006: Everything Jo Rosenthal actually bought this week
Plus the MNZ sale, Bode's summer collection, and $150 Aime Leon Dore paint.
This week I bought another pair of Maryam Nassir Zadeh shoes (these ones from the sale). Then I made a meme about how I bought yet another pair of MNZ shoes because my fealty to the brand has truthfully become a meme itself. In the previous send of this newsletter I rounded up some of my repeat eBay purchases, but there are other ways in which my closet duplicates itself. Shopping ticks, you could call them.
All my favorite shoes are MNZ, plus a couple Prada, a couple Margiela, and a couple Camper. All my (un)basics are Gil Rodriguez. I’ve rotated through altogether too many complicated Jacquemus tops that never make it past the mirror try-on stage. And I go through the same emotional betrayal with each new Pleats Please I acquire.
Some of these pieces make me feel hot shit while others are keep me close without holding me dear. There’s thrill in folding new designers into one’s wardrobe, but where does iterating on the same thing get us? What are we chasing?
Last week, the top-clicked links are likely habits for some, too: Uniqlo’s Mame Kurogouchi collection, Everlane’s $98 fisherman sandal, and, once again, the only bra I wear.
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What’s new
It’s hard to say on what side of the Cottagecore arc we stand. On one hand, we must be post-pinnacle after a long two years of watching the novelty transform into a practicality (nap dresses!), but our persisting collective allergy to hard edges makes me second guess myself. A new collaboration between Aerosoles Aware (the brand’s environmentally inclined line) and Laura Ashley seeds doubt. Laura Ashley’s ‘90s prints, lifted straight from the corduroy pinafores of our youth, are imagined on a range of shoe silhouettes, all under $200. Some—like this floral clog—are better than other too-contemporary styles, but overall the collection delivers just-funky-enough femme that nestles categorically near Camper.
The second delivery of Bode’s summer collection landed on the brand’s site, and it includes a handful of button-adorned pieces that stole the show at the apartment-staged collection preview that ran earlier this year. The lace and crochet styles have been the first to go (snatched up by quick-clicking breeze seekers), but a handful of real goodies are still available.
The Olsen twins memes after the news of Phoebe’s return were fun for sure, but I don’t totally buy that their brand has as much in common with Philo-era Céline as people like to quip. Comparing The Row Fall ‘21, which just landed at Bergdorfs, with 2018 Celine doesn’t betray any of the alleged style biting or customer hijacking, it stands firmly on its own two brooding, leather-clad feet.
Orseund Iris, which took a break from producing instantly viral renaissance-romantic, technically constructed pieces to focus on its jersey knits, is signaling a return to fussy fashion with the launch of a few intriguingly higher-maintenance pieces like its square halter top and ruffle mini skirt.
The rectangular, tinted early-aughts frame has emerged as the sunglass silhouette of summer ‘21, but within that category there’s nuance. Lexxola, the brand that’s arguably winning at the trend with a fanbase that includes Kendall and Dua, just released an entirely new crowdsourced frame after customers begged for subtle changes. The Eva is a slimmer style priced about 25% cheaper compared to other SKUs. Another top contender in the skinny-frames space and a Jenner go-to, DMY by DMY, added a chestnut brown variation to its best-selling Preston style.
If you haven’t gotten caught up in the Our Place Always Pan web, maybe it’s because you have an implicit mistrust of social media-driven products that frame themselves as “disruptors” or “communities,” when really they’re just the sum (and, at times, the failure) of their own materials. While I do have some choice things to say about other buzzy cookware startups, I admit that the Only Pan is a prime example of synergy. It’s truly, for the first time in my experience, 100% non-stick, it’s easy to wield, and it has all-around approval from my picky chef partner. It just launched a satisfying frosted-yellow color that’ll probably match your citrus press and make your kitchen a little more awake.
What’s on sale
Two sales I am truly never safe around are the SSENSE sale, a tab I keep permanently open on my browser, and the MNZ Shop end-of season sale, both still live and only getting better with age. Maryam obviously overdelivers on the shoe front, but apparel and accessories from Mari Guidicelli, Eckhaus Latta, and Lauren Manoogian are just as deserving of our tender clicks.
There are nearly 12,000 items in Luisaviaroma’s sale section right now, and it’s just extended an additional 20% off already marked-down prices with code FR20. Which is really good! (I usually just see 10% extra on sale.) But what’s even more weird/exciting/suspicious is that it’s also offering 40% off full-priced items as part of a Mid-Season Treat sale with code S40… and, like, why? Barring just some of the newest-in high-profile pieces, you can basically shop the entire site for nearly half-off regular retail.
The way people wax poetic about the Always Pan is the way people have talked about Le Creuset for an entire century. And while D2C brands don’t exactly have a place in professional kitchens (yet? ever?), this fancy French brand actually does have Michelin ties. Its Signature Curved Casserole is $100 off today (down to $150) and is more likely to last you through to heirloom days than virtually anything else you cook with.
Everlane has finally cut the shit with its “Pay What You Want” events and is throwing a proper, unmanipulative sale that goes up to 60% off. It’s a bit of a minefield since, over the years, the brand has extended its purview of basics to include some odd, less-than-basic pieces, but amid the mess there’s some worthy deals. Personally, I’m feeling pretty good about this cotton-wool polo, these cotton twill pants, and these woven leather sandals.
Since we’re on the topic of clogs and Cottagecore and the dubious stamina of a trend that was supposed to have been usurped by Bridgerton’s influence, allow me to point you to a couple of on-the-money sales from brands who cut their teeth on the style: No. 6, known for its higher-end Swedish Hasbeens and rich-mom Scandi fashion, further reduced its sale, and London-based Meadows explores a range of romantic dresses in Liberty-loving prints, and its sale includes pieces under $100.
Not entirely Cottage-cheese themselves, but definitely adjacent, Staud, Mr. Larkin, Tove, and Hope Stockholm are also also running sales, though you’re more likely to find deals on clean lines and classics than frills and wallpaper textiles.
Dion Lee just activated an extra 20% off sale with code DL20 and there are a good number of even-more-discounted things, dresses especially, to seriously consider: lace corset ones for special events, the more-affordable-than-ever bandana print, and even some wedding dress options for confident, creative brides.
Saks Potts put virtually its whole site on sale, with a bunch of its prized fur-trim coats going for 50% off and many, many pieces still available for under €100. This 61% off shearling coat is one of the best deals at less than €400 right now, compared to its full-priced counterparts going for more than €1,000.
Sunnei is likewise having a sale, and the big, impractical bag I am in love with is included in the sale—about $400 off. I did some sleuthing, though, and found this site that’s selling it for even less: $730 with code SALE15 compared to Sunnei’s own $1,000. Just an FYI!
What else
Do you know what this summer’s most in-demand women’s item is? Personally, I wouldn’t have guessed Nike Air Force Ones, but according to the Lyst Index Q2 report, they beat out Bottega Veneta’s mini Jodie bag and Jacquemus’ Le Bob Artichaut hat, which make up the top three from the season. Not bad for a $90 shoe.
Meanwhile, StockX’s Current Culture Index reports trades for Chrome Hearts increased 2,200% over the last quarter and that Telfar sales are up 260%. Collab-heavy brands Birkenstock, which is up 610%, and Crocs, up 430%, also saw massive jumps in demand on the resale platform.
For the first time ever, Aime Leon Dore uploaded a one-of-a-kind vintage capsule of its fashion and homeware references, and obviously, because its ALD, it sold out straight away. Less obviously, included in the sale were sets of old paint cans that sold for hundreds and I just don’t think we can chalk that up to anything but Teddy Santis settling yet another bet with himself about what we will and won’t do for him (we will do all of it, TBH).
Jo Rosenthal on having her cake and eating it too
Her wisdom? Buy the fancy French socks.
Jo Rosenthal and I met at NYFW and instantly connected for the simple enough reason that we found one another to be “nice.” And even though it’s fun enough or circularly deprecating enough to gripe about the woes of the industry, her kindness has always extended way past that. Uplifting over self-aggrandizing, humility over hostility, Jo’s creative philosophy has always made enough room for everyone.
L: So, what’s new in Jo’s shopping life? J: Ok so let’s see, I bought a pair of vintage Levi’s from that really cute store Duo in the East Village. They have the best selection of Levi’s. They’re kind of overpriced but I feel like I wear jeans every day so it’s worth it. L: Do you know which kind you got, which number? J: Yeah, I think they’re 501s with a little bit of indigo dye at the bottom. L: Like a dip-dye? J: Yeah, kind of. They have jeans on their website, not a lot because you have to shop them in-store because they like to custom fit them on people. They give you like 10 pairs of jeans to try on and they’re like, ‘One of these will fit.’ The girls who run it are so sweet, they’re like twin sisters or something.
J: The other day I was feeling really tired and my cousin has been visiting—she’s a holistic health coach. She told me that if you rub essential oil on your palms and you inhale it, it will make you feel really energized. And you can put it on your temples, too. So I bought this organic peppermint oil. L: Did it work? J: I feel like it changed my life so far. It’s such a boost of energy because it smells really strong. I was like ‘This is a life hack. I don’t need to buy coffee, I can just keep essential oil in my purse.’ L: Is it really that strong? J: I was instantly awake.
J: I bought a really cute silk bomber jacket from Etsy. You know how sometimes items pop into your head and you’re like ‘I need it’? So I looked up ‘60s silk bomber jackets, and it was on my wishlist for a while. I was thinking about it every day. L: I try to follow the if-I’m-still-thinking-about-it-I-need-to-get-it rule, but then I realized I’m just thinking about everything all the time. J: It was really on my mind! It’s almost like an Adidas-style track jacket but it’s vintage and silk. It’s a cream color with red details, the collar and the sleeves are red. L: It sounds like Grease Lightning vibes. J: That’s kind of my inspiration right now, dressing from the ‘50s to the ‘70s.
J: I went out the other day to go shopping and I was wearing a pair of red socks, and I really didn’t want to be wearing a pair of red socks. I went into this shop called 9th Street Vintage because they have this really good French sock brand. So I bought a pair of white socks, and I instantly changed into them and I felt like my outfit improved. L: I hate when an outfit element betrays you halfway throughout the day. J: Oh yeah, socks are a big thing for me. I think about socks with an outfit pretty much every day. They were like $18 so it’s a very expensive pair of socks, but they’re so soft, they’re made of cotton. I think they’re from Paris or something.
J: The last item—I bought a cake from Cakes4Sport. She posted on Instagram, ‘I have this cake, I really need to get rid of it because I made an extra one.’ I DM’ed her like five minutes after she posted and I was like, ‘I need this cake.’ It was so beautiful, it was matcha-lemon curd. L: Did you have a plan for it? J: No, I got off work and went to pick it up, and then I just went with a friend and we walked around Greenpoint and ran into some friends and gave them cake. And then we just sat in the park eating cake, and that was my day. L: I love a cake for no reason. J: It’s the little things. It was one of those funky-looking cakes that’s ugly but cute at the same time.
L: Wearing the right socks and eating cake, that’s all you need. J: I felt like Alice in Wonderland.
Footnotes: A place for food and wine.
What did I eat this week? Or drink? Mostly liquid sugar encapsulated in branded aluminum calling itself wine. And ‘lite’ popcorn from a family-size bag while riding a bus. And coffee within a bag within a box within my fridge. And individually frozen vegetables combined in paper bowls with instructions printed on the side (Daily Harvest—not half bad tbh). It’s been one of those.
There will be plenty of food and beverage to report on very soon, so how about we let sleeping dogs lie? Footnotes will be back next week <3