Left: Coat-like sweaters like Anthropologie’s Abbot Crocheted Cardigan are having a moment. Wear this long, loose knit over slim jeans or even as a bathing-suit coverup. $138, Anthropologie. Center: To connect with your Italian Riviera dreams, wear Emilio Pucci‘s slim ribbed knit with a waist-defining belt and a mandarin collar with a pair of capris in the brand’s signature print. $786, farfetch. Right: How cute is this retro-looking, charming short-sleeve cardigan from Marni. $980, Totokaelo.
OVERLY AIR-conditioned spaces—offices, theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, for example—pose a peril to bare arms and shoulders, unprepared in sundresses and sleeveless tops. But, thanks to the most recent collections of Alessandro Michele at Gucci, Miuccia Prada and Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia, slouchy, oversize cardigans in bright colors, stripes, sheer fabrics and loose knits are on trend. A welcome replacement for the blah black cardigan you’ve been stashing in your handbag to combat frigid indoor temps. Stop your style-less shivering. Here are some current favorites above and below.
—Janet Kelly
Left: The striped, ribbed waistband on this Dries Van Noten‘s metallic cardigan adds a sporty yet sophisticated touch. Pair yours with cropped trousers and ankle boots for work and weekends, too. $358, Mytheresa.Right:Diane von Furstenberg‘s Long-Sleeve Color-Block Cotton Cardigan in a finely knit cotton blend is a cheery, bright interpretation of a classic tennis sweater. And just like the old version, it looks terrific with white pants or a white skirt. $328, dvf.
Designer Abe Chitose of Sacai likes to mix things up: case in point, her Striped Cotton and Poplin cardigan, which combines the features of a sweater with a button-down shirt. $216, netaporter.
Left: If you’re put off the sweet look of Eloquii’s Ruffle Cropped Cardigan, pair it with something a little edgier. $69.90 (also available in pink and black), Eloquii. Right: You can decide if Adeam‘s Bow-Embellished Cotton-Blend Cardigan will keep you covered up enough. We think the cut-outs with bows give some whimsy to the sweater. $303, modaoperandi.
Left: Generate your own heat in a blast of orange from H&M’s cotton cardigan. $10.99, H&M. Right: Speaking of color, No. 21’s Contrast-placket cotton-blend cardigan unexpectedly pairs a demure brown with emerald green. A stepped hem makes for a comfortable fit. When fall arrives, wear with a denim A-line skirt. $279, matchesfashion.
Left: How do you make a black cardigan stand out? Add a fringed hem. From Carven. $297, farfetch. Right: Playful printed polka dots are overlaid with a trompe-l’oeil print designed to look like textured fabric. From Comme des Garçons Comme des Garçons’ spring 2018 collection. $307.50, netaporter.
Left: It may look more like a shawl than a cardigan, but Mango’s Wrap ribbed-knit cardigan in a deliciously cool celadon, offers stylish cover. $39.99, shopspring. Center: Good luck finding a white sweater end of June, beginning of July. Which is why we’re delighted we came across Vince Camuto’s sheer-stripe, airy cardigan. $99, Nordstrom. Right: Lime green took off this summer when Queen Elizabeth wore bright green to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s May wedding. Follow Her Majesty’s lead in Cos’s Checked Jaquard Knit Cardigan in the color of the moment. $115, shopspring.
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IS IT JUST me, or has everything been said already—twice? It seems that every article I settle down to read tells me stuff I already know, and everyone else already knows too. For example, I just saw one that was called “How to Be a Travel Artist,” promising to make your travel experiences fabulous and hassle-free. Naturally I clicked, since all of my travel experiences are fraught with unplanned problems I am ill-equipped to handle.
Tip # 1 was “Don’t check your bag. This allows you to avoid the crowds at the baggage-claim area and ensures your bag will not be lost.” Oh really? Gee, I never thought of that before, right? Wrong—who doesn’t know that by the second grade? The rest of the tips were just as lame, like, “Don’t just take pictures on your iPhone—instead, look around at the scenery.” Again, thanks a lot.
What I want are solid suggestions for how to handle the following scenarios, a few of which have happened to me and some of which very well might have:
1. What if 20 minutes after takeoff the pilot announces you will be making an emergency landing and orders everyone to slide down the rubber chute, first removing all shoes and eyeglasses? Should you actually remove your glasses if you are helpless without them, or risk permanent blindness if they break and puncture a cornea?
2. How do you remain sane during an eight-hour layover in a crummy airport like, to pick one at random, Newark or LaGuardia?
3. Supposing you suffer a surprise bout of bleeding hemorrhoids at the gate as they’re starting to board your group. Do you get on or not? What if you’re wearing white pants—is the answer any different?
4. You just remembered there’s half an ounce of pot in your carry-on bag while you’re going through security and your bag is already on the conveyor belt. Should you run?
5. You get to your hotel at 11pm and learn that your room is right next to the elevator, there’s a convention of video gamers going on, and the air-conditioning is broken and it’s Phoenix in the summer. Do you check in or sleep in the park?
6. The 24-hour train from NY to Miami has left the station when it is announced there is no Dining Car and you’ll have to get all your meals from vending machines at the stations where the train stops along the way. This includes Georgia. Is that the moment to take that cyanide tablet stashed in your bag in case of a nuclear holocaust?
7. What if just as you land in a low-lying area there’s a tsunami?
These are the questions I want answered. Surely I’m not the only one.
SEARCHING FOR a sunscreen can make your head spin. So many differing opinions out there. Scientists say that oxybenzone and octinoxate, common chemicals used in many sunscreens to protect against ultraviolet light, are highly toxic to developing coral and other marine life. Hawaii is poised to pass legislation against major brands that contain these chemicals. So, then, we should just use mineral sunscreens, the kind whose main ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium oxide, right? Well, yes, but it turns out that some of these can also be harmful to marine life. I defer to our well-being editor Mary Carpenter for the details. But in the meantime, while I’m looking for the least noxious sunscreen, here’s what The Environmental Working Group (EWG) had to say on their tip sheet: “Sunscreen Should Be Your Last Resort.” Your clothing (shirts, hats, shorts and pants), finding shade, wearing sunglasses, picking your outdoor hours and checking the UV index are more important!
The Environmental Working Group
Next week, I’m headed to very sunny southern Italy, and I intend to take the above precautions. Still, some exposure is bound to happen, particularly and most noticeably on the face. For summer days and really, for daily use, I’ve spent many hours researching the best broad-spectrum (for UVA and UVB coverage) tinted sunscreens with a 30-plus SPF factor. A sunscreen that does double-duty as makeup is the holy grail for me; below are some that I’ve found are up to the task. Many even have some moisturizer in them. Keep in mind, though, nothing is perfect.
—Janet Kelly
Left: An earlier version of this Sente Labs product (Daily Repair Complex, SPF 30) has been in my cosmetics arsenal for a few years. It’s an excellent block and the color is good, but it doesn’t have as smooth a consistency as I would have liked. I have hopes for the new Broad Spectrum 46 product with a higher SPF and a very high concentration of zinc oxide. Only available from dermatologists. Center: Skin Medica’s Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 32 Tinted has some moisturizing ingredients in it and goes on smoothly, evening out skin tone with natural-looking color, $38, dermstore. Right: Recommended on my dermatologist’s handout about sun protection, Tizo’s 3 Tinted Face Mineral SPF40 Sunscreen is lightweight, velvety and gives you a matte finish without any chalky whiteness. It’s $41.99 at amazon, and is also available at medspas.
Far left: Although she tends not to slather sunscreen on, preferring it only when necessary, well-being Editor Mary Carpenter likes Elta MD UV Physical SPF 41 Lightly Tinted, which contains alpha hydroxy acids and antioxidants. $30, dermstore. Left: I’ve been a fan of La Mer‘s Reparative SkinTint SPF 30 for years. I was miffed when they stopped making it but elated when they re-upped with a “new” formula. I usually put it on over my Sente Labs product or over a light foundation. It’s very moist and reflective, which gives the skin a little glow. The fly in the ointment, so to speak, is that I recently read the label to find that although it has titanium dioxide, it also contains that bad chemical octinoxate. At least, I have no plans to go to Hawaii. $95, neimanmarcus. Right: I’ve always found that La Roche-Posay produces excellent sun blocks, and now that they have a mineral sunscreen, so much the better. La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Tinted Ultra Light is a mix of titanium dioxide and Vitamin E, which dries to a matte texture. Wear it under makeup or skip the makeup entirely. $33.5o, dermstore. Far right: Cotz Face Natural Skin Tone SPF 40, also on my dermatologist’s handout, is on my list to try. And the price is a bit easier on the wallet. $23.99, ulta.
P.S. In light of EWG recommendations, note that there are several brands, including Coolibar, Solumbra and Mott 50, that manufacture sun-protective clothing. Instead of SPF, it’s labeled UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). While your Gap T-shirt has a UPF of 3, clothing from these brands have at least a 30.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
HOPE my regular readers will bear with me for another day of diet talk. It seems that there are tons and tons of people out there following The Fast Metabolism Diet. I know this because my stats for a recent blog post were through the roof! They were 500% higher than the closest competitor post, which was about lady killer Jodi Arias who stabbed her boyfriend 29 times, so I feel I should at least give them a few more crumbs as I enter my third day, a.k.a. Phase 2, of this diet.
The first two days (Phase 1) were fun, fun fun! Lots of juicy fruits and veggies and grains like brown rice and quinoa and even bread, the sprouted wheat kind, but still, bread is bread as any true bread lover will tell you. (I’d rather have a two-day-old toasted bagel than an ice cream sundae any day.) But that’s all behind me now: for the next two days it’s all protein and veggies, and nothing else. I repeat: Nothing. Else.
So far it has sucked, but I’ve only had breakfast, which was a 3-egg-white omelet made with zero shortening in a non-stick pan. (Of course it stuck.) I threw in some of last night’s leftover zucchini for some flair, but basically I felt like I was in solitary confinement and it had been delivered to me through a hole in my cell door. I had this with a nice big glass of water, since no coffee is allowed. (Frowny face.) The trick is to be creative, for example, think of a mushroom as a bun made in a bakery instead of as a fungus that grows in the dirt.
Still, I’ve lost two pounds in two days and I feel great! And it’s nice knowing what I’ll be eating instead of mindlessly shoving any random thing down my gullet and ending up with a big bowl of Bloated and Nauseous, my usual dessert after most meals. Besides, I just have to do this particular spartan diet today and tomorrow, and after that it’s three days of fabulous foods of all kinds: Olive Oil! Nuts! Avocados! More bread!
I am pumped for Phase 3; only five meals, four snacks and 132 ounces of water to go. I know I can do it, especially if I focus on all the people the world over who have so little to eat.
Left: Sachin + Babi Noir’s Andrea Dotted Midi Dress in taffeta mixes the sexy with the demure. Keep everyone guessing which one you are at black-tie events. $1,095 at neimanmarcus. Right: Be eco-conscious and party comfortably, too, in Zero + Maria Cornejo’s Eve Amelie dress, made of a mix of sustainable viscose and linen. Dress it up or down, depending on the occasion. On sale for $570 at zeromariacornejo.
THE HEAT is on—to find something to wear to the summer wedding or three you’ve been invited to. Although the dress code on the invitation is likely not to be as specific as the one (“day dress and hat”) to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding, and a fascinator will not be required, you will probably see some key words like black tie, black tie optional or semi-formal. Or else the location—garden, beach, pool or park—will clue you in to the appropriate attire.
All summer weddings are not created equal, so before buying, it’s important to read the invitation to avoid potential embarrassment. A colleague of mine went looking for something garden party-ish only to find out —too late— the event was black-tie. Oops. And be mindful of your footwear. On a beach in Cape Cod, you’ll be better off pairing your caftan with flip-flops or espadrilles rather than spendy stilettos that will have you sinking into the sand. For formal dos, you have permission to forgo the fancy ball gown and opt for black silk or satin pants and a sheer feminine blouse, topped with, say, a fabulous metallic Missoni shawl (see below). Crank up the volume with accessories, like an arty pair of Louboutins, or a Judith Leiber lookalike and blingy jewelry, be it good costume or the real stuff. Oh, if some of these price tags send you into sticker shock, take our advice: don’t wait for a special invitation to wear.
—Janet Kelly
Left: Wouldn’t you want to dance all night in this shimmery, graceful chiffon Kamille Dress from designer Maria Lucia Hohan? $960, shopbop. Center: Gabriela Hearst‘s pearly blush serge silk and wool-blend blazer with waist-narrowing slanted pockets ($997.50, netaporter) goes best with the matching pants ($597.50, netaporter.com). Amortize the investment over the many occasions you’ll pull this evening suit from your closet. Right: Cinq à Sept‘s Nannon Floral Silk Midi Dress takes the basic sheath shape and softens the silhouette with strategically placed ruffles. $645, saksfifthavenue.
Left: This Sally LaPointe Crinkle Foil Seamed Track Pant won’t pass muster at every wedding, so size up the scene before you don this statement-making pair of pants. $850, modaoperandi. Center: Missoni‘s Metallic Matelassé Scarf, made of a silver and turquoise fine-gauge knit, is trimmed with fringe and will make black pants or a simple black sheath twinkle. $690, barneys. Right: Pair this Rosetta linen dress by Lisa Maria Fernandez with espadrilles or a textured sandal, and it’s the right look for any outdoor fete. $705, matchesfashion.
Left: You could party in Warm‘s Eden Wrap Jumpsuit for black tie or a backyard barbecue. Adjust your accessories accordingly. $835, modaoperandi. Right: Designer Rachel Comey gives red and white stripes a decidedly unpreppy look in this artfully draped Steady Asymmetric Cotton Dress. Fans will make the occasion to wear it—often. $450, modaoperandi.
Left: Go a little wild in Australian designer Alice McCall‘s Animale crepe de chine midi dress. Drawstring ties threaded through the body and sleeves create a flattering ruched effect. $520, netaporter. Center: Make A.L.C.’s Miles Wide-Leg Crepe Pant special with a sheer, lacy blouse and stunning shawl. $272, neimanmarcus. Right: Diane Von Furstenberg polka-dot silk dress with a daring diamond cut-out at the back will be the perfect match for a summer soiree in the garden or a fancy fete at a country club. $998, matchesfashion.
Left: Casual outdoor wedding? Diane von Furstenberg’s playfully striped cotton wrap dress will work, and for Sunday brunch or Monday lunch, too. $530, netaporter. Right: I’m partial to dropped waists and three-quarter sleeves, so party or no party, I’d wear this Baum und Pferdgarten’s crinkled chiffon Alexandrina dress indoors and/or out. $450, shopbop.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
From left to right, Ulla Johnson, Zara and Xirena free and easy shirts for summer.
AS WE HEAD into the steamy days of summer, here’s a heads-up. Breezy tops are your hot-weather dressing savior. Pair them with straight or flared white or pastel pants or jeans or flowy skirts; add sandals and a straw bag. Voilà—a no-sweat summer look.
Embroidered, blousy boho tops with billowy sleeves are uber-popular, as are shorter, boxy styles for more petite frames. Traveling? You’ll be thankful for a lightweight, look-mom-no-wrinkles linen knit top (I love the one from the label Cos; Zara has many on offer as well). A gingham shirt from J. McLaughlin that’s made of crinkly cotton and needs no ironing has to be my favorite summer shirt so far. I’m also personally cheering the comeback of camp shirts—in lively patterns.
Here are more we think you’ll like as much as we do:
—Janet Kelly
Left: Cos’ s slim-fit Short-Sleeve Ribbed Top in blush pink is made from a lightweight textured linen blend. And it’s perfectly packable. $79, shopspring. Right: Paul & Joe Sister’s Saintrop crinkled cotton-gauze blouse with rickrack trim drapes airily over the torso for dressing as effortlessly as it gets. $225, shopbop.
Left: Isn’t it sweet? Mango’s Guipure Panel T-Shirt gets a feminine touch with crochet and fluttery sleeves. $35.99 at Mango. Right: Made from lightweight sheer cotton, Mes Demoiselles’ Forward striped shirt is loosely cut for easy wear. Gold-tone anchor buttons add a nautical feel, while long balloon sleeves with elastic cuffs keep you covered while letting you breathe. $174, matchesfashion.
This embroidered springtime pop-on top caresses the neckline in a most flattering way. Plus, it’s a good vacation find that can make the transition into fall. $98 at madewell.
Left: Layer this coral-print Rhea Kimono over a white T-shirt or tank or wear by itself. Either way, it’s summer-vacation-ready. $118, anthropologie. Right: A refreshingly unexpected color combination of lime, beige-pink, cream and black makes this Ace & Jig boho-chic Marfa striped cotton blouse a fun topper for any warm-weather occasion. $278, matchesfashion.
Brooklyn, New York, designer Ulla Johnson is known for her use of batik prints, embroidery and fringe. This Rosine Blouse, semi-sheer silk in pale yellow, should satisfy your inner bohemian. $252, shopbop.
Left: If you think this floral shirt is too flouncy for you, you can adjust the interior waistband to cinch it in. Best for those who like a little romance in their wardrobe. $49.90, zara. Right: Except for size large, Xirena’s laissez-faire-looking Red Coral Chance shirt ($171) is sold out on the site, but if you need a smaller size, try looking in your favorite local boutique, where you may have some luck.
Left: Double Rainbouu’s Australian designers tweak the classic Hawaiian shirt with their own vivid tropical prints. The lightweight cotton-voile shirt has a loose fit. Tuck into jeans or over a bathing suit. $190, netaporter. Right: J. McLaughlin’s Lois Shirt in Gingham (also available in pink and white) is slightly oversize and long. A classic, preppyish look in a no-worries-about-ironing material. $168, jmclaughlin.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
I HAVE an Instagram account, mostly because I love taking pictures and then editing them online. I also enjoy seeing the photos posted by my friends. But since I only follow 38 people, I have only 39 followers — all those people I follow, plus one stranger. This translates into me getting anywhere from zero to maybe three or four “likes” on average, per photo. I’m embarrassed to admit this bums me out, even though I know my pictures are often stunning, fabulous, and by all means likeable. What’s worse is when I see mediocre photos posted by others getting hundreds of “likes.”
My husband, wise in these matters, pointed out that this is because those people have many followers, and in turn follow many people to get those “likes.” One friend in particular follows more than 6,000 people on Instagram and has over 1,500 followers! Naturally, anything she posts gets scads of “likes,” even for an unexciting or just plain ordinary image.
Overhearing me bemoaning my fate, Mitch asked what’s so great about a lot of “likes” anyway. I thought about it and realized that almost anything I could think of is better than “likes,” which are completely meaningless! They are not legal tender. You can’t buy anything with them. You can’t barter or trade with them. You surely can’t eat them, and they won’t cure anything that ails you, in fact a box of Smith Brothers Cough drops is way better than a dozen “likes.” (Even one cough drop is better.) Street beggars don’t even want them.
Really, the only “like” that truly matters is your own, which is why I always “like” my own stuff on Instagram. After all, somebody’s got to.
Kate Spade at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards, 10/19/01, NYC / Shutterstock
I REMEMBER it well—buying one of Kate Spade’s square-ish black nylon bags with a bright pink gingham lining in the mid-‘90s. It was affordable, especially compared to an “it” Fendi.
In 1993, the Kansas-City born Spade, née Brosnahan (aunt to Rachel of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel“), founded her company with her fiancé, then-husband Andy Spade, whom she met at Arizona State University. After graduation, as an accessories editor at Mademoiselle magazine, she was uninspired by the handbags of the time, judging them overly embellished. It then became her mission to design something that was functional as well as stylish. Showing her outside-the-box smarts, she cleverly distinguished her brand by switching the label from the inside to the outside. Celebs took notice and the label took off.
Spade, who forged the path for the likes of Tory Burch and Jenna Lyons, had a look all her own, with her retro bouffant hairdo, geeky glasses, quirky, kind of hip, grandma way of dressing and an infectious smile. Not to mention a genius for recognizing business opportunities. Spade won a CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers) International Award in 1996 and 1998.
In addition to handbags, she designed a variety of other accessories like those coveted calendar pages everyone wanted for their Filofax, of-the-moment sunglasses, lively dinnerware and clothing (I was the proud owner of a pair of menswear-inspired, white cotton pajamas edged in pink that I purchased from the newly opened Kate Spade store in Georgetown some 25 or so years ago).
Neiman Marcus Group bought the business in 1999, but the Spades remained on until 2007 after the company was sold to Liz Claiborne. Kate Spade & Company was acquired in 2017 by Coach, Inc., which became the holding company Tapestry (it owns Coach and Stuart Weitzman).
Spade left the fashion world for ten years to raise her daughter, but I was hoping she was on her second act when she started a new accessories label called Francis Valentine in 2016. The Francis Valentine heel was inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome, “designed to be an intrinsically stable structure.” How very Kate.
And how very sad that she died at 55. It’s hard not to think of that other famous handbag designer Judith Leiber, whose long career gave us so many over-the-top crystal-encrusted minaudières to remember her by.
Kate Spade was found dead in her NYC apartment June 5 of an apparent suicide.
Caftan looks, from left to right, from Three Graces, Pippa Holt and Xirena.
WHAT TO wear for summer holidays and/or weekends at the beach, by the pool? Long, lazy days call for breezy comfort and style, a garment you can wear to the water, pop it off for a swim and then put it back on for cocktails at a restaurant. Too much to ask?
Could a caftan solve the problem? According to Vogue, a caftan, believed to have its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, “has become the catchall term in fashion for any kind of loose-fitting robe or tunic. [Strictly speaking] a true kaftan is a narrow cut, long robe with full sleeves, either with a deep open neck or fully open to the floor.”
Lately, that loose, flowy dress in a variety of lengths and styles, has seen a renaissance. Popular in the 1960s, the garment has been worn by the likes of Grace Kelly (who favored Pucci with matching turbans), Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lee Radziwill and socialite Talitha Getty, famous for her boho-inspired clothing. At the most recent Paris fashion week, designer Jacquemus kicked off his runway presentation with a beige-colored, floor-length satin kaftan. In February, actress Maya Rudolph wore a red Valentino caftan as a presenter at the 2018 Oscars. Last August Hillary Clinton traded in her pantsuits for a Tiffany-blue caftan and silver heels. Google “ caftan” on fashion sites like Net A Porter, and you’ll get a few pages of results.
To go from patio to the piazza, trade in the flip-flops for strappy sandals and accessorize with big earrings, necklace or a big cuff. Choosing the right caftan for you, though is a necessary first step. Caftans can overwhelm a small frame and bulk up a larger one. You don’t want to look as if you’re wearing a tent.
Speaking of tents, despite raves from fashion magazines, the aforementioned Hillary won no prizes in my book for that shapeless smock. Pretty color, yes, but the dress swallowed her up, flattering no part of her figure. It billowed out like a mumu. And Maya Rudolf didn’t fare much better, despite the high-fashion label. In this case, the long red dress encased her like a mummy.
So, forewarned is forearmed. If you’re 5 feet 2 inches, go for above-the-knee looks, like one from Pippa Holt (expensive, alas, yes) or for more of a tunic, opt for Tory Burch. Think short sleeves or sleeveless, too. If you like the coverage, pair a short style with a pair of slim pants. Balance a flowy top with trim legs. Even if you’re not vertically challenged, leave some ankle showing. Side slits that break up a long shape are your friend. Prints or patterns add impact but beware of excessive beading.
They come in every price point from a lacy, openwork style for $49.99 at Zara to a floral-embroidered, metallic knit from Missoni for $3,057.
—Janet Kelly
Left: In luxe terrycloth, this Splendid x Margherita Capri Caftan, the fruit of a collaboration with Margherita Missoni and Splendid, feels almost like a beach-friendly blanket—a perfect post-swim wrap. $188, shopbop.com. Right: Dressing for the heat in high summer. From Sonia Rykiel’s spring/summer 2018 Paris runway show.
This light and airy coverup caftan looks like a good solution for hot-weather dressing. $49.99, zara.com.
Left: Pippa Holt’s Single Panel Midi Kaftan calls for a belt to cinch in the waist. The perfect piece to go from dockside to dinner. $725 at modaoperandi (no longer available). Right: A mustard-yellow Livietta linen kaftan with deep v-neckline from Three Graces London is ideal for day-to-night styling. Cropped kimono-style sleeves and a loose silhouette with open seams for a relaxed look. Complement the dress with gold jewelry and coordinating metallic sandals. $485, matchesfashion.
Left: Xirena’s Kennedy V-Neck Cap-Sleeve Caftan Coverup is $248 from neimanmarcus. Right: Two’s Jamdani Caftan with silk border floats flatteringly around the body. $410, shopspring.
Left: Pippa Holt’s No.74 embroidered, above-the-knee cotton kaftan works for those of shorter stature. $725, matchesfashion. Right: Two’s Ikat caftan with black front in medium-weight cotton. $385, shopspring.
Left: From Tory Burch spring 2018 runway collection. Right: Tory Burch’s knee-length Alcott Beach Caftan with ticking stripe and embroidered detail is pool- and beach-ready. $298, saksfifthavenue.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
From left to right, the Modern from Kule, Cuyana’s Classic Crewneck and Sol Angeles Boyfriend Pocket Tee.
DOES THIS sound familiar—hunting through your wardrobe for last summer’s T-shirts, only to find most of them looking a bit “triste” (sad)? A T-shirt or three is an essential buy for me—the underpinning of my go-to summer uniform: a white, black or striped tee paired with cropped jeans/pants or a skirt. That covers me for lunch with friends and/or business meetings when I’ll add a jacket; for casual outings, I’ll lose the jacket but throw a sweater in my bag to correct for too much AC. What I look for: a slightly fitted torso or a slightly slouchy one, a neckline (either crew or v-neck) that lies flat, a durable material that’s not see-through (must withstand the washing machine) and a price tag of less (a lot less) than $100. Oh, and I like a finished hem with a slight curve.
Instead of blindly browsing the web or local stores and lamenting the high prices of so many labels, I decided to reach out to my most stylish friends, asking them which brands they’ve found that are the best for the buck and quality. To simplify, I specified women’s white T-shirts. Here’s how they replied:
Nancy Gold, Philadelphia lawyer: Gap is generally my go-to for a women’s white T-shirt. They have different cuts and cotton weights. I throw them in the washer and dryer and as long as you get them out immediately and fold or roll, they last and continue to look good. I get extra small for under suit jackets, and small for regular wear. Occasionally you can also find decent quality at Old Navy as well. J Crew used to be good, but their fabric got pretty flimsy. BTW, I have a friend who goes into Target at the beginning of the summer, buys two packs of men’s Hanes T-shirts (three to a pack), and just throws them away at the end of the summer. Economical!
Dasha Karelina, style consultant: I bought a couple from Cuyana that I really like, but they are $45 and I wash them by hand…
Stephanie Gleason, former NYC banker: I like the Petit Bateau iconic women’s white T-shirt and the basic one from Three Dots. Both run in the mid-$30 range.
Candace Johnston, Pittsburgh-based interior designer: I am a Vince fan, have been for quite a while. I used to spend $36 ($28 on sale) for the J Crew basic women’s white T-shirt, which after a few washings was good for sleeping only. The Vince Tees are worth the $$$; it is true that you get what you pay for.
Catherine Clifford, D.C.-based freelance health and beauty writer: Since white Ts have a short life, for me at least (sunscreen stains, drives me crazy), I go relatively disposable. Old Navy frequently has decent quality, great price. The last several years, I have especially liked certain Loft Ts—$ mid-teens or less on sale, nice cut, moderate-scoop neck, light fabric that isn’t too see-through. I recently succumbed to an on-sale-of-course but still expensive-for-me off-white Anthropologie (Sol Angeles) T that I love—substantial weight, very soft, stitched rolled sleeve. P.S. Coincidentally, in Old Navy a day ago, and their T-shirts *@#! Thin, flimsy and see-through. I guess I’m remembering the old days.
Alyse Michaelson, Wall Street analyst: Madewell! I love Z Supply now, but they are big.
—Janet Kelly
Left: Petit Bateau’s Iconic Tee, $46, shopbop.com. Right: The fluttery sleeves on Re/done’s Classic T have the good grace not to accentuate upper-arm sags. $78, Needsupply.com.
Left: Sol Angeles Pocket Boyfriend Tee features a nicely rolled sleeve. Right now it’s available only in peach, marked down from $68 to $39.95, at Anthropologie.com. But you might also like the Kiara Tee,, which features a little bit of texture, $58 in ivory, also at Anthropologie.com. Right: On the pricey end, Vince’s Skinny-Striped Cotton Tee in Optic White/Cream, $85, at Neimanmarcus.com.
Left: A Hanes X Karla T-shirt from Hanes’s collaboration with stylist-turned-designer Karla Welch. This one is The Classic and it’s $48 at MatchesFashion.com. Right: Madewell’s Cotton V-Neck Pocket Tee is easy on the budget. $19.50, Nordstrom.com.
Left: Anthony Thomas Melila (ATM) always shows up as a fave, despite the $85 for this stretch modal V-neck tee. It’s at Modaoperandi.com. Right: Cuyana’s Classic Crewneck Tee is $45 at Cuyana.com. It comes in white, black, navy and heather gray pima cotton.
Left: Gap’s Vintage Crewneck T-shirt for $19.95 at Gap.com. Right: The Modern from Kule, an everyday basic made of light and airy cotton with a boxy cut. The brand’s bi-color stripe signature on the hem (not seen here) adds a preppy accent. $68 at Shopspring.com.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
WHAT WITH air travel being such a zoo, I guess it’s natural that we look back to the days of elegant travel by sea—the evening wear, the staterooms, the courtly service. Even though most cruises are not like that anymore, neither do they have to be 5,000 people crammed into a ship that resembles a combination of an enormous apartment tower lying on its side and a mini-mall.
While there’s a generous in-between—large but not super-large ships that steam through the oceans—there’s also a much smaller world. That’s the one I’m fond of. I’m not an expert, but I’ve taken half a dozen cruises on small ships, nothing larger than 200 passengers, and I’ve come up with some ideas for picking and choosing.
Ships of all sizes boast two of the key advantages of a cruise: Your luggage doesn’t get lost because you yourself present it at the dock, and you have to unpack only once! (Please share your tips in the Comments section, because I’m sure there are things I haven’t thought about. Thanks.)
River or sea?
The first decision you need to make when searching for a cruise is, obviously, where you want to go. That alone may make other decisions for you. Some cities, in Europe, Asia and South America, are on river-cruise lines; other cities require open-sea sailing. And of course some cities are not part of either watery network. Simple as that.
Size matters.
River-cruise ships are much, much smaller than those oceangoing and island-hopping behemoths we often associate with cruising. Rivers are not the ocean, folks, and the boats have to be much more modest in size.
Several years ago, I cruised with family, hopping off at spots all along the Dalmatian Coast, on the Adriatic, from Athens to Split, aboard Grand Circle Cruise Line‘s M/V Athena, which held only 50 passengers. The newly redecorated yacht was great for those placid waters and frequent port stops (including a stop in Albania!).
Our most recent outing, though, was on the 212-passenger M/V Star Legend, part of the Windstar Cruises fleet. We sailed out of Lisbon through open seas to the Portuguese island of Madeira, then the Spanish Canary Islands, then French-and-Arabic-speaking Agadir, Morocco, and back to Lisbon. If switching languages was a challenge, the Atlantic Ocean was even more so—let’s just say the dining room was not full on a couple of nights.
When it comes to choosing the best cruise ships, a small ship is great
Cruises aren’t only about travel and fine dining. No, they’re about the “pets,” made from towels, that await you when you return to your cabin after dinner. I didn’t think to snap a picture of the elephant, our first treat on our Windstar cruise out of Lisbon. But here’s the floppy pup that followed the next night. / MyLittleBird photo.
Adorably grumpy, this gorilla made his appearance on Night 3. / MyLittleBird photo.
Ribbit! I wish my photography skills were as good as the cabin steward’s towel-twisting skills. / MyLittleBird photo.
The last night at sea we returned from dinner the find this chimp hanging from the curtain rod. Kinda weird, no? / MyLittleBird photo.
My friend Mary found this TV-surfing bunny sprawled on the bed when she and husband Robert returned from dinner on a recent cruise to Mexico. Cheers! / MyLittleBird photo.
in terms of service and easy mixing with people, but in open water it’s possible that the 500- or 600-passenger Seabourn yacht we saw at dock in Lisbon—quite a bit larger—may have had a smoother ride. I’m no sailor, so that’s just a guess; but if you worry about seasickness, you might ask for some guidance.
The bottom line when searching for the best cruise ships: Small is good, but not always.
One case in which small was definitely good was some years back when I traveled with friends around the Galápagos Islands. Our yacht, chartered by Mountain Travel Sobek, carried only 16 passengers (and we were 11 of the 16) and therefore had a much greater choice of small islands to explore without deploying a fleet of Zodiacs. (I guess I’ll never know how they made such delicious food, including a snack every time we came back on board from examining mostly inert marina iguanas and blue-footed boobies, in such a small space. But they did!)
The size of the ship determines where you can dock without ferrying passengers to land on inflatables. / iStock photo.
Creature comforts.
Some ships feature real beds in ample staterooms. Others have smaller cabins with upholstered benches that convert to beds at night—not very comfortable beds, at that (not-so-deep mattresses atop wood slabs; if you like a supremely firm mattress, you’ll love this setup).
If the mere possibility of discomfort gives you pause, take a good look at the glossy pictures for each ship you’re considering. Sure, look over the dining room and the fitness areas, but pay close attention to the cabin and suite pictures.
Many cruise lines list the square footage of their different levels of accommodation. It’s worth learning what 277 square feet looks and feels like. If you can’t tell, and if all the flowery promotional language doesn’t clue you in, call the cruise line’s customer service folks. They should know and should be honest with you.
For the record, cabins on the all-suite M/V Star Legend and Star Pride, two ships with Windstar Cruises, were a very comfortable 300 square feet, room for a separate curtain-divided “living room” and “bedroom,” with what several lines call “hotel-style beds” (I think that’s code for “comfortable.”) The basic-level Veranda Suite on Seabourn’s all-suite ships is 300 square feet as well; more-expensive suites range from 450 to 989 square feet, the latter end perhaps larger than the average Manhattan apartment. Different ships on Viking River Cruises‘ trips are special to different rivers; the Elbe River Veranda Suites are 250 square feet, still enough for a separate sitting area. And premium accommodations on most lines will be even larger (and, of course, more expensive).
It’s useful to note that cruise lines defining themselves as “luxury” lines have ships configured to have only exterior cabins, all looking out on the water, some with balconies. Some larger lines, such as Holland America, offer much larger ships that also feature less-expensive “interior” cabins, some of which can be between 151 and 233 square feet. (On Holland America, that means you can do a 12-day Caribbean cruise visiting Havana and Cienfuegos in Cuba, and other spots, for as little as $1,399 per person. Depending on your online shopping habits, it could cost more to stay home.)
There’s also a matter of style: The Viking river and more recent ocean ships promote their “serene Scandinavian spaces,” whereas the overdecorated Royal Suite on Uniworld‘s S.S. Catherine would satisfy any latter-day Marie Antoinettes who may be lurking out there.
Dining!
The food on many ships vying for your custom is worth noting. Windstar features recipes from James Beard Award-winning chefs. Seabourn has partnered with chef Thomas Keller, he of the famous (and sensational) French Laundry in Napa Valley and Per Se in New York.
But there is a consideration beyond the food (believe it or not). Some ships offer restaurant-like facilities; your party of four will be seated at a table for four, two people at a table for two. Other cruise lines, such as Seabourn and Grand Circle, offer open seating: You can join others at large tables, getting to know your fellow passengers in a relaxed setting.
If sitting with strangers horrifies you, choose ships like the Windstar fleet, where the maitre d’ will seat your group (and if that feels too boring after a few evenings, arrange during the day to dine with others so you can pronounce yourselves as a party of six or eight or whatever).
On many ships some eateries are more equal than others. There may be a special restaurant that has people vying for a place; cruises routinely limit passengers to one evening in the special restaurant per cruise (but tables do open up). Do some homework after you’ve decided on your ship to see whether you can reserve before you even board.
Activities range from the cultural to the active, and beyond. / iStock photo.
Culture
Most cruise lines, so far as I’m aware, offer information about the various ports where the cruise will be stopping. But there are very different levels of engagement with the countries and cities visited. Viking, Tauck and Grand Circle pride themselves on extensive programs aboard ship to share the cultures to be visited—cooking lessons, fun language lessons, performances by cultural troupes. Grand Circle even includes a visit to one of the schools or other institutions its Grand Circle Foundation supports, encouraging passengers to bring educational materials to donate. There’s even a dinner-with-a-family event on most itineraries for which the passengers fan out to various homes (in rural Russia an elderly couple in a small dacha on a working farm offered a group of 12 of us an afternoon tea).
Shore excursions, as you can gather from above, can be quite elaborate and involving. No one forces anyone to do anything, of course, but if you just want to sun yourself and relax, you may want to choose a cruise line with a different approach to travel. Trips sponsored by organizations such as the Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian Journeys) or a university tend to charge a premium, but they also have full programs of lectures and discussions led by experts in their field. At the other end of the spectrum, I’ve come to think of the Windstar cruises as “information lite”: There’s a “port talk” the evening before each stop and an optional bus excursion with a local guide, but no dedicated tour directors ginning up excitement while on board.
But even information-lite works if you let it. John and Katie, fellow passengers on the Lisbon cruise, simply rented a motor scooter each time we docked and went on their way, in their own way.
If you are interested in cruises, even if you thought you never would be, there is definitely something for everyone. Just do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
—Nancy McKeon
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
From left to right, J. Crew blush pink rain jacket, Helly Hansen’s W Aden long jacket and Joules’s Right as Rain Waterproof Hooded Jacket.
LATE-SPRING days soaked with heavy downpours have caused one of our fashion-savvy colleagues to send out an SOS. “Help, we need an ark!” Alternatively, how about some good-looking, lightweight raincoats and jackets?
We heard the call and rallied to the rescue with nine ways for taking cover from raindrops falling on our heads. No Noah needed.
—Janet Kelly
Made from a water-resistant blend of cotton and nylon is J. Crew’s Perfect Raincoat, above. With a hood and bungee-type adjustable waist, it’s also available in marigold yellow. It’s $120 at Nordstrom.com.
You can see the rain—and the rain can see you in Mango’s see-through hooded parka, above. It’s $129.99 at Mango.com.
Zara sibling Massimo Dutti is genius for jackets. This Technical Parka offers an adjustable stand-up collar with concealed hood, adjustable waist and hem and two side pockets with buttoned flaps. $120, massimodutti.com.
The jury is out on the transparent trend, but Zara’s water-repellent see-through jacket , above, with piping and stripes on the sides offers a lot of style for the price. $49.90, available at Zara.com.
Take fashionable cover with this waterproof, lightweight poncho, above, from Vancouver-based Canada Herschel Supply Co. It has a three-piece hood with two-snap placket and mesh-vented back yoke. Available in several other colors, color combinations and prints, including a Keith Haring pattern. $99.99, Herschel.com.
Sophie D’Hoore’s windbreaker in dark green, above, rebuffs showers while making a fashion statement. It’s reduced from $602 to $421 on farfetch.com. Only a few left in stock.
British brand Joules known for bright splashes of color on their outdoor wear ensures you stay dry with the taped seams and longer length of its Right as Rain Waterproof Hooded Jacket (also available in berry and French navy). Reduced to $149.96, Nordstrom.com.
For those who want the most protection from the elements, Helly Hansen’s wind- and waterproof W Aden Long Jacket will last you well into the fall. Quick-dry lining is a bonus. It comes in black, white and dark blue. $150, hellyhansen.com.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
THE LIKELIHOOD of developing seasonal allergies (as distinguished from those to food, dust or other things) in the DC area is due to the sheer numbers of triggers here—with tree pollen starting off the spring season, grass pollen in the summer and weed pollen in early fall followed by leaf mold. U.S. Army microbiologist Susan Kosisky told the Washington Post, “We’ve got something for everybody here. . . . If you come to the Washington, DC, region without an allergy, there is a chance you will leave with one.”
In the allergy ranking of U.S. cities, numbers of allergenic grasses, trees and weeds are key variables, as are seasonal and other changes from year to year. According to Greer allergy maps, DC is near the top—with 14 grasses, 35 trees and 14 weeds, for a total of 62 seasonal triggers—falling between other notably allergenic cities of Houston at 58 and Knoxville at 64.
Being constructed on a swamp gives DC a comparably longer growing season with less likelihood of a killing frost to interrupt the season once it starts. Also, DC’s trees include many oaks, notorious for producing pollen that hangs around for a long time rather than dispersing quickly.
While each allergen has a yearly “crop,” some years it’s a bumper while others it’s mild,” explains Nutley, New Jersey, allergist Alan Goodman. Spotting the first green willows of springtime tells him when the office phone will start ringing. After 25 years in this specialty, he says: “I know it’s a bad season when the ringing phone never stops.”
Physical proximity to specific allergens is the only way to trigger seasonal allergies, which can develop following the first exposure over a two- to seven-year period. For one man who’d never had any allergies, it took three years after moving from Hong Kong to DC for seasonal allergies to become so severe that swollen tissues in his nose caused tiny blood vessels to break easily, resulting in frequent nosebleeds.
For some people, seasonal allergies that seem to arise anew in adulthood can be traced back to earlier sensitivities. I once put myself among new-to-DC allergy sufferers and then remembered having such bad poison ivy as a child that I wore gloves at night to keep from scratching.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis—runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat and itchy eyes—caused by seasonal triggers can be distinguished from those of colds and flu primarily by patterns of occurrence: arising during specific seasons, worsening after time spent outdoors and improving after nights with the windows shut. Symptoms particular to allergies include itchy eyes, absence of fever and clarity of the mucus.
Colds, by contrast, usually worsen over time and then improve; produce yellowish mucus; and can be accompanied by fever. And fever above 102 can indicate flu. Difficulty swallowing suggests strep throat, which requires a test because treatment includes antibiotics. Fatigue is common to all of these. But diagnosis can be tricky if something else occurs at the same time as an allergic reaction.
Allergy symptoms appear to be increasing around the world. Some blame higher concentrations of airborne pollutants. Others subscribe to the “hygiene hypothesis,” that life in developed countries became so sanitized that people’s immune systems didn’t develop correctly. The theory is controversial because greater use of antibiotics and indoor plumbing occurred in the same period. The good news: Immune responses weaken with age, making seasonal allergies less likely to arise in a person’s 30s and 40s, and especially after age 50.
Another villain is increasingly long pollen seasons caused by effects of global warming, such as rising temperatures and greenhouse gases. Research on the length of ragweed pollen seasons from 1995 to 2009 found that, compared with almost no increase in the three southernmost cities (in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas), seasons lengthened in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota cities by 11, 12 and 16 days, respectively, with a 27-day gain in the northernmost city in Canada. Though not included in this study, DC is closest in latitude to Nebraska.
Shorter springs—when spring arrives late—compress the allergy season, so that trees are pollinated later but more quickly, and grass pollen comes toward the end of that with no break. In what some call a “pollen tsunami,” peak DMV pollen concentrations can reach 4,000 particles per cubic meter of air.
For an individual to develop new seasonal allergic responses, the immune system must first identify as harmful such allergens as pollen and mold. In response, inflammatory chemicals such as histamine are released, causing symptoms that involve the nose, eyes, skin and digestive system.
Genetics affect an individual’s chances of developing allergies: Responses to the same allergens occur in 70% of identical twins and 40% of fraternal twins. Allergic parents are more likely to have allergic children, and those children are likely to have more severe allergies. What experts don’t entirely understand, however, is why someone develops an allergic reaction to certain allergens but not to others.
To combat allergy symptoms, the best non-sedating antihistamines for many sufferers are Claritin and Allegra, according to allergist Goodman, who advises patients to go for the cheapest available—as low as $12 per year at Costco. While some combination drugs include “decongestants,” those do not target the allergic reaction–which antihistamines do–and can cause side effects including blood-pressure problems and insomnia.
Even with medication, some patients spend weeks in the hospital, including days in the ICU. For the worst cases, “immunotherapy” using injections of specific allergens can alleviate or end symptoms. Extremely time-consuming—with regular shots starting at once a week and lasting over several years—and expensive, however, immunotherapy is usually worthwhile only for the most seriously afflicted.
Good weapons for most seasonal sufferers involve limiting exposure. If grass is the problem, don’t mow or, if you must, use a mask. After being outdoors, take a shower and throw clothes in the wash. Keep the windows closed. Best of all, if possible: Get out of town for the worst periods, and don’t come home until they’re over.
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen talk about just about everything in the movie “Book Club.” / Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
IF THE NAMES Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha mean anything to you, you’ll be happy to learn that you will get to hang out with them again when you go to see the movie “Book Club.”
The four women in “Book Club” are named . . . well, I don’t really recall their names. Let’s just call them Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen. They could be the “Sex and the City” quartet 30 years later.
And married, widowed, divorced or never-succumbed, they’re still talking about boys and sex. Mostly sex, since the book club is reading (to appropriate amounts of groaning) “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
The movie is a piece of fluff with moments of insight and laughing out loud. It’s like sitting around with your smartest friends joking and confessing and then joking again. But then in many cases book clubs are the modern equivalent of the old quilting bees, without the bedspread at the end.
There’s some serious content: Keaton’s daughters keep insisting that she shouldn’t live alone “at your age”; and the ever-brittle Fonda, a Samantha-like libertine, keeps her steely resolve not to melt in the face of real intimacy.
And, especially, there’s the dry humor of a fairly chunky Candice Bergen, who at one point grabs a container of ice cream from Fonda, growling, “Give that to a professional.” (She’s also the glum one who says—I’m paraphrasing—If God meant for us to have sex at our age, why would He do this to our bodies? And the one who explains to a Match.com–type date (Richard Dreyfuss) that she is a federal judge and, laughing, says she has the power to put him in handcuffs. Whoops! Didn’t mean it that way! Fifty shades of embarrassment.)
Paramount Pictures is nobody’s fool: The official website for the movie was offering private screenings (presumably to real book clubs) and features a “Book Club” quiz. They know that women, especially women “of a certain age,” will come flocking to this flick, and not just because of the gallons of wine the women drink (hey, just like my book club!).
Steenburgen is the baby of the quartet at 50. Bergen and Keaton are both 72, and Fonda is a majestic 80! (Yes, we know she’s had work done—but it worked.)
But while they will be leading the way, the Sex and the City Book Club gals aren’t alone out there this season. We have Meryl Streep (68), Christine Baranski (66) and the facially immobile Cher (72) teeing up for a July release. Yes, it means we will have to sit through “Mamma Mia!” again, but Bette Davis warned us that old age isn’t for sissies. (The new movie, 10 years after the original, is called “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” And so they do.)
But wait! Back up a second! There’s more! Early June brings “Ocean’s 8,” another iteration of the 1960 “Ocean’s 11” (and “Twelve” in 2004 and “Thirteen” in 2007), proving that girls can pull off a heist—with fewer players than the guys? The oldest “Ocean”-goer is only 53 (Sandra Bullock), then comes Helena Bonham Carter (51) and Cate Blanchett (49). Younger, yes, nonetheless way past the “sell by” date for Hollywood when it comes to women.
Or is it? Have Boomer women captured the culture for a change? We’re getting older and are, in our entitled-age-cohort way, demanding that everyone pay attention to us. Even Candice Bergen’s “Murphy Brown” is getting a reboot on TV this fall, right?
I’m sure “Deadpool 2” and “Han Solo” won’t be neglected, but I suspect I know where a lot of women will be spending some time this season. (I may save one evening for “Show Dogs”; it looks truly stupid, but the hounds are cute.)
THE ONE SOUR note in my recent blissful week in Venice, that magical city like no other in so many ways, not the least of which being the absence of a Starbucks, came, no pun intended, at the Opera. I should have known it would, since I hate opera, detest opera and all other words like that. Still, being one of a foursome who all yearned to go I of course complied, hoping maybe this time it would be different because I was in Italy. Turns out it was, but not in a good way.
As usual, the story line was pure foolishness. Despite the words shown in English subtitles along the top of the stage the plot was completely incomprehensible, revolving around a case of mistaken identity that could only happen if all the people involved were complete morons. Written by Gioachino Rossini who is most famous for The Barber of Seville, this was one of his lesser known works, and with good reason.
Described in the program as a one-act farce, Signor Bruschino, or The Accidental Son, contains “much visual comedy improvised by the players, and often a compulsive linguistic ‘tic.’” In this case, Bruschino senior—the accidental son’s accidental father—repeats the phrase “Oh, it’s so hot!” That was supposed to be funny, but it wasn’t, in part because it really was hot in the theater, and every time he said it I got hotter. (Not hot enough to faint, which would have at least bought me a few minutes.)
The other unfortunate thing was that my seat was broken. There I was, in one of the grandest and most visually stunning theaters I’ve ever seen, and for an hour and 23 minutes I had what felt like a broom handle sticking up my butt. (Turns out it wasn’t a broom handle but a broken spring inside the seat cushion.) It finally ended and the audience exploded in applause, which I found stunning since half of the attendees had slept through much of the proceedings, a fact I couldn’t help noticing as I looked around the theater trying to stay awake. Six curtain calls later I finally got to leave, after which my husband was mad at me for not liking it, implying that I am a gauche peasant unable to enjoy the finer things in life.
I HAVE memories of my mother receiving gifts from my dad of elaborately packaged, tissue-filled boxes enclosing filmy layers of lacy silk nightgowns and satin robes. Impossibly beautiful confections.
Fast-forward to 2018 and my usual bedtime attire of a cozy, oversize T-shirt and comfy flannel pajama bottoms in which I’ve also been known to spend the day, or at least a portion of it. Although lately I’ve been inclined to up my game, to indulge in well-made pajamas as a treat to moi. A visit to an underwear exhibit at Pittsburgh’s Frick Museum last fall that showed fluidly elegant pajama playsuits from the 1920s and a fab 1930s ostrich-feathered bed jacket further inspired me.
When the idea of women’s sleepwear as outerwear emerged as a trend on spring runways in 2016, I was ambivalent and still am. But the result seems to be that a whole new crop of designers are turning their talent to the sleep scene. So, if you’re looking to perk up your own bedtime/lounging wardrobe, there’s an abundance of women’s sleepwear options, whatever your style or price range.
Printed motifs of animals and birds adorn the dramatic women’s sleepwear from F.R.S., For Restless Sleepers (also the monogram for the label’s designer Francesa Ruffini.) New-York based label Morgan Lane offers playful and glamorous women’s sleepwear like lace-trimmed silk pajama tops and matching pants. Other names to know in this you-deserve-a-splurge category include Olivia von Halle, Asceno, Sleeper and Fleur du Mal.
Although better known for its lingerie, Cosabella has a wallet-friendly women’s sleepwear selection of tops, pants, shorts and robes. Eberjey’s signature is soft comfy fabrics, combined with simple but still sexy silhouettes in pastels and prints. At Sleepy Jones, think playful prints and roomy silhouettes. Look to Naked and Recliner for sporty and practical.
—Janet Kelly
Zen Moon Pajama Set pairs mandarin-collar and wide-sleeve shirt with comfy, elasticized-waist, cropped-leg pants. Lounge in all day and wear to bed at night. $180, Sukuhome.com.
Wear Sleeper’s bias-cut silk slip dress with tiny pearl-shaped buttons for a romantic evening at home or a rendezvous beyond the bedroom. $390, the-sleeper.com.
Go for bold bedtime elegance in Olivia von Halle’s Mini Apollo silk kimono robe. $495, Oliviavonhalle.com.
If you dare, wear Fleur du Mal’s rose lace sexy slip dress out or save for a seductive nighttime look chez toi. $465, Fleurdumal.com.
Eberjey’s supersoft and stylish shorty pajamas, cut from stretch modal and trimmed in sheer lace, will add a little romance to your bedtime routine. $111 at Nordstrom.com.
If you need to leap from bed to errands, no one will be the wiser if you’re wearing Naked’s Luxe Tank PJ set with racer-back tank and pants with pockets and elasticized jogger-style cuffs. $110 at Nordstrom.com.
Morgan Lane steel-blue Roxy top in a soft silk charmeuse printed with bees and daisies and trimmed with lace, now $86. Pair with matching Elisa pants, now $107. Both at Shopspring.com.
Recliner’s satin-polyester Damn Fine pajama set is $125. If you prefer to shop them as separates, the top is $65 and wide-leg pants with pockets $65. The pattern spells out “damn fine cup of coffee.” Spend the night and day in them. Recliner.nyc.
Asceno’s patch-pocket, sandwashed-silk navy polka dot pajama shirt says elegance and effortlessness. Add the matching pants for laid-back lounging. Each piece is now $150.50 at Journelle.com.
Maya Check Short Pajama Set with oversized top and adjustable drawstring short in cotton with contrast piping and cuff detail. Also available in lime, light blue and violet. $140 at Marigotcollection.com.
Cosabella’s adorable heart-plaid Margaux robe is reduced from $120.50 to $72.30 at cosabella.com.
MyLittleBird often includes links to products we write about. Our editorial choices are made independently; nonetheless, a purchase made through such a link can sometimes result in MyLittleBird receiving a commission on the sale, whether through a retailer, an online store or Amazon.com.
IT MAY seem like a nanosecond but the antithesis of high-heels –sneakers—have been basking in the fashion limelight for several years now. Credit the “athleisure” trend, and a taste for more comfortable clothing, but the ascendance of sneakers also owes a debt to Phoebe Philo, creative director at Celine for ten years. Her philosophy of comfortable luxury trickled down to footwear. And by appearing in Stan Smith sneakers while taking a bow on the runway, she fueled a love affair with Adidas and other manufacturers of white sneakers, converting high-heel loving, style-conscious women into sneaker lovers. Raise your hand if you can find a designer who hasn’t added rubber-soled styles to his or her fashion line.
The latest high-fashion incarnation has been dubbed the “ugly” sneaker – that chunky footwear you’re seeing all over. They’re cumbersome, quirky and going strong for spring. On the runways of Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga, they’re also sold at prices easier on the wallet by Zara and sporty brands like Fila and Nike.
They’re not for everyone, but the easiest way to off-set a chunky pair of sneakers? A midi-dress, of course. While a total athleisure look is fine, an airy, feminine dress helps balance things out.
Rather than wearing them with leggings or running shorts, try something that feels the total opposite of what they’re “meant” to be worn with, like a suit.
Not a slave to trends? For less of a statement but to still look au courant, lace up a pair of simple soles with neutral colors from the likes of Tretorn, Puma, Nike and Adidas, who have climbed on the sneaker bandwagon with reboots of their old icons. Wear with black jeans and a blazer, a pencil skirt and structured top, a sweater and pleated skirt, cropped trousers or a jumpsuit.
For weekend wear, go for fun with florals or patterns from Ganni or Gucci, for example. Keep the rest of your outfit pared down.
—Janet Kelly
So-called “ugly” sneakers were shown with almost every look in the spring/summer 2018 collection for Lous Vuitton.
Prada’s Clouburst sneakers, shown on the spring 2018 runway, are available for sale in black and silver for $690 at prada.com.
Wearing these Ebba floral sneakers from hip Danish brand Ganni would be like throwing a party for your feet. $158, modaoperandi.
First released in 1972, Nike has tweaked its classic Cortez running shoe to a stylish street sneaker with suede accents. Also available in barely gray and fossil white. $70, nike.
Keep it basic with Tretorn’s “Nylite Plus” low-top canvas sneaker with faux leather contrast trim on the sides. No longer available in turquoise. $70, bergdorfgoodman.
Gucci’s Falacer lurex GG sneaker with red metallic leather detail on the back of one shoe and green metallic leather detail on the back of the other are ridiculously expensive but totally adorable. $670, shopspring.
Jesse Owens won four gold medals wearing Adidas. You probably won’t win any Olympic races in these Adidas Superstar sneakers, but you’ll look good and be comfortable. $80, neimanmarcus.
Kick up your feet in Converse Chuck Taylor All Star metallic canvas sneakers. $47.99, zappos.
LV Archlight Sneaker is a statement shoe from Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2018 runway show. The futuristic sneaker with a springy wave-shaped outsole and an oversized tongue will set you back $1,090. us.louisvuitton.
A partnership between Puma and Sophia Webster begot this pale blue suede sneaker with fun yellow accent. Also available in pink with pink accent stripe. $84, bloomingdales.
Zara’s leather platform sneakers have the same clunky look as other ugly sneakers but not the hefty price tag. $55.90, zara.
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Flank steak on skewers. / Photo by Stephanie Witt Sedgwick.
WHEN I MET my husband he could cook and I thought he enjoyed it. He famously wooed me with a dish of pasta with tri-colored peppers. He wasn’t quick in the kitchen; that pasta dish took two hours and two bottles of wine to get done, but he was competent and managed to make some pretty good dinners. Fast-forward many years and it’s like he never knew how to cook at all. Turns out the early foray into cooking was more a survival tactic than an avocation, and once he had a professional (me) on the job, he didn’t need to fake it anymore.
Luckily, there is one cooking task he still is always willing to perform. No tough guessing game here, he loves to grill. He goes out there with a drink in one hand and his instant read thermometer in the other, happy as can be. So as the weather warms, he is more than willing to heat the grill and get cooking. Like a lot of other people, one of his favorites is flank steak. When I was working at the Food section of the Washington Post, we published a recipe for flank steak in a teriyaki marinade, and you would have thought we had invented the thing.
Now I like flank steak, too. It’s full of flavor, takes well to marinades and is great cold the next day, which meets my list of of requirements. Better yet, there are plenty of things you can do with a flank, besides serving it grilled and thinly sliced.
Stir Frying: Flank steak is my meat of choice for stir-fries. Slice the raw steak thinly across the grain and cut into 1- to 2- inch lengths. Then season, saute in a hot pan with oil and add to the cooked vegetables of your choosing. The sauce and seasonings can be Asian or mediterranean or whatever you like.
Main-Course Salads: I love, love, love, making Negimaki-inspired salad. Negimaki is a Japanese dish where thin slices of raw flank steak are wrapped around scallions and/or asparagus. Secured with string, toothpicks or skewers, the rolls are marinated and then grilled or sauteed until the meat is cooked. My salad version skips all the rolling and tying and securing. I thinly slice grilled flank steak and mix with pieces of steamed asparagus and thinly sliced scallions. Toss with a ginger-sesame dressing and you’ve got a warm-weather lunch or dinner ready. Sometimes I use shallots instead of scallions and make a mustard-and-herb dressing to give the salad a French flair.
Easy-Entertaining Skewers: My summer motto is “Everything Tastes Better on a Skewer.” Better yet, skewered meats take almost no time to grill. Thinly slice the raw flank steak against the grain. Thread the long slices onto skewers. Now you can go crazy with the seasoning: spice rubs, Latin-inspired chipotle marinades, and a simple teriyaki marinade, that old favorite, work. Grill the skewers just until the meat is cooked and serve warm.
—Stephanie Witt Sedgwick
LittleBird “Stephanie Cooks” shares dinner ideas every Monday.
