Your Resident Fashion Blogger Reports from the Italian Mixer… Sixteen guests, one blackout, and I have a LOT to say.
Darlings, the mayor's mansion went dark and somehow that was the signal for half our guests to forget what a dress code is. White and bright colors, people. It was on the invitation. I checked. Twice. Let's get into it.
BROOKE BARLOW — Hot pink head to toe and she is absolutely within her rights. That structured bralette crop top paired with wide-leg tailored trousers is the kind of monochromatic commitment that lesser fashionistas fear. The fit is clean, the color is electric, and those sculptural box braids pulled up into an architectural crown? Chef's kiss. She came dressed like the lights were never on to begin with. Rating: 9/10 ✨ @brookexbarlow
KAI HOWARD — Now THIS is a man who read the brief, understood the brief, and then became the brief. An ivory double-breasted suit with a crisp white shirt underneath — no tie, no fuss, just effortless structured elegance. The slightly relaxed trouser break keeps it from feeling stiff, and the overall effect is "I have excellent taste and I don't need to prove it to you." He didn't come to the Italian Mixer, darlings. He came to marry it. Rating: 9.5/10 ✨ @kaihoward
VIOLET LENNOX — Another hot pink girlie and honestly? The energy in this room is Barbie-coded and I'm not complaining. The halter-neck bustier crop paired with that flowy button-front midi skirt is giving a lovely contrast between structure up top and softness below. The silhouette is doing all the right things. My only note is that the strappy heeled sandals feel a touch safe for what is otherwise a bold look — but bright, beautiful, and fully dress-code compliant. Rating: 8/10 ✨ @violetlennox
ROWAN HALE — Rowan. Baby. Sweetheart. The invitation said white or bright colors. It said it clearly. And yet you have arrived at the mayor's blackout event in a dark jacket, a white t-shirt that barely counts, and black jeans, looking like you're about to fix someone's cable. The gold watch is stunning. The tattoos are stunning. You are stunning. But this is not the outfit. This is what you wear to a Monday. I'm docking heavily for the dress code violation but giving you personal charisma points to soften the blow. Rating: 3.5/10 @rowanhale
EMERSYN MICHAELS — Okay, she gets credit for the white top — it's sleek, minimal, the tiny pendant necklace is a lovely touch. But those red leather high-waisted trousers are doing something very interesting to the dress code. Red is bold, red is bright, red is technically a color — I'll allow it on a technicality. The cat-eye sunglasses give the whole look an effortlessly cool editorial edge. She's serving "I know exactly what I'm doing and I'd like you to question it." Rating: 7/10 ✨ @tfemersyn
VERONICA HALE — A tropical green and teal printed blazer-dress suit, gold hoop earrings, and the energy of someone who has never once apologized for anything. Is it white? Absolutely not. Is it bright? Darling, it is luminous. She walked into a blackout event and brought her own light source. The matching trouser and blazer set is fierce, the print is bold without being chaotic, and she is clearly having the time of her life. I can't be mad. I won't be mad. Rating: 8/10 ✨ @veronicahale
DAMON HENDERSON — White tank, cream high-waisted trousers, light blue sweater knotted over the shoulder, aviators, and the bone structure of someone who has never had a bad photo taken. This is the Italian Riviera fantasy in human form. The black loafers are a slight tonal clash with the otherwise breezy palette but honestly he could be holding a grocery bag — oh wait, he is — and still look like he wandered off a yacht. Rating: 8.5/10 ✨ @damonxhenderson
BRITTANY ANDRAS — White tank, denim mini, denim jacket slung over the shoulder like she just conquered something, white sneakers, and a cream tote. Brittany is giving us effortless cool-girl energy and she is technically dress code compliant — the white is present and accounted for. But darlings, this is the mayor's mansion, not a Saturday afternoon in SoHo. The all-denim situation reads more "brunch run" than "Italian evening mixer," and the sneakers are doing the outfit no favors in terms of occasion-appropriateness. She looks fantastic, don't get me wrong — there's a breezy, confident ease to the whole thing — but she dressed for a different event and accidentally walked into this one. Rating: 5.5/10✨ @brittanyandras
MARIANA FLOREZ — Mari, my love, I need you to look me in the eyes. We were at the mayor's mansion. There was an Italian theme. And you showed up in an oversized graphic tee and denim jeans. The tee is white, which saves you from full fashion court, and I will acknowledge that the energy is chaotic-cool in its own way — but darling, this is a dinner party, not a Coachella afterparty. The smile, though? Genuinely radiant. The outfit? A cry for help. Rating: 3/10 @marianaxflorez
JAX KING — A blue plaid flannel shirt unbuttoned to the sternum, grey jeans, festival wristbands, and a silver chain. Jax, I want you to know I have so much affection for you as a person. But you did not read that dress code. You did not look at that dress code. I'm not sure you knew there was a dress code. The tattoos are doing incredible work. The charm is evident. The outfit is "I came straight from a music festival and I have zero regrets." Which, honestly, is a vibe — just not this vibe. Rating: 2.5/10 @kingxjax
PACO FLOREZ — White muscle tank, cream trousers, white sneakers, a leather jacket draped over the arm. He is technically, gloriously compliant with the dress code and wearing it with the casual ease of someone who didn't even have to try. The distressed jeans add an edge that stops this from being too polished, and the overall effect is "effortlessly cool guy who also somehow looks like a cologne ad." The black jacket is a minor deduction. Rating: 7.5/10 ✨ @pacoxflorez
JULIETTE MICHAELS — A white crop top and bedazzled wide-leg jeans with a denim jacket. Juliette. My sweet, joyful Juliette. The white crop top is doing its duty, the rhinestone jeans are genuinely fun, and the energy she's bringing could light up the whole mansion by itself — but this is giving "concert casual" rather than "Italian evening mixer." The dress code was technically touched but not embraced. Still, the sparkle on those jeans is earning back points. Rating: 5/10 @juliettexmaddox
ATLAS QUINN — A white linen button-down shirt, dark trousers, and what appears to be a strong opinion about something. Atlas, here's the thing: the shirt is pristine, the linen is giving Mediterranean sailing trip, and the overall look has a certain brooding coastal energy that I respect. But the dark trousers drag this away from the white/bright brief. Half compliant, fully committed to the vibe. Also please put your fingers down, sir. Rating: 5.5/10 @atlasxquinn
LUCAS RODEN — A white t-shirt with what appears to be paint stains, light wash jeans, a black belt, and sunglasses. Lucas. The t-shirt has stains on it. I don't know what you were doing before this event but it left evidence. The whole look reads "I got the date right but not much else." Technically white-adjacent, absolutely not Italian evening energy. He's cute enough to get away with more than he should but not quite this. Rating: 2/10 @lucasxroden
NASH STEELE — An all-white boucle coat over a white mesh undershirt and white trousers. Nash has arrived and Nash has done something genuinely stunning. The tonal white-on-white layering with the textural contrast between the chunky boucle coat and the delicate mesh underneath is sophisticated, tactile, and absolutely intentional. This is the kind of look that makes other guests quietly put down their spritz and reassess. He looks like a modern art installation that also has excellent cheekbones. Rating: 9/10 ✨ @nashxsteele
TANNER SOMMERS — An oversized cream/off-white zip-up jacket, black trousers, a blue baseball cap, and round sunglasses. Tanner, sweetheart, I see what you were going for. The cream jacket is genuinely a nice piece. But the black trousers and the baseball cap are fighting the Italian Mixer theme with their whole chest. This is "airport casual" at a "candlelit mansion" and those two things do not belong in the same sentence. The jacket alone would have been a foundation for something great. Build on it next time. Rating: 4/10 @tannerxsommers
Final standings: Kai Howard and Nash Steele are quietly competing for the top spot and I am here for every second of it. Rowan, Jax, and Lucas — the dress code was right there, darlings. Right there.
