Suede Totes, Upstate Hotels and Game-Changing Skincare

With Nora Varcho, Death & Co Marketing Director!

Hi friends, 

For our second guest edit, I’m so excited to be featuring Nora Varcho. Nora is the creative mind behind one of the best cocktail bars in the country (Death & Company), an incredible photographer and one of my favorite people to share a meal/Taylor Swift conspiracy theory with. She has excellent taste in all things and has generously agreed to share it with us.

Enjoy! 

Cait 

Open Tabs 

CP: This could just be a transcript of our recent conversations, since you’re one of the first people I’ll text an “open tab” to, but I’d love to hear what you’re shopping for lately? Maybe a Virgo-season birthday present from you, to you?

I hate to say it but I've started thinking about how to gently phase out my beloved summer stuff. This pic from the 90s of Tori Spelling with Shannon Doherty reminded me of the time-tested transitional wardrobe formula of pairing floaty, feminine things with leather, vintage things to form a balance. This Doen top is an ideal candidate, but something sub $30 like this is very much in the same vein. Or, could do a slip dress like this layered with something like this vintage leather jacket as we ease into fall. 

NV: Shall we share a screenshot of our iMessage links to each other? The people need to see the frequency with which we share our fashion finds. 

As you mentioned, I’m a September birthday — and yes, in true Virgo fashion, I’ve already bought myself a gift, so this might actually be my “closed tab.” After a nail appointment at Vanity Projects last month, I innocently stopped into Seven Wonders Collective, a well-curated shop on the Lower East Side. Famously not a good vintage shopper, I was shocked to find a pair of near-perfect condition, patent leather heeled Prada Spazzolato oxfords. I’ve been looking for a versatile fall shoe, and these fit the bill. My first Prada, plus, they were 20% off! 

Needless to say, that simultaneously intensified my fall shopping itch and drained my fall shopping budget. Next up on my list: a perfect pair of dark, ankle-length denim (to sport the oxfords!); a brown suede tote like this one from Aesther Ekme or this more reasonably-priced version from Madewell; a knee-high boot either from Reformation or Dolce Vita; and my first-ever blazer (considering this one on sale from Banana Republic). “All capsule-wardrobe essentials,” I justify to myself.

CP: Very justified! Aesther Ekme bags are incredibly tempting to me too. I’ve had my eye on this one for a while. In a similar shape, this bag and this bag both in cream feel like they could add a fresh element to an otherwise tonal outfit. This light tan suede tote is another beaut.

Are there any restaurants or trips you’re looking to book? I’m ready for the seasonal shift — I want to get a crueler from Little Egg, a hot (!) coffee at the newly opened Purslane Boat House in Prospect Park and to book a night or two at The Henson, the new hotel upstate from the team behind Wildair. In my dream world, I’d pack this cozy teddy cardigan, this country coat or this suede trench for that excursion. This vintage velvet wrap top would be fun to throw on for dinner at Matilda, the hotel restaurant. I also was just reading about the new Andrew Tarlow opening, Borgo. As a Roman’s loyalist, I’m curious to see if that hospitality group can extend their Brooklyn sensibilities to that very Hillstone-adjacent part of Manhattan.

NV: I’m joining you for the Henson trip! 

I just sent Cait a plaintive text about my midweek birthday dinner — where to have it, where feels right, where to ring in a new year? Part of my request was to dine in an area I’d like to manifest living in, so we’re thinking either The Long Island Bar for burgers and martinis or Saint Julivert for elevated seafood. The non-negotiable is the cake from Bar Bete afterwards, with a candle to blow out! I’m secretly hoping for a surprise reservation at one of my favorites like Rosella or Ops and either pre- or post-dinner wine at Rhodora, but I’d also love to try Theodora or Montague Diner. 

Don’t ask about a birthday outfit, I haven’t even thought about it yet! Any suggestions?

CP: Sounds like an opportunity for the oxfords to make their debut!

Closed Tabs

CP: What are some good meals you’ve had lately? Or, any recent purchases that really wowed you? 

As you know, since I gave you essentially a senior thesis on how they fully wiped their social channels and started again, I’ve become a big Isla Beauty believer. I started following the brand’s founder and after enough persuasive IG ads, finally caved and bought the elixr. The combo of incorporating that toner and switching out my sunscreen to this $14 K-beauty one has made my skin feel so much stronger and dare I say, my barrier healed?? Isla’s philosophy of pared back, essential products only reminds me of a post by Erika Veurink of Long Live (a great newsletter about second-hand fashion) centered on “good enough skin.” Erika’s perspective is always refreshing and her mantra to “view everything as a test of your ability to relax and be nice” is a quote I often reference/aspire to. So, it’s not shocking that her take on skin is equally as spot-on. Lastly, I snagged the new Ilia big lip pencil in the shade Piazza (which I can’t not hear as Dave Chapelle saying it in You’ve Got Mail) and am really pleased with how easily it glides on.

Meal-wise, the most standout lately was our dinner at Bar Bête! From the ham and melon to the aforementioned cake — everything (minus the bees that also wanted our food) was excellent. I had another impressive ham dish at the Shy’s x Mimi pop-up the following night — mortadella with hot honey on top of potato chips. Ideal snack to have on the side of a Cynar spritz!

NV: I just returned from a week in Cleveland, my hometown, which has only gotten cooler since I left for college 10 (!) years ago. We had fantastic meals at Amba (a sexy Indian spot that feels like a big-city transplant), Cent’s (pizza and natural wine and merch!), and Patron Saint (an all-day cafe with my ideal breakfast). Great cocktails were had at LBM, a viking-themed bar — yes, really — and Pins & Needles, a 70s-themed bar in the basement of my favorite bowling alley, Mahall’s. My favorite coffee ever is the Promised Land latte at Rising Star in Hingetown, followed by a cheesecake to go from Larder. 

On the non-food front, I ordered this Eadem cleanser on a whim during a work trip in Denver where I was without my trusted Cetaphil, and am so impressed at how well it removes makeup, sweat, the day’s dirt, etc. I’m obsessed with the Ole Henrickson lip treatment and apparently so is TikTok, because it keeps selling out, which is unfortunate since I accidentally forgot mine on said Denver work trip. I’ve been mixing my Tower 28 skin tint with the Saie Sunglow gel as my summer foundation, and I love that I didn’t need to buy a whole new tint for one season. Finally, I’d be remiss not to mention my favorite monthly treat, a facial at Sofie Pavitt Studios. I swear by all of their products and Ashley has completely changed my skin. I had to skip my July appointment and cannot WAIT to be back this week. 

CP: Sophie really knew what she was doing with that mandelic serum! Strong agree.

Open Books

CP: Have you picked up any good books or magazines recently? 

Described as “succession meets Greek mythology” Fruit of the Dead might have to be my final summer-y read. I’ve also been saving the third Crescent City book to dive into on a flight home to Oregon in a couple weeks. It’s the only Sarah J Mass book I need to complete the cinematic universe, so I’ve been saving it for when I can get really immersed. I also added the memoir Language of Baklava about a Jordanian family and their relationship with food to my to-be-read list, along with The Absolutes, about an American woman in a dangerous relationship with an Italian aristocrat.  

NV: After reading Priestdaddy earlier this year, which is by far my favorite book of late, I just grabbed Patricia Lockwood’s No One Is Talking About This. Wow, it got sad FAST, but I absolutely love her writing. My “beach read” of the season was Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, about a summer stock theater in Michigan and the story its protagonist tells her daughters. It was sweet, nostalgic, and very well done — highly recommend. A literary friend of mine just sent me a tailored list of books to pick up next, so I’m excited to dive into her suggestions. 

Open Obsessions

CP: Lastly, what’s something that has been taking up space in your brain lately? 

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this true story that My Favorite Murder covered, which was also made into a Netflix documentary called Long Shot. The jist is a man was wrongfully charged with murder and put on death row. But (spoiler!) the case was eventually thrown out because he happened to be in the background of a scene on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The time of filming at Dodger Stadium became his alibi and exonerated him from the crime. A Hollywood miracle!

NV: Underwhelmed by new TV, I returned to an old favorite for my evening viewing: Better Things, created by and starring Pamela Adlon. To steal Patricia Lockwood’s phrase, no one is talking about this! Though it ended a while ago and did get great reviews, I consider it highly underrated. It’s nearly impossible to describe in a way that does the show justice, but it’s touching, irreverent, hilarious, heart-wrenching, and more. Start from the beginning, of course, but if you need a sneak peek watch this clip from the season 2 finale. Trust me! 

That’s all for Nora’s guest issue!  To see more of what we talked about, check out our Instagram @opentabsletter or shop all of our issues here.