SAMIRA NASR
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Welcome to my newsletter! I'm back in your inbox for a special holiday edition. For the next few weeks, I'll be sharing my latest fashion obsessions, recommendations from the most stylish people I know, and my favorite gift-giving places and ideas. Let's dive in.

PERSON

As someone who has essentially worn a uniform my entire life, I'm always in awe of anyone who gets dressed with gusto, embraces color and pattern, and seems to live by the adage that more is more is more. I have known Bianca Jebbia for decades, and she embodies this. The Mrs. to Supreme founder Mr. James Jebbia, she has flipped the bird to the very polite and digestible idea of sartorial style. Her Instagram handle is fuckoffy and she means it! While it's not unusual to see her sitting front row at shows like Chanel, Loewe, Margiela, and Schiaparelli, she is a proud maximalist who never—and I repeat never—wears a designer look head to toe. What makes her approach to style so inimitable and inspiring is the fearlessness and fun she brings to getting dressed by mixing things up and piling them on. Here, the Queens-born and raised style original shares some of her favorite addresses from fashion's capitals.

1. Chanel accessories and pieces of framed artwork. 2. Decorated Comme des Garçons x Spalwart sneakers. 3. Simone Rocha Crocs. 4. Flowers from Gotham Florist. 5. Bedazzled Sonny Angels.

I'm a New Yorker who is a creature of habit and a lover of all things. Plus I'm a Cancer/Gemini cusp. So I never have just one or a definitive answer. Bear with me!

BEST LATTE:

The Elk coffee shop is down my block, and I love everyone in there. There's great food, but I'm all about the lattes. (Sometimes the mornings are tough and you'll find yourself on a long line full of athleisure-wearing chicks, so there is that.)

BREAKFAST AND KIKI SPOTS:

My kids used to go to the school down the block from Buvette for 12 years, so it became the school hang-out spot. It has the best cortado and waffle, egg, and cheese sandwich. Damn!! Or the waffle with berries and crème fraîche!! Jesus!

In the early '90s, the best breakfast was (and still is, on weekends) Cafe Gitane. I still love their baked eggs, and I'm always trying to re-create their avocado on toast—so good and simple. It's really about the bread, though. And they have the best chicken sandwich with thinly sliced Parmesan cheese. I get it with regular mayo, not chipotle, and I shove the salad with the dressing in there too, in that baguette. So fucking good, bro! Hits the spot!!

CRAFT SUPPLIES:

During the day, I love to craft. I'm currently bedazzling my Sonny Angel Hippers. My favorite place for supplies is Toho Shoji in Midtown. Everyone there is sooo helpful. I get all my Swarovski flat-back rhinestones there.

ONE-STOP-SHOPPING:

I'm a shopaholic, and the best place to just hang and browse is Dover Street Market. A one-stop shop! They have new and classic lines there. I feel like a kid in a candy shop. Some of my best friends work there. The jewelry section when you first walk in is hard to ignore; just try walking by without peeping some stunners. DANGEROUS!! And the Rose Bakery is great to sit and discuss your findings or brands whilst chomping on the best bread with butter and jam. Their sourdough is insane and arrives warm and toasty.

COMFORT SHOP:

Even though I'm a simple squirrel, my safe place is Chanel in SoHo. No shame in my game. I could literally be feeling so shitty, but I know if I go there, the staff will greet me, I get a sweet glass of bubbles full of love, and we just look at the collection and play dress-up. I don't always have to buy something, but I may walk away with a hair accessory or a pair of mod/Goth leather black boots. But it's always about the time spent with great people that is priceless to me. They make me feel like I'm part of the family.

RARE VINTAGE:

9th St. Vintage is a cool little space full of insane pieces in great shape from the early 1900s to the 1980s. Their denim collection is fire!

FULL BOUQUET FLORALS:

When I send flowers to anyone, it's from Gotham Florist. People often like minimal floral arrangements and more ikebana styles lately, but I like a full bouquet. I like rooms in my home to welcome people with delicious colors and scents, like a French hotel. They always take care and make sure every flower in the bouquet is perfect. (They can do anything. They created the most amazing flower arch for a restaurant entrance on my birthday.)

COCKTAIL AND CONVERSATION:

For drinks, I do love Wallsé, the restaurant, and Wallsé Next Door. My husband and I went there with our mutual friend the other day. I like when I can hang and talk with a friend and feel like I'm in my living room. Perry St also gives me that vibe when I'm sitting in their couch/lounge area with a great bowl of french fries. I adore their rice cracker tuna.

BEST SLICE:

The best pizza is Joe's Pizza at 7 Carmine Street. I DON'T GIVE A FLYING FUCK WHAT ANYONE SAYS, BRO!!! YOU'RE WRONG! It's the best. So get off those B-grade, even C-grade TikTok-influenced lines! You're wasting your time.

BEST BAGELS:

Go to Bagel Bob's, son! No lines, and fresh as pie! Actually, I'm about to order delivery right now. You know when you shove a hot, fresh plain bagel in your mouth that's right out of the oven and it just melts!? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

GLAM SECRET:

I'm obsessed with this Betty Dain makeup protector hood! It's like a little zip-up veil for your head/face. If you're like me and love dressing up and love a full face, then you know how tragic it is walking out the door to have a moment with friends and catching that makeup stain around your collar. It's the worst. This veil has saved my life and time. And it's literally $6.99. Everyone should have one in their wardrobe.

FRENCH FRAGRANCE HEAVEN:

I'm obsessed with the fragrance and body wash and creams from Officine Universelle Buly. They are so cool and chic. Their stores look like forgotten old spots in Paris that have been transformed into chic slices of fragrance lovers' heaven. I love the orange blossom and tomato scents. They take their sweet ass time, but it's worth it. Watching the pretty girls in their uniforms and red lipstick as they bring your purchases to the woman packaging each one up and personalizing them with labels with your name written on each box in calligraphy is heaven. I just ... have no more room for these empty boxes that I refuse to chuck 'cause my name just looks so pretty on them. FML!

VINTAGE CHANEL IN PARIS:
Go to Les Merveilles de Babellou. Trust me, it's worth it. It's a little trek, but if you have a free day, get your ass over there.

STATIONERY:

Oh Fuck! In London, my favorite stationery store is Choosing Keeping.

PLACE (TO GIFT)

I love all things Tekla. My (many) pajamas are Tekla. Most of my sheets are Tekla. And in my son's bathroom, you will find mismatched striped Tekla towels. The quality is great, and the colors are beautiful and hard to find anywhere else. This holiday season, if you are struggling to find the person who has it all a little gift, may I suggest a few offerings from this Scandinavian brand? The pj's come in an assortment of perfect shades and stripe patterns, and the best part is that the tops and bottoms are sold separately, so you can make your own sets. Important note: Do not sleep on the boxers as a gift because they double as the best beach coverups. Whether it's cashmere socks, hand towels, or facecloths, there is no wrong answer here. I recently saw the long-sleeved tee and am praying Santa subscribes to this newsletter. P.S. If anyone from Tekla happens to read this, can you please bring back the pale-mint sheets? I'm, um, asking for a friend.

THING

Remember a few weeks ago when I said that leather jackets are the new blazers? Well, I meant it. And now, oversize work shirts are the new leather jackets. Or are they the new blazers? Last year, someone gifted me a cashmere number, and getting dressed in cooler months has never been so easy. Day or night, I just throw that shirt on over anything and voilà! Done. Door. Call that Uber! I have worn mine to the office, done all the way up with jeans (men's jeans from the Row, which we must discuss another time), but also over my go-to lace cami with a pair of classic trousers for a night out. Perfect. Easy. Cozy. Also worth noting is that these shirts are a breeze to pack, which is something I think about a lot when making a purchase.

Here, four options that are worth the investment.

Phoebe Philo

This version is in a heavy cotton, which is almost better than cashmere because you can wear it all year. I recently saw a young woman wearing this shirt with the brand's tuxedo trousers and, I must say, she looked fab!

SHOP NOW

Saint Laurent

This shirt has a slightly more tailored fit than some of the other options, and the color is more versatile than you might think. I have been enjoying pairing this wine color with bright red, shocking pink, and even rust. If that sounds like too much for you, black and navy would be great options here too.

SHOP NOW

The Frankie Shop

I don't know why, but I just want to throw this camel version on over a simple Hanes tank and a pair of leather trousers. I could also see this version worn open over a fitted denim jacket (done up like a shirt) and a perfect pair of jeans. The possibilities are endless.

SHOP NOW

CoS

'Cause you just can't beat this price for a shirt this versatile. Think of it as a shirt with the option of being a more structured cardigan at a price that won't break your budget. Happy shopping!

SHOP NOW

See you next week!