I need you all to know something up front: I have some incredibly beautiful friends who have incredibly beautiful houses in the Hamptons, and this whole thing intimidates me a tad. It's pretty lovely out there. It's pretty special. So what follows is just the scenarios I go through, and what I've learned over time will be the right outfits for the right things. We'll see.
On Thursday's live, Blu, Jordan and I walked through the whole weekend, hour by hour. Here it is.
Thursday night: getting there
Normally we leave late afternoon, which means one of two things: you could be rolling into a house for a nice dinner party out by the pool, or you might be meeting people at a restaurant you don't know. And when you don't know what you're doing, I just say: wear a slip dress.
Mine is the cotton lawn slip dress — lightweight as all get out, with this little cascade on the side that just makes it a little more interesting. Keep the shoe to a fun little Moroccan sandal. (We found some of our actual Moroccan sandals in the basement, and they're on sale — they feel super cozy, and I just feel like a brown sandal is right with everything.)
Then all of a sudden it's "oh, we're going to a restaurant," and you're like, okay, hold on. This is where Blu has the solution. In her words: now we're talking about cocktail time, and you want to make this little dress a bit less mushy. Take the wrap belt and place it right at the height of your waist to create a bit of relief, then take the cascade, place it a bit in the front, and blouse it — which makes it as if it's a top and a skirt. A bit of heels, a bit of jewelry — but keep it simple, because you are by the beach. Add a beautiful bag and off you go.
Friday morning: kaftan and coffee
You've gone, you've drunk, you were in your dress, you went home, you went to bed. Now it's morning. You throw on the kaftan, and you just wander downstairs.
I don't know if you know this, but my parents lived in the Middle East for a long time, so I acquired a lot of kaftans. And there is nothing like being in one, coffee in hand — or mimosa, we debated this on the live, and I maintain it can be mimosa time — sitting in your friend's beautiful outdoor living room while music plays through the entire house, thinking: how did I get here? This is so amazing. It cannot get more comfortable than that.
Because technically, this is a sleepover. And one needs a kaftan so you're not showing up downstairs naked or in your stained pajamas. It's my fail-safe.
Friday, daytime: going to town
The morning has happened, and now everyone's decided: we're going to town. We're going to have a wander, we're going to have lunch, whatever.
This was Jordan's look on the live: a classic tee and the balloon pant in olive, worn easy — unbuttoned at the ankle, which I like for this — with the gold jute bag. That bag is so handsome, and a nice bronze-gold is very flattering. You're going to go to the bookstore and randomly buy things and put them in your bag, and then you're going to go for lunch, and it's just super chill. You're in the right color palette, and it all feels pretty okay.
Friday night: dinner at somebody else's house
We've shopped, we had lunch, it was fine. Now we're getting dressed again, because we're going to somebody else's house for dinner — some interior-designer somebody — and you're just like, okay.
The balloon pants (which have been going very quick, and are coming back in two colors) work here too. As Blue put it: for evening you can have the feeling of a jumpsuit — but, but, but, in two pieces. Stick on the matching bandana top and now you're in this monochromatic outfit. I'd do a little strappy mule of some sort, just to get a little lift.
Then jewelry. We've just brought in all this new brass, which is pretty sexy — I love a little dangle-dangle in the summer, and an interesting ring or two. Dress your hands, as Blue says. And yes, you can mix your metals — silver and gold together, so long as they're the same tone. Your jewelry is where you create your own identity.
One more thing from the live: Jordan wore her bandana with the blue and it instantly made the look more daytime — no fussing with your hair. I love a good bandana or a hat in the summertime. And then Blue raised the very sexy 70s combo of a bandana with an oversized hat over it. Can we bring that back? We're going to practice it. We just have to figure out how to do it.
Saturday: the beach walk
Day two. We're going for a beach walk or something of that nature, so you just throw on the super cute lounge set and the perfect hat — canvas, high crown so it looks very cool, and it folds, so it travels. And then it's just easy. You're enjoying the sun and being on the beach. (Sadly the hat is not part of our hat sale, because we love it too much and I've only got maybe three left.)
Although — with all these pools, why do you go to the beach? We took a poll on the live. Blu is 50-50: if it's Pacific blue-lagoon water, put her in the sea, but the reality is when the house has a pool, you stay at the pool. It's all too unpredictable otherwise, and too much schlepping. Let's be honest: at the pool, I have access to my rosé. Not in a cooler. In a perfect world, it's a house with the pool right on the beach — and you have to work toward that goal, right?
And the jumpsuit news: I'm sorry, ladies — how many times did I tell you? You snooze, you lose. The jumpsuit came in black and we sold out completely. But good news: I'm recutting it. For those who missed it, just give us your name and we will put you on the wish list, because this is the perfect jumpsuit.
Saturday night: everybody's coming over
Now you've come home and everybody's coming over for dinner at the place where you're staying — which, in my case, tends to be a friend's absolutely stunning house. And here's a thought: since I know the aesthetic of the house, sometimes I actually dress to the aesthetic of the house. It's already beautiful — you'll all just be beautiful together.
A few options:
The Cami dress. I threw this on during the live and the girls' verdict was: totally effortless, as if you didn't even think about it. You're going to have cocktails, stand around by the pool, somebody's going to put out a beautiful spread, and it's all going to be very lovely and easy. Sexy, simple — if you end up by the pool with your feet in it, you're just in a little linen something. You can belt it to give it more dimension and texture, and the sleeves have real drama on their own — great kimono energy. A bag and the shoes, and you're done. You own the space.
And for the ladies who are worried about showing their bra: it's okay in the summer. You bend over at dinner and someone sees a little lace? You should. It's very sexy, and it's fine, and it's confident. You've invested so much in beautiful bras — show it, it's part of your fashion. (Just obviously do not put on a pink, pink bra. That's what happens when you have a 17-year-old. "Let's go to Victoria's Secret." We don't wear that one.)
The kaftan, styled up. Sometimes the party is a little more fun, a little more dressy, but you still want a flat shoe — and the kaftan never fails. We've got some on sale: a few black, and I think one ivory. If you don't know my little show-and-tell: it's just a big rectangle. Boom — I am a kaftan. Then I take the ties and tie them behind my back, underneath the fabric, my arms come through, and it just drapes. I've made a little shape. Or — and this is Blue's preference — just don't tie it. Let it be flowy, vibey, and all about one very huge statement necklace.
Or a long chain. Everyone has a tendency now to wear it outside, but have it inside the neckline. It's so sexy — it follows the line, it looks like it's part of the dress. Nothing wrong with outside, but inside is a little sexy.
The genie dress. I prefer this one with a little bit of a shoe, and there are a few still around. Technically it's a tank dress with a vest over top — it's just a simple slip dress underneath, which makes it a little unique. I kind of feel like it's literally one of the best dresses I've made in a long time. Every time I send it to a client, there's a "what is it?" — and then it becomes a challenge: try it. When it came out, Blue said the feeling it gave her was Saint Laurent, a Moroccan house — which is perfect, because it was from that collection. Very Loulou de la Falaise. And for those of you doing the math on logistics: all that's happening is fabric going through your legs. That's it. It's easy.
Sunday: going home
Hopefully you've had the best night ever, and now you're hungover and it's Sunday. If you're me, you've only stayed 42 hours — I never make it to 72, because I just can't handle that much relaxation. It stresses me out.
Going home is the staple: the carpenter pant. I'm about to sit in a car for a three-hour journey and then go work like hell, so I want to feel comfy and fine and good. I'm going to stop at that Hamptons coffee place and get more coffee so I can keep rolling, because I'm hungover and still planning on trying to make a Sunday happen.
And here's the thing Jordan pointed out about everything above: it all packs. Easy to throw in, easy to wear, very breathable. Maybe a couple pairs of shoes, but you don't have to carry a huge bag — especially if you're taking the train or the ferry. Blue puts everything for a long weekend in the gold jute bag: bathing suit thrown on top, tee shirts, jewelry, belt, and that's all you need.
Her rule, and it's a good one: don't overpack, and don't overbuy before a long weekend. Because when you're there, you'll want to pamper yourself with something — a nice accessory. Stay simple and mix and match.
The takeaway
My girlfriends who actually live out there are going to laugh at me, but the takeaway thus far in my knowledge is: stick to the neutral palette — sands, olives, whites. You're in people's houses, and you don't want to look overdressed. You want to feel relaxed and cool while you're rolling through beautiful houses, sitting next to pools, having great cocktails, and maybe hitting the beach. In your own way. True to you.
Next Thursday: Jordan brings us her Martha's Vineyard looks — everything she actually ended up wearing on her trip. The small difference from the Hamptons, in her words? A little more laid back. There are house parties and dinner parties, but easier. And there may be a very special kaftan making its debut. See you there.
Shop the 'Stack
Everything from the weekend, in order of appearance:
Thursday night
-
Cascade dress— the one with the perfect attitude
-
Moroccan sandals — found in the basement, on sale while they last
-
Wrap belt — for Blu’s cocktail-hour conversion
Friday morning
-
The kaftan — the sleepover fail-safe
Friday, in town
-
Scoop neck tee in white — also in black and charcoal
-
Balloon pant in olive — going quick, coming back in two colors
-
Gold jute bag — fits the whole weekend
Friday night
-
Bandana top — matches the balloon pant for the two-piece jumpsuit feeling
-
New brass jewelry — a little dangle-dangle for summer
-
Bandana — Jordan's no-fuss hair trick
Saturday
-
The 80s jogger and matching tee — for the beach walk (or the pool, let's be honest)
-
Canvas high-crown hat — only a few left, and it folds for travel
-
The jumpsuit — sold out in black, being recut. Give us your name for the wish list.
Saturday night
-
Cami dress in check or denim— effortless with the tan belt
-
Kaftan, dressed up — a few black and one ivory on sale
-
Long chain necklace — wear it inside the neckline
-
The genie dress — one of the best dresses I've made in a long time
Sunday, going home
-
Carpenter jean— comfy for the three-hour journey home
-
The Magic Hat — pairs perfectly with a hangover
-
Scoop neck tee in white — Never wrong, always right
