tried and true: a molehill gift guide
only sharing things i own + the 5 things on my wishlist this year.
good morning! if you clicked on this email, you’re here for the gift ideas so i’m gonna keep this brief:
this is a gift guide where every item i suggest is something i own
i use some affiliate links and will earn a small commission if you use it to purchase
below the fold, i share the 5 items on my wishlist this year
flore flore baby tee: everyone wants something a little different in their “perfect tee” and this is the highest-quality one i own that ticks my boxes (100% cotton, thick crewneck rib collar, short sleeves that make a diagonal line across the upper arm). it’s retained its saturated red color through machine washes and hang drys.
keen jaspers: whenever someone asks me about casual walking sneaker recs that aren’t sambas, i suggest these. mine were the limited “year of the dragon” colorway, but i am partial to these rose birch ones that came out this year. keens have been a bay area granola shoe for decades. the other day i was at the kaiser pharmacy and counted 3 elders wearing sneaker, clog, or sandal style keens. these are also my default travel shoe.
the most delicious umeshu i’ve ever tried: this is mostly a local gift idea for bay area readers who have access to true sake in sf (bc shipping can be pricey). my friends served it at a dinner party and i found it SO tasty….tart and smooth and had me reaching for uncharacteristic levels of re-pours. i would choose this plum sake over wine any day. i am planning to get a bottle or two for holiday meals. this plus hot rice and a bowl of clams steamed in scallion, ginger, garlic, pepper and tsingtao beer???? yummmm
mildew magazine subscription: mildew is the secondhand fashion magazine and it’s honestly a wonder that such a thing exists. i love receiving my print copies and taking the time to read the stories over breakfast. also, i have a mini interview feature in the latest issue.
bianchetto tabi flats: ***tabis are a big splurge so take your time to think about it*** the first time i got tabis they were the all-white heeled ballerina ones and i resold them because they just felt too sweetsy when i tried to style them. they went to someone who wore them for her wedding which makes me thrilled. it took me a while but i began to fall back in love with the idea of tabis again…i just had to find the right style that was me. i love the imperfectness of the bianchetto cracked paint ones, and they are so comfortable to walk in.
i got these as a present to myself to celebrate a freelancing milestone this year.
le bon shoppe cobalt blue socks: ever since dueple socks (iykyk) went bankrupt or whatever caused their mysterious shutdown…i’ve switched to le bon shoppe as my go-to sock brand. right now my fave color in my sock drawer is blue.
feather razor: what i use to cut my bangs. it does take a little bit of practice, but the difference in result between this vs. scissors is night and day. you get a petal-like, carved effect. no choppy broomstick chunks.
brightland olive oil (link gets you 10% off): the lucid lemon flavor is my default olive oil for salads…it just makes the produce so bright and citrusy. the pizza oil is jalapeño infused and i recommend drizzling this in a spiral on top of store-bought hummus—suddenly, it tastes restaurant quality. i use their balsamic vinegar for parmesan roasted brussel sprouts, the parasol vinegar for dressings…you can’t go wrong with these.
hairstory new wash and hair balm: back when i had a bob i was very lucky to get complimentary cuts from jayne matthews as a hair model. she used new wash on me our first appointment and i could really feel the difference later that week in my hair texture. it makes my hair more piece-y and preserves whatever residual curl pattern i’ve achieved with a perm. for styling, i use hair balm on my bangs and my ends. before and after:
CLED pea ear cuff: an excellent entry cuff for those who want to try out ear cuffs. it’s comfortable and unfussy, looks great stacked with other cuffs. i style them in-depth in a newsletter here.
CLED mary jane charm: if you love mary janes like me, this is a sweet charm to clip onto a necklace or keychain.
nicole saldaña fabiana mary janes (part of ssense sale): speaking of mjs…i literally have a tattoo of these shoes on my arm! i got a pair secondhand years ago and they really are so classic with the tiny little ribbon.
bonnie clyde baby sunglasses: by favorite sunglasses are vintage pradas but alas, they are so precious i’m overprotective of them and don’t wear them out THAT much. but i think life is also meant to be lived and these sunnies are the ones i’m usually wearing—great 90s/00s simple shape, lightweight, looks good with any outfit.
emma rothkopf pointelle long sleeve tee: it’s thicker than cou cou’s pointelles and sooooo well-made. feels amazing on the skin. each sleeve has a row of 7 buttons as well, a detail you rarely see on “basics” these days. big fan of emma rothkopf. wearing this rn as i type.
my everyday signature scent: on sale for $140. yes, it’s liis…i love the northern californian spirit of the fragrance house. this is my everyday scent bc it’s subtle, pleasant and settles well on knitwear (one of the base notes is cashmere which explains that warm knit smell). i get a lot of the pear top note, and then to me it becomes a tart, airy candied fruit. i love it.
once upon a dream bunny journal (I also like the deer): just a super cute journal.
freda salvador elba loafers (25% off): these are always mentioned in substack loafer recs, and they are a very solid option for the price point and quality.
araks gita bra: i got this as a gift two christmases ago, and it’s my nicest bra by far. araks is the most luxurious lingerie imo—i have a saved search on secondhand sites for their slip dresses. finding a pure silk bra with construction (not a bralette) is reallyyyyy hard, there’s not that many brands making them. during the summer I tucked a sheer scarf into the balconette structure and made it a “top” lol.
