Bon Dimanche: 29 June 2025

What to watch, see, do, try, and buy this week.

Please enjoy this Bon Dimanche version of our usual Bon Weekend post. An early series on my original Habitually Chic blog was a Friday Bon Weekend post filled with things happening that weekend. In recent years, they morphed into a long monthly New and Noteworthy post. I brought the weekly Bon Weekend post to Substack so you don’t miss anything worth seeing, doing, or trying.

The weather was still the talk of the town this week as it went from searing center-of-the-sun hot to fall-like in NYC. I was definitely not complaining about cooler temperatures on Friday even if I did spend most of the day inside getting my hair done in preparation for my trip to London. Looks like I will just miss their heatwave thank goodness!

There are no new store or restaurant openings this week but please let me know of any I may have overlooked. There are plenty of museum exhibitions, films, tv shows, and books to keep you entertained this week though. And don’t forget Wimbledon begins on Monday.

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June."
– Lucy Maud Montgomery

Museum Exhibitions

Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World - Gustave has been getting around and now he’s at the Art Institute of Chicago for his latest show Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World that opens June 29 and runs through October 5, 2025. “This exhibition, which opened at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in October 2024, includes more than 120 works—paintings, works on paper, photographs, and other ephemera from throughout Caillebotte’s career. In addition to recognizable works like Floor Scrapers and the Art Institute’s Paris Street; Rainy Day, the show presents lesser-known but pivotal works like the Musée d’Orsay’s recent acquisition, Boating Party, and the Louvre Abu-Dhabi’s The Bezique Game, as well as many works from private collections that are rarely seen by American audiences.” I may have to book a trip a trip to Chicago to see this show since I missed it in Paris.

A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 - This exhibition at The Morgan Library and Museum open through September 14, 2025, immerses viewers in the inspiring story of Jane Austen’s authorship and her gradual rise to international fame. Iconic artifacts from Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, England join manuscripts, books, and artworks from the Morgan, as well as from a dozen institutional and private collections, to present compelling new perspectives on Austen’s literary achievement, her personal style, and her global legacy.

Emily Sargent: Portrait of a Family - Drawn entirely from The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, Emily Sargent: Portrait of a Family takes a close look at their art and explores how paths diverged for daughter and son, revealing the challenges women artists faced in the late 19th century. Intended as a complement to The Met’s Sargent and Paris, this exhibition celebrates the recent gift—from the artists’ heirs—of 26 Emily Sargent watercolors, which will be making their debut. It runs from July 1, 2025 to March 8, 2026.

Les Années folles de Coco Chanel - To be presented at Villa Paloma, part of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco until October 5, 2025, the exhibition Les Années folles de Coco Chanel will explore Gabrielle Chanel’s abundant production in the specific context of the Côte d’Azur in the 1920s. The exhibition revolves around three main themes: outdoor life and the growing popularity of seaside leisure; the Ballets Russes and the influence of Slavic cultures; and the invention of the Riviera style.

Collections Collection - After five years of work necessary for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Hotel Bouchaud de Bussy, the Musée de la Mode et du Costume - Fragonard, finally opens its doors to the public on July 6, 2025 with the exhibition Collections Collection. It brings together two collections located at the extreme ends of Provence. This fusion lends exceptional richness to the celebration of the history of costume from the French Mediterranean region and the history of textiles. Through a chronological journey, this exhibition offers the public a comprehensive overview of fashion in Provence since the 18th century. Emblematic costumes, and major pieces from the Costa and Pascal collections, are finally taking their place in the display cases of this long-awaited new museum.

"What dreadful Hot weather we have!— It keeps one in a continual state of Inelegance.” - Jane Austen

Watch to Watch

F1 - The anticipated film, F1, starring Brad Pitt as a race-car driver who returns to Formula One after a thirty-year absence to save his old teammate's underdog squad from collapse, opened on Friday to mostly positive reviews. I’m excited to see it but will probably wait until it’s available to stream.

In the Mood for Love - The iconic film from Wong Kar-wai has had a 4K restoration for its 25th anniversary and is back in theaters so now is your chance it see it on the big screen. One of the most romantic films you will ever watch is playing at Film at Lincoln Center and the IFC Center in NYC. The “feature is now followed by In the Mood for Love 2001, a nine-minute coda—the “dessert” after the main course, as Wong put it—that, until now, only screened during his 2001 Cannes masterclass. It imagines Leung and Cheung, now as different characters, reuniting in a modern-day Hong Kong convenience store: brisk, comic, and unconstrained, yet no less beguiling”.

Beyond the Gaze - In the new documentary Jule Campbell's Swimsuit Issue: Beyond the Gaze, Jule Campbell fights sexism and accusations of objectification to turn the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue into a cultural phenomenon. It’s playing at the IFC Center in NYC.

The Bear - The fourth season of the The Bear premiered on FX and Hulu on June 25, 2025. I tried to watch but couldn’t get into the episode but I’ll certainly give it another try because I love Jeremy Allen White.

“We're all unlucky in love sometimes. When I am, I go jogging. The body loses water when you jog, so you have none left for tears.” - Wong Kar-wai

What to Read

Room on the Sea - This book released this past week includes three hypnotic novellas about obsessional love, missed connections, and enduring regret by the bestselling author of Call Me by Your Name. The first one left me gutted it was so good. I can’t wait to read the others.

The Annotated Great Gatsby - I used to read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald every summer but maybe this year, I’ll have to read The Annotated Great Gatsby: 100th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. This richly illustrated deluxe edition of the American classic with illuminating commentary by a preeminent Fitzgerald scholar, James L. W. West, includes glossing contexts, language, literary allusions, and contemporary references. Dozens of illustrations and photographs throughout the volume vividly recreate the Jazz Age world of Fitzgerald’s most famous work and chronicle its rich cultural afterlife, encouraging readers to linger in the margins of this deluxe annotated edition.

Park Avenue - This adult novel by YA author Renée Ahdieh “about a young lawyer who gets pulled in to manage a crisis with her firm's biggest client, a family whose Korean beauty brand is worth a billion dollars” sounds a bit like Partner Track meets Crazy Rich Asians which is fine by me. I look forward to reading this book after I get back from my trip.

“All that remains is dreammaking and strange remembrance.” - André Aciman

More New Books

Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America - At a crucial moment in American history, Buckley offers a gripping and powerfully relevant story about the birth of modern politics and those who shaped it

Courtship: For the Love of Tennis - A photographic ode to the most beloved of racket sports spotlighting the beauty and allure of the tennis court, ranging from high-altitude to wild and secret locations, taking in riviera chic clubs and inner-city brutalism along the way.

The Haves and Have-Yachts - This book is provocative collection of essays exploring American oligarchy and the culture of excess, providing a wry, unfiltered look at how the ultra-rich shape—and sometimes warp—our social and political landscape, from book from the National Book Award–winning author Evan Osnos feels very timely considering events of this past week.

“Truth is a demure lady, much too ladylike to knock you on your head and drag you to her cave. She is there, but people must want her, and seek her out.” - William F. Buckley, Jr.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Essence Cannot Be Replicated

Writer Leah Bourne asked for my thoughts on the new Ryan Murphy Love Story brouhaha after the camera test images and paparazzi photos of the actress playing CBK were posted online. The article, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s Essence Cannot Be Replicated, can be found on the Glamour website but my answers to her questions were longer than the snippets used so I’m posting them here for you.

When someone dies young and tragically like CBK, there is a tendency for them to become a mythical figure. Another example is Princess Diana. But unlike Diana who was much more public, there are a limited number of photos of Carolyn and very few videos of her speaking so people have poured over and analyzed every single one. Since she came into the public eye in the 90s when fashion was minimal, most of her outfits have a timeless quality. They still resonate today because you can replicate many of them and look just as chic, as I showed in my old blog post, Outfit Inspiration from Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

Since she worked at Calvin Klein and was present for fittings for models and with celebrities, I suspect that she learned a lot about tailoring and fit. The main draw for me when it comes to her style is that every piece fit perfectly. Her jeans and skirts always hit at just the right length and she knew what shoes and boots looked best with them. Her jacket sleeves weren’t too long like everyone wears today. I get almost everything altered so I definitely notice these details about her.

I honestly feel like Ryan Murphy underestimated the public’s fascination with CBK. As Jackie alluded to with her quote about Camelot, they were our closest thing to royalty in the US. It felt like he posted the camera test images and videos thinking he would be lauded and everyone would be excited about this series and did not expect to be derided over the costume choices. As everyone has said, the pieces they chose looked cheap and the fit was off, especially the cropped pants with the kitten heels. He said afterward that they have all the correct pieces but I think he quickly had to play catch up.

CBK’s appeal wasn’t just about her clothes though. Everyone who knew her or even just saw her said she had a radiance and strength about her. They couldn’t take their eyes off of her which is what made her extra special. I didn’t get that feeling from Sarah Pidgeon which was not her fault. I do think she looked more like Carolyn with her real dark hair but they got the first wig wrong. The second wig looked like a better color but then her outfit wasn’t one that she wore when JFK Jr. was wearing his vest outfit. This whole production feels like a bit of a mess.

I thought Ryan Murphy did a great job with the costumes and sets for Feud: Capote vs. the Swans but the show was such a drag overall that I couldn’t even finish it. I’d like to not only see him get the fashions and hair for CBK right but also not have this series be a negative hatchet job on John and Carolyn’s life and death.

"I'm not comfortable in anything ornate. I like clean, understated looks." - CBK

Blue dress, red sandals, sweatshirt, sneakers, bag, striped dress, and rope sandals.

Eyeing, Buying, and Trying

Now that I’ve signed the lease on my new apartment and have moving expenses and furniture to buy, I’m less focused on fashion but I have picked up a few things and have my eye on a few others.

• As I was leaving my new apartment building after my walk through, a girl complimented my Wiggy Kit dress so I plan to pack all of them for London. But I also plan to order a few more for delivery to my hotel since they are less expensive in Pounds. Ordering things to be sent to my hotel is one of my favorite shopping hacks. Last trip, the Smythson sale was over in stores but still online so I ordered a few things online. This obviously only works if you will be in residence for a week or more.

• Dresses that will probably not make the cut for London unless the hem happens to be the right length are the blue pinstripe cotton shirt dress and striped shirtdress because I wasn’t home when FedEx tried to delivery them on Friday. I can’t wait to have a doorman soon!

• I’ll probably wear the blue dress with the red sandals from Plain Goods. They are made in Italy so I had to size up a half size. Meanwhile, I bought the Miu Miu flat cord sandals again but in one half size smaller because my usual size 37 was too big. Now they fit perfectly.

• The Sailor Sweatshirt is from Kule who are having a 40% off sale right now. You can find summer items as well as pieces that can transition to fall.

• I just noticed that my Miu Miu mesh sneakers come in this new taupe color. They say they are available at Harrod’s so I might treat myself to them in London. They were very comfortable when I wore them walking around all day in Paris.

• If I wasn’t going to London and moving in July, I would definitely be buying the chic striped leather-trimmed tote bag above.

• Beauty Pie reached out to send me some products. They haven’t arrived yet but when I was looking online, I saw their clear makeup bags that look a lot like one I bought that was much more expensive if you want the look for less. They also have a chic Beauty Pie X Pati Dubroff Dark Green Vegan Leather Makeup Case that is definitely up my alley. I do remember hearing good things about their OxygenInstant Facial Refuelling Mask. Have you tried any of their products?

• I would really like to be more thoughtful and use “clean” products in my new apartment which was why I was excited whey Biom reached out to send me their plant-based and non-toxic home wipes. They haven’t arrived yet so I’ll report back on them after London unless they arrive before I leave. I like that their packaging is very chic and comes in lovely colors.

• Ssezane has just launched their Archives Act II Collection this morning too.

Sales, Sales, and More Sales

In addition to the Kule sale, there are a lot of sales that have already begun for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

• Khaite has up to 50% off fashion and accessories that could be worn now and into fall.

• Toteme has a wide range of ready to wear, bags and accessories, and shoes on sale.

• Frame is offering an extra 30% off sale styles for women and men.

• Tory Burch has an extra 25% off sale styles during their semi-annual sale.

• You can save an extra 60% off sale at J.Crew during their end of season sale. Use code EXTRA.

• Serena and Lily is offering up to 40% off and free shipping over $2500 for their Fourth of July Sale.

• Julia Amory is also having a Fourth of July Sale where you can save an extra 25% off sale selections and up to 75% off best selling styles. Discount is automatically applied at checkout.

• Veronica Beard has an extra 20% off sale with code FIREWORKS2025.

"June is the pearl of summer, shining with warmth and joy." - Lucy Maud Montgomery

I’ll be posting my London trip on Instagram if you want to follow me there too.

Bon dimanche !

XOXO,

HC

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