Weekend Edition #27: September in Review (or, the fall vibes are vibing)
Recapping the month, including my favorite shows from Fashion Week(s), the best books I read, and what I bought in September!
Hi!
Remember that little ditty? Thirty days has September…? Well, September may *only* have thirty days, but I feel like I lived nine lives this month. I can’t believe I started the month swimming in a river in Wyoming and ended it at an ice hockey seasonal kick-off (technically puck drop) party. Getting back into the swing of things - work, school, schedules, sports - has been harder than anticipated. My kids are into parkour, and it's called leveling up whenever they attempt a new move. I feel like I’ve had to level up every day this month and have had a few falls. I’m trying to cling to some notion of balance and avoid the race to nowhere that the intense focus on children’s extracurriculars and education sometimes feels like. There’s time, I keep reminding myself. There’s time.
So I thought I’d take the time to share some September highlights, including my favorite fashion shows, my favorite books (ok, romance novels, you’ve been warned), and my favorite purchases. Let’s get to it!
Fashion Month
First things first, fashion. I think we can safely say Fashion month is finally over. I previously wrote about my thoughts on New York Fashion Week (which Substack kindly shared as part of their Fashion Month, unstacked) and the style train rolled on through London, Milan, and Paris. I’m still struggling with what runway shows have become - essentially, marketing expenses passed onto the consumer, as Alec Leach smoothly summarized. Part of the reason that Chanel bag costs so much? Because Chanel has to pay Riley Keough (Elvis’s granddaughter who sang at the show a few days ago). While these extravaganzas make some spectacular content, they don’t necessarily make spectacular clothes. And the waste is truly spectacular. That being said, there were some shows and looks that I truly loved. Loewe, Sacai, Bally, Proenza Schouler, and Rabanne (which came as a surprise to me!) were my favorites, chock full of nods to old and new prep, with beautiful color and pattern throughout, great ideas for new silhouettes (those short, structured dresses at Loewe, and the long floaty ones; the pastel woven shirts worn single-buttoned over the horizontal rugby knits at Rabanne), twists on trench coats and mariner stripes at Proenza and Sacai, and sweatshirts and a red thread at Bally. I’m putting my pennies in the piggy bank for the Loewe iridescent loafers come springtime.
Hitting the Books
When I spend too much time on social media (which is every day), I remind myself to read. I try to have a book going on my Kindle at all times, so if I find myself reaching for my phone (which is sadly way too frequent), I can at least force myself to detour to a book instead of a Reel. My brain always feels better after. Especially this month, because Mhairi McFarlane’s You Belong With Me was released, the sequel to Who’s That Girl? aka my favorite contemporary romance of all time. If you like Emily Henry and Annabel Monaghan books, do not sleep on Mhairi McFarlane. She’s my #1 romance writer, I’ve read everything she’s written, and Who’s That Girl? is hands-down the best of the bunch. Except it has the WORST ENDING OF ALL TIME. Can you imagine how good it must be to be my favorite and have the worst ending of all time? I’ve been rereading it for years and just stopping before the last chapter. But then, eight years after it was first published, McFarlane announced a sequel. How can I explain this so you’ll understand my excitement? Ok, McFarlane finally writing and publishing You Belong With Me is my equivalent to George R.R. Martin finally writing and publishing the last book in the A Song Of Fire and Ice series (aka Game of Thrones). You get it now, right?? I spent an entire September weekend rereading Who’s That Girl? (this time I let myself finish it), then You Belong With Me, and then went back and began again. Go buy both right now, and might I suggest waiting a few years between the two books so the pay-off really hits? Lol, jk jk. Go! Go! I’m jealous of you.
I also read Love Story, by Lindsey Kelk. She’s a great, somewhat under-the-radar romance novelist, who’s very attuned to pop culture and has a big backlist to work through, which I always appreciate when I find an author I like. I think her About A Girl series is my fave. I Heart New York is good too, especially if celebrity tropes are your thing (as they are mine). (I think I’ve mentioned this before but Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy gave Who’s That Girl? quite a run for its money in my power rankings.) Big Fan is next on my TBR!
P.S. If you too are currently redeveloping your 00s crush on the cinnamon roll hero actor of our times, Adam Brody aka Rabbi Noah aka Seth Cohen aka Dave Rygalski, you’re in for a treat with these MMCs (male main characters). I might also suggest downloading My Canadian Boyfriend, because none other than our other 00s crush, Joshua Jackson aka Pacey, voices the male lead. You’re welcome :)
(Annnnd, for those asking, yessssss, I’m still working on my own contemporary romance novel! It’s a he-falls-first, small town (Jackson Hole), only one bed, holiday, slow-burn love story :) In fact, this week’s newsletter was meant to be shorter so I could get back to working on that and not use this as an excuse. However, I tend to do my best writing on transatlantic flights lol, so it’s slow going. Luckily, I’ve got a few trips coming up in November and December so maybe I will finally finish the latest draft by the end of the year. New Year’s Eve reading, anyone? IMHO that’s way better than going out for overpriced cocktails. I’ve got a list going for beta readers. Let me know if you want to be on it!)
In addition to romance novels, I’m voraciously consuming more and more Substacks (is that what we say? newsletters? letters? posts? emails? anyhoo.)! In the fashion space, I’m currently loving
& (whom I just met virtually and adored) & (whom I finally drummed up the courage to say hi to on the local bus! She’s beyond nice and has the biggest fashion Substack in the biz) and in the life space, I love & & & (whom I also chatted with in the DMs about our shared prep school (go Kirby House) and is also beyond nice and has the biggest cooking Substack in the biz and created the recipe for the only meatballs my middle son will eat). While you’re reading Who’s That Girl, You Belong With Me, the rest of Mhairi McFarlane’s catalog, all of Lindsey Kelk’s books, and Romantic Comedy, check out all of these great writers, too!Back To School Shopping
As you know, I wore a lot of sweatshirts and barrel leg jeans and loafers this month. I tried to be mindful about what I bought, but I fell hard for a few things that I thought I’d share with you.
Like these COS chinos. I’m always on the lookout for a good preppy chino. Chinos are hard, the right shade of khaki can be tricky to nail, and fit is always an issue (they go office quickly). Luckily these have a slight barrel shape (duh) and a 26” inseam, which hits me right above the ankle (I’m 5’1” - barely). The peached fabric is yummy and soft, and I’m happy with the color - neither too light, nor too yellow. I also snagged some wool-ish socks. You can never have too many socks. COS has been quietly elevating its product over the last few months, and I’m beginning to think the quality and price-value are there. If the things I’ve bought last, they could become a real go-to for me (but they have to fix their sizing for tops/dresses, we are not all tall Swedes).
I also bought another pair of Everlane barrel leg jeans (pictured in the two left looks above), this one in the Vintage Blue wash. I love them - they’re a tad softer than the Chanterelle color, so they drape a bit more. 27” inseam, so pretty much full-length on me. I am also coveting the Ocean wash but am trying to exert some self control. I like buying multiples of proven things I already love, that way I know they will have a long shelf life in my closet.
Lastly, I added two pairs of Birkenstocks to my collection, but hear me out! One benefit to a public company is that they have revenue targets they have to hit, so things go on sale a lot more :) I remember when Birks never went on sale. Luckily for the retail consumer (less so for the retail investor) that ship has sailed. I got these and these and am seriously considering these. The former for now, the latter for later. Somebody stop me on the third pair!! I live in NYC, I cannot be dragging shearling-clad feet through the streets, unless I want to be dragging everything else, too. Still, I love them. Blame my prep school days. I’ll wear these into the ground, I know it.
Ok, that’s my September, wrapped. Or restacked, as I guess we call it here. Let me know in the comments if you liked this sort of thing?
Until next time!
x Lindsay
Lindsay — I am honored to be a fashion favorite! I have loved getting acquainted through this substack and finding parallels. This piece has me realizing it goes far beyond prep! I’m an avid reader and loved your recos; adding many to my toppling TBR pile. I couldn’t put Romantic Comedy down and, like everyone in the nation at the moment, adore Adam Brody. I checked out the Birks — I have not bought a new pair since the early aughts, and that mink pair is oddly still in great condition. Happy Fall!
Anyone have any good books recs for October?