From Afar

With newsstands temporarily closed, it’s been a challenge to track down a few of my favorite magazines. Self Service is coming from Europe, The Gentlewoman from an online newsstand in NYC, and I placed an order on Holiday’s website but, from past experience, I know this may be wishful thinking.

Giving Back

I owe my career to Vogue and Anna Wintour, and I cast shows under the aegis of the CFDA, so I am donating to their COVID-19 relief fund, A Common Thread.  Anything that helps the devastated fashion community, especially the young designers, gets my support. I’m happy to give back to the industry that has given me so much.

Brown Boots, Cont.

I bought a pair of beige boots in February just moments before the the world shifted on its axis. The purchase predated my questioning the value of big-ticket fashion items beyond will I wear these often enough to justify the price. When all is said and done, I’ll be happy I have them.

Brown boots were on my list, too. I love the ones above (Vuitton?) from March Vogue UA, but now I’m reluctant and not even sure I’d find nor be able to buy them. The Tom Ford ruched FW20 skirt that I swooned over post-show is not being produced and my deposit was refunded — got to wonder if it was a delivery or demand decision. I was looking forward to wearing that gorgeous skirt with boots and a tee, just like the outfit in this photograph.

How I Dressed Then Is How I Want To Dress Now

While unpacking I unearthed a bunch of items from 1998 and 1999. This discovery got me musing about my favorite Spring shows of all time. Marc’s SS99 collection for Louis Vuitton holds the number one spot — I still have the white poncho even though it’s unwearable. In a wonderful twist of fate, I started casting the LV show the next season. The Calvin Klein and Prada SS98/99 collections are close seconds.

A seminal moment in fashion history, this sliver of time crystalized my fashion sensibility. It’s how I want to dress right now, tomorrow, and forever. Instead of exhausting the Netflix library or learning to bake bread (I can’t find a bag of flour, anyway), I should remind myself how to sew. Maybe it’s time to design some of my own clothes.

To Shop, Or Not To Shop

Navaz Batliwalla, editor of the fab blog DisneyRollerGirl and author of my fav style guide The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman, addresses the question should we stop shopping? in a post today. I wholeheartedly agree with Navaz that supporting the small, independent brands is imperative to their survival. Even larger brands, like my beloved Frame co-founded by Erik Torstensson, get my support during this crisis.

Image © Frame

Three Upcoming Reads

Three of my favorite authors have new books coming out. Anne Tyler’s Redhead by the Side of the Road next week April 7,  All Adults Here by Emma Straub May 4, and on June 30 J. Courtney Sullivan’s Friends and Strangers will be available. My dream book of the month club.

Shopping My Closet

There are some super closet clean-out tutorials in the blogosphere right now.  My approach is to edit when I pull out the next season’s clothes. Swimsuits that have lost a bit of their stretch, too short shorts, yellowed T-shirts, etc. get the heave-ho.

Instead of a closet overhaul, I have challenged myself to wear items that only see the light of day once in a blue moon.  And by doing so, I’ve fallen in love, again, with things that I already own. I’m looking pretty sharp on the Whole Foods runs…

I never saw my mother in yoga pants outside of an exercise class, and she always wore lipstick, even in a Nor’easter.  I’m taking a page out of her book, helps keep my spirits up.

The Skinny Belt

This picture is from a story titled ‘Flowers’ in April Vogue Paris. My  favorite part of this Celine look is the belt. I’ve been wearing an old, skinny Classic 3 Passants Saint Laurent belt and will try it with a dress.

Photography by Sam Rock  Styling by Aleksandra Woroniecka

It Can Wait

Many readers bought clothes for upcoming graduations, weddings, and special events (now canceled or postponed) then sent me pictures of the dresses hanging in their closets. My friend Amy bought a number of items from ARossGirl❤️Soler and posted with the hashtag #whatiwasgoingtowear. Thankfully, Amanda Ross Bacon’s designs are not trendy, they are timeless classics that will look great for years to come.

I know that many folks aren’t buying right now, but I want to help support small designers.

It’s The Discovery

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away, I loved to cook. But when my children were little, cooking was more for sustenance and felt like a chore. I lost interest. Ironically, both girls are now foodies.

Today, with the grocery stores stripped of my go-to products, I’ve been forced to buy what’s there — and by doing so, I’ve fallen in love with cooking again. It’s the discovery. Like going to TJ Maxx for a dog bed and coming out with a Celine coat; going to Whole Foods is a similar experience. I bought tahini, never on my list, and scored the most delicious quinoa and flax bread because it was the sole loaf left.

Deliciously Ella‘s Insta feed has the most ingenious recipes for all the sweet potatoes, beans, and pasta packed into my cupboards. Ella loves Tahini, which is why I now have a tin on my shelf.