Five Things I’m Digging Right Now
Wherein I Profess My Love for Puffy Coats, Red Carpets, & Big-Box Design Stores
I thought about writing one of those In/Out lists that everyone is doing. But I started overthinking it, which kind of kills the process. So instead, I’m sharing a few things that have gotten my 2024 off to a swell start.
My new-to-me magenta sleeping bag coat. This is one of legendary designer Norma Kamali’s most iconic designs and I had wanted one for years before I finally found the person specimen last summer. I always thought I’d buy a vintage model in a practical color, like taupe or black. But after years of searching I had never found one that could justify its price. Enter The Real Real, which is equal parts my deep, deep obsession and my achilles heel. (I never mind waiting in long lines, because it means I get to check TRR to see what’s popped up on the rolling collection of clothes coming in from the designers I follow.) When this deep pink baby popped up in my Norma feed — one of the two dozen saved designer searches I have going — I had to get it. Perfect unworn condition, with tags, and priced at least 70% less than the old ones I’d found. I didn’t look back. And of course, it’s a dream — extremely warm (it made a gusty December day in Manhattan feel like springtime), very durable (judging by the number of times I’d zipped the pillowy nylon up in my fanny pack, which is also from TRR, by the way), and a total statement piece (it billows, my friends). I have at least two dozen awesome winter coats and I haven’t worn any of them yet this year. Norma wins.
Awards show season. I got rid of my old TV about five years ago, pre-renovation. The reason is simple: there isn’t an attractive place to put one in any of the appropriate rooms (I am anti TVs in the bedroom). All my wall space is taken. But last summer, I gave in and bought a cheap table-top version, anticipating the upcoming election cycle (the next ten months will be a trainwreck of a shit-show wrapped in a used diaper, but I won’t be able to look away, no matter how much my eyes burn) and, perhaps more importantly, red carpet season. I love a good fashion spectacle and the entrances at the Golden Globes, Oscars, Emmys, SAGs, et al, are very fun to watch — especially when I’m not having to review them, something I did for many years during my fashion editor past. (I’m working on a post about what that looked like. I’ll post it before the Oscars, promise.)
Wildsam magazine. I’ve been a fan of the Wildsam brand since its inception 12 years ago. That’s when I met Taylor Bruce, the absolutely fearless and incredibly talented founder of the Austin-based multi-platform travel media company, who had chosen Music City as one of the first locations in his now 57-city strong series of Wildsam field guides. Taylor got in touch to ask me to write an essay for the Nashville edition, which ended up being about the process of having my debutante dress made over 35 years ago by the iconic Nashville dressmaker, Jeanne Dudley Smith, aka the White Dress Lady. (I wrote about Jeanne for the OG Callaway Report; you can read the story here and enjoy the photos by my good friend, Caroline Allison.) Wildsam’s new namesake magazine has more of the same sort of perfectly presented content as its field guide cousins — by-the-numbers facts, maps, timelines, deep reporting, and personal essays, to name a few — but with beautiful color photography and longer reads. I spent some time with the first edition this AM and it made me ache for my next road trip, as it’s well designed to do. Bravo, Taylor! I am so proud of you! PS. Everyone, do yourself a favor and order a subscription here.
HomeGoods. As many of you know, I’m a devoted second-hand shopper. About 70% of the furniture and accessories in my home are either vintage or antique. I started shopping this way because it’s what I’d always known: my mom’s house has practically the same ratio, full of items carefully culled from antique stores, flea markets, second-hand shops, or as hand-me-downs from family. While I always prefer to buy pre-loved, I can’t resist the siren song of certain chain stores. I’m a major sucker for HomeGoods, a discount decor company that’s a sister to the fashion-driven T.J. Maxx brand. Over the years, I’ve found some amazing shit there that no one would ever believe came from a store in a strip mall. Chief among my finds: a surrealist planter with fingers shooting up the sides. It gets the most comments, with an orange “coral” table lamp that my mom keeps threatening to steal coming in second. But that’s not all! I’ve also found foot-long metal bugs that I painted black and have scattered around my patio; boldly-colored lacquer trays that I line up on coffee tables, filled with this and that;candy-colored acrylic folding chairs that are unwieldy but that I refuse to give up; and, as of last week, a pair of tall, spindly lamps with ruffled wicker shades, and what might be my favorite find yet: squat black vases with pink 3D “kisses” all over them. I may not be saving the planet by shopping here and any of the other made-in-China bargain joints I haunt (looking at you, Old Time Pottery and At Home), but the weird stuff I find at HG sure makes me happy.
Last year’s Christmas tree. It’s January 9 and it’s still up. And it will be until the first week in February, when I’m hosting an event here and need the living room space it’s taking up. I’m putting it off as long as I can: I love waking up or coming home to a twinkling tree.
PS. I am still selling my sequined balls, which I am now marketing as talismans, suited for year-round enjoyment. Check out the Story Highlights below my Instagram bio soon to see what I’m shilling, including oversized sequined hearts!
Love this post. I would LOVE to see your list of the TRR designers you follow.
I can’t wait to read more about your fashion editor days. Plus PLEASE give at least a little critique of the red carpets during awards season. Vicki
Thanks for writing! Will do.