Issue Thirteen

Powerful Protection

With the golden days of October gone, we enter a new chapter and a new way of living and thinking. As the days get colder and darker, our mood changes, and with it what we crave. This issue is about comfort, protection and warmth. We’re looking for little ways to feel brighter and lighter. We’re adorning ourselves in beautiful armor. We’re wrapping ourselves in silk. We’re mixing strong citrusy martinis. We’re relishing solitary moments spent cooking and reading by the fire. We’re sticking close to the ones we love. And giving thanks for all that is good and kind in this wild world of ours.

With love and light,

Alexa, Aaron and Courtney

WONDER WOMEN From left: Grace Jones, Elsa Peretti, Liza Minnelli, Peretti.

A dab of winter perfume on your wrists and on they go, powerful armor for whatever lies ahead. ELSA PERETTI’S BONE CUFF from Tiffany & Co. has a long history of being worn in pairs. Since the maverick Italian jewelry designer first created the bracelet in 1970, she donned a medium and large version on either wrist throughout her life, and her powerhouse fans—Grace Jones and Liza Minnelli among them—followed. As we head into winter, we like leaning on impactful, ageless pieces like this that can make even the simplest look—a black knit dress or cigarette pants and turtleneck—feel unique. An extra-cute lap dog or an extra long cigarette (or both!) are good companions, too.

Clean, fragrant and bright, it falls gracefully to the bottom of your glass. A LEMON TWIST, which adds a bitter-sour-sweet oil to any spirit you swirl it into, is a sophisticated and vastly underrated garnish. We love bobbing it into an effervescent French 75 or in our go-to vodka martini: very slightly dirty with olives and a twist. The next time you’re in front of a good bartender, order it just that way. Or, if you’d like to make it at home, chill an exceptional glass in your freezer, shake up this vodka mixed with half an eyedropper of good olive brine, and use this pretty bar tool set that includes a channel knife for making skinny spiral-y twists and a citrus peeler for fatter flatter ones. (Make sure to go for an organic lemon, which means your rind will be pesticide and wax free.) Enjoy in perfect solitude with a roaring fire and a good book.

The perfectly pleated wool—heavy, supple and fluid—unfurls beneath you as you move through the room. We can’t think of anything more elegant than an impeccably tailored kilt—especially one that’s made for evening. THE TUXEDO KILT is crafted by Acme Atelier for Old Stone Trade—an online shop curated by longtime fashion editor Melissa Ventosa Martin—which offers a crazy chic selection of artisanal womenswear. Hand-made to order in Acme’s studio in Moray, Scotland from a smooth, shiny wool called barathea that’s often used for dinner jackets and dress coats, the skirt is trimmed in satin and has the traditional black leather side straps. We love it sitting high on your waist with our favorite slinky new underlayer from Negative, big earrings, black satin heels and a French twist. Perfect for holiday flings or your Thanksgiving feast.

Like a clean slate, it sits crispy, waiting to be painted with nature’s bounty. Roasting season has officially arrived! It’s time to stock your pantry with rolls of PARCHMENT BAKING SHEETS. Beautiful, plastic and chlorine-free, compostable and non-stick, they fit perfectly atop your favorite non-toxic sheet pan, can withstand up to 428 degree heat and are the best way to replace aluminum foil in your cooking routine. You can also use them to lightly cover something you’re warming up or to oven steam a piece of fish. We’ve been using them to try out all the roasty toasty recipes in our favorite new cookbook, Ottolenghi: Comfort.

You hold it close, the leather warming to your wrist. LINDQUIST’S AMA BAG, a hand-carry bucket style from Providence, Rhode Island-based designer Lindy McDonough—who started her supremely simple but impeccably made line of leather goods in 2020—is one of those totes that you end up using every single day. Hand-stitched from unusually thick vegetable tanned milled leather with a subtle pebbled texture, this little jewel (which measures 9 x 12” with a 6” square base) is the perfect size, with just enough room for your phone, wallet, chef-grade gummies, Hermès lip balm and a PuffTech…which is really all you need in this life, right? This month, use the code THEPERFECT15 at checkout for 15% off and complimentary monogramming.

A delicate and luxurious bit of comfort tucked inside the collar of your sweater, it warms the body and the soul. A small silk neckerchief is something we should all have for the chilly days ahead. 45 R.P.M.’s WOVEN SILK TWILL BANDANA, made by the meticulously wonderful Japanese clothier in Tokyo, is a simple square of fabric that will bring you immense joy. We love it tied cowboy style, sailor style or even on your head. Make the vibe even cozier with the Ferrari of cashmere cardigans.

In the still-blue hours of the early morning, you slip them on, pour yourself a steaming cup of coffee and head out. Who wants regular old rain boots when you can have LE CHAMEAU BOTTILLONS?! These French-made beauties, which hit just below the calf, are less cumbersome and so much more versatile than tall wellies. We love them for garden walks, cold weather errands and running around a soaked city. We also love them for school drop-offs with our favorite heathered leggings and a big sweater or an OST kilt and over-the-knee wool socks for weekends in the woods.

With a few swipes it works its magic, tingling your skin back to brilliant life. Sometimes the oldest tricks in the beauty book are the best. Dr. Dennis Gross was one of the first dermatologists to create his own skincare line and his ALPHA BETA DAILY PEEL, released in 2002, made him a star. Based on a treatment Dr. Gross was famous for doing to all his glowy clients in his offices on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, these little 2-step wipes harness the power of a blend of AHA/BHA acids, giving you an astonishingly plump n’ rosy visage after one try. We’ve been using these as a facial pick-me-up since the early aughts, and since then there have been many imitations but no substitute.

When the cold winds blow, it is your velveteen buffer, soft and true. A CORDUROY JACKET lends a certain 70s grooviness, coziness and bookishness we’re craving right now. We like one in a plush extra luxe wide-wale, whether it’s Giuliva Heritage’s officer jacket in a brick red Italian cord, Sea’s belted version in moss green, or Vestium’s cord blazer, which can be ordered off-the-peg or bespoke in a rainbow of colors. Accessorize à la Queen Diane with our favorite tortoise shell tints and a plaid blouse and scarf for a home-for-the-holidays twinkle.

If you love what you’ve just read, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to support the work we do, get extra special posts in between our monthly newsletter, and discount codes from our favorite brands.

Feel free to share this issue with friends by restacking us on Substack or by taking a screenshot of something you love here and posting it on Instagram. Tag us @theperfectshoppe !

As always, all of our illustrations are original and hand-drawn in ink by Courtney Broadwater

Visit us at our shop www.thisistheperfect.com for our collections of vintage clothing and antique treasures for the home! And our new ShopMy page for items from past newsletters all in one shoppable place.

BTW: we may get a small commission from some of the things you buy here. No extra cost to you! Thank you so much for supporting our work.