An Ode to Current Loves
Hello, I am back. I don’t have any major reasons for being MIA other than general malaise a la Jack Bolling of The Moviegoer, combined with overall un-fun pandemic vibes. While I haven’t shared anything in a little over a year, I have of course typed and deleted multiple posts, very many times. I’ve contemplated topics such as my own take on the Night Luxe Aesthetic (which, to be fair, I will probably publish sometime soon), a list of my favorite coffee shops, and another list of my favorite fragrances - all very predictable and comfortable. I ended up getting overwhelmed because I have too many “faves,” scrapped them all to hell, and started over. Lots of lists, little motivation, major sad times.
And then I discovered a new magazine to obsess over, read my first book of the year, and found happiness in gel manicures. I also got a rude awakening from my aesthetician during one of my recent facials - she told me point blank that my skin was “terribly, terribly unhappy,” which triggered me to seriously start rethinking my diet and wellness overall - it’s been a cruel and unforgiving process to undo the damage I have done since March 2022. Something clicked these last few days however, and I’ve been feeling more…dare I say….centered?
Overall - my battery is at least semi-charged, so here I am with a written version of a photo dump of my life, with hopes that it “inspires” you (as it does me) to, I don’t know, enjoy the small things in life.
The Read: Konfekt Magazine
I stumbled across the Winter 2021 issue of Konfekt Magazine on a visit to Casa Magazines earlier this year. It only took a quick skim of the cover, complete with content highlights such as “Looks. Chunky knits, party attire and elegant outerwear for crisp morning strolls” and “Wine. Meet the family-run Alsatian vintners raising the bar” to catch my attention. The final line - “Discussions. A Helsinki round table on diplomacy, politics and the art of tolerance” sealed the deal.
Konfekt boasts itself as “the magazine for sharp dressing, drinking, dining, travel & design” - and, it doesn’t fall short. Truly, this publication is a marvel, and a must-have for a 30-something-plus crowd. I don’t know about you, but I have been disinterested in fashion for years now, having found comfort in knowing my style and no longer being excited by fleeting trends. The contributors at Konfekt are similarly disinterested in all things flashy and trendy - at least when it comes to magazine subject matter - which makes the read so satisfying. This is really a deliciously indulgent read for anyone looking for perfected curation of all things exceptionally tasteful. And, if you can’t get your hands on an issue right now, you can start with Konfekt Kompakt right here.
The Song: Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush
Before I carry on, I must say - it soothes my music snobbery to say that I have been listening to Kate Bush far before Stranger Things introduced her genius to Gen Z and anyone else who hadn’t been a true fan before. Now that being said, I could absolutely not control my emotions when this song, quietly sprinkled around prior, very loudly took the show in the most pivotal scene of the latest season of Stranger Things.
I felt that moment in full force, particularly because this is the exact song I had on repeat all last summer through an especially stressful and dark period in my life, and it’s been the song I turn to whenever things feel not great. So here’s to very good, life-changing music. Thank you, Kate Bush.
The Place: Fasano Restaurant
Fasano opened earlier this year on West 49th Street and quickly became one of the few restaurants that could persuade me to go to Midtown (the other being La Grande Boucherie, simply for vibes). Before anything else, Fasano is very stylish - the space is doused in neutral warm tones, elegant, yet cozy. It’s also great for people watching, so you don’t want to skimp on the dressy factor here - take your Kellys and Chanels, and please don’t wear jeans or combat boots. At least for dinner. PLEASE.
I have only been for dinner in the main room so far, twice - everything is delicious and service is impeccable so order up. I also suggest going with a group or otherwise not filling yourself up with the very generous bread basket because you will want to try everything here. And yes, order the tiramisu - you will not regret it.
The Shoes: Ginza Flip Flops by The Row
I sent all of last summer walking around in The Row’s Hook & Loop Sandals because I didn’t want to get the same pair of sandals that “everyone else had” aka the Ginza Flip Flops. Anyways, I decided that life is too short and I couldn’t care less if everyone in the world had the same pair of shoe as I did as long as they look great on me, so I ended up ordering the leather and suede style on Net-a-Porter for next day delivery and have been pretty darn happy since.
There’s a reason why these flip flops are so popular, and it’s because the looks so good with everything. Literally. I love pairing these with straight, loose pants and a cropped collared blouse for an outdoor dinner, but have also worn them for a casual daytime stroll.
One caveat: these are definitely not as comfortable as the hook & loop sandals. I really don’t like the whole “I need to break my shoes in” thing because most shoes will fit and wear perfectly on the first try if they are well made, but - these do require some breaking in to get the leather straps a little more malleable and soft. In the end, they are tres chic so…the breaking-in is worth it.
The Bag: Goyard Saint Louis GM
I caved and bought my first Goyard in Paris three years ago, a gorgeous Artois MM in yellow. I had walked in with my mind set on the black, but it spoke to me and I was very happy with it because it was different - not the basic navy or gray Saint Louis totes everyone in the city schleps around everywhere.
As I have come to realize, I am very basic, and the basic b* in me lay dormant for a while until one day when I woke up and convinced myself I was not complete without a “regular” tote in addition to the “special yellow” Artois. And so, on a fine morning this past fall, I made my way uptown and walked out with a Saint Louis GM in the Black/Tan combo. No regrets - I’ve taken this bag to work, I’ve used it as a gym bag, as a shopping bag for when I don’t want to carry home multiple paper bags, and for anything and everything in between. And of course, the Artois comes out when I’m in a particularly fun mood so it’s been great all around.
The Change: Morning Workouts
I am going to keep this short and simple: morning workouts are a game changer for your mood, productivity, and overall health. Pre-Covid, I used to workout in the evenings quite diligently. It just became impossible to keep up with that, so I now start my day knowing that I fulfilled the most important responsibility I have: the one to my own wellbeing.