This roundup of things we liked this week originally appeared in the May 23, 2024, edition of the Secret Strategist newsletter, a weekly email where we share the stuff our staff — plus a rotating cast of writers, design-world people, and various others with very good taste — would otherwise keep to themselves. If you want to get our picks straight to your inbox each week, sign up here.
Something funny has happened here in Secret Strat world: We’ve observed the entire lifecycle of a trend. It started in early December. Interested in finding oval-y glasses, we stumbled upon the brand-new Regard style. “These Meg Ryan–in-the-’90s glasses from Miu Miu hit an oval-y sweet spot,” we wrote to you all on December 7. “Usually oval glasses are too Harry Potter.” Then, a few weeks later, we spotted three people wearing them at the Eckhaus Latta show. (“We keep spotting these Miu Miu guys!,” we wrote to you that week. “Three people at the Eckhaus Latta show were wearing them!”) Then April arrives, and we noticed none other than Bad Bunny wearing these puppies courtside at a Knicks game. (He also wore them on his walk of shame out of the Greenwich Hotel the morning after the Met.) At which point, of course, a conspicuously similar pair came out at Warby Parker, ostensibly closing the loop on the entire thing. We thought we were done writing about these until, on May 14, when we were casually perusing Instagram, we saw the Knicks post a picture of Billie Eilish in a pair! It’s rare to see something become naturally popular these days — there’s something almost quaint about it. —Katy Schneider & Simone Kitchens
This Week’s List
* Read this in a 1998 New York Times article about Plum Sykes: “Minutes later, in her tight red velvet dress by Ghost with a cigarette burn in front (‘It’s from Anna’s party for Oprah at Balthazar,’ she said. ‘All my clothes get trashed.’), she paused at a velvet rope.” You might recall that we noticed Maryam Nassir Zadeh wearing a vintage Ghost dress a few months back. Now seems as good a time as any to buy one! This one, for instance, is great. What a skirt, for $15!! This dress! Another seriously good skirt!
* Okay, in other news: Wörishofers are still (still, still) really good.
* In a similar-ish vein, try some vintage buckled Pradas.
* Senior editor Hilary Reid, meanwhile, has been on a “ballet-flat buying tear.” She’s bought:
1. These French Soles, which she has “walked nine miles in before, they’re so comfortable.”
2. Some Dolce Vitas, “never received so many compliments on a pair of shoes.
3. These, which are “orthopedic and do not look it.”
4. And “impulse bought these Zaras as a treat after a dentist appointment, lol.”
* A vintage long-sleeved Lacoste polo is such an important shirt for any basics arsenal.
* COA’s new gingham shorts with a red stripe up the side are very cute. (Also, Girlfriend Collective’s new drop looks a bit COA-esque.)
Check These Out Too
Rita Konig, designer and journalist (who has a new online video course with Create Academy) sent us a list of things she’s bought and loved of late.
* Terra-cotta pomegranate from Santa Maria Novella: I always use these when I am installing projects so that the houses smell delicious when my clients arrive. They quietly go about their work without you having to worry about putting them out — like candles, which put the fear in me.
* Wiberg’s pine essence: I just adore this scent. It reminds me of steaming-hot baths in big old houses.
* D. Porthault baby pillow case: I love the Porthault prints, particularly the hearts, stars, and clovers, but there are so many that I adore. And they bring both a freshness and a cheerfulness to beds, which I really like, along with a little bit of a bygone age that I find very comforting.
* Sabre Bamboo cutlery: I’ve always loved this cutlery as it has a wonderful rustic charm to it thanks to its bamboo handle that also gives a great texture and pleasing weight to it. Despite its natural look, it is able to go in the dishwasher, which makes it a real winner.
* Jean Roger mini frog planter: Smile-inducing additions for side tables and dressers, these ceramic pieces by Jean Roger bring a sense of fun and informality. They remind me of my childhood and now come in masses of colors and sizes. I have got mini ones for salt and a large one that takes a plant. I love the slightly fed-up look on the frog’s face.
* Margot trays from the Lacquer Company: These are the sequel to my Belle Rives tray that I designed for the Lacquer Company. The design is taken from an antique mahogany tray I found. I love the glossy colors they come in, and they are wonderful for corralling ordinary objects into something more ordered and decorative. The trays are made in Saigon using the traditional lacquering methods. They are really little works of art.
* Pieper Bubble and Twisty glassware: I’ve just bought a whole new collection of the Bubble and Twisty designs from Pieper, which are hand-blown in North Carolina. Effortlessly elegant, the Twisty cups come with six different colored rims giving a nice contemporary pop. I use them for wine.
* White port: My new drink of choice for summer — Porto Tonico — a favorite in Portugal. This is a very refreshing alternative to a gin and tonic. Make sure to have a good bottle for your drinks tray.
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