SEP 17, 2026

INSIDE: Wisdom Flexing, Everything Bags, and a Scenic View.

TODAY I WILL:

Leave room to surprise myself.

Fall has us craving reinvention, preferably with a Bob Mackie-level entrance.

• Is the CD having a comeback?

• Getting married now comes with an Instagram-handle decision.

• The Practical Magic reunion sparked an unfortunately predictable conversation about aging.

• Bob Mackie understood the assignment before we had the phrase “revenge dress.”

• The fall urge to cut your hair has arrived right on schedule.

Read It and Weep

Being well-read is having a very good PR moment. After years of racing to have the quickest take on whatever the internet was arguing about that day, the pendulum is swinging toward actually knowing things. Enter wisdom flexing: casually signaling your intellectual curiosity through what you’re reading, learning, and thinking about.

Books have become accessories in their own right; everyone seems to be launching a Substack, and admitting you spent your weekend going down a three-hour rabbit hole on some wildly specific topic is suddenly cool. Even the way we share online feels different. Instead of simply posting an opinion, it’s more currency to show your homework: the essay you bookmarked, the podcast that changed your mind, or the dog-eared book currently sticking out of your tote.

And sure, some of it is performative. Carrying around a 500-page novel doesn’t automatically make you the smartest person in the room. But if the latest status flex is reading more, getting curious, and having something to say beyond the hottest take on your feed? We’ll take it.

We Have a Lot of Baggage 

If anyone loves tiny-bag culture, it's us, but on days where our schedules require schlepping all over the city from the office to a post-work Pilates session, our tote bag becomes the unsung hero. Still, we want function without giving “functional.”

So, our editors found the totes that earn their spot on your shoulder. These are the bags proving you really can have it all—and apparently carry it, too.

Sézane Basile Bag: For the girls who want their tote to say “Parisian chic but make it fall.” The rich coffee suede and structured silhouette make this one feel more like a capital-F Fashion bag than your standard commuter tote, while the roomy interior gives you space for the things you inevitably collect throughout the day. We especially love it for elevating an otherwise basic jeans-and-sweater look. 

Tory Burch Ella Natura Drawstring Tote: We love that this tote’s drawstring silhouette gives it a more relaxed, sporty feel while still looking polished enough to carry everywhere. We’re bringing this one to the office, but it’s also the perfect bag to bring from yoga to brunch on the weekends. Trust us, this bag is highly rated for a reason! 

Alex Mill The Perfect Weekday Tote: For the casually preppy girls who don’t already know, we love this customizable bag from Alex Mill. Over the summer, it was the perfect weekend bag to take to the farmer’s market, and we love that this fall it's making a transition in our rotation to full-time since it fits our laptop and an extra pair of shoes. (If you’re looking for a more subtle print, we love this one, too!) 

Verve Culture Feline Tote: For the days you want to make a bold statement and bring some brightness to your look. This tote is doing just as much for the outfit as whatever’s inside it. She may be carrying your laptop and leggings, but she certainly doesn’t look like a gym bag.

Anine Bing Elly Leather Tote: We love this one if you’re looking to really invest in a she-does-it-all bag that will carry you for years to come. The sleek leather and pared-back silhouette give this one serious cool-girl polish, making it an easy choice for days that start at your desk and end somewhere significantly more fun.

Summer Isn’t Over Yet

Even if the weather is getting a little chillier, it doesn’t mean you can’t take one last beach vacation. And if it were up to us, we’d be spending a long weekend on Cape Cod stat. Here’s where we’d stay, what we’d eat, and what we’d do (based on our editors’ IRL itineraries).

Stay:

• There is no lack of charming houses on Cape Cod, meaning Airbnb is a great option, especially if you’re staying with a larger group. But if you prefer the vibe of a hotel, The Charm on Main is as cute as they come.

Eat & Drink:

• Brunch: Good Friends Cafe has basically everything you could crave for breakfast (or brunch if you’re a late riser).

• Lunch: You can’t go to Cape Cod without having a lobster roll (or five). Head to Sesuit Harbor Cafe for an incredible take on the classic.

• Dinner: The Pheasant is a farm-to-table restaurant with quality you’d be impressed with even in a big city. We haven’t had anything we didn’t love here.

• Dessert: Is there anything better than an ice cream cone after a long day of vacationing? We think not. And The Ice Cream Smuggler is the place to get the best of the best. If you end up getting a pint, you can put a scoop on a cookie from the DPM for maximum sweet-tooth enjoyment.

See & Do:

• It’s an obvious one, but spend as much time at the beach as possible. Keep in mind that high and low tides can be very dramatic on the Cape, so plan accordingly. The sunsets are gorgeous, so don’t forget a jacket and some food if you want to stay for it.