Random Recs

Random Recs: a Tekla store, Claire de Rouen, Eddie Bauer, the future of shopping and more



Tekla x Auralee

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ CLAIRE DE ROUEN is returning to Soho. The much-loved art-fashion-photography bookshop is celebrating its 20th year with a new space in the centre of town next month. It was always a fave place to buy presents for those hard-to-buy-for types and now it also promises “screenings, signings, talks and exhibitions”. Along with the likes of Donlon Books, BookMarc, Reference Point and Tenderbooks, Claire de Rouen (below) is a great example of arty, bookish hangouts as ‘cultural third spaces’ where you can meet like-minded curious types, expand your knowledge and get off your phone for a few hours.
Claire de Rouen books Soho

2/ ELISSA SANTISI – accidentally TikTok famous. ICYMI, everyone’s favourite under-the-radar stylist is under-the-radar no more thanks to her TikTok famous daughter and the NYT.

3/ A TEKLA lifestyle store is coming to Marylebone. With Mouki Mou, La Fromagerie, Perfumer H, Shreeji News and Agnès b already luring me to this sleepy neighbourhood on the regular, one more destination won’t hurt. (And I do need some new PJs.) The Tekla store on Marylebone High Street will open in late November, offering apothecary products and apparel alongside its existing sleepwear (top), socks and slippers.

P.S, while mooching down Marylebone High Street, be sure to check out Agnès b’s two new fragrances; a rose-infused eau de toilette and a woody white floral eau de parfum (with a burst of saffron to give it its rock’n’roll edge) – below.
Agnes b Eau de Parfum

4/ PATTI SMITH on notebooks and handwriting. I think we’re related.

5/ EMOTE WORLD’S perfect coat. If you’re in the market for a new coat, Jennifer Alfano just dropped a top rec in The Strategist. This nutmeg brown DB overcoat (below) is just-tailored-enough for your big city day-to-night needs.
Jennifer Alfano Emote World coat

6/ An unexpected EDDIE BAUER obsession. Discovered at a talk on outdoor wear at the University of Westminster last month, the vintage Eddie Bauer goose down gimp mask face warmer* (below) is still on my mind. We need the chic, modern-day version of this – perhaps a Craig Green-Bauer collab? Also discovered at this highly informative panel talk and exhibition, the Outdoor Recreation Archive, an amazing archive of vintage books, catalogues and ephemera (below) preserved by Utah State University. The hippie-era The North Face catalogues were particularly fascinating as well as the practical little survival booklets. (As someone with zero interest in camping or mountain climbing but very keen on keeping warm, I love all this shit!)
vintage Eddie Bauer goose down face mask
Outdoor Recreation Archive The North Face 1973-74
Outdoor Recreation Archive The North Face catalog 1983
Outdoor Recreation Archive booklet

7/ The future of shopping in the FT. TLDR: A.I will help you shop more efficiently. Also, “A.I helps shoppers spend more money.”

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Tekla; Claire de Rouen; Agnès b; Jennifer Alfano; Eddie Bauer/Disneyrollergirl; The North Face/Disneyrollergirl x2; Outdoor Recreation Archive/Disneyrollergirl
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links* and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here.

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CLICK HERE to buy my book, The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman
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Random Recs: Uniqlo’s secret sauce, Studio Nicholson, craft influencers, a secret Negroni Salon



Fantastic Man Autumn 25

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ Craft influencers. In a backlash to flattening algorithms and A.I. slop, young creatives are finding value in the imperfect qualities of analogue, tactile pastimes. Vogue Business reports on the craft creators transforming niche hobbies like scrapbooking (hi!) and journalling into fledgling brands and media platforms. (more…)



Random Recs: Materialists, Peter Hujar, Scorsese’s Armani, Sofia’s shorts



Herbert Levine by Mark Borthwick

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ Everybody’s sad about GIORGIO ARMANI’s passing R.I.P and quite rightly so. I enjoyed writing this piece a couple of years ago and especially re-watching Martin Scorsese’s short film on him, Made In Milan (below).
Armani film Made in Milan

2/ I’m very late to the MATERIALISTS party but was instantly enamoured with Lucy’s Paris Texas boots in the opening scene. Could this autumn see the return of small skirts, tall boots and black Wolford opaques? Buy the boots here* (and get the rest of the wardrobe intel here).

3/ PETER HUJAR’S DAY (below), the stream-of-consciousness film starring Ben Whishaw lands in cinemas this autumn.
Peter Hujar's Day film

4/ TONNE GOODMAN talks. If you’re a 90s nostalgist, don’t miss this excellent podcast from earlier in the year with Tonne Goodman and Paul Cavaco. (Have tissues on standby for the ending!)

5/ This summer I learnt a new haberdashery term and can’t believe I never knew about ‘cabbage’, aka “the practice of making extra garments from offcuts or leftover fabric from cutting an item”. Obviously, from now on I’m pronouncing it ‘cabbahgge’, in the style of a 1980s New York ballroom queen.

6/ Incoming: SOFIA COPPOLA boxer shorts and PJ bottoms.

7/ HERBERT LEVINE (the revived shoe brand helmed by former The Row designer Trevor Houston) has just dropped in 12 stockists including Harrods, Saks 5th Avenue and Mytheresa*. Vogue Business has a fascinating profile and this old Coveteur piece is great too. The shoes promise to be playful and practical. I like the look of this boot (below).Herbert Levine by Mark Borthwick

8/ P.S: We’ve been saying STEVE BUSCEMI’s name wrong. It’s Boo-SEM-ee, says the NYT (gift link).

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES:  Herbert Levine by Mark Borthwick; Made In Italy/Disneyrollergirl; Peter Hujar’s Day; Herbert Levine by Mark Borthwick
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links* and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here

CLICK HERE to get Disneyrollergirl blog posts straight to your inbox once a week
CLICK HERE to buy my book, The New Garconne: How to be a Modern Gentlewoman
CLICK HERE to buy my beauty book, Face Values: The New Beauty Rituals and Skincare



Random recs: Herbert Levine, A.P.C quilts, “Portfolio” and more



Herbert Levine

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ What London teens wear. (A lot of BRANDY MELVILLE and the tube is their runway.) Via Biz Sherbert.

2/ PORTFOLIO. A 1983 docudrama following model Julie Wolfe as she begins her modelling career, starring Carol Alt, Pauline Porizkova, Steven Meisel, plus a fabulous Antonio Lopez scene. Via YouTube. (more…)