Retail Therapy 064: New Luxury, Totes, and Olive Oil Coffee
Plus Saltburn parties, Premier League fades, and more.
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found.
Saltburn-themed everything is okay with us at this point.
Are we over-Saltburn’ing in the same way people may be overusing egg white in frothy cocktails? Well, it’s possible. But I still think Retail Therapy may ride this train until it sputters out.
Recently, there was a Saltburn–themed party in Bushwick that grabbed our attention. A brief overview via The New York Times:
On Friday night at 3 Dollar Bill, a queer club in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, partygoers danced and sang along to early 2000s hits by Fergie, Justin Timberlake and, of course, Sophie Ellis-Bextor whose “Murder on the Dancefloor” is currently having a renaissance.
The theme of the night was the movie “Saltburn,” which, based on the number of attendees who arrived dressed in costume, is quickly garnering cult status. The crowd cheered as the D.J. played “Untouched” by the Veronicas. It was like hopping in a time machine to 2007. (Well, a 2007 in which everyone owns an iPhone and has a working knowledge of the words “novel coronavirus.”)
We discussed why there aren’t more parties themed after movies, what we would’ve worn, and more.
We’ve reached peak-Olive Oil.
We’ve discussed olive oil on ice cream. We’ve complained about when they make blue cheese olive martinis with olives slopped in oil. But now, we get to complain about the new Starbucks line of drinks, Oleato, made with olive oil floaters in them.
Here’s the thing though — pretty much every listener who has reached out since this episode launched has had good things to say about this drink. Looks like a coffee date is in order for Barrett and I to try.
“New Luxury” and the brands that drive it.
What does Stussy have in common with Balenciaga? What about Loewe and New Balance? Moncler and Diesel? Well, I had trouble piecing it together too. But Highsnobiety actually made it all make sense.
Here’s an explanation from David Fischer on LinkedIn regarding this list:
When looking at the level of cultural relevance that brands drive with the cultural pioneer consumer, the codes that they use, the initiatives that they do, the on-going cadence in creating heat and relevance with their audience, it is very clear that some brands understand the modern marketing playbook better than others.
New Luxury is about injecting product with meaning and as such goes far beyond traditional luxury.
And here’s the list itself:
We went through each brand and its place on the list, while also discussing which brand were possibly overlooked and which brands have no place being there.
Are we doing $120 tote bags from salmon influencers?
Well, apparently we are.
Emily Mariko rose to fame after her leftover salmon recipe went viral, a fact too many people are honing in on when it comes to the tote bag in question. But after releasing her line of totes, some people weren’t thrilled. Here’s why.
Picture a tote bag. A really big tote bag, cut extra wide to fit your entire farmer’s market haul, with wide straps to evenly distribute weight while you lug your satsuma mandarins and eggs and the kale you’ll forget about and leave to rot in the bottom drawer of your refrigerator. It’s 100 percent cotton, made in the United States and comes in a ballet pink or a lovely faded olive color.
What would you pay for such a bag? $30? $50? (For context, the largest of L.L. Bean’s classic Boat and Tote bags will run you $45.)
How about $120?
That’s how much Emily Mariko, the ultra-popular content creator who rose to viral fame for her leftover salmon recipe, began selling her much-hyped wares for on her website on Monday.
Well, the bags are currently sold out (for better or worse). And while I understand the price for these, I also understand the outcry. To each their own, I guess.
Of course, we closed things out with our wishlists and imminent cops.
For 2024, we’ve hit the reset button on our wishlists and made them a bit more digestible for the year ahead. To access the complete version of our 2022 and 2023 wishlists, look no further than our final Listener Digest of 2022 and our final Listener Digest of 2023.
Will’s Wishlist (2024)
Seeking recommendations for dining tables, media consoles, and rugs!
RRL Officer Khakis ($241.50 on sale) — Link
Abercrombie Workwear Pants ($68) — Link
Nike ACG Russet Moc ($100) — Link
Soho Home Nadine Rug ($1,016) — Link
Acqua di Parma Colonia C.L.U.B. Eau de Cologne ($150) — Link
NEW: Drake’s Swim Shorts ($145 on sale) — Link
Barrett’s Wishlist (2024)
Margaret Howell Fireman Trousers ($495 Retail / $371.25 Sale) — Link
Vass Shoes Black Leather Cap Toe Oxfords (€417) — Link
Uniqlo Down Parkas ($40-$150) — Link
Montblanc Meisterstück Stainless Steel & Black Onyx Cufflinks ($280) — Link
NEW: Second/Layer Pico Blazer & Trousers ($340 on sale) — Link
Listen to Retail Therapy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube (see above), and anywhere else podcasts are found.
I’ve stopped myself from buying several totes because I keep telling myself y’all will make one someday and that has to be my go to