four satisfying color combos to save for inspo
+ how i trim my bangs, baguette sandwiches, vintage top review
Good morning!
Today’s post is sponsored by Calomel, a small Buenos Aires-based brand that makes lounge basics and swimwear in elegant, simple cuts. Last year, I wrote about phasing out synthetics in my underwear drawer and ordered six of their colorful cotton undies. I loved the quality and cut of the undies, which led me to order a bikini from them last summer…and loved that too. If you’re into solid-colored, high-quality basics in the vein of Gil Rodriguez, Flore Flore and Brooke Callahan, Calomel pieces would easily fit into your wardrobe.
A brand partnership on here is a new experience for me. I’ve given this a lot of thought. This is how I’d like to approach it: (1) working with brands that are willing to give me 100% creative control—tbh quite rare, so thank you Calomel! and (2) treating this as an opportunity to make my newsletter more accessible to folks who might not have the budget for a subscription. So as a thank you, I am giving away 10 annual subscriptions. To enter, comment with your favorite color combo you love to wear and I’ll select 10 at random :)
Color is at the heart of why I’m drawn to Calomel.
I appreciate when brands have a thoughtfully selected range of colorways. I chose these four pieces (a mix of tops and swimsuits) and styled them to play around with interesting color combinations. First up:
khaki + burgundy
I am wearing the 100% cotton Mallki tank top in khaki here with old Tibi trousers and Martiniano glove flats. It’s very comfortable and casual on its own, but this is how I dressed it up for a day of thrifting/lunch out. This shade of khaki is greenish, almost like a sage, and makes for an intriguing neutral if you’re partial to ~tonal~ color palettes. I love how a deep burgundy gives gravity and body to the outfit. It reminds me of a winter sangria with a sprig of rosemary.
lavender + olive
This outfit made me feel like a 90s romcom side character or Daphne from Scooby Doo…it’s the cut of the tank with the skirt and the vaguely retro color combination. This is the Mallki top in a cool lavender, which I paired with the olive-y brown squares of this vintage Prada skirt. It’s a reliable top for warmer days when you want something more hefty/high coverage than a spaghetti strap tank top. Also, I don’t work in an office anymore but I think this would be appropriate for most workplaces!
black + red
Calomel also makes swimwear in minimalistic cuts. This is the Abra one piece in black, which I styled as a bodysuit. I know bright red and black are super bold colors but I kind of love them together because it creates such high contrast, like you walked out of a Warhol or Lichtenstein painting. Pants are from Le Bon Shoppe and this statement tote is an old Miss Sixty bag off Poshmark. I was like wait…a pair of eyes with black bangs? SQUEAL.
cobalt + grape
I have never gravitated towards cobalt blue until last year when I tried on a bunch of colors at the Gil store in LA and realized I quite like how this color suits my face/hair coloring. I’m wearing the Inti suit with a pair of iridescent silk pants from Home of Hai in grape purple. They have a slightly reflective quality and pick up flecks of blue…the mood ring of pants, if you will. As a frequent lap swimmer, I’m a fan of the utility of these suits! They’re thick and have a nice amount of compression without digging into my armpits (my biggest sensory gripe with swimsuits).
As I wrote about here, I prefer suits that are cute but functional and on the modest side because it’s a community pool and that’s just the vibe. (The Sezane one* I wore also had a size restock).
*affiliate link
other stuff i’ve been up to!
I have been trimming my own bangs for the past three years with a feather razor, and wrote about it for The Strategist. I got a few messages from you guys saying you already have this tool too—it’s seriously a game changer compared to scissors!
As part of the post, I filmed a clip of myself trimming my own bangs. Because it was posted on The Strategist’s IG, it reached a far larger audience than just my own. And it feels so trite and stupid to even acknowledge, but there are some not so nice comments. I know…just don’t read them then! But I have a morbid curiosity and can’t shake the temptation. Intellectually I know these are from random strangers and don’t take them personally, but emotionally I’m not gonna lie—it really bothers me! Some days more than others. With social media-centered work…you kind of get used it, but then one day a mildly rude comment from a rando with a bible verse in their bio will set you off more than you expected.
This weekend was soooo paradise weather, all I wanted to eat were baguette sandwiches.
On Sunday I decided it would be nice to do a solo park day. I bought a fresh baguette and slathered it with mayo, whole grain mustard, swiss cheese slices, salted tomato and greens. I sat on the grass and people-watched while I chewed on the bread and the tomato water dribbled out the other end of the sandwich. When I really like a certain flavor profile, I repeat repeat repeat. If you have access to deli meats like mortadella, ham and soppressata, those are my favorite sandwich meats to add in here. These baguette sandwiches have been the highlight of my day.
Lastly—the top I ordered on Etsy (guide on how to find stuff that looks like doen but more affordable) arrived from France! I think it’s really cute. Came in clean condition and didn’t smell weird. I’m definitely more keen on secondhand shopping on Etsy these days because I feel like I know what to look for now/how to spot the drop shippers. The “uniform” for this look: sweet little cotton top, the best high waisted dark jeans, your most eclectic jewelry, and a generous amount of blush on the cheeks :)
xoxo
viv
the cobalt blue mixed into my wardrobe as a fellow asian american with similar coloring is so real!!
The lavender + olive just scratched an itch in my brain, YES YES YES