The Shopping List: AUGUST

Our monthly 10, feat. a cool pleated midi, a feathery choker, a very chic tissue case and the perfect, heavily-discounted silver cuff.

For anyone new here, our monthly shopping list is our way of sharing all the beautiful, interesting, lovely, surprising things that have caught our eye lately — and force ourselves to examine why. We try to prioritise Australian & Kiwi designers wherever we can, but occasionally, we’ll allow a handful of labels from further afield to join the mix.

Lately, I’ve noticed an increasing amount of criticism that Substack shouldn’t be used as a place for ‘shopping’ content. That it’s somehow damaging, dumb or not what Substack should be for. But, our monthly shopping lists are consistently our most requested and read content (which could be a case for paywalling them, but we’re not gonna do that to you!). I hope it’s because we’re curating an edit of things that feels actually fun to peruse, not like another soulless market edit. Everything here is deeply personal.

The goal here is not to encourage more mindless consumption, but simply to think a little more deeply about what we desire.

This month, Soph’s five picks are a window into a woman re-emerging from month one of postpartum (in unsurprisingly chic fashion), while mine are a window into a woman caught, like a fly in syrup, between reality and fantasy (as per, tbh).

We hope you enjoy. We’ve linked a handful of recent posts below in case you’d like to stick around a little longer.

Annie & Soph xo

Annie

HUNZA G / Pamela Swim in Bubblegum — $315.00

I have a holiday coming up in late September where I am hoping to find myself poolside, margarita in hand, out of office ON. I am desperate to shake these Melbourne winter blues and nothing could be less blue than this bubblegum pink one piece by Hunza G.

I am not one to bare much skin at the best of times, so I always feel uncomfortable in bathers. And despite growing up spending every other weekend at the beach, I’d much rather stare at the ocean than be in it. So, swimsuit shopping is possibly my most dreaded shopping assignment. I’ve heard good things about Hunza G’s iconic crinkle cut, though. The pink is so loud and obnoxious that I feel it will compensate for the fact that any swimsuit, in any colour, makes me want to run for the hills and hide. I guess you could think of it as exposure therapy… which has worked for all my other fears, so I guess we’re doing this.

Sophie

HEAVEN MAYHEM / Star Sign Necklace — $299

HEAVEN MAYHEM / Star Sign Necklace — $299

Given i’m wearing a lot of loose, soft comfort-wear right now, I can use all the help I can get in the accessory department. I’ve been hunting for unique long pendant necklaces for a while that don’t look like everything else and I really love this piece by Heaven Mayhem. The cord gives effortless while the gold assists with the polish I need.

Annie

SCANLAN THEODORE / Feather Choker — $305.00

File this under unnecessary floof that takes the edge off all the hard things (literally and figuratively). It’s the sartorial equivalent of an Iced VoVo. A French 75. A warm breeze. I could not be further from the mindset or circumstance that would render this delightful feather choker thing appropriate to actually wear, but I live in hope.

Sophie

PUEBCO AUSTRALIA / Rug Fabric Tissue Case — $32

I was served this tissue box holder on IG and I’m glad to say the algorithm has me pinned. I spend multiple minutes (that I don’t have spare) in the supermarket choosing the right aesthetic tissue box and it’s never good enough, it’s always sub par. Lift your game Kleenex! Who cares you say? I care! I wish I didn’t! But thanks to Puebco I need not worry about this very serious life conundrum any longer.

Annie

CALL IT BY YOUR NAME / Customised Large Cabas Tote — $530.00

I’ve been on the hunt for a bag suitable for weekend schlepping. It’s wild how much stuff needs to walk out the door with me on a Saturday morning: baby wipes, Babybels, nappies, a doodle mat, sultanas, toy planes, a portable charger, my sanity etc. Since we retired the ‘nappy bag’ of my son’s first year, I’ve been accommodating the weekend schlep via a mix of random tote bags while also carrying my own personal bag, and carrying both along with a squirmy toddler is truly a recipe for rage.

I saw a very chic woman perusing Kidstuff in Armadale last weekend with one of these tossed over her shoulder. I’d clocked the label a few years back but honestly completely forgot about them. Love the padded paisley tote, which can be customised with letters/emojis. SO sweet.

Sophie

BOND-EYE / Low Palace One Piece — $185

Annie and I will be attending the same holiday event next month, hence two pairs of swimwear in this late winter newsletter. There is nothing I would rather do less in early postpartum than put on a swimsuit but I refuse to be that mum that doesn’t get in the water with their kids and opts out of photos because of my insecurities. So between now and then I shall be reminding myself daily of what these new curves have achieved for me — fake it till you make it!

I went to Bond-Eye for their ‘Crinkle Swimwear’, similar to that of the Hunza G but on a parental leave budget. The fabric grows and shrinks with your body, perfect. I stumbled across this Low Palace One Piece style in a sold out chocolate ‘lurex micro crinkle’ and became obsessed, as it looks like it may hug slightly tighter than the original fabric, read: more support! And I also much prefer chocolate on my complexion than black. So then began the hunt for the last of the style available in Australia, which I found for both you and I.

I wont lie i’m slightly terrified of the high cut but the site insists you can adjust this height according to modesty, but where all else fails I will be pairing with the chicest of pareo’s (a fancy term for sarong). For those looking for something with slightly more coverage i’ve also heard amazing things about Innes Lauren for very high quality and long lasting swimwear.

Annie

CHRISTOPHER ESBER / Dillon 95 Sunglasses — $345.00

Ok, so we need to talk about sunglasses for a moment. The 70s-meets-00s oversized shades are just not for me. There’s something about them that feels engineered for the algorithm? And while I’m all for dabbling in trends — sunglasses are such a low-lift way to update your aesthetic — the bug-eye look just isn’t for me.

I’ve been wearing a pair of Saint Laurent cat-eye sunglasses for the last year or two, which I still love, but with sunnier days ahead, I’m keen for something a little lighter and less serious. See: these Esber shades. The yellow lens, the solid tortoise frame, the classic silhouette…tick, tick, tick!

Sophie

NELSON MADE / Nova Wedge — $349

A very fun new spring drop from our favourite footwear label Nelson Made. Thong sandals are of course everywhere but the cut of the the strap and wedge are so much more delicious than the others on the market. Perhaps I’ll go full J-LO and pair with my swimmers and pareo. I always take on a slightly unhinged style persona when on holiday — pair this with an abundance of postpartum hormones and a temporary return to binge drinking (what better excuse than your best friends 40th birthday party) and it should make for a very interesting (entertaining?) look. If you’re lucky i’ll document it. Stay tuned.

Annie

COMPLETEDWORKS / Cuff Bracelet — $310.00 (on sale from $780)

I love everything by Completedworks — how they play with convention through materiality (I think almost everything they make is made from recycled materials) and surprise with asymmetry, scultptural forms and clashing textures. If I am looking for a special new piece of fashion jewellery, I’ll often start with them, or with Justine Clenquet.

I’ve been looking for a beautiful, big silver cuff for a little while. I tried on a few at Dinosaur Designs, but they were ginormous (??I think I have pretty normal-sized hands??). I couldn’t believe it when I found this Completedworks silver-plated cuff on sale for more than 50% off at Incu.

Sophie

INCU COLLECTION / Concertina Check Skirt — $220

I’ve lusted after a pleated check midi for a couple of seasons but the available price point hadn’t allowed me to participate in a way I could justify, but trust our friends at Incu to create the perfect iteration at just the right amount of dollarbucks (hello fellow Bluey lovers). I’ll pair with two layered grey and white tank tops, the new Havaianas kitten heel and my Uppababy Vista.

Until next week!

x