Leave it to Anna: The Peak Bloom Edition
This week we are talking French linens, featuring a small local business, and answering the eternal question of whether or not to buy wide leg fleece sweatpants (the answer is always yes).
Welcome to the first Sunday edit of fun finds that caught my eye this week, friends asked me about, or I bought and liked. Before we dive into the substance, however, let’s take a moment and remark on the cherry blossoms at peak bloom this week. They are the equivalent of DC’s Super Bowl and the Oscars wrapped into one pink fluffy spectacle. I made my way to the epicenter of the blossoms to take some shots before the weekend rain and seeing them at peak bloom was the quintessential DC experience that I didn’t know I was missing! Even if you don’t make it down to the national mall to enjoy them, I bet you could spot some flowing trees in your neighborhood and get excited for warm weather to come.
Now that we’ve paid homage to the cherries, let’s dive right into the recommendations and shopping for tips this week. First up, let’s talk cozy. You may have seen ads pop up on your social feed for Quince, the online home of the $50 Mongolian Cashmere Crewneck Sweater. I discovered this brand during quarantine when my husband presented me with a pair of cashmere joggers, which have quickly become a part of my pandemic uniform. Since then, I have tried quite a few Quince items (these cashmere tees are my go to layers to wear under work blazers), but my recent obsession are these fleece wide leg sweatpants. The wide leg silhouette is Gen Z approved (my daughter is the resident expert in current trends) and the fleece material is truly the softest. I ordered the matching sweatshirt to complete the ensemble that I will wear on the reg for the foreseeable future. Speaking of Gen Z, this cropped tank is a wardrobe staple in the teenage fashion universe of this household.
In the Small Luxury arena this week, this affordable pointelle tank takes the front seat to our daily fashion show. It is made in Turkey out of 100 percent cotton and is the perfect base layer under any sweater or worn to bed with a pair of pajama pants. Coming in at $13.99, not sure if you have an excuse not to jazz up your undergarments situation. I got it in three colors (white, tan, and pink) and I am partial to the “wide strap” version. In full disclosure, in my eternal quest for more pointelle in my life, I also own this LESET white tee and tank, both of which are exquisite pieces that are on heavy rotation in my closet.
This week, my friend asked me where she could find a table runner to match her classic decor. Since she is also a big fan of all things French, my mind immediately turned to the French brand Garnier-Thiebault, which happens to have an outlet store right here in the DC area. If you can’t hop on the plane to Paris right now but still want high-quality French linens, this is your place! I have bought tablecloths, runners, napkins, bedsheets, and Italian cookwear here over the years. I highly recommend that you check out their outlet store in Arlington and see what treasures you can find!
In the Local Spotlight category this week, Papier Fleurs wins the top bloom award (it is the peak bloom edition of this newsletter, after all). It is a small, woman-owned business in the DC area that has been featured in many major publications, to include the April issue of Southern Living. These paper flower plants, each hand made to your specifications in a suburb of DC, take the cake for my top home decor obsession and also make an excellent gift for someone with good taste. I have accumulated a small collection of geraniums and foxgloves, with an English daisy joining the ranks most recently. I am now eagerly awaiting the most recent beauty, which will look perfect on my bedside table.
To finish up this week on an Unexpected Treasure note, an unexpected but certainly welcome treasure at my local T.J. Maxx found its way into my cart earlier this week. (Sidenote: Did you know you could shop at T.J. Maxx online? You are welcome!) While I was browsing the beauty aisles for my daughter’s favorite Mario Badescu skincare (a brand started by a Romanian immigrant), I came across a display of Bric’s Italian bags, which took me right back to our very first vacation to Italy. These bags are very versatile, made out of sturdy nylon in family factories in Como, and are perfect for travel and everyday use. I am bringing mine on our spring break trip next week! The tote bag ($29.99 for the medium and $39.99 for the large at T.J. Maxx) comes with an extra small pouch with a long strap, which can be carried as a crossbody. The envelope style crossbody ($29.99) is great for handsfree living and the strap length can be adjusted to your liking. If you are not jet-setting to Lake Como to see George Clooney just yet, this bag will do the trick for those Dolce Vita vibes closer to home.
Hope that you enjoyed the post this week and hope to see you here on the Stack again next Sunday! Until then, you can follow along on my Instagram or Facebook page. If you think your friends will like the recommendations that I sent your way, please share my newsletter with them and get them to match you in those wide leg fleece pants.
Until then,
Leave it to Anna
Disclaimer: Everything that I recommended in this post I’ve bought with my own money and on my own accord. There is no sponsored content or affiliate links involved.