On My Mind: Long-Bill Baseball Caps and Pouch Packing
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My son was born in mid-March, and I’m still fairly consumed by all things baby. But he’s also 5 months old now, so I’m slowly but surely easing back into my non-partum self, and that includes getting back on task with some low-lift sartorial pursuits abandoned mid-pregnancy.
Task No. 1: A(nother) hat. I think hats in general look really good on me and I own many of them, but I’m also never totally satisfied with any of them (story of my life), so I’m forever looking for new ones. My ideal hat is a paradox: It can’t be boring or basic (a little weird is good), but I also tend to feel that putting pretty much anything on my head equates to wearing a sandwich board that says, “Look at me! I’m wearing a hat!” Basically, I want something totally singular that also blends in seamlessly as an extension of my overall look. (The goal is to be wearing something likethiswith jeans and a T-shirt without calling any attention to myself.) Since we’re still approaching fall, my focus is on baseball caps, non-knit head scarves, and anything that blocks whatever’s left of the summer sun without being too beachy.
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Beklina used to make a long-brimmed sun hat that I can’t find anywhere anymore (itsvisorsare great, btw), but it’s not a far cry from this one, which I spotted on a mom at a birthday party over the summer. I immediately cornered her for details and assumed it would too niche and/or pricey — but it’s neither of those things. The brim is long but not comically so, and I love it in this rich Yves Klein blue, but it also comes in a bunch of other colors. I found some other fun long-billed hatshere,here, andhere— this last one is made of waxed cotton, so it’s good in the rain and really perfect for deep fall.
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I’ve seen bucket hats that I like on other people, but I realized a few years ago that my ideal bucket hat is actually a Navy-issue Dixie Cup hat with the brim turned down — it falls straight down with no noticeable lip, and the brim is short and not floppy. It’s sort of like a baby cloche. I’ve been looking around, and what I like best is always marketed to men, which is actually good because I want it be just an iota too big. Vintage versions abound on eBay and Etsy, but they’re generally pretty grimy (this one’snotsobad). I tried on this Engineered Garments one at a store in San Francisco last year, and so far it’s still the best new one I’ve seen.
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This brand is a mother-daughter duo based in Latvia, and all of their stuff is great. They make apillow headscarfthat I kept admiring last year but didn’t buy because I live in Los Angeles and winters never cold get enough (for the headscarf, or in general). The waterproof rain headscarf is more justifiable, and the lace one (which you can also get embroidered) feels like a no-brainer.
Task two: earrings. I’m wearing a pair of tiny “staple” studs earrings fromPaula Elaine Barnett99 percent of the time. They’re five millimeters long and very slightly curved, which makes them look as if they’re stapled to your lobe (hence the name). They’re no longer sold on Etsy (where I bought them) or onBarnett’s site, so they’re especially precious to me now. I did recently message her to ask about commissioning new pairs — a backup in gold and a new set in silver — and I’m exploring other options while I wait patiently for her response. (Paula, if you read this, reach out!)
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These are closest approximation to the Paula Elaine Barnett pair that I’ve found. (Interestingly, Catbird does stock someBarnett designs, but no earrings.) The tapered ends give them a very pretty shape, and they’re also perfectly sized at just five millimeters.
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These are six millimeters long, which is bigger than I’d like, but the shape is unique and very pretty — like a smear of oil paint from a palette knife.
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A tiny gold-ball stud is what you get your ears piercedwithand not what you wear once the healing period is over. Also, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. On the other hand, this Pamela Love stud, while similarly sized and shaped, is organic and refined and rarified, so you’re getting something subtle but definitely not the same old thing. They also come in an even daintiertwo-millimetersize, which is appealing but also so tiny that it feels almost pointless (especially for the price).
We take at least two extended trips to New York every year. The next one is happening at the end of September, and it will be our first time traveling by plane as a family of four. As the self-designated children’s packer, I’m challenging myself to add an extra kid without adding any extra bags to our typical load. Also, while it’s nearly impossible for me to resist the siren song of an elaborate organization system, I recently came to terms with the fact that anything too “clever” (dedicated compartments of various sizes, internal partitions,somany pockets) simply doesn’t work for me; the system will break down, and I will inevitably lose my charger, my medication, and my keys — or, in this case, my portable breast pump and the spare diapers. Instead, I’m thinking a series of big, very visible pouches will help to separate and situate everything in a more approachable way, especially in the diaper bag and other carry-ons. Bonus points for colors/patterns with some all-ages appeal.
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A diaper bag is the perfect example of a “clever” system. I’ll be using thisnon-diaperBaggu bag on my trip because it will do everything I need an actual diaper bag to do: It’s not cavernous but is still big enough to hold several of the aforementioned pouches; it has a special laptop pocket that’s also a great spot for stashing diaper-changing stuff, two exterior pockets with snap closures (a feature not found on the regular Cloud), and a sleeve on the side that’s an obvious spot for a baby bottle; and it’s very easy to clean. Plus I can empty it out and turn it into a regular tote on days that I leave the kids with my parents.
Here’s Everything Else I’ve Seen Recently
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Quiet Town Ojai Prism Bath Mat
My husband and I have been on an epic bath-mat quest for the past two years, and I think we’ve finally reached our destination. This one has a thick, flat weave and feels like a real utilitarian workhorse, which is what I think you need in a bath mat (as opposed to something precious and fluffy, which we tried and always felt too cheap, or too mucky, or too reminiscent of the bath mats in our grandparents’ homes). It’s absorbent, and the stripes are very pretty but also do a good job of making it look not filthy. We coordinated with some Quiet Town shower curtains —this canvas oneandthis vinyl oneas the liner — which I was worried would feel a little too on the nose but actually pleases me very much every time I walk into the bathroom.
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I started taking eye cream seriously in the last year or so (better late than never), and I’ve sampled a bunch of great options from some very reliable brands. None of them come close to this Jones Road cream. It’s thick and goes on like spackle, and it makes my entire eye area look plump and glazed. I’m honestly not sure if it’s actually doing more than any of the others I tried, and I don’t care, because I love the way it feels. The brand says it’s great for smoothing skin in advance of applying makeup, but I like to put it on before bed.
I needed two new articles of clothing this summer: A nice but not formal dress for a friend’s wedding, and a new swimsuit that fit my more-ample-than-normal bosom. The only strict requirement was that I be able to nurse in both of them. The Herd dress from the Great is so striking and flowy and comfortable (it has pockets!), and it unbuttons for easy boob access. The Left on Friday Sunday Shortie fits and feels as wonderful asthe Sunday Suit, and the boy-shorts bottom means I can run after my 5-year-old, squat down to change a diaper, and sit crisscross-applesauce to nurse (easy to do, thanks to the relatively low-cut top) without having to readjust or worry about revealing too much. And the Hatch nightgown was less of a necessity, but now I can’t imagine not having it: It’s beautifully diaphanous and makes me instantly feel pretty every time I put it on, even if my hair hasn’t been washed in several days and my son is drooling down my shoulder. I plan to wear it for years to come.
I found this brand at the end of an internet rabbit hole. The mussel brooch is what first caught my eye (I also went through a phase of gilding shells and turning them into brooches and necklaces), but nearly everything it makes is just unusual and gorgeous, including a very oversize Breton shirt with a square neck, and an array of ethereal, borderline monastic dresses.
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I have nothing to say about these shoes other than that I cannot stop looking at them, so I think you should see them, too. They come in four additional colors, and they’re all a feast for the eyes.
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