Month: December 2020

GLDN

Leave a Comment / Jewelry, Style / By / December 31, 2020
GLDN Yue necklace.

I started my jewelry collection in August 2019. Advancing age had finally compelled me to consider what heirloom-worthy items I was going to leave my future grandchildren. I hadn’t been a jewelry wearer prior to that noteworthy month, but I immediately took to a few pieces whilst browsing online. One of these was a necklace from a company called GLDN. Chrissy, the brand’s founder, started her business on Etsy in October 2012. The Etsy shop is still active, but I prefer to browse the impeccably-designed independent website. It wasn’t difficult to select my first piece from the handmade offerings.

My GLDN journey began with the Yue necklace. Since I didn’t know what length would flatter me or if I’d like the product, I ordered it in 14k gold fill with a disc void of personalization. When the package arrived, I opened the padded mailer to reveal a grey box. The dainty necklace inside had a brilliant glimmer, and I knew in an instant that I was meant to have the 14k solid gold version instead. After trying on the initial piece, I was able to determine the appropriate length for my neck. I also came to the conclusion that the necklace wouldn’t be complete without an engraved letter M. Returning the product to La Conner, Washington was simple, as was reordering the Yue necklace to my specifications. I also acquired the pleine lune necklace in 14k solid gold. Each necklace arrived with a special handwritten note from their makers, and I still admire them from time to time.

Dear Reader, I hope that you make 2021 special in your own way. May the year ahead shine brightly for you. Bonne année.

Works Sighted

GLDN Yue necklace

The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote

Leave a Comment / Bags, Style / By / December 28, 2020
Medium L.L.Bean Boat and Tote with short handles.

The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote was originally designed for hauling ice but is an ideal carrier for endless combinations of items: notebook/pen, towel/sunscreen, salad/apple/Perrier, package/shipping label/tape. It is a stylish sidekick for busy days. The sizes range from small to extra-large, which enables the buyer to select a style with dimensions that suit the task(s) to which it will be designated. The handle’s color and length are customizable, as is the color of the monogram. Oh yes, you must get it monogrammed. The only time I ordered a Boat and Tote without one was when I gave it to a friend and didn’t know if she would prefer her initials on the side. I’ve given this canvas bag as a gift on three occasions. The medium, open-top tote with short, navy handles is my go-to style in these instances. But it also comes in a zip-top version, which I’ve found useful. L.L.Bean will occasionally produce variants of the classic tote, but I don’t recommend that you explore them until after you’ve become acquainted with the original.

Works Sighted

L.L.Bean Boat and Tote (medium, short handles in navy, red monogram)

Parka Weather

1 Comment / Lifestyle, Style / By / August 22, 2021
J.Crew parka (old); J.Crew Martie pant; L.L. Bean boots.

It is impossible to enjoy the weather if you do not dress for it. When the temperature reaches a degree that warrants a parka, it makes sense to wear one. (Puffer coats are also permitted.) You feel and look uncomfortable when you are cold, and that is not becoming.

When I wear my parka, I feel like a caterpillar in a freshly-spun cocoon: cosy and good spirited. I refuse to use inclement weather as an excuse to stay in, unless the weather is actually inclement. In the Mid-Atlantic states (or at least in PHL) we generally like to use the threat of snow as an excuse to close schools and nonessential businesses. However, things may look different this season due to the Covid work-from-home/study-from-home policies currently in place. Taking a walk every day is vital to maintaining good health. If you work from home, it may be the only opportunity you have to be active beyond your commute to the opposite end of the hallway.

You don’t become exempt from your daily walk just because winter has set in. You weren’t exempt from your commute when you were going into the office. If you prefer moderate weather, don’t worry. All of the seasons take their turn. For now, bundle up in your insulated, water-resistant coat and get moving. Count your steps if that works for you. Let’s not go downhill this winter unless we’re on a sled, tube, snowboard, or skis. In fact, a Christmas walk sounds gratifying.

Merry Christmas to you dear Reader. May you find health and happiness in 2021.

Works Sighted

J.Crew parka (old); J.Crew Martie pant; L.L. Bean boots

Throws for Outdoor Dining

Leave a Comment / Accessories, Style / By / December 23, 2020
Throws from Brooklinen, Garnet Hill, Matouk, Aa&R, Magic Linen, and Williams Sonoma.

So far this winter (late autumn according to the calendar), we’ve had snow on two occasions in Philadelphia. The weather has been alternating between cold days and unseasonably warm ones. Per the city’s Covid guidelines, unless you opt for restaurant takeaway, you must dine outside. I cook at home constantly, and enjoying a meal that I did not prepare myself is a real treat. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to savor food from someone else’s kitchen when I’m sitting at my table in the street.

Some restaurants are providing outdoor enclosures and/or heaters for their guests. But, not everyone will be lucky enough to find themselves in a heated enclosure. Those who don’t make it to the VIP section will have to grin and bear it at a table on the sidewalk or in the street. Some establishments are offering throws, but I thought, Why not bring my own.

Works Sighted

Brooklinen throw blanket / Garnet Hill waffle-weave throw / Garnet Hill brushed-cotton throw

Matouk pezzo throw / A&R Cashmere reversible cashmere-blend throw / Williams Sonoma solid cashmere throw / Williams Sonoma cashmere & wool equestrian throw

Magic Linen throw / Matouk initial pezzo throw / Peacock Alley Hudson throw

The Open-Front Cardigan

Leave a Comment / Style / By / January 11, 2021
J.Crew cardigan, linen shirt, and Martie pants. Margaux black ballet flats.

The open-front cardigan is an item of clothing that I didn’t own prior to working from home but have since acquired. The cold weather presents limitless opportunities to incorporate a third piece into my daily looks. With the spirit of comfort in the air, I’ve been giving my trusty grey blazer a break. Note: the term comfort is not synonymous with the extreme level of informal dress that has prevailed across the U.S.

If you’re not sure what a third piece is, permettez-moi d’expliquer. It’s an item that is layered on top of your outfit’s base. A third piece enhances your look. The base consists of a top, a bottom, and a pair of shoes. Jackets, blazers, vests, and cardigans are all viable third pieces.

I find that the open-front cardigan simultaneously adds polish and comfort to my button-up shirt/Martie pant uniform. Think of the opening sequence to Mister Rodgers’ Neighborhood. The first thing Fred does is replace his suiting jacket with a sweater and his dress shoes with a pair of canvas sneakers. In an instant, he’s ready to teach the kids. I don’t have children, but I do have a cat who likes to be held. An open-front cardigan is more conducive to snuggles than a blazer.

Works Sighted

J.Crew Factory cardigan (old); J.Crew slim perfect shirt in Baird McNutt Irish linen (old); J.Crew Martie pant; Margaux Demi flats (black)

The Graphic Tote

Leave a Comment / Bags, Style / By / January 11, 2021
The Daunt Books green tote.

The Daunt Books canvas tote has earned a spot in the new V&A exhibition Bags: Inside Out. To celebrate the occasion, I took my green bag to brunch this past weekend. Now is as good a time as any to approach the topic of the graphic tote. You may be wondering if there is room for graphics in a classic wardrobe. The answer is: Yes; but you have to select them carefully. If I had to describe my collection of graphic totes in a single word, I’d say that it’s curated. Each piece is tasteful and has personal meaning.

When you carry a graphic tote in public, it is bound to get noticed. If the graphic is exceptional, strangers may ask you where they may acquire one themselves. Dealing with these types of inquiries will be a walk in Hyde Park if your bag has sentimental value. I spent many relaxing hours browsing the shelves at Daunt Books on Marylebone High Street when I lived in London. On one occasion, a Selfridges sales associate asked after the origin of my beloved tote. I told her about how the books at my favorite shop were arranged on the shelves by country.

Daunt Books is more than a shop. It is a means of travel, a second home library, an intimate venue, and a place where gifts are found. The graphic tote serves as an advertisement for the establishment from which it was purchased. You, the wearer, should be sure that the name displayed on your bag is that of a business with which you’d like to be associated. I carry the green tote as a symbol of my love for Daunt Books, and when I see it slung over another person’s arm, I can’t help but wonder if the stranger and I share the same interests.

Works Sighted

Daunt Books canvas bag; Margaux Demi flats (black)