It’s just about Fall and my favorite time of year. I am an Autumn flower through and through and look forward to this time of year. The last gasps of warmth and the (hopefully) slight chill in the air. I also love the “get back to it” kind of spirit that takes over here in New York City- that rentrée vibe that is back to life, back to reality but in a social, buzzy way when new things are brewing.
And speaking of new things, I give you the Pearl Pages, a new monthly newsletter I hope you subscribe to and enjoy. As to why the name, I am always wearing something pearl and have always adored them. They get a mumsy bad rap, but when you look at how Harry Styles rocks them, you can see how versatile and gorgeous they are. More importantly, pearls represent wisdom through experience. And like the people who wear them, each pearl is different. The Latin word for pearl is translated as "unique." My writing is all about discovering those qualities that make each person, product, and place unique and sharing them with you as little pearls of wisdom. Incidentally, Pearl is also the personification of someone I admire and want to hang with- intelligent, funny, wise, classic, yet just the right amount of quirky. Thus, the Pearl Pages.
So here are some pearls inspiring this new seasonality: our official Fall muse is Ali McGraw.
If you’re a style stalwart, you know that the fashion of Ali McGraw, particularly from her “Love Story” era, is Fall’s favorite inspiration. Her timeless and iconic style is what American ease is all about, and I’ll take mine with a side of pumpkin spice.
What I love about her is she wears clothes that COUNT. An eternally chic black turtleneck. A pert camel coat. A great trouser or boho blouse. Bonus points if you can channel her beau Steve McQueen here. So chic and beyond cool.
So this Summer was a little rough on my soul. My sweet senior pup has had some ups and downs, and it’s been a bit tweaky in the maven house, to say the least. When I’m feeling blue, going to see some art is always good for me. And the Willliam Klein show at ICP was a lovely salve. I believe it closes very soon, so if you haven’t gone yet, go see it. Klein’s street snaps and fashion work is a sublime document of time passing, and my passion for photography was reignited by seeing this rather amazing retrospective. One little postscript, though. Why are most photography shows now shown in dark spaces? I don’t get it. I much prefer a sun-soaked, light-filled gallery, but that’s just me.
In other New York news, everyone is talking about a part of town called Dimes Square, that way downtown neighborhood at the intersection of Chinatown and the Lower East Side full of great new spots like Dive Bar and Corner Bar and retailers like Suzie Kondi and the beautiful Aedes Perfumery. Many are already saying the scene there is over, but I still find it fun and fresh. I recommend a Fall stroll soon.
On the shopping front, my favorite purchase of late has to be my new Ruti barrel jeans. For those of you who don’t like stretch, stay away. These pants are as comfy as sweats for their stretchiness but look so good. I highly recommend them with a blazer and tank. So damn good. And these from Madewell also fill me with Fall feels. They are just the coolest black fade and are the next gen of skinny jeans mixed with the perfect play of rock and roll detailing. I can’t wait to wear them.
Also worth a look Buck Mason’s women’s line and this trench in particular. I spotted it at the Williamsburg store, and it feels and looks absolutely amazing. Just the right amount of oversized, slouchy goodness. While you’re there, this henley is Jane Birkin's baby and Ali McGraw's baby. So chic.
For that new season beauty bump up, I was shocked by how much I loved this Makeup by Mario lip gloss, gifted to me by a makeup artist who did me up for a new headshot. It’s subtle and so pretty. The shade I have is called “Almost Nude,” which they no longer have, but loving the rosy nude, I linked to for this piece. It’s a great option for those of us that are generally lipstick shy but want a touch of color.
The new skin tint from Gucci Westman is all that. I am in love with its skin-loving, barely there feel. It’s the perfect light texture you’ve been seeking for the now ubiquitous no makeup/makeup look. Gorgeous.
Something on my list for Fall is a classic pair of biker boots. They are hot once again as are all moto things, but I am eyeing the classic harness boot from Frye. I had an antiqued brown pair post-college and loved them to bits. I may have to revisit them, but this time in black.
Regarding workouts, I’ve been dancing as fast as I can. Literally. I love dance as a workout because it is a super sweaty way to get the cardio going and tap into my creativity and connection to my body. My favorite of late takes place at Bodycraft right here in Brooklyn. Owner Emily Dyers is an absolute ball of light and a supportive teacher. I can’t get enough and always feel so incredible after her classes. Dancing is just good for dopamine and also soul food in movement form. Ooh, and when it comes to dancing, I’ll be dancing, laughing, and crying when I go see Diana Ross on September 8th in Boston. Touch me in the mf morning. I can’t wait. I’m already sweating about what to wear.
I leave you with a few more thoughts, and the first one is a pearl clutcher.
Because if you are over 40, you are no doubt rolling your eyes at the notion of “quiet quitting,” a trend all over Tik Tok to describe the notion of doing the bare minimum at work and nothing more. This is an alien concept to me, and sure, I have done it for a day or two, but I could never, ever do it long-term. It’s just not for me, and I hate that quiet quitting is accompanied by LOUD TALKING. Why, oh, why do young people talk so bloody loud these days? Is it their endless need to be heard? Their lack of self-awareness? Or does all of that quiet quitting have them screaming their thoughts in public? Who knows. Who cares? Make it stop.
Ooh, and big news. I am the newly minted style editor of the Ageist, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve been writing for them for a while and am so grateful for their support. You can check out all of my pieces here, and I’m looking forward to many more. Call it my Carrie Bradshaw moment, and I’m positively tickled to be doing it. I’ll still be posting on my old-school blog a few times a week.
So I thought I’d end this piece with a September challenge:
Identify 5 things in your closet to lose and bid adieu. I just did it (and then some), and it felt really good. After all, a new season is all about losing what no longer suits and ushering in something new.
Cheers to a new season, a new newsletter, and the promise of Fall mornings and falling leaves. XO