Issue #132: I shoes you
Good morning, shoppers!
Hello from a wild card Friday edition! We figured, hey, it’s one of the last summer Fridays of the year, why not start the pals off with a lil surprise? We’re both having what some (some!) might call Shark August: Never stop moving, lest you…whatever happens when sharks stop moving. I don’t know, I’m not a sharkologist. The carry-on bag has residency next to the door, because we’re just going to need it again next weekend, wherever that takes us.
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Kase + Maggie
I spent most of last week in Portland, Oregon, a wonderful place that I keep returning to for many reasons. One of my all-time best friends lives there, I get to go on long, aimless runs surrounded by lots of trees, there are roses everywhere, the parks look like FernGully, the food is incredible, and it’s not too far from the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton. For the second time in my wonderfully unbelievable life, I visited the Nike Company Store to stock up on deeply discounted sneakers (I still can’t believe I got to go again). Air Maxes, Air Force 1s, Daybreaks, this haul was some of my best work. But one pair’s already earned a place in my heart. These green and grey suede Air Max 90 Premiums are my favorite find because the colorway reminds me of the city itself, marked by grey bridges and skies dotted by towering evergreens. Every time I slip them on, I’ll think about how much I loved my time there. –MC
Never have I ever gone to the eye doctor and walked out thinking, “hmm, yes, I understand what I just paid for, the cost seems reasonable, and I do not feel I am being penalized for my impaired vision. Hooray!” (Fun fact, I realized I had bad vision after reading the Babysitter’s Club Little Sisters installment where Karen can’t read the board and gets headaches and discovers she needs glasses. Same, gal!) For example, I recently paid $25 for the privilege of having a tech hold a thingy (technical term) up to my face to measure how far apart my pupils are, write it down on a Post-It, and hand it to me. Twenty-five human dollars. That said, I do cherish a pair of Fun Glasses, and love how if I decide to forego contacts for the day, my glasses are all the decoration I feel I need for my face. Since college, I’ve rocked a series of what one friend described as “big red goggles,” translucent red plastic oversized frames. It’s a lot of look, but I’m a lot of personality, so it works out. I’ve been jealous of people who have a whole ding dang collection of frames, but I wear contacts 90 percent of the time, and I’m useless at keeping track of my prescription, so I haven’t felt like I can justify them. This genius pair, with its interchangeable magnetic frame covers, looks like it’s going to be a game changer, if I can only find that gold-plated Post-It to give them my deets. –KW
Despite not drinking coffee, I was quick to pick up this tray from Portland coffee shop Never during my visit. Never’s merchandise is right up my alley – minimal design with thoughtful touches that make this piece something that works as well holding candles on my kitchen table as it does displaying jewelry on a nightstand. It might say never, but when it comes to buying homewares at west coast coffee shops, I say always. –MC
It’s possible that I scroll Instagram just a little too much. Have you ever closed the app, then realized that you immediately opened it again, without even realizing what you were doing? Neither…have I? Cough. Anyway, I found out about washable silk through the unavoidable wealth of targeted ads between my friends’ very cute babies and very questionable meals (lighting is everything). It looked nice, but the price tag gave me pause. Until I was in Atlanta this past weekend, that is, and my Instagram came to life with a storefront for the very brand that’s been all over my feed. And I made what may have been a huge mistake. Reader, I touched the silk. It was…soft is the wrong word. I heard a hallelujah chorus. My skin got better when I touched this. I suddenly didn’t miss that one spot on my knee every single time I shave. My front garden looked like I knew what I was doing. My child didn’t have to be asked to do stuff twice. I was changed. Unchanged: The price. Thirsty to live a life wrapped in silk, I took to the internet. Never mind the package of yardage that’s already arrived at my place, ready to be turned into tops and dresses and whatever I desire, this ethical brand has amazing prices. I’m eyeing this gorgeous hot pink shirt, but honestly I’m also wondering if I could get away with wearing silk pajama pants as daytime clothes. Nobody needs to know, right? —KW
Let me preface this section with a disclaimer: I am not and will never be a backpack girl. When it comes to a weekend trip, you’ll find me with a duffle bag slung over my shoulder, or pushing a reasonably sized carry-on suitcase. Backpacks? They’re for children and men on the subway who don’t seem to understand they should take them off when on a crowded train. That was until last week when I (surprising to no one) bought more sneakers than I could cram into my trusty Away and being that I would die before ever checking a bag, I had to devise a plan. One swift trip to Nordstrom Rack later, I was the owner of this Adidas Iconic Stripe backpack which managed to fit two pairs of shoes, my laptop, water bottle, all of my chargers, two books, two apples, a mug and two tote bags. Did I look like a fifth grader very into a Yeezy-inspired aesthetic? Absolutely, but at least I didn’t have to wait at baggage claim. –MC
Target won’t let me forget that it’s back to school season, which means teachers all over the place are dipping into their own bank accounts to outfit their classrooms and make sure that kids have everything the need to succeed. Add a visit to Donors Choose to your shopping list to help fulfill a teacher’s classroom wishlist today.