15 things I loved in September:

Somssi

This wrap top I’ve been wearing to the gym several times a week

No One Lasts Forever featuring David Cronenberg

Chocolate blackout cake from Claude

Dahlias:

These 3 random girls I saw heading out on a Saturday night: I was going for a long walk in sweatpants and a hoodie when I saw these girls all dressed up and heading out together, and it made me so nostalgic for being in college and getting ready with my friends to go out. Idk, it just made me happy!

These Adanola mesh track pants

This page from my 2010 high school yearbook talking about pop culture. Kesha’s Tik Tok was the overwhelming favorite song of the year:

Ragebaiting people on Tiktok about Harry Styles (the concert was actually amazing, I promise)

This Stakt yoga mat

This postcard my friend sent me from Greece:

Artist Meghann Stephenson’s show, “Queen of the Neighborhood!”:

These pink drinks from The Long Island Bar:

These massive sundaes in massive shells at Margie’s Candies:

And last but not least, this new belt I’m wearing every single day

Shopping

I have a feeling we’re about to see a lot more of these new Le Mond Beryl ‘Apres Ski’ shoes. Dior sent a similar style down their recent SS27 runway, so I’d say get ahead of the trend with these. I love the contrast of the suede styles with the rubber, but you really can’t go wrong with the black leather/rubber either - it’s a perfect black flat update for fall/winter that still shows a little skin, without your entire foot being exposed to the elements (and with a shearling lining to boot)!

Movies & TV

October is perhaps one of, if not THE best month for watching movies. These are my tried & true top 15 movie recs to watch this month:

1. The Shining

2. When Harry Met Sally

3. Scream (and then Scream 3. It’s sooo camp.)

4. Corpse Bride

5. Practical Magic

6. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

7. Twilight

8. Halloween

9. Sweeney Todd

10. Psycho

11. It (2017)

12. Nosferatu (2024)

13. Hocus Pocus

14. The Cabin in The Woods

15. Rear Window

On My Radar

The Manhattan Vintage Show is coming up on October 16-18. Tickets here

Calabash, an Afro-Caribbean bakery by day and brasserie by nigh

Table Mercato, a new East Village spot serving sandwiches that are the size of my head

SWORL, a protein soft serve/bowl spot opening in Greenwich Village on Saturday (10/10)

This scallion pancake croissant thingy at Tall Poppy

Bar CC, a new bar next to Crane Club in Chelsea

Mythily, a new South Indian restaurant in Williamsburg

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

Now that we’re entering fall, I’m having a major boot crisis: the majority of the boots I own are pointed toe, which is not conducive to my post-bunion surgery foot right now (yes, even all these months later. UGH). I’ve also heard from a few friends that they’re in desperate need of replacing some old boots this season, so in my own quest for new round toe boots, I ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole and pulled together 50 pairs under $500.

There’s a little bit of everything in there: ankle boots, knee-high, different toe shapes, classics, and some pairs with a little more personality. I loooove an animal print boot - there’s something about just a little bit of print peeking out from under the hem of your pants that instantly makes an outfit feel so much cooler.

Food & Drink

Moono: an under the radar Korean spot that I enjoyed recently. A very well-designed space with an elevated yet laid-back atmosphere and delicious food. The order: spicy fried chicken, tteokgalbi, beef hot pot, Pyongyang cold noodle, and mushroom sotbap (tied for my favorite dish of the meal with the fried chicken)

Frenzie: a great neighborhood spot in Brooklyn Heights with solid food and service so relaxed that, despite sitting there gabbing for 4 whole hours on a Thursday night, they didn’t rush us at all. The order: smashed cucumbers (like a caesar salad, but with cucumbers instead of lettuce -yum), spicy vodka pizza, sausage & pepper pizza, and of course, the tiramisu (which had delightful flaky salt sprinkled on top that really took it over the edge from good to great):

Movies & TV

Making Marie Antoinette: I had a delightfully New York moment this week, one of those ones that really makes me appreciate living here. I was aimlessly scrolling on social media on Tuesday night when I came across a video of Sofia Coppola introducing the new Making Marie Antoinette documentary - a behind the scenes view from the set of Marie Antoinette that Sofia’s mother filmed 20 years ago - at the New York Film Festival. I did a quick Google search to find the earliest showtime near me and found that NYFF was holding another screening the very following afternoon - complete with a Q&A with Sofia following the screening. I immediately bought a ticket (one of, if not the last one - phew!) and went to this special screening 14 hours later. I sincerely loved this doc. Eleanor Coppola was a far superior documentarian than Sofia (no shade, still love you tho, girl) - and to see not only their sweet mother-daughter relationship, but the overwhelming process of being a timid, young female filmmaker taking on such a massive film was special (during the Q&A, Sofia said she would never want to make a movie this big ever again - it took a lot of youthful naivete). If you’re a fan of the movie, or of seeing the behind the scenes of filmmaking in general, definitely go see this once it’s out on October 23rd.

Primetime: another movie absolutely worth your time, even just for the phenomenal acting performances alone - give Robert Pattinson an Oscar, already!!

On My Radar

Café Sabarsky has just reopened on the UES. I’m very interested in checking out one of their Cabaret nights

Hommali, a new Thai spot in the West Village

Nightfall at Green-Wood Cemetery, a perfect event for getting into the spirit of spooky season (I’ll be there 10/22!)

El Cameron Peludo, a new Mexican seafood spot in the West Village from the Taqueria Ramirez team

Humm, a new casual spot from Eleven Madison Park’s Daniel Humm, opens in the West Village on Oct 10

Open House New York, the annual festival that gives access to behind the scenes tours & special activities at buildings/sites you woudln’t normally have access to (such as abandoned train stations, factories, DSNY facilities, and other interesting BTS views of the city) Oct 16-18

Softville, a soft serve gelato shop on the Lower East Side

Romy, a new Soho restaurant in the old Little Prince space, looks like it’s giving The Eighty Six vibes

Saint Denis, a new French wine bar/bistro in Soho from the team behind Le Dive/The Nines

Straker’s, the latest London import in Soho (did I already say this one in weeks past? Idk. Anyway, it’s actually open now)

Until next week -

xo

Lo

A little rant to start off the letter this week:

There’s a huge stigma around affiliate linking at the moment, and I keep seeing people react to it as if it’s inherently disingenuous. I’m seeing people talking about actively avoiding purchasing through affiliate links, even when they found a product through a personal recommendation in the first place, and I have…thoughts.

There is a part of it that I think (and know) to be disingenuous, and a part of it that I think is misunderstood. If you are asking someone for recommendations - to help find you a dress for a wedding, the perfect pair of jeans, a hotel, a gift, whatever - and then go out of your way to make sure they don’t make a commission when you buy it - I’m don’t really understand the logic. First off, using an affiliate link doesn’t cost you anything. If finding the great gems were that easy, you wouldn’t be seeking someone else’s advice. Taste is a currency. The value is in the time/taste/ expertise that got you to the right thing in the first place.

And in my case, shopping and curation have quite literally been my job for my entire adult life. I started working in fashion when I was 18, studied at FIT and held internships every single semester I was studying, worked in the buying office at Barneys, and spent the past 9 years building & buying for my own multi-brand retailer. For 14+ years, I’ve been paid to look at product, decide what’s great and worth the $, what people actually want to and should be buying. I’ve looked at thousands and thousands (and thooooousands) of products at this point. My brain is basically permanently wired to shop.

So I consider my eye for product, and my taste, a valuable skill. It’s one I’ve spent well over a decade developing professionally. Instead of doing it on behalf of a retailer like I used to do, now I can do it independently and share it directly with you - which gives me so much more freedom. I’m not tied to one retailer, one brand/set of brands, or even one price point.

Where I think it starts to get shady is recomending something just because you can make money from it. Influencers & creators promoting brands and products that, let’s be so fucking for real, they would never actually use/buy themselves. There are even highly trusted fashion writers on here who I can tell are, on occasion, promoting products this way. I get many of the same gifting offers from brands and messages through ShopMy, so I can see when something is part of a broader marketing push vs something someone organically discovered and loves. And while I understand at the end of the day this is a business, there’s a difference between monetizing your taste and allowing the monetization to dictate your taste.

TLDR, I just want to be real with you about where I stand and where I’m coming from: if I’m recommending something here, it’s because I genuinely think it’s great. You guys know I have no problem telling you when I think something sucks, or is ugly, or isn’t worth your time or money.

I take it really seriously that so many people in my life trust me for shopping recommendations. It started with friends & family, then friends of friends, and at this point I get messages from people I barely know asking me to help them find things. The people who know me personally know I’m never going to tell them to buy something I don’t actually think is good. And as this newsletter grows and more people are finding me who don’t know me personally, I want you to know that too.

Rant over. Now enjoy some things that are (and a warning on some things that are not) worth your time below:

Shopping

The chill in the air right now is giving me life - fall is undoubtedly my favorite season. I’ve been compiling my favorite finds the past few weeks that I’d love to add to my wardrobe (saving everything here), so I thought I’d put some perfect outfits together for you to help inspire you during this beautiful transition:

For pretending 72 degrees means it’s sweater weather: I’m obsessed with these purple jeans right now. They’re colorful without screaming colored jeans, and somehow come across more like an interesting neutral. And I regret to inform you that The Cool Jean is, in fact, worth the hype:

For looking put together with minimal effort: the layered tee is doing a lot of styling work for us here. And yes, we can absolutely pair a Mango skirt with Phoebe Philo shoes — high/low forever:

Summer clothes, fall styling: I adored Nicole Kidman’s wardrobe in Practical Magic 2, and there’s a plaid maxi skirt she wears that I’ve been thinking about since. This is my version of that outfit for fall:

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Food & Drink

Milkweed Studio: I had a really wonderful coffee here the other day! Worth checking out if you’re in the LES/Chinatown area. I had the Magic with cashew milk

Somssi: The service started out a little rocky here, but everything quickly turned around and it was one of the best meals I’ve had in recent memory. All of the food was amazing, but don’t skip the mushrooms + curried rice, grilled shrimp, and the potato, potato, potato & caviar.

Titán: Perhaps it was an off day, but this was hands down the worst/slowest service I’ve ever had at a restaurant. At least it was a gorgeous day and we were sitting in their lovely backyard patio - and the food was genuinely delicious - but given the painfully slow service, I don’t think I’d return or recommend.

Floradora: One of my dining companions said the martini was one of the best she’s ever had in NYC, which is a very high praise coming from her. The food was very solid, but not terribly memorable. The mozzarella sticks were a highlight, so I’d suggest grabbing a seat at the bar for a martini & some mozzarella sticks rather than enjoying a full meal here.

Wild Cherry: My second time here, after being thoroughly unimpressed the first time, it was (somewhat) redeemed on my 2nd visit. The crab & artichoke dip, though wildly overpriced, was delicious - but at $55, I wouldn’t order it again unless someone else was picking up the tab tbh. The caesar salad & cheeseburger were excellent, and I thought the steak was honestly terrible. The frozen custard dessert is top tier, as is a beautiful, massive Scorpion Bowl cocktail, complete with 4 straws and fresh flowers, which should absolutely be shared between your entire table. Their other cocktails were solid as well. If I were to go back, I’d stick with only ordering the caesar salad & cheeseburger. And dessert, obvi.

Movies

Is Practical Magic 2 technically a good film? No, of course not. But did I have fun watching it? Yeah, I did - and sometimes that’s really all that matters. Keep your expectations low, and you should have some fun too.

On My Radar

The Sound of Music at Lincoln Center beginning in March; tickets just went on sale, and it’s 17 weeks only

Bar Leone, a new two story martini bar & ‘italo-disco den’ in Soho

Passerine, an Indian restaurant in Flatiron, where the former head chef at Ambassadors Clubhouse is running the kitchen

H Valley, a new gourmet grocery store in the West Village

The Astor, a new tavern within the Public Theater

Clio Peppiatt’s NYC pop up, Sept 24-Oct 25 at 74 Grand Street

Until next week -

xo

Lo

15 things I loved in August:

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil Matte Setting Spray: I was loyal to the Charlotte Tilbury setting spray before trying this, and can confidently say I’m never going back now.

SHISEIDO cotton pads: unfortunately these are completely worth every single penny. My skin is so sensitive, these are the only cotton pads that I can use.

Slayyyter

The most comfortable ballet flats I’ve ever put on my feet

U Beauty SUPER Tinted Hydrator

My nails:

Hanni Rich Rinse body wash

The Invite

Long walks with friends

Level 4 spray tans from Sugared & Bronzed (the elite level for pale girlies. Wish I knew about this sooner.)

Outfit Repeater

This dish I’ve been putting under my candles (way cuter than a coaster)

Kopari Golden Aura Body Oil

Crown Affair Air Dry Mousse

My dream birthday cake from Hani’s:

Shopping

I’ve spent the last 13+ years working in buying & merchandising, so looking at product all day is second nature to me at this point. I’m always saving things, sending things to friends, mentally merchandising entire outfits, etc. So I figured I’d start sharing a little weekly roundup of the things that caught my eye each week:

Food & Drink

Can we make the Standard Biergarten a thing again? I met a friend there to watch the US Open this weekend, and dare I say it was a lovely spot to sit quasi-outside with a drink and and watch on the big screens.

La Tete d’Or: a great spot for a special occasion (or if you’re lucky enough to put it on the company card). Everything I had was excellent, decadent & very much worth the indulgence.

On My Radar

Ernesto’s block party on Saturday from 3-10PM

Dante is opening a new location this week in Nolita on Elizabeth Street

Bar à Part, the cafe & wine bar next to Zimmi’s, looks like it’s finally opening

Faux, a new coastal French restaurant in Tribeca from the son of Keith McNally

Snoopy in Style, a cute pop-up exhibition celebrating Snoopy through the lens of fashion & culture (on thru 9/26)

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

The second the temp dipped into the mid-70s, I threw on a light cardigan. I’m yearning for early fall - and for all of you saying I’m going to regret saying that because summer is the best season, I wholeheartedly disagree with you. My favorite time of the year is that perfect period when you need a light sweater/jacket in the morning, it gets warm enough in the afternoon to throw it over your shoulders, and then it goes right back on once the sun goes down.

That being said, most of my sweaters have seen better days - holes, stretched out, pilling beyond repair. It’s time to rotate a few out and bring some freshness into my closet, so I’ve been on the hunt for some perfect transitional sweaters - light enough to wear now, but still useful once we get into actual fall.

A few of my favorites are below, and I pulled together a much bigger edit here.

I also still think this cardigan reigns supreme. It’s polished, so flattering and works just as well buttoned up on its own as it does open layered over a tee. I’ve worn it with skirts, trousers, jeans, shorts - you name it. It’s one of those pieces that works with everything without being boring.

I also recently picked up this cardigan and I absolutely love the curved hem - to me, the shape is very reminiscent of Celine’s tweed jackets.

Food & Drink

I’ve been meeting friends out more casually lately - for a coffee, for a drink, less so for a full blown meal. Maybe it’s a sign of the weather being too uncomfortable for such indulgent meals, maybe it’s just a sign that I’ve been craving a slower pace lately. A small change I’ve really enjoyed lately is, instead of eating in my apartment on days when I’m having dinner in, I’ve taken my dinner to go to the West Side Highway for a BYO picnic with friends. Really trying to take advantage of these last bits of summer.

That being said, I have still been out & about. A rundown of some spots I’ve been to recently:

Tall Poppy: finally tried this bakery in Chelsea, and it did not disappoint. We tried their rainbow cookie croissant, prosciutto + brie + peach jam croissant (my favorite of the 3), and the everything cruffin. I’m not usually a big fan of sweet specialty coffees, but I’ve been indulging in them lately, and their Cereal Milk Cold Brew Latte was delicious.

Buddy Buddy: speaking of fun, indulgent caffeinated beverages, the awfulness of the Dunkin peanut butter latte made me desperate to experience the PB coffee from Buddy Buddy again. And dare I say, it was even better than I remembered? Their peanut butter cold foam is, as my friend put it, the best thing they’ve ever put in their mouth.

Limo Bar: a lively new spot in the East Village with solid cocktails. Great bartenders/service as well - when one noticed my friend spilled something on her shirt, he handed her a can of club soda and a stack of napkins. Class.

Elvis is a place that had been on my list for awhile to visit. I adore this space and the past couple of iterations of it (RIP The Jones & Great Jones Cafe). It’s from the same team as Le Dive, but Elvis has a decidedly less pretentious attitude (and much friendlier service). An A+ happy hour spot.

Golden Swan: Not my first time here, but my first time having brunch, which has been on my radar for awhile. The vibe of the hostess this day was icy and hostile, and our waitress genuinely gaslit us about the omelette (we ordered one kind; they brought us a different one and wouldn’t admit it. As someone who despises goat cheese, I can tell if there’s goat cheese in something). That being said, I really like the ambiance in here, particularly in the more cosy and casual downstairs bar area. And okay, they did throw a candle in our pancakes (delicious btw), so bonus points for that.

Movies

Tony is a movie I was apprehensive to see, and was pleasantly surprised by. I really enjoyed the fact that it was not at all an attempt to make a sweeping biopic about Bourdain - rather, it was a snapshot of a particular moment in time in his life, a particularly formative moment. Also, the Eric Ripert cameo tells me that he likely would have approved of this film.

On My Radar

Apparently a lot of things…!

A closet sale at Nine Orchard that sounds well worth going to if you’re in the city this weekend (hosted by Amanda Lee Burkett with goodies from the closets of Maryam Nassirzadeh, Mari Giudicelli & more)

Pony’s, a new bar in Red Hook

Sandy Liang x Cou Cou Intimates have a collab launching today at noon ET

The Honey Deuce slushy at Gem

Wine at Maayan’s, a new wine & cheese bar in Soho

Floradora, a rebrand of relative newcomer Chateau Royale in Greenwich Village, opens today. They’re flipping the concept to be a more casual neighborhood spot, which I think will benefit them.

Matches in Greenpoint, a new restaurant in the space previously occupied by Enids (RIP) and across the street from the bar that the name pays tribute to, Bar Matchless (double homicide!!). Looks like it transitions late night into a spot with DJs & dancing

(*side note: my recent repeated instances of reminiscing on places that have closed over the years is making me feel so. damn. old lately*)

Cecilie Bahnsen x ASICS new drop (august 28)

20 Blocks, a new sandwich shop in the East Village. Their turkey sandwich looks A+

Paranormal Activity on Broadway (yes, really). I’m very intrigued, and it’s getting a lot of buzz right now.

Still Here’s new West Village store

Saolea, a new Thai-American wine bar in the West Village

Rok, a new spot for matcha & coffee in the West Village by way of LA

Spotless Acne Clinics is opening a location in Greenwich Village on Wednesday, 9/2

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Music, Fashion, Film

Music and going to concerts have been a massive part of my life for as long as I can remember. So many of my favorite memories with people I love have happened at concerts, and when I think back on different periods of my life, there’s almost always a concert attached to them. And then there are the truly ridiculous number of concert-related core memories I’ve collected over the years: seeing Phoenix at Lollapalooza for the first time with my cousins (and then seeing them four more times, bringing someone new with each time for their first Phoenix show); trying my first cigarette while watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers; holding Taylor Swift’s hand at her concert in 2009 (I know some of you bitches would go wild for that); unknowingly befriending a very famous actor at Lollapalooza one year and becoming convinced we were going to date; lying to my parents about my whereabouts so I could go to a concert hours away that I was explicitly not allowed to attend (I did get caught).

My oldest friend and I originally bonded over emo music in middle school (my parents were extremely concerned). We’d go to The Rave in Milwaukee and get roughed up in the pit at 13, 14, 15 years old. One of my core memories is seeing My Chemical Romance there in 2005: hair dyed black, heavy red and black eyeliner, one of our friends getting punched in the face because the pit got so rowdy. And yes, we were 13.

Which brings me to a very full-circle moment: 21 years later, I found myself at another My Chemical Romance concert.

I technically did fall out of the emo phase for awhile...or maybe it was just dormant. I’ve pulled out a performance or two of I’m Not Okay at karaoke over the years, but that was pretty much the extent of it. And honestly, there were a few years that I sort of fell out of touch with music and going to concerts in general.

But I’m feeling more connected to it this year than I have in a long time - even if it’s making me feel ancient that most of the concerts I’ve been to this year have been reunion/nostalgia tours (No Doubt, Hilary Duff, MCR). I’m truly still on such a high from seeing MCR. I don’t even know how to properly describe the feeling. It’s nostalgia mixed with happiness and excitement and this weird sense of community. And there’s something really freeing about screaming your head off for a couple of hours and not thinking about literally anything else. It feels like it unlocked a part of me that I didn’t realize I’d missed so much.

Which brings me, somewhat less sentimentally, to concert attire.

I can’t quite identify when concerts became events that require Halloween-level outfits, but it’s been Trisha Paytas-level cosplay at every concert I’ve been to recently. And while I geniunely love that for other people, it’s really not my vibe. I want to dress for the occasion too, but I still want to look and feel like myself. I usually just take some element of the artist/era/general vibe and work it into an outfit I’d otherwise actually wear. I want to be on theme, but I don’t want to look like I’m auditioning to join the tour.

I always start by digging through my closet to see what I already own that could work. Maybe it’s a color, a vintage tee, a sparkly eyeshadow in the back of the cabinet that I have no use for in my daily life. You likely already have something in your closet that works - you just have to look at it through the lens of wherever you’re going. I’d much rather buy one thing to fill in the gap than start from scratch for every event.

That being said, here are some of the outfits I’ve worn to recent concerts and how I pulled them together:

My Chemical Romance:

I knew that my favorite (and slightly spooky) oversized MM6 Maison Margiela tee was the core piece of the outfit. To amp up the edge, I dusted off my Pamela Love spike earrings & threw on a black choker.

Hilary Duff:

This was essentially the same outfit that I wore to the Addison concert last year. This old Alexander Wang tank screams Y2K - it’s one of those pieces that I don’t wear normally, but keep for occasions like this. The butterfly hair clips, courtesy of the girl sitting behind me at the concert, really made the outfit.

No Doubt:

This dress, from Marc Jacobs ‘Redux Grunge’ 1993/2018 collection, was the perfect piece in my closet to channel the 90s while still being ‘me’. Layering the tshirt under the dress and adding the bold silver jewelry + bag chain were the perfect accessories to match the vibe.

Planning ahead: I got this vintage Prada shirt from Past Studies in Chicago and knew instantly that I needed to wear it to the upcoming Harry Styles show. I’m still figuring out how I want to style it, though - maybe with these Kallmeyer silk shorts that I have? Any thoughts/opinions, pls drop a comment.

And as always, if there’s a concert or event coming up that you have no idea what to wear to, drop a comment or send me an email. I’ve got you!

Side note: I know I called this ‘Music, Fashion, Film’ and I didn’t write anything about film, but just wanted to make a reference to Charli’s new album. If you did want to hear about movies, though, I did see Spider-Man: Brand New Day last week, and it was great. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

On My Radar

The Apollo Bagels Tribeca-exclusive Saturday bagel: corn butter + tomato (Saturday 8/15, 9am-sold out)

Frenzie, a late night spot for wine & pizza in Brooklyn Heights

Bar Etienne, a new spot in the West Village from the Bar Valentina team

I think I mentioned Keepers awhile back, but it’s finally open now

Elder, a new British-Indian restaurant near Hudson Yards

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

I recently got a request for a roundup of jewelry under $500, so I finally pulled together a proper edit. There are a couple of brands I buy from again and again because I know the quality is going to be there regardless of the price - Loren Stewart and Completedworks are always safe bets. Old Jewelry is another spot I love for unique pieces - they have a mix of in-house designs & vintage pieces at various price points.

Whether you’re looking for everyday staples, something to add to your current stack, or a piece that makes you want to start one, I’ve added 100+ pieces to this collection here. A few of my favorites are below, including some especially good finds under $300:

Food & Drink

I’m embarrassed to admit that I became the victim of a TikTok viral food trend this week: the Peanut Butter Dunkalatte from Dunkin. It was a disgusting sugarbomb and tasted nothing like peanut butter - I threw it in the trash after choking down 1.5 sips. All of the posts raving about it must be undisclosed ads. I’m running back to Buddy Buddy to redeem peanut butter coffee.

I recently visited Bufón, the new-ish sister restaurant to Demo, and it was…fine!? I didn’t like it as much as I do Demo, and while the food was good (the steak was memorable), it was overall just a fine meal - not somewhere I’ll be running back to.

Travel

I’ve been craving an idyllic coastal New England weekend all summer long, and a few days in eastern Connecticut and western Rhode Island absolutely delivered. There’s something so healing about being by the water and slowing down, especially when it feels worlds away from NYC (even if it’s only a 3 hour drive). I didn’t realize how badly I needed a weekend like that.

It had everything I’d been wanting & more: lobster rolls, half priced cocktails at the end of a dock, absolutely insane real estate eye candy, and the kind of pace that reminds you life doesn’t always have to move so fast.

A few highlights:

-Liv’s Shack in Old Saybrook & Haring’s Noank for lobster rolls

-Mystic: Truly one of the cutest towns I’ve been to in a long time - it felt like the quintessential charming New England coastal town. The can’t miss spots: Sift Bakery (the ham and cheese croissant was incredible), Red 36 for happy hour, The Shipwright’s Daughter for dinner, the treehouse at Oyster Club, and the Dive Bar tucked beneath Port of Call for late night. And before heading back to the city, stop at Stone Acres Farm - I picked up what were quite possibly the best squash and tomatoes I’ve ever had.

-Watch Hill+Westerly: Watch Hill had the best real estate porn I’ve ever seen in my life. For one perfect day, hit the beach at Napatree Point Conservation Area, grab lunch (& the insanely good homemade ice cream) at St. Clair Annex, have sunset cocktails at Watch Hill Inn (in their Secret Garden - the best sweeping ocean views), and end the day with dinner at High Hope Tavern.

Needless to say, I’ll be back next summer.

On My Radar

Ven Archive, a new store from menswear boutique Ven.Space, stocking past season collections, one off samples and market references

Zig Zag Oyster Bar in Crown Heights

Nepita, a new gelato shop in the West Village

Bernie & Herb’s, a new bar from the 169 Bar team in the old Coffee Shop (iykyk) space in Union Square

Saverne, a new wood-fired bistro in Hudson Yards

Foreigner has a new location Noho, and a Banana Pudding Latte that surely won’t let me down à la the Dunkalatte?!

Until next week -

xo

Lo

15 things I’ve loved in July:

I religiously use the Soft Services Theraplush hand lotion nightly. I usually do the unscented lotion, but decided to try the Xtra Milk Dedcool collab scent, and I’m obsessed.

The perfect oversized hoodie from Sprmrkt

Loewe Orange Blossom Candle

The french fries at Cleo

U Beauty The Plasma Lip Compound

Nonfiction Forget Me Not body wash + lotion

J. Crew towel terry sweatpants

Reformation Aitana pants

Cult Gaia Luca sandals

Christopher Esber Acidic Floral dress

Loren Stewart riley hoops

Sir Leif Top

Maison de Sabre bag for a perfect pop of color

This graphic from a children’s book:

And this text I received:

Food & Drink

The Hamptons is a place that I have mixed feelings about, especially when it comes to dining out - the food is usually half as good as it is in the city, and the same price (if not more expensive). The best meals you’ll have out there are the ones you’re cooking at home from the day’s farm stand findings. That being said, there were two places I ate at last weekend that I’d happily return to: Babe’s and Barlume Beach.

Babe’s : Go at an off time (like Monday morning) and hopefully you’ll be as lucky as we were and have no wait. The blueberry pancakes and the BEC (add the hash brown) were both 10/10.

Barlume Beach: If you’re looking for something that’s less Montauk lobster shack and more chic European seaside, this is your place. It was a lovely spot for lunch, and while it wasn’t packed when we were there, it does seem like it turns up later on in the day. With my feet in the sand and a glass of crisp white wine in hand, though, I felt wonderfully relaxed and transported somewhere far, far away from Long Island.

Back in the city, I finally paid Stars a visit, and I loved everything about it: it has a cozy, warm atmosphere, very friendly service, and excellent wine & small plates - what more could you want?

Movies & TV

Three movies I watched recently, in order of how much I enjoyed them:

The Invite: This movie really surprised me in a great way. It was incredibly funny, it was sad, it was awkward, it was real, it was the full spectrum of emotions and feelings, and all of the acting was phenomenal. This movie would work phenomenally as a stage play.

The Odyssey: A cinematic masterpiece, of course, though I wasn’t wowed by a lot of the acting performances. We need to get some fresh faces on our silver screens! That being said, Matt Damon did crush it.

Obsession: A deeply disappointing movie. It had poor character development, was not “scary”, and felt like the dynamic between Bear & Nikki got extremely repetitive. Maybe my expectations were set too high because of the hype the movie had been getting. Inde Navarrette’s performance was really the one highlight.

On My Radar

Mary’s Fish Camp is reopening this weekend in a new location over on Hudson St

Nana Bar, a speakeasy on the LES

Frenchette Bakery’s new location in Nolita

Richaud Petite Bakery, an adorable little French bakery in the West Village

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

There seems to be a collective yearning for wardrobe staples right now. Any time I’m wearing a white tee, I get asked where it’s from, and I keep hearing the same lament: why is it so hard to find the perfect basics? While this is by no means an exhaustive list, these are a few of the tried & true staples in my closet - the styles I wear constantly, replace when necessary, and happily buy again & again:

Tees/Tanks:
Gap: The Modern Crop T-Shirt can’t be beat. I also love the full length version, and their classic Rib Scoop Tank Top. They’re always running a sale, so they’re usually no more than $20, but they’re often sold out of sizes.

Reformation: I tend to gravitate towards ribbed tees, but for a sleek non-ribbed option, I always reach for The Dusk Knit Top. Another cropped ribbed option I love is the Muse tee.

ETERNE: I only like the styles made in their ‘butter rib’ fabric, and particularly in any color other than white (I find their white to be too sheer). The Short Sleeve Baby Tee, The Long Sleeve Boatneck Top, and the classic Long Sleeve Fitted Top

Other white tees on my radar that I want to try: FLORE FLORE Car Tee, any top from Tank Air

I’m a sucker for a graphic tee - usually something vintage and a bit quirky, or concert merch. But for a non-vintage, reliable option, the fit and shape of RE/DONE’s classic graphic tees are amazing. Here’s a cheeky one that I’m loving, and another cute one.

Shoes:

Sneakers: Salomon all the way. These XA Pro Forces have been my lifeline. And you cannot go wrong with a classic pair of white XT-6’s.

Flats: Aeyde’s Delfina flats (mostly sold out everywhere, but these look to be the updated version). I’m partial to a Chanel slingback flat and default to those frequently - I’ve walked countless miles (comfortably!) in those babies. And I recently tried on the Loewe Pebble ballerinas, and they altered my brain chemistry - they were unbelievably soft and comfortable and I’ve been dreaming about them ever since.

Misc items in my closet I can’t live without:

Comme Si Yves socks (a splurge, but very worth it)

CAKES body sticky bra (truly life changing)

Commando classic solid thongs (not the cutest underwear, but they’ve prefected the seamless style)

Loren Stewart Riley Hoop Earrings

Adanola Wrap Leggings

Anything I missed? If so, drop a comment.

Food & Drink

A Completely Unscientific West Village Gin & Tonic Crawl by Caleb Nickels:

The World Cup third-place match between England and France started as
a watch party, but with goals flying in seemingly every few minutes,
the afternoon quickly became less about the futbol and more about the
bevvies. Rather than staying planted in front of one TV, we took it
upon ourselves to pop into as many Village bars as we could, sizing up
the vibe and, more importantly, their Gin and Tonics.

First stop was Yesterday's on Bleecker. Real hot spot for all the
youths these days but let me tell you... it ain't the vibe. A bunch of
too-cool-for-school employees and bouncers acting like they're doing
you a favor by letting you order a drink. The gin and tonics were
flat, each one somehow tasting different than the last. Then came the
bill. An upcharge for tonic. As if they were serving individualized
bottles of Fever-Tree with a silver platter. That was the final straw.
They won't be seeing me again.

Onto the next.

After a brief tiff in the street brought on by early heatstroke, we
ducked into The Grisly Pear in search of immediate hydration. Talk
about a complete 180. The quintessential no-nonsense MacDougal
dive-bar was exactly what we needed in that moment. A tall, icy gin and
tonic. No frills. No BS. Just Old Faithful. There's something
refreshing about leaving all the pomp and circumstance at the door,
bellying up to the bar, getting exactly what you ordered, having it
taste exactly how it should, and paying a price that reflects it. The
AC was crisp, the TVs were on, there was plenty of room to stretch
out, and a comedy show was about to start in the back. I'll absolutely
be back.

The soldiers packed up their gear and trudged onward to The Village
Tavern. "Drinking Constituents Since 1998." I've recently become a fan
of Village Tavern and the vibes were certainly there, but it was
shoulder-to-shoulder and the AC might as well have been on vacation.
We slammed our drinks and got out before we became part of the
humidity. The gin and tonic was perfectly respectable. But not having
air conditioning in July should be considered a criminal offense.

Stop four brought us to WXOU Radio Bar. I'm embarrassed to admit
that after living one block away for nearly a decade, this was my first
visit. Word on the street is Rihanna frequents the place and some say
she was even spotted that afternoon. I cannot confirm or deny. What I
can confirm is these gin and tonics were absolutely slapping. Cold,
crisp, perfectly balanced and hands down the best of the day. The room
is small but the energy is huge, the AC was working overtime, and they
earn automatic bonus points for charging just six bucks a drink. Fair
warning, it's cash only, but at $6 a pop you can afford to stay
awhile.

We rounded out the afternoon at Corner Bistro. While I normally come
here for a burger and beer, science demanded one final gin and tonic.
This place seriously doesn't miss. No frills, no attitude, just good
drinks, good food and a room full of people actually enjoying
themselves. Say Brooke at the door, give the bartenders a confident
nod and settle in. I promise you'll have a good time.


Final Rankings:

1. WXOU Radio Bar

2. Corner Bistro

3. The Grisly Pear

4. The Village Tavern

5. Yesterday's


Bonus picks to keep the night going...

Make a quick pit stop at Art Bar for a Jello shot syringe. It's
kitschy, it's ridiculous, and maybe you'll even steal a steamy couch
makeout in the back room. Truthfully though, the drinks aren't worth
lingering for.

Finish the night the right way in a sexy, smoky booth at Hudson
Bar & Books. Skip the gin and tonic altogether and order a Vesper. A
Vesper and a stogie should have you sleeping like a baby. Just be sure
to shower and throw your clothes in the laundry before crawling into
bed.

On My Radar

Kallmeyer sample sale this weekend. My wallet is thankful I’m out of town.

Tin’s, a new Lower East Side bar

MUJE, a new restaurant from the Jungsik team

Wild Sorrel Cookbooks, a new cookbook store in the East Village from

Sailor & Siren, a new spot in Greenpoint for lobster rolls

Hungry Spicy, a new Thai spot in Chelsea from the team behind Hungry Thirsty (and formerly Ugly Baby)

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about wedding guest dresses. Wedding season doesn’t really seem to have a ‘season’ anymore - I know people with invites spanning everything from beach weddings next month to black-tie city affairs this fall. So I put together a few edits to make the search a little easier. And, as always, I’m constantly updating my ShopMy with new finds, so if you’re still hunting, there’s plenty more over there (the full under $500 edit here, and everything else in this edit here.

For the pregnant guest: Australian brand L’IDÉE has some beautiful options that are relatively affordable (and that you can ideally get some wear out of post-pregnancy, too). My top picks: polka dot (available here in additional sizes), and this perfect fall-forward shade. I’m also loving this bold cobalt blue number

And finally, a few dresses I’m simply obsessed with right now that somebody, somewhere, should be wearing to an event immediately:

Food & Drink

Piccolo Morini, a revival of Osteria Morini, is a perfectly pleasant spot for a casual Italian dinner in Soho, though not one I see myself going out of my way for. Some of the pastas felt a little underseasoned, while others really shined (particularly the linguine alle vongole & the paccheri).

They’re serving $9 martinis all night in the bar/lounge, though, which is reason enough to stop by if you’re in the area. Grab a couple of martinis, order a couple of pastas, and call it a night.

Bar Snack is a very unassuming East Village bar, especially for one that was recently named the #3 best bar in North America. It feels like a lived-in retro 70s-inspired neighborhood spot rather than a nationally acclaimed cocktail destination. That being said - the drinks were some of the most memorable I’ve had lately.

I did not in fact have any snacks there (despite the menu featuring amazing sounding bar snacks, including spicy peanut butter noodles, fried cheese curds, coconut shrimp…) but on our way out, they handed us little cups of their Guinness frozen custard to-go. A true cherry on top.

When there are endless options for where to eat and drink in the city, it’s little touches like that that make me want to return to a spot.

Current Obsession

I am notoriously obsessed with black sesame, so when Hei Butter came across my FYP on TikTok, I knew I had to try it. Their black sesame peanut butter is seriously addicting.

On My Radar

Le Sixth, a new French bistro in the West Village

Massara has reopened at their original location on Broadway (their candele pasta lives rent-free in my head)

Graciela, a new Argentine tavern and offshoot of what has been named the best steakhouse in the world (Don Julio in Buenos Aires), is opening next week (7/14) in the West Village

Oberon, the restaurant at the New Museum

Prosciutto, a tiny Italian spot in the East Village

Eldridge Street Store, a new spot for late night bites in Chinatown

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

The only bag you need this summer: a drawstring pouch. It can effortlessly take you from day to night, and most importantly, there are endless options to have fun with color and texture. My full edit here.

What else is in my shopping cart this week:

These pants and these shorts from the Reformation x Umbro collection

I am painfully obsessed with these shoes at the moment

I have a very old version of this button down from The Frankie Shop in a purple stripe that I gravitate to every summer. So naturally, I need it in another color.

I still have toe rings on my mind

A perfectly summery candle

Food & Drink

Two not-bar bars I went to that I forgot to take any pictures of: Bar Chimera and and Bar Kabawa.

I hold COTE & COQODAQ in high regard, so I had expectations going into Bar Chimera - and it delivered. Great vibes, really good food and drinks, soaring ceilings, a beautiful well-appointed space. High energy and busy, with a crowd that leans a little corporate (makes sense given the location), but the service more than makes up for it - when’s the last time someone brought you a purse stool in NYC? They offer an optional set-style menu similar to the format at COTE and COQODAQ, plus everything & more available a la carte, including the caviar chicken nuggets. The Spring Pea Lettuce Cups were a surprise favorite, and the steak frites were predictably solid. Will definitely return, and adding COTE 550 to my must-try list.

Bar Kabawa is an ideal spot for a cocktail & shared small plates - just don’t make the mistake I did and go for a full dinner. Tucked down an alley in Noho, it’s a lively little space with music that transports you somewhere tropical. A focused rum drink menu (daiquiris are the speciality), and Caribbean patties and snacks. I personally max out at one daiquiri and one patty, so I’d recommend it as an early cocktail-and-appetizer spot or a late-night nightcap and bite situation. The vibe, service, and food were all great - enough that I’m now curious about the prix fixe dining experience happening next door at Kabawa.

Current Obsession

Hot, sticky weather means my hair is going up as much as possible - and I’ve been keeping a tube of The Wand in my bag at all times. A mascara-wand application for flyaways and taming hair feels pretty genius, and maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but I’ve never seen this type of product before. It’s equally helpful if I’m throwing my hair up in a clip or a ponytail/bun.

On My Radar

Unnecessary, a new soft serve ice cream spot from the team behind Double Chicken Please

Claudette recently reopened and is looking refreshed

Titán, a new Mexican spot in Dumbo

Piccolo Morini has risen from the ashes of Osteria Morini in Soho

Limo Bar, a new bar in the East Village with a distinctly ‘80s vibe

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Fashion

The weather in NYC is finally behaving (for the most part), so naturally all I want to do is shop for new outfits (speaking of - my Summer Must Haves collection is constantly updating with stuff I can’t stop adding to cart). Here are 5 I’ve dreamed up that I need in my closet immediately:

Default Setting:

No decision fatigue here - eyelet top, good denim, a tote that can hold everything from sunscreen to a stray baguette. This is the outfit on repeat all summer long, the one you reach for when you have no idea what to wear.

Clockwise from top left:

Heaven Mayhem sunglasses

Doen top

J. Crew hair clip

Still Here jeans

J. Crew Sandals

Loveshackfancy Bag

Completedworks bracelet (10% off with code: LOREN10)

Sunday Market, City Edition:

Heading to the farmers market a few blocks from your apartment, but dressed like your plans might turn into something else afterwards.

Clockwise from top left:

Akila Sunglasses

POSSE crochet cardigan

Doen shorts

Loren Stewart anklet

Reformation flats

Staud Beaded Bag

Vacation-Maxxing:

The outfit you pack when subtlety isn’t the assignment: colorful stripes and bell sleeves, a heart-shaped bag, a belt dripping in charms like a souvenir shop exploded (complementary).

From top:

Jimmy Fairly Sunglasses

Cala De La Cruz dress

Chan Luu belt

Jacquemus bag

Tony Bianco heels

Barefoot in Capri

The uniform for the girl who’s been in coastal Italy long enough to stop checking the time. Sandals dangling from one hand, toe ring secured, and a sequin pouch for nothing in particular except maybe a room key and lip gloss.

Clockwise from top left:

Tory Burch tank top

SSONE nail polish

Loulou de Saison pants

Christopher Esber sandals

Chan Luu toe ring

Lizzie Fortunato bag

Dinner Reservation You Made Four Weeks Ago:

For that impossible dinner res you finally secured - 30 days in advance, of course. Crisp and buttoned up on top, with a sequin mini on the bottom for when you decide the night isn’t over after dessert.

From top:

Completedworks earrings (10% off with code: LOREN10)

Simon Miller top

SNDYS skirt

Missoni bag

Sam Edelman sandals

Food

Roast chicken is having a moment right now, and after trying it at both Cleo and Marcel recently, Cleo wins, hands down.

Cleo has a minimalist, neighborhood-spot feel, and genuinely, all of the food was good: cornbread, Cleo’s salad, rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese, broccolini. Service was friendly but a little checked-out - still, get the profiterole for dessert and you’ll forgive it.

Marcel is a stunning space (no surprise, it’s a Roman and Williams x Sotheby’s collab), and the classic French food is solid, if not life-changing. Service was polite and attentive throughout. It’s not a part of town I get to often, but if I’m having an UES day and want something chic and elevated, I’d go back.

Current Obsession

Olivia Rodrigo’s new album is currently on repeat. Not sure if that’s good for my mental health, but it’s fantastic.

Radar

St. Agni pop up store at Beverly 1975, open thru Sunday 6/21 (27 Orchard St)

Cou Cou pop up store, open thru Saturday 6/20 (262 Mott St)

Gimaguas pop up store, open thru Sunday 6/21 (22 Wooster St)

The NY Archive, a new vintage showroom (by appointment only)

Theodora Beach Club on Governors Island, popping up every weekend all summer long

Somssi, a new Korean bistro in Greenwich Village

Love Thy Neighbor, a new Japanese bar in the West Village

Two new musicals coming in February/March that just went on sale: Evita & Paddington

I can’t get this cake from Hani’s off of my mind. I need to try it ASAP

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

After shopping in Seoul, I felt genuinely fulfilled. Like, shopped-out in the best way possible. I went to Paris with no agenda, no shopping list, not much of a plan - which, if you know me at all, is not how I operate.

This was my fifth trip to Paris, and I think it was my favorite - which should be a lesson learned. I’m a deeply type-A person, and I’m starting to realize that some of the most magical things happen when you stop planning and just let your plans unfold organically (a groundbreaking realization, I know). You experience things you wouldn’t have found on an itinerary. Stores you walk into because the window caught your eye. A vintage Balenciaga jacket that had no business being that perfect.

Paris is the only city that makes spending money feel genuinely cultural. Like, yes, I bought Chanel shoes, but I also peeked inside Azzedine Alaïa’s studio - untouched since his death - and stood on the Chanel staircase on Rue Cambon (only up to step #2, though. Boundaries.)

Here’s everything that came home with me (and made my bag 15lbs heavier than when I arrived):

Clockwise from top:

Vintage ashtray from GIFTSHOP

Top from Courreges

Hoodie from GIFTSHOP

Books from Fondation Azzedine Alaïa and librairie Yvon Lambert

Shoes from Dior

1941 Schiaparelli perfume ad from Les Images De Marc

Clockwise from top right:

Vintage Balenciaga jacket from NUMERO13

Strange little porcelain dog figurine from Astier de Villatte

Vintage perfume bottle necklace from a random store

Jacket from Courreges

Shoes from Simple Rainbow

Long sleeve top from Merci

Clockwise from top right:

Sweater from Centre Commercial

Top from Nuovo

Woven silk slingback flats from Chanel

Heeled ballerinas from Simple Rainbow

Scarf from Dior (that I’ve since wrapped around the handle of the OSOI bag I got in Seoul):

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Food & Drink

I’ve been MIA from the NYC scene lately - between surgery, Seoul and Paris, I haven’t exactly been boots on the ground here. But I’m excited to spend some more time in the city this summer because there’s a lot on my radar.

One new spot I have been to: the new West Village location of Le Dive. And it is, unfortunately, exactly the vibe (and absolute scene) I expected it to be. For context: I looked out my window at 2:42PM on Friday afternoon, and there was one lone man standing outside. By the time I looked back at 3:10PM, the place was completely mobbed with a line down the block.

I had hopes it would become an easy neighborhood spot for an impromptu glass of wine with friends, especially since the former (less ‘cool’) tenant at that location has more of that energy, but I’m not so sure that’s happening here. Le sigh.

I did make it back to Red Hook Tavern this week, only my second visit ever, and can confirm I still think it’s the best burger in NYC.

Shopping

It’s sale season - which completely snuck up on me this year.

I honestly haven’t been paying much attention to online shopping the past month or so. Between Seoul and Paris, I’ve been busy shopping in person, which reminded me how much more exciting fashion feels when you’re actually out in the world discovering things in person again. I even recently did a stroll down Orchard St, one of my favorite shopping streets in the city (more on that soon), and it genuinely snapped me out of my funk a bit.

I think I had gotten a little disconnected from fashion recently. It started to feel overly transactional - and that’s probably my fault for spending more time shopping online than in person. A good reminder to actually get out there again.

(A full review of everything I bought in Paris - à la my Seoul recap - coming next week).

That being said, this dreary weekend weather has pushed me back toward my web browser and all of my wishlists.

One thing I’ve gotten much better about over the years: not impulsively buying random sale items just because they’re marked down. My strategy now is that if something already exists in my wishlist, it’s fair game. If not, I try to leave it out of my cart.

So, here are 10 summer-ready pieces currently sitting in my cart, from my wishlists, that I’m very tempted to finally pull the trigger on (and all under $360):

Clockwise from top left:

SIR layered silk-chiffon halter top

Guest in Residence cashmere t-shirt

DESTREE embroidered cotton skirt

POSSE scarf-detailed top

The Frankie Shop lace midi skirt

All That Remains eyelet tank

STAUD plisse pants

Completedworks earrings

Souliers Martinez Sandals

Le Specs Sunglasses

Culture

Broadway has been struggling lately and, while it’s upsetting, it’s honestly not surprising. Ticket prices have gotten completely out of hand. I wish culture felt accessible enough for a spontaneous night out in NYC, but the cost of putting on these products has become so enormous that it’s created this unsustainable cycle. If Death Becomes Her can’t make it, then what can? (That being said: run, don’t walk to see it before it closes June 28!!)

There are so many shows I want to see right now - Every Brilliant Thing, Maya Rudolph and Meg Stalter in Oh, Mary! - but when tickets are starting at $400-600+, it becomes difficult to justify.

So for my fellow theater lovers: a reminder that Broadway lotteries exist, and they are very much worth entering. Most are around $45/ticket, and I’ve won several over the past couple years (as have many friends), so it’s very attainable if you’re flexible.

I recently won the lottery for Dog Day Afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. I somehow have never seen the 1975 film it’s based on, so I’m queueing that up for this weekend.

Linking the two lotteries I’ve used below for your reference - good luck, and support the arts!!!

Broadway Direct

Lucky Seat

Current Obsession

Think I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I just discovered the Tint & Protect SPF serum from Ciele and it’s an absolute game changer.

Ironically, I bought a tinted SPF serum in Seoul fully convinced that any K-beauty product would become the holy grain to end all holy grails - and this completely blew it out of the water.

It’s lightweight, glowy, acne-safe, and has SPF 50+ protection, which is honestly all I want from a complexion product during the summertime. It’s replacing the SPF+foundation in my routine immediately.

On My Radar

Gosh, a new club/cocktail lounge in Chinatown, originally from Florence

Oyatte, a new fine dining spot from an alum of Atomix and The French Laundry

Tavern Next Door, a new cocktail bar from the Red Hook Tavern team right next door to the restaurant

Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses exhibition at Brooklyn Museum

Zoo Sindang, a new cocktail bar from Seoul with drinks based on different zodiac signs

Kidilum, a new Indian restaurant in Flatiron

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

I recently returned from Seoul and fell in love with it almost immediately. The culture, the art, the food, and of course, the shopping, were all endlessly inspiring. The shopping was so epic, in fact, that that’s all I’m interested in talking about right now.

I went into the trip with a bit of a strategy to only buy Korean designers. And I was mostly successful.

One exception I had going into it: I knew I wanted a pair of Margiela Tabi’s, which I specifically wanted to buy from the Hannam flagship store, a renovated 1970s house on a quiet leafy street, complete with a café and sunny little front porch. The sales associate there did, however, fully lie to me and insist the colorway I bought was exclusive to the Seoul & Paris stores. It is not. I would’ve bought them regardless, but instinctually, I always prefer buying pieces that feel special and are harder to find elsewhere. Thankfully I didn’t also cave on the red leather boots she assured me were exclusive, too - they are, in fact, very available online. Still, buying them in Seoul saved me several hundred dollars, so a win is a win.

Beyond that, I stayed fairly committed to my Korean-designers-only rule - minus a couple of RE/DONE tees, though those were Seoul exclusives, so I think that still counts?

Here’s the haul, along with links to the brands in case anything catches your eye. Most of these labels don’t have wide distribution in the US…SSENSE tends to have one of the better assortments of Korean designers online, but the markup is pretty wild. I checked, and the OSOI bag I bought is currently retailing on SSENSE for 117% more than what I paid in Seoul.

All of which to say, the prices and deals to be found there are kind of incredible, the selection is easily the best I’ve ever seen, and almost nothing I bought (aside from the Tabi’s) felt remotely bank-breaking.

Truthfully, fashion has felt a little stagnant to me lately, and Seoul made everything feel exciting again. I could’ve spent another full week just popping in and out of stores there and still not gotten bored. The stores are incredibly immersive and experiential - not just places to buy things, but spaces you actually want to spend time in. It’s easily my favorite place I’ve ever shopped - and trust me, I have shopped.

Clockwise from top:

Hat from Ronron

Shirt from ADSB Andersson Bell

Long sleeve tee from Stereophonic Sound

Tee from RE/DONE (from Lotte Department Store)

Non-exclusive Maison Margiela Tabi ballet flats

Bag from OSOI

Clockwise from top:

Banana milk keychain from a souvenir shop

Hair clips from NYUNYU

Top from LCDC, trousers from Le17septembre

Belt from NYUNYU

Snoopy ‘Seoul Searching’ tee from RE/DONE, pants from Le17septembre, aforementioned NYUNYU belt

Clockwise from top left:

Sunglasses from Double Lovers (red) & Gentle Monster (silver)

Hoodie from Coor

Plate from Night Fruiti

Tee from LCDC

Perfume from 025S (in the scent: Flipped Chair)

Bag from MARGESHERWOOD

Cutie comb/gua sha (?!) a GWP from LE17septembre

And as for skincare…

There was definitely some trial and error involved, but my strategy was to start trying to build a routine early on in the trip, so that by the end, I’d know which products I wanted to stock up on before leaving.

My biggest takeaway is that pharmacies > Olive Young. Olive Young is great for certain things - sheet masks, Aestura, Anua, etc - but overall, I found the more interesting and higher quality products at pharmacies.

And the Sulwhasoo store in Bukchon is honestly a religious experience. I didn’t make it to their spa, but it’s on my bucket list for next time. Naturally, I had to pick up a few things there to try.

Like clothing/accessories, K-beauty products sold in the US tend to be more expensive than they are in Korea, and the formulations can differ a bit because of FDA regulations - especially when it comes to sunscreen, where Korea is honestly light years ahead.

That said, there are more and more good US resources for Korean beauty (Sephora, Song of Skin, Soko Glam, Olive Young, Ulta, etc) - but nothing compared to getting products straight from the source.

Top row: Sulwhasoo Perfecting lip color; Dr. Lienjang Custom Serum Set; Pharmacy-grade acne treatment (for during active breakout and for post care)

Middle Row: Anua & Rejuran sunscreens; too many face masks to count; Sulwhasoo Perfecting Tinted Cream (which they unsurprisingly only had in various shades of white…and I was somehow the palest shade…)

Bottom Row: Aestura & Rejuran cleansers; my new daily routine, which consists of: Dr. Rejuall Advanced PDRN Rejuvenating Cream & Aestura Atobarrier Cream (morning) and Exoproxyl CICA EXOSOmethod PLUS, Lissederm Beta Calming 24 Hour Cream, and HEVEBLUE Black Yuja Bean Lifting Auto Eye Cream (night); Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng cream (+ samples of the rest of this line)

A more comprehensive Seoul recap - restaurants, stores, museums, galleries, and other things you need to see - coming soon…in case this shopping recap alone didn’t already convince you to book a flight.

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Shopping

Early spring always gives me the itch to switch things up - retire the sweaters and heavy jackets, and make an effort to break free from an all-black uniform. Here are three spring outfits I’m into right now, each with a slightly different personality that I’ve assigned to them:

Iced coffee in hand on a Sunday morning, running errands and somehow already at 10k steps, on her way to brunch:

She’s gotten her first taste of summer with a rogue 80° day and is leaning all the way in. A sidewalk spritz pairs perfectly with some rose colored glasses:

HR may have some questions, but she’s easily the best dressed person in the office:

I resisted all of the big sales of the season, but Net-A-Porter is running an extra 20% off sale (using code FLASH20) right now and it’s tempting me. The five most reasonable items in my wishlist that I’m adding to cart:

A perfect crocheted coverup

It's going to be the summer of the platform sandal

A belt that goes with everything

A neutral home accent with some personality

It’s time for the annual replace-all-of-my white t-shirts (see this one styled above)

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Food & Drink

Lei: I finally made it to Lei, which has been on my list since it opened. The space is warm and intimate, with genuinely friendly service. We ordered almost the entire menu of shared plates. It was a good meal, but not one I’m rushing back for anytime soon - unless the menu changes a bit. That said, the standout bites for me were: the chilled celtuce with kombu jelly, shallots and red vinegar; sweet and sour beef short rib; and the rice pudding with sticky toffee for dessert was heavenly.

Da Toscano: I thought the move from Greenwich Village to Theater District was a…choice, but it turns out it’s a much needed pre-show dinner option. The new space is pretty and the central skylight is a nice contrast to the dark Minetta St location. The service is still working itself out but the food remains solid.

Movies & TV

The Drama has sparked a lot of conversation, and rightfully so. I didn’t exactly love it, but I didn’t dislike it either - which, in some ways, feels more interesting. There’s something to be said for a film that poses very real, very interesting moral questions and lingers with you long after it ends. I won’t spoil anything, but it’s stayed on my mind since I saw it last weekend.

Sometimes, the movies that divide people are more interesting than the ones that you simply just enjoy.

Culture

Fallen Angels: If you enjoy physical comedy, this play is for you. Rose Byrne’s comedic timing is impeccable, and it’s amazing to see her perform live. The 1920s art deco set and costumes are fabulous as well.

Beatbox puts all other karaoke spots in the city to shame. They even have autotune - so everyone can feel like a true star.

Current Obsession

As a known hater of bras, I was introduced to Cakes Sticky Circles last year and they’ve been a game changer - especially with the weather heating up, as a visible bra strap is a personal pet peeve.

On My Radar

Cleo, a new rotisserie chicken-focused spot in the WV, from the team behind Brooklyn’s Margot and Montague Diner

Ms. Alice, a LES cocktail bar

Rooftop season has been activated, and the new rooftop at the W Union Square is a great addition to the area

Koké, a new Japanese plant-based bakery & cafe

Morgenstern’s is back!!!!!

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Food

Golden Steer, the iconic Vegas steakhouse, recently opened in NYC - and it turns out it’s not just a great meal. We were flanked by tables of six to eight men on both sides, and I counted maybe five other women in the entire dining room, including us. Do with that what you will. (And plan your next girls’ dinner accordingly.)

Now, onto the actual restaurant -

The service was 10s across the board. The vibe is golden-age Vegas opulence, but in a way that feels chic - not cheesy. Deep red hues everywhere - walls, carpet, leather booths, and drool-worthy Fazzo pendants. Rich and immersive, it’s peppered with special little details, like dice-tipped cocktail picks in the martinis.

The food was indulgent in the best way, and there were honestly no skips. They really commit to the tableside moment here - Caesar salad, bananas foster - both worth ordering. And Jed, our tableside gentleman, was a true character and wealth of knowledge, which made the whole experience even more memorable.

It’s definitely a splurge, but one that feels very worth it for a special occasion - easily my favorite meal I’ve had in awhile.

Fashion

I posted a couple of slideshows on TikTok of my best The Real Real purchases and they popped off. Okay, not viral in the grand scheme of TikTok, but viral enough that people started asking me to share my secrets.

The truth is, a lot of it isn’t really teachable. Working in fashion and buying for the past 12+ years has made me a hyper-aware shopper. I know how certain brands and styles are supposed to fit (especially on my body), how pieces are meant to drape, what something should look like when it’s styled correctly (which TRR frequently gets wrong). That kind of instinct is hard to replicate.

That being said, I can share a few tips on how to score those special pieces and deals, even if you’re not a professional:

Timing Matters

New arrivals drop daily at 10AM and 7PM ET. If you’re serious about finding the best pieces, their 'First Look’ subscription (early access 24 hours before everyone else) is worth it - or free if you hit their VIP seller tier. The good stuff always goes fast and probably doesn’t make it past that 24-hour window.

Add to cart immediately

If something catches your eye, don’t hesitate - just add it to cart. You’ll get a 20 minute window to reserve your items before checkout is required, and in that time, I always do a quick reverse image search to check the pricing is fair, and to see if it exists elsewhere in better condition at a better price. Their pricing is wildly inconsistent, so I always fact check before purchasing.

Read the condition report

Their standards have dropped over the years, so it’s important to read the fine print and be discerning. I usually stick to “excellent” or “pristine” (unless there is an amazing outlier) and even then, I’m scrutinizing.

A recent win: Last week, I scored the below Hervé Léger gown on TRR that I’ll be wearing to a wedding later this year (or probably two of them, tbh). It was listed as ‘very good’ and labeled a direct brand sample (which they usually refuse to sell), so I was skeptical - but something about it felt right. And when I did the reverse image search, it was nowhere to be found - perhaps a 1 of 1. It arrived in perfect condition, and while I do need to hem about two feet off of it, it was a very good get.

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Culture

We were lured in by the genius of Jennifer Tilly to see the off-Broadway production of The Adding Machine. I genuinely enjoy going to random performances of shows I know nothing about - though that does mean they don’t always hit.

This one, unfortunately, was a miss for me. It was relentlessly bleak, with a central theme I didn’t quite agree with. The acting was solid, but I’ll be honest - I seriously considered leaving at intermission, and I’ve only contemplated that one other time in my life.

On My Radar

S&P has soft launched dinner service (Thursday-Sunday for now)

Gage & Tollner, one of my absolute favorite NYC restaurants, is celebrating their 5th anniversary with dinner specials April 13-19, as well as a live jazz performance Friday (4/10) in their Dolphin Bar

Cocktail Omakase on the LES

Fine Art Print Fair at the Park Ave Armory this weekend (4/10-4/12)

Need to see Daniel Radcliffe in Every Brilliant Thing before he leaves on May 24

Echo Lake, a new cocktail in Williamsburg, from the man behind Chicago’s Three Dots and a Dash & Lost Lake (RIP!)

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Fashion

I had mentally moved out of coat territory for the season, until I spotted these two strangers walking down the street in chic shearling-trimmed jackets and immediately changed my mind:

So now, naturally, I’m on the hunt for something similar. This jacket feels like a great traisiton option while still giving the same sort of vibe. I also have my eye on this more affordable (and fun) option, and any version of the Dorothy from Susanna Chow is always a good investment.

A quick pivot, because my fashion brain is a little all over the place right now (and how can it not be when it’s 70 degrees one day and 40 the next). The wedding invites are starting to roll in, and I’m starting to look for spring/summer guest dresses. My color of choice for the season is shades of light blue - it somehow works on every skin tone, every hair color. I pulled a few favorites below, and there are plenty more in my guest dress edit and my under $500 edit.

Other things that made me excited this week:

Crown Affair x U Beauty On-The-Go-Duo: This partnership feels random to me, however these are two nonnegotiable products in my beauty routine, so to see them collab excited me. Immediate add to cart. I also scooped up mini’s of my other faves for my upcoming travels: the leave in conditioner + the texturizing air dry mousse

Chan Luu Citrine cord necklace: Can’t stop thinking about this necklace. I’m picturing wearing it with my go-to tube top and low rise white jeans. And a fresh spray tan from Sugared + Bronzed, of course.

Alix of Bohemia lace trimmed tank top: It’s giving Chloé, but without the price tag

This Dries Van Noten matching satin mini dress + satin coat is chic as hell

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Culture

It’s been awhile since I felt so drawn to a show that I had to go on opening night - and the fact that I limped there in my little recovery boot should tell you everything you need to know. Elizabethan Collar, David Smalling’s solo exhibition at Templon, evokes the Old Masters and Dutch Golden Age while exploring very modern themes - identity, aspiration, conditional belonging, among other things. The works are stunningly beautiful at first glance, but the longer you stare at them, the more they become slightly unsettling. Every painting was more mesmerizing than the last. NYC people - make sure you see this before it closes on April 25.

On My Radar

Marcel, the new restaurant from Roman & Williams at the Breuer building (the new Sotheby’s HQ)

Dog Day Afternoon, the 1975 crime thriller, has been adapted into a Broadway play starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. They’re a long way away from the beef kitchen in Chicago…

The Thursday night dinner parties at Tashca, a Portuguese tavern that mostly operates as a private events space except for these once-weekly Thursday dinners

Bar Chucho, a new LES bar from the team behind Corima

I selfishly hope the new Little Italy location of L’Industrie takes some of the traffic away from the WV location. Looks like they’re having an event Sunday to celebrate the new opening.

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Home

I post little snapshots of my apartment here and there, and always get questions about it - or something in it, or something in the background. It got me thinking about how it’s come together, and what actually makes a space feel good. A few things I’ve learned along the way:

Always bring something home from your travels: My apartment is filled with small reminders of different trips - funny faced ceramics from Copenhagen, a papier-mâché skeleton from Mexico City, a gilded box from Venice, coffee table books from Berlin.

Don’t be afraid of color: It’s very easy to default to neutrals in the name of ‘timeless', but a home should feel warm and alive, not overly restrained.

Don’t force a space to feel finished: It’s tempting to want everything decorated and complete, but I’ve found the best spaces come together slowly. Let things happen organically, it always ends up feeling more thoughtful.

Vintage>new, almost always: Pre-loved pieces with a history tend to speak to me more than anything shiny in a store. I have a piece of art that previously hung in a room at the Gramercy Park Hotel, an Art Deco lamp I found in Philly, a porcelain Gucci butterfly container from an antique mall in New Jersey, a pair of Bergdorf’s hat boxes (from 1960 & 1965) with original delivery stickers and a very chic Upper East Side address still on the back. I always make a point to visit antique shops when I travel - and locally in upstate NY & NJ - and I love falling down the rabbit hole of online auctions (Rago, Wright, LAMA…occasionally Julien’s, where I consistently lose bids on Edith Head costume sketches).

Expensive doesn’t always mean better: I replaced a shitty cheap floor mirror I’ve had for 12+ years with a much more expensive one. While the frame is gorgeous, the mirror itself is warped and terrible. Humbling.

Lighting is everything: It can make or break a space. Anything but overhead is preferred.

Commission something, if you can: Some of my favorite pieces in my apartment are things I’ve had made - an ottoman, a piece of art. They feel uniquely mine in a way that’s hard to replicate.

Movies

I went to an early screening of Marc by Sofia last week, and I’m sad to say that lacked both direction and depth. It felt surprisingly surface level for such a colorful subject. Sofia isn’t really an interviewer - she’s an observer, very much in the vein of her mother, more fly-on-the-wall than probing. That can be compelling in some instances, but here it just means we never quite get anywhere. I was hoping for a deeper dive into Marc’s work - the evolution of his own brand, his impact on and tenure at Louis Vuitton, which completely reshaped the brand - and it never comes. The whole movie just stays skimming the surface.

Shopping

My five favorite things I saw this week while scrolling:

This show stopping skirt from Kallmeyer

This swingy, feminine trench from Nour Hammour

This Ganni tank for a pop of color and interesting, fresh shape on a classic silhouette

This Eliou Bag Charm will make a fun addition to any and all bags this summer

Pretty much everything from Jacques Wei, but particularly this embellished lace skirt

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Current Obsession

The Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo + Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask from K18. The shampoo made my scalp feel as clean as it possibly can be outside of a professional salon wash, and the leave-in mask has my hair looking so sleek and shiny with almost zero effort. Even three days later, a friend asked why my hair looked so put together - like I had actually styled it - when we were just hanging at home. That alone says everything.

On My Radar

LA-import Canyon Coffee just opened in Prospect Heights

Roundabout Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Show has a stacked cast and will definitely be worth seeing. Performances running 3/26- 6/21

Dean’s, a British pub from the team behind King, is opening 3/31

The New Museum is reopening Saturday (3/21) following a 60,000 sq ft expansion

Until next week -

xo

Lo

Food & Drink

We’re in the middle of a frozen yogurt renaissance - new spots seem to be popping up weekly. I’m personally feeling nostalgic for the late-2000s era, when 16 Handles, Red Mango, Pinkberry, and Forty Carrots were in heavy rotation. I’ve never actually abandoned froyo, but I’m happy to see the rest of the city catching back up.

Here’s my ranking of NYC spots right now (important context: I’m an original/tart purist, which is the only way froyo should really be evaluated):

1. Culture: The most high-quality, tangy tart yogurt in the city. The seasonal toppings/flavors are always excellent.

2. Mimi’s: I wanted to hate this place given the hype…but it is incredible. The toppings are unmatched - easily the best I’ve ever seen - and major bonus points for being self serve.

3. Pinkberry: A classic for a reason. The store experience leaves a lot to be desired, but their classic tart still holds up, and the seasonal matcha tart is amazing.

4. Butterfield: Too sugary/sweet for me, but toppings are very good and quality is solid overall.

5. Forty Carrots: The tart is good, but this is the only place where I order something different: coffee. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but nothing beats a large cup of coffee froyo topped with oreos after an afternoon of shopping. Bloomingdale’s 59th street location only - that Soho store is depressing (and also too close to Mimi’s).

6. Birdie’s: I’d rank this lower if I had more spots to add. Genuinely dislike almost everything about the experience here. When I went, they were sold out of half of the toppings (at 6pm on a Tuesday???), the tart tasted more like soft-serve ice cream than yogurt, and the overall energy of this place just feels…off.

I still need to try Madison Fare (not fair to do rankings before trying this, though I’ve heard mixed reviews - and the Greenwich Village location looks a little sad), and I’m looking forward to the upcoming openings of Myka & Go Greek.

Long live froyo.

Shopping

My favorite 10(ish) things I saw this week while scrolling:

Missoni Striped Terry Shoulder Bag: The most fun bag to tote around from beach to pool and everywhere in between

Eaves Trench Coat: A well-priced trench for spring

Sandy Liang Mio Socks: The sweetest socks to pair with your loafers

Scarf-Detail Georgette Dress: Is anybody out there looking for a dress for a summer wedding? If so…please wear this! Or if your budget is unlimited: I’m in love with this Etro Paisley Floral Tiered Maxi Dress

Astrid Two Piece: This set can be easily mixed and matched with a white tee and denim all summer long

The coolest girl you know will soon be wearing the AGOLDE x Maria McManus collab. My picks are the Trouser Wide Leg Jean & Skater Short

Ciao Lucia Embroidered Linen Top + Shorts: another easy set that has me dreaming of summer

Loretta Caponi Pleated Broderie Anglaise Cotton Shirt: A fresh & feminine update to your standard white button down

For more of what’s in my closet, what I’m currently obsessing over, shopping guides & more, check out my ShopMy. Looking for some personal style advice? Whether it’s for curating a flawless vacation wardrobe, hunting down the perfect shoes, or finding the best basics for your closet, I’m here to help—just reach out!

Movies

The Bride!: This movie was a wild ride! Some plot holes and lack of character development, but overall an energetic, visually appealing movie. Worth watching for Jessie Buckley’s performance alone. The fact that she started filming Hamnet 2 weeks after wrapping on this movie? Yeah, she deserves that Oscar this weekend.

Scream 7: If you’re not a well-versed fan of the franchise, I’d say skip it. But I love these silly movies, and while I’ll admit this one was both 1⭐ and 5⭐’s at the same time, everyone was screaming and laughing in the theater and it was genuine fun.

Culture

I saw the current play running at Cherry Lane Theater, You Got Older, this week. A note from the playwright in the program reads: “This play was written and finished in the middle of a personal crisis - before anything was resolved. And so, for me, it remains a kind of play without perspective.”

That lack of perspective, unfortunately, does the play a bit of a disservice. It ping-pongs between deeply real and emotional family scenes and surreal fantasy dream sequences that feel awkward and ultimately unexplained. When the play hits an emotional nerve - which it does a handful of times - it’s genuinely impactful. But overall, it left me wanting a bit more clarity and cohesion, and in the end, fell a little flat for me.

Performances through April 12.

On My Radar

Art House Cinema Week, a celebration of independent cinemas, is running March 20-26. There will be special screenings, discounted tix, free popcorn, and more at 30+ independent cinemas across the city.

Megan Thee Stallion is joining the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical in the role of Zidler from March 24-May 17

Outsider Art Fair, dedicated to self-taught artists who work without formal artistic training, is running in Chelsea March 19-22

Maya Rudolph is making her Broadway debut in the role of Mary in Oh, Mary! (April 28-June 20). This is going to be so good - I’m very tempted to go yet again. They’re killing it with the casting.

Kees, a new cocktail bar in the West Village

Odo East Village, a more casual, a la carte izakaya sister restaurant to Odo

Close To Home Bakery sourdough chocolate chip cookies look heavenly

Until next week -

xo

Lo