Philo 5: The Five Beautiful Things We’re Inspired By Right Now
Beautiful & intentional people, places, treasures. Plus, how to help right now.
Welcome back to Philo 5, our first installment of the series on Substack! Philo 5 is where we highlight the five beautiful, intentional objects, people or places we are inspired by and excited about.
Before we dive in, I want to acknowledge how hard of a week it has been, watching what’s been going on in our country. It feels impossible to proceed business as usual. It’s not right, it’s not what we deserve, and it’s not what we stand for as a country. Please call your Senators, because your voice matters. You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and connect to your own state Senators using easy scripts from resources like 5calls.org and indivisible.org. I share resources on my Instagram stories so follow there too. I’ll be organizing another local group grocery shop for West Brooklyn Mutual Aid soon as well so stay tuned for that. They say joy is resistance, so now let’s find some joy in beautiful things.
January Philo 5
Autumn Sonata Eva Tablecloth ($338)
Autumn Sonata makes truly beautiful things for the home, bringing an archival and historic lens to modern takes on home decor. This tablecloth is so unique and has rich warm colors I’m leaning toward right now for my home renovation. It’s a perfect vibe and color for both winter and early spring dinner parties.
Diptyque Philosykos Perfumed body lotion ($75)
Diptyque Rose has been my scent for years. I recently went into their Noho store to refill and found this lotion that caught my eye first and foremost for the name (hi Philo!) and then for the incredible smell. Philosykos means “friend of the fig tree,” combining Philo (friend) and sykon (fig). This scent is an ode to the entire fig tree from the leaves to the sap to the wood. A meaningful story and an warm, earthy scent? I’m in.
La Bonne Brosse Comb ($54)
In middle school someone told me combing my hair was better than brushing it and I’ve never gone back since. This beautiful comb is a perfect example of elevating the everyday. I love the idea of adding your comb, favorite perfume, and a hair clip to a tray on your dresser or vanity. I love the ethos of this woman-founded brand that honors the tradition and history of the luxury hairbrush industry in France. La Bonne Brosse combs are also made without any plastic, using only responsible, eco-friendly materials which we love.
The W Hotel Union Square
The W Hotel New York in Union Square just reopened after a $100M renovation restoring the beautiful 1911 Beaux-Arts building to it’s grandeur and taking inspiration from nearby Union Square Park. Many of the charming original details like its historic façade and the marble arches outside the Living Room were kept in place. I’m always looking for new inspiring venues for client events and the “Living Room” at the W has been added to the list. The ceilings are my favorite part. They also have an upstairs lobby and cafe that I will be working from. I’m always looking for beautiful spaces to do computer work between site visits, client meetings and event prep errands!
LES Collection Achilles Dessert Plates ($250)
Growing up, my mom always made Valentine’s Day special with little surprises, homemade treats and always a note from “Doctor Love” (she’s a Pharmacist!) I love the warmth and the whimsy of Valentine’s Day whether you’re celebrating with a loved one, your gals, or your kids. I’ll be sharing my Valentine’s Day table inspo in a few weeks, but for now, these porcelain dessert plates by artist Gianfranco Briceño in a collab with LES Collection are my top pick. They feature original sketches inspired by the Greek myth of Achilles and Patroclus. I would pair them with the classic Ribbon dinner plate for a table that tells a story. Share the myth at dinner and see where the conversation takes you.
Now that we’ve shared our January picks, here are the items of inspiration from months past when we primarily shared on Instagram stories. All products have been added to our Philo 5 shop.
Treasures & Snacks:
This handcrafted leather bag from Mexico from Zulia & Huipa
Custom embroidered cocktail napkins from Shop Klein Designs or Abbode
Super fun fish citrus squeezer (which can be engraved!) from Lazy Jamie
The best nut-free pesto, Besto, from a female founder
My ride-or-die Hulken bag for schlepping around the city daily
Delicious & giftable mayo from Molly Baz (Miso + Dill are my personal favs!)
One of my favorite NA drinks (made with tea & taste like natural wine) as featured in my Gift Guide!
BEZI labneh - the creamiest most delicious treat. I love the plain with strawberries!
Malai Ice Cream - Ice cream made with South Asian-inspired ingredients and spices. You can order nationwide on Goldbelly or pick up from the store if you live in Philly, DC or NYC. Female founded!
This a woman owned Afghan inspired hot sauce brand, Tursh.
Another great NA drink, De Soi with adaptogens and no artificial flavors
The only martini brine & olives I use, and the brand that made me love dirty martinis: Quincy.
Places:
The Painted Swan: One of our favorite shops for a thoughtful mix of vintage + modern goods for the home.
The Delta: A woman-owned beautiful space for a brand pop-up or activation in the heart of Cobble Hill. One of Philo’s preferred vendors.
People:
Saloon by Julia Harrison - my favorite newsletter and community for creatives - aka everyone you want to meet in the same group chat.
The Intentional Muse Newspaper - The Intentional Muse is a monthly print newspaper by Kayli Mylius designed for woman to romanticize her everyday, and be in community with other ambitious, spiritually minded humans. I love that it’s a physical printed paper that reminds me to slow down and unplug. Philo was featured in their November issue - “CELEBRATE”
Produce Parties Zine + Community - Produce parties started by Sarah Teich as a community dinner party series celebrating in-season produce. It’s now a community of 8000+ produce lovers, a quarterly zine, merch, and a love letter to seasonal fruits & veggies
Ware Your Snacks - Adorable food themed dishes and clothing by artist Evelina Edens
Journaling classes by Emily Chertow - I took one of Emily’s classes in McCarren Park on a summer evening last year and it was magical. She has both virtual and in-person workshops & I highly recommend!
Produce Parties Apple Zine. Hot Dog trinket tray by Ware Your Snacks See you next month!
Besto is my favorite pesto