According to Insta, I am currently in Europe right now… we spent a few days in London, celebrated my best friend’s wedding in the South of France, and are headed to Paris tomorrow.
I found myself in the fortunate/unfortunate situation where I needed a lot of new things this spring – and for this trip. From fabulous earrings for the black tie wedding to a new wear everyday tee to a zippered carryon bag… A few of my favorite new purchases… basically what I’m living in while overseas!
We’ve talked about my friend Elizabeth before… she was my beauty guru before we became friends and she absolutely has the most incredible skin of anyone I know. She’s taken her beauty prowess and turned it into my favorite collaboration – Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics. Elizabeth and Suzanne have created an incredible collection of natural, moisturizing skin care products – they work, they smell great, and they look great on your counter (something that is important to me – I’m more likely to use a product if I like how it looks!)
Today I’m excited to share their newest incredible product, the Vitamin C Body Oil. I got a chance to test the body oil over the last week, and it is officially added to my daily routine.
I only use natural soaps, which unfortunately leave my skin drier than I’d like. Honestly, when I stay at other people’s houses and use their normal, as-far-from-natural-as-possible body wash, it almost feels like a treat – my skin is always so soft afterwards! But, I know it’s also covered in chemicals, which is not really my thing. So I offset the dryness with copious amounts of coconut oil and lotion, but still miss the ease of “regular” body washes.
This week, I kept the body oil in the shower and applied right after turning off the water – my skin stayed soft and hydrated all day AND I smelled amazing. win, win. The oil is exfoliating and moisturizing, so it’s more efficient than my coconut oil, and it smells like a trip to the beach. Which we can all use, no matter the time of year.
New to One Love Organics? I recommend you try the sample pack… single use doses of each and every item! The body oil is joining the Vitamin D mist and eye balm (which Matt also loves!) as constants in my bathroom… I think you’ll love them too!
[Disclosure : I was sent a bottle of the Vitamin C Body Oil to test – but I buy ED for OLO with my own money all of the time and only tell you about products that I love!]
I believe America is the great innovator. Americans are inherently risk takers, we have all (either due to our ancestors or ourselves) landed here, and it is, and has always been a pretty wild place… I have a deep respect for risk takers (not only because I come from a long line of them) but because they’re always searching for something greater.
I’m always excited to discover people and companies that manufacture and design in the U.S. When I can create a direct relationship with the innovators: the craftspeople and designers; I get to know their process, the time and work that goes into making a piece of furniture, a light fixture, wallpaper, textiles, etc., it makes me a better designer.
Ultimately, I want to work with people and companies that are risk takers who are always searching for something greater, that are innovative, and who are proud of their goods.
Lake August Wallpaper | Commune Design V-lite | Seawall coffee table | Ping Pong table
When friends ask me my favorite spots for online shopping, Of a Kind is always on the list. I’ve followed this incredible e-commerce + editorial site – which launches limited edition products from emerging fashion designers each week- for years and was ecstatic when we arranged this interview. I could have talked retail and favorite designers with Claire and Erica for hours – and they come across on the phone exactly as you’d imagine on the site. Read on for more about Of a Kind – and a preview of the items that are launching this week!
Also, make sure to check out their blog, Stuff We Love, and sign up for the hysterical email newsletter – one of the few that I actually read each week! Thanks, Claire & Erica!
Gold Crescent Quill Earrings by Kyyote for Of a Kind | 45 of a kind | $88
Clare: We’d been friends since college at the University of Chicago and had both moved to New York. Erica was working in magazines and I’d been working in the art world. I felt like the future of supporting artists and creatives was on the internet, and I wanted to be a part of it. Erica was helping me edit my cover letter for 20 x 200, a site focused on introducing artists to new collectors, and we realized that we could translate that model to the fashion world. We knew that if we told the story behind the product, we could sell the work of unknown artists and designers.
We had the idea in January 2010 and launched in November 2010, focused on one of a kind pieces and content geared towards the designer – interviews, photo essays, etc.
We’re inspired by other companies in our space and in similar industries. The magazine world. The food world. We’re very inspired by other entrepreneurs:
Ten Over Six Founders Kristen Lee and Brady Cunningham have built an incredible brick & mortar business that is now five years old and still growing.
Susan Feldman, the founder of One Kings Lane. She has built a huge company that is backed by venture capitalists but is still very grounded and down to earth and she takes things one at a time.
Jen Bekman from 20×200.
The designers that we work with. It’s inspiring to be a small business that supports other small businesses. We’ve built great relationships with many of our designers and we learn from each other and can help each other.
We still love an instore experience. We are focused online but we still love to support boutiques. These boutiques support the same ecosystem that we are in and we can support each other.
Our story telling perspective is best for an online model. We grew up in small cities and towns that didn’t have many independent boutiques so we like that we have created something that everyone can have access to.
We take inspiration from the best boutiques – the owners can give you guidance as to what to wear or buy and can tell you the story behind the product. Those are enriching experiences and that is what we are trying to create online.
Launching Collections was a natural step in growing our business. As the site grew, we found that there was a need from our customers to access the entire collection from the designers we featured – either because our exclusive item had sold out, or the customers simply wanted to buy more pieces than what we were selling. Our designers also started to come to us for help in building out their e-commerce sites so we realized we could create a solution for our customers and our designers.
Collections make it easier for designers to sell their product and also provides customers with more options and selections, as well as the comfort of shopping from a site they can trust.
Champagne Diamond Tiny Solitaire Ring by Blanca Monros Gomez for Of a Kind | 45 of a kind | $215
Jeans and a flat boot, typically Loeffler Randall. Statement accessories – shoes, bags, and necklaces that can stand out when paired with streamlined clothing.
E: A Black Crane Striped Linen Top
C. Two A Piece Apart shirts and a Demylee cropped sweater – I buy a new version every year and wear them all of the time.
