Hi! We’re Rach and Cait, two friends who live on opposite coasts (Portland and Brooklyn, respectively) and we love to read, receive and give recommendations! Since we often ask each other which book, SPF or Susan Alexandra bag the other is contemplating, we thought it could be scary fun to take our text threads and voice notes to the next level, by debuting our very own *niche newsletter*.
“Open Tabs” simultaneously speaks to browser windows of things you’re considering buying and also those left open at a restaurant or bar you love. We will also include “Closed Tabs” for things we have recently purchased, great meals we just ate, etc.
We hope this is as fun to read as it is to write! And, to borrow a textbook millennial phrase, “no worries, if not!!!”
We’d love it if you would follow our visual diary at @opentabsletter, and please consider subscribing or sharing with a friend!
Open Tabs
RKH: I've been feeling very torn between hanging on to the final dog days of summer and starting to turn an eye toward fall shopping. One category I absolutely do NOT need to shop in is throw blankets-slash-beach towels, but unfortunately for me I've been seriously contemplating the raw silk beach throw from Upstate ... feel like I need it for any final summer park hangs!!! I love that the Banda option looks like a classic yellow and white striped beach towel, but the Nosara is just so good.
CP: Summer forever! I vote Banda.
I’m on the hunt for a dress to wear to a (hopefully still summer weather) wedding in mid September. If money were no object, I love this Acne Studios dress. I am also tempted by this Matteau one, which comes in brown too. Or this Massimo Dutti seems relaxed and easy! To kick off the search, I bought this vintage Khaite that Pia Baroncini posted about to try on this weekend.
In the vein of resale, I recently stumbled upon this Chairish collection of items from Courteney Cox’s personal home. Intriguing! Would I buy a pillow simply for the novelty that it was previously in her house? No but also maybe??
RKH: The Acne Studios option is gorgeous! Why would you even link this here if you didn’t want me to enable you?? And sorry but wait - am I going to buy this Kind of Cyan print from Courteney’s collection?
While we’re talking home updates, I snagged a perfect alabaster lamp at Monticello Antique Marketplace here in Portland a few months ago and have been on the hunt for the perfect lampshade for it to wear. I keep adding this brass lamp shade from Matilda Goad to my cart ...
CP: Endorsed! That lamp base is also very good!
More practically, I have had “invest in film camera” on my to do’s for … ever. My stop gap has been buying a dedicated disposable camera for every trip or fun event. Which has been, honestly, a delight! After trying out many film developers in NYC, I have committed my loyalties to Trilogy in Tribeca. Their turnaround time is quick, they provide scans + prints and are also just nice! It’s a treat every time I get to refresh what’s on the fridge with new tactile photos. If/when I get serious about getting a *real camera*, I have my eye on the Contax T3.
RKH: I always love your film photos! Such a special way to capture trips, and don’t even get me started on the film from your wedding.
Impractically … my obsession with tiny bags continues to grow, and lately I can't stop thinking I need the Room Shop bounce bag in Lilac - obsessed with the fact that it looks like a gigantic scrunchie. Also very into their chou chou bags, the patchwork is very fun ... reminds me a bit of this bag I recently pinned ... how cute would this be for a summer/fall transition moment??? I’m also planning for a trip to the UK and currently researching where to vintage shop while we're in London. I’m going to attempt carry on only - a choice that is in direct opposition to my true identity as a checked bag girlie. I just ordered this (practical!) packable duffel from Calpak in orchid fields ... so much room for (shopping) activities!!
CP: Unqualified London/UK recs incoming! Specifically, very compelled by Cafe Cecilia or Sessions Arts Club. If you end up at either, let me know so I can know whether to add to our list for when we are in London next spring!
Closed Tabs
RKH: I went into a full trance on eBay a few weeks ago and decided I needed three men's large Ralph Lauren shirts (??? why am I this way). Grabbed a hot pink silk linen (hi Barbie!), and two Blake corduroy options in burnt orange and a specific shade of purple that is reminiscent of Barney the dinosaur (although quickly becoming one of my favorite colors). I've been throwing them on as a swim cover up, cute over a bike shorts set, also just looks chic with Levi's or trousers
CP: Very subliminally *Eras Tour* to be recently drawn to purple!
I recently went to the Laura Lombardi store on the Lower East Side and purchased their rope chain, which marks a very rare in-store experience for me, an almost exclusively online shopper. I can’t stop wearing this necklace despite the fact that it consistently gets tangled in my hair. Not quite a Connell’s chain energy, but the sentiment remains!
RKH: Ok I think I finally need to watch Normal People?? Confused about why the chain images were not exclusively used to promote the show and also low key mad that you haven’t sent me this Instagram until now …
CP: You need to! Required viewing!
On the food side of things, I anchored plans a few weekends ago around the highly anticipated (by me) return of the Court Street Grocers “20 Napkin BLT”! They only offer this sandwich for a few weeks every year, aligned with when the tomatoes are truly ripe enough to require that many napkins.
RKH: It really is a tomato girl summer after all …
CP: Amen! Other notable meals/drinks from the past few weeks were the slab cake special at Little Egg, the tomato toast at Four Horsemen (sensing a theme here?) and the watermelon soft serve at L’Industrie. A belated honorable mention to a place I would always leave a tab open — Angel Face in Portland, where we recently had truly excellent negronis during our annual summer trip home to the PNW.
RKH: I still dream of that ham and cheese sandwich we had at Four Horsemen! With those teeeeeny tiny peperoncinis, omg drool. And please come back so we can go to Angel Face together - I always love a choose your own adventure with their bartenders.
Last week, I went to the Barbie-themed Tulip Cowboy Floral Rodeo (literally, what a sentence - all my fav things rolled into one breath) at Tusk in SE Portland and it was so cute. Have been wanting to go to one of her events for a while now and I’m so glad I finally pulled the trigger! Obsessed with the concept - make floral arrangements and do some friend dating - and was also introduced to what I think will be my favorite cocktail of late summer, a tequila/*tomato water*/peach situation with a chili salt rim. Literally mouth watering thinking about it. Doesn’t hurt that I also got to take home an extremely cute monochrome pink bouquet that is very pleasing to the eyeballs.
Lastly for me, I've been obsessed with the Osea undaria algae body oil this summer, but feel like I run through it so quickly. Just discovered it also comes in a jumbo size .... run don't walk. The vagus nerve oil has also recently become a fast fav for this bad sleeper - I was passing it around during our annual family vacay in the Bunkbed Room For Adult Children (IYKYK).
CP: A hot tip! I’ve used their cleansing milk for years and recently bought their ocean cleanser for travel, both 10/10.
As for my beauty impulse buys, a few weeks ago I fell victim to a Merit Instagram ad and purchased a thing that I definitely do not need more of — red lipsticks. I went with the shade Apertif and can confirm the formula is rich and it doesn’t transfer. I also recently saw Hannah Richtman (founder of The Break, whose relaunch I am counting down to!) post about the lipstick she wore at her wedding (Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue) and, naturally, had to also buy that (in Daring Red) after seeing its staying power in her pics.
Open Books
RKH: I am VERY pleased to share that my copy of Scammer by Caroline Calloway herself has just arrived. I’m excited to dig into that and will report back with my thoughts. I'm currently reading Thirst for Salt (romance! Australians! An old scraggly dog!); and recently pre-ordered Hotel Kitsch and i'm very very excited for that. If you don't already follow @aprettycoolhoteltour, time to start! I do also want to plug a book I read in the last year that has altered my brain chemistry as it relates to influencer culture - Momfluenced by Sara Petersen. For parents and non-parents alike, if you’re a person who had Love Taza (girl, wya?) on your Google Reader like me, it’s a fascinating read.
CP: More power to Mattise’s Mom, honestly. Need to know how the hand-glued Italian paper feels!
I just finished the 800+ page whopper that is House of Sky and Breath — an ideal, immersive plane read for someone with flight anxiety like moi! I resisted the Sarah J Maas empire for a looooong time, but at the recommendation of many pals (👋 Jess and Eve!) I finally caved and, of course, they were right. Like all SJM books, this one has lots of world building, fast-paced plot, and a big cliffhanger! I like to balance fiction with non-fiction, so I’m also working through MFK Fisher’s An Alphabet for Gourmets. I ordered it from the Winding Stair bookshop in Dublin because the UK cover was better designed — a hack I very much recommend! I also started and finished Brutes by Dizz Tate last weekend in almost one sitting at Ft Tilden. It aligned perfectly into a sub-genre I’m just now realizing I am drawn to — weird Florida stories (a la Lauren Groff and maybe my favorite book of 2022 Milk Blood Heat). A great literal beach read!
RKH: I loved Brutes - read that in a day on our Cabo trip in February. What do we think it says about our friendship that we’re both obsessed with weird books, particularly those set in possibly post-apocalyptic deserts and Florida swamps? While we’re here, must also suggest adding The Light Pirate and Gold Fame Citrus (or anything Claire Vaye Watkins) to your Goodreads!!
Open Obsessions
CP: I never shut up about Sentimental Garbage and Caroline’s episode discussing Barbie with Jen Cownie is her latest work of art. I laughed, cried etc! She proves yet again why she is the perfect “trash merchant” (her words, not mine) of our time. Overall my Sentimental greatest hits would probably be the Red Carpets, Little Women or Spice World episodes to start. Or, if you’re ambitious and uninspired by And Just Like That, may I recommend all eight episodes of the Sentimental In The City that recap Sex and the City “for the great American novel that it is” with our generation’s Nora Ephron (my words, not hers) Dolly Alderton.
RKH: +1000. Caroline and Dolly are probably my two favorite individuals I’ve never met that you’ve introduced me to!
I must plug my bible aka The Artist's Way. I worship at the altar of Julia Cameron!! I would be remiss if I didn't recommend this experience as I found it to be literally life changing (I would say "not to be dramatic" but the drama is fully intentional here). Talk about something that has rewired my brain chemistry in the past year. I also think this was fueled by Julia, but I've been having fun with nostalgic summer camp crafts lately. Friendship bracelets are much harder without child-size fingers, but I'm determined to figure this out. Also picked up a mood ring at the craft store and she's absolutely sparking joy (or sometimes alertness, rage, calm, romance ... depending on the color, obvi) .
That’s all for issue #1! If you, like us, are a visual learner, you can see more accompanying photos of what we write about on our ✨new✨ Instagram for this newsletter, @opentabsletter!