The List: The Big Spring Closet Flip, Antique Silver Pillboxes, Bag Charms and Raffia.
Here comes the sun!
Hi! Hope your week’s been as lovely as mine — Spring finally bloomed in New York, and all any of my friends can say is “WE ARE SO BACK!” There’s nothing like a 74-degree day to make you realize you are not clinically depressed, you just haven’t seen the sun in months. My friends Olivia, Kelly, Meredith, and I sat outside at La Mercerie for hours, soaking it all in over multiple bottles of white Burgundy. Heaven.
Lots to catch up on today, but first, did you catch our Mother’s Day Gift Guide on Monday? Over 150 ideas for Mom, with shopping for oneself encouraged. (A few small callouts: upgrade something mundane, like her toothbrush, to something chic in a fun color. Or treat her to something that will make life a little easier, like travel capsules and pragmatic but chic pouches — or maybe some knockout bath salts.)
If I were a Mom? The only thing on my wishlist would be U Beauty. If you’ve been here a while, you know how devout I am to this line, and the splurgy price point makes it super giftable.
I suggest the new sheer mineral sunscreen, which is a fantastic makeup primer, the “Moments Edit”, which comes with their juicy fragrance and a nice-looking pouch, or my all-time favorite Barrier Bioactive Treatment.
A final note to express our sincere gratitude for selling out our Chava collab for the third time — within three hours, no less. I continue to be blown away by this audience. And congrats to Bridget, our giveaway winner!
One of Spring’s great rituals is the big seasonal closet flip. I’ve come across a few new good products to aid in that since the two letters below went out. One line is Poetica, a botanical garment care company that makes the most magnificent fabric refresh and delicate wash for your unmentionables. byMATTER also sent me some goodies to try, and I particularly like their moth guard for the closet and shoe deodorizer. More to consider as you’re flipping, purging, and donating: terribly chic skinny hangers, water-repellent spray for suede, a delicate jewelry cleaner, a sweater brush set, and a killer leather moisturizer that your handbags will lap up greedily.
A reader named Emma wrote in who lives in D.C. and is starting her first job. She had a budget of $500 and asked if I could help her find some basic workhorse pieces for her new office, which has a “conservative, not fashion-y, but not formal” atmosphere. I went straight to Quince for this. A washable silk skirt ($59.90) to go with any top or jacket, a classic boyfriend blue shirt ($39.90), and a lighter poplin version ($39.90), stretch poplin black pants ($39.90, I told her to buy two), and of course a classic khaki trench ($99.90). Her total was $319.91, so I suggested spending the extra cash at ASOS on a couple of pairs of modern loafers (men’s department always has better looking shoes when you’re shopping high street) — one in brown ($48.99) and one in black ($59.99), and this Margaux dupe for under $50.
That still leaves $50 for a very special lipstick, a poppy pink blush, or a best-in-class moisturizer.
My friend Esha Soni has released her buzzy Slope bag in a summer-ready raffia that I’m ogling.
Moda Operandi collaborated with reader-favorite Lié Studio, and I am particularly partial to this silver-plated collar.
If you’re on the bag charm wave, consider Vertigo, whose aren’t junky and won’t cheapen the look of your bag.
Speaking of bag charms, Jones x Monbouquette launched a chic pillbox pendant and bag charm, designed to be worn or clipped onto bags. It blends Monbouquette’s innovative jewelry with Jones’ signature travel tin. Fun fact: Caroline, co-founder of Jones, and Lily, co-founder of Monbouquette, have been friends since they were in high school! (I got the pillbox on a chain.)
I’ll leave you with this photo from Meredith’s line LEIN, which I have been slobbering over the past few weeks, especially this dress.
I love Poetica 🙌
Happy spring & congrats to you & Olivia for selling out the house!! Nice work xo