Edition 37: Raincoats, Oven Mitts, Shaker Side Tables
And, where to find a bra that actually fits in NYC
Greetings, friends! And welcome to Caroline Finds It: my weekly newsletter where I reply to submissions from YOU for objects and products you need recommendations for.
The winter blues have officially struck my household this week and as I’m barely staying afloat and nursing a cold that just won’t quit, I’m keeping it simple this week by tackling a handful of requests that I have very confident answers for. Here it goes:
Jode in Harrisonville, PA: “I’m looking for affordable end tables that don’t look like they came from Hobby Lobby. (Sorry Hob Lob, I do still love you) I would prefer white but open to wood. Prefer something vintage and smaller to modern as our house was built in the late 40’s and retains it’s vintage (meaning small) charm. I’ve been watching antique stores and vintage markets but just not finding exactly what I’m looking for.”
My go to for solid accent pieces is always shaker-style wood furniture because it’s classic but not too antique-y and is often available unfinished so it can be painted or finished to your liking. Shaker furniture is typically defined by tapered legs, expert joinery, round knobs, flat panels and minimalist lines. Want to know more? Here’s a story from CBS Sunday Morning a few years ago. Much of what you’ll find that’s to exacting Shaker standards is $$$, but since it follows such a simple aesthetic, you can also find less expensive options with slightly less attention to detail. For you, I’d pick this round one with a little drawer ($179 unfinished, $239 for white) from Good Wood Furniture:
This slim one from Futonworld (made in the USA!) is a great choice for alongside a sofa or in a tight space ($380):
Do you know someone who’s a woodworker and could make something for you? I found a tutorial for a gorgeous table. Another option is to check Etsy for someone local who can make you something to your specs — I think you’ll be surprised by how many options you’ll find! I’ve ordered several small pieces of wood furniture for my home this way.
If you’re reading this and love shaker design as much as I do, be sure to visit The Commerce Inn for lamplit dinner or an early evening drink. You’ll leave wanting to re-do your entire home — trust me!
Emma in NYC: “An actually cute rain jacket please!”
Hands down, the best, most stylish, most rain-proof rain coats come from Stutterheim. They’re built to last with rubberized cotton and come in a variety of styles for men and women— the only downside is that they’re pricey at $325+ (lots of colors and styles on sale right now, though!!). I love the Mosebacke style, which is a-line and comes in an inspiring selection of colors.
Amanda in Stamford: “In 2005, Oprah said, "Change your bra, change your life". Sadly I think about that on a regular basis, but have yet to find a place that can assist me. I know I am not wearing the right bra size and to be honest I probably never have! I am a quick train ride to the city, do you know of a store that properly measures and gives/finds the support I need?”
Oprah is so right! Wearing the right bra will make you feel more confident, more comfortable and will significantly improve your posture and relieve back pain! My first job in NYC was at Journelle, where everyone who’s hired goes through extensive bra fitting training, which was so interesting to learn about because it really is true — most women are wearing the wrong size and there are so many misconceptions about how bra sizing even works. I’d recommend visiting a shop that has expert fitters and sells a wide selection of brands, not just a single in-house brand. Every brand specializes in different styles for different breast shapes and size ranges, so it helps to have lots of options to try if you’re looking to learn and experiment to find what’s best for you. Even though it’s been nearly 10 years since I worked there, I still shop at Journelle (three locations in the city!) and would recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable starting point. If you suspect that you’re in a higher band size (36+) or cup size (G+), you might check out tried-and-true Town Shop on the Upper West Side for more availability in larger sizes. Just two days ago, I was walking down a quiet street in East Williamsburg and encountered The Rack Shack, which carries an outstanding variety of sexy options in an extensive size range (28A-46O!). Once you’re sure about your size and what shapes work best for you, it’ll be easier to shop online and try more adventurous styles.
Wanna get a head start? This measuring guide from Vogue is a good place to begin. Before heading out on your shopping mission, makes sure you’re wearing the bra that’s currently your go-to (which is important for the measuring process) under your favorite top or sweater so you can see how the new bras would look under something you’d actually wear.
Adina in NYC: “Pot holders. I'm partial to fabric pot holders, silicone ones just doesn't do it for me or at least the ones I have seen it in stores. My favorite fabric ones wore out a couple of years ago and the multiple replacements since then have been quite flimsy and does not protect from heat very well. I have small hands and want something non-bulky that bends easily, doesn't let the heat through too much and is somewhat pretty.”
Look no further than The Oven Mitts by Staff ($35)! I’m with you on preferring fabric ones, but after burning through 2 pairs in a single year, I bought these out of desperation one day at Coming Soon and have been consistently impressed by how durable they are. Since there’s a substantial cotton lining, they feel like fabric mitts, but with the functionality of silicone. They’re really flat, too, so you can feel what you’re grabbing without burning yourself.
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
A couple of months ago, I popped into Zoe’s Beauty in Greenpoint for a travel tube of toothpaste and left with 5 things I didn’t plan on buying. One of them was a big bottle of Davines LOVE CURL Cleansing Cream. Unfortunately for me, I have a hair type that doesn’t fall into a single category. My hair is fine but there’s lots of it, it’s unruly but not frizzy, and curly but only under the right conditions. For this reason, I’ve never paid much attention to it, or given much thought to the products I’m using because I just find it really confusing. Julie at Joon Drop, who is a hair wizard and is probably reading this has kept me in good fuss-free haircuts for years, and that’s all I need. I don’t know why I spent $50 on a product I didn’t even understand how to use, but I’m glad I did. Davines LOVE CURL Cleansing Cream is a very safe product that falls under the category of “co-wash”. Since I’ve started using it once a week in lieu of shampoo + conditioner, my hair has felt healthier, more buoyant, curlier and best of all, it doesn’t get greasy after a couple of days like it used to. All of the travel I’ve been doing lately has also proven it to be unexpectedly handy because it means I can carry one product instead of two to keep my hair nice on the road.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline
A note on bra measuring/fitting. The vogue article is pretty good, but the fitting recommendations aren't the best.
the info & measuring calculator at https://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/
(the subreddit for abrathatfits) is ABSOLUTELY the best, most helpful information I've ever gotten. I'm (currently) a 32 GG (UK) and there is SO MUCH nuance to bra fits that 95% of women do not understand. It can be life changing to get a bra that not only is the correct size, but the correct depth & shape to fit. The calculator uses several measurements (none of which are with a bra that most likely doesn't fit being worn). The vast majority of posts are women with far too large bands and way, way too small cups. What we've been told is a 34B is so frequently closer to a 30D/DD. (It's a ratio, which is something I didn't realise until reading the subreddit, and shape matters).
There's also an instagram account that shows the difference in before and afters here: https://www.instagram.com/theirishbralady/
I'm passionate about this subject - it's surprising how many women, daily, are shocked at their true bra size & once they're in a well fitted bra, the changes are amazing.