We're lighting all of our candles and what light bulbs do they use in Amsterdam?, J.crew is back and we have Olympia Gayot to thank. Good coats! Ballet flats? An Irish artist, Helen McCusker!
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Happy Friday! It poured rain in LA a few days ago, I loved it. The SWEET SWEET smell. Anyways, let’s get into it.
1.IT IS CANDLE SEASON.
In 2019, I took a trip to Amsterdam and noticed the homes were so beautifully lit. I googled “what light bulbs do they use in Amsterdam” with no such luck, it looks like candlelight but it’s just there lighting. It’s so warm and not harsh at all, it GLOWS. If anyone out there knows these secrets, do tell!! For now, lighting dozens of candles in my place will have to do.
Now I know candles don’t really have a season BUT they sort of do. And it begins in late September? But right now it is picking up speed. You can add a little cinnamon scent, a little balsam. A bit of forest bonfire, if you will. Here is a list of THE best candles on the market.
Obviously we are starting with Target. I know you go into Target and come out with a candle every time. THIS candle is really good though, nice simple design and it smells really fresh, not too much. Like sea salt. It’s also 100% soy! You want that! Don’t get the toxic candles!
This little balsam candle smells really good and it’s not too holiday either, it’s not overpowering Christmas tree, it’s more “it smells great in here, what is that?!”
They discontinued this candle but I found it on Poshmark for $6. It smells sooooooooooo good. It’s Sandalwood and clay, I bought 4 last time I went a few months ago. Lastly this rustic palo santo candle, WOW. I also stocked up on these.
Next we have Flamingo Estate candles. If you don’t know about Flamingo Estate, pleaseeeeee watch this video:
All of their candles are beautiful. You cannot go wrong! I have gifted these candles a few times along with their beautiful pantry items like their honey selection and olive oil. Boy Smells also has some lovely candles and their labels are cool. MAISON LOUIS MARIE CANDLES (we are talking vanilla, nutmeg, tobacco, clove and ginger). Summer in Italy by Catbird sounds nice. Salt + Stone, I love vetiver. Oooo cinnamon spiced vanilla.
This candle is like a mini lamp. It also smells like peaches and plums.
You know we were going to get here, Aesop candles. Probably my favorite, you really can’t go wrong. They all smell so clean. They have dog shampoo and I stared at it a little too long the other day. But my dog smelling like Aesop? In due time. Also I like this candlestick holder below:
Anyways this is also fun, a nice pair of long matches is always a look, chai milk scented candle, I love this brand, this candle lantern is so cozy, good color candle sticks. There are so many good ones and darling candle contraptions. I always search for amber, vetiver, vanilla, jasmine, palo santo, sandalwood, as those tend to be my favorite scents. I also love everything from Foundry Home Goods.
2.J.CREW IS BACK BECAUSE OLYMPIA GAYOT IS HERE.
If you don’t know Olympia Gayot yet, you should give her a follow. Ever since Jenna Lyons left back in 2017, I feel like J.Crew has struggled to find its nitch. Not anyyymooreeee. Olympia Gayot became the head of women’s and kids design in 2020 but has been working as the design director for 7 years. I love that she is digging into the archives of J.Crew for inspiration. It feels very vintage and classic.
I personally love wearing menswear, I love an oversized cashmere sweater with loose cargo pants, a touch of collarbone showing with a classic shoe or a pop of color. I love the way she includes the classics and the collaboration she oversaw with french designer, Marie Marot, is perfect.Her Instagram is full of #outfitinspo as seen below:
“She says the most exciting challenge at the brand in her new role has been finding new, modern ways to pay homage to its long-standing heritage. “I’ve been really pouring through the archives and looking at our heritage from the 1980s to the 2000s,” says Gayot. - Source
This top is a part of the Marie Marot collection and it’s so good!!
"I don't follow J.Crew, I follow her," says Boston-based TikTok creator Chidera Nwankwo, aka @tasteofchidera. "Her Instagram is the gateway to J.Crew. It's like, she's J.Crew's running Pinterest board of these ideas and how they're being brought to life." Source
The cashmere sweaters are so cozy, I suggest sizing up. Here are a few of my favorites right now:
I have been loving their jewelry as well! I recently bought the sculptural orb earrings but they sold out :/ The below are all amazing as well:
3.Helen McCusker!
I came across Irish artist, Helen McCusker’s, work on Instagram and instantly loved. She is currently showing at Friend of Form in NYC through December 7th. Lucky New Yorkers!! Read more about her here.
“Inspired by life’s impermanence, FITO exhibits a noticeable maturity in style with expansive works that allude to the fragile interrelationships between living things, their environment and the concept of time.”
“It tends to oscillate between figurative and abstract. The figurative usually portrays scenes of indulgence or intimacy, with a hint of humour. Where the abstract stuff is concerned I like to focus on capturing a fleeting feeling, a burst of joy, a quiet moment — hopefully, something to meditate on and take your mind off other things.”
4.GOOD COATS, TRENCH COATS
I do like a good coat. I am always cold so there is that. Buying a good coat can be overwhelming, you need the super puff for the freezing cold days, a trench coat, a rain jacket, a lighter Fall jacket, a jean jacket, fancy jacket, a long one, a short one etc etc. But today we will discuss trench coats. Layer layer layer!
I think Uniqlo has some amazing, affordable and high quality coats. I recently bought this trench coat in “blue” (even though it is more of a black color but cooler) from Uniqlo and I am really into it. I bought it in a size large because I wanted it to be extra long and oversized, I think a medium would be fine too. You can also find many styles like this at Flea Markets/Goodwills/thrifting etc.
Here is another really great trench coat from Mango (pictured below). The tailoring is perfect, I love a trench to be boxy, I much prefer this style to the ones that tie, I think the below style is very Danish and the tie trenches can feel outdated. If you do buy a trench that ties, I recommend buying them super long like decently below your knee long (I prefer to my ankles)!! Here is an example of a long trench with ties that is PERFECTION. A la Princess Diana. Obviously it is from The Row because everything they do is genuinely exquisite.
This Everlane one has a sweet design and is boxy with a tie! Again, I would definitely size up.
I also love a super long trench with a skirt or shorts and western/motorcycle type boots. I have been SEARCHINGGGGGGGGGGGG for these Ganni boots. I missed them on Poshmark so many times for around $75-$90. Frye has some similar pairs that I have been keeping my eyes on as well. I love the way they look with shorts as seen below, then throw on a trench and a large scarf! Also add a cashmere sweater over your shoulders (this one is good too). Yeeeeehaw. Or vroooom vrroooom.
And if you are in a really cold climate, layers! All of Uniqlo’s HEATTECH options kept me incredibly warm in Minnesota. I like these because they are a scoop neck so they don’t show in low cut sweaters. I also really like the heattech turtle necks. All their undergarments for layering are perfection.
Other great trenches, Pixie Market, COS, DISSH, The Frankie Shop.
ps. not a trench but this Toteme scarf jacket is my current DREAM COAT.
5.BALLET FLATS
Everything always comes back around, as they say!? Birkenstocks, Uggs, BALLET FLATS. You’ve probably seen these Miu Miu ballet flats trending everywhere, I don’t love these only because I don’t always like when the logo is so prominent. But these Mary Jane’s, I do like. A similar style below on Brittany Bathgate and Alexa Chung.
Then a little Summer version on one of my favorites again, Alexa Chung. Similar shoe here.
Similar here and here and here.
I also like the below on TyLynn Nguyen. I am pretty sure hers are The Row (sold out). I kind of like these too but I would have to see them on.
I love these (via Vogue, photographed by Phil O), especially the ones on the girl in the red pants.
These from Everlane are cute too. Anyways, wow it’s wild how many trends The Row starts, they are really at the tippity top. Actually, I wouldn’t even call it trends, they just take classic pieces and make them even more classic.
As usual, some good follows! Sam Youkilis is genius. Maybe the best account on Instagram. I follow The Ceiling to catch a glimpse of their amazing pieces and wish I was in Amsterdam (of course they are in Amsterdam.) And lastly, I love discovering new female artists through Katy Hessel.
Thank you as always! Please feel free to share and comment. Very appreciated.