How do you solve a problem like Gucci?
I’ll also be sharing what I’m seeing on the runways, my quest for the perfect leather bomber, and how I spent 24 hours in NYC.
A few housekeeping notes before we launch into today’s letter:
I'm thrilled to announce that my collection with At Present, titled the "Bold Collection," is launching on the 26th! I'll be sharing more details about each individual piece next week, but in the meantime, you can sign up here to be notified about the launch!
On Wednesday, I’ll be heading off to the City of Light—Paris! I’m looking forward to indulging in great food, shopping, and soaking in the culture. While I plan to do my signature "day in the life" diary entries, like I did for New York, this time, I thought it’d be fun to offer more real-time updates on the spots I’m exploring, as well as exchange Paris recommendations with you all! That’s why I’m creating a special Paris group chat exclusively for paid subscribers. If you're interested in following along with live Paris updates, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Now, enough with the logistics—on to today's letter!
The Hunt for the Perfect Leather Bomber
With my trip is just around the corner, I’ve been trying to rein in my shopping, saving my splurges for the Paris. For the most part, I’ve been good—stashing away my coins for the treasures I plan to pick up, likely including several pieces from Charvet. That’s not to say I haven’t been tempted. We all know that feeling—loading up your cart, picking out shipping options, only to stop yourself at the last second or in my case get distracted.
One thing I was determined to secure before heading to Paris, though, was a great leather jacket. I had the pleasure of watching this being filmed IRL with Lauren Sherman and
at the Tory Burch show, and fell somewhat head over heels for Lauren’s Auralee leather bomber.Fast forward to
anniversary party at Outline. After sharing a story about my compulsive shopping habits, it felt only natural that as the crowd thinned, I did what any true shopaholic would do—I went shopping. I combed through the Auralee section, and when I came up empty-handed, I naively hoped they had the jacket stashed away in the stockroom. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there. In hindsight, that was probably a blessing—it saved me about $2000! But I didn’t leave unfulfilled. I walked out with a sequin cardigan from CDG (I can’t find my version online, but it is strikingly similar to this one from St. John.)Later, when I got home, the jacket still on my mind, I started scouring the internet for leather bombers. I couldn’t imagine leaving for Paris without one. And wouldn’t you know it, I found a gorgeous L.L. Bean bomber that’s nearly a perfect match for the Auralee one—minus the breast pocket and with an added collar on the Bean one.
24 hours in NYC
I came back to the city for just one night! There were a few events and a dinner I simply had to attend, plus a quick stop to see my cobbler (probably the most important relationship I have—besides, perhaps, Nick or my therapist). I also made time to visit a few showrooms.
One of the main reasons for my trip was to celebrate the official launch of Noah Rinsky’s book (you can listen to the full interview here). The OJM book party was held at J. Press, and I had the chance to meet the dapper Bob, whom I mentioned in Tuesday’s newsletter—the OJM with a penchant for Hermès. Naturally, I had to ask what he was wearing: a Kiton tie, Brooks Brothers blazer, and circular Paul Smith red glasses with tinted lens (these from The Row are a good alternative to Bob’s). He mentioned he only really shops at three places, though I regret to say I forgot to write them down. I do remember this anecdote, though: Bob was such a frequent shopper at a particular Parisian store that he was invited to the owner’s daughter’s wedding.
The event was full of halva from Joyva and sake (an interesting combination), and preppy clothes everywhere—which reminded me of a cardigan I fell in love with last week. There was even a Latke candle, and, of course, plenty of OJM to go around.
The second event of the evening took place at the Hermès Meatpacking store, where they celebrated the launch of their latest fragrance, Barenia. The scent comes in a sleek, clear oval bottle inspired by the iconic Collier de Chien bracelet, though it also reminded me of Hermès’ charming perfume bottle pendant. The key notes include butterfly lily, miracle berry, oak, and patchouli. Interestingly, it evoked memories of Elizabeth Taylor’s White Diamonds, which makes sense as both fragrances feature lily, oakmoss, and patchouli. There’s a certain old-world sensuality about Barenia that conjures images of a smoky salon in the mid-'70s. After a quick stop at the event, I made my way further downtown to Fouquet’s for dinner.
The following day was a whirlwind of errands, including a visit to The Strand to pick up Miranda July’s All Fours. I know absolutely nothing about the book, but after hearing so many rave reviews, I felt compelled to get it. I also picked up a novel called Ex-Wife, which was originally published in 1929 and was quite scandalous for its time. As the title suggests, it delves into a failed marriage and subsequent doomed love affairs. I immediately bought it after skimming
recent post!
Next, I stopped by a showroom where I discovered the brand Botti. I fell in love with their gold shoes and playful pom-pom sandals. The best part? You get so much fashion for such a great price. I also saw some exciting new updates from Olympia Le-Tan, who is releasing location based clutchesa as well as cocktail-inspired ones, and from Wai Wai, with their own line of cocktail-themed bags. Finally, Andrea Gomez—the maker of my favorite gold flats—had some lovely new pieces, including a platform espadrille that will be perfect for a beach vacation!
After that, I made a quick stop at Prada to try on pieces from the FW24 collection. Since I plan to take full advantage of the price differences while in Paris, I wanted to get a feel for what I might want, like the bow dress that was one of the knockouts from the collection. It was a dream, and I think it would look amazing with a pair of brogues, which I’ve been quite obsessed with of late. Sadly, most of the runway shoes are sold out in my size, so now I’m thinking of going completely wild and buying the knitted swim cap. Decisions, decisions!
Speaking of decisions, let’s talk about the season at hand and the choices designers have been making—some good, some bad, and some just... meh.
The issue with Gucci isn't that the clothes are bad—they're just uninspiring.
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