Books and Looks is a weekly column featuring everything I wore and read during the week. Scroll to the bottom for a little bonus! For the best reader experience, I recommend reading this and all my posts directly in the Substack app.
books
Reading: I’M BACK BABY!!! After a loooong hiatus, I finally broke through the unread pile of books in my house, and finished not one, but TWO books last week.
Weeks ago, I mentioned to a friend that summer was my reading season. June hits and I suddenly crave reading.
But mostly, I crave the journey of a book.
Finding something I want to read, sourcing it (library/bookstore/or look at that, it’s already on my shelf!), settling down in my spot on the couch and cracking the book open, reading during any free moment I can find (while the pasta boils, waiting for a doctor, or at the end of the day in bed), and finally, finishing the book and staring into space thinking about everything I just read.
This week I finished Wives Like Us (Plum Sykes) which I talked about in last week’s books and looks. A delightful, easy read. A dipped-toe into the summer reading pool.
And then, I started and finished All Fours (Miranda July) in the span of two days. A full-body cannonball into the summer reading pool.
All Fours moved me in ways I didn’t think were possible. Miranda July wrote about things that I thought I was the only person in the world who experienced them. She talks about desire, about want and lust, about belonging, and how that all has to do with the “other,” but mostly, it has to do with you.
As soon as I put down her book, I thought of this Lucille Clifton poem.
It is your own lush self you hunger for.
looks
10am Monday and I’m headed out the door to run a long list of errands. Post office, library, groceries, dry cleaner… you get the idea.
In the car ride back from Mammoth, I was scrolling on The Real Real and saw a version of this Tod’s bag pop up (it’s featured in this week’s vintage finds post). I made a mental note to wear my Tod’s tote on Monday and fill it to the brim with all my junk. It’s such a great bag.
On Tuesday, I repeated the outfit formula of black and white, but swapped the pieces.
I swapped the sweater for a breezy top for dinner out with my family.
On that aforementioned car ride back from Mammoth, I also thought of this yellow bag I got at the beginning of the year from New Studio. I think this exact color/size is sold out, but check out their website for other variations.
Really loved how the white + black and yellow came together.
On Wednesday, I took my brother F around town to all of his favorite spots before he left on Saturday. A stop at the Huntington was a must, as was ice cream at the end. He took this pic of me!!!
I love going to The Huntington year-round, and in the summer, I’ll pop in early morning (8 or 9 am), or an hour before they close (4pm) for a stroll around the gardens. It’s truly my favorite place in LA.
On Thursday and Friday, I wore the same thing, with a few tweaks.
Thursday’s version was with black mary janes, and the yellow bag from earlier in the week.
Here’s a view of the bag from the side, captured by my brother.
Friday’s version featured a fresh tshirt, a new anklet, and new-to-me Chanel flats I scored on The Real Real.
On Saturday morning, I drove my brother out at 4am to the airport and accompanied him right up to his gate. We said our tearful goodbyes (all my tears…) and then I came home, changed into a linen cover up, and went out by the pool to read and nap.
The brand Marché reached out a couple of weeks ago and sent me this gorgeous and easy linen dress. I’m so grateful to work with such special brands that are run by sweet and kind people. And that have fabulous pieces!!!
The dress is also a rich shade of chocolate brown, and it combines nicely with my burgundy sandals, and raffia tote. Can’t wait to wear this on a proper beach in a couple of weeks!!!
&bonus
Feeding a fifteen-year old for three weeks was no joke. Especially a picky one! (Are they all picky??!!!!)
Of all the things I proposed, he really liked the chicken tinga recipe, as well as the bbq chicken. They’re variations of each other, and from the same creator. Highly recommend them!
yes, they are all picky 😂 congrats on breaking the reading hiatus!!!! love love love your fits (as alwaysssss) 🤎