Welcome to This Is Cute. We’re Jenna, Jayna, and Verena. We text all day about cute stuff so you don’t have to. If you’re interested in seeing the previous and equally unhinged editions, they’re here.
We’re baaaaaack! Did you miss us?? We missed us! We took a little summer hiatus, during which Jenna and Verena did fun summer things and Jayna stayed inside (which is her version of fun summer!). But we are back back back and ready to talk FALL. Sure it’s sad when summer ends but is there anything better than those first brand emails filled with weird leaf and like, wind emojis and subject lines that are nowhere near as cute as ours? We’ve been diligently combing through them and have put together our respective wish lists, so if you’re ready for Goldilocks loafers, vintage L.L. Bean bombers, and sparkles, let’s get into it!!
Jenna
Jamie Haller Bit Loafers
These landed on my wishlist a while back, but have been mostly OOS. The shape of them is very traditional, which I prefer in a loafer. And I’m a real sucker for vintage-y details, like bit ware and tassels. While awaiting a restock, I wavered between the cognac and the castagno, but ultimately felt like the latter filled the larger void in my shoe lineup (I have cognac Weejuns, which are forever shoes, for the record!!). In due time, the shoes did come back and I smashed add to cart. BUT there’s a heartbreaking twist: I am fully between sizes. I am, apparently, the Goldilocks of frickin’ Jamie Haller. So, someone, please, scratch this itch and buy my perfect loafs. In the meantime, I’ll be scrolling TRR for Guccis in very good-to-pristine condish.
Mango Waxed-Effect Parka
We know, barn jacket discourse TikTok is OOC. I don’t realllllyy get it? Like, why now, kids? The style certainly isn’t new (Hello, Alexa Chung at every Glastonbury ever, and also the entire royal family from the 80s onward. Barbour was founded in 1896, for the love!!). A Barn-er is a perennial fall staple, but apart from borrowing my husband’s from time to time, I’ve never had one to call my own. Anyway, this Mango version called to me and despite having some reservation about its SLIGHTLY belled sleeve cuffs—and the fact that it comes with a weird disclaimer about never ever washing or dry cleaning it ever (gross?)—I think it’s a waxed-cotton winner!
Frankie Shop Bea Crepe Blazer
I bought this pre-Memorial Day knowing that its wearability would stretch well into fall. The jacket is huge, almost cape-like, and reminds me of that Rugrats episode where the babies become adults and go to work in boxy suits. I like that the proportion is sort of ridiculous and unprecious; the effect is tailored, without being finicky. In early summer, I loved pairing it with bike shorts and glove flats. I’m excited to wear it this fall over b-downs, turtles, vests, and a bil tril other layers.
Kamala Sweatshirt
Very, very good merch. And while we’re at it, investing in an emoji-fied Kamala Harris VOTE poster by the crazy talented (and friend of TIC) Lauren Edelstein is a very joyful way to display support. Mine is currently sitting pretty in my front window.
Marge Sherwood Bowling Bag
Simply put, she’s just a chic little bag at a super appealing price point. I don’t own it, yet, but it feels like a responsible purchase, as it would easily pair back to ~80% of my wardrobe and keep me from grabbing a significantly less polished carryall (I won’t name names) as I am so wont to do.
J. Hannah Signet Jewelry
Something about a monogrammed piece feels very back-to-school. Also, I’ve wanted a J. Hannah signet (ring, necklace, you name it—get it? lol) forever. Or, really, since JW and VVP turned me on to the impossibly versatile nail polish / jewelry / beautiful trillion dollar lamps designer.
Le Bon Shoppe Mohair Sweater
I feel dumb for not knowing this socks-forward label also designs sweaters (and other stuff too!). But it makes so much sense. The brand’s signature crews have a vintage varsity vibe that translates so perfectly to everyday pullovers and V-necks. I ordered this mohair guy in the perfect tomato shade.
The Great Bridge Dress
A fall dress is a tricky thing, because the window for wearing it feels discouragingly small. Of course, you can extend its cold weather shelf life with tights and turtles, but there’s something a tiny bit bummery about trying to make a sweet dress happen in the snow. On the flip, this dress from The Great, with its shirted silhouette, not-toooo-heavy fabric and craftsy embroidery (also, I guess I’m into red right now??), would easily qualify for a next summer resurgence. Jayna’s going to kill me for even typing the words ‘next summer’, but SORRY.
JW
Caron Callahan Margaret Platforms
I got these before JG had her heartbreaking Haller experience, otherwise I would be stepping in to scratch her itch (ew but also I am SUCH a good friend). Obviously these are quite different than a loaf, but I plan to wear them in the same spirit—with cute socks and cropped jeans, midi skirts and maybe even above the knee dresses, if I can work up the courage to fully embrace 90s Jayna in 2024. I went with the bordeaux leather, which feels a little different for me (I’m traditionally a cognac leather die-hard) but still extremely versatile and a nice fall take on my summer uniform, which often involves a cherry red shoe.
Donni Silk Pinstripe Shirt
I sent this button up in the TIC chat, and it launched a fun volley about brands we love whose prices we find hard to justify. For example: 434 clams?? Are they out of their minds? Yes, it’s silk and yes I think it’s a perfect sort of men’s shirt/PJ top hybrid and I think if I wore it with jeans and little boat shoes all my problems in life would just evaporate in a chic cloud of vetiver and oud, but fuck that is too much money, sorry. It’s really so chic though.
Levi’s Sta-Prest Men's Flare Jeans
I’ve ordered and returned three different pairs of these Levi’s, so this is sort of a weird recommendation, but actually, maybe that makes it even more compelling, because I am clearly VERY invested in making these work. I’m a sucker for a denim crease, probably because my most treasured pair of jeans in high school were an old pair of my dad’s Geoffrey Beane’s that were perfectly broken in and perfectly flared and yes, perfectly creased. These sort of give me the same vibes, and the color is also very 70s dad in a hammock, which I love. Hopefully the pair I have en route will work, but be warned – sizing on these cuties is WEIRD. DM me for details!
Vintage L.L. Bean Bomber Jacket
Pretty sure I got this idea from Joyce Lee (Hi, Joyce Joyce!) because last winter I remember seeing her on IG wearing just the coolest most perfectly broken in leather bomber and I immediately messaged her in all caps about it and I think she said it was either vintage L.L. Bean or Eddie Bauer. Or maybe I dreamt all of that, but here we are. I never really think of bomber jackets because 1. I can never buy another jacket ever again, as everyone knows and 2. I’ve been pretty focused on long slouchy overcoats or vintage barn jackets or weird fleeces for a long time now, and I just never really factored them in. But a vintage bomber is a GREAT look. I finally decided to order one from Etsy and I’m really hoping I can pull it off. They have a really good selection for a pretty decent range of prices, so let’s all get them and be the cutest little bomber gang!
Vintage Overalls
We’ve definitely talked about overalls a bill trill times, but I wore these to breakfast with Jenna yesterday and she told me I looked cute and should put them in the next newsletter and I do whatever she says because she’s perfect so here you go! They’re super oversized and extremely comfy, and I’m excited to wear them with cardigans and socks with sandals once we really start getting to the good cold weather stuff.
No. 6 Vegan Leather Skirt
Not much to say about this one, other than the three of us were all losing our SHIT over it (and much of No 6’s first fall installment earlier this week). I have a weird relationship with vegan leather, because I always feel like I am not quite making it look cool and then I start to get in my head and it can lead to a real spiral. But this one looks so luxe and substantial, and I love that it comes in that sort of classic bomber brown or a slightly unexpected bottle green. I’m going to wait and see if it comes down in price at all and in the meantime, if anyone has tips on styling vegan leather, I’m allllll ears! [Ed Note: She did not wait.]
VvP
J.Crew Wide-Leg Corduroy TrouserWhen I was in high school, I had a pair of low-slung, wide-leg chocolate brown cords that I wore religiously. I hadn’t thought of them in years, until I saw this pair from J.Crew, conveniently 20% off. These ones have some stretch and a higher waist, which means I’d probably try them in a size or two up to give me the louche and languid vibe I’m looking for.
Sparkles and Rose Gold
Speaking of other things that remind me of high school, Saie just launched a new shade of their Glowy Super Gel, which both Jenna and I have previously endorsed. Starglow is warm-toned rose gold, which immediately made me think of my once-upon-a-time favorite moisturizer on the planet by Prescriptives, sadly now long discontinued. It came in a tub and gave your skin the most perfect pinky iridescence. If anyone else remembers this product, please let me know, just so we can share the nostalgia. Anyway, I recently ran out of my original Glowy Super Gel in Universal Champagne—good to the last drop!—so will be replacing it with Starglow. I clearly have sparkles on the brain (always), so I also have to tell you about this glittery liquid shadow by Swedish makeup artist Lisa Heller. If you want to feel like an elfin princess, try Blink. If unicorns are more your vibe, go for Tease. Last night, I also bought this probably/definitely too-good-to-be-true $12 pot of holographic shadow after being served it one too many times on TikTok. I just read some Reddit reviews claiming it smells like gasoline and maybe causes an allergic reaction so wish me luck. (Please don’t buy it until I report back.) In the meantime, I’ll just be twinkling all over this town. (If you’re wondering what any of this has to do with fall, I’m having visions of basically dressing like a baked potato in varying shades of head-to-toe brown, and love the idea of topping it all off with a disco ball face in an effort to keep that shimmery, sunny, summer vibe going as long as I can. Also because I just love sparkles, okay???)
THE CUTE CATALOGUE™
Shoes
Jamie Haller Bit Loafers
G.H. Bass Weejun Loafers (30% off with code LOVE30)
Gucci Leather Printed Loafers on TheRealReal
Jil Sander Ballerina Flats
Chanel Woven Loafers on Poshmark (size 38.5)
Caron Callahan Margaret Platforms
Sperry Boat Shoes
Jackets
Mango Barn Jacket
L.L. Bean Vintage Leather Bomber Jacket
Eddie Bauer Vintage Leather Bomber Jacket
London Fog Vintage Overcoat
Carhartt Vintage Barn Jacket
Patagonia Vintage Fleece (in a very cute shade of pink!)
Shirts
Cos Oversized Tailored Shirt
Donni Silk Pinstripe Shirt
Keens T-Shirt
Sweaters & Sweatshirts
Tory Burch Sweater Vest (50% off!)
Willy Chavarria Kamala Sweatshirt
Le Bon Shoppe Mohair Sweater
J.Crew Vintage Men’s Sweater
Dresses & Skirts
The Great Bridge Dress
APC Aurelia Dress
No.6 Mel Skirt in Brown
Pants
CRZ Yoga Leggings
J.Crew Wide-Leg Corduroy Trouser
AGOLDE Ren Wide Leg Jeans
Levi’s Sta-Prest Men’s Flare Jeans
Vintage Overalls
Bags
Marge Sherwood Bowling Bag
Accessories
Herbs for Relaxation Cap
J. Hannah Duo Face Signet Ring
J. Hannah Initial Signet Pendant
Le Bon Shoppe Varsity Socks
J.Crew Ribbed Socks
Misc.
Kamala Harris VOTE Poster
J. Hannah Table Lamp
Beauty
Saie Glowy Super Gel in Starglow
Sparkl by Lisa Heller in Tease and Blink
Frederic Malle Vetiver Extraordinaire
Hi!!! Yes vintage Eddie Bauer leather !!! ❤️❤️❤️