SAMIRA NASR
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Welcome back to the next installment of my newsletter. I just touched down in Milan, and I'm excited to report back on my favorites from the runways next week. But I have so much to share with you right now, so let's jump right in!

PERSON

Sarah Hoover is the ultimate Renaissance woman. She is a writer and a lover of the arts (she used to be a director at Gagosian and goes to the ballet more than anyone I know), and she goes to great lengths in search of the perfect martini or the best ice cream sundae. She is a mom of two and has impeccable taste, and I adore her. Her memoir, The Motherload, a searingly honest portrayal of motherhood, marriage, postpartum depression, and working through all the tough stuff in life, is out next year. While you wait to buy her book, here are a few of her favorite things, and spots across NYC, that you can buy or visit now:

MY FAVORITE, MOST RUTHLESS TRAINERS:

I see Beth Nicely at the Limit for my cardio and Erika Bloom for my Pilates. They are both deeply empathetic humans, but their bodies are made of metal, so they train ruthlessly.

HIGH-LOW SNACK:

The little mini tuna-artichoke sandwiches from Sant Ambroeus with Whole Foods brand ruffle potato chips on the side and a Diet Coke with ice from the deli. Deli ice is such a delicacy.

TRAVEL PILLOW:

I travel with a Porthault mini pillow and two cases. I buy every print I can get my hands on at the biannual sale. I know I'm nearing ancient because I lived at the time of the Barneys sample sale and am old enough to have transitioned to having that same level of excitement for the Porthault sale.

BOOKSTORE TO CRY IN:

Even in the new SoHo location, McNally Jackson makes me tear up when I walk in. If it ever leaves New York, I will also have to leave New York. In the cold months, I get a hot chocolate with marshmallows down the block at L.A. Burdick first.

MARTINI:

Once you've had it, it's hard not to say Bar Pisellino's martini is the best there is.

SLICE:

My favorite pizza is from Cafe Fiorello. It's like crispy nachos…but pizza.

SUNDAY DINNER:

The roasted chicken at Raf's. My mom made roasted chicken every week in my house when I was growing up, and even though I've lived in New York since I was 18, I still get homesick, especially on Sundays.

TAILOR:

My favorite tailor is Karen Chinchilla. We met when she was at Prada, but now she has her own studio. We bonded over cat-eye eyeliner and collecting Prada prints from the early aughts.

ICE CREAM:

I get a dip cone from Softside with startling regularity and am blessed I don't have a lactose problem.

COFFEE:

Abraço makes perfect coffee, which I then ruin by adding a gross amount of cream and sugar so that it tastes like melted coffee ice cream.

BREAKFAST:

I miss you forever, pumpkin pancakes from Cafe Orlin. Until we meet again, I get the banana pancakes from Cafe Mogador.

FANCY LUNCH:

The bar prix fixe at Le Bernardin is the best deal in town.

PLACE

Photography by Adam Deen

When I worked at Harper's Bazaar the first time, back in 2000, the bookings editor was James Scully. James was also the casting director (and genius) behind Tom Ford's Gucci and Saint Laurent shows. He's a lover of great fashion who also moonlights as a sharp fashion critic. If you follow him on Instagram (jamespscully), you know what I mean. This past spring, he and his partner, Tom Mendenhall, opened a multibrand boutique in Upstate New York (548 Warren Street in Hudson, NY) called Jamestown Hudson. Their extremely well-curated shop offers everything from Dosa, Extreme Cashmere, and Pas de Calais for women to RRL, Greg Lauren, and RTH for men. In honor of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, it also has a great selection of Black-owned brands, including Epperson, Lola Faturoti Loves, and my personal favorite, Lemlem by my dear friend Liya Kebede. It's become next to impossible to find a good multibrand store with a well-curated POV, and to know James and Tom is to know that this is IT. Happy shopping!!!

THING

A few months ago, one of my besties sent me a quick snap of a black travel tote that she saw a fellow passenger carrying on a plane. She wondered if I could help ID its maker. This got me thinking about my own travel tote, which is a Supreme Budweiser bag that I have been carrying for well over a decade. I'm a creature of habit and really enjoy using my things. I still wear the same jean jacket I have had since college, and some of my favorite shoes are ones I have owned since the early 2000s. Could it be time for me to rethink my favorite bag for something more sophisticated? I'm not sure I am ready to part ways with my trusty old carryall, but if I were, these four would be at the top of my list:

The Row

So, the bag my friend eyed on her flight was this one by the Row, and I've got to tell you, I think it's pretty perfect. I especially like the snap at the top, and unlike my Budweiser bag, which usually has me digging for everything, this bag has a couple little compartments inside that provide easy access to your passport, phone charger, and any other small travel essential.

SHOP NOW

Loewe

Bazaar's accessories director, Miguel Enamorado, insists that this is THE best tote bag. He sees everything, so when it comes to accessories, his endorsement is fashion gospel. It sits comfortably on your shoulder and can hold all the travel essentials, like a computer and carry-on toiletries. It also folds down into a flat square so it can be packed easily.

SHOP NOW

Toteme

Sure, this may look like a simple bag with two skinny straps, but you know how hard it is to find a simple forever bag with two perfect little straps? AND it has a single little pocket inside that is perfect for your passport. Plus, if you are like me (and my mother, who I am quickly becoming), you can easily fit another smaller bag inside. I love a bag in a bag!

SHOP NOW

Leatherology

I dare you to find a chicer version for this price ($85). It's impossible, because I found it for you! This is a beach tote, but so is my Budweiser bag, and this one is even better because it has a ton of practical compartments inside to help organize your travel essentials.

SHOP NOW

See you next week!