019: BRYNN WALLNER

lives in LBDs, pleated skirts, and, of course, a nice watch.

I’ve been working in accessories and jewelry, on and off, for more than a decade but, until recently, I never really cared about watches. Yes, financially watches mostly felt out of reach, but I’ve always lusted after things I can’t afford - a watch just never seemed worth it. Luxury watches are beautifully, meticulously crafted, but the industry didn’t feel like it was for me - exclusive, status-obsessed, self-serious, and, of course, almost 100% focused on men. That all slowly started to change when I discovered Dimepiece.

Dimepiece.co, is the brainchild of Brynn Wallner, a creative consultant and writer who, in 2019, correctly identified a gap in women’s watch media while working in the watch department at Sotheby’s. In 2020 she launched her game-changing Instagram account and quickly started shaking up the industry. Through Dimepiece, Brynn positions watches as it-girl essentials. On any given day she’s sharing snaps of a Cartier Panthere on Bella Hadid, or an AP Royal Oak on an Olsen Twin. For me, Brynn brought elements of real style and levity to the watch world, which it was sorely lacking. 

On her website, Brynn shares 101 knowledge and talks to women about watches. By spreading her gospel, she empowers women to become smarter consumers. Dimepiece actually inspired me to finally buy my first watch, a little Cartier Santos with a black face, that I found second-hand and now wear almost daily.

Obviously this woman who’s brought style to the watch world has quite a sense of style herself. Brynn is super funny and has a great eye for effortless luxury. She’s taking her “status as a niche influencer” in stride. I loved hearing all about what Brynn is living in now.

Brynn Wallner in her “softball fit” - read on!

I was recently at dinner with Opulence-whisperer Rachel Tashjian, and she, a little tipsily I think, said that she’s never met anyone “so Californian.” I’m not from California (my dad’s side of the family is; whereas I grew up in Hoboken, NJ), but she explained this vibe emanated from an ease in my attitude and style. She also said that I don’t follow trends and that I come across as very natural. This could have been a roundabout way of saying I don’t know anything about fashion, but I took it as a compliment. 

Getting ready for any occasion is a quick and easy process for me – my showers are brief, I rarely wear makeup, my hair dries pin-straight within a matter of minutes. When it comes to what I wear, I really don’t put a lot of effort into it. People and brands like to gift me things due to my status as a niche influencer, and my boyfriend, who works in the professional skateboard industry likes to joke that I always “wear my box” (meaning, derogatorily in his line of work, that I’ll wear anything that people give me). Once I stumble upon something that works, whether it be a pleated skirt, a good pair of flats or an oversized Oxford… I’ll just go with it. I’m a criminal outfit repeater and I really don’t have the time to care if this is a faux pas. If I’m in a “fashion” setting, I’m definitely the worst dressed person there, but at least I have a nice watch.

THIS SUMMER…

It’s been hot as hell in New York City, so what I’m going for is comfort. I’m not the “beauty knows no pain” type. Same principle applies to my footwear choice. I insist on walking/subway-ing everywhere (I will avoid Uber at all costs), so I need something I can traverse great lengths in. If I must wear a heel to a fancy schmancy watch event, I’ll bring a tote bag with sneakers in it and change into them afterwards for the long, restorative walk home (often from Midtown to the East Village).

BRYNN’S MOST WORN:

1. Two LBDs. I’ve been getting by this summer on two types of little black dresses – one nice and one casual. The “nice” one is a satin dress by Norma Kamali that’s maybe too short, but I like to show off my best asset (legssss). If it’s not the Norma Kamali dress, it’s a black J.Crew one that I was gifted (less short, better for serious watch events in 90 degree heat). I’ll wear both with a strappy sandal – I bought a pair of Gucci heels on TheRealReal that I’ve stuck Dr. Scholl's pads onto because they’re quite high for me. And I’ve never really owned a “hot girl going out bag”, but Reformation just gifted me this leather one that could maybe pass for The Row? To a drunk person? And to top it off, I’ll wear a Cartier watch! 

   

   Norma Kamali dress ($225), Reformation bag ($398), Gucci heels from TRR (some others I like here and here)

   

   J.Crew ($98 $62), Reformation ($178), Staud ($295), Proenza Schouler White Label ($450 $135)

   The casual LBD is one from Saturdays. My boyfriend did some photo work for them, so they let me pick out some stuff. I’ve worn this, like, 90% of the summer. I throw it on over my undies (no bra), wear it with my rubber Birkenstocks and no jewelry or watch. This is for hot hot hot days where I can’t have anything hard touching my skin and I just need to walk my dog around Tompkins or go to Whole Foods.

   

   Saturday’s dress ($160), Birkenstocks ($50)

   

   Courreges ($263), Girlfriend Collective ($90), Saturday’s ($160), Leset ($165), LA Apparel ($44)

2. My softball fit. (See opening picture) The past two summers, I’ve been playing for the Vanity Fair team in the media softball league. We play The New Yorker, The Paris Review, etc. Much to my dismay, we don’t have any rivals because we suck too much to drum up any real competition. For game nights, I wear a black Nike skort, a light black Brandy Melville t-shirt, black socks, the Salomon sneakers that are so popular that they’ve become a meme (3rd slide) and a camo baseball hat (duh) given to me by my friends behind the Cookies Hoops podcast. I wear a tiny rubber Swatch (short for “Softball watch”... just kidding) to keep the time because I don’t like looking at my phone during games. When I’m out on the field at sunset, breathing in the Central Park air, getting my hands dirty… I feel fully present and like a kid again!

   

   

   Nike skort ($52), L.L. Bean camo hat ($15), Salomon sneakers ($160), Swatch watch ($60)

3. For “going out”. I’m not a club girl (anymore) and my “going out” tends to be to branded events hosted by friends. I feel like this is what social life has evolved into for Manhattan millennials lol. Sad! Anyway, for these types of events, I’ll usually wear a pleated skirt (my go-to; when will I age out of this?), a “little top” and a sensible yet stylish flat or loafer. I was recently invited to talk on stage at a live performance of my friends’ podcast “How Long Gone” at the Carlyle Hotel (I have a lot of friends with podcasts). I literally wore the above: a black pleated short skirt that I got at a consignment store in Naples, FL, a dressi(er) white tank that my mom got me when she used to work at Ann Taylor Loft (lol), Chanel flats I bought on TheRealReal and a vintage Coach crossbody bag that I’ve been wearing all summer. This all doesn’t sound that chic but I think I looked nice! And my Cartier Tank Française.

   

   

   Clockwise from top left: Sandy Liang skirt ($625), Toteme top ($249 $99), Skims top ($42), Dissh top ($70), nude Chanel flats ($296), black Chanel flats ($360), orange Chanel flats ($457), Aritzia skirt ($110), Gucci skirt ($220)

4. For a daytime weekend activity in sub-75 degree weather. If it’s below 75 degrees, I can finally wear pants! I have a pair of Levi’s jeans that I bought at a sidewalk sale in Provincetown, Massachusetts. I tried them on behind a sheet and they fit perfectly. They were $20 – cash. I’ve been wearing these with a knit top I was gifted from J.Crew (I did a campaign with them, so they sent me a bunch of stuff), plus the Chanel flats, my Coach bag and maybe a sweatshirt if, once inside, the AC is too intense. I’ve been wearing my late grandfather’s Navy sweatshirt (he went to the Naval Academy and I miss him dearly). And my teeny-tiny two tone Rolex Datejust I bought with influencer credit on Rebag or my Cartier Tank Française.  

   

   J.Crew top ($55), L.L. Bean tote ($35), Chanel flats, Vintage Coach bag, jeans, and sweatshirt

   

   Some of Brynn’s watches: Cartier Tank Francaise, vintage Cartier Tank Américaine, a tiny Rolex Datejust

5. For traveling. Even if I’m flying business class compliments of whatever watch brand is flying me somewhere, I’m happy to sacrifice looking chic in the name of comfort. I’ll wear these faded black Brandy Melville sweatpants, an oversized Brooks Brothers Oxford that I got at Buffalo Exchange with the measly store credit I was offered for 3 huge bags of clothing and a pair of checkered Vans that are easy to slip-out of for TSA (yeah I haven’t gotten Precheck yet, like a loser!). I’ll wear this all with an oversized crewneck sweatshirt gifted to me by this streetwear-ish brand, Cherry. It’s so big it can double as a pillow when folded up. And recently I was also gifted a Victorinox rolly suitcase, which has actually changed my life. Before this, I was rocking with a decade-old Eddie Bauer bag that my mom begged me to get rid of.

   

   Cherry sweatshirt ($250 on Grailed), Brandy Melville sweats ($35), Vans sneakers ($60), Victorinox suitcase ($575)

   

   Alex Mill shirt ($125), Cherry sweatshirt ($250), Vans sneakers ($60), sweats from left to right: Brandy Melville ($35), Outdoor Voices ($88), Eterne ($230)

6. À la plage. If I’m going to the beach, I’ll wear a teeny tiny bikini, an oversized Oxford, Soffee shorts, a hat (sun protection! I just bought this “Captain” hat at West Marine in Rhode Island). I’ve also been wearing the classic navy Havaianas flip-flops that I smuggled out of a Beverly Hills spa locker after a facial a watch brand treated me to. Oh, and my friend just got me a little L.L. Bean tote with my name monogrammed on it. Perfectly fits a book, SPF 50 sunscreen, a water bottle, a bag of grapes and a Turkish towel.

   

   Captain hat ($20), J.Crew oxford ($188), Soffee shorts ($14), L.L. Bean tote ($35), Havianas sandals ($30)

7. And finally, my prized possession. A bootleg Lana del Rey t-shirt made by my internet friend Edgar Gonzelaz aka ANDAFTERTHAT. I’m a Lana stan and I love the squeals of joy this shirt elicits in Gen Zs when I interact with them. It’s you, it’s you, it’s all for you.

   

   ANDAFTERTHAT t-shirt

Thanks for reading this week and have a fabulous weekend! Like, subscribe, and share. xxx

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