Consider Yourself a Shopper #52: The right to be a little ticky tacky
Plus, what to wear to a breakfast event, a wooden skirt worth considering, and a waste bin that will gussy up any room.
Before I hopped on a flight to Martha’s Vineyard on Thursday, I stopped by a breakfast and shopping event hosted by the CFDA, Vogue and Nordstrom to celebrate the latest crop of CVFF Fashion Fund finalists. I won’t get into the event or the finalists here. That’ll be in Wednesday’s newsletter.
The day before, I swung by the SPACE at Nordstrom, who I partnered with for the event, and to also help me pull a look. If you’re not familiar, SPACE is a section in select Nordstrom stores that feels like a boutique within a store, focused on emerging talent and more directional designers while providing an experiential shopping destination. There are names you probably know like Bode or Wales Bonner, alongside ones that might be new discoveries like Kúr. I hadn’t heard of the brand before, but while flipping through the racks, I stopped in my tracks at these cotton trousers. They come with a handmade lace belt you can tie to cinch the waist, though I like it left hanging. It wasn’t until I was boarding my flight that I realized the hem was cut higher in the front than in the back, which felt like such a good, unexpected detail.


As you all know, events are just a natural part of my week at this point. But even with a calendar full of them, I still occasionally find myself a little stumped when it comes to what to wear. For a breakfast event, the question becomes how casual is too casual and how formal is too formal?


Ultimately, since I needed something that could also double as an airport look, I had to lean a bit more into practicality. But just because I went the more pragmatic route didn’t mean I had to sacrifice fun. I first heard about Bode back in high school and was immediately drawn to those early jackets made from deadstock fabrics. Since then, the brand has grown into what’s arguably a staple of the New York fashion scene. I was debating between a few shirts, but ultimately landed on the flag one (it also felt like the right choice to wear to arrive to the Vineyard in.)
As you can probably tell, I’m fully obsessed with these pants, so going with them was a no-brainer.

Why does it feel so right to dress a little tacky?
As I mentioned in Wednesday’s newsletter, it felt inevitable that we’d end up here. People are tired of curated good taste. There’s been a slow drift toward something looser, a little weirder, and honestly just more fun. (Maybe even the recall of those aesthetically pleasing AC units is a sign of the shift.)
Maybe my radar’s off, and this ticky tacky breeze I’m picking up is just the actual summer breeze rolling in. It’s easy to confuse the two. Summer dressing has always been a little questionable anyway. Once the temperature hits 80 and stays there, we all kind of enter survival mode. Getting dressed isn’t about a look anymore, it’s just about putting something on.
That’s when beachwear starts bleeding into the everyday. Swimwear masquerading as bodysuits. Bodysuits hinting at swim without ever touching water. Coverups and sarongs suddenly making sense as eveningwear. FLIP FLOPS IN THE CITY!!!

But I also don’t think I’m totally off. I feel like I end up saying some version of this anytime I talk about what feels relevant right now. Just like our food cravings, our impulses around clothes aren’t random. They’re rooted in something and worth paying attention to. There’s a reason I’ve been hovering over these shoes for weeks, or why I bought this belt that’s basically the stepbrother to belts like this. And it’s not that these pieces are bad or wrong, but I think they feel like a direct challenge to the constraints of q***t l****y. That makes them more interesting and more deserving of our attention. And let’s not pretend the quiet luxury brands aren’t doing it too. The Row, for instance, has always had a slightly offbeat streak. It’s just that over the past few years, people have reduced the brand down to the Margaux bag and soft sweaters. When in reality, what’s most compelling is when they start leaning into the more avant-garde references—Yohji, Comme, that whole world.
Here are the things in my home, in my cart, or simply on my mind….
Someone once asked me if nautical-themed jewelry could only be worn during the summer. I responded, why not wear it in the winter too? It’s not like the beach disappears when the weather cools down. With that in mind, if you’re looking for nautical pieces, there’s a strong offering from Ariel Gordon. In the jewelry space more broadly, I’ve been craving carved stones, ideally inlaid with something like a diamond.

Lately, I’ve been drawn to the nonsensical. Pieces that feel a little unhinged, which ties back to the central idea of today’s newsletter, embracing the ticky tacky. It’s about letting yourself try things that feel too outlandish to be considered seriously. Like these Valentino espadrilles, or a wooden bead skirt that looks like it was made from one of those beaded car seat covers. There’s no lining, which might be a dealbreaker for some. You could always add one yourself, and while technically any color slip would work, I’d go with something like white or eggshell to complement the tone of the wooden beads. As you’ve probably gathered, I’ve been leaning into a certain element of….er…. nudity. To preserve that effect, I’d suggest wearing something closer to a speedo or short shorts that keep most of the leg exposed.
I’ve always wanted a summer-appropriate cape. Not because it’s practical, but because it instantly dresses up a look that might otherwise feel a bit uninspired. Now feels like the right time to start looking for vintage Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche capes (here, here, and here).
It also seems like every other week I’m in the middle of a deep dive into a brand that’s not necessarily out of my wheelhouse, but not one I usually pay much attention to either. A few weeks ago it was Vince. This week it’s James Perse. It started with me trying to find a new pair of cargo shorts, and then falling into a spiral of oversized jersey tees, which I love for their drape and ease, and a denim drawstring midi skirt that I think would look great styled back to that same tee.
On the home front, I recently came across a lacquered waste bin that I’m drooling over. It would look so good in my dressing room and ties in beautifully with my rug. That makes sense, since both the bin and the rug are from collaborations with Rey-Campbell. And, as I’ve said before, Duncan Campbell is the Campbell in that pairing. He’s also the partner of Luke Edward Hall, whose home in the Cotswolds is a constant source of inspiration for me. Which brings me to Hall’s latest project. I drove down from the Vineyard to East Hampton to attend a dinner at the LDV at The Maidstone Hotel celebrating Il Viaggio di Nettuno, a new collection he designed. Every piece is decorated with his illustrations and signature use of color. I’m especially fond of the more decorative items, like this tray and this trinket box.
That’s it from me today! See you all on Wednesday!
XX
JJ
skirt skirt!
Have fun on your trip 💙