Like a kid in a candy store
Or me at Brandy Melville.
I usually wait to write this letter until Sunday, just to give myself more room for content. It’s Saturday, and I feel like I already have a lot to say.
If you recall, I used to talk a lot of shit about Brandy Melville on here. I even said that I was over it and wasn’t going to shop there anymore. Life is too short to hold grudges, so, back to Brandy I went.
Every so often, I like to do a big haul of basics from there. I go through white tees like paper towels and as the weather heats up (or not at all if you live in New York this week), I needed a refresh. They truly make the best tank top for under $50 on the market.
My Brandy Melville of choice is the one next to Parsons. You will not ever catch me inside of the one on Broadway, and if you do, check me for a fever. No matter the location, however, you’re guaranteed to be the oldest person in there if you’re above the age of 18. Nothing makes me feel more adult than shopping there. You’re surrounded by tweens begging their moms for cropped tops and bralettes. When I was their age, it was a treat for me to get just one thing from Brandy. Now, I feel like the childhood fantasy of buying anything you want from the toy store is coming true. I can get however many of the same shirt I want, because I’m the one buying it. With age, you also realize that their prices are so low it’s almost concerning. I got all of this for under $150:
Special shoutout to Brandy adding butter yellow—the color of the season—to their collection. I was obviously very excited about that. And I’m a sucker for their pajamas. Also, call me crazy, but I thought the white tank was giving The Row. Also obsessed with them experimenting with non-traditional necklines on tees, not quite a crew not quite a scoop, and also a scooped slight-V? How chic.
Speaking of investing in basics, a brand I really admire right now is Cou Cou Intimates. Their creative direction is beautiful, every picture they post on Instagram I’m obsessed with, and the pants I got for Christmas from them are basically glued to my body from Friday night to Sunday night. I’m wearing them right now as I write this:
I would buy everything from their site if I could. Maybe if I stopped buying in bulk from Brandy I would be able to.
I made two other big purchases this week. I'm willing to spend more on skincare these days because there’s little I care about more than my skin. I bought the Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum because my friends said it was great, and I need recovery on some little scars that I have. I also got it as my second order from the Sephora sale, so technically, it was a steal.
My list of Obsessions on The Real Real is extensive, and I track their prices daily. Once this 2006 Prada dress dropped down to $140, I knew that was as good as it was going to get before I lost it to someone else. I am by no means a size 2 (especially in luxury), but we’re hoping for a miracle here. I tried on the same silhouette over the summer, but it was in a print I knew I would never wear. The solid navy is more my speed.
In the Prada spirit, I’m sure a lot of you saw the big news of Prada buying Versace on Thursday. Although I may be a former employee, I say this unbiased, I still don’t understand why Tapestry wasn’t allowed to acquire Versace alongside their siblings Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo. Feels like the FTC is picking and choosing what’s an anti-trust, if Saks can buy Neiman Marcus and license out the Barneys name, and if Amazon can buy literally everything. Like my doctor’s office and my grocery store are both powered by Jeff Bezos. Anyway, I’m obsessed with the Muiccia x Donatella girl power, I’m just salty I can’t ask my old work friends for a Versace robe from the sample sale.
This Saturday, I finally got around to paying my dry cleaner a much-needed visit. I love it in there until they hand me the bill. I guess the name of the game when you’re buying and wearing a lot of vintage is that you’re going to have to take care of it. I had a silk cardigan stained from dinner at Raf’s, a hook torn off of a pair of Jil Sander trousers, and some Halston Heritage pants that didn’t fit my waist. All things that will be incredible additions back into my closet, nonetheless.
Pivoting—I’m so excited Hacks is back. I watched the first episode and loved it. I also have dove into Southern Charm at the request of a friend. Since I’m obsessed with Bravo, it’s been an easy addition to my T.V. viewing. Thomas Ravenel is deeply disturbing and I’m only like five episodes in.
I’m still deep in my snack grind at work, I just don’t have any content to show for it. I’ve really started to romanticize the mid-day beverage at work. I do not drink soda or anything carbonated as many of you know, and am being extra mindful of my sugar intake these days. This leaves me pretty limited, but tings I’ve been loving are the Heyday Green Tea, Brooklyn’s Best Tea, and kombucha (my one exception to the carbonation rule). I tried Kettl matcha this weekend too, incredible both in color and taste.
Today, I cheated on my usual massage place. I don’t like to do this, but I was having lunch in the West Village and didn’t want to trek all the way down to Chinatown in such weather. I got an hour foot massage for $35. I live in the greatest city in the world. At the end, my masseuse basically did the 7 C’s on me (IYKYK) and then thrusted my legs in the air to stretch them. Upon seeing this, my friend Eliza said “they have to fill the hour somehow”.
I have a birthday party tonight, and the host clearly stated on his invite that he’d rather “not see anything under 4 inches” in terms of footwear. He’s going to be really disappointed when I inevitably show up in ballet flats. I hate to let people down, but my spring/summer vibe doesn’t exactly include stilettos. Maybe a sneaker wedge will count…
the black set (or dress and shorts can’t tell) from brandy is eating a hole in my brain i need it