Five Things (10.16.26)

Manolo Blahnik Carolyne Slingback + Celine Cube Frame Vanity Bag (in black for less!) + Alaïa Leather Skirt (similar)

1. I swear I didn’t mean to go this long sans post yet again. Time seems to be on 2X speed this year, with proof of life indicated only by invoices sent and an embarrassingly obscene Screen Time. I hate that I fall into these holes—traps of capitalism, another thinkpiece I’ve considered writing, but has already been published ad nauseam on Substack—because I know better… and yet, I’m unable (or worse, unwilling) to rise above. I work to live, scroll to unwind, order takeout, repeat. Books have piled up by the dozen and yet, I’ve only finished one (Kitten, by literary darling Stacey Yu)—which I read as a writer, not a reader. When the lines between work and pleasure blur, is self-indulgence just gluttonous?

2. The sartorial and atmospheric dissonance must be affecting my mood. Our calendar has us squarely in fall, but for Angelenos, it’s summer. I’m writing about autumnal styling and finalizing holiday campaigns for clients—but doing so in tiny tops and flip-flops, attempting to survive this heatwave. I love the sun, and could spend most of my days in Havaianas—but am I now yearning for East Coast seasonality before the climate crisis fully eradicates it?

3. Speaking of fall: I’ve been so excited to bring my cube-shaped Celine out of its dustbag, but it’s been too hot, too sunny, to wear. Theoretically, you can wear any bag any time of year, but I find this one needs a bit of context to tote around with conviction. I’ve worn it exactly once (during the one weekend L.A. had a bit of respite from the heat, which meant there was an autumnal-adjacent breeze to work with), but at least I got to review my bag for Editorialist!

4. The David Geffen Galleries are worth an entire afternoon. Set aside a full day if you’re like me and read every other plaque.

5. Been testing a few fragrances these past two weeks, and a few of them have garnered more compliments than I remember receiving in a long time. (And mind you, I spritz with a reserved hand: one to two sprays, maybe a third if it’s a lighter formula.) One was Maison d’Etto’s newly released Pinehurst, a bright yet powdery wood that I love—but didn’t expect strangers to compliment because it’s neither loud nor the typical profile most (men in L.A.) gravitate towards. Perhaps that’s why it was so well-received? More on this one, soon.

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xx