Put a stitch in it
And other ways to personalize your life in a slump
If you’ve been looking for one, here’s your sign to start customizing everything around you. I’m a cheap thrills girlie, but I will shell out whatever is necessary to have something that is truly mine. Nothing gets wind in my sails quite like seeing “$10 to engrave” at checkout. Yeah, throw it in the bag!!!
A detail rarely goes unnoticed; whether it’s a chic brand logo, or a hand-embroidered initial, a mark of personalization is a nod to your own ethos. As a fellow purveyor of style myself, I’ll once again shout from the rooftops of how much I love a one-of-one moment. My solve to mundane adulthood is indulging in these sorts of little luxuries, and subsequently, sharing them with the internet.
The most foolproof way to dip your toe into the world of bespoke goods is a simple initial monogram. Embroider to your hearts desire on a white button down, or take a page from Plain Jane New York’s TikTok—also known as PRESHRUNK here on Substack. Halley points out that we see this appear on Matthieu Blazy’s first Chanel ready-to-wear for S/S ‘26, but I want to take her approach and instead, embroider my PJNY Shortie sleeve (the best white t-shirt on the market) in a similar, below-the-rib placement. This could also be chic on your sleeve, or on the hem.
I thought birthing a child would mean I’d cut discretionary spending on such frivolous articles; unfortunately, she too is the proud owner of monogrammed “must-haves” (on mom’s dime) thus syphoning my coin to another outlet.
Mere minutes after landing on Charlotte’s name (hereinafter and truthfully, always, known as Charli) I was chomping at the bit to plaster it wherever I could. The binky leash is a necessary object once a baby develops the ability to throw, and now I have a memento for her keepsake box that I would burst into tears if I opened. The passage of time is HARSH.
A New England staple, the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote can be straightforward, or cheeky. I’ve explored both sides of the coin. The B&T can go to war and back, with longevity that knows no bounds, so the pressure is on: pick something you love as to not add unnecessary waste to the ever-growing landfill of fashion. Better yet: scoop up a blank one - if you can find it - at your favorite thrift, and bring it to a local embroiderer. Cyclical and helps the economy. Win-win. On that note, I have four of varying sizes. Excessive, perhaps, but they all serve very different purposes, and each one of those purposes involves taking a beating. See below for my small zip-top doing exactly that.
We’ve officially entered Aries season which means I can unabashedly do my favorite thing and center myself. These socks from Etsy have lasted two winters so I can confidently tell you to swipe your card. Nary seen under my pants, my namesake footwear let me know that I still am THAT GIRL inside—with a name that is misspelled five out of the seven days of the week. I got these for my husband with his initials, so that he, too, can be that girl (guy).
Onto some buys that I personally have not invested in, but would like to: Officine Universelle Buly is a Parisian must for monogramming. Prepare to wait in line, but for this comb or the lip balm compact, I’d linger. The comb would be an especially stunning heirloom gift for a friend, or a new mom *cough CHARLI cough*. And because you want to spend your whole Franco-cation en queue, pop over to Louise Carmen for the Maserati of journal ecosystems. Until I myself land at Charles De Gaulle, I filled the void with this one from chateau de briley. The options of customization are limitless, with many leather and cord colors to choose from, along with a vast selection of charms. Bonus points for hot-stamping initials, of course. You can see where I landed with mine here, here and here. Shocking to note: I don’t have a good still photo of the journal that holds my life together, but if you don’t want to suffer through three TikTok’s of me gabbing about objects, I’ll drop a sexy sneak peek below.
This stack could’ve been a novel’s length but I’ll stop here for your wallet and mine. Remember to stay true to yourself and plaster your signature on any and everything you can. Small details that make a big impact make the world keep spinning.
Until next time.