To my dear LA friends & followers,
The devastation you’ve gone through is horrific and unimaginable. Like many others, I’ve spent this past week trying to process the pain and heartbreak that has occurred in the sacred and beloved city that you call home. It’s been absolutely devastating.
If there are new ways that this wonderful online community can support you and your families please let us know. Below are just a few resources I can resurface for you:
LA Times Resources
Altadena Teen Girls Fire Recovery
Brands Providing Products to Families Impacted by LA Fires
This is by no means a normal time and no one is pretending that it is.
Though I can’t be there physically to help pick up the pieces, I hope I can support you through prayer and in ways that bring a little bit of normalcy back into your life.
So here’s to that little bit of that optimism and normalcy.
Much love to you, LA.
x
For My Sister
E1
I promised my sister I would start a new series.
It’s the kind of series every sister will understand, because my mission is simple: to end the Cold War of clothes thievery that’s been going on since the dawn of time.
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by your sister ‘borrowing’ your clothes. And keep your hand raised if she’s ever hidden your clothes from you so well, you started to wonder if you even owned them in the first place.
There was a time when I’d find my clothes stashed in the weirdest places:
Crammed in the depths of her backpack
Hidden under the dining room chairs
Buried underneath her bed
I knew if I didn’t pass her in the halls at school she was probably avoiding me because she had on a top that I made her promise not to steal. The game was real and we both knew how to play it. Fast forward approximately 20 years and now we play nice and decided sharing is caring because what else are sisters for?
These days I’ve taken caring to the next level and send her shopping recs.
You see, my sister has great taste. Phenomenal taste. But she gets distracted and loses the plot on her personal style. So when she turns around to get dressed, she’s usually staring at a bright red top with ruffled sleeves she got on sale and has never worn.
Y’all should know by now that I’m all for fun.
The more fun the better actually.
But I’m also a firm believer in those fun pieces coming into your life when you have a good base and you’re ready to handle them. You have to know when to play the card.
So, in the spirit of personal style, I’m starting this new series that you’re all invited to which will build on itself. But like all good things you have to start somewhere. You know, like the new workouts you keep telling yourself you’re going to do in 2025.
Tis the season for starting over & charting a new path forward.
HNY to us. <3
This first episode is all about essentials.
By essentials I mean the pieces I better find if I’m tearing through your closet looking for something to wear. And if you don’t have these pieces, well good luck to you.
Also, a little warning you’ll see a few repetitive brands in here. My take? Stick to what you like and don’t build a closet full of 1,000 different people you barely know. We don’t need to go full uniform here, but part of feeling confident in your style is building equity in what genuinely feels like you. In an era where we’re bombarded new things constantly, find restraint!
Always experiment, but don’t spread yourself too thin trying to try everything. I love the idea of someone seeing a brand or a piece of clothing and immediately thinking, “that’s so them.”
Staring with one of my personal favorites… the button down.
I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to have at least one—if not 100—good button-downs in your wardrobe. When I don’t know what to wear I grab a button down.
There’s no better feeling than a crispy white shirt and Yaitte makes some of the best out there. The fit is the perfect mix of masculine and tailored, and the logo is unique enough that every time I wear it, someone’s bound to ask where I got it from.
White, blue, stripes (but let’s keep it classy—don’t go full dad on me). Bring some button down shirt variety into your closet and don’t cheap out. These babies last forever and if you learn to love them like I have, they’ll get a lot of mileage.
My favorite button-down party trick? Don’t wear anything underneath except for Nippies. There’s nothing worse than a t-shirt under a crisp white button-down.
It just ruins the look.
The real vibe? Nili Lotan’s relaxed approach. She does it best, take notes.
Now for evening tops, blouses, whatever you want to call them
If you’re going out to dinner, going to a work meeting, going to get coffee with your ex (wait, what?) you need a good top. And by top I mean you probably shouldn’t wear a sweater because the vibe is slightly fancier and it’s not snowing out. I’m the first to wear a sweater 365 days a year, but having a closet with a handful of good blouses makes me feel like I have my life together, and I love the variety these three offer.
You can wear them with jeans and flats for a work day or spice them up with heeled boots, slacks, and a vintage Fendi bag, for a night out with the girls. It says, she’s business in the front but she’s also fun and versatile. We’re chameleons, ladies.
And for a Bode blouse I’m dying for… yea, she’s good.
Moving onto a critical element… basic t-shirts
Key word, BASIC. Yes, basic, baby.
Show me two girls:
The one wearing an over-complicated lewk screaming designer
The one wearing a great fitting pair of jeans and a simple top
I’m sorry, but I’m picking girl #2 every time.
Even if I’m feeling extra fun that day, you can’t convince me otherwise. It’s all about personality, my love. And if you’re hiding behind a $1,200 outfit, well, I kinda get it.
You’re overcompensating for something else, aren’t you?
Find me in a turtle-neck all winter (no, seriously—ask my friends), a white t-shirt (James Perse makes an oh-so good one), or a chic fitting tank top in the summer.
You got me in my feels right there.
As for the most important of them all… jeans
I believe there are 3-4 jean personalities that are needed in your wardrobe:
The jean that could be worn to the office or out to dinner
The jean that’s just a little bit edgy and a little bit cool
The jean that’s built for white t-shirts & weekending
If you can crack that code, well. You’re set for life.
I have a vintage pair of Levi’s that I love so much I limit myself in the amount of wears I give them. What happens when the tiny hole in the crotch starts to get bigger? Who am I kidding the answer is keep wearing them since they make my butt look good.
Duh.
Okay, I think I’ve lost the plot here, but you get what I’m saying. Good jeans that you love and feel good in are so important, but keep a variety. And most importantly get them tailored. Is it just me or do all new jeans come 2 feet too long these days?
There’s nothing worse than witnessing a pair of jeans that look mediocre and don’t fit you properly. Keep your standards high, girl! If those jeans don’t work for you stuff them back into that box, slap a label on it, and return them. Life is too short.
A few of my ride or die jean brands:
Stalk the hell out of RE/Done or better yet go in-person to NYC’s The Vintage Twin, my secret weapon for finding the perfect pair. They have stylists there that I think might have actual superpowers in finding you Levi treasure.
They can do no wrong in my eyes, LOVE all my jeans from here.
I haven’t experimented enough here, but I like what I see.
No one does cool denim like Nili, that’s a fact.
Next up, my personal favorite… sweaters
I know I preached about good blouses, but over half my closet is sweaters. I’m talking the classics, the quirky ones, and the ones that so oversized they don’t even fit under my coat. What can I say? Send me to prison—sweaters are my weakness.
Every time I go to buy one, there’s obviously instant euphoria, quickly followed by the reality check: How many of this exact color and shape do I already own? If the answer is two (or more), the rule is simple: I have to at least ditch one before I tap my phone.
It’s sweater law. Don’t fight it.
Focus on variety—everything from colors to styles to necklines. Crew neck, v-neck, button-down, you name it. La Ligne is the perfect resource for this. Because here’s the thing about sweaters: there’s almost always a time to wear one. And life is way easier when you’ve got the perfect one on deck because, well, you can—and you should.
A few other really good classic sweaters featuring one of my favorite boutiques in all of lower-Manhattan, La Garçonne (Jenni Kayne horse not included in purchase).
Last but not least, the special statement pieces
This is where things get interesting. Kinda. You see, let’s take my sister for example. If she sees a cozy sweater that goes down to the floor with a cool print, she’s buying it.
The problem with that? She never wears them.
Now, if we're venturing into territory where we want a little variety, sure, go for it. But if it's a big-ticket item, remember it should still fit into the foundation of you. A really good sweater, a sharp blazer, the perfect LBD—those are the essentials.
You should absolutely have them.
Above are examples of pieces that fall into essential but with a little bit of personality.
I love how this blazer is chic, but it has shape and that little element of surprise.
I love this sweater because the tone is perfect, and it has an extra scarf moment.
I love this dress because I could wear it anywhere but it’ll always feel unique.
Another statement piece from House of Dagmar I’d love to have…
Okay, kids! There you have it. Episode 1. Did we like? Hate?
If you’re still reading I’ll buy you a cocktail. And if you’re my older sister and you’re still reading, text me your favorites because someone has a birthday coming up.
x
Loved this! So helpful.
All the Nili lotan pieces are so good! Would love your recommendations for coats 🌟