Jen’s Weekend Drafts: Going Lightly, Sally Rooney, Prep Is Back.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image above from a vintage J. Crew catalog.

+GO LIGHTLY: Sarah Tucker shared this quote from Aldous Huxley a few days ago and I’ve been reaching for it all week: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days… Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me…So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling…”

I’m taking this phrase on as my mantra for the season: go lightly.

+NEW SALLY ROONEY BOOK ALERT: Put out the lanterns; Sally Rooney has a book coming out September 24th that I’ve already pre-ordered. I absolutely loved Conversations with Friends and Normal People (review of the latter here) and am hoping this fits a similar bill. Read with me so we can discuss in the comments?

+PREP IS BACK: This seems (from afar!) to be a major theme of NYFW, and fall fashion more generally, this year. Between J. Crew relaunching its iconic catalogues from the 90s and the return of classic styles like rugby shirts, barn jackets, and rollneck cotton sweaters, our (millennial to boomer) version of preppy (not the gen z one — that’s something entirely different) is here. (I’ve also been spotting trendsetters like Tinx sporting these shrunken RL cableknit cardis in different and interesting ways that go beyond the pearls-and-loafers conversation.) This week, I absolutely loved what Claire Rose said in the caption of her reel capturing what people wore to Ralph Lauren’s recent fashion show: “Ralph Lauren just looks exquisite on everyone.” Isn’t it the truth?!

Over at J. Crew, you can get “prepcore” with pieces like this rollneck, this long barn coat…! As an aside, as I was reading the coverage about J. Crew catalogue return this week, I kept thinking about that scene from “Best in Show” where Parker Posey’s character talks about receiving the new J. Crew catalogue and giving her husband a few minutes to flip through it to figure out what’s new. Posey’s character ends the scene with: “We are so lucky to be raised among catalogues.” One of my best friends from high school — an absolutely brilliant culture analyst, even as a teen — LOVED this line. I can still remember her cackling about it.

+NICOLE IS NIGH: Nicole Kidman is everywhere these days! Netflix just this week released an adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s Perfect Couple book with Kidman cast as the main character (I can’t wait to watch!), and I’m highly intrigued by the hype around her erotic thriller “Babygirl,” set for release in December 2024. Vulture had some high praise for it (“the year’s hottest movie”) and I read that it enjoyed an eight minute standing ovation at a recent film festival. You may recall that Landon and I watched a string of the films in this category from the 80s and 90s last summer — “Body Heat,” “9 1/2 Weeks,” “Basic Instinct,” etc — guided by the brilliant podcast “You Must Remember This,” which delves into the film history, cast dynamics, and, most impressively, gender politics of these movies. I’m interested to trace the lineage into this new iteration of the genre.

+VERONICA BEARD DASH BAG: Veronica Beard hosted a big party around the launch of its CHIC “Dash” bag this past week (you can see a few snapshots here) and I was drooling from afar. It has a Birkin-esque vibe to it (structure, ladylike shape, “belt”), but the hardware and clean lines and especially the materials they chose for this season read new. I thought the styling and concept of the party during NYFW was so clever and chic!

+POINTELLE EVERYTHING: As you know, I love my Leset pointelle tees. I lived in them last winter — always my first base layer beneath knits. I am seeing a ton of pointelle pieces from different brands this season and I love the cozy/rustic vibe. A few favorites: J. Crew cardigan, Doen turtleneck, Madewell scoopneck, this Negative lounge set (en route to me now), and this Tuckernuck turtleneck (also en route to me).

+EYEING + BUYING: 01) This Everlane denim barn jacket may actually be the best iteration of this trend I’ve seen this fall. I think I’m going to order. 2) Cannot wait for this book to come out. 3). My new Mille top! 4) J. Crew cashmere pointelle cardigan. In the perfect shade of red! 5) Mango paisley scarf. 6) My new phone case! 7) J. Crew catalogs — I believe in you are a Passport member, you receive one in the mail! 8) Veronica Beard Dash bag.

EVERLANE JACKET // SALLY ROONEY’S INTERMEZZO // MILLE TOP // J. CREW POINTELLE CARDI // MANGO SCARF // IPHONE CASE // VB DASH BAG

+BESTSELLERS: This week, you all were loving J. Crew’s suede boots — both the tall and ankle Stevies — and this AYR “Early Morning tee,” which is also a favorite of mine. I wore it yesterday over leggings and Birks when I was sprinting around doing carpool, etc!

01. J. CREW TALL BOOTS // 02. J. CREW ANKLE STEVIE BOOT // 03. AYR EARLY MORNING TEE // 04. J. CREW FEATHERWEIGHT POLO SWEATER (GO FOR THE RED!) // 05. DENIM SKIRT // 06. MOST COMFORTABLE LEONIE FLATS // 07. FRANK AND EILEEN POPOVER // 08. CULT GAIA CROSSBODY // 09. TUCKERNUCK COCKTAIL DRESS // 10. NECESSAIRE BODY LOTION // 11. WOW DREAMCOAT HAIR PRIMER AND THERMAL PROTECTANT // 12. A COUNTER SPRAY THAT SMELLS DIVINE