I know it is technically still 80 degrees outside, but mentally I have moved on. I am ready for velvet, suede, cashmere, jackets that serve no practical purpose in Los Angeles, and anything in a shade that could reasonably be described as oxblood, chocolate, tobacco, or burgundy.

Consider this the first fall scroll of the season: the new arrivals currently sitting in my tabs, screenshots and various online shopping carts as I attempt to manifest temperatures below 70!

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First, we need to discuss TEXTURE. Apparently my fall personality is just touching things through my computer screen. The RÓHE velvet jacket is the kind of piece I want to throw over jeans and a tee and suddenly look like I put significantly more thought into getting dressed than I did. Same goes for the RÓHE fringed bouclé top, which feels like a sweater and a statement top had a very chic baby. And then there is this Magda Butrym fur-trimmed puff jacket, which is completely unnecessary for my climate and therefore naturally one of the things I want most.

I am also having a major PANTS moment. The High Sport knit pants are exactly what I want to wear with a very simple sweater and flats. The Stouls suede wide-leg pants are perhaps the most fall item on this entire list and I have already mentally built approximately 14 outfits around them. For something slightly less committed, the TWP jeans are the kind of denim that makes your existing closet feel new again. And the Leset satin wide-leg pants fall into my favorite category of clothing: technically pants, emotionally pajamas.

Speaking of things I would build an entire outfit around: TOPS! This Sloan sculptural silk top is SO good I almost don’t want to discuss it publicly. The Tove sheer ruffled silk top is romantic without feeling precious, and I love it with something much more casual on the bottom.

Then there are the basics-that-aren’t-really-basics. The Ann Demeulemeester gathered ribbed tee and Dôen lace-trimmed tee both make a very compelling case for why I apparently need another white T-shirt. And The Row tee is, admittedly, a white T-shirt at The Row prices. I still saved it. The Pleats Please plissé tank is another perfect layering piece, especially under an oversized jacket once the weather decides to cooperate.

And obviously: KNITS. The Loulou de Saison cashmere sweater is the exact oversized, slightly masculine knit I want to live in from October onward. The Extreme Cashmere sweater has the same effortless appeal. Add jeans, a good bag, sunglasses, done.

On the more dressed-up end of the spectrum, let’s talk DRESSES! The Magda Butrym silk mini is doing approximately 97% of the work for you, which is how I prefer my party dresses. And the Khaite cowl-neck mini is somehow minimal and dramatic at the same time. A very useful combination.

I also saved the Staud track jacket and track pant, because matching sets remain one of my favorite ways to trick people into thinking I am extremely put together.

Now, BAGS, because apparently fall is when I lose all financial reason. Velvet is having a very strong showing here too. The Dries Van Noten velvet top-handle bag is tiny, impractical, and perfect. The Valesque crushed-velvet shoulder bag has the same slightly decadent energy at a much better price point.

Then there is the Liffner croc-embossed clutch, which feels like the bag equivalent of a really good vintage belt, and the Savette pochette, which I would happily carry with basically everything on this list.

The Prada mini suede top-handle is making a particularly strong argument for suede bags this fall, while this Dries Van Noten beaded floral bag is the opposite of practical and therefore deeply appealing. And then, unfortunately for my bank account, there is this Chanel burgundy shopping bag. No further questions.

For shoes, I’m apparently refusing to acknowledge that open toes and fall are theoretically at odds. The Studio Amelia leather sandals are minimal enough to wear with everything, while the Christopher Esber wooden wedges are the kind of slightly weird shoe that makes a simple outfit infinitely better. The Maison Margiela Tabi ballerinas also made the list because at this point the Tabi has transcended trend and entered the category of if you get it, you get it.

Finally: the things that require absolutely ZERO seasonal justification. The Déhanche earrings are sculptural enough to make a white tee feel intentional, while the Jennifer Behr earrings are what I want with every holiday-adjacent outfit from now through December.

And because apparently I have never met a pair of sunglasses I couldn’t justify, I saved both the Loewe oval frames and the Saint Laurent cat-eye frames. The Loewe pair are a little weirder; the Saint Laurent pair make you look like you have somewhere important to be. I would like both personalities available to me.

The full edit is linked below, including a few things I left out here in the interest of pretending this list has boundaries!

Shop Fall Finds Vol. 01

I first discovered on Substack and pretty quickly became obsessed with the way she approaches getting dressed. She has incredible style (obviously), but what I love most is her point of view: she makes fashion feel thoughtful without making it feel overly serious. After 12 years in New York and a career leading merchandising and product strategy, Kelly moved to Miami, became a stylist, and started writing about everything from the tiny tweaks that can completely change an outfit to how to actually make the clothes already hanging in your closet work harder.

When Kelly and I chatted, I loved hearing how much her own life has shaped that perspective: moving to a place with an entirely different climate, raising two boys, building a new career, and now entering an exciting new chapter in fashion. She’s someone who genuinely loves clothes, but also understands why an outfit works, and after talking to her, I knew she was exactly the kind of person I wanted to feature in Currently Bookmarking. Let’s get into it:

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For anyone who is just discovering you, give us the quick version: who is Kelly Klein and what do you do?

I’m a stylist. I spent years as a merchandising executive leading product strategy, and now I write a newsletter about getting dressed, mostly how to put outfits together more easily and what takes an outfit from a 5 to a 10. I’m from New York, and after 12 years in Manhattan I’m now in Miami with my husband and two boys, which forced me to rethink almost everything I owned.

Before styling, you spent years on the merchandising side of fashion and worked your way up to leading product strategy. What ultimately made you decide to step out on your own?

It was a hard one! I loved my team and I loved working up to the role I was in. I got to be the product lead in launching jeans, shoes, swim, knits, and so many other categories, and learning the intricacies of each one was my favorite part, they’re all completely different animals. But I moved to Miami, and merchandising isn’t a job you can do virtually. You’re in fittings, you’re in design meetings, you’re allocating fabrics to sketches. You have to be there in real time.

Styling was the part I could take with me, and there turned out to be a real need for it here. So many people had moved down from New York and other cold places and nobody knew how to dress for it. I was figuring it out for myself at the same time.

You were figuring out Miami dressing for yourself at the same time you were helping clients do the same. How has leaving New York changed your personal style and the way you get dressed?

Completely. I had to rethink the whole wardrobe. A coat does a lot of work for you, and when it’s 85 degrees in November you don’t have one. So the interest has to come from somewhere else, which for me is texture and proportion and what I’m putting a color next to. It’s harder, and it made me better at this.

Your philosophy feels less like “buy this” and more like “look again at what you already have.” How did that become such a central part of your approach to styling?

Because the gap I kept seeing wasn’t about what people owned, it was about how the pieces went together. Everyone has a few outfits that work and then a lot of clothes that never leave the hanger. Usually the fix is small, a shirt that needs to be tucked or a pant that’s the wrong length, and those are the things I can teach you to spot for yourself.

So when someone opens that closet full of clothes and tells you, “I have nothing to wear,” what’s the first thing you’d have them do?

Pick one thing you actually want to wear and build around it. If it’s a shoe you’re wearing for function, then what pant looks good with it, and do we want to hide the shoe or expose it? If it’s a sweater, what’s the length, what’s the base layer underneath. One decision at a time instead of standing there trying to solve the whole outfit at once.

And what’s the biggest mistake you see women making with the clothes they already own?

Saving them. There’s a whole section of most closets that only comes out for special occasions, hanging there all lonely waiting to be chosen. Wear the good thing on a Tuesday. It’ll change how you feel about your whole wardrobe.

I love that because so much of your styling comes down to tiny tweaks rather than buying something new. What are three small things someone can do tomorrow that instantly make an outfit feel more considered?

Here are three and it changes so much without buying anything… Push your sleeves up. Hint at your waist (either with a half tuck or by clipping the bottom of a sweater up with a hair clip or a brooch). And play with your pant length, roll the cuff and see what happens, it changes the whole shape and it opens up your shoe options.

You’ve also talked about how sometimes one thing in an outfit should be “a little bad,” which I love. What do you mean by that?

It’s more a feeling than a rule. I love a little mess, a little undone, something in there that isn’t quite behaving. When every piece agrees with every other piece the whole thing goes flat, and what I’m after is more of an attitude than a perfect outfit

Which gets to something I think people often confuse: what’s the difference between someone who has great clothes and someone who has great style?

Great clothes are a shopping skill. Great style is knowing what to do at 7am on a Tuesday with what’s already in front of you, and that one’s learnable.

Given that, I have to ask: how much attention do you actually pay to traditional styling “rules”?

I really dont pay attention to the rules! What are they?

Fair. So let’s talk shopping instead. After spending so many years in merchandising, where are you personally most willing to spend money…and where do you tend to save?

Shoes, always. I cannot help it, I’m much more of a shoe person than a bag person and I don’t see that changing. I save on jewelry, I’m not someone who wears a lot of fine and it’s just not where I’m drawn, unless it’s a special vintage piece. Though I could see that changing as I get older and become uber rich!

What’s currently the hardest-working piece in your own closet?

My Donni button-down in apricot orange. I’m so into that color, and it goes with more than it has any right to.

And on the opposite end of “currently”: what is the oldest thing in your closet that you still wear constantly?

A necklace my mom made me for college graduation. It’s a metal pendant engraved on a leather cord and I wear it tucked into almost every shirt, so all you see is the cord peeking out at the neckline. That little bit of leather adds so much.

What about something newer: what’s a purchase you made recently that has completely earned its keep?

My Dries scarf. Any piece I can wear more than one way is a win, and this one I’ll wear as a skirt, as a top, and as an actual scarf, so its already earned its keep.

You’re working on transitional dressing right now. What’s the mood you’re most excited about for that weird in-between period when it’s technically fall but still very much summer outside?

Neo vintage. Jacquards, jewel tones, frog closures, fringe, all of it. That’s the vibe I’m most excited about right now.

You recently found a handful of brands at 180 in Amagansett and La Garçonne that really fit that mood. Who should be on our radar?

A handful I found recently at 180 in Amagansett and at La Garçonne: Scha, Apuntob, Arts & Science, Sofie D’Hoore, Casey Casey, Bergfabel, and Sono. They all have a similar thing going on, sculptural shapes and really good fabrics, with the kind of construction you can see up close. Mostly European and Japanese, and all worth knowing if you don’t already.

Beyond brands, where are you looking for style inspiration right now? Who—or what—are your ultimate references?

The runway! Dries has been looking so phenomenal lately. So inspired by the palette and layering.

Let’s get into Substack. What are the newsletters you open every single time they hit your inbox? And is there anyone you’ve discovered here that you probably never would have found otherwise?

Ah there really are so many and I feel bad leaving anyway out! But off the top of my head… , , , . I wouldn’t have found a single one of them without Substack, which is the whole case for this place.

You’ve built such an engaged community here yourself. What made you start writing in the first place, and what do you think Substack gives you that Instagram doesn’t?

I started writing here while my mom was in treatment. The first thing I ever published was during, and the second one was after she passed.

The fashion writing came later. Instagram is a photo and a line under it, and I love it for that, but there’s no room to explain anything. Here I can tell you why repeating a color at the top and the bottom of an outfit is what pulls the whole thing together, or I can write about my brother. It holds both.

Is there one post you’ve written that feels especially “you”—or one you’d send a new subscriber to first?

Honestly, they’re all a sum of me, so it’s hard to pick one. The one I had the most fun with was the Jacob Elordi post, back before he got so massive. I felt so good in those outfits, and this is reminding me to go back to a few of them.

Kelly Klein

I Sourced for Three Weeks and Made 15 Outfits

I’ve been saving down pieces I loved for the last three weeks and then made fifteen outfits out of them, which means I got to play stylist for forty brands at once with nobody around to stop me muuuahahaha…

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7 days ago · 79 likes · 13 comments

It also feels like your world is expanding beyond Substack. You mentioned this is the first Fashion Week where you’re really starting to get invited to things. Does this feel like a new chapter for you professionally?

It does. People being interested in the work and wanting me in the room is a real change from a year ago. And of course the first time it happens I’ll be in Italy. I’m not even mad, my husband and I are going without the kids, weeee.

Which brings us to Italy: you and your husband are heading to Venice and Lake Garda without the kids. How do you pack for a trip like that—are you an outfit-by-outfit planner or more of a great-capsule-and-figure-it-out-there person?

Huge planner. I dress by day and take a picture of each outfit before it goes in the bag. The goal is that every piece gets worn more than once, so versatility is the whole test, mostly because I’m carry-on only and always will be.

Between styling, writing, building this community and getting invited into more fashion spaces, what are you most excited to build or explore next?

More brand work. I love collaborating and I love designing with brands, and after years in merchandising that’s the part I’m genuinely good at. So more of that.

Currently Bookmarking: Rapid Fire

• Currently wearing on repeat: My Wayfarers.

• Currently carrying: The Balenciaga Rodeo bag.

• Currently coveting: This Tory Burch suede jacket.

• Currently searching for vintage: A Chanel jacket.

• Currently reading on Substack: so many! My friend Claire Hunter just started on Substack, and she has the best finds.

• Currently watching: Love Island UK.

• Currently listening to: Travis Barker on Jay Shetty.

• Currently eating: Eggs, literally i’m eating eggs as i type this.

• Currently drinking: Dirty martini.

• Currently traveling to: Venice and Lake Garda.

• Currently inspired by: Vogue’s September Issue

• Forever fashion icon: My mom. She inspired all of it.

• Most-worn piece in your closet: The necklace she made me. Every day, forever.

• Best vintage find ever: A lavender suede jacket from the farmers market.

• One styling trick you swear by: Pick one color and repeat it somewhere else in the outfit.

• And finally, what should we all be bookmarking on Substack right now: . I open it every time.

Follow Kelly Klein

What I love most about Kelly’s approach is that you leave wanting to play with your closet, not necessarily buy an entirely new one. Push up the sleeve. Change the pant length. Wear the special thing on a Tuesday. Repeat a color somewhere unexpected. Her perspective is a good reminder that great style isn’t really about having the “right” clothes; it’s about knowing what to do with the ones you have.

And I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot more of Kelly. Between her Substack, styling work, brand collaborations, and this new chapter that she very much seems to be stepping into, she is officially one to bookmark.

Kelly Klein

Twenty years in fashion, from boutique buying to merchandising major brands. Now I help you see the clothes you already own in a whole new way.

Somehow, we’ve made it to Part 10!!! When I started this series, the entire point was to share the brands I kept stumbling across that made me immediately stop scrolling, screenshot, open twelve tabs, and wonder how everyone else seemingly already knew about them. Ten installments later, that is still basically my discovery process.

And if there’s a theme to this round, it’s that I’m increasingly drawn to things that feel like they were actually designed. Not another version of something we’ve already seen 400 times, but a coat with an incredible proportion, a piece of jewelry that could double as sculpture, a handmade crochet skirt, or a bag that makes you instantly ask someone where it’s from. So, in honor of part ten, I have ten (!!) more brands for you to know before everyone else does.

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DUCIE

If you’ve noticed an exceptionally good suede, leather or shearling jacket on your feed lately, there is a decent chance it’s DUCIE.

Founder Ducie Keam-George started the London brand selling from a stall at Portobello Road Market, which makes its evolution into an internationally stocked outerwear label even better. The brand has become particularly known for leather, suede, shearling and faux-fur coats.

What I like is that they don’t feel overly precious or classic. The proportions are cool, slightly oversized and just sexy enough, which is exactly what I want from fall outerwear. Throw one over jeans and a T-shirt and suddenly you look like you made significantly more effort than you did. My fall mood board is covered in zip THIS jacket, THIS tie coat and THESE leather pants.

MARK CROSS

Mark Cross is a perfect example of why “niche” doesn’t necessarily mean “new.” The brand was founded in Boston in 1845, making it America’s oldest luxury accessories house. It originally made leather goods for the horse-and-buggy set before evolving into handbags and luggage. And here’s the fashion-history fact that sent me down the rabbit hole: Grace Kelly carries a Mark Cross overnight case in Hitchcock’s Rear Window. The house itself credits the appearance as the first product placement in film.

After going dormant, Mark Cross was re-established in 2011 and returned to the Italian ateliers that had made its pieces decades earlier. The bags today still have that same understated, structured feeling: beautiful leather, very little hardware, no screaming logos. Basically, it’s an IYKYK bag with almost 200 years of receipts. On my wishlist: THIS navy silk clutch and THIS zip pouch.

CHARLOTTE CHESNAIS

I’m always looking for jewelry that can make the most boring outfit interesting, and Charlotte Chesnais does exactly that. Chesnais spent years at Balenciaga working under Nicolas Ghesquière, where she designed her first piece of jewelry: a stackable cuff playing with different proportions. She eventually launched her namesake line in 2015 and has also consulted for houses including Loro Piana, A.P.C., Rabanne and Christofle.

Her pieces are somewhere between jewelry and tiny sculptures. Earrings loop around the ear in unexpected ways, bracelets curve around the wrist, and necklaces almost look suspended on the body. I’m currently obsessing over THIS two-toned cuff and THIS double lasso ring.

CLEA

Australia continues to have an unfairly high concentration of brands I want to own, and CLEA is the latest addition.

Designer Natasha Gordon founded the Melbourne-based label in 2021 after more than a decade working in fashion, including time at Alexander McQueen alongside Sarah Burton. You can see that training in the construction: beautiful tailoring, interesting proportions and pieces that somehow feel both structured and soft.

CLEA only produces four collections a year in limited quantities, and the details are what really got me—embroideries, fringe, pleating and fabric treatments that make otherwise classic silhouettes feel special. This is one of those brands where I can already tell I’m going to regret not buying something before it disappears. THIS blouse and THIS cropped jacket are on the top of my NYC placing list for Fall.

OR.ZO STUDIOS

Or.zo Studios is exactly the kind of brand this series was created for. Designer Jessica Nguyen Huu founded it in late 2023, initially creating elevated, minimal clothing for teens and children inspired by her two daughters, Honor and Kenzo. Eventually, she found herself pulled back toward womenswear, where she’d originally begun her design career.

The clothes are minimal without being boring: easy shapes, natural fabrics, subtle references to Nguyen Huu’s Asian heritage and the kind of silhouettes you could wear in a city or on vacation and somehow have them make sense in both places. The pieces are made in small runs by family-run businesses in Indonesia, often using end-of-roll fabrics, which also means some styles are genuinely limited. I just ordered: THIS silk skirt and THIS dress.

JUSTINE MÉNARD

Technically this one lives somewhere between fashion / jewelry / art, which is exactly why I’m so obsessed with it. Paris-born, Barcelona-based Justine Ménard started her career in fashion as a stylist before moving into jewelry and eventually discovering glassblowing. Now she handcrafts jewelry and objects in glass, drawing on organic shapes, mythology and nature.

Her glass cuffs, earrings, hair pieces and brooches look almost liquid: slightly imperfect, incredibly delicate and unlike anything else in your jewelry drawer. And then there are the glasses, carafes, vases and objects for your home, which unfortunately means my Saved folder is now expanding into another category entirely. THESE earrings are at the top of my wishlist.

BROOKE CALLAHAN

If your dream wardrobe is somewhere between ’90s minimalism and art-school color theory, meet Brooke Callahan. Callahan is a self-taught, St. Louis-born designer based in Los Angeles, where all of her clothing is designed and produced by a small team. Her signature is deceptively simple clothing—cotton-poplin pants, skirts, halters and dresses in really good colors and relaxed proportions.

Nothing is trying too hard, which is sort of the whole appeal. They’re the pieces you can wear constantly but that still have enough personality to make someone ask about them. I especially love her tie pants and skirts, which feel like the antidote to another pair of overly serious trousers. Currently waiting for my UPS driver to drop off THIS halter in purple.

LOLO CROCHÈTE

I know crochet has been everywhere for a few summers now, but Lolo Crochète makes it feel charming again instead of festival-adjacent. Founder Lory Labossière taught herself to crochet during the pandemic after losing her job. What started with YouTube tutorials and pieces sold through her personal Instagram quickly grew enough that she had to launch an actual store.

Everything is still crocheted by hand in Montréal, from skirts and tops to tiny bags, hats, hair accessories and necklaces. The pieces feel a little nostalgic, a little playful and very much like something you found on vacation and will subsequently refuse to tell anyone where you got. I need: THIS knee skirt, THIS top and THIS top.

NUOVO

Nuovo is for anyone whose Saved folder is currently 70% tiny tops and dresses you have absolutely nowhere to wear.

The shapes are feminine and very going-out-without-looking-like-you-tried-too-hard: draped tops, open backs, bows, body-skimming dresses and pieces that immediately make me want to book a trip somewhere warm. It’s the kind of brand I love finding because the pieces have enough of a point of view to feel special without requiring an entire new wardrobe to style them. THESE purple mini shorts are burned into my brain and THIS long sleeve paired with THESE shorts are currently in my cart.

Put one top with your favorite vintage Levi’s and call it a night.

DAMSON MADDER

And finally, Damson Madder, which may be the least “secret” brand on this list, but if it hasn’t made it into your rotation yet, consider this your sign. Founder Emma Hill launched the London label in 2020 after working as a buyer, with the idea that responsibly made clothing did not need to look boring. The brand has since become known for its mix of vintage-inspired utility and very British playfulness: oversized collars, gingham, leopard, cargos, reversible trenches, rugby shirts and the kind of unexpected color combinations that shouldn’t work but somehow do.

And clearly the secret is getting out. Damson Madder has grown incredibly quickly, with the U.S. becoming its fastest-growing market and a recent Los Angeles pop-up drawing the exact crowd you’d expect to already own the leopard cargos. I just ordered THIS pink tee and THESE grey trousers, and I cannot wait for the temperature to drop so I can sport them all Fall.

There is something so much more satisfying about finding the brand you haven’t already seen 900 times, especially when someone inevitably stops you six months later to ask where your coat/bag/earrings are from. As always, consider this your permission to gatekeep absolutely none of them.

Shop the full Part 10 edit below, and tell me in the comments: what niche brand should I know about for Part 11?

Shop The Edit

Read up on parts 1-9:

I realize there is something slightly ironic about me writing an article essentially telling you that you need fewer clothes. I love clothes. I love getting dressed. I love finding something new that completely changes an outfit…and I will probably always be able to justify adding something to my closet. But the more attention I pay to what I actually wear, the more I’ve realized that the best outfits in my closet usually start with the same handful of pieces: a great pair of black pants, the perfect T-shirt, jeans that fit perfectly on my butt, a really good sweater, a phenomenal blazer, a crisp button-down, the jackets I can throw over anything. They’re the pieces I build everything else around. And I think I’ve finally figured out that that is what I want from a capsule wardrobe.

I’m not interested in the version of a capsule wardrobe where you pare your entire closet down to 20 pieces and suddenly decide you no longer need anything else. That’s never going to be me. I like having options. I like trying trends. I like the very specific top that only works with one pair of pants. I like the emotional purchase that makes absolutely no practical sense but makes an outfit infinitely better.

What I want is a capsule within my wardrobe. A foundation of really great staples that I know fit, that I know work together and that I can reach for without thinking. If I have those pieces right, getting dressed becomes infinitely easier (and I can be much more selective about what I add around them). So if I were building my closet from scratch, this is where I’d start.

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Tees

This is probably the category I have the strongest opinions about because the perfect tee is one of those things that sounds incredibly simple until you actually try to find it. The neckline matters. The sleeve matters. The weight matters. The length matters. Even the way it falls when you tuck it into jeans matters.

I’m very into Flore Flore for this exact reason. Their Jill tee is the kind of elevated basic I mean when I talk about building a capsule. Leset’s Margo Tee is another favorite silhouette.

And I don’t think this category has to stop at the classic short-sleeve tee. A really good tank and long-sleeve serve the exact same purpose. Once you know the shapes that work for you, these become the starting point for half your wardrobe.

Pants

A really flattering pair of black pants and a great pair of trousers. The key word here is flattering. I don’t think you need five different versions of black pants. I think you need the pair that you put on and immediately feel good in.

They should be able to go from a T-shirt and ballet flats during the day to a blouse and heel at night. Add a blazer and you’re polished. Add a leather jacket and suddenly the same pants feel completely different.

I’m partial to something with a little movement rather than a super-stiff trouser. The Almina Concept's Wool Wide Leg Pull-On Pant is exactly the kind of silhouette I mean, while The Row’s Gala Wide-Leg Crepe Pants are the investment version I’d happily keep forever. (The budget friendly version of these are Clyque’s Tommy Pant, which I highly recommend pre-ordering because they have sold out 10x at this point.

Shirts

A white button-down is probably one of the hardest-working pieces on this entire list. Tucked into black pants, open over a tank, half-tucked into jeans, worn with shorts, layered underneath a sweater…it can basically become whatever you need it to be.

The Toteme Garderob shirt is pretty much exactly what I want here: oversized without swallowing you and crisp without feeling corporate. I also love Attersee’s Cocoon Shirt or Comme Si’s Cotton Poplin Shirt if you want something with a little more oversized fit.

Sweaters

This is another category where I’d rather have two or three sweaters I genuinely love than a giant stack of ones that are almost right.

I want a black sweater when I need something sharper and cream, camel, or beige when I want something softer. Both should work with every pair of pants and jeans in the capsule, over a button-down, thrown over your shoulders, or layered underneath a jacket.

If we’re talking investment sweaters, The Row’s Nian cashmere sweater is basically the dream. Éterne’s Francis is another perfect example of how good something incredibly simple can look when the proportions are right.

Denim

I don’t think your capsule jeans should necessarily be the jeans that are most on-trend at that exact moment. They should be the jeans that look best on you.

For me, that means a really good fitted denim that feels polished enough to wear at night. The Khaite Danielle is basically my north star for this category: clean, straight, flattering, no unnecessary bells and whistles. I also have an unhealthy addition to vintage denim. Ali Grace makes some great pairs, as does Lenny (IRL appointment only).

Jackets & Blazers

If everything before this is the foundation of the outfit, this is the category that changes the mood. A really good black blazer might be the easiest way to make almost anything in your closet feel finished. Throw it over a white tee and jeans. Wear it with black pants and a black tee. Put it over a blouse. Wear it with shorts. The Toteme Garderob blazer is exactly the kind of slightly oversized / clean silhouette I love.

Then I want two jackets that take those same outfits in completely different directions. A trench over a tee and jeans immediately feels polished and classic. I like one that’s slightly oversized and long enough to feel relaxed rather than overly proper. The Victoria Beckham Philippa is such a good version of this.

And then there’s the leather jacket. It’s what I want when a blazer feels too polished or a trench feels too classic. Toteme does exactly the kind I love: clean and minimal enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re suddenly dressing as a different person.

Shoes

This is probably the category where my definition of “capsule” gets tested the most because I will obviously never own only five pairs of shoes. But if we’re talking about the shoes that make everything else work, these cover most of the bases.

A ballet flat has become a genuine everyday staple for me. I love the Jamie Haller High Vamp because it has a little more personality than a traditional ballet flat while still going with basically everything. Then you need the summer equivalent: a barely-there sandal. A.Emery’s Viola is the type of shoe you can wear all summer and into fall without having to think about it.

Accessories

Accessories are where I think a capsule wardrobe gets a little more personal. The clothes can be incredibly simple, but the bag, sunglasses, belt, or jewelry you add are often what make the outfit actually feel like you.

For the true foundation, though, I think you need an everyday bag that works with your actual life. Maybe that’s a tote, shoulder bag, top handle, or crossbody. It should fit what you carry and work with almost everything you own. The Row’s Agnes 12 is obviously the dream version, and I love the Savette Florence Hobo for the same reason: simple shape, beautiful proportions, nothing unnecessary.

Then you need something smaller for nighttime. Ideally something that works with denim and a tee just as easily as it does with a dress. The Toteme Mini T-Lock is a perfect example.

And finally: sunglasses. I don’t think there’s a universal shape everyone needs. You need your sunglasses: the pair you can put on with essentially anything and immediately feel more pulled together. Maybe that’s something substantial like the Khaite x Oliver Peoples, or something more delicate like the Miu Miu ovals.

That’s all you really need! Okay, not literally. But if I were rebuilding my closet from scratch, these are the categories I’d get right first. The goal isn’t to own less; it’s to have a foundation that makes getting dressed easy, so everything else can be the fun stuff: the color, the print, the weird shoe, the emotional purchase you absolutely did not need but can’t stop thinking about.

I pulled together all of my favorite versions of each (from the perfect tees and black pants to the jackets, flats, bags, and sunglasses) all in one place. Happy shopping!

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Guys, I have a new favorite corner of the internet… and it is people telling me to put together colors I would have never thought to wear together. I’m usually pretty good at looking at individual pieces and knowing what I like, but color combinations are a completely different skill set. Navy and cream? Sure. Black and white? Groundbreaking. But chocolate brown, powder blue and butter yellow? Burgundy, baby blue and chocolate? Apparently I have been severely underutilizing the color wheel.

The inspiration for this article came from creator Katya Klema, whose color-combination videos on TikTok immediately sent me down a rabbit hole. (Her Substack is: ) She has a background in software engineering, which makes her approach to fashion especially interesting: there’s a logic and almost analytical way she breaks down why certain colors, trends and styling choices work. I LOVE when someone on the internet gives you an idea that actually changes the way you look at the clothes already hanging in your closet.

So naturally, I started experimenting. And what I realized is that the outfits I tend to save aren’t necessarily using more color… they’re just using color BETTER. There is usually a grounding shade that makes everything feel wearable, something slightly unexpected that makes the outfit interesting and then a third color that feels almost a little wrong. Which brings me to my VERY unofficial formula:

1 grounding color + 1 unexpected color + 1 accent color

The grounding color is your safety net. Think chocolate brown, navy, gray, olive, camel, cream. The unexpected color is where things get more interesting: powder blue, butter yellow, pistachio, bubblegum pink. And then the accent is the thing that makes the whole outfit feel styled rather than just color-coordinated.

The best part is that the three colors do not need to appear in equal amounts. In fact, I think they usually look better when they don’t. Your third color could be a ballet flat, a bag, a sock peeking out from a loafer, sunglasses, a sweater tied around your shoulders or even just a tiny bit of print.

Okay, now for the fun part. I pulled together ten combinations I’m currently obsessed with, plus exactly how I’d wear each one. Starting with the combination that sent me down this entire rabbit hole...

Chocolate + Powder Blue + Butter Yellow

This might be the combination that sold me on this entire concept. Chocolate brown has become such a staple in my closet that I basically treat it like black at this point, but powder blue makes it feel so much softer. Then you add the butter yellow and suddenly three colors I wouldn’t necessarily group together feel incredibly expensive.

The easiest version: chocolate trousers, a powder-blue button-down and butter-yellow flats or a bag.

Navy + Cherry Red + Pale Pink

Navy and red obviously aren’t revolutionary on their own, but adding pale pink completely changes the equation. The pink softens the red while the navy keeps the whole thing from becoming too sweet. It feels classic without feeling predictable—which is basically the goal here.

I’d do a navy sweater or blazer, cherry-red shoe and pale-pink bag. Or flip it: pink shirt, navy pants, tiny red accessory.

Burgundy + Baby Blue + Chocolate

Consider this my official campaign to make everyone treat burgundy as a neutral. It is so good with brown, gray, khaki, pink AND especially baby blue. The blue gives all that richness some air, while the chocolate keeps it grounded.

Also, if you’re staring at something burgundy in your closet and automatically reaching for black, this is your sign to try literally anything else first.

Olive + Bubblegum Pink + Cream

This combination should be much louder than it actually is. Olive is earthy, bubblegum pink is playful and cream sits quietly in the middle making everyone get along. It’s also an easy one to try if you’re someone who generally considers olive pants and a white T-shirt to be “wearing color.”

Keep your usual olive-and-cream outfit. Just add the pink shoe.

Camel + Cobalt Blue + Red

I know. Blue AND red? Stay with me. Camel is what makes this work. It gives two very bold colors somewhere sophisticated to land, and because the camel takes up most of the outfit, the blue and red can show up in much smaller doses. Think camel coat, denim or cobalt knit and a red ballet flat. Suddenly you’re a person who understands color theory.

Gray + Butter Yellow + Burgundy

Gray is another color I historically treated as something to wear with white, black or more gray. Turns out it was just waiting for better friends. Butter yellow warms it up, burgundy gives it depth, and somehow the combination feels modern without being overly trendy.

A gray trouser, pale-yellow knit and burgundy bag is probably where I’d start.

Chocolate + Pistachio + Pale Pink

If chocolate and powder blue is the sophisticated older sister, chocolate, pistachio and pale pink is the slightly more fun younger one. The brown prevents the two pastels from feeling overly precious, which I think is the trick whenever you’re mixing softer colors.

I’d probably let chocolate dominate here (brown pants and shoes, pistachio top, tiny pale-pink bag) and call it a day.

Denim Blue + Tomato Red + Chocolate

Possibly the easiest combination on this entire list because you probably already own all three colors. Denim is doing the heavy lifting, tomato red provides the punch, and chocolate makes the whole thing feel a little richer than if you automatically paired it with black.

Jeans + white tee + chocolate belt + red sweater over your shoulders. Done.

Khaki + Burgundy + Leopard

This one is for anyone who still needs convincing that leopard is a neutral.

Khaki and burgundy already feel sophisticated together, but the leopard is the thing that makes the outfit feel personal. And you need very, very little of it: a leopard flat, belt or bag is enough. I especially love this one because nothing about the individual pieces needs to be particularly exciting. The combination is doing all the work.

Cream + Kelly Green + Chocolate

Cream and chocolate are already an elite combination, so Kelly green basically gets to crash the party. It’s clean, rich and bright at the same time, and it’s another perfect example of why the accent color doesn’t need to take up much real estate.

Cream jeans, chocolate sweater, green shoe. I would wear this tomorrow.

A few rules I’ve learned along the way

I use the word “rules” very loosely because getting dressed should not require an instruction manual, but there are a few things that make experimenting with color significantly easier.

• Treat brown like black. Seriously. Before automatically reaching for black shoes, a black belt or a black bag, try chocolate brown. It works with almost everything and can make brighter colors feel much softer.

• Treat burgundy like a neutral, too. This may be my biggest takeaway. Pale blue, pink, khaki, gray, butter yellow, chocolate—burgundy plays very nicely with all of them.

• Add one “wrong” color. This is the fun part. If your outfit feels like it makes perfect sense, try adding one color that feels slightly off. Sometimes that’s exactly what it needs.

• Pastel + muddy = chic. Powder blue with chocolate. Pale pink with olive. Butter yellow with gray. I don’t know the scientific explanation for this, but the contrast is what makes it good.

• Pair a primary color with a sophisticated neutral. Red with camel. Cobalt with chocolate. Kelly green with cream. The neutral takes some of the volume down and makes a bold color infinitely easier to wear.

And most importantly, you don’t need equal amounts of every color. If the idea of leaving the house in three colors makes you feel like a box of Crayolas, don’t. Wear your normal outfit and introduce the unexpected color through one small accessory. It still counts!!

I think that’s ultimately why I’ve become so obsessed with this exercise. It scratches the same itch as shopping without actually requiring me to buy anything. Sometimes when you’re bored with your closet, you don’t need new clothes; you just need to make your clothes meet some new friends.

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I think people assume the people with great style are the ones buying the most clothes. I’ve found the opposite is usually true. The women whose wardrobes I admire most aren’t necessarily shopping more; they’re just shopping better. They know what they’re looking for, they’re patient enough to wait for it and they aren’t particularly interested in owning the exact thing everyone else does.

If you follow , you already know she’s built an incredibly loyal community around vintage and secondhand shopping. Every week her Weekly Roundup is filled with pieces that somehow feel impossible to find yet surprisingly attainable…proof that great style has far less to do with spending money than it does with knowing what to look for!! She’s one of the few people who makes the hunt feel just as exciting as the purchase.

I wanted to dig deeper into how she developed her eye, what she’s hunting for these days and why she believes personal style shouldn’t feel so rigid. Here’s our conversation:

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For someone discovering you for the first time, how do you describe what you do?

I wear quite a few hats - first and foremost, I’m a new mom; I just welcomed my first daughter about a year ago. I’m also a corporate girlie - I’ve been in software engineering in the healthcare sector since I graduated college. And then I also create content around all things secondhand and vintage fashion. I started wearing this third hat about 2 years ago and feel honored to have found an online community of others that share the same appreciation for preloved items as I do.

Every week I round up things I’ve found online that I would buy myself and write about the thinking behind them. Snagging those exact items is just an added bonus - my real intention of The Weekly Roundup is to showcase styling ideas, inspire new search terms, present a different way of looking at something, or support my stance that you don’t need tons of money to wear and own quality designer pieces.

What struck me immediately was that Katie doesn't describe herself as a vintage creator first. She's a mom. She has a full-time career. Vintage is simply the lens through which she sees the world. That made me wonder where that perspective actually came from.

Everyone talks about "good taste," but I've always believed it's something you develop over time. Looking back, where do you think yours came from?

My mom owned an online fashion boutique when I was growing up, and I got to be around clothes constantly without the pressure of actually needing to own any of it. I helped on photoshoots, I shipped orders, I got to see an enormous range of pieces, and somewhere in there I just fell in love with the idea that getting dressed could be fun, not just functional.

That love really peaked in college, when I had champagne taste on a beer budget. Enter thrifting. I wasn’t doing it because it was cool - I genuinely couldn’t afford the things I wanted, so thrifting was the only way to get them. But I still remember the specific joy of someone complimenting an outfit and getting to say “thanks, it’s vintage.” Nothing feels quite as good as knowing the person complimenting your outfit could never just go buy it. It’s the same joy I try to hand off to readers every week in the roundup: the thrill of rarity and getting what you wanted without paying what it’s “supposed” to cost.

of The Cereal Aisle delivers when it comes to dressing inspo. She removes every barrier around putting an outfit together - there are no rules, it’s not that serious, just try it. She embodies what it’s like to just say f*ck it and have fun getting dressed. It’s so refreshing. , the creative director of Tibi, is my other power player. I love how she articulates the intention behind all her outfits and provides so much education around styling tips. Plus, she has perfected the balance between creative/corporate/cool-mom so effortlessly.

Was there a moment when you realized vintage shopping wasn’t just a hobby, but the way you wanted to build your wardrobe?

For me, it was less a lightning-bolt moment and more the slow realization that everything new I bought felt disposable, and everything old I bought didn’t. Every closet cleanout ended with piles of Zara, H&M, etc. but I really couldn’t let go of my vintage pieces. At some point, I stopped asking “do I like this” and started asking “will I still like this,” and vintage was typically the only category of shopping that consistently passed that test.

It’s also just more fiscally responsible. I would love to be a capsule-wardrobe girly and invest only in a few key pieces I can rotate through, but I’ve accepted who I am. And I am a girl who likes to own a wide variety of clothing pieces, and plenty of them. Shopping vintage is just generally more cost-efficient, and forces you to slow down and hunt.

That answer naturally led to a bigger question. If shopping vintage changes what you buy, does it also change the way you think?

How has shopping secondhand changed the way you think about getting dressed and consuming fashion as a whole?

I don’t shop reactively anymore. Secondhand forces patience. It also makes trends feel less urgent. If I like something from the latest drop of “x”, I force myself to go find something similar secondhand. That forced delay really allows me to think: do I like this for me or do I just like this? Does it make sense in my closet, in my life? How many times will I realistically wear this? That thought process has saved me a lot of money and a lot of one-time-wears.

I’ve written before that some of the best shopping advice has nothing to do with shopping. Katie’s answer reminded me of that. Waiting (even just long enough to see if you still want something a month later) might be the most underrated style skill there is.

Vintage has become a bit of a buzzword lately. What’s the biggest misconception people have about shopping secondhand?

That it’s cheap, or that it’s prohibitively expensive, or that it’s a treasure hunt anyone can do in an afternoon. Good vintage sourcing is closer to a part-time job than a hobby - it takes real time, real knowledge of designers, construction, and eras. The “score” people see on Instagram is usually the tip of a lot of unglamorous searching.

Once you've spent enough time hunting, I imagine you become much more discerning about what actually deserves a place in your closet.

When you’re deciding whether to buy something, what’s the test it has to pass?

I ask whether I’d still want it if no one ever saw me in it. If the answer is yes - it passes the test. Construction/quality/wearability gets it in the door, but that feeling is what gets the ‘add to cart’.

When you’re scrolling through hundreds of listings, what catches your eye first? Is it the silhouette, the craftsmanship, the fabric…or something else entirely?

Silhouette first, always - I scroll through secondhand sites as a part-time job, so a piece really has to catch my eye in a sea of ‘meh’ items. Good tailoring is immediately noticeable; a unique cut or design sets it apart.

Rarity is the least important to me of all of those. I’d rather have a well-made, well-cut piece nobody’s heard of than an archival piece everyone recognizes. I prioritize a good deal because I know they are out there. If you notice, almost all of the items I post in my Weekly Roundup are under $300. Good, beautiful vintage items do not need to cost an arm and a leg. I frequently see pieces online and think, “I can find that cheaper”, and 9 times out of 10, I do!

By this point in our conversation, I'd become fascinated by the mechanics of the hunt. Katie makes sourcing sound almost effortless online, but I had a feeling there was a lot more happening behind the scenes.

Walk me through your sourcing process. Where do you look first, and what feels like striking gold?

I usually have a rotation of saved searches open across a few resale platforms (eBay, Poshmark, and The RealReal are my go-to’s), plus a running list of very specific search terms I update constantly based on what I’m hunting for that month. Striking gold, for me, is less about finding something rare and more about finding something unique in my size, in good condition, at a price that’s a steal - that alignment is the actual miracle.

Of course, if you're willing to put in that kind of time, eventually you're bound to stumble across something extraordinary.

Of everything you’ve found over the years, what’s the vintage score you’ll never get over?

Ooo.. I’d have to narrow it down to 2.

First would be a pair of vintage Levi’s I found last year that fit me LIKE A GLOVE. No tailoring, nothing. We are a match made in heaven. They are vintage 572 stovepipes with thee most perfect whisker fading, a soft but sturdy texture, and the wash is incredibly versatile. Anytime I post in them, I get DMs asking where I got them, and I have to respond with the dreaded answer: “They’re vintage.”

The second is the deal of a lifetime that I will never be able to top. A real Cartier tank watch… for $21. This is when timing is everything. I happened to be scrolling “vintage watches” and came across a tank watch I for sure thought was too good to be true and probably fake. However, the description made me raise an eyebrow. Something like, ‘selling some of my grandma’s stuff, this watch is in great condition.’ A perfect ‘I have no idea the worth of what I’m selling’ description. And at 20 bucks? Worth the risk. I had it authenticated once it arrived, and lo and behold… I did indeed strike gold.

Okay wait, 3 - I can’t forget about the vintage ponyhair Giorgio Armani runway bomber I snagged for under $200.

For every unbelievable find, though, there's usually another piece you think about long after it's gone.

Every great vintage shopper also has a heartbreak. What’s the one that got away?

Sadly, too many to count. I just rehashed my TRR waitlist for a specific example and was gut-punched by my graveyard. Most recently, it was a gorg Dries Van Noten maxi skirt I wanted to wear to a wedding later this year, which unfortunately got swiped up. I’ve been manifesting something similar ever since.

My favorite thing is when people tag me in their items they got from The Weekly Roundup and every time I think, damn, I should have gotten that for myself. Knowing they are going to a good home eases the pain.

Can we all agree that “the one that got away” says just as much about someone’s style as what’s actually hanging in their closet? I loved hearing about the pieces Katie still thinks about almost as much as the ones she owns.

If you were helping someone build a timeless wardrobe entirely through secondhand shopping, where would you tell them to start?

Vintage Levi’s. There is a fit and style for everyone, every body. I prefer a slightly oversized 501, faded and worn, mid- to low-rise. The versatility is unmatched. Not only do they work great paired with your basics, but they’re a great tool to bring tension and balance to your nicer, fancier pieces. I wrote an article some time back to help navigate the vintage Levi’s sizing game, as I think that’s the biggest barrier to entry for most.

Which designers, eras, or categories do you think are still undervalued today, but won’t stay that way for long?

Late-’90s and early-2000s minimalism is having its moment right now. Vintage Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan, Banana Republic and Jil Sander have some amazing pieces for great price points. They’re the pieces that don’t look exceptionally stand out in their cover photos, but if you look closer at the tailoring and fabric content, these will be the pieces you reach for over and over again, and you can spend under $50 to get them into your rotation.

What are the five vintage pieces you’re actively hunting for right now?

A satin clutch, large sculptural earrings, Prada sport nylon pieces to get me through an aggressively long AZ summer, 1930’s bed jackets, and vintage Levi’s (always).

What’s one vintage piece you think every woman should own at least once?

A pair of vintage Gucci sunglasses. Find a pair that fits your vibe; there are so many good ones out there. But especially if you love that slim, late 90’s silhouette (think what we see Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner in all the time), and you’ll feel the difference wearing them, I promise.

Up until this point, we’d mostly been talking about what Katie buys. But as our conversation continued, I realized the more interesting discussion wasn’t really about vintage at all. It was about how she thinks: about personal style, inspiration and becoming a more intentional consumer. Those answers ended up being some of my favorites.

One thing I kept noticing throughout our conversation is how little you seem to care about fashion "rules." What's something you think the industry has completely overhyped?

That we need to ‘find our personal style’ and that it’s a specific archetype. I don’t know… I just think people get so wound around the axle trying to define their personal style that in doing so, they kinda lose the personal aspect of it. Does that make sense? I don’t think personal style has to be that serious or that defined. For me, I define personal style by wearing and buying what I like. And that changes season to season (both in life and literally). My “personal style” is fluid and reflective of what fits my body and my lifestyle right now. I don’t want to box myself in by labeling my personal style as ‘x’, which will ultimately keep me from playing with different trends and pieces I may actually love.

We spend so much time trying to define ourselves with little labels (quiet luxury, coastal grandmother, French girl, clean girl.. the list goes on) that it’s easy to forget the whole point of personal style is that it’s deeply personal. The most interesting dressers I’ve met rarely fit into a single category… and that’s why they’re so interesting.

Outside of fashion, where are you finding inspiration these days?

Interior design has always been a great source of inspiration - seeing how certain color schemes play nicely together, or how textural elements can create cohesion, it’s really easy to translate into my own closet. Period piece films are always fun to draw some vintage search terms from as well!

How has writing your Substack changed the way you shop or even the way you think about personal style?

It’s made me a lot more disciplined about why I like something, not just that I like it. When you have to write a sentence defending a purchase to strangers every week, you stop buying things you can’t defend.

And to piggyback on my monologue about personal style above, I’m sharing things I personally like, and if you like them too, try it out! Even if it feels outside of whatever you have deemed your ‘personal style’ to be.

Stepping away from shopping for a sec, what feels exciting in your life right now?

The present, honestly. After two years of nonstop change, things are finally settling into a rhythm: a year into motherhood and finally feeling like myself again physically, a year into our new home and finally getting time to decorate it, nine months into my new corporate job and finally finding my footing.

Take a drink every time I said ‘finally’ lol.

Lol! Ok, before we wrap, I have to ask one last shopping question. Looking back, what's one piece of advice you've completely changed your mind about?

Fiber purity. I used to treat 100% natural fibers as the whole ballgame and wrote off blends almost on principle; synthetic content kinda felt like an admission of lesser quality. But some of the vintage pieces I reach for most are wool-nylon or cotton-Lycra blends that’ve held their shape through a decade of wear in a way an equivalent all-natural piece probably wouldn’t have. Turns out the thing I actually care about (does this survive contact with real life) was never about the content label. It was about longevity, and sometimes a little synthetic is exactly what buys you that. Synthetic content that adds durability or shape retention is often the thing standing between a piece and the landfill.

There were a dozen takeaways from this conversation, but I think the biggest one is that Katie has found a way to make shopping feel slower, more thoughtful, and honestly...more fun. In a world where we’re constantly being told to buy the next thing, she’s a reminder that sometimes the best pieces are the ones that have already lived a life before finding you.

And now for the question I ask every Currently Bookmarking guest...

Who are you currently bookmarking on Substack?

In addition to , I’m always keeping up with:

, , and .

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There were SO many moments from this conversation that stuck with me, but I kept coming back to one idea: maybe great style isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious enough to keep evolving. To change your mind. To refine your eye. To leave room for the version of yourself you’ll become five years from now Which (if you ask me) sounds a lot more fun than chasing the next trend. If you are not already, make sure to subscribe to Katie’s Substack below:

The Weekly Roundup by Katie Casper

This is a result of scrolling secondhand sites too often.

One thing about me: if there's a New Arrivals tab, I'm clicking it. I am screenshotting things I have no immediate occasion for and taking “low stock” as a personal threat. In my defense, the recent drops have been unusually good.

This week’s saves are a mix of silk sets, slightly impractical pants, sculptural jewelry, and bags that hold approximately four things. In other words: exactly what summer dressing should be.

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First, we need to discuss PANTS! The Anteros Ledger poplin pants are the kind of piece that makes a white tank look like an entire outfit. The Leset floral silk jacquard pants are a little more maximalist, but still relaxed enough to justify wearing before 6 p.m. And the Emily Dawn Long Ash ruffle pants are admittedly not for the faint of heart, which is obvi why I love them. Honorable mention: these insane Pointe Malou dragonfruit silk pants.

I’m also very into the matching-set situation happening right now. (I recently did a poll on IG asking if we thought sets were lazy or chic, and an overwhelming amount of you said chic). The Onia scallop cami and drawstring midi skirt feel like the perfect vacation set: easy, polished, and requiring almost no actual styling. Same goes for the Posse Micah gingham halter top and matching knit pants, which are giving Italian seaside holiday even if your evening plans are technically just dinner in LA.

The Loulou de Saison Gema silk top and Cabo silk shorts are another strong contender. I love a set that can be separated without either half feeling like the backup dancer. The top would be so good with jeans, and the shorts could make even a very basic button-down feel intentional.

For dresses, this gorgeous green Staud Esther chiffon mini immediately made the list. It has just enough drama without tipping into “I have arrived at the event.” And while it technically falls into the top category, the Dries Van Noten Carfys embellished wrap top deserves similar treatment. It is one of those pieces that does all the work, meaning the rest of the outfit can remain aggressively simple.

The Dries Van Noten Gabrinas printed satin skirt is also exactly the kind of print I want right now: interesting, slightly strange, and capable of making a plain tee look like a styling decision. I’d wear it with the GRLFRND slim-fit V-neck, which is currently filling the role of perfect-not-too-perfect basic.

Speaking of basics that are not really basics, the Citizens of Humanity Aurora track pants are dangerously wearable. They look like something you could wear through the airport, to lunch, and then somehow out to dinner without changing. These black wool Bermuda shorts fall into a similar category: simple on paper, but exactly the kind of silhouette that makes everything else in your closet feel newer.

And we can’t forget about accessories! This Lizzie Fortunato Hidden Stone necklace feels like something you’d pick up on a trip and then refuse to take off for the rest of the summer. The Eliou Comporta earrings have the same energy, but with a little more sparkle.

There is also no such thing as too many tiny woven bags. The Savette macramé leather pouch remains impeccably chic, while the Dragon Diffusion Rosanna mini is the kind of bag that gets better the more you use it. The Le Sundial Lee velvet clutch is a little moodier, which I appreciate at this point in summer when I’m beginning to mentally dress for fall but the weather has other plans.

A few final saves: the Françoise Lisette silk shorts, the Kim Shui Bella fringe halter, and the Jude Rue sandals, which are exactly the kind of minimalist shoe I inevitably end up wearing with everything.

And because sunglasses deserve their own minor personality crisis, I saved both these Gucci square frames and these Jacques Marie Mage Ann oval frames. Completely different energies. Both somehow necessary.

The full edit is linked below, including the pieces I left out here purely in the interest of pretending I have restraint. Happy saving!

Shop The Edit

I can’t believe we’ve made it to part nine (!!) of this series (which makes me slightly concerned about my closet / my bank account / my bookmarks). I have to admit (again) that I spend far too much of my time in rabbit holes looking for fashion brands so that you don’t have to. Every week (ok, day) I’m bookmarking new brands, reading up on founders’ stories, and stalking stockists, etc. This edition includes everything from the vacation brand that does minimalist better than most to the bag company I found on TikTok that is now available at Moda. Let’s get into it...

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Anemos

Anemos was created for the woman whose dream vacation wardrobe consists of crisp white linen, swimwear that barely exists, and looks effortlessly chic. The brand was co-founded by , previously in press at Stella McCartney, and Josh Schaub, a former buyer at Moda Operandi. Their backgrounds are apparent as soon as you see the collections. Everything seems incredibly well thought out. They offer ultra minimal swimwear, relaxed separates, and elevated vacation attire that can take you from sitting in a beach chair to dining out without looking over-dressed.

All production takes place in family owned factories located in Los Angeles using recycled materials, and all orders are shipped in compostable packaging. Currently in my cart: THIS classic swimsuit (my most flattering style) and THIS linen dress.

THISTLES

I’m convinced the right pair of sunglasses can make an entire outfit & THISTLES is one of those brands fashion people have been wearing before the rest of us caught on. Founded in NYC, the independent label creates sculptural frames that feel vintage-inspired without looking costume-y. Think sleek oval silhouettes, oversized aviators, and modern takes on classic shapes that instantly elevate even the simplest outfit. The best part is that they strike that sweet spot between designer-looking and genuinely wearable. I just ordered THESE and THESE and am on the waistlist (thank you ) for THESE.

Maison Ola

I’ve developed a slight obsession with brands that make one category feel like an art form, and Maison Ola has done exactly that with headwear. Founded by Maria Della Orden and Gregory Maizel, the Paris-based label creates sculptural headbands, oversized silk bows, raffia hats, and accessories that somehow feel both Parisian and Mediterranean at the same time.

They’re the kind of finishing pieces that instantly make a simple white dress look intentional. If you ever find yourself in Paris, their boutique on Rue de Grenelle is reason enough to wander off your itinerary. I have THIS hat and THIS headscarf saved for my girls trip to Cabo this fall.

FLORE FLORE

If you’ve ever wondered where fashion editors find the perfect white tee, chances are it’s FLORE FLORE. Founded in Amsterdam by Flòrian van Zuilen, the brand is built around elevated wardrobe essentials you’ll wear on repeat. Think perfectly cut baby tees, ribbed tanks, crisp poplin shirting, and effortless basics that somehow make every outfit look more expensive. The aesthetic sits somewhere between Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and modern Scandinavian minimalism.

Everything is made in Portugal by family-owned factories using organic cotton, with a focus on longevity over trends. They’re also part of 1% for the Planet, making them just as thoughtful behind the scenes as they are on the hanger. Buy one tee and you’ll probably end up ordering three more. Truly every style is SO flattering, but my personal favorites are: THIS halter (I have EVERY color), THIS tee and THIS tank.

The Garment

If Scandinavian minimalism is your love language, The Garment deserves a permanent spot on your radar. Founded in Copenhagen by Charlotte Eskildsen and Danish It-girl Sophia Roe, the brand specializes in impeccable knitwear, relaxed tailoring, and monochromatic essentials that feel lifted from the world’s chicest vintage wardrobe.

Nothing feels trend-driven. Everything feels like something you’ll still reach for five years from now. They also prioritize responsible fabrics and carbon-offset their production, making the philosophy behind the brand just as thoughtful as the aesthetic itself. I am about to pull the trigger on THESE pants (finally) and THIS skirt is on the top of my wishlist.

Gewls

Some brands launch dozens of styles every season. Gewls does the exact opposite. Named after founder Julia Palermo’s childhood nickname, the footwear brand releases one hero product at a time, obsessing over every detail before moving on to the next.

The sandals are designed in New York and handcrafted by a family-run studio in Le Marche, Italy, using Italian leather sourced from LWG-certified tanneries. They’re simple, timeless, and exactly the kind of shoes that quietly become your most worn pair every summer. Currently waiting for my UPS guy to drop off THESE kitten heels.

Mélisse

One of my favorite TikTok discoveries recently has been Mélisse. Founded by New York designer Melissa Chataigne, the brand has built a cult following around its sculptural knot bags that feel equal parts art piece and everyday accessory. Handmade in small batches, each bag is designed with a soft, gathered silhouette and signature knotted handle that instantly stands out without feeling overdesigned.

It’s been fun watching the brand’s rise in real time. I first discovered it on TikTok, and now it’s stocked at Moda Operandi: a pretty major milestone for an independent designer. If you’re looking for a bag that feels directional without screaming for attention, this is one to bookmark before everyone else catches on. Most of her bags sell out QUICK, but you can still get your hands on: THIS amazing taffeta one and THIS vintage brocade one.

Conner Ives

Fashion loves a comeback story, and Conner Ives might be one of the most exciting designers leading the next generation. The London-based designer has built a cult following by transforming vintage tees, deadstock fabrics, and found materials into pieces that somehow feel nostalgic and completely modern at the same time. His collections blur the line between Americana, Y2K, and elevated ready-to-wear, with a strong focus on circular fashion rather than constantly producing new textiles.

You’ve probably already seen his work without realizing it (everyone from Rihanna to Sienna Miller to has worn the brand). If you’re looking for something that feels fashion-forward but genuinely original, this is one to know before it becomes impossible to get your hands on. I need to book a trip to wear THIS dress and I’m in love with THIS cardi / cami set.

Valesque

If you love The Row but not the price tag, you need to know Valesque. The bags have that same understated, quiet luxury energy without the four-figure price tag. From sculptural bucket bags to sleek shoulder silhouettes with major ‘90s vibes, every style feels timeless rather than trend-driven. I especially love that they aren’t afraid of color (the cherry red is stunning, the yellow velvet feels unexpectedly fun, and their longer strap silhouettes are giving serious Row energy).

And I didn’t even tell you the best part…none of the bags cost more than $300. It’s one of the closest I’ve found to that elevated, minimalist aesthetic without the luxury markup. I will report back on my recent order of THIS bag (for day) and THIS bag (for night).

ARAKII

If Scandinavian minimalism feels a little too minimal for you, let me introduce you to ARAKII. Founded in Stockholm, the brand has built a cult following for its dramatic silhouettes that still feel incredibly wearable. Think oversized tailoring, sculptural dresses, exaggerated proportions, and elevated wardrobe staples with unexpected details. Every piece is designed in-house at the brand’s Stockholm atelier before being produced by specialist factories across Europe and beyond.

It’s one of those brands that somehow manages to feel both timeless and directional. The kind of pieces that stop you mid-scroll, but still make sense in a real wardrobe. Currently in my cart: THIS crepe blouse and THIS sheer playsuit.

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And that’s a wrap on Part 9!! One of my favorite things about putting this series together is seeing which brands eventually make the jump from “fashion insider secret” to suddenly being everywhere. As always, if there’s a niche brand you’ve been gatekeeping, send it my way. xx

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Read up on Parts 1-8:

For a little over a year, I’ve noticed a major shift in how I buy products. It’s not necessarily how many products I buy (my UPS and FedEx delivery people may disagree), but the types of questions I ask myself prior to purchasing a product. Prior to this shift, my shopping was primarily tied to specific events. Trip coming up? I bought a new dress (maybe two). Wedding? New shoes, obviously. Business trip to NYC? That meant buying a new wardrobe. I didn’t buy out of need; I purchased based upon the moment or event I was buying for. Looking back, I realize that this is incredibly common. Fashion is now heavily linked to events, and social media has certainly contributed to this. We see someone wearing a great outfit, save it, buy something similar, wear it once, and then repeat the process.

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Working with was the first experience that challenged this way of thinking. If you’ve followed my journey, you know we had two closet sessions together (I’ll link them below so you can watch). I left both sessions with a newfound appreciation for what was already in my closet. I expected her to tell me what to get rid of and what to buy next. Instead, she showed me how much I had been overlooking. A blazer that I thought I had worn out looked completely different with jeans instead of trousers. Dresses that seemed only suitable for vacation transformed into everyday outfits with different shoes. This was not just organizing; it was about gaining more value from what I already owned.

That idea stayed with me even after those sessions ended. I realized that the best shoppers aren’t always those with the biggest wardrobes. They are the ones who know how to maximize what they already own. Since then, I’ve made fewer impulse buys (ok, ok, I’m still working on that) and focused more on investing in pieces that I truly believe I will wear repeatedly.

My perspective around my closet changed around the same time I joined Button as an advisor. For those not familiar, Button is creating an AI-powered digital closet by pulling your purchase history from your email, automatically organizing everything you own, and then making it incredibly easy to resell pieces across marketplaces like eBay, Poshmark, and Depop). We often view clothing as a depreciating asset. We buy something, wear it, and subconsciously think it loses value each time it leaves the hanger. I don’t believe that’s always the case. The value of a piece is not just about its initial price; it’s about everything that happens afterward.

I’ve started to see every purchase as having a longer lifespan than just the initial sale. Maybe I wear a dress to a wedding this summer, style it differently for a vacation next year, and pull it out a few years later for another event. Perhaps it gets resold to someone who has been seeking that exact item. Maybe it’s rented out for a special occasion. Maybe one day, Ruby decides to steal it from my closet. The key point is that buying something doesn’t have to mark the end of its story.

This mindset feels like a natural progression from what I learned. encouraged me to think about how to make the most of my wardrobe’s potential: finding new ways to wear the pieces I already had instead of constantly searching for new ones. Button has expanded on that idea by encouraging me to think about maximizing the utility of those same items. Both have totally changed my approach to assessing purchases. I’m no longer just asking if I love something enough to buy it. I’m asking if it’s a piece that can continue to provide value, whether through different styling options, passing it along, reselling it, or just keeping it in use for years rather than months.

One of the aspects I enjoy most about advising Button is that it has pushed me to see fashion in a new light. Before meeting Button’s founder Molly and the advisory team, I mostly viewed the fashion cycle as buy, wear, and then eventually resell if I remembered to. What Button is creating focuses on a much broader idea: helping people understand what they own in the first place. Honestly, most of us are not very good at that. I couldn’t confidently say how many white dresses I own, which handbags I’ve used most over the last three years, or which pieces in my closet have held their value. Yet, collectively, many of us have thousands of dollars tied up in our wardrobes.

The more I think about this, the stranger it seems. We track our investments. We monitor our home values. We know what’s in our checking accounts. But for many women, their wardrobe is one of the largest collections of personal assets they have, and we rarely consider it beyond getting dressed in the morning. That’s starting to change. With resale, peer-to-peer rental, digital closet platforms, AI styling, and authentication technology, fashion is entering a new era where ownership matters as much as shopping.

I don’t think the takeaway should be that everyone should start renting out their closets. What intrigues me is the broader change in mindset. For years, the question was simply, “Should I buy this?” Now, I find myself asking, “How much life can this have?” These are very different questions, leading to very different purchases.

Now, before I buy something, I’m not just thinking about whether I’ll wear it to the next event. I’m considering if it’s versatile enough to style in five different ways. I’m wondering if it’s timeless enough that I’ll still love it in five years. Does it have resale value? Is it something Ruby might want to borrow from my closet twenty years from now? Ironically, asking these questions hasn’t made fashion less fun. If anything, it has deepened my appreciation for the pieces I choose because I know they will have a lasting place in my wardrobe instead of becoming another forgotten purchase.

Maybe this is why the concept of “circular fashion” interests me so much. The idea is not only related to reselling, renting, and using technology. Rather, it is about how we can take better care of the items that we currently possess. While there will always be an emotional connection to fashion (which is why so many of us find it so enjoyable), I believe we are entering a time where women are becoming increasingly aware of the items they purchase. Women are looking for quality pieces that are built to last; they want items that will evolve with them and continue to provide value well beyond the time of their initial purchase. This is a much more engaging way to approach the purchasing decision than simply asking “what’s new this season?”

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Shopping has truly become an Olympic sport. The good stuff doesn’t politely wait around anymore. It drops on a random Tuesday at 9 a.m., the cool girls find it before lunch, and by mid-week your size is a distant memory.

I’ve accepted that checking the New Arrivals tab has become part of my personality. So instead of texting screenshots to friends or letting 47 open tabs accumulate on my phone, I figured I’d start sharing them here.

This isn’t a guide to linen dresses or “10 Things You Need This Summer.” It’s simply the pieces that made me stop scrolling this week. The ones I immediately saved, added to cart, or have already convinced myself are somehow a practical purchase.

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A few highlights worth talking about:

First up: High Sport’s Floral Pants. Equal parts statement piece and something I’d somehow convince myself is a neutral. These immediately made me think of late-summer dinners, simple white tanks, and barely-there sandals.

Christopher Esber continues to have an absolutely unreasonable hold on me. The Light Leak Jacquard Mini Dress is one of those pieces that feels like art, while the embroidered silk sarong skirt paired with the rolled-up cotton tee is exactly the kind of high-low styling I love. I’m also equally obsessed with this romper that Rosie HW recently wore.

Speaking of brands that rarely miss, Kallmeyer dropped what might be my favorite set of the week: the silk scarf top with the wide-leg drawstring pants. It’s effortless without trying to be effortless. The canvas tote is also firmly on my wishlist.

The matching Dôen silk camisole and shorts in this new orange sherbet color feel like something you’d wear all summer long. The kind of purchase that earns its cost per wear.

I’m also having a major mesh, raffia, and texture moment. The Savette macramé pouch, Rabanne raffia crossbody, and Le Sundial Salon Mini Bag all somehow feel timeless while still scratching that “something new” itch.

A few more pieces I haven’t stopped thinking about:

• these Still Here pink low-rise jeans (I live in my white pair)

• this Lido bikini (the green color is too good)

• Simkhai’s embellished organza mini

• this Skims crochet swim dress

• this Solid & Striped skort and matching bikini

• this Martha Calvo lapis necklace

• and these Loewe oval sunglasses that have absolutely no business being as chic as they are.

Everything else that’s currently making me want to click “Add to Cart” is linked below. Consider this your permission slip to do a little window shopping... or absolutely no window shopping at all. See you in the New Arrivals section!

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There are people who make beautiful food, and then there are people who make you want to build a life around it. falls squarely into the second category.

The chef, creator, writer behind (The Fifth Course), host of Campers, and founder has built a world that feels as much about gathering as it does about what’s on the plate. Her recipes make you want to cook, her hosting philosophy makes you want to invite people over, and her perspective on motherhood, style, New York, and building a creative career feels refreshingly honest.

After following along for some time (and becoming mildly obsessed with her newly redesigned backyard), I wanted to learn more about the woman behind it all. We talked about career pivots, why she’s stopped chasing “balance,” what people get wrong about entertaining, and why the best dinner parties are the ones that linger long after everyone should have gone home.

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For anyone just discovering you, tell us a little about yourself and how you’d describe what you do these days.

Gina: I’m Gina. Chef, host, mother, and someone who has never been able to do just one thing. I live in Brooklyn with my husband and my daughter Mars. I trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, which sounds much fancier than the path that got me there. I came from hospitality marketing. I just needed to be closer to the food and the people eating it.

These days I write, I host, I create, I own and run events out of Frank’s House in Clinton Hill, and I’m building something in the kids space which is everything I wish existed when Mars started eating. Food is always the throughline.

You’ve built such a multifaceted career. Was there a moment where everything clicked into place, or has it felt more like following curiosity and building as you go?

Gina: There was a click moment. Having Mars shifted everything. I moved into a different gear, one I can’t fully explain but nobody, including myself, was going to stop me. It wasn’t that everything suddenly made sense on paper. It was more like I stopped needing it too. I knew what I was building and I just started building it. That clarity keeps evolving but that’s where it started.

One thing I love about your work is that it extends far beyond recipes. The Fifth Course feels like food, hosting, motherhood, style, New York, and conversation all rolled into one. What drew you to Substack?

Gina: Instagram is where I show up. Substack is where I actually say something. I wanted a place where I could write a full thought without it disappearing in 48 hours. Where I could talk about food and motherhood and New York and hosting and have it all live together without feeling like I was confusing the algorithm. Substack gave me that. It’s slower and more intimate and the people who find you there actually want to be there. That changes everything about how you write.

Your world feels deeply rooted in connection. What do you think people are really craving right now when it comes to food and gathering?

Gina: Permission. People are exhausted by the pressure to make everything look perfect and they are desperately craving someone to tell them it doesn’t have to be. What people actually want is to be fed and seen and to sit somewhere long enough that they forget to check their phone. That’s it. The food matters but it’s almost never the point.

That mindset comes through in the way you entertain, too. Your gatherings always feel elevated but never intimidating. What’s your philosophy when it comes to hosting?

Gina: Make it feel like you. Not like a Pinterest board, not like a restaurant, not like anyone else’s dinner party. People can tell when a table was set for the photo and when it was set for them. I always want my guests to feel like I thought about them specifically. The flower from the market because I know she loves peonies. The thing on the menu because I remembered he doesn’t eat meat. That specificity is what makes a gathering feel like a gift instead of a performance.

Along those same lines, what’s one hosting rule you swear by, and one you think people should stop taking so seriously?

Gina: The rule I swear by: eat something before your guests arrive. Every time I skip this I regret it. You cannot take care of people when you’re starving.

The rule people need to let go of: matching everything. Mismatched chairs, mismatched glasses, mismatched napkins, all of it is more interesting than a set. Buy the thing you love when you see it. It will find its place at the table.

Food and personal style seem to coexist so naturally in your world. Do you think one influences the other?

Gina: Completely. The way I get dressed and the way I set a table come from the same instinct. Color, texture, something unexpected that ties it all together but also something fairly simple most days. I’m drawn to things that feel considered but not fussy. Elevated but wearable. That’s exactly how I want my food to feel.

You’ve also carved out a career that doesn’t fit the traditional “chef” mold. How have you learned to embrace building something that’s uniquely yours?

Gina: By stopping to try to justify it. For a long time I felt like I had to prove the chef credentials before I could talk about anything else. Like I hadn’t earned the right to have a point of view about hosting or motherhood or style. At some point I realized that the whole thing together was the credential. Nobody else has this exact combination and that’s the beauty in it.

Speaking of spaces that feel personal, I have to ask about your backyard. It feels like such a beautiful extension of your home and your point of view. What was your vision?

Gina: I did! It was something we had been dreaming about since we moved in but man things are expensive. This year we bit the bullet and decided to skip the big summer vacation and vacation in the yard everyday. I wanted it to feel like an extension of the house. Somewhere that had intention and warmth but didn’t try too hard. A real table and chairs, good lighting, things growing. The kind of space where you could have a quiet dinner for two or feed twenty people and it would feel right either way.

The perfect outdoor gathering for me is long. It starts before anyone is hungry and ends after everyone should have gone home. Good light, no overhead anything, food that can sit out without suffering, and a table big enough that nobody feels far away.

Between work, creativity, and motherhood, what does a realistic version of balance look like these days?

Gina: Balance is a word I’ve stopped using. Right now I’m a new-ish mom, pushing harder at work than I ever have, and still figuring out what life as a mother actually looks like day to day. There is no balance. There are calm weeks and absolutely insane months. There are great nights of sleep and nights of none at all. Maybe 2028. For now I’m just in it.

What’s something people romanticize about the food world, and something they completely underestimate?

Gina: People forever romanticize the kitchen. The reality of professional cooking is physical and relentless in a way that is very hard to explain to someone who hasn’t done it whether you’re on the line or a private chef. The romance wears off fast when your feet hurt and it’s 11pm and you still have to break down your station or a full event.

What people underestimate is how much the business side matters SO MUCH. Recipe development and beautiful content are maybe thirty percent of this. The rest is operations, relationships, follow through, and knowing how to run something. Nobody talks about that part enough.

What’s inspiring you creatively right now?

Gina: Summer in New York. There’s a specific energy this city gets in June that I chase every year. The markets, the light, eating outside somewhere with a good glass of something cold. I’m also really inspired by women who are building things quietly and seriously without making a lot of noise about it. That energy is contagious.

Okay, let's end with a few of my favorite rapid fire questions...

Best meal you’ve had recently?
Mắm in LES.

A restaurant you’d recommend without hesitation?
Theodora.

Three pantry staples you always have on hand?
Olive oil, Champagne vinegar, canned coconut milk.

Something you’re currently obsessed with?
Pickled rhubarb and grapes.

A brand you can’t stop recommending?
The Frankie Shop for fashion, Eliou for jewelry, and LEIF for home.

Who are you reading or feeling inspired by lately?
I’m currently reading two books: Matrescence by Jucy Jones and I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally (for the second time because it’s that good). I’m feeling inspired by a few women that make Instagram feel and look effortless.

What are you currently bookmarking?
Unique trips that are a five-hour max drive away so I can bring my dog and child in a car.

And finally, if someone is just discovering your world, what’s the first thing they should make?
Pickle some fruit this summer. It’s so unexpected and just a hosting win.

If there’s one thing I took away from my conversation with Gina, it’s that the most memorable meals have very little to do with perfection. They’re about thoughtfulness. They’re about creating spaces that feel lived in instead of styled, tables that reflect the people sitting around them, and slowing down long enough to actually enjoy them.

Needless to say, I’m officially inspired to pickle some fruit, invite friends over, and stop worrying about whether the napkins match. That’s a hosting philosophy I can absolutely get behind.

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I used to be the person who packed for every possible scenario. A dinner that never happened. Shoes that never left the suitcase. An extra outfit “just in case.” These days, I pack a little differently.

If I’m traveling with only a carry-on, I try to plan every outfit before I even unzip my suitcase. It may sound a little Type A, but it’s the single best way I’ve found to pack lighter without sacrificing style. Instead of packing individual pieces and hoping they work together once I arrive, I build complete looks ahead of time.

New York is actually where this strategy becomes even more important. I know I’m going to wander into stores, try things on, and almost certainly come home with a few new additions. Leaving room in my suitcase is part of the plan. But one thing I don’t do is rely on shopping to complete my wardrobe. Maybe lunch turns into happy hour, maybe you decide to spend an extra hour wandering a museum, maybe your size is sold out, or maybe you simply don’t find anything you love. I never want to feel like I have to buy something just to get dressed that night.

So for this trip, I packed (almost) exactly what I needed for 72 hours in the city, left room for anything that caught my eye, and ended up wearing every single outfit (mostly) as planned. Here’s everything that made the cut.

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The Airport Uniform

I always wear my bulkiest pieces on the plane. It saves space in my suitcase, keeps me comfortable for travel, and means I don’t have to waste valuable carry-on real estate on jackets or sneakers. This has become my go-to airport formula.

I wore the RUE SOPHIE Corben Parachute Jacket over a simple Mini T-Shirt with the incredibly comfortable RUTI Work Pants, finished with my favorite travel shoe, the Salomon XT-6 GTX Sneakers.

Thursday

I wanted my first day to feel effortless but polished since I knew we’d be bouncing between coffee, meetings, and plenty of walking. Matching sets are one of my favorite packing tricks because they instantly look put together, but each piece also works separately later in the trip.

I wore the POSSE Darcy Striped Tank with the matching POSSE Darcy Striped Shorts, layered my POSSE Finn Cardigan over my shoulders, and finished everything with classic Alaia Mesh Ballet Flats and my beloved The Row Estelle Raffia Bag.

Thursday Night

I knew we’d be heading straight from the hotel to dinner, so I wanted something that packed beautifully but still felt elevated. The organza skirt ended up traveling surprisingly well, and I loved having the sweater as an extra layer once the sun went down.

I wore this Renggli Organza Cami Top with the matching Organza Pencil Skirt (shout out ) I tied Renggli’s matching Silk Cashmere Crewneck Sweater around my waist, slipped into my favorite Paris Texas Lidia Mules, and carried the gorgeous Savette Symmetry Mesh Bag (in beige).

Friday

Friday was probably my busiest day, so I wanted one statement piece that did all the heavy lifting. These pants are such a conversation starter that everything else could stay simple.

I paired the Rabanne Paisley Pants with the same Mini T-Shirt (I always travel with two) and reused my The Row Estelle Raffia Bag, which ended up being one of the hardest-working pieces in my suitcase.

Friday Night

Without question, this was one of my favorite looks from the trip. It felt effortless, comfortable, and exactly like what I want to wear on a summer night in New York.

I wore the Lioness Lace Duster with my Amina Muaddi Juliette Leather Thong Sandals and added the perfect pop of color with this Tassel Pochette in Chartreuse.

Saturday

By the last day, I always appreciate having versatile basics that can be mixed and matched. I actually changed halfway through the day after walking around the city for a bit, which is exactly why I love packing pieces that all work together.

I started in my BRUT I Love Paris NYC Tee with the DONNI. Rib Petal Pusher Trousers, added my Prada Sunnies, then later swapped into the STAUD Track Shorts while keeping the same tee. I finished the look with my ByOrly Carlo Necklace and my favorite Row Leather Flip Flops.

Saturday Night

I wanted my last dinner look to feel special without packing anything overly fussy. This skirt was one of those pieces that instantly made the outfit feel elevated while taking up almost no room in my suitcase. PSA: it’s a sheer summer ladies!!

I paired the superdown Sequin Skirt with a simple Knit Tank Top (obsessed with this one, I have it in multiple colors) and repeated my Paris Texas Lidia Mules, proving that you definitely don’t need a different pair of shoes for every dinner. Hot take: these EBY Mesh Panties are perfect for sheer outfits!!

A few packing lessons this trip reinforced:

• Planning outfits ahead of time always beats overpacking.

• Every piece should work with at least two or three other items in your suitcase.

• Wear your bulkiest pieces on the plane.

• Leave space for shopping, but never depend on shopping.

• If you’re debating whether to pack something, you probably won’t wear it.

Looking back through my camera roll after every trip has become one of my favorite ways to evaluate my wardrobe. It’s a reminder that I don’t actually need a huge suitcase full of options. I need a handful of pieces that mix well, feel like me, and make getting dressed easy. Turns out, one carry-on was more than enough. xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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Kids clothing has gotten really good. Not in the “tiny adults wearing designer labels” kind of way. I mean thoughtfully designed pieces that are playful without feeling cheesy, practical enough for everyday life, and so well made you’ll actually save them for younger siblings or friends instead of tossing them at the end of the season.

Somewhere between the sea of licensed characters and overly precious heirloom outfits is a whole world of independent brands making clothes that feel genuinely cool. Think oversized graphic tees, organic cotton basics, Scandinavian prints, vintage-inspired graphics, matching sets you’ll want in your own size, and the kind of pieces that somehow look even better after a hundred washes.

These are the brands I find myself buying for Ryland and Ruby, bookmarking for future seasons, or texting to friends when they ask where I shop for my kids:

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For the Scandinavian Minimalist

These are the brands that somehow make getting dressed look effortless. Soft colors, beautiful fabrics, timeless silhouettes, and pieces that all mix together without much thought. If your Pinterest algorithm knows you a little too well, this section is for you.

• Konges Sløjd - One of the original Scandinavian brands that helped redefine modern kids clothing. Their collections somehow balance whimsical prints with elevated design, making everything from swimsuits to pajamas feel special. They also make some of my favorite accessories, toys, backpacks, and travel essentials. Currently in my cart: this dress, the set, and this dress.

• Organic Zoo - Organic Zoo has mastered the art of simple. Relaxed silhouettes, muted colors, and buttery-soft organic cotton basics that somehow never go out of style. They’re the kind of pieces your kids end up reaching for over and over again. Currently loving: this striped sweat set and these gingham pants.

• Quincy Mae - If I had to recommend one brand for newborns through toddler years, Quincy Mae would be near the top of the list. Beautiful neutrals, cozy fabrics, and everyday essentials that feel elevated without trying too hard. Recently picked up: this romper, this floral dress, and this knit set.

• Colored Organics - One of my favorite places for everyday staples. Think pajamas, basics, dresses, and matching sets that are incredibly soft, wash well, and hold up through endless wear. It’s one of those brands that becomes the backbone of your kids’ closet. Worth adding: this set and this pointelle tank.

For the Kid With the Coolest Graphic Tees

This is where things get a little more playful. Vintage-inspired graphics, oversized silhouettes, fun illustrations, and pieces that feel like they came from the coolest little boutique you’ve never heard of.

• Pigeon Said Please - Hands down one of my favorite discoveries. Their graphic tees have that perfectly lived-in, vintage feel without looking overly designed. Every collection feels playful, nostalgic, and just a little unexpected. Currently in my cart: these shorts, this graphic tee and these track shorts.

• Bobo Choses - If kids’ clothing had an art school, Bobo Choses would be at the top of the class. The Barcelona-based brand is known for playful illustrations, bold colors, and quirky prints that somehow feel both whimsical and incredibly cool. Their collections never take themselves too seriously, which is exactly why they work. Every season feels like a tiny work of art, and somehow they manage to make pieces that both kids and parents are genuinely excited to wear.

  Currently in my cart: this terry cloth set, this sweater, and these pants.

• Ziggy Zaza - One of those brands that manages to feel cool while still looking like kids’ clothing. Expect playful prints, oversized fits, and pieces that photograph beautifully but still survive playground duty. Recently added: this graphic tee, these terry pants, and this double layered tee.

For the Fashion Kid

These brands lean a little more editorial. Relaxed tailoring, oversized proportions, elevated basics, and collections that make you wonder why adult clothing isn’t this fun.

• Claude & Co. - Claude & Co. has become one of my favorite brands for elevated everyday dressing. Their oversized sweatshirts, relaxed sets, and gender-neutral aesthetic feel incredibly modern while still being completely wearable for kids. Currently loving: these denim trousers, this striped tee and this polka dot sweatshirt.

• Rylee + Cru - A longtime favorite for good reason. Their seasonal collections always strike the perfect balance between trend-forward and timeless. Every launch includes pieces that feel fresh without becoming dated six months later. My picks: this gingham swimsuit, this terry set, and this floral set.

• Petite Penelope - Petite Penelope has such a distinct point of view. The collections feel playful, colorful, and fashion-forward without losing that sense of childhood. It’s one of those brands that instantly catches your eye when you’re scrolling. Currently in my cart: this dress, this sweat set, and this baby set.

For the Tiny Collector

The brands you pull out for vacations, birthdays, holidays, or simply because they’re too good to pass up. Smaller labels making beautifully designed pieces that feel just a little more special.

• This Little Piggy Wears Vintage - Part boutique, part treasure hunt. If you love one-of-a-kind vintage finds, tiny band tees, old-school sneakers, and pieces with a little history behind them, you’ll lose hours browsing. Favorite finds: this denim jacket and these denim pants.

• Summer and Strom - Beautiful, easy pieces that feel made for long summer days. Relaxed silhouettes, soft fabrics, and colors that somehow work with everything else in your kids’ closet. Recently bookmarked: this graphic tee, this knitted vest and these track pants.

• Flöss - A Danish label that perfectly blends playful design with everyday wearability. Their prints are fun without being loud, and every collection feels incredibly thoughtful. Worth a look: this gingham dress and matching jacket and these pajamas.

While most of these brands have their own online shops, I also discover a lot of new labels through boutiques like Milk Teeth and Spilled Milk. They're two of my favorite places to stumble across brands I'd never find otherwise, and my wish list seems to grow every time I browse.

I swear kids clothing wasn’t this good when we were growing up. Every season there seems to be another independent brand I discover, another tiny graphic tee I convince myself they absolutely need, or another matching set that somehow ends up in my cart.

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My saved folder is a dangerous place, and there are a handful of brands I'm still eyeing for future orders (or patiently waiting for the kids to grow into). Bebe Organic, Tinycottons, Wild Wawa, Louise Misha, Lali Kids, Hello Simone, Copenhagen Colors, and Collégien are all next on my list. If you've ordered from any of them, let me know what I should buy first OR if there’s a brand you think belongs on this list, send it my way. My saved folder (and apparently my children’s closets) can always make room for one more.

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Shopping for a vacation has become one of my favorite parts of traveling. The anticipation, the excuse to finally buy the pieces you've been eyeing, the packages showing up all week long... the pre-trip dopamine hit is very real. It's almost become part of the vacation itself.

This trip was a lot more color than usual, a lot more texture, and a lot more personality. Crochet, beads, shell details, metallics, mesh, jelly sandals, tiny raffia bags... basically all the things I would’ve convinced myself were “too much” a year ago. Below are the highlights that made it into my Hawaii suitcase. Full packing list HERE.

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Tops

I’ve been wearing basics a little less... basic lately. The hero pieces were ’s Reformation Crochet Tank, this Zara Supima Sleeveless T-Shirt (color is so good!), and my Made Some Sportswear Hawaii Tee, which felt especially appropriate for this trip.

Bottoms

Vacation is the one place where I fully embrace the loud pants. I packed the VRG GRL Sheer Printed Pants, the My Mum Made This Ruffle Belt Pants, my Made Some Sportswear Nylon Pants, the STAUD Anchor Piped Cotton-Blend Shorts, and these Ciao Ciao Vacation Boxer Shorts.

Dresses & Sets

I love a vacation outfit that requires zero thought. The Eywasouls Malibu Scarlet Mesh Dress, Reformation Aqualune Dress, Cara Cara Persephonie Dress, and Reformation Mackie Set all made the cut.

One of my favorite looks from the trip was this Tae Park beaded set: the Beaded Ruched Silk Bralette Top paired with the Beaded Sheer Silk Midi Skirt. It feels equal parts vacation and art piece. And definitely a Niche Brand The Cool Girls Are Wearing. Another standout was this Carolina K Red Crochet Set.

Swim

My swim drawer is an explosion of color. This trip I rotated between the Lido Cinquantasei Set, the STAUD Cadence One-Piece, ’s Ref collab Campo Bikini Bottom with her Euphoria Bikini Top, the JUILLET Lea Bikini Bottom with the Ingrid Bikini Top, and the Oséree Lumière Metallic Bikini. For cover ups, I lived in my Soleil Soleil Pareo.

Shoes

I basically rotated between four pairs of shoes the entire trip: the Ancient Greek Jelly Flip Flops, the AMINA MUADDI Lori Lace Up Leather Sandals, the AMINA MUADDI Juliette Leather Thong Sandals, and these Metallic Embellished Sandals.

Bags & Accessories

Vacation is when I let myself carry my most “fun” bags. I packed the STAUD Sea Glass Bag, the STAUD Embellished Mini, The Row Estelle Raffia Bag, the Zara Raffia Pouch Bag, and my Miu Miu Oval Sunglasses. Add the Reversible Striped Linen Hat and a Hibiscus Flower Hair Clip, and that’s pretty much my Hawaii uniform. For jewelry, I lived in my By Orly Carlo Necklace.

Looking at everything together, there are definitely a few themes: less black, more texture, more color, more pieces that don’t take themselves too seriously.

I’m trying to get better at buying things I’ll genuinely be excited to wear instead of things that feel “safe.” Vacation just happened to be a good reminder that those are usually the pieces that end up getting packed first. If you add anything to cart, send me a photo. I love seeing how other people style the same pieces. And if there’s another edit you’d want to see next (Europe packing list? Summer bags? Beach accessories? Jewelry?), let me know. My notes app is already getting OOC.

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I spend an arguably unhealthy amount of time bookmarking brands. Not the obvious ones. The smaller labels that stylish people somehow know about before everyone else does. The ones that make you stop mid-scroll, open seventeen tabs, and suddenly consider becoming the kind of person who only wears sculptural silver jewelry or exclusively carries a tiny silk pochette.

At this point, Niche Brands the Cool Girls Are Wearing has become a recurring series mostly because I can’t stop finding brands worth sharing. So, welcome to Part 8.

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By Orly

I actually discovered this one IRL, which feels increasingly rare. I stumbled across By Orly at a market in West Adams a few weeks ago and immediately did the thing where you casually browse for two minutes and then suddenly convince yourself you need three pieces. Which… I did.

The jewelry feels sculptural in that effortless way. Minimal, but still interesting enough that someone inevitably asks about it. Everything has that handmade, slightly imperfect quality that makes it feel special instead of overly polished. The kind of jewelry that somehow works with a white tank, a vintage tee, or an overly ambitious dinner outfit. What I grabbed at the market: Carlo necklace, Anya necklace, and a ‘modern metal’ necklace that hasn’t released yet.

Pochette NYC

Discovered via TikTok and immediately sent to approximately four people. Pochette NYC makes 100% silk accessories in incredibly small batches, which means if you see something you like, I highly recommend moving with a little urgency. Their drops sell quickly and happen every few weeks, which makes shopping it feel oddly thrilling.

Think silk scarves, pochettes, and accessories that instantly make your outfit feel more intentional. Very “I throw this on and somehow look infinitely cooler.” Also feels refreshingly anti-fast fashion in a way I appreciate. I just ordered THIS color-way during her Sunday drop.

Ossou

If your ideal wardrobe is less “trend cycle” and more perfectly curated essentials that somehow always work together, allow me to introduce you to Ossou. The entire brand is built around foundational dressing. Denim, knitwear, elevated basics. Pieces that feel thoughtful, well-made, and intentionally unfussy.

I always say the hardest thing to find in fashion is clothing that actually integrates into the wardrobe you already have, instead of demanding an entirely new personality. Ossou really nails that balance. Quiet luxury, if quiet luxury still had a personality. Currently in my cart: THIS top and THIS trench.

LGR

I love a fashion brand with an actually interesting origin story and LGR might have one of the best. The founder’s grandfather owned an optical shop in Africa beginning in the 1930s, but during political unrest was forced to leave everything behind. Decades later, the family returned and found vintage Italian sunglasses still sitting untouched inside the original shop. The frames were brought back to Italy, people became obsessed, and eventually LGR was born. Now every pair is still handmade in Italy, and they somehow strike that perfect balance of timeless and fashion person. Elevated without trying too hard. Obsessed with THESE.

Le Sundial

Le Sundial creates these incredibly sculptural pieces that feel equal parts earthly and slightly otherworldly. Many are shaped by hand in Italy using natural stones and sterling silver, and a lot of the collection is made to order, which I personally love.

The jewelry feels special without veering costume-y, and lately they’ve expanded into accessories and tiny handbags that somehow make every outfit look more considered. One of those brands where even the simplest outfit suddenly feels intentional. I need THIS necklace like yesterday.

Made Some Sportswear

Made Some World makes the kind of pieces that somehow feel both laid-back and impossibly cool. Elevated surf energy, but in a fashion person way. The graphic tees are what initially got me. They’re one of those brands that nails that effortless, collected feeling. Like you’ve had the piece forever and somehow always know exactly how to style it.

I also really love their board shorts and board pants, which feel unexpectedly chic and easy to throw on over a swimsuit, with a tank, or styled a little more intentionally for dinner. Very vacation wardrobe, but also very “I somehow look cooler than everyone else at Erewhon.” What i wear on repeat: THIS tee, THESE shorts, THESE pants (get the navy!!).

Fane

For the people who like their luxury understated. Fane is a Parisian bag brand founded by two friends, and it feels very much like an if you know, you know situation. No loud logos. No unnecessary hardware. Just beautiful silhouettes and really thoughtful shapes.

Everything is crafted in Italy, and the bags somehow feel modern and timeless at the same time. Their signature bra bag has quietly become a cult favorite, but honestly the entire collection feels incredibly wearable. The kind of bag brand that makes your outfit look expensive without announcing itself. If you don’t know where to start, get THIS bag.

ELY ELY

ELY ELY feels like one of those brands that’s quietly entering the group chat of labels fashion people will pretend they discovered first. Founded in 2024, the brand leans into beautifully made wardrobe staples with a very soft, feminine sensibility. Think timeless silhouettes, but reworked in a way that feels modern instead of overly precious. There’s a quiet confidence to everything.

Each piece is designed in Italy and produced with Italian factories, and you can really feel that level of care in the details. The fabrics, the construction, the overall finish. It all feels elevated in a way that makes you want to build an entire wardrobe around it. Very much for the person who wants classic, but not boring. I just ordered THIS set and can’t wait to wear it all summer long.

Alyson Eastman

Okay, this one feels especially cool girl coded. Alyson Eastman is a luxury leather goods label based in the Pacific Northwest creating some of the most beautiful leather pieces I’ve seen in a while. The brand works with food-source leathers and ethically produced fabrics, which I appreciate, but what really got me were the jackets.

Specifically: the pony hair moto jackets. I genuinely think they are some of the chicest versions I’ve ever seen. Rich, tactile, incredibly luxe, and somehow still feel wearable. One of those forever investment pieces that instantly becomes the thing people ask you about. Very fashion editor off-duty energy. My personal favorites: THIS jacket and THIS belt.

As always, I fear my running list of cool brands is becoming less of a hobby and more of a personality trait.

If you missed Parts 1–7, I’ll link them below because apparently I’ve made it my full-time unpaid job to investigate what the stylish women of the internet are quietly wearing. And if you have a brand I absolutely need to know about, send it my way. My shopping tabs are already open anyway.

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For this edition of Currently Bookmarking, I’m sitting down with someone I’ve admired for a very long time: , or Cyd as many of us know her.

I’ve known Cyd for the last 10+ years. First as a fan of Stone Cold Fox, the brand that defined an era of cool-girl dressing for so many of us, and later as a friend. Our sons were born just a couple months apart, and somewhere between mom group texts, playdates, and the beautiful chaos of early motherhood, I got to know her on a much more personal level.

Beyond the romantic dresses, layered homes, and impeccable taste, Sid is someone I deeply admire as a creative, a designer, a mother, and a friend. She’s thoughtful, wildly creative, deeply resilient, and has one of those unmistakable points of view that extends far beyond fashion.

If you follow her Substack, , you already know what I mean. It’s equal parts style diary, emotional honesty, beauty recommendations, travel notes, and the kind of beautifully specific observations that make you feel like you’re sitting across from a friend with really good taste.

In this conversation, we talk about the legacy of Stone Cold Fox, motherhood, evolving creatively, building brands, staying inspired, reinvention, and how she protects her perspective in a world that constantly asks us to overshare.

Needless to say, I’ve been really excited about this one.

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For anyone discovering you through this feature, how do you describe what you do right now?

CYD: Well, been in a few phases and career paths throughout my life but all in all I consider myself a bit of a “tastemaker”. I am first and foremost a designer of women’s clothing, then a Substack-er, some would say influencer but I don’t really like that word, a Mom and an all around creator.

You’ve built such a distinct point of view over the years, whether that’s through fashion, interiors, beauty, travel, and now . And it all feels very you. I’m curious, did that perspective always feel clear to you, or is it something that’s really evolved over time?

CYD: My point of view has definitely evolved over time — who I was in my 20s looks very different from who I am now as a mother and wife. Life shifts you. But through all of it, I’ve always come back to the same thing: authenticity. I truly believe that being true to yourself is what makes a design feel right, a space feel warm, or a piece of writing actually resonate.

I’ll be honest — I have a bit of a fear of getting left behind as the world changes. So I stay curious, I pay attention, I evolve. But I never change who I am. My parents raised me to work for everything — nothing was handed to me, and I think that shaped me more than anything else. I’ll be the first to admit I’m terrible with numbers, but I am deeply motivated by financial independence. Especially after having kids. I want a beautiful home, great schools for my children, incredible trips — I want to order a cocktail with an extra shot and not think twice about it. That drive is real and I strive to be comfortable since there is so much more I want to do and see.

I love what you said there about evolving without changing who you are because I do think when people think of you, there’s such a strong sense of aesthetic and identity attached to your work. Which makes me want to go back for a second, because Stone Cold Fox really defined an era for so many women. When you think about the brand today, what still feels the most true to its original spirit, and what’s changed in the best way?

CYD: I started Stone Cold Fox in 2009 — it came directly from my graduate runway show at California College of the Arts, and people were trying to buy the pieces straight off the models. I always struggled a bit in school to get teachers to like my ideas so it blew my mind. The timing was wild in the best way. We were in the middle of a recession, and online retail was just finding its footing — Revolve, Free People, all of it was just beginning. There was a real gap in the market for what I was making, and I was just a girl in her early 20s designing exactly what she wanted to wear.

What’s changed is me. I’ve grown out of some of those styles naturally, and I’ve had to learn how to design for my current self, my younger self, and other women too. It’s a challenge I’ve really grown into — stepping outside of yourself creatively is hard, but it’s pushed me in the best way. What’s stayed the same is the spirit. The aesthetic, the point of view — it’s held. There have been real ups and downs over 15 years, and moments where I’ve wanted to walk away from fashion entirely. But every time I come back to the creative work, the passion is still there. That part has never wavered.

I love hearing you talk about Stone Cold Fox because it really has grown alongside you in so many ways. And you’ve always been so good at designing from instinct and personal taste. You’ve said before that so much of your inspiration starts with what you personally want to wear, so I have to ask: what are you really drawn to lately? Silhouettes, fabrics, colors, references, all of it.

CYD: I am a lace girl through and through — eyelets, crochet, vintage lace. Something about it just gets me going. I’m always drawn to the Victorian era and 1960s original “it girls” and I’m constantly trying to find ways to modernize it, make it feel fresh without losing that romance.

I design around a character — I picture a girl, what she’s wearing, where she’s traveling to that spring, what her home looks like, how she moves through the world. And from there everything flows. Airy fabrics, silks, georgettes — things that move with your body. SCF has always had a bit of a sexy quality to it, but in a way that feels uniquely feminine rather than obvious. Honestly, right now I feel like I’m returning to my roots — in design and in life. Getting back to what drew me to this in the first place

Okay, I love this answer because I feel like with you it’s never just about clothes. There’s always a whole world attached to them. The girl, the place, the feeling, the home she lives in. Your taste feels incredibly intuitive, but also very lived-in and layered. Outside of fashion, what do you think has shaped your eye the most?

CYD: I have to credit my grandmother. She had impeccable taste — in clothing, in homes, in gardens — and she did it all before the internet or Pinterest existed. She paid attention to the most minute details and she taught me that my whole life. The way she put colors and prints together, the way she made a house feel warm and lived-in. She always smelled like gardenias, her button covers were hand engraved, and her house always had a pot of coffee brewing. The way holidays felt in her world will be forever engraved in me, every inch of her home was decorated with some detail.

She’s the reason I understand that design isn’t just one category — it’s the entire sensory story. I don’t like new shiny things. I love things that tell a story, that have history, that have flaws — and somehow in my little world, they all go together.

I actually love hearing that because suddenly so much of your world makes sense to me. The nostalgia, the romance, the attention to detail. And honestly, I feel like that same point of view has translated so beautifully into Dog-Eared too. What made you want to start writing on Substack, and what does that format give you that Instagram never really could?

CYD: This actually isn’t my first time doing this — back in 2009 I had a blog called Viciously Cyd, where I’d share images of things I loved and write about my travels. It was Pinterest before Pinterest existed.

I’m quite an introverted person. Writing and expressing myself through fashion are really my ways of being present in the world. I’ve never been loud and proud online — it makes me a little uncomfortable, probably some fear of judgment. But the older I get, the more I feel like I have things worth sharing. Life stories, advice, perspective. I still get a bit nervous to completely open up, but I care less and less.

When Substack started to become a real space for this kind of writing, I was genuinely excited to get back to it. Instagram is beautiful but Substack lets you go deeper. You can actually get into subjects deeper.

I still don’t do TikTok though.

Wow…. #tbt to Viciously Cyd. That makes total sense, and I think that’s probably why Dog-Eared resonates with so many people. It feels really personal without trying too hard, if that makes sense. When you actually sit down to write, do you know exactly what kind of post it’s going to be, or is it more mood-driven depending on where you are in life?

CYD: Completely mood driven. I’m trying to be more organized with recurring content — monthly shops, consistent write-ups — but mostly I write about whatever is happening in my life. Where I traveled, what I’m feeling, the ebbs and flows of emotions. It’s all very cathartic for me.

I love the beauty industry and I’m still coming to terms with getting older — and I think so many women feel the same way. There’s something really powerful about sharing what you’re actually trying to feel your best.

I shared my fertility journey about a year ago and I swear it was like thousands of hours of therapy condensed into one piece of writing for me. The amount of women who reached out to me afterward with their own stories — that connection with others made me less alone in my losses and want to keep being open to help in any way I can.

I used to gatekeep everything. My finds, my style my beauty secrets. But then I realized people were building real businesses by sharing exactly that, and I thought, why not me? I love to shop, plan parties, renovate homes, travel. I might as well share it and build something from it. Something that lets me pick my kids up from school and also be creative at the same time. Mixing passion with a business is just doing what you love — but with a roof over your head.

I really relate to what you said there, especially around sharing things that actually feel meaningful versus just posting to post. You’ve built brands in public for such a long time now, and the internet feels so different than it did even five years ago. Has your relationship to sharing online changed, especially now that it feels like everyone is expected to turn their entire life into content?

CYD: It’s so different now. Some people are incredibly good at sharing every aspect of their life and I think that’s great — but it’s not for me. I like to give bits and pieces and keep certain things close to my heart. There are judgmental people out there who can twist and turn a story, and I’ve learned to be mindful of that.

When it comes to my marriage, we have really grown into a great team. He supports me and my wild life, I support him and his dreams, and we just don’t get in each other’s way, its a really beautiful and loving partnership I should probably share more about.

With the kids it’s something I contemplate about a lot. I know everyone is blocking their children’s faces online and I get it — but I’m also so proud of them. I created these two little humans and they make my heart burst. I don’t share their struggles publicly, but I have no shame in sharing the funny, stylish little moments we have day to day.

One thing I’ve always admired about you is that you’ve never felt overexposed online. You share enough to feel connected, but there’s still a little mystery there, which honestly feels rare these days. What helps you reconnect with your own taste when you’re feeling oversaturated by everyone else’s?

CYD: People used to frustrate me when they would copy an aesthetic or design. Then I learned that’s just the way of the world — you have to keep thinking of the next thing. Keep your mind moving, don’t get stuck in one place.

I think mystery is very sexy. I have had a whole bag of personal drama — but that’s my load to carry with my inner circle. Give me a martini or two and a dark bar and I’ll tell you my life story, though. At the end of the day I just want to keep my online presence light and positive. Share my insights on travel, fashion, and motherhood — and let people know they’re not alone.

I love that perspective because I do think there’s something to constantly evolving instead of getting stuck in one version of yourself. And you’ve had so many creative chapters over the years — Stone Cold Fox, interiors, The Foxalow, Dog-Eared, collaborations under your own name. Do they each satisfy a different part of you creatively?

CYD: So many chapters — and honestly, I read somewhere that people need a new creative path every ten years and I completely believe it.

I love fashion deeply, but when I bought my house in 2017 it struck a chord in me the same way fashion always had. I love buying vintage clothes and tailoring them to fit exactly how I want — so why couldn’t I do that with a home? Interiors ended up being one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. I learned so much, and I got to work with Margot Robbie on multiple projects which was just incredible. It helped me discover another passion within myself that I didn’t know was there.

I don’t do interiors as much anymore — I had some unfinished business to get back to — but I’m always drawn to a new challenge. A new brand, a new theme, a new party to plan. Where I really thrive is in the beginning — starting with an idea, developing it, getting lost in the small details, and telling a complete story.

I just finished my Dillard’s collaboration and it really took it out of me, so I’m resting for a moment. But in the back of my mind I’m already thinking — what’s next!?”

You can really tell how much you love the beginning stages of building something, which honestly feels very you. And speaking of new chapters, you recently launched work under your own name as well. Did that feel emotionally different than designing for Stone Cold Fox? More personal, more freeing, more vulnerable?

CYD: It was amazing — and honestly, the timing was unexpected. Dillard’s reached out right after the fires in the Palisades, and emotionally I was pretty fragile. I didn’t think I could take on anything more. But when I moved, something shifted in my mindset completely. I told myself not to say no to anything. Just keep going.

So I said yes, and it ended up being such a freeing experience. Designing under my own name felt different — I went back to my roots and I had a really great time doing it. When I’m given something to do, I go at it with everything I have.

I also think about the bigger picture a lot. What is my ten year plan? I need to nurture my own name — not just the brand. Stone Cold Fox will always be where I started and I know that. I love to try new things. Some are lucrative, some aren’t. Mistakes are made often — but I take a lesson from every single one.

You’ve always been so good at creating a feeling around things. When you’re creating, what matters more to you: the piece itself or the world around it?

CYD: I think of how the entire outfit works together. It usually starts with a piece I love or have saved — and everything else becomes an ornament to it. The hair, the jewelry, the shoes. They all serve that one special piece.

With collections it’s the same instinct but scaled up. After doing this for so long I know how to merchandise intuitively. How do I design things so that when a customer discovers the launch, they don’t just want one piece — they want three? How do the pieces talk to each other? What story do they tell together? That’s the puzzle I’m always solving but it all starts with a little scene in my head.

Your style has always felt feminine and romantic, but never too precious. What makes something feel beautiful to you now?

CYD: I just dress in what I like and what feels comfortable. Over time I’ve learned what works on my body and what doesn’t — and my skin, my health, how I feel, all of that matters more to me now than ever before. The older I get, the less I try to force some appearance and the more I’ve come to appreciate who I am and what comes to me naturally.

Someone once said to me, ‘you are so put together but you let your kids be completely feral’ — and I think that actually describes my style perfectly. Type A and little granola earthy girl underneath.

There’s something really freeing about getting older and settling into what actually feels like you. What are you craving more of in this season of life creatively? More expansion, more quiet, more experimentation, more editing?

CYD: I always change, I love to go for it and exhaust my self, then check out for a little bit and get centered. I get burnt out but also love going really hard. I know that I won’t be this young forever so I try to take advantage of my energy and my life as much as I can so I can rest later- hopefully.

In the future I would love to do something with kids clothes, well see. I also have a deep desire to get back into homes. After selling my house then the fires, I have this really strong need to be grounded, create history, tradition and a home that my kids always come back to. I’m a little of tired of picking up and moving so much I want to make every inch of a home ours soon.

You’ve always had such a distinct point of view. How do you protect your taste from trends or outside noise?

CYD: There’s a fine line between staying true to yourself and staying open to the world moving around you. You can be aware of where the world is going without following it blindly.

Inspiration for me never really comes from trends anyway. It comes from the je ne sais quoi of Jane Birkin, the way an elderly woman puts her look together, a vintage fabric, a feeling I got walking through a town in Italy. None of those were my original thoughts — but what I do with them, how I interpret what they made me think or feel, that’s where my point of view lives.

Speaking of evolving, motherhood, moving, rebuilding — has this chapter changed the way you design or what you want to create?

CYD: I really feel the shift in energy as the years go by. Not my body or my mind but I feel i’ve just “graduated” if that makes sense. I’ve done the career chasing, the newborn phase, big losses and big gains. I’ve had to start over many times so I feel like I am seasoned and it feels okay.

In one way it’s bittersweet — I want to freeze time with my children and live in it forever. But the older I get, the more at peace I am. With who I am, what I look like, what I’m doing, the friends I have or don’t have. It all starts to settle into place.

It’s taken me nearly 40 years to get here and there were big mountains to climb along the way. But when it all starts to make sense- comes peace.

You’ve built such a recognizable point of view over time. What’s one thing people misunderstand about having great taste or building a personal brand?

CYD: I think people assume that being creative means you can do it all yourself. Having ideas is one thing — executing them, building something real from them, that’s another entirely. You need a team. You need people around you who help take you to the next level. Having a brand also doesn’t mean you have a big financial backing- so many start from the ground up with not much support. Starting a company or a new idea is a really vulnerable process. It’s easy to critique someone who is out there trying but It’s much harder to be the one actually doing it.

I also would have died for a mentor in my younger years. Someone older, wiser, willing to share what they knew. I didn’t really have that — so I try to show up that way for younger women now as much as I can even though I still feel like I am sorting my own out.

What are you most excited about right now, whether that’s work-related or something completely personal?

CYD: Summer! I do not do well in cold weather — I am a sun chaser through and through. My kids are doing the most amazing camps and I’m genuinely a little jealous, they sound so fun.

We have some trips planned that I’m really looking forward to, and I’m excited to keep nurturing new relationships in my life. Spending more time on my friendships, nurturing myself as my kids get older and more independent. There’s a version of me that’s just starting to have her own space back and I want to lean into that. Also, my parents — spending more time with them as they get older feels really important right now.

As for what’s next — who knows what’s in the stars. Maybe another baby. Maybe not but I don’t really have a plan and I am learning to sit with that with my type A personality.

Because this is Currently Bookmarking: what are you bookmarking lately? Could be brands, books, beauty products, hotels, places, people, fabrics, chairs, anything.

CYD: I love Medicube eye cream, I put this on all day and it’s so soft and amazing. Sitting at a restaurant bar alone with no phone when you have an hour to kill, Etsy always, the color Tallow from Farrow and Ball, sitting in my warm car with a podcast, Palm Heights in Caymans number one fan, beets, eyelash tinting no mascara, Homes and Gardens, therapy, co sleeping, boats, blue and white everything….mandarins with lime and mint, Montecito, french doors, long hugs, prints on prints.

Last one: what’s something you’re into right now that feels very niche, very specific, and very you?

CYD: Im getting very into sequins, hand writing my calendar, Violetta’s Bisou Balm, long wordy birthday cards, fancy water, colored marble, no nail polish , pinky rings, kim chee, delphiniums, really nice french champagne, mahjong, floral couches, vintage cause I like that no one else has it, reading a book and getting too emotionally involved.

There’s something really comforting about talking to women who have lived through multiple versions of themselves and come out the other side softer, wiser, and more grounded in who they are.

What I loved most about this conversation with Cyd is that underneath all of the beautiful things, the fashion, interiors, travel, and impeccable taste, there’s a through line of authenticity. A willingness to evolve without abandoning yourself. To romanticize life while also being deeply honest about the harder seasons. To care about beauty, ambition, motherhood, creativity, and still admit you’re figuring it out as you go. Maybe that’s what great taste actually is. Not perfection, but perspective.

And if you’re wondering what to bookmark from this conversation: therapy, Palm Heights, vintage lace, handwritten calendars, fancy water, and maybe a reminder that reinvention is always allowed.

Dog-Eared

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By Cydney Morris

Every summer, I become a different person when it comes to bags. Suddenly, practicality is irrelevant. I don’t want the sensible tote. I want the tiny beaded thing that fits absolutely nothing. The raffia bag that only works three months out of the year. The shell details. The sparkle. The slightly ridiculous purse that somehow makes a white dress, flip flops, and wet hair feel like an outfit.

Maybe it’s vacation brain. Maybe it’s growing up in Southern California where summer dressing has always felt a little more playful. But I firmly believe this is the season to have more fun with accessories. Because if your outfit is just linen shorts (or jeans) and a tank (mine often is), the bag gets to be the personality.

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The Vacation Bag

For pool days, market strolls, beach dinners, and pretending you live at a boutique hotel.

• CHAN LUU, Market Bag
  An elevated beach tote. Big enough for sunscreen and snacks but chic enough to bring straight to lunch.

• STAUD, Karla Bag in Sea Glass Multi
  Looks like summer bottled up. Colorful without being overwhelming.

• AQUA, Beaded Tote Bag
  The fun cousin to your everyday tote. Big enough to actually carry things, but still feels playful.

• TORY BURCH, Chain Mesh Tote Bag
  The kind of bag that looks like you picked it up on vacation and somehow goes with everything from a swimsuit to linen pants.

• SAINT LAURENT, Bucket Supple Bag
  Slouchy in that effortless vacation way. Feels like the kind of bag you throw on with oversized linen and flat sandals without overthinking it

The Dinner Reservation Bag

For sunset drinks, vacation dinners, girls’ night, and anything requiring a little sparkle.

• DRIES VAN NOTEN, Micro Crystal Embellished Top Handle Bag
  Tiny, sparkly, and impossible not to compliment. This one does the heavy lifting.

• OLGA BERG, Chainmail Bag in Silver
  A little bit party girl, a little bit ’90s supermodel.

• MARTINAS, Gold Elio Bag
  The metallic bag that somehow works with everything in your closet.

• MÉLISSE, The Cobalt Bag in Taffeta
  The easiest way to make jeans and a white tank feel intentional.

• STAUD, Pesce Beaded Clutch in Red Multi
  Would look unbelievably chic against an all-white outfit.

• LIZZIE FORTUNATO, Exclusive La Isla Gala Beaded Bag
  Texture, color, personality. Makes even the simplest vacation outfit feel styled.

The Pop of Personality

Because summer is the time to stop dressing so seriously.

• MARIA LA ROSA, Mini Game Crochet Bag
  A crochet moment that feels fashion-forward instead of overly boho.

• PURA UTZ, Floral Clutch
  A little vintage-feeling and unapologetically fun.

• AMANTE COLLECTION, Amante Bag
  The kind of bag that becomes the focal point of the outfit in the best way.

• AQUAZZURA, Pom Pom Beaded Top-Handle Bag
  Proof that sometimes the bag is the outfit. Fun, colorful, and impossible to be in a bad mood carrying.

• POOLSIDE, Fringe Clutch
  The fringe makes this feel equal parts beachy and dressed up. Exactly what I want to carry to dinner on vacation.

The Fashion Person Bag

The slightly unexpected ones that make an outfit feel more interesting.

• PURA UTZ, La Isla Floral Beaded Pouch
  Playful in the best way. Feels like something you’d find in a tiny boutique abroad and treasure forever. (Also a favorite in my Niche Brands The Cool Girls Are Wearing series)

• LOEWE, Paula’s Ibiza Flamenco Mini Beaded Clutch
  Vacation in bag form. The kind of piece that instantly makes a linen dress feel more fun.

• CORDERA, Exclusive La Isla Beaded Bag
  Artsy, textured, and exactly the kind of piece that makes basics feel cooler.

• OLGA BERG, Chainmail Bag in Silver
  A little bit party girl, a little bit ’90s supermodel.

• SIMON MILLER, Beaded Drop Clutch
  Sculptural in a way that feels cool rather than overly trendy. The kind of bag that unexpectedly makes the outfit.

Apparently I’m in a very specific tiny beaded vacation bag phase, so I linked even more favorites below if you’d like to continue the shopping spiral.

Shop The Summer Bag Edit

Every summer has a short. Not officially, of course. No one sends an email. But suddenly you start seeing the same silhouette everywhere until you realize something is happening. A few summers ago, it was boxer shorts. Then came the long denim short. And now? Track shorts.

Before you roll your eyes, I know. The phrase track shorts sounds deeply unchic. Like middle school P.E. or something you accidentally packed for sleepaway camp in 2003. Not exactly aspirational. And yet, somewhere between fashion’s obsession with sporty dressing, the collective rejection of hard pants, and everyone trying to look effortless without actually sacrificing style, they became one of the coolest things you can wear. Which is funny because, on paper, I should hate them.

I’m not particularly sporty. I haven’t run a track since high school. And in theory, a tiny nylon short feels like something I’d avoid entirely. But lately, every time I save an outfit on Instagram or stop on someone’s look while scrolling, there they are. Paired with an oversized button-down. A leather sandal. A tiny tank. A vintage sweatshirt. Suddenly the whole thing feels less “athletic” and more off-duty in a way that suggests you have very good taste.

The thing about track shorts is they somehow make an outfit feel cooler while looking like you tried less. They hit this sweet spot of sporty, nostalgic, and slightly undone that feels very right for right now. A little borrowed-from-the-boys. A little old-school athletic department. A little wealthy-woman-on-vacation-who-only-packs-elevated-basics.

Case in point: during my recent virtual styling session with , we ended up styling a pair of my blue track shorts in a way I honestly never would have thought to wear on my own. Which, if I’m being honest, is usually the sign that something has real staying power in my closet. Not because it’s trendy, but because it suddenly unlocks multiple outfits I actually want to wear.

We paired them with pieces I already owned and somehow they went from ‘cute sporty short’ to something that felt very cool-girl-off-duty. Slightly undone, slightly borrowed-from-the-boys, but still intentional. It also made me realize that track shorts work best when you style them in contrast. Sporty with polished. Casual with structured. Tiny short, oversized shirt. You get the idea.

If you missed the styling session, you can watch it here:

Track shorts also somehow manage to solve one of summer dressing’s greatest dilemmas: how to look put together when it’s offensively hot outside. Because denim shorts, while timeless, can start feeling… aggressive by August. Linen wrinkles instantly. Dresses require commitment. But a tiny sporty short with an oversized shirt and great accessories? Weirdly chic. Weirdly flattering. Weirdly practical.

And maybe this is just me, but there’s something inherently cool about dressing like you could be athletic without ever actually needing to prove it. So naturally, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole. Below, the pairs currently sitting in my cart, on my mood board, or mentally assigned to a future version of myself who definitely drinks green juice after Pilates.

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The Elevated Ones

For when you want the ease of a track short but still want the outfit to feel expensive.

• DONNI. | Striped Silk Taffeta Mini Shorts
  The coastal cool-girl version of a track short. Slightly polished, slightly sporty, and begging to be worn with an oversized white button-down and The Row sandals.

• CHRISTOPHER ESBER | Droplet Crystal Track Shorts
  Proof that even track shorts can have a hot-girl personality. The crystal detail somehow makes these feel impossibly chic.

• SAINT LAURENT | Technical Jogger Short
  Very model-off-duty-at-the-airport energy. Effortless, expensive, and somehow cooler the less you style them.

• TORY BURCH | Nylon Shorts
  Sporty with a polished twist. Feels like something you’d throw on at a luxury resort and somehow look impossibly pulled together in.

• COPERNI | Track Short
  Sleek, minimal, and slightly futuristic. For the girl whose basics always feel more fashion than everyone else’s.

• PRADA | Re-Nylon High-Rise Shorts
  The luxury track short. Clean, sporty, and the kind of thing that makes a white tank look intentional.

The Fashion Person Picks

The ones that make strangers ask, “Wait… where are those from?”

• BODE | Satin Gym Shorts
  Vintage gym class, but make it fashion. Feels nostalgic in the best possible way.

• A.L.C. | Camden Tie Waist Shorts
  Slightly more structured than your average sporty short, for when you want ease without fully committing to casual. Also obsessed with the color.

• CIAO LUCIA | Bibbi Red Begonia Silk Short
  The print alone on these buttery silk beauties feels like vacation. Stole these from ’s latest roundup.

• TANNER FLETCHER | Ruched Lace Stripe Track Shorts
  Unexpected, slightly theatrical, and very fashion-person coded. Definitely not your average sporty short.

• SEA | Claira Shorts
  A softer, more romantic take on the trend. Feels very “I shop at boutiques you’ve never heard of.”

The Sporty-Preppy Ones

For the girls who actually do Pilates. Or at least dress like they do.

• SPORTY & RICH | Signature Logo Terry Short
  The sporty-rich-girl uniform. Throw on with a crew sock and oversized sweatshirt and call it a day. can do no wrong!

• HORSE | The Short Short
  Tiny, sporty, confident.

• HUMAN BY NATURE | National Team Nylon Shorts
  Feels under-the-radar (and very - coded) in the best way. Slightly vintage athletic energy without looking costume-y.

• SPLITS59 | Ella Airweight Track Shorts
  Made for movement but cute enough for coffee after. A workout short that actually works outside the gym.

• LOVERS AND FRIENDS | Adina Short
  Sporty meets vacation. Easy, flattering, and feels made for a beach town weekend.

• ADIDAS | Firebird Classic Shorts
  An actual classic. Slightly nostalgic, slightly cool-girl-in-Copenhagen energy.

The Everyday Ones

The pairs you’ll actually wear over and over again.

• STAUD | Anchor Piped Cotton-Blend Shorts
  Slightly preppy, slightly sporty. Feels very East Coast summer in a way I can’t explain. I have the red and wear religiously.

• AMAZON | Track Shorts
  The insanely affordable wildcard. Shockingly good for the price and perfect if you’re trend-curious.

• GAP | 2.5” Track Shorts
  Simple, classic, and cool. The kind you buy in multiple colors (I have red and black) without meaning to.

• ALEX MILL | Coco Track Short in Cotton
  Easy, effortless, and somehow makes basics feel cooler.

• ABERCROMBIE & FITCH | High Rise Satin Track Short
  Honestly? Chic. The satin fabric makes these feel a little more elevated than your average sporty short.

• DAILY DRILLS | Thermal Striped Shorts
  Feels very off-duty wellness girl. Cute enough to style, comfortable enough to actually live in. Get the green while still in stock (they launched today!!)

Anyway, consider this your warning that the tiny sporty short has officially entered the chat. I plan to wear mine exactly as intended: to coffee, to errands, to vacation, and absolutely nowhere near a track.

P.S. If you’ve already found the pair, send them my way because I fear this may become my entire personality until September. Ta ta for now!

Shop The Track Short Edit

At a certain point, personal style becomes less about buying more and more about finding the pieces that make everything else feel more interesting. Usually it’s not the loudest item in the outfit either. It’s the hand-beaded bag. The perfectly strange shoe. The jewelry someone notices halfway through dinner. The brands that feel discovered instead of marketed.

A lot of these labels still feel slightly under the radar, which is probably why they’re resonating right now. They have a point of view without feeling overly trend-driven, and they make outfits look personal in a way that’s getting harder to find online lately.

These are the brands currently sitting in my saved folder.

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Pura Utz
Pura Utz has become one of my favorite examples of accessories making an outfit feel instantly happier. (Also a favorite of the cool girls like and ). The brand is known for its hand-beaded bags and accessories, all made by female artisans in Guatemala, and every piece feels incredibly personal and handmade in the best possible way. The fruit motifs, playful color combinations, and slightly nostalgic energy somehow still feel chic instead of kitschy. I also love that they work just as well styled with something very polished as they do with denim and a white tank. Fashion has been feeling very serious lately, and Pura Utz reminds me that accessories are supposed to be fun. I just pre-ordered this beaded bag from and am counting down the days until it arrives.

Esthe Clothing
Esthe feels very aligned with the current shift toward sheer layering, soft structure, and pieces that make getting dressed feel a little more interesting again. Based in Greece, the brand has really become known for its pleats, organza, mesh, and asymmetric silhouettes that somehow still feel wearable despite being visually distinct. A lot of the pieces have that slightly artsy, undone quality fashion people love right now, but they’re still grounded enough to work in real life. I also think Esthe does a really good job of making statement pieces feel effortless instead of intimidating. The styling never feels overworked, which is probably why it photographs so well online. It’s one of those brands where even a simple outfit instantly looks more directional once you add one of their pieces into the mix. I’m wearing this halter in the photo above and received so many compliments. Currently waiting on this organza piece to arrive in the mail.

Pastiche
Pastiche is a sister project founded by Lucia and Florencia Ottonello in Uruguay, and that sense of personal expression really comes through in the clothes. The brand takes vintage inspiration and turns it into something more contemporary, with fluid, unisex silhouettes, whimsical stitching, and unexpected pops of pastel. There’s a playful quality to the pieces, but they still feel thoughtful and wearable. I also love that most of the production is based in Uruguay, which gives the brand a stronger point of view than something that just looks good on Instagram. It feels free-spirited without feeling costume-y, and confident without trying too hard. The kind of brand that makes an outfit feel more individual immediately. I have my eye on this top and matching trousers.

Shannon Bond
Shannon Bond jewelry feels like the kind of thing you discover through someone impossibly chic and immediately start researching. Organic shapes, sculptural finishes, and pieces that feel substantial without being heavy. There’s an almost vintage quality to the jewelry, but it still feels very modern when worn. I especially love brands like this because they become part of someone’s identity over time. The kind of jewelry people start associating with you because you wear it constantly. If you need one pieces, its these Ophelia earrings. (I just pre-ordered the amethyst on Moda Operandi along with this tassel necklace).

Studio Amelia
Studio Amelia has mastered the barely-there shoe in a way very few brands have. The silhouettes are minimal and clean, but there’s always something slightly unexpected in the proportions or detailing that keeps them interesting. They make the kind of shoes that elevate an outfit instead of competing with it. Also one of those brands that fashion people have been wearing for years, but somehow still doesn’t feel overexposed. I am obsessed with these open toe mules and these kitten heels.

Etnodim
Etnodim blends traditional Ukrainian craftsmanship with modern silhouettes in a way that feels incredibly special. (Cool girl is an early adopter of the brand). The embroidery work is beautiful, but what makes the brand stand out is how wearable everything still feels. Nothing feels costume-y or overly precious. The pieces have depth and history behind them while still fitting seamlessly into a modern wardrobe. I’ve especially been loving the way people are styling embroidered tops with really simple basics lately. A few favorites: this embroidered jacket and this pouch bag.

Martiniano
Martiniano continues to be one of those quiet fashion-person indicators. If someone is wearing Martiniano flats (like it-girls and ), chances are they know exactly what they’re doing stylistically. Handmade in Argentina from incredibly soft leather, the shoes are timeless without feeling boring. The colors are always slightly unexpected in a way that somehow still works with everything. They’re subtle, but they completely change the tone of an outfit. You absolutely need the classic slip on and the booties are a close second.

Lespoir
Lespoir is one of those brands that understands the value of restraint. ( turned me onto them). The pieces are minimal, clean, and incredibly versatile, but never feel sterile. Everything feels designed for real life in the best way possible. Good trousers, great outerwear, elevated basics that actually feel elevated. It’s also one of the few brands in this category where the price point still feels somewhat approachable compared to a lot of the luxury labels dominating this aesthetic space. Currently in my cart: this dress and this tank and trousers set.

Margene
Margene still feels very early (a favorite of the coolest ), which honestly makes it even more exciting. The London-based brand focuses heavily on tailoring and shape, but in a way that still feels relaxed and wearable. The pieces have structure without feeling rigid, and there’s a confidence to the silhouettes that makes them stand out immediately. It feels like the kind of label that fashion insiders are quietly buying now before it becomes much harder to get your hands on later. I just ordered this top and matching spaghetti silk scarf as well as these fun shorts.

Almina Concept
Almina Concept feels very aligned with where fashion is moving right now: thoughtful, refined, and less trend dependent. The collections focus heavily on clean silhouettes, neutral palettes, and pieces that layer beautifully together. Everything feels intentional without trying too hard to make a statement. I also love that the styling around the brand always feels very wearable. It’s aspirational, but still grounded in real life, which is probably why it resonates so much. Cool girls , and are fans. I just received this barn jacket in the mail and it’s the perfect spring / summer addition to my wardrobe. Also on my mind is this high neck jacket, I just can’t decide what color!

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Part of the fun of doing these roundups is realizing how quickly fashion starts moving once you begin paying attention to the smaller brands. What starts as seeing one interesting bag or pair of shoes suddenly turns into noticing the same labels across different cities, different creators, different corners of the internet. Not because everyone is dressing the same, but because certain brands have a way of resonating before they fully break through. And honestly, those are usually the brands worth paying attention to.

Shop The Edit

I’ve also been experimenting with something new alongside this series: a little interactive dashboard where I’m tracking and organizing a lot of the niche brands, labels, and fashion rabbit holes I keep finding myself down lately. Think of it as a living extension of these posts. Still very much a work in progress, but I’d genuinely love feedback from you guys on what you’d want to see added, improved, or included as it evolves.

You can play around with it here: Cool Girls Brand Dashboard

As always, if you’ve made it this far into the series, you probably already know the drill. Save this for later, send it to the friend who’s always asking where you found something, and prepare to start seeing these brands everywhere over the next few months. And if you missed the earlier editions of Niche Brands Cool Girls Are Wearing, you can catch up on Parts 1–6 below.

I wasn’t planning to write this letter. But Mother’s Day has a way of pulling things up whether you’re ready for it or not. And I’ve gotten really good at staying busy. Keeping things moving, keeping things light, not sitting in anything for too long. It works. Until it doesn’t.

Because grief has a way of catching up to you, no matter how well you’ve learned to move around it. And if I’m being honest, my instinct has always been to turn inward when it does. To retreat a little. To keep it to myself. But I’ve realized that staying there too long isn’t the answer either.

I think part of this whole process is figuring out how to live alongside it. How to find purpose beyond it, or maybe even because of it. How to stay open to the world instead of shutting down, even when it would be easier to disappear into it. So instead of outrunning it, or burying it, I’m sitting in it. Letting it be part of my story.

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Mom,

I don’t even know where to start, which feels fitting because I still find myself reaching for you all the time, like I can just call and fill you in on everything. I guess this is my version of that call.

It’s been six years. Six years without you, which still doesn’t make sense when I say it out loud. There are moments where it feels like a lifetime ago, and others where it feels like I just saw you yesterday and could pick up right where we left off. So much has happened. I wish more than anything you were here for it.

Ryland is starting kindergarten in the fall. I cannot believe I’m even writing that. You would be so obsessed with him. He’s curious and sensitive and funny in that quiet, observant way. He notices everything. And he is very type A. Honestly, more type A than I ever was, to the point where he’s made me feel like a type B parent, which feels very you-coded. Even his facial expressions sometimes stop me in my tracks because they remind me so much of you. He definitely keeps me in check.

And Ruby. I mean… Ruby is me. Like, it’s actually scary. She looks just like me, but she has Adrian’s personality, which somehow makes it even more chaotic. She’s independent, stubborn (VERY stubborn), and completely runs the house. I’m already terrified for her teenage years, and I know somewhere you’re laughing, like this is exactly what I deserve. My own mini-me, sent back to me.

I can’t look in the mirror and not see you. And I can’t look at my kids without seeing pieces of you in them too. I wish they could know you how I know you.

I’m trying really hard to hold onto this chapter of life. Even the chaotic parts. Because everyone tells you the days are long and the years are short, and for the first time, I actually understand what that means. I already know these will be the years I go back to someday. The (always!!) sticky hands, the (exhaustingly long) bedtime routines, the constant noise, the little personalities forming in real time. Motherhood has softened me and stretched me in ways I never expected. The kids teach me patience, how to slow down, how to find joy in smaller things. And maybe most unexpectedly, they’ve taught me how to stay present, even while carrying grief alongside it all.

And Adrian… thank God for him. Truly. He has been there for me in a way that I don’t even know how to fully put into words. He’s taken care of me like he promised you he would, and he makes me feel safe and secure in a way I’ve searched for my whole life. But he also lets me be me. He gives me the space and the freedom to live my life, while still being that constant, grounding presence I can always come back to. You saw me through all the ups and downs before him, so I think you’d understand just how much that means. It’s so clear how much he loves me, and sometimes I think it’s the closest thing to the kind of love you gave me.

My girlfriends have been everything. They always make space for you in conversation, which I don’t think I’ve ever properly thanked them for. When we’re out at dinner / drinks or having a weekend celebrating each other, your name still comes up. They’ll say things like how proud you would be of me, or how much you would have loved this version of my life. And then somehow we always end up laughing, telling old stories about you and the things we got away with. We still debate whether you actually knew what was going on half the time, or if you were truly oblivious. I have a feeling it was somewhere in between.

Work is good. Really good. The business has grown in ways I don’t even think I fully stop to process. There are moments where I feel proud, like I’ve built something real, something that matters. And then there are moments where I just want to call you and ask if I’m doing it right. You were always my sounding board, the person who could make anything feel clearer just by talking it through.

I still catch myself picking up my phone to call you. Or listening to your voicemails just to hear your voice for a second. I don’t think that part ever goes away.

I’ve had ups and downs, too. With friendships, with life. There are times I’ve made mistakes, lost my way a bit. And if I’m being honest, there are moments where I’ve done stupid things just to feel something, because sometimes the grief makes everything feel a little numb. It shows up in ways I don’t always expect. But I’ve come back from those moments too. I think you’d be proud of that part. I’ve grown up a lot. I don’t think I had a choice.

That’s the thing I keep coming back to. I feel like I’ve finally become an adult, like really stepped into my life in a way I don’t think I had before. And it kills me that this is the version of me you don’t get to know. The version that could meet you where you are, that could understand you differently, that could be your friend in a deeper way.

Dad isn’t doing great. I don’t know how to say that without it feeling heavy, but it is. Anticipatory grief is a strange thing. In some ways, it feels even harder than losing you did, because it’s this constant knowing, this slow ache that never fully lets up. I wish I didn’t feel like I’m bracing for something I don’t want to face again.

I try to keep up with the things that matter. Our traditions, the little things that made life feel like ours. I see Uncle Louie as much as I can. He’s basically a grandfather to the kids, and I know that would make you happy. He always tells the funniest stories about growing up with you, and I love getting to hear that side of your life through him. I only hope Ruby and Ryland end up with the kind of relationship you two had as siblings.

I see pieces of you in Yolanda, too. Her energy feels so familiar, and the way she’s become part of our family is such a blessing. I feel really grateful to have her in our lives. I have such an incredible support system around me. I really do. And I don’t take that for granted.

But there’s also this underlying feeling that never really leaves. That you were taken too soon. That you missed this part. This really beautiful, full part of my life. And I hate that. I hate that you don’t get to see it, to be in it.

I miss you in the big moments, obviously. But it’s the small ones that get me the most. The random updates. The quick calls. The things that don’t feel significant until you realize you have no one to tell them to in the same way.

I hope you can see it all somehow. I hope you know I’m trying. I hope you’d be proud of the life I’m building, even on the days it feels messy or uncertain. I just really, really wish you were here for it.

I love you. Always.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Katie