In Moda Veritas

Dear readers, It’s market week in Paris so the fashion community is back in town. France is in the middle of a searing heatwave, with a string of record-breaking 40+C (104+F) days. The country has come a long way from recommending 1.5L of beer to make it through a canicule, as it did in 1975. But like everything else that’s just a bit different here than at home, so is the country’s relationship with (moving) air.

We moved to Paris within weeks of each other, for very different reasons, but also for a few similar ones. After meeting on Substack via a cold DM that Noora sent to Irene (NRB: my first, and I think, only cold DM!), we found ourselves at the same party at an artist’s house in the 17th Arrondissement.

Dear readers, You know when you click on a “Top 10 Brands” link and the list, um, doesn’t meet your expectations? Well, this isn’t one of those lists! Like my 42 Brands I Discovered After Moving To Parispiece from February, you won’t find the storied maisons or French high-street darlings you already know.

Dear readers, I’ve learned my new favourite French word: insortable — a wonderfully succinct way of saying, “I can’t take you anywhere.” Not to be confused with another huffy Frenchism, insupportable, deployed liberally by parents and — according to my son — teachers alike. My son farting on the métro is insortable (and, indeed, also insupportable). But my favourite use is the self-referential one.

How to lever an everyday wardrobe into corporate outfits. Background reading on my approach to corporate dressing here and here! Dear readers, As I was getting dressed last week, I kept thinking about the AMA questions from my last newsletter about dressing for the corporate office during the height of summer.

For the germaphobes, UV-averse, colour and print-curious, and the corporate girl surviving a tropical climate and perimenopausal body-temperature chaos. Read Part 1 here.

Dear readers, After a month away from home, it was my husband’s turn to leave on a work trip, which meant I’ve been solo-parenting for the last two weeks. Solo parenting means wearing the same Base Outfit everyday. All: Jamie Haller Fan jeans — will I ever hem them? I like how they look rolled up *shrug*. Left: Artizia Pegasus tee (hey, it’s back! great tee), Smythe trench, Christopher Esber flats (many pairs over at Poshmark), Jack Gomme bag. Centre: De Rococo blazer, Veja x Baserange sneakers.

Dear readers, This week I’m diving into some of the questions readers left in my AMA thread. The chat is still open, so keep them coming! Hello from sunny Paris! Just kidding, it’s been pouring all week. A: Left On Friday, Asceno, and Toteme have served me well for stylish, full-coverage swimsuits that I can swim in all day. But I’m always hunting for the unicorn: a suit that feels secure and a little sexier, with strong lines, and details worthy of a second glance.

Named after the most common refrain I hear from clients, “A Closet Full Of Clothes, But Nothing To Wear” is an on-going series where I unpack a real wardrobe I’ve worked on with a client. I diagnose the primary (and secondary) closet issue(s), explain how they developed, then share a practical roadmap to transforming that jumble of garments into a functional, versatile wardrobe you actually love.

A portion of this newsletter is sponsored by Margaux. Dear readers, After a month off, and home from two weeks in South Korea, In Moda Veritas is officially back. In case you missed it, I’ve just opened my spring AMA thread for paid subscribers here. As with my last one, I’ve found it more helpful (and efficient) to answer some questions directly in the thread, while exploring others more deeply in a standalone newsletter.