Cart Curator #48 - #justiceforkate
What on Earth Is Going On with the Royals, The Lioness Edit That Will Have Your Winter Wardrobe Sorted, and Is This the Face Device to Dethrone Infrared?
Hi CC friends,
We’ve had quite a few people join us since last week!
If this is your first time getting our newsletter, Cart Curator, into your inbox, then welcome!
We’re a weekly newsletter with the latest in pop culture, IYKYK recommendations, what we’re adding to the cart, new openings on our radar, and more. If you like shopping or talking fashion, beauty, and pop culture, you’re in the right place.
The weekend was all a bit of a blur, to be honest. We celebrated Nic’s engagement with a chill afternoon drink at a bowlo, before heading for a dance at Fred Again.
Nic kept her engagement party look v low key with a VRG GRL dress, the Rosalia Midi, which is mostly sold out but has restocked a few times.
See you next week,
Nicole and Jess x
The Edit
This week we are back with another The Edit and this time we pulling our favourite pieces from Lioness’ most recent drop, which is filled with pieces promising to give you the TikTok mob wife aesthetic. Whether this is something you want to lean fully into or not (personally these trends are starting to kill us), there are some great pieces that you can get for an absolute steal.
Starting off we have the Horshoe Jean in Split Blue which has been a really popular shape with pricier brands like Citizens of Humanity, The Frankie Shop, and Ganni all doing their take. The two tone colouring of these is really fun and these can easily form a staple piece for an autumn and winter wardrobe.
An oversized cable knit sweater is a good piece to have in your wardrobe year round and the Gigi Knit in Cloud is the perfect amount of oversized and slouchy to make it work when throwing over the shoulders (yes I (Jess) will absolutely be caught doing this year round including summer) or pairing with a micro short and biker boots. This one also comes in a cream shade which to be honest would be good in addition to the Cloud in any wardrobe.
The leather jacket has been a bit of a slow burn for me this season with some of the early Zara iterations looking quite cheap and plastic (which the majority are) but since trying some different styles on in person and seeing these styled more and more I am now on the hunt for this item for myself. We have pulled three different styles which are priced well all sitting around the $110 - $130 mark. The first option is the Kenny Bomber in Onyx which features woven/braided vegan leather (v Bottega inspired) and is more of a standalone piece I feel. This bomber style looks great zipped up with a micro short or baggier jeans as styled in the image.
Next, we have the Eighties Bomber in Washed Onyx which is slightly cropped whilst still giving an oversized vibe. This one would be perfect for anyone who is a bit shorter and likes the oversized leather jacket style but doesn’t want to be swimming in material. Last but not least we have an oversized style in the Ace Biker Jacket in Charcoal. This oversized fit is a classic and one that will last season after season. I love something like this styled with absolutely everything - over activewear, with baggie jeans and a tee, or dressed up for a night out draped over your shoulders. All three of these options also look like real leather, especially when it comes to the colour wash which I think compared to the faded colours we are seeing of late will last a lot longer in your wardrobe.
As you would have seen in a previous issue I have been lusting after the Ganni Leopard Denim Stary Jeans which are forever out of stock and besides that retail for a cool $500+ so you can imagine my excitement when I found the Carmela Jeans in Leopard. While the actual fit of these leopard look-alikes are not a complete dupe for the Ganni pair with them being quite similar in cut to the Lioness Horshoe Jean but either way the overall look is so similar and with a $400 price difference I of course had to order.
To round out The Edit we have the Kourt Vest in Ivory which is a long-line vest which is very on trend but also has lasting power. Pair with jorts, baggie jeans, or a mini skirt and flats for the perfect work or weekend look.
Popshop
Our favourite pop culture or industry moment of the week.
We’re not big royalists here at CC, but this is a pop-culture moment even we couldn’t ignore - where the f*** is Kate Middleton?
You usually can’t escape news about the royals, which is why Kate’s “disappearance” has left the world very confused. Despite the fact we are mid-March (how), Kate actually made her last public appearance on Christmas Day last year for the morning service with her family.
Almost 3-weeks later in mid-Jan Kensington Palace released a personal notice on Kate’s health, revealing that she had been admitted to hospital for planned abdominal surgery. That was all the details we got at the time, with the team sharing that she would remain in hospital for up to 14 days recovering and based on medical advice will not be back on public duties until after Easter (March 31).
Despite this clear signpost from the palace, the internet was quick to create KateGate, refusing to believe she was just having surgery and developed several wild theories about what she is actually doing during this time away from the public eye. We’re talking everything from getting a BBL, performing on the Masked Singer to the most believable (in our opinions, don’t sue us @Kensington Palace) - that she has decided to finally leave Wills.
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The palace obviously needed to quash these rumours, so decided to make Kate go for a drive with her Mum in order to be “spotted” in public on the 4 March. However, the internet was quick to push back - claiming a body double or even her sister Pippa sitting in for Kate.
They then tried again. On Mother’s Day in the UK the Palace shared an image of Kate with her three children for Mother’s Day on their IG page. This is where things really took a turn, as photo agency AP quickly issued a Kill Notice on the photo, with belief it had been manipulated. Sleuths were quick to find all the discrepancies in the image that showed a dodgy photoshop job. This then prompted them to make ANOTHER statement, throwing poor Kate’s photoshopping skills under the bus. Ok, come on @comms team at the palace, who actually believes it was Will taking the photo and Kate playing around on FaceTune here.
And now - literally just yesterday - Kate was “spotted” again this time properly in the public doing a little grocery shop.
US RIGHT NOW.
Praying for Kate to come back with a 103 part TikTok series.
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Before we get into the issue, we just had to include that whilst all this is going on Meghan Markle has made her return to socials after a 4-year hiatus to debut her new “lifestyle” brand - American Riviera Orchard. It’s giving chic hotel toiletries, like an American Officine Universelle Buly. We’re here for it.
What are your thoughts on KateGate? Where is she!!!! #justiceforkate
Add to Cart
What’s sitting in carts, or what’s been checked out.
Jess
Topshop premium basic ribbed twist oversized tee in white
I’m a sucker for a white basic so anytime I can get my hands on a variation that can make something so versatile look a bit more interesting I’m all for it. Topshop does great basics in general and they have always been a go-to of mine for a twist on a classic, so this oversized tee with a bit of extra detail is at the top of my wish list right now. I love an oversized fit in general and something like this would pair so nicely with a baggier jean and a pair of flats.
Medley Lobe Cuff Huggie Earring in 10k Gold
Over the past few months I have been gradually adding more piercings (thank you Covetear) and now that I’m getting to the point where I can start swapping out the earrings I’m on the hunt for fun pieces to add into the mix.
Medley has been a favourite for a while and I own one of their ear cuffs (which is really high quality) but they have a huge amount of fun pieces that are really different from anything else out there. I have been eyeing off this lobe cuff huggie earring which is super fun and I think would look super cool stacked with my other lobe piercings. Plus this one is in 10k gold which is perfect for anyone looking for something with a bit more longevity.
Nicole
Loeffler Randall Ruffle Tote Bag
This bag is igniting the part of me that wishes I lived in Paris and spent all day just walking the streets and reading in parks.
This raffia tote from Loeffler Randall is the perfect size, large enough to fit all your daily essentials, but not ludicrously capacious. At just under $280, I actually think this is pretty-well priced for the bag and brand.
I had a work event last week and I wore a green knit Zara dress with metallic threading and the DM’s were full with questions on where to purchase this, and if it was still in stock.
Sadly I can’t find it online anymore, but they have the cream option still available, which TBH is probably a little more versatile for work/play.
I have a very similar number from & Other Stories which I purchased 8 months ago overseas, and it’s definitely clocked up a lot of hours and I also get questions about its origin when I wear it.
A long sleeve dress is surprisingly an item that gets some good wear in my wardrobe, paired with heels or a heeled knee high boot to dress it up, or a sneaker and sandal for a more casual feel.
This particular Zara dress has a metallic thread through it which is v cool, but also subtle.
Beauty Counter
Prod of the week.
Jess
Okay a pricey one from me this week but definitely worth every penny. For those who haven’t heard of the NuFACE device before it is a microcurrent toning device that is supposed to “give your face a tighter, lifted look and a toned and contoured appearance over time'“.
As a chronic jaw clencher who has tried everything from physio to anti-wrinkle injections for the pain and clenching I had heard good things about what this device could do for jaw pain and swelling so when I was gifted this by friends as a belated birthday present, I couldn’t have been more excited to start using religiously.
Now obviously the other lifting and toning benefits appeal to me I’m not going to say the entire wanting of this expenny product was due to the jaw benefits but my god it is worth it on all fronts.
The lifting, toning, and jaw relief from this device after using this for a couple of weeks was amazing and has only gotten better. I know the trending product when it comes to face devices is always an infrared light mask but my lord if this is something you have been considering then please do it.
Nicole
Mecca Max Zoom Stick in Espresso
I can’t stop wearing a smokey eye at the moment, and when I was in Brisbane two weekends back I borrowed this from Jess, and it’s such a game-changer for a foolproof smokey eye.
Tight-lining the eyelid (where you put eyeliner in the water line under the eye lash) and the smokey-eye are two things I didn’t think I’d be adding back into my make-up looks since I left them behind when I was 20 - but here we are.
Perhaps it's the rise of the Indie Sleeze trend, or that I’m simply ready to have more fun with make-up again, but I’ve been enjoying amping up my eyeshadow looks with this creamy stick that makes it so easy to create a smudged-out/slept in look, simply apply all over the lid and under the eye and smudge out with a brush or even easier, your finger.
One to Try
Recent openings and discoveries.
Casa Esquina, Balmain Sydney
A newbie in Sydney from the team behind Tequila Mockingbird and Esteban, Casa Esquina is a newly opened spot in waterside Balmain.
We typically love Balmain for a pub session, but Casa Esquina offers locals and those making the trip over on the ferry “a journey through the flavours of Argentina”.
Equipped with an open-flame parrilla, think flame grilled steaks, smokey vegetables and Fuggazetta - an Argentinian stuffed pizza.
Lottery Win
A girl can dream.
Miu Miu Two Tone Pumps
Everyone knows that Miu Miu is the brand of the moment, and these are a chic-er upgrade to the classic Chanel two-tone slingbacks. These are actually much cheaper than the Chanel option, so we’re going with that justification as to why we need this, ASAP.
We can’t actually find these in stock in Australia (yet). Our bank accounts are cheering.
Consumables
What we can’t stop binging.
Pamela Anderson is having such a comeback at the moment and honestly there is nobody that deserves it more. We can’t get enough of her especially in this styling video she did in collaboration with NET-A-PORTER - so iconic we literally can’t stop watching it on repeat.
Her decision to consistently go without make-up for press and red carpet moments is very iconic and her whole attitude is a vibe. This is the role model we need.
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IYKYK
Super specific recs and niche hyper-fixations.
Okay this IG account has become my (Jess) obsession and I recently introduced Nic to it and we just had to share. Data But Make It Fashion tracks searches relating to beauty and fashion trends whilst also comparing to what we are seeing come down the runway and in popular culture.
If you love to be across the latest and greatest styles and trends this account definitely deserves a follow.
If you’re new to Cart Curator, take a read of some of our recent editions.
Cart Curator #47 - Death to the Champagne Carpet
Cart Curator #46 - What in the Willy Wonka?
Cart Curator #45 - In collaboration with Joanna Fleming
Cart Curator #44 - Madame Web Bites