I’ve long admired the clothing of Japanese brand visvim, with their commitment to unique expressions in clothing. In the past, they’ve drawn inspiration from vintage Americana, Japanese Edo period garments, French workwear, Amish patchwork fabric, Native American clothing, the Alaskan outdoors, and Finnish Sami tribe culture.
Last week, they announced the opening of a new shop in Carmel, California, a small town near Monterey. It’s a super charming town that values small businesses over chain stores, so visvim founder Hiroki Nakamura decided to set up shop, saying he was “drawn to the ideology of creating a life of their own and taking pride in the culture and history of the city.”
The shop, previously a grocery store, is beautifully detailed, with a hand- carved countertop for purchasing goods, as well as snagging an espresso. The displays are also made of wood, nicely tying together the elements. I’m a big fan of a river rock floor, it gives such a tactility when you walk around a space, and the seafoam green carpet in the back ties in nicely to the waters of the Pacific Ocean, which lie only half a mile west. I’m also gagged by that hi-fi setup. You know they’re going to throw the best kickbacks there. If you’re in the Bay Area, it might be worth you time to take a day trip out of the city to check this out.
A couple of weeks ago I was on a long walk with the family, and as we wandered near the Arc de Triomf (yes, Barcelona has it’s own version lol) we came across a beautiful shop called SATTA. The multi-hyphenate brand offers a thoughtful proposition for individuals seeking a deeper connection with nature, self, and others, through a holistic design philosophy that embraces the tension between urban living and the innate human desire for biophilic experiences. Their study encompasses garments, spaces, botanicals, and ceramics, inviting individuals to slow down and find harmony within a sustainable and balanced lifestyle. As you can see in the photos below it’s evident why this place grabbed my attention. It’s serenity and calmness draws you in.
Ferragamo has launched its Fall/Winter 2023 campaign, titled “New Renaissance,” which was shot by Tyler Mitchell at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. Mitchell, who is known for his work with Beyoncé and Vogue, is one of my favorite photographers right now, his work is beautifully editorial. This campaign is no different.
The Uffizi Gallery was chosen as the location for the campaign due to its rich history and cultural significance. The campaign features a mix of classic and modern styles, with a focus on bold colors and patterns. And like, you can’t go wrong with Kelela being one of your models, she’s so iconic. Truly obsessed with this entire shoot.
It’s been 10 years since Craig Green started designing clothes and it’s incredible how he continues to reach into new spaces. He presented his AW23 and SS24 Collections this week, and each had very unique points of view, you’d be hard-pressed to know these are from the same mind if you aren’t familiar with Green’s work.
There’s the knitwear, that feels like an assemblage of blankets and sweaters, maybe colorful kites from times past. They come together in the most fascinating ways, some that feel ceremonial, others that feel organic. Then there are these sparring dummy meet Evangelion looks, the models adorned with the hulking, lifeless frames. And finally, he gave us these patchwork suits, like Gene Kelly’s Singing in the Rain attire have gone through a futuristic transformation for our modern times. It’s all so fascinating when you view it together, and truly shows how Green’s mind is so expansive, constantly reaching for new ways to think about what clothing can possibly be.
Traveling around and getting to know Spain has been a priority for Kyle and I. Slowly but surely, we’ve begun to visit the different towns along the Costa Brava, north and south of our home in Barcelona. Recently, we had a short stay in Cadaqués, which is a couple hours north, easily accessible by high-speed train followed by a curvy, mountainous cab ride. Cadaqués is well-known for being the home of surrealist painter Dalí and his wife Gala (more on that in an upcoming post) though the gorgeous, rocky beaches, white painted buildings, and painterly sunsets are the biggest draws for us.
It’s a very small town filled with friendly locals, most of which know each other, as we as MANY tourists visiting from France. Getting around town is easy, you get to know the streets rather quickly, though the hills can be a workout no matter what your level of physical activity 🥵 With all the tourism, it was a challenge to find places that were unique, offering food, drinks, or shopping that delighted us. That said, if you’re looking to make a journey, here are the places I would recommend you add to your to-do list.
Pepa
One of the best surprises was Pepa, a small clothing store that was big on carrying exciting brands. Think Loewe and Jacquemus, as well as sunglasses, swimsuits and bags that would complete any vacation look. I visited the store twice and had to fight every urge not to buy something.
Raviyu
We spotted Raviyu and (it’s charming terrace) as we drove into Cadaqués. Thankfully, it wasn’t only good looks. The wood fired pizzas were delicious, with crusts that were bubbled and lightly charred, and topped with fresh meats and veggies. To top it off, the service was friendly and the atmosphere was lively.
Salvador Dalí’s House
I mean, it would be really silly to go Cadaqués and not stop by the home of Dalí, who’s home was as odd an eclectic as you might imagine. I’ll share a bit more later in an upcoming post, suffice to say, it’s well worth your time. Be sure to snag tickets in advance, the house is small, and so are the groups you take to tour the space.
Bar Llevant
Directly across from Dali’s house is a small café called Bar Llevant, where we ended up stopping by a couple of times for food or a drink. The fare is simple, you can never go wrong with sandwiches and cava, and what really sold the place for me was the incredible warmth of the owners. Pro tip, grab your food and sit on the terrace upstairs. It’s delightful, and you can have a pause from the tourists.
Brown Sugar
There wasn’t a lot of time to visit many bars during our stay, though in my searching, Brown Sugar seemed the most exciting of the bunch. As you walk in the bar is lined with dozens of piña, perfect for making fresh piña coladas, which were delicious. The bar is tucked away in a leafy corner of the city that feels spiritually miles away from the city, and the feeling I got from the staff was “friendly hippies,” which I found charming.
Batalla
As we explored the city we happened by Batalla, which caught my eye thanks to the use of a bold, condensed, sans typeface for their logo. The restaurant has a beautiful spot on the harbor, and a delicious menu that felt like something you would find in Paris. Lots of interesting takes on Catalan cuisine, probably my favorite meal of the trip.
Joia
Every night, basically everyone in town came out to Joia for their gelato fix. EVERYONE. The place was packed every night we were there, and with good reason. Their menu has 34 different flavors, both dairy and non-dairy options, and it’s all handmade in Cadaqués.
NARITA
Sadly, we didn’t have a chance to make it to Narita though it’s hit on our list for next time. Japanese meets Mediterranean in this new-ish spot in the center of Cadaqués. The real draw for me is their selection of natural and orange wines, which based on what I saw on their Insta, is top notch.
The current (increasingly tiresome) infatuation with quiet luxury would seem to make Lemaire more relevant than ever. But only Lemaire has built so much versatility into its luxury. And the brand will continue to exist this way—well beyond the latest sneakers and store designs—no matter the trend.
That’s exactly what makes this collection feel so special. These are clothes which, if you saw someone wearing them on the street, you may do a double take. There a chic, effortlessness to the pieces, an extra ordinary quality. It’s so rad to see Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran continue to raise the bar on easy essentials. If I could dress like this every day I would, especially as I get older.
