Heat Wave Style, Merch We Want and LA’s Best Chocolate Cake
Also, our take on the “surfer nephew” aesthetic.
Hi everyone,
In this issue, we are covering a bunch of summery topics like the importance of accessories during hot weather, breezy robes + lightweight loungewear and candles that repel mosquitos but also smell nice/look cute! Plus, Cait shares the trick she learned in LA to keep your glass of wine cold (but not watered down) and Rach manifests a new desk for writing future issues.
A little light housekeeping — after Rach has her baby (!!), Cait will be sharing some special OT guest features! We’re excited to highlight what a few friends of the pod newsletter are shopping for, eating and reading and will be back with “regular” sends from the two of us soon.
Stay cool out there, friends!
Rach + Cait
Open Tabs
CP: When I first moved to New York, a guy at our neighborhood natural wine shop (I know, so Brooklyn it hurts...) told me that you see everyone’s true style during the hot and humid days of high summer. Now, 4+ years later, can confirm he was right! It feels like the heat simplifies things, in a way. Everyone just wears their core staples, since you’re sweating through anything else! Which means accessorizing in the summer is key, in order to keep it interesting. I’m late to this but recently clued into the advent of the “surfer nephew” aesthetic (ty Allison Bornstein!)— charms on bags, breezy vintage tees, jewelry that adds a point of interest. This felt reflected in ’s recent Substack send about making your own statement necklace with a vintage brooches (like this!) and black cord. Which is a simple enough DIY that even I can get behind it, as a decidedly not-crafty person! I also recently came across this jewelry brand called Sea and Pattern, which feels right at home in this trend. Their Pearl Collage necklace caught my eye, or this beaded one — both under $100. Or, this $60 red beaded one from Miami-based Simonett has been in my cart for a while too. I also have been obsessively reverse Google image searching for Joey Germaine’s bag charms (here) ever since I saw them. I picture them clipped onto this Plexida knit bag at future Fort Tilden days or European beach travels. I’ve been dreaming about a trip to Biarritz after reading this article in Travel + Leisure — dreamy!
In that vein, I feel like we will really feel a resurgence of the flip flop this season. Seen recently on unanimously chic people like the Olsen Twins and Zoe Kravitz, I have my eye on this pair of square toe Havaianas as an alt to Birkenstocks for an easy, throw-on-and-go option. Aka, what my husband refers to as “dog walking shoes” which, like — fair play! These Ancient Greek ones in red jelly are fun, albeit an an obvious dupe for these from The Row . They also did their own riff on these The Row platform sandals, which would probably fool anyone and are about 1/8th (ish?? I famously can’t do math) the price.
Lastly, I’m on the hunt for a new pair of black sunglasses, since my beloved Celine cat eye ones are embarrassingly dinged up. While home in Portland, I got served an ad from Portland-based The Yo Store for these frames, which was a rare instance of our phones listening to us but in a *productive* way! At more of a premium, these oval Prada ones are a new-to-me shape that feels modern and streamlined. I also, yet again, have to reference a Magasin find that sourced and wore in these cool Marni frames. They remind me of these more affordable Chimi ones, of which I own the tortoise version and can wholeheartedly recommend!
RKH: I am so here for surfer nephew (lol, these “aesthetic” names really get me) + any excuse to slap the pavement in my black Havaianas. In full support of that purchase!
In preparation for spending a lot of time needing to be comfortable and not sweltering hot, I’ve been looking for lightweight loungewear, summery nightgowns and easy to throw on robes. On my radar at the moment: the cherry robe from Eve Wear, the orange terry robe from Kip and Co, this Turkish towel-inspired pink and red option that Pinterest found for me, a hankie dress from Caro Ucellino (so mad I didn’t snag the Oregon one!), these Ian Charms Fighting for My Life boxer shorts (feel like those will be appropriate …), and the summer shorts made by Lady Friend (introduced to me by Emily Nenni - if you’re not already listening, please run and do not walk to stream!!). I also have been living in my white set (similar here) and nightie (similar here) from Piyama lately - both purchases from around my wedding and have held up really nicely - and am now thinking I need their berry pink gingham set, too.
And just for fun because we are never not browsing - also on my radar: a Dauphinette side table (or DESK! Could you imagine me typing future OT’s from here? We’re manifesting it), a custom Maker & Son chaise lounge or love seat, this very cute Danish ceramic table lamp with the butter yellow pleated shade, this pink and white vintage towel set and this chrome bell lamp.
I’m also hoping to open a tab at Duality Brewing soon - have been dying to try Astral - and the new spot Bar Loon that opened recently on Belmont. I also still haven’t been to L’Orange and their summer menu looks so good!
Closed Tabs
CP: I recently ordered a Snakes For Hair candle on the rec, as always, of the team at Carrie Lindsey. The Golden Lemon one feels crisp and fresh for summer and reminds me of the Diptyque citronella candle, which is a great add to any outdoor furniture if you, like me, are a club classic for mosquitos in the summer. My next candle purchase for sure is going to be this one from the team at Ash World. Their merch is SO GOOD! Might impulse buy the red tote from The Siren while I’m at it — a hotel I loved to pop into when business trips took me to Detroit.
Food wise, we had a great meal and excellent service while in LA at Voodoo Vin. The team was warm, friendly and generous! They brought us frozen cherries to chill our wine (because ice cubes would water it down and cherries don’t impart flavor because of their thick skin — genius!), gave us a taste of maybe the best dark rosé I’ve ever had and encouraged us to order a dessert that was just a perfect block of feta topped with jammy mulberries and mint. Similarly, we enjoyed everyone we chatted with and everything we ate at both Queen St and Found Oyster. Both spaces were expertly decorated and had some nostalgic touches that I loved, like ritz cracker served with crab salad and your check brought with a piece of saltwater taffy. Another standout was a rec, the chocolate cake at Pizzana. Candidly, if Hillary hadn’t written about this cake so wholeheartedly, I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to pick it up. It was absolutely incredible and definitely the best slice of cake we had in LA (there were multiple). No shade to Quarter Sheets, whose sheet cake was also very good! Hillary continues her streak of perfect recommendations, like this mascara I now will never go without.
RKH: Wow all of a sudden I am dying for a piece of cake - urgently need! My sweet tooth continues to rule my life and I’ve officially decided that any day without a treat is a bad day. I finally had the chance to check out No Saint and the entire meal was *very* good, but the Pablo Munoz strawberry-focused dessert in particular stood out to me! Seems like they rotate it consistently and I’m very excited to go back. Also obviously had to buy the hat - forever a sucker for merch.
Also in recent closed tabs - a successful Etsy rug purchase from this shop! I was a little skeptical with the deep discounts, but I’m very happy with the quality and would definitely order from this shop again. I’d also never really considered Etsy for rugs, and it feels like this is a pro tip! If you’re also in the market for a pink turkish rug, I saved a few more options that I liked here, here and here.
As part of my summery yet loungey clothes search mentioned above, I also wanted to report back on the Sonderhaus Studios boxer shorts! I ended up getting the green gingham and pink stripe and love them. They’re so comfortable and as far as trendy boxers go, quite affordable at $45/pair. I also stocked up on my favorite Skims bralettes (specifically the scoop lace and the cute patterned ones) and grabbed this Papinelle striped PJ set during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale - still available and very marked down! Also in the Anniversary Sale and still available - the NuFace Trinity if you’ve been contemplating pulling the trigger. I loveeee mine and will always recommend.
CP: That hat is so cheerful and cute that I think I need to get it and match you!
Open Books
CP: A book I’m thrilled to pre-order is DÍAS by Pia Riverola. I have followed Pia and her photography work for years, maybe first discovered via Jessie Bush’s gallery wall that featured a print of hers. We ended up purchasing this one and it now hangs above our bar cart. I can’t wait to flip through whatever captures she prints in this new book! I also saw someone save the book Service to their to-be-read list and it looks right up my Sweetbitter-adjacent alley. Next up on my self-enforced summer reading challenge is Honey, about early 2000’s pop stardom and God of the Woods, about a teen disappearing from her Adirondack summer camp.
RKH: I finished All Fours during my annual family beach trip to Fripp Island, SC and LOVED. Very much in my favorite genre of women losing their minds/behaving badly but not feeling badly about it. I also read The New Me by Halle Butler which I feel would specifically resonate with my fellow millennials who spent the years of 2012 - 2016 in the loop of navigating a new big city/working an entry level job/spending too much money on fancy salads and workout classes and new “professional” clothes, all in the pursuit of self actualization. It’s honestly a little bit depressing but overall I enjoyed it! I’m currently loving I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself, a book that also needs a complementary syllabus of required reading and watching for all of the books/essays/films she references that I’m excited to dig into in the future. Up next for me: We Were the Universe, Fruit of the Dead and Die Hot with a Vengeance - an essay collection (and a perfume!) on beauty culture by Sable Yong, former Allure editor and host of the Smell Ya Later podcast (another fantastic merch destination).
CP: I also just finished (and loved) Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself! It made me excited for the confidence + community that seems to come with being a woman in your 40’s.
Open Obsessions
CP: I recently listened to this episode of the Who What Wear podcast (again, Hillary Kerr never misses!) with and of Pig Mami about how the algorithm is killing personal style and I don’t exaggerate when I say it blew my little mind!! Their perspectives on the pod (and in their respective Substacks) feel like a breath of fresh air! Both reference original inspiration points and seem super honed into what feels true to them (aspirational). It’s made me motivated to hunt for more vintage pieces to make every outfit feel special/non-formulaic. The way Heather styled this dress from Banana Republic with a big, gold brooch had me considering walking to SoHo on a Saturday (a thing I swore off doing) to try it on!
On the fictional side of personal style, we have been breezing through VP-elect Maya Rudolph’s show Loot. Her character, Molly, is almost always in a silky pajama or structural separate by Molly Goddard or The Vampires Wife (RIP). While it might not be my taste, her style feels so unapologetically HER! Props to that costume department for sticking to a tight brief. The show itself also is just a delight and feels reminiscent of the sweetness of The Good Place but also made me wonder what the past few years have been like for Melinda Gates (the alleged inspo for the premise). Brain balm to the max!
RKH: Oh I love following @pigmami on TikTok! Speaking of Banana Republic - she was the person who made me think I needed their cow print trench several issues ago, as well as the provider of the trends as a sushi conveyor analogy. A great follow!
I’ve been rewatching Grey’s Anatomy from the beginning and I really forgot how much I love that show. I also just appreciate the very 00s regular people clothes that the doctors wear off duty - so of a time in a way that is very much not part of the Y2K revival. Like just normal bootcut jeans and big hobo bags. Really takes me back (in a way that I do not want to return!)!
And! Because she is too humble to mention this herself, let me say that I am VERY obsessed with the official launch of Cait’s newest project - All Caps Travel. If you’ve been reading Open Tabs since the beginning (almost a year - how?!), you have seen firsthand how incredible and thoughtful her recommendations and taste are, particularly when it comes to travel and restaurant guidance. And now you can access custom guidance from her brilliant brain. So proud that All Caps is now out in the world!
I’m also currently pretty obsessed with the fact that very very soon I’ll be having a baby (??!!) and that has been consuming much of my brain space. And on that note - stay tuned for our next Open Tabs issue that will have a fun surprise for you, dear readers! <3
CP: Thanks, Rach!! 🥹 Feeling very imposter syndrome-y about it all! But, excited too. And even more excited to meet that baby! A new era for both OT authors, for sure.
That’s all for issue #10! To see more of what we ate, linked to or chatted about in this letter, follow our Instagram @opentabsletter or shop all of our issues here.
Ok I'm obsessed with the idea of frozen cherries in wine -- so smart & chic.