dressing like jazz

how outfits inspire connection.

Mar 08, 2026

Hello again! Thanks for waiting. I’ve been having some intense writer’s block because of the state of the world. This month, a portion of the newsletter’s proceeds is going to the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI).

Thank you for sticking with me here in this corner of the internet. I hope you’re finding respite somewhere as the horrors persist.

A few seasons ago, I saw that the eco-forward brand Collina Strada started making rhinestone water bottles. It felt like an encapsulation of me, something practical with pizzazz. When the rhinestones started coming off, my sister-in-law got me another one that reminded her of the stripes of my wedding dress. It’s nice to be seen, isn’t it?

My dress that has checkers and waves on each side, and my gifted zebra rhinestone water bottle.

I brought the water bottle to my cousin’s wedding in Savannah and a TSA agent stopped me to ask where it was from. She said she was going to get it for her granddaughter, who seemed to be about 20 years younger than me. No matter. I’ve decided that sparkly water bottles are ageless.

As I walked further into the security line, she commented on my bag, the scarf wrapped around my waist, and my Yayoi Kusama pumpkin charm, and yelled, “Oh, I see, you like jazz.” It is the most generous compliment I’ve received about how I dress.

Me putting out into the world that I like jazz.

Pictured above you’ll find my airport “you like jazz” outfit, with the sparkly water bottle tucked into my carry-on pocket. I also carried a looney toon fleece gifted from the perfect newlyweds. <3

“Oh, I see, you like jazz.” It is the most generous compliment I’ve received about how I dress.

Putting together an outfit, whether we want to or not, invites conversation and connection with others. If we have to put things on our bodies, we might as well have some fun. One of the joys (and exhausting parts) of living in New York is the proximity to seemingly endless opportunities to interact with people. There are multiple chances a day to be seen—literally and metaphorically—by someone. It reminds me of the Durga Chew Bose quote:

“If I wanted, I could walk a few blocks and find a friend, a friend who is likely experiencing coincidental gloom, blahs, and Sunday doom, because if there’s one thing I know to be true about New York friendships: they are intervened time and again by emotional kismet. Stupid, unprecedented quantities of it. We’re all just here, bungling this imitation of life, finding new ways of becoming old friends.”

Even while clamoring through the annoying sea of tourists in Times Square, the potential of community surrounds you. You don’t need to have anything in common. You’re both here.

Know someone who thinks deeply about what we put on our bodies? Send this their way!

“What a lovely pink animal you are.”

Due to the unprecedented cold, I’ve been able to wear my favorite pink fur-and-tinsel Sandy Liang jacket more than once. I called my dad for a walk around the block, then popped into my local bakery for a croissant. An older gentleman stopped me and said, “What a lovely pink animal you are.” I laughed and told him that was exactly what I was going for. We chatted about how anyone can wear anything with some confidence, which he said he lost a long time ago. I assured him otherwise.