(Halfdays, Bottega Veneta, With Jean, Buci NYC, Mirror Palais, Cult Gaia, Prada, BÉIS, Interior Icons. The gangs all here.)

CULT GAIA MERCIER MINI SHOULDER BAG

(shop the bag here)

Excuse me while I gather my thoughts. Lambskin leather with baroque stones and acrylic beads. Cult Gaia designs wearable art. I imagine a much cooler version of myself pulling an old blackberry and original flavored bubble gum out of it. Probably visiting a gallery of some sort.

PRADA ANTIQUED LEATHER PUMPS

(shop the pumps here)

A co-worker sent these to me, and was trusting ME to talk her out of them. Never. I couldn’t possibly betray her like that. I told her to check-out as fast as possible before her mind could calculate the cost-per-wear or rationalize the price in her relative currency of choice. My current currency evaluation is comparing everything to in terms of foot spa visits. These shoes, for example, would be 17 trips to the foot spa. Put in those terms, I hope I had checked out already.

BOTTEGA VENETA - COME WITH ME - EAU DE PARFUM

(shop the fragrance here)

Let’s just imagine how this stunning artifact sitting on your bathroom counter. Perhaps I would build a pedestal to set it on, and a recess light to shine directly above it.

LIÉ STUDIOS LEONORA RING

(shop the ring here)

There is nothing I am pickier about than jewelry. Most everything I wear, I don’t take off. It’s a commitment to add a ring to my hand, because it will be worn for the next five or ten years. This piece I would welcome with open hands.

INTERIOR ICONS SESANN LOUNGE CHAIR

(shop the chair here)

I’ve been on the hunt for two, deep lounge chairs for the coffee nook in our sun room. My husband and I sit in the space every morning drinking coffee, and comfort is the second most important factor when choosing furniture. Don’t let me convince you it’s more important than design. Luckily this one looks like it has both.

THE BÉIS CARRY-ON IN BURGUNDY

(shop the roller here)

I’ve worked at BÉIS for years, and have tested and tried every single SKU since 2021. This, my friends, is my favorite. The Carry-on is unmatched in comfort, function and practicality. And when you add in the Burgundy color. Game over. It’s sophisticated, more interesting than a black or a beige, and the color of my current BÉIS set. Adding this to the wishlist simply because I want to get it for my twin sister. To match, of course.

HALFDAYS ASTON JACKET IN SPRITZ

(shop the jacket here)

Do I love the cold? No. Do I love to ski? Yes. Do I love to serve and ski, at the same time? 100% absolutely, and Halfdays is the answer to looking forward to the cold.

WITH JEAN LANA TOP IN STONE, BUCI NYC SOLSTICE SKIRT, MIRROR PALAIS NIGHTCAP MINI DRESS IN NOIR

(Right to left - With Jean Lana Top, Mirror Palais Nightcap Mini Dress, and BUCI NYC Solstice Skirt)

Simple, feminine, delicate, well-crafted. Any one of these pieces would become my entire personality, I’m afraid. Shall we find out?

There you have it. A stunning list of splurges. I’ll do a round-up of my favorites under $50 next. Just wanted to manifest these first and foremost. Thank you for reading.

XX,

Paige

Tee: With Jean

Shorts: Reformation

Bikini: With Jean

Sunglasses: Balenciaga (I can’t find the exact - I bought these shopping in Tokyo and think they’re a season or so old. I linked the closest I could find).

(With Jean Tee, Reformation Shorts, With Jean Bikini, Balenciaga Sunglasses)

Day 2 Details:

Tee: CouCou Intimates

Skirt: With Jean

Bikini: Goldie Swimwear

Sunglasses: Balenciaga (I linked the closest I could find).

(CouCou Intimates Tee, With Jean Skirt, Goldie Swimwear Bikini, Balenciaga Sunglasses)

Day 3 Details:

Bikini: Attega (ON SALE!!)

Skirt: Susamusa

Sunglasses: Balenciaga (Closest I could find, love them though).

(Attega Bikini, Susamusa Skirt, Balenciaga Sunglasses)

Day 4 Details:

Tank: CouCou Intimates

Teeny Tiny Shorts: CouCou Intimates

Bikini: Last Season’s Aprés June (gone for good)

Sunglasses: Balenciaga

Journal: Cloth and Paper

(CouCou Intimates Tank and Shorts, Balenciaga Sunglasses, and Cloth and Paper Journal)

Day 5 Details:

Jersey: Ebay (linked a similar, found it on Ebay “vintage brazil jersey”)

Shorts: Tiktok Shop

Bikini: Goldie Swim

Sunglasses: Tiktok Shop

Hat: Gap

(Ebay Jersey, Tiktok Shop Sunglasses and Shorts, Goldie Swim Bikini)

There you have it, a week of beach/lake outfits. Signing off the satellite wifi has had enough.

XX,

Paige

(Bottom to top: Louise Carmen Paris, Cloth and Paper, Paper Republic)

#1. My first time.

One of my best friends, Kacie, recommended stopping into the Louise Carmen Boutique when I was in Paris. This experience kick-started my love for journals and writing my thoughts down. This is my favorite, and probably always will be.

(Louise Carmen Honore (M) in Prune, Dark Brown Cord)

Details:

From: Louise Carmen

Size: Honoré (M)

Color: Prune

Price: Starts at 151 Euros

LINK

#2. It’s never that serious.

I love this one. And it’s SO affordable. It was only $25 on tiktok shop, has space for three refills and you can really make it your own with the clear pockets. Receipts, stamps, polaroids, all can be stuffed in the front cover to give it a little personality.

(Cloth and Paper Clear Vinyl Travel Notebook)

Details:

From: Cloth & Paper

Size: A5 Slim

Color: Clear Vinyl

Price: $25

LINK

#3. You’re coming home (& everywhere) with me.

My newest addition, I found this pocket-sized Paper Republic in a stationary store in Tokyo. It’s perfect to pack into any handbag, which is why I bought it, even your evening bag should I have an observation or idea mid-cocktail. Don’t you think?

(Paper Republic Grand Voyager - Pocket Sized - Red)

Details:

From: Paper Republic

Size: Pocket

Color: Red

Price: $68

LINK

That’s all she wrote. For now.

I hope you’re inspired to build a journal collection of your own, its the one material item that has brought me more than I ever hoped. Truthfully, you may not need a collection, but perhaps one to fill with all the wonderful thoughts in you head.

(Bag is Songmont, glasses are Elisa Johnson, journals are the loves of my life)

What am I writing? Maybe my next substack. Maybe my next book. Stay tuned.

XX,

Pea

Mind you, these are specifically tailored to my taste, which borderlines struggling-artist-meets-cereal-schmiller.

I do, however, think it’s quite good.

None of these links are commission based or paid partnerships, I’ve spent my own money on all of these bad boys. The brands aren’t familiar with my game. Yet.

#1. Miu Miu A50S

We can all agree Miu Miu eyewear has taken the world by storm this year. These 90s-inspired, very lightly tinted sunnies have been my LOOK this past summer. I think they’re a splurge as a statement piece, but if you’re looking to complete a very special outfit (for a festival per se), they’re unmatched.

LINK

#2. The Selinas in Dark Tortoise by Rendel Paris.

I found these while shopping in Le Marais during Paris Fashion Week with my boss. These are my most worn, most loved, and top recommendation for everyday use.

LINK

#3. The Slim in Ruby by Easton Marley.

The newest addition to my collection - I’ve had these for less than 24 hours, and they’re my new personality. I love the pop of color, the size of the frame, the delicate design. Thinking of getting the matching tortoise ones as well.

LINK

#4. The Jane in Silver Metal by Elisa Johnson.

They retail at $145 - but you get a welcome 20% off code so they’re like… basically free.

LINK

May this love letter to the four-eye community find you. It’s for everyone, even those with 20/20 vision. I envy you, I see you (with my contacts in), and I hope you found a pair to make you look like the intellectual baddie you are.

Xx,

Paige

Back in high school, my dad would drive my sister and I over an hour each way to practice. A lot of quality time heading to and from training. For us, a lot of quality brainstorming. See, I was raised by the most creative man in the world, and what better way to spend a drive than to plot movies.

His ideas were already half-baked. Notes scribbled on his bedside table in the middle of the night, finished in the morning, shared on the evening drive into the city.

I love his mind, every part of it. And the fact he would share these fresh ideas with my sister and I, letting us build on them. It was a certain kind of creative freedom I’ve looked for ever since.

His favorite still is that of a giant, a pre-historic beast thawing in the antarctic, quickly becoming the target of militaries around the world. But, as the earth panicked, the giant tried to warn them. His resurrection was not to ruin the world as they thought - but to save it. A safety measure for global warming. He would rise and his arrival alone could save them all.

My favorite was another.

A story that has swam through my mind, and visited every corner of my notes app since I was 17. One whose scenes have been written and re-written countless times. A story of love, and loss, and a life bigger than ourselves. A question of ethics, and a scientist who dares to play god. It’s becoming this thing, this growing, breathing thing, and I can feel it creeping out of the shadows. It needs to be let out. So I’ll let it out, I’ll let it live.

I have this feeling the world has been looking for it.

xx,

Paige