I was thinking about this time - years ago, when I was an editor - that I was invited to LA by Marc Jacobs fragrance to interview Adriana Lima for the launch of their “Decadence” fragrance. Adriana is velvet, she was incredible. AND, she was so media trained, every question I asked her she turned back to the fragrance -
Me: What do you do that feels decadent? Her: I put on Decadence, a new fragrance from Marc Jacobs. Me: But what else? Her: I like to take a long shower, get dressed in a beautiful outfit, and put on Decadence, a new fragrance from Marc Jacobs.
This is, of course, my memory of a conversation that happened ~7 years ago, so I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea. It was a lesson in professionalism, and I admired her ability to reveal without revealing. To not feel pressure to admit something she didn’t want to, to someone she didn’t know. I am a fan for life.
Anyway. That doesn’t have too much to do with what I’m thinking about right now, it was just a fun memory.
The real thing, and the tie in is: Sarah Nicole Prickett wrote a fantastic profile on Jacobs for T Mag around the same time. In it, they discuss what “decadence” is:
For lunch today, Lauren, [Jacobs’ private chef], serves three courses, each essentially a deconstructed smoothie in a shallow bowl. We eat in Marc’s fragrant backyard, from which you can hear neither the dogs and their walkers on the street (his own dogs Neville and Daisy are at the office) nor the cars on the West Side Highway. He gives me one of his Marlboro Lights, since Lauren mistook my pack for an extra one of Marc’s and tidied it away. “I love smokers,” he murmurs appreciatively. An addict from his late teens on, Marc says he gave up drugs — heroin, cocaine — for good in 2007 after a second stint in rehab. In 2006, after being diagnosed with the ulcerative colitis that killed his father, he hired a nutritionist and began working out with a personal trainer, a man who changed his legal name to Easy and is now one of Marc’s closest friends. We agree that smoking is “decadent,” and Marc tells me that Decadence, the name of his upcoming fragrance, is about “an irreverent, self-indulgent taking of pleasure and luxury.” He elaborates: “If somebody is eating cherries and drinking champagne on a street corner in an expensive dress, it’s a decadent sort of behavior, but it’s kind of playing at something. You know what I mean.”
This made a major impression on me, and is something I think about a lot - especially now that I’m in my horny baby phase of life. Things that are personal and nonsensical, or logical!, and just feel good. Like smoking. Or taking off a wet swimsuit and putting on a dry dress with no bra or underwear. Or driving barefoot. Or crying on an airplane.
But as we’re kind of rediscovering the world in our new context post-ish-Covid, it makes sense to me to try and structure your daily experience around being thrilled - luxuriating in the things that really float your boat, and making those things the core of who you are and how your friends would describe you.
Laurel’s the blonde one with bad tattoos - she likes airplane pasta and wearing men’s pants.
I guess my point is I’ve given myself space and freedom (in my post-ish-Covid life structure) to feel tickled by the world, and the permission to focus on things that really matter to me.
Covid, getting out of the magazine world and the New York machine, having kids, finally FINALLY letting go of feeling embarrassed about my body… I cut myself loose. For my whole adult life I defined myself by where I lived, and what I did - I was lost when I left those things. I love New York so much, like I love a person, and I fully expect I’ll live there again, but I spent those years hyper aware of pushing myself to be something, trying so hard to feel like I was cool. It’s a relief to set that down for a little while.
These days I’m always a little tan, always a little stoned, and I don’t really have to be anything else. I’m seeing everyone going to fashion week and going to the shows, and while I love seeing the collections, it is a deep, deep relief to not have to worry about seating charts and whether I’m going to be included or excluded this year. It’s nice to just watch from the outside.
A mylar balloon flying away. Driving in a bikini with your head hanging out the window, gulping in shampoo-smelling air. Riding a bike downhill with your eyes closed, cry/laughing from the nervous whoosh of being out of control.
Decadence! Can’t spell it, but I know what it means.
Here’s what I’m delighted by this week:
1. Don’t you just love it? A pearl-toned puffy jacket with a built in scarf. Toteme jacket, $680
2. Since unpacking my things, I am STUNNED by how many dresses I own. Somehow though, they’re all fussy in their own ways and not the kind of thing you can pop on after you take your wet swimsuit off (with the exception of my Attersee dresses which are actually perfect for that, if not a bit too warm). I’m looking to stock up on a few nice-looking throw-on-with-no-bra dressses, and right now Mango has a lot that aren’t too precious. Like this one. Or this black dress, or this one with cutouts. Slip Dress, $100
3. I love the thick nubs on this comb - great for detangling and for a scalp massage, but not so fine that it fucks up my waves and makes my hair frizzy - also it’s beautiful. Machete comb, $35
4. I recently had my friend Danielle Sherman (who is a jewelry designer, the best) take out all my extra hoops from my Love, Adorned days (IKYKY!) and my clean ears make wearing real earrings so much more fun. Less clutter, you know? I’ve been in these every day, but I’d love to start wearing something a little bigger, like these. Sophie Buhai earrings, $435
5. I had never heard of this brand, but I’m super into it. Apparently it’s somewhat sustainable, though I think ships from Australia, so if I’m going to order things I’m going to order a few things at once to cut back on shipping fuel. This is a top, not a dress, and so clean and beautiful and long long. I want. St. Agni top, $240
6. Just the cutest. I’ve thought I’m too old to wear crochet bucket hats but maybe now that I’m a bona-fide California mom I could try this one. Memorial Day bucket hat, $185
7. More from St. Agni - I love the tatami base of these and the puffyness underneath. St. Agni flats, $205
8. I’m a gummies gal, but I just want this for my room. An itty bitty little baby cherry pipe! I’m making heart eyes at it. Weedie Parker pipe, $95
9. I just got these and they are SO COMFORTABLE the sole is lightly padded and has a rubber bottom, so there’s some cushion. If I stand for too long in shoes that are flat flat my back will hurt for days. These don’t bother mine olde bones. Emme Parsons sandals, $450
10. Desperately want this silly bracelet bag. I’m going to visit this one in Austin at ByGeorge this week - I’ve had my eye on it since the style came out, and I might make it mine. Loewe bracelet bag, $1,300
11. God the DREAM. I saw the Spring Wales Bonner collection in Paris in June and it is just - the most fucking gorgeous collection ever. I am such a fan of hers, and I would LOVE to wear this with a blazer. Wales Bonner dress, $995
12. Normally I don’t wear any polish on my nails, but I am feeling like my style has gotten so chic chic minimal “good taste” that I’m getting bored by myself. Sometimes a silly manicure does the trick. Death Valley Nails nail polish in Frigidarium, $12
13. Just a hot bitch mini skirt. Frankie Shop mini skirt, $175
14. I think I’ve called this out before, but I have such a love for a square neckline - especially in swim. I have a tan line from one of mine right now and when I see myself naked I’m like… dang, that’s a chic-ass sunburn. Matteau swimsuit, $320
That’s all, I hope you feel good.
Love, your friend,
Laurel
I’m obsessed with your cool skeleton tee. Would it be possible to share where it’s from?