Things I bought, things I want
01/13/25
It was with a heavy heart that I canceled the trip to L.A. that we were supposed to make in a couple of weeks, but I can support from afar with this cute Clare V tee; 100% of proceeds go directly to the Red Cross.
I have been intrigued by designer Natalie Martin’s offerings for a while now: she makes pieces in the best elevated-hippie-girl prints and silhouettes, with rich colors. But I was wary, because a lot of what’s on offer is made of Rayon, and—while I firmly believe that not all synthetics are evil—I wanted to feel it first. Then they gifted me a few pieces, including this great caftan-ish dress, and the tactile experience is excellent—the fabric feels like a super-soft cross between silk and cotton. Do click through to get a better sense of the dress’s shape—I included this picture because it gives a better sense of what the print looks like.
My (not-inexpensive) cashmere zipper hoodie did not survive the moth apocalypse, so I’m thinking of going for this one from Quince that rings in, remarkably, at just under $100.
I love the clean lines and awesome print on this dress, which looks more suited for warm weather, but would look great layered over tights and boots right now too.
Just a really clean-lined pair of wool trousers for not a ton of cash.
A red and white button-down is just a good idea.
Such a cool (and versatile) reversible shirt.
My Baggu shopping tote—which has served me well for years—was looking a bit worse for wear, so I bought this spiff silver one, which is so excellently NASA.
A half-zip cotton sweater with sporty stripes.
I’ve been wanting a knit vest for a while now, and this might just be the one (fyi, it also comes in black).
With all due respect, I would rather send my money directly to a local LA group helping evacuees or animal rescues than buy a $100 tee shirt of which a small slice — the profits, not proceeds, as the website notes — go to the American Red Cross. As our family discovered with local blood drives the Red Cross holds in someone’s name, what they collect goes into their general coffers, not specifically to the local crisis or to local patients. Better to have all your money go to the place it’s needed.
I scrolled through the Natalie Martin site and found a few dresses and caftans in 100% cotton that are lovely. One may or may not be in my shopping cart as I type. I appreciate that some of her dresses have longer sleeves for those of us with wrinkly arms! And I have that silver baggu bag––it's pips!