A heavy dose of Nowstalgia
"Then" is so very now
If you haven’t noticed in recent years, nostalgia is everywhere. It’s on our TVs, in the forms of reboots of Fresh Prince and Saved by the Bell (RIP to the latter, which was unceremoniously cancelled after two seasons). It’s in our refrigerators, thanks to the snack foods of yore suddenly becoming sleeper hits again.
And, of course, it’s all over our homes. Disco balls have made a resurgence, going from being suspended above nightclub floors to dripping down shelves and built-ins. Vintage IKEA suddenly feels very now. There are even entire Instagram accounts devoted to the chic side of the ‘70s, the greatest decor hits of the pastel-hued ‘80s, and the flamboyance of the ‘90s.
Isn’t it wild how trends that were kitsch 10 years ago are suddenly chic in 2022? Maybe it’s because, with a little time and distance, we begin to see things in a new way and appreciate different parts of them. The curvy frame on that mirror we loathed in our 1995 bedroom suddenly looks abstract, intentional — even minimal when styled a certain way. Maybe as we all evolve, things speak to us in new ways.
I think the desire for nostalgia is really not too surprising, considering the past two years of pandemic-induced solitude. A lot of us just want to be anywhere but here — and if that means escaping to another decade (albeit, via Instagram and TikTok) for 10 minutes, maybe we’re a little better for it.
Now on to the stuff I’m into this week:
A slippery, glowy gloss for your visage: I am in love with everything SAIE puts out, from their richly-tinted liquid blush to their perfect cream bronzer. But this Glowy Super Gel is tops among all the brand’s products. It’s super lightweight, won’t cost you all your life savings, and it adds just that certain *something* to your cheeks, nose, upper eyelids…. wherever …. before you head out the door.
A stunning way to serve your dinner: This hand-poured platter is really almost too pretty to eat off of — but it is food safe! So you can have your cake and eat it, too. Literally.
An easy-to-find oven mitt: I cook a lot, and almost always find myself scrambling to track down one of my oven mitts when something is piping hot and ready to exit the oven. This Dusen Dusen oven mitt is incredibly cool, looks good hanging in your kitchen and is incredibly easy to find when your timer is going off.
A coffee mug that isn’t embarrassing: Amidst an intensive kitchen reno, I set out to upgrade our plates and coffee mugs. I currently take my coffee in sad, weird mugs that I’ve just gathered over time (which, to be honest, were mostly freebies from PR kits I’ve been sent over the years, so they aren’t anything near and dear). I absolutely adore this mug and think it would make the perfect gift (for someone else, or yourself).
A cute carryall: Clare V. makes some damn cute bags and this is a perfect example. Checkered, hands-free … it kind of checks all the boxes.
Recommended reading:
• Are you watching The Staircase? It is very well done! I enjoy it. BUT I am thinking about starting a support group for people who have made it through episode 2 because…wow. It’s a lot. (There are kind-of, sort-of spoilers in that link if you are planning on watching and haven’t yet.)
• I am a HUGE fan of Memphis-style design (not Memphis, as in the city, but as in the design group). Arch Digest’s Clever did a great job unpacking how India influenced the movement.
• I bet we are all going to hear more about the Hipster Grifter (your latest scam obsession) in the coming months, since she’s working on a show with Mindy Kaling and looking to secure a book deal.
And I’ll leave you with this…