Last week we snuck away to Mexico (sans toddler) for a few days + I discovered I’m absolutely terrible at relaxing. Give me time uninterrupted + all I can think about is how much work I can get done. Ironically I still did very little, choosing to pick the low hanging fruit off my to-do list, paralyzed by the wanting to work while needing to disconnect. We stayed at a very nice resort where there was very little to do that wasn’t laying horizontal by a pool. Over the course of 5 days I read two books + finished ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ while logging some miles on the treadmill. Was it really a vacation if I didn’t binge both Netflix and my reading list? I think not.

One of the hardest parts about stepping away from the store is having absolutely no control over sales. The weekend we were away it was Fleet Week in the city + despite a lack of Blue Angels (government shut down) it was still uncomfortably quiet in the store. My shopify alerts were few + far between, making it particularly hard not to obsessively refresh the app. Joke’s on me and my anxiety because we launched the R.A.D.® UFO in store + online last Thursday and made a third of our monthly sales in an hour. It was absolutely WILD watching the orders come through. I’m grateful to the R.A.D.® team for taking a risk on our store (and storing 500 additional units in a warehouse nearby, ha). It’s an amazing shoe that I can’t stop running in. The team did an epic job designing it + while other super shoes exist in the market, the UFO is utterly + truly unique.

I will say as much as I am grateful for the added business (+ the revenue), I’m ok not being an ecomm heavy brand. Ecomm shoppers are a different elk - for most this was their first interaction with my store. Their desire isn’t so much to support me (although not true with every purchase) but rather to get their hands on a shoe they can’t get anywhere else. These are shoppers conditioned by the 2-day shopping made the norm by Amazon + other large corporations who have warehouses staffed with workers who’s sole job is to package + process orders. It’s taken us nearly a week to get all the orders packaged + ready to be shipped + despite sending email updates + posting on instagram I’ve still been answering numerous (not always pleasant) emails inquiring as to order status. Get annoyed at J. Crew for shipping so slowly that it takes 10 business days to arrive; don’t get annoyed at the small business who ships 2-3 day priority (*free* for orders over $200) but doesn’t employ enough people to get them out the door at speed.

As much as I needed a break and Matt + I needed the alone time, I had a really, really hard time getting excited about leaving. Normally 5 days with nothing to do but lounge poolside feels indulgent but this time it felt like an annoyance. I had a hard time unwinding, of wanting to be there. Every ounce of me resisted the idea of it, convinced we were making a mistake somehow + that some unforeseen danger was awaiting us. It didn’t help that we signed all of our estate paperwork the day before we flew out. 10/10 don’t recommend if you have travel anxiety.

I’m not sure I wish I would have tried harder to relax, I think at this stage in store ownership it’s unrealistic to expect a full disconnection. That said it’s been full on since we got back. I knew October would be insane; aside from the UFO launch we had our first ever Hot Girl Relay last Saturday + on Sunday it’s our birthday. One year in and I’ve learned everything + nothing, done all the things + none of the things + still trying to find my patience.

Eventually I relaxed into it as much as I could (the spa helped) but as a result of my cellular resistance, I did an absolutely terrible job packing. I didn’t look awful but I will say my suitcase lacked it’s usual creativity. I don’t dress all that differently on vacation but I do like to dial it up a bit - take some risks I wouldn’t normally take at home. Instead I simply threw what I always wear into a suitcase + went to bed. I suppose there’s something comforting about leveraging a wardrobe that I love, not having packing paralysis for fear of bringing the wrong things or not knowing what to wear. It’s taken me a very, very long time to get here. Every work trip I took in my 20s + 30s was a hot mess of overpacking + outfit anxiety.

In honor of the suitcase full of everyday items that I packed, here’s a list of everything I can’t seem to stop buying - many of which made their way to Mexico with us. I seem to be suffering from shopping amnesia; I keep forgetting what I’ve purchased + accruing more of the same. Not only were these pieces fantastic on a resort style warm weather vacation, they’ve also made fantastic Fall transition pieces. SF being SF we’re basically always dressing in transitional layers - the only indication of seasonality being one more or less layer required.

1. Mesh Shorts

   The past few years I’d been loading up on Umbros and dare I say mesh shorts are the new nylon short? So far in the past few months I’ve purchased four pairs (six if you count the ones I’ve bought just for running). Sure these might not be the usual fall transitional layer but when paired with a sweater + loafers? Absolutely divine. I’m not a loafer girly so my equivalent is a pair of retro sneakers…more on that later.

   

   I haven’t decided yet what the winter equivalent of mesh shorts will be for me yet…probably track pants of some variety. These + these have already made it into my rotation. If someone were to make a full mesh pant I’d buy them in a heartbeat.

   

    

2. Retro sneakers

   Pardon my french but fuck gen z and the “fashion” people who have declared sneakers dead. Word on the street a journalist left fashion week embarrassed because she wore sneakers to a show + she was the only one wearing them *gasp*. Turns out she was wearing a pair of sambas probably paired back to kick flare high sport pants. Honestly I’d be embarrassed too + it has nothing to do with the sneakers. I think we can all collectively agree it’s time to move on from the Samba, but I still wear my adidas SL72 OGs all the time. I’ve been purchasing more unique varieties + brands these days - ones that pair back to my wardrobe in ways that feel more 70s or 80s inspired + less pinterest prep. Color is key - it can be used as either a blank slate or an unexpected disruptor.

    

   I don’t think there’s really a key silhouette - I’ve been more attracted to shapes that are a bit more narrow + a bit leaner. Shoes that are more 70s than 90s but I still love my 90s dad shoes. Speaking of, please don’t make me read one more article or headline that declares the return of the dad shoe. I would argue they never really left + we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for trends these days. Just wear what makes you comfortable, works within your wardrobe + feels good.

   

    

3. Rugbies

   I’ve been on the rugby train for a while now - they’re such an easy add on layer to any outfit. I’m starting to move beyond the rugby (almost) to include basically anything with a collar. In the past two months alone I’ve purchased 2 variations on the rugby + the H-O-R-S-E Sport collared fleece. Perhaps it’s because it’s a little neater than just a long sleeve, but I find myself gravitating towards any collared tops these days. I was too late to the game to get the Jonathan Anderson wool polo from Uniqlo but keep checking back with hopes of a restock.

   

   The Left on Friday rugby (pictured below + throughout) arrived just in time for our trip which I packed in lieu of a jacket. I forget how unconditioned my body is to air conditioning and to be honest probably still could have used the foregone jacket for restaurants and cab rides. A striped ruby thrown haphazardly over one’s shoulders worked + proved a bit more interesting than a sweatshirt or jacket. A pop of color, an outfitting layer that doesn’t go but somehow still works? It was giving a little Harry Potter but I forgive it.

   

    

4. Crew Socks

   Nothing makes it safer to have your legs exposed than a pair of crew socks. I’m wearing mostly Hansel from Basel since we stock these at the store + I have a lot of them. I was obsessed when they launched their sporty line because these are running socks for the girls. They’re unisex so boys if you love a fun sock have at it but finally a technical sock that doesn’t look technical. The vintage throw back styles when paired with sneakers add an interesting pop of color that feels unexpected. The fact that I can wear these for running - the narrowing of my closet continues.

   

    

5. Honorable Mention : Quarter zips and Cardigans

   I group these together because the end use is the same. The silos of both are more minimal, more modern. These cardigans aren’t the ones of cottage core dreams but rather prim and neat - more 1960’s secretary than 90’s grunge girlie.

   

    

   The quarter zips I’ve been accruing are a little more interesting. Still basic at their core, color, texture + fabrication set them apart. In the transition months they’re an outer layer, worn over a bra, tank or tee + in the winter they’ll become an essential midlayer, worn like a turtleneck but far more interesting.

   

    

For those of you who celebrate, happy fall + happy (almost) halloween. We’re throwing a party at the store + the mister is a garbage man this year, costume complete with a toddler sized green bin he’s been using to haul his toys around our 1700 sq. foot flat ever since it arrived 3 days ago.

For those of you who will always be #teamsummer like myself, condolences, the cold weather won’t last forever + someplace warm is always a flight away.

*k