the wardrobe department //
I came up with a shopping philosophy the other day, inspired by Michael Pollan’s 2007 essay, “Unhappy Meals.” Our consumption practices are interdisciplinary, no? I think mindfulness and intentionality can and should inform all areas of our lives. Choosing what we wear is as relevant and meaningful as choosing what we eat. Like most resolutions/intentions/goals, though, it’s an imperfect process and not black and white. After all, what’s life without the occasional serendipitous wildcard? But it’s a good note to self to keep in mind. (PS: More periodic notes and scrapbook-y thoughts here.)
Handy little game changer: so nice to be pleasantly surprised and impressed by material quality and craftsmanship in today’s retail landscape of high (and higher) prices and iffy quality. I bought the camel brown phone pouch from my Q1 wishlist and it exceeds expectations—looks and feels way more expensive than it is. Maybe the best $70 I’ve spent in a long while. Like a micro-Evelyne plus extra useful features like card slots and a removable/adjustable crossbody strap—always a welcome feature to give you the option to use it as an organizing pouch or remix it with another strap depending on your mood. A winning combination of luxury + utility!
interiors //
Speaking of luxurious utility, DeVol’s For the Love of Kitchens might be the most charming and inspiring kitchen design show ever. Ironic that what used to be the most humble room in the house (literally, in the basement of the great houses like Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey) is now the most exalted. Well, if I’m going to obsess over kitchens like most everyone these days (and yes, I do love cooking and kitchen design and checking out the interior eye candy in AD’s Open Door), this is the show I want to watch. Each episode’s vibe is so cozy and inviting, and the color and texture combinations are just a visual feast. I love the infusion of vintage finds, fine cabinetry, and art into a practical space. The design research visits to historical home kitchens are also fascinating—I could watch an entire series just about that! (PBS, are you listening?)
Also really loving Jake Arnold’s interiors. Tactile, collected, luxurious without being over the top…his design aesthetic is like a favorite cashmere cardigan.
newsy things //
While we’re on the topic of marriages of utilitarianism and luxury, is this the end of an era? I’m belatedly catching up on the news that Birkenstock IPO’ed last fall, and after reading the NYT report on the backstory behind the LVMH acquisition I’ve got a whole lot of mixed feelings. I remember circa 2012 when the fashion establishment was still pooh-poohing Birks but the personal style blogosphere (myself included) was singing the praises of the ergonomic classic. Then Ashley Olsen was papped wearing them, Céline featured those infamous furkenstocks on the runway and, of course, the rest is history. Is this going the way of Rimowa (major price hikes, complaints of declining quality)? I really, really hope not. But maybe I should buy that pair of Bostons (perpetually on my back-burner wishlist for ages) now just in case, sigh.
lifestyle crush //
Two more shows on my favorites list from the last few months are Homegrown and Ranch to Table. They’re like the TV show equivalent of a Snuggie at the end of a long day (also just great to stream when you’re doing tedious things like folding laundry). It’s impossible not to come away inspired by Jamila Norman’s1 enthusiasm for urban farming and edible landscaping—although I do wish they’d show a bit more of the b-sides of veg growing (hello, organic pest management!). Elizabeth Poett’s dreamy living-off-the-land cooking show strikes a bit more of a balance between the aspirational (she’s a 7th generation rancher who just happens to be gorgeous and bakes artisanal cookies for her neighbors!) and day-in-the-life (she does ranch-y things like welding broken fence posts and drives around in an ancient rusty pickup truck). I’ll readily admit that RTT makes me want to move to Santa Barbara2 and grill every meal outdoors on a pergola-shaded patio overlooking stunning rolling hills. This is heady escapism with a generous side of bucolic nostalgia, really, for those of us whose most proximate connection ‘to the land’ is summer container gardening and the occasional upstate fall apple-picking day trip. Anyway, if you’re looking for inspiring lo-fi TV that features highly likable (and impressive!) women, I recommend.
cooking //
We’re still firmly in the depths of winter here, and I’ve been relying on my slow cooker lately for delicious weeknight no-hassle meals like Sarah DiGregorio’s foolproof chipotle-honey chicken tacos (a 5-star recipe through and through!). FYI: I love spicy food and using 3 of the 4 chipotle chiles she recommends here gives plenty of kick for my taste, though if you’re cooking with kiddos in mind consider only doing 1 or 2.
Cozy cold-weather cooking also calls for one of my favorite vessels: the donabe. While googling comfort food recipes to distract myself from the dire news cycle at the start of the pandemic, I discovered TOIRO Kitchen, Naoko Takei Moore’s beautiful shop in LA and her excellent companion cookbook. All the recipes I’ve made have been great. Her elegant but homey recipes and the considered slow-food approach to donabe-style cooking reminds me to stop and savor the joyful process of cooking and eating. At the end of a long day, whether it’s been good or bad or somewhere in-between, is there anything better for the body and soul?3
important questions //
Inquiring minds want to know:
And finally, what are you watching/cooking/reading lately?
That’s it for this month’s mixtape. By the way, a BIG thank you to everyone who has joined me and read along since I relaunched here almost a month ago. Whether you’re a longtime reader or a new subscriber, I hope you’re enjoying les anti-modernes* in your inbox and being part of this style community. Please consider sharing this with someone who you think might enjoy as well. Till next week!
Santa Barbara was one of my favorite stops during my California PCH road trip. Is there a place that better embodies the idea of The Good Life? I get why Oprah and Harry and Meghan all live here.
Granted, sometimes at the end of a long day you just need to order takeout. Extra food for thought: some fascinating recent studies exploring the link between food and mood/mental health.
Oh wow, I hadn't heard of the Birkenstock IPO. The fact that they plan to keep production in Germany is encouraging, but I'm with you on feeling worried about price/quality.
Plus this: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mje/2023/11/30/what-went-wrong-with-the-birkenstock-ipo/
Oh, and glad to see you back to writing! I was actually just thinking about you a few days before I saw the post about moving to substack--always appreciated your thoughtful approach to wardrobe building.