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.
In the past year, we’ve covered most items one would need to set a table except plates, which are absolutely the most important piece. Well, today’s the day and before I get into my recommendations for our trusting inquirer, I would like to state that this was a tricky one, which questioned many of my shopping values. Ideally, in my criteria for choosing plates, I’d choose something that will be manufactured for a long while, so that when life happens, you can just put in an order for replacements. However, this is just too big an ask with the way things are manufactured and marketed these days. I suppose it’s a symptom of an oversaturation of online brands — that it’s expected that they cycle through styles to appease the masses and then shut down after a few years when they run out of VC funds or the public has moved on to a shinier aesthetic. That said, I’ve avoided all startup-y home and kitchen brands (you know the ones) because I don’t trust that the quality is there, or that they’ll stand the test of time. Can you tell I’m having a bit of an existential crisis in my shopping life? Am I the only one who’s sick of hearing about a new internet brand every day? Do they all look the same or is something wrong with my eyes? I just can’t keep up.
Zoe in Denver: “I'm looking for perfect plates. My kitchen was flooded this year with sewer water, which meant the loss of my plates, bowls, cups, glasses, etc. I've been able to replace most of what was lost, but I'm stuck on finding the most perfect plates. They must be dishwasher-safe, beautiful, durable, and functional. I would love something that I could keep forever (or, at least a really long time).”
Dear Zoe,
Oh dear! What a horrifically frustrating ordeal. I hope you’ve recovered and are finding ways to enjoy the opportunity to reinvent your kitchen a bit. Finding your forever plates is a challenge, and if you’re a little clumsy like me, it’s made more difficult by the consideration of fragility. When I first moved to the city, I found what I thought were my perfect plates at a pretty West Village boutique. They were expensive, but I didn’t care, because I’d have them forever. I bought 8 and within five years, they’d been relegated to the top shelf of my kitchen because the delicate porcelain rims on every single one were badly chipped. How could I have known? There’s just so much to consider! Here’s my criteria:
Dishwasher and microwave safe
Must be strong enough that they won’t break if you drop them once
Must be able to hastily slide them onto a stack without chipping the rim
Neutral enough that you won’t get sick of them/they’ll look great with any table decor
And here are my picks in a 5 different categories:
Sturdy but not boring
Laila Gohar is the coolest gal in food, and she’s got a collection out with HAY right now that’s just the right balance of quirk and function. Her Sombresa plates start at $65 for 2 and feature hand-painted rims:
Simple, Utilitarian
I am a hardcore Fishs Eddy stan and will always believe that the Homer Laughlin plates that they sell are the cheapest, more durable, best plates around. They’re seriously indestructible! Fishs Eddy only has red in stock online right now (LOTS of colors and sizes in-store) but you can get black for $274 for a case of 12 from Webstaurant Store.
Fancy and fun
Bitossi Home makes the fruit plates ($36 each) I’ve been eyeing for 2 years. I think they make some of the most interesting patterned tableware out there if you’re looking for registry china vibes, but more contemporary. The fun thing about having chintzy plates is that you can replace/supplement with vintage and other equally chintzy pieces.
Colorful and classic
Your grandma’s favorite Lenox has a spunky new collection that features a wildly colored version of their 100 year-old Westchester pattern. Better yet, they’re on sale for 4 for $89.
Clean and simple
Sometimes it’s nice to just have something clean and white. From Alessi, the All-Time plate has a delicate, fluid shape with no sharp edges waiting to be chipped. They’re so subtly and thoughtfully designed and if you have a stockist near you, please go check them out in person. These plates are simply gorgeous, and they’re currently on sale for $76.80 for 4.
Honorable mentions:
Luminarc Arty Glass Plates, which come in a bajillion colors, most of which are impossible to find stateside. Can you imagine a cupboard stuffed with a full spectrum of Luminarc?!
Ann Demeulemeester for Serax Dé Off Plates because they’re so unique (can you tell I just love this collection?!). These are the ones I’d probably pick for myself if I was shopping for plates today.
QUICK ANSWER
Anna in LA: “I'm looking for a really special, beautiful wall calendar for 2023. I had one for 2022 that was a gift and I don’t know how to replace it. I'd like something unusual, colorful, and delightful.”
Calendars are so fun to shop for and though I LOVE a good earnest museum shop one, there’s a whole world of cult favorites out there like the big statement Stendig, or the Five Metal Shop calendar, which is very sold out for the year. Considering that you’re looking for something extra special, and you’re in LA, I’d recommend taking a field trip to Shorthand in Highland Park to pick up the gorgeous Lonely Palm Ranch Calendar ($85), which is hand silk screened. $85 seems like a lot to spend on a calendar, but you’re essentially paying for 12 unique art prints.
FAVORITE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
I might be known for my work on the pencil, but in my day-to-day I also really enjoy using a fountain pen. Typically, I stick to black ink and maybe a dark red or purple on occasion, but this week I popped in an electric pink cartridge from J. Herbin for the first time and it’s really brightened up my daily writing. I purchased this color, which is called Rose Cyclamen at Yoseka Stationery because I just love having cyclamen blooming in my home in the winter, and was delighted to find an ink color that same specific shade of magenta. My cyclamen have since died, but at least I am reminded of them and their glorious hue every time I un-cap my pen.
Is there a product you’re looking for? Submit your request here. See you next week for fresh recommendations! xo Caroline
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