On My Mind: Baby Tees and Face Gems

This Nu Swim Daily Tee would’ve been perfect on me if it were just three inches shorter. It was the right amount of formfitting, and I loved that the fabric was more of a warm off-white, which suits my complexion better than stark white. However, the hem sailed past my hip bones and hit right around the sacrum, and when I tried to get it to sit where I wanted, the whole shirt looked wrinkled and scrunched. But if you have a longer torso and find that most baby tees are too cropped, I’d definitely recommend trying on the Nu Swim.

Plain Jane sells tees with three sleeve styles: the Short, the Shortie, and the Cap, which is the one I chose. Since the shirts are designed with a looser, more classic fit, I sized down to an XS, which was the right call — a size small would’ve looked too boxy. While it wasn’t quite the baby-tee silhouette I originally had in mind, I ended up really liking it! The relaxed fit leans more casual and boyish, and I’ve been pairing it with basketball or board shorts for quick errands and grocery runs.

Flore Flore’s Car Baby Tee is the priciest of the bunch, though the quality is undeniable — the fabric is the most heavyweight, with a thick, securely stitched bound neck and cuffs. While I initially insisted on no extraneous details, I found that I didn’t really mind the presence of an additional seam running down the back — come fall, I think I’ll pair this tee with a miniskirt and some seamed tights. It’s a very nice shirt, but personally, I didn’t feel like the special details warranted the steep jump in price. With that said, if you’re willing to spend extra on solid wardrobe basics, you really can’t do better than Flore Flore.

Goertzen is a fan of Cou Cou’s Baby Tee, as seen in ourguide to the best white T-shirts. The version she tested is made of pointelle fabric (a no-go for me), but the brand recently released a version made of plain cotton jersey. It was a close runner-up — the length and fit were faultless — but there was something a bit off about the cut of the shoulder seam; it just didn’t align with the curve of my shoulders, causing the sleeves to warp and bunch. It’s a tiny nitpick and probably not something most others would notice, but hey — my standards are high.

Gil Rodriguez’s Bellevue Tee is, to my mind, the platonic ideal of a baby tee, and it turned out to be one of my favorites. It has a high, rounded neckline, tight-fitting sleeves, and a close-cropped fit. When I measured the shoulder seams against the Cou Cou tee, they were positioned about an inch wider, resulting in a smooth, unbroken line over the slope of my shoulders with no lumps or bunching. I’d buy more colors of this tee in a heartbeat, and luckily for me, it comes in lots of beautiful saturated hues — I’m eyeing the scarlet “tomate” and the bubblegum-pink “sorbet.”

I discovered L.A.-based sustainable-fashion brand Ella Mae last year and had been patiently waitingmonthsfor the Perfect Tee to come back in stock. I had a sneaking suspicion that it was exactly what I was looking for; when I put it on, my suspicions were confirmed. It had a just-right fit — not too tight but not boxy either, just loosely skimming the body. The hem hit a couple inches below my belly button, with cute side vents that accentuate the curve of my hips. It also had the same flattering off-white shade as the Nu Swim tee. This is the tee I’ll be wearing until it’s just as shredded as my old one.

A couple weeks ago, I stopped by John Wilson’s newly openedLow Cinemato catch a screening ofTickled. When I perused the concession stand, I discovered these fruit chews made with unharvested fruits and veggies from farms — deliciousandclimate-conscious.

Here’s another recent fruit-snack discovery that I really was not expecting to be as good as it is. It has zero artificial flavor — it truly tastes like mashed-up strawberries sent through a pasta extruder — and has the same satisfying peeling mechanism as the Twizzlers Pull ’n’ Peels I loved as a kid.

This might sound sort of strange, but when I apply Violette FR’s Bisou Balm, I feel like I’m kissing a marshmallow. It has a soft, light, powdery texture and a faintly sweet scent, like a box of Lucky Charms. I probably won’t wear it as much in the winter, as it is a tad drying and likely to catch on flaky spots, but I’ve been wearing it everywhere during these humid summer days. It leaves a sheer matte wash of color, like you’ve just blotted your lips with a napkin.

I was pretty bummed when I got my braces on and the technician was forced to remove the tiny tooth gem I’d sported for over a year. To make up for it, I’ve been wearing Half Magic’s face gems instead. They’re impressively sticky — they stayed on through a sweaty cardio-dance class — and come in a variety of styles, likepearlsandstuds. I used to adorn my face only for special occasions like festivals or concerts, but it’s been a joy to add a little sparkle to my everyday.

I’ve weathered two secondhand-shopping heartbreaks recently. The first was this Adrian Cashmere sweater that’s been on mywish list since Christmas. About a week ago, I saw the exact sweater go up on Poshmark for 64 percent off retail price; obviously, I checked out in a heartbeat. Three days went by with no word. Then, a stomach-sinking email: “Your Poshmark order was canceled.” The reason? “Seller changed mind.” I won’t drive myself crazy speculating on the motivations of a seller who goes through all the trouble to photograph and post a listing only to reverse course at the last minute. But I just want them to know that I’m here for them if they have another change of heart.

When something I really love eludes my grasp, Ineverget over it. Case in point: I still have alerts set for thisWorstok T-shirtthat got bought out from under me on Depopsixyears ago. Something about the eerie creature and enigmatic invitation really worked to inflame my imagination, I suppose. A few days ago, Depop’s algorithm served me the account of artist Colin Yeo, and while the art styles are unquestionably different, thevibestickled my fancy in the same way: a little sinister, a little off-putting, all sharp teeth and spindly limbs. Depop giveth, and Depop taketh away.