Leandra Medine's Blog, page 7

14 Gold Chain Necklaces to Consider When Getting Dressed

One of my most prized possessions is a chunky gold chain I inherited from my grandmother. Beyond its sentimental value, the necklace elevates every single outfit—from a plain white tank to a tiered vintage dress I wore with it to a black tie event last year. Extra bonus(es): Gold chains wear extremely well, are easy to clean, very fun to layer, and extremely versatile (I’ve even worn one with a swimsuit, with the bad tan line to prove it).

The gold chain market pool is vast: there’s chunky and dainty, collars and longer chains—but also gold chains with toggle or lobster claw clasps, Cuban chains, cable chains, snake chains, ball chains, even ones that you can hook your sunglasses to. Here, 14 options. Among them is one you’ll love.

1. The Vintage Chunky Collar Necklace

Much like the one from my grandmother, this is a large gold collar chain, with a secure box closure. It lays flat on your chest but won’t dig into your collar bones because of the rounded links. Buy it new and it’d be far more expensive, but here, we’re under $100. Check out this huge assortment, too.







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2. Chunky Rope Chain (two ways!), by Brinker & Eliza

I love a chunky rope chain necklace. Brinker & Eliza makes some great gold chains like this one (including one that’s even thicker). What’s wonderful about this necklace is that it’s two necklaces in one: I wear it with the chain forward but also with the heart pendant hanging in front. There’s also an option without the heart pendant, if you prefer! It’s also surprisingly lightweight because the chain is hollow.







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3. The Versatile Twisted Gold Rope, by Lola Ade

This 14k-gold filled chain necklace reminds me of one my mom used to wear in the ’90s, when I was a kid. She wore it everyday, sometimes paired with other necklaces. She still has it, so I actually went and purchased this one.







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4. The Everyday Chain, by Missoma

I’ve had this necklace for two years, and while it’s thinner—less showy, maybe—compared to others on this list, I’ve received so many compliments on it, possibly thanks to its cool 3-1-3 link pattern. It’s 18ct gold plated on brass; with a little wipe down, it’s remained like new as long as I’ve owned it.







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5. The Two-Tone Thick Chain, by Machete

I first saw this necklace on Instagram because the thick, shiny links stood out. This one here is two-toned, so half silver and half gold—I love the mixed metal, but Machete also offers it in all-gold and all-silver options. What I didn’t realize is the links are actually interchangeable, and you can hook it on to other necklaces or even wear it around a few belt loops.







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6. The Cuban Necklace, by Land of Gold

Designer Havilah has a ton of gold chains on her site Land of Gold, but this Cuban necklace stood out to me. Cuban chains have an interlocking pattern that makes the chain thicker and more noticeable. This one is 24k gold plated and 16 inch (so a bit longer), and clocks in at $50.







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7. The Cowrie and Toggle Necklace, by Omi Woods

This necklace by Omi Woods is a favorite because, like the one by Brinker & Eliza, it can be worn two ways: with the toggle and cowrie charm in the front, or with them positioned in the back, so it’s worn as a more standard chain. This necklace comes in both 18K gold vermeil and sterling silver—knowing that, I want to wear both together.







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8. A Cable Chain, by Laura Lombadi

Another piece that you can wear two ways, this chain by Laura Lombardi has its own trick up its sleeve. You can wear it with the clasp behind your neck or you can also wear it with the clasp in front, and link your sunglasses on to it! So cool.







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9. The Polished Flat Toggle Chain, by Jenny Bird

This necklace is super-polished, in a bright gold hue. I like to wear the toggle in the back, here’s another chance to play with wearing the toggle in front. It’s a bit longer in length, so I like wearing it with a shorter pearl or beaded necklace, or alone over a high-neck top.







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10. The Vintage Herringbone Chain

Another beloved item from my grandmother is similar to this really simple (and flexible) herringbone chain necklace. This chain necklace is truly everyday much like the Lola Ade rope chain which would be great layered together.







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11. The Dainty Chain, by Gather BK

Speaking of layering, this Aster chain by Gather BK—a brand that was started from her love of vintage jewels—is the perfect layering piece. It’s featherweight, 12kt gold-plated brass,

and thin—great to wear daily alone or with other necklaces.







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12. The Ball Chain, by Z Design

I would consider the ball chain the “fanciest” of them all. It’s modern and clean—I think of it as the gold alternative of a pearl necklace. This one is solid 14K (truly fancy) and the seller offers a range of necklace lengths and ball circumferences.







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13. The Button Chain, by Lola Ade

LIke the ball chain, this 18K gold-filled button chain—I named it that because it looks like little gold shirt buttons—is a great option for dressier occasions. Lola Ade offers a matching bracelet and anklet, if you’d like to make this a family affair.







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14. Triple Use Chain, by Frame Chain

I somehow was able to slip a sunglass chain in this round up! Frame Chain makes extremely cool sunglass chains, and this specific one can also be used as a long chain necklace or even a gold waist-belt. It’s all the gold accessorizing you need, in one.







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Do you have a favorite gold chain necklace or one you’ve been eyeing? Let me know in the comments because, if you can’t tell, I love them.

Photography by  Beth Sacca.

The post 14 Gold Chain Necklaces to Consider When Getting Dressed appeared first on Man Repeller.

The New Rules of Dating, According to a Certified Sex Therapist

Welcome to the Horniest Summer in American History. In the throes of an era marked by state-sanctioned isolation, it follows that we’ve found ourselves deprived of any number of our standard modes of intimacy. We hear the word “unprecedented” thrice daily. Everything is both sexy and unsexy. Intimate and socially distant. For lack of a better word: complicated. We’re writing and rewriting our new “best practices” around sex and dating at large.

For some, love in the time of COVID-19 is a bit like having been proverbially sent to your room, and in turn, denied the pleasures of sex and dating on the whole. For others, it’s quite the opposite: An all-in, bar-nothing edition of partnership (in which you and your significant other spend every waking moment living, working, eating, and sleeping within the same very expensive walk-in closet — I mean, apartment). If you’ve familiarized yourself with any of Andrew Cuomo’s art nuovo, you’re well-versed in the trope that is the Quarantine Breakup (see: the boyfriend cliff). In short, present tense romance is a strange beast.

So, in service of fixing in on some piece of the watery, illusive concept that is “intimacy” in the time of Corona, I reached out to Cyndi Darnell, a certified clinical sexologist, therapist, and couple’s counselor, about the scope of her job right now. Here’s your behind-the-Zoom-curtain peek at what it’s like to confront matters of sex and dating for a living, in the midst of both a global pandemic and a social revolution.

Are you seeing any common threads in the issues your clients have been raising throughout quarantine?

I actually don’t feel that most people are coming to me with issues that are born out of quarantine. Instead, I think people have a bit more time on their hands. They’re not rushing around quite like they were a few months ago. Essential workers aside, for the most part, my clients are either working less, working from home, or not working at all. They have some space to sit with their own thoughts, their own discomforts, their own anxieties. And for many of them, cohabitating with a significant other is bringing a number of shared issues to the surface.

Under normal circumstances, both parties get out of the house, go to work, socialize, go on vacations. Now none of that’s happening. There are no distractions. There’s nothing diluting their time together. And because there’s less space and more time, I think people are feeling like they really do have the opportunity to prioritize something like therapy.

Couples, even the happiest couples, need space.

I have a number of clients coming to me right now and saying, “I’m in a relationship that is, for whatever reason, not satisfying me. How might I be more satisfied?” Those existential questions are my specialty. I don’t take a diagnostic or illness-based approach to sex and relationship problems because, well, I just don’t think sex and relationship-based issues are illnesses. They’re part of life. They require some work and some questioning. And it’s only natural that, when you have more time on your hands, you’re inclined to start thinking: What does my relationship mean to me, and why? And that’s the nature of all existential inquiry: What is the point of all this?

One could say, well there is no point except what you make of it. It’s about agency. So people are sort of doing that now — reclaiming that agency, seeing a therapist, figuring out how to build out their relationships in the most satisfying ways possible, asking the important existential questions.

At the moment, couples are facing a lot of issues that were bubbling under the surface over the past few years, and are just now coming to the foreground. Not because the relationships are necessarily falling apart, but because they’ve gone from maybe spending fifteen hours a week with one another to 80-plus hours. And with plenty of good reason, that comes with complications.

I’m also seeing a rise in anxiety-related conditions. Surrounding sex, there are things like unreliable erections and trouble orgasming that manifest when anxiety levels are particularly high. And obviously, anxiety levels right now are very high. So a lot of what I’ve been discussing with my clients centers about strategies for getting space, strategies for communicating more effectively, strategies for checking in with your body, strategies for having the discussions that should have been had a couple of years ago about the details of your dynamic.

What are some strategies for getting space from your partner right now?

Generally, if you’re living in close quarters, I encourage couples to take turns going out for the day. If you can, take your laptop to the park and sit and work there. If there’s someone in your pod with a spared work space, try that for a day or so. If it feels financially plausible, consider renting an Airbnb close by and allowing yourselves some elongated time apart. Couples, even the happiest couples, need space.

Traditionally, we’re not trained to be able to say to our partners: “I need to go away from you because I can’t stand being around you all the time.” With good reason: this sounds off-putting. We’re so inclined to believe that if we need space from someone we love, it might say something negative about that love. The standard narrative is, “You’re my partner, we’re in love and we should spend every minute together that we can.” But frankly, for most people, that’s not how love works.

For many, navigating questions of space for the first time is challenging because it makes them question the relationship. But the relationship is not necessarily in trouble simply because you — and your partner — want to have time by yourself. It’s just a new skill that needs to be learned and in that way it’s much more of a social problem than a psychological one.

Have you encountered any Quarantine Breakups?

Honestly, I’m not seeing too many of these. That’s not to say they’re not happening. But likely, folks wouldn’t come talk to me if they’d already made up their minds to break up, anyway. A bartender is probably a better person to consult about that.

It’s a relatively unsexy time to be alive. Beyond the pandemic, we’re looking at a racial revolution, a political reckoning, the collapse of our economy. Do you think that’s having a significant effect on your clients’ sex lives?

Yes, definitely. I have many clients for whom the combination of COVID and the political and social climate has been really stifling sexually or romantically. But in these situations, the main thing to understand is that this form of processing is necessary and important. Whether or not it’s uncomfortable, we have to sit and feel these things.

The fact that you’re having strong emotional responses to this extraordinary time of social and political upheaval is not a weakness. It’s not a flaw in your character. It suggests that you have empathy and compassion and awareness. And for some people who it affects in deeper and more complicated ways — Black people in particular — of course these wounds are torn open. There’s trauma involved. And if they’re finding it difficult to cope, it’s not a sign of weakness or a sign that there’s anything wrong on an individual basis. This is really a time of reckoning at a social level, and while individuals will feel it and experience it differently there’s such a robust movement happening currently, and that change is inherently destabilizing. For everybody.

Is there anything to be done about that?

Generally, only during major wartimes have we seen this kind of instability. No, we’re not having a war right now — or at least not in the entirely traditional sense. But what we’re having is a social revolution. On the one hand, it’s an extraordinary thing to participate in, and on the other hand, it’s incredibly unsettling. So, in short, losing your mojo in the midst of all this doesn’t mean you’re a flawed person, or that you should try to dispel this emotional processing from your brain. It means that you’re reacting to your environment which, under the circumstances, is entirely reasonable. Even good and healthy. In time, the ‘mojo’ will come back.

At bottom, no matter who you are, it’s likely that you’re feeling less safe than usual right now. Your nervous system is taking a lashing. Even if whatever you’re confronting doesn’t affect you personally as an individual, it affects your community. It affects your loved ones. This will throw you off both mentally and physically. So, I encourage my clients to reflect on what matters to them, what their values are, what kind of people they want to be, and then scale out from there. What kind of person do you want to be in your community? What kind of community do you want to live in? What are your community values? Looking at these things from the broadest possible lens can help us think practically about solutions and coping mechanisms, but at the same time, it can help us distance ourselves from some of the more personal torment.

Are your clients still going on dates or hooking up with new partners right now?

The short answer is: Yes. Beginning and maintaining a relationship exclusively online is very difficult. So I do encourage folks, once they’ve gotten to know someone online, to interact in person — while of course being attentive to health protocols. The way we should be approaching these conversations is sort of similar to how we might approach STI tests. We should disclose the date of our most recent Covid test, and discuss the necessary steps we’re both taking in order to make it possible to meet in person without endangering ourselves or our loved ones. We need to use protection (masks) and meet under safe circumstances (outdoors).

That said, there are, of course, aspects of traditional dating that are simply off the table right now. There’s no way to attend a sex party safely. Even if you have COVID-19 antibodies, we don’t have enough research to know if you can catch the disease again or spread it around.

There’s no definitive quantity of porn that is necessarily unhealthy. It really depends on whether or not the person in question experiences their porn consumption as problematic.

Fortunately, having Zoom sex — or Facetime sex, or whatever platform your prefer — is a completely valid way of interacting until physical intercourse becomes more available. No, it’s not the entire solution to this problem (the problem being our inability to go out and pursue casual intercourse), but it’s certainly a method that people are encouraged to use without any sense of shame or awkwardness. Under the circumstances, it’s a blessing that we have these kinds of technology. It’s a gift.

While cohabitating, have your clients experienced any issues around masturbation or porn consumption?

A lot of folks worry about the porn they consume and the amount — and if they’re living with friends or partners, they’re now facing the impact of that in a new way.

That said, there’s no definitive quantity of porn that is necessarily unhealthy. It really depends on whether the person in question experiences their porn consumption as problematic. If they don’t, then odds are, no one’s being harmed and there’s no problem. There’s no culturally sanctioned “this much porn is acceptable in a day.” So, when clients are stressed about it and they come to me wanting to talk about it, my interest is in why they think it’s a problem rather than how much time they’re spending. If you feel your consumption is out of control, it’s good to consider what it is that’s making you think that. What about your consumption is distressing you? What effect is it having on your life? On your relationship? On your work?

Do you think this period will have long term effects on dating and sexuality, even after there’s a vaccine?

I suspect that our dating lives will look different for a long time. We won’t know anything about how this virus affects us in the long term, and we’re going to have to be cautious for a while for that reason. Say, you’ve had the first iteration of COVID, then it mutates. Next year, you might be susceptible again. There are so many floating questions. We have very few answers in the larger sense, which means we’ll need to operate with caution for the foreseeable future — even when there’s a vaccine.

What do you imagine the dating scene will look like in the short-term future?

For single people, dating is still happening, but it’s happening in a really different way. Something as casual and simple as a first date requires people to spend some time thinking about their values and what matters to them and what kind of relationship they want to have. These are questions we usually try to save until we’ve developed a comfortable rapport with someone. They’re not “first date” questions, per se.

It makes hooking up not impossible but more complicated, and it means limiting the number of partners we engage with.

If you’re living with older people — or other people at all — that will really affect your ability to run around and meet people and enjoy casual hook-ups. Sharing a home with someone makes you responsible for their health and wellbeing as well as your own. We’re learning a whole new way of navigating an interpersonal and social context.

While dating, we’re going to need to have much bigger conversations about our health protocols and our values before we even meet up in real life — which is an odd thing at the very outset of a relationship. It makes hooking up not impossible but more complicated, and it means limiting the number of partners we engage with (if we’ve been previously inclined to “shop around” as it were). For now, we’re going to have to choose one or two people who practice the same protocols as us, and who have the same health values as we do. So in that way, our dating scene right now is going to feel far more labored than a normal hook-up might. But it still exists.

Of course, there are generally a lot of negatives there. But do you think there are circumstances where this particular version of dating is actually beneficial for some?

In a way, it’s like going back to an old-fashioned way of doing things. From a health POV, you kind of have to “go steady” with single individuals, because you could really harm someone if you don’t.

That means, at the outset, there’s a prolonged period of chatting online, and going through the motions before committing to a real-life meet up. There’s a tacit understanding (which should also be discussed) that, if you’re making the choice to engage physically, there’s some longevity or exclusivity attached. For some people, that’s a good thing. It’s an easier way to approach dating if it feels scary. Things have to move slowly, and I do think some people are enjoying that shift.

I think others are really struggling with it, though. When you’ve had a smorgasburg of opportunities available to you, and then, all of a sudden, you have to choose, it’s limiting. If you’re hardwired sexually for adventures, and play, and group activities and that kind of stuff, this is going to be a really hard time for you. There’s no blanket solution. It sucks. There’s no other way you can slice that pie.

Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

The post The New Rules of Dating, According to a Certified Sex Therapist appeared first on Man Repeller.

The 5 Best Eyebrow Products, According to People I Insta-Stalk

Eyebrows are to Zoom meetings as the sun is to our solar system–in other words, extremely central. Ergo, we’re republishing this story from July 2019 about the best eyebrow products out there, according to five women whose brows would make you pause in the middle of a video chat to say, “Excuse me, how?”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked down the street, or scrolled through my Instagram feed, or glanced across from me on a crowded subway car and thought to myself, I wonder what that person did to make their eyebrows look like that? The number is too high to count. Such is my fascination with the slivers of hair that grow atop the eyeballs of perfect strangers, and I know I’m not alone. Eyebrow mania is real—not to mention ubiquitous. So I took one for the team (our team!) and asked five women whose brows I’ve long admired from afar to tell me their favorite eyebrow product. Read their answers below, and share your own in the comments if you have some secret tricks.

Alessandra Garcia Lorido

Model

 

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A post shared by Alessandra Garcia Lorido (@alessandragl) on Apr 11, 2019 at 10:03am PDT

Favorite brow product? I go through so many phases when it comes to brow products—sometimes I’ll use a gel or even just hairspray on a spoolie (which actually works quite well), but right now my favorite is Nudestix Brow Wax Pen.

Why is it so amazing? My hair is super coarse and has a mind of its own, and the waxy texture holds down my hairs really well. The pen shape makes it super easy to use: I just draw it on my brows and brush it in with a spoolie. I find that most brow gels have a really small applicator which, for my size brows, doesn’t quite cut it. They also tend to be really crunchy on my hair once they dry out. The wax lasts without drying out and you can even go back in to reshape and set.

How did you first hear about it? Someone on set once used soap that they bought at Whole Foods with spoolie to shape my brows and I loved the outcome. After doing some research I found that this wax pen had the same result but with an easier application.

Any application tips? A little goes along way and I like to put less on the inner part of my brows to achieve a more sprouted and bushy texture there.

Callia Hargrove

Social Director at COOLS

 

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A post shared by Callia A. Hargrove (@calliarmelle) on Feb 12, 2017 at 9:12am PST

Favorite brow product? I swear by the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil!

Why is it so amazing? Let me preface by saying I’ve tried SO many brow products over the years. When I was the social editor at Teen Vogue, one of my work wives was our digital beauty editor, and she was nice enough to bless me with every new pencil, pomade, and powder on the market. Still, I always kept coming back to Brow Wiz.

My brows are very thick in some areas but sparse in others and I love how Brow Wiz defines without giving me intense brows. It perfects the shape without going on too strong and I can’t imagine my makeup routine without it. I only get my brows threaded every few months, and I rely on this pencil heavily in between sessions so I don’t get tweezer happy and go beyond the point of no return.

How did you first hear about it? My best guess is from a magazine article sometime in college. I feel like during the late 00s, every celebrity makeup artist was raving about it and I was quick to add it to my arsenal. I went through a very unfortunate thin brow phase around the same time, where mine were barely detectible and Brow Wiz helped bring them back to life by allowing me to let the hair grow in without things looking too messy.

Any application tips? Brow Wiz works best for me when I use it to fill in sparse areas. I do the ~makeup artist~ trick and fill those areas in with light strokes so the product doesn’t go on too strong. It’s definitely not a product I would recommend to create a completely new brow. Once I fill them in, I brush my brows out with a Sephora spoolie to blend the product in for more of a natural look. The pencil comes with a spoolie of its own, but this one is thicker and blends better in my opinion.

Zara Rahim

Head of Strategic Communications at The Wing

 

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A post shared by Zara Naz Rahim (@zararahim) on May 27, 2019 at 7:33am PDT

Favorite brow product? Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel

Why is it so amazing? I love the long brush and that it doesn’t hold a lot of excess product. Some brow gels use shorter brushes which, for me, is harder to distribute without leaving clumps of color or gel behind. I had a unibrow as a child that I was always told was so beautiful and wasn’t allowed to touch until 8th grade. Naturally, I over-plucked the hell out of them the second I could. I’ve been growing out my brows for the last four years with the help of my brow artists. I met Giselle Soto when I Iived in LA. When I moved to NY for the 2016 election, I didn’t touch them for six months because I was scared to go to anyone else and had zero time for self-care. I eventually found Ashley Span at Rescue Spa who is the best. They both really got me off of using pencils or pomades and encouraged me to embrace my natural, full shape. A good brow artist is just as important (if not more important!) as good products.

How did you first hear about it? I am an Hourglass addict and was looking for something with a longer brush and quality gel so this worked perfectly.

Any application tips? I brush up! It makes my brows look fuller and also my mother always told me if I brush my hair back it’ll grow faster which is rooted in absolutely zero science but I believe it 100% and apply it to my eyebrows as well.

Jessica Torres

Style blogger and podcaster

 

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A post shared by Jessica Torres (@thisisjessicatorres) on Dec 17, 2018 at 6:58pm PST

Favorite brow product? RevitaLash Cosmetics Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner

Why is it so amazing? I naturally have very light, sparse brows. The process of making my eyebrows look full and feathery used to take me 30 minutes, daily. However, the older I get the lazier and quicker I want my makeup process to be. So I started researching products that help grow brows into thicker, fuller, sexier furry beasts. After watching UK vlogger Zoella talk casually about a product she bought off Amazon which helped fill in the gaps on her already full brows, I was sold. I have been using the product for about 4 months and counting and my brows have done a complete 180!

How did you first hear about it? Zoella!

Any application tips? The product says to apply the product in soft strokes but I apply it like a four-year-old playing with her mother’s expensive red lipstick and just go crazy on my brows. I show no mercy.

Hannah Baxter

Fashion Editor at Coveteur

 

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A post shared by Hannah Baxter (@hannahbaxward) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT

Favorite brow product? Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil

Why is it so amazing? To achieve full yet natural-looking brows, buildable color is a must. I’ve tried many, many products over the course of my eyebrow journey, from powders and gels to waxes and pencils. This guy blends in seamlessly to the brow hairs, and there’s no reddish undertone like a lot of lighter brow products—a tell-tale sign that your bushy pals are not exactly god-given. A pencil also gives you more control over the application and allows you to mimic the look of individual hairs.

How did you first hear about it? My former colleague and beauty guru for all things, Katie Becker. I always trust a friend’s recommendation over anything else, and considering she’s a product encyclopedia, I wasn’t surprised when this became my go-to.

Any application tips? Always brush up your brows before you start to fill them in—you need a roadmap of where to apply the color. I’ve also started drawing the hairs starting at the tail and working against the grain of the hair growth per a makeup artist’s recommendation. It keeps them from looking too perfect, like an Instagram brow. Then I use a spoolie to blend in the pencil, especially around any sparse patches, and finish with a tinted brow gel if I’m feeling sassy. Don’t forget to run a cotton bud around the top of your arch in case any color bleeds outside your desired shape.

Feature Photo by Alessandra Garcia Lorido.

The post The 5 Best Eyebrow Products, According to People I Insta-Stalk appeared first on Man Repeller.

How to Wear Crochet, According to 3 Enthusiasts

My summer of crochet obsession started when my friend Jo shared a photo of a Lilliez crochet tank on her Instagram. I was in awe of the detailing in Lilliez designer Halima’s work, especially that of her fruit embroidered tanks. Because I visit her Instagram account so often to see what she was selling off her page, I started getting targeted ads, and my Instagram feed became one crochet brand after the next.

I love handmade crochet because, like the upcycling brands we featured last week, it can be knitted to your specific measurements, with each stitch made specifically for you, especially when you’re shopping small and get the pleasure to discuss your piece with the artist themself. I also find that crochet is extremely versatile, looking good with the same outfits you’d wear with any of your basics. When I swap a plain white tee out for a crochet one, my outfit is instantly elevated. Or, instead of wearing my usual athletic shorts, wearing a pair of crochet ones instead looks far more thoughtful. And throwing on a crochet dress is one of the greatest easy summer dressing styling hacks there is. Because of the intricacy of the craftsmanship, crochet makes you look well-dressed because, well, you are!

I asked aforementioned Lilliez designer Halima Mbwana and crochet fan Sydney Ziems, owner and designer of jewelry and accessories brand Serendipitous Project, to help me showcase three different crochet items with suggestions on how to wear them, illustrated below!

Crochet Shorts with me (Elizabeth Tamkin), Crochet Enthusiast

When I was in art school, I took apart a blanket my great-grandmother crocheted and used the strands of yarn to re-make it as a top. Unraveling that blanket showed me how complicated it had been to make it—and gave me such an appreciation for the art. I very much regret having taken that blanket apart (I still have the second half of it).

That said, taking it apart was sort of magical—initially, I’d wanted to do it to uncover my great-grandmother’s path to me through the blanket. I revisited every stitch she’d made. Crochet is a hand-made art form and whoever crochets the piece — whether that be a blanket or a pair of shorts — is inherently in that final product. I love that.

Instagram has led me to a vast number of incredible crochet artists, like Art of Aura who made these shorts. Here I’m wearing my cherry tassel crochet shorts by Art of Aura–which is sold with a top as a set–with a vintage short sleeve blouse from Thrilling and a pair of mule sandals. The crochet is a tight-enough weave that it doesn’t have holes, so the shorts are completely wearable in public. Once you put them on, they fit really well to your body, stretching and molding to your curves. I often wear these shorts as alternatives to denim. They feel more styled, thoughtful, fun, and certainly more lounge-friendly. I also love that they are one-of-a-kind because no two handmade crochet items are completely alike!

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Crochet T-shirt with Halima Mbwana, Crochet Artist

I have been crocheting since I was in elementary school. My mom taught me. I’ve always been interested in making things to wear. My room used to be filled with tiny clothes for my Barbies. The first wearable crochet piece I made was a neon green off-the-shoulder fishnet poncho. I wore it with a zebra print circle skirt that I also made. Making one piece can take between 2 to 15 hours–the items that take the longest to complete are skirts and sweaters and the ones that I can pop out in my sleep are bralette and tank styles.

I look for longevity and uniqueness in my own work. I want customers to see my pieces as art and investments! I buy a lot of handmade knitwear from other designers, and I usually go for things that make me feel like a 6-foot-tall toddler. Wearing pieces I make myself gives me a lot of pride. I love knowing that no one else has a top or skirt or jacket that I am wearing. I also love being wrapped in soft yarn.

When I wear crochet items, I usually keep everything else pretty simple. I like to let the crochet pieces speak for themselves. Here, I paired a crochet top with an everyday pair of jeans, fun wooden-heeled sandals, and a tiny box bag. – Halima

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Crochet Dress with Sydney Ziems, Crochet Shopper

I got this dress from Eloquii. I had been searching for a crochet dress, but I was having a hard time finding something flattering for my curves that didn’t scream “beach coverup.” When I saw this dress I was really excited because of the bold vertical stripes. I am always looking for pieces that create the illusion of length. I also love the fringe detail on the dress because it’s fun and playful!

A couple of favorite crochet brands of mine are MooMoo Crochet and Fancy Nancy Crochet. They both have dreamy patterns and designs that are fun and free-spirited. I like dresses that are a little see-through. It still has a flirty effect but I don’t have to worry about wearing a slip dress underneath. I really like 3D designs too, like crochet flower embellishments! Crochet is breathable and has a cozy feel to it, and I know with smaller independent brands it is made with love which I really appreciate.

I appreciate taking a more minimal approach when it comes to styling “louder” items of clothing like this dress. I decided to pair it with these vibrant blue abalone shell earrings and hair clips from my accessories brand Serendipitous Project. I love how the blue gives a little pop, complements the black and white, and adds personality to the outfit. Since, I am obsessed with creating height I paired it with some chunky black Simon Miller flatform sandals that go well with everything! – Sydney

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The post How to Wear Crochet, According to 3 Enthusiasts appeared first on Man Repeller.

3 Older Detroit Residents on Life During the Pandemic

As a 22-year-old fresh out of college, I’ve watched as COVID-19 stripped away all the last-hurrahs I’d awaited in my final semester—only to be released into a world that had even less to offer than I’d been warned to expect. Well acquainted with my own struggles, I spoke with three women from Detroit—Mamie, 94, Francisca, 67, and Chris, 75—about their own experiences during quarantine—and was reminded that there are still plenty of ways to seek out connection, grace, and joy, even now. Below, all three women discuss how their lives have changed while shielded from the outside world.

Mamie, 94, lives with her husband in an assisted living facility and recreates fond memories through cooking.

I sometimes watch the cooking shows on TV, and I get some recipes from there. I like the chef from New Orleans. And I like to look at the one that has this air fryer. Martha Stewart—I like her. I do that every day. It’s rewarding.

My favorite thing to cook? Greens. Anything with vegetables. When I was small, we grew up on vegetables. We didn’t have fried food like they do now. For dinner, every day from Monday through Friday, we had boiled vegetables. And then on Saturday, we had boiled vegetables with cooked fish. I’m 94 years old, so I’m from the old school [laughs]. We enjoyed that. We thought we were rich and we didn’t have nothing, but we had plenty of food. We had hogs that we’d kill and smokehouses with hams hanging up. We didn’t want for nothing. We were very happy and broke [laughs]. It was a happy time.

My sisters and I were talking about the way we were raised—the right way. I always tell the kids when they go on off to school to take God with you, and if you’re having a problem, take it to Him and He will make a way for it. So far we’ve just been trusting the Lord. That’s my biggest, happiest thing to do.

On what it would take for her to feel comfortable again

They would have to have a secure vaccine. My cousin says, “Maybe in the next year.” I say, “Oh, that’s a long time.” I think the president should listen to the doctors, but he won’t. And these kids going back to school, it’s dangerous. My niece is still going to school online. She’s afraid, too.

With the things going on now, I wouldn’t even think of doing something. The world has changed. I just hope and pray for everything to be in divine order. I remember polio. At first, they didn’t have a cure for it. Finally, they found something that would help, and that was a blessing. But I’ve never seen anything this bad. I’ve never been in nothing like this, ever.

My husband has a bit of dementia, and there are things he just can’t remember. I don’t think he has any idea what’s going on. That’s one thing that’s changed, too. I can’t relate to him like we did before because I can’t discuss anything with him. We talk about things, but sometimes I don’t know what he’s talking about. He’s calm; I don’t have any trouble with him. I can see the change in him, from where he used to be. He’s 92. I pray every night and day that the Lord will let me stay here and take care of him. I don’t want to put him in a nursing home.

My experience during this time is just trusting in God for everything. We definitely need prayer. Prayer saves everything. I have the experience of the Lord leading me. I know He will do it. Some people may doubt things, but God is the one we have to look to.

On the current Black Lives Matter movement

I was listening to a program about [the death of] John Lewis, and how he was treated. Tears came in my eyes because it was so hurtful. He was a champion. He didn’t give up. He kept fighting to the end. That really stuck with me. I’m hoping that there will be some change, and we all can live in peace.

We all need to pray more and trust in God—that’s what I say. I don’t care whether you’re Black, white, green or red. We all bleed red.

Francisca, 67, lives at home with her son and finds joy in her 7 (seven!) dogs.

(Answers have been translated from Spanish.)

My dog actually had five puppies on the exact day all of this started. That was unforgettable. Imagine being with the vet and seeing your dog have puppies on the day that the pandemic really began. Thanks to them, I’ve been able to entertain myself while quarantined in my house. They’re babies, so they can cause a lot of trouble. As soon as they opened their eyes and started walking around, they were driving me crazy. But they’ve kept me feeling good through this. Thanks to them, I’ve been busy. I’ve had a job taking care of seven pets—five puppies and their parents. I’m happy to have them around.

On changing her daily routine

I have spinal injuries, and also some problems with my vision, but my appointments canceled due to the pandemic. More recently, I’ve been able to see doctors weekly, so I can keep moving forward with my progress. I always make sure that I’m wearing a mask.

Here in the house, I try to do the chores that I can, but I can’t do them at 100 percent because of my health. I do my best to stay busy at home so I don’t start thinking too negatively. I’ve started to develop not depression but an anxiety because I can’t do anything I did in the past, like spending time with family and other things that seem normal. When I saw my doctor on Friday, I told him about what I’ve been feeling, and he asked if I’ve had any thoughts about committing suicide. I said, “No, no.” I would never think to do that. I try to stay as calm as I can.

My health comes first, so I’ll do what I have to do. I also have my puppies, and I try to take them out in the yard when I can. I’ve been trying to avoid any negative, anxious thoughts.

On socializing safely

I’m friends with an older couple, and I’ve been able to see them. I’ll see them at their house, just me and them, but when I do visit them, I make sure we’re protected. We’ve been going to the clinic, and they check our temperatures to make sure we’re okay. I made sure I had the COVID test done so I would be able to visit my friends. Sometimes, I go out to the store with my son to spend time with him once he gets off work. The only times he goes out without me is to go to work. Then he comes right home.

There was a moment when I was getting a lot of phone calls from friends who thought I had COVID. I told them, “No, I don’t have it. I’ve just been in my house this whole time. I’ve been taking care of myself, and I’m not going out anywhere.” Of course, if I do go out to the store to get anything, any necessities for the home, I make sure I have my mask on. I’m a very social person, so a lot of people will recognize me, even with the mask, when I go out [laughs]. We’ll say hi, but we try to take all precautions. I’m afraid of COVID-19, but we have to stay positive and be calm.

On advice for younger generations

I want them to protect themselves as best as they can from COVID—and even more so, look out for other people. There are people who aren’t taking care of themselves health-wise, who aren’t taking their vitamins or anything like that, and it says a lot about how they protect themselves. The younger kids seem to not listen as much. They’re only on their phones, not paying attention to much else. I think it’s good advice to let them know to listen to their elders, so they can protect themselves and others as much as they can.

Chris, 75, lives at home with her husband and recalls her teaching years with children’s books.

I still read kids’ books, and I buy books for kids in the neighborhood or my friends’ kids—ld students of mine, their kids, whoever. Our nurse at the wound care clinic—he’s got twins that are seven. The doctor who did my breast cancer surgery—I bought books for her boys.

I don’t know if you were around when they had American Chillers and Michigan Chillers. Well, the author has a cabin right by Mullet Lake—we go by it when we go to Indian River. He is the nicest man. During the pandemic, he had all of his books on sale for half price_hey’re usually $6. I bought everything that I’ve never read. He’s now got about 40 American Chillers out, and then he’s got the Michigan Chillers. I’ve read them all so I can say to kids, “This is a good one. This is not so good.”

On how COVID compares to other difficult moments in history

I think the only thing that approximates it or comes close is 9/11, when my daughter was in New YorkI walked through the teachers’ lounge and saw what was going on. I got so frightened because [my daughter] worked near the Trade Center, for an investment company. I called, no answer. We didn’t have phones in our classrooms back then. I was just petrified. I called my husband and he tried calling her. We didn’t hear from her. And then I saw the second plane hit.

Finally, the secretary said, “Mrs. Pasternak, your daughter’s on line two.” The whole staff heard the page and knew she was okay, but everybody was terrified. That was the worst time. My husband kept saying, “I’ll drive and come get you.” She said, “No, dad, I’m OK.” She went right to a pharmacy and had him call her in some Cipro because they were worried about anthrax on the plane Then she went up on the roof and watched one of the towers fall down.

We just felt so helpless as parents, but that got better because two weeks later she came home. The fear went away much faster than this [time]. This is a continuing, lingering thing. Are we going to have a second wave? They seem to feel we will. I feel horrible for teachers and schools, just horrible. I wouldn’t know what to do. So, there’s that uncertainty, and [given] the fact that I’m 75 and my husband’s 79, [I wonder] whether this is going to be the way it ends, realistically.

On what she’d do if the pandemic ended tomorrow

I would probably go to Minnesota to see my sisters, and then I would go to Reno to see my son and his wife. Oh, and [my husband and I] would take another road trip. We still have five [state] capitals to visit. All we have left now is Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. I would do that immediately, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that now. I would throw my husband and his wheelchair in the car and we’d go.

When I taught fourth grade, I went to Lansing 23 times; I could give the tour. And when we were in Phoenix once, we took a picture in front of the Capitol and that started it. One summer we went to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. We’ve been to 45 capitals, and we’ve had so much fun. There’s just crazy little things that you learn. When we went to Jefferson City, I said to [my husband], “One more thing, this is where I was sent Scholastic Books from for years and years and years. Can we go see where it is?” So we put it in our phones and we went to the Scholastic Books company, and outside is Clifford the Big Red Dog. Some ladies were coming out and they said, “Can we help you?” I said, “Are you the ladies that take our orders when we call?” And they go, “Yeah.” I said, “I love you.”

Photography by Cyndi Elledge.

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Polished Outfit Ideas for When It’s Hot Hot Hot

I owe the Instagram Explore page for introducing me to some of my most treasured internet rabbit holes and discoveries–one of them being Louis Rubi, the co-founder of Barcelona-based brand LR3. Louis’s feed rivals Krispy Kreme donuts in addictiveness, serving up an infinite stream of styling ideas that make you want to stand in front of your closet and bask in its possibilities. While scrolling through his most recent posts, I noticed he has a particular knack for putting together outfits that look polished and interesting but still appropriate for summer weather. Since my personal tendency is to wear as few things as possible when it’s really hot out, I asked him to let me in on some of his secrets when it comes to having fun with clothes while still keeping cool. Below are three brand new outfits styled by Louis for the occasion, plus his insights behind them. – Harling

A “Businessman Who Just Took Off His Pants” Vibe

The summer is a struggle for me because I love to layer. If an outfit is too plain or simple, I don’t feel like myself. I’ve had to find creative ways of layering in warm weather with pieces that aren’t oppressive and still allow air flow. This blazer is great for that because it’s oversized and has slits in the back. I love how the proportions look when it’s styled with really short shorts, so when the blazer is closed it almost looks like you’re wearing a dress. The shorts kind of resemble boxers, which gives the outfit a fun “businessman who just took off his pants” vibe.

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An Experiment With Proportion–and a Straw Hat Just ‘Cuz

I really like the contrast between a super tight tank top and oversized trousers with a lot of fabric going on. I try to sneak some volume into my outfits when I can get away with it in the summer, and pleats are a great way to do that. The open button-down shirt is one of my signature summer layers, because it’s so lightweight and can easily be added or removed as temperatures fluctuate. And then the hat–that’s my secret weapon for sprucing up any outfit. I think people should wear hats all the time–I don’t know why they don’t!

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A Magic Combination Courtesy of Baggy Jeans and a Sweater Vest

I bought these trousers in the South of France. I saw them hanging in a flea market and fell in love with them immediately. My boyfriend at the time was like, “Are you kidding?” Because they were really baggy on me. But that’s part of the fun in styling them. I like the look of trousers cinched at the waist with a belt, almost like a paper bag–that crinkled effect at the top is a way of adding an interesting element to an otherwise simple outfit. I’m also a big proponent of sweater vests in the summer. They’re sophisticated and a great layering piece that still lets you stay cool.

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Glaring Empty Spot on Your Wall? Get One of These Vintage Posters

I just moved into a perfectly clean, white-walled room—and with those white walls, I’ve been inspired to update my wall art. So far, I’ve purchased a few smaller photo prints, including this one, from See in Black and this one by Payton Fulford. They’ll join a few prints I’ve had stored away for ages, due to lack of open wall space in my last apartment—but now I need some larger pieces to fill the immense whitespace.

Now my new obsession is digging around on the furniture site Chairish for a large vintage poster to complete my collection—maybe something abstract, yet not too out there (“Vintage art posters” is surprisingly not a particularly rewarding Google search). I started with some low-hanging fruit, like Andy Warhol—mainly because his prints are absolutely everywhere, and I wanted to check the authenticity of the results. Shockingly, there were a lot of genuine first-edition prints—the first print production of the art, based on the original piece—ranging all the way from 1960-2010.

The nice thing about art posters is they can be more affordable depending on the edition of the print: The first is more expensive than the fifth—and more likely to actually increase in value. That means owning a first-edition print from a heavy hitter like Andy Warhol is totally achievable. If you’re not looking to make an investment at this particular moment, I’ve also included some picks under $100.

I’m sure I’m not the only one responding to some serious nesting urges. Here’s my path to better, more beautiful walls.

Heavy Hitters

These include some of the Andy Warhol lithographs and first-editions that lit up my initial search.

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A personal favorite from Andy: a 1993 collector’s edition lithograph print of Grace Jones from 1968… that wasn’t quite what I wanted for my space.

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I bet you never thought you’d own a Matisse, did you? (I did not).

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Or something from retro king Peter Max?

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It wouldn’t be a “heavy hitters” section without a little something from ’80s icon Keith Haring.

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Or NYC native, Jean-Michel Basquiat.

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Then a few popular goodies that will lead to amazing “similar results” sections.

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At this point, I’m feeling a little more confident with the search bar and decide to search for magazine cover art, couture poster art, or anything fashion related.

Fashion Influenced

Let’s all be little French dolls with these 1930s Vogue posters.

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What was that? You’d like to see some vintage covers from Harper’s Bazaar also? No problem.

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Or some new wave beauties from Fiorucci that I should probably already own but don’t. Bookmarking these for later…

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Suddenly I’m bookmarking and saving handfuls of posters, but nothing that really sticks out for my space yet. On the other hand, I am really gravitating toward the pieces that involve typography in some aspect.

Odds n Ends

Under $100

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Exhibition posters for already well-known artists feel just about right.

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These retro advertisements are actual pieces of ART.

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Here, some contemporary pieces that make me want to scream from the rooftops… but that wouldn’t really work in my space.

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Montreal Olympics posters from the 1970s made me realize how much I miss watching the Olympics—and once again how good type is on a retro poster.

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After a thorough search, I realize the ones that really resonate are the museum exhibition announcement posters. I love the mix of imagery with text—the fact that they’re advertisements for an actual artist makes them extra special. I haven’t quite landed on one yet, but I love them all. What do you recommend?

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The post Glaring Empty Spot on Your Wall? Get One of These Vintage Posters appeared first on Man Repeller.

6 Upcycling Brands That Are So So Good

Some of my favorite Instagram follows are upcycled or re-worked vintage brands, which alter a vintage item to make it something different. Oftentimes, upcycling is done to repair a garment or alter the size, but what really gets me excited is a full-blown reinvention—the sartorial equivalent of changing your name and moving to a new town whilst wearing a fake mustache.

I’m talking about piecing together old quilts to make a new jacket, like Psychic Outlaw does. Or combining several vintage T-shirts to make a new tank top, like those of JJ Vintage. Taking apart towels from the ’70s to make a bucket hat like DOS Swim has. Or even making loafers out of vintage hand-woven Turkish rugs a la Res Ipsa. The list goes on and on, as evidenced by the #reworkedvintage and #upcycledclothing hashtags I follow on Instagram, so I asked the team to share some of their favorite upcycled and reworked vintage brands out there. —Elizabeth Tamkin

JJ Vintage, recommended by Elizabeth

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WEBSITE LAUNCH TODAY @ 4:30 PM EST!! Here’s a sneak peek of pieces that will be dropping on the website! Sizes ranging from XS-XXL

A post shared by JJVintage (@jjvintage__) on Aug 1, 2020 at 12:11pm PDT

I scored a JJ Vintage original a couple of months ago from the brands then-Depop. After selling vintage reworked items in 2015 as a side business, the brand’s founder, Jasmin, launched JJ Vintage in 2019—and since my purchase, has since set up her own website to release a new batch of designs—sometimes weekly—announced in advance on the brand’s Instagram. The product sells out within seconds, so don’t dilly-dally. JJ Vintage also offers 25 custom orders per drop, in case you have a specific color combination in mind or need custom sizing. In this case, Jasmin pieces together existing clothing—and therefore is able to custom fit to the client’s measurements. Prices range from $30 for less intensively reworked pieces to $150 for dresses and sets. My personal favorite pieces: her vintage sports logo one-shoulder tops and tanks, often boasting a Nike swoosh. I like to wear my top (which is a three-panel tank) dressed up with a little skirt and Mary Jane flats or pants and heeled mules. I feel incredibly cool wearing it—and I love knowing that there is no other top in the universe that is the same.

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Eat Da Rich, recommended by Lorenza

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Before and After: 3 Not-So-Great Pieces, Redone

Almost everyone has that one thing in their closet–that item that’s perfect in every way except for the fit, or that has incredible fabric but isn’t versatile enough to wear more than once a year, or that you were inexplicably drawn to in the store despite the fact that it doesn’t seem to go with anything else you own. These things exist in what I call “closet limbo,” a kind of purgatory where clothes we don’t know what to do with but can’t bear to part with hang out for eternity–or at least until something intervenes. That something might be Reissued Style–a service that reworks old clothes into custom-designed pieces, born out of designer Felicia Zivkovic’s decision to turn her hobby of reworking old clothes into more than just a side hustle. (Recently, she also added another component to the business–Upcycled by Reissued, a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces sewn locally with heirloom textiles and dead stock fabric). Felicia’s philosophy is focused on promoting sustainability and cutting down on mindless consumerism by extending the life of things you already own–a.k.a. things that might be languishing in closet limbo. Below, three members of Team MR take the service for a spin in honor of Second-Hand Week.

Mikaela’s Candy Striper Uniform Was Transformed Into a Cottagecore Dream

Background on the original piece: The original dress was from a really tiny vintage shop in Cobble Hill, and I’m pretty sure it’s an old candy striper uniform! I fell absolutely in love with it when I saw it, but wore it about two times over the course of two years. It just needed something, but I couldn’t put my finger on what.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: As much as I loved the print, cotton fabric, and big pockets, it was just ill-fitting! The elastic was kind of in an unflattering spot given the length of the hem, so I was really keen to see what it would look like elongated and tailored to fit me better.

Thoughts on the end result: I love it. And it arrived just in time for me to feel included in the cottagecore resurgence :). Styling will be a good challenge for me, especially with these white organza sleeves (muy elegante!), but I’m up for the task. I feel like I can still rock my tennies with it (the Air Maxes from every style story I’ve ever been in—you know the ones!). This time I went full countryside with black cowboy boots, but I’m itching to see what it’d look like prepped up, with loafers and layered under a sweater vest. The possibilities are endless.

Amalie’s Denim Jacket Got a Really Good Haircut

Background on the original piece: I won’t lie to you, I did not have the original piece for long before I was ready for its transformation. I picked up the denim jacket on a whim from a Housing Works (a chain of non-profit thrift stores in NYC, which supports efforts to end homelessness and AIDS)—the almost military-style shape appealed to me, but seemed completely oddball. I hoped there was an “elegant butterfly spreading sinewy wings” inside the “frumpy, oversized militiaman” cocoon.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: I wanted this jacket to be something I would actually wear regularly. In its original form, the jacket was so dense and had what seemed like 15 different flaps of excess denim. Denim that could be repurposed! Denim that could be used elsewhere! I also believe denim jackets, in general, are one of the true staples of a wardrobe—and you can only have two: One can be a statement, and one must be simple. I have my perfect simple denim jacket I acquired last year that I spent way too much money on but will be in my closet forever, so I wanted this jacket to be my statement, one that I could scoot around in and have people ask, “Where did you get that?” and I’d say “I’ll never tell” but then I’d say “Actually it’s a completely repurposed thrifted jacket, how do you like them apples.”

Thoughts on the end result: Comment dit-on completely different jacket?? I love the cropped cut, the raw edges, and frankly the embroidered floral trim around the edge and lapel is the definition of “surprise and delight.” In Merriam-Webster. The beauty of it, being a denim jacket, is that even though the garment feels fully improved, it’s still a chic denim jacket that I would wear with virtually anything, except maybe polka-dots.

Lorenza’s Ill-Fitting Dress Became a Versatile Shirt

Background on the original piece: I picked up this dress at a resale store in Harajuku about a year ago. I love thrifting and vintage stores, so one of my last days in Tokyo was dedicated to scouring shops and inevitably purchasing things I clearly had no room for in my suitcase. Spring was also in the air, and I was feverish to purchase some sort of dress or frilly thing I could wear in the sunshine.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: Although aesthetically the dress ticked a lot of boxes, reality eventually hit and I realized the shape was unflattering. It was about two sizes too big, so it didn’t hug in the right areas and looked somewhat matronly. I never ended up wearing it because the fit was so off, so I figured a little editing was in order. By the time I finally decided to do something with it, I was over spring and ready for fall, hence my desire for longer sleeves.

Thoughts on the end result: The end result is exactly what I was looking for. It’s much more versatile as a shirt, and can be styled with shorts or pants, weather permitting. It still has the same great energy the original piece had when I fell in love with it–floofy and delicate, with perfect little embroidered fruits. I’m excited to grunge it up a bit with black leather or layer it with a mock turtleneck and jacket to spice up the neckline!

Photos by  Beth Sacca.

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A Bunch of Cool Things I Just Found: Vintage Edition

I stumble across so many treasures on the internet while finding market for other stories. Here’s where I’ll share them with you, alternating weekly between vintage/second-hand and contemporary finds. Sign up here for our Shopping Newsletter, with eight additional finds every Friday.

For Second-Hand Week I am, of course, kicking off this series with vintage picks!

This is a slew of really cool jeans—they’re incredibly unique and range from 1980s deadstock material to reworked Levi’s to patchwork colorblock pairs.



















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If these were my size, I’d buy them. Wear them with your most monochromatic outfit (see: loungewear) and they’ll give it a pop.







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I’ve revisited this quilted shoulder bag countless times. I love that while it’s an everyday bag, it could still be dressed up—maybe by wrapping a complementary silk scarf around the handles. This shop—a Black-owned Etsy boutique called Aarica Nichole—offers a whole range of beautiful vintage finds.







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This could just be me, but I envision these incredible ruffled bloomers (from Bum-Cake Vintage, another Black-owned vintage shop) with an oversized blouse or chunky big sweater (come early fall), so that the ruffled hems just peak out underneath (hello, pop of green). Pair the above outfit with ballet flats to look even more adorable. If you, too, have a love for ruffled bloomers, there’s a vast variety of sizes, lengths, and colors here.







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These! Upcycled! Cashmere! Bralettes! They come in sizes A/B or C/D—I recommend messaging the seller if you’re curious about fit.







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This is a hybrid between a blouse and a blazer. That crochet trim gives it a fancy touch—I’d wear it now with a pair of unexpected casual shorts and sneakers. It actually got me thinking about an upcycling project for an old blazer I have…







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Speaking of crochet accents, how great is this detachable crochet collar? Wear it as a necklace or as a true, detachable collar with any sweater or high-neck top.







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I had to include this incredibly fun upcycled pouch. I’d use it as a little clutch or store my toiletries in it, if and when I go on vacation once again.







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Graphic by Lorenza Centi.

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