The DM | Issue Sixty One
or the one where Meg goes back to eating lettuce
Bonjour, I’m back from France! I’m sure my Instagram followers are glad as my stories were getting to the point of… Will she return? Does she live there now? Can she stop? The answer to both of those questions was, unfortunately no but perhaps someday!
While I am minutely sad about my return to normalcy, it would be remiss to start this DM without acknowledging all the atrocities we’re seeing in the Middle East. The DM is always supposed to be a place of escape but most of us (if not all of us) live in the Western world where escape (mentally, physically, etc.) is possible. I am so grateful for this freedom (of speech, of religion, of so forth) every single day and I can’t imagine what it’s like to be persecuted or live in daily fear simply for who I am. While I don’t think an Instagram post, a paragraph of words, or a single emoji of support can encompass or offer any relief to the pain we’re seeing live, I do believe there is a certain power in stating one’s solidarity out loud.
To our Jewish friends and the greater Jewish community, tanchumin. May you find small comforts where you can in the days ahead.
From Meg
Renting: from Vivrelle, which works similarly to Rent the Runway but for handbags— fulfilling my love of designer without the price tag. A Bottega Venetta Cassette bag for 110 dollars instead of 5K? Sign me up. Also, this red BV clutch is still available, just saying.
Buying: Mostly nothing because I bought half of Paris but who can resist a quality pair of socks? Socks are also the best gift. Everyone needs socks! Anyway, Comme Si makes very good ones in a variety of colors and fabrics. I recently realized it’s also an old coworker’s brand so my purchase came with a side of career FOMO but cashmere is cashmere, y’all.
Eating: I saw @aguynamedpatrick make this Molly Baz pumpkin bread with salted maple butter so I’ll be doing the same in honor of my mom’s birthday this weekend. Happy Birthday, Mom!
Wearing: One green velvet hair bow (similar one here, and cheaper one here) from Maison Caillau to an upcoming wedding in Dallas. It’s fall in Texas at the end of October… right? I first learned about this shop which only makes hair accessories from the most fashionable Becky Malinksy but I went in person and wowwow. The type of place that can only exist in Paris. If you’re going all in on a bow or a headband, the quality is fantastic and it’s all made in France since the early 1900s! They do ship internationally FYI.
Coveting: Someday, I will own these.
From Devon
Really into: these trouser-like wide-leg pants that are also super comfy, the thought of staying in this old tower Airbnb in Italy during next summer’s Europe trip, and the pumpkin-shaped Reese’s (what can I say, I contain multitudes).
Excited to: break out the quarters (and by that I mean: get cash, go to a store, use said cash to buy something, and kindly/awkwardly ask a cashier to give me quarters) to get a few cutie little mini prints from this artist’s vending machine that’s made it’s way from New York to Denver.
Attempting to rationalize: the purchase of this jacket, and perhaps maybe some long johns, too, from The Great’s new outdoor collection. Side note: they did a super fun little influencer retreat at Alisal Guest Ranch, days after I myself was lucky enough to be there, and I’ve now realized my new life goal is to be invited, anywhere, by a clothing brand to eat, drink, and wear pretty things. (That’s what manifesting or whatever is for, right?)
Drinking: Oaxacan old fashioneds, cause ‘tis the old fashioned season. And, ‘round here, it’s always mezcal season. If you want to make them batched, here’s my tried and true version. P.S. it’s an excellent party trick to bring a bottle of these boozy little babies to share and pour with pals.
Turning on: “Every Little Thing” by The Police almost every time I got into the car this past week. Admittedly, a random throwback, but it just makes things feel light and happy and dance-y for four minutes and twenty seconds, and sometimes that’s just what we need.