I don’t own all that many suits. Read: I don’t own any suits. I honestly don’t know how I’ve come to live this many years ogling the likes of YSL’s Le Smoking, or Giorgio Armani’s classically draped two pieces, Chanel’s iconic tweeds, and never had any such ensemble call my closet home. I think that, not so deep down, I’ve harbored an aversion to suits. They always seemed too easy, too staid, and to me an irrefutable symbol of “the man” trying to quell our individuality. Alas, this misguided (yes, I have seen the light) ideology leaves me to cobble together suit looks with mismatched pieces. But you know what? I like it! The jacket in this look is a classic riding coat from my days in the saddle; the high waist trouser is Zara; the peek-a-boo bralet from Victoria’s Secret, and the shoes are Sergio Rossi. I belted the lot because, well, belts are everywhere this season and they’ve seeped into my subconscious, as trends are apt to do. Plus it adds a flirty Giambattista Valli-like flourish to the silhouette. Will I ever buy a real suit? I suspect I will. And if I do, you’ll be among the first to know.

With love,

Amanda

In our home on Thanksgiving, we keep to tradition and every year eat ourselves into near comas. My mom prepares our turkey, which this year is a Willie Bird, (my mostly plant-based diet breaks for meat only when it’s organic, humanely raised, free range, spiritually and emotionally fulfilled… etc. etc.), while Tom and I whip up the “veggies”, aka candied sweet potatoes, onions gratin, creamy white mashed spuds, and some crispy bread crumb encrusted Brussels sprouts; the latter a lone green wolf nodding to our typically health conscious lifestyle. My sisters bring pies and wine. In order to accommodate all of this over consumption, it is advisable to wear loose fitting garments. If you can look at all cute while doing it, then more power to you. This cozy cashmere dress from Calypso St. Barth is loose enough to hide my inevitably expanding middle, and snuggly enough to transition from table to couch for the movie and/or football fest that follows our feast. During dinner prep I’ll likely kick around in my favorite Jil Sander boots before transitioning into heels for the first bite. While we won’t count how many times we refill our plates, (there is no judging on Thanksgiving!), we will count our many blessings, and this year, this blog and each of you will be on my list. Happy Thanksgiving!

With love,

Amanda

I have a sweater that I love. It’s a simple black crew neck, shaker knit (I know, who’d have thought?) piece from Forever 21 and if ever I had a go-to, this sweater is it. I tried to parse out just how much I wear this beloved knit, and the best answer I could come up with was… All. The. Time. I’m usually wearing it with a favorite pair of jeans, but here I’ve pulled it over my Zara blue lace dress, belted it, slipped on a bootie and topped it all off with a Ferragamo bag. The result is a look I think would feel right at home on the streets of Rome. Or any street for that matter. So there you have it. I play favorites. What about you?

With love,

Amanda