Hello ! This month has already felt full (of plans, deadlines, and emotional/creative expansion). And with lots more goodness to come (travel, weddings, quality time) I want to be sure I’m really present for it all, and that I take time to appreciate what’s been stoking my fire.
Which brings me to today’s post. I’ve been inspired lately, and want to share a few bits n bobs of what I’ve been into: everything from movies to fashion to flowers.
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This Arch Digest Open Door home tour. The delightful home belongs to Adwoa Aboah — a British model, actress, and activist (with amazing style) — and everything about her and her space is chic, with a bit of whimsy. I deeply resonate with her dining room-turned-museum-of-her-life; her kitchen and garden elicit dreams of hosting friends over summertime food and drinks; her one-of-a-kind bathroom is a gorgeous combination of regal, coquettish, and sensual; and her bedroom reminds me of a vibey hotel room (in the best way), kinda like the one we stayed in at New Orlean’s Pontchartrain Hotel last month.
1:1 / :2 / :3 time with friends. ‘Cause the besties sure know how to bestie !!! Nothin’ like quality time with close friends. I’ve always felt more comfortable during 1:1 time or small gatherings, when we can hear and see each other more intimately, and have more time to settle in and open up. I feel so seen and known and held by friends who welcome deep reflections, vulnerable questions, strange curiosities, and even banal musings. Even better when we can laugh our asses off and be silly. Better yet when we can dance it out (see below).
Building outfits. I’ve been so damn ENERGIZED getting dressed lately, feeling like myself in my outward expression. (I’m even posting some of my outfits here.) Beyond styling myself, I’ve also been fascinated with the rhythm and history of fashion and style, in all their parts. So much is rooted in self expression through clothes and I’ve enjoyed exploring it as an art form and intuitive practice.
(I talk a lil’ more about that below, on the Jake and Jones Instagram series “Staff Picks,” where I was recently featured. I work there part time :-P )It’s been fun tapping into my emotions each time I get dressed, deciding who I want to be and what will take me to that embodiment. I especially love when choosing an outfit feels obvious and effortless, low stakes, even. There’s a cool confidence I feel when I decide I’m wearing this or that and am not really bothered by how people might interpret the ensemble. It’s further proof that style isn’t just about clothes or accessories; so much of it is YOU wearing the outfit, not the other way around. *More on all of this later…
Speaking of outfits, I recently rewatched Johnny Tsunami and loved it. It had just the right amount of Disney Channel cheesiness and early aughts nostalgia. And the costumes for Johnny’s grandpa — the original Johnny Tsunami surf legend —were straight fire 🔥🔥🔥
Back home in Hawaii, Johnny and his grandpa wore mostly swim trunks and Hawaiian shirts. Once Johnny made the move with his parents to Vermont (for his dad’s job), he was relegated to snow gear and a stuffy private school uniform.
But when grandpa Johnny came to visit, he brought the damn heat! Check out his arriving-to-Vermont fit below: a classic combo of army green and suede over medium-wash jeans, with a bright orange Hawaiian shirt tying it all together. Effortlessly cool. He was glowing.
One of my fave pieces of his wardrobe: this Oakley beret — he absolutely popped OFF with it 💯💯💯 !!! Cody noticed it before I did, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
Lil’ Yachty’s “drive ME crazy!” The last (and only) time I heard Lil’ Yachty was years ago on DRAM’s bop “Broccoli.” Then, in the car, Cody puts “drive ME crazy!” on. It is very much a pleasant, windows down-and-vibing song. Anyway, we’re driving and I’m head bobbing to Diana Gordon’s dreamy-light vocals, and I turn to see who’s song it is and, gotta say, I was shocked to see Yachty’s name. That’s right when his accompanying vocals come in for the chorus, and then he’s off singing his own verse. Beautiful and sweet.
Turns out, “drive ME crazy!” and the album it’s on (Let’s Start Here) are departures from Yachty’s previous work as a mumble rapper and maker of “bubble gum trap,” which is how he has described his music and is a concept I LOVE. He clearly appreciates melding genres, and experimented with psychedelic rock, soul, funk, and alternative sounds on this project.
I love seeing artists evolve and experiment — fearlessly trying new things, stretching their talents, and chasing their curiosities. Intuition in practice, I say. Reminds me of Dominican artist mediopicky, whose song “Tu Te Ta” combines metal guitar riffs and dembow-adjacent (or fully dembow? lemme know!) drums. También there’s Esty, Dominican-American, whose “my lil popi” is another super-fun (and lyrically funny) example of a fresh sound — in this case goth-urbano meets my little pony.June Street Floral’s flower wearables. A perfect example of something that excited me as soon as I saw it. Maybe you hear “flower wearables” and instantly think of flower crowns, which, yes! But I had never seen hyacinth hoop earrings before, or a flamingo lily bolo tie (below). Just masterful. Pure ingenuity.
Jenny, one of my longest and dearest friends and the mastermind behind June Street Floral, has always had creative talents that surprise and inspire. Another favorite project of hers? Last year, she created thoughtful flower arrangements to express each of the 7 chakras, in a series starting with the root chakra. I recommend reading here if you’re in need of an inspiration boost💥
Okay — that’s all for now. How about you? What’s been giving you life these days? Lemme know.
Thanks for reading. And see ya next time!!