May comes with a kind of fervor this year—at least for me. A lull in brand work has opened into something quieter and far more generative: time spent honing my hobbies, writing, and seeing friends with real intention. It’s also created space to think through new ventures, and, unsurprisingly, the best ideas tend to arrive when you’re not buried deep in DeLiVeRaBlEs ‘n aSsEts!

So the fervor feels less like urgency, and more like clarity: who am I at my core and what do I want each newsletter issue to offer you guys? I loved writing the last one because it felt rooted in the kind of quiet observation that often shapes my days. Making connections and paying attention to raw, human moments—and translating them into something that might invite someone to live a more considered life offline, too.

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A lot of the trees seem to have already bloomed past their peak, earlier than I remember from last year. I haven’t put away my coats because I have trust issues. The air is so dry the reoccurring eczema spot on my face has flared up.

And yet, through this awkward dance of being neither here nor there, it’s spring. We begin to shed our layers, unclench our jaws, and stop to smell the flowers. I am feeling more and more like myself again, returning to intuition and instinct to guide me through the last bit of “in between” weather before the summer, my favorite season.

I’ve been thinking a lot about intuition and instinct lately. The past six months have pushed me to question the parameters we, as a culture so preoccupied with optimization and productivity, have come to rely on—when, at the end…

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This issue is a part of my monthly shopping series “How to be devastatingly hot and cool”.

I’ve returned to the permafrozen snow globe that is New York City after three and a half weeks in Asia, the first two weeks of which I spent in 30°C/86°F weather in Thailand. I’m still not over that trip…I’ve been back in New York for a week now and I suspect it will take me another week to process the trip and then share some resort season inspiration with you. I miss it so much.

January, no matter where it’s spent, has always been to me a month of reset and nesting. It also often feels like the beginning of what could be! With January also comes the relentless cold (for northern hemisphere folks) and the ~elements~ that go along with that. It’s a test of patience and strength that forces me to really think: is it even possible to be devastatingly hot and cool this month!?

This month’s issue of How to be devastatingly hot and cool (albeit at the end of it—apologies, I was in THAILAND for goodness’ sake) yields to nature’s way while also is aware that so much of our sartorial and lifestyle choices should prioritize self-care, comfort, and conservation. It’s about being practical, smart and whimsical. Here are my recommendations for the month:

FASHION

• MZ Wallace makes the bag whose reach spans demographics and occasions. You know what bag I’m talking about. The Metro Tote Deluxe is the kind of tote that proves everyone needs a good quality tote bag that isn’t just a thin canvas one you got for free at an event or as a gift with purchase. MZ Wallace just launched the Park Collection: a collection of bags in the brand’s signature quilt in two structured but very versatile shapes: a satchel and a 90s-inspired shoulder bag, both styled below! I’m also into this carry-all tote that fits perfectly under your shoulder and could work as both a work bag or beach bag. Or consider this cleaner silhouette that feels very devastatingly hot- and cool-girl coded.

  

  

• Triangle scarves and not-your-average beanies are my winter trick to looking cool in the cold.

  • During Black Friday Cyber Monday season, many of you shopped this cashmere triangle scarf that has now sold out many times over, in multiple color ways. Here’s a red one that is heavily discounted, a fun paisley printed one I saw on my friend the other day, and this delicious heather grey cashmere version.

  • Oversized beanies that veer ridiculous are very hot- and cool-girl coded. It’s a spectrum, too! You can start with this oversized beanie from Lauren Manoogian, then eventually level up to this even taller XL one from Margiela. You can play it safe but cool in a good ol’ balaclava, and we could all use a red foulard (50% off, might I add).

• Invest in loungewear that makes you look and feel good if you are spending a lot of time at home this winter. No shade to bulky sweats—there’s a time and place for those, too, just not in this month’s newsletter.

  • Negative Underwear’s proprietary ultra-soft “whipped” fabric is seriously sexy and comfy; these two adjectives can coexist! The lounge set is my favorite iteration in this fabric, but I may as well get the underwear too. And because Valentine’s Day is around the corner, the boxer in the pink color way is doing something for me. If the fitted styles aren’t for you, the whipped fabric comes in a boyfriend tee.

  • Naked Cashmere is having an extra 40% off archive styles, including a silk maxi skirt and a longline cardigan, pieces that work in or out of the home, season after season.

• Chanel’s recent couture show has me interested in sheer-maxxing as a way to add some dainty femininity in a season that punishes skin-bearing. Worn under layers and a thick coat, chiffons, silks, and the like add an unexpected flair that can change your whole attitude towards winter dressing.

  • This sheer bag from one of my favorite Korean brands is heavily discounted and really reminds me of the chiffon bags on the Chanel runway! I suspect we’ll be seeing a lot more of these come spring/summer.

  • Sheer skirts worn with black underwear showing through is my favorite winter party styling trick and a surefire way to be devastatingly hot at the function in an unexpected way. I love this Matteau skirt that has an understated thin elastic waistband, this wrap-tie maxi skirt that you could also wear at the beach, and this pink Simone Rocha number that is so just so romantic and has flair.

  • The Rick Owens sale section on SSENSE is not to be missed…lots of devastatingly hot and cool sheer numbers.

• Fall/winter knits are discounted at this time of year as retailers make way for spring collections, but we’re still fully in the thick of winter, so it’s the perfect time to buy colorful knits that will carry you through the rest of the season and play into whimsy.

  • No one does it better than &Daughter, and their winter sale is full of every silhouette and color imaginable. My picks? A pink cashmere tee, a lightweight lime green V-neck, and a ribbed merino polo to be worn sans bra with low-rise jeans and kitten heels.

  • Mytheresa’s extra 20% off sale always reminds me that European retailers have selections you won’t see at American ones. Like this extensive Alessandro-era Valentino knit selection?? This ShuShu/Tong beaded cardigan! Runway Dries Van Noten!

  • Not on sale, but in line with this point…Doen’s beloved Petra cardigan now comes in this rosebud color way that is just so, so sweet.

• On the topic of a big carry-all bag, Louise Trotter’s Barbara bag is the new bag Bottega Veneta is pushing hard this season. It’s a masculine, structured tote bag that means business and is exactly the kind of bag to motivate anyone into living a very fruitful 2026.

SKINCARE + BEAUTY

• Hydration is imperative this month and the key to really keeping it together, cooly.

  • I’m loving Blue Lagoon’s lineup of masks for every kind of situation. I keep this hydrating mask on my desk, apply while I’m working from home, and wash it off hours later. The algae one is also very nourishing. And this lava scrub mask buffs all the dead winter skin cells away!

  • Goop Beauty has proved itself to be the little celebrity skincare brand that could. I know so many skincare enthusiasts that keep reaching for their products. They just launched a rich peptide cream that may be the moisturizer I keep reaching for this winter.

• Every so often, a brand blows up for making and perfecting just one singular product. This one such brand of the season is Bonjout Beauty and they make a solid balm (LAURAJ gets you 15% off, btw). That’s it! It’s a multipurpose balm that can be used all over your face or on touch points like your lips, cuticles, under eyes, etc. It’s made with 68 actives and comes perfectly packaged in a chic, portable metal container.

• A winter scent has always been one of the easiest ways to uplift and cocoon myself during these colder months. The devastatingly hot and cool girl knows that a winter scent has to be one that works well sprayed on thick knits, coats, and layers, and above all feels yummy.

  • Creed’s Carmina is the definition of a yummy winter fragrance that blooms in the cold. It’s a seductive cherry-rose-saffron number that my sister calls a “Turkish delight in a bottle”.

  • Bottega Veneta’s Alchemie is a magnetic pink pepper-heavy scent that pairs beautifully with colorful knits.

  • Prada’s new Infusion de Santal Chai was a recent gift, and it’s a Prada chai latte if you will!

• The devastatingly hot and cool girl is just as much practical about her body care as she is indulgent… and in the winter, she knows that a hearty, comforting body cream is the trick to keeping dry body skin hydrated.

  • Enter: La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar Balm AP+ M. Ceramide goodness that replenishes the skin barrier like no other cream in the winter… it’s unscented and the packaging is, well, unsexy. But it works.

  • But if you must add on a nice-smelling layer on top, Everyday Oil never misses.

HOME

• The devastatingly hot and cool girl knows how to cook! And she’s doing a lot of it in the winter. Le Creuset’s winter sale is the sale that I didn’t know I needed. I snagged their signature Dutch Oven in a beautiful lavender color they call “shallot”. Other highlights include this little heart-shaped skillet or the cassadou, a skillet-dutch oven hybrid perfect for all your winter stews.

• Wine globes make any night at home devastatingly chic and cozy.

  • Zalto wine glasses are the gold standard for a premium wine-drinking experience. The paper-thin rim and stems create some sort of “aerodynamic” sipping experience that optimizes the wine’s aromas. Somehow these Balance Glasses (literal Olivia Pope-style globes) are 25% off, which is rare for the brand!

  • These funky mouth-blown borosilicate wine glasses are reminiscent of the Bottega perfume bottles, and I just think they belong in the home together, no?

• Flannel sheets seem like bedding that your grandmother would use, and for that exact reason, they are devastatingly hot and cool. Just before the holiday season, I got my hands on some striped Zara home ones with my new Ostermoor duvet insert (life changing), and I can confirm that they are toasty and soft and cute and cool and really just perfect.

  • Piglet in Bed makes colorful striped sheets perfectly in line with the whimsical winter color palette I’ve written throughout this newsletter.

  • Coyuchi, makers of my favorite percale sheets, dabbles in flannel too!

    ---

I think there is something to be said about letting January speak for itself and do its thing. A book that completely changed my mindset on winter is Wintering by Katherine May. I even wrote about it back in 2023 and I revisit it every winter. No matter how painful or excruciating the cold is on my body and mind, there is so much power in rest. In fact, it is biologically necessary to let our bodies adapt to the natural world. We are especially in a time of major collective grief and anxiety and we must give ourselves permission to stop and heal from what challenges come before us.

++ If you feel so inclined to donate to the immigrant community in Minnesota, please see some helpful resources below:

Critical Rent Assistance for Central Neighborhood Families - a mutual aid fund for rent assistance in immigrant households

Women's Foundation of Minnesota - a rapid response fund for the immigrant community in Minnesota

Monarca Rapid Response Line - a nonprofit offering training to volunteers on constitutional rights

My Pitbull is Family - an organization helping vulnerable families take care of their pets, including when an owner is detained by ICE

Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee - a grassroots, all-volunteer immigrant rights mass-movement organization in Minnesota

With love,
Laura

There are few brands that have reached global cult status like Sézane has. I mean, there’s an entire subreddit for the brand’s fans to discuss everything from product alerts to sizing questions to buying/selling items to each other. That kind of natural discourse around the brand is a testament to how vast their reach is and how beloved the brand is. And for many good reasons!

Sézane’s universe isn’t limited to its signature Parisian-cool girl clothes, though it really feels like they pioneered the look in many ways. The universe includes home, fragrance, menswear, and more. All of their product lines champion style, accessibility, and transparency. (The brand doesn’t do sales, but instead maintains an ecosystem of fair prices and making sure no unsold stock gets unworn and tossed) And it is exactly why it is a one-stop shop for all your gift giving needs this holiday season. For the men in your life (yes, they need gifts too…), the homes you frequent, and even for yourself because that’s always important.

Browsing through their ‘Gift Shop’ is a feast for your eyes. Color coordinated and organized by category for all the people in your life. There is truly something for everyone. Below are some thought starters from me. I’m styling two outfits in head to toe Sézane. You can gift these items individually, together, and really just have fun mixing and matching across categories…

I hope gift giving is a little less daunting with this guide. The good thing about shopping now is that it’s still relatively early! As I’ve gotten older, I find that doing the shopping earlier makes the entire process genuinely enjoyable. And when you’re not fighting against the clock of BFCM deals, you have a shopping experience that is actually a leisurely one.

Happy holidays!!!!

x

Today’s issue finds us on the brink of BFCM madness and a time when even the most seasoned shoppers like myself get overwhelmed. Sales now start earlier than ever and extend well into next week. There are things to buy for ourself and things to buy for others!!! Where to start???! Well, here, for starters. I will be publishing two issues of “How to be devastatingly hot and cool” this month to make up for the past two months. The next one will be a special dedicated edit :) For today’s issue, I’m highlighting the best sales that embody what it means to be devastatingly hot and cool girl. Nothing sponsored, no noise, and as defined below…

• Devastatingly hot but doesn’t try too hard. She just is in her confidence, her aura, her brains, her taste, and her well-travelledness

• Elusively everywhere but nowhere. Her most frequently asked question is “Wait, are you in town?” But she doesn’t travel for the sake of tourism or filling up free time, she is just ~vibing~ and being a citizen of the world

• Effortless ease in which she lives her life and achieves her goals, also known as “lucky girl syndrome”. But! She doesn’t just manifest things to happen, she lives and breathes knowing exactly who she is and what she wants even though she doesn’t have it *all* figured out yet

• A true citizen of the world, has worldly observations and has a foot in various corners of the world because this is how she stays plugged in and connected

• Into very specific hobbies and meticulously cultivates them to her perfection, enjoyment, and self-elevating aura

FASHION

• I raved about Leset’s once-a-year 30% off everything sale in my first issue and I’m back to rave more. Leset is one of those brands that don’t look like much but once you own something from them, you know why they never go on sale and why fashion girls are obsessed. I snagged a lot… including stocking up on the perfect T-shirt, this satin cowl neck top that will solve any casual-but-elevated evening wear conundrum, cotton pants to run errands in and look chic, and a pink sweater I want to wear with all my burgundy things this fall.

• Jamie Haller has a 40% off private sale with code GRATITUDE40, which is maybe one of the most substantial offerings of the week. May I suggest these perfect trousers and these perfect scrunched ballet flats?

• COS makes the clothes we all want to wear with the quality that tells us it’s not another Z*ra or H&M. 25% off sitewide during this time of year is always a good opportunity to get the perfect wool coat, checkered barrel pants I saw on the runway in September, and easy sweaters for all your layering and tying needs.

• Dôen fans should be very happy with the selection of items on sale in their annual ‘Giving Thanks’ sale. The discounts run deep like these cotton pants to live in, their classic Quinn dress, a wool V-neck sweater, and the perfect cover up dress.

• Almina Concept’s fool-proof pieces for generally just looking like you know how to dress while still being comfortable are 25% off. I ordered two of these sweaters—one to wear and one to use as a scarf. And I really love the cut of this crewneck!

• When Khaite is on sale with a deep selection like this? What is there more to say?

• Proenza Schouler is the perennial cool brand for New York women who get it. Prices never ostentatious, quality always good. I added this plaid shirt immediately for wearing, tying around my waist, draping over my shoulder, etc. The perfect gloved heel does in fact exist, and she’s 40% off. This semi-sheer dress under a coat in the winter and on its own in the summer… perfect.

• Janessa Leone makes the accessories that make any outfit actually look like an outfit. Intentional, functional, and with an edge. Her private sale includes the best of the best, like this is the hat I bring with me on every warm weather travel, the perfect winter beanie, and this belt that really upgrades any outfit. Discount automatically applied at checkout.

• Chan Luu is the cool girl brand!!! Every well-traveled woman with the chicest taste I know is wearing something Chan Luu on repeat. 25% off sitewide gets you everything from pearls for the holiday to a mesh tote for vacation. This charm necklace comes with me everywhere, this pinch waist cardigan is the most flattering silhouette, these silver padlock earrings look like they can be a museum, and these cotton poplin pants to end them all.

• Frame’s yummy jeans are 30% off

• I don’t like vegan leather bags unless they’re from Freja, who seems to have perfected it. This hobo carry-all is exactly what every New York woman needs. And then she’ll change into this guy for the evening.

• I was wearing this Artizia scarf the other night and my friend from high school was shocked. Like, literally said, “Wow, it looks so good…” And that’s how I feel about the brand lately. Especially the cashmere! And their trousers!

• I love holiday dressing when it’s a little sexy and not too over-the-top holiday. Ciao Lucia does it very well. THANKS25 gets you 25% off an embroidered satin skirt and this sheer red knit one.

• My favorite oxblood Mansur Gavriel bag is 30% off. The thin strap is so freaking classy and 90s.

• Demellier makes the structured tote bag that makes every travel day look infinitely chicer. But might I suggest the lesser-known Miami? I love how unfussy and easygoing the shape is.

• The Great makes the sweatshirt and sweatpants I wear that don’t make me feel frumpy, ever. And that is the sign of a really good cut and fit. 25% off!

• DL1961 is making a big resurgence and I’m grateful for it because I discovered these jeans that are making a case for non-100% cotton denim… 25% off with the code THANKFUL25.

• My favorite minimalist bikini brand Anemos is 25% off site wide with BFCM2025. Because all you really need is a thin black triangle bikini.

• Heaven Mayhem’s best selling styles, including the little bean corded necklace (now under $100!), are on major sale.

• Polo Ralph Lauren’s signature wool-cashmere cable knits, among many other things, are 30% off. I am snagging this cream one in one size up. Might as well get the matching beanie too.

BEAUTY

• THE cream I keep reaching for time and time again despite everything else I own is Dieux’s Instant Angel. It’s the kind of cream that cocoons your skin in a beautiful glow, ready to take on whatever weather or season. 20% off sitewide, 25% off orders over $125, 30% off sets.

• As a Korean who grew up in Korea… my recommendations for the best SPF are highly sought after. And I love disappointing people when I tell them my favorite sunscreen is, in fact, not Korean but this mineral formula from LESSE. Truly the sunscreen I will use until the end of time.

• Don’t sleep on Japanese skincare! All things DAMDAM is 25% off and they make my favorite cleansing oil, a formula rooted in centuries-old rice water cleansing ritual.

• The devastatingly hot and cool girl is not too fussy with her hair but knows that no matter how intentionally messy you want your hair to look, it must be healthy… OLAPLEX saved my damaged, permed hair when it was on its last breath and we thank her for that. CYBER gets you 30% everything!

• There is no better time to get acquainted with the magic of Eadem than now. This set includes all my favorite products at a discounted price.

• Sofie Pavitt’s Skincare System is what the unfussy cool girls are using. The cleanser is my recent favorite. Lightly lathers, unscented (except for that clean soap smell I love), and hydrating.

• A medical-grade vitamin C serum that doesn’t smell like bacon does in fact exist! JOY gets you 30% off Dermstore.

• Violet Grey’s ‘Best of Beauty’ cult beauty selection has made it onto the sales list… 20% off an order of $250. And said cult selection includes a Mason Pearson hairbrush (this is your sign…), Victoria Beckham’s insanely sexy eye wardrobe, and Fara Homidi’s lip compact that is a hot girl’s best accessory.

• The lactic acid serum that put me onto lactic acid is 30% off.

• Plum face oil has made my nighttime routine very delightful. So much so that I now use plum body butter, too!

• Cadence makes the travel kits that makes packing really fun and dare-I-say beautiful? I love seeing all my little products in these!

HOME

• The chokehold that Flamingo Estate has on the chicest people in the world must be studied. But for now, I can attest the olive oil is incredible and the tomato candle makes me feel things… Thank god everything is 20% off.

• Creed makes one of the most unique candles I’ve had the privilege to light. Not to mention how impeccable it looks in any well-appointed home.

• A devastatingly hot and cool girl is cute and cozy at home. In her Hill House Home pajamas.

• And in her Brooklinen cotton percale bedsheets that are 25% off.

• East Fork Pottery makes any meal at home feel like a beautiful experience. I especially like eating my yogurt bowls out of these.

• A devastatingly hot and cool girl knows her coffee—it’s one of her many things she’s a snob about, duh—and Canyon Coffee makes the perfect blend.

• Are you even a cool girl without a Louis Poulsen lamp or light fixture in your home? Major discounts on lighting including this chic table lamp must be taken advantage of.

Thought starters for you!!! Did I miss anything? What do you want to see more of?!

Have a beautiful week, everyone. xo

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A wedding in Italy in late September solidified my decision to have a shoulder season European summer so July has been all local. I’ve been going upstate a ton and falling in love with New York City again. Nantucket and Cape Cod will round out my July and I’m hoping to have a summer that will more or less look like The Summer I Turned Pretty!!! August is, well, still up in the air and I like that I’m just going with the flow this year.

July’s edition of “How to be devastatingly hot and cool” kind of rejects the idea that you must be in Europe to have a hot and cool summer. Peak summer can look like bopping around your town/city/locale and looking good while doing it. I spe…

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We’re in peak summer and this is by far my favorite time of the year. Balmy nights in New York have been feeling real romantic and I have yet to have a run-in with a rat in an outfit I’m feeling myself in! There are sales on virtually every corner of the internet and flights to Italy cost less than a dinner out at a dumb small-plates-with-natural-wine restaurant in Manhattan. The farmer’s market is as abundant as ever and I always have fresh flowers in my home.

I turn 30 in less than a week and this season, much like life in general at this age, is moving so fast. Every day feels like a lesson in prioritizing what makes you feel the most beauty and joy. Summer, to me, has always been about beauty and in pursuit of more of it. Excitingly, I’ve found a renewed interest in creating content in the good old-fashioned way. Pinterest boards, nesting, snapping photos of everything, curating... And with dressing, it’s all very intuitive. I’m planning my outfits around easy hangouts with people I actually want to spend time with. (Sorry to all events. I want the invite, but I’m not coming!)

Being devastatingly hot and cool in the summer is easy. It’s in the effortlessness in how we get dressed, how comfortable we feel in our skin, and the ease in which we go about our day. It’s a time that is deeply rooted in intuition and discernment, which is truly the whole point of this mindset!

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Hello after a month of not posting on here (crying emoji). I’ve been going through an insanely transformative and awakening yet beautiful period in my life. I’ll share more about this in my next issue. But it’s Memorial Day and for the sheer need of immediacy, it’s time for everyone’s favorite curated monthly shopping roundup.

As per a point of feedback I received on my last one, I want to iterate that the below definition of what it means to be “devastatingly hot and cool” isn’t meant to be literal... I understand the points outlined are extreeeemely specific and niche and not something everyone can actually embody—and they are not meant to be literally embodied! Being devastatingly hot and cool is a state of mind. The essence of this identity is about creating the kind of life you want to live with what is available to you. It’s about being a true citizen of the world who love…

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This Substack I wrote back in November has taken on a life of its own, so I’ve decided to make it a regular monthly edition on here. In honor of the toxic dance we are currently partaking in with New York’s fake spring, I present to you the March edition.

I think this piece resonated with so many of you beyond the immediate needs of wanting to be cool and hot. How to be devastatingly hot and cool is an inside look at current shopping habits, product trends and timely seasonal wants and needs as observed thru the lens of someone who is deep in it. But also, yeah, being HOT and COOL as defined below:

• Devastatingly hot but doesn’t try too hard. She just is in her confidence, her aura, her brains, her style, her taste and her well-travelledness

• Elusively everywhere but nowhere. As tariro makoni so perfectly put it, her most frequently asked question is “Wait, are you in town?” But she doesn’t travel for the sake of tourism or filling up free time, she is just ~vibing~ and being a citizen of the world

• Effortless ease in which she lives her life and achieves her goals, also known as “lucky girl syndrome”. But! She doesn’t just manifest things to happen, she lives and breathes knowing exactly who she is and what she wants even though she doesn’t have it *all* figured out yet

• A true citizen of the world, speaks multiple languages, has worldly observations and has a foot in various corners of the world because this is how she stays plugged in and connected

• Into very specific hobbies and meticulously cultivates them to her perfection, enjoyment and self-elevating aura

March’s edition comes at a time when we’re nearing the end of winter but we know full well we have some more weeks to go. For me, personally, I just came back to New York from 3 weeks of travel. As defined by the second point above of being everywhere but nowhere, I was in Mexico’s Riviera Maya at the the newly renovated jungle haven Belmond Maroma, then home to Seoul for a family dog emergency then straight to Whistler for a ski trip with Halfdays & ILIA.

There is something really crazy about going from feeling sexless and frumpy in a black puffer and ugg boots with a cracked face and chapped lips for months and then slipping into a bikini walking around barefoot only to go back into a puffer and shoes with soles worn down by ice salt. Yes, we New Yorkers need humidity and a beach vacation while we wait out real spring (spring break exists for a reason, I’m reminded), but let’s start with what we can do in the immediate… like moisturize and show a little midriff.

CLOTHING

• Madewell is having quite the resurgence—or dare I say revolution—in their branding, design and reach. Lately, they've been focusing heavily on the product that has made the brand a perennial favorite among those who get it: the perfect pair of jeans. I'm so honored to have been included in their launch for The Dean Easy Straight Jean, a low rise relaxed straight jean inspired by Japanese denim to wear over and over and over again. It's the kind of jean that reminds you that you don't need much, you just need quality. The Monessen Wash is the hero for everyday but I wanna shout out this dark navy paisley print colorway that I will surely wear this spring.

• Now is around the time I start teasing a little more skin underneath my layers and I always look to DÔEN for inspiration on feminine dressing. Their spring drop has been filled with the silhouettes we know and love from them so much. Their classic universally-loved Henri top now comes in this eyelet print, this alpaca wool crop short sleeve sweater is so subtle in how it teases just a little skin and this perfect polka dot dress will be worn under my trench coats until it gets the weather it deserves.

• I’m kicking myself for not purchasing the perfect pair of drawstring trousers by Kallmeyer when I had the opportunity. For those who are a size 8, run and I mean it. But new to the brand is a delicious leather blazer with Victorian edge and slinky jersey dress.

• I don’t care that I don’t have another warm weather trip planned in the near future, I’m still eyeing swimwear and the like. I’ve always loved Peony’s styles for nostalgic print that still reads minimal and a price point that won’t exceed $300. I’m eyeing their take on the classic black triangle bikini (peep the little embroidered details) and this ruched olive cutie. I also always love Solid & Striped.

• SSENSE’s sale still goes strong but it’s their new spring arrivals that get me excited the most. Again, I keep looking at swimwear and I just know this JPG spiral set is guaranteed going to be on our feeds very soon. This Marc Jacobs floral appliqué bag is New York spring personified and I will surely be wearing this all season long. The coolest European girls I follow who are galavanting across city to city are carrying this little pouch purse in their perfect trousers. And I’m going to say it now, but it’s time we start looking at going out tops again.

• Ulla Johnson is soooo elusive hot girl coded for her ethereal designs that pack a punch. Wearing her pieces makes me feel just as dreamy as I feel COOL and her new spring collection, made in collaboration with artist Lee Krasner’s (Jackson Pollock’s wife but accomplished artist in her own right) foundation, embodies everything right about a city that’s warming up. This sheer embellished tank is very New York and these pants with Lee Krasner’s painting printed on are so special. Also, this one-piece swimsuit should deffff be worn as a bodysuit with trousers/jeans.

• The cool girl is always discovering brands that specialize in few products and perfecting them. Cissa makes the perfect poplin shirts that can be worn two ways: as a relaxed button down or as a wrap shirt cinched ever so subtly at the waist for a little shape and character. The weather now still calls for a striped button down but when it warms up a bit more, I’m leaning towards this pink.

• RE/DONE has consistently made some of my favorite denim and basic tank tops over the years but less known is how good their cashmere is. The crop is perfected in this sweater and it’s perfect for all your mid and low rise pants this spring as we tease our midriffs!!!!

• High Sport, the maker of the pants that made its round on literally every fashion Substack, has expanded their product category and also their availability on various retailers. The famed stretch cotton knitwear pants now come in many different colors and lengths and prints (including a fringe iteration?) and fit just as good as ever. Naturally, they make really good sweaters, too. High Sport will be inescapable this season, I fear.

• I’m obsessed with whatever éliou is doing right now. While their designs skew more towards summer, I’m very into the idea of shopping for the weather you wish to have, for solace or whatever. These spiral earrings have already been purchased, along with this charm necklace to keep me patient :)

• I can’t stop wearing LESET. Their March collection is full of color and I’m buying my favorite cropped cardigan in this new cute color way called ‘radish’. Also really good are these chocolate cargo trousers and these knee-length shorts that are a much cooler version of Bermuda shorts.

BEAUTY

• Aesop released their 12th and latest unisex fragrance last month—an unconventional floral that goes by the name Aurner. It’s exactly the kind of floral fragrance you’d expect Aesop to release: herbaceous and nuanced. It’s what the hot, elusive girl wears when she wants to be feminine but not too obviously so.

• The sign of a luxuriously-minded makeup artist is that they’ll use a good mask to prep your skin before application. If I’m lucky, they’ll use 111 Skin’s Black Diamond Mask that is unfortunately worth every bit the price tag. For spring outings, I’m splurging on these masks and also the serum because what the hell, I just endured a crusty face for months.

• Victoria Beckham Beauty makes the eye makeup that makes me want to leave the house for once and have a good night out. The release of these eyeshadow palettes have excited me in a way makeup rarely does. Paired perfectly with the eyeliners every beauty insider has declared the holy grail.

• The moisturizer that I’m currently obsessed with is ILIA’s Barrier Build Skin Protectant Cream. This isn’t just because I’ve spent a week with them in Whistler skiing for hours in the elements and staying moisturized and protected all day long but I think it has something to do with it. I could go on and on about this product and how it has singlehandedly become my go-to moisturizer, my psoriasis soother, my makeup primer and my slug all-in-one.

• Agent Nateur is one of those brands that quietly exists among the most in-the-know, chic crowd I know. The brand makes everything from collagen supplements to toothpaste to low key the best body moisturizer out there. Speaking on the latter, there is skin to be moisturized if I’m emerging out of winter looking hot and cool. This body balm’s formula is very unique and gives me the skin I want to SHOW.

• While I was in Seoul, I picked up some new & fun skincare and beauty items I’ll share with you soon but I have to quickly mention this highlighter stick that is the closest dupe for the Chanel one. The Chanel Baume Essentiel is still my holy grail but it often goes out of stock and is steep for those who don’t want to be too precious with their balms.

• And speaking of Chanel, the N°1 de Chanel Serum Duo is a surefire way to switch up your skincare routine for the spring and welcome in the revitalization we all need. This serum has been in my rotation for several years now and it’s always the best product to reintroduce when the weather shifts because the smell and illuminating effects mirror exactly how I want to feel for warmer days ahead.

March is always the hardest month for me. The teasing of spring weather feels cruel when it’s stripped from us just as fast as we are blessed with it. Admittedly, my mind is scattered across a multitude of life’s verticals that feel neither here nor there. BUT it is important to note, at this time, that when I send out my next newsletter, my Substack will be called something else!!! That’s all I’ll say for now but the gist will be more or less the same, just a bit more elevated and worthy of taking up space on this very saturated platform.

Thank you all for being here and talk to you so very soon!!!!!!

Lots of love…
Laura

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I wrote this little piece called “Gratitude list” yesterday and hit send but it has come to my attention that this unusually went into some of your guys’ spam folder?! So some housekeeping today… if it went to your spam please mark it as ‘not spam’ and drag it into your main inbox. And here it is below in case you missed it <3

Gut Feelings

#057: Gratitude list

Thank you for my dogs…

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a year ago · 15 likes · 1 comment · Laura Jung

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