The Art of the Intentional Weekend: How I Plan My Time in NYC
By Camille — Style isn't about clothes. It's about knowing who you are and dressing like you mean it. ·
There is a specific kind of Sunday evening melancholy that hits when you realize you haven’t actually lived your weekend—you’ve just survived it. We’ve all been there: Saturday morning starts with grand intentions of hitting the farmer’s market or finally finishing that book, and suddenly it’s 4:00 PM on Sunday, you’re in a pile of laundry, and you’re scrolling through Instagram wondering where the last forty-eight hours went.
After years of navigating the high-octane pace of Manhattan—first in the frantic, glamorous hallways of Vogue and now as a full-time creator—I’ve learned that the secret to a weekend that actually recharges you isn’t about doing more. It’s about being intentional. Style isn’t just about what you wear; it’s about how you design your life. Here is how I curate my weekends to make sure I show up for Monday feeling like myself.
The Friday Night 'Reset'
My weekend officially starts on Friday at 6:00 PM, and I have a firm rule: no chores on Saturday. If I leave the dishes in the sink or the mail scattered on my entry table, that chaos follows me into the weekend.
I treat Friday night as a 'Reset Hour.' I put on a playlist—usually something bossa nova or a moody jazz record—and I do a quick, aggressive tidy of my apartment. I water my plants, wipe down the counters, and lay out my outfit for Saturday morning. By the time I’m lighting a candle and pouring a glass of wine, the apartment feels like a sanctuary rather than a workspace. When you wake up on Saturday morning to a clean space, your brain immediately enters 'leisure mode' instead of 'to-do list mode.'
Saturday Morning: The 'Third Place' Ritual
I grew up spending weekends moving between the structured elegance of Paris and the quiet, leafy sprawl of Connecticut, and I’ve always held onto the importance of a 'third place.' It shouldn't be your office, and it shouldn't be your home. It’s where you go to be a person in the world.
My Saturday morning is non-negotiable. I head out early—around 9:00 AM—to my favorite local bakery in the West Village. I don’t bring my laptop. I bring a physical book or a notebook. The goal here is to observe. I watch the neighborhood wake up, I listen to the cadence of the street, and I let my mind wander.
If you want to feel more connected to your life, leave the phone at home or deep in your bag. We spend so much of our time 'capturing' our lives that we forget to actually inhabit them. Whether it’s a park bench or a quiet corner of a museum, find your third place and visit it like it’s a professional appointment.
The 'Slow Fashion' Saturday Afternoon
Since I spend my week thinking about content and trends, Saturday afternoon is when I get tactile. I love to spend an hour or two 'shopping my own closet.' I’m a firm believer that you don’t need a new wardrobe to feel refreshed; you just need to rediscover what you already own.
I take three items I haven’t worn in a while and force myself to style them in three different ways. It sounds like a chore, but it’s actually a creative exercise. Last week, I took a simple silk slip dress and styled it with a chunky knit sweater and combat boots for a walk, then swapped in a blazer and loafers for an early dinner. It reminds me that my clothes are tools for expression, not just things to be consumed. When you dress with intention, you feel more confident, even if you’re just running errands.
Sunday: The 'No-Agenda' Buffer
Sundays are for the things that make me feel human. In my small West Village kitchen, this usually means a long, slow cooking project. I might make a ragu that simmers for four hours or a complicated pasta shape from scratch. The process is meditative. It forces me to slow down and listen to the rhythm of the kitchen.
I also make sure to leave at least four hours of Sunday completely empty. No brunch plans, no errands, no obligations. The modern world is obsessed with efficiency, but there is so much power in boredom. That’s when the best ideas come—when you’re staring at the window, watching the light hit the brickwork across the street, or just daydreaming with a cup of tea.
How Will You Spend Yours?
Planning your weekend doesn’t mean scheduling every minute; it means protecting your energy. It’s about carving out space for the things that make you feel like the best version of yourself, whether that’s a morning at a museum or a quiet afternoon perfecting your pasta technique.
What does your ideal weekend look like? Are you a 'get out and explore' person or a 'cozy at home' soul? I’m always looking for new ways to spend my Sunday, so leave a comment below—let’s chat about how you’re reclaiming your time.