The Group Chat | Vol. 3
on my radar: dark wash denim, tailored shirting, fancy jackets, cryo skincare, fall scents, badass women designers + founders, and more.
The Group Chat is a monthly roundup of things on my radar — from new brand discoveries and emerging trends, to beauty obsessions and home decor gems. Think of it as VIP access to my current hyper-fixations and niche finds that get sent to the group text.
Previous letters below.
Dark wash denim
Still Here dropped their fall collection featuring my favorites — the Everyday and Cool jean — in a rich dark indigo wash. This deep hue is everywhere this season, and for good reason. It’s versatile, elongating, and gives off a polished vibe without trying too hard. While not specifically designed for short gals, I make them work. I style the Everyday with a big cuff, and pair the Cool with a small heel.
I hit the jackpot last week when I tried on these Agolde jeans. I instantly fell in love with both the fit and the perfect deep indigo wash. The Ren style has been buzzing among petite fashion girlies for a while now, and after trying them on, I can confirm they’re worth the hype — the 27 and a half inch inseam means you can skip a trip to the tailor if you’re 5’3” and under.
I spotted someone wearing the OZMA Marcie shirt last week and was instantly obsessed. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect denim shirt forever, and this one ticks all the boxes — slightly oversized in a deep indigo wash with a nice weight and hand feel. I’ll just be over here refreshing their website, waiting for that restock notification.
It’s always shirting season
I recently stumbled upon The Anteros, a small label offering classic shirting with an elevated twist. Their stunning pieces are crafted from Italian organic cotton and handmade in Portugal. Thoughtful tailoring and unique details like their signature asymmetrical sleeves truly set them apart. Case in point: the Lief shirt, featuring butterfly cuffs on one sleeve and straight splits on the other.
Another shirting label on my radar is E.M Reitz, a Charleston-based designer whose pieces are produced in New York’s Garment District. They recently had a trunk show at Hero Shop (my fave boutique in the Bay Area), and I got to peruse their pieces IRL. If you find cuffing your sleeves annoying (or if you have shorter arms), their classic shirt with elbow-length sleeves is wearable as is and makes the perfect short sleeve when rolled twice.
Not another barn jacket
Believe it or not, there are other jackets — besides the barn/field/chore type that everyone is yapping about — that should also be on your radar this season. Attersee released their fall collection and the jackets are absolutely divine. The sculpted zip jacket is a work of art, and so is this yummy Studio jacket in chocolate satin. I’ve been eyeing this circular sleeve blazer from BySloan, a small-batch, Mexico City-based label whose pieces are handmade by female artisans. I had the chance to touch and feel Rose Room’s stunning pieces in the spring, and they’re still on my mind. Specifically, the Short Robe which is part jacket, part top — a wardrobe workhorse in the making.
Colorful knits
I’ve challenged myself to wear more color this season, so my eyes are peeled for colorful knits everywhere I go. Lisa Yang makes the most sumptuous cashmere pieces — this lilac pullover will pop against dark wash jeans, and this light blue cashmere tee unexpectedly pairs well with camel or oxblood bottoms. Rue Sophie’s wool and cashmere pullover in soft pink is giving Prada, and this oversized red turtleneck is calling my name. LouLou Studio’s red polo knit in cashmere feels fresh for fall. Almina Concept’s merino wool v-neck is adjacent to The Row’s Gracy knit.
If you prefer to wear color discreetly, Araks makes consciously crafted intimates in stunning colors that might make you second guess your neutral obsession.
Women designers + founders
I’ve had the privilege of meeting and chatting with a handful of amazing women designers + founders over the past few weeks — hearing them talk about how they built their respective businesses has been nothing short of inspiring.
This past week, I met Lauren Harwell Godfrey of Harlow Godfrey at her newly-opened storefront in Marin Country Mart. Her collections are thoughtfully inspired by her travels — the pieces are next level stunning and her personal stack got me swooning.
A few weeks ago, I also chatted with Erin Pollard of Underwater Weaving, Esha Soni of her namesake label, and Olivia Villanti of Chava Studio at The Love List shopping event. Erin is the epitome of cool. I loved hearing about her recent partnership with Maria McManus for their Spring ‘25 ready-to-wear collection. Erin and her mom spent countless hours weaving bags for the show — the final products speak for themselves.
Esha’s impressive background in designing handbags for heavy hitters like Ralph Lauren, Proenza Schouler, and Mansur Gavriel is evident in her outstanding first collection. This zebra pony hair handbag stopped me in my tracks. Her attention to thoughtful details is impeccable — this sculptural bag is designed to be worn on the wrist or as a crossbody (the bangle is removable and can be worn separately as a piece of jewelry!) Bergdorf’s will start carrying her line later this year, which is so cool.
Olivia is an absolute sweetheart. I’ll always remember what she said about starting Chava — “I wanted to make clothes that I actually want to wear.” Not only has she succeeded in doing that, but she’s also managed to make other fashion girlies obsess over her craft. I’m so excited to pick up my custom shirt and check out the fall collection at her Mexico City studio next month!
Cryo skincare
I’ve been a fan of Sofie Pavitt since her very first product release (the Mandelic clearing serum), so it’s no surprise that I ended up loving her cleanser and frozen toner pods as well. Cryo skincare seems to be the all the rage these days and for good reason — cooling products are key to de-puff and boost circulation in your skin. I’m obsessed with 111SKIN’s new cryo revitalizing moisturizer. The formula is lightweight but hydrating — it has an instant cooling effect which leaves my skin bright and glowing after each application. I like to keep mine in the fridge for maximum cooling benefits. The frozen toner pods + this moisturizer has been a powerhouse combo for de-puffing my skin.
Hydrated skin and hair
We’ve officially got that crisp chill in the air which means it’s time to slather on all the hydrating products from tresses to toes. Monastery’s cult, best-selling Attar floral repair balm has been restocked in a tube version that’s perfect for travel. In the evenings, I use Attar — in lieu of face oil to lock in serums and moisturizer — when my skin needs an extra boost of hydration. I wake up with soft, hydrated skin every time.
ROZ sent me their new hydrating hair mask to try and I’m happy to report that it’s excellent just like their other products. Don’t just take my word for it — I’ve been stopped on the streets by gals who wanted to know what products I use because — “your hair looks so healthy!” they said (LINKSWESENDFRIENDS gets you 15% off.)
New beauty releases
There’s a bevy of new product releases these days and here’s what’s caught my attention:
Dieux Baptism Gel Cleanser: It sounds similar to Sofie Pavitt’s cleanser (gel to creamy foam formula that gently purifies without stripping the skin) and comes in a fragranced and fragrance-free versions. I’m a die-hard Dieux fangirl — their Deliverance serum and Air Angel moisturizer are a forever repurchase for me.
Ubeauty The SCULPT Neck & Décolleté Concentrate: I desperately need this for my tech neck.
Furtuna Skin Olive Lip Polish and Lip Butter Balm: I’ve been intrigued to try this line for a while now, and this lip combo sounds promising.
Flamingo Estate Manuka rich cream: I’m a big fan of Flamingo Estate’s home goods (Roma Heirloom Tomato candle + hand soap), so I was delighted to see them venture into skincare.
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Concealer: Similar to Gucci Westman’s signature makeup products, this concealer also doubles as skincare. I recently tried it at Credo — the formula feels smooth and rich, but easily blendable.
Victoria Beckham + Augustinus Bader The Concealer Pen: Another concealer + eye treatment formula dispensed in a pen with a built-in brush. This formula is on the lighter side compared to Westman.
Vintner’s Daughter Limited Edition Perfume Oil: Last week, I got to sample UNDERSTORY Vol 2, the second vintage of Vintner’s Daughter beloved perfume oil. It smells absolutely divine — “A vibrant botanical wonderland comes to life with top notes of violet, jasmine and rose across a foundation of conifers and bay.” Only 500 bottles were made!
Home scents
Le Prunier launched a Harvest Smoke candle which is an ode to harvest season and inspired by heritage on the founders’ family farm, affectionately known as “The Ranch.” With notes of plum, cedarwood, and orris, this candle sounds perfect for cozy weather.
Hotel Lobby Collection released a new line of hand soap and diffusers after their best-selling candles — Signature, Miami, New York, and Hamptons. New York is one of my favorite cold weather candles, so I have my eye on the hand soap and diffuser for a fall bathroom refresh.
If you want your laundry to smell luxuriously delightful, I’m a big fan of Dirty Labs’ Bio Enzyme laundry detergent. It checks all the boxes when it comes to clean household products — nontoxic, biodegradable formula, hypoallergenic, and safe for sensitive skin. I love their signature scent (magnolia, bergamot, cedar), and it also comes in a fragrance-free version (Wirecutter approved!) for those who are extra sensitive.
If you enjoyed this letter, tap that heart or drop a comment. Thanks for being here!
xx Angela
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