Thank You, Thank You!

What a year it has been.

Hello! I hope this finds you enjoying these final days of 2023, perhaps even resting a bit. I get quite reflective this time of year — don’t we all? — and appreciate the chance to look back before looking ahead. With this in mind, I scrolled through the So Many Thoughts archives to find a post from last January, when I asked about your word of the year. So many wonderful sentiments, and words to consider, for 2024: Ease, rise, embrace, create, start.

This year, I kept coming back to the idea of gratitude, not just in the big moments but the smaller ones, too. I worked hard to pause more often, to take a few seconds to appreciate what was right in front of me. This week, that looks like Bird’s portraits of our family, which she has taped all over the house, along with the sound of the boys dribbling a basketball in the backyard and the pile of blankets and books at the foot of the couch. We have a box of holiday cards in our kitchen that I flip through each day, warmed by the smiles sent from loved ones around the country. So much to be grateful for!

Which brings me to YOU. The wonderful SMT community, particularly here on Substack. Your support has made so much possible! I am deeply grateful for the chance to write regularly as well as grow and experiment, including publishing guest essays by talented writers and exploring audio with the release of three (3!) podcasts. Memories from my trips to Washington, D.C. to visit the White House and London for the coronation of King Charles III will last a lifetime!

So many new faces have joined the So Many Thoughts community, I wanted to revisit a few highlights from the year that was. Thank you, thank you for being here. 

So Many Thoughts Year in Review

The ultimate ICYMI!

• THE CROWN: How many of you waited until this week to binge the final season of the award-winning Netflix series? If you’re looking for my thoughts, as well as a place to discuss it all, check out all of my Crown coverage here! My So Many Thoughts on The Crown Podcast reacts to and fact checks each episodes; there is also a round up of your takes on Part 1 and Part 2. We have four discussion threads, for Episodes 1 + 2, Episodes 3 + 4, Episodes 5 to 7, and Episodes 8 to 10. Plus, come behind the scenes with me at The Crown premiere.

• SPARE: Can you believe it has been nearly a year since Prince Harry released his best-selling memoir? You can find all of my Spare pieces here, including my read-with-me podcast. There are also newsletters on the first and second half, as well as three discussion threads (these are so interesting to revisit): Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

• THE CORONATION: The coronation of King Charles III was the first such moment in royal history many of us have witnessed. I loved doing my So Many Thoughts Coronation Podcast, which looked back at Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning and ahead to the challenges facing her son, and brought you with me to London to cover it all. I also featured guest essays by longtime royal watchers — some of my favorite pieces of the year! — with sincere thanks to Ateh Jewel, Elizabeth Angell, Tariro Mzezewa, Britt Stephens, and Adebola Olayinka. I also penned five coronation fashion reflections and compiled what I wore in London.

• FIRST LADY FASHION: In January, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s dedication of her inaugural attire to the Smithsonian. It was an incredible trip — SMT come to life — complete with a tour of the ‘First Lady’ gallery by the museum’s curator. I returned to Washington late last month to see the White House holiday decorations, a magical display done with such care. 

• ROYAL STYLE: Catch up on all my Instagram fashion commentary (plus exclusives to Substack!) in the SMT Archive right here on Substack. Plus, revisit newsletters on Kate’s uniform that grew more streamlined as the year progressed (even applying it to her gowns) as we wait to see what the departure of Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen means. Also, Meghan’s Invictus SMTs, the story behind Princess Diana’s Eagles jacket and why the designers of her iconic black sheep jumper decided to auction it off. PS: Remember that time I tried on Kate’s jeans?

• MORE CLOTHING THAT SPEAKS: I branched out over the summer (and had the best time!) exploring other types of fashion. The Barbie movie hooked me, or rather Margot Robbie’s press tour style. I loved this interview looking at what fashion means to Barbie as well as why we have such strong reactions to the color pink. (You can find my Barbie SMTs here.) I also looked at what two queens wore on tour: Taylor Swift for Eras and Beyonce for Renaissance. Even better? What YOU wore to see Taylor and YOU you wore Beyonce. Plus, AOC with the SMT, @GrossyPelosi’s table cloth shirts, and dipping my toes into dressing for Disney.

• MY THOUGHTS: A gentle reminder to have your kids take your picture, a plea to wear sunscreen following my skin cancer diagnosis, and why the oldest pieces in my home are the ones I love the most. 

Take care, friends. And happy new year!