6 Gems! vol. 24: Brazen more-ness.

Substack is land of less. But sometimes I am a lot. That's ok too.

Sitting here in a cafe in a literal calm-before-the-storm moment. We are in the midst of American and global losses, full to the brim with heartbreaks. But I am a compartmentalizer. I box up my weeping and dole it out to myself when I’m ready. Anyone else? This, below, is a letter of in-your-face pleasures. Use them when/if you need them.

On Substack we are thinkers. And we do good. We are tender. We care for the environment. We try to stem our shopping. We try to do the right things. In the words of Squeeze “I want to be good is that not enough?”

This week, 6 Gems for those in the mood to buck the hypo. At least hypothetically.

1. Criminal Attorney I found myself needing a new podcasts as I’m without Something Was Wrong (between seasons) and Queen of the Con isn’t publishing fast enough for me (gotta floss nightly and I am not willing to do that alone with my thoughts). Found this was JUST what I needed. It’s smart, different, surprising and true. A prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney who does baddddd things.

2. Cometa top: At this point you all know I’m obsessed with my friend Valeria, a local independent Miami designer. I’ve given you peeks into her studio via Substack Live (yay!), viewing a new collection and selecting fabrics. On my last visit, I fell upon a piece that really got me going. It’s a top; the one I saw in studio was black denim. The front is like the sweetheart neckline of a dress. It criss crosses in back with a comet-like trail that falls away. You know I love a third piece. This one is stunning. But more than that it just slips over your head. No sizing required! I obviously needed one immediately (mine will be gray denim; just saw samples!). But I also think it’s an amazing gift. And entree into this world of custom, independent — and sustainable. Everything Valeria does is intentional around use of fabric and resources, not a scrap is scrapped. BUT, this piece is the perfect extra. How do you wear it? I asked. On EVERYTHING. Over a tee, a sweater, a BLAZER. More. More. More. How do you like it? (Me: A. lot.) DM to order.