Cool Stuff Pt.6
A round up of what inspired me this past week
Hello my dear readers, I hope your week is off to a great start. And if the stars aren’t aligning as you’d like, remember to be patient—I’m sure something good is on its way to you.
In the meantime you can enjoy the latest edition of Cool Stuff, The Inside Pocket series, where I present some inspiring and beautiful finds from the fashion world and beyond—hoping to bring you some joy and a bit of inspiration, of course. :)
Check out the previous volumes!
If you are looking for inspiration you might also want to take a look to the Visual Voyage series!
Here’s a list of things I loved this past week, as usual, in no particular order:
Brooches & More Brooches
I have an ongoing obsession with brooches, as you’ve probably noticed from my most recent notes. I adore voluminous floral ones, and the creations by Indress Paris have quickly earned a spot on my wish list. Indress has a lovely flagship store in the Marais district, which I really hope to visit in the next month or so. I’ll, of course, keep you posted if that happens.
Another thing I can’t stop talking about at the moment is this sweet silver vintage brooch I found on eBay, which I’ve been pinning to every coat I own. The naming draw is open, so please leave a comment if you have the perfect name for her!
Bill Cunningham New York Documentary
Currently on my watching list is Bill Cunningham New York—the documentary that celebrates the life and work of the late Bill Cunningham, the legendary New York Times photographer. I have great expectations towards this documentary as it’s the perfect union between the city of dreams and the fashion world. Bill was quite the character; well known for his passion for fashion, he used to fly through the streets of NYC on his bicycle, capturing the best of the city’s style. This film is said to offer an intimate look at his very low-key and unpretentious lifestyle, and his dedication to his profession and art.
I read that if you love fashion and NYC, you cannot miss this documentary. After all, New York is a living runway, and I think there’s something heroic in whoever, like Bill, works in the fashion industry for so long while preserving their humility.
And by the way, it rates 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch it here.
Talina
Behind the stunning Barcelona brand that enchanted me with its earrings there’s a lovely 27-year-old woman named María Riera. When María finished her studies, she found herself in that strange limbo—looking for a job but not ready to leave her student life behind. Out of pure boredom, she rescued her bead box, left untouched since the later days of her childhood, and started playing with it as if no time had passed. Her experiments became a much-needed escape from the challenges of early adulthood. This newly discovered and therapeutic distraction led to something beautiful—the first Talina earrings were born.
These stellar earrings quickly became the brand’s icon for obvious reasons. Characterised by the creation of multiple hoops made with wooden beads, they are simple yet certainly one of a kind. “I don’t really have a main source of inspiration,” she told me when I reached out to her. “I like to think of pieces I would like to wear. I want to have fun crafting and combining colours. Considering this is a craft from my childhood, I believe that, unconsciously, my inspiration comes from memories and interests I had as a child.” As someone who treasures childhood memories so much, I cannot explain to you how much that resonated with me.
María continued: “One thing I love about this project is seeing how people associate my pieces with very random things.” It wasn’t until I received and opened my Talina order that her words truly hit me. Immediately, the intense scent of wood from her creations reminded me of a wooden toy I had forgotten ever crossed my path but now remembered loving so deeply. A sense of nostalgia infuses all her creations, and there’s nothing more fascinating to me than an item that can carry such emotions with it.
Some people won’t be able to stop thinking about those car seat covers with wooden beads—I’m sure at least one of your uncles had them in his car. A funny reminder of how different memories connect us to the same object and how wonderful it is to be able to create something that can evoke such memories?
Every piece is made to order by María herself, with great care and love. I styled my Talinas with a very simple total black look, and the result was show-stopping. If you are looking for a conversation starter, these are the accessories for you.
Vogue Runway Exhibition
If you’re in London, you cannot miss this Vogue exhibition at the Lighthouse. VOGUE: Inventing the Runway is said to be a spectacular immersive exhibition exploring the history of fashion runway shows, from the intimate couture salons of the early 20th century to the unforgettable pop-culture events of the present. Narrated by Cate Blanchett, my favourite actress in the whole wide world, this exhibition takes the best footage from Vogue’s archive and its entire contributor network to create an experience that brings together and tells the story of the past, present, and future of the industry. I booked my tickets for next week, and I can’t wait. I’ve heard great things so far, but I will definitely give you an update.
Plus, at the same location, Vogue Conversations will take place from February to April, with names like Daniel Lee, Pierpaolo Piccioli, John Galliano, and Martin Rose leading a series of talks exploring the present and future of the industry—all included in your exhibition ticket price!
Kendall Jenner in this Schiaparelli look
Finally couture is coutiring if you know what I mean.
Japanese Romance
This one is only for the hopeless romantics. I discovered that "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" is a very poetic way to say I love you in the Japanese language. This phrase is often attributed to the popular Japanese novelist Natsume Soseki (1867–1916).
Crazy Bags
Accessories can change your look completely, but some will most definitely steal the whole show. From Moschino’s baguette bag to the JW Anderson Pigeon clutch, to finish with the Florence bag by Cult Gaia, these are the ones that I would actually buy.
Lemaire
There are few other brands that mesmerise me as much as Lemaire does. I absolutely adore everything they create, and if I could, I would buy everything and make their head-to-toe looks my entire personality. In my opinion, there is something special about creating a uniform. It won’t only simplify your day-to-day life, but it will also keep your creative peace stable. Lemaire does this magnificently, with an evident fil rouge connecting all their collections, which makes their identity so recognisable yet quiet, but for sure never boring. 10/10
This Vintage Find
This is your reminder to always look for those vintage alternatives that, at times, might turn out to be better than the high-priced choices of the day. 100% real shearling and suede, I found this hat in what probably can be called the ugliest charity shop in London. I spent £4 on it, and 2 hours of delicate shampooing and conditioning to clean it properly. The result is a lovely beige pillow box hat that is giving Pocahontas vibes but with unmatched versatility. The best find of the month!
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
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Brooch name: Phoebe!
THE EARRINGS!!! sadly brown is sold out...