Happy February Chic,Conscious Consumers! I cant believe we’re in 2026 and as the days go on I’ve realized that the age old saying “the days are long, but the years are short” is in fact true. I’ll spare the sappiness peaking through as I get wiser— January was my birthday and somehow I’m seemingly more sappy?
Aside from that January was a special month, I traveled to places I’ve longed to go and cemented the type of consumer I want to be. That may sound a little abstract, but I think this month’s menu will explain it a little more.
Let’s digest!
It’s no secret Etsy is the Zach to my Cody. I have found so many epic pieces on Etsy and these toiletry bags are at the top of that list.
They are obviously stunning, zebra print + pink, I mean commmeee onnn!!! Aside from the aesthetics, I’ve been trying to truncate the makeup and skincare that I travel with, which has been quite hard. My family often jokes that I travel like a make up artist with a whole checkin bag dedicated to glam (this is an over exaggeration by the way). Either way, using reasonably sized toiletry bags to dwindle what gets to come and what has to stay has been the best way for me to avoid over doing it. So these bags have made my editing process so much easier and my bags go from over weight to just being “heavy”.
2 - Stocking Socks
So here’s the thing… socks don’t work with every shoe. My loafers, heels and dress shoes all have a sock aversion. So when I was ironically gifted short stockings as a stocking stuffer for Christmas this year, I was elated. I feel like these are the epitome of the “Young Ho’s” trend on Tiktok, like someones Grandma is out there in a robe shaking her head saying ““Young Ho’s” don’t wear stocking socks no more” and she would be right. I assume these socks were a staple and some how they fizzled out? maybe for all of us or just for me, idk. What I do know is, they are an absolute necessity and the life I was living pre-Christmas, pre-stocking socks is one I no longer recognize. These are the best item I discovered in 2025, and as I’ve become a loafer girl these socks have been handy.
3 - Mellograno
I started 2026 in Egypt, a place I left but will always stay. I packed nearly 5 perfumes, floral ones to wear in the sun, sultry ones to wear to art deco themed dinner reservations, ozonic ones to wear to the beach. I placed so much thought into my travel fragrance wardrobe, to only wear one perfume everyday of my 12 day trip. Mellograno by Santa Maria Novello became peerless in a toiletry bag filled to the brim. I found it to be perfect, it wrapped me in a monomania of obsession, only craving it. This powdery Chypre perfume features pomegranate, bergamot, rose and more grounding notes of oak moss and labdanum — it is nothing shy of STUNNING!
4 - Cheetah 1774 Birkenstocks
This was another Christmas gift. My little cousin had these and once I saw them I knew I needed them. Birkenstocks are to Spring and Summer what Uggs are to Fall and Winter, but these Cheetah ones have offered a break in that system ( I should note that this was before the snow storm lol).
These are the perfect travel shoe, slim enough to throw in you carryon and easy enough to wear with nearly every outfit— especially if you see animal print as a neutral!
5 - Bedouin’s Daughter Lip Gloss in Long Distance
I stopped at a friends during my extended layover in London and was graciously gifted the first launch of from their brand, Bedouin’s Daughter, along with some cheeky samples. This lip gloss in the shade Long Distance was the only lip product I used in Egypt! The color is absolutely perfect! It is almost the same color as my holy grail Charlotte Tilbury but is even better, believe it or not, and no it’s not my bias speaking. The shade is slightly more mauve, which for a brown gloss is highly important, so often brown lip products can be too cool and make you look like you have a 5 o’clock shadow or too warm and make you look like you have something rather gross on your face iykwim. This is also a bit less tingly than the Charlotte Tilbury, which is important in this frozen tundra, as the tingliness can make you feel like your lips are freeeezing off.
6 - Rose Tea
THISSSSS!! Ugh! This tea is soo good, and is really a good 10% of the reason I need to go back to Cairo. I went to a spice store that specializes in Egyptian and global spices sourced from Aswan. This store was as if I was walking through the world through the realm of spice. As a tea-aholic I of course went specifically for their tea selection, the second I smelled the Rose Tea, I told the sales associate to give me as much as possible. It is the most fragrant and flagrant tea I have ever had, even when I brew it, it brightens up my space with the scent of ripe red roses. It is an experience…
7- Moment of the Month: EGYPT!
8- Leather Journal
Me + My Louise Carmen Journal go together real bad. I posted a tiktok about my notebook frustration, the paper falling out, the spirals loosening, just full frustration.
I was clearly influenced by TikTok’s latest analog trend and opted for the leather portfolio and composition notebook combo…. I LOVE it. I take notes by hand so having an organized system where I can take notes for my various roles in one place has been a dream.
A little pizzaz, a little something funky, a little something different. I JUST LOVE!
10 - VinhLe Necklace
My friend Vincent launched his brand at the end of 2025, and as soon as I took a peek at his site, I added nearly everything to my Christmas List. My sister got me the Lumière Necklace, and it stays around my neck or around my bags. I just love it!!! Im also thinking about grabbing the Cotton Candy color, I just know it would love divine with a pair of jeanss.
And that is alll!!
Thanks for Consuming!
Phia
'“Everyday is All There Is”