I am officially two months postpartum, I cannot belive how quickly time has been flying by. The way I already have packed away Teli’s newborn clothes has me genuinely unwell. The tears shed as I am folding these newborn onsies knowing he will never be that small again - my heart, time is a thief.

Now that things are settling down in our world, the initial shock of baby and becoming parents has worn off and we are dare I say finding a groove? I have so many thoughts, but what has really surprised me most is the relationship I have with myself now.

I have always known exactly who I am; even if I hadn't entirely figured her out yet, I knew what felt true to me and what didn't. And now I have entered motherhood… and I feel as though my world has been rocked.

I say this with such immense gratitude because I am aware of the magnitutude of what my body did two months ago. I am forever in awe of just how casual everyone is about giving bith, it’s insane. Motherhood has opened a door to a type of love I did not know I was capable of or that was even humanly possible.

It's. It's an unexplainable love.

But with all that love, I find myself sometimes mourning my old self. I feel as though I am no longer her. While she still very much is within me, that life and that girl feel like someone from my past. It has been such an interesting, sometimes difficult, and other times beautiful experience to see yourself and your priorities shift. Who is this new person I have become? Will she still have time to do the silly little things she loved before? Will the newborn stage be forever (please, God no lol)?

Having a baby has done incredible things for me; I am no longer the center of my world. He is. I have slowed down; holding him while feeding him or rocking him to sleep has quite literally made my hands full and kept me from aimlessly scrolling. I feel like I am able to more present than ever. And on the other hand, I miss the silly, shallow things like...my wardrobe, if I’m being honest. This body, while I am so proud of it, is different than the one I had before. I've heard so many women talk about this exact thing, and I always thought: just give yourself grace. You CREATED LIFE. It is so much easier said to someone you love than to yourself. It feels almost unfair as women we are meant to navigate all of these changes at once. A brand new baby (and for first time moms especially - we have no idea what we’re doing) a new body, a new set of hormones (yay!) and yet we do it.

All of this to say, motherhood has been the most expansive thing I have ever done. Rather than sit in my wallows of this temporary phase and body, I try to actively shift my mindset (and trust me this is not always easy, I have had my fair share of breakdowns in my closet) to actually get excited to get to know this new version of me.

Dressing her is different. She has curves now, and she's usually holding a baby while she does it. It's been a challenge, but one I've gotten excited to take on, and somewhere in the middle of all this change, that fashion loving, 90s inspired girl is still there. She's just making room for someone new.

I have a feeling this new version of me will be stronger, more patient, more compassionate. She's still figuring out what fits. So for now, we size up in the vintage Levi's, give ourselves some grace, and grow into her one wear at a time.

Til next time,

Anastasia xx

Hydra is the one Greek island with no cars, no scooters, nothing motorized at all. You get around on foot or by donkey, and that one rule changes everything about how the island feels. You slow down because you have to. You notice things because there’s nothing pulling your attention away.

But slow doesn’t mean sleepy. Hydra is full of culture and inspiration. It is famously home to Leonard Cohen’s home - purchased in the early ‘60s and lived there on and off for decades- and a permanent Jeff Koons installation, which has become the symbol of the island over the last few years. And let us not forget the backdrop to the iconic Boy on a Dolphin featuring the insanely gorgeous Sophia Loren .

Hydra is unique in that it has managed to hold so much ancient Greek history, and yet be so completely relevant in our lifetime. It is both unassuming and yet incredibly breathtaking. What I love about summering in Greece is that you don’t have to try. You can wear beautiful quality and design, but you can leave the over-accessorizing and loud statements to other parts of Europe.

Greece is intentional, functional, and rooted in design.

Jeff Koons Apollo

Sophia Loren “Boy on a Dolphin” filmed on Hydra 1957

“A Summer in Hydra” exhibit by Leslie Kabla at Melina Mercouri Hall, Hydra Harbour through 8/15/26

Leonard Cohen’s home on Hydra

That’s the mood I wanted for this edit. Dressing for Hydra isn’t about doing more, it’s about choosing pieces with enough craft and intention that you don’t need to.

A few things I kept coming back to:

Fabrics that move with you. You’re walking everywhere, often on stone steps, so nothing stiff or fussy. Cotton, silk, chiffon that catches the breeze instead of fighting it.

bikini / skirt / sandal / hair pin / sunglasses / the row bag

kaftan / bikini / necklace / sandal

One quiet nod to mythology. A collaged print built around Greek sea nymphs, a sun motif on a belt and a pendant, small references to the island’s history without going full costume.

midi dress / sandals / sunglasses / the row woven bag / satin bag / mini dress / earrings / cigarette cases (juju vera) / comb

Neutral first, texture second. Cream, black, warm brown leather. Let the weave or the drape do the talking instead of a print or a color.

sunglasses / pants / top / sandals / cigarette case

tie top / long short

dragon diffusion bag / lighter necklace / long shorts / tank / sandals / hair pin

Shoes built for actual walking. No heels you can’t handle on cobblestone. A low mule, something with real leather and a heel you can navigate steps in.

ancient greek sandals eleftheria in black

Hydra teaches you that the elevated choice is almost always the quiet one. Dress like the island: unhurried, a little bit ancient, never trying too hard.

til next time,

Anastasia xx

I toyed with whether or not I would share my birth story online, but this community and this platform felt like the best and most authentic way to do it.

I’ll spare you the unnecessary chatter, and get right into how we welcomed our Teli into the world.

It started on a Monday; I was about 38 1/2 weeks at this point, not due until the 10th of July. I woke up around 6 am to back pain that wrapped all the way around my body and built into a contraction. I’d been feeling Braxton Hicks since 26 weeks, so I knew my body well at this point, and I knew immediately this felt different. They were six minutes apart. Kambiz called his office to cancel his patients, we finalized our hospital bags, and I called my doctor. She told us to hang tight until they got closer to five minutes apart, that she’d see us that night.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood to keep things moving. The contractions built, and at some point I called my mom, who wasn’t due to fly in until July 7th, and told her to get on a plane because he was coming.

We got home from the walk, and the contractions stopped completely.

Like nothing had happened.

It was the biggest mindfuck of my life. One minute I was in labor, mentally and emotionally ready to meet my son, and the next I was back to business as usual with zero contractions. It felt so defeating. My mom landed in town to a whole lot of nothing, and the next 48 hours were a laughable amount of dates, curb walking, raspberry leaf tea, and birthing ball circles.

In the most me thing ever, here I am the day before giving birth because I told my friend at The Row to call me the moment this canvas Agnes arrived, and even labor was not going to get in between me and that bag.

My 39 week appointment was that Thursday. My doctor asked if I wanted a membrane sweep, and at that point I would have said yes to almost anything. In my opinion, the last few weeks of pregnancy were by far my hardest. I felt so heavy, was so emotionally ready to meet our son, and so exhausted from 9 months of pregnancy. I was done. lol. We went ahead with the sweep, which was…wow. Thank god it’s all of 20 seconds. Kambiz went to work after the appointment, and my mom and I went to Target.

That’s when the contractions kicked back up.

I had my timer running in the middle of Target, realizing this was actually happening, and decided the most useful thing I could do with my time until they got closer together was build a snack goody basket for the nurses. The way I am in the middle of Target, focusing on putting together an aesthetic, light blue, boy-themed snack basket while simultaneously pausing to time my contractions is ridiculous in hindsight. Once I saw that I was approaching the 5 minute mark and these contractions were starting to feel like the real deal, I called Kambiz and told him to cancel the rest of his day. He sped home, literally driving on the emergency lane of the 405 to get to us in time. My mom put baklava in the oven for the nurses. I sat on the floor staring at the wall and my contraction timer.

We still laugh about this: after making my husband rush home from work, we made him wait ten extra minutes at home so the baklava could finish baking before we left for the hospital. Name something more Greek than that.

Hospital bag packed! Not pictured: the away suitcase with my barefoot dreams blanket, birthing ball (which I had no time to use), and towels

At the hospital

My doctor had called ahead to say I was coming in to be induced, contractions four minutes apart. We got settled into our room, and they inserted the Foley balloon. In my head, I thought I still had hours (if not a whole day to go).

The balloon fell out thirty minutes later. To say we all freaked out (including my godsend of a nurse) is an understatement. What do you mean it came out…I thought this took hours?! I was 4cm dilated, and things moved fast after that. An hour and an epidural later (which wow, can’t recommend enough lol) I was 6cm. An hour later, 8cm. An hour after that, it was time to push. It was surreal. We were going to meet our son that night.

Now this is where my ridiculous competitive nature and a lot of years' worth of Pilates paid off. I was locked in and going to get this baby out. Twenty minutes of pushing and Teli was in my arms, skin to skin, and I was in heaven. Holding him on my chest was the most euphoric feeling that I wish I could bottle up forever.

I had the most incredible birthing experience, and I don’t say that lightly. So much of what I heard going into labor was fear- and anxiety driven. Story after story of all of the things that could go wrong, or how traumatic labor would be, that it almost felt impossible to have a positive experience. I only wish this and then some to all of my expecting moms: a safe and easy delivery!!

I credit that almost entirely to my labor and delivery nurses, who I can only describe as angels on earth. I felt invincible with that team around me. Between my nurses, doctor, my mom, and Kambiz (though there were a few moments I, in fact, was going to kill him), I had the most amazing support system.

We welcomed Teli six hours after we checked in. The biggest whirlwind of our lives.

There was one scary moment I still think about. I was 8cm dilated when my heart rate and his both started to dip. Within seconds, a full crew of nurses was in the room, had me flipped onto all fours, and was walking me through what might come next. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, and it lasted only seconds. I remember thinking, whatever needs to happen to keep us both safe, that’s what we do. I don’t look back on it as traumatic so much as I think about how fast and how sure that team moved. Angels on earth, truly.

naturally.

Bringing him home

After a night in the hospital, we brought our family home, and that might be the most surreal part of the whole thing. It’s this strange mix of exhaustion, joy you can’t fully explain, and genuine fear that you’re now responsible for this impossibly small person.

That first week is a blur. I couldn’t tell you what we ate or what we did with our days. Pure survival mode. But a month in with our son, I can’t imagine a version of life without him in it. We are blessed beyond measure!

To all of my moms, wow. I see you in a way I could never have understood without going through this myself. The 3 am nights, the tears, the unimaginable amount of love that you quite literally did not know you were capable of feeling. It’s the greatest accomplishment of my life (and that’s coming from a type A firstborn daughter who never thought she’d feel this way about motherhood lol).

And to my expecting moms, it’s everything. It’s joy I can’t wait for you to experience. Wishing you all a safe, healthy, and easy delivery!

Til next time,

Anastasia xx

tassel necklace / pouch / tea cup / platter / collar necklace

I am resurfacing from my newborn bubble to catch up on Couture week, and let me just say… Fendi is the only thing on my mind (other than my cluster-feeding newborn). The way I am OBSESSED with this art deco, perfectly tailored, effortlessly feminine collection. I need to stop myself because I can talk about this ad nauseam.

The opening look was a caftan in chevron black and white stripes, inspired by a dress worn a century ago by Emilie Floge, Gustav Klimt's (the iconic symbolist painter helped define Art Nouveau in Europe) companion and a couturier in her own right.

basket bag / earrings / sandal / sunglasses / matchbox

Personally I am inspired by all of it. The silk kaftans, the Art Deco necklines, the structured suits, the capes. Chiuri created a true feast for the eyes. Let’s not even get into the lace that up close reveals flowers made of fur, leather, and fabric woven together. Kimono-proportioned jackets - I can’t handle. I am eating every single detail up.

Consider this my official mood board going into fall.

Till next time,

Anastasia xx

I have been obsessing over canvas and leather trimmed bags for Summer as of late. It started with the Hermès Victoria I am constantly pinning. If you are not familiar, it is one of those bags that does not get talked about enough. Born in 1997 during Hermès’ Year of Africa and named after Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Something about the combination of these materials feels so relaxed in a way that most Hermès bags are not, and I find that incredibly refreshing.

What I love is that this same canvas and leather formula has found its way into the most coveted bags right now. The Row’s canvas Margaux and Agnes 15 in canvas, which came out this year and is already near impossible to get. Bottega came out with their own variation of canvas and leather for their resort collection: Large Cabat Mare and a fun take on the classic Andiamo.

Needless to say I am all in on the functional, effortless vibes of these bags for Summer. I took the liberty to put toghether some Summer outfit featuring these canvas beauties below!

tank / skirt / sunglasses / shoes

button down / jeans / flip flops / sunglasses

jeans / top / sandals / cuff / sunglasses

tunic / sunglasses / sandals / earrings

tank / plaid button down / jean / flip flop /earring / sunglasses

tank / skirt / sandals / sunglasses

necklace / swim / pant / loafer / sunglasses

Vintage Hermes Victoria / 2. The Row Agnes / 3. JacquemusLe Turismo / 4. Tibi X Boat and Tote / 5. Toteme Bucket Bag / 6. Bottege Andiamo / 7. & Other Stories Tote / 8. The Row Margaux / 9. Bottega Large Tote / 10. Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag / 11. Kallmeyer Tote / 12. Polene Paris Tote / 13. The Row Linen Margaux / 14. Khaite Hobo Bag / 15. East West Tote / 16. Amazon Tote

Till next time,

Anastasia xx

Jacquemus showed this morning in Corsica, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. As a true minimalist, I will break away from my rigid color palette and clean lines for a Jacquemus show or campaign any day because the way Simon’s brain works is truly exceptional. With that said, this morning we got Spring 2027.

The collection, called Le Bonheur, (French for happiness) was said to be inspired by Simon’s children. They are the reason he felt free to use these delicious color combinations of yellow, burnt orange, turquoise, and tangerine that feel like a sun soaked memory. The colors are tangy and unapologetic, the silhouettes are fun and easy. The whole collection just put a smile on my face.

This landed differently with me today, at 38.5 weeks pregnant, about a week out from meeting my own little person. I love that our kids will push and inspire us in ways we wouldn’t imagine. And this collection and the inspiration behind it made me incredibly excited for my own experiences and what I will take away from them.

I’ve been sitting with this idea lately of what my style looks like on the other side of becoming a mom. I think I’ve always defaulted to restraint. Quiet. Precise. And I still love that. But there’s a playfulness I’m starting to let back in, and somehow a Jacquemus show in Corsica articulated it better than I could.

Le bonheur. That’s the assignment this summer.

Til next time,

Anastasia Xx

I just need to give a fair warning that I am a retired beach-read girly, so unfortunately none of these will scratch that itch if that is what you are looking for. BUT I love a really good book that embodies the time of year we are in. Summer isn’t one flat season either. It moves. There’s the carefree beginning, the easy middle, and that golden slow burn at the end of August.

So without further hesitation, my summer heavy hitters.

I · The Opening of Summer

Eve Babitz - Slow Days, Fast Company · Eve’s Hollywood · LA Woman

Eve Babitz is, to me, the definition of summer. Warm, careless, chaotic, loose. Reading her isn’t really reading. It’s more like someone handing you a cold drink at a party and a long night ahead. She is my LA Samantha Jones. Undeniably herself, powerful in her sexuality, and neither a victim of their desire.

She writes the way a perfect summer day actually feels. One beautiful tangent after another. Sun and gossip and pools and people who are bad for you.

Every time I pick her up I come away lighter. Energized, a little reckless, ready to say yes to things. Which is summer, right?

II · Midsummer Ease

Allen Levi - Theo Of Golden · Ann Patchett - Tom Lake

Theo of Golden is a fast read, a late at night with the windows open and fresh candle lit kind of read. It moves quick because you don’t want to put it down, and then it won’t leave you. I’d close it and think about it all day.

It’s heartfelt and uncomplicated in the best way possible. There’s a purity to it I can’t really explain, except that it feels like summer itself, and when you finish it you immediately want to hand it to someone you love.

I read Tom Lake last summer and loved it. It’s set over one summer on a cherry orchard in Michigan, and as a Midwest native, there is something so familiar about this book.

Tom Lake embodies the way a good midsummer afternoon feels- easy and golden and a little nostalgic. The whole book just feels like basking in the sun.

III · The Turn

Clarice Lispector — An Apprenticeship, or The Book of Pleasures
Joan Didion — The White Album · Year of Magical Thinking · Play It As It Lays

Then, when you’re ready to actually slow down, Clarice Lispector. She’s the opposite of a beach read and somehow exactly right for one. The books are short and quiet, almost nothing happens, and yet everything does.

An Apprenticeship, or The Book of Pleasures is the one I’d start with. It’s about a woman slowly, almost painfully, learning how to let herself feel pleasure again. It’s sensual and strange and a little philosophical, but Clarice never makes a big deal of any of it, which is exactly why it gets under my skin. I save her for the thick middle of summer, the afternoons so hot you go quiet anyway.

And then Joan Didion shows up like the season turning. Didion is the counterpart to Babitz in the most perfect way. If Babitz is the party, Didion is the call that it’s over. Babitz is the pool, the sunshine, the chaos that feels glamorous while you’re in it. Didion is the Santa Ana winds, the freeways, that low hum of dread underneath all of it. She never tells you how to feel. She just lays out the facts so precisely that the dread arrives on its own.

She’s the comedown, a little sad, kind of beautiful. Which is exactly what the end of summer feels like and exactly the itch she scratches.

V · The End of August

Joan Didion - The White Album · Year of Magical Thinking · Play It As It Lays

And then, every year, Joan Didion shows up like the season turning. I can’t fully explain why she’s an end-of-summer writer to me, but she is. Something about the long, tired heat of late August. The hot and smoggy LA light. It all lines up with the way she writes for me.

Didion is the counterpart to Babitz in the most perfect way. If Babitz is the party, Didion is the call that it’s over. Both are so distinctly LA, just opposite sides of it. Babitz is the pool, the sunshine, the chaos that feels glamorous while you’re in it. Didion is the Santa Ana winds, the freeways, that low hum of dread underneath all of it. She never tells you how to feel. She just lays out the facts so precisely that the dread arrives on its own.

She’s the comedown. Clear-eyed, a little sad, kind of beautiful. Which is exactly what the end of summer feels like and exactly the itch she scratches.

Happy reading. I hope one of these finds you at the right moment this summer, now go outside, find some shade, and open something good!

Til next time,

Anastasia xx

Let’s be honest. There is something deliciously absurd about making a Mother’s Day wishlist before you have even been called mama. And yet here I am… belly round, 31 weeks pregnant, opinions strong, deeply committed to this exercise.

Consider this my love letter to the small things, the ridiculous things, and the mothers who deserve all of it.

Act I: the simple joys

The things that actually matter. Honestly, give me any one of these and I am full.

• A petite floral arrangement : something loose, slightly wild, nothing too precious

  

• A book of poems : the kind you read slowly, one at a time, with coffee. I have this beautiful book I am reading.

• An afternoon at the museum : no agenda, just wandering

• A homemade dinner made by my husband : this one beats everything on Act II and while we’re at it, coffee and breakfast in bed.

• A prenatal or regular massage. If you are local to LA, Spencer’s & The Bel Air Hotel have been some of my best prenatals.

  

Act II : the unhinged list

Aspirational. Delusional. Entirely sincere. In no particular order of urgency (they are all urgent).

• Ginori additions : always room for one more piece. This was my personal choice this year, with a few mugs and bread plates added to the collection. (Is this what my 30’s has become? Joy from italian fine china?)

  

• Lazy Jamie : the cult products that live on my counter and deserve to stay there. I think the flatware is simply to die for

  

• Diamond earrings : an oval set, or oval hoops. You know the ones.

• A vintage photo frame : the kind that looks like it was always yours

• Anything from Juju Vera or Sophie Buhai : irreplaceable jewelry, full stop

• Custom stationery : and if you are going to do it, do it properly: splurge on Jaymes Paper

  

• Anything from The Row’s new Summer collection : no notes needed

• The Hermès Pegasus charm : a small winged whimsical little charm to spark joy

  

• Vincent Blvd Camille sunglasses : the ones I have been thinking about since March

Sharing my full Mother’s Day gift edit here for your own perusing!

The unhinged list is all fun and games. But I want to take a moment…a real one…to say something I mean entirely.

To the mothers of all kinds: I have never felt such a deeper appreciation and respect for you than I do right now, on this journey to becoming a mother myself. What you carry, what you give, what you show up for every single day, it is extraordinary.

To put it simply: you are amazing.

Happy Mother’s Day.

A.S.G.

There is a moment in Florence… and if you’ve been, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s en route to dinner, the light has turned that particular shade of gold that doesn’t seem to exist anywhere else, and the Arno is reflecting the whole sky back at you. I found myself saying it over and over on our sunset walks…Florence was made to be experienced at golden hour.

There is something about being in a city that buzzes with thousands of years of history. Florence has maintained this extraordinary hub for makers and craftspeople, and you feel it around every corner. It truly made me slow down, connect, and shop intentionally.

So without further ado, my guide to Florence. Everything you need to eat, shop, and see!

What to Know Before You Go

The best version of this city is the one you are not overplanning, bask in the joy of slowing down and stumbling into a leather workshop, or rooftop bar for an appertivo. Build your days loosely. Keep your evenings sacred for long dinners and slow walks. And plan your days around golden hour, always.

Where to Shop

This is where Florence will absolutely undo you in the best possible way. The shopping here is unlike anywhere else in the world because so much of it is made here, by hand, by people who have been doing it for decades. Bring an extra bag. You will need it.

Heart to Heart / Loompa My favorite find for iconic Florentine slippers.

Ginori 1735 Flagship If you know, you know. The Ginori flagship in Florence is a destination in itself. Even if you don’t buy anything (you will), it’s worth stepping inside just to take it all in.

Essère For custom pajamas and robes made to order. There is a six-week turnaround time, but they will ship directly to your home!

Umberto Leather Goods I walked out with a butter yellow suede bag that I have thought about every single day since. Very much in the spirit of The Row.

Luciano Leather Gloves An establishment that has been in Florence for over 60 years. The selection of leather gloves is gorgeous, and what makes this experience truly special is that they fit the gloves to your hand.

Anna One of my absolute favorites for custom leather jackets and goods! I brought home a gorgeous light camel suede trench coat that is pure perfection for LA weather.

Pineider This one is for my fellow stationery obsessives, one of the oldest luxury paper and leather goods houses in Italy. I picked up notebooks, a leather agenda, and a few other pieces I will treasure for years. If you love beautiful objects and the ritual of writing by hand, do not skip this.

Unicounique Right next door to Pineider, and an equally wonderful discovery. A gem of a shop making handmade jewelry and the most exquisite silk Florentine jackets. I came home with one of these jackets and have not stopped thinking about how to wear it.

Officina Profumo Santa Maria Novella One of the oldest pharmacies in the world and one of the most beautiful spaces you will ever stand in.

It should also be said that Florence is home to some of the most incredible vintage sprinkled in throughout the city! Keep your eyes open and pop into everything!

Where to Eat

Florence fed us extraordinarily well. A few principles before the list: make reservations wherever you can, don’t rush dinner, and always order the bistecca.

Gustapizza The line is worth it. This is the pizza you will be thinking about on the plane home. Go for lunch, go hungry, go twice if you can.

Osteria Del Cinghiale Bianco A beautifully authentic Florentine trattoria. The kind of dinner that lasts three hours and feels like it was over in twenty minutes.

Cantinetta Antinori Elegant, historic, and the bistecca Fiorentina here is genuinely one of the best things I have ever eaten. Reserve ahead.

Trattoria Cammillo A beloved local institution, it’s warm, unpretentious, and unnecessarily delicious. Order the pasta and whatever they tell you is in season.

Cosimo Rooftop For a drink or dinner with one of the most beautiful views of the city. The rooftops of Florence at dusk are a non-negotiable.

Loggia Rooftop Another stunning rooftop perch. Offers a completely different view and both are worth it.

Angel Roofbar Our favorite spot for a sunset aperitivo. Arrive early to get a spot by the railing. This is what I mean about Florence at golden hour.

Babae One of the few remaining working wine windows in Florence, a buchetta del vino, a tiny window cut into the stone of historic palazzos through which wine has been sold since the 17th century.

Vivoli For affogato. Just go. It’s not negotiable.

Gili Your espresso pit stop. A beautiful historic bar that has been part of the fabric of Florentine life for decades. Stand at the counter, order a coffee, do it properly.

Honorable mention: Trattoria 13 Gobbi …on my list for next time and highly recommended by people I trust.

A Note on How to Actually Experience Florence

The shopping and the restaurants matter, but they are not the point. The point is the feeling of walking a city that has been tended to, built beautifully, and preserved with intention across centuries. The artisans are still here. The wine windows are still open. The light still does that thing at golden hour.

My advice: build your days around the walk to dinner. Leave early enough to wander. Take the long way. Let the city show you what it wants to show you. Florence has a way of giving you exactly what you need. P.S. don’t forget to visit one of the many fotoautomaticas scattered throughout the town!

Have you been to Florence? I’d love to know your favorites!

Spring really has a way of breathing air into my life. I am finding myself in this beautiful season where the days are getting longer, the colors are a little more vibrant, and I am rounding out my second trimester, eagerly awaiting this little man to come into our lives. I have been finding so much joy in slowing down and living with intention. What do I really enjoy…and give me more of that, please!

Here is where I am as of late...

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croc clutch / red trench coat / tan drawstring pant / leather cape coat / mesh sandal / eye patches / red canvas tote / raffia clutch / raffia bucket hat / long sheer dress / concho belt

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Pregnancy has done something to me. I have been feeling the need to be much more intentional and purposeful about what I consume lately. No mindless scrolling. Only things that actually feed something in me.

And what has my soul been craving? The 1990s. Obviously.

My affinity (obsession??) started many, many years ago, but my latest relapse began with the Hulu series on JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. And from there? Gone. Fully, completely, blissfully gone.

This isn’t entirely new for me. I cycle back to 90s fashion obsession every so often, but this time it hit different. Growing up fashion-obsessed and being fed the NYC fashion girl dream of the 90s and early 2000s, it’s not shocking to me that I absolutely devour anything and everything 90s fashion-related.

So, maybe this is a niche, but if this is your schtick too, here’s what I’ve been reading, watching, and completely disappearing into.

Books

If you’re as heavily invested in Hulu’s Love Story as I am, let me give you a little homework so you can feel like a full-on JFK Jr./CBK expert for the remainder of the season.

Once Upon a Time — a deep dive into all things Carolyn. If you want to understand her beyond the Pinterest photos circulating as of late, this is your starting point.

What Remains by Carole Radziwill — if you know, you know. Carole was one of the closest people in their inner circle, and this memoir is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Also, if you’re an OG Real Housewives of New York fan, then this is a beautiful moment of pop culture crossroads. If you are not…why?

They All Came to Barneys — okay, this one is a little left of the CBK world, but it is heavy on the fashion. It’s a fascinating POV and a true front row seat to fashion history. I’m currently reading this alongside watching Vogue: The 90s, and the overlap between the two is sending me into a full spiral in the best possible way.

Shows & Documentaries

If you are not watching A Love Story on Hulu, I cannot stress this enough: start now. Clear your evening, pour something sparkling, and just go. Also, I am jealous you get to watch it for the first time.

I also watched the short documentary John & Carolyn: Love, Beauty & Loss — a perfect companion piece that left me wanting even more.

This one may be niche and a little bootleg, BUT there is a documentary on YouTube…maybe Apple TV? I watched a few years ago called JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: The Lost Tapes. It featured never-before-seen footage of how they executed their secret wedding on Cumberland Island.

And then there’s Vogue: The 90s. I am devouring this. The who’s who of an entire era, all in one place. It’s the kind of content that makes you yearn to be a twenty something living in NYC. The way it intersects with They All Came to Barneys has only deepened my need for more 90s fashion content — which I didn’t think was possible.

If you made it this far, we are clearly the same person and I am so glad you're here. This little corner of 90s fashion history has been such a joy to fall into during this season of slowing down.

I welcome all of your favorite 90s fashion reads, documentaries, or shows in the comments. I need them all.

til next time,

Anastasia xx

Our elusive it girl. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy let her confidence and personal style do the talking … and three decades later, we’re still listening.

Her formula was simple: clean lines, quiet confidence, and exquisite tailoring. No fuss, no logos, no noise. If that’s your language too, here are the brands speaking it right now…

Full 90s inspired edit here!

Attersee — Founded by a former T Magazine editor, this New York label is built on the same logic CBK lived by: effortless design & immaculate tailoring.

satin clutch / silk dress / cecily jacket

Toteme — The Swedish brand that’s become synonymous with effortless. Collarless coats, wide-leg trousers, and silk separates in a palette that basically invented “neutral.” If CBK were dressing today, there’d be Toteme in her closet, I am sure of it.

kick flare denim / black trouser / button down shirt

Róhe — Amsterdam-born and fashion-girl-approved. Draped silk tops, tailored blazers, and the kind of trousers that make everything else look overdressed. A quieter find, which is exactly the point.

white tuxedo dress / button down shirt / mermaid dress

Rue Sophie — An LA-based label making accessible quiet luxury feel genuinely luxurious. Architectural basics that can transition with you throughout the day. Understated, sophisticated, easy.

satin coat / pencil skirt / peplum top

Flore Flore — Also out of Amsterdam, Flore Flore does one thing exceptionally well: the perfect basic. Organic cotton tanks, and tees crafted in Portugal with the kind of fit and finish that makes a $30 version feel impossible. These are the pieces CBK would have worn under everything.

Líe Studios — The Danish label created by sisters mastering the art of the capsule closet. Their accessories are perfectly paired back yet provide just the right amount of interest to an outfit. You cannot convince me CBK would not be wearing this brand today.

patent leather bag / drop earrings / hair pin

Juju Vera — Full disclosure: Carolyn was not really an accessories person, and this brand leans more Jackie O than CBK in its sensibility. But it earns its place on this list for one reason — Juju Vera designed a necklace for the new Love Story show, which makes it a name worth knowing if you’re deep in this world. Consider it an honorable mention with great taste.

juju vera

Nour Hammour — For the leather jacket moment. This Parisian label designs outerwear that feels sculptural without being loud — the kind of jacket that elevates a white tee and jeans into something you’d stop and stare at on the street.

leather jacket /shearling skirt/leather trench

Shevoke — The sunglasses brand getting the 90s oval frame exactly right. Born in Sydney and built on vintage silhouettes, Shevoke makes eco-friendly eyewear that channels the exact frames CBK wore, minus the impossible-to-find vintage markup.

Gini in brown

L.L. Bean — Yes, really. The Boat and Tote is one of those rare classics that has never needed an update. CBK carried it, fashion girls still carry it, and at $40 made-in-Maine, it’s one of the best buys on this entire list. Proof that the most iconic bag in your rotation doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

LL Bean boat and tote

til next time!

Anastasia xx

I am big on shopping your closet and cost per wear…especially when it comes to my denim. I am a firm believer that if you are going to invest in anything, let it be a good pair of jeans. Now, for me, it is forever and always a good pair of vintage Levi’s, but finding your perfect pair is a lifelong commitment, and sometimes we just don’t have time for that.

Let me introduce you to my runner-up. Levi’s 501 90s’. They are about as close as it gets to that perfect vintage cut we all covet. So not only am I going to share my little denim hack with you, I am going to give you a week’s worth of outfits you can style using some staples you probably already have at home, because wearing our clothes is important!

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The biggest takeaway from my first trimester was learning how to slow down and create boundaries. I have always been someone who lives full steam ahead. Packed calendars, back-to-back projects, and saying yes to everything. This time, my body didn’t give me much of a choice. It asked me to rest. To cancel plans. To step back in ways I never really allowed myself to before.

At first, it felt frustrating and humbling. But now it feels purposeful. Like my body is gently preparing me, both mentally and physically, for what’s ahead. I will say, as I settle into the second trimester, I am in this beautiful era of getting my energy back and feeling more like myself, which has been so refreshing!

A few things that have gotten me through the first four and a half months of growing baby boy:

• 8 Sheep Organics belly oil

• Hatch belly oil

• Stainless steel gua sha (this has quite literally been my pregnancy savior)

• Fortuna Skin oil

• Face Reality powerMineral™ SPF 50 (acne & pregnancy safe! I have been using Face Reality for YEARS.)

• Chic mom bags, including The Row Margaux shoulder bag & Demellier suede shoulder bag

• H&M maternity tops (have been living in the ribbed basics)

• elastic pants. I love my Row gala pant but I recently picked up a few pairs from Enza Costa

• Levi’s Low Loose denim

• cashmere socks. for joy.

• Skims maternity anything

cashmere socks / bottega clutch / suede sneakers / suede shoulder bag / fringe jacket / ballet flats / oversized scarf / white tee / faux fur scarf / monogram phone case / moissanite earrings / cashmere sweater / shearling-lined loafer / sunglasses / leather journal

January always does this to me.
I don’t crave a full closet overhaul, but I do have the urge to replace the pieces I reach for the most with fresher, crisper versions. The things that have earned their keep and now deserve an upgrade. And then there are the little luxuries. The ones you absolutely do not need, but once you have them, you wonder how you lived without them. Cashmere socks fall squarely into that category.

Here is what is currently in my cart.

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I took a longer pause over the holidays than I planned. Not because I ran out of things to say, but because I needed a little quiet before saying anything at all.

Instead of coming back with a long list of resolutions, I’m easing in with something simpler. This year, I’m more interested in nourishing what’s already working than reinventing anything.

So here’s what I’m being more mindful of as I step into the new year:

• Reading more thought-provoking books, the kind that stay with you. I read a few in 2025 that I could not stop thinking about, and there is something unexplainable about reading one of those books that pops up like an intrusive thought months after reading it. More of that in 2026, please.

• Fixing what I already own instead of immediately replacing it. (Yes, I’m talking to my Olympus camera that hasn’t worked for the last year, and the new one sitting in my eBay cart.)

• Slowing down and really investing in my relationships. My girlfriends, my sisters, my husband. Pouring into my village the way they’ve poured into me.

• Taking more road trips. 2025 was a year full of big travel: wedding, honeymoon, fashion week… this year, I want to hop in the car, pack snacks, and explore what’s in our beautiful backyard.

Maybe it comes with getting older, or maybe I am finally at a place in life that I don’t feel like I need to change everything about myself on January 1st, but this year I am opting for less pressure, more presence.

Before I dive back into regular posts, I’d love to know what you're craving more of right now… inspiration, practicality, or permission to slow down? Tell me your mindset going into 2026!

Til next time,

Anastasia xx

“Quiet Luxury” should be Oxford’s word of the year for the number of times I opened social media to be bombarded with what it is and how I can achieve a look that screams “quiet luxury”…the irony in that alone kills me. While I love that the new generation (myself included here) has found an appreciation for clean lines and good tailoring, through the designs of The Row, Khaite, and Toteme, let's not forget where all of this REALLY came from.

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When it comes to the impossibly chic girl in your life, gifting becomes a full Olympic sport. She is discerning. She is curated. Naturally, this makes her nearly impossible to shop for.

Fear not. I have assembled what I genuinely believe might be the perfect guide for the girl who embodies chic in its purest form.

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Custom stationery / cashmere travel wrap / longchamp duffel / leather trench / ribbed pj set / suede bag / card holder / claw clip / leather glove / cosmetic travel set / leather bomber jacket / black boot / diamond earring

It’s my absolute favorite time of year! While I am sure we are all inundated with gift guides, sales, and “must buys” I would like to share a few things that I personally have received or would love to receive as gifts for the holidays!

My custom Jaymes Paper set!

One of the best gifts I ever got was from one of my best friends during my engagement. She gifted us a custom stationery set with my new last name. I flew through our stash and ordered myself a new set. If you want to spend a little more I highly recommend Jaymes Paper. I placed my order through them and have fallen in love with the art of note writing all over again.

Make it feel a little custom!

Rather than just a pj set, leather glove, comb, or a cosmetic pouch, add a touch of customization by getting these pieces embroidered with initials or an inside saying! It makes the ordinary gift feel a little extra special.

I live in this skims set! Perfect for an embroidery moment

Another great gift that will get plenty of wear! I have has my travel set for years and recently updated it with this gorgeous new cherry color and my new initials after getting married!

The heavy hitters…

Now if we’re talking my dream wishlist I have to mention this insanely beautiful yellow diamond marquise pinky ring. A stunner and great for a memorable gift!

I have added plenty of other wishlist items big and small on my full gift guide I will link here!

Happy Holidays!

Anastasia xx