Cool Stuff Pt.19
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!
Solid Perfumes
Solid perfumes are finding their way back into my routine, and I think I’m a little in love with them. They remind me of the same femininity as putting on earrings before leaving the house. Applying them with your fingertips, especially behind your ears, feels like part of that same gesture. I like that they can be kept, refilled, and returned to. I don’t know about you, but I often forget perfume when I am rushing out of the house, so having one in my bag feels both practical and chic, which is a combination I always fall for.
I keep thinking about this one by Diptyque, mostly for the swan on the case. But for now, I am using one gently gifted by the French duo behind Batchig, a café latte scent that I am in love with.
Cufflinks
Have you ever noticed how cool cufflinks are? Such an underrated accessory, borrowed straight from the menswear universe, yet full of charm and personality. I spotted a pair on a British gentleman’s shirt the other day, a tiny sixpence coin on his cuff, and I realised I wasn’t even sure I had ever seen one before. It turns out I haven’t. They’re no longer in circulation and have become more of a symbol of good luck in Britain. Brides still slip one into their shoe on their wedding day, a small gesture meant to bring love and prosperity into their marriage.
![British Royal Wedding Dresses Through the Years [PHOTOS]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9axQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F729df027-83d7-4575-8897-6e6ef6cdad47_800x1023.jpeg "British Royal Wedding Dresses Through the Years [PHOTOS]")
I like to imagine that the gentleman, perhaps hoping for a bit of extra luck, was also adding something personal to an otherwise simple white shirt. It made me realise how easily we can do the same by choosing cufflinks that bring a little character to our crisp spring shirts. Ultra cool!
Objects of Obsession
Nothing draws me in quite like small things. Trinkets, beauty bits, little objects for the home, it doesn’t really matter what category they fall into. A lipstick in a new shade, a different nail polish, a handmade detail, something vintage with a past. My attention always lands on pieces that feel either special in their quality or simply unique, and often both.
They’re rarely essential, but they make a difference. The kind of small indulgences that can shift a mood or add a bit of interest to an ordinary week. I tend to think of them as tiny serotonin boosts.
Lately, these are the cool bits that have caught my eye: from ceramic incense holders, to snail shell paperweights, or a shell brooch. One thing I did give in to was Les Vernis by Chanel, still one of the best nail polishes I’ve ever owned. The others are still very much on my mind, especially that little moka omg!!
Cool Movies & Not So Cool Ones
Cinema has always been one of my favourite sources of inspiration and escapism, so of course I had to sit down and watch two of the most talked-about films of the moment: The Drama and Wuthering Heights.
I have to say, my thoughts on The Drama are very positive. It really made me think without ever feeling heavy or forced. The editing is sharp, the pacing keeps you hooked, and the story slowly opens up into something bigger, a reflection on where we are as a society that feels both honest and a little unsettling in the best way. It’s exactly the kind of film I love, something that stays with you and makes you replay certain scenes in your head later on. Also, I am unapologetically Team Edward, so anything with Robert Pattinson already has my full attention. My only advice is to go in knowing as little as possible. The less you know, the better it works.
Wuthering Heights, on the other hand, really broke my heart. I had high hopes and they were very quickly brought back down to earth. Yes, it’s beautiful to look at, some scenes are genuinely stunning, but I never felt emotionally involved. It came across as a bit hollow, almost too focused on style in places where it should have let the story breathe. I completely understand wanting to reinterpret Wuthering Heights in a modern way, and I was not expecting a faithful adaptation, but some choices just did not land for me. The costumes, for example, completely took me out of it. At times it felt closer to a Taylor Swift video than a convincing world of its own.
And Catherine… I really struggled. She felt too grown for the kind of impulsive, almost reckless behaviour she is meant to embody. More than anything, I just did not feel the passion. That intense longing, that slightly chaotic love that should sit at the centre of the story, never really came through.
Maybe I am being harsh, but I was left wanting to feel something I never quite got. Curious to know what you think, did it work for you more than it did for me?
Brown Looks
I’m still not over a good brown-on-brown look. There’s something about it that just feels very me. It’s a palette I return to instinctively. What I love most is how it lets me play. This one, I have to say, I’m very proud of. It feels considered but not overworked, which is always the sweet spot.
When in doubt, I always pick one colour as the foundation of my look, then build around it with accessories. I add a touch of contrast, a hint of colour if I can, or just something unexpected. For me, it works every time.
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 and discovered 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.
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Yay for cuff links! My husband has a ton of them, all vintage (mostly thrifted by me). Your brown look is so chic!🤘💕 Thanks, Giulia!
Love to see solid perfumes being mentioned more! I am such a big fan of them. And cufflinks! they are such a great, fun, styling accessory and still quite cheap and accessible for good vintage ones more often than not