Ulla Johnson unveiled a 57-look collection for Spring/Summer 2026 inside the Cooper Hewitt Museum on 91st and 5th Avenue — a venue steeped in personal meaning. As a native New Yorker, Johnson described the moment as full circle, returning to the very museum her mother once brought her to as a child.
The collection, inspired by abstract expressionist painter Helen Frankenthaler, unfolded like a living canvas. Textures came alive — fringes, ruffles, feathers, lace — creating a maximalist’s dream. Silhouettes were punctuated with balloon sleeves, echoing the dramatic proportions seen at Aknvas and Christian Siriano this season.
Color moved beyond the familiar pastels of spring. Yes, there were peaches and lavenders, but the standout tones were sunset-inspired: mustard, rust, and indigo blues — a direct nod to Frankenthaler’s painting Moontide.Snippets of a 1993 Frankenthaler interview played as a backdrop, where she mused, “‘Beautiful,’ which is always a tricky word, but now it’s become an incendiary word.”
Against her words, models drifted down the runway like brushstrokes across canvas — embodying beauty not as something proven, but simply as fact.This season, Johnson proposes a new kind of spring romanticism — one where texture takes precedence over florals, and beauty, far from obsolete, is reimagined as art in motion.
When I was working a 9–5, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought following the “stable” path would eventually lead me to security, recognition, and maybe even fulfillment. But truthfully? I didn’t care so much about the promotions or recognition. What weighed on me more was not wanting to disappoint people. I wanted to fit in, to be seen as someone who was doing things “the right way.”
But here’s the part I never expected: no matter how much I tried to meet those expectations, I kept running into roadblocks. I couldn’t climb the corporate ladder the way I thought I should. I found myself having to prove myself over and over again. And even when I gave my all, I still ended up being laid off or having to leave toxic workplaces.
That cycle taught me something important: living for external validation doesn’t guarantee stability, success, or peace of mind. It just keeps you chasing after approval that may never come.
The Truth About Playing It Safe
I think a lot of us are seeking external validation, waiting for approval before we make a move, before we take a risk, before we fully show up for ourselves. And for a long time, I lived that way too. I was living in my backup plan, not because I doubted my ability, but because I thought it was safer. I thought if I stayed in a space that everyone else agreed with, I couldn’t get it wrong.
But playing it safe doesn’t protect you the way you think it does. It just keeps you stuck, and the truth is, stuck is its own kind of failure.
At some point, you realize life isn’t asking you to be safe, it’s asking you to be real. It’s asking you to listen to the passions that won’t quiet down, the dreams that keep resurfacing no matter how many times you push them away. Those desires aren’t random, they’re signals pointing you toward the life you’re meant to build.
Why Internal Validation Lasts
And yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, people may not always understand. But external approval isn’t what will make you feel proud at the end of the day. Living in alignment with who you are, and creating a life that reflects your full potential, is the only validation that lasts.
As a content creator, I’ve had to learn this lesson over and over. It’s easy to get caught up in likes, numbers, or other people’s opinions. But when I ground my worth in internal validation — rooted in faith, purpose, and truth — I can keep showing up even when no one else applauds.
Choosing Yourself Over Approval
At the end of the day, I’ve had to ask myself: do I want to live for people’s expectations, or do I want to live in alignment with God’s calling? Internal validation may be quieter, but it’s lasting. And that’s the voice that matters most.
So the question is—are you still playing it safe, or are you ready to finally choose yourself?
For a long time, I was quiet about my faith and beliefs as a Christian. Anytime I mentioned it in a workplace, the attacks would come, and soon after, I’d find myself leaving. It almost felt like an attack on my livelihood.
But here’s the thing: hiding who you are to fit in with people who don’t truly value you will only attract the wrong people. Sometimes that hiding is just a cover, keeping you in a space where you don’t even belong.
That’s why, as I commit to my career as a content creator, I’m choosing courage. Whatever persecution comes, comes — but God will still get the glory and the honor as I walk in truth.
I trust that God will bring the right brands — the ones aligned with my values, and that value my creativity, my mind, and my perspective. That trust informs the work I take on and the opportunities I pursue.
Other religions are free to express themselves openly, and Christians should be able to do the same. So I’ve decided not to hide my faith anymore. If I stay silent, I risk dimming the very light God gave me to shine.
At the end of the day, I believe the right doors will open, the right people will connect, and the right opportunities will come — not because I hid who I was, but because I stood firm in it.
I’ve been on a run with my gourmand fragrances. I’m usually a woodsy vanilla girl but I started experimenting with olfactive families last year when I purchased the viral THAT GIRL fragrance from Oakcha. I was also gifted the Maison Margiela Replica Afternoon Delight. Both of these are delicious fragrances.
However, I had to take a second to pause when I learned about Jo Malone’s Ginger Biscuit.
Now this?! The design is reminiscent of Rudolph’s Red nose which is so nostalgic. It has me ready to drop the coins. But let’s talk about the scent!
A cozy, spicy but still delectable gourmand fragrance. It sounds like Christmas in a bottle. With top notes of Ginger, heart note of Roasted Hazelnut and base note of Tonka Bean, I could just imagine what this scent smells like. I love ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon especially during the holidays. All of these notes blended with caramel, tonka bean, vanilla and woodsy tobacco?
This sounds like an irresistible dream.
I can’t wait to get my hands on this. For sure, this is going on the wishlist. But if you want to grab this before it sells out, it’s available for a limited time only. Grab yours here and thank me later.
If you’ve been anywhere on the internets, you’ll see the common phrase popping up in recent months that Delulu is the Solulu. Translation? Being delusional is the key to solving your problems and achieving your goals. It’s all fun and games, but honestly? I don’t quite subscribe to this message. And trust me, I get it. I’m all for pursuing your wildest dreams (look at me – I’m a full-time content creator. ), but why must we do it under the guise of being delusional? Why is it so crazy to believe something good can happen for us? That our wildest dreams can come true? I feel like it’s almost demeaning to ourselves, a slap in the face, if you will. The definition of delusional is literally “characterized by or holding false beliefs or judgments about external reality that are held despite evidence to the contrary” – essentially believing things that are not true. I think as women, we already get enough slack as it is. We shouldn’t diminish our hopes and dreams into delusional thinking. They are worth taking seriously. We are worth being taken seriously.
So no… delulu is not the solulu.
Having faith is.
Faith, rather, is having a strong belief in the possibility that something might happen or that it will happen.
That’s the kind of positivity and light I want to shine over my dreams and goals. Not that I was so crazy to think it was real, but rather I believed in it so much that I worked towards making it a reality. I believed it was possible, so I already acted as if it were mine and that it was achievable.
I’d rather be grounded in faith than lost in wishful thinking. Faith empowers us to move forward with intention, resilience, and purpose. So as you chase your dreams, let it be with conviction and trust in yourself—not because you’re delusional, but because you know you’re capable.
If a trend ever took over fall fashion, it would be the cow print trend.
I mean, it’s practically a neutral if you really think about it — with the earth tone colors of brown and black. It’s surprisingly not that hard to style. You can wear a white tee under the jacket or a base color like brown or black to make the cow print stand out.
If you’re a bit on the maximalist side, you can experiment to your heart’s content with complementary colors like pink, orange, or mustard. Or you can live on the wild side with purples, greens, and yellows.
Remember, you can wear it subtly or as a bold statement — like with cow print boots, a skirt, or even a vest. Cow print definitely falls under the wearable trend, so here are some of my favorite cow print pieces I’ve scourged the internet to curate for you:
1. COW PRINT SAMBA LONG TONGUE SHOES
2. Satin Cow Print Midi Skirt
3. Sam Edelman Loraine Cow Print Calf Hair Bit Buckle Loafers
4. Cowgirl Glam Faux Fur Cow Print Coat
5. STEVE MADDEN ANISE BROWN BAG
Check out the rest of the curated pieces here
The Loewe Puzzle Bag was the trendy IT bag of 2024. With its distinctive geometric lines and cuboid form, it’s no surprise that everyone wanted one. It was an interesting shape that we hadn’t really seen before with an architectural silhouette.
Crafted in nappa calfskin or lambskin, the bag retails for $3,850 to $4,450. Now, for the average person, that might be a little out of reach.
And in my search for an alternative (if you know what I mean), I found one of the best — for a fraction of the price.
Enter the Italian Leather Patchwork Crossbody from Quince.
Crafted from the finest Italian leather, this distinctive bag seamlessly blends bold design with exceptional quality. With just the right amount of space for your essentials, it’s the perfect accessory for both an everyday look and a more refined evening vibe.
The Italian Leather Patchwork Crossbody is the epitome of sophisticated elegance and timeless allure — without the luxury price tag.
