The Sunday Circular, Volume 6: F*ck Fall

On clog-loafers, bulky wallets, bedside tables and summer supremacy.

Fall propaganda is in full swing — don’t fall for it!

Welcome back, friends, and happy Labor Day.

I have a bone to pick with a few of you. I’ve been out on these streets over the past week or so and I’m hearing that familiar late-summer refrain: I’m so excited for fall.

To which I must reply: Fuck fall!

Summer in New York is elite, uncontested, perfect in every way! New York is so cold and gray so much of the year—nine months or more, if my boyfriend is to be believed—and the incandescent, beatific chimera of summer is so fleeting, it’s a mystery why anyone would want its sweet embrace to end even a second sooner. It’s the season of socializing, of sweat, of the sun’s languid caress on your UV-kissed skin. It’s the season of loose trousers and threadbare T-shirts sensually draped over toned, tanned flesh. The promise of sex is everywhere, and the chatter of tipsy conversation is the low-hum soundtrack of the city. If it is at times uncomfortable, let that sensation remind you that you are a soul in a body, experiencing the world—enjoy it! This season, you little freaks even got the added bonus of a foot-forward summer. Since the pandemic, an entire ecosystem of outdoor dining has made the joyful theater of al fresco eating a vital, engaging part of city life. Summer! It’s sticky, it’s noisy, it’s horny, it’s damp—it’s alive!

So many people fetishize the autumn—a season where things start to wilt, wither, and die. The feral energy of summer begins to mellow, unwind. They crave their pumpkin and apple flavored diversions, the moody drama of autumnal twilight, and reach for their lightweight jackets or gauzy knits, thinking that extra layer suddenly makes for an interesting outfit (not always so!). But with those rituals come the ruinous signs of the year’s conclusion—the end of Daylight Savings (suicide worthy), the maddening sprint toward the holidays, and then the dismal gloom beyond. Another year passes, and we all grow older. Let me stay young and dancing through summer forever!

Well, you are all getting your wish despite my protestations. The summer is officially over, though I pray for one last blast of savage heat, one more day lollygagging in the sun, one more night dozing to the droning sound of an AC unit. I’ll miss you, muggy days, and warm nights walking home gossiping while sticky ice cream dribbles down its cone and onto my hand. I’ll miss my favorite flimsy T-shirts and baggy shorts, my newly acquired Havianas, and my beloved bandana. I’ll even miss your funky smells, the heavy body-feel of a blazing day, the unceremonious tickle of moisture pooling at the nape of my neck or under my arms. Farewell, dear summer! You shall be missed, at least by me.

Lemaire Snake Print Pyjama Shirt, $357 (from $1,190)

Guys, I have something to admit: I’m an AWFUL sale shopper. There is an unspoken golden rule that you should never buy something merely because it is discounted, because it means you don’t really desire it in the first place. Well, were this shirt its actual four-figure price, my eyes would glaze over and I’d keep on walking. But at this price—why suddenly I see my whole life unfurl before me as a human that would OF COURSE wear a snakeskin-printed pajama shirt! Probably daily! Bury me in it so my ghost can HAUNT you in it.

One thing I will say is that I’m not one to wear a ton of print or pattern, my exceptions being camo and, of all things, leopard (like Jenna Lyons, I consider it a neutral). This top feels in that general vein—distinctive without being too look-at-me or showy. A print, but not. It actually kind of reads like … wood grain to me? But what do I know? I could easily see myself wearing this with black trousers (or a sarong?) and my beloved Vans, maybe open over a T-shirt or tank or even buttoned up. If they had the matching pants … Ooooo boy, then we’d really be talking.

Birkenstock Naples Suede Backless Loafer, $165

This week Herbert Hofmann, the VP of creative and buying at Highsnobiety, posted the above shot of himself in shorts, socks, and tawny, nubby loafers. At first glance, I thought the shoes were Loewe, thanks to their bulbous, slightly exaggerated toe box; however, on closer inspection, I came to realize they are, in fact, Birkenstocks.

As has been well documented, I’m a tried and true Vans guy, but these stopped me in my tracks and had me reconsidering all previous shoe decisions (not to mention a few life decisions). I love that they’re backless and have a slightly elevated sole, in that classic Birk way. The color is just right, the suede is a dream. When I sent the link around to some friends, the immediate response was that I should pass on them. Well, what the heck do they know!? (And, just so you know, when I send you a link for something to buy, I’m asking you to encourage me, not for your honest opinion.) Despite not looking forward to fall, I do feel like these could be the perfect shoe for the season …

Smythson Panama Cross-grain Leather Cardholder, $220

I have a very good friend named Adam who is perfect in every humanly way except one: he has the biggest bifold wallet that is absolutely crammed to the gills with stuff. It’s enormous, exploding, a monstrosity! I will say this about it, though: it’s the ephemera and detritus of a life well lived. Press passes, business cards, museum memberships, old theater tickets, furtive notes, plans hatched by candlelight, and, for all I know, forged IDs for his life as a secret agent. Whenever we’re dining together and he pulls it out, I gasp! Such an unweildy, unbecoming lump in an age of slender, streamlined accessories. A big chonker in an age of Ozempic! In that way, it’s retrograde and charming.

Well, dear Adam, I stumbled across this Smythson this week, and it struck me as the perfect potential alternative. I, myself, transport all my belongings in a paper-thin card carrier (Bottega, thanks for asking), and I think you, too, could benefit from something similar. I am a big fan of Smythson’s notebooks, and this has a whiff of that literary élan, thanks to it coming in the brand’s signature crosshatched “Panama” leather. I also like that it can be oriented both vertically or horizontally (she’s verse!): the central pocket is great for cash or receipts, while the others can carry an ID and a credit card or two. That’s all you need—just the essentials, and off you go!

Dear Adam, don’t carry the weight of the world with you! Purge yourself of the indignities of a bulky, cloddish wallet. Your spirit is so light, so free, floating across time and space like a stone skipping across water. Plus, I so fear for your uneven hips sitting so lopsidedly with this in one pocket! Consider this suggestion a gift from me to you (unfortunately, I’ll need to make more money for the gift to be more than a mere suggestion).

PSSSSST: Two good alternatives are this zippered card holder in a strangely alluring gray by Prada ($650) and this envelope-fold-over-accordian guy from Margiela ($495).

Massimo Dutti Linen Knit Tank Top, $50 (down from $100)

As part of my autumn denialism, I’m still shopping like it’s summer, and if some things that catch my eye just happen to be on sale, well then, so be it. Take, for example, this knit tank. Despite its obvious nods toward warmer times (namely that it’s made from an open-weave linen), it does strangely seem like it could transition into a great little layering piece for fall. There’s probably still a few more times to wear it as is before the real brunt of cooler weather starts to settle in, but I could also imagine it being worn under an open button-up, adding just a little bit of texture and a whisper of skin. Or even worn layered under a long-sleeve shirt, so a little peeks out at the waist. Or, of course, you could always just buy it now, tuck it away, and be pleasantly surprised that you bought it for your future self next spring when you pull it out from the back of some shelf. Buy your future self a gift—on sale!

Dries Van Noten High-Neck Half-Button Sweashirt, $254 (from $725)

As I’m sure you can tell, I get very obsessed with certain types of things (ie Broadway merch, double-knee pants) and just buy variations of them ad infinitum, hoping that one day I’ll finally acquire the one that will heal me. Heather gray sweatshirts are one. And while I maintain that a vintage Russell Athletic crewneck and hoodie are hard to beat—and I have multiples—this Dries Van Noten one is giving “gray sweatshirt but make it Fashion” vibes. Consider me intrigued! The dropped shoulder, the high-button neckline … it channels one of my favorite aspects of Van Noten’s work—to take something beloved, familiar, and casual and imbue it with an element of unexpected elegance and intentionality. In a world where so much of what we’re shown is not special, this clearly is very special. I love the way it was styled in the original show (on a woman, not like that matters)—so good. Dries, man, he’s the real deal.

Russet “The Sidekick” Side Table, $125

I have to say I love my bedside table set-up, so much so that I often post it to my Instagram stories. The way the afternoon light in the summer filters through the backyard trees and ripples across my bedroom is … truly divine. And not to brag, but a few people have asked me who makes my side table. Well, I thought you’d never ask!