MY 10 MOODS FOR THE SEASON
I share my mood board for spring and early summer, and 10 looks I plan on wearing.
This spring and early summer, my mood is delightfully eclectic, but then again, would anyone expect anything less from me? It's a blend of the Beautiful People and Wet Hot American Summer (2001)—Boom! (1968), Hitchcock, and bohemian glam.
At the ground level for spring and summer dressing, I always turn to Jackie O. and Yves Saint Laurent for inspiration. Jackie is my style North Star, so I could wax poetic about my admiration for her. However, I'll simply say that her style during the Onassis years is the perfect guidebook for dressing for warmer weather (I also find Katharine Hepburn's style in Summertime (1955) to be a wonderful reference for dressing in the heat!). Jackie's style after Camelot became more relaxed, her clothes more louche, her hair longer, and her oversized sunglasses permanently affixed to her face. You can sense in her style that the weight of the Kennedy legacy is starting to lift, and despite life's turmoils, there's a certain ease in her attire that I believe should be the central ethos of warm weather dressing.
Similar sentiments apply to Yves Saint Laurent during his sojourns in Marrakech. His fashion exudes a relaxed, organic feel, which is a stark departure from the neurotic energy often associated with his Parisian atelier. Naturally, alongside Jackie and Yves, my wardrobe is always infused with a generous dose of The Row and Armani. Yet, this season, the spring Miu Miu show left an especially lasting impression on me. I think
said it best in last week’s letter:Without a doubt, this collection is steeped in nostalgia, conjuring up memories that strike a chord regardless of your background—whether you spent summers at camp, attended boarding school, or not. Personally, I'm entranced by the idea of pairing crunchy granola short shorts with strappy sandals, while infusing it with the grace and elegance of a swan—a delightfully perverse combination that feels perfectly suited for navigating a noisy world or even weathering an earthquake.
Enough rambling—let's delve into some of my moods for this spring/early summer. I'm genuinely curious to hear which one resonates most with you. Share your favorite(s) with me!
LOOK 1: THE KID WHO STAYED AT SUMMER CAMP TOO LONG
As I was putting together this look, my thoughts naturally drifted to Miu Miu SS24—a collection that has undeniably shaped me immensely. While Miu Miu consistently occupies my mind, I also found inspiration from Aaron Levine and Thomas Magnum from Magnum P.I. while I was styling this look. I stumbled upon an account that meticulously documents Magnum's outfits (although I must admit, I've never actually watched the show).
I understand that we may be growing tired of coats and layering, but I urge you not to abandon layering altogether. With a strategic approach, you can still layer comfortably without overheating. One effective method is to incorporate two lightweight layers with a warmer layer in between for added insulation. In this ensemble, I've chosen an Everlane cashmere sweater, but you could easily substitute it with a linen sweater, such as this one from Banana Republic, as we approach the warmer months of summer.
I firmly believe that a denim shirt is a year-round wardrobe staple, and is a perfect option for layering. My trusty Madewell denim shirt, which I've owned for about three years, only seems to get better with time. Pairing it with the lightweight khaki Polo by Ralph Lauren windbreaker creates a beautifully coordinated look that feels like a pure symphony. For a playful touch I decided to add these CDLP leopard print swim trunks. Despite the initial concern that the print might clash with the top layers, it surprisingly complements them, adding depth and character to the overall outfit. This reaffirms the timeless notion that leopard print is, indeed, a neutral.
To maintain that carefree "summer camp" feel, I decided to layer on some jewelry, mixing delicate pieces with playful accents. The charm necklace, is a custom creation by
. When I ordered the necklace from Laia, my request was as follows: “Noah’s ark in necklace form.” I am not sure if Laia is still taking orders, but you can also look to Don’t Let Disco for some really fantastic charm pieces. Beneath the charm necklace, I'm wearing necklaces by Alexei Hay. The first one is a moonstone shaped like a pacifier on a rubber string, while the one below it is a stand alone diamond on a silk string.
This is another attempt to wear necklaces as anklets—there's something about the juxtaposition of diamonds adorning ankles that I find intriguing- I think it adds a casual elegance element to the look. Moreover, I love the idea of these strings intertwining with the straps of the sandals. The Row horn sandals are an older style, but you can still find some floating about, furthermore The Row released an updated style a few seasons ago, there’s also the Miu Miu version, but at the end of the day you can always get the Teva’s Voya sandals which feels like the father to them all!
LOOK 2: THAT ONE RICH KID FROM THAT ONE 80S MOVIE THAT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY NICE
If the previous look seemed a bit too youthful for your taste, allow me to present an ensemble straight out of a John Hughes classic, Pretty in Pink (1986). It's almost as if fate intervened, sending me an image of Andrew McCarthy effortlessly donning that slightly oversized off-white t-shirt, paired with a light blue henley sweatshirt, crisp pleated white trousers, and hush puppies. The look is effortless encapsulates a sense of cool nonchalance, yet it's imbued with an undeniable sense of longing and allure. Did he intentionally let his undershirt peek out, or was this a result of him chasing Molly Ringwald?
My first task was to find the perfect shirt to achieve that same effortless drape. While he is likely wore a basic medium-weight Hanes tee, I opted for a jersey Attersee tee known as the beach tee. For the blue layer, I opted for a Ralph Lauren oxford shirt, though if you prefer a henley sweatshirt, I’d look at this VTG L.L. Bean one on Etsy.
My trousers are from De Pertillo, which I randomly found one summer when I was in desperate need of linen pants (I could not find my pants, but I would try these). It’s a linen blend so the wrinkling is manageable- which is the beauty of a blend! As for the footwear, I'm wearing Tomas Maier's hush puppies/ desert boots. You can find of few of these shoes floating around, but at the same time Marsell makes a version that’s quite flat which I love. Where I diverge from the original look was in the accessories. I paired the look with my trusty YSL Mombasa bag and my diamonds in the form of the sophisticated Bennington necklace and tennis bracelet from Dorsey.
LOOK 3: THAT ONE EPISODE FROM SEX AND THE CITY WHERE CARRIE WEARS A COWBOY HAT IN THE HAMPTONS
This is what I would wear if I received an invitation to the Hamptons Hoedown, courtesy of Nina G.. In my first “Wear Test,” I expressed my intention to pair the Gigi Burris cowboy hat with the Zankov dress I had preordered. Upon its arrival, the first thing I did was throw on the dress with the hat. As I mentioned in my “Wear Test,” the cowboy hat possesses a unique capability of transforming the chemical properties of anything it touches. Although this dress may not immediately evoke thoughts of the "western" aesthetic, the addition of the hat, coupled with the sparkle of the crystal buckle on the shoes, the pave Loewe sunglasses, and diamonds, instantly makes me start singing “LIKE A RHINESTONE COWBOY!"
(I found out that only a handful of these dresses were made; however, you can find versions of this in a tank dress and a top.)
Since the dress is so vibrant, it only makes sense to go big and bold with the accessories! Kate Hundley is an emerging designer with a background in accessories, but she has developed a beautiful ready-to-wear (RTW) collection that complements her bag offerings.
LOOK 4: THE O’KEEFFE SWAN
For this ensemble, I pondered what Georgia O’Keeffe might wear if she were to lunch at La Cote Basque (notably, La Cote Basque did not permit women to wear pants, except for two, one of whom was Jackie. But let's imagine that La Cote Basque did not have a pants rule). Furthermore, I aimed to create a visual representation of a contented sigh.
This silk set is from Kule, while the Yali Milano velvet lounge jacket serves as my go-to whenever I sense my look is veering towards slubby, and needs a touch of refinement without sacrificing comfort. On my feet, I'm sporting the Birkenstock 1774 Sabot sandal, which feel quite punk with the double straps and large silver buckles, infusing the ensemble with a little edge.
One aspect of the Georgia O’Keefe photo that truly captivated me was her choice to wear a head scarf beneath her hat, with the scarf delicately peeking out from underneath. And pairing the yellowish-green tinted sunglasses seems to perfectly marry the top half to the rest of the look. ( The sunglasses I'm wearing I believe have been discontinued, you might consider trying these from Ray-Ban.)
LOOKS 5- 7: SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PRADA JACKET
In styling this look featuring the Prada evening jacket, my first thought was Hitchcock dame. I'm unsure of the specific season this jacket hails from, it's a beautifully cropped piece that straddles the line between jacket and caplet. Adorned with a charming bow motif enveloping the shoulders, it exudes timeless elegance. (You may want to explore this swing jacket for a similar borderline capelet, and although this is not black or a capelet, it’s Dries.)
I also knew that I did not want to go for a full black outfit, so I decided to inject a hint of eccentricity with a pair of vintage pistachio-colored heels (there's a pair of Martiniano heels in a similar hue!). And to maintain the enigmatic allure, I've chosen to wear only one glove (though truth be told, I couldn't find its match, leaving me to wonder if it was lost in the chaos of a move?).
For this ensemble, my aim was to inject a sense of approachability into the evening jacket. I opted for a grey tee—a personal favorite alternative to the traditional white—paired effortlessly with wide-leg Citizens of Humanity jeans, casually rolled down to cascade over my Birkenstocks.
I felt the look needed a vainty style bag similar to the Loro Piana or the Savette, and since I didn’t have a similar style (that is until a few nights ago when I won a bag in a card game:) ) I decided to repurpose my Away toiletry bag as an accessory. I think the bag sits nicely against my VTG studded Michael Morrison belt.
Overalls seem to be the topic du jour, and I'm absolutely thrilled about it! As I mentioned a few weeks back, initially, I found myself figuring out how to style overalls without channeling an unintended "Old MacDonald" getup. However, I opted for more of a formal/glam approach by pairing them with refined pieces: a Chava tuxedo shirt, elegant heels, and a headpiece inspired by Mia Farrow's iconic look in The Great Gatsby. I was curious to see the effect of swapping out the cropped jacket for this Alex Mill trench coat, and I must say I think it is rather fetching!
LOOK 8: RED HOT MAMA!
When it comes to spring/summer dressing, a quality trench coat is an essential. The Alex Mill trench coat feels like a great update to the classic piece with the addition of a hood. Its spacious pockets are a practical delight, and perfectly sized for carrying an almond croissant (Trust me, I've had this coat for all of two or three days, and I've already been stuffing its pockets to the brim with croissants and other doodads!).
I know that the Burberry remains the epitome of a classic trench (Front Street General Store in Dumbo, NYC, usually has a great selection), don't overlook Armani. (I recently discovered that I have the same Armani trench as Taylor Russell, swoon!!!!!)
Beneath the stunning trench, I'm donning this red linen set, also courtesy of Alex Mill (it’s also available in white and navy).
LOOK 9: THE 7TH OLSEN
For this look I was trying to think of fresh ways to style my beloved anorak from J.Crew ( it tends to fly off the shelves, you might also consider this one from Stoffa, now available in a stunning indigo hue, or try this one from Cos). I decided to pair my anorak with the flowing elegance of this Zoran skirt—that I purchased on a whim at 2 AM last summer. (For more insight into the character that is Zoran's, I recommend delving into this Cathy Horyn's article from the NYT!). The juxtaposition of chiffon layers against the anorak's technical fabric, along with the skirt's silhouette, effortlessly transforms this utilitarian piece into suitable evening attire. And no Olsen-inspired or, more fittingly, The Row-esque look would be complete without a touch of whimsy. In this instance, I've added an Amy Downs knot hat and sleek flat Martianiano shoes to infuse the ensemble with character.
I didn’t stop there with the whimsy, I also added this key pendant with a HONKING diamond nestled in it from Alexei Hay to my earring.
LOOK 10: YOU CAN CHLOE YOUR WAY
I felt compelled to explore the unconventional idea of pairing a dress with boots, driven by a curiosity to understand Chemna Kamali's vision. As I slipped on my boots, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my dress got caught in my foot, and was effortlessly nestled into them, requiring no manual tucking or adjustments—it simply fell into place! (While my dress is from Deveaux (RIP), you might find a similar style from Batsheva or even this Victorian-inspired nightgown from Etsy.) Now, is this a practical look for everyday wear or simply wearing to the office? I have high doubts; the odd sensation of fabric tugging with each step is rather unsettling. Perhaps this ensemble is best suited as a "car look"—perfect for going from your apartment to the car to your event, bypassing the discomfort and awkwardness of trying to take public transportation.
And when it comes to jewelry, why wait until September and shell out upwards of $900 for that snake necklace when you can grab it now!?!
That’s all for today!
See you soon
xx
JJ
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Shop my Dora Maar closet here!
True tour de force this morning! I’ll take the table next to Georgia O’Keefe at Côte, please.
Your imagination knows no bounds. Laughing and feeling enriched at the same time. p.s. I would NEVER be late to pick you up at camp! XO