On My Mind: Replacing My New Balance 530s
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We’ve reached unprecedented levels of polka-dot frenzy this summer: Innumerable sororities have chosen the theme “[Insert sorority] is the spot to be,” every buzzy brand (Parke,SET Active,Aritzia— you name it) has cashed in on the craze, and when I commute home on nights when Harry Styles is playing MSG, I almostalwaysfind myself in an actual sea of dot-clad young women on the subway platform. The current polka-dot moment feels akin to the butter-yellow mania we experienced over the past couple of years, and while I couldn’t get behind that fad (pastels wash me out), I was excited to expand my polka-dot collection with the ever-growing selection of spotted pieces. Over the last year and a half, I’ve added several polka-dot dresses to my closet, found some extra-affordable speckled tops on Depop, and treated myself to the (now viral)polka-dot New Balance 530 sneakers. I’ve worn the latter to the ground, and while they’re now back in stock, every girl has a polka-dot limit — and I’ve reached mine. I’m not sure if I’m ready to abandon the 530s altogether — they’re the most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever owned — but I want to replace them with a subtler and equally comfortable pair. I might just buy them in a different color, but I’m tempted to branch out to a different dad-esque sneaker. I’ve narrowed my search down to the following and will report back on a winner.
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New Balance 530
If I decide to stick with what I know, it’ll be this white pair with navy accents. They feel like a callback to the all-white Converse I wore throughout middle- and high school.
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New Balance 204L
I spotted this slimmer pair on the subway the other day and love the dainty stitching. (There are a few colorways with scalloping and ribbon laces, too.) They feel like a nice blend between the cushiony 530s and the cuter but less-supportiveslim sneakersthat have become so popular.
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These have a similar silhouette to the New Balance 204L, but the brushed suede gives them an elevated feel. They’d be a step up sartorially from my 530s, especially in the denim-inspired blue. I’m also intrigued by the extra sheep-wool insole that’s included for the winter.
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When I moved to New York, I exclusively wore Air Force 1s, but I traded them for Reebok sneakers a year in because they were more affordable. I’ve been seeing these New Balance–esque Nikes so often on the train that I’m tempted to return to my Nike roots. I love how the swoosh complements the swirly metallic detailing on the sides.
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I’ve been eyeing these chunky sneakers ever since Mya Gelber declared themthe winner of her hunt for Samba alternatives. At the time, they were only available on StockX, but they’re now available in tons of colors, including this nice white-and-black pair. I’ve never been into black sneakers, but the black Asics logo feels subtle and sleek on the otherwise clean white sneaker.
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I hadn’t heard of Coolway until I scrolled through every single sneaker listing on Anthropologie’s site the other day. I’m into the webbed backing on the heel that adds some visual interest to the otherwise forgettable silhouette. The patterned laces are a nice touch, too.
Here’s Everything Else I’ve Seen Recently
Victoria’s Secret Pinkbrasare good again (or, maybe, they always were, but I’m wearing them again for the first time since high school). The brand recently released two new lines — the “buttery soft” Marshmallow bras and “fun and flirty” Pink Wink bras — and they’ve become the only bras I want to wear. The unlined bralette from the Marshmallow line is so lightweight I often forget I’m wearing it, but it still keeps everything supported without putting too much pressure on my torso. When I’m looking for a push-up boost without the push-up bra, I’ve been wearing the Pink Wink plunge bra, which has an unobtrusive wire that ends lower than most wired bras, so it doesn’t poke my sternum like many other bras do. Still, the Marshmallow Flexiwire bra is somehow even more comfortable. It’s unlined, so it doesn’t always provide the nipple coverage I’m comfortable with, but the wire is so supportive yet, well, flexible, that I’ll just throw on anipple coverand call it a day.
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When I’m not wearing a bra, I’m usually wearing this cami, which the brand sent me and I’ve since repurchased in another color. It’s similarly supportive without being suffocating and hasn’t pilled despite the constant wearing and washing I’ve put it through. In black, it even feels dressy enough to pair with amaxi skirt. It’s the priciest cami in my wardrobe, but I’ve found it heavily discounted on resale sites like Depop.
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I’ve long been loyal toCeraVe’s foaming facial cleanser, but I’ve been using this one every few days, too, because my face has been breaking out more than usual this summer. Thecleanseris formulated with salicylic acid (instead of the benzoyl peroxide used in the CeraVe), so it removes oil, dead skin, and dirt rather than focusing on acne-causing bacteria. There’s also some glycerin, so my face never feels dry after I use it, which isn’t always the case with the CeraVe cleanser.
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A couple of months ago, I wrote aboutArchies’ arch-support flip-flops. I’m still loving them, but I’ve been testing two other arch-support flip-flops — they aren’t quite as comfortable, but they’re much more stylish. Reef’s cushion slim flip-flops are dressier than the Archies, so I’ve been wearing them with skirts and dresses when I know I’ll be walking thousands of steps. The Solei Sea flip-flops are more structured (they make that “flip-flop” sound when I walk), so I save them for shorter distances. Still, they’re far more comfortable than the other structured flip-flops I own.
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I recently sawa videothat recommended buying a card-display stand to show off the postcards that you’ll often receive when paying the bill at restaurants in New York. I’d been saving mine in a stray drawer, so I immediately purchased this set for my bedroom. Since there are two displays, my boyfriend and I have been using one to hold the restaurant postcards and another to hold greeting cards we’ve received.
As our resident Gen-Z expert, I feel it is my duty to try as manylip balmsas I can. (The tweens and teens I interview call them “lippies.”) I always have several in rotation, but I’ll knock them out if I find my lips feel extra chapped after I use them. My current rotation includes Nécessaire’sglossy balm, Ole Henricksen’s actually hydrating (and shea-butter-free) peptide lip treatment, Ilia’s soothing chamomile balm, and this citrusy one from Dermo Suavina that comes in an adorable little pot.
Fall is coming, which means I’ll be lighting morecandlesfor the ambience and, of course, the fragrance. The three I have in rotation each serve their own purpose and, most important, don’t trigger my frequent scent-related headaches. Voluspa’s tomato candle tunnels, but it’s the most effective candle I’ve found for banishing cooking smells in my one-bedroom, so I don’t mind. (I’ve also tried similar but less effective ones from Flamingo Estate and Trader Joe’s.) I go for Glasshouse Fragrance’s Radiance in Bloom when I have company; it’s pleasantly floral and inoffensive with notes of water lily, jasmine, and tuberose. I keep Lafco’s Sea & Dune candle in my bedroom, where its notes of amber, vetiver, and beach grass remind me of vacation as I fall asleep. (And one more tip: John Derian has the bestdesign-y matchboxesfor $5.)
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