157. The $27 Bag That Gets Me Stopped in the Street, a Better Take on the Green Khaite-Inspired Shorts, and the Influencer Sandals I Returned

Plus Donni Taffeta Sizing Tips and more.

Jul 16, 2026

This is EVERY BODY GETS DRESSED’s weekly edit of the only newness, sales, and restocks worth your attention.

THINGS I RECENTLY BOUGHT AND RETURNED

Liffner’s pushlock clutch had been on my wishlist for a good three months, and I decided it was time. How do you know it’s time? Keep a Need list separate from your Wish list. Every time I went to get dressed recently, I itched for a fun summer bag in a pop of color. My most-worn bag has been CO’s small leather clutch in espresso for the longest time, so I already knew a boxy clutch you hold in the crook of the arm had mileage in my wardrobe. Call that proof of concept. I just needed a more summery one. Deciding between the large and small sizes was easy. I gauged the proportions from tagged pictures on IG. At 4ft11, I really like to carry tiny purses. The larger one is really quite large. Unless you’re tall or need to carry a lot on an evening out, I think the small one is enough. Note that it really only fits the bare minimum: phone, mints, tissues, lip combo, keys, and earphones. Deciding on the color was more difficult. I love the baby-pink and denim-blue lizard versions but thought they might not be bright enough. The brick red suede, exclusive to Net-A-Porter, was a contender, but I thought my tan bags occupied the same tonal register. That left the chartreuse croc and the turquoise suede in the race. I decided the turquoise was more chic. Time will tell whether I go back for a second, but I love it so, so much. Worth the wait. Liffner has just restocked every color.
I also wanted a daytime pop-of-color bag and found this Pura Utz mini striped tote. Shipping was more expensive than the bag. It’s handmade in Guatemala from recycled market totes. I wear it every day. It looks good with everything, and strangers stop me on the street to ask where it’s from every time I leave the house. They make it in other bright colors and sizes.
I bought these Ilio Smeralda flower sandals after seeing them on Melanie Masarin, and they are just as gorgeous as they are poorly made. I decided to ignore the pitiful stitching because they looked so good, and then on my second wear, the buckle broke, so I returned them. Silver lining: further proof of concept that this kind of sandal has a place in my wardrobe, so I’m now on the lookout for another pair. I’m desperate for these, but I’ll need a more maximalist pair too.

I’m not usually a final-markdown shopper, but when it comes to Tibi, I have to take my chances because import duties are added to the sale price. I wanted the tucked pleat skirt for so long (no link, unfortunately, as the sale is over and it’s no longer on their site), and I’m willing to bet that this earns a spot in my Top 5 purchases of 2026. I placed that order three minutes before I received the email notification that the Fall collection had landed. Good for my wallet, as I’m sure I’d have found a way to convince myself I could buy this perfect tucked pleat top to echo the silhouette of my skirt. It will have to be mine at some point.
Again, import duties are limiting what we Brits can buy, and I have felt left out of the Donni frenzy for the past few summers. So when I saw the taffeta board shorts on Vinted last week, I did not blink. The ones I got are a size S. I would have preferred an XS, my true size, but I’m not mad about the way they slouch a little at the crotch and hang off the top of my hips. More Donni taffeta goodness has dropped this week. See below.
Rachel Comey kindly gifted me this linen gauze button-down, and I have worn it on every day below 25°C since. I love everything about it: the crinkly texture, the not-too-oversized fit, and the sheerness that lets me play with depth by layering a nice lace bra or a white tank top underneath. I love wearing it with a pastel or bright-colored long-sleeve tee or knit tied around the waist, as white makes these shades appear brighter. See how I styled it on Monday in this video (the outfit is clearest at the very end).

@lizambelmonte The stylists’ moves you don’t know about yet

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THE BEST NEWNESS, SALES, AND RESTOCKS THIS WEEK

Reformation made a knee-length pair of shorts in a fern green satin fabric. It was touted as the perfect dupe for Khaite’s and sold out instantly. Instead of waiting for the restock, purchase these ones from The Anteros. They are the same cut and color but less expensive and 100% organic cotton instead of polyester. More sizes here. The brand, designed by a mother-daughter duo, also makes this really great button-down with elongated cuffs.
A favorite among hot Substack moms, Donni’s silk taffeta cargo pants are back in crème and jet black, with new guava-pink and skye-blue colorways. You can still preorder the silk taffeta racer stripe shorts. These will ship mid-August.
I keep coming back to Ulla Johnson for grown-up festival dressing and the more playful side of summer occasionwear. Imagine this with beige cargo pants and flat sandals. The formal dresses that dropped this week in the High Summer collection are just as good: this romantic printed bow dress, this 70’s silk cami gown, and this striking crochet and tulle gown. If you’re shopping for back-to-school already, this cotton twill dress/coat is insane.
I love this J.Crew jersey cardigan with the pearl shell buttons. I’d size up.
COS’ new arrivals are full of pieces that bring much more expensive references to mind: a sweatshirt that immediately reminded me of Rachel Comey’s Fonder sweatshirt (maybe size up for the same fit?), a nylon skirt with echoes of Tibi’s summer crispy nylon, and a raglan tee that channels LESET’s Margo baseball tee. I’m not sure what the inspiration was, but this new jacquard maxi dress is amazing.

Grover Rad launches the Neptune’s Daughters collection. The print features artwork from a 17th-century Portuguese tile mural of Poseidon. I like it best on the backless midi dress. From recent drops, I love the Canopy Jersey dress. It’s wearable art in a slinky, flattering silhouette. If prints aren’t for you, the label also makes this silk mini dress with sequins. It has sexy side slits, is the perfect wear-over-pants length, and comes in midnight blue, blush pink, and lipstick red.

LESET has restocked the Arielle City shorts in black. Harry Styles wore yet another Margo tee, this time onstage; the highlighter-pink color is now available for pre-order. Meanwhile, his ex Olivia Wilde has been promoting her new film, The Invite, in the Margo baseball tee. I wonder who put whom onto LESET. There’s also the new July collection, which brings the Barb satin bias pants and Milo tees in teal; a new Kyoto pant, a relaxed, pull-on style with a drawstring waistband and a tapered ankle; and the Nando Henley, a body-hugging cotton-rib tee with the neckline of the summer: sporty, slightly ‘90s and borrowed from the boys.

LESET STYLE REFRESHER

The Arielle City shorts have the streamlined, easy Bermuda silhouette everyone is searching for at the moment (think of that Margo Robbie airport outfit). Cut in Japanese fluid crepe, they work just as well with a T-shirt as it does dressed up. Because they’re often touted as The Row look for less, they rarely stay in stock for long.
The Margo tee is everyone’s favorite, mine included. I wear T-shirts most days, and it is a good day when one of my Margo tees is out of the wash. My baby tees feel too tight and my looser tees lose the sexy, feminine shape I want. The Margo sits perfectly in the middle. I buy a T-shirt for the fit; I recommend it when it holds its shape, stays soft and still smells fresh after repeated washing. You can buy it in packs of 2 or 3 with a small discount. The brand expanded the Margo line, which now includes a v-neck, layered long-sleeves, and more.
The Margo, Nando and Milo each use a different cotton that creates a distinct silhouette. The Margo’s crisp, shape-holding cotton gives it a clean, defined line; Nando’s soft, stretchy baby rib hugs the body; and Milo’s lightweight Japanese jersey falls more fluidly, with a subtly sheer finish.

Jamie Haller restocks denim, including the Mid-Rise Crease, the brand’s #1 jeans of the season, and also brings back the Penny loafer in CUOIO, a rich brown, inspired by the look and feel of old saddles and vintage traveling trunks. The brand reimagined its best-selling style and released the Penny loafer mule.
The Alex Mill sale continues. Prices on summer pieces range from $14 to $114. I like the deep scoop neckline of the 365 Tank (super flattering), the aqua colorway of the Prospect tee, and the ease of this heatwave linen dress.
I bookmarked this romantic, 100% silk embellished top from Simkhai.
I find the Dreamgirl marketing a bit dated, but Realisation’s dresses are 100% worth the hype. You’d know, as you’ve probably also browsed through hundreds of $1,000+ polyester wedding guest dresses, that $250 - $350 is good value nowadays for a 100% silk dress. I queued up at the Mayfair shop last week and I couldn’t get over how beautiful women of different sizes and heights looked coming out of the fitting rooms. The delicate, slinky chiffon silhouettes really flatter everyone. The brand is having a 25% off sale on nearly everything. Of the styles included in the sale, I loved the Meg in this vintage-looking print (it’s bra friendly). In the Skye dress, I felt like Charlotte York in that sexy, sheer red nightgown, but my heart was stolen by the Lila in the hydrangea print. It’s quite sheer, so I will wear it with a nude slip to a formal event I have at the end of the month.

Cou Cou Intimates restocks the Rina long-sleeve in white and baby pink. They replicated the ‘90s feel, bell sleeves and dipped front of their signature style and released the Raglan and its short-sleeve version.

Comme Si’s latest launches include two very good camis: a silk bias-cut style with adjustable straps and a contrasting neckline, and the Everyday cami, which has a straight neckline, a relaxed fit, and a hyper-minimal silhouette. There’s no concealing a bra under that one, so layer it over a lace bralette. Summer layering 101.
DÔEN started their online warehouse sale yesterday. I bookmarked the Georgiana, with alternating panels of embroidery and lace; the Clea, a ’50s-inspired sundress; and the romantic Ischia dress with puff sleeves.
Harris Tapper Pre-Fall has the nicest tops if you want something sculptural that can turn any pair of pants or jeans into a complete evening look: