CYS #063
Spring drops to refresh your wardrobe, early retail entail from London, and I opened up my TRR Obsessions folder.
A portion of this newsletter is brought to you by Pistola, you can shop the full Spring collection here.
Late last year I went back to my roots! I was invited to stop by the Pistola Spring ’26 shoot to preview the collection and chat with Grace Na, the founder of Pistola, and stylist Anne Christensen about the direction for the season. And yes, I tried on a few things. I mean… I couldn’t resist.
At first glance, three things stood out to me: color, updated classics, and of course, denim. As I was walking through the racks, I kept thinking about California. There’s something subtly ’70s in the color story and the ease of the denim, a little skater in spirit, but nothing costume-y. It all feels malleable, the kind of pieces that fold seamlessly into anyone’s life. When I spoke with Grace, one of the first things I asked was what she was feeling for spring. “Spring for us is really about the girl’s wardrobe reset. She’s feeling optimistic about the New Year. I think she likes set dressing, and she likes a lot of denim on denim.” When it comes to the denim specifically, it’s all about the boyfriend jean. Grace explained that it was once a hero for the brand before slowing down amid the rise of the barrel silhouette. Now it’s back in a way that feels fresh. She describes this iteration as “more causal,” easy to wear with a heel or a flat, which mirrors what Anne told me about styling the collection: “Make a few unexpected choices when you can, when it works. I love a boyfriend cut, but you know, maybe putting more of a heel with a boyfriend cut, just a way to kind of elevate it a bit, a little bit sexier maybe.”
I tried the boyfriend jean on while I happened to be wearing heels on set, so I can personally confirm the elevated, slightly sexier effect of that pairing. Beyond the return of that cut, along with other standouts like the blush straight leg and this season’s take on the barrel, the piece that truly got me was a denim blouson jacket you’ve already seen me wear a few times. I think I quite literally screeched when I spotted it. The bubble hem feels so inviting, such a clever way to reinterpret something as ubiquitous as a denim jacket.
Color was the other through line: blush pinks, hushed yellows, muted browns. As Grace put it, “I think the color is a nice emotional uplift. And so our customer responds really well to color, and I think we do it in a very wearable way.” Very wearable indeed. Whether it’s a straight-leg pant styled back to a crisp white t-shirt and that denim jacket I’m obsessed with, or a thin pink striped sweater paired with a mid-rise jeans with grommets down the sides, the collection feels like exactly what she described: “a reset,” but one that still feels entirely like you.
Greetings from Jolly ‘Ol London
I’m in London for a few days for LFW. It’s my second time in the city and my first time here for fashion week, which feels rather thrilling. The first time I came, it was as if the skies opened just for me. Blue skies, not a drop of rain, even a bit warm. This time around it’s that moody, grey London everyone talks about, but I still find the gloom altogether quite magical.
Aside from the shows, I’ve been looking forward to London for the shops. I made an appointment with the menswear brand Adret. You’ve probably seen their ads without even realizing it. They’re shot against the backdrops of far off places, which makes the clothes all the more delectable. There’s this residual fantasy that if you slip into one of their immaculate shirts or even shorts, you too might find yourself on holiday somewhere fabulous.
Beyond Adret, I’m hoping to pop into the expected haunts: Harrods, Selfridges, Dover Street Market, and James Smith & Sons for another umbrella because when in London. But what I was most adamant about was finding an antique jewelry store or market to hunt for a Victorian or Art Deco brooch. I only brought a carry-on, so my clothing options are a tad limited. There will be some repeating, which I don’t mind, but jewelry is the easiest way to make things feel new.
After working on a piece for Only Natural Diamonds about Jackie O.’s jewelry, which truly felt like a dream assignment, I was inspired by the story of her purchasing an 18th-century diamond sunburst brooch in Wiltshire. I wanted my own little moment. I skipped Wiltshire though. As the story goes, Jackie had to sell off a few pieces to acquire that sunburst, and I’m not quite ready for that level of commitment. Instead, I went to Gray’s Antiques. I was on a bit of a time crunch, so I didn’t venture far. The first booth to the right of the entrance stopped me in my tracks with a row of paste brooches caught my eye.
Paste, of course, are pieces made with glass stones that are cut, polished, and crafted to imitate diamonds… without the diamond price. Because they are crafted in such a refined way, opting for paste isn’t a downgrade of any sorts. I’m debating whether I should go back for a few, but truth be told, I was in the mood for the real thing.
I’ll reveal which one I chose later, but the whole experience reignited something in me. I stopped wearing brooches for a while. I’ve noticed that, similar to clothing, I go through phases with jewelry. Right now I’m hardly wearing rings or bracelets, except for one this one from Kult that I haven’t taken off since Miami last month. For the longest time I couldn’t quite figure out brooches again. And now I’m hooked.
Other Bits and Bobs
I’m still on the hunt for lamps for my common area. So far I’m leaning in this direction, but I worry it might be too specific. In the meantime, I’ve been relying heavily on candlelight, which is of course très romantic, and getting plenty of mileage out of my William White candle holder… but if we’re being honest, I need more. So now I’m down a candle holder rabbit hole. I’m into the cheeky ones like this, but then there are the more serious, sculptural options like this.
I’ve slipped back into an old habit of ending my nights by adding to my “Obsessions” folder on TRR. Lately I’ve been saving:
I must admit I’ve been on a bit of a vintage fur bender, partially spurred by a spread in Anna Wintour’s first issue of Vogue. I love the idea of wearing this one with sweats. This feels like the type a suitor gives you along with a ridiculous (in a good way)piece of jewelry like this. This one is very Rachel Zoe circa The Rachel Zoe Project.
Vogue November 1988 shot by Patrick Demarchelier. 
The three brands I’m constantly searching for are Armani (this sweetheart necklace sequin tank, Pilates-esque wrap top that you could wear over your one-piece bathing suit… think Helmut Newton late 70s, and a great Easter dress), Prada (Prada does Fendi, Prada does Hermes, and Prada does Balenciaga (Cristobal to be exact), and Donna Karan (I feel like this is something Barbra would approve of, I feel like Carrie Bradshaw wore a version of this dress… maybe like season 3 Carrie , and a great bodysuit.. I mean Donna knows her way around one).
Most shearling coats on the market are good, but sometimes they veer a bit sex kitten. And occasionally you want to feel less bombshell, more dowager.
In the same vein, the mood for this late period of winter feels slightly cat lady, which is probably why I’m obsessed with this raffia pouch covered in kitty cats.
I LOVE the new Doen spring campaign shot in Marrakech. It immediately conjures images of Yves Saint Laurent in his djellaba, spices in the air. It almost makes the fact that we’re still in February hurt a little more. If I were somewhere warmer, I’d want this top and these bottoms for lounging, and this little suede number for a nighttime crawl in the desert — ideally atop a camel.
And that’s it from me, talk soon!
XX
JJ
Waiting on edge of my seat for your diamond purch report! That skinny pinnnnn! And loving the Pistola blush - I am becoming a big fan as well; nice to "meet" Grace here. XX.