LE CATCH

Thankfully, I am not alone this morning in feeling more hopeful for a brighter future, ready and inspired to begin a new chapter. And also dress the part with some fresh and new in my wardrobe, as Net-A-Porter is offering 15% off new spring styles, including the vividly floral Ulla Johnson blouse, above, this super pretty day-to-night Sea dress, this Alex Mill puff-sleeve sweater, this Mara Hoffman getaway frock, this polka-dot Faithfull the Brand, and these Grlfrnd straight-leg jeans. Shop the edit here.

I bought a dainty little ring for a grieving friend just so she could always look down at her hand and know she's loved. And, guess what, she loved it! Perhaps as an act of self-love I'd like to gift myself the $150 signet pinky ring, above, engraved with an "M!" And as a gift to you, how about the most perfect jeans ever (BTW, Alexa Chung also swears by them): Agolde Vintage High Rise Flares. The slim fit/straight leg ratio is spot-on and exceptionally flattering. I've been wearing them non-stop with this oversized H&M jacket and this cute Amo denim shirt.

In an effort to screw my head back on (and do some business), I ran away to Hawaii this past weekend. Mother Nature (ocean swims, lava field hikes, whale watching) worked her magic on me, as did Mauna Lani's hospitality. The newly-renovated Auberge hotel pampered with morning green juices, white sand beaches, vibrantly chic decor, sunrise paddles, shooting stars from my balcony--plus the opportunity to wear cute dresses again! (The red hot and polka dot lovelies are by Goop, and I also packed this, this and this!) A real treat, all in all, and I am beyond grateful for the respite.

A friend of mine asked me to help her source a chunky, statement-making gold chain necklace that doesn't cost a fortune. Done: Laura Lombardi's under-$150 gold-plated cable necklace, above, that has Foundrae-like heft minus the hefty price!

$99, mango

This may be the sleekest jean jacket I've seen in... forever.

1. Doen dress, $300, netaporter.com

2. Mango denim blazer, $99, mango.com

3. Fendi bag, $1030, shopbop.com

4. Timeless Pearly ring, $343, shopbop.com

5. Tory Burch suede boots, $578, shopbop.com

"It would be cool if no more things happened for a while," said the first Instagram post on my morning feed. Well, that would be nice! Of course, we all know too well that life doesn't work that way (thank you for the lessons, 2020!). To counterbalance this week's agenda--dodging Covid, witnessing another history-making week in Washington, and, oh, prepping for a record-breaking Polar Vortex, scheduled to snap later this month--I'd thought I'd baby step our way in with some easygoing winter-weekday style inspo, from Emelie Lindmark, above, Nadia Araujo, immediately below, Hollie Mercedes, second image, and Katie Sands, last pic. To get into a good groove, a statement topper is a must. I love Katie's La Double J print puffer (or these less expensive options from Carhartt, Nike and The North Face) and/or an oversized throw-it-on-top-of-everything down vest, like this Uniqlo! But a teddy bear coat can do the warm and fuzzy trick too (like this and this). Another outfit-uplifter is a major bag (yes, please, Celine and Prada, pictured), like this vintage Gucci and this logo-happy Marni. One last thing to keep you distracted: you can now shop my closet at Celebrity Owned!

In need of some escapism today? Who isn't?! Australian-based Swedish/Italian model Sara Ramen's Instagram feed offers up loads of sunshine-steeped settings, cerulean seascapes, bursts of bougainvillea and all the dreamy dresses, swimsuits, and accessories to go with. I can practically feel the Vitamin D seeping into my skin as I scroll through her summery images! Here are some of my favorite take-me-away snaps, filled with pieces I want to wear when the weather warms up, such as the Innika Choo dress, above, and top, below (more options here), swimwear and cover-ups from Sir the Label, languid tops and pants from Faithfull the Brand, tailored Sezane denim shorts, Fella one-pieces, and leather lace-up sandals.

Lately, my morning run has felt compulsory. As if it's my only chance to see the light of day, if not glimpses of other human beings going about their business. My mind and my heart are definitely benefiting from this rigid daily routine. My knees, not so much. So, I'm inspired to shake things up! Friends are mine are currently raving about Melissa Wood's MHW Method, a series of precise low-impact, highly-effective exercises as well as Sworkit, a customizable boot camp-spirited circuit workout. For further sweat-ready inspo, I'm thinking some new exercise gear would help kick things up a notch, specifically anything from LA-based line Year of Ours, which nails standout sporty spice at a reasonable price (I'm newly obsessed)! Plus: the spotted Beach Riot ensemble, above, the on-sale Gap shorts, below, along with this super cute apres-sweat sherpa cardigan, and you-don't-see-these-everyday stretch organic cotton shorts by Nangata.

Getting through this long winter will take more than resilience and stamina. For me, it will also require one of these cute knit neck thingies to keep me warm and toasty (read: happy). I love the above outfit-making Ganni, above, and the goes-with-everything Cos, below. Other cozy-chic options come from JW Anderson, Burberry, and Tory Burch.

I'm ringing in the new year with some new-on-my-radar designers, including Minneapolis-based Mille, anchored in feminine, effortlessly stylish and so-right-now silhouettes, such as the ruffled eyelet top, above, this romantic block print dress, and this organic cotton puff sleeve blouse. Another line I'm eyeing hails from my happy place (Easthampton, New York!): Unsubscribed features consciously-made slow fashion--i.e., quality pieces to wear forever and ever. Cases in point: cashmere hoodies, fleece joggers and pretty print dresses, last pic. London-based Sister Jane debuts a new collection every six weeks, which helps keep me on my stylish toes. The latest is replete with lovelies like the tweed cardigan, below (hello, Coco!), this leopard print maxi, and this metallic tweed cami.