A Stylish Week in the Hamptons
Every other year or so, my sister in law Cathy invites my husband and I to tag along on her family vacation. We are only invited if 1) one of her immediate family members can’t make it 2) someone cancels at the last minute or 3) there is an extra room in the house. I would like to think that she invites us for the sparkling conversation that we contribute but I think it’s actually because of my husband’s culinary prowess. While I’m hiding out in the bedroom because by day three I simply cannot drink my coffee with thirteen other people and no, I do not want to play charades after dinner (I have visions of this horrible scene in The Family Stone ), my extrovert husband is cleaning the kitchen, running to the store, making crab dip, grilling lamb chops, and playing the hell out of charades.
We were invited to join her family vacation for what was described as a “mansion in the Hamptons” for the last week of June. The only catch (for me) was that there were going to be 23 people in the house all week and accepting the invitation meant that “we” had to cook dinner for all 23 of us one night. This requirement would have been enough for me skip out on the whole operation but dinner for a crowd is a dream come true for STF*.
This was to be our first time in the Hamptons. Half a century of living on the East coast and I’ve likely been to every beach town in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware, but a Hamptons invite has proven to be elusive. Everything I know about the Hamptons comes from Ina Garten (I am the Jeffrey of my marriage), SATC, and Andy Cohen. As is typical for my sister in law, she provided an itinerary for the week which included suggested attire. There were a few surprises including a not so subtle suggestion that wearing pajamas to coffee/breakfast would be frowned upon, there was to be a session with a professional photographer one evening in which we were all to wear white, and Friday was “Field Day,” two words which bring to mind an image that is the opposite of vacation.
After a rewatch of Season 2, Episode 17 for inspiration, I emptied my closet in search of Elevated But Not Like I’m Trying Hamptons Looks.
I was imagining that I would write about what I saw the locals wearing on the beach and in town during my trip but who could do that better than Jess Graves in one of my favorite pieces of the summer.
And frankly, it turned out to be a seriously entertaining week of people watching inside of our own house. Cathy served up classic East coast luxury prep night after night while her soon to be step-daughter Chelsea made every single one of us feel like we wanted to burn our wardrobes and start over and her daughter in law Erica made me seriously rethink my position on boat shoes. I often feel caught between bohemian, preppy, and lately a more modern style and these women could have been teaching a master class on how to curate a tightly edited vacation wardrobe.
Her celebrity/fashion doppelganger: Veronica Miele Beard
Likes to wear: Classic pieces that she’s had forever with pops of luxury. Will push the envelope; she keeps you guessing. I’m always asking her for the details on what she’s wearing.
Home: Princeton
Drives: Maserati (I had to look up how to spell that).
Sweetheart: During our trip, she was proposed to by a man who designs grocery stores and surrounds her with flowers and love.
Hobbies: Being fabulous, entertaining, traveling, keeping the family together, and taking care of all of us.
She had me at hello: When she made it look effortless to prepare filet and lobster tails for 23 while drinking old fashioneds and telling stories. Also, her key lime pie is the best I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot.
Her celebrity/fashion doppelganger: Harling Ross Anton
Likes to wear: Dresses layered over jeans, Jenni Kayne, Rudy Jude, Rag & Bone
Home: San Diego
Drives: Black Mercedes circa 1982
Sweetheart: Dreamy boyfriend who sings in a band. It’s all too much. But there’s more.
Occupation: Former Rag and Bone product developer turned interior designer. Actually.
She had me at hello: When she harmonized with her boyfriend while he played Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes on his guitar around a bonfire.
Her celebrity/fashion doppelganger: Aubrey Plaza
Likes to wear: trendy items from Rent the Runway (so smart).
Home: Brooklyn
Drives: See “lives in Brooklyn.”
Sweetheart: Stunning wife who is a sommelier.
Occupation: Attorney. She worked the entire time we were in the Hamptons. While the rest of us lounged, she was trapped in the house on call after call - hence the sticky notes. But she looked fabulous while doing so.
She had me at hello: When she disregarded the dress code and wore overalls to dinner.
My modifiers for the week were “try to keep up.” Even though I know everyone pretty well at this point, this is the family I have married into and so I never feel fully myself. As a kid I was a quiet observer rather than a participator and loved reading Harriet the Spy. I guess I’m still a bit like that - taking note of what everyone is wearing and saying, looking for a way to add to conversation, and just trying to fit in. To that end, here were a few of my outfit contributions.
For the “white party” formal photos:
For the pool:
For shopping and out to lunch:
For late night hanging out:
My celebrity/fashion doppelganger: The greatest compliment of my life was when someone told me I reminded them of Bridget Jones in looks and personality.
I hope you are having a very happy summer and thank you for reading!
XOXO,
Tara
*STF is my husband. His name is Steve, but at home our kids and I refer to him as Steven The Fabulous with an emphasis on “fabulous” because when his mother comes to visit, it sounds like this, “Oh, Steven the house looks just fabulous. Steven, this roast chicken is fabulous. Girls, you are so lucky to have such a fabulous cook in the house.” He is her only son.
I am standing by for the full length novel version of your weekend, fashion character studies included!
What a fun read! Love the white Tibi dress and skirt looks. And I can definitely see the Bridget Jones similarities!