Mellow Yellow

Yellow is splendid in the winter, it’s cheerful. I would feel sunny wrapped in this The Row oversized scarf with a Sidney Garber yellow diamond Thread Ring on my finger.

Zebra Print

Fashion folks often claim that animal print is a neutral. Leopard is not my thing, but this Dries Van Noten zebra print definitely is. Ages ago I had a pair of zebra print boots that made even the most minimalist ’90s outfits sing.

The Calm Before The Storm

This is the last quiet weekend before Thanksgiving prep and an exceedingly busy December take over my life. The Alex Katz: Gathering exhibition at the Guggenheim and the film The Banshees of Inisherin top my to-do list. In FT‘s fantastic Q&A with British Jewelry and interior designer Solange Azagury-Partridge, she shares that the Chanel Le Crayon Khôl is her beauty staple — this tidbit inspired me to up my holiday beauty game a notch. I recently posted on Chanel’s Noir Allure mascara, my new beauty staple.

‘Chop Your Jeans With A Bread Knife…’

I love a list of tips and this one, from October 31 Grazia by style advice writer and beauty expert Sali Hughes, is clever and a bit outside of my box. According to the article, Ms. Hughes has perfected how to dress with zero stress. It’s a fun read.

I ’VE BEEN OBSESSED with clothes my whole life. Fashion is the way I communicate myself to the world, the way I honour my moods and rise to any occasion. But there are some things about my wardrobe and style that never change with it. Trends have come and thankfully gone (low-rise bootcut jeans and smock tops, anyone?), income and expenditure has ebbed and flowed, babies have been grown, parties have been thrown. But every outfit has taught me a lesson or a trick that even now helps me to dress without stress on the daily. Here are a few of them.

ODD NUMBERS ARE BEST

Unless it naturally comes in pairs (earrings, for example), jewellery tends to look more stylish in odd numbers than in even. One or three bangles looks better than two, a ring or three per hand is somehow cooler than two or four. One ear piercing is minimal and chic, three is a whole vibe.

REACH FOR THE BREAD KNIFE

The best way to create perfectly distressed cut-offs is not with scissors, but with a serrated bread knife. Lie the jeans flat, waistband folded in half so the legs perfectly line up, then start sawing with your knife until the fabric pulls effortlessly apart, leaving frayed seams. If you’d like a few further holes or rips, take some tiny nail scissors and, using the points of their blades, nick the denim to make small holes, then make bigger or roughen up the edges with a coarse nail file.

Continue…

Fall Faves

We are heading into sale season (emails are starting to come in) and I read that stores still have a lot of inventory. I’ve posted on all of the items above and I bet a number of them will be marked down — the Commission skirt already is. Nary a regret and a few holes in my wardrobe have been filled — most notably belts. I’ve worn a Saint Laurent belt for easily 5-some-odd years and was delighted to find the Miu Miu ones — variety is good. Ann Mashburn’s cowboy boots just arrived and are great. The Row scarves and here, Officine Générale sweater, Chanel slingbacks, Saint Laurent slingbacks, and Khaite jeans have served me well — the jeans are as wide as I can go without looking clownish. And, The Slate (info@theslate.shop) leather jacket gets 5 stars.

Sandals Are Always a Good Idea

I wear the Valentino VLOGO slingbacks below all the time — they add a bit of zing to a minimalist outfit. These sandals would do the same for a simple summer shift.

Black, brown

Ann Mashburn on The Cowboy Boot

After posting on my hunt for cowboy boots, designer Ann Mashburn (she has the best blog) sent me this adorable video where she talks about the boots she’s owned, the ones she designed, and how she wears them. Thanks, Ann!

An American Icon: Property from the Collection of Joan Didion

Joan Didion’s personal effects will be auctioned at STAIR Galleries in Hudson, NY on November 16. The catalogue is online and previews begin Monday, October 31. The sale includes books, photographs, and even a pair of the Céline sunglasses Joan wore in the famous 2015 campaign for the house.

Shop to Unlock

Wish I hadn’t bought these items before NET-A-PORTER’s Shop to Unlock promotion, which is on until October 30. Lots of great pieces included.

Marfa Stance jacket, Officine Générale sweater, Tod’s loafers 

La Minaudière

Ooh la la — I’ve never fancied a minaudière and now I’m smitten with two. Handbag as jewelry is a brilliant concept.

Saint Laurent here and here, Khaite here