There are a few new folks here so if you are one of them, welcome! This is À La Carte, a newsletter about finding the pleasure in creativity and its many forms. And I’m Ali, a creative director and strategist based in sunny (currently sweltering) Los Angeles. À La Carte was born from my quest to live a life of abundant inspiration, so each week I share a suggestion to foster creativity, a personal recommendation for something I love, and an artist who I’d like to introduce you to. I also share monthly mood boards, themed product round-ups, interviews with people I think are cool, and more.
This week’s 3 things are all a little romantic — as I’m writing this there’s a golden ray of light shining through my window and I literally just saw a butterfly pass through it, so that might explain it.
Creative suggestion: Do you ever notice a serendipitous moment when the colors you stumble on in any given situation seem to harmoniously work together? Jenny Walton calls it #colorpaletting and says it’s most satisfying when it happens by chance (like, when the dress you’re wearing matches the snack you’re eating or the book you’re reading looks really good on the cafe table at which you’re sitting.) Jenny wrote a newsletter for her paid subscribers a few weeks ago about the concept of color paletting — she describes how it’s about stopping and noticing the things around you as you move through the world. Which is kind of what I’m always saying, right?
(Side note: if you love fashion or miss the fun of the early 2000s influencer era, you’ll probably love Jenny’s newsletter Jenny Sais Quoi — it’s very bloggy in a good way.)
I’d even take it one step further to say that there’s all kinds of paletting that’s happening around us, like pattern paletting and shape paletting! I started to look through my camera roll for paletting moments I might have stumbled on in the past, but the rule that it has to be serendipitous and unplanned to count made me realize that I’m not in the habit of capturing those happenstances as much as I’d like to be. I’m always taking photos of things in good color palettes, but they’ve been chosen to work together on purpose, so I’d like to get better about seeing and noting the random ones, too. Here’s what I did find:
I’m going to commit to keeping an eye out for them and I’ll report back. I’d love to see if you find anything, too!
Personal recommendation: Speaking of other people’s newsletters, my friend (and former client!) Hillary Justin of Bliss And Mischief just launched her own called Nothing Lasts for Long. If you’re someone who likes shopping and fashion but also wrestles with the ethical and ecological downsides of loving *stuff*, this is the newsletter for you. Hillary is truly an expert when it comes to vintage — she’s a professional vintage buyer and has worked in the fashion space for 20 years — and her newsletter explores the world of collecting, mending, searching, and buying. Working with Hillary was such a pleasure and I learned a lot from her in the process, so I’m excited for you all to get to know her too.
One of the things I’m most looking forward to on NLfL is the Denim Doula column, where Hillary will share her insight to finding the perfect pair of vintage jeans. She’s helped tons of people hunt down a pair that works for their body and identify what types of alterations will make them a pair worth keeping for life. I’m really looking forward to soaking up all of her knowledge to take with me on my own denim journey.
Knowing Hillary I have no doubt that Nothing Lasts for Long will be thoughtful, intentional, and educational, so subscribe (especially while it’s still free to everyone!) to get a taste. Take a peek at Bliss And Mischief while you’re at it…their bedding and loungewear (which is on sale right now!) is *chef’s kiss* and you KNOW that’s where I’m the pickiest.
Person to know: New Delhi-based photographer Imdad Barbhuyan. Barbhuyan creates beautiful images inspired by poetry, memory, and nature — his dream-like portraits and sculptural still lifes are just magical. Really, they speak for themselves.
He sells custom prints from a separate Instagram account called @a_portrait_of_you — I’m hoping to order a really big one and will show you when I do!
Follow Imdad Barbhuyan on Instagram here and view more of his work on his website.
Before we go, I wanted to point out that this month I’m donating a portion of paid subscriber proceeds to the National Network of Abortion Funds. Women in this country are fighting every day for body autonomy and their right to unbiased and compassionate healthcare and the NNAF works hard to get assistance to those who need it.
I’ll see paid subscribers back here next week for a new Side Order round-up and I can confidently say you guys are going to like this one. Until then, enjoy your weekend!
x
Ali
In case you missed it:
We wrapped up August with a breakfast-themed mood board newsletter, including some notes on the different types of themes I like to play with when I make mood boards!
Paid subscribers got an in depth analysis of how The Sound of Music is the gift that keeps on giving (and I shared a store I love for home and apparel items that feels very Von Trapp.)
Paid subscribers and I also got real about our creative insecurities and what to do about them.
thanks as always for the most excellent finds!
I love the idea of color palleting! Gonna keep an eye out this week