Travel
Dear Readers,
I am heading to Charleston, South Carolina for a literary festival and have never been. Everyone raves about this beautiful city so, please, any and all recommendations are welcome!
xPreston
A heartfelt thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions! Shopping, siteseeing, and a lot of walking will be my activities outside of the festival talks. I am thinking of this as a scouting trip for a future trip with my husband, when we can plan properly. As Dawn recommends, next time I will “…book dinners, then hotel, then flights…” Again, thank you for the Charleston intel!
On My Mind
When I mentioned to my dear friend, an ex-Vogue colleague, that I wanted to post on my annoyance with In Vogue: The 90s — for instance, Tonne Goodman didn’t join Vogue until 1999, she was at the competitor Harper’s Bazaar — my friend said ‘you don’t do negative on kic.’ This is true, but I had to slip in my incredulity in some small way… This same friend recommended journaling, which has been life altering. Once I found the perfect journal and pen, I was off and running. Jotting down bits of conversations, name and context when I’m introduced to someone (super helpful), and ideas that often get lost by the end of the day has helped me organize my thoughts tremendously. For example, I have been collecting vintage Tiffany bangles and often wonder about the previous owner(s). Was the bracelet a gift? Passed down? Loved and lost? When I wrote these musings in my journal, I was reminded of one of my favorite books, The Engagements by J. Courtney Sullivan. The story follows an engagement ring through a series of times and owners. Reading is my passion, especially at this stage in my life, and I found I was only reading in two spots because of the lighting. So, I bought a rechargeable lamp that moves with me. I also bought a few for the nooks and crannies in my office and closet that have no electrical outlets. It’s always good to shine a light in those dark corners.
On the Hunt For
This The Row PF24 collection image has been on my inspiration board since I posted on it September 2023. A year later and I am on the hunt for a cream anorak. The Row’s anorak is the gold standard, however, ones by Zimmerman and Khaite are good, too.
On My Mind
Before I dig in: I have tickets to see Glass Animals on October 15 at the Zénith de Paris that I now cannot use. If someone would like them, please let me know. After a closet overhaul, I realized that I parted with all of my wool trousers and, now, have only 5-pocket jeans/corduroys/chinos. The hunt is on and I’m starting with The Row. The Olsens look fabulous in their own designs, and I am on the shorter side, too, so I figure their pants should be a good fit. The Celine skirt was taken down an inch and it made all the difference. I inherited an inordinate number of paintings from my mother and have put many in storage as I build my own collection. Jonathan Becker’s print is a sensational addition. After I started wearing the Celine sunglasses, I picked up this smaller pair by Saint Laurent and they are growing on me. Elizabeth Strout’s Tell Me Everything is excellent, and I just finished Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner, which is very well written. Susan Minot’s Don’t Be A Stranger, her first novel in a decade, is out on October 15. With Revenge Of The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell revisits his first book, which was published 25 years ago. Finally, the New York issue of Holiday that is guest-edited by Camilla Nickerson, is now available.
Books
Photographer Jonathan Becker’s new book, Lost Time, will be available October 8. The retrospective monograph commemorates forty years of his brilliant photographs. I met Jonathan at Vogue in the late ’90s, and his partner, the editor and stylist Alexandra Kotur, is one of my oldest and dearest friends. When we bought the house in Bedford, NY, they were the only people we knew there.
Photographs from Jonathan Becker: Lost Time are on view at The Katonah Museum of Art. The exhibition was curated by Mark Holborn and is up until January 26, 2025. I just bought an Edition of At Eden Roc, the image on the cover of the book. It’s being hung tomorrow.
Collections
I may be completely off the mark, but the Celine SS25 collection feels like an audition for Chanel. Or, perhaps, it’s wishful thinking – Hedi Slimane is the designer I would like to see at Chanel, so fingers crossed.
Collections
There are many drool-worthy pieces in the Hermès SS25 collection, especially the flat boots. They will be delivered mid-March, which will give me six weeks of wear before I store them for summer. I’m good with that.
On my inspiration board
Spotted on Paris show-goers: The skinny leather belt cinching Suzanne Koller’s coat, and Rickie de Sole’s white skirt styled for fall are both on my inspiration board.
Photos courtesy of Vogue
It Item
To-the-knee has been my preferred skirt length for ages. Midi and, definitely, maxi overwhelm me, and a mini skirt seemed only suitable in the summer. But, I couldn’t resist trying the Celine cashmere skirt. The hem is coming down an inch, and I will wear sheer black hosiery as styled in the T Magazine story left. It will be shorter than my usual skirt length, but not quite a mini.
Skirt runs extremely small
Collections
Vogue called the SS25 Prada show “Bonkers”, and it certainly was. Along with a deep dive into the house’s archives, there was an insane number of ideas and references on the runway. Farewell quiet luxury, uniform dressing, and capsule wardrobes, this collection signals a seismic vibe shift. And, amidst all the zaniness, there was this perfect dress.
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