This Prada-Owned Leather Brand Is an eBay Treasure Trove
The healing properties of banana shoes, 32 secondhand finds, + notes on BK, HS, and JFK Jr.
Hello darlings. Juicy one today on a brand I’ve been planning to write about for months. But before the main meal, a few appetizers:
Dreamgirl and friend of the letter Kylie VanArsdale stole the show wearing an archival Pepe Jeans look in Baby Keem’s latest video. A lot of really good leather jackets can fit into four minutes. The video was directed by Renell Medrano, a favorite in this house, whose other recent MV credits include Bad Bunny and Lorde (Lorde in all that vintage Prada, yes please!). I wrote about what guests wore to her inaugural ICE Mag launch party here.
Harry Styles went heavy on eBay vintage in his spread for Runner’s World. He also wore his own label Pleasing, socks from Celzedonia, Nike shoes, and Oakley shades. He’s in conversation with Haruki Murakami for the cover story. His actual favorite running shorts — the ones he wore to run the Tokyo and Berlin marathons — are the Tracksmith Van Cortlandt shorts. They’re also my favorite athletic shorts.
JFK Jr. is pissing me off in “American Love Story.” That breakfast sign up situation should’ve been the last straw. On the topic of his style, though, this video by ADIV is such a crucial point in the conversation. “You guys are giving him credit for a style that he didn’t invent. JFK Jr. was just dressing like a Black man in the ‘90s.” Don’t let a white fashion boy try to convince you he invented wearing a backwards hat with a suit!
I am deep in a rabbit hole of secondhand Yaffa organizers. They’re these brilliant little plastic catch-alls from the ‘80s, and something about those little squares has me in a trance. I really want this teal one but it’s $90 and that doesn’t feel responsible.
It’s going to be in the 60s this week in New York. The city is about to get so incredibly slutty. I’d love to hear what you’re excited to wear during this first taste of spring. I’m personally looking forward to wearing shoes with no socks — the tops of my feet haven’t seen the sun in far too long.
Now onto the meat and potatoes! (And dessert, because I’m not a monster.)
If “non ugly work tote” and “comfortable loafer” can be found in your search history, you’re going to want to know this brand.
I came across the brand the old fashioned way (being woefully obsessed with Prada) but hadn’t personally tested the leather waters until I saw these sunshiny high-tops listed on eBay for $25 and knew I had to jump. Like a pair of bananas perfectly ripe for the picking.
They’re buttery smooth, magnificently constructed, and the rubber dotted soles are grippier than almost anything else in my closet. It’s the grip that has me reaching for them often — in late winter weather, they handle slick subway stairs with aplomb.
Tart lemon shoes are an apt choice for shit weather, anyway. I need that protective layer of acidity between me and the cold concrete, burning off city grime before it has a chance to crawl up my leg. A pop of citrus is healing in a 35° drizzle.
