5. May Finds: or Pretending I'm Georgia O'Keeffe
Museum merch, forays into crochet, and a sustainable brand that won’t make you roll your eyes
I spent a week in Santa Fe, New Mexico last month and as cheesy as it sounds, felt such effortless joy and peace while I was there. Immersed in desert landscapes, meditation, the kindness of strangers, and Georgia O’Keeffe — my spirit was refreshed in all of the best ways. For one week, I focused on my yoga practice, took naps, spa-ed, ate queso, and (mostly) stayed off my phone. The amount of time I thought about shopping was minimal — filling my time with stillness and meditation was a respite from usually thinking about content. It was so nice to not be influenced or feel like I needed or wanted anything other than the present moment.
Now, it’s May, I’m back in New York, and even though it’s rainy and 60 degrees everyday, I find myself contemplating opportunities in my summer wardrobe anyway. My trip inspired me to consume less yet despite finding zen, I still enjoy shopping (lol).
Finds of the Month:
Products I’m wish-listing, wearing, or coveting
A. Minimal Suede Sandals
$160 | The Rhodes Sandal | A.Emery
No one loves a minimal sandal more than I do, and while suede fabric feels like the antithesis to warm weather, — it’s exactly that contradiction that appeals to me. I’m a big fan of Australian footwear brand, A.Emery (especially its collaborations with Matteau), and IMO, they make the best summer sandals. I would wear a minimal sandal with a denim-on-denim outfit, a wide cotton chino pant with a slim ribbed white tank; or a tiered maxi dress.
B. Museum Merch
$22 | Logo Cap | Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
Wearable merch like a hat or tote is the best way to remember your favorite museums, and also signals your (somewhat vague, in my case) knowledge of art and design. I picked up this faded black baseball hat from the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe and have been taking styling cues from Carolyn Bessette and Celine’s Spring ‘21 runway show on how to wear it.
C. Crochet Hats, Skirts, Shirts, etc.
$140 | Vintage Crochet Skirt | Etsy
I recently bought a crochet hat from Gemsun at Tangerine in Williamsburg, which inspired me to incorporate more crochet apparel into my wardrobe this summer. What’s appealing to me about crochet is that it is lightweight and comfy, while adding texture and dimension to an outfit. I love the idea of wearing a crochet skirt or dress over a bathing suit to the beach, or even out to dinner over high-waisted briefs and a pretty bra. Here are some great pieces from Etsy that I’m eyeing: handmade crochet shirt, '70s crochet midi dress, raffia crochet bag.
D. A New Scent
$175 | Debaser Eau de Parfum (50 ml) | D.S. & Durga
An old coworker and I were chatting about how we can’t wear Maison Louis Marie No. 4 fragrance anymore because it gives us PTSD from store walk-throughs for our then employer. Since I’ve retired No. 4, I’ve started wearing Mondo Mondo’s earthier Center of the World, but want to introduce something more feminine into my summer rotation. Annie Kreighbaum from Eyewitness Beauty influenced me to try D.S. & Durga’s Debaser, which has notes of bergamot, fig, and coconut milk. D.S. describes it as a “hot, humid, and sexy” scent which sounds exactly like what I want to wear in warmer months. So that I could try other fragrances from D.S. before committing to the full-sized bottle, I bought a $40 customizable sample set.
E. “Squoval” Sunglasses
$190 | Caro Sunglasses | RETROSUPERFUTURE
I have a Real Real alert set for the Row x Oliver Peoples LA CC sunglasses but until those magically turn up in my inbox, I am on the hunt for a ‘90s-inspired square, oval sunglass (aka “squoval”) just like them. I love this option from RETROSUPERFUTURE; the frame is slightly taller, which tends to flatter rounder faces like mine.
F. The Perfect Reading Chair
$1,000 | Womb Chair & Ottoman | Bespoak
Ok, I lied when I said that I didn’t feel like I wanted or needed anything during my Santa Fe trip. After I toured Georgia O'Keeffe's house in Abiquiu I couldn't stop thinking about how I desperately needed a green reading chair (and a baseball cap, obviously). I’ve been wanting a reading chair for a while now — for some reason it just feels like the ultimate home completer. Everything about it communicates comfort, support, and solitude which is exactly what I want in my home. Georgia’s is Saarinen for Knoll (of course), but I was able to find this replica from Bespoak that is almost as gorgeous and relatively affordable by comparison. Sorry Saarinen.
What You’re Looking For:
Answers to your pressing shopping questions
City Sandals
This month, my friend Malia asked me for recommendations on comfortable, “city” sandals. After going back-and-forth on what that even was, we concluded that the perfect city sandal should have a slightly padded or molded footbed (because comfort is key when you never know where the day will take you), can easily transition from afternoon into evening, and will still pair well with a dressier look. Below are seven options that will carry you through summer:
Arizona Love Trekky Leather - $155
Labucq Sandal - $169
A.Emery Spargi Sandals - $190
Staud Lara Espadrille - $350
Looking for something? Email me and I’ll share my finds for you in the next newsletter.
Recently Discovered:
There are so many brands turning to circular practices as a response to waste in the fashion industry, but few feel as fresh or refined as Sibling Vintage. Sibling reinvents upcycling with its focus on shirting and tailoring — it releases a small collection of one-of-a-kind shirts every month. Its latest collection dropped on May 4 and will be sold through May 10. I’m bummed I missed out on this Greco Shirt in my size but there are still a few other styles available for your perusal.
Finds With Substance:
Listen to Eyewitness Beauty Podcast. I basically buy everything the hosts (who are Glossier and Into The Gloss alums) recommend in their Beauty Items of the Week roundup.
Read Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason. It is an intensely funny yet devastating story about love and mental illness.
Watch Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. I highly recommend walking into this movie without any expectations (or talking to too many people first). I want to be Michelle Yeoh.