Fresh Start, Issue Five, January 13th
Happy 2024! January is one of our favorite months because the madness of summer, fall and the holidays are finally behind us. It’s a natural time for hibernation, where we do more cooking, sleeping and nesting. Our first issue of the year is about reclaiming some much-needed downtime, putting. that. phone. down. and rediscovering some simple everyday joys in the process. We also focus on things you really need, that you’ll use ALL the time, and nothing more. Because who needs extra stuff, unless it has a truly positive impact on the way you live out there in the world, and most importantly, inside that sacred place you call home. Cheers to fresh starts, fresh tracks and…more snow!
And to all our paid subscribers, thank you for supporting what we do, and look out for some extra treats in the weeks ahead!
It ticks away graciously by your bed, a little jewel from the past, reminding you of a way of life that is slowly slipping away. Verdura’s ENAMEL AND BRASS TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK is the perfect excuse to banish your phone from the bedroom for the new year. This portable ticker from the fabled Manhattan jeweler fits in the palm of your hand and is a relative steal at $325. By taking your phone’s place on the nightstand, it will surely enhance your sleep hygiene, preventing you from dozing off to episodes of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and the old wake-up-and-scroll-routine. And if you need more help in the staying asleep department, here are some of our favorite tricks: try Moon Juice’s absolutely amazing Magnesi-Om powder and misting this on your pillow before bedtime. Call or visit Verdura’s store in New York, 745 Fifth Avenue, 212 758-3388.
You coil it around your neck whenever you need to lift your spirts, brighten your day or your complexion. An ETRO SCARF in the Italian house’s signature paisley is a wardrobe rite of passage; something everyone simply must have. A favorite of dignified old Milanese ladies, it’s a magical outfit fixer, adding a dash of Italian flair to everything it touches. We love wearing it with black-on-black and a thick stroke of Charlotte Tilbury’s creamy-metallic purple amethyst eyeliner for easy winter nights out.
It hangs in the heart of the house, where the action is, a reminder of things to look forward to. A WALL CALENDAR is one of those things you think you don’t need anymore, but you really do. Our brains still like seeing things in this format: it is calming and organizing to write down the practices, vacations and parties you have coming up—and even more satisfying to turn the page. We love this letter press version, which has a very easy-rip feature at the top; this almanac calendar which has been going since 1876; and John Derian’s annual stunner. Happy color coding!
Like so many things that never seem to go out of style, its function is equal to its beauty: indestructibly warm and eternally cool. This RANCHER SHEARLING COAT for men from Overland Sheepskin Co. in Taos New Mexico is a Love Story-esque classic the company has been making since its inception in the 1970s. With toggle fastenings and a perfect mid-thigh length, we love this coat as much for its quality as its reasonable price. We’re also personally coveting this one.
The workday is over, you’re in the kitchen, NPR is on, the oven is humming and it’s time to cook for the ones you love. As winter sets in, there is no better tool to have at your disposal than a stellar baking and roasting sheet to make easy sheet pan dinners. One of our new year’s resolutions is to replace our aluminum and forever-chemical-coated “non-stick” pans with non-toxic cookware including LODGE’S CAST IRON ROASTING PAN. Cast iron is a safe and time-tested alternative that is heavier to lift than your average sheet pan, but worth the intense flavors you will gain as it seasons over time. If you’re not a cast iron person, we love these medical grade stainless steel sheets, which don’t have an aluminum core like many other versions. And if you like Pyrex, they make a fantastic oven-safe glass sheet that is hard to find outside of Europe, but can be ordered here. And finally, if you’re looking for an investment piece, Mauviel, a French company that’s been making cookware since the 1800s, offers a beautiful copper and stainless steel roasting pan that is the tippy-top!
Its brilliant red oil brings a flash of fire and finery to your plate. Momofuku’s CHILI CRUNCH oil, engineered by NYC restaurateur and Michelin chef David Chang, is one of those condiments that, once you start using it, you don’t want to cook without. Made with grapeseed oil and three types of Mexican chilis, crunchy garlic and shallots, we spoon it over fried eggs, soups and ramen, we rub it over roast chicken before (or after) it goes in the oven and swirl it into hummus or Greek yogurt.
It is an elegant second skin, something you seem to throw on constantly, adding a bit of Bouvier-style magic to everyday. A base layer of the highest order, Uniqlo’s EXTRA-FINE MERINO RIBBED TURTLENECK is one of the Tokyo megabrand’s best-kept secrets (like their HeatTech shirts, but better). Made from super soft 100% merino wool, which naturally regulates your body temperature, this supple knit comes in lots of colors (we love the chestnut brown) and always looks polished whether its tucked into a skirt with boots for dinner out or for a cozy lunch under a chunky cardigan tucked into cargo pants.
When the weather hits and the winter winds blow they’re your savior, an indomitable diamond in the rough. PENELOPE CHILVER’S PONYHAIR BOOTS are so pretty you almost can’t believe how warm and sturdy they are. We love this inky navy cowhide version lined with fluffy sheepskin that molds to your foot after your first day of wear. They’re great on the mountain, for chilly school drop-offs and shine for après ski with a legging, parka and sunglasses. We also love these crazy cool technical boots for men.
The reassuring sound of chattering China, the smell of steaming buckwheat cereal and East Frisian black tea fill the air as it arrives. A bed tray is one of life’s great pleasures, particularly because it allows you to waste the morning away in bed. SCULLY & SCULLY’S BREAKFAST BED TRAY fits nicely over your knees with side spots for a good book or the newspaper. Follow Diana Vreeland’s lead, who had her oatmeal and conducted business from her Billy Baldwin-designed boudoir each morning until she hit the office at noon. Or simply “have a tray” in your room and do nothing at all ala Aunt Agnes.
As always, all of our illustrations are original and hand-drawn in ink by Courtney Broadwater
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