TT Vol. 47

Issued By Bottega, SS21 Window Shopping, Ruby, Beverly's

Tourist Trapp

Apr 4, 2021

Clockwise from Top.

Issued By Bottega

Fresh off of deleting their social media accounts, Bottega has started a digital quarterly with images and videos of its recent collections:

This inaugural issue features Tyler Mitchell and Missy Elliott, among others. It also features some lovely jello shaped into key Bottega styles like the Lug Boot. As we’ve talked about before, the big luxury houses are continuing to get creative with how they market to their customers, and are beginning to eschew traditional campaigns on social media and in fashion weeks.

Also interesting that they did not include “Veneta” in the branding for this at all, a clear nod towards the new direction that Daniel Lee has taken the brand away from its Venetian roots.

More SS21 Newness

Continuing our Spring window shopping, I’ve been heavily researching new activewear options. It’s finally time to go back outside again! Jil Sander+, the slightly cheaper, more casual version of the sculptural Jil Sander luxury label, now has a great looking athleisure line. The best item is this $290 yoga mat:

We’re into more luxury branded wellness accessories! Give us more!

Ruby Hibiscus Water

I had the most interesting customer on boarding experience this week. Wanting to sample some Ruby hibiscus juice, I started a text exchange with someone (something?) at their start up. It ended with me being dubbed Chris The Tree Prince:

We’re not sure who did their branding, but it is very fun and different. And with so many Zoom calls, it’s important to (1) stay hydrated and (2) be drinking something interesting to make co-workers jealous. The actual product, however, was disappointing; we ordered the no sugar version, which is almost too tart to enjoy. Raquel could only take one sip, and it’s now up to me to drink the remaining 14 bottles over the next month. Maybe it’s an acquired taste and I’ll learn to love it after Bottle 7. Next time we’ll have to get the lightly sweetened version.

For Your Consideration: Beverly’s

The new home goods pop up, Beverly’s, has been all over our Instagram feeds this week. As described by T Magazine:

The fashion stylist Beverly Nguyen’s first foray into retail, the two-month pop-up shop Beverly’s NYC, will offer a tightly edited, affordable selection of household essentials — including the perfect martini glass, pepper mill and cast-iron pan, as well as olive oil she produced in collaboration with a family-owned company in Santa Ynez, Calif. — in a Chinatown space that conjures the same feelings of warmth and intimacy as the dinner parties that, before the pandemic, she threw regularly at her Manhattan apartment.

One other lovely nugget: Beverly’s was inspired by her grandmother’s hardware store in 1960’s Vietnam.

A home pop up shop seems like the perfect idea for right now. Especially one with a laid back, wabi sabi vibe to it. We’re hoping to swing by Ludlow Street to check it out soon.

Media Side Gigs

We took note when recently, the New York Times announced that its employees would now be required to seek permission to start free or paid newsletters in their personal time:

In recent years we have been happy to see an increasing number of Times journalists receive external opportunities to appear on television, write books, consult for films and beyond. But as the number and variety of outside projects have grown, we have heard reasonable questions as to whether our policies are always being applied fairly or consistently.

Managing Editor Dean Baquet emphasized that side hustles are not banned, but do require pre-clearance and need to be in compliance with the publication’s Ethical Journalism handbook.

Employees of publications like the New York Times and Vogue are using their employers considerable platforms to build personal audiences that they can use to launch lucrative careers as writers and social media influencers (such as Eva Chen, Taylor Tomasi Hill, Maria Dueñas). Increasingly, it looks like old world media players are going to push back against their employees building personal brands for fear of losing them.

Links.

Images of Central Saint Martins’ MFA program’s recent graduates design collections.

Bentgablenits, the Canadian up-cycling brand, is going to do a capsule collection with Levi’s.

The fashion tech hub in Paris.

British stylist Katie Grand is launching a new magazine called Perfect, with its first issue centered a Gucci collaboration.

ThredUp and its “resale as a service” business model.

Victoria Beckham’s namesake fashion line is reportedly flat broke.

Raquel & Chris

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