Cool Stuff Pt.9
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!
Sisterhood
In the July issue of British Vogue (|which sometimes lacks the magical, creative appeal I’ve seen in other editions of Vogue) I actually found some very good articles this month. The one that sparked my interest was a tender piece about sisterhood. If you're lucky enough to have a sister, you might know how intricate, irreplaceable, and intense this relationship can be, so I was hooked.
Esther Freud, sister of British designer Bella Freud (who has the most amazing podcast in the fashion world right now), describes sisterhood as a constant back and forth, a need to protect, and a very specific type of… envy.
Reading it, I found myself thinking of my own sister, Simona. We couldn’t be more different: she is sharp where I am soft, spontaneous where I am cautious, and, to be fair, way funnier than me. And yet, there’s no one who sees me more clearly, or who can set me off quite so easily. Ours, like many more sisters’ out there, is a bond shaped by both admiration and friction, that unique push and pull only sisters know.
In Esther’s new novel My Sister and Other Lovers, out on the 3rd of July, she turns her lens inward, tracing the lives of two sisters as they navigate love, memories, and the stories they’ve inherited. It’s said to be a subtle, slow-burn kind of book—which I’m very much in for. I ordered it right after reading their Vogue article, for the familiarity it inspired in me.
My subscribers chat will be open for any booktalk, of course.
Silver Renaissance
As an olive-skinned brunette, I always thought that gold jewellery would be my best bet. But with summer literally bursting through my door, I found myself in need of a touch of light, a type of brightness that only diamonds and silver can give. Diamonds I may not afford, but silver… oh silver I can.
So here I am, with a new bulletproof set of jewellery: ring, bangles, and earrings, that are making any outfit sparkle. Big thanks to the Jenny Bird team, who last week landed at Liberty London, the historic shopping mall, with one of the cutest events I’ve been to recently. Among flowers, tiny tacos, and shiny bangles, we built this stack that not only hasn’t left my wrist in days, but has also become a staple in my styling kit.
Penelope Cruz for Ralph Lauren, 2001
Nothing to add, but this has been printed in my head since 2001.
Face Mists
Hear me out—I had no idea what a face mist was until I started seeing them everywhere. Rhode just launched one, Summer Fridays has one, Aesop, Laneige, and so on. I asked you guys what your take on it was, if this was just another way for capitalism to sneak into my wallet, making me want a thing I didn’t even know I needed. And you delivered, as usual!
So, after realising how little I actually knew about it, I decided to dig in and landed on the Dew Halo Niacinamide & Blackberry Glow Mist by PSA. And oh my, oh my… can I say it’s now my entire personality without sounding mental? Probably not. But hey, you’ll see me spraying it on my face constantly, and my skin looks insane.
Apparently, summer skin really does need more than just SPF (here’s my favourite, by the way). A good mist cools, calms, hydrates, and adds that dewy freshness that says: I’ve been drinking water. I keep mine in my bag, but I’ll soon buy one for my desk and one for the fridge —because yes, it’s my new obsession.
What’s your take on face mists? Please let me know if you have a favourite one!
The Witch of Positano
While researching a little summer escape to Italy, I fell into another rabbit hole: the story of Vali Myers, also known as the Witch of Positano. The feminist in me always feels a little uneasy when people call a woman a witch but you know what? Just let them. Because I am sure this witch really did not care.
Vali was a flame-haired Australian artist and dancer, who ran away from post-war Paris to retreat to a crumbling 18th-century house tucked high above the cliffs of Positano. She lived there surrounded by animals, incense, foxes, and talismans, creating artworks full of wild women and mythical creatures.
With her kohl-lined eyes, henna-stained hands, and eccentric spirit, she became a symbol of true bohemian freedom. She hated fame and money, and she lived on her own terms. And even if I’m not suggesting you drop everything and go live with foxes in the wild, I still think there’s so much to learn from stories like Vali’s. She loved nature and followed her true spirit; loving deeply and embracing what I call a real bohemian soul.
If you want to know more about Vali’s story, there’s a book about her life by Gianni Menichetti, her longtime partner, and a couple of documentaries and films: Vali: The Witch of Positano (1965), The Tightrope Dancer (1989), Painted Lady (2002), Death in Port Jackson Hotel (1971), and Patti and Vali (1973), where Vali tattoos Patti Smith. (!!!)
Pareos
A moment for this look I pulled out for a Monday morning. Quite impressive considering Mondays are the most uninspired days of my working week. That green thing is not really a pareo — it’s a Nanushka top that flattens my breasts so much it risked being sold one too many times. All until I managed to find this new way of wearing it, very Substack inspired. A reminder to give all your clothes a second chance before saying goodbye!
I love the braids; they give a little touch to the most basic of outfits.
On pareos, I wanted to bring your attention to a very conscious brand I recently discovered and that got my money so. damn. fast. I am talking about House of Manus, by the lovely Sophia. You know I love small independent brands that are taking it slow and have sustainability at their core. Sophia is doing exactly that, giving antique curtains a second life, creating these wonderful pieces by hand in Barcelona.
Being a small brand and trying to be conscious makes these pieces even more precious, as they are hard to get your hands on. I’m not sure when the next drop will be, but I’m sure you can follow them on Instagram to learn more about it. Good luck!
I ordered the Camila Scarf and I cannot wait to receive it! I am very much looking forward to styling it in all the different ways Sophia did. I will obviously report back.
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, but 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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I always use Avène Eau Thermale facial spray.
that silver jenny bird ring <333