Reader Mailbag: Your Most-Asked Questions, Answered
Handbags, skincare, my real capsule numbers, Nashville favorites, and the question I've been quietest about
Every week, my DMs and comments are full of similar questions about bags, skincare, about how I get dressed in the morning, life in Nashville… and I love them. They’re how I know what you actually want more of, and they often turn into full blog posts or reels down the road.
But some questions don’t quite fit a caption or a styling video, they deserve a real answer. So I’m starting a monthly mailbag here on Substack to do exactly that. First one below.
Q: If you could only own ONE designer handbag, which would it be and why?
This is the question I get most, and the answer has actually changed over the years. Today, it would be my black vintage Hermès Kelly, full stop. The shape is the most timeless silhouette in luxury, black goes with everything, and vintage gives it a soul that a brand-new bag just doesn’t have. It’s the bag I’ll pass down.
That said, if the question is “where should you start”, I have a different answer entirely. For a first real investment bag, I’d point you to a Bottega Teen Jodie in black. It’s the bag I reach for most in real life, it punches above its price point in how often I use it, and the quiet luxury aesthetic has aged beautifully. Pre-loved options here.
Q: What’s your actual everyday skincare routine? Not the long version the real one.
Honestly, on a normal day, it’s much simpler than what you’d think from following along on IG. Cleanser, peel pads, toner, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer, in the morning. Double cleanser (this & this), peel pads, toner, serum, eye cream, overnight moisturizer at night. A few times a week I’ll alternate between this mask and this mask. That’s it.
The longer routines I share are real, but they’re more weekend or “I have 20 extra minutes” routines. The 6-step weekday version is the one I actually do. The rest is a bonus.
I’m planning a full “what’s actually in my bathroom right now” post for next month; products, brands, what’s earned a permanent spot. Stay tuned.
Q: You talk a lot about capsule wardrobes, but realistically, how many pieces are actually in yours?
Smaller than people expect. My working seasonal capsule is usually 25-ish pieces, plus shoes and bags as their own categories. I’m constantly editing, adding a few things at the start of each season, retiring others as they fall out of rotation. It’s never a fixed list.
The thing I’d push back on is the idea that a capsule has to be tiny or rigidly defined. The real goal isn’t the number, it’s that you genuinely love and wear everything in it. If I have 25 pieces and I’d reach for any one of them on a given morning, that’s a capsule that works. If I have 12 pieces and three of them never come out of the drawer, that’s not a capsule, that’s just a smaller closet with the same problem.
I’m working on a post that walks through my actual current rotation, piece by piece, with the reasoning behind each one. Stay tuned.
Q: What’s the one thing in your closet you’d recommend every woman invest in?
A really, really good belt.
Most people would expect me to say a handbag or a coat, but a great belt is the lowest-cost-per-wear piece I own. It transitions through every season, dresses up the most casual outfits, and earns its place in your closet faster than almost anything else. If you’re not sure where to start, look at Khaite, Toteme, Aureum, or even a vintage Hermès if you can find one second-hand. Here are a few of my favorites & this is my most worn.
(I keep saying I’m going to do a full post on investment belts. Reply if you want me to actually do it).
Q: What are your favorite Nashville spots you’d send a friend visiting for the first time?
Arguably the most asked question I get.
Drusie & Darr: one of my all-around favorites. It's a Jean-Georges restaurant (he holds two Michelin stars), and the bar area is stunning & I always try to get a drink there first before sitting.
Pastis: incredible French food, and you get to avoid the downtown crowds, which is half the appeal. The vibes are always vibing.
Patterson House: the craft cocktail spot. Dark, intimate, perfect for a slow drink before or after dinner.
Café Roze: the best burger in the city, hands down.
Dicey’s: casual, unfussy, and my favorite pizza in town.
Q: I've followed you for years and feel like I know so little about your personal life, is that intentional?
Yes, very. And I want to talk about it honestly here, because this is the question I get more than almost any other.
I’ve always been intentionally private about the people I love. When I go back to Dallas, I’m with my closest friends and their kids constantly and you’d never know it from my feed. With Will, I share him on occasion, but most of the time when we’re together, I’m trying to actually be there with him, not document it. Some things are better when they’re just yours.
The exception, and the reason I’m bringing this up here, is fertility. It’s the single most-asked question in my DMs, and it has been for years. For a long time, my answer was silence, because we were in the thick of it and I didn’t have the bandwidth to share something I was still living through. Will and I have been going through fertility treatments for three years now, and I only recently started opening up about it in a very small way to subscribers on Instagram.
I may be sharing more of that story here on Substack in the future. I feel like this is the space where I can write longer, more honestly, and to a smaller group of people who actually want to be here. It feels like the right place for the harder things.
I’m not going to share every detail, and I’m still figuring out what feels right. But to everyone who has sent a message, a “thinking of you,” or shared your own story with me, thank you. I read every single one, even the ones I haven’t answered yet. You’ve made me feel less alone in a chapter that has been a lot lonelier than I expected.
If this is something you want me to write more about, reply and let me know. And if you’re walking through something similar, I’m always here.
That’s the first one. What do you want me to answer next month? Drop your question in the comments, I read every single one, and the best ones will make it into the next mailbag.
xx,
Amy
You’re amazing for sharing. Thank you!!
I just wanted to say I absolutely love your style. Your blog. The information you share, etc. I am
Always so excited to see something you’re suggesting that I purchased before I saw you recommended it! That happened the other day with the red slide jellies and I was like yes! I chose correctly 🤣. Thanks for all you do.