Introducing SECOND PASS

A new component of First Draft, Second Pass is a list of vetted things that are worth the investigation, time, money, and brain space.

Last Monday morning around 8AM I took the F up to lower Central Park. I got off at 63rd and walked up through the east side of the park, following the meandering paths through pockets of light, medium, and dark green. I loved being among the morning park walkers. Here we were, slightly better than everyone else (not really, but really) because we were outside already. Being with people who decided to start their days by taking in a little more oxygen for the sake of feeling a little more sane and grounded makes me feel like maybe I am also sane and grounded, which feels good. I’ve been walking to Brooklyn Heights’ Promenade most mornings this summer, so it was nice to visit another oxygenated and verdant venue.

I met up with Harling Ross Anton, one of my favorite walking partners. We caught up for merely an hour because we both had to continue with our respective days, but that short window of time filled me up. Our plans were spontaneous and delightful. It’s true what they say: you can just do things. You can make the choice to walk in Central Park at 8AM on a blue sky morning. Also, we’re not talking enough about the medicinal quality of an overdue walk-and-catchup with a friend. Something to consider.

That evening I took off to LA for a work trip. We spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday shooting our fall campaign. Being on set with people who are the best at what they do (I mean this literally) and wonderful to be around is something I’ll never take for granted.

Work-wise, I don’t think there’s anything I love more than being on a big, energized set. I love writing. I love putting ideas out into the world and connecting with people that way. But working on a shared vision with likeminded and talented individuals hits different. It’s not a solitary pursuit. It’s a group project that gives way to new relationships and shared delusions and seemingly impossible problem solving and inside jokes and general human expansion. You just can’t get that stuff when you’re working alone. It’s the reason I love my job. Whenever I lament the loss of time I used to spend writing, I come back to the realization that there will be time for that again one day, and that this type of collaborative work is extremely rare. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Outside of work, highlights from this LA trip were a facial at Formula Fig, wrap drinks at Zizou, a trip to RLT where I finally copped their new jeans in indigo (I tried on the prototype during my last visit and knew I’d have to return), and a few stupid Erwhon purchases including the CLEARSTEM supplement (I needed to know what all the fuss is about). For some reason LA makes me feel like I need to buy things, even more than New York, which is really saying something.

Back home, I did my routine neighborhood stroll on Saturday morning (recently loving this store on Atlantic Ave) and hit the beach with Danya Issawi and Kat Thomas (soon to be on Substack, I’m holding her to it, because every time I see her I ask her were 3-4 things she’s wearing are from. We picked up lunch (inclusive of watermelon and pineapple juices) at Tacoway and proceeded to have the perfect official first day of summer.

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SECOND PASS

Welcome to a new component of First Draft, where I list off a few things that are worth a second pass (i.e. worth the time, money, or brain space). You can’t give everything a second pass—there are way too many products, content, information to consume today. This is the stuff that has been worth the investigation, in my humble opinion.

• PLATED SKIN SCIENCE: When my mom visited last month, she had every Plated facial care product lined up on the counter in the bathroom of her hotel room. I had never heard of it before. But because it is my civic duty as a daughter to use my mother’s products without asking, I tried every serum and cream. I thought maybe it was just a mom brand, like Olay or something. To my surprise, my skin basically rejuvenated overnight and became a fuller, brighter version of itself. Then I heard Hailey Bieber talk about this brand in an interview (and was so impressed with my mom for being ahead of the curve, or at least, on HB’s wave). I proceeded to buy the Intense Serum. What can I say, I’m a sucker like everyone else.

• LESET HALTER TOP: The rise of the halter top is no small thing. Flore Flore launched their version this summer (I love the pink one), Tank Air has a bevy of them (this one being my favorite), my dear friend Lolo found me a special pink crystal-encrusted vintage Gap halter top on eBay (similar and also so cute), and lucky me received Leset’s iteration in the mail last week. I got the vanilla, but I’m also into the black.

• MIAOU x ROXY COLLABORATION: I had the Roxy suitcase as a kid, and despite living in Dallas, Texas, I considered my spirit to be of the Roxy-wearing, surfing, beach blonde California set. I guess some of that is still in me because when Miaou announced the Roxy collab, I knew I’d fall victim. I got the Elektra Skirt and Kauai Bikini. I recommend sizing up if you too fall victim (I got the skirt today and it’s miniature, albeit very cute. Initiated an exchange, which means a trip to the UPS store. Ughhhhhh.)

• THE LYRICS IN “PHOEBE” BY AUDREY HOBERT: I’m going to go ahead and say that I think Audrey is the best indie-girl songwriter of our generation. I’m so excited to see all that is to come for her music career. I’m a little late to obsessing over Phoebe, but now I can’t stop thinking about it. I’ll leave you with these lyrics that summarize how every girl feels at some point, if not always:

  I think I've got a fucked up face
  And that thought used to haunt me
  'Til I fell in its sweet embrace
  Now I don't sweat the acne
  It's a bitch, but it goes away
  And who cares if I'm pretty?

• THE BOOK YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL BY MAGGIE SMITH: Divorce memoirs skyrocketed in 2024-2026. I loved Strangers (wrote about it here) because it got me thinking about the inevitable tradeoffs and compromises that come with life partnership, what makes them worthwhile, and how much I actually don’t know about any of that. I wished Burden’s was a bit more self-reflective (still, she did an incredible job, leaving me wanting more). Smith takes a different approach to the divorce memoir. Her’s is deeply introspective and at times even reads like diary entries vs. a retelling of what happened. Highly recommend. I think I’m ready to move away from the divorce memoir now…

• THE JEFF BUCKLEY DOCUMENTARY: Oh my GOD this broke me on the plane from LA to NY. Truthfully, I did not know the Jeff Buckley lore. But I love a music documentary, I love a New York documentary, and this one does both. What a beautiful boy, what a beautiful story. He was so handsome and deeply talented, perhaps troubled. A story worth watching.

• THE GAP X FIFA SWEATSHIRT: This is the sweatshirt I’m wearing in the photo at the top of this newsletter. It’s an ideal hoodie—the right weight, right shape (mine’s a medium), and the fabric feels worn and vintage. I wore it on set every day last week. Tempted to get the t-shirt, too.

• LA APPAREL SWEATSHORTS: I was on set with a well-known it-girl/hot girl last month, and she arrived to set wearing long, grey sweatshorts and a grey hoodie. I took note and copped these, which turned out to be perfect. While we’re talking about LA Apparel, I also bought this v-neck long sleeve shirt in navy, it’s a great tee.

• BYLINE’S NEXT PRINT ISSUE: Shameless plug maybe, but our next print issue launches this week, and I love this one more than anything we’ve done yet. The stories are so poignant and thoughtful, with covers by the artist Tallulah Dirnfeld and Etienne Francey. It will be at Casa Magazines on Friday (they sell out every time :)). Don’t forget to subscribe.