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Spring Cleanse Part Deux!
Hi everyone! As a little treat, we’re unlocking one of our most popular paid posts of all time. This is just one of the specialized weekly letters we publish for our top-tier subscribers. If you’re interested in flying first class, we’re offering a special discount on all paid subscriptions today as a thank you for being here with us. Happy Saturday, happy Super Moon, happy spring cleaning, and happy, happy reading!
Bunny Mellon at home with her topiaries, 1982, Oak Spring Farms, Upperville, Va.
We’re feeling a surge of energy this month, and you must be too, because we’ve had lots of requests to expand and expound on our Spring Cleanse post from a couple of weeks ago. We’re inspired by this humble but useful (and strangely beautiful) edit of 19 garment cleaning and mending products and this list of 25 gardens you must see in your lifetime, which is making us want to improve our own little oases.
Right now, we’re carefully assessing our closets, with the aim of buying only one or two new things that will work, work, work for us all summer long. The items below are pieces you can use all the time—we just don’t have space in our closets, brains, or budgets for anything else. Whether it’s the shoe you want to slide on every morning (and every evening), strand necklaces you’ll layer with a swimsuit or a dress, a basket bag that cocktails, grocery shops and beaches, or the only cardi you’ll wear from May to September, this shopping list is as practical as it gets.
We’re also picking up some things for the garden that feel essential: portable greenery that instantly posh-ifies your patio and the outdoor lantern to end all outdoor lanterns. Also, hostess gifts. Instead of scrambling day-of for the next three months, why not buy multiples of one brilliant little thing now, stow it all away in your gift drawer and relax for the rest of the summer?
BACK YARD POSHIFICATION
Topiaries are just one of those things that make everything better, neater and more distinguished in an Old World kind of way. And really, whatever Bunny Mellon did at her house, you should do too (just ask Jackie). That means stocking up on at least a two (but why not six!) myrtle topiaries. Less is not more in this case. We like one ball, but three is even better (especially when you don’t have to water or prune them).
This cordless chargeable glass (yes, glass!) lantern with brass trimmings emits the most romantic glow you’ll ever see from a battery-powered outdoor light.
One or two key wicker-wrapped pieces on your al fresco table (ice bucket, bowl domed cheese plate, bottle cooler) from the handwoven Italian wicker purveyor Mila Maurizi, founded in the 1940s, is just 🤌. This wine chiller and salad bowl from William Sonoma work too!
Hate the look of wood mulch? We do too. That’s why we’ve fallen in love with all natural buckwheat hull mulch. It’s very visually pleasing, has a much more subtle presence in the garden and works like magic.
CLOSET BOOSTERS
A list of versatile pieces we’ve bought to give our summer wardrobes a little oomph!
Don’t you just want to slide on a boat shoe every day all summer long? Besides being ideal for the beach and running around town, we like that they add a little bit of weird to a floaty chiffon or sarong-style dress for parties. It feels comfy and cool and “boat people” friendly, too. We love Old Stone Trade’s extra special Quoddy of Maine version and Sperry has a new jelly pair!
We’re into layering three (or more!) of these candy bead necklaces in semi-previous stones from Lizzie Fortunato in rainbow tourmaline, opal and tanzanite. They look great with our favorite white dress. Etsy also has versions of the same idea in rose quartz, blue topaz, aquamarine, and sapphire.
It’s hat time, and we are into the short brim bucket style this year. Veronica Beard and Lack of Color’s are our favorites. And they are very easily packable, too. Add some chic blackout sunnies and you’re Zsa Zsa Gabor all the way.
We actually own these but we’ve worn them so much we’re getting a new pair! Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s Olympia Wedges are invisible party shoes, which means they go with everything. It doesn’t hurt that they make your legs look longer and shapelier, too.
We’re knit people. We think A LOT about sweaters. Specifically cardigans (translation: summer jackets). And we’ve honestly found nothing better than Khaite’s Scarlett cardigan. Because it’s a bit cropped, it looks elegant with an evening dress, it works its magic with jeans and even for a post-tennis cocktail. It’s truly the all-purpose summer coverup and the amount of days you’ll wear it means it will pay for itself.
We are coveting a grown-up flip flop, and these simple beauties from Ancient Greek Sandals can go anywhere, anytime. And these from Le Monde Beryl are as chic as they come with a little wedge heel.
Clare V. has been making her straw Pot de Miel bag for a long time, but the new bamboo handle makes it extra cool and cocktail party, beach or lunch ready. There’s a mini and standard size, and it also comes in black.
SUNSCREEN REPLEN
Gotta replace sunscreen from last year! It expires and you will get burned! These are our all-time favorites.
For the body, we’ve all bought Supergoop’s Play Everyday SPF 50 Lotion in the large pump size for two summers running. We leave it by the back door for the whole family to use.
For face, we love this EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 and Dr. Devgan SPF 44 BB Cream, that has a hint of sheer coverage that blends to any skin tone!
HOSTESS GIFTS TO STOCK UP ON
Buy a dozen (or a case) of one of these affordable hostess gifts to bring to dinner parties and stress less the rest of the summer!
Trader Joe’s Frozen Key Lime Pie. Yup. They can stack right up in your freezer and you just pull one out on the way to a dinner and by the time everyone’s ready for dessert, they’re the perfect temperature. We once brought this to a fancy party and the caterers were very excited. It’s a cult chef thing, too! Bring whipped cream for on top.
Doladira Alpine Aperitivo Liqueur. This rhubarb apéritif, created by the author of Alpine Cooking and inspired by the Dolomite mountain region in Italy. You can use it exactly like you would Campari, but it has less sugar and better ingredients. And a bottle designed by glass artist Dana Arbib. Just bring seltzer and a lime or fixings for our Spritz Misto from Issue Seventeen.
Tamanohada’s Welcome Soap. For those with outdoor showers, this Japanese-made muscovado-scented soap on a rope is the gift that will keep giving all summer long.
For our paid subscribers, we’re sharing discount codes from ROZ, RMS Beauty, SOSHE Beauty and Supergoop!:
Enjoy 20% off from RMS Beauty with the code THEPERFECT20. Our favorite things are the Raw Coconut Cream, Uncoverup Concealer and the Master Radiance Base.
Enjoy 15% off from ROZ with code THEPERFECT15, our new favorite clean haircare brand. Our loves are the Foundation Duo, Santa Lucia Styling Oil and Root Lift Spray.
Enjoy 15% off from SOSHE Beauty with code THEPERFECT15. We love their Peptide Glow Hydrating Lip Treatment, their non-toxic, high performance ingredients and responsible refillable packaging.
Enjoy 10% off from Supergoop! with code THEPERFECT10. In addition to the Play Everyday SPF 50 Lotion, we love the Play Everyday SPF 50 Pump Refill Pouch, Unseen SPF 40 Sunscreen Stick and Antioxidant Non-Aerosol Body Mist SPF 50 with Vitamin C.
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