Glamour

A second style word. A part 2 if you will.

Hi and happy Sunday! I’m going to play around with sending newsletters on Sundays (vs. Saturday mornings) to see if I like the flow of this schedule better and can “use my time more wisely”— something my 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th grade teachers would be so pleased to hear. (My 4th grade teacher knew I was perfect as-is).

I debuted a new lunch this week that 4/5 family members raved about, so I’ll tell you here: It’s a pastrami turkey pesto wrap. The “pastrami” turkey was an accident, I ordered regular turkey from the deli, they gave me pastrami turkey, I almost took it back, but then I remembered how much I loathe exchanging things, so, I put it in a lavash wrap with plenty of thinly sliced provolone, Rao’s pesto, a little mayo and a handful of something green (arugula, romaine, spin). That’s it! It might be even tastier with some sort of dipping sauce— just a vinaigrette because pesto is already a loud flavor. I also envision it being a good candidate for a quick smoosh in a panini maker. If you try it, let me know!

GLAMOUR

I had so much fun writing last week’s letter about Patina that I wanted to tackle something in the same spirit—except totally different. And to be very clear about what I’m doing here: I’m bending words to suit my own lens and my own ideas.

A low-key fascination of mine (that I’ll mostly spare you) is the way language shapes ideas, and ideas shape language. In Russian, light blue (goluboy) is a completely different word than dark blue (siniy). Just as you wouldn’t refer to bubblegum as “light red” in English, Russians wouldn’t describe ink and the morning sky as dark blue and light blue. They’d use the precise words.

In Spanish, you might tell a lover te amo, but a child te quiero. In French, knowing a person or a place requires a different verb than knowing a fact. Je sais how to play chess, but je connais that gentleman over there. Capisce? My reason in getting all thesis-y about it is because I don’t think there’s a word that completely captures what I mean when I think of 21st century glamour. Maybe one exists in another language. If you’re multilingual and have a good word for me, please share.

Glamour—as in the word glamour (less so the idea)—has become such a common, everyday descriptor that it’s difficult, here in 2026, to conjure a specific image without piling on qualifiers. Old Hollywood is the first kind of glamour that comes to mind. Marilyn Monroe, of course—but so many more: Garbo, Mansfield, Gardner, Bacall, Kelly, Taylor. They’re so embedded in the American cultural definition of fame and glamour that I didn’t even need to use first names.

But beyond Hollywood glamour, there’s also the mid-century socialite en vacances sensibility. If Babe Paley at 21 for lunch was chic, Babe Paley at her Round Hill villa in Montego Bay was glamorous. Beyond those highlighted in Ryan Murphy’s disappointing (IMO) miniseries, there was Gloria Guinness, Diana Vreeland, Marella Agnelli, Wallis Simpson—the the glamorous, gilded aristocracy gang.

I also experience glamour as something with deep roots in the American South. Tallulah Bankhead. Zelda Fitzgerald. And then, of course, came small screen Hollywood’s idea of Southern glamour: Dallas. Dynasty. Linda Evans’ hair. I could go on (Cindy! Naomi!), but what you’ve probably picked up on by now is that all of these references are decades—if not a full century—old.

So what does glamour actually mean today?

Well. That’s up to us. Glamour has become such a widely overused term, that it can mean pretty much what we want it to mean. To me it’s:

Mysterious, Objectively Beautiful, Luxurious, More Formal than the Situation Demands, Wise, Generous, Sexy, Regal and (a little) Restrained

Honestly, I I keep coming back to Pamela Anderson at the WWD Syle Awards: the black gloves, THAT HAIR; no earrings; oversized black sunglasses; everything being less and therefore doing more. Plus I think dramatic transformations are glamorous. And boy if there ever was one.

And that’s when it clicked: glamour isn’t a look. Or even a definition of a look.

It’s a stance. It’s a no apologies, and no explanation tendency to take up both space and spotlight. It’s leaving some things to the imagination while over-emphasizing others. There’s usually a playful commitment to something a little over-the-top. It could be a coat, a hairstyle, a heel or a lip shade but it might also be a signature warmth (I personally find that confidently close talkers are usually a little glamorous). Being impeccable at keeping secrets, picking up the check for the group, declining politely but without explanation, knowing what you want to drink: glamorous.

So, is my style glamorous? Sometimes, but not especially! Certainly not every day. But glamour is a lever I like knowing how to pull. It isn’t about outfits so much as intention. To close out with yet more etymology, the word glamour itself comes from the Scottish glamer, meaning enchantment—the casting of a spell. That’s actually—perfect, right? So with that in mind, let’s work some magic.

• I’m having a real moment with dark, richly patterned pants worn exactly like you’d wear jeans. With a button up, tuxedo shirt, t-shirt, sweater, silk blouse or the like. Very louche, very lounge. Dressy, but to thine own self be true. Lethally glam. shown above $810 // harem $248 // cropped $448 // Ritz-inspired $548 (I’ve had these on my list for a long time).

• Heels you can walk well in. I’m still finding my way back to heels, post-covid. I’ve bought a few, but their soles are pretty pristine. Heels that give you that lift and re-organize your posture can be high, or they can be medium high. Or Bitchy Low Heels. There are not your grandmother’s pumps; well maybe they are. shown above $1200 // d’orsay bordeaux- oui! $890 // python $395 // caged $1050 // steel blue suede $170.

• A good bomber jacket is sexy in the same way a flight suit is sexy. Can’t say why; just the way things are. It’s my go-to layer when something formal is going to be chilly. It’s cooler than a jean jacket. Remember when, immediately following the release of Top Gun Maverick, everyone started posting about Jennifer Connelly with such fervor the some people thought she’d died? Nope, they were posting because she was so hot. Bomber jacket. Shown above $400 // X Alpha Industries $135 // quilted $298.

• A collar necklace. Emily Grady Dodge and Kelly Williams wear these so well. I don’t own one, but every time I spot one, I want one just a little bit more. That structured bit of ferocity and glamour against an every day outfit like a sweatshirt or button up is sooooo good. Modern-day Dynasty vibes with a dress designed to break hearts. — Shown above $295 // thin and (stunningly) simple $195 // dramatic and 10k gold $805 // try one out for $45. Etsy and The Real Real are also amazing sources.

• Black sunglasses because of course. These are probably the most direct route to adding a little bit of intrigue to any outfit. Especially if you leave them on a few minutes into the indoors. Really big sunglasses are a little cartoon-y on me. Others wear them very well. Jet black in a more moderate size do the trick for for most. Shown above $555 // slightly oversized $95 // the forever classic $191// tiny bit of gold $335.

• Underpinnings like camisoles can be often under looked. If it’s next to my skin, I wanted it to feel good, and I actually have a hard time finding lace-edged camisoles that look pretty and are of a nice quality. These are also a very easy way to bring femininity to an otherwise tomboyish outfit, and that tension is one of my favorite vibes. Shown above $55 // bias cut silk $198 / barely-there lace trim $30 // lace-forward $165.

• Since glamour relies just as much on the details as the heavy hitters, beauty rituals and makeup are a fun lever to play with. Insanely soft skin, a red manicure (or the perfect baby pink) eye-liner that gets smudged into the lash line plus a single coat of jet black mascara. Hair with volume* that smells like “every girl who broke your heart” plus a lip palate for mixing the perfect shade of berry or crimson.

• Lastly, I imagine every glamorous woman wears something fabulous to bed, every night. Right? Maybe this is an illusion or a myth, but it can’t hurt, silky tee and flowy pants $245 // with feathers(!!) $539// cotton silk with leopards $545.

Here’s how some fashion designers are using AI. This is probably the fourth article I’ve read this week that draws the conclusion that AI does not live up to its hype.

This article about Miami Beach is a must-read. Past. Past. Future. Juicy.

The secret to a cozy kitchen.

This $28 serum* + this sunscreen = ultimate glow.

10 books for long winter nights (gift link).

Celebrity memoirs worth reading: also a very solid list.

“She knows very well—as maybe a lot of young women do—that allowing people to underestimate you can be very powerful.” this was a great profile of Kaia Gerber.

My friend tells me that this romcom movie is nothing short of a delight. I’m going to watch it once I finish this sweet and smutty novella.

These cult-following cashmere bandanas are back in stock. LOVE the red and white.

Have you listened yet? It sounds like you could dance all night to at a club, perfect for the carline.

I just wrestled these new jeans* away from the UPS guy, and they are dramatic and fun and COOL. More to come.

Reporting back on this ritzy laundry detergent. I don’t love the French Saffron scent. Italian Bergamot is good for sheets and towels. Egyptian Rose is my favorite and it’s incredible— not particularly rosy, just sweet and alluring. I’m going to try this with my next order.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them; items marked with an asterisk* were generously gifted (but only shared if they’re awesome). You can browse most of the items from this post here.