Fall, Issue Three, October 21st
Good afternoon, everyone! For issue three, we thought a lot about the superiority of simple and sometimes old-fashioned pleasures. A soak in a steaming hot bath, an indestructible but unquestionably elegant English walking boot, a beautiful and nourishing snack. This is such a special time to be outside and to wear the rich earth tones that reflect nature’s glorious transition into winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is a wonderful resource as the season’s change, with info on everything from fall frost dates to moon phases. Tonight is also the peak viewing time for the annual Orionids meteor shower, which is known for its speed and brilliance and can be seen from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres until dawn each night. We hope you all have time to do some gazing—and maybe even get sprinkled with a little stardust! You can read more about the history and helpful viewing tips from NASA.
As ever, we aim to deliver a moment of calm, quiet and beauty to your day. Have a restful and happy Saturday.
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It reminds you of bluebird Montana days and salty sunsets. It’s soft in a way no other cotton can be. It makes everything look better, cooler: jeans, tuxedo pants, bikinis. A VINTAGE WRANGLER DENIM SHIRT is one of the ultimate wardrobe staples. Why? Because they make the best ones, with spade flap pockets, back yokes, three-snap cuffs and extra-long shirttails originally designed so Rodeo boys could keep their shirts tucked-in while getting bucked around. The Perfect has sourced a limited run of 100% cotton yarn-dyed indigo denim shirts in a range of sizes that’ll fit men and women and continue to wear well for many years to come.
Sizzling in butter in a well-seasoned cast-iron pan, they are the sweetest jewel of foggy fall. It is officially NANTUCKET BAY SCALLOP season, and there’s nothing better than the tiny meat of these succulent mollusks. Nantucket Seafoods, which supplies restaurants such as Per Se and The French Laundry, will begin taking orders November 6th and ships FedEx next day air. Our moms cook them on the stovetop in pre-browned sea-salted butter for about 1 minute on each side (or until they’re caramelized) and season with lemon, fresh pepper and parsley. Orders can be placed via text only through Ted at 508-221-1551.
It feels like gentlemanly armor, lending your body shape, insulation and purpose. Giuliva Heritage’s WOOL WAISTCOAT for women in English tweed is one of those heart-warming items you never knew you needed. The Rome-based label’s founders, Margherita and Gerardo Cavaliere, tailored it more like a sleeveless blazer than a vest and it works equally well in the fields, worn over a silky ribbed turtleneck and jeans or in town for a civilized lunch.
You’ve got your chair in-hand and are about to find the perfect spot to lay your picnic. But the bag you’re carrying is the real prize, stocked with a block of Stilton and some cider. Palmgrens CLASSIC RATTAN BAG, originally designed by the 127-year-old Swedish leather goods maker in 1950, has an interior pocket for your valuables and is constructed from an intricate and strong six cane weave.
You’ve been out in the rain all day and are chilled to the bone. Sometimes a steaming hot bath is the only thing that will do. Susanne Kaufmann’s ST JOHN'S WORT BATH SOAK makes that age-old pleasure exponentially better. The fine pink granules dissolve quickly in water, it has the most heavenly hypoallergenic flower scent and the website says it is safe for babies older than three months. This deep steep is also great for seasonal blues—as is the company’s spa and hotel, nestled in the Bregenzerwald region of the Austrian Alps and run by Kaufmann herself, the fifth generation of her family to do so.
The way it snaps satisfyingly all-the-way-up and falls just above the hip in all its boxy gamine glory. Agnès B’s CARDIGAN has been an icon of French style since its was first designed in Paris in 1979. Agnès herself was inspired by Renaissance clothing and the idea of creating a children’s garment for grownups. In a cozy sweatshirt material, it’s perfect over a fall dress or a T-shirt and vintage cargo pants. There’s a must-have version for bébés, too.
You’ve found a perfect spot to perch after a long trek with friends. You’ve stocked your backpack with a thermos of hot roasted brown rice green tea and some exceptional savory cookies. The Rounds ANCHOVY AND SCALLION BISCUITS are handmade-to-order in Brooklyn, can be shipped anywhere and will delight and revive anyone you want to feed. They’re a great treat for indoor parties, too!
Because the house is drafty, you sit as close as possible to the roaring fire. There just couldn’t be a more beautiful or cozy way to dress for chilly weekends away than Lisa Corti’s QUILTED TWILL WOOL SKIRT. Inspired by 1930s Russian rugs, this A-line piece feels like wrapping yourself up in a favorite blanket. Wear it casually with knee boots and a textured sweater or satin heels and a delicate top for a night at the opera.
It’s rustic, elegant and powerful all at once cinched over a knit dress or looped through a pair of pleated trousers. The need for a CONCHO BELT feels urgent and there’s no one that does it better than Ralph Lauren. This leather and white bronze style from Ralph Lauren Collection is made in partnership with the Shiprock Santa Fe Gallery in New Mexico and is a true investment piece. RL makes other great options too, like this skinny black leather style from Polo and this one from Lauren.
The roast is about to go in the oven and the salad dressing needs to be made. Do you know what adds a very special something to both? Al Wadi’s NATURAL POMEGRANATE SYRUP. Made from 100% pomegranate juice, this condiment can be drizzled on everything from fattoush salad and Greek yogurt to butternut squash, roast chicken and lamb kabob, adding a sweet and tart flavor that is distinctly Middle Eastern and universally delicious. We recommend transferring it into a BPA-free squeeze bottle for liberal and mess-free application.
The dinner plates have been cleared, but the guests—and the bottles of wine—remain, illuminated by the flickering beauty of candlelight. The special golden glow that emanates from Soane Britain’s SHELL HURRICANE WALL LIGHT is far superior to any LED or incandescent bulb you can find. Trying a few of them in your dining room will flatter your guests complexions and your party vibe.
Walking through tall grass in the early morning, the dew makes little pearls on the tips of your shoes. James Purdey & Sons burnished grain LEATHER COUNTRY BOOTS feel refreshingly different from the high-tech hiking boots and Blundstones everyone wears these days. Available for men and women in identical styles, these hardwearing and handsome lace-ups with an upper tier of lacing hooks have a sturdy rubber sole, a weatherproof welt and a genuine no nonsense charm.
They feel weighty and warm around your neck, a touch of understated luxury and one of the ocean’s great miracles. Ted Muehling’s Tahitian PEARL AND LABRADORITE NECKLACE can be double-wrapped as choker—an idea we love! Instead of saving it for special occasions, wear it hovering like a halo above your go-to cashmere crewneck or between the collar of a crisp shirt with messy hair and no make-up.
The tailgate is open, your bloody Mary bar is stocked and a crowd has gathered. The unexpected conversation piece? Your disposable drinkware, of course! We discovered Tossware’s COMPOSTABLE CUPS at a very tasteful friend’s beach wedding recently and can’t get over their curved shape. These are one of those subtly genius items your pantry—and the back of your car—should be stocked with at all times.
