I saw the photo of Mary-Kate Olsen in a good winter outfit— black coat, brown alligator bag, printed scarf, sunnies— grounded in black sambas. Looking chic as ever. But the shoes gave me pause.
Not because I hate Sambas. I don’t. In fact, I loved them. They were my shoe of choice in 2019. I had multiple colors. A few Wales Bonner collaborations. They felt specific then. A little insider. Like you had to be paying attention.
Back then, trends didn’t metastasize at the speed they do now. You could wear something for a while before it became a uniform. Before it showed up in five different “How to Style” articles. Before it was crowned The Shoe of the Season.
When I think about my Sambas from that era, they felt like a choice. Not a signal. Not a membership badge. Just something I liked.
The moment anything feels oversaturated, I instinctively lose interest. Not because I’m above trends. Not because I need to be contrarian. But because I don’t like dressing like everyone else. And when something tips into ubiquity, it can feel less like personal taste and more like participation in a collective mood board.
The internet has a way of flattening things. It takes something good— something that once felt alive— and runs it through the algorithm until it becomes familiar to the point of fatigue. The same shoe. The same proportions. The same formula. Repeated until it loses its dimensionality.
But here’s the question I keep circling: does the object actually lose its magic? Or do we just grow tired of seeing it refracted back at us endlessly?
Because when I looked at MK, the Sambas didn’t feel tired. She didn’t look like she was participating in a trend. She looked like herself. And maybe that’s the difference.
She probably isn’t chronically online in the way the rest of us are. She doesn’t seem to metabolize trends through discourse before deciding whether to wear them. She just wears what she likes. Whether the internet loves it. Whether it hates it. Whether it’s been declared “over”.
There’s something admirable about that. A kind of insulation from the noise.
I wonder if part of my resistance to wearing them now has less to do with the shoe and more to do with my relationship to visibility. When something becomes hyper-visible, it stops feeling like mine. It feels communal. And communal can feel anonymous.
Maybe the real loss isn’t the magic of the shoe— it’s the illusion of exclusivity. The comfort of thinking you found something before everyone else did. The quiet thrill of being early.
The internet has compressed the lifecycle of trends so aggressively that we barely get to form a private relationship with something before it becomes public property. We discover. We post. It spreads. We detach. On to the next.
And yet— there’s a kind of maturity in not discarding something the moment it becomes popular. In letting an item survive its viral phase. In wearing it anyway, if it still feels good on your body.
Am I going to start wearing Sambas every day again? Probably not. But that photo felt like a small recalibration. A reminder that taste doesn’t have to dissolve just because it’s been widely adopted. That something can be mainstream and still be right— if it’s right for you.
It is impossible to outrun the algorithm. But maybe it’s about developing a point of view sturdy enough that it doesn’t matter if anyone catches up.
MOVING ON. I had the most wonderful time in Paris last week. I’m still trying to beat the jet lag, but alas! A few highlights.
We spent our first dinner at Hotel Chateau Voltaire’s brasserie L’Emil. I went a couple years ago for the first time and it’s been permanently stamped in my brain. And this meal didn’t disappoint. The wine, the pepper sauce filet, the snails and garlic butter, the pavlova <3333 DIVINE. Truly, most romantic restaurant ever.
I had been wanting to go to Louise Carmen for so long and it was an exceptional experience. I created the journal/ planner of my dreams. You choose the size, leather color, strap, charms, inserts, engravings. Every detail is considered. I’m aiming to spend less time in my notes app creating to-do lists and more time writing. This was such a treat I know I’ll have forever. I had considered doing the whole thing online, not knowing when I’d be in Paris next, but I’m so glad I waited to do it irl. SO special.
Officine Universelle Buly, of course. I walked out with as many things as possible. The hairbrush, the comb, the lip balm. The monogramming adds an extra layer of chic. It’s the perfect place to buy gifts.
ATA Mediterranean. Since getting home I have tried finding a website or Instagram but they don’t seem to have one. We had the most insane lunch here I’m still dreaming of the falafel and sweet potatoes. It’s in the 6th Arr. right across from Le Bon Marche. It’s casual, the food is incredible, and no reservation required. The owners are precious.
I finally made my way to Charvet ready to pull the trigger on some slippers. I tried several colors. I really wanted the bright red— but it wasn’t meant to be aka they didn’t have my size. So I went with the tan. I love them <3 They are the perfect house slipper.
Brasserie Lipp was my grandfather’s favorite restaurant in Paris. It was very sweet to go have a meal there. It’s not trendy— just classic French, and filled with locals which is very refreshing. The food is so good.
Galeries Lafeyette. I have an affinity for a European department store. There’s just nothing like it. They have an exceptional vintage floor right now. All pre-loved designer and vintage and I was blown away. The prices are really good and I just wish I had more time to sift through everything. I love GL because each brand has its own boutique rather than just a rack. The selection is spectacular. I replaced my beloved Prada Nylon sneakers I ruined ( essentially I shrunk them to the point of being unwearable, I’ll never forgive myself ). The VAT refund this time around eased the burn. So if you want to know if I think they are a good investment, I’ve now bought them twice hahaha help!!!
Mamiche in the 10th Arr. Coffee, pastries, breads galore. It was a lovely little neighborhood spot. Highly recommend.
I simply needed something to trek all my new purchases back to LA so bought my first Longchamp Le Pliage Bag in this really good chocolate brown. It’s such a classic and practical bag. They do complimentary monogramming if you buy your bag at the Paris store, FYI.
x
Syd
