Fourre-Tout: No. 3

A round up of what's on my radar right now.

"Fourre-tout" is a French word that translates to "holdall," "catchall," or "rag-bag" in English, referring to something that holds everything or is a jumble of items. It can describe a large bag used for packing, a tray for small objects like keys and coins, or figuratively, a mixture of diverse things.

I was thinking about creating a new post style where I can post about a bunch of things but not with the formality of a Bon Weekend post and the fun French word fourre-tout seemed like the perfect title.

There is always great energy in NYC but this week it’s been positively electric. The whole city is besotted by the Knicks and you don’t even have to be watching a game to know what’s going on. I can hear people cheering and cars honking outside during the entire duration. This is just the icing on the cake of all the amazing things our new mayor has been making happen too. I don’t think any of us have been this happy in years and it feels wonderful.

If you had told me that I’d been thinking about hockey, tennis, and basketball all in one week, I would have called you crazy. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I'm never a huge analytics guy. At a certain point, they're a lamppost to a drunk person. You can lean on 'em, but it won't get you home." - Josh Hart, paraphrasing Jay Wright

It’s also the two year anniversary of my joining Substack and almost the 19th anniversary of my original Habitually Chic blog. I remember talking to a guy in 2007 and telling him I was going to start a blog and him telling me I’d never keep it up. There is nothing I love more as an Aries than a challenge and I definitely showed him.

I love the quote from Knicks player Josh Hart above because I never never been one to be obsessed with stats and analytics. I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m still here. I always lead from a place of curiosity and just write about what interests me without any concern for strategy. I feel like people can always tell when you’re trying too hard.

That said, I know I haven’t been as prodigious lately due to many distractions and I promise to get my act together this week. But I’m also wondering if I need ADD medication. (I wish I had the H part for ADHD.) So if you happen to having a great doctor you’ve seen in NYC, preferably UES, for diagnosis and treatment, please let me know.

“Our mayor Muslim, our bagels Jewish, our Christian Dior, Knicks in four! “ - Knicks Fan

I finally cleaned out my closet and ReSee has a little interview to accompany my Seller Series Sale. If your shoe size is 37 or 37.5, you are in luck because I’m selling a lot of unworn and barely worn Chanel shoes.

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same." — Coco Chanel

The weather at the beginning of the week was perfection which added to the good vibes in the city. I had lunch with some old friends at Fleming followed by a walk up Madison Avenue. I usually only see people in workout clothes and leggings so it was nice to see some chic outfits along our stroll. The girl in the blue Bottega Veneta shirt, trousers, and leopard Alaia shoes, was very chic and her outfit was close to something I’d put together myself, minus the bag charms.

Then we saw Carolina Herrera in Zitomer looking as chic as you would expect. I didn’t realize until afterward though that she’s 87 years old. I think I speak for everyone when I say, I hope we look even half that good at 87.

I wore my black Toteme Parachute Shirtdress, currently on sale, with my new Jacquemus Espadrilles, also on sale. They come in a heeled version too. I carried my lizard Hermès Constance bag but this bag would be another great option. I wore my new favorite Prada sunglasses and added a leopard iPhone case for a fun finishing touch.

"A bad day in New York City is still better than a good day anywhere else."

I’m loving this new Manolo Blahnik x Emilia Wickstead collection. There are some great styles for day and night and heels and flats for all your summer events.

“People walk differently in high heels. Your body sways to a different kind of tempo.”

- Manolo Blahnik

As soon as I saw the patchwork patterned fabric Celine bag, I contacted my salesperson. Unfortunately, it won’t be available until the end of July which means by then, I will no longer want it anymore. I also realized that I have similar options I can use including a paisley bag from Le Chateau de Ma Mer and the Princess Diana fabric bag from Souleiado.

Fun Fact: The Celine logo was created after founder Céline Vipiana broke down near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in her car in the 1970s and noticed the design on the chains surrounding the monument.

A few of the things I’ve bought this week include the new Astier de Villatte Wes Anderson Notebook. The paper has letterhead from people and places in his films including Hotel Chevalier. It’s a fun gift for the Wes Anderson lover in your life.

Smythson is having their annual summer sale so I picked up the green Soho Diary as a new gratitude journal.

If I can ever stop watching Off Campus, I will start reading My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein. I was mad that I didn’t pick it up at Galignani in Paris but it was finally released here last week.

Sean Pritchard has one of my favorite Instagram accounts full of English garden, collected interiors, and beautiful flowers. His new book, Atmospheric: Flower Colour in Home & Garden, will be released on Tuesday and I can’t wait for my copy to arrive.

I’ve been spending more time out and about and bought the Twelve South Power Bank for extra battery life. It’s the perfect small size to throw in your bag.

“It takes a lot of time to be a genius. You have to sit around so much, doing nothing, really doing nothing.”― Gertrude Stein

I love the UK and European tradition of getting married at the local courthouse before a separate wedding ceremony. Dua Lipa and Callum Turner married at the Marylebone Town Hall in London ahead of their weekend wedding celebration in Italy and each part has been incredibly chic.

She wore custom Schiaparelli in London and Bottega Veneta for the welcome event in Italy. I saw a very blurry photo of a long sheer lace dress at Villa Valguarnera but I haven’t seen the actual wedding dress yet.

I really love the story of how they met too. The pair discovered they were both reading Trust by Hernan Diaz while sitting together at a restaurant in Los Angeles. Even more improbably, they had both just finished the first chapter. “I had just finished the first chapter and told her,” Turner recalled. “She looked at me and said, ‘I just finished the first chapter too.’ I said, ‘So we’re on the same page’.”

“I tried to see my lovers in a good light
Don’t wanna do it just to be nice
Don’t wanna have to teach you how to love me right

I hope it hits me like an arrow
Someone with some potential
Is it too much to ask for, who understands?”

-Dua Lipa, Training Day

The stranglehold that Off Campus has on us right now really needs to be studied and emulated. It’s still number one on Amazon Prime and people are watching multiple times but consensus is that it’s the direct result of the women writers and directors who put this show together.

While I do think some of the music choices were a little too on the nose, it’s also been fun to see bands and artists feature see a renewed interest in their songs. Most had no idea they were included before the series aired either.

Actor Belmont Cameli was the one who suggested the Kid Laroi song for a pivotal dance scene and last night, in a full circle moment, he danced with the singer at his concert in LA.

The whole cast looks like a lot of fun and I love this for them.

I made a fun Garrett Graham inspired playlist for you on Spotify too.

“Baby, I could watch you watching paint dry, and I still wouldn’t be
bored.” - Garrett Graham, Off Campus book

The team behind the restaurant La Petite Chaise in Paris have just opened a new Italian restaurant nearby, Pia Pia, if you’re looking for a new place to dine. It’s to the left of Rubirosa’s on rue de Grenelle which will make it easy for you to find. Rubirosa’s will also be expending into the storefront on the right which means more room for their chic shirts, pajamas, and slippers.

“It is perfectly possible to be enamoured of Paris while remaining totally indifferent or even hostile to the French.” -James Baldwin

Here’s wishing you all a wonderful week and success to the Kicks!

XOXO,

HC

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