Sandals Season Has Started

We are in the midst of a mini heatwave so I pulled out my bin of flat sandals. Some of them are bordering on ancient, but I still love and wear them all. If I needed a new pair (I don’t) I would try these by Saint Laurent — the whole look is downright chic. More sizes here.

Bits & Bobs

Some folks say they impulsively buy more when shopping online. Alas, I am easily tempted when shopping in a store. Last week I went to Bergdorf Goodman to return a pair of Bottega Veneta pumps and did a quick pass through the store. The visit to the Saint Laurent department resulted in a short sleeve wool polo that is truly a forever piece, and a harlequin print scarf that looks good with everything. I would not have bought either online. Perfumer H has a new candle, Château Leboscq, with fragrance notes of vine fruit, green leaf, pine needle, bois des landes and cedar wood, and the Christope Robin hair products with rose extracts smell wonderful too. And I can’t wait to see the Georgia O’Keeffe show at MoMA and the Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map at The Whitney. O happy spring.

Three Easy Pieces

Untied at the neck, this Honorine cotton dress is much less prim. The Re/Done x Dr. Scholl’s collaboration is a nice update to the classic slides. And the roomy Khaite straw tote is good-looking and functional — I’m a fan of the single handle, it stays on your shoulder.

Harper’s Bazaar France

A dear friend just brought me the premiere issue of Harper’s Bazaar France and it is très chic. The second issue is out, maybe it’s a good time to go to Paris…

O April!

I ❤️ April— asparagus and rhubarb abound. Dumplings with asparagus and snap peas looks scrumptious and rhubarb compote is easy to make, keeps in the fridge, and is yummy on just about anything. I am eagerly awaiting Phaidon’s monograph on the brilliant Dutch landscape designer, Piet Oudolf, out April 12, and Curtis Sittenfeld’s new novel, Romantic Comedy, will be released Tuesday. A new pair of Belgian Shoes always puts a spring in my step and, even though it was released last September, I’m still loving “Burning” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

It’s a Wrap!

Kendall Conrad makes the best leather accessories and I especially love her wrist wraps — they are majorly chic. The bracelet over the cuff is a nice bit of styling that I will try to imitate. A leather wrist wrap, made-by-hand-in-Greece style sandals, and a straw market basket are the ne plus ultra of summer accessories.

The Bale: Loro Piana’s New Bag

Loro Piana’s Bale Bag is aces. Hand-stitched, a removable inner pouch, and it’s available in two sizes and a wide range of colors. The adjustable shoulder strap that wraps all the way around is a nice design detail. This is a forever bag.

Kummel, beige, navy, white.

Spring Staple: Marfa Stance

Writer Camille Freestone is spot-on when she says in her Coveteur story on transitional dressing ‘(i)t’s that time of year when the weather in a single day can effectively span all four seasons.” Yes, indeed. Last September I wrote about the trench and liner I bought from Marfa Stance, the line of multi-functional and seasonless pieces designed to work together. These pieces are meant to be layered and thus ideal for transitional dressing. I wore the trench with and without the liner multiple times, but wasn’t wearing the liner solo — it was way too boxy. So, I took it to my beloved tailor and she put elastic in the back to give it some shape. Now I wear it all the time. And the best part? It’s reversible, a true win-win.

Items I’m Eyeing

This Valentino duchesse-satin A-line midi skirt is so simple and elegant. Weirdly, it could be dressed up or down — The Row sandals and a white T-shirt for a summer evening, perhaps. And, I’ve been eyeing the Bottega Veneta woven leather pumps since I spotted them on the runway last fall — not sure how they’ll look on, I’ll let you know.

Skirt. Pumps.

A Tan Poplin Shirt

I’m on the hunt for a tan/light khaki poplin shirt (sans flap pockets).  I love the color of this one by Ferragamo, and Rag & Bone has a nice one at a much kinder price point.