Cuffing Season, Off-Whites, Ceramic Inlays and A Spring Pasta
March Extracurriculars
Last weekend I was removing a very random and very useless stretch of fencing from my yard. Fortunately for me the weather was cooperative and the previous owners did not pour concrete for the posts. The smell of the dirt however was making me so excited for warmer weather. There is something truly primal about the smell of earth and probably why they say gardening is linked to longevity.
For this month’s Extracurricular we have some spring-oriented commentary for you as we start to move a little more outdoors. To balance out the off-blacks discussion at the beginning of the month, we have some contemplations about off-whites, followed by an appetizing recipe, a dreamy apartment-scape I can’t get off my mind and get into cuffing discourse; not the autumnal coupling-up type of cuffing, we’re talking layering and dressing from your cuffs out.
It’s about to get really fun around here this spring, with new pattern releases imminent and lots to say about them, so we look forward to having you all around to let us know what you think.
Free to all today! Enjoy!
THE PERFECT OFF-WHITE
After seeing Paloma Elsesser’s town home in Architectural Digest I must get a sample can of Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, I’m hunting for the perfect off-white for the fabric shop currently. The ideal off-white can go a long way, whether as a garment or a painted interior, and look vastly different in the changing light throughout the day.
Beata Heuman just launched her collab with Mylands. Six (Eight?) of the Twenty Four colors are off-whites proving how wide the spectrum goes. She incorporates off-blues and off-oranges as well, who knew there were such things?
But again, it all comes down to the various lighting situations that really bring a space (or outfit) together.
MICRO SEASONS
Chef Sam Black writes here about eating and preserving tree blossoms and the “micro-seasons” of fruit orchards going into spring blossom. Not only do these little gems sound delicious, the idea of a “micro-season” seems quite fitting for the tumultuous nature of spring weather! We all love that one day a year we can wear a wool sweater with shorts, or sandals with a puffer jacket; embrace it!
Micro-seasons are fun for dressing, even if the season only lasts a few hours!
THOMPSON COAT SEASON
It’s Thompson Coat (or Spracket) season, with lots of new springtime versions popping up as fast as the daffodils. The perfect in-between seasonal jacket layer to top off any good collared shirt/sweater/layering mix you’ve got going on.
If you’re thinking of jumping into the spracket space here are a few fabrics we’re loving….
10oz Duck Canvas, I recently used this for a Thompson and the price is fantastic!
13oz Recycled Cotton Denim, I’m dying (dying!) to go to this store in Antwerp.
RECIPE
Summer gets a ton of hype for being the produce season. Of course it’s all great and I would seriously consider an heirloom tomato sandwich as my last meal on death row but, as a spring baby (tomorrow, the 1st to be exact) I love the softness of early spring produce. Baby everything, blossoms (see above) and radishes with salted butter.
This Micro Arugula & Burrata Trofie with Roasted Garlic by Chloe Cooks is on my list this year. If you can’t find Trofie some good subs are Strozzapretti or Cavatelli.
Buon Apetito
INTERIORS
Most of you know by now I’m renovating a house I bought last year so naturally my algo is pumping me with accounts and reels on renovations (gone good and gone horribly wrong) and interior design.
Recently I stumbled across the Paris apartment of Emanuel Ungaro and almost fell over when I saw the kitchen. It may not be your style but I found myself so in awe of the unique, yet still subtle, use of the Chinese panels for cabinetry in our bland world of builder grade particle board options.
Very inspiring unlike the current brand, sadly and respectfully.
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE
What to put in a vase already adorned with flowers? More flowers of course, it’s called maximalism. These inlaid ceramic vases from east coast based artist, Cody Hoyt, defy the usual nature of ceramic material incorporating surrealist background scapes and what almost look like pressed flowers from another world.
CUFFING DISCOURSE
À la the infamous Blackbird Spyplane, we are ready for the highly anticipated, getting dressed from our cuffs out season. With vast temperature changes from morning to evening, we are planning our spring wardrobes with our cuffs in mind. And not just our wrist cuffs, but necklines, waistbands and pants hems can come into layering-play as well. If you’re looking to level up your layering this spring, may we suggest drawing some inspiration from “cuff stacking”? Thanks to Emma, Molly, Kate and Theresa for getting in on the cuffing discourse…
NEW SUBSCRIBER PATTERN INCOMING…
Coming next week, April 8th!
Til next month…
Loved this Extracurricular! That pasta recipe… there’s truly nothing better than burrata 😍
So much to sink our teeth into! Springtime brings so much newness and promise of renewal. Not to mention that upcoming subscriber pattern: a robe? A wrap dress? A wrap dress that doubles as a robe? Either way, I’m so ready for it and all that Spring has in store, including an Ungaro kitchen thank you very much. 😂