Last week, Leah and I headed off on our annual Fall buying trip to New York—and let’s just say, it almost didn’t happen. Our flights were canceled three times because of the impending blizzard. But if you know me, you know I will always find a way to get where I’m going! We finally managed to get rerouted through Charlotte and, unbelievably, we became the last flight into Newark before the Great Blizzard of 2026 officially began.
We landed around noon on Sunday, dropped our bags at the hotel, and immediately ran to as many appointments as we could—because we truly didn’t know what the next day would look like. By the time we wrapped up at 6pm, the roads were already slick, and the snow was falling fast. Our room had a terrace (a rare treat in NYC!), so of course we filmed the snowfall as it transformed the city into a quiet, white wonderland. We woke the next morning to nearly 15 inches of snow and a citywide curfew that lasted until noon. Fortunately, the shows opened right as the curfew lifted, so we bundled up, headed out, and started working. By the time we finished that night around 8pm, the snow had stopped and the roads were magically cleared. Only in New York! Seeing collections in person is always invaluable—the colors, textures, proportions, and how pieces work together can never be fully captured on a line sheet. We left incredibly inspired and excited for what fall will bring.
Leah flew home Wednesday after our last appointments, but my trip wasn’t quite over. I had been invited to Milan again for the Fall White Show, so I boarded an overnight flight to Italy—landing right in the swirl of post-Olympics energy and the start of Milan Fashion Week. When I walked out of baggage claim, there were about thirty drivers holding signs for Gucci and Prada. Quite a moment! Since the show opened early, I dropped my bags and headed straight over. It was a gorgeous day, and the collections were fantastic—I discovered four or five new brands that we’ll be introducing at Dovecote. That evening I finally collapsed into bed, happily exhausted.
The next day, with the show complete, I spent time exploring Milan and visiting some of the designers we carry. Seeing their spring collections—Meimeij, Seventy, Rosso35, Save the Duck—displayed in their own beautiful boutiques was incredibly inspiring.
After 15,000 steps and a very full heart, I found a charming restaurant tucked away in a hidden courtyard and enjoyed a quiet solo meal before heading home.
These buying trips are such an important part of what we do. They give us the chance to speak directly with designers, study the collections, and thoughtfully curate what will work for our customers. Sometimes we’re a bit ahead of what’s trending locally, but our choices are always intentional—and often made with specific Dovecote guests in mind.
And now, our spring collections—the ones we chose back in September—are finally arriving (a bit delayed thanks to winter weather). They’ve been unpacking boxes all week while I was away, and we can’t wait for you to see everything. We hope you love the pieces as much as we enjoyed discovering them.
