Hi! I'm Back...Oops. Let's Catch Up!

Ft. my June photo diary + some stuff I've worn/tried and liked

Hi!

Remember me?

Obviously, I ended up taking an unplanned Substack-cation, for which I won’t apologize…at least profusely. Life got in the way — all good things! Here’s what I’ll offer you as an explanation:

Beep beep, boop boop. Machine I’m not. I wish sometimes! It’d definitely make me stop paying $7.19 for a dumb coffee like I do a few times a week, but then I wouldn’t get to wear stuff like Tabis and I’d have to break up with my therapist (who I’m obsessed with) as I wouldn’t experience human sentience. It’s a tough trade-off.

Before we hop back into our regularly scheduled programming, I thought to try a new, more stream-of-conscious send for me and organize this into three sections:

1. A photo diary catch-up (i.e., some stuff I’ve been up to)

2. A cool-things catch-up (some stuff I’ve worn/tried and liked)

3. A reading list catch-up (some Substack stuff I’ve read and liked)

I intend this to be good for skimming, like a quick, nonserious voice note one of your friends recorded while walking to the subway en route to happy hour.

Let’s get into it!

Some stuff I’ve been up to, in no particular order:

Notable highlights include beach-day Turkey Toms (top left), the best city in the world (middle left), and my girls Aly & AJ doing the damn thing at Summerfest (bottom left).

Some stuff I’ve tried and/or worn and liked, and some stuff I’m stalking online:

1. Loeffler Randall, in general: I have several group chats going that have separately engaged in discussions about how good Loeffler Randall is these days.

Jessie Randall

and the folks at LR have gotten excellent at developing unique, practical ready-to-wear with an airtight POV; the Helena Crochet Dress ($295) and the Jodie Top ($225) have had a standing spot in my Chrome browser for several weeks now. The viral Rhys Champagne Glitter Jelly Sandal ($175) sold out in previous seasons/years, but I was fortunate enough to get a pair this spring; I wore them (with Parke overalls) to a preschool interview (…I know…) and felt great.

2. By/Rosie Jane body care: I, like many others on the planet, are long-time fans of By/Rosie Jane’s Rosie fragrance, and thus was jazzed to try its new body-care line with the Body Wash ($20) and Body Milk ($22), both in the yummy “Wake” scent.

3. Floatley’s T-shirt bra: I hate bras. But if you too are a card-carrying member of the IBTC, I can’t recommend this one — Floatley’s To The T Shirt Wireless Scoop Neck Lightly Lined Bra ($28) — more aggressively.

4. Boll & Branch’s vintage washed sheets: I’m evangelistic about white bedsheets; there’s no chicer bedding. We’ve cycled through manyyyyyyy brands over the years, and Boll & Branch is as cozy as we may have been led to believe on the internet. Shown above is the Signature Vintage Washed Sheet Set ($229)! Oh, and I have a 15%-off discount code for you :) CH15.

5. M.Gemi’s Una flats: My stylish friend and lovely colleague Amanda told me about these flats, which she spotted on the subway and stopped to ask the wearer about. That’s commitment (and a really good friend). I’m lukewarm about ballet flats that too literally resemble pointe shoes, but the “Antique Rose” color ($298) is giving ballet studio in a great way.

6. The new Ray-Ban Zaya shades: I (my children) have apparently broken every pair of sunglasses I own, and because I’m easily influenced, I bought these new Zaya shades ($160) which were heavily marketed to me on TikTok.

7. On re-stoking my running obsession: If it’s summer, I’m going to run outside. I fell off the bandwagon when I left New York and couldn’t run Central Park every day, but I’d love to claw back to my onetime PR pace. I loooooooove this On set — Pace Pocket Bra ($85) and Tights Short ($80) — for hot mornings and these bouncy Cloudzones ($140) for longer jogs when I want more cushioning.

8. Remedy for Rich Moisture: A solid, creamy (and reasonably priced) summertime moisturizer ($20) from TikTok-beloved dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah’s new label Remedy Skin.

9. Anklets…they’re back: More on this later. Jenny Bird’s are fab: Capri Anklet ($98) (my personal go-to of late) and Dhani Anklet ($120).

10. This specific Madewell dress: I’ve been wearing this Smocked Maxi Dress ($138) a bunch: square neckline, smocked bodice, fuller maxi-length skirt. Ideal for vacations, school pickup, the usual.

Some stuff I’ve read and liked:

• Gen-Z Gov
  on what Zohran's win tells Democrats

• just a splash
  ’s latest “Girl Crush” Q&A (such a fun column!) with Sotheby’s auctioneer Kimberly Pirtle Gabriel

• Erika Veurink
  ’s nine highly practical tips on writing” (#8 is key…for me)

• The Rose Period
  ‘s “Women Artists You Should Know” series on Mary Abbott, the debutante-turned-Abstract Expressionist who has a major NYC show right now

• mom friend
  going deep on PLAYGROUND PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Questions? Comments? Concerns? You know where to find me.

xx,
Maura

A note to readers: Clotheshorse may occasionally include affiliate links if I’m recommending a product I love, but I’ll never promote anything I don’t use and/or enjoy myself!