Bienvenue to the Non-Summer Summer

While some realists probably had a sense that Summer 2020 would look vastly different than usual, many hopefuls (myself included) were optimistic back in the early days of the Covid scramble that a few weeks of lockdown would do the trick, and we’d be back to our regularly scheduled programming by early summer. It seemed like a piece of cake to spend a few weeks, well, eating cake and other comfort snacks—because what else was there to do, really?—as well as carve out some dedicated time to online shopping.

With all the theoretical money we’d be saving by staying inside for a few weeks—ha!—it seemed like the perfect time to get our summer wardrobes in order. Packages would be delivered, clothes properly hung on wooden hangers, and on display in our well-organized and Marie Kondo-approved closets, with plenty of time to color coordinate our shelves and lose said cake weight by the time the gyms, pilates classes, and (for me) dance studios, reopened again.

Alas, here we are, officially into July, and in Los Angeles, back to semi-lock down after a two-week reopening tease. However, packages were in fact delivered (a little delayed, but hey), clothes were hung (albeit sometimes just flung over a chair) and the summer wardrobe did have time to develop, even with no place to wear any of it.

Dissh Boutique

I recently discovered Dissh boutique, an Australian brand that has quickly become one of my favorites—Aussies seriously know what they’re doing when it comes to summer style—with its mid-level pricing and fabrics that feel good on the skin.

This stunning, off-the-shoulder petite robe blanche surprised me with its beautiful, airy movement, despite a rich and heavy linen texture and midi length. I wandered around the deserted Landmark theater marquee in Westwood, feeling like a nostalgic screen goddess, pondering the bizarre ambiance that is summer in Los Angeles this year.

Let’s also not forget the vintage Dior baguette I scored from one of my all time favorite discoveries of the year, She’s Parisian. Curated by Zoe March, a young British Francophile with an impeccable eye for aesthetics, the collection is an array of antique and vintage findings— think everything from retro pearls and china teacups to jeweled hair combs and and vintage designer perfume bottles— styled in the most luxurious and lust-worthy ways. When I saw this sleek semi clutch (it has a thin strap for a handle, but feels better tucked under an elbow) with its signature D logo dangling in pearl, I knew it had to be mine. See below for details x

Dissh Boutique
@dissh

She’s Parisian
@shesparisian