Beautiful Things That Make Me Happy
A little beauty to counteract the pain
My whole life, I’ve leaned into beautiful things; I suppose that’s why I have a career in fashion and beauty. My love for clothes, jewelry, and lipstick has always been more than a mere hobby or fascination. I think that’s probably the case for many of us who work in or write about this industry. Sure, it can be compelling from a business and cultural perspective, but no one really gets into fashion bc of the numbers alone. I like to think it’s the pull of beauty that we’re all drawn to. How a gorgeously structured coat can stop us in our tracks; the way a lustrous silk shirt feels against our skin; the precise cut of a well-tailored trouser hanging on a rack, or even the weight of a silver cuff on our wrist. All of these things, and the beautiful, fizzy feelings that come from consuming, loving, experiencing and absorbing fashion—well, they’re part of what keeps me alive and going.
I’ve always felt this way, but over the past year, Substack has put these feelings into technicolor for me. (This weekend marks my one year Substack-iversary!) This veritable playground of beautiful ideas, images, concepts, things…well, it’s hypnotic. It’s partially why so many of us thrive on this platform; us beauty-seeking junkies, always looking for our next high. And I must clarify: this pursuit isn’t necessarily about possession. Of course, acquiring something beautiful is often the ultimate goal of this seemingly endless, lifelong hunt. But just as you can walk into a museum to appreciate and stand in awe of masterpieces, so do we engage with and idolize fashion. Sometimes, knowing that we can’t ever own the piece itself is actually what drives us to enjoy it EVEN more. In this sense, possession is inconsequential to our continued collective quest of beauty.
I’ve gone VERY deep just now, and I’m about to come back to reality — but I had to set the stage to clarify what I’ve been feeling lately. In the wake of the immense tragedy this month in LA, along with other upsetting global events, one of my personal salves has been to seek beauty where I can, and to celebrate, love and treasure it. I’ve found myself chasing the joy I get after reading one of
’s beautiful posts, always full of gorgeous inspiration and hauntingly elegant ideas. Or feeling those endorphins kick in after I see one of ’s well-considered collages, full of innate (chic!) foresight. As I wrote about last week - fashion is emotional and intuitive, and I’m deeply focused on following my heart these days…which is leading me to some of the creature comforts listed below. While I don’t own all of the below items, and in theory could “shop til I drop” as a form of retail therapy, this exercise is less about consumption for me than it is about escapism. And yes, I realize that daydreaming about beautiful things doesn’t solve real-life problems…but it can certainly ease the pain.So here are some beautiful things that make me happy…because we could all use some joy right now. I hope they do the same for you.
Sculptural Jewelry
I rarely write about fine jewelry bc I find it so intensely personal. But my closest friends will tell you that I’m even more obsessed with jewelry than I am with clothes, if you can believe it. Fashion jewelry is a different beast, and a category that can add so much dimension to our styling. I’m living for sculptural pieces right now, which are like wearing literal works of art. (In fact I went a bit gaga for
’s recent post on this topic.) The imperfect beauty found in their organic shapes, twists and ridges coupled with the “hardness” of the metal creates such a satisfying finish to any outfit. And I know what you’re thinking! “Oh no, here she goes again about that f-ing Juju necklace.” YES, YES I DO. But thanks to ’s final push this week, I went ahead and just ordered the dang thing. Will report back!Silk Brocade
Silk brocade is just innately beautiful. It’s certainly not anything we saw on the runways in a big way recently, but I don’t care. In fact, I don’t think it’s necessarily been “trendy” since 2015/2016 when Dries Van Noten outdid himself with some of the most stunning brocade-forward collections I’ve ever seen. (If you ever come across these pieces on resale, pleaaaase let me know!) In my mind, silk brocade—or at least the luxe illusion of silk brocade—is always a classic. As I’ve promised myself, I’m listening to my gut this year, and my gut is asking for a pair of silk brocade (or brocade-like) pants. For all the casual girlies out there (myself included!), don’t be put off by the formal first impression of this ornate textile; much like the rest of us, silk brocade has chilled out. There are some stellar, modern options—a barrel leg silk brocade pant (!!) is amongst them. I even found some trompe-l'œil pieces that deliver the silk brocade look but with silk pajama comfort. I haven’t decided which exact pair to pull the trigger on yet, but when I do, I plan to wear mine with an oversized button-down shirt and kitten heel sandal, or even a sweatshirt and slippers. I’m proudly entering my Valley of the Dolls era…(well, minus the pills) and not looking back.
Vintage Bally Handbags
We all fell (back) in love with Bally last year, thanks to its new-ish designer Simone Bellotti—who sadly is now likely leaving the brand. GAH! In any case, the past few collections have been chef’s kiss, and I was very excited by the vibe shift I felt when I stopped into their store recently at nearby luxury mega-mall, South Coast Plaza. (I hope they find someone as talented to fill his shoes!) Designer hype aside, I’m going to take a page out of
’s latest post and open the Bally gate EVEN further to share my latest discovery—Bally vintage bags! TRR is an absolute treasure trove, and not only are they are absolutely stunning, but affordable to boot! A combo of 90s minimalism meets 50s housewife with a dash of 80s lady thrown in…the mix of shapes and materials are really on point. I especially love the idea of one paired with an uber casual look, like my go-to outfit these days of Jamie Haller jeans and a Buck Mason sweatshirt.Tortoiseshell, Wood & Resin Accessories
Similar to sculptural jewelry, I find myself craving accessories - both in fashion and home - that are grounding and warm in nature. Turning to natural materials like tortoiseshell, wood and resin are giving me a strange sense of comfort right now, the reason for which I cannot quite pin down but again, I’m trusting my intuition! These materials are equal parts unique and beautiful, reminiscent of a bygone era. I’ve been following this brand out of Australia called Dinosaur Designs for a while now - their pieces are incredible; handcrafted and sourced sustainably. We see mainstream designers flirting with natural materials lately too - Bottega’s Fin Wood Earrings, Hermès’s Equipe Pendant, and Isabel Marant’s Wonder Cuff. A whole new meaning to the term “down to earth.”
Le Smoking Décontracté
I don’t speak French. (Thank you Google Translate!) I do, however, speak tired mom who wants to feel comfortable yet pulled together. And to accomplish this, I’m loving a more relaxed take on the iconic Yves Saint Laurent “Le Smoking” suit. Think less structure, more flow. Less tuxedo, more robe. Less formalwear, more loungewear. You get it! Luckily, designers feel the same, with more casual Le Smoking jackets lately out of the likes of TWP, Fleur du Mal and Attersee, which I snagged above via TRR. The fabrics and silhouettes employed in this new, relaxed iteration of the iconic jacket deliver all the beauty and sophistication of the OG, but with the ease and comfort we all want when getting dressed in 2025. Pair them with the ubiquitous silk/satin/cady pull on pant we’ve been obsessed with for over a year now et voila…c’est magnifique.
Watches with Leather Straps
Full confession: I’m not really a watch girlie, but I’m dying to be! It’s not for lack of owning any nice watches…I have a couple handed-down family heirlooms that I treasure. But lately, I’m into the nostalgia of a good ol’ leather-strap watch, which I don’t own. I know these have been trending a bit here and there—
features them often in her posts and she styles them stunningly. Personally, I’ve had my eye on a classic Cartier Tank with leather strap for well over a year now, but can’t bring myself to pull the trigger bc, yet again, I’m not a watch girlie. But that doesn’t mean I can’t admire them from afar, appreciate their simplistic beauty and daydream of one day owning the old-school leather watch of my dreams!Rope, Cord & Tassel Belts
Tassels are 100% having a moment, partly thanks to the ever-omniscient
. But regardless of their “in or out” status, I’m just loving the swingy, 1920s-y, ultra-casual-with-a-twist vibes they imbue to even the most minimal, modern outfits. In fact, I about stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the above Attersee belt in one of their recent social posts. It adds just a hint of something beautifully fluid and fantastical to the process of getting dressed, even if you’re just wearing a button-up shirt and jeans. (For inquiring and obsessive minds like me, I contacted the brand and they plan to launch this belt in gray, blue, navy and black this Spring—sadly no ivory! But be on the lookout.) Also I love when accessories have movement; we live our lives in action, so our clothes should follow suit. I’ll add rope & cord style belts to this grouping bc of the versatility and texture they offer. I snagged the above Brochu Walker rope belt, knowing that Attersee wasn’t producing this shade and immediately got to work styling it, as seen below. I love the easy ‘zhush’ it provides to an otherwise simple outfit, as well as the tension an item typically associated with spring/summer (rope…nautical-ish vibes) can bring to a more serious winter outfit. Sometimes it really is the littlest touches that make a world of difference.
Embossed Croc Anything
If 2025’s vibe had to be summed up in one word, I think it would be: soft. We seem to be collectively craving a return to comfort, mindful consumption, and a slower fashion cycle…all of which feel like a softer approach to getting dressed. But if there was a SECOND word of 2025, I think it would be: rich. And not like, money rich, but rich in meaning, texture, feeling, emotion, connection and character. And there’s nothing richer as a material manifestation of this than embossed croc. It adds a ton of instant charm along with a hint of vintage coolness, even if the piece itself is brand new. My love affair with embossed croc began last September when I finally bit the bullet and bought the Toteme Bucket Bag (which I also love in this style!) There are so many beautiful embossed croc pieces these days—many of which are actually vintage—that finding your dream piece should be easy (and affordable) enough. Beautiful to behold, touch, and feel…a full body fashion immersion!
Elegant Hair Accessories
Do any of you remember when Deborah Pagani’s super chic French pin went a bit viral a year or so ago? I keenly recall this moment bc it was then that I realized hair accessories = hair jewelry. Mind blown! I’ve been addicted to gorgeous hair clips and claws ever since. I discovered the brand Lelet shortly thereafter, who makes some of the most stunning pony cuffs and hair clips out there (not super affordable but worth a splurge here and there!) I appreciate how considered this level of attention to detail is; when I see another woman with a chic hair clip, I nod at her knowingly, like we’re part of the same IYKYK Club. Truly there is no corner left unturned in getting dressed these days that you cannot make exquisite :) And that level of beauty, even in the most minute and unexpected places, always makes me happy.
That’s it for now. Thank you for being here….until next week! xx
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Sogole, you have truly CAPTURED the essence of following the trends of your heart and- without surprise- we are on the same wavelength with many of these!! I loved your note at the top though of “possession is inconsequential to our continued collective quest of beauty.” It goes hand in hand with thoughts I’m publishing soon 😂
Well, this sure was a feast for the eyes! I think I clicked on every link hahah. I too am teetering on the edge of becoming a Cartier tank girlie… on the hunt for a good secondhand one!