SAMIRA NASR
EDITOR IN CHIEF

PERSON

Courtesy of Cleo Wade

When I think of one person who consistently puts goodness out into the world, I think of Cleo Wade. Her latest book, In a World of Sunrises: 365 Days of Heart, Soul, and Hope, is a collection of poetry, prose, inspirational quotes, and mantras for a daily dose of kindness and sorely needed optimism. On top of being a New York Times best-selling author, she is also just one stylish mama. I couldn’t be happier to have her as this edition’s featured person. Here, some of her favorites.

Top row (from left to right): Cleo in jewelry from Lisa Eisner and House of Harlow; the New Orleans Jazz Fest; an L.L. Bean tote.

Second row (from left to right): Manolo Blahniks; Cleo in a striped tee from La Ligne; Case for Making watercolor paints.

Third row (from left to right): Watercolor paper and postcards from Arches and Strathmore; the Reparations Club bookstore in L.A.; Cleo in discussion with Symone Sanders at Baldwin & Co.

Bottom row (from left to right): Post-it notes; Isla Snow Scrub; Cleo in vintage Celine by Phoebe Philo for a New York book-tour stop.

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PARTY IN A SHOE:

These Manolo Blahniks are my favorite shoes. Whenever I finish a book, I buy myself something novel and exciting. I got these when I finished my latest book, In a World of Sunrises. My day-to-day dressing is very practical: oversize sweaters, rewearing the same jeans with my partner Simon’s T-shirts or button-ups. I spend 80 percent of my time in stuff that is comfortable to write and mother in, so I like my little (or in this case, splashy) treats to feel eccentric and celebratory.

 

JEWELRY MIX:

My favorite jewelry to mix is Lisa Eisner and House of Harlow. Nicole Richie and Lisa are two of the most stylish women I know, and I love everything they make. Seen in the photo above is a turquoise necklace Simon got me for Christmas from Lisa (it’s the birthstone of my five-month-old daughter) and my favorite raw-emerald strand Nicole makes. The little earrings peeking out are vintage that I found in Wyoming. 

 

CAN’t-MISS MUSIC EXPERIENCE:

My favorite place is New Orleans (my hometown) during Jazz Fest. This year, I watched Nas in the rain from the Congo Square tent. It was beautiful. Everyone should experience Jazz Fest at least once in their lives. The food, the music, the people … there is nothing like it in America. You can just be walking to grab a shrimp po’boy and stumble upon a tribe of Black Masking Indians parading down the road. 

 

VINTAGE RENTAL:

My bestie/stylist Shiona Turini introduced me to this amazing archive, Callen Archive, and we rented a vintage Celine by Phoebe Philo look for my New York book-tour stop.

 

GO-TO TOTE:

You really can’t go wrong with a classic L.L. Bean tote. I know I am not unique in this being my go-to. But it really does fit everything. My favorite travel uniform is a baseball hat, a cotton trench coat (the one you can barely see in my photo is vintage Jil Sander), and this giant canvas tote.

 

PERFECT STRIPED TEES:

My favorite striped tees are from La Ligne! They also make my favorite sweaters and even the very fabulous leopard coat seen above. So I guess they make a lot of my favorite things! Lucky me, my best friend Molly is the founder!

 

FACE SCRUB:

My favorite face scrub is Isla Snow Scrub. I don’t know much about beauty products, but this really gets the week off your face.

 

ESSENTIALS FOR WRITING AND DRAWING:

NOTE POEMS:

Midori MD make my favorite unlined notebooks for jotting down poems.

 

YELLOW LEGAL PADS:

These Mead pads come in packs of three. I prefer unlined. They are light, which makes them great for traveling and easy to keep in my bag when running errands. I keep yellow legal pads all over my house: one on my desk, my kitchen, my bedside table. I remember, as a teen, reading that Maya Angelou wrote her drafts on yellow legal pads, so what started as copying one of my favorite writers turned into a way of life. Even my kids have their own yellow pads.

 

STICKY NOTES:

I really could not function without Post-it notes. I use them for writing and remembering, and even sometimes I will leave a sweet note to Simon on the bathroom mirror. I like the longer rectangle ones.

 

WATERCOLOR PAINTS:

My favorite watercolor paints are by Case for Making. I use these paints for fun and when I’m illustrating my children’s books. I love the colors and their buildable palettes, as well as their prebuilt palettes. They are incredibly chic and cheerful. 

 

WATERCOLOR PAPER:

My favorite watercolor paper is Arches! But there are so many great ones, and if you’re just starting out, no need to get the expensive stuff.

 

WATERCOLOR POSTCARDS:

I also love traveling with watercolor postcards. These Strathmore ones are inexpensive and feel like an extra special way to let people know you’re thinking of them.

 

FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY BOOKS:

ONLINE:

Bookshop.org is so great. They have everything, and checkout is so easy, especially if you have Apple Pay.

 

IN PERSON:

My favorite bookstore in New Orleans is Baldwin & Co. and Reparations Club in Los Angeles. They are both Black-owned, with incredible selections and awesome events.

PLACE

Courtesy of Samira Nasr

A friend once told me that eyewear is the most important investment because it’s an accessory for your face. Up until then, I had never really given eyewear much consideration. I have always loved a classic Ray-Ban and cherished a pair of vintage Persols that I purchased many years ago from my friend Selima of Selima Optique. I have friends who accumulate new eyewear like candy. (I’m talking about you, Monica and Tracee.) For some, it's an obsession, and only now do I really get it. Good eyewear is, well, good. And it’s important for not only its function but also the way it frames your face and presents it to the world. I have seen great frames at Warby Parker and have enjoyed wearing eyewear from my favorite designers, but there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that can prepare you for the first time you wear a pair of frames by French-born and now L.A.-based Jacques Marie Mage. I blame my brilliant colleague Miguel Enamorado for my new addiction. JMMs, as they are referred to by connoisseurs, are like the Maybach of eyewear. Each detail is considered, from design to materials. Each style is produced in limited number, which means when it’s gone, it’s gone. This week, JMM is opening its first-ever boutique in NYC’s SoHo, and the store itself is as thoughtful as the eyewear it offers. You just have to go see for yourselves.

THING

Courtesy of Samira Nasr

For as long as I can remember, I have never loved shorts. I think I wore them in summer as a kid, but I don’t think I ever felt great in them. In fact, the only version of shorts that I have worn and still love are denim cutoffs at the beach. This all changed last summer when Supreme released a weird-length version in black leather. (I love leather in the summer. Have we talked about this yet?) Anyway, on that very day, my outlook on shorts shifted. I wore those shorts a ton last summer and quickly purchased this year’s version in burgundy leather, which I plan to wear with simple ballet flats or my new favorite Phoebe Philo clogs. I also noticed that more designers are offering their own take on this odd-length short, and I love them! They are great for summer anywhere. Day to night. Dressed down or up. With a blazer or a jean jacket or a Chanel tweed quelque chose. I was even thinking they would look fab with a strappy pair of sandals. I love them so much that I think you need a pair. Here are four of my favorites, including the leather pair I got from Supreme:

Celine

Wardrobe.NYC

Supreme

The Row

Happy shopping, and tell ’em I sent you. 

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