October mood

Trench weather, a soulful AD tour, and a party-worthy rack of lamb

It’s my favorite season of in-betweens: warm, sunny days punctuated by crisp nights, with the crunch of autumn beneath newly unearthed boots. After a travel-heavy summer, it’s been restoring my soul to have a luxuriously long stretch of time at home, with no plane plans on the horizon.

I’m finding bright spots in fall routines: treating myself to oat milk lattes (something about all the milk in a latte feels wildly indulgent), getting back into a weekly Corepower practice, and arranging fresh blooms in fall-inspired palettes. Sharing a few things sparking joy this October below.

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1. Found the goldilocks of oversized trench coats. I’ve been on the hunt for a roomy trench that’s easy to layer under for travel, and Massimo Dutti nailed this one. There’s enough room for a thick knit but it’s still very flattering (I sized down). It comes in a warmer camel that I find more complementary than the khaki-beige of most trenches, which can make me look a little washed out. I also tried this Sezane version in Paris which I’d recommend, too, for a more classic fit—it was really lovely quality, but a bit heavier and more tailored.

2. A ballet flat to take you through fall. This Italian-made flat has a hidden wedge for comfort and a slightly squareish toe that makes it a bit less twee. And M.Gemi’s quality never disappoints. (TTS; currently having a friends & family sale—use FFS20 for 20% off.)

3. Move aside, OPI Malaga Wine: Essie’s Full Blast is my autumnal nail color of choice.

4. The Architectural Digest tour with creatives Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad might be my favorite of all time. Their immense love for each other vibrates off the screen, and the way they’ve layered their home with soul is just 🥹, my heart! This YouTube comment sums it up: “In a country obsessed with productivity, I am deeply moved to see they created a sanctuary for storytelling, contemplation, magic, resting and napping, honoring those who came before them, future visioning, animism and renaissance.” May we all design our homes with the same intention and joy. 

5. This one’s going into our dinner party rotation: marinated rack of lamb with cilantro and honey. We’ve been making our way through Ottolenghi: The Cookbook, and (like most things in the cookbook) this lamb was a hit. Served with one of the Barbarescos we brought back from Piedmont this summer—so so good.