1. I know we’re firmly planted in summer—but no matter how brilliant the sun is at high noon, my wardrobe resists transitioning to more seasonally appropriate garb. Instead, I’m committed to a uniform of neutrals and physically unable to send away my more “serious” bags for a deep clean before they’re stored away until September. (Like: the elusive cherry-colored Bottega Veneta Vanity case I worked too hard to procure to put away within two months, and a forever favorite, the Chanel Yin-Yang flap pictured above.)
I suppose I’m inadvertently a sartorial contrarian. Florals in fall, knits in early summer. Groundbreaking. (But I’ll get there eventually. I love a strappy sandal too much to miss its time to shine.)
2. There’s no shortage of fragrances to discover but for the last two weeks, I’ve been unable to translate my mood into a tangible scent of the day. Perhaps it’s the abrupt shift from June gloom to summer proper, but it’s more likely that my nose is to blame. I’ve exhausted the poor thing after a few months of testing for this piece, then further overwhelmed myself catching up on all the new perfumes I set aside until post-publication. Easing it on the olfactive front wasn’t just natural, it was imperative.
This isn’t to say that I went fragrance-free (a philosophy I never subscribed to, even in its heyday). I’ve been perfumed still, simply to a lesser degree. Until recentlly, a most addictive combination has been Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter with my signature Officine Universelle Buly Huile Antique scented body oil. It’s divine, as nourishing to the touch as it is to smell.
3. One of my favorite things about getting to know someone (platonically and otherwise) is discovering their love languages. I mean that sincerely (and I suppose generally; this isn’t a direct reference to the Love Languages™ that put everyone into neat little boxes.) It’s a beautiful part of the human experience, no? Finding what makes them smile, and seeing them light up when they make you do the same.
4. Food is political because food is identity. Studio ATAO had a great piece on food systems within the U.S. specifically, and more globally (and more relevantly), I urge you to look into the importance of Palestinian food sovereignty in fighting complete erasure.
Part of fighting settler colonialism is supporting Palestinian agriculture and recognizing its cuisine. I was recently introduced to Olive Odyssey, a collective passionate about supporting Palestinian farmers and connecting them with people around the world. I currently have a bottle of olive oil and jar of za’atar in my cart; I’m looking forward to using these in the (very rare, very few) meals I know how to make.
5. I know I wax poetic about the jacaranda trees lining all of L.A., but I love, love, love them so.
. . .
xx
A SENSIBLE EDIT
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