Cool Stuff Pt.10
A roundup of the cool things that inspired me this past week
Welcome back to Cool Stuff!
For those who don’t already know, Cool Stuff is The Inside Pocket series where I present some inspiring and beautiful finds from the fashion world and beyond—hoping to bring you a bit of joy, of course. :)
Here’s a list of things I loved this past week, as usual, in no particular order:
Check out the previous volumes!
If you are looking for inspiration you might also want to take a look to the Visual Voyage series!
An unforgettable stay
I casually commented on a note here on Substack in which a beautiful girl was posing in front of a remarkable vintage-coded bookshelf of what was, for many, the house of their dreams. I was lucky enough to had stayed in that Airbnb too, when in Palermo a couple of years ago. So I thought I would share this very rare and unique gem of a house, wishing you to end up staying there, even if just for a night.
I am talking about the Liberty Library House of Books, a beautiful apartment in the heart of Palermo by the talented artist Giuseppe Amato. Every corner was a masterpiece of beauty and design. The beautiful Art Nouveau building, will stun you with designer touches like 1970s opaline lamps, overflowing bookshelves and beautifully patterned, meticulously preserved floors. The partner’s owner welcomed us with that unmistakable italian warmth and told us how the house was a family home, where his partner’s very big family used to live. Giuseppe inherited and renewed it, filling it with books from his family history and from all over the world. If you are like me and you love a place with history, this is a must visit if you are ever in town!
THE Satin Pouch
I didn’t expect to fall so hard for a pouch, but here we are. I took AALLSS’s satin Parlour to Marrakech and it just... worked. With everything. It’s sleek and elegant without trying too hard, the kind of piece that arrives in your life and suddenly you don’t know how you lived without it.
As you know, I love discovering independent brands, especially when I get to speak with the person behind them, and chatting with Alison, who founded AALLSS in 2021, made me love it even more. She is the sweetest and I love her vision and class so much. The brand has grown slowly and beautifully, and the quality really shows. I feel like she will blow up soon and I cannot wait to see what she has in store.
Now I’ve got my eye on the orange version of the Vast bag too, because it could be the perfect pop of colour to any black outfit. If you’re buying a bag this summer and you want it to last in your wardrobe for more than just one season, this is it.
Beauty Routine Updates
I feel like the beauty market is so oversaturated, and it often leaves me feeling lost and confused. I have no particular expertise when it comes to skincare or makeup—as you probably gathered from the recent Face Fact post with my friend Marcella…
However, I am a good observer, and a very adventurous one. Meaning: I’ll try anything when it comes to skincare and makeup, and I’ll also notice and document if that something is making a difference or not.
So, after trying a bunch of new stuff (some very meh and others absolutely useless) I’ve found the two winners of the past month. The ones that actually made a difference, and that I feel confident enough to recommend to you.
One is Beauty Pie’s new face cream, which I’m telling you is so great. I might sound like a broken record by now but this is like, GOOD. It’s pretty rich, so I elected as my official night cream, especially now, during summer months. And, I might not know what I am talking about, but it really worked for me. I feel like if you have dry or combination skin, or if you live somewhere cold, this might become your new holy grail. I’ve used it every night for the past month and my skin absolutely loved it.
The other product I was really curious to try, and have now used for the past four weeks, is the ZIIP Halo device. This aesthetically pleasing and small microcurrent tool is designed to electrocute you. I am joking obviously, the low-level electrical currents are supposed to stimulate your facial muscles and skin cells allowing you to treat you different skincare concerns beyond just lifting. My main concern is indeed lifting the liftable as I am still fighting the urge to just give up and get botox. So if you are looking for that too, this to me, it’s definitely cool stuff.
I first tried something similar during a FaceGym session, and I remember searching everywhere for the tool they used—only to discover it costs around £600, and the gifted session itself was £100. The ZIIP Halo is literally half the price of the FaceGym device, and works just as well. Used consistently, it truly pays for itself.
Only thing I’ll tell you: be patient with it. The glow comes pretty much immediately, but the lift will take a good couple of weeks to show. They say up to six weeks, but I was lucky enough to see the difference in way less time.
Please let me know if you get it—I really need someone to rave about this with. Use the code INSIDEPOCKET for 10% off your device!
Bonjour Tristesse
Do you want pretty costumes? Do you want Chloë Sevigny? Beautiful visuals? Then this movie is for you. Directed by Durga Chew-Bose, not other than the former editor-in-chief of SSENSE, this is a coming-of-age film based on the well-known ’50s cult novel. Set in the south of France, it encapsulates everything I generally look for in a film—the beauty, the father–daughter dynamic, love and romance, and all those intergenerational relationships between women. God forbid a girl has hobbies!
I have to admit, just the presence of Chloë would’ve been enough for me, but well! Watch the film. Read the book. Tell me what you think!
Top of the tops
In order to give all my coastal grandma, mermaid, and Greek goddess jewellery the perfect canvas this summer, I needed some tops that were simple but still delivered.
These are the three that have been saving my summer so far and that I’ve been wearing on repeat, no matter what. Bonus track: a swimsuit that, yes, I wear as a top as well because it’s too good and small-boob friendly. Try the Ruti V-neck tanks in both brown and black, the Nili Lotan swimsuit and this silk halter that feels like a proper hug. They are sexy and I’ve already washed them a million times — so, so worth it.
Bottle aprons
A love a little unnecessary purchase. Imagine having a little party, where all your little bottles are wearing cute little aprons like this one. All dressed up for serving you and your little friends some little glasses of champagne. GOHAR. TAKE. MY. MONEY.
Remember pareos? Well, I moved to curtains
In the previous volume of Cool Stuff, I mentioned how I managed to get my hands on a piece from House of Manus. Sophia sources vintage curtains from around the world and transforms them into unique, versatile pieces that will steal your heart.
This is how I styled mine—I can’t wait to try more beachy ways to wear it, maybe with a brown bikini or something similar.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you can now follow Sophia on her newly launched website and never miss one of her drops again.
Thank you so much for sticking with me. I’ll see you very soon with another volume of Cool Stuff.
I love you all,
Giulia xx
Some of the products mentioned in this article were kindly gifted, others paid by me. Rest assured I only feature what I truly believe in: things I’ve tried, loved, and would buy again. Thank you for your trust, it means the world.
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All so beautiful, Giulia. And that pouch! Stunning.
Bottle aprons! Wild. I love the tablecloth upcycling! 💕