chanel slingbacks have been a workhorse in my wardrobe this fall and winter — worth every penny. I have many similar grey sweaters to this Bottega Veneta, although, if it goes on sale I won’t hesitate to add it to my collection.

2022: The Year of Friends

From left: Florence Pugh (seen from behind), Stella Piccioli, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Simona Caggia and Jenna Ortega, photographed on Oct. 2, 2022, at Loulou restaurant in the First Arrondissement of Paris.Credit…Robi Rodriguez

T Magazine’s December 4 Holiday issue titled “All Together Now” is devoted to “(t)he wayward joy of the dinner party” and the T team “dropped in on 12 gatherings around the world, from Tokyo to New Orleans to Paris and beyond.” Each gathering got a cover and story and my favorite is Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli with his friends.  If 2021 was my year of the family, 2022 was devoted to my friends.

I hosted my heart out starting with my birthday last spring and ending with a number of Christmas luncheons. I reconnected with a college roommate, invited women I wanted to know better, had long overdue catch-ups, and introduced friends from different facets of my life — it was an incredible gift to myself. Here’s to many more gatherings in 2023!