LE CATCH

For Fall 2013, Phillip Lim managed to make sweatshirts infinitely cooler by adding a side zipper and rendering the classic in different fabrics from leather to lustrous double-knits to French terry. I am, in a word, obsessed. Designers like Rebecca Taylor and Theory (love!) are also coming out with compelling derivations of this silhouette. I have a very strong hunch this is something we will all want to put in our weekly rotation, come autumn.

Photo: Style.com

$150, miss selfridge

I love a trophy jacket that makes a mouth drop. This beaded one might just make people keel over with envy!

1. J.Crew peasant blouse, $148, jcrew.com
2. Miss Selfridge beaded jacket, $150, missselfridge.com
3. Star Mela handbag, $95, shopbop.com
4. Elizabeth and James metallic sandals, $298, piperlime.com
5. MiH cropped jeans, $175, netaporter.com

A few weeks ago I received the above mystery text (I don't recognize the number and it's not in my contact list), which I assumed came from a NYC friend (UES= Upper East Side). But then again, perhaps it's someone from Birkenstock PR who somehow got my cell number....? Regardless, it got me thinking again about this hippie stalwart, which showed signs last year of reincarnating as fashion-forward footwear. Then yesterday I was in New York for the first time this sandal season, and lo and behold, I did indeed see some Birks about, executed in a comfortably chic way as seen below. (No, it's not New York, but wouldn't it be nice if the FDR looked like that?)

I must confess that I had long assumed that this comfie shoe I used to wear to Dead shows was not likely to find its way into my closet again. But since it now seems that Celine's iconic fur-trimmed version from Spring 2013 may have single-handedly resurrected this shoe (or at least sanctioned it as a fashionable option), and I have actually seen some women making it work, I am keeping an open mind. If I do feel inclined at some point, I'd go for this one or this one, or try something that is Birkenstock-inspired like this or this.

Now, having talked about the fashion, let's get back to that mystery text. It just so happens that in addition to putting sandals on my mind, it reminded me of an embarrassing incident from my past also involving unknown text senders, which I thought you might enjoy. And it's quite appropriate for LE CATCH, as it of course involves clothes, sort of:

A few years ago a friend of mine who had recently moved from New York to London was coming through LA on vacation and was planning to stay for a few days at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We had not seen each other in ages and exchanged some emails about meeting at the hotel or elsewhere before settling on lunch at The Tavern in Brentwood. On the appointed day, after attending my mommy-and-me class with my two-year- old, I headed over to the restaurant and was shown to our table. I was early, and I texted her to let her know I had arrived. Well, unbeknownst to me, she had ditched her New York (917) cell number that I had stored in my phone, but as you will see below, it took me awhile (and an unnecessary trip to the Beverly Hills Hotel) to figure that out. Here's the exchange with my "friend" (my texts are in green):

I should add that as I sat waiting in the hotel for my friend, it wasn't even the imposter's final text that clued me in. It was actually that my phone rang, and when I picked up, it was my friend calling me from The Tavern on her London cell phone wondering where I was!

Apparently, my mommy-on-the-brain ADD at the time was so severe (yes, that's what I'd like to blame it on), I had lost my ability to read, let alone to know when I was being mocked. I was SO mad, but it was pretty funny after the fact. And I have to give credit to this unknown prankster, whose preposterous messages somehow had me driving all over LA to meet them in their banana sunglasses so we could eat lamb's tail. And how did they know to zero right in on clothes when messing with me? Oh well, even though they did manage to disrupt my lunch plans, I deserved it, so I forgive them. But just barely.

$76, topshop

A quick whirl around Topshop yesterday turned up these African print pants, which I liked so much I wore them out of the dressing room and straight through to dinner out with friends.

1. Chloe ruffled top, $995, netaporter.com
2. Ray Ban cat-eye sunglasses, $144, jcrew.com
3. Wendy Mink hoop earrings, $138, anthropologie.com
4. Kayu raffia clutch, $115, modaoperandi.com
5. Joie sandals, $87, joie.com
6. Topshop print pants, $76, topshop.com

When I was in high school I used to rip out pages from Vogue and Elle and tape them to my bedroom walls, floor to ceiling. Literally, every inch covered. It was like fashion mag wall paper. I am sure many of you can relate, and also understand that I can't really do that anymore, as I share my bedroom with my husband, and in retaliation he would likely paper his side with the high school boy version of the same, in his case, pictures of waves and Sports Illustrated swimsuit models--not ok. Plus, the tape and glue would really not be kind to the Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallpaper. Fortunately though, I don't need to, because now we have Pinterest, for sure the greatest tool ever invented for discovering, saving and organizing inspirational images from fashion to design to entertaining and lots of other stuff.

I am guessing that a good number of you know this already, so you might wonder why I am writing it. Well, there are two reasons. The first is that I keep discovering friends who have not yet tried Pinterest. I end up exhorting them to try it, and it occurred to me I should do the same here for any of you who may not yet have tried it. (Trust me, try it, you won't be sorry!!) The second is that for those of you who want to see more of what's inspiring me in the realm of fashion (like the pic above*) beyond what appears on LE CATCH, this is the place. In particular, if you follow my Fashion board you will see a running tally of much of what I am loving fashion-wise on the web. If you like LE CATCH, you will probably like this board!

*P.S. You can find this great clutch here (and a smaller version with slightly different color here)!

Photo: EESH

$95, dorothy perkins

I find this lace babydoll dress irresistibly cute, particularly on a hot summer evening with...

1. Dorothy Perkins lace dress, $95, dorothyperkins.com
2. Miguel Ases earrings, shopbop, $160, shopbop.com
3. Blue Q pouch, $8, asos.com
4. Charlotte Olympia sandals, $945, netaporter.com

j.crew

A blistering LA heat wave over the weekend led to a marathon of pool sessions with the kiddos and multiple swimsuit changes. As I was plumbing the depths of my bathing suit drawer on Sunday afternoon for yet another dry suit I came across an old blue and white striped J.Crew tie-string bikini bottom that I've had for years (like a decade!). As I pulled it on, the side tie string snapped and my good old faithful bottom was no more. Thankfully (and just in time for the 4th!), J.Crew has a current version of it, above, along with this forever-cute polka dot style and other one pieces, all 40 percent off right now, through Wednesday. Plus, free shipping and free return. Now, back to those cannon balls!

$110*, kirna zabete

This lace-trimmed Phillip Lim tank is my new favorite fancy, edgy basic. So easy, so good. Come cooler weather, I'd sport it with crisp blue jeans and a black boyfriend blazer, but right now, it's all about this...

1. 3.1 Phillip Lim lace tank, $110*, kirnazabete.com
2. Finn heart and arrow earrings, $485, barneys.com
3. Proenza Schouler PS 11 holographic patent leather bag, $1990, netaporter.com
4. Yves Saint Laurent nail polish in Vert d'Orient, $25, nordstrom.com
5. Elizabeth and James sandals, $298, shopbop.com
6. Zara skirt, $59, zara.com

* Kirna Zabete is having a legendary end of season sale right now. Among the plum finds are this amazing Erdem blouse (for under $300!), this striking Peter Pilotto top, this forever-stylish Proenza Schouler bag, and this chic and versatile Lizzie Fortunato clutch.

$107, warehouse

It's almost unfathomable that I don't already have a lightweight motorcycle jacket like this in my closet! Seriously, the concept is genius, because it's perfect for California's cool summer evenings (or east coast buggy nights) or just plodding around a frigid air-conditioned office. It's definitely the kind of thing I'd dress up (slung over my shoulders with a strapless dress) or down, like this...

1. Stella McCartney top, $800, netaporter.com
2. Warehouse biker jacket, $107, warehouse.andotherbrands.com
3. Clare Vivier wallet, $230, shopbop.com
4. Gucci ballet slippers, $425, neimanmarcus.com
5. J.Crew jeans, $115, jcrew.com

A few days ago I was inspired by this picture to bust out my sequin pencil skirt, usually reserved for evening events, and wear it with a denim blouse and barely-there sandals. The look went over well at a work meeting and then on to lunch with a friend. It's easy but glitzy and fabulously unexpected. These sparkly skirts by J.Crew (or this one in white), BCBG (on crazy sale!), and Moschino Cheap and Chic can help you pull it off in a snap.

Photo: Harper's Bazaar