Habiter

A celebratory summer shopping list. Welcome to the 100th issue of Habiter! We’ve come a long way, baby. Not to be dramatic, but I viscerally remember pressing send on letter 001. It was, frankly, terrifying, and asking people to participate was equally fraught. I am eternally grateful to those who did, especially at the beginning when all I had was a good idea and zero proof of concept.

lives in green silk flats and blue French workwear. On Wednesday night, I stopped by a party to celebrate the designer, Lanier Hicks. It was a distinctly New York summer evening. On the cusp of a thunderstorm a stylish, if slightly sweaty, group packed into Lanier’s brand-new cellar-level studio. Guests spilled into the hallway for pictures and spilled wine into plastic cups. At least while I was there, they avoided spilling on each other (can’t speak for later though).

I am embarrassed to write this but—there’s a TikTok that I think about a lot. When my style is feeling lackluster, I remember this clip from Yola, a cool gen-z whose videos always seem to start in the middle of a soliloquy. Here, she’s speaking about style ruts—how if you’re really living and existing in your style, you’re bound to look a little bland sometimes. I thought about her last night when I attended a party full of chic, young things and felt like my look wasn’t hitting.

I had an especially hectic work week, so I’m writing this intro from bed in the wee hours of Thursday morning. I tend to find a packed calendar energizing, though, and I got to do some fun things too, like attend the launch celebration for Matteau’s photography book, WARM. Everyone there was impeccably chic and tousle-haired in the humidity, and I’m sure I found a few future Habiter subjects in the process (I’m out here pounding the pavement for you, dear readers).

Despite New York’s non-cooperative weather, spring’s fashion calendar has begun to perk up. My weeknights are once again dotted with cute dinners and events. On Tuesday, I went to one at Borgo, hosted by my friend (and Substack role model) Becky and jeweler Lucy Delius. During pre-dinner cocktails, Marisa Meltzer convinced me that I should own a tuxedo (ideally vintage) for evening. “You’ll look just like you do now, except you’ll be in a tuxedo,” she said.

Longtime readers of Habiter may have noticed a travel thread running through certain letters (shout out Melissa, Lissie, Rachel). This is likely a bias in my curation. After all, you’re hearing from someone who quit her full-time job in pursuit of ~freedom~. I’m naturally drawn to wanderers. There’s also something especially compelling, and Habiter-coded, about a good packer. It’s all about decision and precision, baby. What makes the cut and earns a place in your suitcase?

Are we all engaging in a bit of character acting when we get dressed in the morning? I recently joined a co-working space in Manhattan (I call it “my office” and I will never shut up about it) and have found myself leaning hard into my new role of “girl with a commute.” Of course, she needs looks that justify leaving the house, and she carries a proper bag - naturally, I sourced a new one on The RealReal. Girl math says that if you’re paying for a workspace, you must buy the outfits to match.

The subject of this week’s newsletter is Recho Omondi, creator and host of the fashion podcast The Cutting Room Floor. Even if you don’t follow the show, you’ve probably seen clips of Recho and her guests online - her interviews regularly produce viral moments. She’s asked Steve Madden about his habit of borrowing from other brands, Morgan Stewart why she hates wearing vintage, and Gwyneth Paltrow about the affluence of Goop’s customer. Recho has a devoted following within the fashion industry.

Coming to you live from New York City this week! I got back from Asia on Monday. JFK was really psychotic to be honest. There’s nothing like an unending chorus of taxi drivers laying on their horns to welcome you home. I am pleased that I might have timed my return with the end (?) of brutal winter weather. My seasonal depression has seemingly melted away! From a style perspective, people on the streets seem enthusiastic about the shift. I’ve already seen shorts, halter tops, even a sandal.

Today’s letter is fueled by a travel-related adrenaline spike. I just sprinted through Taipei station, catching the high speed rail to Taichung by a hair. That’s not the only exercise I’ve gotten on this trip, as I’ve spent most of it shopping (cardio). Earlier this week I was in Tokyo, where I scored at a few well-priced vintage shops. I also walked away from Auralee and Studio Nicholson with two high-potential tees.