Phoebe Philo Launched, Continued.

There are lots of comments on yesterday’s post. I, too, wrote a comment saying that despite the very high price tags, it’s good to have Phoebe Philo’s POV back in the fashion conversation. The long interval between her eponymous collection announcement and the actual launch gave fans a lot of (too much?) time to raise their expectations. Fashion journalists loved the collection, but they are not store buyers and prices always seem secondary to the designs in their reviews. I worry that a limited run of product will be purchased by a limited group of consumers. That said, I bought the above gloves — hand stitched with a snap closure. I need a black pair and the old-school details spoke to me.

Phoebe Philo Launched

Hope you saved your pennies because Phoebe Philo‘s eponymous line just dropped and it’s pricey. Would love to know if and what you bought.

Diptyque Devotion

After Diptyque launched La Droguerie, a line of eco-friendly household products last year, I went back to the French fragrance brand with gusto. My favorite candles are La Droguerie for the kitchen, Bois Ciré, Feu de Bois, Geranium Rosa, Verveine, Baies, and Roses in the summer. On work trips to Paris in the ’90s, I would pop into the Diptyque shop at 34 boulevard Saint Germain, which was just down the street from the American Vogue offices. It was a big deal when Diptyque candles became available at Barneys and I could finally buy them here. After years of being sent and gifted a myriad of candle brands, going back to Diptyque felt a bit like going home.

Brooke Garber Neidich in Air Mail

Jewelry designer Brooke Garber Neidich always has the best advice and recommendations, so it’s no surprise that her answers to Air Mail’s 71 questions are fabulous. I hope you are all Air Mail subscribers, it’s absolutely worth paying for and only $4 a month if you sign up now.

On My Radar

My weekend to-do list: see the Ruth Asawa Through Line exhibition at the Whitney, read the brilliant and recently deceased Louise Glück’s Marigold and Rose followed by Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, and catch The Holdovers — filmed at Deerfield Academy and set in the ’70s, my ‘hood and era — has received excellent reviews. I love the ’70s vibe of this Goldbergh ski parka. Next trip to Paris is around the corner and I’m looking forward to seeing the Rothko retrospective and the Alex Ayed “Farewell Project” at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

My Style Re-evaluation

Early July I posted on American-born Parisienne Charlotte Husson’s inspirational personal style and how my fatigue with the stealth-wealth/quiet-luxury — aka absurdly expensive minimalism — trend sparked a re-evaluation of my own personal style. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I own and wear, but every so often I look at my rails and feel as if something is missing.

Last evening, on my way to meet my husband for our weekly French tutorial at Coucou, I popped into the A.P.C. Surplus store and had an aha moment when I spied this dress. A feminine printed silk shirtdress with a kind price tag was the missing piece. Add knee-high boots and a cardigan and I am transported back to my twentysomething self in a good way. Funny how one item can shift everything.

Red Is Cool

If you want to jump on a cool trend without a major $$$$ outlay, red socks are the way to go. Uniqlo Heattech socks and COS ribbed cashmere get my vote.

Two Stellar Shoe Collaborations

Soeur, the popular French brand that just sold a controlling stake to Style Capital, collaborated with French shoemaker J.M. Weston to tweak the latter’s classic 180 loafers. And, the Miu Miu collaboration with Prada owned Church’s is also fabulous.

Short Stories

I’m a huge fan of short stories and two of my favorite authors have recently published new collections. The brilliant writer Lydia Davis requested that Our Strangers only be available through indie booksellers, so I just picked up a copy from my beloved Locust Valley Bookstore. Ask for a copy of Jhumpa Lahiri’s Roman Stories, too.

Gold Standard

My chicest friend @arossgirl wore these Manolo Blahnik flats with navy wide-wale corduroy trousers to lunch yesterday, an elegant pairing. I am endlessly inspired by Amanda’s personal style.