My comment section and DMs are a magnet for footophiles. On any given day it’s “step on me,” “those toes are doing something to me,” or the unhinged “can I get a lick?” The kind of messages that make you stop and think, does this type of man really exist?

There’s something almost impressive about the lack of shame, especially from Steve, whose fully public profile is nothing but BBQ and dog pics, commenting with absolutely no hesitation.

Like any woman who’s spent enough time being mildly irritated and occasionally taken advantage of, I had a thought that felt both obvious and a little bit devious: if this is how it’s going to be, I’m going to make a spectacle of it.

Not by playing along, but by putting it on display.

The footwear industry has a long-standing obsession with sex, but it’s a tired one. The formula is predictable. A woman, half dressed, hyper-stylized, draped over something glossy, selling a fantasy that feels like it was written by someone who has never actually worn the shoes. It’s all very serious. Very self-important. And very clearly designed for someone else’s gaze.

How boring! And expected.

So, instead of pretending the industry isn’t what it is, I decided to meet it head-on. Not to indulge it, but to expose it. To make it absurd. To take something uncomfortable and turn it into something loud, controlled, and entirely ours.

Enter: Will Winnit.

A fictional character brought to life in our nou world, our resident “Toe and Feet Law Expert.” A man who exists somewhere between an ambulance-chasing injury attorney and a fever dream. He has the confidence of someone who has never once questioned himself and the energy of a billboard you can’t look away from. Slick, slightly unhinged, and completely committed to the bit. He even has his own Instagram account and a fully operational website, nofreefeetpics.com.

“Call Will Winnit to take back control of your sole.”

It’s ridiculous. Intentionally so. Because the situation itself is ridiculous. The idea that women simply existing online is an open invitation for commentary, consumption, or whatever hell these creeps are doing behind closed doors with our feet pics.

And Will, in all his theatrical authority, is here to litigate that.

The campaign plays out like late-night TV you’d stumble on in the ’90s. It opens with a breaking news segment: “Alexia Ioannou, owner of nou shoes, files a lawsuit, taking a formal stance against foot creeps just in time for a summer of open-toe shoes.” A perfectly timed April Fools setup.

“The shoes are open-toe, not open season,” I say, chomping gum with a slight Jersey twang. An homage to my roots and the brand’s DNA.

From there, it spirals into an infomercial, spotlighting Will’s Attorney at Law persona. It opens with a full-volume, no-subtlety introduction: “Feet pics? For free? NOOOO FREE FEET PICS!”

The kind of ad where everything feels a little too intense, a little too polished, and just slightly off. There’s a script, but it’s performed, not read. Urgent. Over-the-top. Just convincing enough that you almost believe it.

Because those infomercials understood something modern marketing often forgets. Attention is earned by being unforgettable. Not by blending in. Not by playing it safe. By committing fully to an idea, no matter how strange, and trusting that people will feel it.

And from there, Will’s commercial pivots seamlessly into the nou product infomercial, introducing The Kitty sandal. Our first fully open-toe silhouette. Delicate, curved, and feminine in a way that’s not just visually striking, but genuinely functional.

“The shoe of the summa!” I say, fully in my Jersey form, the accent I’ve spent years trying to suppress suddenly back and louder than ever, selling it like my life depends on it.

The irony isn’t lost on me. The more skin you show, the more people feel entitled to it. So instead of shrinking that space, we expanded it and claimed it as our own.

This campaign isn’t about pretending the gaze doesn’t exist. It’s more like, fine, you want to look? We’ll give you something to look at, but we’re going to call you out while we do it. And ideally, you’ll buy the product. As I say, very plainly, in the infomercial: “put it on ya husbands credit card!”

People can feel what’s real. A point of view, not just a product. A world to step into, not just something to buy.

I hope this campaign inspires you to do shit differently. Tell stories that are blunt, a little strange, and aren’t so serious.

And never, under any circumstances, giving your feet pics away for free.

I got fake married. Late one afternoon at the Beverly Hills courthouse, created a faux wedding moment to introduce nou’s debut bridal collection. The nou girl is the figure who lingers in my imagination when I design, and for this chapter, she is a bride. She air-dries her hair for the occasion, chooses her shoes before anything else, and never confuses tradition with obligation. Step into her world…

Late one afternoon at the Beverly Hills courthouse, the nou girl said “I do”. For the occasion, she air-dried her hair, chose her shoes before anything else, and picked a Tuesday because it was her second favorite day of the week. No orchestra, no aisle, no procession of chiffon. Just the afternoon light slipping between the city hall buildings and the hum of the world bustling around her.

She walks into the courthouse unannounced, as if she is stepping into her favorite bar. Certain of what she wants. A leopard pillbox hat stands in for a veil, because it would not be her day without a trace of print. Her father’s watch circles her wrist. Antique stones lie cool against her skin. A silk set skims her frame as though it has known her for years. An oversized opera coat effortlessly hangs from her shoulders. Her father’s watch circles her wrist. She collects what has been loved before.

And then there are the shoes. Her something nou. Unforgettable, yet never pleading for attention. Luminous ivory satin mules, cut with a peep-toe that reveals a subtle pop of red.

At her ankle, a stone glints larger than the one on her ring finger. She prefers the imbalance. It makes people look twice. Tradition has never impressed her. She keeps what feels true and leaves the rest behind.

There is a supermarket bouquet, a vintage purse holding nothing but a lucky penny from the year she was born and a lipstick. For her, marriage is not a spectacle. It is an exercise in self-love. If she can live with herself, she figures, she can live with someone else...The rest is just logistics.

She does not live to do things the way they are expected to be done. Never confusing volume with meaning, the nou girl understands that elegance is an art in restraint, in resisting what the world tells her she should do or be. She moves through life with the certainty of a woman who knows forever is built on choices, not grand gestures.

& she lived happily ever after.

Photography By SoulClub

I celebrated my 30th in Palm Springs last month. The perfect little getaway for relaxation, inspiration and most of all VINTAGE SHOPPING. My god, did I find some good shit! Deets on all of the above below…x

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I’m from Jersey. Animal print is in my DNA. I’ve been styling it into my life since the beginning, so it’s no accident that I now design footwear in the same nostalgic prints. Our nou ponyhair mules just dropped and they come in the most delicious zebra/baby blue and leopard/red combinations. They’re supeeeeeer limited (like really limited, I mean it, theres only a day or so left to shop them.)

Below is a roundup of looks to pair with them that I pulled from my personal The RealReal saves, a vault I guard with my life. The edit came together after I went in to their store (highlight video/details of everything I tried on here), styled everything while wearing the mules, and realized you needed an edit anchored by the Nou ponyhair mules.

PRINT ON PRINT

1. St. John Dress XS $332 (I can imagine the fit on this is amazing)

2. Cavalli Skirt XS $64 & Armani Top M $72. (Deals on deals on deals)

3. Gianfranco Ferre Jacket XS $135 & D&G Skirt M $165 (I picture this jacket worn as more of a top, would also be hot with a pair of low rise denim.)

4. Gucci Top M $255 & Celine Skirt S $521 (Tom Ford for Gucci paired with Celine can do no wrong)

1. D&G Dress S $345 (Hot little mini moment)

2. D&G Top M $229 & Cavalli Skirt S $356 (This skirt is absolutely stunning, paired with the leopard it's perfection.)

3. D&G Dress XS $157 (A classic for an unbeatable price)

4. Moschino Jacket S $241 (I think I’ve posted this before, but it’s too good to pass up. It’s the kind of piece people stop and ask you where it’s from.)

5. Versace Dress S $332 (Sourced this once for nou and instantly regretted selling it. So fun for summer or vacation.)

STATEMENT PIECES (paired with a white tank ofc… a nou one may just be coming soon ;)

1. Cavalli Pant M $180 (The pants of summer & at this price!!)

2. Dolce Leather Pants S $777 (Fuck I might need these)

3. Pucci Top S $166 & Chloe Pant M $76 (Can’t go wrong with this combo)

4. Cavalli Skirt M $140 (I’ve added this to cart so many times)

5. Cavalli Skirt XS $188 (Ur kidding me right?)

1. D&G Pant M $408 (These are sick if you can splurge on them)

2. Dior Skirt M $795 (Um my literal dream skirt?)

3. Dolce Pant S $195 (Help do I need these???)

4. Dries Van Noten Jacket M $627 (This jacket is a work of art)

5. D&G Pant M $227 (Hot for summer)

FOR A NIGHT OUT

1. Dolce Dress XS $1,220 (Wow wow wow)

2. Missoni Dress S $787 (I’d wear this to a chic summer wedding)

3. Courreges Skirt XS $284 & Donna Karan Top XS $31 (Double deal. Live for this color)

4. Herve Leger Dress XS $188 (So much fun for a night out)

5. Cavalli Dress M $122 (Can’t remember if I’ve posted this before but the color is RICH)

1. St. John Jacket L $301 (This piece is iconic)

2. Oscar De La Renta Pants S $292 & Gianfranco Ferre Top M $64 (I just know these pants hit perfectly on the waist)

3. Gucci Tunic XS $1,022 (I feel like even though I made these roundups for you I just remind myself how much I need to buy some of these pieces)

4. L’IDEE Dress XS $206 (I’ve had my eye on this brand for awhile, I love this draoed silhouette)

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Today’s edit pulls together a few of the things currently living rent-free in my mind: studded everything, vintage evening clutches that turn any outfit into a conversation, mohair plaid jackets that make sizing feel optional, and kilim weekender bag I’ll forever regret leaving behind in a Houston antique shop.

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There’s a chill in the air and the sun disappears before dinner. My seasonal depression is kicking in, and my coping mechanism is online shopping for all the holiday plans I don’t actually have.

Here’s a genuinely good roundup of RealReal finds — a mix of affordable steals and investment pieces. I know it’s good because I spend a concerning amount of time on that site. Your holiday looks, solved (and likely under budget).

This is not sponsored by The RealReal, but honestly, it really should be.

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This week I styled three looks around my favorite KREWE frames, each one pulled from a moodboard that set the tone for the outfit. The glasses came first, everything else followed. I wanted to show how the right frame can shift an entire look, from how you carry yourself to how the light hits you.

BELLA in 12K + Black + Black Tea

Leopard has always been a neutral in my world, so the Bella frame felt like a natural match. Its sculptural cat-eye construction and gold detailing echo the same sense of refined boldness I love in vintage pieces. I paired the frames with a vintage cropped leopard cape (similar here), Chanel sling backs, black trousers, and a gold shell clutch (similar here) to keep the look indulgent. Shop the Bella here.

The moodboard was all about feline confidence and quiet drama, where texture and gaze do the talking. The Bella strikes that balance between modern edge and timeless glamour, a frame that can live in both an editorial and an everyday moment.

GALVAN 12K Chroma + Iberia

The Galvan has that same quiet sophistication, the kind that doesn’t compete with a look but completes it. I styled them with a long vintage shearling coat (similar here), vintage Levi’s & belt, my favorite Dior boots & Loewe Flamenco clutch. The gold frame elevates any look, catching the light just right. Shop the Galvan here.

The Galvan frame feels timeless, like the shades legendary Indian actress Madhubala wears from the 1950’s on my moodboard. There’s something about that mid-century glamour that never feels dated, only more alluring with time.

DYLAN Black + Black Tea

The Dylan frame brings a relaxed confidence that feels very Los Angeles in the best way. Lived in, effortless, always on the go these are the first pair I reach for. It has that masculine-feminine balance I love, a little tomboy energy with a sharp finish. When I posted these on Instagram, the DMs for details were endless.

I styled them with relaxed cargos, a vintage bone belt (similar here), an Intimissimi fitted brown top, and a vintage leopard bag (similar here). Shop the Dylan here.

The moodboard was built around sunlight and energy, the kind that hits differently on the west coast. Think amber hues, long afternoons, and that soft, golden warmth that makes everything feel alive. I wanted the look to capture that glow, a balance of movement and ease, of California cool seen through a nostalgic lens. The brown lenses wrap the world in that same light, giving the day a cinematic calm.

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I went in for research. I left emotionally attached. Here’s what I loved most:

1. Bags to match all of my personalities. You need to get your hands on this rare Fendi Baguette.

2. Bars I’d gladly get behind. Serving a life sentence in good taste.

3. Selfie mirrors with lighting so good, I considered a residency. And could not stop staring at this rare Chanel belt.

4. The Book of Iconic Bags. A sacred text in this particular religion.

5. The Chanel I would leave my boyfriend for. (Not, not joking.)

6. Big Daddy Dior. Enough said.

7. I live here now. Emotionally, at least.

All in all, I walked away lighter in spirit, hungover on handbags, and fully converted.

Boots on the brain. With Nou’s first pair stepping out next month (!!), I pulled together 30 hot pairs on The RealReal to hold us over.

This is not sponsored by The RealReal, but honestly, it really should be.

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“Do you ever deal with imposter syndrome?”

The question was posed to me not long ago in an interview.

The term itself sounded more like a criticism than a condition. “No,” I shot back without hesitation.

She pressed: “You know, the feeling that you’re unworthy of your accomplishments, that you’re inadequate in your own career?”

I gave her a cool look. “I know what I’m good at. That’s obvious to me, and to anyone who has ever come across my curation.”

At the time, it was true. I was a few years into running my vintage studio, Nou. I had cultivated a following, dressed celebrities, fed stylists, and sourced the kind of vintage people were desperate for. The role came easily, almost cosmically timed with the vintage resale boom. I wasn’t an imposter. I was one of the best.

It wasn’t until I began designing shoes under the Nou name that everything changed. When it comes to other people’s work, I am ruthless…naming something ugly or genius in under five seconds. But my own? One moment I’m elated: This is the shoe of my dreams. The next I’m spiraling: Wait, is this actually hideous?

It was naïve to assume that the instinct I had honed through years of curation would be enough to carry me into creating my own designs. The moment I created something born from the private corners of my mind, my work suddenly felt tender, vulnerable, even terrifying. With it came the devil on my shoulder, the voice in my head determined to tear me apart. The imposter syndrome I had once only heard about arrived uninvited and quickly became a presence that followed me everywhere.

Lexi, you have no idea what the fuck you’re doing. A real designer would know these answers.

The voice hissed as I sat with factory partners in Portugal, drowning in fabric swatches and fit notes. My inner critic wasn’t wrong. I was new to this, and I didn’t have all the answers. What I did have was an undying, almost delusional commitment to a vision and the clarity to follow it above everything else. Blind faith has a way of keeping you afloat, even when the voice insists you should sink.

The thing about imposter syndrome is it thrives in that liminal space between certainty and doubt, where you are both a genius and a fraud depending on the lighting…and your mood.

Which is why it feels nothing short of surreal to be celebrated with one of fashion’s highest honors: a feature in the September issue of Vogue. I am deeply grateful, especially to Lilah Ramzi for always recognizing the beauty of Nou. It is the kind of accomplishment I have dreamt of for many years. And yet, even in this moment, the voice follows me. The question lingers... Do I deserve this?

There isn’t an accolade in the world that can silence your inner critic. But you can learn to live with it. To listen without obeying. To take what’s useful and leave the rest. In its own strange way, it keeps your ego in check.

I’ve come to accept that the voice never leaves. Not now, not later, not even one day when I am the next Manolo Blahnik. It will still be there, reminding me that I don’t know enough, haven’t done enough, don’t deserve enough. And maybe that’s the point. The presence of your own worst enemy can either be the darkness that pushes you toward greatness or the weight that swallows you whole.

As Jonathan Anderson once said: “Only shit artists feel like they’re a big deal.”

And if that’s the case, I’m right where I need to be.

I recently redesigned my 1930’s living room (vid here), starting with the piece I couldn’t stop thinking about: a blush velvet couch from Lulu & Georgia. From there, everything else shifted. I wanted the space to feel more like me…layered, lived-in, and vibrant.

I mixed in vintage treasures I’ve collected over time with a few new pieces that helped bring the room into focus. Below is a list of everything I used to redefine my space (or the closest thing I could find to it).

Metal Accent Table, Brass Vessel, Slipper Chair (Similar), Woven Rug

Blush Velvet Couch, Silk Pillow, Leopard Pillow, Large Pillow

Side Table, Custom Ashtray, Curtain Rod, Curtain

Poodle Portrait, XL Candle, Vntg Floor Lamp (similar), Whicker Basket

MCM Vase (similar), Nara Book, Crystal Mushrooms, Tiled Coffee-Table (similar)

Chinese Vessel, Brown Poof (similar), Vntg Storage Box (similar), Circle Vase

More pics here. x

Today’s edit is a highlight of my current fixations: vintage Valentino, specialty clutches that double as conversation pieces alongside unforgettable cocktail dresses. There’s also an edit of rare vintage shoes from one of my most coveted designers. Pairs that feel more like art than footwear.

Each treasure in this curation is chosen with the same obsessive eye that got me featured in September’s issue of Vogue (eeeek can’t believe I’m saying that! ;)

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I’m a firm believer in the white tank top theory: if it doesn’t look good with a white tank (or tee), I’ll never wear it.

Open my closet and you’ll find about 30 Boys Hanes Tanks, all chopped at the hem and perfectly worn in. There’s something about the simplicity of a crisp white tank that anchors any outfit. My wardrobe DNA is basically: tank on top, statement on the bottom. Below are a few statement items sitting in my cart that I’m passing on to you.

This is not sponsored by The RealReal, but honestly, it really should be.

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Our video campaign (watch here) for the nou Mule marks a first for a lot of reasons. It was the first time I stepped behind the camera to creatively direct. The first time we worked with a real model. A real team. We still kept it gritty, of course (shot the whole thing in my bedroom).

It also marks the debut of our second silhouette: The Mule. She’s the sister to our debut Pump—sleek, sculptural, and made to move. This style comes two ways: with a limited-edition gemstone, or without, for a more classic finish.

I’ve been involved in every corner of this business since day one, but this was a different kind of creative leap. It felt instinctive, playful and like the beginning of something bigger…

Get to know our first-ever Nou Girl… the beautiful Asalia Yusupova.

Do you have any nicknames?

Honey .. because my name means honey in arabic

What’s your star sign

Cancer 🦀

Where are you from?

Raised in Virginia but i’m from Uzbekistan

If your shoes could talk, what would they say?

“stop dragging your feet, girl”

Who do you think you were in a past life?

I actually had a psychic once tell me that i was Spanish royalty, & that my dad was my twin brother.. (my dad is currently a twin again) crazy!

GEM or NO GEM?

Both :P

What’s your emotional support thing? (Could be a bag, snack, phone note, whatever.)

Peter (my stuffed animal)

If you had a gemstone mood ring, what color would it be right now—be honest

Gold, i think! It’s summer, i feel radiant!

What song is stuck in your head right now?

Fool for love by Valentiina

What’s something you’re totally detached from—no strings, no guilt?

i’ve been modeling full time for 5 years now and “detachment” is something that has really been a prominent topic in my journey with becoming the best version of myself and in this career.

i learned really early on that i had to detach and never take things personally when it came to booking jobs. i’ve accepted that i don’t always book the job and that’s okay. sometimes you just make room for others and how beautiful is that? it’s never because the brand or the client doesn’t like you. it rarely even has anything to do with you at all. maybe it’s availability and scheduling, maybe the shoot got canceled. maybe they already confirmed a girl with freckles haha. anyways anytime i don’t book a job, i don’t get upset anymore. i feel even more prepared for what’s to come.

And what’s something you’re irrationally, obsessively, deeply attached to?

my closet … and my friendships 💖

What’s one rule you have on a first date?

I haven’t been on a first date in so long… hahaha but probably that the man pays

How do you like your martini?

Filthy

What’s your signature way of leaving a party? (Irish exit? Smoke bomb? Long goodbye?)

Long goodbye.. <3

They say good things come to those who wait. I say: the best things come to those who get shit done.

I’m the kind of person who will call you twice in a row. Three times if you don’t answer. I eat before everyone else’s food arrives because delaying gratification has never been my strong suit. I’ve ruined every surprise I’ve ever tried to plan—not out of malice, but because I physically cannot help myself. Patience, for me, is not a virtue. It’s a foreign language I never learned and have no plans to study.

This part of me was scrutinized my whole life— both internally and externally.

No, Lexi, you can’t interrupt just because you already know where the story is going.

No, Lexi, you can’t text him again. It’s only been twenty minutes.

Being impatient was inconvenient, unattractive and unladylike. But it’s also the core of my brilliance.

I’m not the sharpest person in the room, and I’m definitely not reinventing the wheel. But I move fast. Fast to notice, fast to act. The idea of someone else getting there first makes my skin crawl. I’d rather make something imperfect today than wait around for the illusion of clarity tomorrow—because in my experience, clarity only shows up once the thing already exists. And by then, I’ve usually moved on.

That same impatience—the kind that makes me visibly restless in checkout lines and allergic to long-term planning—is the engine behind my business. One minute I was curating vintage, the next I was flying to Portugal to oversee my own shoes being made. It wasn’t seamless. It wasn’t painless. But it was fast. Three months from idea to creation, to be exact.

When people ask how I made it happen, the answer is simple: I didn’t strategize for months or crowdsource a million opinions. I just fucking did it.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t cried on the floor of my office. Or rewritten the same email seventeen times. Or carried around a clingy little imposter syndrome like a purse I can’t seem to put down. Impatience doesn’t spare you the growing pains, in fact, it often invites more of them. But it gets you closer to what you actually want. Progress over perfection—that’s the mantra. At least for now.

And in a world obsessed with mindfulness, with slowing down and “taking your time,” I’d like to propose an alternate religion: urgency. The holy act of making things happen before you’re ready. The sacred art of doing it now—not later. Now.

Because while everyone else is meditating on the idea, I’ve already emailed the factory, made the sample, and claimed it out loud—and yes, eaten the first bite of dinner.

So no, I won’t wait for the rest of the table.

But you’re welcome to catch up. ;)

I’ve been begging resale platforms to start doing curated edits by real tastemakers. Because let’s be honest…one of the hardest parts of shopping secondhand is sifting through all of the randomness. Make our lives easier. Give us the good stuff. Serve it up curated, edited, and on a silver platter.

Thankfully, Fashionphile understood the assignment. Their latest edit is curated by the one and only Nicole Richie, queen of boho chic, Y2K icon and original it-bag evangelist.

Who better to curate the classics than the woman who wore them best?

The Balenciaga City Bag

Ah, the iconic Balenciaga City bag. With so many colors and patterns giving us the chance to show some designer personality. Nicoles were big, bold and bountiful. Some colors I’m eyeing for fall: Latte, Rose & Taupe.

The Goyard Saint Louis

The Goyard Saint Louis can read corporate working mom…unless you wear it like Nicole. Then it’s something else entirely. Slinky or stuffed, no in-between. Go classic in black, or have something to say with the red or green.

The Hermés Birkin

I’m not usually a Birkin girlie, but I’ve been thinking about Jane’s original a lot lately as it recently went up at auction. Very few people have worn the Birkin the way Jane did… and Nicole Richie might be one of them. Casual, lived-in, effortlessly undone. The way it should be. I just know if I ever got my hands on one, I’d wear the shit out of it to. Preferably in classic black, already perfectly broken in.

Chanel Flaps & Shopping Tote

Nicole’s Chanel collection hits all the right notes. With a clear preference for oversized icons like the Quilted Grand Shopping Tote (especially good in grey) and the classic Double Flap in red. I’d love to know what she was carrying in there…

Naturally, between factory visits and way too much espresso, I hunted down every vintage store in sight. And while the selection was…underwhelming (tragically so), the inspiration was endless.

So instead of showing you what I bought, here’s a roundup of 12 curated vintage looks inspired by what I wished I found.

This is not sponsored by The RealReal, but honestly, it really should be.

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“Constructive rest.”

The phrase glided from my pen to the page during a solo mushroom trip, as if it had been waiting for me to be still long enough to catch it.

If you haven’t caught on by now, there’s a timid writer living inside me and she thrives with a little help from her friend, psilocybin.

“It seems the shadows I long to uncover are hiding in the stillness of the rest that I resist,” I wrote.

Damn. I’m poetic when I’m high.

Then flowed: “Slices of American cheese creating a wave of emotions.”

Okay…so not every download is profound. Who knew I could be so aware, and still so avoidant?

Still, there was something to that phrase. Constructive rest. The kind of rest that isn’t passive, but active in its surrender. Not laziness, not avoidance, just the radical act of letting your nervous system breathe.

As a founder, a lover, a daughter, a woman—I sometimes just need to give myself a damn break. I can’t be everything, all at once, all the time.

Last month, I took the biggest leap of my career. I launched my shoe line and put the most vulnerable part of my creative self into the world, trusting that people would see the vision and want to be part of it. It was exciting. It was all-consuming. A sprint and a daily hustle to make sure the product was seen, understood, and desired.

And then…I crashed.

I ran myself dry, let the hours blur into days, my thoughts reduced to static, and my anxiety led me to fixate on one question. What now?

As I begin the next chapter of designing our new shoe and telling its story, I am met with a quiet truth. In order to create, I need to rest. Simple, uninterrupted restoration. Unanswered texts. Early nights. Slow mornings. Less talking, more reading, listening, and absorbing. Mushrooms. Wine. Dancing. Rotting on the couch. Time to sharpen the tools that built all of this in the first place.

As a founder-forward brand, it is easy to mistake rest for regression. To believe that if I am not pushing, I am falling behind. But that mindset leads straight to burnout. The kind that hollows out your work, even when it looks impressive from the outside.

My mantra is simple. Do not push. Be a body, not a brand.

There is a strange intimacy in rest. A kind of honesty I cannot always access when I am performing. Stillness can be uncomfortable. It’s easy to resist. But it is also where I return to myself. And from that place, I can create something real again.

Now go lay down and wait for what’s next :)

I hate to be that girl, but I coined “Pucci summer” last year and the rest of you are just catching on. In the spirit of staying five steps ahead, I’m calling it now: it’s an Etro summer.

Founded in Milan in 1968, Etro built its name on paisley, patchwork, and prints that feel like a fever dream in the best way. The brand has always leaned maximalist, but never messy.

Styling Etro requires more taste. More imagination. The foresight to see the potential in a print before it’s on a moodboard. The kind of wherewithal to actually put it together…not just buy it off the rack and hope for the best.

This isn’t about trends. It’s about timeless prints that show up and have something to say. And if you get it, you get it.

Here’s a roundup of some of my favorite secondhand finds from the label. Once again…this is not sponsored by The RealReal, but honestly, it really should be.

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