brain unload: what I've been thinking about over the last month
spoiler alert: it's new Celine, Serpentine fashion, England, and advice from Graydon Carter, among other things
Apologies for leaving you on read! When I started this Substack, I vowed that I would write once a week (more or less), but that vow fell apart on vacation and the momentum was a wee bit lost upon my return. But I’m back, it’s now almost the end of July (😩), everyone on the east coast is melting (🫠), and there are certain things that have been occupying space in my brain for the past month! Here they are, in no particular order:
Michael Rider’s debut collection at Celine
The tailoring! The styling! The accessories! Can’t wait to see the pieces IRL in stores, but also slightly nervy about the price points.
Two more indelible accessories from June/July runway shows: the leek bag from Jacquemus’ La Paysan Collection and the beating heart necklace from Schiaparelli’s latest couture collection.
That, as a redhead, I don’t normally do red for clothing but I am currently really drawn to red halter tank tops from St. Agni and my favourite, Flore Flore. These would look great on all skin tones, hair colours, and bra sizes.
Wet Leg’s moisturizer. Standout tracks include: “CPR”, “davina mccall”, “catch these fists”, and “u and me at home.”
With HAIM’s release of I quit in June and The Beaches forthcoming album in August, it’s a great summer for women indie rock.
The flowers at Thyme in the Cotswolds (10/10 hotel experience.
That the Brits do things really well as compared to Americans - garden parties, pub food, taxis, tipping (a clean 12.5% automatically applied) - but they still thinking putting the light switch outside of the bathroom is acceptable.
The woman I saw at the Serpentine Summer Party wearing this look from Oscar de la Renta Pre-Spring 2025, who was my best dressed from the party.
Runners-up go to Gubu Mbatha-Raw in this Erdem dress and a guest channeling Lisa Todd-Wexler but even more chic, if you can believe it!
The prevalence of polka dots on Wimbledon attendees (including on yours truly) - it’s truly the print of the summer.
Runner-up goes to fish prints (Staud does it really well.)
Speaking of fish, if fish motif jewelry is on your summer 2025 shopping bingo card, Lucia Zolea has one of the best curations of vintage sea-inspired jewelry, and vintage generally, that I’ve seen. Prices are reasonable for vintage in this day and age.
Some rules for living from Graydon Carter, as provided in the last chapter of his memoir “When the Going Was Good”:
“Wish others well. Get any sense of schadenfreude out of your system. It’s hard enough to control events in your own life - don’t spend a second on the events that could affect others’ lives in a negative way.”
“Always be open to a new line of endeavor. Be willing to say, ‘Oh what the hell - sure!’”
I wish you all well, readers! See you next week.