Consider Yourself A Shopper #41: The Wild Wild West
Plus, a few Madison Ave adventures and other finds that have been catching both my eye and my card.
I won't bury the lead—I wrote a piece for Elle on the Western trend, marking my first official byline (yes, I did have bylines in the NYU paper, but do those count?). I'm absolutely thrilled about it! If you follow me on Instagram, you're already in the know; if not, you’re missing half the fun.
I won’t spoil too much here because I want you to dive into the full article on Elle, but I will share two of my favorite points.The first being…
I bought my first pair of cowboy boots during my sophomore year, but I wasn’t wearing them as a nostalgic nod to the hometown kids, nor was I channeling the boho-romantic, Coachella-going, avocado toast-eating girls who seemed to live in cowboy boots. No—I wanted to wear them in a Princess Diana-being-snapped-by-the-paparazzi way.
and
But does the Western trend ever truly go away? It’s one of those perennial styles, as ever-present as leopard print.
You can find the full article here.
Now onto my tiny adventure on Madison Ave
On Friday, I had an appointment to see Grey’s, a London-based brand making its way stateside, known for using knitwear techniques rather than traditional cut-and-sew construction. There’s strong evidence that designer Emily Grey is drawing more from the early 20th century than anything overtly contemporary—one standout look, a bubble-hem jacket paired with a long skirt, immediately brought Poiret to mind. I also got a sneak peek at a collab between One/of and Etéreo Vintage, which seems to be shaping up nicely. After that, I stopped by three stores to see what they had to offer:
Khaite
This was my first stop after my appointment, and my sole mission was to try on (and possibly buy) these shoes. Good news—the 41 fit! (Lately, I’ve noticed some brands are making their 41s smaller—what’s the deal?!). The bad news was the black beaded version with the higher heel hadn’t arrived yet (the white pair seem to be available online and in-store).
While waiting for the clerk to bring the shoes, I took the opportunity to size up this bag and browse the RTW. I didn’t have time to try anything on, but I’m curious about how this top hangs on the body. And there was a jacket that caught my eye.
Prada
Once again, my main reason for stopping in was to try on shoes. I had my eye on a particular pair, but it looks like they haven’t hit the stores just yet. In the meantime, I tried on a few outerwear pieces.
The Row
The grand finale of my Madison Ave adventure was a pilgrimage to The Row—mainly to admire the de Vera jewelry
mentioned in one of her newsletter. As I made my way to the back of the store, where the bags and jewelry cases are housed, I stopped to try on a hat that, unfortunately, was quite unflattering on me. As I went to return it, a woman slowly made her way into the store, her voice laced with a certain panic, and asked a sales associate, “Do you have any Margauxs?” It seems Margaux anxiety is officially in full swing
As for the jewelry—simply divine. Foolishly, I inquired about a few Tahitian pearl pendants, naively assuming they’d be under $1,000. I was, of course, proven very wrong, with prices soaring well over $2K. (I did, however, manage to find something slightly more attainable on their website—a pair of ancient bronze coin earrings set in 14k rose gold from the under-$1,000 section. They feel just right for one of those grey April days when you can get away with linen pants, a chunky sweater, sandals, and maybe a light jacket for dinner.) From there, I meandered through each floor, absentmindedly twisting the drawstring of a pair of striped pants, running fabric between my palms, moving from one thing to the next. Eventually, I reached the top floor, where I was pleased to discover The Row’s take on a duffle coat hanging up on a valet stand.
Before leaving, I asked a sales associate about the artist of a particular photograph, which sent her flipping through a massive binder cataloging all the store’s artwork. Unfortunately, the one I was curious about wasn’t in there. When we came up short on answers, she asked if I was drawn to the piece because I liked horses. I told her I liked the idea of horses.
things in my home, in my cart, or simply on my mind
I’ve been suffering from a particularly severe case of the spendies, and it’s getting dangerous—because it mostly involves jewelry 😬. I’ve been saying this for a while, but with new RTW offerings teetering between redundancy and flashes of brilliance (Don't get me wrong—some brands are putting out pieces that are, quite literally, breathtakingly good!), the easiest way to make an outfit feel fresh is through the accessories you put in conversation with your look. A hat, glasses, a bag, a belt—but more often than not, it feels as though jewelry makes the biggest impact. I already shared this on Instagram, but Eliburch has officially launched on At Present, which is incredibly exciting. Matt’s work is truly special—I love how you can see the artist’s hand in every piece. There’s something so effortless about the way precious stones are incorporated, scattered in abstract patterns rather than placed too preciously, and how etched details are drawn directly into the metal. The brand fits seamlessly into that “touched by antiquity” category of jewelry I’ve talked about, a style that feels especially relevant right now. Think pieces like this, this, and this.
Another brand I recently discovered that fits into this category is Joelle Kharrat. At the moment, the only pieces available are the Totem pendants, but what makes them truly special is that each one is inspired by one of the four elements.
There are days, I want to dress like I own a charming little basket shop in a coastal New England town. Other days, I want to look like a high-powered, shoulder-padded, and well heeled woman you would find in a Helmut Newton photograph—the great dichotomy! Generally, I don’t find myself perusing lingerie brands unless I need tights, but I was served an ad for Fleur du Mal, and well… the spiral began. There’s something in the air—a rejection of the quiet, clean aesthetic of the past few seasons, or maybe just a fatigue of winter—that is making me crave clothes that feel a little bit, well… naughty. This bodysuit has been sitting in my cart for a week now (there’s also this dress which is very much channeling this Tom Ford era Gucci dress). I would fully lean into a “Working Girl” look, with a strong-shouldered blazer, a pencil skirt, and some outrageously ostentatious earrings that make it clear I mean business.
On the subject of clothes with a certain sexual tension, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to slips and sheer pieces—whether a skirt or a dress. Maybe it’s just another symptom of winter fatigue, but the allure of something light, delicate, and subtly revealing feels especially appealing right now.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, but still carrying its own sensuality, is the continued lean into the romantic and ethereal. I’m obsessed with this Callas Milano top, which I think would look divine with a full skirt or even these Bermuda shorts from Partow, finished with a strappy, barely-there sandal.
NO. 21 SS25 c/o Vogue Runway. When was the last time you thought about No. 21? I’ve been aware of the brand for years, but it wasn’t until last September—when they sent down a look that perfectly embodied the “Wrong Jacket” theory—that I really took notice. Then, during an appointment, someone mentioned the designer’s deep admiration of Prada, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
A screenshot from NO. 21’s designer Alessandro dell'Acqua’s Instagram Needless to say, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the SS24 drop, mainly to see how the pricing would shake out for a few flirty dresses I had my eye on—particularly whether they’d land around or below Prada and Miu Miu. In the process, I stumbled upon a stunning yellow coat that instantly reminded me of this Prada coat that
has, along with a fun and flirty pleated skirt, and a metallic flat that stratches this itch.And finally a few beauty updates:
I’m stepping outside my Frederic Malle bubble and trying out Out of the Blue by St. Rose. (Does anyone else choose fragrances purely based on the name?) Surprisingly, it doesn’t contain any rose—a major departure for me scent-wise. Lately, I’ve been layering it with a fragrance from Hermès that I picked up at the launch party, and I’m honestly surprised by how much I love the combination.
Both scents share patchouli as a base note, but while the St. Rose fragrance has more gourmand base notes—I typically avoid gourmands altogether—the presence of certain florals, like geranium, keeps it from feeling too indulgent. As for the Hermès scent, the best way to describe it is it smells like a rich woman. (For some reason, every time I spritz it on, I can’t help but think of Elizabeth Taylor in the White Diamonds commercial—“These have always brought me luck.”)
When it comes to skincare, I finally restocked my holy grail—the Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum. Lately, my nighttime routine has been all about layering on the lotions and potions, ensuring I go to bed looking like a glazed doughnut in the hopes of waking up plump and radiant. To aid the cause, I recently added the Eighth Day Night Cream Treatment to my lineup, and so far, I’m loving it!
That’s all, talk soon!
xx
JJ
I'm usually a size 40 shoe and have also noticed that 41s seem to be getting smaller! Congratulations on your article, Jalil! That's so exciting!!
I have also been looking at vintage lingerie - I bought a 60s slip for $10.95 and wore it under a thin skirt (as one does), then realized it would make a wonderful contrast to a menswear blazer...hmmm.
I've also been feeling spendy lately, which is a dangerous thing. However, jewelry is one of those things that you keep forever...oh how easily we talk ourselves into things.
The Zankov! Ok yes - breathtaking. And look forward to one day twinning in yellow Prada mutton sleeve coats 💛 💛