From the Holiday Stockpile

I have a weak spot for things. Namely, I have an inexplicable predilection for scrolling through grid after grid of meticulously curated products halfway between meaningless objet d'art and handy daily necessities with a look of rapt appreciation on my face. As such, I can be a lot of fun during the holidays.

It's not that I'm an expert gifter - no, I have spectacularly misjudged friends in the past and gifted them anything from basic Neutrogena toiletries to high end fragrances that stayed sealed in their boxes for years afterwards. 

My usefulness, instead, is in mentioning the right label to the right person and helping them look like they really know what they're doing when they shop for their Xmas lists online. Like they spend their downtime perusing hyper-modern lifestyle magazines filled with more empty space than text. Like they lurk around Brooklyn and the West Village, trying out gastropubs and tea ateliers wearing Oxfords and oversized knits. Like they have 100k Instagram followers and an apartment in Portland where they lovingly house the world's largest collection of artisan mugs. Like they've traveled a lot and have developed such specific taste that mainstream department stores just don't cut it anymore. For that, I'm here to help.

Below: 15 brands and / or retailers that are doing something so very right:

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15 // Scandinavian Designs

Skrive desk $500, Spotlight table lamp $140, Klemens chair $900

Next time you find yourself in a posh furniture store like this one, asking, "What moron would consider a fucking $140 lamp," just know that it's me. Hi, I'm the dummy. Mind you, I would never actually shell out the cash, but I like knowing that a lamp of the perfect angularity is out there and buyable for less than an entire paycheck.

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14 // Mullein & Sparrow

Facial steam $22, bath salts $29, body oil $18 

I'm a big believer in personal care products that are almost too pretty to use up, because they add to your living space in a subtly soothing way. I mean, bathrooms are ugly enough to begin with. 

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13 // Are You Am I

Lilia top $179

Most were understandably skeptical when fashion blogger Rumi Neely debuted a line of luxury clothing, because the initial offerings were a set of perhaps poorly chosen loose tees. But in the months that followed, aggressively Californian blouses and crop tops and slip dresses were rolled out, and now I'm not convinced that Kendall Jenner shops anywhere else anymore.

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12 // Poketo

Cory bifold wallet $68, journal $16, wall vessel and planter set $28

If anything on this page is at all useful, it's probably sold by Poketo, a retailer of cute odds and ends for the home and office. They remind me vaguely of being in a toy store, surrounded by bright colors and eye-popping textures and adorable packaging.

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11 / Mast Chocolate

Most flavors about $20 for 7 oz.

This Brooklyn-based chocolatier's products are not typically stocked where one would buy food, and that just tickles me. It's like they've already admitted to themselves that chocolate is secondary, and branding comes first. That's cool. Why give out Ferrero pyramids when you can give out these babies & look super stylish by association?

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10 // Larsson and Jennings

Lugano $295; Lugano $315; Saxon $1395

I like a timepiece that is as likely to belong to a man as it is to a woman, and Larsson and Jennings' Swiss-made watches have so few few embellishments that they fit that niche. In the watch world, these sit on the other end of the swinging pendulum from the chunky, glitzy pieces we're more used to.

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09 // Hem

Key side table $175

This photo by Hem is great because 1) I would never think to market tables by arranging them like War of the Worlds alien pods coming to exterminate us all, and 2) there is nothing happening here. Three lines and a disc and that's supposed to be a table. All it takes is one of these beauties to make you look like the kind of person who goes to the MoMA and knows what's going on.

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08 // Sort of Coal

Hand soap $10; bincho $93; char oil cream $33; binchotan sculpture $396

Did I read the 14-paragraph "about" page on this label's website? No. Did I need to read it to know that this oak charcoal bath product venture is mostly BS? No. But do I love the stark minimalism of their packaging and the unabashedly self-important feel of the whole thing, bordering dangerously on the absurd? Yes. 

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07 // Anna Sheffield

Hazeline ceremonial stacking suite, $8300

The holiday season is engagement season, which means I know what I'll be doing: scrolling through Instagram crying inside at all the jewelry posts flying past. One profile I follow is that of New York based designer Anna Sheffield, who offers the perfect antidote to all the tired, staid styles we're too used to seeing on our grandmothers' fingers. Sheffield's signature concept is a striking burst of ray-like stones that are meant to sit atop a solitaire like a crown.

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06 // Ode to Things

Cinqpoints Archiblocks $70, Kami wood cups from $70, Ancap Verona cappuccino cup $36

I'm not entirely clear on what Ode to Things really is. It's part museum, part curio cabinet, part IKEA on steroids, and part actual, functioning home goods shop. Here there be everyday objects barely recognizable as what they are, pared down and Designed within an inch of their lives.

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05 // The Reformation

Aurelia top $128, Gemma dress $278

As label names go, I don't think there's one more striking than this. I always love telling friends about this eco-friendly clothing line: Reformation - gawd, that name. Even before you show people the plunging necklines, drapey silhouettes and 90s influence, it already sounds great. 

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04 // Le Labo

Santal 26 home fragrance, $125 for 100 ml

By now it's inescapably clear that I like my objets pretentious to the point of humorous absurdity, and near the top of the hierarchy is the unisex fragrance line by Le Labo of NYC. They have a "manifesto." There's a section of their website titled "oddities." They sell a diffuser made from reclaimed wood & vintage style bulbs. It's fantastic. Pair responsibly with craft beer & Restoration Hardware furniture.

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03 // Leibal

Lift coasters $69 for 4, Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H7 $449, marble wall clock $269

Like Ode to Things, Leibal is a curated collection of aesthetically pleasing odds and ends that seem to exist simply for curation's sake. Browsing the site, I'm left with a lot of questions. Who has nearly 300 bucks for a marble wall clock? And more importantly, what wall would support the sheer weight of said clock?

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02 // Article Magazine

Issues range from $14 to $17

Often I have trouble finding man-gifts, but soon I may just start ordering copies of London-based Article magazine for the more sartorially-inclined men in my life. They're printed on thick paper - coffee table-worthy - and feature moody, intense photography of everything from modern art and architecture to a star du jour.  

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01 // Artifact Uprising

Envelopes for $1.40 Save the Dates, wood calendar $30, soft cover photo book from $18

And finally, nothing inspires me creatively to the point of full-blown anger like the online print shop Artifact Uprising. Neutral paper tones, crisp serif fonts, generous white spacing - this place ticks all my aesthetic boxes re: how I want my photos of the Pacific Northwest to be presented. A gorgeous, unexpected photo gift source if you ever want to distance yourself from Shutterfly and Tinyprints.

Meet the Michael Kors "Selma"

After French label Céline debuted the winged luggage tote in 2010, other designers high- and low-end began to imitate its distinctive flared gussets, releasing products with similar silhouettes in the years that followed. In the contemporary range, the most successful of these winged luggage-influenced beauties is the MICHAEL by Michael Kors "Selma," easily the most understated piece to come out of Kors' diffusion range.

MICHAEL by Michael Kors is not known for exercising restraint or subtlety. A quick glance at the site's offerings reveals a host of bags in blocky shapes and loud colors with logo hardware, monograms, and chain link accents. The Selma, though, is different -- so different, in fact, that it hardly feels like a Kors piece. It's not out of place in my muted, professional-looking bag collection. 

My thoughts below.

Diffuser by Jo Malone, notebooks by Dear Maison via Poketo.

Measurements

Dimensions: roughly 13" x 10" x 5"
Drop: handles 4", adjustable strap 18"

Construction

Saffiano leather with cloth lining
4 pockets, incl. 1 that zips

Aesthetics

Clearly the Selma photographs well. It's angular, structured, and sports minimal hardware, all atypical of its siblings and punching well above its $358 price point. (Figure cited is for the large size, which is no longer available. The medium, its replacement, retails at $298.) It comes in a variety of colors and materials, including some colorblock leather-and-fabric ones, and while all are popular, I find the bag does best in a solid neutral shade that lets its silhouette shine.

A nitpicky opinion: I'm not fond of the squarish hardware that attaches the bag's handles to its body. I wish Kors' diffusion line team had decided to fix the handles directly to the bag à la Saint Laurent's Sac de Jour, but doing so likely would have changed the bag’s price point.

Interior pocket view.

Daily Use

I picked up the large Selma in summer 2014, and honestly, I regretted the gargantuan size of it until I started seeing the medium pop up everywhere this past summer and fall. The large is more proportionate, with a more pleasing gusset-to-body ratio. It also holds more stuff without being unwieldy, which, as a pack rat, I appreciate. It has the volume of a tote with the rigidity of a briefcase, easily holding a continental wallet, phone and charger, cereal bars, tablet, makeup, and even a DSLR camera...all at once.   

The Selma comes with a detachable strap, which I frequently used in the beginning, as I was unused to hand-carrying a bag. Over time, I grew more comfortable with the look of the large, rectangular bag in the crook of my arm (how very Los Angeles) and now carry it there, with the strap tucked in.

The Selma’s zipper placement is fantastic: tucked down slightly and framed by stiff leather strips on either side. This is not a bag that will spill your belongings, even if it is unzipped and tips over on its side, since even the open zipper has enough support on either side that everything is contained. This gives me flexibility in how I carry it: I can either use it like a shopping tote and throw things in the open top, or treat it like a satchel and secure everything beneath the zip.

Does the Selma go casual to dressy? Eh, it's debatable. While I've seen people style it casually, the structured look of the Selma is probably more of a professional silhouette -- especially if the bag is black. In black, it's almost indistinguishable at a distance from the executive Prada range. When carrying the Selma I often feel like I need to try a little harder (no t-shirts and certainly no sneakers). 

Maintenance

When it comes to care, the Selma is out-of-this-world accomodating. It is virtually indestructible, does not fade, is unaffected by humidity or rain, and its saffiano body is just about impossible to scratch. Once in a while I go over it with Collonil cream to clean off smudges, but it does not need moisture treatment the way higher end leather would.

Quality & Value

IMO the Selma is the ultimate contemporary range bag. It doesn't run in the let's-not-push-it-for-this-level $500s to $600 range like many Kate Spade or Tory Burch pieces -- especially now that the $358 large size is discontinued, leaving the $298 medium size the priciest Selma option. 

That said, it also doesn't feel like a budget bag. The saffiano leather, though it does cave slightly with wear, shows virtually no signs of aging, even without being stored outside of its dust bag and in a hot, humid climate. Mine looks brand new, even though it's two years old and I treat it mercilessly. The bag even has metal feet to protect the bottom from the surface you're setting it on. That's a nice touch, considering that not even Givenchy (ahem, leather feet on the Antigona) is great about executing this protective feature.

I also appreciate that where corners are cut on the Selma, it's in invisible places. The stitching on the strap is not as secure as I'd like to be, but let's be real, no one looks there. The lining is an unappealing faux-silk monogrammed fabric, but I can live with that, as it won't be the end of the world to stain it.

Pros & Cons

(-) It's Michael Kors, not occasion-versatile, bottomless pit, cheap interior lining, saffiano does not feel luxurious, heavy when full, awkward hardware

(+) under $300 in medium size, easy to care for, both hand- and shoulder-carried, structured, great work bag (fits a tablet or laptop), roomy, logo is subtle, many pockets, photogenic

And finally, I can't say how glad I am that the MICHAEL by Michael Kors team managed to resist putting chunky logos all over this piece in particular. So glad. Gotta diversify the offerings, man.

Meet the Chloé "Faye"

The "Faye," an Italian-made, flap-closure shoulder bag by French design house Chloé, gained a passionate following in the fashion world in 2015 with surprising staying power. Backordered almost everywhere, it isn't expected to ship from most retailers until this March or April. (In fact, when I ordered one last July, I was told it would likely be the last one shipped from Nordstrom until that October.) 

Typically, objects I gravitate toward are not conventional -- a Pinterest lineup of awkward, aggressive and borderline ugly clothes come to mind. This works out conveniently for me, as it means I often have no problem perusing a website's sale section and finding my dream piece reduced to $25, thanks to other shoppers' lack of interest.

Imagine my surprise when people agreed with me on the Faye, particularly in its smaller, suede-and-smooth leather incarnation. The Faye -- in all her crisp, strange, equestrian glory -- has turned out to be a handbag hit, selling out in stores and online.

My thoughts below.

Measurements

Dimensions: 9 ¼"W x 6"H x 3 ¼"D
Drop: 20" - 22 ½" 
(adjustable belt-style strap)

Construction

Closure: top flap with magnetic "lock"
Interior: 3 compartments lined in suede with back pocket
Materials: body is leather & suede

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Daily Use

I primarily use the Faye as a casual day bag, though its sleek construction and hardware would also carry it into the evening. I believe it's intended to be worn as a crossbody, but since the strap is adjustable, you can also make it short enough that it can be carried on one side. 

Re: space, I often find myself struggling to fill the entire bag, as its composed of 3 expandable "accordioned" compartments. But caution: the Faye's compartments are slim and take the shape of what's in them, much like the Céline trio, so it's not sunglasses or chunky keys-friendly. Its slimness means it's not a bag to carry if you are used to having all your essentials nearby, or if you plan on being away from home a long time. I think of it as an errand bag or short outing bag -- room for wallet, phone, receipts, as well as a few small makeup items, but not much else.

It is also jingly -- very jingly. That chain-and-ring contraption, while striking, can quickly get old or inconvenient if you’re not into the sound of a hundred stacked bracelets rattling each time you so much as breathe out. For this reason it may not be a great choice for quiet places or listening events (think churches, movie theaters, performances, and so on). The giant metal ring has another downside, too: it seems you're meant to open the flap by holding down the leather body (since the magnet closure is strong) and grasping and pulling up on the ring. The whole motion strikes me as a little awkward.

In the world of bags with magnetic closures, the Faye is a winner. The magnet that holds the flap down is secure enough that someone just brushing past would not easily be able to open it. This seems like a minor point, but I've owned magnet-closure bags and wallets that prompt a mini heart attack every few hours when I notice they've popped open of their own accord.

Care & Maintenance

The Faye is unexpectedly easy to care for, given that much of it is composed of suede. The suede flap does show dust easily, but a spritz of Kiwi suede cleaner will clear that up, as well as more stubborn stains. No need to be overly gentle with a suede brush; the Faye's external suede is resilient and any apparent scratches smooth out immediately. On the inside, the black Faye's light suede lining is not particularly prone to darkening or staining: I've carried makeup compacts and eye pencils in it without worry.

I do not baby this bag at all, nor do I have to. Not only is its suede fairly unproblematic to maintain, the smooth leather portion of the bag is thick and not prone to scratches. Over time, minor wrinkling will present itself, but I’m able to remedy this with Collonil leather cream. Even liquids don't leave much of a mark on the Faye! In the first month I had it, I was caught in a sudden downpour and wasn't able to wipe it down immediately. Once it dried, there was no visible evidence that it had just been soaked. (Regardless, a suede protectant spray is recommended  -- just in case.)

Quality & Value

In a nutshell? Solid, substantial, well-constructed. None of the materials used are light or flimsy, with the leather and hardware about as heavy as they can be without making the bag hard to carry. There are no raw/unfinished edges and no loose or stretched stitches. The attention to detail is striking, particularly the defined and sealed interior pocket edges, secure hardware anchors (see esp. the rectangular piece to the right that fixes the chain to the body), and metal rivets that reinforce pockets and prevent tearing.

Considering that I've seen less well-executed pieces go for $2300+, the Faye's sub-$1500 price makes it a bang-for-your-buck anomaly among luxury bags, IMO. That said, given its small size and low value retention, there are other contenders worth considering.

Pros & Cons

(-) small, not structured/supported, little resale value, cannot hold irregular or chunky items, suede collects dust, not ideal for bad weather, looks "niche" (which can translate as "odd"), suede is more prone to fading than leather, will require purchase of suede protectant and cleaner, could be "trendy"

(+) Versatile, fits continental wallet, compartmentalized, easy to care for, under $1500, adjustable strap, closes securely, not easily scratched, understated, looks "niche", good construction, not heavy, ageless in that it looks at home both on the shoulder of a 20-something and a 40-something

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Vibe

Sleek, equestrian-inspired, minimal, modern, ageless, elegant, crisp, unexpected, confident

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Alternatives 

The striking Rag and Bone "Enfield" mini ($495), the understated Burberry "Peyton Chain" ($850), the minimal Elizabeth and James "Cynnie" mini bag ($395), and the Rebecca Minkoff mini "MAC" bag ($195), the last of which even has a metal clasp/ring detail at the front flap, too.