Little Nuggets: Travel-Friendly Goodies and the Non-Alcoholic Drinks I Love
Little tidbits from around the internet - mom edition.
Back again! Here are some weird/fun/useful things I’m enjoying lately.
SUPER SMALLS BEADING KIT
Back in the day, I worked with the most beautiful woman alive, Maria Dueñas Jacobs at Glamour, and we were market editors/pals together and she was/is great. Now, she’s out of the mag biz, and on to Super Smalls, where she took her love of jewelry and translated it into something her kids could enjoy too. (As the former Accessories Director of Elle, MDJ has an unreal fine jewelry collection and the legend goes that her kids were always playing with the good stuff, so she made a brand, Super Smalls, to replicate that kind of things that she had just in kid-friendly versions.) Anyway, the latest from the brand is this Entrepreneur Bead Kit, which sets your kids up to make beaded bracelets and necklaces and then start their own little business with them. Very cute, and more original than a lemonaid stand! You can also have your gal pals over after your kids go down and have a little party making each other friendship bracelets and anklets while you watch Love Island. Super Smalls
A CHIC SANDAL WITH ARCH SUPPORT
In my personal styling work (book a session with me to go through what you already have here, or a one on one video consult here), one of the things I get asked for most is a great sandal with arch support, that you can walk in forever and isn’t a Birkenstock. I almost always recommend this one from A. Emery, which has everything you could want in a comfortable, supportive shoe that’s great for travel, and isn’t A) hideous or B) ubiquitous. I LOVE this shoe, and it also comes in a million colors. Winner. A.Emery
ANOTHER TRAVEL-FRIENDLY PICK
Another request I get - which is more general - is for packing edits, and I always try and incorporate pieces that can be worn in many contexts, especially when traveling with kids (you have to pack so much shit for them, you hardly want to bring anything for yourself) and a little bag like this is perfect for that. I love the black canvas with black raffia combination, and it’s an elegant little bucket bag that’s great for toodling around all day, but then it works equally as well for a dressier night out (may we all be so lucky to get a dressy night out while on vacation…) Cesta Collective
A DRESS YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN
I’m really on a roll here with the packing ideas, but here’s another great dress for that - you can wear this one without a belt for a tent-like, very billowy look (great for over a swimsuit at the beach), with the matching red belt for something more casual during the day (unbutton the top couple of buttons to let the gals peep out), or with a smart leather belt in the evening to dress it up (my favorites are from here). OR!!!!! With a giant cotton sweater over it or over your shoulders or around the waist, and on and on and on. Doen
BOYS SHORTS I DON’T HATE
I hate shopping for shorts the way some people hate shopping for jeans. I just can’t find any that I like for myself or for my kids. I especially hate boy’s shorts because I feel they either go very BRO (like, board shorts, etc) or very BANKER (like little boys dressed up as their dads…weird). But these are just very sweet, child-like without being twee, nicely made shorts that kids can roll around on the floor in. I bought my son two pairs and now that they’re on sale I’m stocking up on a few more. J.Crew
A GREAT RESOURCE FOR ALCOHOL-FREE DRINKS
Since my post earlier this week on sobriety, I’ve heard from SO MANY PEOPLE sooooo many people about how they also either don’t drink or got sober (IYKYK there’s a difference), and I’ve also noticed that alcohol is way less a part of most social interactions than I previously believed it to be. Nevertheless, it does get boring just drinking seltzer all the time, and I have started dipping a toe into the non-alc world of tasty bevs. Of course I love Ghia, and Kin, but I found this website, Bardelia, that’s kind of like the Net-A-Porter of non-alcoholic spirits, etc. There’s a rum substitute that I weirdly really like, wines, tequilas, beers….. you name it. I honestly don’t really think of any of these so much as a trick myself into thinking this is a regular drink but more of a new category of flavors to try. I dig it. AND the code LAUREL15 will get you 15% off. Bardelia
THE CUTEST LITTLE GIRL SWIMSUIT OF ALL TIME
We go to the beach more or less every weekend and/or to a friend’s to swim, and every time, someone ooh’s over Phoebe’s swimsuit, because it truly is the cutest thing on the planet. She wears these from Minnow, and they have a bow in the back, and little ruffles at the hips, and they’re very New England fancy but I just like melt and die and want to squeeze phoebe into my mouth whenever I see her wearing hers. They also last like crazy - she has a couple from two years ago that she still wears, and I don’t know what else to say about them except they’re perfect. Minnow
AN INSANELY CHIC CAFTAN
Can yee believe this is Banana Republic? Not an ad! Just genuine surprise! I fucking love this thing. It looks like a million bucks…and yet… is not (it’s $180). Here’s another thing you can wear practically anywhere - belted it becomes fancy. Banana Republic
And there we have it friends! I might take a break next week…but also I might not. We’ll see. In any case, see you soon.
Your friend,
Laurel
Laurel, such a of your newsletter. I saw your pick for the easy to wear anywhere dress and I want to selfishly plug another dress. I’ve designed a machine washable and wrinkle resistant dress I’m launching in a few weeks that I also think fits this bill. A-lined, super classic and easy to dress up and down. Plus that it’s what I’ve been wear testing non stop as a toddler mom. :)
Launching in a few colors on preorder only. You can check it out here: https://sloansymington.com/products/twirl-dress
Sincerely, a huge fan of what you’re doing here.
Sloan
Do my eyes deceive me or is that also Jessica Stam for BR? Gorgeous caftan and love the Doen dress :)