08: Not To Scale: October Shopping Recommendations
Oversized hair accessories, Marni polka dots, Shrimps, Harris Tweed, and other unintentionally British items
Not to Scale is a monthly list of everything I’ve been searching for and everything I’d recommend. Mostly secondhand but occasionally not.
1. Good Squish B-E-A-UTIFUL Scrunchie
There is no doubt that the London-based handmade scrunchie label has taken the internet by storm — an oversized accessory is universally appealing. I simply cannot stop thinking about this B-E-A-UTIFUL one. Leave it to me to yearn for an $85 silk pleated scrunchie. (I’m still going to buy it.)
2. 1960s Silk Swing Coat
I’m almost certain the best coat shape in existence is a 1960s Swing Coat – I have a black John Doyle Bishop one and a grey leather one with a fur collar. I want a silk one and then I think I’ll be set. You can omit “silk” from your search and just look for a vintage swing coat.
3. Church’s Derbies
A few weeks ago, Prada’s babysitter and the century-and-a-half-old British heritage company released their collaboration for the Fall/Winter 2023. While the partnership isn’t astounding as the Prada Group has owned Church’s since 1999, it is still nothing if not fitting. I am not shopping for them just yet because I am certainly not in the market for a $1,200 pair of shoes. (I would be if I had the money) But the collaboration has reignited my several-year-long search for a pair of secondhand Church’s.
I started to search again in preparation for the newsletter and I’ll share them here – this pair is quite similar although less chunky to the Miu Miu collaboration, these in a size 38 are great, and these in a 37 might be even better, and if I had a boyfriend that these would fit, I’d buy them.
4. Mansur Gavriel Bag
Years ago, before he was anywhere near as stable as he is now, I watched every video Charles Gross posted on YouTube. Before he had a Birkin, he has a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag. The brand’s a little older now, with much more on the secondhand market but the bags are standing the test of time.
5. Marni Polka Dot
It is actually quite difficult to do polka dots well but Marni manages.
6. Bella Freud 1970s Sweater
I pined endlessly for a Bella Freud sweater during my Polyvore days. I think sweaters are supposed to feel nostalgic. Maybe that’s half their warmth.
7. Vintage Mink Pillbox Hat
Needs no explanation. Very chic.
8. Harris Tweed Coat
“Harris Tweed” are two fabulous words to tack onto your vintage coat search if you want something really good. I’m quite partial to any of the pink and purple ones from the 1960s.
The Harris Tweed Orb logo even served as the inpiration for the infamous Vivienne Westwood logo.
9. 1960s Cat Eye Sunglasses
Also needs no explanation.
10. Voluminous Black Skirt
If you’ve followed me on TikTok for any amount of time you’ll know I include a black voluminous skirt in nearly every wishlist video I’ve ever made and I still haven’t bought the perfect one yet. I particularly like the Noir Kei Ninomiya one but I am not convinced I don’t want something with more ribbons, bows, ruching, ruffles, tiers, or volume.
Other contenders include basically anything by Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard, or Cecilie Bahnsen, of course. While none of the vintage options are quite as avant-garde as I want, they are still undeniably fabulous. I’m not sure if this 1950s pleated skirt with a velvet waistband or this 1950s velvet trimmed one is better. This silver one is pretty good too. Etsy or eBay search “Vintage Taffeta Skirt” for the best results.
11. St. John for Lillie Rubin Vintage Cardigan
The American knitwear company was founded in 1962 by former model Marie St. John and her husband Robert Gray. St. John has since become synonymous with rich old lady attire and while their recent efforts to make it relevant among a younger clientele have failed, some of the vintage pieces are shockingly good. I particularly like the line they did in the 1960s for the American retailer Lillie Rubin.
12. Osoi Brot Bag
I tried on Osoi Brot Bag for the first time a month or so ago at Pipe and Row in Seattle and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. And I’m not even a bag girl. It’s too good –undeniably modern with the closure of all my favorite vintage bags.
13. Navy Wool Pinstripe Trousers
14. Gray Pleated Chanel Skirt
There is simply no better box-pleat skirt than a vintage Chanel one. Some of them are even quite reasonable. I am looking for a gray one.
15. Mansur Gavriel Ballet Flats
Other searches include Martiniano glove shoes and Repetto Lilouh. I like how well they cover the foot.
16. Shrimps Jacket
I am honestly surprised Shrimps isn’t experiencing a larger resurgence in relevancy amid the twee-coquette-Alexa Chung-“French” girl revival. I was obsessed in 2015, two years after the British brand was founded and Alexa Chung started wearing their faux fur coats everywhere. I want a cropped one (hip length) with a nice collar.
This one Alexa Chung wore is on sale on Poshmark for $150.
17. Maryam Nassir Zadeh Carnation Scrunchie
Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s silk Carnation is another great scrunchie contender. I like the pink and the navy blue. For a significantly more reasonably priced alternative, I like these two vintage Nordstrom hair clips and this lot of 1990s hair accessories.
This was supposed to go up Thursday but unfortunately, I have a mysterious tonsil infection and all the days have blended together. Talk to you soon.
Lots of love,
Sophia