The June Specials: Shoes, Bags, and Anxiety Accessories
Plus, a refrigerator that is, dare I say, stunning
Real quick, before I dive into a bunch of frivolous content, I just wanted to acknowledge the cruel and depraved mass deportations taking place here in Los Angeles and throughout the rest of the country. All week, we’ve heard stories of immigrant members of our community being torn from their families, detained without due process, and living in fear of going to work or taking the bus. I’m proud to live in a city that repeatedly bands together to protect and stand up for each other, and I hope you’ll join me in donating to organizations doing important work on the ground (the National Day Laborer Organizing Network’s Immigrant Defense Fund is a great one), reporting sightings of ICE officers around the city, and making sure your friends, coworkers, and neighbors know their rights.
Now, on to June’s Specials, a list of things I’ve been collecting this month to share with you.
A HOME TOUR, BUT ART
A couple of weeks ago, I went to a screening of several Eames short films hosted by the Charles & Ray Eames Foundation at the Philosophical Research Society here in LA. (Fun fact: the evening was curated by my pal
of ) Many of you are probably familiar with the Eames’ 1977 film Powers of Ten, which was on the menu that evening, but one I hadn’t seen that has stuck with me since is House: After Five Years of Living. Charles shot a series of still images of his and Ray’s house and studio between 1949 and 1955, and the 11-minute video (set to music composed by Elmer Bernstein) is a time capsule presentation of those images.
I keep thinking about how lucky the Eames’ living friends and family are to have this to watch back, a sort of dreamlike documentation of the tiniest details in the spaces Charles and Ray spent the most time in. Wouldn’t you love to have a film like this of your grandparents’ house, or the house you grew up in, or some other place that is special to you? It makes me want to start capturing all of the little details in my own house…
You can watch House: After Five Years of Living here.
ON THE WISH LIST
Remember the shoe brand Marais? Marais had a chokehold on every girl in Los Angeles from maybe 2015-ish to when it closed in 2019, and I was no exception—I had quite a collection of their popular Jardin heels. My favorites were a pair in white patent leather, and I managed to hang onto them all this time, resoling and repairing them over and over until, just a couple of weeks ago, I decided they had seen their final days. So now, begrudgingly, I’m on the hunt for their replacement.
Ideally, I’d find something that’s a 2’’-3’’ block heel (not a kitten heel, not a tapered heel), white patent leather, with some sort of buckle. So far, my top contender is Macguire’s Marbella Mary Jane, a close-toed, cream-colored cousin of the Jardin… What do you think?
(If someone reading this tracks down a new or very gently worn pair of the original Marais Jardin in white patent leather in a size 7.5 or 8, I’ll give you a paid subscription to À La Carte as a reward!)
I’M STILL IN THE SHOE DEPARTMENT
’s has been adding a single shoe charm to her shoes lately, and I fear I must now copy her.
IS THE REFRIGERATOR RUNNING?
No, but I’m running to the refrigerator—specifically, Matilda Goad’s custom fridge by Blockhouse Build. Have you ever seen such a stunning food storage solution?! The built-in bar cabinet! The glassware compartment! The little nickel knobs! Never have I ever loved an appliance like I do this one.
BURN BABY BURN
Edie Parker, a brand known for its accessories that sit at the intersection of cannabis and fashion, has truly innovated in the handbag space with its Burn Shoulder Bag. At first glance it’s just a little classic, ‘60s-inspired number that comes in a variety of cute colors, but wait—what is that silver piece of hardware on the side? Oh, no big deal, it’s just a *retractable lighter holder*. Snap your BIC lighter right into the holder and voilà—instant party trick. I’ll be using mine to light candles, should I ever need to on the go.
(The brand also just collaborated with Wes Anderson’s new film on a bunch of bejeweled products that are really, really fun. Interesting to see films collaborating with brands in this way!)
YET ANOTHER GENIUS PIECE OF DESIGN
I know that TikTok has found my algorithmic sweet spot at the intersection of furniture design and anxiety management because a video of a chair designed for self-soothing made its way to my FYP last week. The chair, designed by Brooklyn-based designer Tanuvi Hegde, is part of the collection Exhibit (A): Furniture for the Anxious Being, which explores the ways touch, sound, and motion can act as a therapeutic tool for those of us who compulsively need something to fidget with. You’ll have to watch the video, but essentially, the chair’s structure includes a channel through which a steel ball bearing can be rhythmically pushed back and forth from side to side. As someone who is constantly tearing paper into tiny shreds or clicking a pen cap on and off while on calls, I could absolutely see myself finding a bit of peace while fidgeting in this chair.
AND WHILE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ANXIETY
Or headaches, or allergies, or anything else you might take a regular pill for, check out this glorious sterling silver pillbox charm, a collaboration between Monbouquette Jewelry and nicotine replacement therapy brand Jones. Kind of brilliant, right? I need one to hold all my little Excedrine Migraine friends.
ON THE TOP SHELF
If you’ve also got ultra-dry, sensitive skin and have bought and liked something I’ve recommended before, I might have a product for you.
I use a vitamin C serum daily (Ursa Major’s, which I like a lot!), but I didn’t feel like I was seeing a ton of progress when it comes to reversing sun damage, which is my primary skincare concern. Mother Science’s Molecular Hero Serum has been lauded as a good alternative (or companion) to vitamin C thanks to the ingredient Malassezin, and while this is where my “research” ended (a chemist I am not), I read enough to convince me to reach out to Mother Science to see if they’d be open to sending me a bottle. (It doesn’t hurt to ask!!!)
They did, and I love it. I’ve been continuing to use the Ursa Major serum in the morning but have added the Mother Science serum in at night for a few weeks now, and, especially in the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen a pretty dramatic change in my dark spots and scars. I haven’t changed anything else about my routine—I get a facial every other month, but that’s it—so I think it’s fair to thank Mother Science for the boost.
I asked if they’d be open to making a code for any of you who might want to try it—for 15% off, enter ALI15 at checkout. If you end up trying it, let me know what you think! I’d love to find a little support group of other sensitive-skinned folks to trade secrets with.
AND FINALLY, A MOOD ASSESSMENT
x
Ali
Brand Snack: Dou So
Snacks are short-form, midweek drops featuring brands I just discovered, shops I stumbled onto, artists I think you’ll love… little odes to the things I find that I’m sending straight over to you.
You’re Invited to a Patio Mixer
For you lucky ones with backyard pools, I’ve found the chicest acrylic wine glasses and pool towels out there. For those heading to the beach, I’ve tracked down a very cute beach blanket that has a hole in the center for an umbrella. For those of us trying to make the most out of our apartment patios, I’ve pulled a couple of *chef’s kiss* pieces of outdoor furniture, plus lots of little serving vessels for the snacks you’ll serve atop them. From park picnics to dinner parties to rooftop drinks, I’ve found something that elevates the experience of eating outside.
I'm Declaring It a Sidewalk Café Summer
Let’s set the scene.
You’re sitting on the sidewalk in front of your favorite neighborhood spot for a drink and a snack. The sun is hanging a little low in the sky, hitting everything with a hazy golden light. Brightly covered café tables are strewn with spritzes and cappuccinos and bowls of olives and ceramic ashtrays. (I don’t smoke, but we’re establishing a vibe here.) The sound of clinking glasses and bursts of laughter can be heard over a soundtrack of songs that feel like a vacation.
Thanks Ali for providing resources to help here in LA. As a newer Angeleno, I found your perspective & leadership so helpful earlier this year, during the fires.
This is unimaginably heartbreaking to experience & I appreciate having a way to help 💔
OMG the rosette shoe charm, I need to know where to find these!