The New Garde

Devon Lee Carlson by Daniel Arnold for Umbro x Reformation Hi everyone! Long time, no blog. I just got settled back in New York after what I’m calling the “Southmaxxing” portion of my summer. In June, I spent two lovely weeks at the beach in Virginia before heading down to New Orleans—one of my favorite cities in the world—for an upcoming magazine story. Then I hopped over to Nashville for a week, which was somehow even hotter and steamier than it’s been in New York.

One of the main reasons I started The New Garde a couple of years ago was to have a place to unpack my thoughts about the future of the fashion industry and its place within popular culture — something I’ve been writing about/reporting for the better part of two decades. One of my favorite things to do is sit down with someone who’s just starting out in their career, hear about where they hope to go, what inspires them, and the impact they’d like to make.

some Y2K Roxy swag at my parents’ house Hi everyone and happy Sunday! I’m writing this week’s letter from the porch at my parents’ house in Virginia Beach — my favorite place to escape to for some sun and proximity to several large bodies of water. Last night I saw Dave Matthews Band with my dad, something we’ve done together most summers since I was a teenager.

A little post-Memorial Day brain dump, from Charli's fashion-forward single "SS26" to Gucci's Times Square takeover. Carine Roitfeld with a tiny mic in the “SS26” music video Happy Sunday, y’all! I hope you enjoyed the short week and are looking forward to what summer has in store. In my brief absence from blogging I’ve had a life-affirming couple of weeks, as two separate girls’ trips serendipitously made it out of the group chat around the same time.

this is fake, obviously, but I’ll admit it almost got me (via @palantirgirls on X) Good morning, everyone! I am sending this from St. Martin, where I just landed with some ladies you know and love (more on that later). I’m very much looking forward to a couple of days working in the sun, and alternating between the pool and the beach for swim breaks.

a still from ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Good morning and happy Met Gala day everyone! The first Monday in May really snuck up on me. I’ve been covering the massive Costume Institute event for over a decade, and I cannot recall a year when I’ve heard less about it — or felt less excitement for it — in the lead-up.

Brigette Pheloung’s bachelorette trip, #spon by Swan Beauty Good morning and happy Tuesday! I realize I let the better part of April breeze by without posting on Substack, but life happens, OK?

Amanda Batula in Edie Parker’s Boobs on Drugs tee Happy Monday, y’all! I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. I spent as much of mine as I could outside before the weather turned, and the remainder locked into some culturally significant media about terrible relationships. I, too, tore through Belle Burden’s divorce memoir “Strangers,” which is just as scary as people say — especially for a person with lingering trust issues from her own previous marriage.

models closing the Chanel Fall/Winter 2026 runway show Good evening! Last week’s dispatch is late because I felt an unusual aversion to my computer over the weekend. I’m a little rattled by how quickly Q1 came and went, and I am still working to find balance as a freelance person operating (and trying to succeed) within the attention economy.

John Galliano for Zara, by Szilveszter Makó Happy Sunday, everyone! Spring is finally in the air, which means my will to live has been restored. Yesterday I clocked 18,457 steps, aimlessly walking around downtown and window shopping. I have a small wish list of things I hope to acquire this season, but I have entered the era of my retail journey where I think long and hard before buying anything — especially if it’s from a luxury brand. Sure, a lot of this has to do with budgetary constraints.