SUMMER CELEBRATIONS

STARS AND STRIPES AND MAPLE LEAVES

NOTES FROM THE CLOSET

IT’S HOT, NOW WHAT?

Hello Lovies! I hope your summer is giving you exactly what you need. Slow mornings, good people, a cold drink in your hand, and if you are anywhere near Texas right now, I hope you are inside. With the AC on full blast and no plans to go outdoors until October.

Every July 1st in Dallas, I am not outside. I am not dressed. I am in my house, in the AC, probably in a bathrobe, making myself a Caesar and celebrating Canada Day entirely by myself because nobody in Texas knows what it is or why I’m being so dramatic about a Tuesday. The Caesar, by the way, is the greatest cocktail ever invented. When I first moved to Dallas and asked for one at a restaurant, the waiter looked at me funny and said, “Ma’am, the dressings are on the table.” He thought I wanted a salad. I almost cried.

And then three days later? The Fourth of July arrives and suddenly my entire neighborhood is in full production. Flags on every door. Fireworks at noon. The energy of people who do not do anything small. But here’s the thing nobody is talking about, and they absolutely should be: the most stylistically loaded three days of the year have nothing to do with Fashion Week.

Two national holidays, three days apart. Two color palettes. One closet. And if you know what you’re doing, one spectacular capsule wardrobe that works for both.

Canada Day is red and white. The Fourth of July is red, white, and blue. Do you see what’s happening? The colors are not competing with each other. They are working with each other. Canada lays the foundation. That clean, red-and-white story. America adds the navy, the depth, the third note that takes the whole palette from bold to iconic.

This is not a coincidence. This is fashion geometry.

Now, Emerald green is my person. But red, white, and blue? That’s my July. That, and the Canadian Tuxedo. This is how we dress for two countries in three days.

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HANGER APPEAL

TWO FLAGS. ONE CLOSET. ENDLESS OUTFITS.

Let me start by saying something controversial: red, white, and blue is not just an American color story. It belongs to Canada too. You’ve got the red maple leaf, the white field and if you’re pulling the color blocking the way I’m about to suggest, blue is just a bonus that makes the whole thing sing. Ironically, I don’t love red, white and blue together but read on for my tips on how to make it work.

Which means your July 4th outfit and your Canada Day outfit? They can live in the same wardrobe conversation. You just have to know how to pivot. Link to all the looks here.

FOR CANADA DAY: Red + White, with a Side of Denim

Canada Day is red and white. Think bold, clean, a little sculptural. This is not the day for maple leaf appliqués. This is the day you wear that perfect cherry-red midi dress you’ve been saving.

Now, the Canadian Tuxedo. I have to talk about it, because it is literally named after us and we should be proud. The legend goes that Bing Crosby was turned away from a Vancouver hotel in 1951 for wearing head-to-toe denim. Levi’s responded by designing him a custom denim tuxedo jacket. And just like that, denim-on-denim got a name, a nationality, and a rebrand.

Here’s how to wear the Canadian Tuxedo in 2026 without looking like you came straight out of a 2001 Britney Spears music video:

1. Head-to-toe denim: Don’t be afraid to commit. A matching denim shirt, jacket, and jeans create one long, uninterrupted line that’s incredibly elongating and undeniably chic.

2. Mix your washes: Pair a light-wash jacket with dark indigo jeans or reverse it. The contrast is the point. Mixing washes adds dimension, depth, and makes the entire outfit feel intentional rather than matchy-matchy.

And if you’re doing Canada Day in a red and white palette? Don’t ignore a red and white striped shirt, you may look like the Candy Man but they look fantastic with a white wide leg jean, just saying. Be brave and mix and match stripes and polka dots for extra brownie points. Throw a denim jacket over the shoulders like a cape and Chef’s kiss. It’s the Canadian Tuxedo meets the French Riviera. Montreal would approve.

FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY: Red, White & Blue

I spent years as “somewhat new to the 4th of July,” as a Canadian adjusting to the American version of summer patriotism. And I understand the instinct is to grab a sequined red-white-and blue tank top and call it a day. I love the enthusiasm, but here’s how we can elevate this year:

1. Let red be the accent: Build your look with whites and blues, then add a single pop of red—a ballet flat, lipstick, bag, or my favorite, a red baseball cap. It’s the easiest way to look festive without looking like the flag.

2. The Full White Moment: A white dress is the perfect canvas. Add a red lip, a structured navy bag, or a red belt for an elevated nod to the holiday.

3. The sailor stripe: A blue-and-white Breton tee with your favorite jeans and a little red sandal is timeless, effortless, and just patriotic enough.

4. The Denim Bridge: Here’s my dual-citizen fashion hack: A great pair of dark indigo jeans works for both. Pair it with a crisp white shirt and a red lip and you’ve got all three colours, ready for a parade in either country.

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WHAT’S FEEDING ME

INSPIRATION ACROSS BORDERS

The thing I keep coming back to this July is this: I have two home countries, and they have both shaped how I dress.

Montreal gave me my sense of proportion and irreverence. The city is bilingual and bicultural and always slightly too cool for the room, and that energy lives in how I put things together. I think about structure. I think about whether something is interesting.

Texas gave me permission to take up space. The Fourth of July in Dallas is not subtle. It is enormous and exuberant and it asks you to show up (in every sense of the phrase). And that boldness, that flag-out-front-of-the-house energy, worked its way into me. I wear color harder now. I go bigger with accessories. I have learned to celebrate loudly.

Together, those two things are pretty much my entire style philosophy.

What’s feeding me right now, beyond the obvious joy of July, is being with my husband and kids about to embark on a trip to Wyoming. The great wild west, another thing both countries share, what could be more American or Canadian than that?

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CURRENT CRUSHES

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST DRINK EVER

It’s hot. Have I said it before? So I’m drinking what any logical person would drink. A Caesar, of course. Canada’s unofficial national cocktail and proof that great taste does not always sound great on paper. Vodka. Clamato. Tabasco sauce. Worcestershire. Celery salt. It’s savory, briny, spicy, slightly unhinged and, have I mentioned, the best drink ever? I’m eating anything iced! I recently tried an East Coast staple, Italian ice topped with frozen custard. Now, I ate it completely wrong, not knowing to mix it, so I had delicious frozen custard and when I got to the ice, it was a nothing burger. Next time, I know.

I’m currently watching Half Man, the latest series from Richard Gadd, genius creator of Baby Reindeer. It’s dark, unsettling, impeccably written, and the kind of show that stays with you long after the credits roll.

I’m back to reading my emails mostly because I’m too neurotic to leave any unread (any tips for instant unsubscribing to all the junk lists? Help!)

What Am I Listening To? Not exactly Rush. (I barely made it through Tom Sawyer...don’t revoke my Canadian passport.)

Michael and I saw them in Dallas, and afterward had the chance to meet Geddy Lee backstage. What struck me wasn’t his legendary status, it was how genuinely kind he was. A true mensch.

Knowing he’s the son of two Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Toronto after Auschwitz makes that humility even more remarkable. Talent is impressive. Character is unforgettable.

Oh, and it’s hot, which means you need sun protection. I have done the work for you and created the comprehensive list here.

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DEAR CARLA

THIS WEEK A QUESTION FOR YOU!

From fashion SOS moments to everyday dilemmas, ask me anything right here. Thank you readers for all of your questions and comments! This week I have a question for you!

What are your summer plans darling and please tell me, what will you be wearing??