You know when you’re so consumed by a very specific, very clear project you neglect (most) everything else? I love that. It’s my favorite. And I just had three days of it redesigning the Stylematch checkout flow. (If you have notes, drop them in the comments or message me!)
But don’t worry — there were four days before that started for me to shop and read and think! And since Mother’s Day is nearly upon us, here are some recommendations for gifts for the moms out there. Feel free to buy gifts for yourself.
The perfect loafer that won’t look exactly like everyone else’s and will last forever. They were waitlisted for a bit, but they’re back! And you know that means they’re in my closet. I got the oxblood, which is a really rich, warm brown that can go with pretty much any other shade of brown or black. They feel like bedroom slippers from first wear and I’ve worn them every day since they arrived (pic above from this morning in the parking lot at my office… hard to photograph shoes while you’re wearing them.) Anyway, buy them before they’re waitlisted again.
A foolproof self-tanner that won’t streak. This is my go-to self tanner. I mix it with my go-to body lotion. I like this application (drops in lotion I already use) because it’s fast, easy, and results in a streak-free color. I use the Isle of Paradise drops every other day or so during the months where my legs are exposed. One bottle lasts me a season, making it more budget-friendly than the others I’ve tried. I use medium, fwiw.
A cardigan so she won’t f***ing freeze every time she enters an overly air-conditioned space. I’ve been on the hunt for a while and these are my three current favorites: classic cashmere, chunkier Khaite-inspired, and one made from Japanese yarn that I will buy if it ever goes on sale. (Thank you Megan for surfacing that one for me!)
On that note, my thoughts keep circling back to the importance of liking the people you work with — or at least the people you work with most intimately. For me, a big part of liking colleagues is trusting them. If we trust each other and we can laugh together, we can build something together. If we can’t, we can’t. So those are my two non-negotiables. Your criteria might be different, but I think it’s worth pinning down because it can help provide clarity about where you’re at and what’s next during times of murkiness. OK back to gifts!!
A great belt, like this super-affordable one from Madewell. Belts are kind of like lipstick in that they can update a look almost instantly and with little effort. I’ve found Madewell belts to be as well made and look just as good as belts from far more expensive brands. Every time I wear this one, I get compliments. Compliments are a great gift!!
A great book — and peace and quiet to read it. Some recent titles I’ve really enjoyed: Grit (excellent motivation for anyone building something) and Glossy (about Glossier and the rise, chaos and semi-collapse of #girlboss culture). I found Glossy to be particularly interesting because it dives into Glossier’s journey not going public back when some of its contemporaries did (RTR, SFIX). Now that a few years have passed, it’s been fascinating to see how these decisions have played out. Interested to see where Glossier lands.
1 hour with a great stylist. Yes, I am biased, but I also know that every Stylematch client is getting incredible service and results. A 1-hour styling session is truly the gift that keeps on giving because she’ll get new ways to wear old favorites and a curated list of shopping recommendations from her stylist — which you could buy for her if you are so inclined!! As we’ve grown, so has our bench of talent and we have the ideal stylist for every mom out there. promise. Use code WIBRATA for 30% off because I appreciate that you’ve read this far.
And then some stragglers: I’m loving this true crime podcast. I loved this HIBT with the Drunk Elephant founder (she’s a trip!) and I ordered this silk slip dress but it hasn’t arrived yet.
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