Today, we are styling this Madewell top (one of my favorite purchases of the whole summer), this elegant textured Tuckernuck top, and these chic red silk pants.

PS – Last week’s installment!

These Comme Si pants are so chic and easy to wear. I size up to a large in them, fyi. I wanted to style it for fall, so we added this incredible jacquared cardigan (currently sitting in my cart) and rich purple hues (I love red and purple together!).

This neutral look feels polished without being quiet luxury — the texture of the top, wrap belt, and beaded necklace add little bits of fun! You went wild for the Tuckernuck top, we sold so many. I think that’s probably because it’s one of those pieces you could wear to the office or out on a date — there are so many ways to style it.

This one has to be my favorite. I’m really loving sporty with feminine, and the pops of red make my heart sing. The Madewell top is perfect. The ties on the sides let you get a perfect fit. I wear the medium. It keeps selling out, but it will come back every now and then (more sizes and colors here and here) so keep checking back or set up email alerts! I love these track pants and just got this necklace and feel like the red makes everything I pair it with look cooler. (GRACE10 should work for a discount!)

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are very much my own.

The post Styling Last Week’s Best-Sellers, Vol. 18 appeared first on The Stripe.

Happy weekend. This was a really nice week, and I’m hoping for some good weather (the thunderstorms have been nonstop!) so I can get outside and read in the sunshine… my favorite thing in the world. I have my Cookbook Club tomorrow night and am honestly just TBD on leaving the house tonight—it’s hard to motivate when it’s raining! Whatever you’re up to, I hope it’s fab. Xo!

I obviously loved this list of books about rich people behaving badly. NYT gift ink

Okay, this J.Crew checked coat reminds me so much of one I bought from The Row last year. Love it.

Why the closing of Harvard’s writing center matters. The Atlantic, gift link

Hayden Panettiere gave us so much. Bazaar

I cannot get enough of this dupioni mini! So fab.

The six key fashion trends for fall and winter. Vogue

This is the softest bra I’ve ever put on my person. Love it for lounging at home.

Christian Siriano’s historic Paris apartment. AD

Where celebrities stayed for their Euro summers. Conde Nast Traveler

A perfect fall dress. Paprika!

On Tory Burch’s revival (I think it’s already happening). The Everygirl

Very cute polka dot shorts.

Look at this beautiful Victorian villa in Ireland. Homes & Gardens

I am very excited for the Ocean’s Eleven prequel! W

The very best cashmere fisherman sweater. I’ve had mine for years.

15 no-cook high protein dinners for summer. NYT Cooking

There aren’t enough words for how much I love my leopard robe.

The best weekend getaways. Conde Nast Traveler

Which coffee beans to use for which kind of drink? Food & Wine

I just got these joggers and love them so much. Almost as much as the shorts. Joggers are TTS, shorts I size up.

A stunning Minneapolis 1920s mansion. But also: their dog! Homes & Gardens

This striped button-up is absolutely perfect. Love the shades of brown.

A gate agent shares their best travel hacks. Travel & Leisure

Strip steak au poivre. Bon Appetit

I love the color and shape of these ballet flats.

A back-to-school shopping list for adults. The Cut

Ooh this scarf print skirt is such a stunner.

How fashion learned to fear a newsletter. Loved this Vanity Fair profile of Lauren Sherman.

The best mascaras for “mature” lashes. Glamour

My ideal going-out top, and it’s under $100.

It looks like we’ll be wearing woven loafers this fall. Elle

A very good bag for fall.

Crispy sardine Caesar toast. Food & Wine

When middle age comes into focus. The New Yorker

I just got this striped swimsuit and really love it. TTS!

How Shay Mitchell gets her skin so good. The Cut

You could not get enough of this cute mini when I shared it this week. Size down!

It’s time for brands to invest in women who lift. Vogue Business.

Celine Dion goes on. Bazaar

Look at these affordable tassel earrings! Love.

36 hours in the Cotswolds. NYT gift link

I loove all the pretty details on this Farm Rio dress.

A time for female monsters. Excited to watch Furious. The Atlantic, gift link

How to style a windbreaker for fall. Glamour

A really good rug collab. This one is my fave, it looks like it could be a family heirloom.

Is sleepwear the new streetwear? Bustle

These skinny Burberry scarves are such a fun way to add interest to an outfit or bag.

Social media is making it harder to remember what we look like. Allure

Everything we know about season two of The Hunting Wives. Elle

An excellent end-of-summer dress for under $150.

The insider’s guide to Patmos. W

Love these understated suede loafer mules.

The best Italian cities for food lovers. Travel & Leisure

How good does this dill pickle dip look? Bon Appetit

Splurgy but so fun: polka dot flats.

A dreamy 1930s upstate revival. I have window envy! AD

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post Weekend Reading 8.22.26 appeared first on The Stripe.

I love fancy things, and I love to sleep, but still: I never thought I’d be the kind of person who spends almost $3,000 on a mattress cover. And yet here we are; it’s the best money I’ve spent in ages. This is my honest Eight Sleep Pod 5 review, written after forking over my own money for it, plus months of actually sleeping on it — not a 24-hour first impression.

Let me back up, because the way I got here is very on-brand for me.

How I talked myself into it

I’d been hearing about Eight Sleep for a while — mostly floating around Substack, where everyone seemed to be super obsessed with it. I was curious, but $3,000-curious? Not quite.

What actually sold me was a conversation I had at the writing conference I attended at the end of May. One of the women mentioned that, with her Eight Sleep, she didn’t even run her A/C at night anymore. That stopped me in my tracks. Because my bedroom is, for better or worse, the hottest room in my house. (In the winter, it flips and becomes the coldest — old house problems.) This is not ideal. And it gets dramatically worse when Geoff is here, because then there are two of us generating heat like a couple of little furnaces.

So the idea of a bed that could cool me down on its own, without me freezing the entire upstairs, was suddenly very, very appealing. I ordered it on my flight home from the conference.

What the Eight Sleep Pod 5 actually is

If you’re new to this whole world: the Pod 5 isn’t a mattress. It’s a smart, water-based cover that goes over your existing mattress, connected to a hub that sits next to your bed. It heats up and cools down on command, and — this is important! — each side of the bed is controlled independently. So my side can be doing one thing while Geoff’s side does another. No more thermostat negotiations.

The newest version (Pod 5) also added a few nice touches: physical temperature buttons built right into the side of the cover, speakers in the base, and a feature called Autopilot that adjusts your temperature automatically as you move through the night. Fair warning that Autopilot and the sleep tracking require a subscription, which I’ll get into below, because I want this review to be honest about the real cost.

The part I didn’t expect to love: a warm bed

Everyone buys Eight Sleep to cool down. But can I tell you my second favorite thing after cooling down at night? Warming it up.

I make my side really toasty before bed, and getting in feels like heaven. I climb in, feel instantly cozy, and read in my warm little nest for an hour or so. It has completely changed my evening wind-down. Earlier in the week, I was so sore from my workout. I cranked it all the way up to 10 and let my muscles just melt into it while I watched a show.

The weekend version of this is even better. There is nothing like taking a long everything shower, then climbing into a pre-warmed bed for a little afternoon nap. If that’s not luxury, I don’t know what is.

And then, the cooling

Here’s the genius part, and the reason this thing is worth it for me specifically. I love getting into a warm bed, but once I’m actually asleep, I run hot. Like, wake-up-sweaty hot. So the Pod 5 warms me up to fall asleep and then gradually cools my side down through the night, right as my body wants it.

For a hot sleeper, this is life changing. I can wear sweats to bed if I want to! I’m no longer kicking the covers off at 2 a.m. or flipping the pillow to the cold side every twenty minutes. And — back to the conversation that started all of this: I really am running my A/C way less. My bedroom still gets pretty warm, but my bed isn’t, and that turns out to be the most important part.

The sleep metrics are weirdly addictive

I went in skeptical about the data. I already wear an Apple Watch, so I figured I didn’t need another thing tracking me overnight. I was wrong.

Every morning, the Pod gives me a read on how I slept, and it’s noticeably deeper and more useful than what my watch tells me. It breaks down my deep sleep and REM, shows how the night compared to my other nights, and gives me little tips for sleeping better tonight. It’s the kind of feedback loop that actually makes you tweak your habits.

It also tells me how much I snore. Which — yikes. I did not need to know I was quite that loud, but here we are, and apparently I am.

Let’s talk about the real cost

I’m not going to pretend this is a casual purchase. A Pod 5 for a queen runs right around $2,900–$3,000, and that’s before the part people forget: there’s a required subscription for the first year (roughly $199–$399 depending on the tier) to unlock Autopilot and the full sleep tracking. So the honest math is the hardware plus an ongoing membership, and you should go in knowing that.

Is it worth it? For me, genuinely yes — but I want to be clear about why, because it won’t be the same for everyone. I’m a hot sleeper with a hot bedroom and a partner who makes it hotter. Temperature was the single biggest thing standing between me and good sleep, and this fixed it. If you sleep fine and just want cool gadgets, I’d think harder about it. If you spend half the night fighting your own body heat, this might be the most justifiable splurge on the list.

My verdict

Almost $3,000 on a mattress cover still sounds a little unhinged when I say it out loud. But it’s become one of my favorite purchases: the cozy warm-up, the overnight cooldown, the surprisingly helpful data, and yes, even the slightly mortifying snore report. It’s genuinely the best thing I bough tall summer.

If you run hot at night, the Eight Sleep Pod 5 is, for me, the rare splurge that actually delivers on the thing it promises.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are very much my own.

The post Eight Sleep Pod 5 Review appeared first on The Stripe.

Every Wednesday, I’ll bring you a list of ten things that I think you should know about. I’m excited for this. I often stumble across something interesting and will share it to Instagram, but it has no real place to live. Maybe it’s a new launch, a really great podcast episode . . . maybe it’s an independent designer, an artist, or a must-have shopping find. It will be a different mix every week. You can read last week’s installment here..

1. Hotel Lobby Candle is running 20% off sitewide! My personal favorites are Signature and Hamptons. They rarely do sales, so this is the best time to stock up.
2. These silk pouches are so cute, under $200, and you can get your initials.
3. If you are in the market for a new toiletry bag, I love this one! Keeps everything nice and organized (and upright).
4. Shopbop is running their sale-on-sale! Take an extra 25% off with code EXTRA25. I put togehter a tight little edit of sale favorites here!
5. A new-to-me jewelry brand that I think you’ll love if you love Julietta and brands like that: Tame New York. I really love this malachite resin necklace, these oversized tassel earrings, and this necklace (it’s got strong Juju Vera energy!).
6. Lazy Jamie just restocked all their beautiful spiral pieces. These cheese knives are one of my go-to gifts and I also have and love this serving set.
7. How fun are these earrings!? Such a statement.
8. My favorite sexy bra comes in a bunch of fun colors. I love the orange.
9. Loeffler Randall launched pre-fall and (shocker), I want everything. It is hard to narrow it down but my favorites are this perfect white tank, this lace “apron” (wear it to the side and style with jeans and a tee), these studded heels, this quilted jacket, and these fun boat shoes.
10. I love this necklace from Lizzie Fortunato’s trunk show.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post The Wednesday Ten, No. 19 appeared first on The Stripe.

I always love seeing Carly’s picks. She’s typically a step ahead of me, so it generally means that in a few months, I’ll want it too. You can read the last one here if you want more.

The Up Next Edit, Vol. 7

Admittedly, I’ve reached that point in the Charleston summer where I’ve all but given up on getting dressed. It somehow feels hotter with each passing day, and all I can think about is the return of layering. While this month’s edit includes plenty of pieces that could carry me through the remainder of the season, I couldn’t resist letting my anticipation for cooler weather get the best of me (hence the suede jackets in the middle of August.)

Lately, I’ve felt incredibly inspired by Grace to embrace a little more texture, color, and pattern in the way I get dressed. It’s the easiest way to make an outfit feel considered without overthinking it. We often laugh about the trends from our childhood that have found their way back into the conversation—jelly sandals, track shorts, and the like—and it’s fascinating to see how differently we interpret them now. The pieces may be familiar, but the styling feels entirely new.

A few things in particular . . .

• Grace and I both immediately fell victim to yet another pair of board shorts, and honestly, can you blame us? This pair from Nu Swim checks every box of what I want from a trend-driven piece. As Grace so perfectly put it, “They’re cool and, dare I say, a basic!” Whenever I’m considering a purchase like this, I try to let it sit for a bit before committing, giving myself time to think about how it’ll work with the rest of my wardrobe rather than how I’d style it in a single outfit. That’s the real test for me these days. The beauty of a pair like this is its versatility. I have no doubt they’ll earn their keep through the remainder of summer and transition seamlessly into fall with an oversized knit or a simple button-down.
• Crushed velvet is making its way back through the trend cycle, and I’m hoping we keep the revival confined to accessories. (I’m having near war-level flashbacks to the crushed velvet mini dresses that dominated my freshman year of college.) This newly released tote from Valesque also comes in an exceptionally vibrant yellow and feels destined to become one of those pieces you’ll see everywhere this fall. What I love most is how naturally it bridges the seasons. Rather than diving headfirst into autumn dressing, it gently signals the shift. I can picture it paired with a simple slip dress and an oversized button-down tied around the waist—an effortless combination that allows the texture and richness of the tote to take center stage.
• As someone with an enduring love for interiors, this graphic tee from Fruity Booty feels tailor-made for me. It’s a playful take on the classic V-neck I linked a few edits back, with just enough graphic detail to create visual interest without overwhelming the rest of an outfit. It’s the kind of piece that quietly earns its place rather than demanding all of the attention. Light blue isn’t a color I naturally gravitate toward, which is perhaps why I’m so drawn to it here. I’m already imagining it grounded by rich chocolates, muted greens, and other earthy tones once the weather begins to cool.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post The Up Next Edit, Vol. 7 appeared first on The Stripe.

Today, we are styling this chic Farm Rio lace top, this gorgeous black sateen dress, and these super cute mesh flats — the brand will surprise you!

PS – Last week’s installment!

Farm Rio makes some of the white lace blouses, on par with Isabel Marant or Sea, but at a better price. This one is so fab! You’re probably tired of hearing about sandwich dressing, but we’re doing it again: feminine top and ballet flats (need these), paired with sporty shorts.

This drop-waist maxi is such a stunner! Pair her with these crazy cool beaded pumps and a clutch that looks like Saint Laurent, without the hefty price tag.

This look is so me! Graphic tee, cute shorts, and can you believe that these flats are Naturalizer!? They were a best-seller for a reason: cute but wildly comfortable.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post Styling Last Week’s Best-Sellers, Vol. 17 appeared first on The Stripe.

We’re heading home from our trip today. It has been so nice. Fresh air and family time. That being said, I am so ready to sleep in my own bed tonight, drink my coffee tomorrow morning, and most importantly, snuggle the boys. I miss them so!

12 movies not to miss on Netflix. Vulture

My favorite silky pants in new colors!

Loved this, and the comments section: what’s the best non-physical compliment you’ve ever gotten? Cup of Jo

How heavy is your mental load? (And how to lighten it.) The Good Trade

This faux leather jacket is absolutely gorgeous (the green!) and it’s under $200.

How these well-read people make time for books. Vulture

It’s so hard to find good cotton sweaters. This is a favorite.

Made me laugh: do your emojis make you look old? Mine do, ha. NYT gift link

Karin Slaughter’s book recs! Elle

I love this scarf top! It will be perfect with denim this fall.

I am so ready for Tony. Bazaar

How beautiful is this silk blouse?

Ruth Reichl’s cooking essentials. The Strategist

How Caro Claire Burke wrote the biggest book of the year. The New Yorker

Oh, I love this navy dress. And the matching top.

The trouble with trying to turn viral videos into blockbusters. The Atlantic, gift link

I don’t know who I am, but I love these new painter jeans. They look so cool and comfy.

How to tell if you are trauma dumping or just venting. Time

“The year I stopped fixing myself.” Allure

The pattern of this dress is gorgeous; I love the colors.

Can Jeremy Strong make us root for Mark Zuckerberg? GQ

My favorite jeans!

How to use apple cider vinegar on your hair. Glamour

The art lover’s guide to Helsinki. W

More colors of the best running shorts.

“The girlboss is dead, but the girlbaby is just as bad.” Marie Claire

I love that this elegant little mini dress comes with a matching cape.

This no-mayo tuna salad looks very appealing. Bon Appetit

I want to live in this beautiful cottage. Homes & Gardens

My new favorite product for plumping and smoothing before makeup.

Reasons to have faith in the art world. NYT gift link

I love this scarf print set for fall (top, pants)

What fashion executives are reading this summer. Vogue Business

A candid conversation with Aaron Sorkin. Esquire

Such a chic faux suede dress, and the price is right.

Intrigued by this “white wine martini.” Food & Wine

This new THC “half and half” is absolutely delicious with just a little buzz.

Five easy ways to style lace shorts for fall. Glamour

Love this Austin home with English charm. Homes & Gardens

My skin has been itchy from bug bites, summer, sun, etc. This stuff is a godsend.

Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere have heard it all before. Vogue

This woven tote is beautiful, and under $150.

omg! How to make the iconic Palm Springs Date Shake. Bon Appetit

How AI-generated images are changing beauty consultations. Allure

The perfect dress to wear when it’s hot.

Dreaming of these Italian train trips! Conde Nast Traveler

This powder blue satin clutch reminds me so much of Saint Laurent.

The ultimate travel souvenir? A new skill. W

Teenagers are buying into the idea of tradwifery. Vanity Fair

These woven flats remind me so much of my faves from Freda Salvador.

Where to eat, stay, and play in Costa Mesa, California. Conde Nast Traveler

Look at this dreamy satin bag in the perfect shade of blue.

I will leave you with this positively dreamy Fifth Avenue mansion. AD

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post Weekend Reading 8.15.26 appeared first on The Stripe.

Every Wednesday, I’ll bring you a list of ten things that I think you should know about. I’m excited for this. I often stumble across something interesting and will share it to Instagram, but it has no real place to live. Maybe it’s a new launch, a great sale, a really fantastic podcast episode . . . maybe it’s an independent designer, an artist, or a must-have shopping find. It will be a different mix every week. You can read last week’s installment here!

1. This Etsy shop stocks such beautiful necklaces. I think this one is my favorite!
2. This wooden beaded “necklace bag” is so cool. I’d maybe wear it crossbody or over my shoulder.
3. Soft Services is having their anniversary sale, with 10% off sitewide through 8/24. Plus a cute GWP when you spend $75 or more. My two holy grail faves are this overnight hand cream and this exfoliating bar. Never without either!
4. On Substack, I can’t get enough of Carson Griffith’s newsletter, “Rich People Shit.” They always tell me something new, be it a morsel of gossip, a feud, business news, whatever!
5. One of the prettiest hairpins I’ve ever seen!
6. I can’t tell if this Havaiana kitten heel news is really good or really weird.
7. I’m a little off the grid this week but bookmarked TIffany Lopinksi’s episode of The Two Percent. Tiff is a friend and the founder of ShopMy and someone I really, really admire.
8. Crushing on this Staud mesh tote. It reminds me of my Tuckernuck fave!
9. This brand makes such cool things. The bags! Expensive, but wow. I love this one.
10. How cute are Rothy’s new sneakers? I went with the leopard. Love.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post The Wednesday Ten, No. 18 appeared first on The Stripe.

We are back with our biweekly edit of under-$200 favorites. There are so many great pieces in this week’s installment; I hope you enjoy!

late summer under $200 edit

I am a broken record about this, but if you are new here, I have a “great style under $200” section on my ShopMy page that I update multiple times a week, if not every day! Both Carly and I spend quite a bit of time tracking down pieces at this price point that feel well-made, special, and fun.

I aim to share a roundup like this every two weeks (the last installment is right here) as there are so many great items out there that won’t break the bank. Right now, a few personal favorites are:

• These Valesque bags are so much fun, practical, and a great price. I love that they did one in yellow crushed velvet.
• Open-weave raffia mules for only $60.
• These washable silk pants. The mustard yellow shade is gorgeous.
• A gorgeous $70 top from Zara. Honestly, wear it with the yellow pants and the raffia mules.
• A chic checked mini that exudes French girl vibes.
• A $155 link bracelet that could pass for Sherman-Field.
• Gorgeous stone sandals, omg!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post Late Summer Under $200 Edit appeared first on The Stripe.

Today, we are styling this super cute Madewell day dress, this geometric mini from Tuckernuck, and my beloved green mesh tote — also from Tuckernuck!

PS – Last week’s installment!

I love this little dress from Madewell. The price is right, and there are endless ways to style it. For this look, we went with neutrals and chartreuse. My favorite ballet flats, and how pretty is this cluster necklace? This straw tote is on my wish list!

Oh my gosh, you loved this Tuckernuck mini, we sold so many last week! I have been very into aqua and chocolate brown (especially for Fall), so went with that for a color palette. Drape the sweater over your shoulders. I am dying for these Jude wedges!

I get really happy when this bag makes the best seller list as it is the best and really well priced. I find that it goes with pretty much everything, but here we’re making a sandwich: dressy top and sandals with athletic shorts. The best summer uniform!

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

The post Styling Last Week’s Best-Sellers, Vol. 16 appeared first on The Stripe.