Can I set a scene for you? Stick with me because this might take a minute, but I do have a point…
We’ll start in the city on a long weekend when you’ve stayed home. There’s always a certain energy to the city on these summer long weekends at home, isn’t there?
While everyone else is at the lake or in the mountains or on the island, the side streets with the local haunts are a little quieter, the neighbours’ backyards fall deliciously silent, the familiar smells and sights and sounds are all still the same, but there’s a buzzy magic like the whole place is suddenly the sweet little secret of those of us who remained in town.
This post from a pre-pandemic August summarizes one of those long-weekend-at-home evenings perfectly…
Unplanned, unreplicable, and so quintessentially summer.
Okay, so you get it, right? Good. Now…
Imagine—on one of these bewitching long weekends—a friend invites you to an intimate dinner party at her home. I’m an introvert, so if you recoiled at the words invite or party, I completely understand. But dispel those associations.
This is a dear friend who really gets it. You want to go to her parties. She’s an introvert, too, and she lives in an elegant but cozy townhouse with a cozy rooftop patio where she loves to entertain. It’s off the beaten track down a foliage-lined avenue just this side of town.
Her gatherings are always decorated with a tasteful but eclectic mix of vintage art and tableware that you just know were thrifted, the food and drinks flow freely, and her home feels inviting and warm. The music is chill and diverse, just like the company.
There will be seasonal cocktails, lots of comfortable seating, fairy lights (obviously), and one of those pound cake ice cream loaves, too. You know the ones.
There will be a quiet hum of good conversation throughout the evening. No small talk at this introvert-friendly soiree. At this party you’ll get right to the heart of the things that really matter and that light you up.
So… Why have I invited you to this imaginary dinner party? I promise, there’s a purpose here.
This long-weekend-in-the-city-rooftop-patio scenario is an invitation from me to experience my online home, right here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still under construction. The party is still being planned, recipes are being tested, the details are being sorted, and it’s all a work in progress.
But this vibe is exactly how I want us all to feel in this space. Me as your host bringing together a comfortable space to hang out and connect over our shared passions; and you, my friend and fellow connoisseur of thrifted treasures and good conversation.
So picture this:
The day of the party, you turn down that foliage-lined avenue and see your friend greeting guests at the door just up the steps from the sidewalk. You notice there’s a sign tied to the front gate: This must be the place. She’s handing cocktails to those arriving and leading them inside as music and laughter ring out into the street.
In the cozy summer dinner party that is my online world, this meet and greet at the doorstep is my Instagram page.
An aesthetic first impression, a warm welcome, an opportunity to take it all in and think about how long you’re going to stay before heading inside and making your way to the dinner table, the heart of the evening: this Substack newsletter des lettres.
Substack is where the real fun happens: the meal, the dessert, the exchange of stories. Topics can spark and fly from musings on the latest fashion trends to recent thrift finds to Olivia Rodrigo’s new slay summer single to current events and social justice. But the common thread woven throughout is that everyone at the table shares a passion for a collected and creative life filled with beautiful moments and things.
This is the the main event, the hub.
Which is not to say every element of this experience is aesthetic and glossy. Those guests who wander away from the dinner table get a front row seat into the host’s messy kitchen.
This, my friends, is my TikTok account.
Spilled cocktails, dirty dishes, the whole mess. Real conversations can certainly be sparked here, or carried on, but this is the behind the scenes raw take on our summer party.
(A brief interjection: While writing this post the other day, Threads came out of nowhere and won me over. If I had to explain how this new app fits into this space, I’d say my Threads is the group chat that includes all the guests who attend these lovely parties. Sure, we recap the events of the get togethers but we also talk about every other random thing from summer outfits to the podcasts we’re getting fired up over to inspirational quote to memes.)
Finally, well after dessert, with the fairy lights still twinkling, the gathering begins to move inside. Now that the closest of the friends remain, your host stands up, stretches, and invites anyone who’s interested to come down and browse her closet.
You follow her down the hall and make your way to her beloved clothing collection where items from her own wardrobe are on display right alongside pieces that were collected to be shared in moments just like this. The energy here is grown-up slumber party clothing swap with your nearest and dearest. You pull up an upholstered vintage bench and allow your friend to show you her favourite wares.
Her taste and style and particular way of seeing the world infused throughout this gorgeous closet. It just makes sense. You leave with an elegant linen button-down and vintage Levi’s jeans, which you proudly wear knowing they’re sustainable, stylish and curated just for you.
Is this starting to come together for you? Do you see what I’m saying? I let this idea simmer in the back of my mind for weeks, the metaphor continually complicating itself and growing more detailed.
While I’ll always show up in some capacity on social media, I plan to gradually shift the hub of my online sharing here to des lettres.
Just like at the incredibly detailed fictional dinner party, the writing, learnings, musings, and fun tidbits along the way are for everyone; and those of you who really connect with what I share and the way I see the world will accept my invitation to come on over to my closet and browse.
And of course there’s room for change and growth and evolution—sometimes I’ll take the party out onto the street in front of the building, or have a cozy wine tasting in the kitchen. Or find a new place to hang out like the new oyster bar down the street.
Because this brand isn’t just about collecting stuff or buying clothes, it’s about giving ourselves permission to enjoy nice things, wholeheartedly express who we are, and have belly laughs with our dear friends at dinner parties (or in digital feeds).
To recap:
Instagram is my favourite place to make new connections and showcase my products and offerings, introducing my work to those who pass by
Substack is gradually becoming where most longer-form and in-depth pieces go, as well as updates, special offers, and background stories on new collections
TikTok and Threads are casual, fun, and random spaces where you can get to know me a little better and stay connected
Poshmark is where I curate clothing collections for you—from my own closet as well as on my thrifting and estate sale adventures
I love summer long weekends, dinner parties, cocktails, and clothing swaps with good friends. You do too. I know it. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have read this far.
Tell me, will you come to the party? You’re enthusiastically invited. Where will you hang out the most? Do you linger in the lobby, or plunk yourself down at the table? Do you wander back into the kitchen every now and then?
I love that analogy, it’s such a great way to think of it! I’ll bring the flowers 😀
Well I just loved reading this analogy! I can picture it exactly! 😍