4 Things Chic, Conscious Consumers Are Loving
Welcome to the definition of curation brought to you by a self proclaimed "Chic, Conscious Consumer"
Happy Friday!
This week has been a whirlwind—keeping up with world events and politics has been nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. So, in an effort to shift gears, I’m bringing you something a little lighter: the first installment of 4 Things Chic, Conscious Consumers Are Loving.
Let’s Digest!
1 - Charvet
I love a staple that stands the test of time, and my only shoe purchase this year was a pair of Charvet’s Suede Slippers in the dreamiest shade of pink. Charvet is a brand that has been around since 1838, it is actually known as the worlds first ever shirt shop. This is evidently a legacy brand that focuses on quality and longevity.
I did grab these because I wanted to know more about Charvet’s “lore” and partly out of necessity—I’m on crutches and all my favorite shoes are heels—but mostly because they’re effortlessly chic. The craftsmanship is impeccable, the color is divine, and they come in the most elegant case. Sometimes, the best purchases are the ones that feel as luxurious as they are practical.
2 - Really Good Quality Hair Tools
Thick-haired people, we’ve had enough of flimsy brushes breaking mid-detangle. Enter the era of legacy hair tools—Maison Pearson and Altesse—brushes designed to last. Similar to Charvet, these brands Maison Pearson in 1885 and Altesse in 1875. Both of these are made with boar bristles and are said to evenly distribute your hairs natural oils. The Altesse comes with detailed directions for usage and actually supports the folktale of brushing your hair 100 times a day for optimum health.
As a curly coily girl, I will not be doing that but from what I’ve seen people feel their results match the claims. What’s even more satisfying? I skipped the drugstore gamble and headed to a C.O. Bigelow, where an expert (who’s helped hundreds of others find their perfect brush) guided me instead of relying on an internet stranger’s personal preference. A curated purchase always feels better than a convenient one. I have also heard great things about La Bonne Brosse, but I haven’t tried for myself just yet.
3 - Reuse, Reuse, Reuse
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”—a phrase that takes me straight back to elementary school assemblies, much like a vintage D.A.R.E. t-shirt (which, unfortunately, was before my time). Repurposing beauty and food packaging has become a bit of an obsession of mine. My grandma has always been the queen of finding new uses for everything, sending repurposed goods to the mission school she’s run for most of my life. I feel just like her when I clean out Diptyque and Boy Smells candle jars to use as makeup brush holders—it’s the chicest form of upcycling.
One less thing I’m buying from Amazon. Lately, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a glass-cutting kit to turn old wine bottles into decor pieces.
4 - Breaking Up with Blind Buying
As a self-proclaimed fragrance connoisseur, I’ve learned the internet is dangerously misleading. Every new release is hyped as a potential “signature scent,” but most samples are messy, impractical, and barely capture the essence of the full fragrance. Dabbers don’t do the trick, and half the time, you can barely smell the perfume.
So in 2024, I made the ultimate Chic, Conscious Consumer decision—I officially broke up with blind buying. Now, I take monthly pilgrimages to Scent Bar NYC (or anywhere I can see and smell before I commit). Without fail, the fragrances hyped online leave me unimpressed, while a random bottle gathering dust on the back shelf turns out to be the one. This is my new approach to shopping everything. I was tempted to order new kitchen knives online, but instead, I found MTC Kitchen. I’m making a day of it—pretending I’m in Sex and the City and going knife shopping with my friends who perfectly embody the “Chic,Conscious Consumer” mindset!
Here’s to shopping smarter, repurposing better, and making every purchase count.
Thanks for consuming!
Phia
“Each Day Gets Better”