Curated by Mel

FANCIFUL FINDS AND FAVORITES

By Melanie Carden

Over the many years that I’ve consulted on gift giving and have been writing gift guides, it’s the little details that make the most impact. This month, I’ve gathered some of my recent favorites – from fanciful finds to pragmatic and timeless pieces. These products span a wide range of categories, but each brings something so exceptionally distinct to this September collection. From hosting friends to dabbling in the emerging serpent trend, this month’s curation offers a glimpse into some of the shoulder season’s loveliest finds.

ZERO PROOF COMPLEXITY
If you love the complex aromatics of gin, MaraBela Wild Verbena Sparkling Tea deserves your attention this season. This non-alcoholic sip is the type of bottle that is equally qualified for low-key Sundays or to anchor an entire menu. It’s dry and bright, blending organic Sencha and Chun Mei green teas with White Peony tea, lemon verbena, and a touch of lavender.
Info: marabelatea.com

TREND ALERT
Among the emerging fall trends I’m seeing, serpents seem to be everywhere—from rings to knits and beyond. I love this 18k gold plated brass statement ring from en route jewelry; it’s well-balanced and visually striking. The best part? It’s under $50, which makes it a fun and easy way to get a jump on the trend. Whereas some animal motifs demand careful curation, a serpent ring offers evergreen versatility.
Info: enroutejewelry.com

EOS BLOOMS
I’ve never been a big fan of roses, so I’ve mostly avoided the forever flower frenzy – until now. Introducing Eos Blooms. These creative floral folks preserve incredibly curated bouquets, including some breathtaking non-rose options. These bouquets last for years – and never need a drop water. Of course, they’re a perfect housewarming gift, but also an equally thoughtful addition to an assisted living apartment or dorm.
Info: eosblooms.com

UNICORN DENIM
I went to the Pacsun website because they carry the adidas Pink Japan Sneakers and I ended up with a cart full of swoony wide (but not too wide) leg jeans. The Zoe Low Rise Girlfriend Jeans are the Goldilocks of fall jeans: a low-to-mid rise of 8.5 inches and a 31.5” inseam that hit just at the heel. Most wide leg lengths are either abbreviated or exaggerated; this is perfect for a casual-chic vibe.
Info: www.pacsun.com

BEE VISION GLAZE
What is bee vision glaze, you might be wondering. It’s the invisible to the human eye glaze used on Bee Cups™ -- these sweet little watering stations for our pollinator friends. To us, the finishing glaze looks clear. To them, however, it mimics colors and patterns found in nature. These cups look blue and turquoise to the human eye, but bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will see an attractive pink glow.
Info: bee-cups.com

TIMELESS
Social media has hastened the timeline for trends, which sometimes emerge and disappear within weeks. I’m all for peppering in a trendy element (looking at you, serpent ring!), but my wardrobe is built on a foundation of timelessness. It’s better for the environment and my wallet. You can’t go wrong with a Tory Burch watch, and nearly all of the brand’s pieces are perfect for every season.
Info: www.toryburch.com

PETAL POWER
Melissa Bernstein, the creative force and co-founder of Melissa & Doug Toys, has co-founded a new brand, Lifelines. The brand’s meditative FlowCrafts are designed to help users achieve flow state – that special groove where you’re calm yet intensely focused on the task at hand. This paper bouquet kit includes supplies to make five ethereally gorgeous paper flowers. Dab the petal edges in the dreamy paint to create lifelike detail and feel the stress melt away.
Info: www.papersource.com

GET A GRIP
You can engage your core with epic intensity, but you still might find yourself slowly slipping out of downward dog – and it’s frustrating. I’ve been testing different grip socks for over five years now, and Pointe Studio is among my top recommendations. They’re grippy – like Spider Man grippy – and hold up well, wash after wash. I always have a fresh pair in my yoga bag and love the endless colors and patterns.
Info: pointestudio.com

MIRANDA APPROVED
Of course, I recently rewatched The Devil Wears Prada, and there’s an infamous scene where Miranda Priestly delivers a scathing monologue about Andy’s Cerulean blue sweater. This gorgeous sweater, though marketed as royal blue, feels more Lapis to me, as I scroll through my mental index of the endless blue shades available for fibers these days. Miranda would approve of the Finisterre Anvon Crew Neck Knit, with its reverse-knit raglan seam and recycled wool fibers.
Info: finisterre.com/en-us

MEILLEUR MOMENT
Whether you’re packing a color-coded capsule or simply value versatile pieces, consider pairing this swoony Monet Lyocell Shirt from Meilleur Moment with the lapis hued Finisterre knit. This piece is my new travel favorite, replacing my white muslin waffle and chambray shirts – both worthy wardrobe workhorses in my travel stable. This breathable beauty offers such a fresh take on goes-with-everything versatility, and its hand-wash-only maintenance is easily managed on longer trips.
Info: meilleur-moment.com

KEUM-BOO
Camille Torres, founder and designer at Camille Torres Designs, recently introduced me to the ancient Korean technique of Keum-boo (koom-boo), which contrasts 24k gold with oxidized sterling silver. All of the pieces in her Imaginal Cell Collection are handcrafted in small batches, using recycled metals. These lightweight statement earrings feature the intricacy of Monarch wings, making a lovely gift for a recent grad, about to spread their wings.
Info: camilletorresdesigns.com