Introducing the Party Line Mailbag! 💌

If you have a question you need answered or are looking for something in particular, shoot me an email, D.M. or comment, and I’ll answer as best as I can.

• “I want beaded jewellery that doesn’t cost the earth. I do not want to pay extortionate sums for cute, fun costume jewellery! And I want embellished ballet flats. Yes, I am a magpie.”—Naomi

1. Costume jewelry: This is always a struggle for me, too. I love brands like Lizzie Fortunato, but the price keeps going up and up. I source most of my costume jewelry on eBay, Poshmark, and TRR. You can look for popular brands that are (usually) heavily discounted or specific search terms, like “beaded coral necklace.” You can dig up a lot of fun vintage and unique items this way. I buy clip-on earrings to turn into brooches and pendants. I also love Etsy for finding handcrafted pieces. I look at At Present a fair amount. When you’re in NYC, I’ll take you to Pippin Vintage Jewelry in Chelsea.

2. Embellished ballet flats: I’m partial to Loeffler Randall (CC: ), but if you are not into the bows, check out options from Tory Burch.

• “Laundry detergent, organization systems for accessories, is there such a thing as a chic backpack?”—Meg

1. Laundry detergent: (Please note I do not have a washing machine, but this is still a topic I am passionate about.) I have to admit: I love Tide. I am also interested in testing the Tide evo tiles. They were highly ranked by Jeeves on TikTok. I use Eucalan to hand wash my knits—but if I had a machine, I would wash them on delicate. I have been enjoying Dirty Labs as well. I used to be a devoted Laundress fan until they had the recall. I have not tried since they relaunched, but their products are excellent.

   

2. Organization systems for accessories: I am still trying to figure this out. I personally do not love inserts for my bags (but I know others swear by them). I use a lot of little pouches to hold things. I collect Céline zippered pouches, purchased from eBay, Poshmark, and TRR. I also like these mesh ones because you can see what’s inside.

3. Chic backpacks? I have had my eye on this vintage Gucci backpack ever since I saw my friend’s suede one. However, I am guessing you are asking about for work. So, no … but there are some less offensive ones. I say go for a sleek design in black, preferably leather: Maison de Sabré / Lo & Sons / Métier (wish this was in my budget) / Etsy / The Horse / Cuyana

• “I feel like you have a really good, niche, high-quality sock recco.”—Zoe

Zoe, my friend, the answer is closer to you than you think. Marks & Spencer! Over the past year, I’ve spent way too long trying to find good socks. I have purchased chaussettes of varying prices. I love Falke socks and the colors they come in, but holes wear in them too easily in the wool ones. On my trip to Ireland and London this spring, I found the best socks at good old M&S (if you are not familiar, a it’s a U.K. department store and grocery hybrid). They have a variety of styles. I am most fond of the Supersoft ones. I haven’t experimented much in the fashion sock realm, so I am open to any recs there! I do have my eye on the Maria la Rosa laminated socks.

Supersoft Crew Socks / Cotton Ribbed Socks / Supersoft Striped Crew Socks / Cotton Sporty Crew Socks

A few other socks I am a fan of: EnerWear Merino Wool Hiking Crew Sock in Maroon, J. Crew Socks, Kotn, and Uniqlo.

• “Please talk about linens, your family has beautiful linens!!! 🗣️”—Rebeca

My friend Rebeca asked me about linens, which is a favorite topic of mine. Let’s save that for another time since there's plenty to say on the subject.

GIFTED GOODIE BAG:

I'm very lucky to receive a fair amount of PR, both personally and through work. Since it is often too much for me to truly use, I share the products with friends and family so I can get their reviews. I am grateful for all the gifting I receive, but I want to make sure I am only recommending what I actually like and would purchase myself.

Here are a few things I received in the mail recently that I have been enjoying. (I do not have promo codes for these, but if you are interested in one for a particular brand, please let me know!)

• Merrell (yes, the slip-on sneakers from elementary school) reached out to me this week, offering to send me some shoes. I honestly couldn’t be more excited because as much as I love a chic heel, I love a comfy shoe more. I currently own a pair of Encore Ice 5 Mules that I use as my cooler (but not freezing) month “around the neighborhood/on my way to Pilates” shoe.

• Merit, which I have been using on-and-off since they launched, added me to their PR list. Thank you!!! Here are a few favs: the Clean Tubing Mascara (they sent me black. When this tube is complete, I will repurchase in brown), the Great Skin Glow Serum (yes, I realize I am very late to this), the Tinted Lip Oil, and the Brown Tint (*not gifted*—I purchased this myself and really love it).

• Ann Mashburn, which I learned about from their greatest brand ambassador, , sent me a pair of camo pants and espadrille flats. I have not worn the pants yet, but the espadrilles have been in endless rotation. They are extremely comfortable and seem to go with everything.

• Margaux recently gifted me the Palermo Sandal. I love that they offer BIG and WIDE sizing!!! Last summer, they sent me the Soleil Sandal, which is also in my summer rotation.

• I have been using the Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Clearing Serum for a few years now. I first picked it up at Stalle Studios. It is always fun when a brand that is already part of your life offers to send you something. I already finished the bottle of SPF and am nearly done with the Cleanser. I will be purchasing all of these.

• Contessa Mills sent me an INCREDIBLE dress this spring. I just haven’t had a place to wear it yet. She's a designer worth keeping on your radar.

• I mentioned this before in a note—Citizens of Humanity (a brand I have been wearing since middle school!) sent me a few summer items. The Lindz Easy Straight jeans are a perfect cut and ideal for a short-torsoed girl like me. Another item that has entered the summer rotation. (On that note: as much as I wear and love white clothing, I am notorious for staining everything. Miss Messy Mouth and OxiClean White Revive have become my two best friends.)

• Versed sent me one of their lip sets. They weren’t quite the right color on me, so I gave them to Sloane, who can pull off a brown lip better than me. I have watched her obsessively use the products over the last few months. She highly recommends—plus they are listed at a very friendly price!

• My friend Georgie FuTong is now representing the cool British perfumer Ffern. Her team has graciously gifted me a few products. I am enjoying the Summer 2026 fragrance (Green Knight) in both candle and eau de parfum form.

  ---

Do you have something you are searching for or a question you need answered? Please comment below or send me a D.M.!

Until next time,

GW x

I love my friends! That’s no secret. But one thing I especially love about them is their unique sensibilities.

Introducing this week’s Party Line Co-Host, Mason Galloway! We met in 2018 while both working at Lingua Franca. Now based in L.A., Mason has a sharp sense of humor and a discerning eye for design, which is worth paying attention to.

I’m Mason, taking over Party Line this week. I’m an interior designer based in Los Angeles, and I also do the occasional random creative project on the side. Depending on how much I like you, I’ll tell you I’m from London, Switzerland, or Kentucky. All of which are true—the level of transparency is just dictated by the vibe of the interaction.

My default answer is usually to skip over it entirely and ask where someone else is from. I’ve found that focusing on the other person makes everyone think you’re much more interesting than you actually are, when really you’ve just been a good listener.

I need a rebrand [on Instagram]. I mostly post on Stories. I'm a little cagey about social media because it's really not "real life," and I'm scared to see who follows whoever my current lover is.

My taste is a bit all over the place, so consider my Goodie Bag less a shopping guide and more a list of things I’ve become weirdly attached to.

Vintage Gucci Tote: I really want a vintage Gucci tote. It occupies the same space in my mind that a Goyard bag did before the fake invasion. I usually find them randomly on Depop or from Japanese eBay sellers for somewhere between $150–300. Are they real? Who cares? I think the more important question is: does it look believably beat-up and early-2000s? Once my ADHD brain locks onto the right one, I’ll wear it all summer with linen pants and Havaianas.

Aesop Burner: I bought this maybe five or six years ago and still use it multiple times a week. I’m a bit of a candle magpie. There’s something chic about having five or ten candles around the house in various stages of burn-down, but the oil burner scratches that same itch while letting me swap between different scents.

I use a few Aesop oils, but I’ve also found some wonderfully weird ones at farmers’ markets. It also makes a great gift because it sits somewhere between home fragrance and objet d’art. It’s absurdly heavy, too.

Motra: You need an Apple Watch for this, which is unfortunate because I’m generally an Apple Watch hater. I bought the Ultra, but literally only wear it in the gym.

This app has completely changed the way I train. I’m not anti-personal trainers, but my gym is basically one trainer for every member, and I see a lot of ten-set nonsense. Which is totally fine if you’re happy spending $150 a session. Personally, I’d rather have my nutrition and training dialed in before paying someone to make me do shoulder rolls.

A$AP Rocky Ray-Ban Puffers: For anyone who likes Wayfarer-adjacent frames. I'm enough of a freak that I knew the model number (SL28) of the Saint Laurent sunglasses I wore for nearly ten years before switching to a pair of Celines for another three or four. Over the past year, I've actually tried to branch out and found a few Jacques Marie Mage frames I love, along with these Puffers. I only own the black pair, but I've been eyeing the brown and pastel pink for months.

Adderall XR 10mg: Gracie, can I promote prescription meds here? I recognize everyone’s experience is different, but this has genuinely changed my life. I put off getting help for my mental health for... two? Three? Five years? (With ADHD being one of a few issues, lol.)

It actually took one of my best friends getting on Adderall and completely turning his life around for me to realize, “Hey, I might need some help too—and that’s okay.”

Finding a good doctor when you’re struggling isn’t always easy, and I gave myself a million excuses, but no one is going to make that appointment for you. Maybe if you’re reading this and you’ve been debating getting help, this is your sign. :)

Mercedes SL55 AMG: I bought my last two cars new. I’ve learned my lesson.

Next year I’m planning to replace my current one with a 2023 or 2024 Mercedes SL55 AMG—a fun little break from SUVs. A friend recently moved into the Santa Monica Mountains, where they shoot a ton of car commercials, and I can’t wait to drive up there.

Human by Nature Shorts: I’m fully here for the short-shorts-with-vintage-athletics trend, and Human by Nature has a selection that would take you a lifetime to find in actual vintage.

I wear them with a white tee or tank, sometimes an Oxford shirt, plus loafers or Havaianas. Maybe I’m delusional, but I think they somehow thread the needle between Social Register prep and SoCal.

CDG Sunscreen Fragrance: I bought this after smelling it at Merci in Paris. It somehow smells like sunscreen and chlorine, but in a really good way. On paper, it sounds similar to Vacation’s perfume, but it’s much less sweet and feels more sophisticated. Highly recommend.

Now, a few rapid-fire “What’s the best … ” questions:

Thing you’ve purchased recently? New AirPods. I kept putting this off because I had “working” (debatable) AirPods, but I finally lost them. I got the new pair engraved with “god’s favorite.” No comments please lol.

Lunch spot in your city? Beverly Hills Juice. Not really a lunch spot, but I love how unapologetically L.A. it is. Go at off-times—there’s almost always a line.

Place to people watch? Livingroom. It’s a private members’ club in Hollywood for music people. I’m going to leave it at that. I don’t want to get in trouble or say too much about who hangs out there.

Account to follow? Emily Oberg (@emilyoberg). She’s the founder of Sporty & Rich. I’m always sending her posts to friends, calling her “me muse.” I honestly don’t know how that—or the typo—started. I appreciate that she’s completely, unapologetically unrelatable. In a world where everyone online is trying to be relatable—or terrified of saying the wrong thing—I find it refreshing.

Website to browse? I’ve discovered so many DJs and remixes on SoundCloud, and even found artists performing near me. Flirted with a few, too.

It can feel intimidating at first because you wonder how everyone finds all this music, but once you start liking tracks and following artists, the algorithm does a surprisingly good job. I use it every day now.

Piece you’ve read recently? A novel about a Swedish serial killer (The Spider). It’s rare that I finish a book cover to cover these days, but it was a great beach read if you like crime thrillers.

Item on repeat? It’s a tie between Opalescence whitening gel and Biore UV sunscreen.

For the whitening gel, you get custom trays from your dentist and use the gel syringes during an initial whitening phase before switching to maintenance as needed. It’s the only thing that’s consistently worked for me.

The sunscreen is Japanese. I either order it from YesStyle/Stylevana or beg anyone currently in Japan (shout out to my friend Niven) to bring me back a few tubes. I’ve tried expensive French sunscreens, Korean sunscreens, American sunscreens, etc., and I still think this beats all of them. Most importantly, I’ve never been burned or broken out while wearing it.

Thank you for reading along! Stay tuned for more newsletter co-hosting—and dispatches from me!—coming up. If you want to be featured or know someone I should feature, please let me know!

Until next time!

GW

Thanks for reading Party Line by Gracie Wiener, a New York-based writer covering culture, parties, and everything in between. Em dashes used liberally and without apology.

In June, I traveled through Greece for three weeks. Grecotel very kindly hosted me at two of their properties for a week. The Dolli, in Athens, is an art lover’s hotel. Their collection floored me. I also loved the incredible spread of homemade sweets that greeted you in the lobby every day. Forty minutes southeast, on the coast, Cape Sounio sits on the cerulean blue Myrtoan Sea, under the Temple of Poseidon. This setting creates an indescribable magnetic pull and centering, especially since the ruin is never out of view. The full moon rises over the Temple, and the hotel hosts a ceremony, which is now on my bucket list. I could not recommend these hotels enough.

The following two weeks, I visited Milos, Sifnos, and Athens (again). Athens is one of the coolest cities I have been to. It has an incredibly complex, layered history, from which a distinctive creative energy has blossomed. I want to take a separate trip so I can experience Athens on its own. Sloane and I are finishing up our guide. However, feel free to ask for specific recommendations before that comes out!

Now, time for business. In no particular order …

• CLOTHES: The MVP clothing item of my trip was this custom-made sheer jacquard brown silk skirt. I found it on Etsy while searching for something that would make me feel like Danielle Haim on the “Relationships” single cover. It’s one of those pieces that is easy to throw on and goes with everything. I wear it with a pair of Matteau brown high-waisted full coverage swim briefs underneath. (I lost the top to this bikini set, so glad I found a new use for the bottoms.) Also pictured is the If Only If Iris Top. I will go ahead and say it—it’s borderline gross how much I’ve worn this shirt this summer, and it shows. It’s perfectly lightweight for the hot and humid weather we’ve been having and packs well. If I were to buy this shirt again, I’d size down.

• SWIMWEAR: I sound like a broken record at this point, but I LOVE LEFT ON FRIDAY!!!! It’s my favorite swimwear brand. My favorite part of Greece is always swimming laps in the ocean. Their suits are chic and sexy, while still functional enough for an hour of freestyle. I recently got the Rays Short Sleeve Top (I take a tall in most of their stuff) and have been testing wearing it around as a little tee on sweaty days since it’s athletic material and has UPF50. So far, I love it.

• BEAUTY: There’s so much talk about the French pharmacy (yes, I do contribute to this), but the Greek pharmacy deserves the same praise. I love trying out new things—especially sunscreen. Here are a few things I got. The highlighted ones are things I love: Apivita Royal Jelly Elixir Shampoo and Conditioning Mask (the cashier said this is the best, but you can’t go wrong with anything from Apivita); so much Frezyderm (Sport Screen Lip Balm SPF 50+, Fluid-to-Powder Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ [this is more everyday than beach], Anti-Aging Plant Exosomes Liquid Facial Sunscreen SPF 50+ [same with this], Active Sunscreen SPF 50+ Cream Spray); Nivea sunscreen (both Protect&Bronze and Protect&Moisture); and so much Korres (I’ll leave that for another section).

• SHOES: I basically only wore my Los Angeles Apparel Jelly Flats (pictured above) while in Greece. I was putting miles on those things, and I am honestly impressed with them for a $28 plastic shoe. While in Athens, I bought a pair of Ancient Greek Sandals at their flagship (not this exact pair, but similar). They have a collaboration with Lalaounis that made my jewelry-loving heart sing. (Sidebar: the jewelry scene in Athens is amazing, and I have only dipped a toe in.) Sloane and I also stumbled across Lemisios, a 114-year-old Athenian shoe brand. We are both waiting for our custom heels in the mail.

• READING & WATCHING: I am very much a reader of ~literature~ even when it is to my own detriment. I just finished reading Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey. (Call me if you really want to nerd out here.) This definitely spoiled Christopher Nolan’s adaptation a bit for me, since I went in so fresh from the epic. (I finished it the night before seeing it.) I have a lot of thoughts on The Odyssey (the film). Nonetheless, it is beautiful. Nolan and the crew’s practical techniques, plus the cast’s acting, left me in awe. It was a refreshing break from CGI and flat lighting. On that note: in the name of journalism, I sent to report on the scene at the 2 A.M., opening night, 70mm. IMAX screening at AMC Lincoln Square 13. Read here!

• BEAUTY: Now, from Ancient Greece to modern. One recommendation you’ll get a lot for Athens is the Naxos Apothecary flagship. (Yes, they do have a store in NYC, but it’s more fun to go in Athens.) This multi-level store also houses Korres (its little sister brand) and Ancient Greek Sandals. The Naxos Apothecary fragrances are really special, built to smell like specific memories of islands. I have Chora (fruity & floral—or “a rocky peninsula, a ship’s arrival at the port, fragrant welcome from the old Metropolis”) and Kalados (sexy dark cherry, which I was told was inspired by swimming nude in the bay by this name).

• BEAUTY CONTINUED: Korres is amazing and can be found at almost every pharmacy. They can be found on Elizabeth Street here in NYC. There is a huge range of products, inspired by homeopathic remedies, formulated with traditional Greek and botanical ingredients. I have tested a bunch and love the Grape Sheer Glow Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF50 (not available here), Aegean Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil, Aegean Bronze Eau de Parfum (I have the roller ball to travel with), Hair Sun Protection Spray (not available here), Greek Yoghurt Hydration Recharge Sheet Mask, No No Nail Polish Jelly Peach, and the quad eyeshadow palette with cool browns and a cobalt blue (not available here).

• NEW YORK: I saw ABT perform Swan Lake last week. It was beautiful—and just an excellent excuse to dress up and wear all the heels I own. (These Manolos are surprisingly comfortable.) This is just your reminder that there are amazing cultural events to check out in NYC during the summer, both free and ticketed. Shakespeare in the Park is still on my list. Concerts at Forest Hills are always a summer highlight. clinamen, at the Armory, closes on August 2 and is worth schlepping up Park Avenue to see. May I also recommend an afternoon of fishing with friends, in Brooklyn, on the Marilyn Jean IV followed by a meal at Randazzo’s?

• READING: Back to the literature note from earlier: I also read A Spy in the House of Love by Anaïs Nin while in Greece (my first time reading her work). I thought this was going to be a one-dayer since it was 100-something pages. Oh, how I was wrong. Nin’s writing is deeply emotional and intimate. It’s one of those where you linger on each word—reading and rereading to fully absorb its weight. Have you read any of her work? If so, which? I need to decide what book I am going to read next, or if I should just lock in and finish The Power Broker. Stay tuned.

• ATHENS FOOD: Last year, Sloane and I went to Taverna Oikonomou 1930 and talked about it ever since. This year, we tried to go and were turned away since we did not have a reservation. In defeat, we walked across the street to a restaurant called Aster. Yet, it was kismet. Aster has a small, simple menu, but everything is precisely cooked. It was one of the most delicious meals I’ve had in a long time. I kept asking Sloane if we could go back. We went to Diporto for lunch. At over 130 years old, the basement-level, old-Athens taverna is very cool and delicious; however, it feels a little ruined by social media. Every other person in there was a tourist, and at one point, an entire tour group walked through the tiny restaurant. That was a little strange. It’s still worth visiting. It made me fall in love with chickpea soup. With Emma, I tried Linou Soumpasis and Co. on the recommendation of a local. Another local recommended To Omorfo. That’s on my list for next trip.

• LITTLE HAPPIES:

  • Every night, I fall asleep excited for my cup of coffee in the morning. I have found that using a beautiful mug instantly starts my day on a high note. On Sifnos, I picked up a few mugs to add to my collection. I am particularly fond of the yellow one with light blue polkadots because it reminds me of my childhood Garnet Hill sheets.

  • Every day in Greece, Sloane and I would have a juice break, like we were in preschool. We are obsessed with sour cherry juice. This has been a fun part of our daily routine on our last two trips. I guess my afternoon Diet Coke is similar, but slightly less fun when consumed in the office instead of by the sea.

  • I am taking a very quick trip to Copenhagen next week, en route to my friend’s cottage in Sweden. I asked for recommendations on my IG story. It’s so kind how much people are willing to share. Multiple people sent links to their Google Maps! (A good reminder for me to better organize mine … )

  • A friend asked me to do some personal shopping and styling for her! This has always been a fun hobby that I have been trying to figure out how to turn into something bigger. I am really looking forward to this project.

On that note, I hope you enjoyed this!

Until next time,

GW x

First up: ! We met through work (an Air Mail-Sotheby’s match made in heaven) and the West Village. I miss her dearly now that she is living in London, but it is a great excuse to hop on a plane across the pond!

You can find Zoe on Instagram and Substack (“where no content currently lives unless/until someone bullies me into pressing publish”).

Hi, I’m Zoe Malliaros. Originally from outside Boston, I traded NYC for Notting Hill in January, lured by my PR job at Sotheby’s. I spend most of my time telling other people’s stories.

First, thank you to Gracie for letting me borrow the keys. She’s the kind of friend you should never ask, “Should I buy this?” because she will always say yes. So will I. With that in mind, here are a few things I’m loving right now, and the bits and pieces making my first proper London summer feel especially breezy.

Clothes: A white linen Uniqlo T-shirt has quietly become the backbone of my summer wardrobe. No explanation needed.

Clothes: I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to skirts lately. There’s something about their ease and femininity that feels especially appealing right now. I’ve been reaching for a silk Theory skirt I’ve owned for more than a decade—a sample from my first job that somehow still earns its place in my lineup. Which may explain my current Regina Pyo dilemma: silk or taffeta? Help me choose.

Beauty: There’s something about effortlessly chic Italians that makes me willing to accept recommendations with very little due diligence. This St. Tropez face mist came highly recommended by my most stylish Florentine colleague, and I immediately ran to Boots. I’ve never been a fake tan girl, but a few spritzes before bed leave you with just enough glow to look slightly healthier, more awake, and less British-summer pale. It’s subtle and impossible to get wrong.

Beauty: It’s worth mentioning that I’ll never stray from Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer for my morning and nighttime moisturizer. In the morning, I follow it up with Beauty of Joseon SPF and Erborian CC Crème. And I always dry my face with Clean Skin Club Facial Towels. I can’t be bothered to commit to much more of a “routine.”

Food: I cook far more in London than I ever did in New York. My current favorite is grilled halloumi with a tomato salad dressed with good olive oil (important), balsamic vinegar, and a generous amount of Maldon salt. It’s barely a recipe, but not everything needs reinventing.

London: Speaking of tomatoes, the Notting Hill Farmers’ Market has become a Saturday ritual. It’s where I buy most of my produce, plus flowers for my flat, because if I’m carrying a straw tote bag home from a farmers’ market, I might as well commit to the bit. Lately, I’ve been leaving with loads of Isle of Wight tomatoes, radishes, apricots, and more asparagus than was probably reasonable. I also tried my first cherry this summer, which feels like a surprising oversight on my part. I’m hooked.

Bags: My vintage Nantucket Lightship Baskets are summer staples. When I was little, my aunt gave me a miniature version of her own and promised that one day, when I was older, I could have the real thing. Three years ago, I inherited her vintage baskets, which have become my most treasured possessions. Last summer, I had one lovingly restored, with a new handle fitted by Sylvia Antiques. They carry so many memories, and one in particular is coming everywhere with me this summer. Although it’s not big enough for the farmers’ market. History lesson here.

Books: Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling completely consumed me, and ever since finishing it in May, I’ve gone down a rabbit hole reading about the case. I haven’t hopped off the Patrick Radden Keefe train just yet. I’m nearly finished with Empire of Pain, which is so dark and extraordinary that it reads like fiction. Next up is Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend—on loan from my own brilliant friend, Emily, for our girls’ trip. And, in the unlikely event you’re wondering, I just couldn’t get into Yesteryear.

Shoes: I picked up a pair of VIBAe Saint Tropez sandals in Amsterdam last month. They strike that elusive balance between sophisticated and orthopedic, which feels exactly right. My friend Meg opted for the Roma leather slip-ons. They’re very Californian-who-works-at-Apple (complimentary).

Amsterdam: If you find yourself in Amsterdam anytime soon, bookmark these restaurants: Kikkie van de Prinsensluis (order the smashburger), Café Binnenvisser, and Little Collins for brunch. We balanced it all out with visits to the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum, plus a trip to The Hague for the Mauritshuis, which is more than worth the train ride. And don’t miss Carmen, one of the coolest shops we stumbled across. I admittedly bought a Miffy piggy bank for my shelf, too. Oh, and the whole reason for our trip was the opening night of Harry Styles. Concert tourism is really fun.

Milan: While packing for Sifnos this week, I’ve been admiring two pieces in my closet from Urzí Vintage. If you’re heading to Milan this summer, don’t miss it. Truly affordable vintage is rare, but on my last visit, I walked away with a Max Mara slip dress and a Ralph Lauren shirt for under €100.

Packing list: An embroidered backless halter from the in-house shop at Petra Country House in Puglia, where I stayed last summer; a lace skirt from Revoir Vintage in the Marais; the Sifnos trousers from Lucy Williams’ With Nothing Underneath capsule; colorful resin bangles acquired from various European flea markets; and my straw tote from Liberty’s Marrakech-inspired in-store edit.

Sunglasses: I recently bought Ray-Ban Mega Wayfarer II from Selfridges, which has quickly become my everyday pair. I also live in cat-eyes from Rendel that I found at Le Bon Marché’s ever-dangerous pop-up du moment, and occasionally wear a pair of Le Specs that I designed as part of a collaboration with GH Mumm years ago when I worked in booze PR. My rosé colored glasses, in every sense of the phrase.

Paper: This notebook from Choosing Keeping (which you must visit next time you’re in London!) is my diary du jour. I set myself a goal to journal every day after moving here and was surprisingly consistent until my first British situationship went spectacularly off script, at which point both the relationship and the journaling suffered. That, fortunately for you all, is not one of my recommendations. I’ve since resumed my daily habit, and there’s already something wildly entertaining about flipping back through old entries and seeing what felt urgent, romantic, devastating, or life-changing in the moment.

More paper: My New Year’s resolution, which I’m pleased to say I’ve actually kept, was to send snail mail. I love my stationery set from Goods for the Study in the West Village, which I bought on the walk home from my last Hillstone dinner with my friend, Yerin. I also love collecting and sending postcards from my travels and museum exhibitions. The more specific, the better. Drop me your address!

London: One of the best parts of living in London is how much green space is woven into everyday life. I’m lucky enough to have access to a beautiful private garden, and it’s become the backdrop to most of my plans. Dinner outside, a bottle of wine, a picnic that accidentally turns into an all-day affair. Right now I’m reaching for this tablecloth and this blanket, both of which seem to feature in almost every gathering.

Now, a few rapid fire “What’s the best … ” questions:

Lunch spot in London? My latest lunch hyperfixation is Ergon Deli in Mayfair. They do a limited run of chicken gyros on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I’m there at noon on the dot, no exceptions.

Things you’ve purchased recently? A white nightie and blouse from If Only If for my upcoming trip to Sifnos, and postcards from The National Portrait Gallery’s “Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait” exhibition

Place to people watch? St Clair Cafe. More specifically, the benches outside, where Portland Road meets Clarendon Cross.

Accounts to follow? Keith McNally, Sam Youkilis, Olympia Gayot, Jennifer Lawrence’s Style, Lucy Williams, Beverly Nguyen, Alexia Ioannou, Jenna Katz, Sara Beltrán

Website to browse? Vinted (I prefer the app)

Piece you’ve recently read? A Hamptons Influencer’s Husband Died Millions in Debt. What Happened to the Millers? Nothing, in my opinion, holds a candle to a Vanity Fair investigative piece.

Item on repeat? My constant is my everyday jewelry—a mix of finds from memorable trips and pieces from my family: a Roman coin pendant from Sifnos, a moonstone ring from WHITEbIRD Paris, my mother’s trinity ring, my grandmother’s sapphire bracelet (reset), and an evil eye bracelet, of course. Nostalgia is the best accessory.

Thanks, as ever, to Gracie for indulging me here. Until my next unsolicited update,

ZM x

Thank you for reading along! Stay tuned for more newsletter co-hosting—and dispatches from me!—coming up. If you want to be featured or know someone I should feature, please let me know!

Until next time!

GW

Thanks for reading Party Line by Gracie Wiener, a New York-based writer covering culture, parties, and everything in between. Em dashes used liberally and without apology.

Uptown happenings…

• Galerie Kugel from Paris has a show in partnership with David Zwirner called Set in Stone. It features one of my favorite Eggleston photographs—the drink on an airplane tray—alongside a beautiful curation of antiquities.

• In the same building as Zwirner, Alder Betty has fantastic works by Danny Sobor.

• Anton Kern is exhibiting Roe Ethridge’s Floral Arrangements series. These photographs have been an eternal reference for me, so it is a treat to see the prints.

• Dog Days at Donald Ryan Gallery.

• At the Met, there is Giacometti in the Temple of Dendur. I recommend reading Giacometti in Paris by Michael Peppiatt if you have not already.

• McGrath has a selection of furniture on view by appointment called Melancholia.

• Emmanuel de Bayser’s collection was up for auction and on view at Sotheby’s last week. If you missed it, browse the catalog.

• La DoubleJ opened in a townhouse designed by b-arch. I have not been in yet, but the space looks impressive and well executed. A slice of Milan right in Manhattan!

Downtown happenings…

• David Zwirner bookshop summer archive sale.

• There is a fabulous new play at the Greenwich House Theater on Barrow Street called Dad Don’t Read This!

• Ryan McGinley’s Night Shift at Jeffrey Deitch. Ryan shot the incredible photo of Dakota Johnson flipping her hair in the back of a pickup trunk. I saw it in the V&A’s Fragile Beauty exhibit.

• Powder at Slip House appears to be my dream exhibit exploring beauty products.

• Yves Saint Laurent and Photography at ICP.

• Unmade Beds with works by Duncan Hannah at The Journal Gallery.

• An American Beauty: Grateful Dead 1965–1995 at David Kordansky.

• Public Pool at Ethan Cohen Gallery features a few Larry Sultan works. I love his Swimmers series immensely.

London…

• 1536 at the Ambassadors Theatre.

• Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía Tierra Bendita at Sadler’s Wells.

• Treasure House Fair at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

• Ree Morton’s Signs and Gestures at Richard Saltoun— such a dream show!

• Opening Credits by John Currin at Sadie Coles. I have mixed feelings about Currin’s work but it is still worth seeing. Also here is his recent interview with Bella Freud.

• Sarah Moon at Michael Hoppen Gallery. I especially love her work with Yohji, a few pieces of which will be exhibited.

• Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait at the National Portrait Gallery.

• What Color is Your Scream exhibiting sculptures by Apollinaria Broche at Union Pacific.

• A Girl Loved Pearls so Much She Left Engineering, Strung Them Off the Wall, and Made Art at Massimo de Carlo.

  

• Joel Meyerowitz Selected Works, 1962-2019 at Huxley-Parlour.

• Many incredible exhibitions at Soho Revue— Horse Girl, Say When… and Lovesick.

  

• Hermès at 166 New Bond Street opened with a staircase by Norman Foster and RDAI.

• Phoebe Philo finally opened on Carlos Place.

Parting line…

“I draw flowers every day and send them to my friends so they get fresh blooms every morning.” — David Hockney

Bon weekend and thank you for reading! KP

Marcel, a Roman and Williams-designed restaurant, recently opened inside the Marcel Breuer building (which also serves as Sotheby’s lair).

A few tangential notes on this matryoshka-like nesting of architecture, design and culinary luminaries associated with the historic building:

• The Breuer is the coolest building in the city and my personal favorite; its architecture and construction are fascinating. If you want to dive deeper, I highly suggest Robert F. Gatje’s Marcel Breuer: A Memoir. Also watch Sotheby’s footage on the restoration completed by Herzog & de Meuron.

• The ghost of restaurants past in the sacred lower level was Flora Bar, run by Ignacio Mattos. As a summer intern / shop girl working uptown, it felt like the only cool place to go in the neighborhood. They served perfect summer food and the Met owned the building at the time.

• The Roman and Williams projects seared into my brain start with GP’s all-white Tribeca apartment with a couch swing, which was the backdrop of this video interview for Man Repeller. Next is a set of apartments in NoLita on the Little Cupcake Bakeshop block, featuring black lacquered kitchen cabinets with a stained mahogany trim. Finally, there is the photograph of founders Robin and Stephen Alesch's home office.

Now back to Marcel.

Each time I visit Sotheby’s, I peer down hoping to spot a formidable power-lunch in progress. But from above, what is more notable are the small plates with a subtle red and blue floral design. Beautiful, delicate, and made in Japan, they would make the perfect summer dessert plates. They are, of course, designed by Roman and Williams and available for pre-order.

The dessert plate, bread plate, and coffee cup.

The restaurant does feel special, particularly at night in the outdoor garden. Frankly, it’s one of the few rooms in New York that is worth getting completely dressed up for. Plus, for dessert, they make delicious madeleines.

What I’d wear to dinner at Marcel…

• SS03 Alexander McQueen silk coat (available here too) or this Marisa Baratello one with an Emanuel Ungaro dress, vintage ivory Walbourg purse and heels from The Row (or these).

• SS97 Prada evening jacket (or this one by Giorgio Armani) with a silk Lanvin dress, vintage Judith Leiber clutch and red heels (another great pair).

• SS08 Junya Watanabe black floral jacket (or this vintage floral beaded one), a black silk dress, Herbert Levine mules (more here) with a clutch (another great Céline bag).

• A little black dress: Pucci for $45, vintage Valentino, linen + backless, silk Chanel, short sleeve Galliano, Rose Room mini, and Sarah Burton on sale. A classically great Jack & Lazaro dress and a Phoebe dream piece to admire.

• Se faire une beauté: rosie lips, red nails, rive gauche and reticule.

  

The state of Knicks merch…

Please stop the Kith and ‘New York or Nowhere’ nonsense.

My ideal piece of merch is so basic: a white cotton t-shirt with the classic logo. Yet, for some reason, the right one is hard to find.

The history of the team’s logo for the true heads.

Intramural likely has good vintage ones— as they have the greatest selection of niche vintage merch.

Kimou Meyer of Nike designed a great assortment of t-shirts for this pop-up— hopefully, they’ll be available online soon.

Galerie Sardine made a shirt with Nate Lowman that is really good.

If I were a girl who could pull off a baseball hat— Emily Dawn Long made this incredible one.

There is the Orange and Blue Skies collection by Spike Lee.

Accidental Prada for the Knicks crewneck sweater!

As a gag gift for a Knicks girl in your life, this is funny.

Finally, I saw the Gachot Studio duo made chic custom-painted shirts, and I may follow their lead. The Row’s children’s-drawings shirts offer another reference point for this look. Design the Knicks merch you wish to see in the world because the options are limited.

Parting line…

"No matter what happens, keep your head. If the soufflé falls, or the dog steals the roast, laugh it off. The table is a stage, but you are not performing a tragedy." — Brooke Astor

Thank you for reading! KP

No, it’s not a political party’s agenda. Nor is it something that involves a rolled bill and a little baggie. “In my words, it’s a pain in the ass,” said my mom on a phone call Thursday evening.

There is a forgotten piece of communications history that has fascinated me for years and inspired the name of this very newsletter: the party line. Having heard about it since I was young, I was under the impression that my mom grew up with one. “We certainly didn’t have them in Winston-Salem,” she quips. “I think party lines were more of a rural thing.”

Instead of the private lines most of us knew and loved growing up—some even had a second!—a party line connected several households to a single telephone circuit. This means you could pick up the phone to make a call and hear Cynthia three houses down.

All the houses on the party line would share the same phone number, and a single line could have up to twenty households. Since all phones on the line would ring with an incoming call, all homes were assigned a distinctive ring pattern to help recognize when a call was meant for them. Two short rings for the Millers, one long ring for the Goldbaums, and one short ring followed by two long rings for the Adams.

Naturally, they were like catnip for the nosy neighbor—there was no privacy, providing an endless source of entertainment and gossip. As Hank Williams sings in Mind Your Own Business: "Oh, the woman on our party line's a nosy thing / She picks up her receiver when she knows it's my ring." Inadvertently, it also worked as a great emergency alert system.

Animosity also grew towards those who made too many or too long calls. This was the plot point in the 1959 Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie Pillow Talk. As a result, party line etiquette propaganda arose, like this fourteen-minute 1946 film featuring Bil Baird’s marionette puppet. (Fun fact: He was the puppeteer in The Sound of Music!)

In 1930, 63% of residential Bell System customers—mostly in rural and suburban areas—had party lines, according to the AT&T Archives. That number increased to 75% by 1950, due partially to a need to catch up with demand for private lines following World War II. By 1965, only 27% of customers were still using party lines.

Among the last customers was Duke University. “It was clearly just a cost-cutting measure,” according to my mom. “I was in Gilbert-Addoms, and it was a co-ed dorm. I know that our party line was other girls. If I wanted to make a phone call, I would pick up the line, and if nobody was using it, I would get a dial tone. If someone was making a call, I could eavesdrop on their conversation.”

“Did you ever eavesdrop?”

“Maybe.”

This is when my dad chimed in on the conversation. “I know people did [have party lines], but I don’t recall if I did or not [while living in Pegram].”

Party lines seemed like cruel, yet appropriate punishment for the first-year students populating Duke’s East Campus. (When I asked a family friend who was at Duke at a similar time, she said she never came across a party line.)

“When I lived on West Campus, I remember it was a problem like once or twice,” he continued. “It was just annoying when you wanted to make a call because you came from a house where you had a private line. You’re used to picking up the phone and making a call, then all of a sudden, somebody’s on the line.”

“It was annoying,” said my mom.

“It wasn’t like next door (the person sharing the line) for me either, because it was a girl,” he remembered.

“Oh, that’s interesting. We definitely shared a line with other women. I just assumed they were also in G.A., but I guess I don’t know where they were.”

“I don’t know why we had them at Duke,” said my dad. “They probably ran out of phone numbers because 684 was also the extension for Duke South. The telecom service was run by Duke.”

“It sounds chaotic,” I responded.

“It was … but not too bad.”

“It was barely an issue for me.”

-

Here is an interesting article from a 2002 issue of The New Yorker interviewing one of the last communities to have a party line.

Another little film about party lines.

The Tin Can Phone—the it-landline for Gen Alpha—has a Party Line Plan, for $9.99 / month. “Let your kid call grandma, friends, your own cell, and more. As always, only callers you approve can communicate with your Tin Can.”

Mini Goodie Bag

• JEWELRY: I have always loved coral jewelry (specifically red and angelskin). You can find a lot of great vintage and antique pieces at a range of prices. I have been picking up some new ones on Poshmark and Etsy for summer. (You see some of my favorite secondhand picks here.)

• BEAUTY: Uni sent me their 24-Hour Body Serum a few weeks ago. I like to test things for a bit before recommending. This is the perfect summer body moisturizer. Very lightweight and not sticky. I would 100% buy (and plan to!).

• MOVIE: Sloane and I watched Pirate Radio yesterday. My friend Helen told me about it ages ago, and I forgot about it until I saw it while scrolling on Hulu. I love anything Richard Curtis. Now, I cannot stop listening to the soundtrack.

• CLOTHING: I posted a note about this the other day, but I have been searching for the perfect long shorts for a while. I finally found them in these from Velvet.

• CRAFTING: I have been having a lot of fun embellishing a pair of pants recently. I highly recommend doing something with your hands at least once a week that gets you off your phone and out of your head.

  • On that note, I got a lot of questions asking if I am taking commissions for the hand-embroidered Day of the Week underwear I posted the other day (here and here). Yes, I will later this summer. Message me!

• BEAUTY: I am about to set off on three weeks in Greece (!!!), which means my checked bag will be 75% sunscreen. I am packing Dune and Bask, but I will also buy Nivea while there. (Let me know if you want any Greece recs when I am back!)

I hope you enjoyed this! I would love to hear from you: feedback, what you would like to see in the future, questions, more Poshmark links (I have those in plenty), etc.

Happy Blue Moon! Release what is no longer serving you and set your long-term intentions!

Until next time!

GW x

Thanks for reading Party Line by Gracie Wiener, a New York-based writer covering culture, parties, and everything in between. Em dashes used liberally and without apology.

• CLOTHES: In June, I am going back to Greece for a few weeks. I have been sorting out what I am packing. I ordered this tunic from Claudent. I am very sun sensitive, so I often opt for long sleeves (and pants) at the beach. I have been interested in trying something from Claudent since it’s all UPF 50+. I also ordered this dress from Reformation. It is my favorite color to wear. I saw a girl wearing it at Kareem Rhama’s Keep the Meter Running after-party.

• FOOD: This ’s artichoke and guanciale pasta recipe popped up on my feed the other night. I made it the next day for lunch. 10/10. Add this to your lineup this week.

• LONDON: I forgot to mention this last time. Make Marks & Spencer a required stop on your next UK trip. You may know them for Percy Pig Gummies (get the Phizzy Tails), but their cotton socks, pajamas, and underwear are great. Grab some of those, too!

  

• CLOTHES: I wish I could hate Donni. I tried. Unfortunately, it does live up to the hype. I live in linen pants come summer, and last summer, I wore their Linen Crop Racer Stripe Pants in brown on repeat. I recently purchased another pair in Sage.

• MORE CLOTHES: A few summers ago, I decided to almost exclusively wear one-piece swimsuits. It just means more skin is covered from the sun. (Also, most of the time I am in one, I am playing pool games with my little cousins.) Left on Friday is my go-to—specifically, the Streamline Suit (pictured below) and the Sunday Suit. I also love a swimshirt.

• BAGS: I wanted a fun little bag for my trip. Most of mine are big and serious. I fell in love with all these gorgeous beaded bags on Poshmark, then realized they are all 1920s flapper bags. My eye is naturally drawn to the era. I would love to produce some of these and bring the style back, but first, I need to do my vintage evening bag sale! I have a whole collection of ones from the 40s to the 60s that I have sourced. Stay tuned for more there :)

• NEW YORK: There is so much great art up in NYC right now! Stop by Christie’s while all their amazing auctions are on view. and I also stopped by Carpenters Workshop and Frankenthaler + Caro at Yares Art (I still need to see Frankenthaler at Gagosian). Kate saw a lot of great shows in Chelsea and said the Richter at Zwirner is not to be missed. I want to see Tanya Merrill at 303 Gallery and still need to see Raphael at the Met.

• MORE NEW YORK: NYC has so many great things to see, often tucked out of sight. Kate and I visited the Belperron and Verdura showrooms on Friday—they are in the same building as Yares Art, so we just knocked on the door to see if we could pop in. It is always such a joy to speak to professionals who are genuinely passionate about their company and its history, and are excited to chat. We were there for hours learning the history of both brands while trying on incredible pieces.

• BEAUTY: It is no secret that I love a blowout with lots of flip and volume. The routine is heat, set, cool, spray. This Hair Dryer Bonnet is so ridiculous looking, but it really does the job when you want to set your hair in rollers. Ibiza brushes are my favorites—and so is Elnett (duh!).

  Thanks for reading Party Line! Subscribe for free to receive new posts.

• STATIONERY: I mentioned my favorite custom stationery from Paris last week. For non-custom, I always use the G. Lalo flat cards in pink and blue. I have also been buying up these stamps from 2016 on eBay.

• SHOES: I’ve been on a real heels kick recently. It often makes me one of the tallest girls (in NYC, just make that people) in the room. The heels from Aeyde are just as comfortable as my favorite boots from them.

  

• JEWELRY: As much as I love and wear gold jewelry, white metals just look better on me. I have been looking at a lot of sterling silver pieces (all mainly 925 from Mexican artisans—best in the business!) on Poshmark. Here are a few pieces from my likes:

  • Vintage Taxco Sterling Silver Bib Necklace — $119

  • Vintage Taxco Cuff by Rodrigo — $400

  • Vintage Italian Sterling Silver Cuff — $171

  • Vintage Taxco Sterling Silver Torque Necklace — $200

  • Vintage Taxco Sterling Silver Torque Necklace with Dangles — $385

  • Ilaria Sterling Silver Dangle Necklace — $240

I hope you enjoyed this! I would love to hear from you: feedback, what you would like to see in the future, questions, more Poshmark links (I have those in plenty), etc.

Until next time!

GW x

Thanks for reading Party Line by Gracie Wiener, a New York-based writer covering culture, parties, and everything in between. Em dashes used liberally and without apology.

Recently, more and more friends have told me I need to get a Substack. Surprise! I have one. I just don’t publish. So, here’s to remedying that. I promise some of my actual reporting is coming soon, including the story behind my newsletter’s name and some fun interviews. Let me know if there is anyone you would love to hear from!

In the meantime, the first (official) edition of Goodie Bag, a dispatch of things that have tickled my fancy recently.

• SHOES: My friend Barbara asked me about my favorite flats. The answer is Martiniano, without a doubt. turned me on to them—and three pairs and hundreds of thousands of steps later, I have not looked back. I have worn them all over Vienna, Paris, London, and New York for long days of walking. They are an investment, but one that’s worth it. (Sometimes I put these Amazon insoles in them to help with my high arches.)

• FOOD: I started getting my groceries delivered by Farm to People in the fall. It is the same price as my in-person shopping, if not cheaper. I am constantly impressed with the quality of their products, especially the farm-fresh (usually organic) produce. A few favorite items so far are …

  • Big Spoon Crunchy Peanut Butter (A Durham brand!)

  • Dam Good Sourdough English Muffins (I eat one daily)

  • All the assorted apple and citrus varieties in their peak seasons

  • White Moustache Greek Yogurt and White Mountain Bulgarian Yogurt

  • The mushroom selection! I am trying to decrease my meat consumption at home and have discovered a new love for fungi.

  For $25 off your first farm box, use code GRACEW34.

• NYC: I saw a TikTok last weekend about the Savory Tofu Bowl at Fong On, a 93-year-old family business on Division Street. This is one of the best things I have consumed in 2026. Definitely will become a frequented spot.

  

• WELLNESS: Nutrafol sent me their Fullest Hair Set. I have purchased their hair vitamins before and really like them. I am currently working on growing out some breakage and working towards a longer hair goal in general. This definitely helps!

• BOOKS: I ripped through Yesteryear and London Falling. I’m nearing the end of The Power Broker (sorta, kinda—I’m 70% through).

• BEAUTY: I am constantly in search of the perfect everyday mineral facial SPF. I think I have found it with GWS. I mix two pumps of the Regular with one pump of the Glow for a slight glimmer.

• BEAUTY: Until about 2 months ago, I never used an eyelash curler because I was afraid of ripping my lashes out. The fear hasn’t really subsided, but I can ignore it just enough thanks to the results. I know I am VERY late to the party on this, but wow. I rarely find myself wearing mascara now, something I used to not leave the house without.

• DRINK: My friend ’s brand Figlia has launched a new NA spritz called Sole Frizzante. It’s sunshine, canned.

• WELLNESS: I just started lifting weights again after several months off due to a pinched nerve. I am lost at the gym, so I go to a class. I am obsessed with Liftonic (on ClassPass). It is challenging, yet fun. I have been going since 2022. I also do one or two classical Pilates classes a week. It helps with my neck issue and posture in general. SoHo Pilates and Dear Pilates are my favorites.

• CLOTHES: The white blouse is a cornerstone of my wardrobe. I recently ordered the Clover Blouse from If Only If. Dare I say the quality is better than that of my Dôen tops? I also got a couple of white cotton nightgowns to operate as cover-ups/sleepwear this summer.

• CLOTHES: &Daughter very kindly has sent me two of their sweaters recently. I loved them so much that I purchased another. I wore my Cotton Striped Knit Tee and Wool Crewneck an amount that could be considered unacceptable amount on my recent two-week trip to Ireland, London, and Paris.
  

  Speaking of sweaters, I have been reminded of the joy of taking care of your clothes. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been handwashing (Needed: Eucalan, a Collapsible Bucket, and many, many towels) and darning several sweaters (Needed: high-quality Wool Darning Floss and a Darning Egg +Needle). The majority of my sweaters are secondhand/vintage. If you take care of them now, they will continue to last a lifetime.

• FOOD: It’s almost berry and stone fruit season!!!! That means it’s also the season for my favorite baked good: Plum Torte. While the recipe calls for plums, you can really substitute them with whatever fruit you want. I have done strawberry rhubarb, peach, raspberry, and a general stone fruit mix. This summer, I want to do a cherry one.

• CLOTHES: In Paris, I saw so many girls wearing wide-leg, trouser jeans, so I got myself a pair of Frame “The Loose” Jeans. While I have a surplus of denim, this was a definite hole in my collection. I apologize in advance for the price, but they are really good.

• PARIS: On the advice of my dear friend Kate (who I met in Paris!), I went to Turn to source a top for a party. I'd put this on your Paris list if it’s not there already. Note: Turn is appointment only. I restocked on my custom stationery from Olivier de Secrey, but also stopped by the newly opened Papier Royal to check out their selection. I will share more Paris favorites in another newsletter.

• LONDON: Whenever I am in London, I always end up going to the big museums and galleries instead of the smaller, more intimate ones. This past trip, I visited Leighton House, home of artist Frederic Leighton, in Holland Park. I adore a house museum, and this one did not disappoint, especially as an art lover. I have a list of several more that have been recommended to me, but that I have yet to visit — drop me a note if you're heading to London and want the full list!

• WELLNESS: Lastly, I will leave you with this. I have become obsessed with my Toe Separators. I love walking absurd amounts in shoes not made for the job, so these are a must at the end of the day.

I hope you enjoyed this! I would love to hear from you: feedback, what you would like to see in the future, questions, etc.

Until next time!

GW x

I am Gracie. You may know me from life—or maybe TikTok—or maybe Instagram. I am 26. I live in NYC’s West Village. My favorite color is blue (specifically a cornflower hue). I love poodles and shopping second-hand on Poshmark. I am a Scorpio Sun, Aquarius Moon, Libra Rising. I work full-time as AIR’s Social Media Manager (plz follow our accounts to help me look good). What else is there to know?

Today, I am writing to you from the porch of my cousin’s grandfather’s condo in San Juan. It is stunning and argues why I should permanently live somewhere warm, by the ocean.

Nancy Carrol

Looking at the calendar, you may notice we have some significant events this evening—the Super Bowl and Euphoria’s more important new episode. But if you can hold onto your anticipation, please join me in looking at a more pressing, forthcoming event—Valentine’s Day.

Gone are the days of joyfully sharing cards, bought in bulk at the grocery store, among everyone you knew. Today, in the harsh reality of adulthood, a sentimental handwritten note paired with a sweet treat is rare—especially of the romantic sort.

It is exciting to like someone. It is exciting to have a crush. But, it is even more exciting to have someone like you back (hello? anyone out there?). So, with love in the air and Baby Cupid shooting his arrows, now is the prime opportunity to take action and ask someone to be yours; however, old reliable methods may not work, so may I present you with my ten top highly scientific suggestions on how to ask one to be your Valentine in 2022.

Myrna Dell, Bill Dana and Steve Allen

Ten Highly Scientific Suggestions on How to Ask Someone to be Your Valentine in 2022:

1. Make a TikTok using the “bitches come and go” sound, singing to a picture of them, to signal you’re here to stay.

2. Have you recently contracted Covid? Tell Track-and-Trace that you were in contact with your crush and ask if when they call them to notify them of a potential Covid infection, they also say that you “like-like them.”

3. Add your nosiest, most gossipy mutual connection to your Instagram Close Friends story. Post a story saying you hope that ________ will be your Valentine. Then wait for it to work its magic.

4. Actually, just add them directly to your Close Friends story and post the same story to minimize any errors/delays in communication.

5. Do they frequent Casablanca? If so, ask Fabrizio to tell them, “Nah, I can’t let you in right now. Wait over there, but so-and-so (insert your name here) wants to know if you’ll be their Valentine.”

6. Swipe on Hinge—or Raya—or Bumble—or Lox Club—or, god forbid, Tinder—until you find their profile. Send them a Like with the message, “crazy seeing you here. what are your vday plans?”.

7. Send them a heart-shaped Williamsburg Pizza with “wanna fuck?” piped on in ricotta. A conversation heart of the modern-day.

8. Take out a personal ad in The Drunken Canal stating “WANTED:” proceed by a detailed description of the person. Beg Gutes to see that they get a copy.

9. More of the athletic sort? Add them on Strava and map out your daily run in a path across lower Manhattan that spells our “BE MINE.”

10. Send them flowers and chocolate. An age-old classic that never fails. But, make sure both are allergen-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, ethically sourced, local, and sustainable.

Let me know if you test any of these out and how they work. Happy Valentine’s Day darling.

Gracie x