Am I getting old or are the mall-label mom brands of my youth starting to look really good lately?
We need to have a talk about Soft Surroundings, which has long been in the Chico’s-adjacent category for me (read: meant for someone’s aunt, and I am too young and sexy to fall in to that category). I fear that I have fallen for Soft Surroundings recently. Not only is some of it good-looking, design-wise, it is wildly inexpensive on the secondhand sites.
I rounded up a few pieces I found that I really like below, and the most expensive is $40.
Also in this week’s letter: my current skincare routine, which I came to as a result of developing a terrible rash from using hydroquinone to lighten dark spots (!!) and some cute Halloween decor that isn’t cheesy.
PS. Is anyone going to Braderie South next weekend at the Jekyll Island Club? I’ll be there and I’m so excited! It’s a weekend of vintage shopping and fun events — what could be better?
xx,
VC
Secondhand Soft Surroundings pieces that I would have thought were designer: cheongsam style jacket, $26 // cargo pants, $13 // belted cardigan, $16 // plaid coat, $40
I tried hydroquinone for a stubborn dark spot on my cheek about two months ago, and it nearly wrecked me. Made my entire face turn red, then turn dry, then break out. I then filtered my products down to the most gentle, using this $18 ultra-gentle face wash, and this $20 barrier repair moisturizer for about two weeks. That got my skin completely back to normal. Now, my skincare routine is doing all the work it needs to: I still use the $18 face wash morning and night, this $28 vitamin C serum in the morning to lighten any dark spots, tinted moisturizing spf serum in the AM. At night: I wash my face, then use this essence and serum combo on clean skin.
I found you some under-$100 vintage bags:
Plus, one that’s not under $100 (it’s $324) but oh my god is it good.
A recent and very delicious, no-cook lunch I made by simply combining:
One tin tuna in spicy olive oil (I don’t drain it)
One can drained cannelini beans
A handful of chopped smoked olives
Chopped parsley
Chopped red onion
Zest and juice of a lemon
Dressing: In a blender, I mix about 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/8 cup champagne vinegar, one tablespoon dijon mustard, one shallot, zest and juice of one orange, a spoonful of jam or some sort of fruity spread (I used blood orange), salt, pepper
When I redid my kitchen, one of my non-negotiables was a drawer that fits both trash and recycling in two seperate containers. I realize not everyone has the space for that so when I saw this Caraway trash can duo I thought, “ahhhh genius!” and “I would have loved this in my old home!” If you keep your trash can in the laundry room or pantry or something, this would make trash/recycling sorting really easy.
Currently in my nightstand: this really wonderful lip balm, which goes on so nicely and stays on all night long.
Something I’ve been wearing a lot lately: this raglan tee! It’s made of hemp, one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics available, and wildly soft. It also looks so similar to the $120 Leset tee that all the Substack girls are wearing and it’s a lot less expensive. I will do a roundup of recent outfits soon here on Substack, I promise!
It is so disgustingly hot and humid that I have started to really crave fall in a weird way. I ordered this skeleton door mat as a way to celebrate the Halloween season and had a hard time choosing because some of these mats are really cute and less cheesy than most holiday decor! (Code Virginia10 gets you 10% off anything, btw.)
T shirt looks amaze and the gloss. I’ll look into those products. Melasma girly and I’ve tried a lot. You glow, I’ll give remedy a try. Also heavy on the chicos mall brands and still being sexy