A Whole Vibe Shift
Candles with a cause, a new doc to go wild over and other stuff I'm into
Finally, a name for the aesthetic that has always resonated with me: Cocaine decor. As Vice writer Mary Frances Knapp explains, the look is a shift away from the fluffy couches and minimalism we’ve all seen take over Instagram in recent years: “The glass tables and Art Deco angles of Cocaine Decor are a little less family-friendly than a puffy bouclé couch. But that’s the point: No babies here, dude. Just babes.”
Cocaine decor is, Knapp says, COVID-induced — “the kind of uncorked, smoking sex appeal we’ve been craving during the pandemic, when the asceticism of lockdown left us wanting more, not less.” I can get behind that.
Of course, as with any aesthetic, it’s all about what you love. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. I follow so many self-proclaimed tastemakers on Instagram who proclaim what’s “good” or “bad” in the world of interiors – chevron is basic because Target sells it, gingham is good because I saw it in Arch Digest, etc. The truth is, aesthetics are personal. What you wear, how you decorate your home — that should be all about you and what you love. I just happen to be into the “uncorked, smoking sex appeal” described by Vice.
Now on to the stuff I’m into this week:
Dates as good as candy: I LOVE dates. Like head-over-heels adore. I think my love affair started back in 2017, when I spent a little over a month in Dubai (it was a work trip, long story). There’s a chain of date shops there that are beautiful — little jewel boxes filled with sticky-sweet dates. Something like a Godiva chocolate shop but even more beautiful. Anyway, these dates, by Rancho Meladuco in Newport Beach, are life-changing. They are plump and juicy and, incidentally, taste exceptionally good stuffed with peanut butter and drizzled with melted chocolate, then frozen for about 15 minutes.
A scent with a cause: I had been following Brick + Mortar, a wonderful vintage shop in Atlanta, for years before I finally stopped in during the pandemic. The owner, David, is very kind and got his start in vintage in a similar way as me (by visiting estate sales and antique shops with his grandmother). His vintage selection is incredible and his line of candles is exceptional, too. They are affordable, the scents are really great (I love Driftwood and Mountain), and the entire operation works as a jobs program for women in need, who make and hand-pour the candles themselves. So your money, when you purchase a candle, actually goes to help someone gain independence and self-sufficiency.
A nostalgic look back at a very problematic brand: I love a good boom-then-bust story, and Netflix’s new doc, White Hot, which details the rise and fall of late ‘90s/early aughts darling Abercrombie & Fitch, is such a good one. It goes deep into the aesthetic that reigned supreme at Abercrombie: “all-American,” rugged and very, very white. I was never that “into” the brand but I of course remember visiting it frequently during trips to the mall. And who could forget that smell? Or those floor-to-ceiling abs? Of course, as it turns out, it was all masking something a little more sinister — included racist hiring practices, which landed the company into a lot of legal trouble and cast a dark shadow over the brand.
An eyelash serum that actually works: I have used NeuLash Lash Enhancing Serum for a few years now and, every time I run out and don’t repurchase, I realize how well it actually works. It’s not like a full-on set of falsies, but it does make your lashes stronger and a little longer with daily use. You just paint it on your lash line (on the lid) at night and eventually you’ll notice a difference. It happens to be on sale at the moment (and comes with an extra tube) so now is the time to purchase if you are so inclined. Elle also rounded up 15 options (including my beloved NeuLash).
Textiles with history: Textile designer Madeline Weinrib (who co-owns the very Instagrammable El Fenn boutique hotel in Marrakech) just released a capsule collection of items inspired by specific works in The Met’s Islamic Wing, in honor of the wing’s 11th anniversary. The line includes handmade accessories, fine jewelry, and housewares, and every piece is stunning.
Recommended reading:
• Bon Appétit’s latest package offers a new way of looking at (even celebrating) “junk” food.
• Several dozen items from the personal collection of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg are now up for grabs, via a Potomac auction house. The auction ends on Apr. 27 and already, every item is well above it’s estimate. I would fight someone for the Francisco Castro Lenero painting (or the Leon Berkowitz).
• It’s the year of “wellness” in the home — and, for one, would kill for an infrared sauna in my bathroom.
And I’ll leave you with this…