Boy oh boy, is it cold or what??
Musings by a girl who is just trying to feel less frigid.
Greetings on this very, very cold Sunday. How is everyone feeling? I, for one, am not feeling great. I woke up in a lot of pain and with no apparent usual triggers, so I blame the weather wholeheartedly. Such is the nature of a chronic condition I guess. In any case, I’m doing my best to keep it moving and focus on some things that make me feel good, like this newsletter.
The past few weeks have been super busy at T&C. We’re at the tail end of our close for March and our February cover break last week. I have a piece about watches and influencers in the Feb issue—on newstands and set to go live online on Friday—that I am really proud of and excited to get out into the world. So stay tuned for that! On top of that, I went to Aspen with Fusalp before MLK weekend, which was really fabulous and I had a blast. But the frigid temps certainly followed me back and I’ve reacted to the weather by wanting to wear nothing but glorified pajamas and add lots and lots of jewelry to compensate. At a certain point, which I think we have reached frankly, being warm and comfortable supersedes just about anything else so that’s what I’ve been doing.
While daydreaming about warmer days, I’ve also been thinking about jewelry and how my taste has evolved as I’ve gotten older. For starters, in college I wore pretty much exclusively silver, which is tragic because it doesn’t suit me the way gold does, and as a result I have a lot of pieces that don’t get much wear. I’m trying to layer them with the gold baubles I have acquired over the past decade or so, which is working much better. Do I wish I had the foresight to take some pics for this? Yes. But I soldier on.
After years and years of dainty jewelry being the thing, I am so glad we are moving into an era of more sculptural and sizable pieces. The button earring is back and better than ever, as is the cuff and to this I say more is more. I love observing how people layer their rings, bracelets, and talismans— it adds such texture and personality— and what I love even more is that in an age where everyone is starting to look exactly the same, everyone’s stack is a little different. I think the Hirschleifers are a great example of how to do the more is more approach when it comes to jewels. As is Elizabeth Saltzman’s artful layering best displayed by her work with Gwyneth Paltrow. There’s also the tactile element, the sound of clasps and chains and charms clinking against one another that is so satisfying. Just thinking about it makes my brain tingle. What a lovely way to make your day a little bit more your own when it is simply too cold to get dressed.
I’ve been going on a lot of jewelry market appointments of late, which is always interesting, because jewelry is so personal and can really hold so much meaning. Something I love about the mix of pieces I wear almost everyday is that they are a blend of things I’ve owned for years, newness that I have acquired, and also heirlooms that my parents have generously gifted. It’s like wearing a little sparkly piece of your own story. I’ve also taken pieces that were given to me and had them updated so they fit me a little better, both physically and figuratively. I had a necklace that my Grandma Rosie gave me as a child made into a pinky ring that I wear layered with a Fewer Finer cigar band with a teeny tiny pair shaped diamond. I had the other gems in the piece fashioned into earrings and I love knowing that I’m wearing something that is uniquely mine. A literal treasure! It also feels nice to know that I’m carrying a piece of the stories those stones hold with me and eventually I will pass them on to something else. All of which to say: wear your jewelry!!!
Some other things I’ve been loving recently in no particular order:
Touch: My HigherDose infrared sauna blanket. By no means is this a must have item, but it has made a huge difference in my well-being since I got it in 2020. Tight muscles respond better to damp heat, so I’ve I’m really tightly wound, 45 minutes baking and I’m significantly better. Also, it’s just really nice to get a little bit of spa at home even if cleaning up after is a pain.
Taste: if you know me, you know that I love candy. BonBon, which has stores all over the city has been a bit of a vice for me in the past 6 months and I was devastated to find out that they have exploded in popularity on TikTok. If the youths make it impossible for me to get my beloved licorice sorbisars, I will be very upset!!!
Smell: There is simply nothing better than cozying up at home right now and I like to make the atmosphere a little more pleasant with a candle. I do like to crack my window to let a bit of fresh air in to compensate, but I digress. Feu de Bois by Diptyque is the ultimate winter candle if you ask me but I have also been burning Jasmine d’Hiver by Maison Francis Kurkdjian and it is absolutely everything I love in a soft white flower.
Sight: I bought myself Irises and Tulips at Trader Joes yesterday as part of my Artist’s Date and it was immediate dopamine. My little cozy corner is willing it to be spring even if it is a ways off.
Sound: I’m a huge fan of audiobooks. I listen to them on the subway, while I’m doing chores, and while working out. Right now I am listening to Capote’s Women to prepare for the new Feud season about the Swans and I am loving it. Like diving into a different world for a little bit. And with each passing chapter, I wonder which complicated woman is my favorite.
More soon! Hope you stay toasty!