PERSON

How to describe the coolest cool girl? Jen Brill is a talented creative director whose effortless style is a high-low hybrid. Jen is one of the originators of mixing streetwear brands with Chanel when no one in fashion was even paying attention to streetwear brands, and she always punctuates the full look with her signature red lip. New York City still mourns losing her to L.A., but I think we all still claim her as ours.

JEN'S FAVORITE THINGS: 

BAG?

The Chanel Classic 11.12 bag; old habits die hard. Denim, lambskin, caviar—I want them all.

BALM?

Kiiks balm is the dreamiest all-natural Hamanasu rose balm made in Japan. The scent is DIVINE. I use it on my lips and hands.

EARRINGS?

I'll be wearing these Anna Santangelo earrings all summer.

FLORIST?

Look no further than Pretend Plants & Flowers for the best florist in Los Angeles.

TOP?

The softest, slightly oversize merino wool polo is the HommeGirls knit polo. 

INTERIOR DESIGNER?

I've had the pleasure of working with Lindsey and Jerome of Office of BC for the past nine months on our new house in Mount Washington. They are the most talented and lovely duo, who have made a gut renovation pleasurable.

MAKEUP PRODUCT?

Fara Homidi's Essential Face Compact is the most gorgeous object and product. It offers the option to be matte, dewy, or both.

SHOE?

The Row elastic ballet slipper. It's so simple; they almost disappear.

AND ONE MORE BAG:

I've just fallen in love with the new Proenza Schouler Flip shoulder bag. The size is perfect for evenings.

PLACE

Kageno, which means "a place of hope" in a Kenyan dialect, was literally that for me many years ago when I was going through a hard time and needed to be reminded of the power of possibility. After meeting the co-founder and executive director, my now good friend Frank Andolino, through our mutual friend Liya, I packed a tiny Patagonia duffel with a small stack of Acne tees, a pair of jeans, a pair of vintage army cargo pants, a few bandannas, and one pair of hiking boots, in addition to the Converse I wore on the plane. Then, I set off for a month to volunteer in both Kenya and Rwanda. Kageno's mission is to help transform impoverished communities by providing health care and education, in addition to supporting income-generating initiatives. I was lucky enough to work in their community gardens and help out in the nursery schools that they built and run. I was craving meaningful connection, and my journey was life-changing. I encourage you to visit kageno.org to learn more about the incredible work they do. And if you do go, make sure to do the trek to see the gorillas while you are in Rwanda. I can't wait to take my son!!

THING

I pretty much wear a T-shirt every single day of my life—either as an underpinning or on its own—and a white tee to me represents the most perfect and essential piece in my wardrobe. It's like having pasta in your pantry: It's a must and can be turned into anything in a few minutes. I am constantly on the hunt for the perfect white T-shirt, and while I have different tees for different looks and needs, these four are among my absolute favorites for spring into summer. (And if anyone from J.Crew is reading this newsletter, my personal plea to you is to please bring back the original Painter Tee. It was THE best all purpose T-shirt.)

Here are four options that I think check all the boxes for the perfect spring/summer white tee:

45R

This tee is probably the hardest one to get your hands on, but it will also outlast any version in your wardrobe if it's properly cared for. The cotton is from Japan, and as my old boss, the legendary Polly Mellen, would say, the weight of it is "gutsy." This tee is my go-to for day to night. I can wear it as easily with jeans as I can with a beautiful pair of trousers for an evening look. It's also the perfect length for tucking. It's a men's T-shirt, so I recommend getting the smaller sizes depending on how you like your T-shirts to fit.

Petit Bateau

 I am not one for baby tees (I'm too old), BUT this boy's tee worn in a size 14 or 16 is both affordable and perfect for summer, either as a layering piece or on its own. It's also long enough to tuck into anything that is high waisted. I especially love the neck and quality of the cotton.

Khaite

I wish this tee came in every color. I love it so much. Like the 45R version, this is slightly more boxy and gives '90's vibes tucked into just about anything. It also looks cool untucked with a denim or leather skirt (although full disclosure: I need a waist and tuck absolutely everything, including sweatshirts!)

Adam Lippes

This is the softest tee in my arsenal, and it's light, so it's a nice option for evening. It also has a lovely weight to it and sort of drapes nicely. I have worn this tee tucked into my high-waisted skirt from The Row, but it also looks great under a tux jacket.