LE CATCH

So, it took me three locked-down months to hone my homebody-hood--or at least just discover the secret (and crazy affordable!) home decor genius that is Urban Outfitters. Who knew it's rife with more than just hipster dorm decor, from the little $12 (vintage, artisanal-looking!) ceramic bowls to dining table-punctuating $12 ombre candles to more cool chairs than I have places to sit (this, this and this!). Also amazing: this speckled planter, this abstract floor mirror, chic rattan table lamp, and this side table. P.S. The beach lounger from Australia that I posted the other day and now back-ordered can be found stateside here!

$75, shopbop

Today's cherry pick will stay fresh all season long.

1. Glamorous dress, $75, shopbop.com
2. Chloe earring, $440, netaporter.com
3. Jennifer Zeuner ring, $88, shopbop.com
4. Baguu ripstop tote, $39, shopbop.com
5. Eres lace-up silk sandal, $260, netaporter.com

Herewith a dispatch from Malibu: This be-all-end-all Land & Sand beach chair ($199) was recommended to me by my good friend, Erica McLoughlin, the mastermind behind LA's in-demand sleek outdoor furnishing and design firm Saturday House. Deeply familiar with my inveterate beach-bum ways, Erica rightly assumed I could rattan-lounge it up by the pool as well as in the backyard, on a camping trip (okay, maybe not), in the park, at soccer games, etc. Made in Australia (also eminently versed in the art of lounging), it ships free! Other summer-ready things I'm putting to use this long weekend: the glam Haney dress, below, now 40% off, this cute West Elm modern melamime plate set for fun picnics, these vintage Gucci-looking Zara Home braided place mats (on sale), this monogrammed Mark & Graham Turkish towel, and this inviting Anthropologie hammock. Happy Sunday!

It's Fri-yay! Time to roll up your sleeves and get to weekending! Actually, forget the rolling-up part and just wing it in a short-sleeve shirt, this season's fast track to slow-down style. As you can see in these snaps, this top is quite utilitarian and versatile. The cutest ones out there are by Kenzie, Urban Outfitters, Solid & Striped, And Other Stories, H&M, Joie, and Asos.

P.S. Other things I'll be doing this weekend: diving deeper into Fauda, sorting through the bananas sale at Saks Fifth Avenue (think Zimmermann and my fave at 30% percent off, also Ganni, and Dodo Bar Or), and finishing this amazing book. Enjoy this long weekend!

One of summer's benefits is I can wear less--and yet make a larger style statement. One trick of my trade: layered casual necklaces. The kind I can wear to bed, jump into the ocean with and work out in. In other words, baubles that stay on 24/7. On my wish list: this Jenna Blake leather anchor-pendant necklace, this chic shell necklace from Pascale Monvoisin (or this vintage one), this Madewell daisy chain, this turquoise choker from Maison Irem, this pearl-drop Matteo necklace, this colorful lariat, and this teeny stone choker by Zoe Chicco.

Yesterday I wore this new H&M dress and Lela Rose blazer to my sister's home. Read: I got "dressed," without anyone to impress apart from my sister. Actually, my outfit did pique interest from my brother-in-law, who wanted to know where was I going "all dressed up." LOL! Despite my asocial agenda, I will continue my dressing-up routine, whether I am working at home or hanging with my sis, because it makes me feel pulled-together and... normal. Next up: these just-bought pieces from Asos, Gucci, and Shein.

Photo: Coliena Rentmeester

A good friend of mine--a super busy, super successful brand-building entrepreneur--texted me the other day to talk shorts. She needed a pair for the summer, one that could potentially go to work or be at home in Malibu. Along with being versatile, the shorts also needed to be leg-lengthening yet not too short, and, of course, up-to-minute sophisticated. Got that? I actually do, because this season specializes in exactly this pair of dream shorts. They feature a high waist, are loose-fitting, can be worn with a belt (work) or without (Malibu), equally cool with an everyday t-shirt or a tailored blazer, plus are eminently flattering. My faves in no particular order come from Loulou Studio (above), Vince, Frame, Knot Sisters, Phillip Lim, and H&M.

The siren call of sunshine and sea air was downright compelling this past weekend, prompting some to even sunbathe atop their cars parked on Pacific Coast Highway! What I also spotted on the Malibu shorelines was a healthy dose of eyelet, myself included (below). I also love H&M's cute, budget-friendly dresses/cover-ups like the eyelet embroidered maxi, above, or the $34 shorter iteration.

The usual harbingers of summer--striped Positano umbrellas, Mykonos' mouth-watering Greek Salads--may not be carpet-bombing my Instagram feed right now, but at least I'm seeing some sartorial signifiers. And they're looking as chic as ever, due to a few new pieces that instantly summer-fy our city wardrobes. Take for example, Paris-based Leia Sfez's Levi's cut-offs, above, perfectly relaxed (size up for looser fit), cranked up with Chanel Mary Janes. Another magic maker: Londoner Camille Charriere's Nanushka's one-shoulder top, below, which I'd temper with a do-it-all blazer or a wrap skirt. Manhattanite Leandra Cohen's Bottega Veneta's spiral sandals are, of course, the season's cult shoe, but any (less pricey) toe sandal will do like this and this. Meanwhile, LA stylist Jen Wonders' J.Brand pleated jeans (the new must-have silhouette--see here and here), look a little dressier than our over-worn go-to's, great for running around town or in circles at home. The just-right t-shirt is also key, as a layering piece (above) or simply on its own (below). My faves here and here.

Good news to kick off the week: the pre-Memorial Day Weekend sales are proceeding as usual. I'm embracing the annual tradition with Forward, Matches, Moda Operandi, Verishop, and Farfetch, all brimming with greatness like the gorgeous Rotate, above, plus a handful of Rixo dresses (below), including this floral (coveting long time!). Also topping my edit: this half-off Borgo de Nor, these ready-to-go Ganni chinos, these By Far snake-print wear-with-everything sandals, this Dodo Bar Or stunner, this Billie the Label side-tie blazer (to wear over my dresses!), this J.O.A button-down midi ($65 ), this Ulla Johnson mini, this Altuzarra suede tote, and this Zimmermann one-piece swimsuit.