Cool Stuff Pt.16
A roundup of the cool things that inspired me this past week
Welcome back to Cool Stuff!
If you are new here (welcome!) 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!
New York Fashion Week Intermission
While I’m writing this, New York Fashion Week is in full swing, so here are my hot takes so far. I have mixed feelings about Veronica Leoni’s Calvin Klein, Colleen Allen feels like a name we’ll be hearing a lot more of, and Khaite seems to be fully embracing its experimental era. Keep Kallmeyer on your radar, and the same goes for Ossou.
That said, after a fashion week that hasn’t felt particularly astonishing, what I realised I’m craving most from fashion right now is surprise. The way I see New York Fashion Week, it still very much revolves around dressing the working woman. And within that, I did spot one genuinely cool thing: broad shoulders, everywhere. Another nod to the 80s, but this time through padded shoulders rather than sporty jackets, which didn’t really land with me. Sorry, Saint Laurent.
While I’ll stay tuned for more novelty coming from Paris and Milan, I’m definitely looking forward to more structured blazers. I’m already planning to add a couple of padded shoulders here and there to spice up my blazer collection. More on that soon!
I loved this jacket by Veronica Leoni, even if I can’t say the same about the rest of the collection. I also found a lovely, and probably much cheaper, alternative here.
This look by Kallmeyer is the one that really stayed with me. It hasn’t left my mind since. Buy a silk scarf as soon as possible, because it feels like the only natural evolution of the bandana we were all wearing on our hips this summer.
Mercerie
You know the Cool Stuff series isn’t really cool stuff without a touch of Italy in it. This week I wanted to bring to your attention a special (cool) place I always visit when I go back home: la merceria.
I used to go to the merceria with my mum, who has always been the kind of person who sews and amends all the clothes I wore. I grew up with the idea that everything can be fixed, that if a hole appears or a button disappears, you don’t throw something away, you try to save it first. And to be honest, most of the time, whatever piece was going through a Piera revamp (that’s my mum’s name) would come out ten times better than its original version. To make sure we had the right button, the perfectly matching zip, or just the right fabric for my Halloween costume, we would go to the merceria, a shop where everything fabric related can truly be found.
Every merceria I’ve ever been to is packed with things, so full that the moment you walk in, you feel both cosy and slightly suffocated, in the best possible way. It’s always busy, and behind the desk there’s often a woman with an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of everything the shop holds. Tiny drawers filled with buttons behind her, and the smell of cotton and dust makes its way into your heart. You go in prepared to spend there at least a couple of hours — between chitchat, infinite choice, and the time hard decisions inevitably take. But you can bet your life she will always find what you’re looking for.
The truly cool thing about these places is what they signify, aside from the memories I carry with me. This shops hold the memory of a country, Italy, that has always loved using its hands: to mend, to adjust, to create meaning rather than waste. They remind us that not everything broken is lost, that almost anything can be fixed with a couple of punti, and that care (real care) is a form of love. These places are in my heart because, as a little girl choosing buttons with my mum for the cardigan she had knitted by hand, they taught me that beauty doesn’t always begin from scratch; sometimes it continues, patiently, from where it almost ended.
A Scent with History
Marescialla is a scent by Santa Maria Novella, and one that has always fascinated me for the story it carries. The woman said to have inspired this fragrance was accused of witchcraft and burned alive, condemned for the very thing that made her powerful: her knowledge of herbs, potions, and perfume. A noblewoman married to a French maresciallo (a high-ranking military officer), she was known for wearing an intoxicating blend of botanicals so magnetic that admiration slowly turned into suspicion (back then that was the natural evolution of envy.) Her formula, however, survived her and got to us.
In 1828, in fact, Santa Maria Novella, the historic Florentine fragrance house founded by Dominican monks, brought that legend back to life. The house transformed this fragrance into a perfume that would later appear in one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian literature., Il Gattopardo, the iconic novel set in 19th-century Sicily, where scent becomes part of character, atmosphere, and power. Marescialla smells ancient and alive at the same time: spicy, warm, almost smoky and woody. Notes of potpourri and nutmeg intertwine with rose, creating something deep, comforting, and slightly unsettling. This scent is, in fact, not for everyone.
I’ve always believed perfumes carry memories and can slowly shape who we are. They become part of our presence and our personality. That’s why the idea of smelling of the past fascinates me so deeply. Marescialla isn’t just a fragrance I adore, it feels like wearing a story on the skin, one that lingers long after you’ve left the room. Super cool.
The Lipstick Debate
Recently, a dear friend told me that no lip balm is actually miraculous (shocker), there’s one for every need and every stage of lip dryness. Moral of the story: I should probably stop picking mine randomly based on whichever one happens to be in my bag, and start choosing based on how much moisture and protection my lips actually need. Groundbreaking, I know. The coolest one, and my current favourite, is the fourth on this list.
Summer Fridays
Devoured and bought three times already, in vanilla and vanilla beige. I love the formula and the fact that it’s not sticky at all. Perfect when your lips need a little love and a little glow.
Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment
I love their skincare, but this is just not it for me. I bought it multiple times purely out of hype, never truly finished one. The formula is sticky and it starts to smell after a while, which I swear isn’t poor hygiene but the amount of air that gets trapped in the half-empty plastic tube. Save your money, love.
U Beauty Plasma Lip Compound
I love their shades. Fawn is my favourite for on-the-go touch-ups when I don’t want to fully commit to a lipstick. The formula is very rich, but don’t expect a lip balm; this definitely leans more towards lipstick territory. The metal applicator is great, but use with care and only when your lips are already in good shape. (Use code THEINSIDEPOCKET20 for -20% off if you want to give it a go.)
Gisou Lip Mask
I am so in love with this product. A tiny amount goes a long way and it genuinely fixes the driest lips. It smells like honey and reminds me of Winnie the Pooh, which is slightly tragic because I used to love Winnie before seeing him in the Epstein files. Anyway, truly worth your money. I also use it overnight as the final, fancy step of my skincare routine.
Glossier Balm Dotcom (Fig)
My favourite scent. I’ve bought it many times. It doesn’t behave particularly well in winter, but it’s perfect for summer.
Vieve Lip Bounce
Loved this one. Easy to apply, moisturising enough to keep lips coloured but still juicy. I usually wear it with their amazing lip definer.
Pixi Lip Gloss (pH reactive)
Very good too. It doesn’t last long, but it’s cute. Their lip mask in Caliente was also fun, jelly-like and smelling of strawberries.
Baume des Muses Noir
I have a deep love for Officine Universelle Buly, but in this case the product doesn’t fully deliver. The packaging is beautiful and timeless, yet the formula inside doesn’t work very well and it’s not easy to apply.
Now please, you have to leave a comment with your favourite.
The Year of the Horse
The Year of the Horse is traditionally associated with movement, freedom, intuition, and strength, all ideas that feel especially present in my life right now. I feel this energy deeply, and I’ve noticed myself gravitating towards objects that reflect it.
And that might be one of the reasons why Freja’s new clutch immediately caught my attention. I’ve always loved the brand as you know form my love for their Ida, Christie and Alma bags — and the decision to launch this piece for Lunar New Year feels very meaningful to me. More accessible than many Totême alternatives yet just as considered, it’s a pretty and a subtle promise to step into the year with grace and momentum.
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 purchased by me. Rest assured I only feature what I truly believe in: things I’ve tried, loved, and would buy again and again. Thank you for your trust, it means the world.
No brand is paying to be featured in this newsletter. If that ever changes, I’ll always let you know. Everything I share here comes from my own research, taste, and quality checks.
You can now contribute to The Inside Pocket's growth without strings attached! If you can’t commit to a monthly or annual subscription but would still like to support, you can offer me a symbolic coffee below.
The clutch is great but what about that top/jacket ...... it looks fantastic
I really want to go to a merceria! Also, my favorite lip balm is Soothing Touch that you can usually find in independent health food stores.