Hi friends,
We’re so happy to be back to our regularly scheduled programming! We also had so much fun with the guest edits that we might continue to put those in the mix occasionally, too.
This month we’re predictably focused on fall fashion. But, we also dive into some new restaurants, book-to-TV adaptations we can’t wait for and what fluffy, soothing things we’re watching for a serotonin boost.
Happy shopping, reading, eating!
Rach + Cait
Open Tabs
RKH: I’m back, baby! And also, with a baby. Life is a trip!! I am pleased to report that there’s still much time for scrolling, saving, adding to cart, etc., in the newborn trenches (logging many hours of online window shopping between the hours of midnight and five am over here). Needless to say, the tabs are open and I’m thrilled to be writing about them again! I’m sure some parenting experts out there would tell me it’s important to be gazing lovingly at my baby 24/7 and not looking at Burberry mini skirts on eBay, but I feel that it’s paramount not to lose myself in motherhood? I digress …
CP: Back and better than ever! As I’ve told you “offline,” you’re already a model mom to me! Plus, your girl is going to be grateful for your eBay watchlists when she raids your closet in a few years.
RKH: TRUE. That makes me feel better. I’m having a Goldilocks moment as I hunt for a new pair of tall black boots for fall. Not too tall, not too short, not completely flat but not a high heel, leather but not too shiny … and all the while avoiding accidentally conveying authentic Horse Girl or Jack Sparrow. I was discussing this problem with my friend Tiff recently and we agreed it also feels very difficult not to transport yourself back to 2005 with the tall boot search and the question of how to style them. What’s a girl to do?! Some contenders … the Staud Dutch boot or Palamino, these platform boots by Camper, the Aeyde riding boot and these Paris Texas boots with a pointier toe. Of course I’ve also lost the plot and am now wondering if maybe I need these Larroude x Markarian embroidered boots instead. Help!
CP: Like a moth to the (most expensive) flame, you know I’m going to say go for the Paris Texas ones. 🙃 This COS pair could be another contender!
RKH: Also on my fall wardrobe wish list: the Hollyhock belt with silver accents from Dehanche (I love the white!), this brown Prada shoulder bag, this workwear jacket with a leather collar, the aforementioned Burberry mini, these cat-eye Gucci sunglasses (Cait, I also think these would be so cute on you!), and the J. Crew lace trim slip skirt in blue - although I think I specifically just love how Olympia styled it in a recent Instagram post. I also would be remiss not to acknowledge the recently debuted Cult Gaia x Gap collab (go off Zac Posen!!) that sold out sooo fast. Will be keeping an eye out for the vegan suede wrap coat, brown trench and of course the logo sweatshirt and hat on resale!
Just for fun, a random grab bag of other recent saves - the Glossier chrome lighter/candle set (never not a sucker for merch), this Damson Madder x Earl of East candle, Tu Tu ‘Tun lodge in Southern Oregon (adding this to my must visit list!), the community dye bath offered by SUAY in LA, this photo of Mariska Hagartay in a gigantic leopard print puffer jacket and complementary Interview mag piece, the late Naomi Pomeroy’s new project L’Echelle, the blue Gucci pleated gown Daisy Edgar Jones wore at TIFF, and the dangle earring sets at both Haricot Vert and Dauphinette.
CP: Fall fashion is definitely top-of-mind for me too. Which means I’ve been browsing a lot of beautiful, impractical coats. I tried on this crinkled brown Dries number at the SSENSE flagship in Montreal last year and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. I also love the look of this cozy khaki teddy coat from Mango, or this chocolate leather one splurge from Soeur that I saw on the perennially chic
.As someone who, to your point, has been searching for platonic ideal black boots for years to no avail, I'm very pro loafer and mule for fall. I like the look of these St Agni woven mules for some texture, maybe with a cozy pair of socks like these $4 ones from Uniqlo. More casually, I saw Jamie Mizrahi, (stylist to Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Allen White and Riley Keough) post about these Birkenstock mules as an alt to the classic Boston clog. Aspirationally, these Miu Miu platform penny loafers would be very fun to rip around the city in.
Rounding it out with some knitwear — this creamy ivory cardigan by DISSH and this Loulou Studio chestnut brown crewneck. Both look ideal to cozy up with as the weather continues to chill.
Closed Tabs
RKH: I’m proud to say that we’ve been venturing out lately with le bebe - most recently to Duality Brewing / Astral (finally!) and am a new fan. It feels very “not Portland” aesthetically in a fun way … reminded me of a place you would find in SF. The summer melon salad was a highlight! So glad we finally got the chance to go and will definitely be back. I have also been excited to get back to slathering chemicals on my body (particularly trying the new Caudalie Vinoperfect products I mentioned in my Paris shopping recap!) and zapping myself with my NuFace.
CP: There really is something about retinol, isn’t there? Need to add Astral to my Portland map!
I’ve had a recent kick of surprisingly good food experiences, starting with shopping for the first time at Caputo’s. They’ve been around since the early 70’s, and it felt “old New York” in the best way. The staff was lovely and helped me pick a fresh pasta (pear and cheese ravioli) a sauce (sage cream) and a house-cured salami to serve that evening, along with homemade custard tarts for dessert. Pretty much as delightful as grocery shopping can get!
We also had an excellent impromptu lunch at Elvis, the newly opened French spot in Soho from the Le Dive team. It was, simply, everything I always wished Le Dive would be! Void of the Dimes Square crowd, with warm service, thoughtfully-designed interiors, great snacks (I recommend the cheese and honeycomb with tomato jam) and wines. We sat in the window during a rain storm and if you squinted hard enough to block out the trash on the sidewalk, you could *almost* believe you were in Paris. This then led to some impromptu vinyl browsing at Ergot Records, thumbing through coffee table books at Karma and the antique HAVEN that is Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks, being tempted by Italian glassware at Il Buco Vita and ogling magnum bottles of bubbles at Discovery Wines. One of those meandering New York days that remind you why you love this city (me, to me)!
In terms of recent shopping, I got the Isamaya “Rubberlash” mascara off Moda on a whim and it’s very good! I also had the chance to pop into two cool, new Brooklyn boutiques last week — Ven.Space and Shahmiri. I was really impressed by/would wear the majority of Ven.Space’s assortment, despite it being technically menswear. The comedian (and director of my favorite episode of The Bear) Ramy Youssef was also shopping there, which felt like a good endorsement. Shahmiri also opened this fall and stocks a ton of cool ceramics, independent jewelry brands and quality women’s clothes. The owner, Leah, talked me through the backstory of the artisans she buys from while I browsed — such a personal touch!
Open Books
RKH: I am very excited to read Ina’s memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, and am also intrigued by the promise of a new book (pre-order is here) from Caroline Calloway. I am excited to eventually receive my copies of the Cambridge Captions and I Am Caroline Calloway (hopefully shipping this fall? We’ll see!). In recent reads I recommend, Men have Called Her Crazy - a memoir by Anna Marie Tendler, and Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. I’m currently reading My Nemesis by Charmaine Craig and will report back on if I start to like it more than I currently do (sorry!). In honor of the season, I’m also excited to read Practical Magic! One of my very favorite movies, and I can’t believe I’ve never read the book. Also in book/Nicole Kidman news - how do we feel about the casting for the Margo’s Got Money Troubles Apple TV adaptation? I love the addition of Michelle Pfieffer and think Elle Fanning is perfect for Margo.
CP: The pitch of a product is actually what you’re buying with any CC purchase. Big yes from me on Elle joining that cast and, really, all that the Fanning sisters do. I loved Dakota’s recent cover shoot for The Cut — the Twiggy lashes, the fur coats! I’m still waiting for her yelling “this is vintage!” in The Perfect Couple to get the
meme treatment. Also interested to see how she and Elle adapt Paris Hilton’s memoir!Book wise, I picked up Scrap when at Shakespeare & Co on the Upper West Side, the second novel from the author of Other People’s Clothes. It follows an artist tasked with creating a scrapbook as a gift for a wealthy couple, one of which ends up murdered before she has completed the task. After that, I think I want to lean even further into the season (“the” being spooky) and try Black Bird Oracle, the fifth book in what I think was just supposed to be the Discovery of Witches trilogy? Not complaining at the extra content, though!
RKH: Confessions of an Heiress was one of my first “coffee table books” that I proudly displayed in my teen bedroom when it was published in 2004. I specifically will never forget the part of the book where she mentions she throws away her underwear at the end of each day - burned in my brain!
Open Obsessions
RKH: I blame my fragile mental state for this, but currently all I want to consume is fluffy pop bubblegum deliciousness when it comes to any media. I can’t get enough of Sabrina Carpenter’s new album, Moo Deng is all over my FYP, and the only TV I want to watch is the brain balm that is The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (the feminine urge to get hair extensions after binge watching …), the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders show, Emily in Paris and all of the reality realty I can get my hands on. Speaking of reality realty - I die over the story coming out of Selling Sunset’s latest season where new character Alanna Gold claims to own Pioneertown, CA. It’s so funny and so weird. Same name, dif spelling as my daughter, actually …should I tell her this is who she’s named after?
CP: Coincidence and Lie to Girls will for sure feature on my Spotify Wrapped. I’ve been drawn to “soft brain” serotonin boosts lately too, especially on Instagram. I recently found the account SubwayHands via the newsletter
. I love how such a close crop can actually tell a pretty broad story. I was also introduced to lifeonfilm.27 (t/y Jess!) where the creator gives strangers disposable cameras for the night, has them send it back and he makes a video montage of the stills. Which, yes, is basically just a lo-fi version of a reel…. BUT! It feels special since it’s made with film photos. I’m very much the target audience for this though, as a frequent Fuji Film 3 pack purchaser. I’ve also been loving Liz Plank’s “for the love of men” roundups. It’s a good reminder that for every corrupt mayor or eyeliner-wearing vice presidential hopeful, there’s also a Dad who writes an affirmation on his wife’s mirror every night for her to wake up to. Earnest and adorable!That’s all for issue #11! 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.
Y'all are so dangerous for my wallet!!! Love this. Welcome back, Rachel!