The Classic Bits

Silk scarves, ladylike dresses, a crewneck sweater over a button-down, a turtleneck under a blazer, and headbands abound. I’m not a fan of the padded headband or a pussy bow, but all the other classic bits get a thumbs up from yours truly. The trick is to not go overboard and risk looking vintagey. Below some looks from the SS19 collections that keep these classic elements modern.

Thank you @tomsamet for the fab pic of your parents.

Burberry scarf, top and skirt, Prada sweater.

Danish Rye

I don’t eat much bread, but when I do it has to be a hearty Danish rye. Thankfully, the famed bakery Ole & Steen just opened its first U.S. outpost near us on Union Square. Yum.

Celine: The Seventies Bourgeois French Girl

Classic knee-high stacked-heel boots, culottes, shearlings, ladylike dresses, blazers, and capes — Hedi Slimane, Celine’s artistic, creative, and image director, showed a full-on late-70s bourgeois French girl-inspired collection. Sarah Mower put it perfectly “(t)his was old old Celine—exactly the kind of politely classy merchandise originally sold under the label before LVMH acquired it, long before even Philo’s predecessor, Michael Kors, was drafted in to make runway shows out of it.” I know this era — the American version 1979 Ralph Lauren with Clotilde, A.P.C., and more recently Vanessa Seward’s collections — and I am happy to make the top look my fall uniform with a hobo and strap wrapped boots — sigh. Second time’s a charm, Hedi.

Long Shorts 2 Ways

Last spring I posted that I’m a huge fan of long shorts and wear them in lieu of skirts. Even though they can be worn for day or evening, it’s the shoes that ultimately make shorts work. The sandals above, similar to an Hermès pair from 2014, and the slingback below are what make these looks sing. NET-A-PORTER is spot-on: #dressfromthefeetup

Vince sandals, Prada slingback, Tibi shorts, Dries Van Noten white top, Stella McCartney black blouse, gold hoops, Buccellati diamond earrings, Bottega Pouch, Bottega woven clutch.

Some shoe styles (sandals above) 15% off with code SHOPSTYLE15

Big Bang Theory

Bangs always seem like a good idea, then I get talked out of them. They are great on Chanel’s Virginie Viard below, however, I think I’d need a whole lot more hair to make them work.

Image above © Vogue Italia

‘Rêve de Jour’

Paris Fashion Week is underway and there are a number of shows I’m excited to see. Hermès is at the top of the list — a few beautiful SS19 collection looks in this Le Monde d’Hermès story.

Photography by Sam Rock  Styling by Vanessa Reid

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Clutch Convert

For years I’ve been off clutches, but now I’m all-in. Tired of never knowing where to put my handbag in a restaurant and struggling to keep a shoulder strap on my shoulder when wearing a bulky parka are the main reasons I’m a convert. The clutch is everywhere. Even shoulder bags are worn under the arm and I saw a woman carrying her Birkin this way (it looked silly). The BV mini makes three and I’m on the lookout for an evening pouch. Tbc.

Augustinus Bader: The Cream

I want to add my two cents to the Augustinus Bader fan club chatter — the cream is amazing. Recommended to me by the Westman Atelier team because it’s good for rosacea, The Rich Cream is worth all the hype (and price tag).

Marella Agnelli: The Last Swan

They say things come in threes and I was thinking about this adage after we lost Lee and Karl. Marella Agnelli, the elegant and refined Italian socialite who Truman Capote referred to as the “Last Swan”, was one of my favorite style muses. Below are images from a lovely T magazine story written by Ms. Agnelli’s niece in 2014.

Prada Please!

Last month Miuccia Prada sprinkled a few gorgeous Pre-Fall looks into the men’s Mary Shelley-inspired show. Yesterday, Ms. Prada continued the monster theme in the FW19 women’s collection with a few nods to Wednesday Addams thrown in. This is one of my favorite shows so far — smart, beautiful, with lots of covetable pieces — I feel like we are often trying to fit square pegs into round holes and Prada just continues to brilliantly do what she does so well. Bravo!