Holiday Party Dressing, New Knitwear and Caviar Cravings
Plus, NYC and SF restaurant recs!
Hi friends,
We’re officially getting in the winter spirit over here at OT HQ! This issue we dive into what warm things we are eyeing to buy, the best beauty shopping experience Cait has ever had (!) and the book release party at Chateau Marmont we both wish we could have been to.
Happy shopping, reading, eating!
Rach + Cait
Open Tabs
CP: We were blessed/cursed with spring temps all fall in NYC, so I’m finally feeling compelled by cozy clothes now that the “feels like” is below 30 degrees. Some contenders include — this ivory alpaca knit tank, this charcoal cashmere triangle scarf, this creamy oversized silk button down, these tasseled loafers. Brand wise, I’m loving everything I’m seeing from Soft Goat (this boyfriend crew, this grey coat!) and have many open tabs from vintage shop Lucia Zolea, like this ruffled tank, this tan suede coat and this ribbed cashmere sweater.
I’m also very focused on outfits for holiday parties, my favorite part of “pre Christmas winter.” I picked up this Faithfull silk set this summer to save for this season but now am trying to find some cool jewelry to go with it. Maybe these pearl huggie earrings from new-to-me jewelry brand, Sapir Bachar. I also love this gold chain necklace by Aussie jewelry designer Jasmin Sparrow or these embellished hoops by Dries. I also think this sheer Rue Sophie top might need to be mine for an annual gals holiday dinner at Monkey Bar, maybe with these textured gold drop earrings by Paola Sighinolfi. These large ribbed earrings from Mango would be a nice alt too. Makeup wise, I’m very into this dark, wine-red lip from Violette paired with her gold liner, which somehow feels graphic without being TOO intimidating.
RKH: OMG those Hereu Cairel mules! We need them. Per usual, it’s a real grab bag of open tabs for me. Practically, I’m shopping for new knits! I like this cashmere polo from Lilysilk, this chocolate knit from Dissh that’s stalking me around the internet, and this Sezane cardigan (also, the matching baby version is a need). Impractically, I’m drooling over these Gucci horsebit loafers and this custom love token pendant from Foundrae.
I loved SNL star Heidi Gardner’s recent AD home tour - but the real standout that I can’t get out of my head is the disco ball hood by Cicada Company. Bookmarking for future kitchen design inspo. I also love everything from Wretched Flowers. How cool are the tapestries? A few more current favs on the home goods front: the Bobine lamps from Jessica Helgerson Interior Design here in Portland, these Shopbop x Kassatex pink alabaster coasters, and this Simon Evans “Everything I Have” poster.
Lastly, I very rarely come across any content that makes me have wedding FOMO or wish I’d done anything differently (I loved our 70s backyard disco cowboy party!), but I am so inspired by every detail of this wedding! Truly next level - please give this slideshow a click through when you’re cozy on the couch this weekend.
CP: As an attendee of said 70’s backyard disco cowboy party, can confirm it was perfect! Maybe this is can serve as mood board fodder for a future vow renewal?? Let’s pitch it to Gaw!
RKH: Genius. Also a good test to see if he’s made it this far in the newsletter …
Closed Tabs
CP: I started contributing to another Substack (FOUND NY) last month, which has been, earnestly, a dream job! And also hysterical to be using my Journalism degree for the first time at age <redacted>. Not that I needed the push but it’s also been added incentive for me to hop in line at some new, buzzy spots here. My first piece was profiling the updated coffee and wine offerings at the showroom/interiors shop Quarters. I also had the chance to write about Flynn McGary’s new all-day café slash home goods store, Gem Home, which really fills the gap for grab-and-go lunch spots that don’t suck (cover your ears, Sweetgr*en!). While Gem does a great take on a cardamom bun, the pastries I picked up while reviewing Elbow Bread (the day after the election… it was a salve!) really wowed me. Specifically, the sticky sweet honey challah and savory pretzel — both excellent. Another piece that gave me a fun excuse to try something new was a writeup about the spa Spencer’s, a design-forward oasis in the chaos of Soho. Their massages are reasonably prices (for Manhattan) and the gorgeous, art-filled lounge is reason enough to go.
Shopping wise, I needed wanted a new lipstick for a wedding we went to last month, so I made a trip to the new Atelier Beauté Chanel shop in Soho. For someone borderline OCD about lip color, this space was next-level. Not only do they let you to swatch on paper to test undertones, but they also give you samples to-go so you can see them on yourself in natural light. It’s rare that you can “try before you buy” with lipstick, so that was a little treat!
RKH: I feel like we need a photo of your lipstick collection - in my mind it is very vast and impressive! Pics please. Also requesting a future CP red lipstick power ranking.
CP: It’s a collection that’s both too much and also not enough!
RKH: We just got back from a week and a half in the Bay Area introducing Lonny to friends and fam, and of course revisiting so many old fav restaurants. Also got to try a few new-to-me spots - Little Shucker, The Tailor’s Son and Mattina. All on Fillmore - we weren’t venturing too far from our home away from home Hotel Kabuki with le bebe. The chips and dip with caviar at Little Shucker was a highlight - one of my biggest pregnancy cravings was caviar (lol, I know) and coincidentally I actually just got the new Fishwife caviar to try and am very excited about that!! Honorable mentions also must go to The Tailor’s Son’s radishes with fondita, and the mortadella ravioli at Mattina.
CP: Caviar is a certified holiday food, in my book! I also can’t read the word caviar and not hear it said by Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail. “That caviar is a garnish!”
Open Books
CP: I’ve seen a lot of reputable readers posting about the new publisher 831 Stories, who are churning out short, rom-com novellas. I added their first Big Fan to my “Want to Read” list this spring and saw their second, Hardly Strangers was released a few weeks ago. The cover colors are very OT to me, too!
As I completed my monthly ritual of setting Resy notify alerts for Four Horsemen’s weekend lunch, I was reminded that I need to snag their cookbook that just came out. I’m also curious about the Flamingo Estate Guide to Becoming Alive, which feels like a lifestyle/cookbook hybrid. Their jasmine candle is a perennial fave and the “estate” in LA is very aspirational to me, so I’m down to try to replicate that energy however I can!
RKH: We love Flamingo Estate!! Love their gift sets for holiday gifting inspo, too. I’m excited for ’s new cookbook (and following her new Hampton’s house / puppy mom journey!), and also loved the content coming out of the Didion & Babitz party at Chateau Marmont. A veritable who’s who of our favorite it gals. The Dirt interview with author Lili Anolik is a great read, btw!
CP: A DREAM book release party! Props to whoever secured that location, a great nod to both Joan and Eve.
RKH: Also on my “want to read” list: Tommy Dorfman’s forthcoming memoir, Henry Gee’s A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth and Notes to Self by Emelie Pine. I randomly stumbled upon new-ish interiors magazine Neptune, and am contemplating an annual subscription as a little gift to myself. Specifically, I am very interested in ordering issue seven feat. the Bunny Williams! In “closed books,” I also just finished Fruit of the Dead and loved! Dark yet breezy.
Open Obsessions
CP: Anyone who has talked to me in the last month knows I can’t stop pitching Marco Polo. For those unfamiliar, it essentially lets you leave video voice notes that can be answered when the other person has time. It feels more grown up than Snapchat, easier than arranging a FaceTime and more visual than sending a long voice note (or “friend podcast” as these two authors lovingly call them). I suffer from near constant fomo and am interested in every detail of my friend’s lives, so it’s not shocking that it’s quickly becoming my most used app.
RKH: OMG, Marco Polo. I forgot about her. What a fun new obsession. In addition to obviously being obsessed with holding space for defying gravity, I also have holiday gifting taking up a lot of space in my brain, specifically what to get my baby who won’t remember Christmas for Christmas. Inspired to go the more sentimental route (like, baby jewelry? This Elsa Peretti silver brush? A custom birthday plate?), but also would love any ideas this little community might have for me!
That’s all for issue #12! 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.
