Roni on LTK

LA designer/Harvard BA Fun w luxury, ivy, old money Trends, commentary, tips

Trending posts 🔥

My collections

Going out jeans on sale!

I prefer coated denim over faux leather. It has more of that organic drape we love in leather. Faux leather drapes like plastic usually.

Please note that you might not see the discount here - to see the sale price, tap on the product

#LTKSeasonal #LTKSaleAlert #LTKFallSale

My favorite Labor Day sale jeans in neutrals, mostly light shades. Some of the prices will be lower when you tap on the product

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFallSale #LTKFindsUnder100

I love sailor jeans - the bit of fit at the waist adds just enough polish. Mine are from Frame, and the style is Le Slim with Bardot pockets.

They have a really similar one on sale with a button fly. I wish they offered it in a second wash so I could get it. It’s now an extra 30% off.

I’m 5’7” and wear a size 26

#LTKFallSale #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSaleAlert

Labor Day sales

This post came out of chats with my friend Misha Pinkasov. If packing can be like 10% of the fun I had making a hypothetical list with him, our summers would be so much better.

HOST GIFT: bottle of champagne
Recommended:
* Billecart-Salmon
* Taittinger
* Bollinger
* Ruinart

Avoid
* Moët & Chandon
* Veuve Clicquot

TOTE BAG for the beach and around town
* Longchamp
* LL Bean

TOWEL: do NOT bring your host’s bath towel outside
* Turkish towels are ideal
* LL Bean beach towel is a great option in terrycloth

TOILETRIES & SUNDRIES checklist (may contain items you don’t personally use)
* SPF: body, face, lips
* Dental: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
* Hair: conditioner, products, shampoo just in case, shower cap, night cap
* Skincare
* Razor
* Deodorant
* Cotton balls, Q-tips
* Wipes, hand sanitizer
* Bag for trash when you’re out and about
* Thick socks or slippers, especially if you’re moisturizing your feet or using baby powder in your shoes

Okay, we know what’s definitely not old money. That’s easy. But what are we wearing on an old money beach weekend?

We’ve got the simultaneous goals of ease and refinement, and we don’t have a lot of luggage space. So let’s maximize a few pieces and hopefully integrate our well-worn old money staples.

The vibe is polished and balanced, appropriate for the activities and the company.

Really excited to team up again with my friend Misha Pinkasov. He has specific ideas about menswear, and I hope to do them justice for womenswear here.

Topics covered:

1. Refinement
2. One focal point
3. Bare strategically
4. Special sauce
5. Authenticity
6. Avoid office casual
7. Footwear

#LTKVideo #LTKStyleTip #LTKTravel

Once you’ve eliminated trench coats for inferior fabric, there are a few structural details to check.

The collar frames the face. Getting as close as possible to Burberry is my goal for classic trench coats. Flowy or avant garde trench coats have separate conventions.

I prefer having epaulettes, but they’re not as important as the shape of the collar.

The gun flap is a detail that a lot of designs get wrong. It’s rare to find a true fashion faux pas, but here we are. The gun flap’s purpose is to seal the lapel in place once it’s buttoned all the way up.

Therefore, the gun flap needs to be sewn on the side with the buttons. The side with the button holes is on top, then the gun flap covers the upper corner.

I don’t think this detail is widely understood. Maybe it’s not a deal breaker for everyone. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

The back mini cape is designed to move water away from the body. This design detail also adds to the polish of the backside. Trench coats are generally made of cotton, a fabric which often has the grace of crumpled paper. The mini cape gives the back the appearance of sleek structure.

#LTKtravel #LTKVideo #LTKstyletip

DISTRESSED JEANS

Curious about how your jeans were distressed? Let’s dive into a few techniques that create whiskering, that effect across the hips with creases that are faded to mimic longterm wear.

The general steps for creating distressing:
1. Marking: The areas where whiskers will be created are marked on the jeans.
2. Creasing: The whiskers are folded by hand or machine, then pressed.
3. Curing: Jeans are hung individually and conveyed through a curing oven to set the whiskers
4. Abrasion: The marked areas are abraded using various tools such as sandpaper, pumice stones, or specialized machines with abrasive surfaces.
5. Bleaching: Sometimes, a bleaching agent like potassium permanganate is applied to the abraded areas to further lighten them. It can be sprayed or brushed onto the jeans.
6. Laser treatment: A laser can be deployed to fade out the jeans and to create abrasions. Advanced laser systems can create three-dimensional effects by varying the intensity across the fabric surface.
7. Washing: The jeans are washed to soften the abrasion and blend the whiskered areas with the rest of the fabric.

#LTKFindsUnder50 #LTKVideo #LTKStyleTip

Thoughts on Good American? Do they live up to their promise of quality, style, and substance? Or are they jeggings with virtue marketing language?

Jeans mentioned
1. Good Waist Split Pocket High Waist Crop Skinny Jeans
2. Good Boy Straight Cropped Jeans
3. Always Fits Good Legs Straight Jeans
4. Fit for Success Jumpsuit
5. Good Waist Palazzo Jeans

Bottom line: it’s hard to make stretchy jeans look polished

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKStyleTip #LTKVideo

Have you seen the Rag & Bone Miramar sweatpant jeans in person?

I love surrealism, I love trompe-l’oeil, and I love to learn about trends. This phenomenon needed an investigation.

I was impressed by the Miramars last fall. Can any Amazon versions match them and manage to riff on this concept?

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKTravel #LTKVideo

Jeans and denim

What are some issues you’re finding with blazers? Blazers are complex inside and out. I kept this video to 9 issues, and I can easily add more.

Mistakes covered in the video:
1. Pairing with jeans
2. Sports coat vs. blazer vs. suit jacket
3. Suit jacket pairing
4. Common fit mistakes
5. Collar fit
6. Seam allowance
7. Lapel roll
8. Do not steam
9. Bottom button

Banana Republic has been showing up for us lately with some really beautiful blazers. Aritzia’s wool is great, and their styling is fresh. You don’t want to miss Weekend Max Mara on sale. At least check it out.

I am wearing the Banana Republic Siena relaxed blazer in navy. It’s a great navy, and $150? How? So good

#LTKVideo #LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear

Can we find elevated summer basics at J. Crew? Overall, I was pretty impressed by the linen pieces. The two short-sleeved tops I saw are really, really great, actually – the basics that you want anchoring your outfits.

They took risks with the design. The popover top has a beautifully sculpted collar and a deep neck. Those are features I’d expect to see from a luxury designer. I love the wide hem of the sleeve, too.

I love ruffles, but they don’t really suit my sense of humor. They’re too unabashedly frilly for my personality. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)

But the earthiness of the linen balances out the ruffles, turning them into a more considered, mature accent. I was very impressed. It’s a lot easier to sell cookie cutter cutesy clothes than pieces that challenge convention. There’s something really J. Crew about a linen ruffle.

To elevate your everyday, some structure is key. Their flimsy linen vests lack structure, but the collar of the ruffled linen shirt will add polish to your look.

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSeasonal #LTKVideo

How are you liking blazers at Banana Republic?

I am here for the glow up, but that’s not a blanket recommendation. Some styles are a pass, some are okay, and then there’s the one I love (plus more in the same Italian wool).

#LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear #LTKVideo

Styles discussed:

1. Prep School Sweater
2. One-and-Done Sweater
3. The Boy Tee
4. Umbria Dress
5. Essential Button-Down

Anything else in the line you’d like me to review?

#LTKVideo #LTKWorkwear #LTKSeasonal

How do you pull off day-to-night looks?

If we’re reading off an outfit description, a daytime look could sound similar to night. But when it comes down to it, a day look at night easily comes across as corporate or staid.

A night look during the day can be garish or inappropriate. It really is hard to inhabit both worlds well. It requires an ineffable, emotional aspect to the clothes to belong in both contexts.

I was really impressed by the Alex Mill linen blazer. Normally, their blazers aren’t refined enough for me. The seam allowances and shoulder pads look sloppy.

The cut and proportions of this blazer are so polished, so classic, that the casual vibe of the linen looks intentional. Yes, I do see a bit of the seam allowance on the lapel, but it ends up coming across as purposefully easy going. If the silhouette were less precise – boxy, for example – the lack of structure would appear sloppy. Here, it’s confident. It’s sultry, even, when you wear it on date night.

It’s a blazer you can confidently wear to meetings over a crisp button down, and it’s one that would be stunning with a slinky dress at night. Or wear it with a prim dress to balance it out and not appear stuffy. We know that’s a tough trick to pull off: looking polished and effortless at the same time.

#LTKWorkwear #LTKVideo #LTKSeasonal

Sweaters/Sweats

Comment “links” to get my picks!

What’s your favorite way to wear a linen button down shirt? Does this video format work? Or are there places where it’s unclear?

This is my first styling video in a while, so please let me know what’s what.

Looks covered:
1. Work
2. Summer festivities
3. Trendy

#LTKVideo #LTKStyleTip #LTKWorkwear

Here are my favorite jeans, along with ones I’m eyeing. The Agolde style that’s selected is the same cut as the ones what I’m wearing, but the wash is a little darker than mine, fyi.

I’m going for straight or slightly wide cuts that balance ease and polish, freshness and timelessness. They look together enough for a casual workplace and also effortless enough for hanging out backstage.

#LTKworkwear #LTKsalealert #LTKstyletip

Current favorites from Uniqlo, including that perfect French terry $40 sweatshirt!

#LTKworkwear #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKVideo

As much as this iron is easy to use, I love my steamer more. Wearing rubber gloves helps the process a lot. It empowers you to grip at the right spot without getting buned.

These tailor's hams help ironing sleeves, collars, and all busy intersections.

#LTKstyletip #LTKVideo #LTKhome

DIY leather care can be daunting. The last thing we want is to ruin our nice bags and shoes.

Bickmore products are really easy to use and get beautiful results. Saphir is the holy grail fancy French line. They have a wide array of colors in their wax.

Use an old T-shirt or grab a soft cloth, and you’ve got a meditative new hobby

#LTKstyletip #LTKshoecrush #LTKfindsunder50

Even if I think dark clothes are ready to wear, a few spins with the lint roller always always surprise me.

Lint rollers are great for sturdy fabrics: wovens (think suiting) or tough T-shirts. I wouldn’t risk it on knits or delicates.

The sticky surface can pull away at the filaments that make up the yarns, causing a sweater to fuzz and then pill.

For delicates and knits, I use a kitchen glove. Its grippy surface gives me just enough pull to gather the lint, but it doesn’t harm the material.

I am pretty obsessed with kitchen gloves. They’re not always easy to find. Favorites get discontinued. It’s tough out there!

They’re indispensable for more than just washing the dishes.

#LTKstyletip #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKxPrime

How do you pronounce “Balmacaan?” Do you get annoyed when things are sold with the wrong name? Some names really are umbrellas, pardon the pun: the rain coat category has trench coats, mackintoshes, Balmacaans, and other water resistant outerwear.

Trench coats and Balmacaans are perhaps cousins; they’re both from the British Isles, both made for rainy weather, both khaki in color. But they are separate categories, and one clue to that is their separate names.

The trench coat is modeled after British army uniforms from World War I. Therefore, it makes sense that they’d have gun flaps and other details that confer functionality relevant to trench warfare.

The Balmacaan, or “Bal,” is named after a Scottish estate near Inverness. It was originally made in a rough woolen cloth, while the trench coat is made from cotton gabardine woven from threads treated to repel moisture.

I am seeing a deluge of Balmacaans being sold as trench coats. We are in a minimal phase of the fashion cycle, so I can see how it’s fitting to opt for the cleaner design of the Balmacaan. No issue there.

Just use the right name.

Fashion education is so lacking in the era of social media, and it’s sad when brands and retailers abandon history in order to maximize search engine clicks.

#LTKVideo #LTKstyletip #LTKworkwear

Have you purchased anything from ba&sh? How do you like it? Anything you’re considering trying?

I love the off-duty Parisian vibes. The fabric composition looks promising. But jackets are more than the specs.

You have to see how the fabric drapes, whether the arm holes are high enough (they weren’t as high as Celine or high end brands), whether you see the shoulder pads, and how it’s finished in general.

#LTKVideo #LTKstyletip #LTKworkwear

Coats & Jackets

AM: CosRX Good Morning to lower pH in order to enhance the effectiveness of my vitamin C serum. No joke: I didn’t see results for vitamin C before this cleanser

PM: Hada Labo oil, Sephora makeup remover if needed, then La Roche Posay

Acne spot cleaning/treating: Neutrogena Clear Pore with benzoyl peroxide. Don’t get it near any fabric: it’ll bleach

#LTKbeauty #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKstyletip

I’m always scandalized by makeup tutorials saying to apply concealer in triangles under the eye. The doe foot applicator ends up glopping too much product on the face even when it’s dotted on.

I use a $4 lip brush from the drug store; now amazon sells two for $5.

I love the Givenchy Prisme Libre concealer for under the eye and for spots - ample coverage but still looks natural. Especially using this technique

#LTKVideo #LTKbeauty #LTKfindsunder50

How do you relate your home fragrance to your personal scent? I tend to gravitate to light notes like citrus , so they work in harmony.

Except when I go off script toward the sweet, heady realm of Love Don’t Be Shy by Kilian. I do love to think of the way the environment relates to the personal even when they’re not in synch.

Truth is that I love the Ocean Mist room diffuser too much to switch it up. But Bamboo used to be my favorite, and Nest’s Wellness scents might be what’s next for me.

#LTKbeauty #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKhome

If you want to give an old favorite a new, fresh look, just combine with a pointy kitten heel.

They give boho dresses a much-needed plot twist

#LTKshoecrush #LTKfindsunder100 #LTKstyletip

There are so many beautiful, modern heels that are well balanced - I am really excited to share them! Tag me when you wear them out!

#LTKVideo #LTKstyletip #LTKshoecrush

Can we find elevated summer basics at J. Crew? Overall, I was pretty impressed by the linen pieces. The two short-sleeved tops I saw are really, really great, actually – the basics that you want anchoring your outfits.

They took risks with the design. The popover top has a beautifully sculpted collar and a deep neck. Those are features I’d expect to see from a luxury designer. I love the wide hem of the sleeve, too.

I love ruffles, but they don’t really suit my sense of humor. They’re too unabashedly frilly for my personality. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that!)

But the earthiness of the linen balances out the ruffles, turning them into a more considered, mature accent. I was very impressed. It’s a lot easier to sell cookie cutter cutesy clothes than pieces that challenge convention. There’s something really J. Crew about a linen ruffle.

To elevate your everyday, some structure is key. Their flimsy linen vests lack structure, but the collar of the ruffled linen shirt will add polish to your look.

#LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKSeasonal #LTKVideo

eCosmetics is doing 30% off fragrances today, so here’s what I’m debating and some longtime favorites (I’ve had at least 7 of these Nest diffusers).

#LTKfindsunder50 #LTKsalealert #LTKbeauty

My morning skincare routine!

Take or leave the snail mucin. Vitamin C is also not quite essential. The most important steps are the two sunscreens.

I use both physical (mineral) and chemical. I let one soak, then layer the other. You can use two layers of the same sunscreen - doubling up increases the coverage in case some spots are too thin in one layer.

#LTKfindsunder50 #LTKVideo #LTKbeauty

Are more expensive sheet masks actually worth it? I find that once you pass a certain price, you don’t get much better results. But the super cheap ones are annoying to use and don’t deliver the same results

#LTKbeauty #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKVideo

Hugh Grosvenor just married Olivia Henson, so congrats to the Duke and Duchess of Westminster!

Their wedding was THE event of the year for royal watchers. A bunch of guests wore dresses similar to the Joseph dress that Princess Eugenie wore. Here’s her outfit, along with more affordable alternatives

#LTKWedding #LTKVideo #LTKStyleTip

If rayon leaves you confused and disappointed, stop by a Madewell so you can touch what I recommend to avoid. Their rayon dresses are coarse and feel loosely woven. The prices are about double Zara’s, and Zara has better quality rayon: smoother and more densely woven.

There are further concerns such as labor practices and environmental implications, and each garment needs to be evaluated so it suits your requirements. I can only speak of fabric quality, which ultimately promotes longer wear, which is what we all want.

#LTKSeasonal #LTKFindsUnder100 #LTKVideo

Love this Australian label that makes clean, modern bags from European leather for that easy polish. Don’t miss the AirTag charm – it’s a compliment magnet.

#LTKtravel #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKitbag

Are straw and raffia bags ever worth more than $100? Or do you associate them with summery, breezy, maybe even touristy vibes?

Even the simplest natural materials have gradations, and then these materials meet a bunch of different design and finishing decisions. Mango’s bag looks great from afar, but the trim really demotes it. I’d rather get the proverbial market bag than the one from Mango.

Veronica Beard just launched bags last month, and I’m really impressed by what I saw at their store. The finishing aligns with what you see at bags that are easily three or four times the price.

The question, as always, is what sort of refinement are you looking for? And what’s the value proposition for you?

The Target straw tote bag is really compelling for a modern, minimal take on straw. It would lend thoughtful balance to a really dressy or tailored outfit. I’m always looking for ways to cosplay as easygoing, and I’m grateful when Target gets it done.

Of course, the Target bag also looks great by the pool or at the beach.

#LTKfindsunder50 #LTKVideo #LTKitbag

My posts

No posts yet!

Check back soon to see amazing content from Roni