010: Michelle Del Rio finally bought a shoe that isn't MNZ
Plus ETI tea towels, Reformation on sale, and Saks Potts' IG drama.
I think I only bought one thing it the last week, and it was a pair of ‘90s Sketchers sneaker kitten heels. I’m smitten to the point that I’m already adding more sneaker heels to by eBay watchlist, as though it’s a category ambidextrous enough to warrant more than, well, zero pairs. (I’d buy these Diesels if I was a size 8, and these Miu Mius if a $900 stimmy came through.)
Another very now outfit idea actually comes from readers’ top-clicked links last week: this “White Lotus”-esque Kinga Csilla dress, J.Hannah’s Compost nail polish, and KkCo’s Outdoor collection at Urban Outfitters (I’m picturing the vest over top).
Not a ton to muse on this week before diving into the meat, so I’ll just leave you with my usual (but sincere!) reprise: This newsletter is only as strong as its subscribers, so if you can think of anyone who may enjoy this type of content, please consider forwarding them this email. I’ll make it super easy by putting a share button right here.
What’s new
I’m rarely if ever the one with a product to hawk considering I rarely if ever create anything physical. Very those-who-can’t-make of me. That changed this weekend with the arrival of a few dozen custom screenprinted tea towels I had made for my partner’s restaurant concept, ETI. Made in the style of English primary school fundraiser towels (like the ones I had growing up in north London), our first piece of “merch” is proving to be quite flexible: So far, it’s been employed as a bandana, a babushka, a neck tie, a bag tag, a pocket square, a pot holder, and, yes, a tea towel. We’re people people meaning there’s not a fancy ecomm page set up—if you’d like to support and buy one for $30, just DM me or hit reply to this email and we’ll make it happen :)
Speaking of pot holders, the folks behind the pan that made everyone get rid of their pans, Our Place, is further streamlining kitchens with the launch of its Perfect Pot. It’s part pot, part Dutch oven, surprisingly lightweight, fabulously easy to clean, and already selling all the way out. It launched yesterday with 2,000 units of the Blue Salt shade, which sold through within hours. Today, it released the TK shade (also in limited quantities), and will drop two more shades Wednesday and Thursday.
Undies brand Jonesy is as community-led as it gets, so when the brand dropped its new (first ever!) prints this week, it kind of felt like its followers should be credited as co-designers, or at least muses en masse. Each step of the creation process looped in customers and fans, including voting on patterns, submitting name ideas, and perfecting sample fit. The outcome is a pair of cotton bra and panty sets—kaleidoscope and fractal—that are crowd-pleasing by definition.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn-flagshipped shoemaker Brother Vellies is just as recognized for its aptly named Cloud Socks, the editorial-bait, 100% cotton scrunchable tube socks that dominate cozy/quarantine times. A just-dropped aqua colorway (which reads particularly rollerskate-retro) further ensures we’ll be seeing them plenty come fall.
A tightly edited collection of unisex statement basics, Attersee has added black and navy to its lineup—“The Solids.” Perfect for late summer and lounging, executed in an Italian herringbone cotton-linen blend, and ranging from $275 for the drawstring shorts to $625 for the caftan, I’m filing this among the finer things.
What’s on sale
“I finally bought a shoe that isn’t MNZ,” were Michelle Del Rio’s words to me in an urgent text about the Lemaire sale, happening now. “Soooooo good.” With heeled mules for under $300 and $1,000-off coats, I have to ask, where is the lie? Shop men’s and women’s Archive through August 23.
For embodying our collective summer goal of “get railed in a sundress,” Reformation is basically always a solid choice. Square neck linen dresses, vintage-style but ass-flattering jeans, chic little smooth-brain sets—hundreds of pieces are on sale, now up to 50% off.
With Copenhagen Fashion Week still echoing over social media, whimsical Scandi fashion seems to be the flavor of of the month (until NYFW puts a different taste in our mouths). Mr. Larkin, a Danish shop serving checks, striped, swirls, and puff sleeves to the tune of Mozh Mozh, Maryam, and Hereu, is sprinkling an extra 25% off sale for final discounts up to 75% off with code LASTCALL25.
Moda Operandi is pushing its sale up to 80% off, with some of the best deals including bargain-priced Anna October, Rejina Pyo dipping under $100, and a sharp selection of Manu Atelier sandals and boots (depending on your present season allegiance).
Receipts were delivered this week over IG stories shared by Thistle Brown, with Saks Potts’ latest runway shown to be biting MNZ’s styling pretty much 1:1. “Stick to making coats,” was said at one point, which I think was pretty complimentary considering the callout’s overtones. Those coats, which we do hope they’ll continue making, are fortuitously discounted at SSENSE right now, including fur-lined ones for half the price and even one particularly brazen style a casual $10,000 off.
Araks, the intimates brand behind ScarJo’s sheer-pantied bum in the opening scene of Lost in Translation, has accomplished a lot since putting the iconic catalyst behind them—I categorize them alongside Eres in terms of clean lines and notable handiwork. Its yearly swim sale launched this week and includes one-pieces and bikinis in the best colors (those that are almost impossible to name). A tangerine-y yarrow maillot, hipsters that mirror the ocean, and a pink-pansy top that delights in its unexpectedness.
VooStore Berlin is offering up its aspirational assortment of brands for up to 50% off—Issey Miyake, Dries, Acne, Lemaire, and Margiela, plus a ton of sophisticated Euro streetwear brands that haven’t had their moment stateside yet.
Little-known intimates brand Isosceles Lingerie is hosting a rare sale on its intricate, unusual swim pieces. Its far-flung inspiration seems to draw on ‘80s Madonna, The Flintstones’ Bam Bam, and a hyperactive imagination concerning what mermaids would probably wear.
Nana Jacqueline is Fleur du Mal with a Lana influence meets Alessandra Rich for the TikTok age. Club-ready Bratz doll birthday dresses and other fun pieces are marked down in the brand’s worth-digging-for-the-good-stuff sale.
Michelle Del Rio on fewer, better
On Lemaire, Céline, and the laser treatments that made the cut.
Michelle’s name has cropped up in this newsletter before, as a maker rather than a feature. Her capsule collection could have won me over on the strength of its demiurgic silhouettes and invested construction alone, but it’s her capacity for world-building that’s most magnetic. The physical objects she creates, assembles, and surrounds herself with seem to have one requirement: to serve as portals to an interconnected, aestheto-philosophical utopia.
L: So those Lemaire shoes. M: They came in today. I wore them in the house before I came here and they're really comfortable. I've been looking for a tall black shoe, but not necessarily a Manolo or a Maryam, I just wanted something that was a little bit different. You can wear them with baggy shorts or you can wear them with a dress. L: They’ve got a bit of a funky aunt essence to them, you know what I mean? M: It’s not too much of a trendy shoe that I'll only really wear once every blue moon. With Lemaire, the quality's super good. Obviously the price is there for a reason, but once it's on sale, it's like I have to get it. L: And the sale is really good. M: You have to let them know there's no tax or shipping! L: Yes! I’ll put that in the interview, too. Credit where credit is due.
M: My other purchase that I just bought is this Céline sleeveless top, it’s a knit crochet tube top with a little tie. It’s this beautiful cream color, semi-sheer. From The RealReal L: Is it the one with a drawstring top? I think Either And had one in their big sale and it sold out. M: It’s just like that. I always look at Either And. I feel like their vintage and their new Objects section is really inspiring. And I love that they style with a stylist that I absolutely adore, Shayna Arnold.
M: I brought my brother denim from Industry of All Nations. I tried them on and they're really good. They're really good. Now, I want them for myself, but I shouldn’t. It's like a darker wash denim in an indigo dye. L: And we've talked about Industry of All Nations before. M: They're underrated. And their ethos is just so thoughtful. How they dye their clothes, how it’s made, where they source it. And they work with a lot of Argentinian designers, which is also really cool.
M: What else, oh! Ok I just ordered B-Sides. I had been eyeing these pants for a really long time. The denim especially, I tried it when I used to work at General Store in San Francisco—we had B-Sides, but it was the cream denim. Way too big. The size 25 was even way too big. And I was like, ‘Okay, this is a really weird sizing for pants.’ But I recently bought the Claude taper pant from SSENSE. I like pants, but I like them to be tapered, not too wide and not too straight. There's something about this cut that I can throw on. I went for a bigger size just because sometimes I like to make it loose around my hips or I like to roll it. The other denim I have, I've had since I was like 19. They’re vintage Levi’s, and they’re already ripped at the bottom, like at my butt. So I’m like, ‘It's time for a new denim, Michelle.’
M: Oh, I did laser. Can I mention that? L: Oh, yeah throw out a laser. M: Ever/Body! L: How are you liking it? M: I tried it just cause I wanted a nice refresh. L: Your skin looks great. M: It's very sandpapery right now, it’s shaving off. L: I know the feeling, but it still looks really glowy from within. M: It feels really glowy, but I was like ‘Ok, fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, let’s get rid of them.’ But it has to be microneedling, so I’d rather just save for the next thing. I’m one of those people who’ll invest in her skin. I won’t buy compulsively, but I’ll definitely spend a pretty penny on laser or micro-needling or something like that. My mom's always been into taking care of her skin, she's 70 and gets laser. She's always taught us to wash your face before bed, eat the right foods for your skin, moisturize, sunscreen. She has the most gorgeous skin and I'm just like, ‘I want to look like that when I'm 70.’
Footnotes: A place for food and wine.
What hasn’t been said about an espresso martini? Obviously, they’re back from the ‘90s, and anyone under 35 is rightly obsessed given we didn’t have a chance at a first go-around in infancy. My friend David, who I met for drinks at Buvette recently, was on his 10th of the week.
None of the places you’d order an espresso martini—Sant Ambroeus, Emilio’s, Lucien—is bothering being retro with Kahlua, though. Most use Mr. Black (Jolene uses Caffé Amaro), but the best best best coffee liqueur is being completely overlooked in this application.
Forthave Spirit’s Coffee Liqueur, which uses Café Integral espresso beans (NY legends unite), is startlingly tasty and fit for swigging on its own. I recommend it straight from the bottle on a subway bench like we did a couple weeks back, barely able to get the lid back on to preserve it for our Cobble Hill rooftop destination. But if you want to make an espresso martini blow your hair back, there’s no better star player for the liqueur role.