For Your Consideration...

Everything I've been thinking about since last week.

Courtesy of Dorne; Vacation; Simon Miller.

Welcome to Week Two of B List! I’d love to say something about how grateful I am for the positive response, but this is a pre-written post, because…I’m OOO, baby. 😎

I’m currently relaxing poolside, trying desperately not to look at my email, as is the way for all self-employed folk attempting to force themselves to relax. But even forced relaxation won’t stop me from delivering on my promise of weekly Substack content! While I don’t have a set day of the week in mind for future posts just yet, I’m doing my best to establish a regular routine that makes consistent content feel feasible.

Unlike last week’s lengthy love letter to the pashmina, this week’s newsletter will focus on a variety of favorites I feel in my gut you should know about. Less of a hearty entrée of an essay, more of a passed-apps situation.

Below, a smattering of sartorial light bites for your consideration.

Two Exceptionally Good Totes

Courtesy of Cult Gaia; Tory Burch.

Both of which I found on sale! The purchase of my Loewe Squeeze reignited my love of tote bags, and I’ve been slowly building a collection strong enough that I’m thisclose to donating all my mini bags to Crossroads. (Kidding. For now.)

Totes take up a lot of space in my closet, so it’s important to only buy the ones that are as practical and versatile as they are gorgeous. My intuition makes me a particularly good impulse-buyer — meaning I know right away whether something is a long-term need or a momentary crush — and when I saw the Cult Gaia Odette Leather Tote Bag ($334, was $478) marked down with an additional discount at Bloomies in Soho, I wasted no time snatching it up. The neutral mushroom colorway is basic but intentional, and I love the hardware on the adjustable shoulder strap and the self-tie closure. The shape also reminds me of a vase. I’m itching to use it for farmer’s market runs and load it up with flowers. But for now, a laptop will do.

Another on-sale-at-Bloomies buy, I also purchased the highly underrated Tory Burch Spaghetti Strap Tote ($488, was $698). It only reveals itself on the Tory Burch site during their private sale, and I can’t quite figure out why they aren’t promoting it more. It’s just as good (if not better) than their signature tote bags. In fact, I’d say it’s insanely chic. The double straps and side drawstrings allow it to be converted into a bucket bag of sorts when you don’t want to wear it over your shoulder, and the contrast stitching on the ridiculously soft leather is such a good look. Between this and my Squeeze, I’ll never want for another black tote bag.

Dangle Theory

Courtesy of APERÇU Eyewear; Dorne; Kimhēkim.

I don’t need to point out the recent renaissance of charm bracelets and necklaces, but I’m realizing dangle theory (the phrase I’ve made up for our fixation on dangling charms and pendants) is expanding beyond the jewelry world. When I first saw the Kimhēkim Pearl Tears Cat-Eye Sunglasses ($334), I was wowed at the creativity of affixing pearl droplets to the lenses to resemble tears. Once I decide between the single and double tear iterations, these will be mine.

And surprisingly, these aren’t the only dangly sunglasses on my radar — Instagram Stories has bombarded me with ads promoting a collaboration between Tunisian blogger/model/photographer Emna Sellimi and APERÇU Eyewear. The gist is a pair of sunnies, dubbed the Emnas ($189) and available in seven colors, which feature a ring detail onto which you can clip any number of coordinating Emna Charms ($48 apiece). The charms are all raw gemstones, so you can pick based on their individual healing properties, or simply the color you like.

Lastly, I’ve been holding onto a mailer from Dorne since December, and I can’t wait to give their bikini charm system a go. The lineup includes Bonds (starting at $50), the pieces that clip to the swimsuit, Mementos ($48 apiece), the curated charms themselves, and Connections ($36 for two), smaller links that can connect Bonds and Mementos for additional length.

Is bikini jewelry a necessary innovation? No. Is it a little treat perfect for jewelry-lovers and over-packers alike? Definitely. The way I see it, I could justify packing fewer swimsuits for a trip if I had my collection of Dorne charms and adornments to spice up my go-to string bikini (this one from SKIMS in a now-sold-out turquoise) and give it a new look each day. Dangle theory strikes again.

Stuff You Should See (SYSS)

Courtesy of Staud; Simon Miller; Vacation; OMÔL.

SYSS will be the portion of all future For Your Consideration posts (name subject to change, as we’re still in Substack beta mode, people!) in which I flag all the stuff I want to buy, just bought, or think we should all buy, eventually. This week’s selects all have a touch of vacation flair, in honor of my OOO status.

1. The fish-related Staud bag I feel like everyone is overlooking. I know the Staudines beaded Tommy bag is cool (and it did sell out before I could buy it), but the woven Cleo Fish Basket Bag ($295) strikes me as far more exciting. I may adopt as my new pet.

2. The Italian in me yearns for Simon Miller’s new brass and enamel coated Tomato Earrings ($118). That’s all.

3. Behold, the first-ever beauty product to be name-dropped on B List! Vacation has debuted an innovative SPF 30 browning lotion for us pale folk (typically, you’d apply your sunscreen separately) called Instant Vacation ($24). I’m debating overnighting it to my current location.

4. From OMÔL, the Esu Bag in Orange ($284). This handwoven raffia dumpling bag with fringe has been on my mind ever since meeting brand founder Nathalie Chebou Moth during the Black in Fashion Council’s NYFW showroom.

x BG